WHEN WE RETURN:
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THE PRESIDENT DISCUSSES EIGHT YEARS IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND LIFE WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> Kroft: AFTER OUR INTERVIEW IN THE STATE DINING ROOM, PRESIDENT OBAMA INVITED US TO THE OVAL OFFICE WHERE HE HAD SOME THINGS HE WANTED TO SHOW US, AND SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HIS FAMILY'S EIGHT YEARS IN THE EXECUTIVE MANSION. >> Kroft: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA MISS MOST ABOUT THIS PLACE? >> Obama: THIS WALK IS ONE OF THEM. >> Kroft: ON THE WAY, HE TOLD US THAT HIS FAMILY LIFE HAD THRIVED LIVING AND WORKING UNDER THE WHITE HOUSE ROOF, BUT THAT HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT LIFE IN WHAT HARRY TRUMAN CALLED " THE FINEST PRISON IN THE WORLD ." >> Kroft: HOW DO THEY FEEL? >> Obama: AH, THEY'RE READY TO GO. I MEAN, THE GIRLS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THEY- THEY ARE NOW OF AN AGE IN WHICH THE CONSTRAINTS OF SECRET SERVICE AND BUBBLES AND ALL THAT STUFF HAS- HAS GOTTEN PRETTY OLD. MICHELLE NEVER FULLY TOOK TO THE SCRUTINY. I MEAN, SHE'S THRIVED AS A FIRST LADY, BUT IT'S NOT HER PREFERENCE. AND SO... >> Kroft: SHE WAS THE HARDEST SELL. >> Obama: SHE WAS THE HARDEST SELL. AND SHE NEVER FULLY EMBRACED BEING IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT, WHICH IS IRONIC GIVEN HOW GOOD SHE IS. HAVING SAID THAT SHE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE-- AND I CERTAINLY FEEL-- THAT WE- WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES HERE. YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS GREW UP HERE. SOME OF OUR BEST FRIENDS HAVE BEEN- BEEN MADE HERE IN THIS PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTS FOR US, THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE- ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO DUPLICATE. SO... >> Kroft: SHE'S GLAD YOU DID IT THOUGH? >> Obama: SHE IS NOW. AHH, I THINK I'VE- I'VE SAID THIS STORY BEFORE. YOU KNOW, SHE USED TO SAY TO OUR FRIENDS, " BARACK'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF GUY I- I- I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. I JUST WISH HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT WHEN I WAS MARRIED TO HIM ." ( laughs ) SO- SO NOW THAT WE'RE... >> Kroft: BUT YOU'RE STILL ALL RIGHT? I MEAN, EVERYTHING'S OKAY? >> Obama: SO FAR, AS FAR AS I KNOW. ( laughs ) I- I BETTER CHECK LATER. YEAH. >> Kroft: YOU HAVE SAID YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A BIG VACATION. YOU'RE GOING TO WRITE YOUR BOOK. YOU'RE GOING TO WORK ON YOUR LIBRARY. YOU'RE GOING TO SET UP A FOUNDATION. I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS VERY PROFESSORIAL COMPARED TO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, LIKE THE- THE IVORY TOWER EQUIVALENT OF PUTTERING AROUND THE GARDEN. ARE YOU GONNA BE HAPPY DOING THIS? >> Obama: WELL... >> Kroft: ARE YOU... >> Obama: LOOK, I- I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET SOME SLEEP. AND DO A LITTLE PUTTERING. BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF CHANCE TO REFLECT AND ABSORB ALL THIS. I DO NOT EXPECT TO BE BEHIND A DESK A LOT. I LOOK FORWARD TO TEACHING THE OCCASIONAL CLASS, BECAUSE I- I WAS A PROFESSOR. AND I HAD FUN DOING IT. >> Kroft: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO WALL STREET, MAKE A LOT OF MONEY? >> Obama: I'M NOT GOING TO WALL STREET. THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I'LL BE INVESTING IN ISSUES IS GOING TO BE HIGH. BUT IT'LL BE NECESSARILY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. >> Kroft: ROOSEVELT'S REMEMBERED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY. EISENHOWER IS REMEMBERED FOR A SPEECH ABOUT THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO SAY ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO REMEMBER YOU FOR? >> Obama: YOU KNOW, I DON'T... I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW NOW. I THINK YOU... YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW UNTIL TEN YEARS FROM NOW. I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SAVING THE ECONOMY WAS A PRETTY BIG DEAL. WE DID A LOT OF STUFF EARLY THAT ENDED UP HAVING AN IMPACT. I- I BELIEVE THAT THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN MOVING OUR ENERGY FUTURE IN A CLEANER DIRECTION IS- IS GOING TO STICK, EVEN IF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL STEPS THAT WE TOOK ARE REVERSED BY FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS. I THINK THAT IT'S EMBEDDED ITSELF IN THE ECONOMY. AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ORGANIZE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AROUND IT IN WAYS THAT AREN'T GOING TO GO BACK. I THINK WE'VE SET THE BAR WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTION THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE. NOW I- I KNOW THAT THE INCOMING CONGRESS AND- AND ADMINISTRATION TALKS ABOUT REPEALING IT. BUT WE'VE SET A BAR THAT SHOWS THAT THIS CAN BE DONE. AND THAT- THAT CORE PRINCIPLE IS ONE THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, INCLUDING SUPPORTERS OF DONALD TRUMP, BELIEVE IN. >> Kroft: WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THIS OFFICE? WHAT'S GOING TO STICK IN YOUR MIND? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO REMEMBER FROM HERE? >> Obama: WELL, I THINK THE- THE THE NUMBER OF DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE JUST WITH YOUR ADVISORS SITTING HERE-- WE'VE HAD SOME BIG POWWOWS AROUND IS THE BANKING SYSTEM ABOUT TO COLLAPSE AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT? TO QUESTIONS OF WAR AND PEACE. SO YOU- YOU- YOU REMEMBER THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THIS ROOM. THE OBJECTS IN THIS ROOM, ONLY A FEW OF THEM I REALLY ATTACH TO. I THINK THAT I'LL- I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE BUST OF DR. KING. I THOUGHT HAVING AN AMERICAN HERE WHO REPRESENTED THAT CIVIC SPIRIT THAT GOT ME INTO THIS OFFICE WAS USEFUL. OVER THERE I'VE GOT THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM FOR THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON THAT WAS FRAMED AND GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND. YOU KNOW, I'LL REMEMBER THE VIEW OUT THIS WINDOW, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE HAD OUR... THE PLAYGROUND THAT WE PUT IN WHEN MALIA AND SASHA CAME IN. BEING ABLE EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE YOUR DAUGHTERS DURING THE SUMMER, SWINGING ON THAT SWING SET, THAT MADE THE PRESIDENCY A LITTLE BIT... A LITTLE BIT SWEETER. >> Kroft: WHEN SASHA AND MALIA OBAMA ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2009, THEY WERE AGE SEVEN AND TEN. THEIR PARENTS, FOR THE MOST PART, WERE SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING THEM OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT, EXCEPT IN THE RAREST CIRCUMSTANCES. IN THE FALL, MALIA BEGINS AT HARVARD AFTER A GAP YEAR. SASHA IS A SOPHOMORE AT HER PRIVATE SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON. THIS MONTH, THE SWING SET WAS DISMANTLED AND GIVEN AWAY. >> Kroft: YOU FEEL OLDER? >> Obama: YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. PHYSICALLY, I FEEL PROBABLY AS GOOD AS I'VE EVER FELT. AND I'VE GOT AS MUCH ENERGY AS I EVER DID. BUT WHAT YOU FEEL AFTER EIGHT YEARS, AND I THINK YOU'D FEEL THIS NO MATTER WHAT, BUT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A BIG TRANSITION, IT- IT GETS MAGNIFIED, IS TIME PASSES. YOUR KIDS GROW UP. I THINK THEY, MORE THAN ANYTHING, ARE MAKING ME FEEL AS IF, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO SQUEEZE EVERYTHING YOU GOT EVERY SINGLE DAY OUT OF THIS THING. BECAUSE IT PASSES QUICK. >> Kroft: YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE LETTING GO? >> Obama: NO. I- I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT OF THE BUBBLE. I AM GLAD THAT I'M LEAVING THIS PLACE AT A RELATIVELY YOUNG AGE, AT 55. SO I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SECOND MAYBE EVEN A THIRD ACT IN A WAY THAT I THINK WOULD BE TOUGHER IF I WERE, YOU KNOW, THE AGE OF SOME PRESIDENTS WHEN THEY LEFT. THERE'S SOME BITTERSWEET FEELINGS ABOUT LEAVING THE PEOPLE HERE. BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH ALL THE TEAM YOU ASSEMBLE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM, IT'S NOT THE SAME, YOU KNOW? THE BAND KIND OF BREAKS UP. AND- AND I THINK I'M- I'M THE BEST PRESIDENT I'VE EVER BEEN RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THE TEAM THAT IS OPERATING RIGHT NOW FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS ANY TEAM THAT I'VE HAD. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A PART OF YOU THAT THINKS, " MAN, WE'RE- WE'RE PRETTY GOOD AT THIS STUFF RIGHT NOW ." AND YOU HATE TO SEE THAT TALENT DISPERSE. >> Kroft: YOU GOING TO HAVE REUNIONS? >> Obama: WELL, NOT... I DON'T... I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, LIKE, T- SHIRTS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT STUFF. THAT SOUNDS KIND OF SAD. AND SO MY... SO MANY OF MY STAFF IS YOUNG ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AMAZING THINGS. AND I'M GOING TO BE HELPING THEM TRY TO DO THEM. SO OVERALL, THOUGH, I HAVE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS GUY RIGHT THERE, GEORGE WASHINGTON. IT'S GOOD TO GET FRESH LEGS IN HERE. I- I- I THINK THAT IT REFRESHES OUR DEMOCRACY. IT... I THINK SUSTAINING THE PACE OVER MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS- IS- IS PRETTY TOUGH. >> Kroft: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ON THE... ON THE 21ST WHEN YOU WAKE UP? I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE WHEN YOU WAKE UP, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE UP SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU'RE NOT PRESIDENT. >> Obama: WELL, HERE'S ONE THING IS I'M NOT SETTING MY ALARM. THAT I'M CERTAIN OF. THAT- THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE OF. I'M GOING TO SPEND TIME WITH MICHELLE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME CATCHING UP TO DO. WE'VE BOTH BEEN BUSY. >> Kroft: YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING YOUR OWN MONEY, RIGHT? >> Obama: ABS... WELL, YOU KNOW, THE- THE- THE TRUTH THOUGH IS IS THAT WE'VE BEEN... >> Kroft: HAVE YOU BEEN SPENDING YOUR OWN... WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU... >> Obama: I- I- I... >> Kroft: ... SPENT YOUR OWN MONEY? >> Obama: WELL, I- I WILL SAY THIS. YOU KNOW, I- I MENTIONED HOW I'VE GOT A PRETTY THICK SKIN IN THIS JOB. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE IT. ONE THING THAT DID KIND OF GET UNDER MY CRAW SOMETIMES WAS PEOPLE TALKING AS IF WHEN WE WENT ON VACATION OR... >> Kroft: RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. >> Obama: YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE'D BE LIKE, " OH, SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY ." IT'S LIKE, " NO, NO, I ACTUALLY... I'M PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS. THE ONLY THING I DON'T PAY FOR IS SECRET SERVICE AND- AND- AND AN AIRPLANE ." >> Kroft: AND COMMUNICATIONS. >> Obama: AND COMMUNICATIONS, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE BUY OUR OWN TOILET PAPER EVEN HERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> Kroft: REALLY? >> Obama: YOU KNOW, WE... IT- IT'S NOT FREE. I'M... I'VE- I'VE GOT A GROCERY BILL AT THE END OF... AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH. YOU KNOW, OUR TOOTHPASTE, OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR- OUR ORANGE JUICE-- THAT ALL GETS PAID. BUT I... IT IS TRUE THAT I DON'T CARRY MY WALLET THAT OFTEN. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME CATCHING UP TO DO IN TERMS OF HOW DAY- TO- DAY THINGS OPERATE. >> Kroft: IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR A PRESIDENT TO ISSUE AN OBSERVATION, " BEWARE OF THIS. BE WARY OF THAT ." WHAT IS THE THING THAT CONCERNS YOU MOST RIGHT NOW, LEAVING OFFICE, ABOUT THE COUNTRY? >> Obama: MAKING SURE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY STAYS HEALTHY. AND MAKING SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT SENSE OF SOLIDARITY. THE THING THAT HAS DISTURBED ME MOST ABOUT THE RUSSIAN HACKING EPISODE IS, AND THE THING THAT SURPRISED ME MOST HAS NOT BEEN THE FACT OF RUSSIAN HACKING, BECAUSE CHINESE, RUSSIANS, IRANIANS, A LOT OF... >> Kroft: THE UNITED STATES... >> Obama: THE UNITED... WELL, THE- THE CYBER WORLD IS- IS- IS FULL OF INFORMATION GATHERING, YOU KNOW, PROPAGANDA, ET CETERA. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEGREE TO WHICH IN SOME CIRCLES, YOU'VE SEEN PEOPLE SUGGEST THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS MORE CREDIBILITY THAN THE U. S. GOVERNMENT. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING NEW. AND I THINK IT'S A MEASURE OF HOW THE PARTISAN DIVIDE HAS GOTTEN SO SEVERE THAT PEOPLE FORGET WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM. WE GO INTO THE HALLWAY HERE... >> Kroft: THE PRESIDENT LED US THROUGH A SIDE DOOR FROM THE OVAL OFFICE INTO A SHORT HALLWAY AND INTO HIS SMALL PRIVATE DINING ROOM. HERE, THE MEMENTOS WERE PERSONAL, FAR LESS FORMAL. >> Kroft: ALL THIS STUFF IS COMING WITH YOU? >> Obama: ABSOLUTELY. WELL, NOT ALL OF IT. IT... I THINK... >> Kroft: HARD PACKING UP? >> Obama: I THINK THIS FAMOUS... ( laughs ) >> Kroft: THIS IS GOING TO STAY THERE, RIGHT? >> Obama: ... PAINTING OF THE PEACEMAKERS, THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY. >> Kroft: HOW MUCH STUFF ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE WITH YOU? >> Obama: NOT THAT MUCH. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE GOT... I GOT BOOKS, I GOT CLOTHES, I GOT MEMENTOS LIKE THESE THAT, YOU KNOW, I- I CHERISH. WE GOT SOME FURNITURE THAT WE PURCHASED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TRY TO USE IN THE NEW PLACE. >> Kroft: DO YOU LIKE IT, THE NEW HOUSE? >> Obama: IT'S A NICE... IT'S A NICE HOME. I MEAN... >> Kroft: YOU'VE BEEN THERE? >> Obama: YEAH. IT'LL... IT'S TEMPORARY. AND... >> Kroft: TWO YEARS? >> Obama: YEAH. BUT IT FEELS LIKE A HOME. YOU KNOW, IT'S- IT'S NOT... IT'S NOT CRAZY BIG BUT THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM FOR, YOU KNOW, A TREADMILL AND SOME- SOME WORKOUT EQUIPMENT IN THE BASEMENT. >> Kroft: THE NEXT DAY PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS BACK IN CHICAGO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN TO DELIVER HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS. >> Obama: MY FELLOW AMERICANS, IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE YOU. I WON'T STOP. IN FACT, I WILL BE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, AS A CITIZEN, FOR ALL MY REMAINING DAYS. ( applause ) THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU. ( applause ) >> Kroft: PRESIDENT OBAMA, IN ALL THE TIMES WE WERE WITH HIM, SEEMED TO SAVOR THE CHALLENGE OF AN INTERVIEW. FOR HIM, IT WAS AN INTELLECTUAL WORKOUT, SOMETHING ON PAR WITH A PICKUP BASKETBALL GAME, COMPLETE WITH A LITTLE TRASH TALK. THERE WERE NEVER ANY RESTRICTIONS ON QUESTIONS. NO TABOO TOPICS. >> Obama: I THINK ITS FAIR TO SAY, STEVE... >> Kroft: A YEAR AND HALF AGO THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY CONTENTIOUS LINE OF QUESTIONING ABOUT AMERICA'S ROLE IN SYRIA. AFTER IT, WE TOOK A SHORT BREAK FOR A FEW SIPS OF WATER. AND WHEN THE CAMERAS ROLLED AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT WAS READY FOR MORE. >> Obama: WHAT ELSE YOU GOT? >> Kroft: TONIGHT, AT LAST, WE HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS. I'M STEVE KROFT. NEXT SUNDAY HERE ON CBS-- THE A. F. C. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. AND WE'LL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS WITH A BRAND NEW EDITION OF " 60 MINUTES ."
