During Obama’s final speech as the
leader of the free world, he thanked his wife and daughters for sacrificing their
personal lives for his political dreams, which brought himself, his family
and even Vice President Biden to tears.
He noted in the speech that First Lady Michelle Obama, his
partner for the past 25 years, took “a role you didn’t ask for and made
it your own with grace and with grit and with style and with good
humor,” he said, pausing to wipe his eyes with a tissue and regain
composure.
“You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody,” Obama
said before a packed, cheering audience of about 18,000 people at
McCormick Place in Chicago. “And a new generation sets its sights higher
because it has you as a role model. You have made me proud and you have
made the country prouder.” The proud dad thanked teen daughters, Malia and Sasha, for coming of age during the “strangest of circumstances”.
He futher said, “You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily,” Obama said,
speaking directly to his 18-year-old daughter, Malia, who held back her
own tears during the speech.
“Of all that I’ve done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad,” he added.
His youngest daughter, Sasha, 15, was absent from the Tuesday night
address and White House officials said she was studying for a test according to Daily news.
The outgoing president applauded his administration’s eight years of
change during the hour-long address, naming the Supreme Court ruling
that granted marriage equality, the death of leader Osama Bin Laden and
signing the Paris Agreement. But his daughters were at the forefront of
his thoughts.