When President Obama visited Northeastern

On this day seven years ago, Jan. 17, 2010, President Barack Obama visited Northeastern. As the president concludes his tenure in office later this week, we take a look back at this moment when he arrived on campus.

“I want to thank Northeastern and President Aoun and his lovely wife (Zeina). Thank you so much for the hospitality,” Obama said in his remarks. During his visit, Aoun met with Obama and gave him a red Northeastern basketball jersey emblazoned with the number 44, meant to represent Obama’s tenure as the 44th U.S. president.

President Barack Obama is given a Northeastern #44 basketball jersey from Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun prior to the event at Cabot Center. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama is given a Northeastern #44 basketball jersey from Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun prior to the event at Cabot Center. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The “fired up” president also offered some praise for the city. “It’s good to be back in Boston. I love this town,” he said, recalling his time as a Harvard law student. “I spent three years here stuck in a library trying to graduate, but I still had a little fun.”

He reflected on returning in 2004 for the Democratic National Convention. “There’s something about Boston,” he said. “Folks have always been good to me.”

President Barack Obama waves to the crowd at Cabot Center. Northeastern file photo
President Barack Obama waves to the crowd at Cabot Center. Northeastern file photo

Obama, then a year into his first term as president, led a rally in Cabot Center in support of state Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic Senate candidate in a special election to fill the seat of the late Edward Kennedy. The election was two days later; Coakley lost to Republican Scott Brown.

Obama said of Kennedy: “The only thing he loved more than the people of this commonwealth was serving the people of this commonwealth.”

Watch the full video of Obama’s speech: