--- title: Barack Obama Profile in Courage Speech: Read the Transcript description: Former President Barack Obama spoke at the 2017 Profile in Courage Awards and urged members of Congress to protect those who are sick canonical: https://time.com/4770353/barack-obama-profile-courage-speech-transcript/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-05-08T11:47:50.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T04:47:46.918Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read Obama's Speech Urging Congress to Do 'What They Believe Deep in Their Hearts Is Right' og:description: The former President called on members of Congress to protect those who are sick and vulnerable og:url: https://time.com/4770353/barack-obama-profile-courage-speech-transcript/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdc43b951d9affeb/6988cc4bcd1bba50b7705159/gettyimages-680139424.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Barack Obama Receives Kennedy Profile In Courage Award og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read Obama's Speech Urging Congress to Do 'What They Believe Deep in Their Hearts Is Right' twitter:description: The former President called on members of Congress to protect those who are sick and vulnerable twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdc43b951d9affeb/6988cc4bcd1bba50b7705159/gettyimages-680139424.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read Obama's Speech Urging Congress to Do 'What They Believe Deep in Their Hearts Is Right' by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff May 8, 2017 11:47 AM UTC  Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after receiving the 2017 John F. Kennedy Profile In Courage Award from Caroline Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Library May 7, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. Obama was honored for "his enduring commitment to democratic ideals and elevating the standard of political courage in a new century," with specific mention of his expansion of healthcare options, his leadership on confronting climate change and his restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba. Pool—Getty Images Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after receiving the 2017 John F. Kennedy Profile In Courage Award from Caroline Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Library May 7, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. Obama was honored for "his enduring commitment to democratic ideals and elevating the standard of political courage in a new century," with specific mention of his expansion of healthcare options, his leadership on confronting climate change and his restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba. Pool—Getty ImagesPool—Getty Images by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff May 8, 2017 11:47 AM UTC [President Barack Obama](http://time.com/4770177/barack-obama-gop-health-care-bill/?xid=homepage) was given the 2017 [John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award](https://www.jfklibrary.org/Events-and-Awards/Profile-in-Courage-Award/Award-Recipients.aspx) on Sunday, and he used his speech to urge members of Congress to exhibit courage in the current battle over health care. The John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation honors political leaders each May who have exhibited “[the qualities of politically courageous leadership](https://www.jfklibrary.org/Events-and-Awards/Profile-in-Courage-Award/About-the-Award.aspx)” President Kennedy outlined in his 1957 book. In the book, Kennedy profiled eight senators who took unpopular but ultimately good positions despite the political risk. In his 30-minute speech, President Obama [invoked the fight over the Affordable Care Act](http://time.com/4770177/barack-obama-gop-health-care-bill/?xid=homepage) and called on members of Congress to protect those who are sick and vulnerable. 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