Barack Obama: “I think it's important to get a national security team in place because transition periods are potentially times of…”

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.

We’ve now fought a war, spent billions and billions of dollars, you know, put enormous strain on our military. A lot of people have died. And it feels like we’re back where we were before we started the war, except maybe a little bit worse…

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

No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed.