Obama farewell

Obama farewell: Where was Sasha?

First lady Michelle Obama put her arm around Malia as the President spoke Tuesday evening.

"Malia," Obama said, gesturing to his eldest daughter, "...and Sasha, under the strangest of circumstances, you have become two amazing young women."

"You are smart and you are beautiful but more importantly, you are kind and you are thoughtful -- and you are full of passion. And bore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. "

"Of all that I have done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad," he said.

Obama offers optimism -- and warnings -- in farewell address

His voice at moments catching with emotion, Obama recounted a presidency that saw setbacks as well as successes. Admitting candidly that political discourse has soured under his watch, Obama demanded that Americans renew efforts at reconciliation.

"Democracy does not require uniformity," Obama said. "Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity -- the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together; that we rise or fall as one."

Barack Obama delivers farewell address in Chicago

He said he wanted to return to "where it all started" for him and First Lady Michelle Obama, instead of delivering the speech from the White House.

The country's first black president, now 55, was first elected in 2008 on a progressive message of hope and change.

His successor, President-elect Donald Trump, has vowed to undo some of Mr Obama's signature policy achievements.

Mr Trump will be sworn into office on 20 January.