Barack Obama made time during his final days as president to attend his longtime staffer’s wedding and serve as a groomsman.
Marvin Nicholson, the White House trip director and the president’s personal aide, married the love of his life on Saturday, hours after the star-studded farewell bash thrown for Mr Obama ended.
Barack Obama arrived at Jacksonville airport in time for the wedding after his party finished at 4am.
Mr Nicholson and Helen Pajcic got married in a private ceremony in Jacksonville at the One Ocean Resort and Spa.
Photographs from the occasion show the president grinning ear-to-ear next to his staffer and friend.
He also stood in the line of groomsmen during the wedding.
The event had more than one prominent US politician; Secretary of State John Kerry was the officiant.
President Obama made his farewell speech in Chicago on Tuesday evening.
He was emotional and tearful as he thanked the country and his wife for his eight years in office.
Brushing away tears with a handkerchief, Mr Obama paid tribute to the sacrifices made by his wife – and by his daughters, who were young girls when they entered the big white home on Pennsylvania Avenue and leave as young women.
He praised first lady Michelle Obama for taking on her role “with grace and grit and style and good humour” and for making the White House “a place that belongs to everybody.”
Mr Obama ended the speech by handing over power to the American people.
“It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy,” he said. “Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.”
“Ultimately, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you.”
The president concluded by saying he remained hopeful about the work that a younger generation would do. “Yes we can,” he said. “Yes we did.”
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Source: Telegraph
