WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the National Humanities Medal to author Louis Menand (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the National Humanities Medal to chef and entrepreneur Jose Andres (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) presents the National Humanities Medal to poet Louise Gluck (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd R) presents the National Humanities Medal to journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the National Humanities Medal to radio host Terry Gross (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd R) presents the National Humanities Medal to journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the National Humanities Medal to author James McBride (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the National Humanities Medal to physician Abraham Verghese (L) during an East Room ceremony at the White House September 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients in the annual ceremony. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)