Last week, Barack Obama’s Presidential Center opened in Chicago. It was a great event which reminded everyone of the good ol’ days of the Obama presidency, and for a brief moment, we could forget our current and horrific political reality. Ahead of the opening, Barack and Michelle Obama sat down with People Magazine for a wonderful cover interview. In recent years, I’ve often thought about how much willpower they both have. They could both say so much about everything that’s happened in the past decade, but they’ve mostly kept silent. Of course, they’re not going to be asked about the grim state of politics in 2026 by People Magazine. Some highlights from People:

Michelle on how her husband feels about his presidential center: “He’s completely uncomfortable with this being about him. He was telling me, “I think there should be a little less of me here.” I was like, “Well, who should we be talking about?” He was like, “Gandhi.” This [center] is my husband’s vision from top to bottom. He made sure this is about the community, a place that our neighborhood could use and feel welcome.

Barack on how he feels about the center: “I’m very proud of what we accomplished, what our administration accomplished, but what I meant when I said that to her was I do want to make sure that people see all of the people whose shoulders we stand on. This is a group project. I think Michelle is surprised and proud that we pulled this off. She had a chance to go through the whole thing yesterday, and I could tell that it meant a lot to her.

What it means to bring his center to Chicago’s South Side: “There used to be a road that ran right through this same park. That’s how I first came to Chicago, in a janky old car with all my stuff on the back seat. You have the house where Michelle grew up, our wedding reception was less than a mile from here, you can see the hospital where our daughters were born, our first home is a 10-minute walk. I announced my first campaign in politics at the Ramada Inn on Lake Shore Drive. So much of what is precious to me is because of this community, the people who embraced some funny kid from Hawaii. They gave me a home.

Barack on Michelle: “I knew almost immediately, and looks like I made a pretty good bet, that this was a one-of-a-kind woman with the integrity and character, smarts and values to make me better. Just being with her made me better, and she still does. And that she would [give] our kids a foundation that would pay off for them — and that’s in fact what’s happened….And she grounds and anchors me. It’s worked out a’ight.

Michelle on Barack: “We are each other’s counterbalance. The truth is, I probably would have been someone who stayed more put. I think I would have had a beautiful life here, but it would have been smaller. But because of who my husband is, he offered all of us — our girls, my mom, my family — a broader sense of what’s possible in life. He made me think more broadly about what I could do with this Harvard law degree besides be a lawyer. He gave me the courage. He was my ballast. He was like, “I got you.” And however hard it’s been, the ups and downs, he’s got me.

BO on life in the White House: “Michelle wanted to make sure that it was the people’s house and as first lady helped open it up in ways that were unprecedented. But it is also very confining. I think it was Bill Clinton who called it the crown jewel of the federal penitentiary system. Because for security reasons and all kinds of other reasons, you are confined. It is the bubble inside the bubble. And frankly, I don’t miss a lot of the pomp and circumstance. I don’t miss having to wear a tie every day. What I miss is the work and the people, who worked so hard, sacrificed so much but somehow kept their sense of humor. There was a sense of camaraderie.

MO on life in the White House: “We had a fun White House. And it was our home. Our girls lived in the White House longer than they lived in any of the houses because they were so young. Fourth of July is Malia’s birthday. That whole celebration in the backyard, which we usually devoted to military families, was also her birthday party with fireworks and a yard full of people. Prom happened there, graduation parties, all the last memories of my mom [Marian Robinson], who’s no longer here.

BO on his 60s: “I mean, look, I don’t look as good as her, but I feel great.

[From People]

What a statement: “The truth is, I probably would have been someone who stayed more put.” You could tell, at the beginning of their journey in public life, that Michelle wanted to be with someone who was a present husband and father, someone who “stayed put” like her. Weirdly, she got that when Barack won the presidency. Their White House years were the most stable years of their marriage, really. You can tell that she enjoyed her time there too, while Barack still had some wanderlust. Anyway… I wish these two were still in the White House. Decency, integrity, joy.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images. Cover courtesy of People.