Barack Obama: “I am honored they will be joining my administration and look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

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.

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.

They're meant to remind us of who we can be, to remind us of what's possible, so we can forge ahead.

I was a little tall for it.