Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey to get Presidential Medal of Freedom

US President Barack Obama is to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to luminaries including former president Bill Clinton and talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey, the White House said Wednesday.

The recipients of this year's award will also include former senator Daniel Inouye (posthumously), executive editor of The Washington Post in the Watergate era Ben Bradlee, baseball player Ernie Banks, former senator Richard Lugar and first female astronaut of the country Sally Ride, Xinhua reported citing a White House statement.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America's highest civilian honour, along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by the Congress. It is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the US, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.

The award ceremony is to take place at the White House November 20.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the executive order signed by former president John F. Kennedy establishing the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the first ceremony bestowing the honour on an inaugural class of 31 recipients.