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Read Obama’s farewell letter to the American people

"You made me a better man"

Read Obama’s farewell letter to the American people
20 January 2017

Today is going to be hard.

It will be hard to watch an overgrown oompa loompa walk into the White House. It will be hard to listen to him as he stands in-front of the world full of ignorance and audacity, and not even care. It will be hard to accept that he is about to have the power to royally eff up international relations.

But most of all, it will be hard to say goodbye to President Obama and his decency in exchange for all of the above.

And he’s not making it easy for us.

Yesterday, he released his final words as president in a letter saying goodbye.

He thanks the American people for making him a better president, and a better man. Trying his best to instil hope and encouraging people to work for change, he promises he’ll be with them every step of the way.

Grab a tissue now and read the full letter below:

“My fellow Americans,

It's a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the American elected to take his or her place. It's a letter meant to share what we know, what we've learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land, and the leadership of the free world.

But before I leave my note for our 45th president, I wanted to say one final thank you for the honor of serving as your 44th. Because all that I've learned in my time in office, I've learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.

Throughout these eight years, you have been the source of goodness, resilience, and hope from which I've pulled strength. I've seen neighbors and communities take care of each other during the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. I have mourned with grieving families searching for answers -- and found grace in a Charleston church.

I've taken heart from the hope of young graduates and our newest military officers. I've seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and wounded warriors once given up for dead walk again. I've seen Americans whose lives have been saved because they finally have access to medical care, and families whose lives have been changed because their marriages are recognized as equal to our own. 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, and, above all, to look out for each other.

I've seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I've seen our future unfolding.

All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work -- the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there's an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.

I'll be right there with you every step of the way.

And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word 'We.' 'We the People.' 'We shall overcome.'

Yes, we can.

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What we wouldn’t give to read that note to Trump.