Obama Honoring Clinton With Medal of Freedom Today

President Barack Obama will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor – to 16 people, from former President Bill Clinton and iconic talk show host Oprah Winfrey to the late astronaut Sally Ride, in ceremonies Wednesday night.

President Clinton is receiving the award for his public service in the White House and for founding, "the Clinton Foundation to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment," according to the White House.

This will be their first face-to-face since Clinton criticized Obama on his "keep your plan" pledge for health care, CNN's Jim Acosta reports. All eyes will be on the body language between the two.

Politico Editor-in-Chief John Harris says, "They’ve got a very complex relationship. And at bottom it is one—still for all the ups and downs and rockiness, it's one of mutual need." (SEE VIDEO BELOW)

Harris says President Obama has come to value his relationship with the Clintons.

“And he's come to appreciate Bill Clinton for all his exasperating qualities and the fact that he doesn't want to be friends with him; he only wants to hang around with him in small doses. I think he does recognize that they are in a fraternity as two democratic presidents elected who, no matter the ups and downs, they need each other. Their arms are locked.”