President Obama Cries During Speech Thanking Campaign Staff (Video)

President Barack Obama — famous for his stoic, even keel temperament — wept as he thanked the volunteers who helped guide him to a decisive victory on Tuesday night.

The address was captured on video and uploaded to the official White House YouTube channel, and is quickly gathering steam on social media.

“It’s not that you guys actually remind me of myself — it’s the fact that you are so much better than I was,” Obama tells the roomful of young staffers. “In so many ways. You’re smarter, you’re better organized and you’re more effective.”

At the three-and-a-half minute mark, tears begin to well up in the president’s eyes and stream down his face as he tells the room, “What you guys have done means that the work that I’m doing is important. And I’m really proud of that. I’m really proud of you.”

The remarks then draw applause.

 

Email: seth.abramovitch@thr.com

Twitter: @SethAbramovitch