美国新当选总统巴拉克·奥巴马在即将上任之际，写了封感性十足的公开信给两个尚未成年的女儿，为这2年来多半时间没能陪在她们身旁致上歉意，并为自己为何选择迈向白宫之路做了番解释。
这封信发表在《大观》杂志（Parade）周末彩版增刊上。全文翻译如下：
亲爱的玛丽亚和莎莎：
我知道这2年你们俩随我一路竞选都有过不少乐子，野餐、游行、逛州博览会，吃了各种或许我和你妈不该让你们吃的垃圾食物。然而我也知道，你们俩和你妈的日子，有时候并不惬意。新来的小狗虽然令你们兴奋，却无法弥补我们不在一起的所有时光。我明白这2年我错过的太多了，今天我要再向你们说说为何我决定带领我们一家走上这趟旅程。
当我还年轻的时候，我认为生活就该绕着我转：我如何在这世上得心应手，成功立业，得到我想要的。后来，你们俩进入了我的世界，带来的种种好奇、淘气和微笑，总能填满我的心，照亮我的日子。突然之间，我为自己谱写的伟大计画显得不再那么重要了。我很快便发现，我在你们生命中看到的快乐，就是我自己生命中最大的快乐。而我也同时体认到，如果我不能确保你们此生能够拥有追求幸福和自我实现的一切机会，我自己的生命也没多大价值。总而言之，我的女儿，这就是我竞选总统的原因：我要让你们俩和这个国家的每一个孩子，都能拥有我想要给他们的东西。
我要让所有儿童都在能够发掘他们潜能的学校就读；这些学校要能挑战他们，激励他们，并灌输他们对身处的这个世界的好奇心。我要他们有机会上大学，那怕他们的父母并不富有。而且，我要他们能找到好的工作：薪酬高还附带健康保险的工作，让他们有时间陪孩子、并且能带着尊严退休的工作。
我要大家向发现的极限挑战，让你在有生之年能够看见改善我们生活、使这个行星更干净、更安全的新科技和发明。我也要大家向自己的人际界限挑战，跨越使我们看不到对方长处的种族、地域、性别和宗教樊篱。
有时候为了保护我们的国家，我们不得不把青年男女派到战场或其他危险的地方，然而当我们这么做的时候，我要确保师出有名，我们尽了全力以和平方式化解与他人的争执，也想尽了一切办法保障男女官兵的安全。我要每个孩子都明白，这些勇敢的美国人在战场上捍卫的福祉是无法平白得到的：在享有作为这个国家公民的伟大特权之际，重责大任也随之而来。
这正是我在你们这年纪时，外婆想要教我的功课，她把独立宣言开头几行念给我听，告诉我有一些男女为了争取平等挺身而出游行抗议，因为他们认为2个世纪前白纸黑字写下来的这些句子，不应只是空话。
她让我了解到，美国所以伟大，不是因为它完美，而是因为我们可以不断让它变得更好，而让它更好的未竟工作，就落在我们每个人的身上。这是我们交给孩子们的责任，每过一代，美国就更接近我们的理想。
我希望你们俩都愿接下这个工作，看到不对的事要想办法改正，努力帮助别人获得你们有过的机会。这并非只因国家给了我们一家这么多，你们也当有所回馈，虽然你们的确有这个义务，而是因为你们对自己负有义务。因为，唯有在把你的马车套在更大的东西上时，你才会明白自己真正的潜能有多大。
这些是我想要让你们得到的东西：在一个梦想不受限制、无事不能成就的世界中长大，长成具慈悲心、坚持理想，能帮忙打造这样一个世界的女性。我要每个孩子都有和你们一样的机会，去学习、梦想、成长、发展。这就是我带领我们一家展开这趟大冒险的原因。
我深以你俩为荣，你们永远不会明白我有多爱你们，在我们准备一同在白宫开始新生活之际，我没有一天不为你们的忍耐、沉稳、明理和幽默而心存感激。
爱你们的爸爸
‘What I Want for You — and Every Child in America'
By President-elect Barack Obama
Publication Date: 01/14/2009
NextTuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On thishistoric occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also adevoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for hischildren. Here, he shares his letter to them.
Dear Malia and Sasha,
Iknow that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on thecampaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eatingall sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have letyou have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you andMom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, itdoesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I'vemissed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little moreabout why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When Iwas a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make myway in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. Butthen the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity andmischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light upmy day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem soimportant anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life wasthe joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't countfor much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity forhappiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ranfor President: because of what I want for you and for every child inthis nation.
I want all our children to go to schools worthy oftheir potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instillin them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them tohave the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. AndI want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefitslike health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids andretire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries ofdiscovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventionsthat improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And Iwant us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides ofrace and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the bestin each other.
Sometimes we have to send our young men andwomen into war and other dangerous situations to protect ourcountry-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a verygood reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with otherspeacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemenand women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessingsthese brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the greatprivilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when Iwas your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration ofIndependence and telling me about the men and women who marched forequality because they believed those words put to paper two centuriesago should mean something.
She helped me understand that Americais great not because it is perfect but because it can always be madebetter-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls toeach of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closerwith each new generation to what we know America should be.
Ihope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that yousee and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just becauseyou have an obligation to give something back to this country that hasgiven our family so much-although you do have that obligation. Butbecause you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when youhitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you willrealize your true potential.
These are the things I want foryou-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and noachievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate,committed women who will help build that world. And I want every childto have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive thatyou girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this greatadventure.
I am so proud of both of you. I love you more thanyou can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience,poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together inthe White House.
Love, Dad
