WEBVTT 00:10.340 --> 00:12.562 Distinguished guests , the president of 00:12.562 --> 00:14.673 the United States and Dr Jill Biden . 00:51.150 --> 00:51.510 Oh , 00:55.620 --> 00:57.620 thank you . Thank you . Thank you . 00:57.620 --> 01:00.970 Please , please have a seat . And you 01:00.970 --> 01:02.970 know , I'm starting off to say good 01:02.970 --> 01:04.970 evening . I think they thought we'd 01:04.970 --> 01:07.026 take longer in the other room . Good 01:07.026 --> 01:09.440 afternoon , evening clothes . Vice 01:09.440 --> 01:11.620 President Harris , 2nd Gentleman , 01:12.150 --> 01:15.370 former president , Selina Meyer , 01:18.830 --> 01:21.400 Welcome to the White House , a sacred 01:21.400 --> 01:23.178 place for many reasons . It's a 01:23.178 --> 01:25.233 residence uh first family , but it's 01:25.233 --> 01:27.456 really the people's house and it really 01:27.456 --> 01:29.860 is a place to work the National Park 01:29.860 --> 01:32.190 and Museum as well as an art and 01:32.190 --> 01:34.301 artifacts , capturing the soul of the 01:34.301 --> 01:37.710 nation for many years . This past this 01:37.710 --> 01:39.543 and like this portrait of George 01:39.543 --> 01:42.070 Washington , painted by Gilbert Stuart . 01:42.080 --> 01:44.250 It's the only object still here since 01:44.250 --> 01:47.860 the White House was opened in 1800s . 01:48.180 --> 01:50.402 That's the only object still here . And 01:50.402 --> 01:52.710 I want you to know an Irishman designed 01:52.710 --> 01:56.320 the White House . True true story 02:00.000 --> 02:01.950 rescued by Dolly Madison after the 02:01.950 --> 02:04.340 British torched this very space , life 02:04.340 --> 02:06.396 sized ports of our founding father , 02:06.396 --> 02:08.118 who in the midst of the war of 02:08.118 --> 02:10.173 independence , wrote a letter to the 02:10.173 --> 02:12.284 American Academy of Arts and Sciences 02:12.284 --> 02:14.340 which had recently made him a member 02:14.340 --> 02:16.507 General Washington wrote and I quote , 02:16.507 --> 02:18.673 the arts and sciences are essential to 02:18.673 --> 02:20.673 the prosperity of the state and the 02:20.673 --> 02:22.840 ornament and happiness of human life . 02:22.840 --> 02:24.951 He knew the greatness of a nation was 02:24.951 --> 02:27.007 measured not only by the strength of 02:27.007 --> 02:28.840 its army and the vastness of the 02:28.840 --> 02:30.951 geography , the size of its economy , 02:30.951 --> 02:33.173 it was also measured by the vitality of 02:33.173 --> 02:35.400 its culture , the culture forged and 02:35.400 --> 02:37.960 freedom of expression to speak and to 02:37.960 --> 02:40.600 think freely , freedoms that must 02:40.600 --> 02:43.130 always be defended for democracy is a 02:43.130 --> 02:45.380 covenant , a covenant we have with each 02:45.380 --> 02:47.602 other . And I don't know how many times 02:47.602 --> 02:49.824 in graduate school and undergrad school 02:49.824 --> 02:51.936 learn that democracy has to be fought 02:51.936 --> 02:53.936 for for every generation . We learn 02:53.936 --> 02:55.991 that this year it has to be fought . 02:55.991 --> 02:58.102 Democracy is a choice . It's a choice 02:58.102 --> 03:00.436 we make to choose union over this union , 03:00.436 --> 03:02.658 progress over chaos and literally truth 03:02.658 --> 03:06.340 over lies a choice to remember history , 03:06.350 --> 03:09.120 not erase it no matter how hard it is 03:09.120 --> 03:11.342 that people try to sometimes erase it . 03:11.730 --> 03:13.897 That's what great nations do they face 03:13.897 --> 03:15.950 reality . We're a nation , a great 03:15.950 --> 03:17.950 nation in large part because of the 03:17.950 --> 03:20.172 power of the arts and humanities that's 03:20.172 --> 03:22.930 stamped into the DNA of America and 03:22.930 --> 03:26.500 today , Jill and I Common and Doug and 03:26.500 --> 03:28.770 all of you , we continue the legacy of 03:28.770 --> 03:30.970 awarding two of our nation's highest 03:30.970 --> 03:34.010 honors to 23 Extraordinary Americans , 03:34.020 --> 03:36.060 the National Medal of Arts to honor 03:36.060 --> 03:37.893 outstanding contributions to the 03:37.893 --> 03:39.560 excellence growth support and 03:39.560 --> 03:41.504 availability of arts in the United 03:41.504 --> 03:43.449 States and the National Humanities 03:43.449 --> 03:45.780 Medal . To honor those who have , whose 03:45.780 --> 03:47.502 work has deepened the nation's 03:47.502 --> 03:49.502 understanding of the humanities and 03:49.502 --> 03:51.669 broadened our citizens engagement with 03:51.669 --> 03:53.891 history , literature , philosophy , and 03:53.891 --> 03:56.224 so many other subjects . And by the way , 03:56.224 --> 03:57.947 I married an English professor 04:00.000 --> 04:03.090 and we know good writing and love of 04:03.090 --> 04:05.312 great , of a great read , including the 04:05.312 --> 04:07.530 incredible writers here . Today . The 04:07.530 --> 04:10.020 work of our honorees is as diverse as 04:10.020 --> 04:12.350 the nation that , that celebrates with 04:12.350 --> 04:15.500 them today . But but common threads 04:15.500 --> 04:17.667 weave them together in many ways , the 04:17.667 --> 04:20.250 very fabric of America , the pursuit of 04:20.250 --> 04:23.260 excellence , the drive to create the 04:23.260 --> 04:25.760 yearning to connect and the boldness to 04:25.760 --> 04:28.340 be truth tellers , bridge builders and 04:28.340 --> 04:31.790 change seekers above all your masters 04:31.790 --> 04:33.846 of your craft , your masters of your 04:33.846 --> 04:36.300 craft . The National medal of the arts 04:36.300 --> 04:38.580 recipients include renowned painters 04:38.580 --> 04:41.550 like Judy Baca and who have made the 04:41.550 --> 04:43.870 canvas out of our communities all 04:43.870 --> 04:46.430 across America , especially beloved Los 04:46.430 --> 04:48.850 Angeles . Her groundbreaking murals 04:48.850 --> 04:51.320 depict the strength and scope of human 04:51.320 --> 04:54.060 nature and tell the forgotten stories , 04:54.070 --> 04:56.310 tell the forgotten stories , bringing 04:56.320 --> 04:59.320 public space to life and tell and tell 04:59.320 --> 05:01.209 the fuller story of who we are as 05:01.209 --> 05:04.680 Americans , a student , you know , and 05:04.690 --> 05:07.550 Antonio , you studied diplomacy when I 05:07.550 --> 05:09.606 heard that I thought maybe make your 05:09.606 --> 05:12.170 Secretary of State . But today , he's 05:12.170 --> 05:14.337 one of Puerto Rico's greatest cultural 05:14.337 --> 05:16.448 ambassadors . His work challenges and 05:16.448 --> 05:18.281 unites people across languages , 05:18.281 --> 05:21.190 classes and generations . His , his , 05:21.200 --> 05:23.640 his creation spanned genres , painting , 05:23.640 --> 05:26.000 writing , sculpture , theater design , 05:26.010 --> 05:28.850 always daring to try something new 05:28.860 --> 05:31.030 while building on what came before . 05:31.190 --> 05:33.780 And my friend , President Julia Louis 05:33.780 --> 05:34.680 Dreyfus . 05:39.110 --> 05:41.670 I know where you are . She's over here 05:41.670 --> 05:45.650 going , I'm over here . I want , 05:45.650 --> 05:47.539 I'm gonna talk with Julie later , 05:47.539 --> 05:49.761 whether she liked being VP or President 05:49.761 --> 05:51.983 better . I got to figure that one out . 05:52.920 --> 05:55.540 I have absolutely no talent at all . 05:55.550 --> 05:58.000 None . And you won 05:59.750 --> 06:03.540 11 Enemies . 26 nominations honored 06:03.540 --> 06:05.650 numerous times by the screen Actors 06:05.650 --> 06:07.928 Guild Producer's Guild critics' choice . 06:07.930 --> 06:10.350 She embraces life's absurdity with 06:10.350 --> 06:12.980 absolute wit and handles real life . 06:12.980 --> 06:15.450 Turns with absolute grace , a mom , a 06:15.450 --> 06:17.561 cancer survivor , a pioneer for women 06:17.561 --> 06:20.450 in comedy . She is an American original . 06:20.990 --> 06:23.830 Good to see you following her example , 06:23.830 --> 06:26.630 including Mindy Kaling , you know , 06:26.630 --> 06:29.600 from Massachusetts . But as we all know 06:29.610 --> 06:31.777 Scranton Pennsylvania made her who she 06:31.777 --> 06:35.540 is or as we say in Scranton , 06:35.540 --> 06:38.580 Scranton Pennsylvania , the first woman 06:38.580 --> 06:40.747 of color to create write and star in a 06:40.747 --> 06:43.080 primetime sitcom . She empowers a new 06:43.080 --> 06:45.310 generation to tell their stories with 06:45.310 --> 06:48.040 their own irreverence and sincerity . 06:48.050 --> 06:51.060 The daughter of Indian immigrants . We 06:51.060 --> 06:53.240 know about that right ? Our vice 06:53.240 --> 06:55.240 president of the daughter of Indian 06:55.240 --> 06:57.351 immigrants , a mother who was a great 06:57.351 --> 06:59.684 scientist above all , she's hardworking , 06:59.684 --> 07:01.851 an adoring mom , just like her own mom 07:01.851 --> 07:04.080 was and Mindy . We know your mom is 07:04.080 --> 07:06.080 always with you in your spirit . We 07:06.080 --> 07:09.460 know that Over 50 years ago , Billie 07:09.460 --> 07:11.580 Holiday Theatre opened in Brooklyn . 07:12.160 --> 07:14.350 Black writers and actors from Samuel L 07:14.350 --> 07:16.540 Jackson to Debbie Allen to Smokey 07:16.540 --> 07:19.370 Robinson debuted there in New York at 07:19.370 --> 07:22.840 this theater today , Billy Still stages 07:22.840 --> 07:24.673 first rate theater productions , 07:24.673 --> 07:26.562 nurturing new generation of black 07:26.562 --> 07:28.673 playwrights , performers as a culture 07:28.673 --> 07:30.880 of the cornerstone of our nation . And 07:30.880 --> 07:33.420 it's really , it's an incredible place . 07:33.780 --> 07:35.891 The same is true of the International 07:35.891 --> 07:37.891 Association of the Black Blacks and 07:37.891 --> 07:40.002 Dance founded more than three decades 07:40.002 --> 07:42.480 ago to build solidarity for this vital 07:42.480 --> 07:46.070 art form . It connects dances to teach 07:46.080 --> 07:48.530 performances , to venues , educators , 07:48.530 --> 07:51.120 to resources driven by the mission of 07:51.120 --> 07:53.310 preserving dance from the African 07:53.310 --> 07:56.720 diaspora for future generations when it 07:56.720 --> 07:59.400 comes to fashion . Here's what I know 07:59.410 --> 08:01.410 as I said today , when I said every 08:01.410 --> 08:03.632 time I open the closet , I see her when 08:03.632 --> 08:07.330 I got introduced to beer and , and Jill 08:07.330 --> 08:09.552 turned to me and said , what do you say 08:09.552 --> 08:11.910 that for ? There's all those labels ? 08:12.710 --> 08:14.770 Vera Wang , where's Vera there ? You 08:14.770 --> 08:17.330 are ? You know what I meant to begin 08:17.330 --> 08:20.250 with , didn't you ? I guess I could 08:20.250 --> 08:22.361 have said a little better when opened 08:22.361 --> 08:24.472 the closet . I see you all the time . 08:24.472 --> 08:28.240 But anyway , one of the greats you 08:28.240 --> 08:31.870 really are and I know your dresses 08:31.870 --> 08:34.037 always look beautiful on my wife , God 08:34.037 --> 08:37.220 love her . The designs are timeless , 08:37.220 --> 08:39.387 her vision or influence and industry . 08:39.387 --> 08:42.040 Her business became an empire . Name is 08:42.040 --> 08:44.680 synonymous with artistry excellence , 08:44.690 --> 08:48.320 Vera Wang , ladies and gentlemen , Fred 08:48.320 --> 08:50.480 Eichner , supporting the arts is a 08:50.480 --> 08:52.890 calling for decades has been the top 08:52.890 --> 08:55.280 patron of dance companies , art museums , 08:55.290 --> 08:57.650 historic preservation , especially in 08:57.650 --> 09:00.190 his beloved Chicago . By the way , I 09:00.190 --> 09:03.410 sat for every time I sat here for eight 09:03.410 --> 09:05.410 years as vice president , it always 09:05.410 --> 09:08.840 started Chicago Chicago . 09:08.850 --> 09:11.120 He's also been a champion for the L G B 09:11.120 --> 09:13.000 T Q community at his core of our 09:13.000 --> 09:15.510 national values of freedom , justice 09:15.510 --> 09:17.790 and justice for all because he never 09:17.790 --> 09:19.960 seeks the spotlight if you know how 09:19.960 --> 09:22.127 much he has enriched their lives . But 09:22.127 --> 09:24.349 now the nation is going to know whether 09:24.349 --> 09:26.460 you like it or not . It's happening . 09:27.200 --> 09:30.880 The contribution of Jones Jones . 09:30.890 --> 09:31.890 She , 09:32.820 --> 09:35.980 Shiga Kawa . Thank 09:35.980 --> 09:38.036 you . I have trouble pronouncement . 09:38.036 --> 09:39.424 You can call me Bidden . 09:43.790 --> 09:44.790 She a coward . 09:48.200 --> 09:50.033 Your country's art in America is 09:50.033 --> 09:52.460 legendary and it's lasting . And the 09:52.460 --> 09:54.627 head of the National Endowment for the 09:54.627 --> 09:56.627 Arts , she's lifted rural and urban 09:56.627 --> 09:58.849 artists , created programs for military 09:58.849 --> 10:00.960 families and help measure how the art 10:00.960 --> 10:03.071 grows , the economy , arts grow , the 10:03.071 --> 10:05.182 economy and she proves that art makes 10:05.182 --> 10:07.293 our country stronger . He couldn't be 10:07.293 --> 10:09.404 with her today because he's touring . 10:09.404 --> 10:11.516 But he's still , we still honor a son 10:11.516 --> 10:13.571 of Puerto Rico in Spanish . Harlem , 10:13.571 --> 10:15.930 Jose Feliciano . I can pronounce it . 10:15.940 --> 10:17.910 That's my generation , 10:20.070 --> 10:22.620 Jose was coming from a small family , 10:22.620 --> 10:23.740 one of 11 brothers 10:26.140 --> 10:28.084 blind since birth , he picked up a 10:28.084 --> 10:30.640 guitar at age nine , a pioneering 10:30.710 --> 10:33.820 artist , bridging cultures and styles 10:33.820 --> 10:35.709 winning Grammys opening doors for 10:35.709 --> 10:38.460 generations of Latino artists and the 10:38.460 --> 10:42.030 heart of our nation . Last December , 10:42.040 --> 10:44.310 Gladys Knight , who I'm crazy about the 10:44.310 --> 10:46.588 music . I died on a herd of reputation , 10:46.588 --> 10:49.170 sat in this room to receive the Kennedy 10:49.170 --> 10:51.760 Center honor . Later that night , Jill 10:51.760 --> 10:53.927 and I and Kamala and Doug in a theater 10:53.927 --> 10:56.120 full of fans showed our appreciation 10:56.130 --> 10:59.230 for the empress of soul , empress of 10:59.230 --> 11:02.360 soul . A few weeks later , we invited 11:02.360 --> 11:04.249 Gladys back to the White House to 11:04.249 --> 11:06.360 perform at a summit with leaders from 11:06.360 --> 11:08.360 50 African nations as I honored the 11:08.360 --> 11:11.240 African nation's presidents and prime 11:11.240 --> 11:14.590 ministers . But what better way to show 11:14.590 --> 11:16.930 who we are as a nation than to give 11:16.930 --> 11:19.520 Gladys knight an opportunity to sing 11:19.520 --> 11:21.910 for the nation . Gladys , as I said 11:21.910 --> 11:24.021 before , you're truly one of the best 11:24.021 --> 11:26.354 things ever to happen in terms of music . 11:26.354 --> 11:27.040 I'm a fan . 11:31.700 --> 11:33.867 Speaking of good things in music , the 11:33.867 --> 11:37.740 boss is here . She's 11:37.740 --> 11:38.100 here 11:42.190 --> 11:44.301 as they say in South Philly and North 11:44.301 --> 11:48.260 Willington . A Jersey boy . I just want 11:48.260 --> 11:50.640 you to know Bruce . There was a lawsuit 11:50.640 --> 11:52.473 that was between the governor of 11:52.473 --> 11:55.220 Delaware and the governor of New Jersey . 11:55.230 --> 11:58.180 And it's now a matter of law , we , oh , 11:58.190 --> 12:00.412 we own Delaware owns the Delaware up to 12:00.412 --> 12:03.900 the high water mark in New Jersey . So 12:03.910 --> 12:06.077 for all I know I can claim you as part 12:06.077 --> 12:08.520 of Delaware before Bruce Springsteen , 12:08.520 --> 12:10.353 the poet Troubadour Chronicle of 12:10.353 --> 12:12.464 American life and resilience and hope 12:12.464 --> 12:14.020 and dreams recipient of the 12:14.020 --> 12:16.020 Presidential Medal of Freedom along 12:16.020 --> 12:19.050 with 20 Grammys An Oscar a 12:19.050 --> 12:22.820 Tony and only love from millions of 12:22.820 --> 12:25.370 fans across generations . The New 12:25.370 --> 12:27.790 Jersey Kid is back on tour approaching 12:27.800 --> 12:31.490 catch this 3000 concerts 12:31.490 --> 12:34.670 around the world . Bless me , father 12:34.670 --> 12:38.490 for I have seen since his first 12:38.490 --> 12:40.657 performance as a teenager . Local Elks 12:40.657 --> 12:42.990 Lodge and I know where it is . Freehold , 12:42.990 --> 12:45.310 New Jersey just across the river . I've 12:45.320 --> 12:48.030 been to Freehold and I married a Jersey 12:48.030 --> 12:51.960 girl . Okay Bruce . Some people 12:51.960 --> 12:53.920 are just born to run man 12:56.410 --> 12:58.900 last Fall during the White House event 12:58.900 --> 13:01.067 called The Night When Hope and History 13:01.067 --> 13:02.789 Rhyme . I awarded the National 13:02.789 --> 13:05.150 Humanities Medal to Sir Elton John on 13:05.150 --> 13:07.039 the occasion of his final tour in 13:07.039 --> 13:09.560 Washington . Today we add to that 13:09.560 --> 13:12.660 distinguished list of receiving this 13:12.660 --> 13:15.390 award as well . The daughter of Chinese 13:15.390 --> 13:17.620 immigrants , Amy Tan's books , capture 13:17.620 --> 13:20.960 the courage , the pain and the joy and 13:20.960 --> 13:22.980 the joy of the immigration of an 13:22.980 --> 13:25.770 immigrant experience and how their , 13:25.780 --> 13:27.891 their legacy and memory fulfilled the 13:27.891 --> 13:30.080 promise of America for all Americans 13:30.090 --> 13:32.510 Colson Whitehead , one of the first and 13:32.510 --> 13:34.454 only novelists to win the Pulitzer 13:34.454 --> 13:36.650 Prize for back to back works . How in 13:36.650 --> 13:39.930 the hell did you do that ? Yeah , 13:43.720 --> 13:47.060 pretty good man . I'm kind of looking 13:47.060 --> 13:48.700 for back to back myself , 13:53.580 --> 13:54.580 right ? 14:00.260 --> 14:02.350 But what I may have to do on the 14:02.350 --> 14:05.180 underground railroad with the Nickel 14:05.180 --> 14:07.291 Boys . Incredible man . That's pretty 14:07.660 --> 14:11.290 impressive . And from coming of 14:11.290 --> 14:14.390 age to crime to science fiction to even 14:14.390 --> 14:16.501 zombies , he's one of America's great 14:16.501 --> 14:18.723 storytellers bringing fresh perspective 14:18.723 --> 14:20.779 to the legacy of the original sin of 14:20.779 --> 14:22.612 slavery , elevating the nation's 14:22.612 --> 14:25.170 consciousness around truth and justice . 14:25.180 --> 14:27.780 You know , understand the giants of 14:27.780 --> 14:29.836 history . We need sometimes to write 14:29.836 --> 14:31.947 about them . That's Walter Isaacson . 14:31.947 --> 14:34.110 Walter , you're the best pal Walter 14:34.120 --> 14:36.210 biographies on Ben Franklin , Albert 14:36.210 --> 14:38.940 Einstein , Steve Jobs and more make 14:38.940 --> 14:41.107 real some of the most complex minds in 14:41.107 --> 14:42.829 our nation's history by better 14:42.829 --> 14:44.940 understanding figures like these , we 14:44.940 --> 14:46.940 better understand ourselves and our 14:46.940 --> 14:49.218 nation and the notion of possibilities . 14:49.218 --> 14:51.640 Anything is possible here . Anything is 14:51.640 --> 14:54.230 possible . America , an engineer poet 14:54.230 --> 14:57.560 Cuban American Richard Blanco 14:57.570 --> 14:59.950 returned to a poem . He wrote from the 14:59.950 --> 15:02.350 second inaugural Barack in Maine , a 15:02.350 --> 15:05.960 poem one today says and always 15:05.960 --> 15:09.000 one moon like a silent drum tapping at 15:09.000 --> 15:12.660 every rooftop and every window on every 15:12.690 --> 15:16.660 of every county country . Let 15:16.660 --> 15:19.450 me start this over again . I'm getting 15:19.450 --> 15:21.710 so intimidated by being here 15:23.320 --> 15:26.590 and always one moon like a silent drum 15:26.590 --> 15:28.479 tapping on every rooftop in every 15:28.479 --> 15:32.080 window of one country county 15:32.090 --> 15:34.910 county . All of us facing the stars , 15:34.920 --> 15:37.480 hope a new constellation waiting for us 15:37.480 --> 15:39.650 to map it , waiting for us to name it 15:39.660 --> 15:42.600 together . You know , that's where we , 15:42.610 --> 15:45.470 you know , hope is . Uh I was once 15:45.470 --> 15:48.060 asked by Xi Jinping to define America . 15:48.070 --> 15:49.959 For real . We were in the Tibetan 15:49.959 --> 15:52.830 plateau . I said possibilities . Hope 15:52.840 --> 15:55.007 that's the definition of America . And 15:55.007 --> 15:57.173 you write about his poetry , bridges , 15:57.173 --> 15:59.229 cultures and languages and mosaic of 15:59.229 --> 16:01.451 our past , our present and our future , 16:01.710 --> 16:03.710 reflecting a nation that's hectic , 16:03.710 --> 16:07.090 colorful and still becoming few books 16:07.090 --> 16:09.650 captivated the nation like Terror West 16:09.650 --> 16:12.850 Overs memoir education . The Educated , 16:12.850 --> 16:15.410 excuse me , educated . Her words remind 16:15.410 --> 16:18.770 us how national divides can also divide 16:18.770 --> 16:20.659 families . And I'm bringing those 16:20.659 --> 16:23.020 divides with knowledge and 16:23.020 --> 16:24.853 understanding is critical to our 16:24.853 --> 16:28.030 country and for one another and passage , 16:28.030 --> 16:30.310 celebrated novels and essays are 16:30.310 --> 16:33.170 treasured worldwide through everything , 16:33.170 --> 16:35.530 through everything she does on the page . 16:35.530 --> 16:37.680 And at her Nashville bookstore , a 16:37.680 --> 16:40.160 magnet for readers all around the world . 16:40.160 --> 16:42.180 She proves the power of the written 16:42.180 --> 16:44.100 word to bring people together and 16:44.100 --> 16:45.989 you've done it . And where is the 16:45.989 --> 16:48.267 answer ? There you go . You've done it , 16:48.267 --> 16:50.940 kiddo every day . From a studio in New 16:50.940 --> 16:53.360 Mexico , Native American calling , 16:53.370 --> 16:56.830 Heirs of podcasts live radio show 16:56.830 --> 16:58.941 exploring everything from a legacy of 16:58.941 --> 17:01.350 native newspapers to native cuisine , 17:01.350 --> 17:03.294 to native American solidarity with 17:03.294 --> 17:06.040 Ukraine capturing the vastness of the 17:06.040 --> 17:07.950 Native American life . And it's a 17:07.950 --> 17:11.020 profound impact on the country . You 17:11.020 --> 17:13.242 know , Henrietta man , as a teacher , a 17:13.242 --> 17:15.409 scholar and a leader . She's dedicated 17:15.409 --> 17:17.631 her career to Native American education 17:17.631 --> 17:19.853 and to establishing the field of native 17:19.853 --> 17:22.190 American studies . Thanks in large part 17:22.190 --> 17:25.310 to her Native American studio is now 17:25.310 --> 17:27.710 taught at universities across the 17:27.710 --> 17:29.710 country , strengthen our nation and 17:29.710 --> 17:32.040 nation bonds for generations to come . 17:32.870 --> 17:35.270 A scholar , Earl Lewis chronicles 17:35.270 --> 17:37.381 African American history and explores 17:37.381 --> 17:39.640 how diversity strengthens our nation 17:39.650 --> 17:42.330 and it does strengthen our nation as a 17:42.330 --> 17:44.552 university administrator who has shaped 17:44.552 --> 17:46.552 some of our preeminent institutions 17:46.552 --> 17:48.719 pushing them to meet the challenges of 17:48.719 --> 17:50.719 our time from water scarcity to the 17:50.719 --> 17:53.570 future of work to racial injustice . He 17:53.570 --> 17:55.626 makes American universities and even 17:55.626 --> 17:57.737 more important source of our national 17:57.737 --> 17:59.670 dynamism . And , and as an 17:59.670 --> 18:01.837 anthropologist , the first black woman 18:01.837 --> 18:03.559 president of Spelman College , 18:05.740 --> 18:08.770 pretty cool , the director of the 18:08.770 --> 18:11.290 National Museum of African Art . You 18:11.290 --> 18:15.080 know , Jonetta is Cole takes the 18:15.090 --> 18:17.201 study of Black history and culture to 18:17.201 --> 18:19.423 new heights . She strengthened American 18:19.423 --> 18:21.090 education , advanced American 18:21.090 --> 18:23.201 scholarship and enriched the lives of 18:23.201 --> 18:25.312 students of all ages in the future of 18:25.312 --> 18:29.240 our nation . Bryan Stevenson . Cherry's 18:29.240 --> 18:31.290 son of my home state of Delaware , 18:34.050 --> 18:36.217 one of the most important civil rights 18:36.217 --> 18:38.272 leaders , you know , exonerating the 18:38.272 --> 18:40.500 wrongfully convicted , funding the 18:40.500 --> 18:42.722 Legacy Museum and the National Memorial 18:42.722 --> 18:45.060 for Peace and Justice . So the history 18:45.060 --> 18:47.020 of lynching and racial violence in 18:47.020 --> 18:49.242 America gets the reckoning and deserves 18:49.242 --> 18:51.353 and providing a compelling foundation 18:51.353 --> 18:53.590 for me to be able to sign into law the 18:53.590 --> 18:55.860 Emmett Till's name to make lynching a 18:55.860 --> 18:58.170 federal crime . Ryan 19:05.520 --> 19:08.810 Brian does it all historic challenges 19:08.810 --> 19:11.120 us to get proximity to the suffering 19:11.120 --> 19:13.030 and abandoned and the poor , the 19:13.030 --> 19:15.560 condemned so that as we search for the 19:15.560 --> 19:17.782 humanity and others , we find it within 19:17.782 --> 19:19.800 ourselves . First , ladies and 19:19.800 --> 19:21.800 gentlemen , please can graduate our 19:21.800 --> 19:24.022 newest recipients in the National Medal 19:24.022 --> 19:25.744 of the Arts and the National , 19:47.010 --> 19:49.930 you and your families , the Union 19:49.930 --> 19:52.300 promise . Congratulations . Thank you 19:52.300 --> 19:54.440 for cultivating the arts as a central 19:54.440 --> 19:56.162 source of . Please have a seat 19:58.280 --> 20:01.210 source of our prosperity , our 20:01.210 --> 20:03.810 happiness in American life as George 20:03.810 --> 20:06.150 Washington describes , thank you for 20:06.150 --> 20:08.700 strengthening the covenant that this is , 20:08.710 --> 20:11.500 that is our democracy . And now please 20:11.500 --> 20:13.800 come up one by one as my military aide 20:13.800 --> 20:17.610 major use read your citation and by the 20:17.610 --> 20:21.030 way , I want to warn you , there are 20:21.030 --> 20:24.110 two types of the metals are beautiful , 20:24.140 --> 20:27.530 the ribbons are on one doesn't separate . 20:27.530 --> 20:30.420 So any woman who I'm giving one medal 20:30.420 --> 20:32.510 to just don't get angry with me if I 20:32.510 --> 20:35.110 mess up your hair . Okay . 20:36.450 --> 20:39.810 You think I'm kidding ? I'm not all 20:39.810 --> 20:43.330 right , Judith 20:43.340 --> 20:45.310 Francisca Baca 20:55.390 --> 20:58.040 for her monumental impact on public art 20:58.050 --> 21:00.590 in America . Judith Francisca Baca's 21:00.590 --> 21:02.940 collaborative work has turned forgotten 21:02.940 --> 21:04.690 histories into public memory , 21:04.700 --> 21:06.810 pioneering an art form that empowers 21:06.810 --> 21:08.910 communities to reclaim public space 21:08.910 --> 21:10.650 with dignity and pride . 21:43.580 --> 21:45.680 Accepting on behalf of the Billie 21:45.680 --> 21:47.880 Holiday Theater , Blondel Pinnock 21:57.600 --> 21:59.720 for being an artistic jewel for the 21:59.720 --> 22:01.720 nation . Channeling its namesakes , 22:01.720 --> 22:04.210 exploration of freedom and identity . 22:04.220 --> 22:06.387 The Billie Holiday Theater , cultivate 22:06.387 --> 22:08.331 some of our nation's most renowned 22:08.331 --> 22:10.387 black actors , writers , designers , 22:10.387 --> 22:12.331 and musicians and has expanded the 22:12.331 --> 22:14.442 reach of American artistic expression 22:14.442 --> 22:16.220 and achievement , achievement , 22:41.080 --> 22:42.510 Fred Eichner 22:51.630 --> 22:54.060 for his unwavering courage and support 22:54.070 --> 22:56.600 of the arts as a force for a more just 22:56.600 --> 22:59.200 nation from dance and architecture to 22:59.210 --> 23:01.980 arts education and a lifetime of L G B 23:01.980 --> 23:05.110 T Q I plus advocacy . Fred Eichner has 23:05.110 --> 23:07.332 helped give millions of people strength 23:07.332 --> 23:09.499 to be themselves and moved our country 23:09.499 --> 23:10.499 forward . 23:28.830 --> 23:31.070 Accepting on behalf of the 23:31.080 --> 23:33.560 International Association of Blacks and 23:33.560 --> 23:36.240 Dance , Denise Saunders Thompson 23:46.740 --> 23:49.490 for expanding our nation's appreciation 23:49.490 --> 23:51.546 for the practice and preservation of 23:51.546 --> 23:54.460 dance from the African diaspora through 23:54.460 --> 23:56.690 teaching training performance . The 23:56.690 --> 23:58.912 International Association of Blacks and 23:58.912 --> 24:00.801 Dance promotes dance by people of 24:00.801 --> 24:03.370 African ancestry and origin explores 24:03.370 --> 24:05.840 and exchanges , art spans cultures and 24:05.840 --> 24:08.000 generations and enriches the dance 24:08.000 --> 24:09.530 culture of America . 24:28.160 --> 24:29.100 Amen . 24:33.320 --> 24:34.680 Mindy Kaling 24:43.040 --> 24:45.610 for giving voice to a new generation of 24:45.610 --> 24:47.750 storytellers imbued with humor and 24:47.750 --> 24:49.790 heart . Mindy Kaling's work across 24:49.790 --> 24:52.520 television , film and books inspires 24:52.520 --> 24:54.610 and delights capturing and uplifting 24:54.610 --> 24:56.890 the experiences of women and girls 24:56.900 --> 24:58.130 across our nation . 25:20.300 --> 25:21.890 Gladys Knight 25:41.890 --> 25:44.400 for her iconic voice as the empress of 25:44.400 --> 25:46.430 soul . Gladys Knights , exceptional 25:46.430 --> 25:48.890 talent influenced musical genres from 25:48.890 --> 25:51.740 rhythm and blues to gospel , to pop and 25:51.740 --> 25:53.630 inspired generations of artists 25:53.640 --> 25:55.529 captivated by her soundtrack of a 25:55.529 --> 25:57.610 Golden Age in American music . 26:30.320 --> 26:31.100 Amen . 26:36.460 --> 26:37.627 That was all of this 26:44.940 --> 26:47.160 Julia Louis Dreyfus 26:56.760 --> 26:59.130 for her humor and wit that has helped 26:59.140 --> 27:01.550 to redefine American culture as one of 27:01.550 --> 27:03.606 the most decorated comedic actors of 27:03.606 --> 27:05.690 our time . Julia Louis Dreyfus has 27:05.690 --> 27:07.930 blazed a trail for women in comedy and 27:07.930 --> 27:09.763 across American life through her 27:09.763 --> 27:11.930 commitment to excellence and the power 27:11.930 --> 27:13.110 of her example , 27:37.980 --> 27:40.290 Antonio Martorell Cardona 27:52.120 --> 27:54.870 for a lifetime of vision and Candor as 27:54.870 --> 27:57.410 an artistic communicator , convener and 27:57.410 --> 27:59.370 voice of conscience , transcending 27:59.370 --> 28:01.440 generation and genre . Antonio 28:01.440 --> 28:03.930 Martorell Cardona's art exposes hard 28:03.930 --> 28:06.800 truths with whimsy and color to help us 28:06.800 --> 28:09.100 remember and grow as people and as a 28:09.100 --> 28:09.760 nation , 28:32.990 --> 28:34.850 Joan Shiga Kawa 28:51.790 --> 28:54.060 for a lifetime of service to art in 28:54.060 --> 28:56.530 America throughout her career , Joan 28:56.530 --> 28:59.470 Shiokawa has championed artists created 28:59.470 --> 29:01.692 global exchanges and promoted the power 29:01.692 --> 29:03.900 of the arts to heal , build strong 29:03.900 --> 29:06.230 economies and help people and nations 29:06.240 --> 29:08.110 reach their full potential . 29:26.120 --> 29:26.740 Yeah , 29:37.480 --> 29:39.220 Bruce Springsteen , 29:58.660 --> 30:01.140 for his extraordinary contributions to 30:01.140 --> 30:03.810 the American songbook and for being the 30:03.810 --> 30:07.260 boss , one of our greatest 30:07.260 --> 30:09.310 performers and storytellers . Bruce 30:09.310 --> 30:11.254 Springsteen's music celebrates our 30:11.254 --> 30:13.366 triumphs , heals our wounds and gives 30:13.366 --> 30:15.310 us hope . Capturing the unyielding 30:15.310 --> 30:17.600 spirit of what it means to be American 30:44.000 --> 30:45.300 Vera Wang 30:56.890 --> 30:59.200 for her pioneering vision which has 30:59.200 --> 31:01.033 reshaped fashion and business in 31:01.033 --> 31:03.670 America from the runway to red carpets 31:03.680 --> 31:06.000 to retail stores . Vera Wang's modern 31:06.000 --> 31:07.833 designs and bridal collections , 31:07.833 --> 31:10.020 express individualism and elegance , 31:10.030 --> 31:12.570 making beauty and style accessible to 31:12.580 --> 31:13.230 all 31:39.760 --> 31:42.810 national humanities medal recipients , 31:42.880 --> 31:44.800 Richard Blanco 31:54.020 --> 31:56.540 for breathing life into the identity 31:56.540 --> 31:59.150 and idea of America and an award 31:59.150 --> 32:01.510 winning poet and author , professor and 32:01.510 --> 32:03.790 public speaker and son of Cuban 32:03.790 --> 32:06.130 immigrants , Richard Blanco's powerful 32:06.130 --> 32:08.297 storytelling challenges the boundaries 32:08.297 --> 32:10.520 of culture , gender and class while 32:10.520 --> 32:12.742 celebrating the promise of our nation's 32:12.742 --> 32:13.930 highest ideals , 32:34.120 --> 32:36.430 Jonetta Bash Cole 32:49.970 --> 32:52.160 for being a celebrated leader of 32:52.160 --> 32:54.104 sanctuaries of higher learning and 32:54.104 --> 32:56.600 culture , a scholar , anthropologist 32:56.610 --> 32:58.750 and academic pace center , Jonetta 32:58.750 --> 33:01.030 Boesch Cole's pioneering work about the 33:01.030 --> 33:03.710 ongoing contributions of Afro Latin 33:03.720 --> 33:05.970 Caribbean and African communities have 33:05.970 --> 33:07.914 advanced American understanding of 33:07.914 --> 33:09.990 Black culture and the necessity and 33:09.990 --> 33:12.670 power of racial inclusion in our nation . 33:43.590 --> 33:45.280 Walter Isaacson 33:54.740 --> 33:57.160 for chronicling the history and genius 33:57.170 --> 33:59.300 of America through the stories of our 33:59.300 --> 34:01.490 nation's remarkable citizens , Walter 34:01.500 --> 34:03.940 Walter Isaacson's work , words and 34:03.940 --> 34:06.162 wisdom , bridge divides between science 34:06.162 --> 34:08.384 and the humanities and between opposing 34:08.384 --> 34:10.570 philosophies , elevating discourse and 34:10.570 --> 34:12.660 our understanding of who we are as a 34:12.660 --> 34:13.250 nation 34:47.160 --> 34:48.610 girl , Lewis 34:58.170 --> 35:00.500 for writing America's history and 35:00.500 --> 35:03.000 shaping America's future . As a social 35:03.000 --> 35:05.430 historian and academic leader , Earl 35:05.430 --> 35:07.570 Lewis has made vital contributions to 35:07.570 --> 35:09.760 the field of Black history , educating 35:09.760 --> 35:11.704 generations of students while also 35:11.704 --> 35:13.593 being a leading voice for greater 35:13.593 --> 35:15.980 diversity in academia and our nation , 35:35.380 --> 35:37.150 Henrietta Man 36:00.000 --> 36:01.620 for dedicating her life to 36:01.620 --> 36:03.620 strengthening and developing Native 36:03.620 --> 36:06.010 American education , the pioneering 36:06.020 --> 36:09.850 pioneering efforts of Henrietta Os Dada 36:09.860 --> 36:12.860 Ona ah Man led to programs and 36:12.870 --> 36:15.510 institutions across the country devoted 36:15.510 --> 36:17.790 to the study of Native American history 36:17.800 --> 36:20.220 and culture , honoring ancestors that 36:20.220 --> 36:22.520 came before and benefiting generations 36:22.530 --> 36:23.460 that follow . 36:56.830 --> 36:59.350 Accepting on behalf of Native America 36:59.350 --> 37:01.310 calling Jacqueline silly 37:13.460 --> 37:16.000 for connecting tribal and non tribal 37:16.000 --> 37:18.270 communities across the United States 37:18.280 --> 37:20.336 through its interactive shows on the 37:20.336 --> 37:22.870 radio and online Native America calling 37:22.880 --> 37:24.824 educates the American public about 37:24.824 --> 37:26.780 indigenous issues while preserving 37:26.780 --> 37:29.280 indigenous history and culture to honor 37:29.280 --> 37:31.502 their contributions that strengthen the 37:31.502 --> 37:33.920 sacred nation to nation relationship 37:59.960 --> 38:01.550 and patch it 38:10.760 --> 38:13.140 for putting into words , the beauty , 38:13.150 --> 38:15.840 pain and complexity of human nature . 38:15.850 --> 38:18.290 With her bestselling novels and essays 38:18.300 --> 38:20.522 and her bookstore , readers from around 38:20.522 --> 38:22.578 the world will see themselves in the 38:22.578 --> 38:24.578 pages of an patches books that take 38:24.578 --> 38:26.744 people to places of the heart and feed 38:26.744 --> 38:28.640 the imagination of our nation . 38:50.380 --> 38:51.950 Bryan Stevenson 39:04.760 --> 39:07.430 for his moral call to redeem the soul 39:07.440 --> 39:09.600 of our nation . An advocate fighting 39:09.600 --> 39:12.080 tirelessly for the poor , incarcerated 39:12.090 --> 39:14.390 and condemned Bryan Stevenson follows 39:14.390 --> 39:16.730 the book of Micah's instructions to act 39:16.740 --> 39:19.810 justly love mercy and walk humbly as he 39:19.810 --> 39:21.921 chronicles the legacy of lynching and 39:21.921 --> 39:24.330 racism in America , shining a light on 39:24.330 --> 39:26.630 what has been and all that we can be as 39:26.630 --> 39:27.320 a nation . 39:53.100 --> 39:54.660 Amy Tan 40:06.340 --> 40:08.820 for expanding the American literary 40:08.830 --> 40:11.440 literary canon by bravely exploring 40:11.440 --> 40:13.480 experiences of immigrant families , 40:13.490 --> 40:15.580 heritage , memories and pregnant 40:15.580 --> 40:17.980 struggles . Amy Tan's writing makes 40:17.980 --> 40:20.091 sense of the present through the past 40:20.091 --> 40:22.147 and adds groundbreaking narrative to 40:22.147 --> 40:24.360 the diverse sweep of American life and 40:24.360 --> 40:25.140 literature . 40:48.840 --> 40:50.780 Tara Westover 41:00.320 --> 41:02.780 for tuning American life into 41:02.780 --> 41:05.450 literature . Tara Westover is memoirs 41:05.460 --> 41:07.220 of family , religion and the 41:07.220 --> 41:10.010 transformative power of education has 41:10.010 --> 41:12.232 moved millions of readers and served as 41:12.232 --> 41:13.899 a powerful example of how the 41:13.899 --> 41:16.220 humanities can set people free and a 41:16.220 --> 41:17.390 nation free . 41:38.050 --> 41:39.800 Colson Whitehead 41:49.860 --> 41:52.400 for his truth seeking as an American 41:52.400 --> 41:55.030 literary icon with genre defying 41:55.040 --> 41:57.470 craftsmanship and creativity . Colson 41:57.470 --> 41:59.830 Whitehead's celebrated novels make real 41:59.840 --> 42:02.040 the American African American journey 42:02.050 --> 42:03.772 through our nation's continued 42:03.772 --> 42:05.717 reckoning with the original sin of 42:05.717 --> 42:07.883 slavery and our ongoing march toward a 42:07.883 --> 42:09.150 more perfect union . 42:33.800 --> 42:34.270 Yeah . 42:39.800 --> 42:40.856 What do I do now ? 42:43.810 --> 42:47.220 Well , everybody I hope 42:47.220 --> 42:50.630 you enjoyed today . Just , just such an 42:50.630 --> 42:53.200 honor to meet so many incredible people , 42:53.210 --> 42:55.154 really and truly , you're , you're 42:55.154 --> 42:57.870 amazing and you do make the country 42:57.870 --> 42:59.981 better , you make it a better place . 43:00.390 --> 43:01.723 And then I took the day 43:08.370 --> 43:12.320 now there's going to be reception 43:12.330 --> 43:14.497 at the under the other end of the hall 43:14.497 --> 43:16.663 in the dining room down there . I hope 43:16.663 --> 43:18.886 we'll see you down there . And as every 43:18.886 --> 43:21.170 time I walk out of my grand pops home 43:21.170 --> 43:23.710 up in Scranton , Pennsylvania , Ambrose 43:23.710 --> 43:25.870 Finnegan . You say Joey , keep the 43:25.870 --> 43:28.037 faith and my grandmother . No , spread 43:28.037 --> 43:30.037 it . Let's spread the . Thank you , 43:31.160 --> 43:33.382 distinguished guests . Please remain in 43:33.382 --> 43:35.216 your seats as the principles and 43:35.216 --> 43:36.220 recipients depart . Thank you .