Streisand, Spielberg and More Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, who has championed equal pay and women’s health during her 44 years of public service; former Rep. Lee Hamilton from IN, a longtime advocate of American national security and worldwide relations; and the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm from NY.

– Steven Spielberg – The influential filmmaker has brought “entire universes to life, broadened our horizons and ushered iconic American characters into being”, Obama said, adding his Shoah Foundation has helped thousands recount their stories from the Holocaust and other genocides. So did Spielberg for films of “boundless imagination” that range from E.T. and Schindler’s List to Saving Private Ryan.

President Barack Obama recognised the pair, alongside Gloria and Emilio Estefan, singer James Taylor, composer Stephen Sondheim, violinist Itzhak Perlman and baseball legends Willie Mays and Yogi Berra, among others.

When asked how she would’ve felt had Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, and not Obama, presented her with her award, Streisand replied, “I probably would’ve choked”. Off the stage, she has been a passionate advocate for issues like heart disease and women’s equality. “I’m getting all verklempt just thinking about it”, the president quipped in Yiddish.

Mathematician Katherine Johnson and baseball star Willie Mays were among 17 people who received medals from the president Tuesday.

Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Yogi Berra. Who knew he was a fan of “Funny Girl?” He has played with every major orchestra in the world, conducted many of them, taught generations of young musicians. He has won Emmys. Yo-Yo Ma. Telly from Sesame Street. He lays bare the soul of a piece, making us feel each note, and giving us a glimpse of something bigger than ourselves.

She also helped to make college more affordable by reforming and increasing Pell grants and student loans and wrote the law that prevents seniors from going bankrupt while paying for a spouse’s nursing home care.