USA – Politics – President Obama Awards Medals of Freedom

12 Aug 2009, Washington DC, USA — epa01821985 US President Barack Obama awards American actor Sidney Poitier the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on 12 August 2009. Poitier is the first African American to be nominated and win a Best Actor Academy Award, receive an award at a top international film festival (Venice Film Festival), and be the top grossing movie star in the United States. EPA/MATTHEW CAVANAUGH — Image by © MATTHEW CAVANAUGH/epa/Corbis