Obama's Farewell Address

On Tuesday, January 10th, 2017, former United States President Barack Obama delivered his farewell address in Chicago. Though it is traditional for farewell addresses to be delivered at a lectern in the White House or an Oval Office address, he gave his address in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. During his speech, Obama thanked many people, including his wife and former US Vice President Joe Biden. He didn’t focus on what Trump would do, and instead partially defended him. Obama also asked Americans to change themselves and not to give up hope.

Barack Obama has done much in his two terms as president. He has improved the general image of America, increased veteran support, and improved food safety and nutrition in schools throughout the country. Obama has also repaired U.S. relations with Cuba, reversed George W. Bush’s torture policies, expanded healthcare coverage with the Affordable Care Act, protected members of the LGBTQ community from job discrimination, created lots of jobs, and provided 98% of Americans with fast broadband network. Depending on your opinions, some of these are not accomplishments. Though he has brought about some controversies, Obama managed to avoid scandal for eight years, the first president to do so since Dwight Eisenhower.

In both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, Obama was put into office by young voters. Some students are sorry to see him go. What some students will remember most about the former president’s two terms are the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the fact that he was the first black president. Kayvon, an eighth grader, says that he will remember that Obama lowered the national unemployment rate. Miranda Song, a seventh grader, says, “He was a cool president…” Ava says that “[Obama] tried to help people a lot.” Another student says, “He treated people equally.”

#20162017