Exclusive Interview: The Obamas on The Meaning of Public Service

TIME managing editor Richard Stengel spoke with the First Couple this month about service.

Brooks Kraft / Corbis for Time

The Obamas in their first sit-down interview together since the Inauguration.

The following interview took place September 1, 2009

TIME: So this is for our third annual national service issue. And that is a great thing. I remember last year we did one that was the setup for the national service summit that we did with you and Senator McCain. So it's a year later —
The President:
Which was very cool. That was a great forum.

Yes, it was terrific — and it was in your old stomping grounds.

So a lot has changed since then. The...

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