Curious about what happens in a year at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Join the over 100K people who have downloaded the new #1600App to find out. Learn how to see 365 days at the White House unfold in front of you: go.wh.gov/1600
“Over the past eight years, Michelle and I have invited some of the best writers and musicians, actors, dancers to share their gifts with the American people, and to help tell the story of who we are, and to inspire what’s best in all of us.” —President Obama paying tribute to this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees: Mavis Staples, Al Pacino, James Taylor, Martha Argerich, and The Eagles.
“Let me just say one last thing before I spare these turkeys’ lives. On this Thanksgiving, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the American people for the trust that you’ve placed in me over these last eight years and the incredible kindness that you’ve shown my family. On behalf of Michelle, and my mother-in-law, and our girls, we want to thank you so very, very much.” —President Obama granting his final #WHTurkeyPardon with his nephews, Austin and Aaron
Yes, we cran.
“We celebrate extraordinary Americans who have lifted our spirits, strengthened our union, pushed us toward progress. I always love doing this event, but this is a particularly impressive class. We’ve got innovators and artists. Public servants, rabble rousers, athletes, renowned character actors—like the guy from Space Jam.” —President Obama presenting the 2016 Medal of Freedom to 21 extraordinary Americans yesterday, including Michael Jordan
“It’s easy to forget now, when we’ve come so far, where now marriage is equal under the law—just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago. Just how important it was not just to the LGBT community, but for all of us to see somebody so full of kindness and light, somebody we liked so much, somebody who could be our neighbor or our colleague or our sister challenge our own assumptions, remind us that we have more in common than we realize, push our country in the direction of justice.
What an incredible burden that was to bear. To risk your career like that. People don’t do that very often. And then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders. But it’s like Ellen says: We all want a tortilla chip that can support the weight of guacamole. Which really makes no sense to me, but I thought would brighten the mood, because I was getting kind of choked up. And she did pay a price—we don’t remember this. I hadn’t remembered it. She did, for a pretty long stretch of time—even in Hollywood. And yet, today, every day, in every way, Ellen counters what too often divides us with the countless things that bind us together—inspires us to be better, one joke, one dance at a time.” —President Obama awarding the Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, to Ellen DeGeneres yesterday, along with 20 other Americans who have contributed to their fields.
“In the United States, and in every place I have visited these last eight years, I have met citizens, especially young people, who have chosen hope over fear, who believe that they can shape their own destiny, who refuse to accept the world as it is and are determined to remake it as it should be. They have inspired me. In every corner of the world, I have met people who, in their daily lives, demonstrate that despite differences of race or religion or creed or color, we have the capacity to see each other in ourselves.” —President Obama during his final trip abroad to Greece, Germany, and Peru. See the whole trip in photos: http://go.wh.gov/EoWZSu
Introducing Tater and Tot, the 2016 National Thanksgiving Turkeys! Tune in to watch President Obama pardon the birds tomorrow: go.wh.gov/PmrvKi
“We’ve been very honest with one another and even when we disagreed, we always found solutions.” Over the past eight years, President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have worked closely together to combat climate change, protect national security, and strengthen the relationship between our nations. During President Obama’s visit to Germany, Chancellor Merkel took a moment to reflect on her time working with the President: go.wh.gov/POTUSabroad
“You being so nice, and kind, hopefully makes other people think the same way. So I was very proud of you.” Remember Alex, the six-year-old boy who wrote to President Obama to ask how he could help kids his age in Syria? Last week, the President had a chance to meet Alex and his family at the White House. Watch their visit and learn how you can support refugees at home and abroad: wh.gov/refugees
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