To Barack and Michelle Obama - America owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.

As president, I will take that work, that bipartisan work, that finding common ground, because you have to be able to get along with people to get things done in Washington.

I feel very lucky because of my parents and then my education, the opportunities that I've had, so I would like to continue working to improve lives for others.

I think what President [Barack] Obama has done is to chart a steady course. When I was there, the first four years we had a lot of cleanup to do. We inherited a lot of bad feelings from the [George W.] Bush administration, and much of what I spent my time doing was traveling around the world reassuring friends and allies.

At the end of the day, you know, love does not happen between two perfect people as much as we would wish.

In the Bible it says they asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said seventy times seven. Well, I want you all to know that I'm keeping a chart.

Knowing what to expect next gives children a sense of security.