Tom Brokaw, bad ass - The Washington Post Longtime NBC anchor Tom Brokaw was given a presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama on Monday, further cementing the newsman's role as a total and complete bad ass. "At pivotal moments,Tom got it" Obama said of Brokaw, according to a tweet from former NBC New President Steve Capus. The Medal of Freedom is "the nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," according to the White House website. Brokaw was one of a number of bold-faced names including Meryl Streep, Marlo Thomas and Stevie Wonder to be awarded the Medal of Freedom by Obama. Public servants, journalists and performers were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama at the White House on Monday. Recipients included Ethel Kennedy, Tom Brokaw, Meryl Streep and Stevie Wonder.