Former President Bill Clinton, ex-Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and woman-who-needs-no-introduction Oprah Winfrey were among the 16 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom yesterday.

President Barack Obama also bestowed the highest civilian honor on Cubs player Ernie Banks, psychologist Daniel Kahneman, former Senator Richard Lugar, musician Loretta Lynn, Nobel Prize winner Mario Molina, jazz musician Arturo Sandoval, former University of North Carolina basketball team coach Dean Smith, feminist leader Gloria Steinem, minister and author Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian and judge Patricia Wald. Posthumous honors were given to former Senator Daniel Inouye, astronaut Sally Ride and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.

This year’s ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of when President John F. Kennedy established the award. Tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of the 35th president’s assassination.

“This is one of my favorite events every year, especially special this year, as I look at this extraordinary group of individuals and our opportunity to honor them with our nation’s highest civilian honor – the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Obama said at the ceremony. “And this year, it’s just a little more special because this marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy establishing this award.”