I Hope You’ll Join Me One Last Time: President Obama

President Barack Obama will deliver his farewell address on Tuesday, January 10. In a White House communique, Obama said that in 1796, as George Washington set the precedent for a peaceful, democratic transfer of power, he also set a precedent by penning a farewell address to the American people.

And over the 220 years since, he said, many American presidents have followed his lead. “On Tuesday, I’ll go home to Chicago to say my grateful farewell to you, even if you can’t be there in person,” Obama said.

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“I’m just beginning to write my remarks. But I’m thinking about them as a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey, to celebrate the ways you’ve changed this country for the better these past eight years, and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here,” Obama said.

Since 2009, Obama said, we’ve faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger. That’s because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding — our conviction that, together, we can change this country for the better, he said.

“So I hope you’ll join me one last time. Because, for me, it’s always been about you,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump is getting ready for the inauguration ceremony scheduled to take place on January 20.