現場直播：奧巴馬總統發表告別演說。 (WATCH LIVE: President Obama delivers his farewell address)

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THOSE VALUES ARE ENDANGERED IN
THE AGE OF DONALD TRUMP.
>> Pelley: AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES IS BEING
INTRODUCED NOW AT McCORMACK
PLACE IN CHICAGO.
LET'S LISTEN IN.
♪ ♪ ♪
♪ THE MORE YOU SEE THE LESS YOU
KNOW
♪ THE LESS YOU FIND OUT AS YOU
GO.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> HELLO, CHICAGO!
IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU!
IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME.
( CHEERS )
THANK YOU.
( CHEERS )
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY SIT DOWN.
WE'RE ON LIVE TV HERE.
I GOTTA-- I GOTTA MOVE.
( CHEERS )
YOU CAN TELL-- YOU CAN TELL THAT
I'M-- YOU CAN-- YOU-- YOU CAN
TELL THAT-- YOU CAN TELL THAT
I'M A LAME DUCK BECAUSE NOBODY'S
FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS.
( LAUGHTER )
EVERYBODY HAVE A SEAT.
( CHEERS )
MY FELLOW AMERICANS,.
( CHEERS )
( APPLAUSE )
MICHELLE AND I HAVE BEEN SO
TOUCHED BY ALL THE WELL WISHES
THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE
PAST FEW WEEKS, BUT TONIGHT,
TONIGHT IT'S MY TURN TO SAY
THANKS.
WHETHER WE HAVE SEEN EYE TO EYE
OR RARELY AGREED AT ALL, MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN LIVING ROOMS
AND IN SCHOOLS, IN FARMS, ON
FACTORY FLOORS, AT DINERS, AND
ON DISTANT MILITARY OUTPOSTS,
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE WHAT
HAVE KEPT ME HONEST AND KEPT ME
INSPIRED AND KEPT ME GOING.
AND EVERY DAY I HAVE LEARNED
FROM YOU.
YOU MADE ME A BETTER PRESIDENT.
AND YOU MADE ME A BETTER MAN.
SO I FIRST CAME TO CHICAGO WHEN
I WAS IN MY EARLY 20s, AND I
WAS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHO I WAS, STILL SEARCHING FOR A
PURPOSE IN MY LIFE, AND IT WAS A
NEIGHBORHOOD NOT FAR FROM HERE
WHERE I BEGAN WORKING WITH
CHURCH GROUPS IN THE SHADOWS OF
CLOSED STEEL MILLS.
IT WAS ON THESE STREETS WHERE I
WITNESSED THE POWER OF FAITH AND
THE QUIET DIGNITY OF WORKING
PEOPLE IN THE FACE OF STRUGGLE
AND LOSS.
>> FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS.
>> I CAN'T DO THAT.
>> FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS!
NOW, THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED
THAT CHANGE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN
ORDINARY PEOPLE GET INVOLVED AND
THEY GET ENGAGED AND THEY COME
TOGETHER TO DEMAND IT.
AFTER EIGHT YEARS AS YOUR
PRESIDENT, I STILL BELIEVE THAT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST MY BELIEF.
IT'S THE BEATING HEART OF OUR
AMERICAN IDEA, OUR BOLD
EXPERIMENT IN SELF-GOVERNMENT.
IT'S THE CONVICTIONS THAT WE ARE
ALL CREATED EQUAL, ENDOWED BY
OUR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN
UNALIENABLE RIGHT, AMONG THEM
LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS.
IT'S THE INSISTENCE THAT THESE
RIGHTS, WHILE SELF-EVIDENT, HAVE
NEVER BEEN SELF-EXECUTING.
THAT WE, THE PEOPLE, THROUGH THE
INSTRUMENT OF OUR DEMOCRACY, CAN
FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.
WHAT A RADICAL IDEA.
THE GREAT GIFT THAT OUR FOUNDERS
GAVE TO US.
THE FREEDOM TO CHASE OUR
INDIVIDUAL DREAMS THROUGH OUR
SWEAT AND TOIL AND IMAGINATION,
AND THE IMPERATIVE TO STRIVE
TOGETHER AS WELL, TO ACHIEVE A
COMMON GOOD, A GREATER GOOD.
FOR 240 YEARS, OUR NATION'S CALL
TO CITIZENSHIP HAS GIVEN WORK
AND PURPOSE TO EACH NEW
GENERATION.
IT'S WHAT LED PATRIOTS TO CHOOSE
REPUBLIC OVER TYRANNY.
PIONEERS TO TREK WEST.
SLAVES TO BRAVE THAT MAKESHIFT
RAILROAD TO FREEDOM.
IT'S WHAT PULLED IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES ACROSS OCEANS AND THE
RIO GRANDE.
( CHEERS )
IT'S WHAT PUSHED WOMEN TO REACH
FOR THE BALLOT.
IT'S WHAT POWERED WORKERS TO
ORGANIZE.
IT'S WHY G.I.s GAVE THEIR
LIVES ON OMAHA BEACH AND IWO
JIMA, IRAQ, AND AFGHANISTAN.
AND WHY MEN AND WOMEN FROM SELMA
TO STONEWALL WERE PREPARED TO
GIVE THEIRS AS WELL.
( CHEERS )
( APPLAUSE )
SO THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE
SAY AMERICA'S EXCEPTIONAL.
NOT THAT OUR NATION'S BEEN
FLAWLESS FROM THE START BUT THAT
WE HAVE SHOWN THE CAPACITY TO
CHANGE AND MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR
THOSE WHO FOLLOW.
YES, OUR PROGRESS HAS BEEN
UNEVEN.
THE WORK OF DEMOCRACY HAS ALWAYS
BEEN HARD.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONTENTIOUS.
SOMETIMES IT'S BEEN BLOODY.
FOR EVERY TWO STEPS FORWARD, IT
OFTEN FEELS WE TAKE ONE STEP
BACK.
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.
( APPLAUSE ).
( CHEERS )
IF I HAD TOLD YOU EIGHT YEARS
AGO THAT AMERICA WOULD REVERSE A
GREAT RECESSION, REBOOT OUR AUTO
INDUSTRY, AND UNLEASH THE
LONGEST STRETCH OF JOB CREATION
IN OUR HISTORY.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IF I HAD TOLD YOU THAT WE WOULD
OPEN UP A NEW CHAPTER WITH THE
CUBAN PEOPLE, SHUT DOWN IRAN'S
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM WITHOUT
FIRING A SHOT, TAKE OUT THE
MASTERMIND OF 9/11, IF I HAD
TOLD YOU THAT WE WOULD WIN
MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND SECURE THE
RIGHT TO HEALTH INSURANCE FOR
ANOTHER 20 MILLION OF OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IF I HAD TOLD YOU ALL THAT, YOU
MIGHT HAVE SAID OUR SIGHTS WERE
SET A LITTLE TOO HIGH.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
( CHEERS )
THAT'S WHAT YOU DID.
YOU WERE THE CHANGE.
YOU ANSWERED PEOPLE'S HOPES, AND
BECAUSE OF YOU, BY ALMOST EVERY
MEASURE, AMERICA IS A BETTER,
STRONGER PLACE THAN IT WAS WHEN
WE STARTED.
( APPLAUSE )
IN 10 DAYS, THE WORLD WILL
WITNESS A HALLMARK OF OUR
DEMOCRACY-- NO, NO, NO.
THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER
FROM ONE FREELY ELECTED
PRESIDENT TO THE NEXT.
( APPLAUSE )
I COMMITTED TO PRESIDENT-ELECT
TRUMP THAT MY ADMINISTRATION
WOULD ENSURE THE SMOOTHEST
POSSIBLE TRANSITION, JUST AS
PRESIDENT BUSH DID FOR ME.
( APPLAUSE )
BECAUSE IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO
MAKE SURE OUR GOVERNMENT CAN
HELP US MEET THE MANY CHALLENGES
WE STILL FACE.
WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO DO SO.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO
MEET THOSE CHALLENGES.
AFTER ALL, WE REMAIN THE
WEALTHIEST, MOST POWERFUL AND
MOST RESPECTED NATION ON EARTH.
OUR YOUTH, OUR DRIVE, OUR
DIVERSITY AND OPENNESS, OUR
BOUNDLESS CAN CAPACITY FOR RISK
AND REINVENTION MEANS THAT THE
FUTURE SHOULD BE OURS.
BUT THAT POTENTIAL WILL ONLY BE
REALIZED IF OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS.
ONLY IF OUR POLITICS BETTER
REFLECTS THE DECENCY OF OUR
PEOPLE.
( APPLAUSE )
ONLY IF ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF
PARTY AFFILIATION OR PARTICULAR
INTERESTS, HELP RESTORE THE
SENSE OF COMMON PURPOSE THAT WE
SO BADLY NEED RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON
TONIGHT, THE STATE OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
UNDERSTAND DEMOCRACY DOES NOT
REQUIRE UNIFORMITY.
OUR FOUNDERS ARGUED, THEY
QUARRELED, AND EVENTUALLY THEY
COMPROMISED.
THEY EXPECTED US TO DO THE SAME.
BUT THEY KNEW THAT DEMOCRACY
DOES REQUIRE A BASIC SENSE OF
SOLIDARITY.
THE IDEA THAT FOR ALL OUR
OUTWARD DIFFERENCES WE'RE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER, THAT WE RISE OR
FALL AS ONE.
( APPLAUSE )
THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY THAT
THREATENED THAT SOLIDARITY.
THE BEGINNING OF THIS CENTURY
HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
A SHRINKING WORLD, GROWING
INEQUALITY, DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE
AND THE SPECTER OF TERRORISM.
THESE FORCES HAVEN'T JUST TESTED
OUR SECURITY AND OUR PROSPERITY
BUT ARE TESTING OUR DEMOCRACY AS
WELL.
AND HOW WE MEET THESE CHALLENGES
TO OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DETERMINE
OUR ABILITY TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS
AND CREATE GOOD JOBS AND PROTECT
OUR HOMELAND.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT WILL
DETERMINE OUR FUTURE.
TO BEGIN WITH, OUR DEMOCRACY
WON'T WORK WITHOUT A SENSE THAT
EVERYONE HAS ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TODAY,
THE ECONOMY IS GROWING AGAIN.
WAGES, INCOMES, HOME VALUES, AND
RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS ARE ALL
RISING AGAIN.
POVERTY IS FALLING AGAIN.
( APPLAUSE )
THE WEALTHY ARE PAYING A FAIR
SHARE OF TAXES, EVEN AS WANT
STOCK MARKET SHATTERS RECORD.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS NEAR A
10-YEAR LOW.
THE UNINSURED RATE HAS NEVER,
EVER BEEN LOWER.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE RISING AT
THE LOWEST RATE IN 50 YEARS, AND
I'VE SAID AND I MEAN IT-- IF
ANYONE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PLAN
THAT IS DEMONSTRABLY BETTER THAN
THAN THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE
TO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT
COVERS AS MANY PEOPLE AT LESS
COST, I WILL PUBLICLY SUPPORT
IT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
BECAUSE THAT, AFTER ALL, IS WHY
WE SERVE.
NOT TO SCORE POINTS OR TAKE
CREDIT BUT TO MAKE PEOPLE'S
LIVES BETTER.
BUT FOR ALL THE REAL PROGRESS
THAT WE'VE MADE, WE KNOW IT'S
NOT ENOUGH.
OUR ECONOMY DOESN'T WORK AS WELL
OR GROW AS FAST WHEN A FEW
PROSPER AT THE EXPENSE OF A
MIDDLE CLASS AND LADDERS FOR
FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET INTO THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
THAT'S THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT BUT
STARK INEQUALITY IS ALSO
CORROSIVE TO OUR DEMOCRATIC ID
IDEA.
WHILE THE TOP 1% HAS AMASSED A
BIGGER SHARE OF WEALTH AND
INCOME, TOO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES
IN INNER CITIES AND IN RURAL
COUNTIES HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.
THE LAID OFF FACTORY WORKER, THE
WAITRESS OR HEALTH CARE WORKER
WHO IS JUST BARELY GETTING BY
AND STRUGGLING TO PAY THE BILLS,
CONVINCED THAT THE GAME IS FIXED
AGAINST THEM, THAT THEIR
GOVERNMENT ONLY SERVES THE
INTERESTS OF THE POWERFUL.
THAT'S A RECIPE FOR MORE
CYNICISM AND POLARIZATION IN OUR
POLITICS.
THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES TO THIS
LONG-TERM TREND.
I AGREE.
OUR TRADE SHOULD BE FAIR AND NOT
JUST FREE.
BUT THE NEXT WAVE OF ECONOMIC
DISLOCATIONS WON'T COME FROM
OVERSEAS.
IT WILL COME FROM THE RELENTLESS
PACE OF AUTOMATION THAT MAKES A
LOT OF GOOD, MIDDLE-CLASS JOBS
OBSOLETE.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
FORGE A NEW SOCIAL COMPACT TO
GUARANTEE ALL OUR KIDS THE
EDUCATION THEY NEED.
( APPLAUSE )
TO GIVE WORKERS THE POWER TO
UNIONIZE FOR BETTER WAGES.
TO UPDATE THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET
TO REFLECT THE WAY WE LIVE NOW.
AND MAKE MORE REFORMS TO THE TAX
CODES SO CORPORATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIPT MOST
FROM THIS NEW ECONOMY DON'T
AVOID THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THE
COUNTRY THAT'S MADE THEIR VERY
SUCCESS POSSIBLE.
( APPLAUSE )
WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT HOW TO BEST
ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, BUT WE
CAN'T BE COMPLACENT ABOUT THE
GOALS THEMSELVES.
FOR IF WE DON'T CREATE
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, THE
DISAFFECTION AND DIVISION THAT
HAS STALLED OUR PROGRESS WILL
ONLY SHARPEN IN YEARS TO COME.
THERE'S A SECOND THREAT TO OUR
DEMOCRACY, AND THIS ONE IS AS
OLD AS OUR NATION ITSELF.
AFTER MY ELECTION, THERE WAS
TALK OF A POST-RACIAL AMERICA,
AND SUCH A VISION, HOWEVER WELL
INTENDED, WAS NEVER REALISTIC.
RACE REMAINS A POTENT AND OFTEN
DIVISIVE FORCE IN OUR SOCIETY.
NOW, I'VE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO
KNOW THAT RACE RELATIONS ARE
BETTER THAN THEY WERE 10 OR 20
OR 30 YEARS AGO, NO MATTER WHAT
SOME FOLKS SAY.
( APPLAUSE )
YOU CAN SEE IT NOT JUST IN
STATISTICS.
YOU SEE IT IN THE ATTITUDES OF
YOUNG AMERICANS ACROSS THE
POLITICAL SPECTRUM.
BUT WE'RE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO
BE.
AND ALL OF US HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO.
IF EVERY ECONOMIC ISSUE IS
FRAMED AS A STRUGGLE BETWEEN A
HARDWORKING WHITE MIDDLE CLASS
AND AN UNDESERVING MINORITY,
THEN WORKERS OF ALL SHADES ARE
GOING TO BE LEFT FIGHTING FOR
SCRAPS, WHILE THE WEALTHY
WITHDRAW FURTHER INTO THEIR
PRIVATE ENCLAVES.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IF WE'RE UNWILLING TO INVEST IN
THE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS JUST
BECAUSE THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE US,
WE WILL DIMINISH THE PROSPECTS
OF OUR OWN CHILDREN BECAUSE
THOSE BROWN KIDS WILL REPRESENT
A LARGER AND LARGER SHARE OF
AMERICA'S WORKFORCE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
AND WE HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR
ECONOMY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A
ZERO-SUM GAME.
LAST YEAR, INCOMES ROSE FOR ALL
RACES, ALL AGE GROUPS, FOR MEN
AND FOR WOMEN.
SO.
WE'RE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT
RACE GOING FORWARD, WE NEED TO
UPHOLD LAWS AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION IN HIRING AND IN
HOUSING AND IN EDUCATION AND IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THAT IS WHAT OUR CONSTITUTION
AND OUR HIGHEST IDEALS REQUIRE.
( APPLAUSE )
BUT LAWS ALONE WON'T BE ENOUGH.
HEARTS MUST CHANGE.
THEY WON'T CHANGE OVERNIGHT.
SOCIAL ATTITUDES OFTENTIMES TAKE
GENERATIONS TO CHANGE, BUT IF
OUR DEMOCRACY IS TO WORK THE WAY
IT SHOULD IN THIS INCREASINGLY
DIVERSE NATION, THEN EACH ONE OF
US NEED TO TRY TO HEED THE
ADVICE OF A GREAT CHARACTER IN
AMERICAN FICTION, ATTICUS FINCH,
WHO SAID, "YOU NEVER REALLY
UNDERSTAND A PERSON UNTIL YOU
CAN CONSIDER THINGS FROM HIS
POINT OF VIEW, UNTIL YOU CLIMB
INTO HIS SKIN AND WALK AROUND IN
IT."
FOR BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITY
GROUPS, THAT MEANS TYING OUR OWN
VERY REAL STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE
TO THE CHALLENGES THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY FACE, NOT
ONLY THE REFUGEE OR THE
IMMIGRANT OR THE RURAL POOR OR
THE TRANSGENDER AMERICAN BUT
ALSO THE MIDDLE-AGED WHITE GUY
WHO FROM THE OUTSIDE MAY SEEM
LIKE HE'S GOT ADVANTAGES, BUT
HAS SEEN HIS WORLD UPENDED BY
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL AND
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION AND
LISTEN.
( APPLAUSE )
FOR WHITE AMERICANS, IT MEANS
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE AFFECTS
OF SLAVERY AND JIM CROW DIDN'T
SUDDENLY VANISH IN THE 60s.
( APPLAUSE )
THAT WHEN MINORITY GROUPS VOICE
DISCONTENT, THEY'RE NOT JUST
ENGAGING IN REVERSE RACISM OR
PRACTICING POLITICAL CORRECT
CORRECTNESS.
WHEN THEY WAGE PEACEFUL PROTESTS
THEY'RE NOT DEMANDING SPECIAL
TREATMENT BUT THE EQUAL
TREATMENT THAT OUR FOUNDERS
PROMISED.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
FOR NATIVE-BORN AMERICANS, 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 POLS, WHO IT WAS
SAID WERE GOING TO DESTROY THE
FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTER OF
AMERICA.
AND AS IT TURNED OUT, AMERICA
WASN'T WEAKENED BY THE PRESENCE
OF THESE NEWCOMERS.
THESE NEWCOMERS EMBRACED THIS
NATION'S CREED, AND THIS NATION
WAS STRENGTHENED.
( APPLAUSE )
SO REGARDLESS OF THE STATION
THAT WE OCCUPY, WE ALL HAVE TO
TRY HARDER.
WE ALL HAVE TO START WITH THE
PREMISE THAT EACH OF OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS LOVES THIS COUNTRY JUST
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.
( APPLAUSE )
AND THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO.
FOR TOO MANY OF US, IT'S BECOME
SAFER TO RETREAT INTO OUR OWN
BUBBLES, WHETHER IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS OR ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES OR PLACES OF WORSHIP
OR, ESPECIALLY, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
FEEDS, SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO
LOOK LIKE US AND SHARE THE SAME
POLITICAL VIEWS, OUR ASSUMPTIONS
AND THE RISE OF NAKED
PARTISANSHIP, INCREASING
ECONOMIC AND REGIONAL
STRATIFICATION, THE SPLINTERING
OF OUR MEDIA INTO A CHANNEL FOR
EVERY TASTE.
ALL THIS MAKES THIS GREAT
SORTING SEEM NATURAL, EVEN
INEVITABLE.
AND INCREASINGLY, WE BECOME SO
SECURE IN OUR BUBBLES THAT WE
START ACCEPTING ONLY
INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S TRUE
OR NOT, THAT FITS OUR OPINIONS
INSTEAD OF BASING OUR OPINIONS
ON THE EVIDENCE THAT IS OUT
THERE.
( APPLAUSE )
AND THIS TREND REPRESENTS A
THIRD THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY.
LOOK, POLITICS IS A BATTLE OF
IDEAS.
THAT'S HOW OUR DEMOCRACY WAS
DESIGNED.
IN THE COURSE OF A HEALTHY
DEBATE, WE PRIORITIZE DIFFERENT
GOALS AND THE DIFFERENT MEANS OF
REACHING THEM.
BUT WITHOUT SOME COMMON BASELINE
OF FACTS, WITHOUT A WILLINGNESS
TO ADMIT NEW INFORMATION AND
CONCEDE THAT YOUR OPPONENT MIGHT
BE MAKING A FAIR POINT, AND THAT
SCIENCE AND REASON MATTER, THEN
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING PAST
EACH OTHER.
( APPLAUSE )
AND WE'LL MAKE COMMON GROUND AND
COMPROMISE IMPOSSIBLE.
AND ISN'T THAT PART OF WHAT SO
OFTEN MAKES POLITICS
DISPIRITING?
HOW CAN ELECTED OFFICIALS RAGE
ABOUT DEFICITS WHEN WE PROPOSE
TO SPEND MONEY ON PRESCHOOL FOR
KIDS BUT NOT WHEN WE'RE CUTTING
TAXES FOR CORPORATIONS?
( APPLAUSE )
HOW DO WE EXCIEWZ ETHICAL LAPSES
IN OUR OWN PARTY BUT POUNCE WHEN
THE OTHER PARTY DOES THE SAME
THING?
IT'S NOT JUST DISHONEST, THIS
SELECTIVE SORTING OF THE FACTS.
IT'S SELF-DEFEATING.
BECAUSE, AS MY MOM USED TO TELL
ME, REALITY HAS A WAY OF
CATCHING UP WITH YOU.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
IN JUST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE
HALVED OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN
OIL.
WE'VE DOUBLED OUR RENEWABLE
ENERGY.
WE'VE LED THE WORLD TO AN
AGREEMENT THAT HAS THE PROMISE
TO SAVE THIS PLANET.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
BUT WITHOUT BOLDER ACTION, OUR
CHILDREN WON'T V HAVE TIME TO
DEBATE THE EXISTENCE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THEY'LL BE BUSY DEALING WITH ITS
EFFECTS, MORE ENVIRONMENTAL
DISASTERS, MORE ECONOMIC
DISRUPTIONS, WAVES OF CLIMATE
REFUGEES SEEKING SANCTUARY.
AND WE CAN AND SHOULD ARGUE
ABOUT THE BEST APPROACH TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEM, BUT TO SIMPLY DENY
THE PROBLEM NOT ONLY BETRAYS
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IT BETRAYS THE ESSENTIAL SPIRIT
OF THIS COUNTRY, THE ESSENTIAL
SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND
PRACTICAL PROBLEM SOLVING THAT
GUIDED OUR FOUNDERS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IT IS THAT SPIRIT, IT IS THAT
SPIRIT BORNE OF THE
ENLIGHTENMENT THAT MADE US AN
ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE, THE SPIRIT
THAT TOOK FLIGHT AT KITTY HAWK
AND CAPE CANAVERAL.
THE SPIRIT THAT CURES DISEASE
AND PUT A COMPUTER IN EVERY
POCKET.
IT'S THAT SPIRIT, A FAITH IN
REASON AND ENTERPRISE, AND THE
PRIMACY OF RIGHT OVER MIGHT THAT
ALLOWED US TO RESIST THE LURE OF
FASCISM AND TYRANNY DURING THE
GREAT DEPRESSION, THAT ALLOWED
US TO BUILD A POST-WORLD WAR II
ORDER WITH OTHER DEMOCRACIES, AN
ORDER BASED NOT JUST ON MILITARY
POWER OR NATIONAL AFFILIATIONS,
BUT BUILT ON PRINCIPLES, THE
RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SPEECH
AND ASSEMBLY, AND AN INDEPENDENT
PRESS.
( APPLAUSE )
THAT ORDER IS NOW BEING
CHALLENGED, FIRST BY VIOLENT
FANATICS WHO CLAIM TO SPEAK FOR
ISLAM.
MORE RECENTLY BY AUTOCRATS IN
FOREIGN CAPITALS WHO SEE FREE
MARKETS AND OPEN DEMOCRACIES AND
CIVIL SOCIETY ITSELF AS A THREAT
TO THEIR POWER.
THE PERIL EACH POSES TO OUR
DEMOCRACY IS MORE FAR REACHING
THAN A CAR BOMB OR A MISSILE.
THEY REPRESENT THE FEAR OF
CHANGE, THE FEAR OF PEOPLE WHO
LOOK OR SPEAK OR PRAY
DIFFERENTLY, A CONTEMPT FOR THE
RULE OF LAW THAT HOLDS LEADERS
ACCOUNTABLE, AN INTOLERANCE OF
DISSENT AND FREE THOUGHT, A
BELIEF THAT THE SWORD OR THE GUN
OR THE BOMB OR THE PROPAGANDA
MACHINE IS THE ULTIMATE ARBITER
OF WHAT'S TRUE AND WHAT'S RIGHT.
BECAUSE THE EXTRAORDINARY
COURAGE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN
UNIFORM, BECAUSE OF OUR
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND DIPLOMATS WHO
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, NO FOREIGN
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION HAS
SUCCESSFULLY PLANNED AND
EXECUTED AN ATTACK ON OUR
HOMELAND THESE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
AND ALTHOUGH BOSTON AND ORLANDO
AND SAN BERNARDINO AND FORT HOOD
REMIND US OF HOW DANGEROUS
RADICALIZATION CAN BE, OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE MORE
EFFECTIVE AND VIGILANT THAN
EVER.
WE HAVE TAKEN OUT TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF TERRORISTS,
INCLUDING BIN LADEN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THE GLOBAL COALITION WE'RE
LEADING AGAINST ISIL HAS TAKEN
OUT THEIR LEADERS AND TAKEN AWAY
ABOUT HALF THEIR TERRITORY.
ISIL WILL BE DESTROYED, AND NO
ONE WHO THREATENS AMERICA WILL
EVER BE SAFE.
( APPLAUSE )
AND ALL WHO SERVE OR HAVE
SERVED, IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF
MY LIFETIME TO BE YOUR COMMANDER
IN CHIEF.
AND WE ALL OWE YOU A DEEP DEBT
OF GRATITUDE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
BUT PROTECTING OUR WAY OF LIFE,
THAT'S NOT JUST THE JOB OF OUR
MILITARY.
DEMOCRACY CAN BUCKLE WHEN IT
GIVES IN TO FEAR.
SO JUST AS WE, AS CITIZENS, MUST
REMAIN VIGILANT AGAINST EXTERNAL
AGGRESSION, WE MUST GUARD
AGAINST A WEAKENING OF THE
VALUES THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE.
( APPLAUSE )
AND THAT'S FOR THE PAST EIGHT
YEARS, I'VE WORKED TO PUT THE
FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM ON A
FIRMER LEGAL FOOTING.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE ENDED TORTURE,
WORKED TO CLOSE GITMO, REFORMED
OUR LAWS GOVERNING SURVEILLANCE
TO PROTECT PRIVACY AND CIVIL
LIBERTIES.
THAT'S WHY I REJECT
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIM
AMERICANS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
WHO ARE JUST AS PATRIOTIC AS WE
ARE.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY WE CANNOT
WITHDRAW-- THAT'S WHY WE CANNOT
WITHDRAW FROM BIG GLOBAL FIGHTS
TO EXPAND DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN
RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND
L.G.B.T. RIGHTS.
NO MATTER HOW IMPERFECT OUR
EFFORTS, NO MATTER HOW EXPEDIENT
IGNORING SUCH VALUES MAY SEEM,
THAT'S PART OF DEFENDING AMER
AMERICA.
FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREMISM
AND INTOLERANCE AND SECTARIANISM
AND CHAUVINISM, ARE A PIECE OF A
FIGHT AGAINST AUTHORITARIANISM
AND NATIONALIST AGGRESSION.
IF THE SCOPE OF FREEDOM AND
RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW
SHRINKS AROUND THE WORLD, THE
LIKELIHOOD OF WAR WITHIN AND
BETWEEN NATIONS INCREASES.
AND OUR OWN FREEDOMS WILL
EVENTUALLY BE THREATENED.
SO LET'S BE VIGILANT BUT NOT
AFRAID.
( APPLAUSE )
ISIL WILL TRY TO KILL INNOCENT
PEOPLE, BUT THEY CANNOT DEFEAT
AMERICA UNLESS WE BETRAY OUR
CONSTITUTION AND OUR PRINCIPLES
IN THE FIGHT.
( APPLAUSE )
RIVALS LIKE RUSSIA OR CHINA
CANNOT MATCH OUR INFLUENCE
AROUND THE WORLD UNLESS WE GIVE
UP WHAT WE STAND FOR AND TURN
OURSELVES INTO JUST ANOTHER BIG
COUNTRY THAT BULLIES SMALLER
NEIGHBORS.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL
POINT.
OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR DEMOCRACY IS
THREATENED WHENEVER WE TAKE IT
FOR GRANTED.
( APPLAUSE )
ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF PARTY,
SHOULD BE THROWING OURSELVES
INTO THE TASK OF REBUILDING OUR
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.
( APPLAUSE )
WHEN VOTING RATES IN AMERICA ARE
SOME OF THE LOWEST AMONG
ADVANCED DEMOCRACIES, WE SHOULD
BE MAKING IT EASIER NOT HARDER
TO VOTE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
WHEN TRUST IN OUR INSTITUTIONS
IS LOW, WE SHOULD REDUCE THE
CORROSIVE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN
OUR POLITICS AND INSIST ON THE
PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY AND
ETHICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
WHEN CONGRESS IS DYSFUNCTIONAL,
WE SHOULD DRAW OUR CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICTS TO ENCOURAGE
POLITICIANS TO CATER TO COMMON
SENSE AND NOT RIGID EXTREMES.
( APPLAUSE )
BUT REMEMBER, NONE OF THIS
HAPPENS ON ITS OWN.
ALL OF THIS DEPENDS ON OUR
PARTICIPATION, ON EACH OF US
ACCEPTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
CITIZENSHIP, REGARDLESS OF WHICH
WAY THE PENDULUM OF POWER
HAPPENS TO BE SWINGING.
OUR CONSTITUTION IS A
REMARKABLE, BEAUTIFUL GIFT.
BUT IT'S REALLY JUST A PIECE OF
PARCHMENT.
IT HAS NO POWER ON ITS OWN.
WE, THE PEOPLE, GIVE IT POWER.
( APPLAUSE )
WE, THE PEOPLE GIVE IT MEANING
WITH OUR PARTICIPATION AND WITH
THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE AND THE
ALLIANCES THAT WE FORGE, WHETHER
OR NOT WE STAND UP FOR OUR
FREEDOMS, WHETHER OR NOT WE
RESPECT AND ENFORCE THE RULE OF
LAW.
THAT'S UP TO US.
AMERICA IS NO FRAGILE THING, BUT
THE GAINS OF OUR LONG JOURNEY TO
FREEDOM ARE NOT ASSURED.
IN HIS OWN FAREWELL ADDRESS,
GEORGE WASHINGTON WROTE THAT
SELF-GOVERNMENT IS THE
UNDERPINNING OF OUR SAFETY,
PROSPERITY, AND LIBERTY.
BUT FROM DIFFERENT CAUSES AND
FROM DIFFERENT QUARTERS, MUCH
PAINS WILL BE TAKEN TO WEAKEN IN
YOUR MINDS THE CONVICTION OF
THIS TRUTH.
AND SO WE HAVE TO PRESERVE THIS
TRUTH WITH JEALOUS ANXIETY, THAT
WE SHOULD REJECT THE FIRST
DAWNING OF EVERY ATTEMPT TO
ALIENATE ANY PORTION OF OUR
COUNTRY FROM THE REST OR TO
ENFEEBIL THE SACRED TIES THAT
MAKE US ONE.
( APPLAUSE )
AMERICA, WE WEAKEN THOSE TIES
WHEN WE ALLOW OUR POLITICAL
DIALOGUE TO BECOME SO CORROSIVE,
THAT PEOPLE OF GOOD CHARACTER
AREN'T EVEN WILLING TO ENTER
INTO PUBLIC SERVICE.
SO COARSE WITH RANCOR, THAT
AMERICANS WITH WHOM WE DISAGREE
ARE SEEN NOT JUST AS MISGUIDED
BUT AS MALEVOLENT.
WE WEAKEN THOSE TIES WHEN WE
DEFINE SOME OF US AS MORE
AMERICAN THAN OTHERS.
WHEN WE WRITE OFF THE WHOLE
SYSTEM AS INEVITABLY CORRUPT.
( APPLAUSE )
AND WHEN WE SIT BACK AND BLAME
THE LEADERS WE ELECT WITHOUT
EXAMINING OUR OWN ROLE IN
ELECTING THEM.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IT FALLS TO EACH OF US TO BE
THOSE ANXIOUS, JEALOUS GUARDIANS
OF OUR DEMOCRACY, TO EMBRACE THE
JOYOUS TASK WE'VE 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 TITLE, THE MOST IMPORTANT
OFFICE IN A DEMOCRACY-- CITIZEN.
( APPLAUSE )
CITIZEN.
SO, YOU SEE, THAT'S WHAT OUR
DEMOCRACY DEMANDS.
IT NEEDS YOU, NOT JUST WHEN
THERE'S AN ELECTION, NOT JUST
WHEN YOUR OWN NARROW INTEREST IS
AT STAKE, BUT OVER THE FULL SPAN
OF A LIFETIME.
IF YOU'RE TIRED OF ARGUING WITH
STRANGERS ON THE INTERNET, TRY
TALKING WITH ONE OF THEM IN REAL
LIFE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IF SOMETHING NEEDS FIXING, THEN
LACE UP YOUR SHOES AND DO SOME
ORGANIZING.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IF YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED BY YOUR
ELECTED OFFICIALS, GRAB A
CLIPBOARD, GET SOME SIGNATURES,
AND RUN FOR OFFICE YOURSELF.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
SHOW UP, DIVE IN, STAY AT IT.
SOMETIMES YOU'LL WIN.
SOMETIMES YOU'LL LOSE.
PRESUMING A RESERVOIR OF
GOODNESS IN OTHER PEOPLE, THAT
CAMBRIDGE RISK.
AND THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE
PROCESS WILL DISAPPOINT YOU, BUT
FOR THOSE OF US FORTUNATE ENOUGH
TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS WORK
AND TO SEE IT UP CLOSE, LET ME
TELL YOU, IT CAN ENERGIZE AND
INSPIRE.
AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, YOUR
FAITH IN AMERICA AND IN
AMERICANS WILL BE CONFIRMED.
MINE SURE HAS BEEN.
( APPLAUSE )
OVER THE COURSE OF THESE EIGHT
YEARS, I'VE SEEN THE HOPEFUL
FACES OF YOUNG GRADUATES AND OUR
NEWEST MILITARY OFFICERS.
I HAVE MOURNED WITH GRIEVING
FAMILIES SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
AND FOUND GRACE IN A CHARLESTON
CHURCH.
I'VE SEEN OUR SCIENTISTS HELP A
PARALYZED MAN REGAIN HIS SENSE
OF TOUCH.
I'VE SEEN WOUNDED WARRIORS WHO
AT POINTS WERE GIVEN UP FOR DEAD
WALK AGAIN.
I'VE SEEN OUR DOCTORS AND
VOLUNTEERS REBUILD AFTER
EARTHQUAKES AND STOP PANDEMICS
IN THEIR TRACKS.
I'VE SEEN THE YOUNGEST OF
CHILDREN REMIND US THROUGH THEIR
ACTIONS AND THROUGH THEIR
GENEROSITY OF OUR OBLIGATIONS TO
CARE FOR REFUGEES OR WORK FOR
PEACE.
( APPLAUSE )
AND ABOVE ALL, TO LOOK OUT FOR
EACH OTHER.
SO THAT FAITH THAT I PLACED 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 HAVE POSSIBLY
IMAGINED.
AND I HOPE YOUR FAITH HAS, TOO.
SOME OF YOU HERE TONIGHT OR
WATCHING AT HOME, YOU WERE THERE
WITH US IN 2004 AND 2008, 2012.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
MAYBE YOU STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WE
PULLED THIS WHOLE THING OFF.
LET ME TELL YOU, YOU'RE NOT THE
ONLY ONES.
( LAUGHTER )
MICHELLE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
MICHELLE LEVON 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.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
YOU TOOK ON A ROLE YOU DIDN'T
ASK FOR, AND YOU MADE IT YOUR
OWN WITH GRACE AND WITH GRIT AND
WITH STYLE AND GOOD HUMOR.
( APPLAUSE )
( CHEERS )
YOU MADE THE WHITE HOUSE A PLACE
THAT BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.
AND A NEW GENERATION SETS ITS
SIGHTS HIGHER BECAUSE IT HAS YOU
AS A ROLE MODEL.
SO YOU HAVE MADE ME PROUD, AND
YOU HAVE MADE THE COUNTRY PROUD.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
MALIA AND SASHA, UNDER THE
STRANGEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU
HAVE BECOME TWO AMAZING YOUNG
WOMEN.
YOU ARE SMART AND YOU ARE
BEAUTIFUL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
YOU ARE KIND AND YOU ARE
THOUGHTFUL AND YOU ARE FULL OF
PASSION.
( APPLAUSE )
AND YOU WORE THE BURDEN OF YEARS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT SO EASILY.
OF ALL THAT I HAVE DONE IN MY
LIFE, I AM MOST PROUD TO BE YOUR
DAD.
( APPLAUSE )
TO JOE BIDEN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THE SCRAPPY KID FROM SCRANTON
WHO BECAME DELAWARE'S FAVORITE
SON, YOU WERE THE FIRST DECISION
I MADE AS A NOMINEE, AND IT WAS
THE BEST.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN A
GREAT VICE PRESIDENT, BUT
BECAUSE IN THE BARGAIN I GAINED
A BROTHER.
AND WE LOVE YOU AND JILL LIKE
FAMILY, AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP HAS
BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT JOYS OF
OUR LIFE.
( APPLAUSE )
TO MY REMARKABLE STAFF, FOR
EIGHT YEARS-- AND FOR FOR SOME
OF YOU A WHOLE LOT MORE EYE HAVE
DRAWN FROM YOUR ENERGY, AND
EVERY DAY I TRIED TO REFLECT
BACK WHAT YOU DISPLAYED-- HEART
AND CHARACTER AND IDEALISM.
I'VE WATCHED YOU GROW UP, GET
MARRIED, HAVE KIDS, START
INCREDIBLE NEW JOURNEYS OF YOUR
OWN.
EVEN WHEN TIMES GOT TOUGH AND
FRUSTRATING, YOU NEVER LET
WASHINGTON GET THE BETTER OF
YOU.
YOU GUARDED AGAINST CYNICISM.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES ME
PROUDER THAN ALL THE GOOD THAT
WE'VE DONE IS THE THOUGHT OF ALL
THE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO ACHIEVE FROM HERE.
( APPLAUSE )
AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE,
EVERY ORGANIZER WHO MOVED TO AN
UNFAMILIAR TOWN, EVERY KIND
FAMILY WHO WELCOMED THEM IN,
EVERY VOLUNTEER WHO KNOCKED ON
DOORS, EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO
CAST A BALLOT FOR THE FIRST TI
TIME, EVERY AMERICAN WHO LIVED
AND BREATHED THE HARD WORK OF
CHANGE, YOU ARE THE BEST
SUPPORTERS AND ORGANIZERS
ANYBODY COULD EVER HOPE FOR, AND
I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
BECAUSE YOU DID CHANGE THE
WORLD.
YOU DID.
AND THAT'S WHY I LEAVE THIS
STAGE TONIGHT EVEN MORE
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS COUNTRY
THAN WHEN WE STARTED BECAUSE I
KNOW OUR WORK HAS NOT ONLY
HELPED SO MANY AMERICANS.
IT HAS INSPIRED SO MANY
AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY SO MANY
YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE, TO
BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, TO HITCH YOUR WAGON
TO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN
YOURSELVES.
LET ME TELL YOU, THIS GENERATION
COMING UP, UNSELFISH,
ALTRUISTIC, CREATIVE,
PATRIOTIC-- I'VE SEEN YOU IN
EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY.
YOU BELIEVE IN A FAIR AND JUST
AND INCLUSIVE AMERICA.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
YOU KNOW THAT CONSTANT CHANGE
HAS BEEN AMERICA'S HALLMARK,
THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO FEAR
BUT SOMETHING TO EMBRACE.
YOU ARE WILLING TO CARRY THIS
HARD WORK OF DEMOCRACY FORWARD.
YOU'LL SOON OUTNUMBER ALL OF US,
AND I BELIEVE AS A RESULT, THE
FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
MY FELLOW AMERICANS, IT HAS BEEN
THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE
YOU.
I WON'T STOP.
IN FACT, I WILL BE RIGHT THERE
WITH YOU AS A CITIZEN FOR ALL MY
REMAINING DAYS.
BUT FOR NOW, WHETHER YOU ARE
YOUNG OR WHETHER YOU ARE YOUNG
AT HEART, I DO HAVE ONE FINAL
ASK OF YOU AS YOUR PRESIDENT,
THE SAME THING I ASKED WHEN YOU
TOOK A CHANCE ON ME EIGHT YEARS
AGO.
I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE, NOT
IN MY ABILITY TO BRING ABOUT
CHANGE BUT IN YOURS.
I AM ASKING YOU TO HOLD FAST TO
THAT FAITH WRITTEN INTO OUR
FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, THAT IDEA
WHISPERED BY SLAVES AND
APLITIONISTS, THAT SPIRIT SUNG
BY IMMIGRANTS AND HOMESTEADERS,
AND THOSE WHO MARCHED FOR
JUSTICE, THAT CREED REAFIRMED BY
THOSE WHO PLANTED FLAGS FROM
FOREIGN BATTLE FIELDS TO THE
SURFACE OF THE MOON, A CREED AT
THE CORE OF EVERY AMERICAN WHOSE
STORY IS NOT YET WRITTEN.
YES, WE CAN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
YES, WE DID.
YES, WE CAN.
THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THANK YOU.
>> Pelley: PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA'S FINAL ADDRESS TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AS PRESIDENT AT
McCORMACK PLACE IN CHICAGO,
HIS HOME TOWN.
THERE WILL BE MORE ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS ON YOUR
LOCAL NEWS ON THIS CBS STATION.
OF COURSE, ON OUR 24-HOUR
STREAMING NEWS SERVICE, CBSN,
AND FIRST THING TOMORROW ON "CBS
THIS MORNING"."
ALSO TOMORROW, DONALD TRUMP WILL
HOLD HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE
AS PRESIDENT-ELECT.
CBS NEWS WILL BRING THAT TO YOU
LIVE AT 11 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
FOR NOW, MOST OF THE COUNTRY,
CBS PRIME-TIME PROGRAMMING IS
COMING RIGHT UP.
BUT FOR SOME OF YOU IN THE WEST,
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE CBS
EVENING NEWS.
I'M SCOTT