The longest-serving lawmaker in U.S. congressional history , a legendary Motown artist , and the matriarch of a renowned political family will be among this year 's recipients of the nation 's highest civilian honor , the White House announced Monday . Rep. John Dingell , Stevie Wonder and Ethel Kennedy are three of the nineteen Americans who Obama will bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon later this month . Dingell has served nearly 60 years in Congress representing a district outside Detroit . He 'll retire at the end of this session . Wonder has won 25 Grammys and an Oscar for his fusion of soul , rhythm and blues and jazz . And Kennedy , who is the widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy , became an activist for human rights and the environment after her husband 's death . Other honorees this year include Meryl Streep , the prolific actress known for holding the most Oscar nominations of any actor in history . She stars this winter in `` Into the Woods , '' the musical composed by Stephen Sondheim , to whom Obama will also award the Medal of Freedom on November 24 . Tom Brokaw , the former `` NBC Nightly News '' anchor , will be honored as well , alongside actress Marlo Thomas , golfer Charles Sifford and author Isabel Allende . The other medalists are scientist Mildred Dresselhaus ; Native American activist Suzan Harjo ; former Reps. Abner Mikva of Illinois and Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii ; and economist Robert Solow . Five awards will be delivered posthumously : to `` Freedom Summer '' civil rights activists James Chaney , Andrew Goodman , and Michael Schwerner ; to the well-known choreographer Alvin Ailey , who founded the namesake dance company ; and to Rep. Edward Roybal , the founder of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus .
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation 's highest civilian honor . The White House announced 19 recipients for this year 's awards on Monday . Among them are big names like Meryl Streep and Stevie Wonder .