Streisand and Clinton exchange a few words

"But in the end, those things that are timeless matter more, and that is what all of you have given us.''

The honorees were treated to a black tie dinner on Wednesday under a huge, heated tent on the White House lawn.

In praising Angelou, who wrote the acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and read poetry at his inauguration, Clinton said she has "shown our world the redemptive healing power of art".

Singer Streisand, a Clinton friend and fundraiser, was described as one of a small group of artists who can be "recognised by her first name only".

"Every nation should elevate the kind of people we honour today," the president said.

Baryshnikov holds his National Medal of Arts award

"The arts and humanities bring us together."

Other reward recipients were guitarist Eddy Arnold, popularly known as the "ambassador of country music", and classical violinist Itzhak Perlman.

Minister Will Campbell, a civil rights activist in the 1957 integration of public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas also received a medal.

The first lady, who takes up her new position as New York senator next month, joked that the event had been postponed from October because "both of us were otherwise occupied" - a reference to her husband's travels abroad and her own campaign.

Mr Clinton will hand over his position to President-Elect George W Bush on 20 January.