Former US President Barack Obama took to the White House podium on Wednesday to speak on the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and discussed the difficulties Democrats experienced in passing the Act. “It’s fair to say a lot of Republicans showed little interest in working with us to get things done,” he stated, drawing laughter from the audience.

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“But despite great odds, Joe and I were determined because we met too many people on the campaign trail who shared their stories. Our own families had been touched by illness,” Obama said. “As I said to our dear friend Harry Reid – who is missed, I wish he was here today because he took great pride in what we did – I intended to get healthcare passed even if it costs me reelection. Which, for while, it looked like it might.”

Obama dazzled the audience with the same affable ease for which he is known.

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He made fun of his then vice president, now serving as the president of USA, Joe Biden, for his love of aviator sunglasses and Baskin-Robbins, and expressed his joy at being back in the White House.

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“Coming back here gives me a chance to say thank you and gives me a chance to spend some time with an extraordinary friend and partner who was by my side for eight years,” Obama said. “Joe Biden and I did a lot together. We helped save the global economy, made record investments in clean energy, we put guardrails on our financial system, we helped turn the auto industry around, repealed don’t ask/don’t tell. But nothing made me prouder than providing better healthcare and protections for millions of people across this country.”