"The bottom line is that people around the world – regardless of their nationality – should know that the United States is not spying on ordinary people who don’t threaten our national security, and that we take their privacy concerns into account in our policies and procedures. This applies to foreign leaders, as well."

"Now let me be clear: our intelligence agencies will continue to gather information about the intentions of governments – as opposed to ordinary citizens – around the world, in the same way that the intelligence services of every other nation does. We will not apologize simply because our services may be more effective. But heads of state and government with whom we work closely, and on whose cooperation we depend, should feel confident that we are treating them as real partners. And the changes I’ve ordered do just that."

"For ultimately, what’s at stake in this debate goes far beyond a few months of headlines, or passing tensions in our foreign policy. When you cut through the noise, what’s really at stake is how we remain true to who we are in a world that is remaking itself at dizzying speed. Whether it’s the ability of individuals to communicate ideas; to access information that would have once filled every great library in every country in the world; or to forge bonds with people on the other sides of the globe, technology is remaking what is possible for individuals, and for institutions, and for the international order. So while the reforms that I have announced will point us in a new direction, I am mindful that more work will be needed in the future."

"One thing I’m certain of: this debate will make us stronger. And I also know that in this time of change, the United States of America will have to lead."

"As the nation that developed the Internet, the world expects us to ensure that the digital revolution works as a tool for individual empowerment, not government control. Having faced down the dangers of totalitarianism and fascism and communism, the world expects us to stand up for the principle that every person has the right to think and write and form relationships freely – because individual freedom is the wellspring of human progress."

On CNN, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, said he didn't hear "any lessening of the spying on Americans" but simply heard the President say "trust me" with individuals' information.

"This is something that's going to have to be decided by the Supreme Court," said Paul, who's been a strong critic of the NSA programs.

"I have no objection for having a warrant for a specific person and specific phone calls," Paul said. But he said there needs to be one warrant for each suspect, not just one warrant for a suspect and other people that person spoke with.

Sen. Rand Paul gives Obama's speech an "A" for effort and a "C" for content. "He says the right thing, I think his heart is really in the right place, and his motives are not bad...but I don't think there's enough of a healthy respect for the Fourth Amendment."

"Thank you Snowden" campaign organizers were not pleased with the speech.

"Rather than dismantling the NSA’s unconstitutional mass surveillance programs, or even substantially restraining them, President Obama today has issued his endorsement of them,” stated Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, constitutional rights attorney and executive director of the anti-surveillance organization the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.

“What are billed as ‘reforms’ are mere window dressing, cosmetic changes that leave this unconstitutional system intact and, in fact, provide presidential ratification

CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger: "What the president did today is he raised all the questions, but he didn't have a lot of the answers."

"I think it's embarrassing for a head of state like that to go on for almost 45 minutes and say almost nothing," Julian Assange says on CNN.

"The United States has become the archipelago of coercion," Assange says.

"I think Edward Snowden today would be quite happy that at least there is 45 minutes of a president speaking about these issues," Julian Assange says on CNN.

"When there's a failure of internal oversight, other people have to step into the role," says Assange, "That's what Edward Snowden has done."

Obama limits gov't access to phone data

Sen. Sanders: "I do not think the Constitution of the United States supports the belief that every call of every American... should be kept on file."

Assange: This is 'embarassing' for Obama

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