Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Barack Obama

Barack Obama was the 44^th president of the United States and the first African American commander-in-chief. First elected to the presidency in 2008, he won a second term in 2012. On January 20, 2009, he was sworn in as the 44^th President of the United States. This article will reveal to you things you didn’t know about Barack Obama.

Life Of Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4, 1961. He was the son of parents of Kenya and Kansas origin and was brought up in Hawaii. He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He was the president of Harvard Law Review. After serving in the Illinois State Senate, he was elected a U.S. senator, representing Illinois in 2004. He has two daughters, Malia and Sasha, with his wife, Michelle Obama.

While studying at the University of Hawaii, Obama Sr. met fellow student Ann Dunham. On February 2, 1961, they got married and six months later, Barack II was born. However, the couple divorced two years later. In 1965, Dunham married Lolo Soetoro, a Hawaiian University student from Indonesia. They moved to Indonesia, where his half-sister was born. 

Several incidents occurred, which gave concerns to his mother regarding his education and safety so Obama was sent back to Hawaii. He grew up with an absent father. He was raised by his grandparents. Later in 1989, Obama joined the Chicago Law firm of Sidley Austin as a summer associate, where he met his wife, Michelle. Obama is a great man and saw many hardships while rising in his journey. Here are a few things you didn’t know about Barack Obama.

Also Read – Unknown Facts About Jeff Bezos, Journey Of World’s Second Richest Man.

Things You Didn’t Know About Barack Obama

1. From the tender age of 6, he lived in Jakarta, Indonesia, with his mother and stepfather. In 1971, he moved back to Hawaii and lived with his maternal grandparents.
2. He did not show a liking towards ice cream ever since his very first job at Baskin and Robbins as a teenager growing up in Hawaii.
3. After attending Occidental College for two years in Los Angeles, he transferred to Columbia University in New York, where he graduated with a degree in political science. He later attended Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was the very first African American editor of the Harvard Law Review.
4. In 1992, he married Michelle Robinson who was also a Harvard Law School graduate whom he met at a Chicago Law Firm.
5. Before becoming an Illinois state senator, he worked as a lecturer, professor, community organizer, and civil rights attorney.
6. A school in Kogelo Kenya, his father’s hometown, has been renamed: The Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School.
7. In 2008 and 2012, he was named Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’.
8. He was elected as President in 2008 and 2012 twice and served as President for two terms. He is the 44^th President of the United States and the first African American – black president.
9. He wrote his first book, ‘Dreams From My Father’, a story of race and inheritance. He received praise from Toni Morrison, a literary figure. It has been printed in over 25 languages. The audiobook version of Dreams narrated by him received a Grammy award in 2006.
10. His book, ‘Audacity of Hope’ discusses his visions for the future of America, which on releasing has hit No. 1 on both the New York Times and Amazon’s bestseller lists.
11. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts to provide health care insurance to children and protection for women seeking equal pay. He cut taxes for working families, small business owners, and first-time home buyers. He undertook a full overhaul of America’s foreign policy.
12. On April 29, 2011, Obama gave the green light to a covert operation in Pakistan to track down the Al-Qaeda leader Osama-Bin-Laden who was the mastermind behind 9/11 in hiding for years. The US Navy raided Abbottabad in Pakistan, and he was killed in 40 minutes. There were no US casualties.

Conclusion

These are a few things you didn’t know about Barack Obama. He is a great man and a man of word. He has made many remarkable contributions during his term to his nation and the world. There is yet a lot more to discover about him.  

For more related posts, visit Discover.