Barack Obama, born in Hawaii in 1961, became the 44th president of the United States in 2009. He had a difficult childhood but excelled academically, becoming the first African-American chair of the Harvard Law Review. Obama worked in the Illinois State Senate before being elected to the US Senate in 2004. He is known for his record of bipartisanship and focus on meeting the needs of working families. Obama is also an author and is currently working on a children’s book with his family, with all proceeds going to charity.
Despite his relatively short political career, Barack Obama has earned his place in the spotlight with his record of bipartisanship and focus on meeting the needs of America’s working families. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961, Barack’s parents divorced at the age of two and he was later sent to live with his mother’s parents in the Midwest. Although there have been rumors that Barack Obama was raised a Muslim, he has repeatedly stated that he had a non-religious upbringing and only became a Christian in his twenties.
Barack Obama had a difficult childhood and admits he experimented with cocaine and marijuana as a teenager in an attempt to cope with mixed feelings about his multiracial heritage. Despite his problems, however, he remained an exceptionally ambitious student. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science with a focus on international relations from Columbia University. He later received national recognition as the first African-American chair of the Harvard Law Review.
In 1992, Barack Obama married attorney Michelle Robinson. The couple met while both working at Sidley Austin LLP, a corporate law firm. They have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
In 1996, Barack Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate. During his tenure, he has worked on initiatives to benefit low-income families, increase funding for AIDS prevention, and provide affordable access to health care. He became known for his ability to work successfully with members of both the Democratic and Republican parties, avoiding the partisanship that was quite common.
In 2004, Obama was elected to the US Senate, making him the fifth African-American senator in US history. To fulfill one of his campaign promises, the first law he sponsored was the opportunity for higher education through the Pell Grant Expansion Act. Unfortunately, the bill did not go beyond the commission stage. Barack later became a member of the Senate foreign relations committees; Homeland Security and Government Affairs; health, education, work and pensions; and Veterans Affairs.
In 2009, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States with Joseph Biden as vice president. Obama also earned the distinction of being the first African American president.
Outside of his vast political achievements, Barack Obama is also the author of several books. Her 1995 memoir Dreams from My Father gives a detailed account of his early career. The Audacity of Hope, published in 2006, describes his political beliefs. He is also currently working on a children’s book with his wife and daughters, a project which will see all proceeds going to charity.
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