Transcript And Analysis: Obama Addresses The Nation In Farewell Speech

Presidential farewell speeches are part of the tradition in a speeds -- peaceful transfer of power. What is the goal of these speeches. They are a way to put your President -- presidency in perspective and things that you would like to see the incoming presidency to abide by to show that we are all on the same team moving forward. Sometimes there are warnings -- Barack Obama basically democracy is failing in America and we better do something about that. We have a clip of words to that it -- affect. Politics is a battle of ideas. That is how our democracy is designed. In the course of a healthy debate we prioritize different goals and the different means of reaching them. Without some common baseline of facts, without a willingness to admit new information, and concede that your opponent might be making a fair point and that science and reason matter then we are going to keep talking past each other. We will make common ground and compromise impossible. Thad, the speech last night in Chicago was like into some of the presidents biggest campaign rallies. What did you make of the atmosphere and the speech. This was both a happy and sad occasion for his supporters and I think it was an opportunity for this president to give -- he resisted the opportunity to make this a defense of his present -- presidency had to stick with a laundry list of his accomplishments. Instead knowing that many of those accomplishments will be unwound starting next week he made this a homily about the values that he wants to see governing behavior and politics both by his successor and by his allies. It was most reminiscent of his 2004 Democratic national convention speech in which he came to power by talking about not a red America or a blue America. Here he was speaking both to his supporters and his opponents talking about ways to reach common ground and ways to, like Atticus Finch to put themselves in the shoes of others and understand what motivated Trump voters had for people to understand why there is opposition to that and it was just as effective as he was early in his career. There is no getting around the fact that many people who did not vote for Donald Trump are fearful of what the next four years will bring. Did the presidents farewell address speak to that feeling. What he said if you don't like the outcome of the election there's another one coming into and for years but you have to get organized to make it happen. One thing that is an interesting note his approval rating right now at 48% is the lowest at any president in this stage of the presidency in the last six presidents. That is not great ability to move forward dramatically. It may temper him or may become even more polarized as he works with Republicans on a minority platform which effectively they are against what a lot of Americans do not like. At me actually be counterproductive for Republicans coming up. That is Barack Obama's final take away. We did a lot and we can do more but it's up to the voters in general. It is your democracy and it's up to you what happens to it. Former presidents don't usually maintain a high profile during their successors presidency. Are there signs that we will be hearing more from Obama during the Trump presidency? He is too young and energetic to fade. He will clearly have a second act. What he was talking about -- he was not organizing the opposition. He was telling his side to get organized, but I do not think he will start this presidency by being the loyal opposition. By being the focal point for the Democratic Party -- I think others will have to take up that mantle because there needs to be another strong candidate or set of other strong candidates to emerge right now in a new generation of Democratic leadership if Obama wants to see the Trump candidacy be a one term. He did say NSS -- in essence I'm not going away I will be a citizen of the United States until I die. What you see with modern presidents they do foundation work get involved in charity and causes and they join the old presidents club. I think he will be more engaged than you have seen recent presidents particularly George W. Bush he is reading the -- leaving the presidency with my popularity and has a platform to move forward on and Michelle Obama is a national figure and if she decides to hit the twitter that could be an interesting couple of years. I've been speaking with Carl Luna and Thad cows are. Think you both very much. Thank you.