President Obama Bids Farewell to Nation Tonight in Chicago Speech

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver what the White House describes as «a forward looking» farewell address tonight to the American people.

The speech will recap Obama’s accomplishments over the past eight years in office. It also is intended to “motivate people to want to get involved and fight for their democracy,” White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett told reporters Monday.

The address will be delivered at 9 p.m. ET at McCormick Place, the lakefront convention center in Chicago, Obama’s adopted hometown.

People brave the cold temperatures in hopes of getting a ticket to attend President Barack Obama’s farewell speech in Chicago, Jan. 7, 2017.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the speech will be shorter than a State of the Union speech, which averaged 63 minutes during Obama’s presidency.

The inauguration for President-elect Donald Trump will be held January 20, at which time he officially becomes the 45th president of the U.S.

Aides say President Obama is heavily involved in writing his farewell speech, and he may continue to refine it up to moments before he takes the stage.

Obama’s trip to Chicago is scheduled to be his last one outside Washington as president, and the final time he will fly on Air Force One.

Air Force One lands with U.S. President Barack Obama and his family at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Jan. 2, 2017.