Barack Obama

It was great meeting with the talented folks who’ll be working at the Obama Presidential Center. We're excited to welcome everybody here soon!

Abraham Lincoln understood, perhaps better than anyone, how personal liberty and self-reliance are at the heart of the American experience. But he also knew there are certain things we can only do together. Read more in my essay for @inpursuitusa: inpursuit.substack.com/p/abraham-lincoln-by-barack-obama

As President, I would read 10 letters a day sent to me by ordinary Americans. At the Obama Presidential Center, we’ll have some of the letters I read — and responded to — every night. I still get emotional reading them, and it’s one of my favorite exhibits.

In his new book, All We Say, Ben Rhodes looks at some of the speeches that shaped America. They remind us of our past, the progress we’ve made, the setbacks we’ve faced, and the work that still remains. Ben has always had a deep understanding of the tensions and the promise at the heart of our American story, and this couldn’t be a more timely read.

On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the brave men and women in uniform who gave their lives for this country that we love. It is a debt we can never fully repay, but we must never stop trying. I’ll always be grateful to our fallen heroes and their families, whose sacrifice reminds us of what it means to live for something greater than ourselves.

For more than a decade, Stephen Colbert has been one of the top voices of late night — making us laugh and, even more importantly, reminding us who we are and what America stands for. Michelle and I enjoyed being Stephen’s guests — even when the games were rigged — and we’re grateful to call him a friend.

Music has always had the ability to speak to us, and for us, in a way nothing else can. That’s why, if you want to understand the last 250 years of American life, one of the best ways to do it is to listen to the music that defined them.

The decisions made by state supreme courts touch every part of our lives. And that’s especially important when voting rights and basic freedoms are being challenged. Today, voters in Georgia can stand up for fairness and integrity by electing Miracle Rankin and Jen Jordan to Georgia’s Supreme Court. Let’s get this one right, Georgia. Find your nearest polling station and cast your ballot before 7pm ET: IWillVote.com/GA

Proud of our @ObamaFoundation Scholars and the incredible work they’re doing in their communities.

Yesterday, a new generation of civil rights activists marched from Selma to Montgomery to fight for voting rights. As states across the country try to make it harder for citizens to be heard, we need to learn the lessons of those who came before us and refuse to take our democracy for granted.

It was great joining @jamestalarico and @ginafortexas today in Texas. They're working hard to make a difference in the lives of all Texans, and will be able to do even more as your next Senator and Governor. Let’s get it done, Texas!

I first met Clark Reynolds when he was just three years old at our Black History Month reception at the White House. Over the last ten years, it's been wonderful getting updates about his life through his letters. Check out how he’s doing now: