Tuesday night, President Obama gave the official final speech of his presidency in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, and as expected, it was an emotional affair.
Throughout the speech the President covered everything from ISIS, to the unrealistic assumption that his presidency would bring about a post-racial America, to immigration, as he rejected discrimination against Muslim-Americans to thunderous applause.
Despite an election season that has been both tumultuous and divisive for much of the country, President Obama's main message was a much-needed one of unity. As part of his final (and perhaps most loudly-cheered) remarks, he encouraged America to come together in the coming months, instead of remaining as divided as it was throughout the election.
"We weaken those ties when we allow our political dialogue to become so corrosive that people of good character are turned off from public service; so course with rancor that Americans with whom we disagree are not just misguided, but somehow malevolent," he said. "We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more American than others."
As if that weren't enough to get us teary-eyed, he also ended the speech with heartfelt thank-you's to Michelle, Malia and Sasha, his staff, and of course Vice President Biden.
"Michelle: for the past 25 years, you've been not only my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend," he said. "You took on a role you didn't ask for and made it your own with grace and with grit and with style and good humor... You've made me proud. You've made the country proud."
Just before leaving the stage after the powerful, hour-long speech, he gave a final chill-inducing nod to his original campaign, chanting, "Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can."
While there has been a mood of uncertainty amongst Americans regarding what the next few years may hold, hopefully the country can take comfort in the President's farewell message of positivity and unity.
Watch the full speech below:
