President Obama awards Presidential Medal of Freedom one final time

Presidential Medals of Freedom are seen on a table prior to the start of the ceremony.

President Obama speaks before presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, Nov. 22, 2016.

Actor, filmmaker and social justice advocate Tom Hanks, center, and NASA mathematician and computer software pioneer Margaret Hamilton, second from right, leave an East Room ceremony where they were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

US President Barack Obama presents musician Bruce Springsteen with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to higher education advocate and Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padron.

US President Barack Obama presents vocalist and musician Diana Ross with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to broadcaster and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Vin Scully.

US President Barack Obama presents actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

US President Barack Obama presents actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Actor Tom Hanks greets his wife, Rita Wilson, as he leaves after President Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Actor Robert Redford leaves after President Barack Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former NBA star Michael Jordan.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Federal Communications Committee Chairman Newt Minow.

US President Barack Obama presents actor Robert DeNiro with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Motion picture legend and Oscar winner Robert De Niro reacts to applause after he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Television producer and screenwriter Lorne Michaels.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to polymath physicist and nuclear science pioneer Richard Garwin during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

NASA mathematician and computer software pioneer Margaret Hamilton listens to her citation before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.

President Barack Obama presents actor and director Robert Redford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

US President Barack Obama hugs vocalist and musician Diana Ross during presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Artist and Designer Maya Lin receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

Elouise Cobell, Blackfeet Tribal community leader and activist for Native Americans, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. She is pictured in Washington, D.C., in 2009.

President Barack Obama presents actress Cicely Tyson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Adm. Grace Hopper is honored by Navy Secretary John Lehman, during her retirement ceremony aboard the USS Constitution, in Boston, Mass., on Aug. 14, 1986. Adm. Hopper was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

US President Barack Obama presents actor Tom Hanks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

US President Barack Obama stands with Bill and Melinda Gates shortly before presenting them with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Barack Obama presents Frank Gehry, one of the world's leading architects, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

President Barack Obama pretends to skyhook as he awards former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the Presidential Medal of Freedom.