--- title: President Obama's Farewell Speech: Read Full Transcript description: He spoke of the myriad accomplishments of his two-term presidency and urged citizens to uphold American democratic values. canonical: https://time.com/4631007/president-obama-farewell-speech-transcript/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-11T03:36:41.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T07:13:09.846Z article:section: Politics og:title: President Obama's Farewell Speech: Read Full Transcript og:description: In a forceful address, he urged citizens to uphold American democratic values og:url: https://time.com/4631007/president-obama-farewell-speech-transcript/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdd9613193efdbbd/6988b51286f68e81c66e31b7/gettyimages-631432390-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4212 og:image:height: 2369 og:image:alt: US-POLITICS-OBAMA og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: President Obama's Farewell Speech: Read Full Transcript twitter:description: In a forceful address, he urged citizens to uphold American democratic values twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdd9613193efdbbd/6988b51286f68e81c66e31b7/gettyimages-631432390-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read the Full Transcript of President Barack Obama’s Farewell Speech > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=3e09273e-6945-4cbb-b471-576d51e5aad6&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: President Obama Delivers His Farewell Speech To America [Watch (HLS stream): President Obama Delivers His Farewell Speech To America](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/gcX43JpN.m3u8) (5:18)  _Published 2017-01-11. President Barack Obama delivers his farewell speech in Chicago as President of the United States._ by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Jan 11, 2017 3:36 AM UTC by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Jan 11, 2017 3:36 AM UTC Just over eight years ago, on November 4, 2008, Barack Obama took the stage in his hometown of Chicago on the occasion of a triumph: he had been elected by the American people as the 44th president of the United States, and the first African-American to take the nation’s highest office. On Tuesday night, he returned to the stage in his hometown, this time to say goodbye. In ten days, he will [leave](http://time.com/4617422/barack-obama-private-citizen-after-white-house/) the White House; [Donald Trump](http://time.com/4563685/donald-trump-wins/) will take his spot. But despite the cynicism from some about this prospect, Obama’s remarks on Tuesday — his final address to the nation — was, once again, [one of hope](http://time.com/4629587/barack-obama-farewell-address-preview/). He spoke of the myriad [accomplishments](http://time.com/4616866/barack-obama-administration-look-back-history-achievements/) of his two-term presidency: the achievement of marriage equality, consistent job growth, the expansion of healthcare, and the normalization of relations with Cuba, to name a few. He also urged his fellow citizens to uphold American values. “Our democracy is threatened when any of us take it for granted,” he said. The full transcript of his speech is below. --- > “” --- **Read More:** [_President Barack Obama Says Goodbye in a Forceful and Tearful Farewell Speech_](http://time.com/4631042/barack-obama-farewell-speech-goodbye/) --- > “” --- ## Transcript My fellow Americans. [ APPLAUSE ] Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well- wishes that we've received over the past few weeks. But tonight it's my turn to say thanks. The work of democracy has always been hard, it's always been contentious. But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed. To embrace all and not just some. A shrinking world, growing inequality, demographic change and the spectre of terrorism. These forces haven't just tested our security and our prosperity But are testing our democracy as well. For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn't suddenly vanish in the sixties. [ APPLAUSE ] That when minority groups voice discontent, they're not just engaging in reverse racism or Practicing political correctness. When they waged peaceful protests, they're not demanding special treatment but equal treatment that our founders promised. [ APPLAUSE ] For native- born Americans, it means reminding ourselves that the stereotypes about immigrants today were said almost word for word about The Irish and Italians and Poles. Who it was said were gonna destroy the fundamental character of America. Each of our fellow citizens loves this country as much as we do. That they value hard work and family, just like we do. That their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own. Without a willingness to admit new information. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] And concede that your opponent might be making a fair point. And it's science and reason that matter. [ APPLAUSE ] Then we're gonna keep talking past each other. And we'll make common ground and compromise impossible. I've worked to put the fight against terrorism on a firmer legal footing. That's why we've ended torture, worked to close GTMO, reformed our laws governing surveillance to protect privacy and civil liberty. [ APPLAUSE ] That's why I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans. That's why we can not withdraw from the global fights, to expand Democracy and human rights and women's rights and LGBT rights. Our constitution is a remarkable Beautiful guest. But it's really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its' own. We the people give it power. If you are tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, [ LAUGH ] Try talking with one of them in real life. So that faith that I placed on all those years ago not far from here. In the power of ordinary Americans to bring about change. That faith has been rewarded in ways I could not possibly imagined. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the south side, for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend. [ APPLAUSE ] Malia and Sasha. Of all that I've done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad. My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won't stop. [ APPLAUSE ] In fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen for all my remaining days I'm asking you to believe, not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours. I'm 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 march 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 who's story is not yet written. Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can. Thank you. God bless you. May God continue to bless the United States of America. 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