‘Full circle for me’: Audience members react to former President Barack Obama’s visit to Bentonville
By Chip Scarborough
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KHBS, KHOG) — It was a presidential visit that many anxiously anticipated.
Hundreds were in attendance on Monday to see former President Barack Obama in person.
“You didn’t tell me it gets this cold in Arkansas,” former President Obama said as he greeted the crowd. “Golly!”
But the cold weather didn’t keep people from making their way to the Crystal Bridges campus in Bentonville to hear from the nation’s 44th president.
“Oh, it was wonderful,” Todd Jenkins said afterward. “It was inspiring. Gave me hope for today and tomorrow.”
Former President Obama served in the White House from January 2009 to January 2017. Some of those who attended Monday’s event at Crystal Bridges are too young to remember his time in office.
“This is kind of my introduction to who he really is and you know, I hope he makes a good impression,” Sophie Steinbach said beforehand. “Not just on me, but you know, kind of Bentonville as a whole.”
Others say they remember the Obama presidency well.
“Barack Obama was the first president that I was ever able to vote for, so it’s really full circle for me to get to have this moment,” Shannon Jones said.
The former president offered this when it comes to living a life of fame.
“Anonymity is not bad,” Obama said. “The pleasures of just walking around with people or taking a drive or going into a park or whatever and nobody is paying attention to you.”
It was a presidential visit to Northwest Arkansas that those in attendance say they won’t soon forget.
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