Obama Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom FULL EVENT

President Obama Awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom | President Obama is finishing out his second term by honoring some superstars from the worlds of film, TV, sports and music.Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, Robert Redford and Bruce Springsteen are among the big names who'll receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on Nov. 22 at the White House. Cicely Tyson, Diana Ross, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan are also among the 21 medal recipients, as are Bill and Melinda Gates, sports broadcaster Vin Scully, and "Saturday Night Live" creator and producer Lorne Michaels.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to people who have "made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

LIKE ABC News on FACEBOOK
FOLLOW ABC News on TWITTER:
GOOD MORNING AMERICA'S HOMEPAGE:

[AndreasKarlsson]

Forrest Gump: "So I went...again. And I met the President of the United States...again!"

[MattKnowsTech]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 37:08
Elouise Cobell (posthumous) 38:38
Ellen DeGeneres 39:52
Robert De Niro 41:12
Richard Garwin 42:23
Bill and Melinda Gates 43:35
Frank Gehry 45:00
Margaret H. Hamilton 46:16
Tom Hanks 47:30
Grace Hopper (posthumous) 48:43
Michael Jordan 49:56
Maya Lin 51:22
Lorne Michaels 52:28
Newt Minow 53:35
Eduardo Padrón 54:56
Robert Redford 56:00
Diana Ross 57:03
Vin Scully 58:32
Bruce Springsteen 59:55
Cicely Tyson 1:01:16

[caropapa]

I have no idea how the president has such a memory, he is not reading from a prompter or papers, he has such comedic wit about him a very engaging person to listen to

[Dr.Gonzo-]

Tom Hanks just smiling in the background had me the whole time 😂

[colinbaker]

Tom Hanks' face throughout this is a total joy.

[paladin]

Tom hanks face while obama speaks just cracks me up. I can´t keep a straight face

[adikusdarwanto]

29:23 an audience sneezing and the president say "Bless You!" 😂😂

[hollywoodcole]

Can we take a minute to appreciate the grammar, the memorization... the proper diction? I mean, Trump could NEVER.

[scottscott]

I'm not an American but this is what makes America great: the diversity of a variety of uniquely talented people that strive to better the world.

[russellh]

One of the best things about this video is seeing Tom Hanks' reactions in the background.

[ctubridy]

Tom Hanks, Michael Jordan, De Niro, Bill Gates, Springsteen, Donna Ross, Vin Scully, Kareem. What a lineup!

[nigelward]

When someone sneezes in the audience and without breaking a sweat he says 'bless you' gotta love this guy!

[kennytee]

If Kanye was there, he would've interrupted the ceremony when Diana Ross got her medal and complain that Beyonce should've got this Medal for her contribution to the music industry.

[transformerdude]

God, Imagine a president with a personality.

[LadyCapricorn]

That "Just keep swimming" and "Reach for the sky" bit for Tom Hanks and Ellen made me tear up... a lot 🥺

[Foolery]

I guess this is the American equivalent of being knighted

[Hamburgerful]

Finally Forrest Gump gets what he deserves!!!

[blaisebizimana]

I came here to watch this again as if it is happening right now. Mr Obama you will always be in my heart.

[reddrago]

He gave more medals to others than any other president has. What a great man.

[fedepop]

FORREST GUMP Meet the president of United again!!!!