That’s it for now, we are going to leave our coverage of Barack Obama’s farewell address here. Thanks for following the blog. For the full story, read David Smith’s account:
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We want to hear from you as Obama’s time in office comes to a close. What was the speech that sold you on voting for him? What are the moments you wish he had handled differently? The victories that made you proud to call him your president?
We’d like you to write your reply as a letter to Obama, via GuardianWitness. A selection of your responses will be included in upcoming coverage around the end of Obama’s presidency.
Summary
Barack Obama gave his presidential farewell speech in Chicago tonight, declaring “yes we did” and calling on citizens to become politically engaged and uphold the values the country was founded on, as his eight years as president comes to an end. Here’s a round-up of his address:
- The president called on citizens to maintain faith in democracy by participating in it, such as having an open dialogue with those that disagree and running for office. “Show up. Dive in. Stay at it. Sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose,” he said.
- He warned against divisiveness between Americans of different backgrounds, including people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, Muslims and also white Americans who’ve struggled with economic changes. He quoted Attitcus Finch from Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird, who said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
- The country’s first black president also called the idea of a post-racial America, due to his election, “never realistic. “For race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society,” he said.
- Obama spoke about the crucial issue of climate change, saying that “to simply deny the problem” betrays everyone.
- He noted the achievements of his administration: no foreign terrorist attack on US soil, more Americans with health insurance, the legislation of same-sex marriage, the killing Osama bin Laden.
- Obama only mentioned president-elect Trump by name once, when saying he would ensure a smooth transition of power.
- He thanked wife Michelle, “girl from the south side”, tearing up when paying tribute to the first lady. He thanked his daughters and called being their dad the “role he’s most proud of.
- The speech finished with a reference to Obama’s 2008 campaign slogan: “Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can.”
Obama: 'yes we did'
Obama calls on citizens to have faith in the country.
“I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours,” he says.
I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written:
Yes We Can
Yes We Did
Yes We Can.
Obama thanks the crowd and is greeted by his family and the Bidens.
Updated
And now it’s final farewell time.
“My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won’t stop; in fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my days that remain.”
“You changed the world,” says Obama, as he pays tribute to his staff. He thanks them, many are wiping away tears.
“I leave this stage tonight even more optimistic about this country than when we started,” he adds.
Now Obama pays tribute to his veep Joe Biden.
“The scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware’s favorite son: you were the first choice I made as a nominee, and the best,” says Obama, while the crowd gives Biden a standing ovation. He calls Biden a “brother” and “like family”.
Now Obama turns to the daughters (Malia is in the audience, Sasha is not).
“You have become two amazing young women, smart and beautiful, but more importantly, kind and thoughtful and full of passion. You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad,” says Obama.
Now Obama is getting onto the personal thank yous. He simply says the word “Michelle”, and the crowd erupts and gives the first lady a standing ovation.
“Girl of the South Side,” he says, as Michelle raises her fist.
“For the past twenty-five years, you’ve been not only my wife and mother of my children, but my best friend. You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor,” says Obama, getting out a white handkerchief and wiping away tears.
Updated
Obama: 'run for office yourself'
Obama talks about being an active citizen and being political as part of your every day life, particularly if you’re frustrated by politics right now.
“If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talking with one of them in real life,” says Obama. “If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.”
“Show up. Dive in. Stay at it. Sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose.”
In what he calls his “final point”, to cheers of “no!” from the audience, Obama speaks about the precarious nature of democracy.
“All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions,” says Obama.
“Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. But it’s really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power – with our participation, and the choices we make.”
As Senate hearings continue into Russia’s hacking of the DNC emails during the election campaign - and Trump applauds leader Vladimir Putin - Obama specifically calls Russia a “rival”.
So let’s be vigilant, but not afraid ISIL will try to kill innocent people. But they cannot defeat America unless we betray our Constitution and our principles in the fight. Rivals like Russia or China cannot match our influence around the world – unless we give up what we stand for, and turn ourselves into just another big country that bullies smaller neighbors.
“I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans,” says Obama, to thunderous applause and cheers.
“No foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland these past eight years,” says Obama, although he notes the issue of home-grown terrorists such as the Boston marathon bombing and San Bernandino massacre.
“To all who serve, it has been the honor of my lifetime to be your Commander-in-Chief,” he says, resulting in a standing ovation.
Obama on climate change
The president talks about climate change and the steps his administration has taken in the last eight years: reducing dependence on foreign oil, increasing renewable energies, signing the Paris Accord.
He calls on the nation to not ignore science.
“But without bolder action, our children won’t have time to debate the existence of climate change; they’ll be busy dealing with its effects: environmental disasters, economic disruptions, and waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary,” says Obama.
“Now, we can and should argue about the best approach to the problem. But to simply deny the problem not only betrays future generations; it betrays the essential spirit of innovation and practical problem-solving that guided our founders.”
“Politics is a battle of ideas. That’s how democracy was designed,” says Obama.
“But without some common baseline of facts. Without a willingness to admit new information and that your opponent might be making a fair point and that science and reason matter, then we’re doing to keep talking past each other. And it will make common ground and compromise impossible,” he says.
Obama continues to talk about race and the divisions in American, getting huge cheers from the thousands in the audience.
He quotes Attitcus Finch from Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird, who said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
Obama continues, specifically identifying groups that were often topics of political discussions during the 2016 election:
For blacks and other minorities, it means tying our own struggles for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country face – the refugee, the immigrant, the rural poor, the transgender American, and also the middle-aged white man who from the outside may seem like he’s got all the advantages, but who’s seen his world upended by economic, cultural, and technological change.
Obama: post-racial America was 'never realistic'
Obama, the country’s first black president and son of a Kenyan immigrant, discusses race and immigration.
“After my election, there was talk of a post-racial America. Such a vision, however well-intended, was never realistic. For race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society. I’ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were ten, or twenty, or thirty years ago – you can see it not just in statistics, you see it in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum,” he says.
“But we’re not where we need to be.
“All of us have more work to do. After all, if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworking white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves. If we decline to invest in the children of immigrants, just because they don’t look like us, we diminish the prospects of our own children – because those brown kids will represent a larger share of America’s workforce.”
He spoke about hiring practices and discrimination in housing .
Obama on Obamacare
In a week where the GOP is actively trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act - and president-elect Trump calls on it to happen as quickly as possible - Obama talks about healthcare. He notes that the uninsured rate is lower and health care costs rising tat the slowest rate in 50 years.
“If anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we’ve made to our health care system – that covers as many people at less cost – I will publicly support it,” he says
Obama calls on the country for unity, speaking about the power of democracy and unity.
There have been moments throughout our history that threatened to rupture that solidarity. The beginning of this century has been one of those times. A shrinking world, growing inequality; demographic change and the specter of terrorism – these forces haven’t just tested our security and prosperity, but our democracy as well. And how we meet these challenges to our democracy will determine our ability to educate our kids, and create good jobs, and protect our homeland.
The crowd starts booing when Obama refers to next week’s inauguration of president Trump. He tells the crowd to stop and notes the importance of “the peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected president to the next,” says Obama.
“I committed to president-elect Trump that my team would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as president Bush did to me. Because it’s up to all of us to make sure our government can meet the many challenges we still face,” he says.
“America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started,” says Obama, listing the achievements of his administration, including same-sex marriage, the Iran deal and killing Osama bin Laden.
Updated
Watch Obama's speech live
The speech is on the White House YouTube channel
He speaks about “embracing all, not just some” to cheers.
Obama pays tribute to civil rights and social justice activists, “men and women from Selma to Stonewall”
“That’s what we mean when we say America is exceptional. Not that we’ve been flawless from the start but that we show the capacity for change,” says Obama.
Obama talks abut moving to Chicago as a young man, then about the beauty of the republic and consitution.
“It’s the insistence that these rights, while so elegant have never been self-executing... that we the people through the instrument of our democracy can form a more perfect union. What a radical idea,” says Obama.
“For 240 years our nation’s call for citizenship has given work and purpose to each generation,” he says.
The crowd stops the speech with chants of “four more years”.
“I can’t do that!” says Obama.
“My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well-wishes that we’ve received over the last few weeks. Tonight it’s my turn to say thanks, whether we’ve seen eye to eye or rarely agreed at all,” says Obama.
He speaks about the importance of conversations with every day Americans.
“They’ve kept me honest, they’ve kept me inspired, they kept me going. Every day I’ve learn from you. You made a better president. You made a better man,” said Obama.
“You can tell that I’m a lame duck, because nobody is following instructions. Everybody have a seat,” quips Obama.
Standing ovation from the crowd delays the president from beginning.
“We’re on live TV here,” says Obama.
“Hello Chicago,” he begins. “It’s good to be home.”
Barack Obama is now walking out onto the stage to give his presidential farewell speech.
BJ the Chicago Kid is belting out the national anthem.
One of the classic Obama tunes, Stevie Wonder’s Superstition plays as vice president Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia Obama take their seats (where’s Sasha?).
Just a few minutes to go until Obama takes to the stage, take a look at David Smith’s feature on how Chicago feels about the end of the presidency of its adopted son.
One man certain to be in attendance is Zariff – who declined to give his full name or age – who works at the Hyde Park Hair Salon in Obama’s home neighbourhood. Although the shop changed premises a few years ago, it has its most famous patron’s regular chair on prominent display, autographed and behind protective glass, along with photos, newspaper cuttings and even a painting, almost like a shrine.
Zariff said he can recall “very vividly” the first time the young lawyer and community organiser walked in. He never dreamed Obama could be president. But then came the convention in Boston in 2004. “That’s when I knew it was possible,” he reflected. “A very bright, very sharp, very focused individual outside the guy who told jokes all the time.”
Zariff, who is African American, cut Obama’s hair again before his acceptance speech in Grant Park, Chicago, on the night in 2008 he became the first black president in US history. “He had to look his best. It was a very special feeling of watching something come to fruition from the beginning.”
Read the rest here.
Emotions are already running high at the McCormick Place convention centre in Chicago. The make up of the crowd – male and female, young and old, diverse in race and religion – is itself a statement about the outgoing president.
Sheila Baldwin, a 64-year-old African American, who got her ticket on Saturday after queuing from 5am, said: “My ancestors would appreciate and insist I see this historic event. It was thrilling for us to see my mother, who is 91, witness the first black president; now to see it come full circle is a wonderful moment.”
Reflecting on the divisive presidential election, Baldwin, a university associate professor in Chicago, added: “If anyone can heal the country and bring it together, I think President Obama can. The country is in for a huge shock with Donald Trump and hopefully he can do the right thing. It’s not going to be smooth sailing.”
The vast arena already appears full with thousands of people seated and thousands more standing at the back – some have complained about the poor view they will have of Obama. There are multiple giant TV screens, a huge stars and stripes and a giant presidential seat set against a deep blue curtain. Musicians are currently performing.
The audience includes veteran Obama campaign staffers. Daniel and Cathy Nored, both 62, have flown in from Dallas, Georgia. Daniel, a computer technician, said: “My emotions are a little sad but I know he’s tired and wants to become an ordinary citizen. It’s bittersweet.”
Cathy, who works in human resources, added: “I think he will make another great speech but this is going to come from the heart.”
Two Algerian-born Muslims, Meriem Sadoun and Hanane Bounar got tickets after queuing from 4am on Saturday. Bounar, 16, a student, said: “When I came to the US as an immigrant, he was the first president. For me to see him at the end is important.”
But Sadoun, 22, a university graduate, added: “If this was Donald Trump speaking, we probably wouldn’t be welcome in the crowd. The atmosphere would be different and not as welcoming.”
Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam, is singing and talking to the crowd in advance of Obama’s speech.
"People have the power." Eddie Vedder and the Chicago Children's Choir begin the program at #ObamaFarewell. pic.twitter.com/EZ2Q4Bi9YK
— Emily Miller (@emmillerwrites) January 11, 2017
Axelrod calls it a night of 'very mixed' emotions
David Axelrod, Obama’s former chief strategist, told the Guardian:
I think he’s going to be very focused not just on what we’ve been able to accomplish but what we need to accomplish to keep our democracy. Democracy’s under siege right now. Democracy’s not a gift, it’s something that we have to work for and fight for, and I think he’ll address that. I think he’ll address the new president but not in a challenging way.
It is a night of “very mixed” emotions, Axelrod added.
“I’m proud of him and all that he’s accomplished, what he’s meant to this country, But I’m sad that the journey is over, at least this leg of it. I’ve known him for 25 years and I have maximum high regard for him,” Axelrod said.
“Tonight I picked up the credential that said, ‘The president’s farewell address’. I have a drawer full of a hundred credentials from Iowa, the whole 2008 campaign, all my years at the White House, the 2012 campaign, and to pick up one that said farewell address was an emotional thing.”
Updated
Good evening. It’s been exactly 2,989 days since Barack Obama addressed thousands of supporters gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park on election night in 2008.
Now he has returned to his home town to give his much-awaited presidential farewell speech tonight, which will focus on the themes of hope and grassroots change that first helped get him elected.
Obama is “not one to be overly sentimental”, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said after Air Force One touched down in Chicago this afternoon, although this speech is likely to be more emotional than most.
Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W Bush all gave their farewell speeches in the White House, but Obama chose to give his in the Windy City.
“I first came to Chicago when I was in my early 20s, still trying to figure out who I was, still searching for a purpose to my life,” said Obama, in an excerpt of the speech released by the White House.
The president will speak about optimism, grassroots politics and confidence in young Americans, Earnest said.
We will be live blogging the speech, which kicks off at 8pm CT (that’s 9pm ET). Reporter David Smith is already in the crowd.
At McCormick Place convention centre in Chicago for Barack Obama's farewell address. pic.twitter.com/nnlZO6WR2Q
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) January 11, 2017
