President Ronald Reagan awarded Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom on March 26 , 1984 after Robinson 's death . On March 2 , 2005 , President George W. Bush gave Robinson 's widow the Congressional Gold Medal , the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress . President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom on March 26 , 1984 , and on March 2 , 2005 , President George W. Bush gave Robinson 's widow the Congressional Gold Medal , the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress ; Robinson was only the second baseball player to receive the award , after Roberto Clemente .