Barack Obama Says There’s Only One Word to Describe Steve Jobs: Amazing

Actors, politicians and other public figures paid a special tribute to the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at the 2012 Webby Awards, where no one had to struggle to describe the visionary genius, and his legacy, in five words.

No one, except Richard Dreyfuss, the voice of the original Think Different commercial, who described himself as a “breathing metaphor” of everything Steve Jobs believed in, and stood for.

The segment was co-hosted by none other than Justin Long and John Hodgman, the actors starring in Apple’s “Mac vs. PC” TV ads.

A mashup featuring Bill Clinton, Al Gore, President Barack Obama, and other public faces, ended with Obama saying, “We only need one word to describe Steve Jobs: amazing.” The full transcript can be found below:


The Webby Awards Honor Steve Jobs

We thank you, Steve Jobs…

For making us love Apple;

For making technology into art;

For a handheld internet;

For still changing the world;

For saving lives with red;

For spreading American ingenuity worldwide;

For exploring beyond our reach—

A unique, far-reaching, irreplaceable mind;

For making the classroom fun.

Steve Jobs was insanely great.

He made turtlenecks sexy again.

A meticulous attention to detail.

Forty-three patented inventions. Check Wikipedia.

Thank you for thinking different.

Here’s to you, Steve Jobs.

Here’s to you, Steve Jobs.

Here’s to you, Steve Jobs.

Here’s to you, Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs was one of the great innovators of our time. And as his story, a story of American ingenuity, makes its way into history, from classrooms to boardrooms, future generations will marvel—just as we do—at this man, who dreamt so big and changed the way we live. The truth is, when we talk about Steve Jobs, we only need one word: amazing.