He’s been a senator, a presidential nominee, secretary of state, and the nation’s first climate diplomat. On Friday, John F. Kerry can add recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to his list of accomplishments.
Kerry is one of the 19 luminaries who will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor at the White House on Friday, President Biden said in a statement.
The elder statesman will be honored alongside fellow political figures including Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Dole, and former New York mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who was born at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton and mostly grew up in Medford.
“They are the pinnacle of leadership in their fields,” Biden said.
The wide-ranging list of recipients also includes Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, and pioneering talk show host Phil Donahue.
“These 19 Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations, and businesses that shaped America for the better,” Biden said. “They consistently demonstrated over their careers the power of community, hard work, and service.”
Kerry served 28 years as a Massachusetts senator and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for president in 2004. He spent four years as secretary of state under former president Barack Obama.
In 2021, Biden appointed Kerry as the first special presidential envoy for climate. Kerry’s last day in that role was in March.
“His bravery in combat during the Vietnam War earned him the Silver Star and Bronze Star, and history will remember his public service career that has spanned seven decades,” Biden said.
Tonya Alanez can be reached at tonya.alanez@globe.com. Follow her @talanez.