Barack Obama: “An active and robust civil society is critical to open and accountable governance.”

I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is.

We designed the center not to be some lifeless mausoleum.

In forming our union, the founders fell terribly short of the Declaration's promise, leaving slavery intact, allowing states to restrict the franchise to white men who owned property.

America is currently experiencing anger and vision but we are looking for fairness and common sense and mutual respect.