Award Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award

John Dos Passos Prize (1997)

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1994)

American Academy of Arts and Letters (Literature ∙ 1995)

PEN Award (1979)

National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Literature (1984)

Chevalier, Legion of Honor

Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts (1977)

Academy of American Poets' James Laughlin Award is named in his honor.

D.Litt., Hamilton College (1970)

D.Litt., Colgate University (1973)

D.H.L., Duquesne University (1981)

D.H.L., Yale University (1982)