TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who was awarded the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honour in the United States, conducted a “mannequin challenge”, a video that features people frozen in place, with other recipients.
President Barack Obama awarded the medals to 21 key figures at a star-studded ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.
Obama presented the prestigious medal to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda for philanthropic work, former basketball players Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Robert Redford.
“It’s useful when you think about this incredible collection of people to realise that this is what makes us the greatest nation on earth,” Obama said.
The medal is given annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to the national interests of the United States, to security, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.
Other recipients this year were rock star Bruce Springsteen, soul singer Diana Ross, Native American community leader Elouise Cobell and Nasa moon landing computer scientist Margaret H. Hamilton.
“Everybody on this stage has touched me in a very powerful personal way,” Obama said. “It’s useful when you think about this incredible collection of people to realise that this is what makes us the greatest nation on earth.
“Not because of what we are, not because of our differences, but because in our difference we find something common to share.”
While speaking on the accomplishments of DeGeneres, Obama lauded the comedian’s courage for coming out as gay.
“What an incredible burden that was to bear, to risk her career like that,” he said. “People don’t do that very often, and then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders.”
As is his style Obama broke up the weightier moments during the ceremony with a humorous touch.
“But it’s like Ellen says: ‘We all want a tortilla chip that can support the weight of guacamole.’ Which really makes no sense to me, but I thought that would break the mood because I was getting kind of choked up.”
Obama also praised actor De Niro’s many iconic roles.
“A Sicilian father turned New York mobster, a mobster who runs a casino, a mobster who needs therapy,” the president read off, drawing laughter from the crowd. “A father-in-law scarier than a mobster, Al Capone, a mobster.”
De Niro has been in the spotlight recently for his candid disapproval of President-elect Donald Trump. The actor hasn’t minced words in his criticism of the Republican, describing him as “a punk”, “a pig”, and “an idiot.”
“I’d like to punch him in the face,” he said before the election
The prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom recognises achievements and contributions to US national interests, security, culture, peace and
Obama leaves office in January after eight years, with Republican businessman Donald Trump taking charge.
Here are the names of the 21 individuals who were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and their edited White House commendations:
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, who helped the Los Angeles Lakers to gain five championships and the Milwaukee Bucks one.
— Elouise Cobell (posthumous): A Blackfoot tribal community leader and an advocate for Native American self-determination and financial independence.
— Ellen DeGeneres: An award-winning comedian who has hosted her popular daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, since 2003 with her trademark humour, humility and optimism.
— Robert De Niro: An actor who has brought to life some of the most memorable roles in American film during a career that spans five decades.
— Richard Garwin: A polymath physicist who earned a PhD under Enrico Fermi at age 21 and subsequently made pioneering contributions to US defence and intelligence technologies, low-temperature and nuclear physics, detection of gravitational radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer systems, laser printing, and nuclear arms control and non-proliferation.
— Bill and Melinda Gates: Established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.
— Frank Gehry: One of the world’s leading architects, whose works have helped define contemporary architecture.
— Margaret H. Hamilton: Led the team that created the on-board flight software for NASA’s Apollo command modules and lunar modules.
— Tom Hanks: One of the nation’s finest actors and filmmakers. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role five times, and received the award for his work in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.
— Grace Hopper (posthumous): Rear Adm Grace Hopper, known as “Amazing Grace” and “the first lady of software,” was at the forefront of computers and programming development from the 1940s through the 1980s.
— Michael Jordan: One of the greatest athletes of all time. Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards; he is currently a principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. During his career, he won six championships, five Most Valuable Player awards and appeared in 14 All-Star games.
— Maya Lin: An artist and designer who is known for her work in sculpture and landscape art. She designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington and since then has pursued a celebrated career in art and architecture.
— Lorne Michaels: A producer and screenwriter, best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live, which has run continuously for more than 40 years. In addition, Michaels has produced The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and 30 Rock along with other popular, award-winning shows.
— Newt Minow: An attorney with a long and distinguished career in public life. After serving in the US Army during the Second World War, Minow served as a Supreme Court clerk and counsel to the governor of Illinois. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy selected Minow, then 34, to serve as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, where he helped shape the future of American television and was a vigorous advocate for broadcasting that promoted the public interest.
— Eduardo Padrn: The president of Miami Dade College, one of the largest institutions of higher education in the United States. During his more than four-decade career, President Padrn has been a national voice for access and inclusion.
— Robert Redford: An actor, director, producer, businessman, and environmentalist. In 1981, he founded the Sundance Institute to advance the work of independent filmmakers and storytellers throughout the world, including through its annual Sundance Film Festival. He has received an Academy Award for Best Director and for Lifetime Achievement.
— Diana Ross: An entertainer who has had a career spanning more than 50 years in music, film, television, theatre and fashion. Ross is an Academy Award nominee, inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and recipient of the Grammy Awards highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
— Vin Scully: A broadcaster who for 67 seasons was the voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. In Southern California, where generations of fans grew up listening to Dodger baseball, Scully’s voice came to be known as the “soundtrack to summer.”
- Bruce Springsteen: A singer, songwriter and bandleader. More than five decades ago, he bought a guitar and learnt to make it talk. Since then, the stories he has told, in lyrics and epic concert performances, have helped shape American music and have challenged us to realise the American dream.
— Cicely Tyson: An actor who has performed on stage, television and the silver screen. She has won two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award, and is known for her performances in Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and The Help.
