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President Obama Gives Emotional Farewell Address, Nation Reacts

By on January 11, 2017

President Obama returned home to Chicago to bid farewell to the nation as he prepares to exit his position of Leader of the Free World.

POTUS took to the stage to let America and the rest of the world know his final thoughts on his 8-year term as President, the future of America moving forward-with plenty of thinly veiled references to president elect Trump’s upcoming term- and to encourage the nation to stick together so that democracy can continue to work to its fullest potential.

“We remain the wealthiest, most powerful, and most respected nation on Earth,” he said. “Our youth and drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention mean that the future should be ours,” Obama said. “But that potential will be realized only if our democracy works. Only if our politics reflects the decency of the our people. Only if all of us, regardless of our party affiliation or particular interest, help restore the sense of common purpose that we so badly need right now.”

Obama also took time in his speech to thank the most important woman in his life- his wife Michelle. “Michelle Lavaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side — for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife, the mother of my children, you have been my best friend,” Obama said. “You took on a job you didn’t ask for, and you made it your own with grace and with grit and with style and good humor.”

After his speech, President Obama tweeted another word of thanks and one last request from the American people- “Thank you for everything,” reads the tweet. “My last ask is the same as my first. I’m asking you to believe—not in my ability to create change, but in yours.”

Twitter was filled with a range of emotions as citizens across the country watched President Obama bid farewell to his position:

Watch POTUS’ final address (and prepare to break out the tissues) below:

Photo Credit: Youtube Screenshot

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