Four former presidents issued a message of hope for the United States’s future as it marks 250 years of independence. 

In an excerpt of an interview set to air in full on Tuesday, former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden told NBC News that while the country faces challenges, there is reason for optimism in the semiquincentennial year. They sat down for the interview during a History Talks event in Philadelphia over the weekend. The event is hosted by the History Channel and traditionally features former presidents.