Barack Obama: “We're going to have to come together as a country to see how we can prevent these issues from taking place.”

I think when you understand the complexities of America and the contradictions of America, I don’t think it makes you love it less. I think it makes you love it more.

It fortifies you to say that, yes, this has been part of the journey that we’re on.

This idea that any suggestion or criticism that America was anything other than perfect is unpatriotic... is a suggestion that you hate your country.

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