Desmond Tutu gets the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (left) waits as President Barack Obama puts around his neck the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. This ceremony was held in the East Room of the White House on August 11, 2009. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor given in the United States; 16 people received the honor that year, including Stephen Hawking, Joe Medicine Crow, Sidney Poitier, and Billie Jean King.