Obama meets 108-year-old grandson of slave in Indiana

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President of the United States, Barack Obama, on Wednesday (June 1) shook hands with 108-year-old Lester Townsend before a speech in Indiana.

This marked the first time that Townsend, the grandson of a slave, had met a serving president and he was clearly delighted about the audience, commenting: “The grandson of a slave, shaking the hand of the president of the United States.”

Obama also seemed impressed by the 108-year-old, replying that he hopes he looks half as good when he’s 100.

Obama is the 19th president to serve during Townsend’s lifetime and the first African American to sit in office.