President Barack Obama speaking to an audience at a podium in front of KU signs

President Obama's Visit to KU

Speech Transcript

President Barack Obama visited the University of Kansas on January 22, 2015, for a public event at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion.

The President was introduced by KU senior Alyssa Cole, following remarks by Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. He discussed themes from his 2015 State of the Union address, including the importance of affordable higher education and child care to individual success and national prosperity.

President Obama was the fourth sitting U.S. president to visit KU and the first since William H. Taft in 1911. The other two presidents to visit KU while in office were Ulysses S. Grant in 1873 and Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879. Five additional presidents have visited KU after leaving office.

Recap Video by KU Marketing Communications

Jan. 22, 2015, was a historic day on the Hill; President Barack Obama visited the University of Kansas campus, the first sitting president to do so in more than a century.