Springfield, IL  (KTRS)  President Barack Obama is returning to Illinois’ Capitol at the twilight of his political career.

Obama’s speech on Wednesday to the Illinois General Assembly comes nine years ago to the day after he stood before the Old State Capitol in Springfield and announced his run for president.

White House aides say Obama wanted to return to the place his career started to discuss how the U.S. can “build a better politics” in which Americans aren’t so starkly divided by race, religion or political party.

It’s a goal that Obama readily concedes he has been unable to achieve during his two terms in the White House.