can too by asking your healthcare provider if an oral treatment is right for you. oral treatments can be taken at home and must be taken within 5 days from when symptoms first appear. if you have symptoms of covid-19, even if they're mild don't wait, get tested quickly. if you test positive and are at high risk for severe disease, act fast ask if an oral treatment is right for you. covid-19 moves fast and now you can too. good to be with you. i'm katy tur. it is a special day at the white house. the president will bestow this country's highest civilian honor, the medal of freedom, to 17 people today. among them, simone biles and

steve giffords. but first u.k. prime minister boris johnson is out or at least he's about to be. the scandal-plagued leader says his party doesn't believe in him anymore. "themes the breaks," he said in front of 10 downing this morning. >> i tried to persuade my colleagues it would be eccentric to change governments when we're delivering so much and have such a vast mandate. but as we've seen at westminster, the herd instinct is powerful. when the herd moves, it moves. my friends in politics, no one is remotely indispensable. >> johnson was touting his successes on brexit, the pandemic and support for ukraine. ultimately it was one too many scandals that did him him, accused of harassment and groping to a key leadership position and then denying he ever knew about that lawmaker's

history of similar allegations. more than 50 ministers in his government resigned over johnson's shifting explanations, a mass exodus in the party intended to finally force the pm out. johnson blamed a herd mentality for his demise, which sound like the british way of claiming cancel culture. on the streets of london, some didn't believe he'd actually go. it was only yesterday that johnson told parliament he wasn't going anywhere. >> i'm a conservative but boris has to go. he's a disgrace. >> i'm just surprised it took him so long really. yesterday i thought it would probably come. by the end of the day seemed like he was going to keep on, but i guess he's figured it out it's not going to go. >> so who will britain's next leader be and what will it mean for the country's special relationship with the united states? johnson and president biden have had an interesting but cordial

relationship over the years. they were and are still at odds on multiple major topics like brexit, climate change and maintaining a diplomatic presence in afghanistan. but they also agreed on a lot, particularly johnson's consistent support for ukraine in the fight against russia's invasion. so how might his replacement change all what? joining me now from westminster is kelly cobiella and katty kay, and writer and broadcaster for bbc news and my friend on the donald trump campaign trail. everybody, welcome. only yesterday he was telling parliament he wasn't going anywhere. >> yeah, about 24 hours ago he was saying i'm fighting, i'm buoyant, i'm ready to take this on. then this morning i think reality set in when you had yet

another string of resignations. again, high-profile ministers saying they could no longer support prime minister johnson. really one letter in particular from the newly appointed finance minister, a close friend and ally of boris johnson's in this very blunt letter she said essentially you know what's right in your heart, boris johnson, go now. i think he saw the writing on the wall if he wasn't going to step down and resign under his own terms that mps here at parliament were going to do it for him. he was going to face another confidence vote at some point, possibly next week, and he was not going to win that one. katy. >> john, why, though, was this the scandal that forced him out? there have been so many scandals over the years and he only just recently survived a confidence vote. why now? >> i think that there was just an accretion of more and more

scandals that were piling up and everyone seemed to follow a similar path, a similar trajectory. first of all, you'd send a minister out to deny i've had an absolute categorical assurance from the prime minister and this didn't happen. and then a bit of information comes up. oh, what i said on the radio and television yesterday wasn't true. it did actually happen. and then you'd get the humble apologies from the prime minister. and this just kept on building and building and building, and this one was just too much and this lawmaker that no one outside his family probably had never heard of suddenly became the lightning rod that would bring boris johnson down, and it has been a spectacular fall. the conservative party is not fighting over one of the great issues about our relationship with europe or the iraq war or taxation. this is entirely about boris

johnson's personal conduct, his trustworthiness and, frankly, whether he's a liar. >> all right. so, who takes his place? is there a clear person up for the job right now? >> no. now we start what's called here a beauty contest of people who would like to replace boris johnson. none of them are going to be like boris johnson, none will have that outsized charisma that lots of americans enjoyed. he has a sense of humor, he can be an entertainer. he's the only politician i interviewed that made himself look more messy before the interview than try to look more neat. he literally sat next to me and before we went live ruffled his hair with his fingers to look more messy. nobody's like that. it's not likely to be somebody the americans have heard of. it could be a former secretary of state. there a couple, the current secretary of state, the former

foreign affairs secretary would also like to have that job, but there will be a team of people now who try to rally support from the conservative party. we may not know until the autumn who it's going to be. it's unlikely whoever it is will have a major impact on the u.k.-u.s. relationship. the bonds between the two countries are so tied, boris johnson going will not have a big impact on the closeness between washington and london. >> what about brexit? he was famously the leader of brexit, forced it through. what happens with somebody else in charge? does brexit remain? is it possible it doesn't remain at this point? >> no, brexit is done and boris johnson's legacy is that he delivered brexit. now some of the details of brexit have to be sorted out, particularly surrounding northern ireland. and that may change now that it

comes to a new prime minister may have a different approach to boris johnson. but brexit is done. the one big question perhaps with the continent that's pertinent is over ukraine. boris johnson had a very close relationship with zelenskyy. he's really backed the ukrainians in their war with russia. it will be interesting as inflation back here in the u.k., gas and energy prices are high. will a new prime minister have a slightly more distant relationship with president zelenskyy. that depends who takes over. >> we are at a crucial moment when it comes to ukraine. the news cycle is moving on, the attention is not on it as heavily as it was a few months

ago. president zelenskyy is feeling that, making strident appeals to keep the focus on the fight there. what is the sentiment in the u.k. today? >> boris johnson was one of the biggest cheer leaders for taking a tough approach to russia over what they have done and he was kind of very much in lock step with joe biden over this. i personally don't see any of conservative candidates that will run for the leadership saying anything other than we need to continue that policy. i think there will be a areas of difference and all sorts of other issues where britain might change tact. but i think over ukraine there is broad support and there is a feeling that you need to take a tough stance. now volodymyr zelenskyy will be sad to see boris johnson go and i think conversely volodymyr zelenskyy has been pretty helpful to boris johnson over

some of these issues. people have been able to say boris johnson may not be getting things right and there are all these scandals but look at how much they're working to the over ukraine. i think on ukraine there will be continuity, whoever takes over, whenever they take over. but i think you can't exaggerate the instability that there is going to be over the coming months because a sizable chunk of the ruling conservative party, boris johnson's party, want him gone and want him gone right now. and boris johnson is clinging on by his finger nails and desperate in the hope, i think, that something might come along that will actually save him from having to leave office. and so i think that there is a battle going on and there will be instability in britain during this period. >> you know, it seems like he took kind of a donald trump tact in some ways, not all. just the denial of scandal, pushing right through, don't apologize, don't acquiesce to

the opposition, don't acquiesce to the loud voices who say you should be ashamed of yourself. obviously it's a different degree with boris johnson. let's bring in carol lee at the white house. carol, talk to us about the united states perspective on this, the white house's perspective on this. >> what we're hearing from the white house, katy, is essentially that this is a relationship that will transcend anyone who serves as prime minister, and that's notable in the president's statement where he didn't mention the prime minister by name but said that the special relationship between the u.s. and the u.k. will endure. so that's the message that we're hearing from the white house at this point. there will certainly be additional questions about how the president sees this moment, how he sees the future in terms of various issues that the u.s. and the u.k. work closely on and, look, there's always some uncertainty when there is a change in government, particularly with a country that is this close with the united states, but this is a president

who has seen ten british prime ministers over his course in public life, serving in the senate and president and it's never been as consequential now that he's sitting in the oval office. i think the big question is ukraine. even before the russian invasion of ukraine when i would talk to administration officials and the president was trying to get european countries on the same page and take a tough stance against russia and support ukraine, their view was that the u.k. was their strongest ally but that that was always going to be the case, regardless of who was in office. that probably gives this administration a little bit of reassurance about what the posture might be going forward, however, they don't know exactly what the domestic politics are going to be in the u.k. in the coming months and who is going to take over. for now, katy, they're saying this is a relationship that

transcends any one individual. >> there is much uncertainty, not just overseas but here as well. we don't know what's going to happen in 2022, what's going to happen in 2024. there's still a big movement of folks out there who want someone like donald trump, if not him, back in power in this country. you have the french elections, which macron won but then the french government, the more conservative party got a stronger hold giving macron less leverage than he once had. now you see this with boris johnson and the u.k. it feels like the dynamic of governments across the western world, there's just a big question mark around them. >> yeah, we are in a moment, as joe biden has wanted to say during the course of his presidency where democracy is not exactly on trial but people need to know that democracy works for them and is strong and healthy. that's certainly a question that's relevant in the united states at the moment. i just spent a month traveling

around the u.s. talking to people on both sides of the political debate, and everybody i spoke to questioned whether we are in a perilous moment for democracy. when you see great britain like this in a moment of political turmoil, it underlies some of that sense that there is a fragility in the system. i guess the difference in the u.k. compared to the u.s. is that the u.k. is moving on and moving on fast. yes, it may be a question of a few months and that could produce instability in the system and, yes, boris johnson will try and stay. there's been speculation that boris johnson may try to do what donald trump has done and cling on to power, even if it is not by conventional means. that seems to be unlikely, and the u.k. looks tonight like it is drawing a line under this period of political chaos. that's a good thing for democracy. we can't really afford in this moment of war between russia and ukraine to have the greatest democracies in the west, you

know, the oldest, some of the most populous, most vibrant be as fragile as they have been recently. and if the u.k. can draw a line on this, i think that would be good for democracy in this moment. >> let's hope we don't see anybody trying to storm parliament over there. katty kay, thank you, everyone, for starting us off. we are watching the white house and the medal of freedom ceremony should begin any moment. there it is. people have taken their seats. the honorees are not there yet, though. >> coming up, they got what they are asking for. pat cipollone will speak with the january 6th committee. they have been pleading with him to come. he finally said yes. what he could confirm for them and what the public might hear. also, brittney griner pleaded

guilty in a russian court. plus, china's threat. the u.s. and u.k. are issuing an unprecedented joint warning. what it says coming up. unprecedented joint warning. what it says coming up

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wnba star brittney griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in a moscow courtroom today. with that plea she faces up to ten years in a russian prison. back at home griner's wife is calling on president biden to do more to get her out. let's go to our guest. pleading guilty to these drug charges, having hashish oil in her bag for her vape pen, how

does that help her get back home? >> it's a little complicated but most experts in the state department believe the only way to move forward with negotiations of getting her home, which is most likely going to be a prisoner or hostage swap was to have her plead guilty. this in no way expedites of process of not just a trial but the process of negotiating her out of there. >> her wife is calling on president biden to do more. what has been the white house response? >> well, president biden has acknowledged that he's talked to cherelle, to brittney's wife and he's led the record about not to forgetting her and getting her out of there. this is all based off of how much leverage the united states actually will have in a situation where vladimir putin and russia kind of hold all the

cards right now. >> you know, i keep going back to this. why was she there in the first place? there was a lead up to war, there was increased tensions between the united states and russia. we all knew about it. what was the wnba doing there playing any games? >> the wnba itself was not there. the economic realities of the wnba are that players don't make enough money in their regular season jobs and they take second jobs playing overseas to supplement their incomes. so this is absolutely a function of income inequality between men and women athletes. now brittney griner's been playing in russia for ten years now. she's very well known and very well liked over there. so this isn't actually something new. >> thank you so much. i'm sorry to cut it short but we have a ceremony at the white house that we have to get to. this is the president handle out a medal of freedom to 17 recipients. it's the highest civilian honor you can get in this country.

right now the recipients are being announced. you can see them taking their seats. among them gabby giffords. there's also going to be some posthumous recipients as well, steve jobs and also the late senator john mccain, which will be notable. obviously president biden and him had a relationship going back decades. simone biles will also receive this. they're all gathered there at the white house right now. the president will be making his way in any moment, but because this is such an important honor, because it is the highest civilian honor, let's dip in a little bit early and just watch. d ♪

♪ >> i didn't realize we were about to get just a ton of music. so let's bring in presidential historian michael beschloss. egg on my face, michael. went in a little bit too early. talk to me about this presentation. >> no egg on your face at all, katy. here's a case where this is a medal that goes actually back to 1963. john kennedy was president. for the first time in those years the president of the united states was the leader of the free world. so he thought that like european countries, we should have a white house that looks great and air force i should look the way it does to this day and a president should give out a presidential medal of freedom. he was assassinated just before he was supposed to do it, so the first ones were handed out actually by new president lyndon johnson, and one of those he gave was posthumously to john f. kennedy. very poignantly. >> all right. so what we're seeing today very

poignantly as well, is a posthumous honor for the late senator john mccain. it's getting a lot of attention because of the political times we're living in. what do you make of president biden giving this to him? what do you make of donald trump not giving it to him? >> well, what a president is doing in these days is sort of showing you what his values and goals are by showing you who -- the people he's giving the presidential medal to. so when donald trump gave the presidential medal to rush limbaugh, that made a statement. today biden is doing it with john mccain showing he wants to be bipartisan. >> somebody who was able to reach across the aisle or say no to his own party when he thought it was the right thing to do. here is president biden and the medal of freedom ceremony. good afternoon. welcome to the white house. i know this is kind of an old place for some of you guys that

come here. thank you all very much and to all the cabinet members, elected officials that are here and former elected officials like joe lieberman, our good friend, is here. so many critical people and important people. i want to thank the vice president harris, and the second gentleman for allowing us to join them -- for joining us. it is always a pleasure when we get to hang out together. on monday we celebrated the independence of our nation, a nation always a work in progress, in creation of possibilities, fulfillment of promises. that's the american story. it's not a simple one. it's never been a simple one but the fourth of july week reminds us what brought us together long ago and still binds us, binds us at our best. we strive for what we strive for. we the people, doing what we can to ensure the idea of america, the cause of freedom shines like

the sun to light up the future of the world. that's the soul of our nation. that's who we are as americans. and that's what we see, an extraordinary, extraordinary group of americans up here in this stage that i have the honor to recognize today with the presidential medal of freedom, our nation's highest civilian award. [ applause ] simone biles, the most decorated american gymnast in history, every steps everything every time she was on camera, just to watch. just to see her. [ applause ] when we see her compete, we see unmatched power and determination, grace and daring. a trail blazer and a role model, when she stands on the podium,

we see what she is, absolute courage, to turn personal pain into purpose, to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. today she ups her medal account, 32 olympic and world championship medals. at age 25 the youngest person ever to receive the medal of freedom. youngest ever. [ cheers and applause ] and so much more to give. a fellow elite athlete, megan rapino. megan is one of the most accomplished soccer players and first to receive the medal of freedom. she is a champion for essential

american truth that everyone, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. everyone. along with her incredible teammates of the united states national team, by the way my son hunter and his daughter is here. his daughter is a great high school athlete. she was so excited to be with you when you won the national -- when you won the championship. walking off the field, we said hi to you. she said i was busy. so when she wins again, i hope i see her, i hope she'll say "i think i know that guy." it depends. megan did something really consequential. she helped lead the change for perhaps the most important

victory for anyone on her soccer team or any soccer team, equal pay for women. [ cheers and and i hope there's room for this medal between all the other awards you've received during your remarkable career and reckless play. i was watching you. my lord, you are good, kid. simone and megan would be the first to acknowledge they stand on the shoulder of those who came before them, like brigadier general wilma vaughn. she's one of the most decorated women to serve in the united states military. she enlisted in the 1950s because she wanted to become a

leader. 30 years in uniform, shattering conventions, shaping a new tradition of our military. and she couldn't stop after retirement. the first museum of its kind so we may know and be inspired by not just her story but the story of millions of women who served this nation in uniform. [ applause ] as a 23-year-old student, diane nash received a phone call from attorney general robert kennedy's top deputies warning her about the violence at the next stop of the freedom ride she organized across the south. she replied, and i quote, "we all signed our last will and testaments before they left. we know someone will be killed but we cannot let violence overcome nonviolence."

[ applause ] think of that. an unmistakable courage, an unshakeable courage in leadership, diane nash shaped some of the most important civil rights in history. after four little girls were murdered at the 16th street church in birmingham, she planned what became the selma campaign two years later. her activism echos around the halls of freedom around the world today and she's the first to say the medal is shared with hundreds of thousands of patriotic americans who sacrificed so much for justice and liberty for all. she asked me to add that because she didn't want to take all the credit herself. [ applause ] and dr. king, rosa parks, john

lewis and other giants of our history needed a lawyer in their fight for freedom, you know who they would call? they'd call a guy named fred gray. that's who they'd call. one of the most important civil rights lawyers in our history. fred's legal brilliance and strategy desegregated schools and secured the right to vote. he went on to be elected as one of the first african-american state legislators and an ordained minister, he had the righteous calling that touched the soul of our nation. and at 91 years young, he's still practicing law. [ applause ] and he's still keeping a faith in the best of america. and the best of america includes raul -- raul, you're something

else, man. no, you really are. you really are. raul was a son, a father, who fled violence in mexico and a mother who was a multi-generational texan, her dream from san juan texas in the lower rio grande valley, served with honor in the united states air force and turned a civil rights group into one of the most important ones was for 30 years president for the national counsel for laraza, he was an undaunted leader for the struggle for civil and human rights for latino americans. never forgetting where he came from and the promise of this nation. born in brownsville, texas, julie garcia became a professor at a local community college. i know i'm bias since jill is a community college professor but community college professors are the best.

[ applause ] and i've learned teaching isn't what she or jill does, it's who they are. it's who juliette is. she helped transform her community college where she became the first hispanic woman to serve as college president in american history. [ cheers and applause ] education is the cornerstone of our democracy, she created curiosity for generations of students, many who are the first to go to college and who see their american dream because of her. other than my family, the biggest impact in my life were the nuns and the sisters of st. joseph's. if you think i'm joking, i'm not. [ laughter ] nuns never forget a thing.

never. and, by the way, i was doing villanova commencement and one of my nuns from school was getting her doctorate degree. i presented it to her and she said that was pretty good, joe but you said you instead of me at the time. in school i used to stutter very badly. they gave me confidence that i could do anything. they really did. for so many people and for the nation, the sister is a gift from god. in the past 50 years she embodied the belief in our church that faith without work is dead and you will know me for what i do and what you do the least of thee you do unto me. that's sister simone. that's what she does. the nuns in the bus were simply, simply remarkable. i was told not do this but i'm

going to do it anyway. i went over to see pope john -- excuse me, pope benedict, in his last couple months, we didn't know at the time. we had a long conversation. he's a great theologian, very conservative. you come to my house and there's a whole wall on comparative theology. we finished the conversation. he was very generous and put his hand across the desk and said can i ask you a favor, mr. vice president? i said, of course, you holiness. he said do you have any advice for me? i said it would be presumptuous to give you advice. he said, no, really. i said one piece of advice. i'd go easy on the nuns. they're more popular than you are. the fact that six weeks later he retired, i don't know if it had anything to do with it.

sister, your standing up is a big deal, a big, big deal. becoming a lawyer to represent the poor and the left behind a decade ago as the nation was debating the affordable care act and the values of our budgets. there she was, leading a group of nuns on a nationwide bus campaign to make the case, the moral case, that health care is a right in this country, not a privilege and the obligation to help other people most in need. compassion and brave, humble and strong, today she remains a beacon of light. she's the embodiment of a covenant of trust, hope and progress of our nation and i call -- i'm happy to call her my friend. thank you, sister. [ applause ] another dear friend of mine and the reason why back in delaware the greek community i'm known as joe bidenopolous -- you think

i'm joking. father knows i'm not. father asks me -- roman catholics bless ourselves down here and to the left shoulder. greek catholics go down into the right shoulder. i find myself being more greek sometimes than others, get me in trouble. father, you for more than 50 years, your leadership in the greek orthodox archdiocese of america has mattered to everyone in the greek church. you've been an incredible leader, father. a man of deep moral clarity and calling and he's advised parishioners of unmatched humility and grace. i traveled to his homeland in greece to strengthen the bonds of two countries with the belief that foundation is the way.

and this is the 100th anniversary of the greek orthodox church in america. we honor one of the most dedicated leaders, my dear friend father alex. [ applause ] and speaking of faith, when you meet gabby giffords, congresswoman giffords, you can remind her -- [ applause ] -- and the power of public service. elected by the people of her hometown of tucson, arizona because they trusted her. they still trust her. they believed in her. and they learned as a nation what the whole nation has learned, that she's the embodiment of a most single

significant american trait, never, ever, give up. my dad used to have an expression, never bend, never bow, never kneel, just get up, joey. get up. proof we can channel the pain and sorrow we see too often in america in a movement that will prevail. [ applause ] with her husband, united states senator mark kelly, who by the way was an astronaut, you might remember, she's more consequential. but they're helping power that movement. on monday we'll celebrate the most significant gun safety law in 50 years because of them and families like theirs all across america. gabby is one of the most courageous people i have ever known. [ applause ]

one of the most decent, stand up, genuine guys i ever served with is this senator alan simpson. former united states senator from his beloved wyoming, republican -- we served together in the united states senate for nearly two decades. one of the great things about alan is he never takes himself too seriously nor takes me seriously. all kidding aside, this is the real deal, one of the finest men i've ever worked with. at his core, he's always believed in the common good and what's best for the nation. we didn't agree on everything, though we allowed on a whole heck of a lot. he never allowed his, i don't know, his party or his state or anything to get in the way of what he felt was right. he allowed his conscience to be his guide and he believed in

forging real relationships, even with people on the other side of the aisle, proving we can do anything when we work together as the united states of america. it matters, it matters, it matters. we need more of your spirit back in the united states senate and on both sides of the aisle. [ applause ] just ask keyeser con, who studied law in pakistan. fully believing in the promise of this nation, they watched their little son enlist in the united states army with his own dreams to be a military lawyer and sacrificed to serve his fellow soldiers. we all watched as the darkest forces of hate emerged in new ways to meet the strength and

decency of this gold star american family. in late november 2016, everybody was invited to the vice president's residence for a reception. the reception was on a hindu holiday. i'm being very serious, that's the america that we know. that's the america he and i and most of you i pray god believe in. we were parents united by the pain of losing a piece of our souls and finding a purpose to live a life worthy of it. after today's father medal of freedom will rest next to the son's bronze star and purple heart. and keyeser kahn, you will carry a copy of the constitution, i imagine it's still in york pocket, as a reminder of the charge that has to be kept.

[ applause ] at just 18 years old, sandra emigrated from queens, new york, to jamaica to pursue her dreams of becoming a nurse. as a critical nurse during the height of the pandemic, she helped people fight for their lives and keep the nurses safe. she was the first person in america to be fully vaccinated. sandra, if there's any angels in heaven, they're all nurses, male and female. no, for real. many of you who have spent a lot of time in the hospital, doctors let you live, nurses male and female make you want to live. sandra's vaccination card and hospital scrubs and badge are part of the smithsonian national

museum of american history, an exhibit on covid-19. today she receives our nation's highest civilian honor and deserves it. [ applause ] and a man who couldn't be here today but wanted to be, denzel washington. one of our greatest actors in american history, academy awards, golden globes, tony awards, wide acclaim and admiration from audiences and peers around the world. he couldn't be here today but i'll be giving him this award at a later date when he's able to get here. i'll now turn to the three medalists who are being awarded the medals posthumously. to the families i know receiving this award on behalf of their loved one is bittersweet. it brings honor but it brings back everything that's hard. it brings you -- reminds you of the day that you lost them.

but i know anything -- and i appreciate your willingness to be here on this day. we're going to see a lot more change in the next ten years and much, much more of that is because of steve jobs. [ applause ] not just because of his innovations and inventions, revolutions personal computing and our way of life, it's for his embodiment of a core american character he believed was in each of us, character that got tested in setback and failure, character in perseverance and character on what we leave on this earth when our time come.

what steve left is special, capacities to improve our lives in ways that haven't even been thought of. and the love of his wife and his children, they carry on this incredible legacy of doing big things, perhaps biggest of all helping us end cancer as we know it. because it matters. it matters -- [ applause ] it matters to people who need help. it mattered to steve jobs. richard trumka, he said about unions "we do america's work." no one did more work for american workers than he did. [ applause ] from rich, his work was synonymous with the word that defined his life, dignity. dignity.

dignity that comes with a good paying job that builds a good and decent middle class life. his work was fierce, always trying to do the right thing for working people, fighting for and protecting their wages, their safety, their pensions they earned and deserved. fighting for the worker power and for america itself and our economic mite and dynamism. in 30 years of friendship he was always tough and fair and trustworthy, a guy you want in your corner. i was in cleveland yesterday to announce protection for pensions for millions and workers and retirees in 50 years. barbara, rich jr. and the family, we felt him there and we talked about it and we feel him here today. rich trumka was the american worker. was the american worker. [ applause ] when i was a young man, too

young to be serving in the senate but old enough to get elected, you can't be sworn in until you turn 30. i got elected 17 days before that. i had the great honor because of >> he was a navy liaison in the united states senate. a liaison to our community. when we traveled we traveled with the navy liaison personnel. john and i traveled the world together, literally traveled the world together. we became friends, and we agreed on a lot more than we disagreed on. i would turn to him for advice lots of times when we were talking about foreign-policy

issues abroad. but the two things we never talked about, we never talked about his imprisonment nor the death of my wife and daughter. her pain was significantly different somehow we seem to understand one another. it was a long time ago. we both wanted to make things better for the country that we both loved. that never wavered. in fact, i admit to my democratic friends, i'm the guy that encouraged john to go home and run for office, for real. i knew what incredible courage, intellect and conscience he had. we used to argue like on the senate floor. then we would go down and have lunch together afterwards. we ran against each other, which i didn't like, on tickets

for the highest office in the land. i was candidate for vice president and he was candidate for president. i never stopped admiring john. never said a negative thing about him in my life. as i knew his honor, his courage and his commitment. that was john mccain. and the code he inherited from his family who served before him has passed on to his brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren today. cindy, madam ambassador, and the family except this metal on his behalf. is a say in the senate the point of personal privilege, i was staffing, john was staffing me on a trip to asia in the late 1970s. we stopped in hawaii. and cindy, i think you are there on vacation. and you were talking to my wife, jill. and john kept looking at her. and he talked about her.

so jill and i did something which was presumptuous. we made sure we introduced one another. he still owes me. i think it's the best thing we ever did for john. the very best. >> [applause] >> that's true, that's what he talked about when we left and it didn't take long to call you, did he? when we got back. my fellow americans, please congratulate this year's presidential medal of freedom. >> [applause] >> now i'm going to ask the military aid to read the rest of the citation as we present

the medals. is preceded. >> simone biles. >> [applause] overcoming great odds simone biles is the most decorated american gymnast in history. a former foster child who became a once in a generation athlete transforming her sport with artistry and degrees of difficulty reimagine what is possible. with absolute courage and honesty, she expands the legacy of our greatest champions who challenged the powerful and speak up for justice and the wellness of body and mind. leaning on faith and god and family, simone biles is an inspiring symbol of strength, grace and pride in those three letters, usa. >> [applause] .

>> [applause] simone campbell. >> [applause] >> inspired by nuns in catholic school, sister simone campbell has dedicated her life to the suffering . for nearly 50 years as a nun and an attorney, she has led organizations that provide free legal services to the poor and advocate for workers and immigrants. her moral courage helps pass the affordable care act and guide the nuns on the bus tour.

across america to protect the impoverished. with humility and fairness lists sister simone and bodies the blessing of pacing god and our obligations to one another as fellow americans. >>[applause] >>[applause] >> julieta garcma. >> [applause] >> born in a texas border town,

dr. julieta garcma became the first in her family to graduate from college in the first mexican-american woman to lead an american college or university. over two decades she transformed her hometown university of texas, brownville into a center of excellence for countless students who were inspired by her example. a trail blazer and mentor, dr. garcia is considered one of our nation's top university administrators who understands the power of education is the great equalizer in america. >>[applause] >> [applause]

gabrielle giffords. >> [applause] >> a daughter of tucson, arizona, former u.s. representative gabrielle giffords epitomizes public service. voters elected her five times to state and federal office. even after that january day in 2011 that shocked our nation's conscience. she summoned the courage to keep serving. she learned to walk, speak and write again. with the support of her husband, mark kelly, she turned pain into purpose as one of the most powerful voices working to end

it gun violence in america. because of her lives will be saved in america will be safer. >> [applause] >> [applause >> [applause] >> fred gray. >> [applause] >> when rosa parks refused to

move to the back of the bus, fred great represented her in front of the courtroom. just as he did for martin luther king jr. and countless marchers for justice. risking his own safety, he helped secure voting rights, desegregate schools, and win other battles for the soul of our nation. a patriarch of the family and a movement, fred gray is a lawyer by trade, and a preacher at heart who follows the command to hate evil, love good and establish justice. >> [applause] >> [applause >> [applause]