The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent.

We need scientists to design new fuels. We need farmers to help grow them. We need engineers to invent new technologies. We need entrepreneurs to sell those technologies. We need workers to operate assembly lines that hum with high-tech, zero-carbon components. We need builders to hammer into place the foundations for a clean energy age. We need diplomats and businessmen and women, and Peace Corps volunteers to help developing nations skip past the dirty phase of development and transition to sustainable sources of energy. In other words, we need you.

Torture is how you create enemies, not how you defeat them... Torture is how you get bad information, not good intelligence. Torture is how you set back America's standing in the world, not how you strengthen it.

It is my firm belief that it will be in the interests of the United States, especially our economic interests, to pursue comprehensive immigration reform.

In order for us to solve many big problems around the world, it is in our interest to work with Russia and obtain their cooperation.