The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by the president of the United States to “any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative". Before 1970, honorees were either selected by the president or recommended to them by the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board.

Eight Presidents have themselves received the medal either posthumously, post-presidency, or prior to being elected:

John F. Kennedy (1963, posthumously)

Lyndon B. Johnson (1980, posthumously)

Ronald Reagan (1993, with Distinction)

Gerald Ford (1999)

Jimmy Carter (1999)

George H. W. Bush (2011)

Bill Clinton (2013)

Joe Biden (2017, as Vice President; also awarded with Distinction)

More Info: en.wikipedia.org