BIDEN AWARDS NATIONAL ARTS MEDALS

 

Joe Biden got several standing ovations as he presented the National Medals of Arts and Humanities, including a moment when he referenced the presidential race as he talked about the power of women.

"I know the power of women to get things done, and also help the next generation of pioneers, proving a woman can do anything a man can do and then some. That includes being president of the United States of America."

The remark drew large cheers and a standing ovation from the audience in the East Room, where Biden was joined by First Lady Jill Biden, National Endowment for the Arts chair Maria Rosario Jackson and National Endowment for the Humanities chair Shelly C. Lowe.

Among the recipients present were Steven Spielberg, LeVar Burton, Spike Lee, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Idina Menzel, Jon Meacham. Aaron Sorkin and Bruce Cohen.

There were 39 recipients of the medals at the event, as the White House combined the 2022 and 2023 ceremonies. The honorees already had received their medals by the time of the public ceremony, and instead were introduced at they entered and stood as a group.

Biden choked up a bit as he recounted the story of a 10-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. listening on the radio when singer Marian Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Because of her race, she was barred from appearing at the Daughters of the American Revolution hall, so then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had her perform on the steps of the memorial.

Biden spoke of the song that Anderson sang, My Country, Tis of Thee, but he paused and his voice cracked as he uttered the next verse, "sweet land of liberty."

"Twenty five years later, that 10 year old boy stood in those same steps," Biden said. "His name was Martin Luther King Jr. and he declared a dream during the March on Washington. He asked Marian Anderson to perform once again, and she did."

To read the complete article, see:
Joe Gets Big Cheers At National Arts Medal Ceremony For Talking Up A Woman President's Power "To Get Things Done" — Update (https://deadline.com/2024/10/biden-national-media-of-arts-and-humanities-1236121601/)

For a complete list of recipients, see:
President Biden to Award National Medals of Arts (https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2024/president-biden-award-national-medals-arts)
2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Citations (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/24/2022-and-2023-national-medal-of-arts-and-national-humanities-medal-citations/)

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