Today marks the date we have all secretly wished would never come. Barack Obama’s final day in office as President of the United States.
Donald Trump is set to be sworn in for the inauguration later today, as the Obama family pack up the White House removal vans after eight years in office.
Over the past few days, the First Family have taken in the spectacular views from the balcony one last time, Michelle has taken her final walk through the People’s House with dogs Sunny and Bo and we’ve been double tapping/screenshotting (for future reference) the last of the Joebama memes.
But there was one last thing that needed to be done to mark the end of the Obama era. This morning, Barack wrote a letter to the American people thanking them for making him a ‘better President’ and a ‘better man’. Too. Much.
The email broke tradition of previous Presidents, as it is custom to leave a letter in the Oval Office before departing. But Barack decided to address the American people one last time and remind them that, ‘yes we can’.
Obama sent the letter to the White House email list before it was published on the official blog.
You can read the emotional address below:
My fellow Americans,
It's a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the American elected to take his or her place. It's a letter meant to share what we know, what we've learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land, and the leadership of the free world.
But before I leave my note for our 45th president, I wanted to say one final thank you for the honor of serving as your 44th. Because all that I've learned in my time in office, I've learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.
Throughout these eight years, you have been the source of goodness, resilience, and hope from which I've pulled strength. I've seen neighbors and communities take care of each other during the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. I have mourned with grieving families searching for answers -- and found grace in a Charleston church.
I've taken heart from the hope of young graduates and our newest military officers. I've seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and wounded warriors once given up for dead walk again. I've seen Americans whose lives have been saved because they finally have access to medical care, and families whose lives have been changed because their marriages are recognized as equal to our own. I've seen the youngest of children remind us through their actions and through their generosity of our obligations to care for refugees, or work for peace, and, above all, to look out for each other.
I've seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I've seen our future unfolding.
All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work -- the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there's an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.
I'll be right there with you every step of the way.
And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word 'We.' 'We the People.' 'We shall overcome.'
Yes, we can.