Watch: Barack Obama moves Michelle, Malia to tears in an emotional farewell address
Watch: Barack Obama moves Michelle, Malia to tears in an emotional farewell address

Watch: Barack Obama moves Michelle, Malia to tears in an emotional farewell address

“Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad,” says the US President to his daughters.

Barack Obama has one of the most charming public personas in the history of US Presidents. So it's only natural that videos and photos of the Obama family's last days in the White House have the internet getting nostalgic and mushy.

And that just went up a notch on Wednesday, when Barack Obama gave his farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago, incidentally the same city where he gave his presidential victory speech in 2008.

An emotional Barack thanked his wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia and Vice President Joe Biden, calling the latter his brother too.

To Michelle, Barack referred to as the "girl from the south side", as the crowd around her erupted in applause and cheer and Malia, seated beside her mother, wiped her eyes.

"Michelle LeVaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side... For the past 25 years, you’ve been not only my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend. You took on a role you didn’t ask for and you made it your own with grace and grit and style, and good humour. You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody. And a new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. You’ve made me proud. You’ve made the country proud,” said an emotional Barack.

While Sasha couldn't make it to the address because of an exam she had to write, Barack expressed his gratitude to both her and Malia, pointing out how his daughters had become "two amazing young women" in the "strangest of circumstances". 

"You are smart and beautiful, but more importantly, kind and thoughtful and full of passion. You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad," Barack added.

A teary-eyed Malia passed a watery smile to her father at these words, with her mother's arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Finally, the outgoing President of the United States turned to Joe Biden, whose friendship and camaraderie has been the stuff great internet memes are made of. 

Referring to Joe as the “the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware’s favourite son", Barack says that Joe was his first choice for Vice President nominee and the best one too. 

"Not just because you have been a great Vice President, but because in the bargain I gained a brother. We love you and Jill like family, and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our lives,” Barack said to thunderous applause all around Joe Biden and his wife.

Staying true to their easy-going public relationship, a visibly overwhelmed Joe acknowledged Barack's thanks with a finger point and wink. 

Watch the video here:

 Barack also made it a point to thank his staff, saying that in the eight years he had been President, he drew from their energy and tried every day to "reflect back" on what they displayed: "Heart, character and idealism". 

"And even when times got frustrating, you didn't let Washington get the better of you. You guarded against cynicism. And the only thing that makes me prouder than all the good we've done is the thought of all the amazing things you're going to achieve from here," he said.

And of course, Barack Obama capped off his rousing speech with three sentences, referring to his very first presidential campaign in 2008: "Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can."   

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