Barack Obama - Great Speeches

Thank you, Governor. To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests -- Scripture tells us: “…do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away…inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”We gather here in memory of twenty beautiful children and six remarkable adults. They lost their lives in a school that could have been any school; in a quiet town full of good and decent people that could be any town in America.Here in Newtown, I come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts. I can only hope it helps for you to know that you’re not alone in your grief; that our world too has been torn apart; that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you, we’ve pulled our children tight. And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide; whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it. Newtown -- you are not alone.As these difficult days have unfolded, you’ve also inspired us with stories of strength and resolve and sacrifice. We know that when danger arrived in the halls of Sandy Hook Elementary, the school’s staff did not flinch, they did not hesitate. Dawn Hochsprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy -- they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances -- with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.We know that there were other teachers who barricaded themselves inside classrooms, and kept steady through it all, and reassured their students by saying “wait for the good guys, they’re coming”; “show me your smile.” And we know that good guys came. The first responders who raced to the scene, helping to guide those in harm’s way to safety, and comfort those in need, holding at bay their own shock and trauma because they had a job to do, and others needed them more.And then there were the scenes of the schoolchildren, helping one another, holding each other, dutifully following instructions in the way that young children sometimes do; one child even trying to encourage a grown-up by saying, “I know karate. So it’s okay. I’ll lead the way out.” (Laughter.)As a community, you’ve inspired us, Newtown. In the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you’ve looked out for each other, and you’ve cared for one another, and you’ve loved one another. This is how Newtown will be remembered. And with time, and God’s grace, that love will see you through.But we, as a nation, we are left with some hard questions. Someone once described the joy and anxiety of parenthood as the equivalent of having your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around. With their very first cry, this most precious, vital part of ourselves -- our child -- is suddenly exposed to the world, to possible mishap or malice. And every parent knows there is nothing we will not do to shield our children from harm. And yet, we also know that with that child’s very first step, and each step after that, they are separating from us; that we won’t -- that we can’t always be there for them. They’ll suffer sickness and setbacks and broken hearts and disappointments. And we learn that our most important job is to give them what they need to become self-reliant and capable and resilient, ready to face the world without fear. And we know we can’t do this by ourselves. It comes as a shock at a...

President Barack Obama Speech - Clementa Pickney 2015 062 6

President Barack Obama - State of the Union Speech 2014 01 28

President Barack Obama Israeli People - 2013 03 21

State of the Union Speech - President Barack Obama 2015 01 20

State of the Union Speech - President Barack Obama - 2013 02 12

President Barack Obama remarks on Gun Violence 2013 04 08

President Barack Obama Speech on the Selma Anniversary 2015 03 07

President Barack Obama Speech on Economic Mobility 2013 12 04

President Barack Obama remarks on Trayvon Martin shooting 2013 07 19

President Barack Obama Speech on Immigration 2014 11 20

President Barack Obama Speech 2016 State of the Union Address January 12, 2016

President Obama delivers the Commencement Address at Rutgers University in Brunswick, New Jersey. May 15, 2016: Commencement Address at Rutgers University

President Obama delivers an address to the people of Cuba in the Gran Teatro de la Habana in Havana, Cuba.

President Barack Obama Speech - March 15, 2010: Health Care Reform

Remarks by the president on NASA at the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.

The president delivers his State of the Union address, with Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner.

Remarks by the president in nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court.

Remarks on Nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court - Barack Obama Speech May 26, 2009

Only a month after his inauguration, President Barack Obama gives an address before Congress on his initiatives for economic reform. The President discusses the three critical areas that he believes will impact the future economy—energy, healthcare, and education. He also stresses the importance of U.S. efforts in combating extremism in the Middle East.

President Barack Obama defends his proposed Health Care Reform Bill. He addresses a number of topics of the health care debate, including deficit spending, preexisting medical conditions, insuring illegal immigrants, and reforming malpractice laws.

About this speechBarack ObamaJanuary 20, 2009Source National Archives
Senator Dianne Feinstein introduces the Oath of Office, administered to Barack Obama by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts. After taking the oath, President Obama gives his Inaugural Address, touching on the history that brought the country to this moment and focusing on the hard work ahead for him, his administration, and the American people.

About this speechBarack ObamaJanuary 10, 2017Source The White House
President Barack Obama addresses a crowd in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, to discuss the state of democracy as he prepares to leave office. He argues that inequity, disparity, and discrimination threaten the democratic experiment in the United States, and he encourages people to stay involved in the democratic process. He focuses on the power of ordinary Americans to bring about change.