--- title: President Barack Obama's Farewell Speech: Watch Highlights description: The 50-minute address in Chicago on Tuesday covered everything from American democracy to Obama's gratitude to his wife Michelle canonical: https://time.com/4631137/president-obama-farewell-speech-highlights/ author: Kevin Lui article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-11T06:56:08.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T07:13:12.349Z article:section: Politics og:title: President Obama's Farewell Speech: Watch the Highlights og:description: He spoke of everything from American democracy to his gratitude to his family og:url: https://time.com/4631137/president-obama-farewell-speech-highlights/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4cbf777ed9beaf35/6988b5160a4a2264b79cc84c/gettyimages-631440578.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2527 og:image:height: 1421 og:image:alt: US President Barack Obama delivers his farewell address og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: President Obama's Farewell Speech: Watch the Highlights twitter:description: He spoke of everything from American democracy to his gratitude to his family twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4cbf777ed9beaf35/6988b5160a4a2264b79cc84c/gettyimages-631440578.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Watch Highlights From President Barack Obama's Farewell Speech > 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=6acb0233-a343-4187-8e5e-74dcbb4fcaf7&cr=time-nl-network-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 [Kevin Lui](https://time.com/author/kevin-lui/) ## Kevin Lui Jan 11, 2017 6:56 AM UTC President Barack Obama delivers his farewell speech in Chicago as President of the United States. by [Kevin Lui](https://time.com/author/kevin-lui/) ## Kevin Lui Jan 11, 2017 6:56 AM UTC In a [forceful farewell speech](http://time.com/4631089/barack-obama-farewell-speech-analysis/) — interrupted by cheers and calls for “four more years” — President Barack Obama reviewed his legacy in his [final address to the nation](http://time.com/4631007/president-obama-farewell-speech-transcript/) Tuesday night in Chicago, and sought to address the uncertainties many Americans feel as they face an imminent change of leadership. From normalizing links with Cuba to expanding health care coverage for Americans, from the death of Osama bin Laden to marriage equality, Obama touched on the many achievements his Administration made since he took office in January 2009. He also devoted a significant portion of his speech to calling on Americans to be proactive in mapping the country’s way forward, and expressed a solid optimism: “America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started,” he said. Ending on a note of gratitude, Obama took time to give tribute to [Vice President Joe Biden](http://time.com/4631086/president-obama-farewell-speech-joe-biden/) and his “remarkable” staff. He also [teared up](http://time.com/4631041/barack-obama-farewell-speech-michelle-tribute-sasha-malia/) as he thanked First Lady Michelle Obama and his daughters. Watch highlights of Obama’s 50-minute speech above. ## 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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