CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News both waxed ecstatic on Friday over Michelle Obama's legacy and her final official speech as first lady. Both newscasts emphasized how she got "emotional" at the White House event. CBS's Julianna Goldman touted how Mrs. Obama "turned into the Democrat's not-so-secret weapon" during the 2016 presidential race, and spotlighted how she "used her celebrity to inspire physical fitness." NBC's Andrea Mitchell played up the first lady's "unique voice," and that she is apparently "a political orator in a class of her own." [video below]
Anchor Scott Pelley teased Goldman's CBS report by trumpeting the "emotional goodbye from the First Lady." Goldman led with two clips from Mrs. Obama's speech, and noted that the former lawyer "fought back tears today, as she offered a closing message to America's youth." She continued with a retrospective on how the First Lady "danced her way through late-night TV to tackle childhood obesity; promoted health eating on social media; and used her celebrity to inspire physical fitness."
The journalist also underlined that Mrs. Obama "didn't want her husband to run for president, and had a rude political awakening when she was criticized as angry and unpatriotic" in the wake of her well-publicized "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country" remark in 2008. After using her "Democrats' not-so-secret weapon" term for the First Lady, Goldman highlighted how Obama "delivered a blistering takedown of Donald Trump, after video showed him bragging about sexual assault." She concluded the segment by pointing out how "today, Mrs. Obama said she'll always hold on to the power of hope."
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On NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt introduced Mitchell's report by spotlighting how Mrs. Obama "made history by becoming our nation's first African American first lady. And now, eight years later, the time has come for Michelle Obama to say an emotional goodbye." The correspondent first touted that the First Lady's speech was "one of hope and empowerment for the young people she has championed for eight years....her unique voice rejecting the racial overtones of 2016." She quickly echoed Goldman by pointing out that Obama was a "once-reluctant political wife, fighting an early caricature as an angry black woman," and that she later got "personal after that Access Hollywood tape" of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential race.
Mitchelle ended her report with two video clips from Mrs. Obama's final White House speech. She also dropped her "political orator in a class of her own" line, and gushed over the "emotional farewell, with the next chapter still unwritten."
The full transcripts of Julianna Goldman's report from CBS Evening News and Andrea Mitchell's report from NBC Nightly News, which both aired on January 6, 2017:
01/06/2017
06:47 pm EST
CBS Evening NewsSCOTT PELLEY: The Obamas are hosting a star-studded goodbye party tonight; and earlier today, Michelle Obama gave her last speech as first lady.
Julianna Goldman looks at her legacy.
MICHELLE OBAMA (from White House event): May I say, for the last time officially, welcome to the White House!
JULIANNA GOLDMAN (voice-over): First Lady Michelle Obama fought back tears today, as she offered a closing message to America's youth.
OBAMA: So don't be afraid. You hear me? Young people, don't be afraid. Be focused; be determined. (clip of promotional music video featuring Mrs. Obama)
GOLDMAN: She touted her program for secondary education — one of the many initiatives she launched, as she danced her way through late-night TV to tackle childhood obesity. (clip of Mrs. Obama dancing)
OBAMA (from online video): Turnip for what?
GOLDMAN: Promoted healthy eating on social media—
OBAMA (from "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"): All right, you guys count.
GOLDMAN: And used her celebrity to inspire physical fitness.
Michelle Obama didn't want her husband to run for president, and had a rude political awakening when she was criticized as angry and unpatriotic for these comments in 2008.
OBAMA (from 2008 speech): Let me tell you something: for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country.
GOLDMAN: Seven years later, she talked openly about that criticism as the first African American first lady.
OBAMA (from college commencement address at Tuskegee University): Was I too loud or too angry or too emasculating?
GOLDMAN: But Mrs. Obama turned into the Democrats' not-so-secret weapon; and last year, delivered a blistering takedown of Donald Trump, after video showed him bragging about sexual assault.
OBAMA (from Hillary Clinton campaign event): This is not normal. This is not politics as usual. (audience cheers and applauds)
GOLDMAN: She and her husband now leave the White House to Mr. Trump.
OBAMA (from White House event): Being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life, and I hope I've made you proud.
GOLDMAN: But today, Mrs. Obama said she'll always hold on to the power of hope. Julianna Goldman, CBS News, the White House.
01/06/2017
07:26 pm EST
NBC Nightly NewsLESTER HOLT: Finally tonight, she made history by becoming our nation's first African American first lady. And now, eight years later, the time has come for Michelle Obama to say an emotional good-bye — giving one last official speech today at the White House.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell has a look at the legacy the First Lady built.
ANDREA MITCHELL (voice-over): Michelle Obama's last speech — one of hope and empowerment for the young people she has championed for eight years.
MICHELLE OBAMA (from White House event): Know that this country belongs to you, to all of you, from every background and walk of life.
MITCHELL: Her unique voice rejecting the racial overtones of 2016.
OBAMA: Our diversities of faiths and colors and creeds — that is not a threat to who we are. It makes us who we are.
MITCHELL: A once-reluctant political wife, fighting an early caricature as an angry black woman — at first, avoiding controversy.
OBAMA (from speech at 2012 Democratic National Convention): At the end of the day, my most important title is still mom in chief.
MITCHELL: Raising her girls before our eyes — opening up about the painful moments.
OBAMA (from speech at 2016 Democratic National Convention): Our motto is: when they go low, we go high.
MITCHELL: And getting personal after that Access Hollywood tape.
OBAMA (from October 13, 2016 event for Hillary Clinton campaign): The belief that you can do anything you want to a woman? It is cruel. It's — it's frightening. And the truth is, it hurts.
MITCHELL: Now, a political orator in a class of her own.
OBAMA (from White House event): I want our young people to know that they matter; that they belong. Don't be afraid — be focused; be determined; be hopeful; be empowered.
MITCHELL: An emotional farewell, with the next chapter still unwritten.
OBAMA: Being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life, and I hope I've made you proud. (audience cheers and applauds)
MITCHELL: Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.
