Biden gives Presidential Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Yeoh and more

President Joe Biden on Friday awarded 19 Americans with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

The diverse group of recipients ranged from political trailblazers like Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Jim Clyburn to activists like Opal Lee and Judy Shephard as well as Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky and Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

Biden kicked off the ceremony in the East Room by calling it "one of their favorite events at the White House."

"Today we have another extraordinary honor to bestow the nation's highest civilian artist of mine to 19 incredible people whose relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity and hope have kept faith in a better tomorrow," the president said.

Biden shared anecdotes and accomplishments of the awarded individuals, and at times touched on the politics of the moment.

Remarking on Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House who served in the role the first three years of Biden's presidency, Biden commended her for her legislative prowess and her leadership during the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. He said she would be remembered as the "greatest speaker of the House of Representatives in history."

"She used her superpower to pass some of the most significant laws in our nation's history," Biden said. "On Jan. 6, Nancy stood in the breach defending democracy ... Nancy is a brilliant, practical, principled and determined leader."

On Clyburn, Biden noted his role in helping his 2020 campaign by offering his crucial endorsement.

"I would not be standing here as president and making these awards without Jim," Biden said, adding: "We are a great nation because we have people like Jim."

Biden reminisced about when he first met Ledecky in 2012, when he was serving as vice president. He noted Ledecky, who has won 10 Olympic medals, will be competing in the upcoming Paris games at the age of 27.

"Which some say is old for swimming -- 27. Don't let age get in your way, you know what I mean?" the 81-year-old Biden joked, prompting laughs from the room. "Katie, age is just a number, kid."

He praised Yeoh -- who was the first Asian woman to win "Best Actress" at the Oscars for her role in "Everything Everywhere All At Once" -- for shattering "stereotypes and glass ceilings to enrich and enhance American culture."

Biden also recalled working with activists like Lee, the "grandmother" of the movement that helped make Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. day. He said Lee was the first person he handed the pen to after signing the law.

"Miss Opal Lee made it her mission to make history, not erase it," Biden said. "We're in a better nation because you, Opal. Thank you."

Also honored was Clarence B. Jones, a speechwriter for King who helped pen his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

In his remarks to Judy Shephard, the mother of Matthew Shepherd, Biden noted its been 25 years since her son was brutally killed at 21 years old for being openly gay.

"The brutal murder of your son galvanized a movement, leading to a law in his name to protect LGBTQ Americans," Biden said. "Your relentless advocacy is a reminder that we must give hate no safe harbor."

Three medals were awarded posthumously to Medgar Wiley Evers, a World War II veteran and civil rights leader killed by a white supremacist in 1963; James Francis Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal; and Frank R. Lautenberg, a U.S. senator who was an advocate for environmental issues.

He also gave the honor to one of his 2020 Democratic primary rivals: former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. He recognized Bloomberg for his work on gun violence and climate change, and for helping rebuild after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Another political figure honored Friday was Al Gore, who served as vice president under former President Bill Clinton and who narrowly lost the 2000 election to George W. Bush.

"After winning the popular vote, he accepted the outcome of a disputed presidential election for the sake of unity and trust in our institutions," Biden said. "That to me was amazing, what you did Al."

Other medal recipients were Francis Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries; journalist and television host Phil Donahue; former Secretary of State John Kerry; former Sen. Elizabeth Doyle; Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and the second female director of NASA's Johnson Space Center; astronomer Jane Rigby; Teresa Romero, the president of the United Farm Workers.

"There is so much more to say about all of them, but we'd be here for 12 hours," Biden quipped after remarking on each honoree.

"I'll tell you what, makes you proud to be an American doesn't it," Biden said after all medals were awarded.