--- title: Eric Holder's Official Portrait Unveiled description: The nation's first African-American Attorney General, Eric Holder says there's still work to be done on civil rights during remarks. canonical: https://time.com/3727123/barack-obama-eric-holder-retirement/ author: Maya Rhodan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-02-27T23:25:16.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:05:19.908Z article:section: Politics og:title: Obama Gives Teary Send Off to Attorney General og:description: He told a story of a young man inspired by the nation's first African American to hold the job. og:url: https://time.com/3727123/barack-obama-eric-holder-retirement/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe7b575192b691d7/6987818ae53aba6fb94d7d25/holder.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1275 og:image:height: 717 og:image:alt: Holder Official Portrait og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Obama Gives Teary Send Off to Attorney General twitter:description: He told a story of a young man inspired by the nation's first African American to hold the job. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbe7b575192b691d7/6987818ae53aba6fb94d7d25/holder.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # President Obama Gives Teary Send-Off to Attorney General Holder > Sponsored content. 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Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Feb 27, 2015 11:25 PM UTC  Image Courtesy of the Department of Justice Image Courtesy of the Department of Justice Attorney General Eric Holder's official portait by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Feb 27, 2015 11:25 PM UTC The President got misty-eyed during the unveiling of Attorney General Eric Holder’s official portrait Friday when he shared a story about the impact he believes Holder has had outside of the Department of Justice. President Obama said he hosted a number of young men who are mentees under his My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which is celebrating its first anniversary, for a White House lunch on Friday. As the students, all black and Latino young men from around the Washington area, went around the table sharing their life aspirations, one said he wanted to be the Attorney General when he grew up. That moment clearly touched the President, who wiped away tears as he shared it with the departing Attorney General. “I think about all the young people out there who have seen you work and have been able to get an innate sense that you’re a good man,” Obama said. “Having good men in positions of power and authority who are willing to fight for what’s right … that’s a rare thing. That’s a powerful thing.” Obama listed Holder’s accomplishments as the third longest serving Attorney General and the first African American to hold the job. Throughout his tenure Holder made criminal-justice reform and civil rights priorities of the Justice Department, including his recent efforts to challenge strict voting laws. During his prepared remarks, a teary-eyed Holder said there was still work to be done on civil rights and criminal-justice reform. “Make no mistake. We still have unfinished business and work to do,” Holder said. “In the defense of our nation we must always adhere to the values that define us. And, at all costs, the right to vote must be protected.” The unveiling came just days after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve the nomination of Loretta Lynch, who was tapped to replace Holder. The President said the Department of Justice is being left in “outstanding hands.” ### Photos: What Obama's Hugs Meant  You can see it by Obama’s bowed head and Hagel’s sorrowful face – this is an “I’m sorry” hug, plain and simple. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  This hug between Obama and former Press Secretary Jay Carney may have been commemorating Carney’s departure, but all people will remember is its awkwardness. Susan Walsh—AP  Here’s where Obama’s hug game is the strongest: with Michelle. The peaceful smile on his face, the warm, full-body embrace – this is clearly an “I love you” hug. Consider it the antidote to the Carney debacle. Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images  Obama’s hug with nurse Nina Pham after her battle with Ebola was a way to signal to the public that the disease is not as scary as some had thought. This is the hug as public health awareness. Olivier Douliery-—Getty Images  Critics charged that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie "hugged" the president, but the Republican claimed it was just a handshake. Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty Images  The photo of Obama hugging a victim of Hurricane Sandy went viral- his solemn face and her tear-stained one, his arms protectively around her shoulders – this is a presidential hug in its purest form. Pablo Martinez Monsivais—AP  Though Obama’s peck on Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi’s cheek was a pro-democracy smooch, her visible recoil from the kiss indicates that he may have been better off with a handshake. Jason Reed—Reuters  Obama was literally swept off his feet by pizzeria owner Scott Van Duzer. The now-famous bear hug was a “celebrities are just like us” moment, when Obama showed he could still joke around in a regular ol’ pizza joint. Sept. 9, 2012. 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