And Not a War Criminal in the Bunch!

Obama honors all 16 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in spite of Israeli criticism of the former President of Ireland.

"I think the president is recognizing [Mary Robinson] for her leadership on women's rights and equal rights. And as I've said before, he doesn't agree with each of her statements, but she's certainly somebody who should be honored," Gibbs said.

Obama, in the East Room ceremony, said the 16 honorees represent "what we can achieve in our lives . . . [and] the difference we can make in the lives of others." The rest of the awards, several of them accepted by the relatives of deceased or ill recipients, went to: Sidney Poitier, Jack Kemp, Stephen Hawking, Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro Jose Greer Jr., Billie Jean King, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Harvey Milk, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, Joseph Medicine Crow, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Yunus, Janet Davison Rowley and Chita Rivera.

"Each of their stories stand as an example of a life well lived," Obama said.