Obama, who became President on January 20, 2009, will complete his second term on January 20, 2017.
Keen to get out of the "bubble", US President Barack Obama says he would not run for a third innings even if he could as his job, often frustrating, has taken a "toll" on his family life.
Asked "If you could run for a third term, would you?", the 54-year-old and father of two teenage girls, said, "No. I wouldn't." "Number one, Michelle wouldn't let me! You know, this is a big sacrifice, and a great privilege, but it takes a toll on family life, Obama told CBS News, looking back upon his presidency, and beyond.
Obama, who became President on January 20, 2009, will complete his second term on January 20, 2017. The US Constitution limits a president to two four-year terms. Reflecting on his presidency, Obama, the first African American to hold the office, said, "This is a process in which the office should be continually renewed by new energy and new ideas and new insights. "And although I think I am as good of a president as I have ever been right now, I also think that there comes a point where you don't have fresh legs. And you know, that's where you start making mistakes. Or that's when you start thinking that you are what's important, as opposed to the mission being more important," he said.
Obama indicated that he was craving the trappings of everyday America. "Look, the bubble is the hardest thing about the presidency. And I don't think anybody with sense ever gets used to it. It's the thing that makes me happiest about my tenure coming to an end," he said on the highly-controlled life of an American president. "When I turn over the keys to the next occupant, one thing I'm confident about, and maybe why I don't feel obliged to yearn for a third term, is I'm very confident I'll be able to say that things are a lot better now than they were when I came into office," Obama said.
"And, you know, that's a pretty good eight years' worth of work," he said, reflecting on his two innings at the White House. "It is such an extraordinary privilege to have this job," he said, adding, "Look, there are times where you get tired. There are times where you're frustrated." "Absolutely. And yet, there has not been a day that I have not walked into the Oval Office and understood that at no point in my life will I ever have the chance to do as much good and make as much of a difference in the lives of people as I do right now.
"And that's precious. And so I'm going to try to squeeze every last little bit of good work that I can while I still have the chance," the 44th US President added.
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