"Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker rubbed elbows with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and first lady Michelle Obama Thursday in the East Room of the White House before
President Obama presented the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal. Parker was on hand to honor the 20 awardees who Obama said had had a profound effect on his own life as well as the nation. Among them were author Robert Caro, architect Maya Lin and Kennedy speechwriter Ted Sorenson.
(Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)