Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Musician James Taylor stands in the brieing room after recievig the 2010 National Medal of Arts from U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Roberto González Echevarría (R) observes his medal after he was presented with the 2010 National Humanities Medal during an East Room ceremony March 2, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. Echevarría was honored for his contributions to Spanish and Latin American literary criticism. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Singer James Taylor is greeted by guests after he was presented with the 2010 National Medal of Arts during an East Room ceremony March 2, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. Taylor was honored for his remarkable contributions to American music. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: First lady Michelle Obama walks out of a 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to author Wendell E. Berry during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to novelist Philip Roth during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to professor Roberto Gonzalez Echevarría during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) congratulates author Joyce Carol Oates after presenting her with the 2010 National Humanities Medal, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) congratulates poet Donald Hall after presenting him with the 2010 National Medal of Arts, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the 2010 National Medal of Arts to sculptor Mark di Suvero during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) congratulates musician Van Cliburn after presenting him with the 2010 National Medal of Arts, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the 2010 National Humanities Medal to author Joyce Carol Oates during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Jazz musician Sonny Rollins (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama (R) after he was presented with the 2010 National Medal of Arts during an East Room ceremony March 2, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. Rollins was honored for his extraordinary contributions to American jazz music. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Jazz musician Sonny Rollins (L) steps off the stage as he returns to his seat after he was presented with the 2010 National Medal of Arts by U.S. President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony March 2, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. Rollins was honored for his extraordinary contributions to American jazz music. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Robert Brustein (L) is presented with the 2010 National Medal of Arts by U.S. President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony March 2, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. Brustein was honored for his contributions to the American theatre as a critic, producer, playwright, and educator. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Musician James Taylor stands in the brieing room and looks at his 2010 National Medal of Arts he recieved earlier from U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with musician James Taylor after presenting him with the 2010 National Medal of Arts, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Musician Quincy Jones (L) steps off the stage as he returns to his seat after he was presented with the 2010 National Medal of Arts by U.S. President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony March 2, 2011 at the White House in Washington, DC. Jones was honored for his extraordinary contributions to American music as a musician, composer, record producer, and arranger. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the 2010 National Medal of Arts to musician James Taylor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the 2010 National Medal of Arts to musician Quincy Jones during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Obama Confers Nat'l Medal of Arts And Nat'l Humanities Medal To 20 Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) congratulates musician Quincy Jones after presenting him with the 2010 National Medal of Arts during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, on March 2, 2011 in Washington, DC. President Obama presented the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to 20 honorees. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)