Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, recognizes exceptional meritorious service. The medal was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize notable service in the war. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy reintroduced it as an honor for distinguished civilian service in peacetime.

Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients

  • Becker face

    Gary S. Becker

    AM’53, PhD’55; University Professor in Economics and Sociology, 1970–2014

  • Dresselhaus smiling

    Mildred Dresselhaus

    PhD’58

  • Franklin smiling

    John Hope Franklin

    John Matthews Manly Distinguished Service Professor in History, 1969–1982

  • Friedman posing

    Milton Friedman

    AM'33; Research Assistant in the Social Science Research Committee, 1934–35; Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, 1946–48; Professor, 1948–62; Paul Snowden Russell Distinguished Service Professor, 1962–82; Paul Snowden Russell Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, 1982–2006

  • Graham smiling

    Katharine Graham

    AB’38; former member of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees

  • Gray smiling

    Hanna Holborn Gray

    Assistant Professor in History, 1961–64; Associate Professor of History, 1964–72; President of the University of Chicago, 1978–93; Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service Professor of History, 1993–2000

  • Mikva smiling

    Abner Mikva

    JD’51

  • Mink smiling

    Patsy Takemoto Mink

    JD’51

  • Rowley smiling

    Janet Davison Rowley

    BS’46, MD’48; Blum Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics (1984-2013)

  • David M. Rubenstein

    David M. Rubenstein

    JD'73; chair of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees

  • phoenix badge

    Friedrich August von Hayek

    Professor of Social and Moral Science in the Committee on Social Thought, 1950–64

  • Watson posing in suit

    James D. Watson

    PhB’46, SB’47

  • Wilder face

    Thornton Wilder

    Lecturer, 1930–37

  • Wilson seated in chair

    James Q. Wilson

    PhD'59

  • phoenix badge

    Albert Wohlstetter

    University Professor in Political Science, 1964–80