In this photograph by Pete Souza, First Lady Michelle Obama announces the Academy Award winner for Best Picture on February 24, 2013. Her appearance on the live televised Oscar ceremony was filmed in the Diplomatic Reception Room on the Ground Floor of the White House. The winner of Best Picture, "Argo", was a film about the rescue of six United States diplomats who sought safety at the home of the Canadian ambassador to Iran during the 1979 to 1981 Iran Hostage Crisis in Tehran.

In this photograph taken on June 5, 1946, future president Jimmy Carter has his ensign lapels pinned by Rosalynn Carter, left, then known by her maiden name Rosalynn Smith, and Lillian Carter, right, his mother, at his graduation ceremony from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Jimmy Carter would go on to serve in the Navy until 1956, when he took over his family's businesses including peanut farming. Carter served as governor of Georgia prior to his term as president, which began on January 20, 1977 and ended January 20, 1981.

In this photograph by Lawrence Jackson, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stand for the national anthem at the beginning of the Kennedy Center Honors on December 6, 2009. President and Mrs. Obama were in the presidential box in the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and were flanked by Vice President Joseph R. Biden and the 2009 honorees, (from left to right) Dave Brubeck, Robert De Niro, Grace Bumbry, Mel Brooks, and Bruce Springsteen. This was the first Kennedy Center Honors hosted by President and Mrs. Obama.

In this photograph by Eric Draper, President George W. Bush stands with author Harper Lee in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 5, 2007. Lee was at the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush. Lee was best known for her classic American novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" and received her honor alongside Liberian politician Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins, and Benjamin Hooks, civil rights leader and former executive director of the NAACP, among others.

In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in a ceremony in the East Room on January 10, 1977. President Ford presented the award in the waning days of his presidency, honoring Mrs. Johnson alongside the likes of Georgia O'Keeffe, Irving Berlin, Joe DiMaggio, Nelson Rockefeller, and Norman Rockwell.

In this photograph by Lawrence Jackson, President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pat Summitt, legendary former coach of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team. The ceremony took place on May 29, 2012 in the East Room. Novelist Toni Morrison, seated at left, was also honored with the award in addition Madeline Albright, John Doar, Bob Dylan, William Foege, John Glenn, Gordon Hirabayashi, Dolores Huerta, Jan Karski, Juliette Gordon Low, Shimon Peres, and John Paul Stevens.

In this photograph, taken by Paul Morse on September 9, 2005, President George W. Bush delivers remarks on the South Lawn during the presentation ceremony for the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor. The medal was created to honor 442 public safety officers, including firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, who died as a result of performing their duties in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. President Bush invited family members of the fallen officers to the South Lawn ceremony, where they were presented with the posthumous award.

This photograph is of President Kennedy presenting the Presidential “Citation of Merit” to diplomat Florence Jaffray Hurst Harriman, in recognition of her distinguished service to the United States. The ceremony took place in the completed Blue Room, part of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's restoration program, and was photographed by Abbie Rowe on April 18, 1963. The Blue Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion and is famous for its oval shape, central location, and views of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial through its South Portico windows.

This photograph was taken by David Hume Kennerly on August 5, 1976, during a ceremony where President Gerald R. Ford awarded athlete and humanitarian Jesse Owens with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor a president can bestow. President Ford presented the award during a ceremony in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, attended by members of the 1976 United States Summer Olympic team. A track-and-field legend, Owens earned four gold medals during the controversial 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Nazi Germany. Notably, Owens did not receive a White House invitation or word of congratulations from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated Owens as an Ambassador of Sports, and enlisted him on a goodwill tour to promote amateur sports in India, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

In this photograph, President Barack Obama presents CSM Louis Wilson with the posthumous Medal of Honor for Sgt. Henry Johnson in the East Room on June 2, 2015. Johnson enlisted in the United States Army on June 5, 1917, where he was assigned to an all-Black National Guard unit in Company C, 15th New York Infantry Regiment. The unit would later become the 369th Infantry Regiment. Johnson served on the western edge of the Argonne Forest in France from 1918-1919, during World War I. The 369th Infantry Regiment was brigaded with a French army colonial unit. For his gallantry, Johnson was among the first Americans awarded the French Croix de Guerre avec Palme, France's highest award for valor. In 1996, he was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart by President Bill Clinton.

In this photograph by Pete Souza, SSgt. Ty M. Carter is applauded by President Barack Obama upon receiving the Medal of Honor on August 26, 2013. The ceremony took place in the East Room and honored Carter for his gallantry during the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan in 2009. Carter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1998 and served until 2002. He then enlisted in the United States Army in 2008 and left active duty in 2014.

In this photograph by Shealah Craighead, SSgt. David Bellavia receives the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump on June 25, 2019. The ceremony took place in the East Room and honored Bellavia for his gallantry during Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. Bellavia enlisted in the United States Army in 1999, serving through Kosovo 2003 and both Operation Iraqi Freedom campaigns. Upon leaving the Army in 2005, he cofounded the veterans advocacy group, Vets for Freedom.

In this photograph, members of the 369th Infantry Regiment Veterans Association stand as Sgt. Henry Johnson is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in the East Room on June 2, 2015. Johnson enlisted in the United States Army on June 5, 1917, where he was assigned to an all-Black National Guard unit in Company C, 15th New York Infantry Regiment. The unit would later become the 369th Infantry Regiment. Johnson served on the western edge of the Argonne Forest in France from 1918-1919, during World War I. The 369th Infantry Regiment was brigaded with a French army colonial unit. For his gallantry, Johnson was among the first Americans awarded the French Croix de Guerre avec Palme, France's highest award for valor. In 1996, he was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart by President Bill Clinton.

In this photograph by Pete Souza, SSgt. Clinton L. Romesha is applauded by President Barack Obama upon receiving the Medal of Honor on February 11, 2013. The ceremony took place in the East Room and honored Romesha for his gallantry during the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan in 2009. Carter enlisted in the United States Army in 1999 and served until 2011.

In this photograph by Pete Souza, CSM Bennie G. Adkins is applauded by President Barack Obama upon receiving the Medal of Honor on September 15, 2014. The ceremony took place in the East Room and honored Adkins for his gallantry during the Vietnam War and 38 hours of close-combat fighting from March 9-12, 1966 at Camp A Shau. Adkins served three nonconsecutive tours of duty during the Vietnam War. His Distinguished Service Cross, awarded in 1967, was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2014 following a review by the United States Army. Adkins passed away on April 17, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.

In this photograph by Pete Souza, SSgt. Melvin Morris, SFC Jose Rodela, and SPC Santiago J. Erevia are applauded by President Barack Obama following their Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room on March 18, 2014. Morris, Rodela, and Erevia served during the Vietnam War and were each awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Following a review by the United States Army mandated by Congress a decade earlier to identify acts of heroism overlooked due to prejudice and discrimination, their medals were upgraded to the Medal of Honor along with 21 other men, who were awarded posthumously. The 24 men honored at the ceremony that day fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

This photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on July 29, 1965, shows a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists in the East Room following the Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. Following the presentation, President Johnson presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. Pickering. He also awarded Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James. James formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. On a table near the podium in this photograph are two of the medals and certificates presented at the ceremony, as well as a model of the Mariner 4 spacecraft.

This photograph, taken by Joseph J. Scherschel of National Geographic on July 29, 1965, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James, who formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. Pickering; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space. On a table near the podium in this photograph are several of the medals and certificates presented at the ceremony, as well as a model of the Mariner 4 spacecraft.

This photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Schershel on July 29, 1965, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California. The award was presented in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also also awarded Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James, who formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. Pickering; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space.

This photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Schershel on July 29, 1965, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California. The award was presented in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also also awarded Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James, who formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. Pickering; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space.

This photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Schershel on July 29, 1965, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California. The award was presented in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also also awarded Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James, who formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. Pickering; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space.

This photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on July 29, 1965, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James. James formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. This photograph was taken at an award ceremony in the East Room, which followed a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding the Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California. He also awarded Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space.

This photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on July 29, 1965, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson at a podium in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding the Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. Following the presentation, President Johnson presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. Pickering. He also awarded Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James. James formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program.

This photograph, taken by Joseph J. Scherschel of National Geographic on July 25, 1969, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James, who formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. Pickering; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space. On a table near the podium in this photograph are several of the medals and certificates presented at the ceremony, as well as a model of the Mariner 4 spacecraft.

This photograph, taken by Joseph J. Scherschel of National Geographic on July 25, 1969, shows President Lyndon B. Johnson presenting Lunar Planetary Programs Director Oran Douglas Nicks with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award in the East Room following a presentation by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists regarding Mariner 4's successful flyby mission to capture imagery of the surface of Mars. President Johnson also presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. William Pickering, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena, California, and presented the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award to Acting Assistant Laboratory Director for Lunar Planetary Projects Jack N. James, who formerly served as project manager for the Mariner program. Speakers at the televised presentation included Dr. Pickering; NASA Administrator Dr. James Webb; and Dr. Robert Leighton, who narrated the showing of over 20 images of Mars that had been captured by Mariner 4. The photography captured by Mariner 4 of Mars on July 14-15, 1965 were the first images of another planet ever returned from deep space. On a table near the podium in this photograph are several of the medals and certificates presented at the ceremony, as well as a model of the Mariner 4 spacecraft.