Obama in the final moments of his final press conference: "I believe in this country"

The President started his response by talking about how much he loves and respects Malia and Sasha, and how they are persevering. Somewhere during his answer, it seemed he was talking about more than his daughters; that he was talking about all of us who are moving forward in this unfamiliar and uncertain political landscape.

Then came his concluding words to this last question of his final presser:

I believe in this country. I believe in the American people. I believe that people are more good than bad. I believe tragic things happen; I think there’s evil in the world. But I think that, at the end of the day, if we work hard and if we’re true to those things in us that feel true and feel right, that the world gets a little better each time.

That’s what this presidency has tried to be about, and I see that in the young people I’ve worked with. I couldn’t be prouder of them. And so this is not just a matter of No-Drama Obama. This is what I really believe. It is true that behind closed doors I curse more than I do publicly — and sometimes I get mad and frustrated, like everybody else does.

But, at my core, I think we’re going to be okay. We just have to fight for it, we have to work for it, and not take it for granted. And I know that you will help us do that. Thank you very much, press corps. Good luck.

Mr. President, I know with certainty you are right that we have to fight and that there is hard work ahead. I just hope you are also right that we are going to be okay.

Thank you for being our president, and for helping us, for the last eight years, do way better than okay.