June 24, 2026

How the Obama Presidential Center Offers a New Vision for Presidential Legacies

Every president gets a library. Barack Obama wanted something different. The newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago is reimagining what a presidential legacy can look like, and historians say it could change the template for future presidents.

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The Obama Presidential Center is now open to the public in Chicago. Former President Obama says he does not want the center to feel like a shrine or a museum, but rather a representation of an American story still being written. Ali Rogin discusses what Obama is seeking to communicate through this new institution with Yale University historian Beverly Gage.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

Warm-Up Questions

Who was the first U.S. president to have a presidential library?
What have traditionally been the primary uses of these libraries?
When did the Obama Presidential Center open? How is it different from those of his predecessors (prior presidential libraries)?
Where is the Center? Why do you think that location was chosen?
Why do you think Obama mentioned John McCain and Mitt Romney (the Republican nominees for President he defeated in 2008 and 2012, respectively) in his speech?

Essential Questions

What role should U.S. presidents play after they leave office? Why is Obama's situation different from that of a typical outgoing president?
Do you think think the reimagining of a presidential library in the Obama Presidential Center is a good idea, or do you think something is being lost? Would you want to visit now that it has opened?
Media literacy: Watch this excerpt from Obama's speech at the opening of the Center last week and consider the following before answering a few discussion questions:

Obama mentions that the founding fathers had the foresight to "provide us with a framework that allows each generation to make our union more perfect."

Do you think our union is growing more perfect?
When was the last constitutional amendment? Is it likely there will be another one?
If you were to propose an amendment to the Constitution, what would it be?

What Students Can Do

Students can visit the Obama Presidential Center's website to learn more about the newly built campus and museum. While exploring the programming, choose the space or event you would be most eager to see on a visit to the Center. Then, put yourself in the shoes of an outgoing president and map out your own center or museum. Be sure to include:

a) a location
b) at least one community gathering space
c) the first event you would host
d) a musical artist you would invite to perform at the grand opening

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

Critical Thinking

PBS News Hour Classroom

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