1994 - Barbara Jordan Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

On June 1, 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress from the Deep South. Renowned for her powerful oratory during the Nixon impeachment hearings, Jordan became a national symbol of integrity, constitutional faith, and Black political excellence. Her keynote speech at the 1976 Democratic Convention remains one of the most lauded in American political history. In later years, she focused on ethics, civil liberties, and immigration reform. Awarding her the Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—acknowledged her lifelong commitment to justice, truth, and democratic ideals. June 1 commemorates the recognition of a voice that helped shape the moral compass of American public life.