Barack Obama: “Louis has served his country with distinction in uniform and in government, and his pedigree is second-to-none.”

It is a decision about how do we face and embrace this finite amount of time we have on the planet.

I think when we act on that basis, it doesn't always work out, but over time things do get better.

When we choose, when we make that decision, I do believe – and there is evidence for this – that the world gets incrementally better, and that is a worthy goal and it’s worth fighting for.

And I will fight for that, even if I don’t always think it’s going to win.