--- 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 video:duration: 05:18 video:published: 2017-01-11 section: politics topics: American democracy, civil rights, immigration, counterterrorism, civil liberties, political discourse, farewell address, constitutional principles genre: speech, farewell address tones: reflective, hopeful, grateful, appreciative emotions: hope (high), pride (medium), gratitude (medium), concern (low) sentiment: positive audience: American citizens, voters, political observers, students of civics people: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama content_suitability: politics [00:00-05:18]; war [02:26-02:38]; hate [01:00-01:30] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Watch Highlights From 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=4e945bf7-54cb-4d89-af23-5513377b48ff&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._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary President Barack Obama delivers a farewell address to the nation, reflecting on the difficulties of democracy and the forces testing it, including inequality, demographic change and terrorism. He calls on Americans to acknowledge historical injustice, to engage with opposing views using science and reason, and to believe in their own power to bring about change. He closes by thanking his family and urging continued faith in the creed of the country's founding documents. ## Key points - Obama says the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of the founding creed to embrace all and not just some. (00:24) - He says that for white Americans, the effects of slavery and Jim Crow did not suddenly vanish in the sixties. (01:00) - He argues that peaceful protests by minority groups are demanding equal treatment that the founders promised, not special treatment. (01:21) - He notes that stereotypes about today's immigrants were said almost word for word about the Irish, Italians and Poles. (01:30) - He states that without a willingness to admit new information and concede a fair point from an opponent, people will keep talking past each other. (02:02) - He says the administration worked to put the fight against terrorism on a firmer legal footing, including ending torture and working to close GTMO. (02:26) - He describes the Constitution as just a piece of parchment that has power only because the people give it power. (03:04) - He thanks his wife Michelle as his best friend and says he is most proud of being a dad to Malia and Sasha. (03:43) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 01:00] Opening thanks and democracy's challenges. Obama thanks Americans and says democracy has always been hard, with forces such as inequality, terrorism and demographic change testing it. - [01:00 to 02:02] Confronting history and the immigrant debate. He addresses the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow, minority protest, and the historical treatment of immigrants. - [02:02 to 03:04] Engaging opponents and defending legal reforms. He urges openness to opposing views grounded in science and reason, and cites counterterrorism and civil liberties policies. - [03:04 to 04:03] The Constitution and personal thanks. He says the Constitution depends on the people, then thanks his wife and daughters. - [04:03 to 05:18] Call to faith in change and closing words. He asks Americans to believe in their own power to change the country and closes with Yes we can and a blessing. ## Key quotes - [00:24] Barack Obama: "the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed." - [01:00] Barack Obama: "For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn't suddenly vanish in the sixties." - [03:04] Barack Obama: "But it's really just a piece of parchment." - [04:03] Barack Obama: "it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won't stop." - [04:12] Barack Obama: "I'm asking you to believe, not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours." ## Questions this video answers - What forces does Obama say are testing American democracy? [00:24] - What does Obama say white Americans should acknowledge about slavery and Jim Crow? [01:00] - Why does Obama say minority protests should be understood as a demand for equal treatment? [01:21] - What does Obama say is needed to avoid making common ground and compromise impossible? [02:02] - What counterterrorism and civil liberties steps does Obama cite from his administration? [02:26] - What does Obama ask Americans to believe in as he leaves office? [04:12] ## Content suitability - politics [00:00-05:18]: Entire speech is a political address by a sitting president on democracy, race, immigration and terrorism. - war [02:26-02:38]: References to the fight against terrorism, torture and the global fights. - hate [01:00-01:30]: References to racial discrimination, Jim Crow, reverse racism and stereotypes about immigrants, discussed critically. 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 [00:00] My fellow Americans. [ APPLAUSE ] [00:11] Michelle and I have been so touched by all [00:17] the well- wishes that we've received over the past few [00:19] weeks. But tonight [00:24] it's my turn to say thanks. The work of democracy has [00:28] always been hard, it's always been contentious. But [00:32] the long sweep of America has been defined by [00:36] forward motion, a constant widening of our founding [00:40] creed. To embrace all and not just some. [00:45] A shrinking world, growing inequality, demographic [00:50] change and the spectre of terrorism. These forces [00:53] haven't just tested our security and our prosperity But [00:58] are testing our democracy as well. For white [01:00] Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of [01:03] slavery and Jim Crow didn't suddenly vanish in the [01:06] sixties. [ APPLAUSE ] That when minority [01:11] groups voice discontent, they're not just engaging [01:15] in reverse racism or Practicing political correctness. [01:19] When they waged peaceful protests, they're not [01:21] demanding special treatment but equal treatment that [01:25] our founders promised. [ APPLAUSE ] For native- born [01:25] Americans, it means reminding ourselves [01:30] that the stereotypes about immigrants today were [01:34] said almost word for word about The Irish and [01:39] Italians and Poles. Who it [01:43] was said were gonna destroy the fundamental [01:47] character of America. Each of our fellow citizens loves [01:51] this country as much as we do. That they value [01:55] hard work and family, just like we do. That their [01:59] children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of [02:02] love as our own. Without a willingness to admit new [02:06] information. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] [02:09] And concede that your opponent might be making a [02:12] fair point. And it's science and reason that [02:16] matter. [ APPLAUSE ] Then we're gonna keep talking [02:18] past each other. And we'll make common ground and [02:18] compromise impossible. I've [02:26] worked to put the fight against terrorism on a firmer [02:30] legal footing. That's why we've ended torture, worked [02:33] to close GTMO, reformed our laws governing [02:36] surveillance to protect privacy and civil liberty. [02:38] [ APPLAUSE ] That's why I reject discrimination [02:44] against Muslim Americans. That's why we can not [02:46] withdraw from the global fights, to [02:51] expand Democracy and human rights and women's [02:54] rights and LGBT rights. Our constitution is [02:58] a remarkable Beautiful guest. But [03:04] it's really just a piece of parchment. [03:10] It has no power on its' own. We [03:14] the people give it power. If you are tired [03:19] of arguing with strangers on the internet, [ LAUGH ] Try [03:23] talking with one of them in real life. So that faith that I [03:27] placed on all those years ago not far from here. In the [03:30] power of ordinary Americans to bring about change. [03:36] That faith has been rewarded in ways I could not [03:38] possibly imagined. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, [03:43] girl of the south side, for the past 25 years, you have [03:47] not only been my wife and mother of my children, you [03:50] have been my best friend. [ APPLAUSE ] [03:56] Malia and Sasha. Of all that I've done in my [04:00] life, I am most proud to be your dad. My fellow [04:03] Americans, it has been the honor of my [04:07] life to serve you. I won't stop. [ APPLAUSE ] [04:12] In fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen for all [04:18] my remaining days I'm asking you to believe, not [04:23] in my ability to bring about change, but in yours. I'm [04:28] asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our [04:31] founding documents, that idea whispered by [04:35] slaves and abolitionists That spirit sung by immigrants [04:39] and homesteaders and those who march for justice. [04:44] That creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from [04:48] foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon. A creed [04:51] at the core of every American who's story is not yet [04:54] written. Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can. Thank [04:55] you. God bless you. May God continue to bless the [04:56] United States of America. 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