here, pulling us up short and giving us support for being alive. here's how steven spielberg once explained his creative process. "once a month, the sky falls on my head. i come to, and i see another movie i want to make." [laughter] this sounds painful for steven, but it has worked out well for the rest of us. in his career, steven has introduced us to extraterrestrials, rogue archaeologists, killer sharks. he has taken us to neverland, jurassic park, but also the beaches of normandy and nazi concentration camps. despite redefining the word "prolific," a spielberg movie is still a spielberg movie. somebody is calling to see if they can make a deal with him now. [laughter] they want to make a pitch. see, there's this really

good-looking president -- [laughter] a spielberg movie is marked by boundless imagination, worlds rendered in extraordinary detail, and characters who struggle to seize control of their destinies. all of that reminds us so powerfully of our own lives, and steven's films are marked most importantly by a faith in our common humanity, the same faith in humanity that led him to create the shoah foundation and lend a voice to survivors of genocide around the world. his stories have shaped america's story, and his values have shaped our world. so, we celebrate artists, public servants, and two legends from america's pastime.

what can be said about lawrence yogi berra that he could not say better himself? [laughter] the son of an italian bricklayer, they called him yogi because he sat like one while waiting to bat. he was born to play baseball, but he loved his country, and at 18 he left st. louis for the navy and found himself on omaha beach. after he returned, he embarked on a career that would make him one of the greatest catchers of all time. with the yankees, he played in 14 world series in 18 years, he won 10 world series rings, had three m.v.p. awards. he had, as one biographer put it, "the winningest career in american sports."

he lived his life with pride and maturity. and an open mind. we don't have time to list all of willie mays' statistics. lifetimeruns, .302 batting average. the list goes on and on. i won't describe that miracle grab either because willie says that was not even his best catch. i will say this, we have never seen an all-around player quite like willie before and we have not seen one cent spirit he could throw and he could field, hit for contact and for power. he was so fast he could barely keep the hat on hish ead. -- his head. willie also served our country.

his quiet example helped carry for the banner of civil rights. a few years ago, willie rode with me on air force one. i told him than what i will tell you now, it is because of giants like will that someone like me could even think about running for president. [applause] and finally, we celebrate those who have challenged us to live up to our values. like to say, i, was not a policy guy. i was a getting arrested guy. billy was arrested more than 50 times in his fight to protect tribal fishing rights and save the salmon that has set his family for generations. we was spat on, shot at, chased, clubbed and cast as an

outlaw but he kept fighting because he knew his -- knew he was right. a judge agreed. to become an national voice and a warrior for the natural world. i don't believe in magic, billy said, i believe in the sun, the stars, the water, hawks flying, the rivers running, the wind talking. we and they are the same. wasears ago, lonnie carol's turned upside down. her husband tom was killed in a plane crash along with seven other soldiers. began healinghe the only wishing a how by helping others. she founded the tragedy assistance program for survivors, creating a national

community to support the families of our fallen service members. each year it holds workshops for military families across the country. camps, their good grief they bring together children to learn how to cope with loss, to honor the legacy of their heroes and to try to have some fun as well. said, gold star child because of them, i know someone is by my side. on a saturday night in march, nasui left his law office to walk around portland, oregon. defied the curfew imposed on japanese-americans during world war ii. he took his case to the supreme court and lost. a decision he fought for the

rest of his life. despite what japanese-americans endured -- suspicion, hostility, forced removal, internment -- he never stopped believing in the promise of his country. he never stopped fighting for equality and justice for all. we believe in the greatness and the great ideals of this country, he once said. we think there is a future for all humanity in the united states of america. today, his legacy has never been more important. our nationalto conscience, a reminder of our obligation to be the land of free and the home of the brave. an america worthy of his sacrifice. so, ladies and gentlemen, these are the recipients of the 2015 presidential medal of freedom. let's give them a big round of applause. [applause]

and now have a seat. we are not done. they have got to get some hardware here. my military, let's read the citations. >> presidential medal of freedom citation. barra, receiving on behalf of lawrence peter barra.

one of our nation's most beloved and quotable sports heroes, lawrence peter yogi berra was a world-class baseball player. navy,t home to join the fought on d-day and came home with a purple heart. as a three-time m.v.p. major catcher, he won 10 world series championships. as the manager of the new york yankees, he guided his team in the sport he loves with the wisdom that lives in our national consciousness and taught us all that we can observe a lot just by watching. [laughter] [applause]

carroll. after her husband died in a plane crash, bonnie carroll channeled her grief into service. as the founder of the tragedy assistance program for survivors, she has devoted her life to building a network to support familiesho , like hers , made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. the heartsconfronted and lifted the lives of thousands of families across the country. her strength and generosity are testament to the enduring human spirit. [applause]

andre dubois receiving on behalf of the honorable shirley chisholm. as the first african-american srtgresswoman and the fis african-american woman to seek a major party nomination for president, shirley chisholm carry the torch of progress into american politics. from classrooms in new york city to committee rooms in congress, she gave voice to the plight of marginalized communities, built coalitions to expand social justice and announced sexism and racism. by refusing to stand on the sidelines never letting others define her limits and daring to be herself, shirley chisholm embodies the american spirit.

[applause] emilio estefan jr. gloria estefan. of havana, cuba, ailo estefan rose to be musician and businessman. bringing his sound to america's pop audiences, he proved the power of these it transcends social and cultural boundaries. emilio estefan has created a new wholly american sound.

with her infectious rhythm and iconic vocals, gloria estefan is powerhouse who has sold millions of records. transporting the spirit of havana to miami and the aunt, her music broke down berries and establish latin music in the american mainstream. a humanitarian and a devoted family leader, gloria estefan embodies the story of america and of a pioneer who will forever symbolize the -- symbolize the potential of all those who develop their talents and build their dreams.

receiving on behalf of billy frank junior billy frank junior devoted his life to protecting the rights of conservingicans and our planet. for 50 years, he tirelessly and fearlessly fought for the preservation of traditional ways of life and the protection of treaty fishing rights. he was renowned as an advocate for the physical and cultural survival of native americans. us that theeminds pursuit of equality and justice is the work of every generation. [applause]

lee h. hamilton. a leading voice on national hamilton has h. played a pivotal role in developing solutions to some of the most complex challenges of our times. his leadership and congas reflected his profound commitment to preserving the safety and integrity of our nation. and his role in promoting pacific engagement has created an impact. theh. hamilton has do course of american history in a spirit of bipartisanship and he continues to strengthen the homeland and promote diplomacy.

catherine -- katherine g. johnson. [applause] with her razor-sharp mathematical mind, catherine jeh johnson helped broaden the scope of space travel charting new frontiers for humanity's exploration of space and creating new possibilities for all humankind. from sending the first american to space to the first landing, she played a critical role in many of nasa's milestone. johnson refused to be limited by expectations of her gender and race by expanding the boundaries of humanity's reach. [applause]

willie howard mays jr. born in segregated alabama, willie howard mays junior grew up to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. power andnmatched agility, he stepped into the history books as a two-time m.v.p. with 660 career home 24e and 24 -- home runs and world series appearances. us of the reminds of t

power of hard work and his legacy continues to inspire generations of americans. the honorable barbara a mikulski. for decades, barbara a. mikulski has served the people of maryland and our nation with conviction, heart and the spirit of selflessness. as a social worker, community

organizer, city counselor and the longest-serving woman in congress she has been a tireless advocate for families, women, children, and seniors. in the senate, barbara mikulski has wielded her power to fight equality and fairness for the most vulnerable members of our society. her example helped pave the way for other women in elected office and her legacy will endure in all those who climb the ladder of opportunity she fought to build. [applause] itzhak perlman.

[applause] a teacher, conductor and one of the greatest violinist of our time, itzhak perlman has brought joy to millions. new artistuntless and earned adoration from global audiences. born in israel, he has devoted his life to sharing his love of music. from tel aviv to shanghai, from london to moscow, he has served as one of the world's most cherished cultural ambassadors. as well as a tireless advocate for the disabled. itzhak perlman's heartfelt performances on stage and dedicated efforts to educate the next generation will continue to enrich the human symphony. [applause]

the honorable william ruckelshaus. [applause] from his time as an army drill sergeant to his service at the highest levels of government, william ruckelshaus has served our nation with dedication and integrity. the first administrator of the environmental protection agency, government's efforts to help community struggling with contaminated rivers and polluted cities. he returned to the home to carry forward its mission of environmental stewardship. with conviction and courage, william ruckelshaus continues to place principle over politics, continuing his lifetime advocacy on behalf of our nation and our

planet. [applause] stephen sondheim. [applause] [laughter] an acclaimed lyricist and composer, stephen sondheim is a

master of the american musical. his witty, point it shows telltales of misfits, romantics, dreamers, and lunatics. chch medievalism -- ea meticulously rhymed many grappling with dashed hopes. his musical are full of joyous -- sustained by melodies. his astonishing body of work includes many of our nation's best loved, most wriggly station musicals. and people around the world know and love his songs. stephen sondheim has forever left his mark on the american stage. [applause] steven spielberg.

[applause] from e.t. and jurassic park to saving private ryan and schindler's list, steven spielberg has established his place as one of history's most influential filmmakers. he has brought entire universes to life, and ushered iconic american characters into being. our world has been shaped by his stories and through his show of foundation he has helped thousands of survivors from genocide tell world changing stores. he represents the best of american culture and humanitarianism and we honor his time as contributions to our national life. [applause]

barbra joan streisand. for six decades, barbra streisand has used her extraordinary voice to bring life to the range and humor of the human experience. her talent, authenticity, and bold performances have left an indelible mark an american film, theater and music. of fansg generations and performers. as a philanthropist and powerful advocate for women's heart health, she encourages others to use their own voices to make a difference. barbra joan streisand's legacy

will endure in the american narrative. [applause] james taylor. [applause] for decades, james taylor has

use the power of music to enrich our nation and the world. from longing and love to loss and renewal. his songwriting captures the heart of the human experience. to fire and rain and so much more, each generation that grows to know james taylor's music will continue to be moved by his timelessness and enduring beauty. [applause] minoru yasui. [applause]

from the fruit farms of oregon to the hallowed halls of the supreme court, minoru yasui devoted his life to fighting for basic human right's and the fair and equal treatment of every american. challenging the military curfew placed on japanese-americans during world war ii, he brought critical attention to the issue and paved the way for all americans to stand as full and equal citizens. minoru yasui's example endures as a reminder as the power of one voice for justice. [applause] president obama: ladies and gentlemen, give them a big round of applause. 2015 presidential medal of freedom winners.

this is an extraordinary group. even by the standards of medal of freedom recipients, this is a class act. we are just reminded when we see these individuals here on the stage, you know, what an incredible tapestry this country is. and what a great blessing to be asa nation where individuals diverse, from as wildly different backgrounds, can help to shape our dreams, how we live together, help define justice and freedom and love.

they represent what is best in us. very proud toy, be able to celebrate them here today. my understanding is also there is pretty good food in the white house. so, please enjoy the reception, and congratulations to all the recipients. thank you very much, everybody. [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

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[applause] >> today on c-span, "washington youral" is next live with phone calls and tweets. tonight, an interview with the new head of the smithsonian who discusses the future of the institution. in 45 minutes, a debate over raising the minimum wage. then we'll preview the upcoming

paris climate change talks with bloomberg dna reporter dean scott. and a look at the state of native american communities with national congress of american indians executive director jacqueline pata. ♪ good morning. it is wednesday, november 25, 2015. welcome to "washington journal." the day before thanksgiving. president obama staying put at the white house meeting with advisers. pardoning the national turkeys participating in washington, d.c., area community service. in his hometown of chicago, the mayor there, a news conference announcing the release of police video of the shooting of the 17 -year-old black teen last october. here on "washington journal