--- title: President Obama's Farewell Speech: 'Do Some Organizing' description: President Barack Obama left the stage in Chicago Tuesday night much as he entered the national spotlight: as an agent of social change. canonical: https://time.com/4631121/president-obama-farewell-speech-politics-participation-democracy/ author: Feliz Solomon article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-11T10:03:51.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T07:13:12.745Z article:section: Politics og:title: Watch Obama's Call For Political Participation og:description: "Do some organizing" he said in his farewell speech in Chicago og:url: https://time.com/4631121/president-obama-farewell-speech-politics-participation-democracy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt85f4503080efbad3/6988b5167cdbac90d8d56bf3/gettyimages-631438402.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4000 og:image:height: 2250 og:image:alt: President Obama in Chicago og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Watch Obama's Call For Political Participation twitter:description: "Do some organizing" he said in his farewell speech in Chicago twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt85f4503080efbad3/6988b5167cdbac90d8d56bf3/gettyimages-631438402.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'Lace Up Your Shoes and Organize': Watch Obama's Push For Participation in Politics > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=5e09e0fd-8945-4a6e-9d2f-0bc494f59d57&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch Obama Urge His Supporters to Participate in Politics [Watch (HLS stream): Watch Obama Urge His Supporters to Participate in Politics](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/zT2ynPFX.m3u8) (0:58)  _Published 2017-01-11. President Barack Obama returned to Chicago, where he began his political career, to deliver his farewell address, which reflected on his time as president and his thoughts on the future of the U.S._ by [Feliz Solomon](https://time.com/author/feliz-solomon/) ## Feliz Solomon Jan 11, 2017 10:03 AM UTC by [Feliz Solomon](https://time.com/author/feliz-solomon/) ## Feliz Solomon Jan 11, 2017 10:03 AM UTC President Barack Obama left the stage in Chicago Tuesday night much as he entered the national spotlight eight years ago; as a determined agent of social change with a message for future generations. In his emotional [farewell address](http://time.com/4631007/president-obama-farewell-speech-transcript/?xid=homepage), Obama called on the nation’s young and “young at heart” to pick up where he left off, pushing for social and political progress through grassroots and political involvement. Warning that democracy is at risk without maintenance, the President called on U.S. citizens to assess their own role in politics and community life. “It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy,” Obama said. “Embrace the joyous task we have been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours because, for all our outward differences, we in fact all share the same proud type, the most important office in a democracy, citizen.” **_Read more:_** [**_In His Farewell Speech, President Obama Returns to His Roots as a Community Leader_**](http://time.com/4631089/barack-obama-farewell-speech-analysis/?xid=homepage) In an age of online spats and with an incoming Commander-in-Chief who typically addresses the public through social media, Obama urged his supporters to reach out to those with whom they disagree, suggesting, “If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try talking with one of them in real life.” Obama’s own political involvement began as a community organizer working for tenants’ rights and voter outreach in the South Side of his adoptive hometown, Chicago. Drawing on his own experience, Obama, the first African American President in U.S. history, sought to remind Americans that they’re not so different from their leaders. “If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing,” the President implored. “If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clip board, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.” The surprising scope of his own political rise and watching the political process up close “can energize and inspire,” Obama said. “And more often than not, your faith in America and in Americans will be confirmed. Mine sure has been.” Watch Obama’s remarks on public participation above. ## Transcript If you're tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try talking with one of them in real life. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. [ APPLAUSE ]. [ APPLAUSE ] If you're disappointed by your elected officials grab a clipboard, get some signatures and run for office yourself. [ APPLAUSE ] Show up. Dive in. Stay at it. 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