WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN) – President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address Tuesday night, laying out his agenda for what he hopes will be a busy eighth year in office.
His address struck an optimistic tone, combining an ambitious agenda with a sense of hope for the future.
“I don’t want to talk just about the next year. I want to focus on the next five years, 10 years, and beyond,” Obama said.
The President addressed some of the division in Congress and urged members to work together
“Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise,” he said.
With recent terror attacks on the minds of many Americans, the president discussed how he plans to handle the growing threat of ISIS.
“If this Congress is serious about winning this war and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, you should finally authorize the use of military force against ISIL. Take a vote.”
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley delivered the Republican response and offered a very different perspective.
“We are facing the most dangerous terrorist threat our nation has seen since September 11th, and this president appears either unwilling or unable to deal with it,” Haley said following Obama’s speech.
The path ahead for the President will not be easy — election years can be difficult ones to get things done. The President hopes Tuesday night’s speech will serve as a call to action.
“I believe in change, because I believe in you — the American people,” he said. “And that’s why I stand here as confident as I’ve ever been, that the state of our union is strong.”
