Obama: family time, not politics, will be my life's 'most precious' memories

[babylonsister]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/03/barack-obama-family-life-young-african-leaders-summit?CMP=fb_us#link_time=1470309997

Obama: family time, not politics, will be my life's 'most precious' memories
David Smith in Washington

Wednesday 3 August 2016 19.52 EDT
Last modified on Thursday 4 August 2016 08.24 EDT


Birthdays are often cause for intimations of mortality. Barack Obama, who turns 55 on Thursday – his last birthday in the White House – is no different.

“I am positive that if I’m lucky enough to live to a ripe old age and I’m on my deathbed and I’m thinking back on my life, I won’t be remembering some speech I gave or some law I signed,” he mused on Wednesday. “I’ll be remembering holding hands with one of my daughters and walking them to a park. That’ll be the thing most precious to me.”

The US president was addressing a summit of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in Washington. He was greeted by chants of “Yes, we can!” – a once thrilling cry that already has a wistful ring – and a lusty chorus of Happy Birthday to You.

One member of the audience asked him about the importance of family life to political leaders. “Maintaining balance, having a strong partnership with your wife or husband, raising children who are kind and useful and strong and generous and all the things that my wonderful daughters are, that really is its own reward,” Obama said to applause.


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He added: “Politics is a little bit like going into acting or being a musician ... You can be really talented but maybe the timing is off ... Maybe you didn’t get the lucky break ... When you think about me being president of the United States, it was quite unlikely.”

His breakthrough moment in 2004 only came about because nominee John Kerry chose him to speak at the Democratic convention, Obama recalled. “I gave a pretty good speech,” he said, and the next day he was an overnight media sensation and being talked about as a future president. But, he told a friend at the time, he hadn’t “magically” become so much better than in his days as a state senator. Fate had played a part.

[Lucinda]

1. As it should be...

[sheshe2]

2. K&R!