What do Pope John XXIII, polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk,entertainer Frank Sinatra, Polish labor leader Lech Walesa,Republican vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney and country andwestern star Tennessee Ernie Ford have in common?
All are past recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
On Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson joined them.
President Harry S Truman created the medal in 1945 to honorservice in times of war, calling it the Medal of Freedom. But it wasPresident John F. Kennedy who expanded it to include distinguishedpeacetime contributions, including "cultural or other significantpublic or private endeavors."
Kennedy announced the 31 …
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