Say Goodbye To President Obama Tonight (And Read His Message To The Nation Here)

~~Our hero~~ President Barack Obama says goodbye to the nation tonight in the official presidential farewell address.

But instead of setting his goodbye speech in the Oval Office or East Room as have past Presidents, Obama will travel to Chicago, the city where he declared victory in 2008 and 2012, to a huge crowd of well-wishers. In a show of solidarity, many Facebook users are changing their profile photo to one of Obama.

And here, in his own words, is President Obama’s short message about tonight’s address:

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, many American presidents have followed his lead.

On Tuesday, January 10, I’ll go home to Chicago to say my grateful farewell to you, even if you can’t be there in person.

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.

Since 2009, 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.

So I hope you’ll join me one last time.

Because, for me, it’s always been about you.

President Barack Obama

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