Seven things you didn’t know about two Medal of Freedom winners

C.K. Lett, CNN
Updated 7:57 PM EST, Wed November 20, 2013

Story highlights

Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian participated in the Freedom Rides

Bayard Rustin was one of the masterminds behind the March on Washington

Both were among 16 honored Wednesday with the Medal of Freedom

(CNN) —  

Today Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian and Bayard Rustin were among 16 people honored with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Household names former President Bill Clinton and media icon Oprah Winfrey received the honor, but odds are you probably aren’t as familiar with their fellow honorees. Vivian is a civil rights leader who participated in the freedom rides, and Rustin was considered to be one of the masterminds behind the March on Washington. Here are seven things you don’t know about these two unsung civil rights pioneers, but should.

Civil Rights movement: No ammo necessary

Former President Bill Clinton is one of 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year. The 42nd president is being honored for his service in the White House as well as for founding the Clinton Foundation, which strives "to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment," according to the White House.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Former President Bill Clinton is one of 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year. The 42nd president is being honored for his service in the White House as well as for founding the Clinton Foundation, which strives "to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment," according to the White House.
PHOTO: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Oprah Winfrey is receiving the medal for her work as a broadcast journalist and her years of philanthropic work. Here, Winfrey poses with the 2011 graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Klip, South Africa.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Oprah Winfrey is receiving the medal for her work as a broadcast journalist and her years of philanthropic work. Here, Winfrey poses with the 2011 graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Klip, South Africa.
PHOTO: Michelly Rall/Getty Images
As the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride, who died last year, was a role model to generations of young women, according to the White House. "She advocated passionately for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they can accomplish," the White House said.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
As the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride, who died last year, was a role model to generations of young women, according to the White House. "She advocated passionately for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they can accomplish," the White House said.
PHOTO: Space Frontiers/Getty Images
Former Chicago Cub Ernie Banks is being honored for his impressive career as a baseball player. "During his 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he played in 11 All-Star Games, hit over 500 home runs, and became the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player honors in back-to-back years," according to the White House.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Former Chicago Cub Ernie Banks is being honored for his impressive career as a baseball player. "During his 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he played in 11 All-Star Games, hit over 500 home runs, and became the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player honors in back-to-back years," according to the White House.
PHOTO: Louis Requena/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ben Bradlee, left, photographed with reporter Bob Woodward, was executive editor of The Washington Post during its coverage of the Watergate scandal and "successfully challenged the Federal Government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers," the White House said.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Ben Bradlee, left, photographed with reporter Bob Woodward, was executive editor of The Washington Post during its coverage of the Watergate scandal and "successfully challenged the Federal Government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers," the White House said.
PHOTO: Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images
Former Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana is being honored for his 30 years of public service in Congress. Lugar, a Republican, "is best known for his bipartisan leadership and decades-long commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons," according to the White House.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Former Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana is being honored for his 30 years of public service in Congress. Lugar, a Republican, "is best known for his bipartisan leadership and decades-long commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons," according to the White House.
PHOTO: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Cordy Tindell "CT" Vivian was a leader during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and participated in the Freedom Rides. Here, Vivian asks an officer to make a rest stop during one of the Freedom Rides from Montgomery, Alabama, to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Cordy Tindell "CT" Vivian was a leader during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and participated in the Freedom Rides. Here, Vivian asks an officer to make a rest stop during one of the Freedom Rides from Montgomery, Alabama, to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961.
PHOTO: Lee Lockwood/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
Bayard Rustin, right, "was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all," according to the White House. Rustin died in 1987.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Bayard Rustin, right, "was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all," according to the White House. Rustin died in 1987.
PHOTO: Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who fled Cuba in 1990 and became an American citizen, is "widely considered one of the greatest living jazz artists," according to the White House.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who fled Cuba in 1990 and became an American citizen, is "widely considered one of the greatest living jazz artists," according to the White House.
PHOTO: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
The late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who died last year, was "a lifelong public servant," the White House said. "Senator Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress, representing the people of Hawaii from the moment they joined the Union," according to the White House.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
The late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who died last year, was "a lifelong public servant," the White House said. "Senator Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress, representing the people of Hawaii from the moment they joined the Union," according to the White House.
PHOTO: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image
Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine and an advocate for women
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine and an advocate for women's equality, "helped launch a wide variety of groups and publications dedicated to advancing civil rights," the White House said.
PHOTO: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Country music singer Loretta Lynn stood out in the male-dominated industry in the early 1960s and "emerged as one of the first successful female country music vocalists," according to the White House.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Country music singer Loretta Lynn stood out in the male-dominated industry in the early 1960s and "emerged as one of the first successful female country music vocalists," according to the White House.
PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Patricia Wald was "the first woman appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and served as Chief Judge from 1986-1991," the White House said.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Patricia Wald was "the first woman appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and served as Chief Judge from 1986-1991," the White House said.
PHOTO: Raphael GAILLARDE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Dean Smith was the head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team from 1961 to 1997. During his career, "ninety-six percent of his players graduated from college," the White House said.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Dean Smith was the head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team from 1961 to 1997. During his career, "ninety-six percent of his players graduated from college," the White House said.
PHOTO: Allsport/Getty Images
Daniel Kahneman, a professor at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for his work in applying "cognitive psychology to economic analysis," the White House said.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Daniel Kahneman, a professor at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for his work in applying "cognitive psychology to economic analysis," the White House said.
PHOTO: Sean Gallup/Getty Images for Burda Media
Mario Molina won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995 for "discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer," the White House said.
Photos: 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —  
Mario Molina won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995 for "discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer," the White House said.
PHOTO: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images

When the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was just getting the Montgomery bus boycotts off the ground he “had not personally embraced nonviolence” according to the The Bayard Rustin Documentary Film Project. “In fact, there were guns inside King’s house and armed guards posted at his doors. Rustin persuaded boycott leaders to adopt complete nonviolence, teaching them Gandhian nonviolent direct protest.”

Violent encounters of the Southern kind

In 1965, when he was the national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC, C.T. Vivian led a group of people to register to vote in Selma, Alabama. As the county Sheriff Jim Clark blocked the group, Vivian said in his fiery tone, “We will register to vote because as citizens of the United States we have the right to do it.” This did not sit well with Clark, who instead of keeping the peace, disrupted it by beating Vivian until blood dripped off his chin in plain view of rolling cameras. Images such as these galvanized support for change.

Bayard Rustin and Muhammad Ali have two things in common

Rustin and Ali both were conscientious objectors to war who resisted the draft and were sentenced to federal prison as a result. Rustin ended up serving almost three years for refusing to fight in World War II because of his Quaker beliefs. Ali is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal Of Freedom.

C.T. Vivian got you into college

When Vivian created a college readiness program during the civil rights era, he said it was a way to “take care of the kids that were kicked out of school simply because they protested racism.” Years later the U.S. Department of Education used his Vision program as a guide to create Upward Bound, which was designed to improve high school and college graduation rates for students in under-served communities.

Throw Jim Crow from the train

During the Montgomery bus boycotts, Rustin was the logistical gasoline to King’s inspirational spark that helped bring national attention to the cause. However, what many don’t know is that Rustin had practice protesting segregated transit routes. In 1948 he filed a federal civil suit against the Southern Railway Company for violating his constitutional rights the year before when its employees refused him access to the dining car because of his race.

’It was bigger than the Klan’

In the late 1970s Vivian founded the National Anti-Klan Network, an anti-racism organization that focused on monitoring the Ku Klux Klan. Soon after it was founded, the name and direction changed because “it was bigger than the Klan,” said Vivian in a phone interview. “We called it the Center for Democratic Renewal because the whole culture had to be renewed if it truly was going to be a democratic one.” Vivian said they viewed the Center For Democratic Renewal as “the political side” of what they were doing with the SCLC, which was focused on the country’s morality struggles during the civil rights movement.

A minority within a minority

Rustin faced oppression on two fronts: as a black man in the Jim Crow era and as an openly gay man during a time when being “out” was effectively illegal. He was even arrested on a public indecency charge. His early activism as a communist was enough to raise the ire of J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, but it wasn’t just before the March on Washington that the intelligence chief attempted to slow the movement’s progress by attacking Rustin, the march’s deputy director. Hoover reportedly supplied Rustin’s arrest record to segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond, who used the information to publicly attack Rustin on the Senate floor.