Inspiring! Such was the night with Barack Obama

So now he sits there, in the Hallenstadion in the middle of Oerlikon, the 44th President of the United States of America, chatting out of the box: “I am currently the fourth most popular Obama behind the children and my wife – just ahead of the dog.” , he says. Nearly 10,000 visitors laugh heartily. It’s not the first time tonight. Barack Obama has Zurich under control.

Leading up to “An Evening with President Barack Obama,” the serial had labeled him a “political rock star.” More soberly, he could have been called the last American president who exuded a sense of sovereignty and security. At least here in the west. People in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia probably see things differently.

A lot has happened since the Obama presidency. The world has entered a polycrisis. And at the handle of the most powerful country in the world was an unpredictable quick beeper, and a Methuselah, who you can only hope won’t forget to hold on to the railing as he descends a flight of stairs.

“Democracy in Crisis” is one of the topics of the evening – in addition to climate change, Obama’s life as an ex-president (without anonymity), his foundation, his greatest victory (Obamacare) and his greatest defeat (the failure of gun laws). In his typical manner, he teaches with carefully chosen words; not from the pulpit, but with paternal passion. You begin to notice his age. At the age of 61, he is no longer as energetic as he was in his famous 17-minute speech at the 2004 Democratic Party convention, making him an overnight political superstar. Nowadays he speaks more slowly, one might say pleasantly slowly, and sometimes he adds longer pauses: “It’s a sign that I think before I speak,” he insists. “Unfortunately, not all politicians do that.” Laughter. Again.

One thing has remained: the audience still eats out of his hand – even if the anecdotes at the beginning of the evening are a bit too long and too detailed. This is also because moderator Klaas Heufer-Umlauf never intervenes. In the run-up to his appeal, he had raised eyebrows. But the former TV prankster has turned into a tough media professional who knows exactly where he stands. And on this night he is only cue-giver.

The mesmerized viewers learn that Obama and his team drank a few vodka martinis after his biggest win — even though he was actually abstinent during his tenure during the week. They learn that artificial intelligence can be both a curse and a blessing for democratic societies, and that after his time as a player in the political game, he has now moved on to coaching. His new task is to coach young, emerging leaders: “If only I could do it myself!”

More laughter.

Now Obama has warmed up. The length of the stories decreases, but the quality of the punch line increases. The balance between words of warning (liberal democracies battling authoritarian regimes) and the prospect of improvement (artificial intelligence could be key in the fight against cancer) is perfect. This man has an uncanny ability to make even the most complicated tangle of problems unsolvable. His findings are by no means new – or even surprising. But words have a different weight when a Barack Obama says them. Because he says it calmly, calmly – and yet fire and passion are still evident.

The spark finally flies. Of course Obama has charisma. But almost more important on this evening is this incredibly uplifting atmosphere. “Inspiring” – “inspiring” can be heard several times at the end in the corridors of the Hallenstadion. This is so at odds with the prevailing tonality that is characterized by mistrust, provocation and reproach. It’s good to know that the other side still exists: the self-deprecating and eloquent, emotionally intelligent and reflective people in power. If not as a player, then as a coach.

This knowledge alone should comfort many visitors to the fact that they have spent an average of over CHF 100 on a ticket. But they’ve seen the 44th president of the US live for an hour – and now they know once and for all: Yes, we can!