I don't regret the fervor, because I do believe, in the African American community but also for other communities, and I know from talking to people, for communities around the world, the election of an African American to the most powerful office on Earth meant things had changed, and not just in superficial ways. That in some irreversible way the world was different.

The problem was, and we saw some of this in the immigration-reform issues as well, was they hadn't done sufficient homework to know that I didn't have all the capacity they thought I did in order to just execute this through the stroke of a pen.

It was unknowable then, but so much of the progress that would define the 20th century, on both sides of the Atlantic, came down to the battle for a slice of beach only six miles long and two miles wide.

Of course I have got concerns. Donald Trump and I differ on a whole bunch of issues.

The Iranian people are getting restive because of the challenges that sanctions have posed to their economy.

There are some exceptions: Chicago, my hometown, in particular. But overall in the country this is a much safer place than it used to be.

We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America - a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America - that values the service of every patriot.