(CNN) President Barack Obama is asking his Cabinet to spell out what progress they've made over the past eight years while offering incoming Republican officials their view of a path forward.

The "exit memos" released Thursday offer a view of Obama's accomplishments, but also a map of areas where President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to change course.

In a letter addressed to Americans that accompanied the memos, Obama wrote that during his first inaugural address: "I told you that day that the challenges we faced would not be met easily or in a short span of time -- but they would be met."

"After eight busy years, we've met them -- because of you," Obama wrote.

He detailed a litany of achievements, from reviving the US economy to passing Obamacare to securing diplomatic agreements on climate change and Cuba -- achievements he hopes will come to form his presidential legacy.

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