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Springsteen and a host of actors, authors,
singers and other artists joined Biden in the White House East
Room where they received either a National Medal of Arts or
National Humanities Medal for their contributions to American
society.
Comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose "Veep" show made light of
the vice presidency - an office Biden once held - was also
honored.
"She embraces life's absurdity with absolute wit, and handles
real life turns with absolute grace. A mom, a cancer survivor, a
pioneer for women in comedy, she is an American original," said
Biden.
Actress Mindy Kaling, a main character on the long-running
television show, "The Office," set in Biden's hometown of
Scranton, Pennsylvania, received a medal as well.
When Biden introduced author Colson Whitehead to the crowd, he
noted that Whitehead had won back to back Pulitzer prizes for
his books, and gave a hint of his own ambitions.
"I'm trying to go back to back myself," said Biden, who has said
he intends to run for re-election in 2024.
Singer Gladys Knight, the "empress of soul," was an honoree,
along with clothing designer Vera Wang, historian Walter
Isaacson and authors Amy Tan, Ann Patchett and Tara Westover,
among others.
(Reporting by Steve Holland and Eric Beech; Editing by Richard
Chang)
(Photo: National Medal of Arts recipient actor Julia
Louis-Dreyfus holds hands with U.S. President Joe Biden as she
waits to be presented her medal during a ceremony in the East
Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 21, 2023.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
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