Warren Buffett's Presidential honor: A family affair

by Patricia Sellers

Even though Warren Buffett (BRKA) has received plenty of rewards in his 80 years, there was something special about yesterday. He traveled to the White House to accept the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.

In the East Room ceremony, along with President Obama and Buffett's fellow honorees--including former President George H. W. Bush, poet Maya Angelou, baseball legend Stan Musial, and basketball icon Bill Russell--Buffett had a family band in tow. The group included wife Astrid, his sisters, Doris and Bertie, and all three of his children, Susie, Howard and Peter.

Credit: Susie Buffett

As you know, the Buffetts are not fancy folk. (About Warren's trademark thriftiness, the President quipped, "I had to give him a White House tie last time he came to visit.")

Daughter Susie took pictures with her BlackBerry. "I didn't think we could bring 'real' cameras, so I had to use the BlackBerry," she explained. "Turns out real cameras were okay, but none of us had one!"

Here is Susie's shot of her dad's special moment.

You can watch the entire ceremony here. The President's tribute to Buffett--for sharing his vast wealth and showing that, "integrity is not just a good trait, it is good for business"--is about 4:30 minutes in.