Everything You Need To Know About President Obama's Farewell Address

We knew this day would come but that doesn't make us feel any less sad or reflective. On Tuesday, January 10, President Obama will give his farewell address in Chicago. It's a fitting choice of location, given that Illinois is the state where Obama first launched his Senate career in 1997 and where he delivered his victory speeches in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.

The White House announced the address on Instagram, with a sweet photo of the president and first lady, alongside a moving quote:

"On Tuesday, January 10, I'll go home to Chicago to say my grateful farewell to you, even if you can't be there in person. I'm just beginning to write my remarks. But I'm thinking about them as a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey, to celebrate the ways you've changed this country for the better these past eight years, and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here...I hope you'll join me one last time. Because for me, it's always been about you." —President Obama. Get the details on his #FarewellAddress at wh.gov/Farewell.

A photo posted by The White House (@whitehouse) on Jan 2, 2017 at 7:36am PST

The address will be given at McCormick Place, a massive convention center in downtown Chicago. If you live in or near Chicago, it's worth trying to go in person — tickets are free and being offered on a first-come, first-served basis at this venue this Saturday, January 7.

If that isn't an option for you, you'll still be able to stream Obama's remarks live on the White House's official Facebook page, or at wh.gov. Although an exact time has not yet been announced, it will be sometime in the evening, so you should have plenty of time to get home from work and settle down to watch with family and friends.

Obama has already delivered his farewell address to men and women in uniform, saying, "We have to remember that as we meet the threats of our time, we cannot sacrifice our values or our way of life — the rule of law and openness and tolerance that define us as Americans."

"My days as your Commander in Chief are coming to an end. And as I reflect on the challenges we have faced together and on those to come, I believe that one of the greatest tasks before our armed forces is to retain the high confidence that the American people rightly place in you. This is a responsibility not simply for those of you in uniform, but for those who lead you. It's the responsibility of our entire nation…We have to remember that as we meet the threats of our time, we cannot sacrifice our values or our way of life—the rule of law and openness and tolerance that define us as Americans. That is our greatest strength and makes us a beacon to the world. We cannot sacrifice the very freedoms we’re fighting for." —President Obama saying farewell as Commander in Chief to America’s men and women in uniform

A photo posted by The White House (@whitehouse) on Jan 4, 2017 at 6:05pm PST

He offered his traditional "best wishes for the New Year" tweet on January 1, but this year he also took the opportunity to address his forthcoming transition from POTUS to citizen, and some of his administration's biggest accomplishments.

It’s been the privilege of my life to serve as your President. I look forward to standing with you as a citizen. Happy New Year everybody.

— President Obama (@POTUS) January 1, 2017

Whether or not you supported President Obama, he dedicated eight years of his life to serving as Commander-in-Chief, and he deserves the nation's respect this coming Tuesday.

We'll update this post with details about the timing of President Obama's farewell address when it is announced.

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