But some of his closest aides also describe gifts that require more thought than clout.

Jon Favreau, who was Obama’s head speechwriter, says “probably the most meaningful gift was when I left the White House, he framed the first page of three of the speeches we worked on together that the two of us really enjoyed the most.”

These were not his most high-profile speeches. They were moments only Favreau and Obama shared an appreciation for.