On Wednesday, President Obama commuted the prison sentence of 61 drug offenders, including more than one-third who were serving life sentences. CNN reports Obama's move was to further "his push to reform what he sees as overzealous sentencing laws."

The President spent an hour on Wednesday having lunch with the former prisoners.

"By exercising these presidential powers, I have the chance to show people what a second chance can look like," Obama said after his meal.

One former prisoner sharing lunch with Obama was Phillip Emmert, who was serving a 27-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamines.

"This is an example of what we mean when we talk about second chances," Obama said.

Emmert was touched by Obama's lunch appearance.

"I told President Obama today that you never want to underestimate the power of one act of kindness," Emmert said in an interview. "It changes people's lives. When they see that people really do care about them, care about their future, care that they want to see them as a success, it changes people's lives, especially people as powerful as President Obama."

After talking with the prisoners at lunch, Obama said he was "reminded me of how out of proportion and counterproductive so much of our sentencing when it comes to our drug laws are, both at the federal level and the state level."