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| Obama awards Medal of Freedom to Clinton and Winfrey | Obama awards Medal of Freedom to Clinton and Winfrey |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honour, to 16 prominent Americans in various fields. | President Barack Obama has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honour, to 16 prominent Americans in various fields. |
| Among this year's recipients are former President Bill Clinton, entertainer Oprah Winfrey, late astronaut Sally Ride and feminist Gloria Steinem. | Among this year's recipients are former President Bill Clinton, entertainer Oprah Winfrey, late astronaut Sally Ride and feminist Gloria Steinem. |
| The awards are part of a day of events honouring President John F Kennedy. | The awards are part of a day of events honouring President John F Kennedy. |
| Kennedy established a modern version of the awards but did not live to present the first medals. | Kennedy established a modern version of the awards but did not live to present the first medals. |
| The 50th anniversary of his assassination is on Friday. | The 50th anniversary of his assassination is on Friday. |
| Later on Wednesday, Mr Obama joined Mr Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for a wreath-laying ceremony at Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. | Later on Wednesday, Mr Obama joined Mr Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for a wreath-laying ceremony at Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. |
| 'True champions' | 'True champions' |
| "Today, we salute fierce competitors who became true champions," Mr Obama said earlier at the White House, speaking about each recipient before their official commendations. | "Today, we salute fierce competitors who became true champions," Mr Obama said earlier at the White House, speaking about each recipient before their official commendations. |
| He thanked Mr Clinton for "the advice and counsel that you've offered me, on and off the golf course. And most importantly, for your lifesaving work around the world, which represents what's the very best in America." | He thanked Mr Clinton for "the advice and counsel that you've offered me, on and off the golf course. And most importantly, for your lifesaving work around the world, which represents what's the very best in America." |
| A recent political book reported that Mr Obama had left a golf game with Mr Clinton early during the 2012 election campaign, supposedly saying he could only tolerate his fellow Democrat "in doses". | A recent political book reported that Mr Obama had left a golf game with Mr Clinton early during the 2012 election campaign, supposedly saying he could only tolerate his fellow Democrat "in doses". |
| At Wednesday's ceremony, Mr Obama said Ride - who became the first American woman in space in 1983 and died last year of pancreatic cancer - had served as a rode model for his own children. | At Wednesday's ceremony, Mr Obama said Ride - who became the first American woman in space in 1983 and died last year of pancreatic cancer - had served as a rode model for his own children. |
| "Today our daughters, including Malia and Sasha, can set their sights a little bit higher because Sally Ride showed them the way," Mr Obama said. | "Today our daughters, including Malia and Sasha, can set their sights a little bit higher because Sally Ride showed them the way," Mr Obama said. |
| The medals for Ride as well as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and Senator Daniel Inouye, the first Japanese-American to serve in Congress, were awarded posthumously. | The medals for Ride as well as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and Senator Daniel Inouye, the first Japanese-American to serve in Congress, were awarded posthumously. |
| The other Medal of Freedom honourees were |