President Barack Obama will honor author Maya Angelou, former President George H.W. Bush, baseball great Stan Musial, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, among others, with a 2010 Medal of Freedom in a White House ceremony Tuesday afternoon.
Several recipients support or have already been acquainted with Obama, so for some of them, this won’t be a first time meeting with the president. After Obama was elected in 2008, Angelou told CBS, “He’s intelligent. I don’t mean intellectually clever. I mean intelligent. What used to be called mother wit. He has common sense, which is most uncommon.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also a Medal of Freedom recipient, said of then candidate Obama in July 2008, “I would say that he is well-equipped — physically, mentally and politically.”
Fifteen civilians total will be recognized for their achievements and contributions to the country. Take a look at this year’s honorees:
