President Jimmy Carter presents the Medal of Freedom Award to Coretta King, wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, during a ceremony at the White House in 1977. At right is Martin Luther King, Sr., father of the slain civil rights leader.

President Jimmy Carter presents the Medal of Freedom Award to Coretta King, wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, during a ceremony at the White House in 1977. At right is Martin Luther King, Sr., father of the slain civil rights leader. / The Associated Press

Forty years ago, President Jimmy Carter awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. some ten years after his death. The civil rights icon was assassinated in 1968. Producer Sean Powers took us back to that day at the White House with this audio postcard.

Tags: Martin Luther King  Jimmy Carter  Atlanta  Georgia