Biden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Joe Biden named 19 recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday, and two big names from the Carolinas made the list.

Elizabeth Dole, a Salisbury, North Carolina, native who was the first woman appointed to the role of U.S. Secretary of Transportation, is one of those 19 recipients. Additionally, U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn from South Carolina is being recognized for his three decades of work in the House.

Clarence B. Jones says he thought a prankster was on the line when he answered the telephone and heard the person on the other end say they were calling from the White House.

"I said, 'Is this a joke or is this serious?'" Jones recalled. The caller swore they were serious and was calling with the news that President Joe Biden wanted to recognize Jones with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Jones, 93, will be honored for his activism during the Civil Rights Movement. He's a lawyer who provided legal counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. and helped write the opening paragraphs of the "I Have a Dream" speech that King delivered at the Lincoln Memorial at the 1963 March on Washington.

Jones is among a diverse group of 19 individuals to be honored Friday by the Democratic president for making what the White House said are "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors."

The 10 men and nine women hail from the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, science and religion. Three medals will be awarded posthumously.

"These nineteen Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations, and businesses that shaped America for the better," the announcement from the White House said. "They are the pinnacle of leadership in their fields. They consistently demonstrated over their careers the power of community, hard work, and science."

Seven politicians are among the recipients: former New York mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, climate activist and former Vice President Al Gore, Biden's former climate envoy John Kerry, former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who died in 2013, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

[drussellu.s.]

Politicians should be exempt from receiving this award. They already get enough perks for doing nothing!

[tamparocks]

Did anyone hear what he said? International freedom of medal😅

[KingNothingx]

He said The Freedom Of 4 more years!!!! ... I am sure he will get better

[TwoPartyIllusion]

Every time he tries to say (read) transcends, It comes out as transg€nder!?😂

[jamescummings]

Awarding people deserving and politicians that agree with the admin’s goals

[DanielNiiKwarteiQUARTEY-tdcj]

Happy Sunday to first & second families (The Biden-Harris Administration). God bless you today and always. Take care ~ Daniel Nii Kwartei QUARTEY (RESTON, VA)

[MirandaEvans-xzeo]

A traitor to the UNITED STATES
Wow!! Great job Joe

[lmwthree]

So happy that Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom!

[zaksmith]

Who is Trump awarding? Let me guess. Is it Kanye West? Is it OJ Simpson? Is it anyone in prison? Heck!!! He'll award himself if he could and probably would. Trump: I award myself as best President of all time. Does he put the medal on himself or does someone help him. Maybe the MAGA Minions can clarify?

[Asunder]

BIDEN LOVES BLACK PEOPLE AND UNDERSTANDS THEM!