Lehrer has received two Emmy Awards, the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award and the George Foster Peabody Award. He has received the William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit and the University of Missouri School of Journalism's Honor Medal. Lehrer was honored in 1999 with the National Humanities Medal. It was given by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. He has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Lehrer has received honorary degrees from 42 universities and colleges.