By Steve Holland WASHINGTON, March 21 (Reuters) –

U.S. President Joe Biden made an remark when conferring the National Medal of Arts on rocker Bruce Springsteen on Tuesday: “Bruce, some people are just born to run, man.” Springsteen and a number of actors, authors, singers and different artists joined Biden within the White House East Room the place they obtained both a National Medal of Arts or National Humanities Medal for his or her contributions to American society.

Comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose “Veep” present made mild of the vice presidency – an workplace Biden as soon as held – was additionally 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,” mentioned Biden.

Actress Mindy Kaling, a predominant character on the long-running tv present, “The Office,” set in Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, obtained a medal as nicely. When Biden launched writer Colson Whitehead to the group, he famous that Whitehead had gained again to again Pulitzer prizes for his books, and gave a touch of his personal ambitions.

“I’m trying to go back to back myself,” mentioned Biden, who has mentioned he intends to run for re-election in 2024. Singer Gladys Knight, the “empress of soul,” was an honoree, together with clothes designer Vera Wang, historian Walter Isaacson and authors Amy Tan, Ann Patchett and Tara Westover, amongst others.

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