Remarks by President Biden, First Lady Biden, Former President Obama, and Former First Lady Obama at the Unveiling of the Obama White House Portraits | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Oh, well, let me thank my husband, first of all, for such spicy remarks. (Laughter.)

    PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm not running again!

    FIRST LADY OBAMA: And, of course, thank you Joe and Jill, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Thank you for inviting us back. This means so much to us.

    We were saying at lunch that the girls have lived in this house longer than they've lived anywhere. And so this, as odd of a home as this can be, as wonderful it can - as it can be - it is a - it is a special place because we raised our girls here. And it means so much to come back to friends and to be able to spend time talking about our girls.

    And so, I am grateful to both of you for the work that you're doing; the love that you're showing us, our staff; and the work that you're doing for this country. Thank you so much. (Applause.)

    And, of course, to Vice President Harris and - I love to say this - Second Gentleman Emhoff. (Laughter.) Let's say it again: Second Gentleman. You're doing a great job. (Applause.) Thank you for joining us today.

    And I can't go any further without, of course, acknowledging all of the amazing staff - friends. It's - you're more than staff. You're friends. You're family to us, particularly the people who have been a part of my team over the years.

    I don't have time to name everyone, thank goodness. But you all knew - know who you are, from the campaign, to the White House, to today. I would not be who I am without your passion and your faith, and all of the love that you poured into everything that we accomplished together. And it was amazing - historic.

    What did Sam Kass used to say?

    AUDIENCE MEMBER: Unprecedented!

    FIRST LADY OBAMA: Unprecedented. (Laughter.)

    You all mean the world to me. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart. So, thank you. Proud of you. Proud of the work that you've done. Proud of what you're doing.

    I also want to take the time to recognize the Residence staff. As Barack said, you guys made this a home. We snatched up a few of you all and took you with us. (Laughter.) But for those of you who we couldn't bring, we miss you so much. We miss you so much. The best part about this house was you all. So, it's so good to see you. And you all look good - so good. (Laughter.)

    I'd also like to recognize Stewart McLaurin; of course, John Rogers. It's been amazing working you all over the years.

    I have to recognize Bill Allman, who has been fabulous to work with over the years. (Applause.)

    And of course, Thelma Golden and my dear friend Michael Smith for their - (applause) - we are where we are because of their comprehensive and rigorous work to identify these incredible artists.

    And that brings me to our artist. Of course, Robert McCurdy, who - you know, you did a good job. (Laughter.) You did a good job.

    But I got to spend a lot of time Sharon Sprung. And Sharon now joins a small but mighty group of women who've painted an official portrait here at the White House. (Applause.)

    And I'm thrilled that this extraordinary work is going to be enshrined forever as part of our nation's history.

    But, Sharon, it was wonderful to work with you. You are a true spirit; that's one of the reasons why we connected. Your work is phenomenal, but it was your essence, your soul, the way you saw me, the way we interacted - and it shows in this beautiful work.

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    So, thank you for your brilliance, your artistry, and your patience - (applause) - in this process.

    I remember I went to see the work in Brooklyn. And poor Sharon, because no one is supposed to know who the artists are. So, her studio is her home. And so, she had this piece in her home. You couldn't have guests over. (Laughter.) You were frightened that it would get out. You just wanted it out of your space. (Laughter.) And every year, I thought about, she must be going crazy. (Laughter.)

    So, thank you. Thank you so much. Let's give them both a round of applause. (Applause.)

    Oh, believe it or not, it is still a bit odd for me to stand in this historic space, see this big, beautiful painting staring back at me. Growing up on Euclid Avenue, Mommy, I never could have imagined that any of this would be part of my story.

    But even if it's all still a bit awkward for me, I do recognize why moments like these are important, why all of this is absolutely necessary. Traditions like this matter not just for those of us who hold these positions, but for everyone participating in and watching our democracy.

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    You see, the people - they make their voices heard with their vote. We hold an inauguration to ensure a peaceful transition of power. Those of us lucky enough to serve work, as Barack said, as hard as we can for as long as we can, as long as the people choose to keep us here. And once our time is up, we move on.

    And all that remains in this hallowed place are our good efforts and these portraits - portraits that connect our history to the present day, portraits that hang here as history continues to be made.

    So, for me, this day is not just about what has happened. It's also about what could happen.

    Because a girl like me, she was never supposed to be up there next to Jacqueline Kenne- - Kennedy and Dolley Madison. She was never supposed to live in this house, and she definitely wasn't supposed to serve as First Lady.

    AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Michelle! (Applause.)

    FIRST LADY OBAMA: Love you back.

    But I've always wondered: Where does that "supposed to" come from? Who determines it?

    And too often in this country, people feel like they have to look a certain way or act a certain way to fit in, that they have to make a lot of money or come from a certain group or class or faith in order to matter.

    But what we're looking at today - a portrait of a biracial kid with an unusual name - (laughter) - and the daughter of a water pump operator and a stay-at-home mom - what we are seeing is a reminder that there's a place for everyone in this country.

    Because as Barack said, if the two of us can end up on the walls of the most famous address in the world, then, again, it is so important for every young kid who is doubting themselves to believe that they can, too.

    That is what this country is about. It's not about blood or pedigree or wealth. It's a place where everyone should have a fair shot, whether you're a kid taking two buses and a train just to get to school; or a single mother who is working two jobs to put some food on the table; or an immigrant just arriving, getting your first apartment, forging a future for yourself in a place you dreamed of.

    That's why, for me, this day isn't about me or Barack. It's not even about these beautiful paintings. It's about telling that fuller story - a story that includes every single American in every single corner of this country so that our kids and grandkids can see something more for themselves.

    And as much as some folks might want us to believe that that story has lost some of its shine, that division and discrimination and everything else might have dimmed its light, I still know deep in my heart that what we share - as my husband continues to say - is so much bigger than what we don't. Our democracy is so much stronger than our differences.

    And this little girl from the South Side is blessed beyond measure to have felt the truth of that fuller story throughout her entire life, never more so than today.

    So, thank you to President Biden, to Sharon, and to all of you today for playing a part in this day and all the days that led to it.

    And now, it is my privilege to introduce someone who is stepping in shoes and doing it well, someone who has devoted so much of her life to education, working to broaden the idea of whose story matters.

    Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my friend, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. (Applause.)

    FIRST LADY BIDEN: Thank you. Joe, honestly? Everybody stood but Joe. (Laughter and applause.)

    Thank you, Michelle, for a friendship I treasure.

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    Fourteen years ago - fourteen years ago, Michelle - on a cool night in November, a sea of people gathered in Grant Park to be a part of history. There was laughter and music and dancing.

    There were tears as friends and strangers alike held each other, overwhelmed with the joy that hope and change had been realized. The crowd roared, radiating the sense that anything we could dream was within our reach.

    But at the heart of that enormous moment was a family. Two little girls who would grow up exploring the secret halls and hideaways of the White House. A mom who would bring her whole heart to serving the American people as First Lady while still guiding and protecting her family with a ferocious devotion. A grandmother who would do absolutely anything for the family she loves and even move to Washington, D.C. (Laughter.) And a father who showed the world the meaning of "Yes, we can." (Applause.)

    For Joe and me and our entire family, standing on that stage next to you was like waking up in a new world. A place where, with hard work, anything was possible.

    And it wasn't just the Bidens. So many of you were also there. You remember how it felt. It was magic, wasn't it?

    That night, your family connected us all. And our family - the Obama-Biden team, every one of you who were "fired up and ready to go" - together we changed the course of this country forever.

    And when I look at these portraits, I see family - your family, the family we all built, and the families across America that we served together. I see love, joy, and fellowship. And we are honored to hang them today and share them with the world.

    So, thank you for being with us. And now, please join us in the State Dining Room for a reception. Thank you for being here. (Applause.)

END  •  2:31 P.M. EDT


    JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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