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Difference between revisions 467777 and 469125 on testwiki<!doctype html><html><head></head><body>Obama was born in 1961 in [[Honolulu|Honolulu, Hawaii]], two years after the territory was admitted to the Union as the 50th state. Raised largely in [[Hawaii]], Obama also spent one year of his childhood in [[Washington (state)|Washington State]] and four years in [[Indonesia]]. After graduating from [[Columbia University]] in 1983, he worked as a [[Community organizing|community organizer]] in [[Chicago]]. In 1988 Obama enrolled in [[Harvard Law School]], where he was the first black president of the (contracted; show full)e address]], and his landslide November election to the Senate. In 2008, Obama was nominated for president, a year after [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|his campaign began]], and after [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2008|a close primary campaign]] against [[Hillary Clinton]]. He was [[United States presidential election, 2008|elected]] over [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[John McCain]], and was [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugurated]] on January 20, 2009. <span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Nine Months" data-wikitext-offset="1764">Nine months</span> afterwards, Obama was named the [[2009 Nobel Peace Prize]] laureate.<!--See [[WP:EGG]] before attempting to hide this link!--> During his first two years in office, Obama signed many landmark bills. Main reforms were the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (often referred to as "Obamacare"), the [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act]], and the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010]]. The [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]] and [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]] served as [[Stimulus (economics)|economic stimulus]] amidst the [[Great Recession]], but the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 2010|GOP regained control of the House of Representatives]] in 2011. After a lengthy debate over the national [[United States debt ceiling|debt limit]], Obama signed the [[Budget Control Act of 2011|Budget Control]] and the [[American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012|American Taxpayer Relief Acts]]. In foreign policy<span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Foreign policy" data-wikitext-offset="2790">foreign policy</span>, Obama increased U.S. troop levels in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–14)|Afghanistan]], reduced nuclear weapons with the U.S.-[[Russia]]n [[New START]] treaty[[<span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Treaty" data-wikitext-offset="2953">treaty</span>]], and [[Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq|ended military involvement]] in the [[Iraq War]]. He ordered [[2011 military intervention in Libya|military involvement in Libya]] in opposition to [[Muammar Gaddafi]], and the military operation that resulted in the [[death of Osama bin Laden]].baz (contracted; show full) Obama was born on August 4, 1961,<ref name="biography">{{cite web |year = 2008 |title = President Barack Obama |publisher = The White House |url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama |accessdate = December 12, 2008 |deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026043047/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama |archivedate=26 October 2009 }}</ref> at [[Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children|Kapiʻolani Maternity & amp; Gynecological Hospital]] in [[Honolulu|Honolulu, Hawaii]].<ref name="birth-certificate" /><ref name="maraniss">{{cite news |author = Maraniss, David |date = August 24, 2008 |title = Though Obama had to leave to find himself, it is Hawaii that made his rise possible |newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] |page = A22 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082301620.html |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author = Nakaso, Dan |date = December 22, 2008 |title = Twin sisters, Obama on parallel paths for years |newspaper = [[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |page = B1 |url = http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Dec/22/ln/hawaii812220320.html |accessdate = January 22, 2011 }}</ref> He is the first President to have been born in Hawaii,<ref>{{cite web |author = Rudin, Ken |date = December 23, 2009 |title = Today's Junkie segment on TOTN: a political review Of 2009 |work = Talk of the Nation (Political Junkie blog) |publisher = NPR |url = http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/12/todays_junkie_segment_on_totn_5.html |accessdate = April 18, 2010 |quote = We began with the historic inauguration on January 20 – yes, the first president ever born in Hawaii }}</ref> making him the first President born outside of the [[contiguous United States|contiguous 48 states]].<ref name="BarretoO’Bryant2013">{{cite book|last1=Barreto|first1=Amílcar Antonio|last2=O’Bryant|first2=Richard L.|title=American Identity in the Age of Obama|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5VQVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT18|accessdate=8 May 2017|date=2013-11-12|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317937159|pages=18–19|chapter=Introduction}}</ref> He was born to a [[White people|white]] mother and a [[Black people|black]] father. His mother, [[Ann Dunham]] (1942–1995), was born in [[Wichita, Kansas]], of mostly [[English people|English]] descent,<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), p. 12.</ref> with some [[Germans|German]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Swiss people|Swiss]], and [[Welsh people|Welsh]] ancestry.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Smolenyak, Megan Smolenyak |date=November–December 2008 |title=The quest for Obama's Irish roots |journal=Ancestry |volume=26 |issue=6 |pages=46–47, 49 |issn=1075-475X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ITgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46 |accessdate=December 20, 2011 }} * {{cite news|author=Smolenyak, Megan |date=May 9, 2011 |title=Tracing Barack Obama's Roots to Moneygall |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/tracing-barack-obamas-roo_b_859151.html |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |accessdate=May 19, 2011 }} * {{cite news|author=Rising, David |author2=Noelting, Christoph |agency=Associated Press |date=June 4, 2009 |title=Researchers: Obama has German roots |publisher=USAToday.com |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-06-04-obama-roots_N.htm |accessdate=May 13, 2010 }} * {{cite news|last=Hutton |first=Brian |agency=Press Association of Ireland |last2=Nickerson |first2=Matthew |date=May 3, 2007 |title=For sure, Obama's South Side Irish; One of his roots traces back to small village |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |page=3 |format=paid archive |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(For%20sure)%20(%20Obama's%20South%20Side%20Irish)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(For%20sure)%20(%20Obama's%20South%20Side%20Irish)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |accessdate=November 24, 2008 }} * {{cite news|author=Jordon, Mary |date=May 13, 2007 |title=Tiny Irish village is latest place to claim Obama as its own |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A14 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html |accessdate=May 13, 2007 }} (contracted; show full) * Jacobs (2011), pp. 251–255. * Maraniss (2012), pp. 411–417.</ref> Of his early childhood, Obama recalled, "That my father looked nothing like the people around me – that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk – barely registered in my mind."<ref name="Obama 1995, 2004, pp. 9–10" /> He described his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage.<ref>{{cite news |author = Serrano, Richard A. |date = March 11, 2007 |title = Obama's peers didn't see his angst |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |page = A20 |url = http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-obamahawaii11-2007mar11,0,199085,full.story |accessdate = March 13, 2007 }} * Obama (1995, 2004), Chapters 4 and 5.</ref> In 1963, Dunham met [[Lolo Soetoro]], an [[Native Indonesian|Indonesian]] [[East–West Center]] [[graduate student]] in geography[[<span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Geography" data-wikitext-offset="14174">geography</span>]] at the [[University of Hawaii]], and the couple were married on [[Molokai]] on March 15, 1965.<ref>Scott (2011), pp. 97–103. * Maraniss (2012), pp. 195–201, 225–230.</ref> After two one-year extensions of his [[J-1 visa]], Lolo returned to [[Indonesia]] in 1966, followed sixteen months later by his wife and stepson in 1967, with the family initially living in a Menteng Dalam neighborhood in the [[Tebet, South Jakarta|Tebet]] subdistrict of [[south Jakarta]], then from 1970 in a wealthier neighb(contracted; show full) Obama returned to Honolulu in 1971 to live with his maternal grandparents, [[Madelyn Dunham|Madelyn]] and [[Stanley Armour Dunham|Stanley Dunham]]. He attended [[Punahou School]]— a private [[University-preparatory school|college preparatory school]]— with the aid of a scholarship from fifth grade until his graduation from <span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="High school" data-wikitext-offset="16419">high school</span> in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |author = Serafin, Peter |date = March 21, 2004 |title = Punahou grad stirs up Illinois politics |newspaper = [[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |url = http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/03/21/news/story4.html |accessdate = March 20, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Scott, Janny |date = March 14, 2008 |title = A free-spirited wanderer who set Obama's path |work = The New York Times |page = A1 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/us/politics/14obama.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate = November 18, 2011 }} * Obama (1995, 2004), Chapters 3 and 4. * Scott (2012), pp. 131–134. * Maraniss (2012), pp. 264–269.</ref> In his youth, Obama went by the <span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Nickname" data-wikitext-offset="17102">nickname</span> "Barry".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.newsweek.com/when-barry-became-barack-84255 |title = When Barry Became Barack |last = Wolffe |first = Richard |date = March 22, 2008 |accessdate = March 21, 2016 |work = [[Newsweek]] }}</ref> Obama lived with his mother and sister in Hawaii for three years from 1972 to 1975 while his mother was a graduate student in [[anthropology]] at the University of Hawaii.<ref>Scott (2011), pp. 139–157. (contracted; show full)t;choom gang", a self-named group of friends that spent time together and occasionally smoked marijuana.<ref>{{cite news |author = Karl, Jonathan |publisher = ABC News |date = May 25, 2012 |title = Obama and his pot-smoking "choom gang" |url = http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/obama-and-his-pot-smoking-choom-gang/ |accessdate = May 25, 2012 }} * {{cite book |first = Barack |last = Obama |year = 2004 |orig-year = 1995 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HRCHJp-V0QUC& amp;pg=PA93 |title = Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance |pages = 93–94 |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }} * {{cite book |first = David |last = Maraniss |year = 2012 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Wnna9CLtblAC&&&q=choom |title = Barack Obama: The Story |at = pages with "choom gang" |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }} * for analysis of the political impact of the quote and Obama's more recent admission that he smoked marijuana as a teenager ("When I was a kid, I inhaled"), see: * {{cite news |author = Seelye, Katharine Q. |date = October 24, 2006 |title = Obama offers more variations from the norm |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A21 |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E2DB173FF937A15753C1A9609C8B63 |accessdate = October 29, 2006 }} * {{cite news |author = Romano, Lois |date = January 3, 2007 |title = Effect of Obama's candor remains to be seen |newspaper = The Washington Post |page = A1 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201359.html |accessdate = January 14, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://video.pbs.org/video/2288869682/ |title = FRONTLINE The Choice 2012 |publisher = PBS |date = October 9, 2012 |accessdate = October 29, 2012 }}</ref> After graduating from high school in 1979, Obama moved to Los Angeles to attend [[Occidental College]]. In February 1981, Obama made his first public speech, calling for Occidental to participate in the [[disinvestment from South Africa]] in response to that nation's policy of [[apartheid]].<ref name="Occidental" /> In mid-1981, Obama traveled to Indonesia to visit his mother and half-sister Maya, and visited the families of college friends in Pakistan and India for three weeks.<ref name="Occidental" /> Later in 1981, he transferred as a junior to [[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia University]] in New York City<span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="New York City" data-wikitext-offset="21860">New York City</span>, where he majored in [[political science]] with a specialty in [[international relations]]<ref>{{cite news |author = Boss-Bicak, Shira |date = January 2005 |title = Barack Obama '83 |magazine = Columbia College Today |issn = 0572-7820 |url = http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/jan05/cover.php |accessdate = October 1, 2006 }}</ref> and in English literature<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/26/remarks-president-town-hall|title=Remarks by t(contracted; show full) [[File:BlackhawksWhiteHouse2010.jpg|thumb|Obama with [[Jonathan Toews]] and the [[Stanley Cup]] champion [[Chicago Blackhawks]] in 2010]] Besides his native English, Obama speaks some basic [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], having learned the language during his four childhood years in [[Jakarta]].<ref name="in Jakarta" /><ref name="in Jakarta2">{{cite web |title = Obama's Indonesian pleasantries: the video |url = http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1052 |author = Zimmer, Benjamin |date = January 23, 2009 |accessdate = October 7, 2012 |work = Language Log |publisher = [[University of Pennsylvania]] }}</ref> He plays <span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Basketball" data-wikitext-offset="30468">basketball</span>, a <sport he participated in as a member of his high school's varsity team;<ref>{{cite news |first = Jodi |last = Kantor |title = One Place Where Obama Goes Elbow to Elbow |date = June 1, 2007 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 28, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090401222632/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html|archivedate=April 1, 2009 |deadurl = no }} See also: {{cite news |title = The Love of the Game |format = video |date = April 15, 2008 |work = Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel |publisher = HBO |url = http://www.hbo.com/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel/episodes#/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel/episodes/0/133-april-15-2008/index.html |accessdate = October 12, 2011 }}</ref> he is left-handed.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22obama.html |title = On First Day, Obama Quickly Sets a New Tone |last = Stolberg |first = Sheryl Gay |author2 = Kirkpatrick, David D. |author3 = Shane, Scott |date = January 22, 2009 |work = The New York Times |page = 1 |accessdate = September 7, 2012 }}</ref> [[File:Barack Obama playing basketball with members of Congress and Cabinet secretaries 2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=Obama about to take a shot while three other players look at him. One of those players attempts to block Obama.|Obama taking a left-handed [[Jump shot (basketball)|jump shot]] during a pick-up game on the White House basketball court, 2009]] Obama is a supporter of the [[Chicago White Sox]], and he threw out the first pitch at the [[2005 American League Championship Series|2005 ALCS]] when he was still a senator.<ref>{{cite news |title = Barack Obama: White Sox 'serious' ball |date = August 25, 2008 |first = Mark |last = Silva |work = Chicago Tribune |url = http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/barack_obama_white_sox_serious.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829134235/http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/barack_obama_white_sox_serious.html |archivedate = August 29, 2008 }}</ref> In 2009, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the [[2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] while wearing a White Sox jacket.<ref>{{cite web |title = Barack Obama Explains White Sox Jacket, Talks Nats in All-Star Booth Visit |date = July 14, 2009 |publisher = MLB Fanhouse |url = http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/barack_obama_explains_white_sox_jacket_talks_nats_in_all_star_booth_visit/803700 |accessdate = December 6, 2009 }}</ref> He is also primarily a [[Chicago Bears]] football fan in the [[National Football League|NFL]], but in his childhood and adolescence was a [[Steeler Nation|fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers]], and rooted for them ahead of their victory in [[Super Bowl XLIII]] 12 days after he took office as President.<ref name="Steelers">{{cite news |last = Branigin |first = William |title = Steelers Win Obama's Approval |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = January 30, 2009 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012903196.html |quote = But other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that's closest to my heart. }}</ref> In 2011, Obama invited the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 Chicago Bears]] to the White House; the team had not visited the White House after their [[Super Bowl XX|Super Bowl win]] in 1986 due to the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]].<ref>{{cite web |last = Mayer |first = Larry |url = http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/85-Bears-honored-by-President-Obama-at-White-House/A3C494F7-6681-44BB-850A-61EEE18315E4 |title = 1985 Bears honored by President Obama |publisher = [[Chicago Bears]] |date = October 7, 2011 |accessdate = November 4, 2012 }}</ref> Obama lived with anthropologist [[Sheila Miyoshi Jager]] while he was a community organizer in Chicago in the 1980s.<ref name="theindependentbeforemichelle">{{cite news|last1=Hosie|first1=Rachel|title=BEFORE MICHELLE: THE STORY OF BARACK OBAMA'S PROPOSAL TO SHEILA MIYOSHI JAGER|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/before-michelle-barack-obama-sheila-miyoshi-jager-engagement-chicago-us-president-david-j-garrow-a7714771.html|accessdate=11 May 2017|work=The Independent|date=3 May 2017}}</ref> He proposed to her twice, but both Jager and her parents turned him down.<ref name="theindependentbeforemichelle"/><ref name="tobiasoberlincollegeprofessor">{{cite news|last1=Tobias|first1=Andrew J.|title=Oberlin College professor received unsuccessful marriage proposal from Barack Obama in 1980s, new biography reveals|url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/05/oberlin_college_professor_rece.html|accessdate=11 May 2017|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> The relationship was only made public in May 2017, several months after Obama's two-term presidency had ended.<ref name="tobiasoberlincollegeprofessor"/> [[File:DIG13623-230.jpg|thumb|Obama and his wife Michelle at the Civil Rights Summit at the [[LBJ Presidential Library]] in 2014]] In June 1989, Obama met [[Michelle Obama|Michelle Robinson]] when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of [[Sidley Austin]].<ref>Obama (2006), pp. 327–332. See also:{{cite news |first = Sarah |last = Brown |title = Obama '85 masters balancing act |work = The Daily Princetonian |url = http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049 |date = December 7, 2005 |accessdate = February 9, 2009 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090220165725/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049/ |archivedate = February 20, 2009 }}</ref> Assigned for three months as Obama's adviser at the firm, Robinson joined him at several group social functions, but declined his initial requests to date.<ref>Obama (2006), p. 329.</ref> They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married on October 3, 1992.<ref>{{cite news|author=Fornek, Scott |title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet' |date=October 3, 2007 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5msGZDbMO?url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261%2CCST-NWS-wedding03.stng |archivedate=January 18, 2010 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=April 28, 2008 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref> The couple's first daughter, Malia Ann, was born on July 4, 1998,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Born_on_the_4th_of_July.html |title = Born on the 4th of July |date = July 4, 2008 |accessdate = July 10, 2008 |work = Politico |author = Martin, Jonathan |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080710073536/http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Born_on_the_4th_of_July.html |archivedate = July 10, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> followed by a second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), on June 10, 2001.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), p. 440, and Obama (2006), pp. 339–340. See also:{{cite web |title = Election 2008 Information Center: Barack Obama |url = http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?cat=153 |publisher = Gannett News Service |accessdate = April 28, 2008 }}</ref> The Obama daughters attended the [[University of Chicago Laboratory Schools]]. When they moved to Washington, D.C., in January 2009, the girls started at the [[Sidwell Friends School]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/22/america/Obama-School.php |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090129194323/http://iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/22/america/Obama-School.php |title = Obamas choose private Sidwell Friends School |work = International Herald Tribune |date = November 22, 2008 |accessdate = July 2, 2015 |archivedate = January 29, 2009 }}</ref> The Obamas have two [[Portuguese Water Dog]]s; the first, a male named [[Bo (dog)|Bo]], was a gift from Senator [[Ted Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/us/politics/13obama.html |title = One Obama Search Ends With a Puppy Named Bo |work = The New York Times |date = April 13, 2009 |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |first = Helene |last = Cooper }}</ref> In August 2013, Bo was joined by [[Sunny (dog)|Sunny]], a female.<ref name=Feldmann>{{cite web |last = Feldmann |first = Linda |title = New little girl arrives at White House. Meet Sunny Obama. (+video) |url = http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2013/0820/New-little-girl-arrives-at-White-House.-Meet-Sunny-Obama.-video |work = [[The Christian Science Monitor]] |accessdate = August 20, 2013 |date = August 20, 2013 }}</ref> Applying the proceeds of a book deal, the family moved in 2005 from a [[Hyde Park, Chicago]] condominium to a $1.6 million house in neighboring [[Kenwood, Chicago]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=The first time around: Sen. Obama's freshman year |date=December 24, 2005 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama,0,1779783,full.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=April 28, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513214525/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama%2C0%2C1779783%2Cfull.story |archivedate=May 13, 2011 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> The purchase of an adjacent lot—and sale of part of it to Obama by the wife of developer, campaign donor and friend [[Tony Rezko]]—attracted media attention because of Rezko's subsequent indictment and conviction on political corruption charges that were unrelated to Obama.<ref name="corruption charges" /> In December 2007, ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'' estimated the Obama family's net worth at $1.3 million.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama's Money |date = December 7, 2007 |url = http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html |publisher = CNNMoney.com |accessdate = April 28, 2008 |first = Marlys |last = Harris |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080424113420/http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html |archivedate = April 24, 2008 |deadurl = no }}<br />See also:{{cite news |first = Zachary A |last = Goldfarb |title = Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates |date = March 24, 2007 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400305.html |work = The Washington Post |accessdate = April 28, 2008 }}</ref> Their 2009 tax return showed a household income of $5.5 million—up from about $4.2 million in 2007 and $1.6 million in 2005—mostly from sales of his books.<ref>{{cite news |first = Jeff |last = Zeleny |title = Book Sales Lifted Obamas' Income in 2007 to a Total of $4.2 Million |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/politics/17obama.html |date = April 17, 2008 |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 28, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090416015848/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/politics/17obama.html|archivedate=April 16, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/15/AR2010041504485.html |title = Obamas report $5.5 million in income on 2009 tax return |work = The Washington Post |date = April 16, 2010 |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |first1 = Michael D. |last1 = Shear |first2 = David S. |last2 = Hilzenrath }}</ref> On his 2010 income of $1.7 million, he gave 14% to non-profit organizations, including $131,000 to [[Fisher House Foundation]], a charity assisting wounded veterans' families, allowing them to reside near where the veteran is receiving medical treatments.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2011/04/how-much-did-president-obama-m.html |date = April 18, 2011 |title = How Much Did President Obama Make in 2010? |work = [[PBS NewsHour]] |first = Paul |last = Solman |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110502113725/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2011/04/how-much-did-president-obama-m.html |archive-date = May 2, 2011 |accessdate = January 27, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/the-obamas-gave-131000-to-the-fisher-house-foundation-last-year-what-is-it.html |date = April 27, 2011 |title = The Obamas Gave $131,000 to Fisher House Foundation in 2010; What Is It? |work = [[PBS NewsHour]] |first = Paul |last = Solman |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140129072652/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/the-obamas-gave-131000-to-the-fisher-house-foundation-last-year-what-is-it.html |archive-date = January 29, 2014 |accessdate = January 27, 2012 }}</ref> As per his 2012 financial disclosure, Obama may be worth as much as $10 million.<ref name="networth12">{{cite news |url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/05/obama-worth-as-much-as-10-million/1 |title = Obama worth as much as $10 million |last = Wolf |first = Richard |date = May 16, 2012 |work = [[USA Today]] |accessdate = June 16, 2012 }}</ref> In reference to Obama's smoking habit, Michelle said in early 2010 that he had quit smoking.<ref name="reuters-smoking">Elsner, Alan (December 7, 2008). [https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/12/07/us-usa-obama-smoking-idUSTRE4B61GF20081207 Obama says he won't be smoking in White House"]. Reuters. Retrieved February 28, 2010.</ref><ref>Zengerle, Patricia (February 8, 2011). [https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/08/us-obama-smoking-idUSTRE7176EL20110208 "Yes, he did: first lady says Obama quit smoking"]. Reuters. Retrieved May 9, 2011.</ref> On his 55th birthday, August 4, 2016, Obama penned an essay in [[Glamour (magazine)|''Glamour'']] describing how his daughters and being president have made him a [[feminist]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.glamour.com/story/glamour-exclusive-president-barack-obama-says-this-is-what-a-feminist-looks-like |title=Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, "This Is What a Feminist Looks Like" |work=Glamour |date=August 4, 2016 |first=Barack |last=Obama |accessdate=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/us/obama-writes-feminist-essay-in-glamour.html |title=Obama Writes Feminist Essay in Glamour |work=The New York Times |date=August 4, 2016 |first=Daniel |last=Victor |accessdate=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/08/04/president-obama-glamour-s-important-sasha-and-malias-dad-feminist/88061556/ |title=President Obama in 'Glamour': It's important Sasha and Malia's dad is a feminist |work=USA Today |date=August 4, 2016 |first=Cara |last=Kelly |accessdate=August 5, 2016}}</ref> ====Religious views==== [[File:Obamas at church on Inauguration Day 2013.jpg|thumb|The Obamas worship at [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] in Washington, D.C., January 2013]] Obama is a [[Protestant]] [[Christian]] whose religious views developed in his adult life.<ref name="Christian" /> He wrote in ''The Audacity of Hope'' that he "was not raised in a religious household". He described his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as being detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known." He described his father as a "confirmed atheist" by the time his parents met, and his stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful." Obama explained how, through working with [[black church]]es as a [[Community organizing|community organizer]] while in his twenties, he came to understand "the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change."<ref name="social change" /> In January 2008, Obama told ''[[Christianity Today]]'': "I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection of Jesus Christ]]. I believe that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life."<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Pulliam |first1 = Sarah |last2 = Olsen |first2 = Ted |url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/januaryweb-only/104-32.0.html?start=2 |title = Q&A: Barack Obama |work = Christianity Today |date = January 23, 2008 |accessdate = January 4, 2013 }}</ref> On September 27, 2010, Obama released a statement commenting on his religious views saying "I'm a Christian by choice. My family didn't – frankly, they weren't folks who went to church every week. And my mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew, but she didn't raise me in the church. So I came to my Christian faith later in life, and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead – being my brothers' and sisters' keeper, [[Golden Rule|treating others as they would treat me]]."<ref name="APbychoice">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/obama-christian-by-choice_n_742124.html?view=print |title=Obama 'Christian By Choice': President Responds To Questioner |author=Charles Babington |author2=Darlene Superville |agency=Associated Press |date=September 28, 2010 |work=The Huffington Post |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511232554/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/obama-christian-by-choice_n_742124.html?view=print |archivedate=May 11, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="ABCVideobychoice">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/president-obama-i-am-a-christian-by-choicethe-precepts-of-jesus-spoke-to-me.html|title=President Obama: 'I am a Christian By Choice...The Precepts of Jesus Spoke to Me'|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=September 29, 2010|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref> Obama met [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] pastor Rev. [[Jeremiah Wright]] in October 1987, and became a member of Trinity in 1992.<ref name="Trinity" /> He resigned from Trinity in May 2008 during his first presidential campaign after [[Jeremiah Wright controversy|some of Wright's statements were criticized]].<ref>{{cite news |agency = Associated Press |date = November 17, 2008 |title = Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized |publisher = MSNBC |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775757/ |accessdate = January 20, 2009 }}</ref> The Obama family has attended several Protestant churches since moving to Washington, D.C., in 2009, including [[Shiloh Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)|Shiloh Baptist Church]] and [[St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square|St. John's Episcopal Church]], as well as Evergreen Chapel at [[Camp David]], but are not habitual church-goers.<ref>Parker, Ashley. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/us/as-the-obamas-celebrate-christmas-rituals-of-faith-stay-on-the-sidelines.html As the Obamas Celebrate Christmas, Rituals of Faith Become Less Visible]," ''The New York Times'', December 28, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>Gilgoff, Dan. "[http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/god-and-country/2009/06/30/time-report-white-house-reaction-raise-more-questions-about-obamas-church-hunt TIME Report, White House Reaction Raise More Questions About Obama's Church Hunt]," ''U.S. News & World Report'', June 30, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>"[http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/04/22/first-lady-we-use-sundays-for-naps-if-were-not-going-to-church/ First Lady: We Use Sundays For Naps If We're Not Going To Church]," ''CBS DC'', April 22, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref> ===Law career=== ====Community organizer and Harvard Law School==== Two years after graduating from Columbia, Obama was hired in Chicago as director of the [[Developing Communities Project]], a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in [[Roseland, Chicago|Roseland]], [[West Pullman, Chicago|West Pullman]], and [[Riverdale, Chicago|Riverdale]] on Chicago's [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]]. He worked there as a community organizer from June 1985 to May 1988.<ref name="Who's Who 2008" /><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Lizza, Ryan |date=March 19, 2007 |title=The agitator: Barack Obama's unlikely political education |magazine=The New Republic |volume=236 |issue=12 |pages=22–26, 28–29 |issn=0028-6583 |url=http://www.tnr.com/article/the-agitator-barack-obamas-unlikely-political-education |accessdate=August 21, 2007 }} * {{cite news|author=Bob Secter |author2=John McCormick |date=March 30, 2007 |title=Portrait of a pragmatist |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30-archive,0,2491692,full.story |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214172131/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30-archive%2C0%2C2491692%2Cfull.story |accessdate=May 18, 2012 |archivedate=December 14, 2009 |deadurl=yes |df= }} * Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 140–295. * Mendell (2007), pp. 63–83.</ref> He helped set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in [[Altgeld Gardens Homes (Chicago, Illinois)|Altgeld Gardens]].<ref name="Harvard Law 1990a">{{cite news |author = Matchan, Linda |date = February 15, 1990 |title = A Law Review breakthrough |newspaper = The Boston Globe |page = 29 |url = http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/1990/02/15/a_law_review_breakthrough |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Corr, John |date = February 27, 1990 |title = From mean streets to hallowed halls |newspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirer |page = C01 |format = paid archive |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=PI%7CDN%7C&p_product=PHNP&p_theme=phnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PHNP&s_dispstring=Author%28John%20Corr%29%20AND%20date%2802/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&p_field_advanced-0=Author&p_text_advanced-0=%28John%20Corr%29&p_bool_advanced-1=AND&p_params_advanced-1=date:B,E&p_field_advanced-1=YMD_date&p_text_advanced-1=%2802/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990%29Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = June 6, 2008 }}</ref> Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for the [[Gamaliel Foundation]], a community organizing institute.<ref>{{cite magazine |author = Obama, Barack |date = August–September 1988 |title = Why organize? Problems and promise in the inner city |magazine = Illinois Issues |volume = 14 |issue = 8–9 |pages = 40–42 |issn = 0738-9663 }} reprinted in:<br />{{cite book |editor = Knoepfle, Peg |year = 1990 |title = After Alinsky: community organizing in Illinois |place = Springfield, IL |publisher = Sangamon State University |pages = 35–40 |isbn = 0-9620873-3-5 |quote = He has also been a consultant and instructor for the Gamaliel Foundation, an organizing institute working throughout the Midwest. }}</ref> In mid-1988, he traveled for the first time in Europe for three weeks and then for five weeks in Kenya, where he met many of his [[Family of Barack Obama#Paternal relations|paternal relatives]] for the first time.<ref name="Obama 2012">{{cite book |last = Obama |first = Auma |year = 2012 |title = And then life happens: a memoir |location = New York |publisher = St. Martin's Press |isbn = 978-1-250-01005-6 |pages = 189–208, 212–216 }}</ref><ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 299–437. * Maraniss (2012), pp. 564–570.</ref> {{external media | float = right | video1 = [http://bostonlocaltv.org/catalog/V_UDAMVZGA4JEY06N Derrick Bell threatens to leave Harvard], April 24, 1990, 11:34, [[WGBH Educational Foundation|Boston TV Digital Archive]]<ref name="wgbh">[http://bostonlocaltv.org/catalog/V_UDAMVZGA4JEY06N "Ten O'Clock News; Derrick Bell threatens to leave Harvard"], April 24, 1990, 11:34, [[WGBH Educational Foundation|WGBH]], [[American Archive of Public Broadcasting]] (WGBH and the [[Library of Congress]]), Boston and Washington, D.C., accessed September 23, 2016.</ref> Student Barack Obama introduces Professor Derrick Bell starting at 6:25 }} Obama entered [[Harvard Law School]] in the fall of 1988, living in nearby [[Somerville, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=Somerville Scout| issue=January/February 2014| page=26 |title=Something in the Water|author1=Joey Del Ponte |author2=Somerville Scout Staff}} "Barack Obama lived in the big, ivy-covered brick building at 365 Broadway ... From 1988 to 1991, the future president resided in a basement apartment while attending Harvard Law School."</ref> He was selected as an editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]'' at the end of his first year,<ref name="Harvard Law 2007">{{cite news |author = Michael Levenson |author2 = Jonathan Saltzman |date = January 28, 2007 |title = At Harvard Law, a unifying voice |newspaper = The Boston Globe |page = 1A |url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/at_harvard_law_a_unifying_voice/?page=full |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Kantor, Jodi |date = January 28, 2007 |title = In law school, Obama found political voice |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A1 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/us/politics/28obama.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Mundy, Liza |date = August 12, 2007 |title = A series of fortunate events |newspaper = The Washington Post |page = W10 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038_pf.html |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * Mendell (2007), pp. 80–92.</ref> president of the journal in his second year,<ref name="Harvard Law 1990a" /><ref name="Harvard Law 1990b">{{cite news |author = Butterfield, Fox |date = February 6, 1990 |title = First black elected to head Harvard's Law Review |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A20 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/us/first-black-elected-to-head-harvard-s-law-review.html |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Ybarra, Michael J |date = February 7, 1990 |title = Activist in Chicago now heads Harvard Law Review |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 3 |url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-02-07/news/9001110408_1_ann-dunham-chicago-housing-authority-barack-obama |accessdate = October 29, 2011 }} * {{cite news |author = Drummond, Tammerlin |date = March 12, 1990 |title = Barack Obama's law; Harvard Law Review's first black president plans a life of public service |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |page = E1 |format = paid archive |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60017156.html?dids=60017156:60017156&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite magazine |author = Evans, Gaynelle |date = March 15, 1990 |title = Opening another door: The saga of Harvard's Barack H. Obama |magazine = Black Issues in Higher Education |volume = 7 |issue = 1 |page = 5 |issn = 0742-0277 |url = http://diverseeducation.com/article/11791/ |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} * {{cite news |author = Pugh, Allison J. |agency = Associated Press |date = April 18, 1990 |title = Law Review's first black president aims to help poor |newspaper = The Miami Herald |page = C01 |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=MH%7C&p_product=MH&p_theme=realcities2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_site=miami&s_trackval=MH&s_search_type=keyword&s_dispstring=Law%20Review%27s%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor%20AND%20date%28all%29&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=%28Law%20Review%27s%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor%29Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }}</ref> and research assistant to the constitutional scholar [[Laurence Tribe]] while at Harvard for two years.<ref>{{YouTube|wzmmBZ7i4BQ}}</ref> During his summers, he returned to Chicago, where he worked as an [[Associate attorney|associate]] at the law firms of [[Sidley Austin]] in 1989 and [[Hopkins & Sutter]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news |author = Aguilar, Louis |date = July 11, 1990 |title = Survey: Law firms slow to add minority partners |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 1 (Business) |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28774085.html?dids=28774085:28774085&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }}</ref> After graduating with a [[Juris Doctor|JD]] degree ''[[magna cum laude]]''<ref name="Juris Doctor" /> from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago.<ref name="Harvard Law 2007" /> Obama's election as the [[List of African-American firsts|first black president of the ''Harvard Law Review'']] gained national media attention<ref name="Harvard Law 1990a" /><ref name="Harvard Law 1990b" /> and led to a publishing contract and advance for a book about race relations,<ref name="Scott 2008a">{{cite news |author = Scott, Janny |date = May 18, 2008 |title = The story of Obama, written by Obama |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A1 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/us/politics/18memoirs.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * Obama (1995, 2004), pp. xiii–xvii.</ref> which evolved into a personal memoir. The manuscript was published in mid-1995 as ''[[Dreams from My Father]]''.<ref name="Scott 2008a" /> ====Chicago Law School and civil rights attorney==== In 1991, Obama accepted a two-year position as Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] to work on his first book.<ref name="Scott 2008a" /><ref name="Fellow" /> He then taught [[constitutional law]] at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, first as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and then as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web |date = March 27, 2008 |title = Statement regarding Barack Obama |publisher = University of Chicago Law School |url = http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html |accessdate = June 5, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608225931/http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html |archivedate = June 8, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite web |author = Miller, Joe |date = March 28, 2008 |title = Was Barack Obama really a constitutional law professor? |publisher = FactCheck.org |url = http://factcheck.org/2008/03/obama-a-constitutional-law-professor/ |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} * {{cite web |author = Holan, Angie Drobnic |date = March 7, 2008 |title = Obama's 20 years of experience |publisher = PolitiFact.com |url = http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/mar/07/obamas-20-years-experience |accessdate = June 10, 2008 }}</ref> From April to October 1992, Obama directed Illinois's [[Project Vote]], a [[voter registration campaign]] with ten staffers and seven hundred volunteer registrars; it achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, leading ''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' to name Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.<ref name="Forty" /> He joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a 13-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an associate for three years from 1993 to 1996, then [[of counsel]] from 1996 to 2004. In 1994, he was listed as one of the lawyers in ''Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank'', 94 C 4094 (N.D. Ill.).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/FH-IL-0011-9000.pdf |title = CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:94-cv-04094 |author = United States District Court: Northern District of Illinois – CM/ECF LIVE, Ver 3.0 (Chicago) |date = July 6, 1994 |work = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }}</ref> This class action lawsuit was filed in 1994 with Selma Buycks-Roberson as lead plaintiff and alleged that Citibank Federal Savings Bank had engaged in practices forbidden under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/detail.php?id=10112 |title = Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank – Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse |publisher = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = November 25, 2015 }}</ref> The case was settled out of court.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/FH-IL-0011-0008.pdf |title = Settlement Agreement |author = UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT~·':lj FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION |date = January 16, 1988 |work = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }}</ref> Final Judgment was issued on May 13, 1998, with Citibank Federal Savings Bank agreeing to pay attorney fees.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/FH-IL-0011-0010.pdf |title = Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal |author = United States District Cuurt For the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division |date = May 13, 1998 |work = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }}</ref> His law license became inactive in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.factcheck.org/2012/06/the-obamas-law-licenses/ |title = The Obamas' Law Licenses |publisher = FactCheck.org |date = June 14, 2012 |accessdate = July 16, 2012 |author = Gore, D'Angelo }}</ref><ref name="DavisMiner" /> From 1994 to 2002, Obama served on the boards of directors of the [[Woods Fund of Chicago]], which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund the Developing Communities Project, and of the [[Joyce Foundation]].<ref name="Who's Who 2008" /> He served on the board of directors of the [[Chicago Annenberg Challenge]] from 1995 to 2002, as founding president and chairman of the board of directors from 1995 to 1999.<ref name="Who's Who 2008" /> ===Legislative career=== ====Illinois State Senator (1997–2004)==== {{Main article|Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama}} [[File:Obamamiltondavis1.jpg|thumb|right|State Senator Obama and others celebrate the naming of a street in Chicago after [[ShoreBank]] co-founder Milton Davis in 1998]] Obama was elected to the [[Illinois Senate]] in 1996, succeeding Democratic State Senator [[Alice Palmer (politician)|Alice Palmer]] from Illinois's 13th District, which, at that time, spanned Chicago South Side neighborhoods from [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]]–[[Kenwood, Chicago|Kenwood]] south to [[South Shore, Chicago|South Shore]] and west to [[Chicago Lawn, Chicago|Chicago Lawn]].<ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Jackson |author2=Ray Long |title=Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot |date=April 3, 2007 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5693903.story |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011054057/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive%2C0%2C5693903.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=May 18, 2012 |archivedate=October 11, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }} * {{cite book |author = [[Jesse White (politician)|White, Jesse]] |year = 2001 |chapter = Legislative Districts of Cook County, 1991 Reapportionment |chapterurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226221919/http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/02bluebook/legislative_branch/legdistrictmaps.pdf |title = Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002 |place = Springfield |publisher = [[Illinois Secretary of State]] |page = 65 |accessdate = July 16, 2011 }} State Sen. District 13 = State Rep. Districts 25 & 26.</ref> Once elected, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation that reformed ethics and health care laws.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=Obama Forged Political Mettle in Illinois Capitol |date=February 9, 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802262.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 20, 2008 }}{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Helman |title=In Illinois, Obama dealt with Lobbyists |date=September 23, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |work=The Boston Globe |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416235513/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |archivedate=April 16, 2008 |deadurl=no |df= }} See also:{{cite news|title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics |date=January 17, 2007 |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412223055/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |archivedate=April 12, 2008 |deadurl=no }}</ref> He sponsored a law that increased [[tax credit]]s for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.<ref name="Scott20070730">{{cite news |first = Janny |last = Scott |title = In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd |date = July 30, 2007 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 20, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210135903/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html|archivedate=December 10, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> In 2001, as co-chairman of the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Obama supported Republican Governor Ryan's [[payday loan]] regulations and [[Predatory lending|predatory mortgage lending]] regulations aimed at averting home foreclosures.<ref>{{cite news|author=Allison, Melissa |date=December 15, 2000 |title=State takes on predatory lending; Rules would halt single-premium life insurance financing |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65214450.html?dids=65214450:65214450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Business) |accessdate=June 1, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617151154/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65214450.html?dids=65214450%3A65214450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT |archivedate=June 17, 2008 |deadurl=no |df= }}{{cite news|author=Ray Long |author2=Melissa Allison |date=April 18, 2001 |title=Illinois OKs predatory loan curbs; State aims to avert home foreclosures |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/71459393.html?dids=71459393:71459393&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |accessdate=June 1, 2008 }}</ref> He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, defeating Republican Yesse Yehudah in the general election, and was reelected again in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title = 13th District: Barack Obama |accessdate = April 20, 2008 |date = August 24, 2000 |publisher = Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate = April 12, 2000 }}{{cite web |url = http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title = 13th District: Barack Obama |accessdate = April 20, 2008 |date = October 9, 2004 |publisher = Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040802233730/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate = August 2, 2004 }}</ref> In 2000, he lost a [[Illinois's 1st congressional district election, 2000|Democratic primary race]] for [[Illinois's 1st congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] to four-term incumbent [[Bobby Rush]] by a margin of two to one.<ref name="Democratic primary" /> In January 2003, Obama became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee when Democrats, after a decade in the minority, regained a majority.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jackie |last=Calmes |title=Statehouse Yields Clues to Obama |date=February 23, 2007 |url=https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |work=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918032039/http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |archivedate=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> He sponsored and led unanimous, bipartisan passage of legislation to monitor [[racial profiling]] by requiring police to record the race of drivers they detained, and legislation making Illinois the first state to mandate videotaping of homicide interrogations.<ref name="Scott20070730" /><ref>{{cite news|author=Tavella, Anne Marie |date=April 14, 2003 |title=Profiling, taping plans pass Senate |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Profiling,%20AND%20taping%20AND%20plans%20AND%20pass%20AND%20Senate&s_dispstring=Profiling,%20taping%20plans%20pass%20Senate%20AND%20date(April_4,_2003%20to%204/4/2003)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=4_April_2003%20to%204/4/2003Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |format=paid archive |work=Daily Herald |page=17 |accessdate=June 1, 2008 }}{{cite news|author=Haynes, V. Dion |date=June 29, 2003 |title=Fight racial profiling at local level, lawmaker says; U.S. guidelines get mixed review |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/352884461.html?dids=352884461:352884461&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=8 |accessdate=June 1, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617150449/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/352884461.html?dids=352884461%3A352884461&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT |archivedate=June 17, 2008 |deadurl=no |df= }}{{cite news|author=Pearson, Rick |date=July 17, 2003 |title=Taped confessions to be law; State will be 1st to pass legislation |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/370136121.html?dids=370136121:370136121&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Metro) |accessdate=June 1, 2008 }}</ref> During his 2004 general election campaign for the U.S. Senate, police representatives credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]] reforms.<ref>{{cite news |first = Sam |last = Youngman |author2 = Aaron Blake |title = Obama's Crime Votes Are Fodder for Rivals |date = March 14, 2007 |url = http://thehill.com/homenews/news/11316-obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals |work = The Hill |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} See also:{{cite news |title = US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms |date = November 12, 2007 |work = International Herald Tribune |url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607111231/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |agency = Associated Press |accessdate = May 18, 2012 |archivedate = June 7, 2008 }}</ref> Obama resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news|first=Melanie |last=Coffee |title=Attorney Chosen to Fill Obama's State Senate Seat |date=November 6, 2004 |publisher=HPKCC |url=http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm#ap |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516174431/http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm |archivedate=May 16, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> ====2004 U.S. Senate campaign==== {{Main article|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004}} [[File:2004 Illinois Senate results.svg|upright=.5|thumb|County results of the 2004 U.S. Senate race in Illinois. Obama won the counties in blue.]] In May 2002, Obama commissioned a poll to assess his prospects in a 2004 U.S. Senate race. He created a campaign committee, began raising funds, and lined up political media consultant [[David Axelrod]] by August 2002. Obama formally announced his candidacy in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |author = Helman, Scott |date = October 12, 2007 |title = Early defeat launched a rapid political climb |newspaper = [[The Boston Globe]] |page = 1A |url = http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> Obama was an early opponent of the [[George W. Bush]] administration's [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news |author = Strausberg, Chinta |date = September 26, 2002 |title = Opposition to war mounts |newspaper = Chicago Defender |page = 1 |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220062931.html |format = paid archive |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }}</ref> On October 2, 2002, the day President Bush and Congress agreed on the [[Iraq Resolution|joint resolution]] authorizing the Iraq War,<ref name="Rose Garden" /> Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago [[Protests against the Iraq War|anti-Iraq War rally]],<ref name="Federal Plaza" /> and spoke out against the war.<ref name="spoke out" /> He addressed another anti-war rally in March 2003 and told the crowd that "it's not too late" to stop the war.<ref name="stop the war" /> Decisions by Republican incumbent [[Peter Fitzgerald (politician)|Peter Fitzgerald]] and his Democratic predecessor [[Carol Moseley Braun]] to not participate in the election resulted in wide-open Democratic and Republican primary contests involving fifteen candidates.<ref>{{cite news |author = Davey, Monica |date = March 7, 2004 |title = Closely watched Illinois Senate race attracts 7 candidates in millionaire range |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090416015834/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html|archivedate=April 16, 2009 |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |page = 19 |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> In the March 2004 primary election, Obama won in an unexpected landslide—which overnight made him a rising star within the [[Democratic Party (United States)#Current structure and composition|national Democratic Party]], started speculation about a presidential future, and led to the reissue of his memoir, ''Dreams from My Father''.<ref name="future" /> In July 2004, Obama delivered the keynote address at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]],<ref>{{cite news |author = Bernstein, David |date = June 2007 |title = The Speech |magazine = Chicago Magazine |url = http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> seen by 9.1 million viewers. His speech was well received and elevated his status within the Democratic Party.<ref name="status" /> Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner [[Jack Ryan (politician)|Jack Ryan]], withdrew from the race in June 2004.<ref>{{cite news |date = June 25, 2004 |title = Ryan drops out of Senate race in Illinois |publisher = CNN |url = http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/25/il.ryan/ |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} * Mendell (2007), pp. 260–271.</ref> Six weeks later, [[Alan Keyes]] accepted the Republican nomination to replace Ryan.<ref>{{cite news |author = Lannan, Maura Kelly |agency = Associated Press |date = August 9, 2004 |title = Alan Keyes enters U.S. Senate race in Illinois against rising Democratic star |newspaper = Union-Tribune |url = http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> In the [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004|November 2004 general election]], Obama won with 70% of the vote.<ref name="margin" /> ====U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–08)==== {{Main article|United States Senate career of Barack Obama}} [[File:BarackObamaportrait.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The official portrait of Obama as a member of the United States Senate]] Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 3, 2005,<ref>{{CongBio|o000167|inline=1|date=October 12, 2011}}</ref> becoming the only Senate member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Member Info |url = http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080709114659/http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |archivedate = July 9, 2008 |publisher = Congressional Black Caucus |accessdate = June 25, 2008 }}</ref> ''[[Congressional Quarterly|CQ Weekly]]'' characterized him as a "loyal Democrat" based on analysis of all Senate votes from 2005 to 2007. Obama announced on November 13, 2008, that he would [[resignation from the United States Senate|resign his Senate seat]] on November 16, 2008, before the start of the [[lame duck (politics)|lame-duck]] session, to focus on his transition period for the presidency.<ref name="transition period" /> =====Legislation===== {{See also|List of bills sponsored by Barack Obama in the United States Senate}} Obama [[Sponsor (legislative)|cosponsored]] the [[Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act]].<ref>{{cite web |first = 109th Congress, 1st Session |last = U.S. Senate |title = S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act |date = May 12, 2005 |url = https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1033/cosponsors |publisher = Library of Congress |accessdate = February 25, 2017}}</ref> He introduced two initiatives that bore his name: Lugar–Obama, which expanded the [[Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction]] concept to conventional weapons;<ref>{{cite web |url = http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |title = Lugar–Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President |date = January 11, 2007 |publisher = Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154746/http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 }} See also:{{cite news |first = Richard G. |last = Lugar |author2 = Barack Obama |title = Junkyard Dogs of War |date = December 3, 2005 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work = The Washington Post |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> and the [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006]], which authorized the establishment of USAspending.gov, a web search engine on federal spending.<ref>{{cite news |first = John |last = McCormack |title = Google Government Gone Viral |date = December 21, 2007 |url = http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |work = Weekly Standard |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080423235240/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |archivedate = April 23, 2008 |deadurl = no }} See also:{{cite web |title = President Bush Signs Coburn–Obama Transparency Act |date = September 26, 2006 |url = http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080501233103/http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |archivedate = May 1, 2008 |publisher = Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama—along with Senators [[Tom Carper]], [[Tom Coburn]], and [[John McCain]]—introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/s3077 |title = S. 3077: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008: 2007–2008 (110th Congress) |publisher = Govtrack.us |date = June 3, 2008 |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }}</ref> Obama sponsored legislation that would have required nuclear plant owners to notify state and local authorities of radioactive leaks, but the bill failed to pass in the full Senate after being heavily modified in committee.<ref>{{cite news |last = McIntire |first = Mike |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html |title = Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate |date = February 3, 2008 |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209065950/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html|archivedate=December 9, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Regarding [[tort reform]], Obama voted for the [[Class Action Fairness Act of 2005]] and the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008|FISA Amendments Act of 2008]], which grants immunity from civil liability to telecommunications companies complicit with [[NSA warrantless surveillance (2001–07)|NSA warrantless wiretapping]] operations.<ref name="Fisher">{{cite news |url = http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/08/obama-mccain-torts-biz-beltway-cz_df_0811torts.html |title = November Election A Lawyer's Delight |author = Fisher, Daniel |work = Forbes |date = August 11, 2008 |accessdate = January 11, 2009 }}</ref> [[File:Lugar-Obama.jpg|thumb|alt=Gray-haired man and Obama stand, wearing casual polo shirts. Obama wears sunglasses and holds something slung over his right shoulder.|left|Obama and U.S. Sen. [[Richard Lugar]] (R-IN) visit a Russian facility for dismantling mobile missiles (August 2005)<ref>{{cite web |title = Nunn–Lugar Report |date = August 2005 |publisher = Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |url = http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/pdf/trip_report_2005.pdf |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080501002134/http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/pdf/trip_report_2005.pdf |archivedate = May 1, 2008 |accessdate = April 30, 2008 |format = PDF }}</ref>]] In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act, marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |title = Democratic Republic of the Congo |date = April 2006 |url = http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/drc0406.shtml |publisher = United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |accessdate = January 26, 2012 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110108193726/http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/drc0406.shtml |archivedate = January 8, 2011 }}{{cite web |title = The IRC Welcomes New U.S. Law on Congo |date = January 5, 2007 |url = http://www.theirc.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |publisher = International Rescue Committee |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110807061958/http://www.rescue.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |archivedate = August 7, 2011 }}</ref> In January 2007, Obama and Senator Feingold introduced a corporate jet provision to the [[Honest Leadership and Open Government Act]], which was signed into law in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel |date=November 15, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515201902/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |archivedate=May 15, 2008 |deadurl=no }}{{cite news|first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation |date=December 5, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416162108/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |archivedate=April 16, 2008 |deadurl=no }} See also:{{cite news|title=Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 |date=September 24, 2007 |publisher=Federal Election Commission |url=http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411220016/http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |archivedate=April 11, 2008 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> Obama also introduced two unsuccessful bills: the [[Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act]] to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections,<ref>{{cite news |first = Seth |last = Stern |title = Obama–Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation |date = January 31, 2007 |publisher = CQPolitics.com |url = https://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516104256/http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |archivedate = May 16, 2008 |deadurl = no }}{{cite web |first = 110th Congress, 1st Session |last = U.S. Senate |title = S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 |date = January 31, 2007 |url = https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/453 |publisher = Library of Congress |accessdate = February 25, 2017}} See also:{{cite news |title = Honesty in Elections |date = January 31, 2007 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work = The New York Times |format = editorial |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> and the [[Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007]].<ref>{{cite news |first = E. Kasak |last = Krystin |title = Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date = February 7, 2007 |publisher = Medill News Service |url = http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_c7147a5d-31bc-5497-abdd-a99c0cd6c189.html |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> Later in 2007, Obama sponsored an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act to add safeguards for personality-disorder military discharges.<ref>{{cite web |title = Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action |date = October 1, 2007 |url = http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |publisher = Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101205075008/http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |archivedate = December 5, 2010 }}</ref> This amendment passed the full Senate in the spring of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title = Obama, Bond Applaud Senate Passage of Amendment to Expedite the Review of Personality Disorder Discharge Cases |url = http://obama.senate.gov/press/080314-obama_bond_appl/ |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154824/http://obama.senate.gov/press/080314-obama_bond_appl/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 |date = March 14, 2008 }}</ref> He sponsored the [[Disinvestment from Iran|Iran Sanctions Enabling Act]] supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry, which has not passed committee; and co-sponsored legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.<ref name="nuclear terrorism" /> Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]], providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.<ref>{{cite web |title = Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members |date = August 2, 2007 |url = http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |publisher = Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154819/http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 }}</ref> =====Committees===== [[File:Barack Obama Iraq 2006.jpg|thumb|200px|Obama speaking with a soldier stationed in Iraq, 2006]] Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]], [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Environment and Public Works]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]] through December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |date = December 9, 2006 |title = Committee Assignments |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |publisher = Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061209190827/http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |archivedate = December 9, 2006 }}</ref> In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Gets New Committee Assignments |date = November 15, 2006 |publisher = Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |url = http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |agency = Associated Press |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154741/http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 }}</ref> He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation|European Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news |first = Tom |last = Baldwin |title = Stay-At-Home Barack Obama Comes Under Fire for a Lack of Foreign Experience |date = December 21, 2007 |url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece |work = Sunday Times (UK) |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He met with [[Mahmoud Abbas]] before Abbas became [[President of the Palestinian National Authority]], and gave a speech at the [[University of Nairobi]] in which he condemned corruption within the Kenyan government.<ref name="Kenyan" /> ==Presidential campaigns== ===2008 presidential campaign=== {{Main article|United States presidential election, 2008|Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008}} [[File:Flickr Obama Springfield 01.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph|Obama standing on stage with his wife and daughters just before announcing his presidential candidacy in [[Springfield, Illinois]], February 10, 2007]] On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Illinois)|Old State Capitol]] building in [[Springfield, Illinois]].<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210">{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,3768114.story |title=Obama: I'm running for president |work=Chicago Tribune |author=Pearson, Rick |author2=Long, Ray |date=February 10, 2007 |accessdate=September 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813115846/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story%2C0%2C3768114.story |archivedate=August 13, 2007 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref name="BBC20070210">{{cite news |title = Obama Launches Presidential Bid |date = February 10, 2007 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |publisher = BBC News |accessdate = January 14, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080202060802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |archivedate = February 2, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> The choice of the announcement site was viewed as symbolic because it was also where [[Abraham Lincoln]] delivered his historic [[Lincoln's House Divided Speech|"House Divided"]] speech in 1858.<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210" /><ref name="ChicagoTribune_Parsons20070210">{{cite news |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159132539.html |title = Obama's launch site: Symbolic Springfield: Announcement venue evokes Lincoln legacy |last = Parsons |first = Christi |date = February 10, 2007 |work = Chicago Tribune |accessdate = June 12, 2009 }}</ref> Obama emphasized issues of rapidly ending the [[Iraq War]], increasing [[Energy policy of the United States|energy independence]], and [[Health care reform in the United States|reforming the health care system]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama on the Issues: What Would Be Your Top Three Overall Priorities If Elected? |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#top-priorities |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 14, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509140350/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/ |archivedate=May 9, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }} See also: * {{cite book |author = [[Evan Thomas|Thomas, Evan]] |title = A Long Time Coming |publisher = [[PublicAffairs]] |year = 2009 |location = New York |page = 74 |isbn = 978-1-58648-607-5 }} * {{cite news|first=Michael |last=Falcone |title=Obama's 'One Thing' |date=December 21, 2007 |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/ |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 14, 2008 }}</ref> in a campaign that projected themes of hope and change.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-obama-promise-of-hope-and-change-981761.html |title = The Obama promise of hope and change |work = The Independent |location = London |date = November 1, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110515091856/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-obama-promise-of-hope-and-change-981761.html |archivedate = May 15, 2011 }}</ref> Numerous candidates entered the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2008|Democratic Party presidential primaries]]. The field narrowed to a duel between Obama and Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] after early contests, with the race remaining close throughout the primary process but with Obama gaining a steady lead in pledged [[delegate]]s due to better long-range planning, superior fundraising, dominant organizing in [[caucus]] states, and better exploitation of delegate allocation rules.<ref name="allocation" /> On June 7, 2008, Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama.<ref>{{cite news |last = Nagourney |first = Adam |first2 = Jeff |last2 = Zeleny |title = Clinton to End Bid and Endorse Obama |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html |work = The New York Times |date = June 5, 2008 |accessdate = November 20, 2010 }}</ref> [[File:President George W. Bush and Barack Obama meet in Oval Office.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Photograph|President [[George W. Bush]] meets with President-elect Obama in the [[Oval Office]] on November 10, 2008]] On August 23, Obama announced his selection of [[Delaware]] Senator [[Joe Biden]] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news |accessdate = September 20, 2008 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html |last = Nagourney |first = Adam |first2 = Jeff |last2 = Zeleny |work = The New York Times |date = August 23, 2008 |title = Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090401222653/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html|archivedate=April 1, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Obama selected Biden from a field speculated to include former Indiana Governor and Senator [[Evan Bayh]] and Virginia Governor [[Tim Kaine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-21/politics/obama.vice.president_1_obama-selection-process-joe-biden?_s=PM:POLITICS |publisher=CNN |title=Sources: High court selection process down to finalists |date=May 13, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511144848/http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-21/politics/obama.vice.president_1_obama-selection-process-joe-biden?_s=PM%3APOLITICS |archivedate=May 11, 2011 |df= }}</ref> At the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in Denver, Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her supporters to endorse Obama, and she and [[Bill Clinton]] gave convention speeches in his support.<ref name="delegates" /> Obama delivered his acceptance speech, not at the center where the Democratic National Convention was held, but at [[Invesco Field at Mile High]] to a crowd of approximately 84,000 people; the speech was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide.<ref name="npr1409">{{cite news |url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92301409 |title = Obama To Accept Nomination at Mile High Stadium |publisher = NPR |date = July 7, 2008 |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |author = Mara Liasson |author2 = Michele Norris }}</ref><ref name="acceptance" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-na-tvcritic29-2008aug29,0,3593116.story|title=Barack Obama, Al Gore Raise the Roof at Invesco Field|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Robert|last=Lloyd|date=August 29, 2008|accessdate=August 29, 2008}}</ref> During both the primary process and the general election, Obama's campaign set numerous fundraising records, particularly in the quantity of small donations.<ref name="small donations" /> On June 19, 2008, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down [[Campaign finance in the United States#Public financing of campaigns|public financing]] in the general election since the system was created in 1976.<ref name="Bloomberg_Salant_20080619">{{cite news |author = Salant, Jonathan D. |title = Obama Won't Accept Public Money in Election Campaign |url = https://article.wn.com/view/2008/06/19/Obama_Wont_Accept_Public_Money_in_Election_Campaign/ |publisher = [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |date = June 19, 2008 |accessdate = June 19, 2008}}</ref> [[File:ElectoralCollege2008.svg|right|thumb|275px|2008 electoral vote results]] John McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate, and he selected [[Sarah Palin]] as his running mate. The two candidates engaged in three [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]] in September and October 2008.<ref name="presidential debates" /> On November 4, Obama won the presidency with 365 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] to 173 received by McCain.<ref name="electoral votes" /> Obama won 52.9% of the [[Election|popular vote]] to McCain's 45.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html |title = General Election: McCain vs. Obama |accessdate = February 20, 2009 |publisher = Real Clear Politics |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090217083055/http://www.realclearpolitics.com//epolls//2008//president//us//general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html |archivedate = February 17, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref> He became the first African American to be elected president.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |title = Obama wins historic US election |publisher = BBC News |date = November 5, 2008 |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218083153/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |archivedate = December 18, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite news |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?pagewanted=all |title = Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls |first = Adam |last = Nagourney |date = November 4, 2008 |work = The New York Times |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209071842/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?pagewanted=all |archivedate = December 9, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite news |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html |title = Obama: 'This is your victory' |publisher = CNN |date = November 5, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081104231227/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html |archivedate = November 4, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Obama delivered [[Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008|his victory speech]] before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |title = Change has come, says President-elect Obama |work = The Independent |location = London |date = November 5, 2008 |last = Johnson |first = Wesley |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209055411/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |archivedate = December 9, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> ===2012 presidential campaign=== {{Main article|United States presidential election, 2012|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012}} [[File:P112912PS-0444 - President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in the Oval Office - crop.jpg|thumb|left|Obama greets former Governor [[Mitt Romney]] in the [[Oval Office]] on November 29, 2012, in their first meeting since Obama's re-election victory over Romney]] [[File:ElectoralCollege2012.svg|right|thumb|275px|2012 electoral vote results]] On April 4, 2011, Obama announced his reelection campaign for 2012 in a video titled "It Begins with Us" that he posted on his website and filed election papers with the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Begins Re-Election Facing New Political Challenges |url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/ |date = April 4, 2011 |first = Michael D. |last = Shear |work = The New York Times (blog) |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110405205656/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/ |archivedate = April 5, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama announces re-election bid |url = http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/04/Obama-announces-re-election-bid/UPI-95081301905800/?dailybrief |date = April 4, 2011 |agency = [[United Press International]] |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110510011832/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/04/Obama-announces-re-election-bid/UPI-95081301905800/?dailybrief |archivedate = May 10, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Opens 2012 Campaign, With Eye on Money and Independent Voters |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/politics/05obama.html?scp=1&sq=obama%202012&st=cse |date = April 4, 2011 |first = Jeff |last = Zeleny |work = The New York Times |first2 = Jackie |last2 = Calmes |lastauthoramp = yes |accessdate = April 5, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121115021431/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/politics/05obama.html?scp=1&sq=obama%202012&an typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Sport" data-wikitext-offset="30482">sport</span> he participated in as a member of his high school's varsity team;<ref>{{cite news |first = Jodi |last = Kantor |title = One Place Where Obama Goes Elbow to Elbow |date = June 1, 2007 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 28, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090401222632/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html|archivedate=April 1, 2009 |deadurl = no }} See also: {{cite news |title = The Love of the Game |format = video |date = April 15, 2008 |work = Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel |publisher = HBO |url = http://www.hbo.com/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel/episodes#/real-sports-with-bryant-gumbel/episodes/0/133-april-15-2008/index.html |accessdate = October 12, 2011 }}</ref> he is left-handed.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22obama.html |title = On First Day, Obama Quickly Sets a New Tone |last = Stolberg |first = Sheryl Gay |author2 = Kirkpatrick, David D. |author3 = Shane, Scott |date = January 22, 2009 |work = The New York Times |page = 1 |accessdate = September 7, 2012 }}</ref> [[File:Barack Obama playing basketball with members of Congress and Cabinet secretaries 2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=Obama about to take a shot while three other players look at him. One of those players attempts to block Obama.|Obama taking a left-handed [[Jump shot (basketball)|jump shot]] during a pick-up game on the White House basketball court, 2009]] Obama is a supporter of the [[Chicago White Sox]], and he threw out the first pitch at the [[2005 American League Championship Series|2005 ALCS]] when he was still a senator.<ref>{{cite news |title = Barack Obama: White Sox 'serious' ball |date = August 25, 2008 |first = Mark |last = Silva |work = Chicago Tribune |url = http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/barack_obama_white_sox_serious.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829134235/http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/barack_obama_white_sox_serious.html |archivedate = August 29, 2008 }}</ref> In 2009, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the [[2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] while wearing a White Sox jacket.<ref>{{cite web |title = Barack Obama Explains White Sox Jacket, Talks Nats in All-Star Booth Visit |date = July 14, 2009 |publisher = MLB Fanhouse |url = http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/barack_obama_explains_white_sox_jacket_talks_nats_in_all_star_booth_visit/803700 |accessdate = December 6, 2009 }}</ref> He is also primarily a [[Chicago Bears]] <span typeof="mw:RecommendedLink" data-target="Association football" data-wikitext-offset="33104">football</span> fan in the [[National Football League|NFL]], but in his childhood and adolescence was a [[Steeler Nation|fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers]], and rooted for them ahead of their victory in [[Super Bowl XLIII]] 12 days after he took office as President.<ref name="Steelers">{{cite news |last = Branigin |first = William |title = Steelers Win Obama's Approval |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = January 30, 2009 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012903196.html |quote = But other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that's closest to my heart. }}</ref> In 2011, Obama invited the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 Chicago Bears]] to the White House; the team had not visited the White House after their [[Super Bowl XX|Super Bowl win]] in 1986 due to the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]].<ref>{{cite web |last = Mayer |first = Larry |url = http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/85-Bears-honored-by-President-Obama-at-White-House/A3C494F7-6681-44BB-850A-61EEE18315E4 |title = 1985 Bears honored by President Obama |publisher = [[Chicago Bears]] |date = October 7, 2011 |accessdate = November 4, 2012 }}</ref> Obama lived with anthropologist [[Sheila Miyoshi Jager]] while he was a community organizer in Chicago in the 1980s.<ref name="theindependentbeforemichelle">{{cite news|last1=Hosie|first1=Rachel|title=BEFORE MICHELLE: THE STORY OF BARACK OBAMA'S PROPOSAL TO SHEILA MIYOSHI JAGER|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/before-michelle-barack-obama-sheila-miyoshi-jager-engagement-chicago-us-president-david-j-garrow-a7714771.html|accessdate=11 May 2017|work=The Independent|date=3 May 2017}}</ref> He proposed to her twice, but both Jager and her parents turned him down.<ref name="theindependentbeforemichelle"><ref name="tobiasoberlincollegeprofessor">{{cite news|last1=Tobias|first1=Andrew J.|title=Oberlin College professor received unsuccessful marriage proposal from Barack Obama in 1980s, new biography reveals|url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/05/oberlin_college_professor_rece.html|accessdate=11 May 2017|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> The relationship was only made public in May 2017, several months after Obama's two-term presidency had ended.<ref name="tobiasoberlincollegeprofessor"> [[File:DIG13623-230.jpg|thumb|Obama and his wife Michelle at the Civil Rights Summit at the [[LBJ Presidential Library]] in 2014]] In June 1989, Obama met [[Michelle Obama|Michelle Robinson]] when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of [[Sidley Austin]].<ref>Obama (2006), pp. 327–332. See also:{{cite news |first = Sarah |last = Brown |title = Obama '85 masters balancing act |work = The Daily Princetonian |url = http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049 |date = December 7, 2005 |accessdate = February 9, 2009 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090220165725/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049/ |archivedate = February 20, 2009 }}</ref> Assigned for three months as Obama's adviser at the firm, Robinson joined him at several group social functions, but declined his initial requests to date.<ref>Obama (2006), p. 329.</ref> They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married on October 3, 1992.<ref>{{cite news|author=Fornek, Scott |title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet' |date=October 3, 2007 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5msGZDbMO?url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261%2CCST-NWS-wedding03.stng |archivedate=January 18, 2010 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=April 28, 2008 |deadurl=no |df=mdy }}</ref> The couple's first daughter, Malia Ann, was born on July 4, 1998,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Born_on_the_4th_of_July.html |title = Born on the 4th of July |date = July 4, 2008 |accessdate = July 10, 2008 |work = Politico |author = Martin, Jonathan |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080710073536/http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Born_on_the_4th_of_July.html |archivedate = July 10, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> followed by a second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), on June 10, 2001.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), p. 440, and Obama (2006), pp. 339–340. See also:{{cite web |title = Election 2008 Information Center: Barack Obama |url = http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?cat=153 |publisher = Gannett News Service |accessdate = April 28, 2008 }}</ref> The Obama daughters attended the [[University of Chicago Laboratory Schools]]. When they moved to Washington, D.C., in January 2009, the girls started at the [[Sidwell Friends School]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/22/america/Obama-School.php |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090129194323/http://iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/22/america/Obama-School.php |title = Obamas choose private Sidwell Friends School |work = International Herald Tribune |date = November 22, 2008 |accessdate = July 2, 2015 |archivedate = January 29, 2009 }}</ref> The Obamas have two [[Portuguese Water Dog]]s; the first, a male named [[Bo (dog)|Bo]], was a gift from Senator [[Ted Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/us/politics/13obama.html |title = One Obama Search Ends With a Puppy Named Bo |work = The New York Times |date = April 13, 2009 |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |first = Helene |last = Cooper }}</ref> In August 2013, Bo was joined by [[Sunny (dog)|Sunny]], a female.<ref name="Feldmann">{{cite web |last = Feldmann |first = Linda |title = New little girl arrives at White House. Meet Sunny Obama. (+video) |url = http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2013/0820/New-little-girl-arrives-at-White-House.-Meet-Sunny-Obama.-video |work = [[The Christian Science Monitor]] |accessdate = August 20, 2013 |date = August 20, 2013 }}</ref> Applying the proceeds of a book deal, the family moved in 2005 from a [[Hyde Park, Chicago]] condominium to a $1.6 million house in neighboring [[Kenwood, Chicago]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=The first time around: Sen. Obama's freshman year |date=December 24, 2005 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama,0,1779783,full.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=April 28, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513214525/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama%2C0%2C1779783%2Cfull.story |archivedate=May 13, 2011 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> The purchase of an adjacent lot—and sale of part of it to Obama by the wife of developer, campaign donor and friend [[Tony Rezko]]—attracted media attention because of Rezko's subsequent indictment and conviction on political corruption charges that were unrelated to Obama.<ref name="corruption charges"> In December 2007, ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'' estimated the Obama family's net worth at $1.3 million.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama's Money |date = December 7, 2007 |url = http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html |publisher = CNNMoney.com |accessdate = April 28, 2008 |first = Marlys |last = Harris |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080424113420/http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html |archivedate = April 24, 2008 |deadurl = no }}<br>See also:{{cite news |first = Zachary A |last = Goldfarb |title = Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates |date = March 24, 2007 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400305.html |work = The Washington Post |accessdate = April 28, 2008 }}</ref> Their 2009 tax return showed a household income of $5.5 million—up from about $4.2 million in 2007 and $1.6 million in 2005—mostly from sales of his books.<ref>{{cite news |first = Jeff |last = Zeleny |title = Book Sales Lifted Obamas' Income in 2007 to a Total of $4.2 Million |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/politics/17obama.html |date = April 17, 2008 |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 28, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090416015848/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/politics/17obama.html|archivedate=April 16, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/15/AR2010041504485.html |title = Obamas report $5.5 million in income on 2009 tax return |work = The Washington Post |date = April 16, 2010 |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |first1 = Michael D. |last1 = Shear |first2 = David S. |last2 = Hilzenrath }}</ref> On his 2010 income of $1.7 million, he gave 14% to non-profit organizations, including $131,000 to [[Fisher House Foundation]], a charity assisting wounded veterans' families, allowing them to reside near where the veteran is receiving medical treatments.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2011/04/how-much-did-president-obama-m.html |date = April 18, 2011 |title = How Much Did President Obama Make in 2010? |work = [[PBS NewsHour]] |first = Paul |last = Solman |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110502113725/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2011/04/how-much-did-president-obama-m.html |archive-date = May 2, 2011 |accessdate = January 27, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/the-obamas-gave-131000-to-the-fisher-house-foundation-last-year-what-is-it.html |date = April 27, 2011 |title = The Obamas Gave $131,000 to Fisher House Foundation in 2010; What Is It? |work = [[PBS NewsHour]] |first = Paul |last = Solman |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140129072652/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/the-obamas-gave-131000-to-the-fisher-house-foundation-last-year-what-is-it.html |archive-date = January 29, 2014 |accessdate = January 27, 2012 }}</ref> As per his 2012 financial disclosure, Obama may be worth as much as $10 million.<ref name="networth12">{{cite news |url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/05/obama-worth-as-much-as-10-million/1 |title = Obama worth as much as $10 million |last = Wolf |first = Richard |date = May 16, 2012 |work = [[USA Today]] |accessdate = June 16, 2012 }}</ref> In reference to Obama's smoking habit, Michelle said in early 2010 that he had quit smoking.<ref name="reuters-smoking">Elsner, Alan (December 7, 2008). [https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/12/07/us-usa-obama-smoking-idUSTRE4B61GF20081207 Obama says he won't be smoking in White House"]. Reuters. Retrieved February 28, 2010.</ref><ref>Zengerle, Patricia (February 8, 2011). [https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/08/us-obama-smoking-idUSTRE7176EL20110208 "Yes, he did: first lady says Obama quit smoking"]. Reuters. Retrieved May 9, 2011.</ref> On his 55th birthday, August 4, 2016, Obama penned an essay in [[Glamour (magazine)|''Glamour'']] describing how his daughters and being president have made him a [[feminist]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.glamour.com/story/glamour-exclusive-president-barack-obama-says-this-is-what-a-feminist-looks-like |title=Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, "This Is What a Feminist Looks Like" |work=Glamour |date=August 4, 2016 |first=Barack |last=Obama |accessdate=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/us/obama-writes-feminist-essay-in-glamour.html |title=Obama Writes Feminist Essay in Glamour |work=The New York Times |date=August 4, 2016 |first=Daniel |last=Victor |accessdate=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/08/04/president-obama-glamour-s-important-sasha-and-malias-dad-feminist/88061556/ |title=President Obama in 'Glamour': It's important Sasha and Malia's dad is a feminist |work=USA Today |date=August 4, 2016 |first=Cara |last=Kelly |accessdate=August 5, 2016}}</ref> ====Religious views==== [[File:Obamas at church on Inauguration Day 2013.jpg|thumb|The Obamas worship at [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] in Washington, D.C., January 2013]] Obama is a [[Protestant]] [[Christian]] whose religious views developed in his adult life.<ref name="Christian"> He wrote in ''The Audacity of Hope'' that he "was not raised in a religious household". He described his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as being detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known." He described his father as a "confirmed atheist" by the time his parents met, and his stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful." Obama explained how, through working with [[black church]]es as a [[Community organizing|community organizer]] while in his twenties, he came to understand "the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change."<ref name="social change"> In January 2008, Obama told ''[[Christianity Today]]'': "I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection of Jesus Christ]]. I believe that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life."<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Pulliam |first1 = Sarah |last2 = Olsen |first2 = Ted |url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/januaryweb-only/104-32.0.html?start=2 |title = Q&A: Barack Obama |work = Christianity Today |date = January 23, 2008 |accessdate = January 4, 2013 }}</ref> On September 27, 2010, Obama released a statement commenting on his religious views saying "I'm a Christian by choice. My family didn't – frankly, they weren't folks who went to church every week. And my mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew, but she didn't raise me in the church. So I came to my Christian faith later in life, and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead – being my brothers' and sisters' keeper, [[Golden Rule|treating others as they would treat me]]."<ref name="APbychoice">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/obama-christian-by-choice_n_742124.html?view=print |title=Obama 'Christian By Choice': President Responds To Questioner |author=Charles Babington |author2=Darlene Superville |agency=Associated Press |date=September 28, 2010 |work=The Huffington Post |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511232554/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/obama-christian-by-choice_n_742124.html?view=print |archivedate=May 11, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="ABCVideobychoice">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/president-obama-i-am-a-christian-by-choicethe-precepts-of-jesus-spoke-to-me.html|title=President Obama: 'I am a Christian By Choice...The Precepts of Jesus Spoke to Me'|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=September 29, 2010|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref> Obama met [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] pastor Rev. [[Jeremiah Wright]] in October 1987, and became a member of Trinity in 1992.<ref name="Trinity"> He resigned from Trinity in May 2008 during his first presidential campaign after [[Jeremiah Wright controversy|some of Wright's statements were criticized]].<ref>{{cite news |agency = Associated Press |date = November 17, 2008 |title = Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized |publisher = MSNBC |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775757/ |accessdate = January 20, 2009 }}</ref> The Obama family has attended several Protestant churches since moving to Washington, D.C., in 2009, including [[Shiloh Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)|Shiloh Baptist Church]] and [[St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square|St. John's Episcopal Church]], as well as Evergreen Chapel at [[Camp David]], but are not habitual church-goers.<ref>Parker, Ashley. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/us/as-the-obamas-celebrate-christmas-rituals-of-faith-stay-on-the-sidelines.html As the Obamas Celebrate Christmas, Rituals of Faith Become Less Visible]," ''The New York Times'', December 28, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>Gilgoff, Dan. "[http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/god-and-country/2009/06/30/time-report-white-house-reaction-raise-more-questions-about-obamas-church-hunt TIME Report, White House Reaction Raise More Questions About Obama's Church Hunt]," ''U.S. News & World Report'', June 30, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref><ref>"[http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/04/22/first-lady-we-use-sundays-for-naps-if-were-not-going-to-church/ First Lady: We Use Sundays For Naps If We're Not Going To Church]," ''CBS DC'', April 22, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref> ===Law career=== ====Community organizer and Harvard Law School==== Two years after graduating from Columbia, Obama was hired in Chicago as director of the [[Developing Communities Project]], a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in [[Roseland, Chicago|Roseland]], [[West Pullman, Chicago|West Pullman]], and [[Riverdale, Chicago|Riverdale]] on Chicago's [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]]. He worked there as a community organizer from June 1985 to May 1988.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Lizza, Ryan |date=March 19, 2007 |title=The agitator: Barack Obama's unlikely political education |magazine=The New Republic |volume=236 |issue=12 |pages=22–26, 28–29 |issn=0028-6583 |url=http://www.tnr.com/article/the-agitator-barack-obamas-unlikely-political-education |accessdate=August 21, 2007 }} * {{cite news|author=Bob Secter |author2=John McCormick |date=March 30, 2007 |title=Portrait of a pragmatist |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30-archive,0,2491692,full.story |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214172131/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30-archive%2C0%2C2491692%2Cfull.story |accessdate=May 18, 2012 |archivedate=December 14, 2009 |deadurl=yes |df= }} * Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 140–295. * Mendell (2007), pp. 63–83.</ref> He helped set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in [[Altgeld Gardens Homes (Chicago, Illinois)|Altgeld Gardens]].<ref name="Harvard Law 1990a">{{cite news |author = Matchan, Linda |date = February 15, 1990 |title = A Law Review breakthrough |newspaper = The Boston Globe |page = 29 |url = http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/1990/02/15/a_law_review_breakthrough |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Corr, John |date = February 27, 1990 |title = From mean streets to hallowed halls |newspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirer |page = C01 |format = paid archive |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=PI%7CDN%7C&p_product=PHNP&p_theme=phnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PHNP&s_dispstring=Author%28John%20Corr%29%20AND%20date%2802/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&p_field_advanced-0=Author&p_text_advanced-0=%28John%20Corr%29&p_bool_advanced-1=AND&p_params_advanced-1=date:B,E&p_field_advanced-1=YMD_date&p_text_advanced-1=%2802/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990%29Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = June 6, 2008 }}</ref> Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for the [[Gamaliel Foundation]], a community organizing institute.<ref>{{cite magazine |author = Obama, Barack |date = August–September 1988 |title = Why organize? Problems and promise in the inner city |magazine = Illinois Issues |volume = 14 |issue = 8–9 |pages = 40–42 |issn = 0738-9663 }} reprinted in:<br>{{cite book |editor = Knoepfle, Peg |year = 1990 |title = After Alinsky: community organizing in Illinois |place = Springfield, IL |publisher = Sangamon State University |pages = 35–40 |isbn = 0-9620873-3-5 |quote = He has also been a consultant and instructor for the Gamaliel Foundation, an organizing institute working throughout the Midwest. }}</ref> In mid-1988, he traveled for the first time in Europe for three weeks and then for five weeks in Kenya, where he met many of his [[Family of Barack Obama#Paternal relations|paternal relatives]] for the first time.<ref name="Obama 2012">{{cite book |last = Obama |first = Auma |year = 2012 |title = And then life happens: a memoir |location = New York |publisher = St. Martin's Press |isbn = 978-1-250-01005-6 |pages = 189–208, 212–216 }}</ref><ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 299–437. * Maraniss (2012), pp. 564–570.</ref> {{external media | float = right | video1 = [http://bostonlocaltv.org/catalog/V_UDAMVZGA4JEY06N Derrick Bell threatens to leave Harvard], April 24, 1990, 11:34, [[WGBH Educational Foundation|Boston TV Digital Archive]]<ref name="wgbh">[http://bostonlocaltv.org/catalog/V_UDAMVZGA4JEY06N "Ten O'Clock News; Derrick Bell threatens to leave Harvard"], April 24, 1990, 11:34, [[WGBH Educational Foundation|WGBH]], [[American Archive of Public Broadcasting]] (WGBH and the [[Library of Congress]]), Boston and Washington, D.C., accessed September 23, 2016.</ref> Student Barack Obama introduces Professor Derrick Bell starting at 6:25 }} Obama entered [[Harvard Law School]] in the fall of 1988, living in nearby [[Somerville, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=Somerville Scout| issue=January/February 2014| page=26 |title=Something in the Water|author1=Joey Del Ponte |author2=Somerville Scout Staff}} "Barack Obama lived in the big, ivy-covered brick building at 365 Broadway ... From 1988 to 1991, the future president resided in a basement apartment while attending Harvard Law School."</ref> He was selected as an editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]'' at the end of his first year,<ref name="Harvard Law 2007">{{cite news |author = Michael Levenson |author2 = Jonathan Saltzman |date = January 28, 2007 |title = At Harvard Law, a unifying voice |newspaper = The Boston Globe |page = 1A |url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/at_harvard_law_a_unifying_voice/?page=full |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Kantor, Jodi |date = January 28, 2007 |title = In law school, Obama found political voice |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A1 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/us/politics/28obama.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Mundy, Liza |date = August 12, 2007 |title = A series of fortunate events |newspaper = The Washington Post |page = W10 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038_pf.html |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * Mendell (2007), pp. 80–92.</ref> president of the journal in his second year,<ref name="Harvard Law 1990a"><ref name="Harvard Law 1990b">{{cite news |author = Butterfield, Fox |date = February 6, 1990 |title = First black elected to head Harvard's Law Review |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A20 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/us/first-black-elected-to-head-harvard-s-law-review.html |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Ybarra, Michael J |date = February 7, 1990 |title = Activist in Chicago now heads Harvard Law Review |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 3 |url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-02-07/news/9001110408_1_ann-dunham-chicago-housing-authority-barack-obama |accessdate = October 29, 2011 }} * {{cite news |author = Drummond, Tammerlin |date = March 12, 1990 |title = Barack Obama's law; Harvard Law Review's first black president plans a life of public service |newspaper = Los Angeles Times |page = E1 |format = paid archive |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60017156.html?dids=60017156:60017156&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite magazine |author = Evans, Gaynelle |date = March 15, 1990 |title = Opening another door: The saga of Harvard's Barack H. Obama |magazine = Black Issues in Higher Education |volume = 7 |issue = 1 |page = 5 |issn = 0742-0277 |url = http://diverseeducation.com/article/11791/ |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} * {{cite news |author = Pugh, Allison J. |agency = Associated Press |date = April 18, 1990 |title = Law Review's first black president aims to help poor |newspaper = The Miami Herald |page = C01 |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=MH%7C&p_product=MH&p_theme=realcities2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_site=miami&s_trackval=MH&s_search_type=keyword&s_dispstring=Law%20Review%27s%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor%20AND%20date%28all%29&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=%28Law%20Review%27s%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor%29Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }}</ref> and research assistant to the constitutional scholar [[Laurence Tribe]] while at Harvard for two years.<ref>{{YouTube|wzmmBZ7i4BQ}}</ref> During his summers, he returned to Chicago, where he worked as an [[Associate attorney|associate]] at the law firms of [[Sidley Austin]] in 1989 and [[Hopkins & Sutter]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news |author = Aguilar, Louis |date = July 11, 1990 |title = Survey: Law firms slow to add minority partners |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 1 (Business) |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28774085.html?dids=28774085:28774085&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }}</ref> After graduating with a [[Juris Doctor|JD]] degree ''[[magna cum laude]]''<ref name="Juris Doctor"> from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago.<ref name="Harvard Law 2007"> Obama's election as the [[List of African-American firsts|first black president of the ''Harvard Law Review'']] gained national media attention<ref name="Harvard Law 1990a"><ref name="Harvard Law 1990b"> and led to a publishing contract and advance for a book about race relations,<ref name="Scott 2008a">{{cite news |author = Scott, Janny |date = May 18, 2008 |title = The story of Obama, written by Obama |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A1 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/us/politics/18memoirs.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate = June 15, 2008 }} * Obama (1995, 2004), pp. xiii–xvii.</ref> which evolved into a personal memoir. The manuscript was published in mid-1995 as ''[[Dreams from My Father]]''.<ref name="Scott 2008a"> ====Chicago Law School and civil rights attorney==== In 1991, Obama accepted a two-year position as Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] to work on his first book.<ref name="Scott 2008a"><ref name="Fellow"> He then taught [[constitutional law]] at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, first as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and then as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web |date = March 27, 2008 |title = Statement regarding Barack Obama |publisher = University of Chicago Law School |url = http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html |accessdate = June 5, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608225931/http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html |archivedate = June 8, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite web |author = Miller, Joe |date = March 28, 2008 |title = Was Barack Obama really a constitutional law professor? |publisher = FactCheck.org |url = http://factcheck.org/2008/03/obama-a-constitutional-law-professor/ |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} * {{cite web |author = Holan, Angie Drobnic |date = March 7, 2008 |title = Obama's 20 years of experience |publisher = PolitiFact.com |url = http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/mar/07/obamas-20-years-experience |accessdate = June 10, 2008 }}</ref> From April to October 1992, Obama directed Illinois's [[Project Vote]], a [[voter registration campaign]] with ten staffers and seven hundred volunteer registrars; it achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, leading ''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' to name Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.<ref name="Forty"> He joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a 13-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an associate for three years from 1993 to 1996, then [[of counsel]] from 1996 to 2004. In 1994, he was listed as one of the lawyers in ''Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank'', 94 C 4094 (N.D. Ill.).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/FH-IL-0011-9000.pdf |title = CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:94-cv-04094 |author = United States District Court: Northern District of Illinois – CM/ECF LIVE, Ver 3.0 (Chicago) |date = July 6, 1994 |work = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }}</ref> This class action lawsuit was filed in 1994 with Selma Buycks-Roberson as lead plaintiff and alleged that Citibank Federal Savings Bank had engaged in practices forbidden under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/detail.php?id=10112 |title = Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank – Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse |publisher = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = November 25, 2015 }}</ref> The case was settled out of court.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/FH-IL-0011-0008.pdf |title = Settlement Agreement |author = UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT~·':lj FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION |date = January 16, 1988 |work = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }}</ref> Final Judgment was issued on May 13, 1998, with Citibank Federal Savings Bank agreeing to pay attorney fees.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/FH-IL-0011-0010.pdf |title = Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal |author = United States District Cuurt For the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division |date = May 13, 1998 |work = clearinghouse.net |accessdate = June 3, 2016 }}</ref> His law license became inactive in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.factcheck.org/2012/06/the-obamas-law-licenses/ |title = The Obamas' Law Licenses |publisher = FactCheck.org |date = June 14, 2012 |accessdate = July 16, 2012 |author = Gore, D'Angelo }}</ref><ref name="DavisMiner"> From 1994 to 2002, Obama served on the boards of directors of the [[Woods Fund of Chicago]], which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund the Developing Communities Project, and of the [[Joyce Foundation]].<ref name="Who's Who 2008"> He served on the board of directors of the [[Chicago Annenberg Challenge]] from 1995 to 2002, as founding president and chairman of the board of directors from 1995 to 1999.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"> ===Legislative career=== ====Illinois State Senator (1997–2004)==== {{Main article|Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama}} [[File:Obamamiltondavis1.jpg|thumb|right|State Senator Obama and others celebrate the naming of a street in Chicago after [[ShoreBank]] co-founder Milton Davis in 1998]] Obama was elected to the [[Illinois Senate]] in 1996, succeeding Democratic State Senator [[Alice Palmer (politician)|Alice Palmer]] from Illinois's 13th District, which, at that time, spanned Chicago South Side neighborhoods from [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]]–[[Kenwood, Chicago|Kenwood]] south to [[South Shore, Chicago|South Shore]] and west to [[Chicago Lawn, Chicago|Chicago Lawn]].<ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Jackson |author2=Ray Long |title=Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot |date=April 3, 2007 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5693903.story |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011054057/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive%2C0%2C5693903.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=May 18, 2012 |archivedate=October 11, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }} * {{cite book |author = [[Jesse White (politician)|White, Jesse]] |year = 2001 |chapter = Legislative Districts of Cook County, 1991 Reapportionment |chapterurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226221919/http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/02bluebook/legislative_branch/legdistrictmaps.pdf |title = Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002 |place = Springfield |publisher = [[Illinois Secretary of State]] |page = 65 |accessdate = July 16, 2011 }} State Sen. District 13 = State Rep. Districts 25 & 26.</ref> Once elected, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation that reformed ethics and health care laws.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=Obama Forged Political Mettle in Illinois Capitol |date=February 9, 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802262.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 20, 2008 }}{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Helman |title=In Illinois, Obama dealt with Lobbyists |date=September 23, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |work=The Boston Globe |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416235513/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |archivedate=April 16, 2008 |deadurl=no |df= }} See also:{{cite news|title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics |date=January 17, 2007 |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412223055/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |archivedate=April 12, 2008 |deadurl=no }}</ref> He sponsored a law that increased [[tax credit]]s for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.<ref name="Scott20070730">{{cite news |first = Janny |last = Scott |title = In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd |date = July 30, 2007 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 20, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210135903/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html|archivedate=December 10, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> In 2001, as co-chairman of the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Obama supported Republican Governor Ryan's [[payday loan]] regulations and [[Predatory lending|predatory mortgage lending]] regulations aimed at averting home foreclosures.<ref>{{cite news|author=Allison, Melissa |date=December 15, 2000 |title=State takes on predatory lending; Rules would halt single-premium life insurance financing |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65214450.html?dids=65214450:65214450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Business) |accessdate=June 1, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617151154/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65214450.html?dids=65214450%3A65214450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT |archivedate=June 17, 2008 |deadurl=no |df= }}{{cite news|author=Ray Long |author2=Melissa Allison |date=April 18, 2001 |title=Illinois OKs predatory loan curbs; State aims to avert home foreclosures |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/71459393.html?dids=71459393:71459393&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |accessdate=June 1, 2008 }}</ref> He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, defeating Republican Yesse Yehudah in the general election, and was reelected again in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title = 13th District: Barack Obama |accessdate = April 20, 2008 |date = August 24, 2000 |publisher = Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate = April 12, 2000 }}{{cite web |url = http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title = 13th District: Barack Obama |accessdate = April 20, 2008 |date = October 9, 2004 |publisher = Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040802233730/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate = August 2, 2004 }}</ref> In 2000, he lost a [[Illinois's 1st congressional district election, 2000|Democratic primary race]] for [[Illinois's 1st congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] to four-term incumbent [[Bobby Rush]] by a margin of two to one.<ref name="Democratic primary"> In January 2003, Obama became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee when Democrats, after a decade in the minority, regained a majority.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jackie |last=Calmes |title=Statehouse Yields Clues to Obama |date=February 23, 2007 |url=https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |work=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918032039/http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |archivedate=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> He sponsored and led unanimous, bipartisan passage of legislation to monitor [[racial profiling]] by requiring police to record the race of drivers they detained, and legislation making Illinois the first state to mandate videotaping of homicide interrogations.<ref name="Scott20070730"><ref>{{cite news|author=Tavella, Anne Marie |date=April 14, 2003 |title=Profiling, taping plans pass Senate |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Profiling,%20AND%20taping%20AND%20plans%20AND%20pass%20AND%20Senate&s_dispstring=Profiling,%20taping%20plans%20pass%20Senate%20AND%20date(April_4,_2003%20to%204/4/2003)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=4_April_2003%20to%204/4/2003Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |format=paid archive |work=Daily Herald |page=17 |accessdate=June 1, 2008 }}{{cite news|author=Haynes, V. Dion |date=June 29, 2003 |title=Fight racial profiling at local level, lawmaker says; U.S. guidelines get mixed review |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/352884461.html?dids=352884461:352884461&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=8 |accessdate=June 1, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617150449/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/352884461.html?dids=352884461%3A352884461&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT |archivedate=June 17, 2008 |deadurl=no |df= }}{{cite news|author=Pearson, Rick |date=July 17, 2003 |title=Taped confessions to be law; State will be 1st to pass legislation |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/370136121.html?dids=370136121:370136121&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Metro) |accessdate=June 1, 2008 }}</ref> During his 2004 general election campaign for the U.S. Senate, police representatives credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]] reforms.<ref>{{cite news |first = Sam |last = Youngman |author2 = Aaron Blake |title = Obama's Crime Votes Are Fodder for Rivals |date = March 14, 2007 |url = http://thehill.com/homenews/news/11316-obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals |work = The Hill |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} See also:{{cite news |title = US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms |date = November 12, 2007 |work = International Herald Tribune |url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607111231/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |agency = Associated Press |accessdate = May 18, 2012 |archivedate = June 7, 2008 }}</ref> Obama resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news|first=Melanie |last=Coffee |title=Attorney Chosen to Fill Obama's State Senate Seat |date=November 6, 2004 |publisher=HPKCC |url=http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm#ap |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516174431/http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm |archivedate=May 16, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> ====2004 U.S. Senate campaign==== {{Main article|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004}} [[File:2004 Illinois Senate results.svg|upright=.5|thumb|County results of the 2004 U.S. Senate race in Illinois. Obama won the counties in blue.]] In May 2002, Obama commissioned a poll to assess his prospects in a 2004 U.S. Senate race. He created a campaign committee, began raising funds, and lined up political media consultant [[David Axelrod]] by August 2002. Obama formally announced his candidacy in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |author = Helman, Scott |date = October 12, 2007 |title = Early defeat launched a rapid political climb |newspaper = [[The Boston Globe]] |page = 1A |url = http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> Obama was an early opponent of the [[George W. Bush]] administration's [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news |author = Strausberg, Chinta |date = September 26, 2002 |title = Opposition to war mounts |newspaper = Chicago Defender |page = 1 |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220062931.html |format = paid archive |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }}</ref> On October 2, 2002, the day President Bush and Congress agreed on the [[Iraq Resolution|joint resolution]] authorizing the Iraq War,<ref name="Rose Garden"> Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago [[Protests against the Iraq War|anti-Iraq War rally]],<ref name="Federal Plaza"> and spoke out against the war.<ref name="spoke out"> He addressed another anti-war rally in March 2003 and told the crowd that "it's not too late" to stop the war.<ref name="stop the war"> Decisions by Republican incumbent [[Peter Fitzgerald (politician)|Peter Fitzgerald]] and his Democratic predecessor [[Carol Moseley Braun]] to not participate in the election resulted in wide-open Democratic and Republican primary contests involving fifteen candidates.<ref>{{cite news |author = Davey, Monica |date = March 7, 2004 |title = Closely watched Illinois Senate race attracts 7 candidates in millionaire range |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090416015834/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html|archivedate=April 16, 2009 |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |page = 19 |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> In the March 2004 primary election, Obama won in an unexpected landslide—which overnight made him a rising star within the [[Democratic Party (United States)#Current structure and composition|national Democratic Party]], started speculation about a presidential future, and led to the reissue of his memoir, ''Dreams from My Father''.<ref name="future"> In July 2004, Obama delivered the keynote address at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]],<ref>{{cite news |author = Bernstein, David |date = June 2007 |title = The Speech |magazine = Chicago Magazine |url = http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> seen by 9.1 million viewers. His speech was well received and elevated his status within the Democratic Party.<ref name="status"> Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner [[Jack Ryan (politician)|Jack Ryan]], withdrew from the race in June 2004.<ref>{{cite news |date = June 25, 2004 |title = Ryan drops out of Senate race in Illinois |publisher = CNN |url = http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/25/il.ryan/ |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }} * Mendell (2007), pp. 260–271.</ref> Six weeks later, [[Alan Keyes]] accepted the Republican nomination to replace Ryan.<ref>{{cite news |author = Lannan, Maura Kelly |agency = Associated Press |date = August 9, 2004 |title = Alan Keyes enters U.S. Senate race in Illinois against rising Democratic star |newspaper = Union-Tribune |url = http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html |accessdate = April 13, 2008 }}</ref> In the [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004|November 2004 general election]], Obama won with 70% of the vote.<ref name="margin"> ====U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–08)==== {{Main article|United States Senate career of Barack Obama}} [[File:BarackObamaportrait.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The official portrait of Obama as a member of the United States Senate]] Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 3, 2005,<ref>{{CongBio|o000167|inline=1|date=October 12, 2011}}</ref> becoming the only Senate member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Member Info |url = http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080709114659/http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |archivedate = July 9, 2008 |publisher = Congressional Black Caucus |accessdate = June 25, 2008 }}</ref> ''[[Congressional Quarterly|CQ Weekly]]'' characterized him as a "loyal Democrat" based on analysis of all Senate votes from 2005 to 2007. Obama announced on November 13, 2008, that he would [[resignation from the United States Senate|resign his Senate seat]] on November 16, 2008, before the start of the [[lame duck (politics)|lame-duck]] session, to focus on his transition period for the presidency.<ref name="transition period"> =====Legislation===== {{See also|List of bills sponsored by Barack Obama in the United States Senate}} Obama [[Sponsor (legislative)|cosponsored]] the [[Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act]].<ref>{{cite web |first = 109th Congress, 1st Session |last = U.S. Senate |title = S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act |date = May 12, 2005 |url = https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/1033/cosponsors |publisher = Library of Congress |accessdate = February 25, 2017}}</ref> He introduced two initiatives that bore his name: Lugar–Obama, which expanded the [[Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction]] concept to conventional weapons;<ref>{{cite web |url = http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |title = Lugar–Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President |date = January 11, 2007 |publisher = Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154746/http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 }} See also:{{cite news |first = Richard G. |last = Lugar |author2 = Barack Obama |title = Junkyard Dogs of War |date = December 3, 2005 |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work = The Washington Post |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> and the [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006]], which authorized the establishment of USAspending.gov, a web search engine on federal spending.<ref>{{cite news |first = John |last = McCormack |title = Google Government Gone Viral |date = December 21, 2007 |url = http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |work = Weekly Standard |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080423235240/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |archivedate = April 23, 2008 |deadurl = no }} See also:{{cite web |title = President Bush Signs Coburn–Obama Transparency Act |date = September 26, 2006 |url = http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080501233103/http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |archivedate = May 1, 2008 |publisher = Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama—along with Senators [[Tom Carper]], [[Tom Coburn]], and [[John McCain]]—introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/s3077 |title = S. 3077: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008: 2007–2008 (110th Congress) |publisher = Govtrack.us |date = June 3, 2008 |accessdate = May 18, 2012 }}</ref> Obama sponsored legislation that would have required nuclear plant owners to notify state and local authorities of radioactive leaks, but the bill failed to pass in the full Senate after being heavily modified in committee.<ref>{{cite news |last = McIntire |first = Mike |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html |title = Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate |date = February 3, 2008 |work = The New York Times |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209065950/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html|archivedate=December 9, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Regarding [[tort reform]], Obama voted for the [[Class Action Fairness Act of 2005]] and the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008|FISA Amendments Act of 2008]], which grants immunity from civil liability to telecommunications companies complicit with [[NSA warrantless surveillance (2001–07)|NSA warrantless wiretapping]] operations.<ref name="Fisher">{{cite news |url = http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/08/obama-mccain-torts-biz-beltway-cz_df_0811torts.html |title = November Election A Lawyer's Delight |author = Fisher, Daniel |work = Forbes |date = August 11, 2008 |accessdate = January 11, 2009 }}</ref> [[File:Lugar-Obama.jpg|thumb|alt=Gray-haired man and Obama stand, wearing casual polo shirts. Obama wears sunglasses and holds something slung over his right shoulder.|left|Obama and U.S. Sen. [[Richard Lugar]] (R-IN) visit a Russian facility for dismantling mobile missiles (August 2005)<ref>{{cite web |title = Nunn–Lugar Report |date = August 2005 |publisher = Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |url = http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/pdf/trip_report_2005.pdf |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080501002134/http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/pdf/trip_report_2005.pdf |archivedate = May 1, 2008 |accessdate = April 30, 2008 |format = PDF }}</ref>]] In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act, marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |title = Democratic Republic of the Congo |date = April 2006 |url = http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/drc0406.shtml |publisher = United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |accessdate = January 26, 2012 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110108193726/http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/drc0406.shtml |archivedate = January 8, 2011 }}{{cite web |title = The IRC Welcomes New U.S. Law on Congo |date = January 5, 2007 |url = http://www.theirc.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |publisher = International Rescue Committee |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110807061958/http://www.rescue.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |archivedate = August 7, 2011 }}</ref> In January 2007, Obama and Senator Feingold introduced a corporate jet provision to the [[Honest Leadership and Open Government Act]], which was signed into law in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel |date=November 15, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515201902/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |archivedate=May 15, 2008 |deadurl=no }}{{cite news|first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation |date=December 5, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416162108/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |archivedate=April 16, 2008 |deadurl=no }} See also:{{cite news|title=Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 |date=September 24, 2007 |publisher=Federal Election Commission |url=http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411220016/http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |archivedate=April 11, 2008 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> Obama also introduced two unsuccessful bills: the [[Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act]] to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections,<ref>{{cite news |first = Seth |last = Stern |title = Obama–Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation |date = January 31, 2007 |publisher = CQPolitics.com |url = https://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516104256/http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |archivedate = May 16, 2008 |deadurl = no }}{{cite web |first = 110th Congress, 1st Session |last = U.S. Senate |title = S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 |date = January 31, 2007 |url = https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/453 |publisher = Library of Congress |accessdate = February 25, 2017}} See also:{{cite news |title = Honesty in Elections |date = January 31, 2007 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work = The New York Times |format = editorial |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> and the [[Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007]].<ref>{{cite news |first = E. Kasak |last = Krystin |title = Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date = February 7, 2007 |publisher = Medill News Service |url = http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_c7147a5d-31bc-5497-abdd-a99c0cd6c189.html |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> Later in 2007, Obama sponsored an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act to add safeguards for personality-disorder military discharges.<ref>{{cite web |title = Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action |date = October 1, 2007 |url = http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |publisher = Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101205075008/http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |archivedate = December 5, 2010 }}</ref> This amendment passed the full Senate in the spring of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title = Obama, Bond Applaud Senate Passage of Amendment to Expedite the Review of Personality Disorder Discharge Cases |url = http://obama.senate.gov/press/080314-obama_bond_appl/ |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154824/http://obama.senate.gov/press/080314-obama_bond_appl/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 |date = March 14, 2008 }}</ref> He sponsored the [[Disinvestment from Iran|Iran Sanctions Enabling Act]] supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry, which has not passed committee; and co-sponsored legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.<ref name="nuclear terrorism"> Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]], providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.<ref>{{cite web |title = Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members |date = August 2, 2007 |url = http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |publisher = Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154819/http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 }}</ref> =====Committees===== [[File:Barack Obama Iraq 2006.jpg|thumb|200px|Obama speaking with a soldier stationed in Iraq, 2006]] Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]], [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Environment and Public Works]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]] through December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |date = December 9, 2006 |title = Committee Assignments |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |publisher = Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061209190827/http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |archivedate = December 9, 2006 }}</ref> In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Gets New Committee Assignments |date = November 15, 2006 |publisher = Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |url = http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |agency = Associated Press |accessdate = April 27, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154741/http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |archivedate = December 18, 2008 }}</ref> He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation|European Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news |first = Tom |last = Baldwin |title = Stay-At-Home Barack Obama Comes Under Fire for a Lack of Foreign Experience |date = December 21, 2007 |url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece |work = Sunday Times (UK) |accessdate = April 27, 2008 }}</ref> As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He met with [[Mahmoud Abbas]] before Abbas became [[President of the Palestinian National Authority]], and gave a speech at the [[University of Nairobi]] in which he condemned corruption within the Kenyan government.<ref name="Kenyan"> ==Presidential campaigns== ===2008 presidential campaign=== {{Main article|United States presidential election, 2008|Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008}} [[File:Flickr Obama Springfield 01.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph|Obama standing on stage with his wife and daughters just before announcing his presidential candidacy in [[Springfield, Illinois]], February 10, 2007]] On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Illinois)|Old State Capitol]] building in [[Springfield, Illinois]].<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210">{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,3768114.story |title=Obama: I'm running for president |work=Chicago Tribune |author=Pearson, Rick |author2=Long, Ray |date=February 10, 2007 |accessdate=September 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813115846/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story%2C0%2C3768114.story |archivedate=August 13, 2007 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref name="BBC20070210">{{cite news |title = Obama Launches Presidential Bid |date = February 10, 2007 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |publisher = BBC News |accessdate = January 14, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080202060802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |archivedate = February 2, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> The choice of the announcement site was viewed as symbolic because it was also where [[Abraham Lincoln]] delivered his historic [[Lincoln's House Divided Speech|"House Divided"]] speech in 1858.<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210"><ref name="ChicagoTribune_Parsons20070210">{{cite news |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159132539.html |title = Obama's launch site: Symbolic Springfield: Announcement venue evokes Lincoln legacy |last = Parsons |first = Christi |date = February 10, 2007 |work = Chicago Tribune |accessdate = June 12, 2009 }}</ref> Obama emphasized issues of rapidly ending the [[Iraq War]], increasing [[Energy policy of the United States|energy independence]], and [[Health care reform in the United States|reforming the health care system]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama on the Issues: What Would Be Your Top Three Overall Priorities If Elected? |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#top-priorities |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 14, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509140350/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/ |archivedate=May 9, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }} See also: * {{cite book |author = [[Evan Thomas|Thomas, Evan]] |title = A Long Time Coming |publisher = [[PublicAffairs]] |year = 2009 |location = New York |page = 74 |isbn = 978-1-58648-607-5 }} * {{cite news|first=Michael |last=Falcone |title=Obama's 'One Thing' |date=December 21, 2007 |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/ |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 14, 2008 }}</ref> in a campaign that projected themes of hope and change.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-obama-promise-of-hope-and-change-981761.html |title = The Obama promise of hope and change |work = The Independent |location = London |date = November 1, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110515091856/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-obama-promise-of-hope-and-change-981761.html |archivedate = May 15, 2011 }}</ref> Numerous candidates entered the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2008|Democratic Party presidential primaries]]. The field narrowed to a duel between Obama and Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] after early contests, with the race remaining close throughout the primary process but with Obama gaining a steady lead in pledged [[delegate]]s due to better long-range planning, superior fundraising, dominant organizing in [[caucus]] states, and better exploitation of delegate allocation rules.<ref name="allocation"> On June 7, 2008, Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama.<ref>{{cite news |last = Nagourney |first = Adam |first2 = Jeff |last2 = Zeleny |title = Clinton to End Bid and Endorse Obama |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html |work = The New York Times |date = June 5, 2008 |accessdate = November 20, 2010 }}</ref> [[File:President George W. Bush and Barack Obama meet in Oval Office.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Photograph|President [[George W. Bush]] meets with President-elect Obama in the [[Oval Office]] on November 10, 2008]] On August 23, Obama announced his selection of [[Delaware]] Senator [[Joe Biden]] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news |accessdate = September 20, 2008 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html |last = Nagourney |first = Adam |first2 = Jeff |last2 = Zeleny |work = The New York Times |date = August 23, 2008 |title = Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090401222653/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html|archivedate=April 1, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Obama selected Biden from a field speculated to include former Indiana Governor and Senator [[Evan Bayh]] and Virginia Governor [[Tim Kaine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-21/politics/obama.vice.president_1_obama-selection-process-joe-biden?_s=PM:POLITICS |publisher=CNN |title=Sources: High court selection process down to finalists |date=May 13, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511144848/http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-21/politics/obama.vice.president_1_obama-selection-process-joe-biden?_s=PM%3APOLITICS |archivedate=May 11, 2011 |df= }}</ref> At the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in Denver, Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her supporters to endorse Obama, and she and [[Bill Clinton]] gave convention speeches in his support.<ref name="delegates"> Obama delivered his acceptance speech, not at the center where the Democratic National Convention was held, but at [[Invesco Field at Mile High]] to a crowd of approximately 84,000 people; the speech was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide.<ref name="npr1409">{{cite news |url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92301409 |title = Obama To Accept Nomination at Mile High Stadium |publisher = NPR |date = July 7, 2008 |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |author = Mara Liasson |author2 = Michele Norris }}</ref><ref name="acceptance"><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-na-tvcritic29-2008aug29,0,3593116.story|title=Barack Obama, Al Gore Raise the Roof at Invesco Field|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Robert|last=Lloyd|date=August 29, 2008|accessdate=August 29, 2008}}</ref> During both the primary process and the general election, Obama's campaign set numerous fundraising records, particularly in the quantity of small donations.<ref name="small donations"> On June 19, 2008, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down [[Campaign finance in the United States#Public financing of campaigns|public financing]] in the general election since the system was created in 1976.<ref name="Bloomberg_Salant_20080619">{{cite news |author = Salant, Jonathan D. |title = Obama Won't Accept Public Money in Election Campaign |url = https://article.wn.com/view/2008/06/19/Obama_Wont_Accept_Public_Money_in_Election_Campaign/ |publisher = [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |date = June 19, 2008 |accessdate = June 19, 2008}}</ref> [[File:ElectoralCollege2008.svg|right|thumb|275px|2008 electoral vote results]] John McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate, and he selected [[Sarah Palin]] as his running mate. The two candidates engaged in three [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]] in September and October 2008.<ref name="presidential debates"> On November 4, Obama won the presidency with 365 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] to 173 received by McCain.<ref name="electoral votes"> Obama won 52.9% of the [[Election|popular vote]] to McCain's 45.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html |title = General Election: McCain vs. Obama |accessdate = February 20, 2009 |publisher = Real Clear Politics |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090217083055/http://www.realclearpolitics.com//epolls//2008//president//us//general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html |archivedate = February 17, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref> He became the first African American to be elected president.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |title = Obama wins historic US election |publisher = BBC News |date = November 5, 2008 |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218083153/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |archivedate = December 18, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite news |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?pagewanted=all |title = Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls |first = Adam |last = Nagourney |date = November 4, 2008 |work = The New York Times |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209071842/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?pagewanted=all |archivedate = December 9, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite news |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html |title = Obama: 'This is your victory' |publisher = CNN |date = November 5, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081104231227/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html |archivedate = November 4, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Obama delivered [[Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008|his victory speech]] before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news |accessdate = November 5, 2008 |url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |title = Change has come, says President-elect Obama |work = The Independent |location = London |date = November 5, 2008 |last = Johnson |first = Wesley |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209055411/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |archivedate = December 9, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> ===2012 presidential campaign=== {{Main article|United States presidential election, 2012|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012}} [[File:P112912PS-0444 - President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in the Oval Office - crop.jpg|thumb|left|Obama greets former Governor [[Mitt Romney]] in the [[Oval Office]] on November 29, 2012, in their first meeting since Obama's re-election victory over Romney]] [[File:ElectoralCollege2012.svg|right|thumb|275px|2012 electoral vote results]] On April 4, 2011, Obama announced his reelection campaign for 2012 in a video titled "It Begins with Us" that he posted on his website and filed election papers with the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Begins Re-Election Facing New Political Challenges |url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/ |date = April 4, 2011 |first = Michael D. |last = Shear |work = The New York Times (blog) |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110405205656/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/ |archivedate = April 5, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama announces re-election bid |url = http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/04/Obama-announces-re-election-bid/UPI-95081301905800/?dailybrief |date = April 4, 2011 |agency = [[United Press International]] |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110510011832/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/04/Obama-announces-re-election-bid/UPI-95081301905800/?dailybrief |archivedate = May 10, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Opens 2012 Campaign, With Eye on Money and Independent Voters |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/politics/05obama.html?scp=1&sq=obama%202012&st=cse |date = April 4, 2011 |first = Jeff |last = Zeleny |work = The New York Times |first2 = Jackie |last2 = Calmes |lastauthoramp = yes |accessdate = April 5, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121115021431/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/politics/05obama.html?scp=1&sq=obama%202012&st=cse|archivedate=November 15, 2012 }}</ref> As the incumbent president he ran virtually unopposed in the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2012|Democratic Party presidential primaries]],<ref name="CNN-clinch1">{{cite news |url = http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/leading-presidential-candidate-to-clinch-nomination-tuesday/ |title = Leading presidential candidate to clinch nomination Tuesday |publisher = CNN (blog) |author = Yoon, Robert |date = April 3, 2012 |ac(contracted; show full)Signs Repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell": "Out of Many, We Are One" |publisher = The White House |accessdate = December 22, 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101225051110/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/22/president-signs-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-out-many-we-are-one |archivedate = December 25, 2010 }}</ref> In 2016, the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] ended the policy that also barred [[transgender]] people from serving openly in the military.<ref name= "TransBan1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/30/us-military-ends-ban-transgender-service-members|title=US military ends ban on transgender service members|publisher=The Guardian|date=June 30, 2016}}</ref> (contracted; show full)BS News]] |date = May 9, 2012 |accessdate = May 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="The Huffington Post">{{cite news |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html |title = Obama Backs Gay Marriage |author = Stein, Sam |date = May 9, 2012 |work = The Huffington Post |publisher = AOL Inc |accessdate = July 5, 2015 }}</ref> During his second [[Second inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugural address]] on January 21, 2013,<ref name="NYT20130121" /> Obama became the first president to call for full equality for gay Americans: "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." This was the first time that a president mentioned [[LGBT rights in the United States|gay rights]] or the word "gay" in an inaugural address.<ref>{{cite news |last = Robillard |first = Kevi(contracted; show full)1/22/renewed-call-action-end-rape-and-sexual-assault |title = A renewed call to action to end rape and sexual assault |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref> Obama also established the [[White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault]] through an official United States government memorandum on January 22, 2014, with a broad mandate to advise him on issues relating to sexual assault on college and university campuses throughout the United States.<ref name="Sexualassault" /><ref name="Memo">{{cite web |url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/22/memorandum-establishing-white-house-task-force-protect-students-sexual-a |title = Memorandum: Establishing White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Freedom">{{cite web |url = http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/obama-we-have-power-end-sexual-assaults |title = Obama admin: Freedom from sexual assault a basic human right |publisher = MSNBC |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref> The current co-chairs of the Task Force are Vice President [[Joe Biden]] and Jarrett.<ref name="Memo" /> The Task Force has been a development out of the White House Council on Women and Girls and [[Office of the Vice President of the United States]], and prior to that, the 1994 [[Violence Against Women Act]] that was first-drafted by Biden.<ref name="Report">[http://www.sapr.mil/public/docs/research/201401_WhiteHouse_CouncilonWomenandGirls_RapeandSexualAssault.pdf "Rape and sexual assault: A renewed call to action"], ''White House Council on Women and Girls'', Washington, D.C.: White House Council on Women and Girls & Office of the Vice President, January 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.</ref> ====Economic policy==== {{Main article|Economic policy of the Barack Obama administration}} [[File:20090124 WeeklyAddress.ogv|right|thumbtime=1:3|thumb|Obama presents his first [[commons:Obama Administration weekly video addresses|weekly address]] as President of the United States on January 24, 2009, discussing the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]|alt=Photograph]] On February 17, 2009, Obama signed the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], a $787 billion [[stimulus (economics)|economic stimulus]] package aimed at helping the economy recover from the [[Great Recession|deepening worldwide recession]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus/index.html |title = Stimulus package en route to Obama's desk |accessdate = March 29, 2009 |publisher = CNN |date = February 14, 2009 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090330094958/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus/index.html |archivedate = March 30, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref> The act includes increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and [[tax incentive|incentives]], and direct assistance to individuals.<ref name="direct assistance" /> In March, Obama's Treasury Secretary, [[Timothy Geithner]], took further steps to manage the [[financial crisis of 2007–08|financial crisis]], including introducing the [[Public–Private Investment Program for Legacy Assets]], which contains provisions for buying up to two trillion dollars in depreciated real estate assets.<ref name="markets opened" /> Obama intervened in the [[automotive industry crisis of 2008–10|troubled automotive industry]]<ref>{{cite news|title=White House questions viability of GM, Chrysler |date=March 30, 2009 |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/30/obama-denies-bailout-fund_n_180563.html |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407010806/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/30/obama-denies-bailout-fund_n_180563.html |archivedate=April 7, 2009 }}</ref> in March 2009, renewing loans for [[General Motors]] and [[Chrysler]] to continue operations while reorganizing. Over the following months the White House set terms for both firms' bankruptcies, including the [[Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization|sale of Chrysler]] to Italian automaker [[Fiat]]<ref>{{cite news |title = Chrysler and Union Agree to Deal Before Federal Deadline |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/business/27chrysler.html |work = The New York Times |first1 = Nick |last1 = Bunkley |first2 = Bill |last2 = Vlasic |date = April 27, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2010 }}</ref> and a [[General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization|reorganization of GM]] giving the U.S. government a temporary 60% equity stake in the company, with the Canadian government taking a 12% stake.<ref>{{cite web|title=GM Begins Bankruptcy Process With Filing for Affiliate |first1=John |last1=Hughes |first2=Caroline |last2=Salas |first3=Jeff |last3=Green |first4=Bob |last4=Van Voris |url=http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&><ref name="Memo">{{cite web |url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/22/memorandum-establishing-white-house-task-force-protect-students-sexual-a |title = Memorandum: Establishing White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Freedom">{{cite web |url = http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/obama-we-have-power-end-sexual-assaults |title = Obama admin: Freedom from sexual assault a basic human right |publisher = MSNBC |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref> The current co-chairs of the Task Force are Vice President [[Joe Biden]] and Jarrett.<ref name="Memo"> The Task Force has been a development out of the White House Council on Women and Girls and [[Office of the Vice President of the United States]], and prior to that, the 1994 [[Violence Against Women Act]] that was first-drafted by Biden.<ref name="Report">[http://www.sapr.mil/public/docs/research/201401_WhiteHouse_CouncilonWomenandGirls_RapeandSexualAssault.pdf "Rape and sexual assault: A renewed call to action"], ''White House Council on Women and Girls'', Washington, D.C.: White House Council on Women and Girls & Office of the Vice President, January 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.</ref> ====Economic policy==== {{Main article|Economic policy of the Barack Obama administration}} [[File:20090124 WeeklyAddress.ogv|right|thumbtime=1:3|thumb|Obama presents his first [[commons:Obama Administration weekly video addresses|weekly address]] as President of the United States on January 24, 2009, discussing the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]|alt=Photograph]] On February 17, 2009, Obama signed the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], a $787 billion [[stimulus (economics)|economic stimulus]] package aimed at helping the economy recover from the [[Great Recession|deepening worldwide recession]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus/index.html |title = Stimulus package en route to Obama's desk |accessdate = March 29, 2009 |publisher = CNN |date = February 14, 2009 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090330094958/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus/index.html |archivedate = March 30, 2009 |deadurl = no }}</ref> The act includes increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and [[tax incentive|incentives]], and direct assistance to individuals.<ref name="direct assistance"> In March, Obama's Treasury Secretary, [[Timothy Geithner]], took further steps to manage the [[financial crisis of 2007–08|financial crisis]], including introducing the [[Public–Private Investment Program for Legacy Assets]], which contains provisions for buying up to two trillion dollars in depreciated real estate assets.<ref name="markets opened"> Obama intervened in the [[automotive industry crisis of 2008–10|troubled automotive industry]]<ref>{{cite news|title=White House questions viability of GM, Chrysler |date=March 30, 2009 |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/30/obama-denies-bailout-fund_n_180563.html |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407010806/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/30/obama-denies-bailout-fund_n_180563.html |archivedate=April 7, 2009 }}</ref> in March 2009, renewing loans for [[General Motors]] and [[Chrysler]] to continue operations while reorganizing. Over the following months the White House set terms for both firms' bankruptcies, including the [[Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization|sale of Chrysler]] to Italian automaker [[Fiat]]<ref>{{cite news |title = Chrysler and Union Agree to Deal Before Federal Deadline |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/business/27chrysler.html |work = The New York Times |first1 = Nick |last1 = Bunkley |first2 = Bill |last2 = Vlasic |date = April 27, 2009 |accessdate = April 12, 2010 }}</ref> and a [[General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization|reorganization of GM]] giving the U.S. government a temporary 60% equity stake in the company, with the Canadian government taking a 12% stake.<ref>{{cite web|title=GM Begins Bankruptcy Process With Filing for Affiliate |first1=John |last1=Hughes |first2=Caroline |last2=Salas |first3=Jeff |last3=Green |first4=Bob |last4=Van Voris |url=http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aw4F_L7E4xYg |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=June 1, 2009 |accessdate=July 5, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613163056/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087 |archivedate=June 13, 2010 }}</ref> In June 2009, dissatisfied with the pace of economic stimulus, Obama called on his cabinet to accelerate the investment.<ref name="Christopher Conkey and Louise Radnofsky">{{cite news |title = Obama Presses Cabinet to Speed Stimulus Spending |date = Ju(contracted; show full)he unemployment rate continued to decline, falling to 6.3% in the first quarter.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000 |title = Unemployment Rate |publisher = [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] |accessdate = June 6, 2014 }}</ref> GDP growth returned in the third quarter of 2009, expanding at a rate of 1.6%, followed by a 5.0% increase in the fourth quarter.<ref name="BEA1">{{cite web |url = http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1& ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Qtr&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid |title = Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product (Quarterly) |work = National Income and Product Accounts Table |publisher = Bureau of Economic Analysis |accessdate = April 7, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110512014536/http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Qtr&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no |archivedate = May 12, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Growth continued in 2010, posting an increase of 3.7% in the first quarter, with lesser gains throughout the rest of the year.<ref name="BEA1" /> In July 2010, the [[Federal Reserve System|Federal Reserve]] noted that economic activity continued to increase, but its pace had slowed, and chairman [[Ben Bernanke]] said the economic outlook was "unusually uncertain".<ref>{{cite web |last = Harding |first = Robin |title = Beige Book survey reports signs of slowdown |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dac3245a-9a7b-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html |work = Financial Times |accessdate = July 29, 2010 |date = July 28, 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100729184009/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dac3245a-9a7b-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html|archivedate=July 29, 2010 }}</ref> Overall, the economy expanded at a rate of 2.9% in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Year&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid |title = Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product (Annual) |work = National Income and Product Accounts Table |publisher = Bureau of Economic Analysis |accessdate = April 7, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110512014513/http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Year&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no |archivedate = May 12, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> The Congressional Budget Office and a broad range of economists credit Obama's stimulus plan for economic growth.<ref name="estimated" /><ref name="newc" /amp;ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Qtr&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid |title = Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product (Quarterly) |work = National Income and Product Accounts Table |publisher = Bureau of Economic Analysis |accessdate = April 7, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110512014536/http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Qtr&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no |archivedate = May 12, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Growth continued in 2010, posting an increase of 3.7% in the first quarter, with lesser gains throughout the rest of the year.<ref name="BEA1"> In July 2010, the [[Federal Reserve System|Federal Reserve]] noted that economic activity continued to increase, but its pace had slowed, and chairman [[Ben Bernanke]] said the economic outlook was "unusually uncertain".<ref>{{cite web |last = Harding |first = Robin |title = Beige Book survey reports signs of slowdown |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dac3245a-9a7b-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html |work = Financial Times |accessdate = July 29, 2010 |date = July 28, 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100729184009/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dac3245a-9a7b-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html|archivedate=July 29, 2010 }}</ref> Overall, the economy expanded at a rate of 2.9% in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Year&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid |title = Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product (Annual) |work = National Income and Product Accounts Table |publisher = Bureau of Economic Analysis |accessdate = April 7, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110512014513/http://bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=1&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Year&FirstYear=2009&LastYear=2010&3Place=N&Update=Update&JavaBox=no |archivedate = May 12, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> The Congressional Budget Office and a broad range of economists credit Obama's stimulus plan for economic growth.<ref name="estimated"><ref name="newc"> The CBO released a report stating that the stimulus bill increased employment by 1–2.1 million,<ref name="newc">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/business/economy/21stimulus.html |title = New Consensus Sees Stimulus Package as Worthy Step |work = The New York Times |date = November 20, 2009 |accessdate = December 21, 2010 |first1 = Jackie |last1 = Calmes |first2 = Michael |last2 = Cooper |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230904/http://www.nyt(contracted; show full) a bipartisan commission to recommend new safety standards, after a review by [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] [[Ken Salazar]] and concurrent Congressional hearings. He then announced a six-month moratorium on new [[deepwater drilling]] permits and leases, pending regulatory review.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Halts Drilling Projects, Defends Actions |publisher = NPR |date = May 27, 2010 |url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127205462& amp;ps=rs }}</ref> As multiple efforts by BP failed, some in the media and public expressed confusion and criticism over various aspects of the incident, and stated a desire for more involvement by Obama and the federal government.<ref>{{cite news |first = Patrik |last = Jonsson |url = http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0529/Gulf-oil-spill-Obama-s-big-political-test |title = Gulf oil spill: Obama's big political test |work = [[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date = May 29, 2010 |access(contracted; show full) Obama has emphasized the [[Conservation movement|conservation]] of [[federal lands]] during his term in office. He used his power under the [[Antiquities Act]] to create 25 new [[National Monument (United States)|national monuments]] during his presidency and expand four others, protecting a total of {{convert|553,000,000|acre|ha}} of federal lands and waters, more than any other U.S. president.<ref name="Monuments">Juliet Eilperin & amp; Brady Dennis, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/with-new-monuments-in-nevada-utah-obama-adds-to-his-environmental-legacy/2016/12/28/e9833f62-c471-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html With new monuments in Nevada, Utah, Obama adds to his environmental legacy], ''The Washington Post'' (December 28, 2016). * [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/31/opinion/sunday/monuments-man.html Monuments Man], ''The New York Times'' (December 31, 2016). * [http://www.npr.org/2016/12/29/507436648/obama-s-newly-designated-national-monuments-upset-some-lawmakers-and-constituent Obama's Newly Designated National Monuments Upset Some Lawmakers], NPR, ''[[All Things Considered]]'' (December 29, 2016) * Amy R. Connolly, [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/02/13/Obama-expands-public-lands-more-than-any-US-president/1161455298784/ Obama expands public lands more than any U.S. president], [[United Press International]] (February 13, 2016).</ref> ====Health care reform==== {{Main article|Health care reform in the United States}} [[File:Obama signs health care-20100323.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph|Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the White House, March 23, 2010]] Obama called for [[United States Congress|Congress]] to pass legislation reforming [[health care in the United States]], a key campaign promise and a top legislative goal.<ref name="health reform" /> He proposed an expansion of health insurance coverage to cover the uninsured, to cap premium increases, and to allow people to retain their coverage when they leave or change jobs. His proposal was to spend $900 billion over 10 years and include a government insurance plan, also known as the [[public health insurance option|public option]], to compete with the corporate insurance sector as a main component to lowering costs and improving quality of health care. It would also make it illegal fo(contracted; show full)s |last = Rice |first = Sabriya |url = http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/25/health.care.law.basics/index.html |title = 5 key things to remember about health care reform |publisher = CNN |date = March 25, 2010 |accessdate = January 6, 2013 }}</ref> subsidizing insurance premiums for people making up to 400% of the FPL ($88,000 for family of four in 2010) so their maximum "out-of-pocket" payment for annual premiums will be from 2% to 9.5% of income,<ref name="whitehouse" /><ref>{{cite news |last = Grier |first = Peter |url = http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0320/Health-care-reform-bill-101-Who-gets-subsidized-insurance |date = March 20, 2010 |title = Health Care Reform Bill 101 |newspaper = [[The Christian Science Monitor]] |accessdate = July 5, 2015 }}</ref> providing incentives for businesses to provide health care benefits, prohibiting denial of coverage and denial of claims based on pre-existing conditions, establishing [[health insurance exchang(contracted; show full)27;[[King v. Burwell]]'' that subsidies to help individuals and families purchase health insurance were authorized for those doing so on both the federal exchange and state exchanges, not only those purchasing plans "established by the State", as the statute reads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/06/25/supreme-court-upholds-obamacare-subsidies-in-king-v-burwell |title=Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare Subsidies |author=Kimberly Leonard |work=US News & amp; World Report |accessdate=November 25, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116072123/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/06/25/supreme-court-upholds-obamacare-subsidies-in-king-v-burwell |archivedate=January 16, 2016 |df= }}</ref> ====Energy policy==== {{Main article|Energy policy of the Obama administration}} (contracted; show full)e news |title = What's in Obama's Gun Control Proposal |url = https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/16/us/obama-gun-control-proposal.html |work = The New York Times |date = January 16, 2013 |accessdate = February 12, 2013 }}</ref> On January 5, 2016, Obama announced new [[Executive order|executive actions]] extending background check requirements to more gun sellers.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/politics/obama-gun-control-executive-action/?iid=ob_lockedrail_bottomlist& amp;iref=obinsite "Obama announces gun control executive action (full transcript)"] CNN. January 5, 2016. January 7, 2016.</ref> In a 2016 editorial in the ''New York Times'', Obama compared the struggle for what he termed "common-sense gun reform" to [[women's suffrage]] and other civil rights movements in American history.<ref>Obama, Barack. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/president-barack-obama-guns-are-our-shared-responsibility.html "(contracted; show full) In February and March 2009, Vice President Joe Biden and [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] Hillary Rodham Clinton made separate overseas trips to announce a "new era" in U.S. foreign relations with Russia and Europe, using the terms "break" and "[[Russian reset|reset]]" to signal major changes from the policies of the preceding administration.<ref name="preceding administration" /> Obama attempted to reach out to Arab leaders by granting his first interview to an Arab cable TV network, [[Al Arabiya]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama reaches out to Muslim world on TV |publisher = MSNBC |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28869185/ |accessdate = June 15, 2009 |date = January 27, 2009 }}</ref> (contracted; show full) by many Arab governments.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama speech draws praise in Mideast |work = The Guardian |location = London |url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/8443248 |accessdate = June 15, 2009 |date = January 23, 2008 }}</ref> On June 4, 2009, Obama delivered a speech at [[Cairo University]] in Egypt calling for "[[A New Beginning]]" in relations between the Islamic world and the United States and promoting Middle East peace.<ref name="middleeast" /> On June 26, 2009, Obama responded to the Iranian government's actions towards protesters following [[Iranian presidential election, 2009|Iran's 2009 presidential election]] by saying: "The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. We see it and we condemn it."<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/26/obama-dismisses-ahmadinejad-apology-request/ |title = Obama dismisses Ahmadinejad apology request |work = The Washington Times |date = June 2(contracted; show full)/us/1-000-soldiers-from-the-82nd-airborne-headed-to-iraq-1.320194 |title = 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne headed to Iraq |work = Stars and Stripes |accessdate = August 23, 2015 }}</ref> and by July American-led coalition air forces counted 44,000 sorties over the battlefield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/07/21/stealthy-jet-ensures-other-war-fighting-aircraft-survive |title=Stealthy Jet Ensures Other War-Fighting Aircraft Survive |work=US News & amp; World Report |accessdate=August 23, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813053355/http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/07/21/stealthy-jet-ensures-other-war-fighting-aircraft-survive |archivedate=August 13, 2015 |df= }}</ref> ====War in Afghanistan==== {{Main article|War in Afghanistan (2001–14)}} (contracted; show full)url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/obama-launches-afghanistan-surge/story-e6frg6t6-1111118893671 }}</ref> He replaced the military commander in Afghanistan, General [[David D. McKiernan]], with former [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Special Forces]] commander Lt. Gen. [[Stanley A. McChrystal]] in May 2009, indicating that McChrystal's Special Forces experience would facilitate the use of counterinsurgency tactics in the war.<ref name="counterinsurgency tactics" /> On December 1, 2009, Obama announced the deployment of an additional 30,000 military personnel to Afghanistan and proposed to begin troop withdrawals 18 months from that date;<ref>Associated Press. (December 1, 2009). [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34218604/ "Obama details Afghan war plan, troop increases"] MSNBC.</ref> this took place in July 2011. [[David Petraeus]] replaced McChrystal in June 2010, after McChrystal's staff criticized White House personnel in a magazine artic(contracted; show full) In 2011, the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution condemning [[Israeli settlement]]s, with the United States being the only nation to do so.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37572& amp;Cr=palestin&Cr1 |title = United States vetoes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements |date = February 18, 2011 |work = UN News Service Section |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref> Obama supports the [[two-state solution]] to the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]] based on the 1967 borders with land swaps.<ref>Levy, Elior (May 22, 2011). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4072210,00.html "PA challenges Netanyahu to accept 1967 lines."] ''Ynetnews''. Retrieved May(contracted; show full) In February 2011, protests in Libya began against long-time dictator [[Muammar Gaddafi]] as part of the [[Arab Spring]]. They soon turned violent. In March, as forces loyal to Gaddafi advanced on rebels across Libya, calls for a no-fly zone came from around the world, including Europe, the [[Arab League]], and a resolution<ref>{{cite web |url = http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.FloorStatements& ContentRecord_id=b63b7b6f-a466-ba23-dea8-7bc024f54655 |title = Floor Statement by Senator McCain Introducing the Senate Resolution Calling for a No-Fly Zone in Libya |publisher = Senate.gov |date = March 14, 2011 |accessdate = March 28, 2011 }}</ref> passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://nationaljournal.com/congress/senate-passes-resolution-calling-for-no-fly-zone-over-libya-20110301?page=1 |title = Senate Passes Resolution Calling for No-Fly Zone Over Libya |work = [[National Journal]] |date = March 1, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511121418/http://nationaljournal.com/congress/senate-passes-resolution-calling-for-no-fly-zone-over-libya-20110301?page=1 |archivedate = May 11, 2011 }}</ref> In response to the unanimous passage of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973]] on March 17, Gaddafi—who had previously vowed to "show no mercy" to the rebels of Benghazi<ref>{{cite news |last = Winnett |first = Robert |url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8389565/Libya-UN-approves-no-fly-zone-as-British-troops-prepare-for-action.html |title = Libya: UN approves no-fly zone as British troops prepare for action |work = The Daily Telegraph |place = London |date = March 17, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110428102507/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8389565/Libya-UN-approves-no-fly-zone-as-British-troops-prepare-for-action.html |archivedate = April 28, 2011 }}</ref>—announced an immediate cessation of military activities,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/03/fly-zone-ceasefire-libya |author = Shackle, Samira |title = Libya declares ceasefire |work = New Statesman blog |location = London |date = March 18, 2011 |accessdate = July 16, 2011 }}</ref> yet reports came in that his forces continued shelling [[Misrata]]. The next day, on Obama's orders, the U.S. military took part in air strikes to destroy the Libyan government's air defense capabilities to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly-zone,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1580433&SM=1 |title = Obama: US to Transfer Lead Role in Libya |publisher = RTT Newswire |accessdate = March 22, 2011 }}</ref> including the use of [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk missiles]], [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirits]], and fighter jets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/ap-news-in-brief/ |title=Obama says US efforts in Libya have saved lives, control of operation can be turned over soon |work=Ventura County Star |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=March 22, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828104819/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/ap-news-in-brief/ |archivedate=August 28, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author = Pannell, Ian |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813757 |title = Gaddafi 'not targeted' by allied strikes |publisher = BBC News |date = March 21, 2011 |accessdate = July 3, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110623012338/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813757 |archivedate = June 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/22/f15-fighter-crash-libya |title = F-15 fighter jet crashes in Libya |work = The Guardian |location = London |date = March 22, 2011 |accessdate = March 23, 2011 |first = Sam |last = Jones |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110322190309/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/22/f15-fighter-crash-libya |archivedate = March 22, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Six days later, on March 25, by unanimous vote of all of its 28 members, [[NATO]] took over leadership of the effort, dubbed [[Operation Unified Protector]].<ref name="NATOPressRelease">{{cite web |url = http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_03/20110325_110325-unified-protector-no-fly-zone.pdf |title = NATO No-Fly Zone over Libya Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR |publisher = NATO |date = March 25, 2011 }}</ref> Some Representatives<ref name="LibyaOffensive">{{cite news |url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-obamas-libya-offensive-constitutional/ |title = Is Obama's Libya offensive constitutional? |publisher = CBS News |date = March 22, 2011 |accessdate = March 22, 2011 |first = Brian |last = Montopoli }}</ref> questioned whether Obama had the constitutional authority to order military action in addition to questioning its cost, structure and aftermath.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama's Libya Policy Makes Strange Bedfellows of Congressional Critics |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/obama-libya_n_838219.html |work = The Huffington Post |accessdate = March 26, 2011 |date = March 21, 2011 |first = Sam |last = Stein |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110323083100/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/obama-libya_n_838219.html |archivedate = March 23, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama juggles Libya promises, realities |url = http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/25/obama.libya/index.html?hpt=T1 |publisher = CNN |accessdate = March 26, 2011 |date = March 25, 2011 }}</ref> ====Syrian Civil War==== {{see also|Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War#United States}} On August 18, 2011, several months after the start of the [[Syrian Civil War]], Obama issued a written statement that said: "The time has come for [[Bashar al-Assad|President Assad]] to step aside."<ref name=mustgo>{{cite news|title=Assad must go, Obama says|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/assad-must-go-obama-says/2011/08/18/gIQAelheOJ_story.html |accessdate=November 23, 2015|work=The Washington Post|date=August 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=whstatem>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/18/president-obama-future-syria-must-be-determined-its-people-president-bashar-al-assad "President Obama: 'The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way.{{'"}}] White House website, August 18, 2011.</ref> This stance was reaffirmed in November 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-says-syrian-leader-bashar-al-assad-must-go-1447925671|title=Obama Says Syrian Leader Bashar al-Assad Must Go|author=Nelson, Colleen}}</ref> In 2012, Obama authorized multiple programs run by the CIA and the Pentagon to train anti-Assad rebels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-obama-order-idUSBRE8701OK20120802|author=Hosenball, Mark|title=Obama authorizes secret support for Syrian rebels|accessdate=February 19, 2016}}</ref> The Pentagon-run program was later found to have failed and was formally abandoned in October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/world/middleeast/pentagon-program-islamic-state-syria.html?_r=0|title=Obama Administration Ends Effort to Train Syrians to Combat ISIS|author1=Michael D. Shear |author2=Helene Cooper |author3=Eric Schmitt |accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-idUSKCN0S31BR20151009|title=U.S. pulls plug on Syria rebel training effort; will focus on weapons supply|author1=Phil Stewart |author2=Kate Holton|accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref> In the wake of a [[Ghouta chemical attack|chemical weapons attack]] in Syria, [[U.S. Government Assessment of the Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons on August 21, 2013|formally blamed]] by the Obama administration on the Assad government, Obama chose not to enforce the "red line" he had pledged<ref name="redline">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/17/obama-red-line-erased-as-assad-chemical-weapons-us/?page=all|title=Obama 'red line' erased as Bashar Assad's chemical weapons use goes unchecked by U.S. military|work=The Washington Times |date=May 17, 2015 |accessdate=November 23, 2015}}</ref> and, rather than authorise the promised military action against Assad, went along with the Russia-brokered deal that led to Assad [[Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons|giving up chemical weapons]]; however attacks with [[chlorine gas]] continued.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/world/middleeast/syria-talks.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Destroy Syria's Chemical Arms|author=Gordon, Michael|accessdate=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/syria-got-rid-of-its-chemical-weapons-but-reports-of-attacks-continue/|title=Syria Got Rid of Its Chemical Weapons – But Reports of Attacks Continue|author=Boghani, Priyanka|accessdate=February 19, 2016}}</ref> In 2014, Obama authorized an [[Military intervention against ISIL|air campaign aimed primarily at ISIL]], but repeatedly promised that the U.S. would not deploy ground troops in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/09/obama-strike-wherever-it-exists-2014910223935601193.html|title=Obama outlines plan to target IS fighters|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=September 11, 2014|accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2015/10/30/16-times-obama-said-there-would-no-boots-ground-syria/74869884/|title=16 times Obama said there would be no boots on the ground in Syria|author=Gregory Korte|date=October 31, 2015}}</ref> ====Death of Osama bin Laden==== {{Main article|Death of Osama bin Laden}} [[File:President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden.ogv|thumb|President Obama's address (9:28)<br /> ''Also available:'' [[:File:050111 Osama Bin Laden Death Statement audioonly.ogg|Audio only]]; {{Cws |title=Full text |link=Remarks by the President on Osama bin Laden |nobullet=yes}}]] [[File:Obama and Biden await updates on bin Laden.jpg|left|thumb|Obama and members of the national security team receive an update on [[Operation Neptune's Spear]] in the [[White House Situation Room]], May 1, 2011. See also: [[Situation Room (photograph)|''Situation Room'']]|alt=President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on Operation Neptune's Spear, a mission against Osama bin Laden, in one of the conference rooms of the Situation Room of the White House, on May 1, 2011. They are watching live feed from drones operating over the bin Laden complex.]] Starting with information received from Central Intelligence Agency operatives in July 2010, the CIA developed intelligence over the next several months that determined what they believed to be the hideout of [[Osama bin Laden]]. He was living in seclusion in [[Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad|a large compound]] in [[Abbottabad]], Pakistan, a suburban area {{convert|35|mi|km}} from [[Islamabad]].<ref name="NYT-clues">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/world/asia/03intel.html?pagewanted=all |title = Clues Gradually Led to the Location of Osama bin Laden |last = Mazzetti |first = Mark |author2 = Helene Cooper |author3 = Peter Baker |date = May 3, 2011 |work = The New York Times |accessdate = May 4, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110503190900/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/world/asia/03intel.html?pagewanted=all |archivedate = May 3, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> CIA head [[Leon Panetta]] reported this intelligence to President Obama in March 2011.<ref name="NYT-clues" /> Meeting with his national security advisers over the course of the next six weeks, Obama rejected a plan to bomb the compound, and authorized a "surgical raid" to be conducted by [[United States Navy SEALs]].<ref name="NYT-clues" /> The operation took place on May 1, 2011, and resulted in the shooting death of bin Laden and the seizure of papers, computer drives and disks from the compound.<ref name="WP-binLaden">{{cite web |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/osama-bin-laden-is-killed-by-us-forces-in-pakistan/2011/05/01/AFXMZyVF_story.html |title = Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan |work = The Washington Post |accessdate = September 13, 2014 |date = May 2, 2011 |first1 = Philip |last1 = Rucker |first2 = Scott |last2 = Wilson |first3 = Anne E. |last3 = Kornblut }}</ref><ref name="ND-binLaden">{{cite web |url = http://www.newsday.com/news/breaking/official-offers-details-of-bin-laden-raid-1.2853079 |title = Official offers details of bin Laden raid |work = Newsday |accessdate = September 13, 2014 |date = May 2, 2011 }}</ref> DNA testing was one of five methods used to positively identify bin Laden's corpse,<ref name="ABC-binLaden">{{cite news |url = http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/osama-bin-laden-killed/story?id=13505703 |title = Osama bin Laden Killed by U.S. Forces in Pakistan |last = Schabner |first = Dean |author2 = Karen Travers |date = May 1, 2011 |publisher = ABC News |accessdate = May 3, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110504021523/http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/osama-bin-laden-killed/story?id=13505703 |archivedate = May 4, 2011 }}</ref> which was buried at sea several hours later.<ref name="NYT-ObamaAnnounce">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html |title=Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says |last=Baker |first=Peter |author2=Helene Cooper |author3=Mark Mazzetti |date=May 2, 2011 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 3, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505195308/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html |archivedate=May 5, 2011 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> Within minutes of the President's announcement from Washington, DC, late in the evening on May 1, there were spontaneous celebrations around the country as crowds gathered outside the White House, and at New York City's [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] and [[Times Square]].<ref name="WP-binLaden" /amp;ContentRecord_id=b63b7b6f-a466-ba23-dea8-7bc024f54655 |title = Floor Statement by Senator McCain Introducing the Senate Resolution Calling for a No-Fly Zone in Libya |publisher = Senate.gov |date = March 14, 2011 |accessdate = March 28, 2011 }}</ref> passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://nationaljournal.com/congress/senate-passes-resolution-calling-for-no-fly-zone-over-libya-20110301?page=1 |title = Senate Passes Resolution Calling for No-Fly Zone Over Libya |work = [[National Journal]] |date = March 1, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511121418/http://nationaljournal.com/congress/senate-passes-resolution-calling-for-no-fly-zone-over-libya-20110301?page=1 |archivedate = May 11, 2011 }}</ref> In response to the unanimous passage of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973]] on March 17, Gaddafi—who had previously vowed to "show no mercy" to the rebels of Benghazi<ref>{{cite news |last = Winnett |first = Robert |url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8389565/Libya-UN-approves-no-fly-zone-as-British-troops-prepare-for-action.html |title = Libya: UN approves no-fly zone as British troops prepare for action |work = The Daily Telegraph |place = London |date = March 17, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110428102507/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8389565/Libya-UN-approves-no-fly-zone-as-British-troops-prepare-for-action.html |archivedate = April 28, 2011 }}</ref>—announced an immediate cessation of military activities,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/03/fly-zone-ceasefire-libya |author = Shackle, Samira |title = Libya declares ceasefire |work = New Statesman blog |location = London |date = March 18, 2011 |accessdate = July 16, 2011 }}</ref> yet reports came in that his forces continued shelling [[Misrata]]. The next day, on Obama's orders, the U.S. military took part in air strikes to destroy the Libyan government's air defense capabilities to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly-zone,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1580433&SM=1 |title = Obama: US to Transfer Lead Role in Libya |publisher = RTT Newswire |accessdate = March 22, 2011 }}</ref> including the use of [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk missiles]], [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirits]], and fighter jets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/ap-news-in-brief/ |title=Obama says US efforts in Libya have saved lives, control of operation can be turned over soon |work=Ventura County Star |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=March 22, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828104819/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/ap-news-in-brief/ |archivedate=August 28, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author = Pannell, Ian |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813757 |title = Gaddafi 'not targeted' by allied strikes |publisher = BBC News |date = March 21, 2011 |accessdate = July 3, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110623012338/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813757 |archivedate = June 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/22/f15-fighter-crash-libya |title = F-15 fighter jet crashes in Libya |work = The Guardian |location = London |date = March 22, 2011 |accessdate = March 23, 2011 |first = Sam |last = Jones |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110322190309/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/22/f15-fighter-crash-libya |archivedate = March 22, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Six days later, on March 25, by unanimous vote of all of its 28 members, [[NATO]] took over leadership of the effort, dubbed [[Operation Unified Protector]].<ref name="NATOPressRelease">{{cite web |url = http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_03/20110325_110325-unified-protector-no-fly-zone.pdf |title = NATO No-Fly Zone over Libya Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR |publisher = NATO |date = March 25, 2011 }}</ref> Some Representatives<ref name="LibyaOffensive">{{cite news |url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-obamas-libya-offensive-constitutional/ |title = Is Obama's Libya offensive constitutional? |publisher = CBS News |date = March 22, 2011 |accessdate = March 22, 2011 |first = Brian |last = Montopoli }}</ref> questioned whether Obama had the constitutional authority to order military action in addition to questioning its cost, structure and aftermath.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama's Libya Policy Makes Strange Bedfellows of Congressional Critics |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/obama-libya_n_838219.html |work = The Huffington Post |accessdate = March 26, 2011 |date = March 21, 2011 |first = Sam |last = Stein |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110323083100/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/obama-libya_n_838219.html |archivedate = March 23, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama juggles Libya promises, realities |url = http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/25/obama.libya/index.html?hpt=T1 |publisher = CNN |accessdate = March 26, 2011 |date = March 25, 2011 }}</ref> ====Syrian Civil War==== {{see also|Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War#United States}} On August 18, 2011, several months after the start of the [[Syrian Civil War]], Obama issued a written statement that said: "The time has come for [[Bashar al-Assad|President Assad]] to step aside."<ref name="mustgo">{{cite news|title=Assad must go, Obama says|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/assad-must-go-obama-says/2011/08/18/gIQAelheOJ_story.html |accessdate=November 23, 2015|work=The Washington Post|date=August 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name="whstatem">[https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/18/president-obama-future-syria-must-be-determined-its-people-president-bashar-al-assad "President Obama: 'The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way.{{'"}}] White House website, August 18, 2011.</ref> This stance was reaffirmed in November 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-says-syrian-leader-bashar-al-assad-must-go-1447925671|title=Obama Says Syrian Leader Bashar al-Assad Must Go|author=Nelson, Colleen}}</ref> In 2012, Obama authorized multiple programs run by the CIA and the Pentagon to train anti-Assad rebels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-obama-order-idUSBRE8701OK20120802|author=Hosenball, Mark|title=Obama authorizes secret support for Syrian rebels|accessdate=February 19, 2016}}</ref> The Pentagon-run program was later found to have failed and was formally abandoned in October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/world/middleeast/pentagon-program-islamic-state-syria.html?_r=0|title=Obama Administration Ends Effort to Train Syrians to Combat ISIS|author1=Michael D. Shear |author2=Helene Cooper |author3=Eric Schmitt |accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-idUSKCN0S31BR20151009|title=U.S. pulls plug on Syria rebel training effort; will focus on weapons supply|author1=Phil Stewart |author2=Kate Holton|accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref> In the wake of a [[Ghouta chemical attack|chemical weapons attack]] in Syria, [[U.S. Government Assessment of the Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons on August 21, 2013|formally blamed]] by the Obama administration on the Assad government, Obama chose not to enforce the "red line" he had pledged<ref name="redline">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/17/obama-red-line-erased-as-assad-chemical-weapons-us/?page=all|title=Obama 'red line' erased as Bashar Assad's chemical weapons use goes unchecked by U.S. military|work=The Washington Times |date=May 17, 2015 |accessdate=November 23, 2015}}</ref> and, rather than authorise the promised military action against Assad, went along with the Russia-brokered deal that led to Assad [[Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons|giving up chemical weapons]]; however attacks with [[chlorine gas]] continued.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/world/middleeast/syria-talks.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Destroy Syria's Chemical Arms|author=Gordon, Michael|accessdate=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/syria-got-rid-of-its-chemical-weapons-but-reports-of-attacks-continue/|title=Syria Got Rid of Its Chemical Weapons – But Reports of Attacks Continue|author=Boghani, Priyanka|accessdate=February 19, 2016}}</ref> In 2014, Obama authorized an [[Military intervention against ISIL|air campaign aimed primarily at ISIL]], but repeatedly promised that the U.S. would not deploy ground troops in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/09/obama-strike-wherever-it-exists-2014910223935601193.html|title=Obama outlines plan to target IS fighters|publisher=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=September 11, 2014|accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2015/10/30/16-times-obama-said-there-would-no-boots-ground-syria/74869884/|title=16 times Obama said there would be no boots on the ground in Syria|author=Gregory Korte|date=October 31, 2015}}</ref> ====Death of Osama bin Laden==== {{Main article|Death of Osama bin Laden}} [[File:President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden.ogv|thumb|President Obama's address (9:28)<br> ''Also available:'' [[:File:050111 Osama Bin Laden Death Statement audioonly.ogg|Audio only]]; {{Cws |title=Full text |link=Remarks by the President on Osama bin Laden |nobullet=yes}}]] [[File:Obama and Biden await updates on bin Laden.jpg|left|thumb|Obama and members of the national security team receive an update on [[Operation Neptune's Spear]] in the [[White House Situation Room]], May 1, 2011. See also: [[Situation Room (photograph)|''Situation Room'']]|alt=President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on Operation Neptune's Spear, a mission against Osama bin Laden, in one of the conference rooms of the Situation Room of the White House, on May 1, 2011. They are watching live feed from drones operating over the bin Laden complex.]] Starting with information received from Central Intelligence Agency operatives in July 2010, the CIA developed intelligence over the next several months that determined what they believed to be the hideout of [[Osama bin Laden]]. He was living in seclusion in [[Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad|a large compound]] in [[Abbottabad]], Pakistan, a suburban area {{convert|35|mi|km}} from [[Islamabad]].<ref name="NYT-clues">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/world/asia/03intel.html?pagewanted=all |title = Clues Gradually Led to the Location of Osama bin Laden |last = Mazzetti |first = Mark |author2 = Helene Cooper |author3 = Peter Baker |date = May 3, 2011 |work = The New York Times |accessdate = May 4, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110503190900/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/world/asia/03intel.html?pagewanted=all |archivedate = May 3, 2011 |deadurl = no }}</ref> CIA head [[Leon Panetta]] reported this intelligence to President Obama in March 2011.<ref name="NYT-clues"> Meeting with his national security advisers over the course of the next six weeks, Obama rejected a plan to bomb the compound, and authorized a "surgical raid" to be conducted by [[United States Navy SEALs]].<ref name="NYT-clues"> The operation took place on May 1, 2011, and resulted in the shooting death of bin Laden and the seizure of papers, computer drives and disks from the compound.<ref name="WP-binLaden">{{cite web |url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/osama-bin-laden-is-killed-by-us-forces-in-pakistan/2011/05/01/AFXMZyVF_story.html |title = Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan |work = The Washington Post |accessdate = September 13, 2014 |date = May 2, 2011 |first1 = Philip |last1 = Rucker |first2 = Scott |last2 = Wilson |first3 = Anne E. |last3 = Kornblut }}</ref><ref name="ND-binLaden">{{cite web |url = http://www.newsday.com/news/breaking/official-offers-details-of-bin-laden-raid-1.2853079 |title = Official offers details of bin Laden raid |work = Newsday |accessdate = September 13, 2014 |date = May 2, 2011 }}</ref> DNA testing was one of five methods used to positively identify bin Laden's corpse,<ref name="ABC-binLaden">{{cite news |url = http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/osama-bin-laden-killed/story?id=13505703 |title = Osama bin Laden Killed by U.S. Forces in Pakistan |last = Schabner |first = Dean |author2 = Karen Travers |date = May 1, 2011 |publisher = ABC News |accessdate = May 3, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110504021523/http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/osama-bin-laden-killed/story?id=13505703 |archivedate = May 4, 2011 }}</ref> which was buried at sea several hours later.<ref name="NYT-ObamaAnnounce">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html |title=Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says |last=Baker |first=Peter |author2=Helene Cooper |author3=Mark Mazzetti |date=May 2, 2011 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 3, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505195308/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html |archivedate=May 5, 2011 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> Within minutes of the President's announcement from Washington, DC, late in the evening on May 1, there were spontaneous celebrations around the country as crowds gathered outside the White House, and at New York City's [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] and [[Times Square]].<ref name="WP-binLaden"><ref name="Guard-ObamaAnnounce">{{cite news |last = Walsh |first = Declan |author2 = Richard Adams |author3 = Ewen MacAskill |url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-dead-obama |title = Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama announces |date = May 2, 2011 |work = The Guardian |place = London |accessdate = May 3, 2011 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110503154000/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-dead-obama |archivedate = May 3, 2011(contracted; show full)t over questions about whether he is "black enough", Obama told an August 2007 meeting of the [[National Association of Black Journalists]] that "we're still locked in this notion that if you appeal to white folks then there must be something wrong."<ref>{{cite news |first = Les |last = Payne |title = In One Country, a Dual Audience |format = paid archive |date = August 19, 2007 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/1322008241.html?dids=1322008241:1322008241& amp;FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |work = Newsday |place = New York |accessdate = April 7, 2008 }}</ref> Obama acknowledged his youthful image in an October 2007 campaign speech, saying: "I wouldn't be here if, time and again, the torch had not been passed to a new generation."<ref>{{cite news |first = Mike |last = Dorning |title = Obama Reaches Across Decades to JFK |format = paid archive |date = October 4, 2007 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1353513781.html?dids=1353513781:1353513781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+4%2C+2007&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+4%2C+2007&author=Mike+Dorning |work = Chicago Tribune |accessdate = April 7, 2008 }} See also:{{cite news |first = Toby |last = Harnden |title = Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide |date = October 15, 2007 |url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565992/Barack-Obama-is-JFK-heir%2C-says-Kennedy-aide.html |work = The Daily Telegraph |place = London |accessdate = April 7, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080515071852/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565992/Barack-Obama-is-JFK-heir%2C-says-Kennedy-aide.html |archivedate = May 15, 2008 |deadurl = no }}</ref> Obama is frequently referred to as an exceptional orator.<ref name="exceptional orator" /> During his pre-inauguration transition period and continuing into his presidency, Obama delivered a series of weekly Internet video addresses.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.youtube.com/user/ChangeDotGov |title = YouTube – ChangeDotGov's Channel |publisher = YouTube |accessdate = April 18, 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100220004338/http://www.youtube.com/user/ChangeDotGov|archivedate=February 20, 2010 }}</ref> Former presidential campaign surrogate and Ge(contracted; show full)au/news/stories/2008/09/09/2360240.htm |title = World wants Obama as president: poll |agency = Reuters |date = September 9, 2008 |publisher = ABC News }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Wike|first1=Richard|last2=Poushter|first2=Jacob|last3=Zainulbhai|first3=Hani|title=As Obama Years Draw to Close, President and U.S. Seen Favorably in Europe and Asia|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/06/29/as-obama-years-draw-to-close-president-and-u-s-seen-favorably-in-europe-and-asia/|website=Global Attitudes & amp; Trends|publisher=Pew Research Center|accessdate=23 February 2017|date=29 June 2016}}</ref> In a February 2009 poll conducted in Western Europe and the U.S. by [[Harris Interactive]] for [[France 24]] and the ''[[International Herald Tribune]]'', Obama was rated as the most respected world leader, as well as the most powerful.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/americas/06iht-poll.4.19983290.html |title = Poll shows Obama atop list of most respect(contracted; show full)l-prize-in-part-for-confronting-55250.html |archivedate = April 15, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author = Sharon Otterman |title = World Reaction to a Nobel Surprise |newspaper = The New York Times |date = October 9, 2009 |url = http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/world-reaction-to-a-nobel-surprise/?hp#bozoanchor |accessdate = October 9, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUKTRE5983AM20091009?virtualBrandChannel=11621& amp;sp=true |title = Obama Peace Prize win has Americans asking why? |agency = Reuters |accessdate = October 9, 2009 |date = October 9, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33237202/ |title = Obama: Nobel Peace Prize 'a call to action' – Politics – White House |publisher = MSNBC |accessdate = September 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5981JK20091009?sp=true |title = Obama is surprise winner of Nobel Peace Prize |accessdate = October 9, 2009 |date = October 9, 2009 |agency = Reuters }}</ref><ref name="whr1">{{cite web |url = https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-winning-nobel-peace-prize |title = Remarks by the President on Winning the Nobel Peace Prize |accessdate = September 13, 2014}}</ref> Obama's peace prize was called a "stunning surprise" by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html |work = The New York Times |title = Surprise Nobel for Obama Stirs Praise an(contracted; show full) the [[John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum]] awarded the annual [[Profile in Courage Award]] to Obama "for his enduring commitment to democratic ideals and elevating the standard of political courage."<ref>{{cite web|title=Former President Barack H. Obama Announced as Recipient of 2017 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award|url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/About-Us/News-and-Press/Press-Releases/2017-Profile-in-Courage-Award.aspx|website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & amp; Museum|publisher=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum|accessdate=8 April 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408015950/https://www.jfklibrary.org/About-Us/News-and-Press/Press-Releases/2017-Profile-in-Courage-Award.aspx|archivedate=8 April 2017|date=2 March 2017}}</ref> (contracted; show full) ==Legacy== Obama's most significant legacy is generally considered to be the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], provisions of which went into effect from 2010 to 2020. Together with the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act]] amendment, it represents the most significant regulatory overhaul of the [[Health care in the United States|U.S. healthcare system]] since the passage of [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] and [[Medicaid]] in 1965.<ref name = ="legacy">{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/obama-legacy-recovery-recession-affordable-care-act-44927003|title=Obama Legacy Will Be Recovery from Recession, Affordable Care Act|date=January 20, 2017|work=ABC News|accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> [[File:Job Growth by U.S. President - v1.png|thumb|right|250px|Job growth during the presidency of Obama compared to predecessors, as measured as cumulative percentage change from month after inauguration to end of term.]] Many commentators credit Obama with averting a threatened depression and pulling the country out of the "[[Great Recession]]".<ref name="legacy"/> According to the [[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]], the [[Obama administration]] created 11.3 million jobs from the month after the [[first inauguration of Barack Obama]] to the end of his term.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Long|first1=Heather|title=Final tally: Obama created 11.3 million jobs|url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/06/news/economy/obama-over-11-million-jobs/|work=CNN Money|date=6 January 2017}}</ref> (contracted; show full)instead enacted the compromise "don't ask, don't tell" policy. In 2016, the [[Obama administration]] brought an end to the ban on [[transgender]] people serving openly in the US armed forces.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/06/obamas-military-a-legacy-of-unparalleled-social-change/|title=Obama's Military: A Legacy Of Unparalleled Social Change|last=Bennett|first=Jonah|date=January 6, 2017|work=Daily Caller|accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name= "TransBan1 /"> President Obama continued the [[drone strikes]] that President [[George W. Bush]] started during his presidency in [[Afghanistan]], [[Iraq]], [[Pakistan]], [[Somalia]], and [[Yemen]]. Obama also ordered drone strikes in [[Libya]] in 2011, the [[Philippines]] in 2012, and [[Syria]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reimann|first1=Jakob|title=False hope, broken promises: Obama's belligerent legacy|url=https://roarmag.org/essays/obama-legacy-war-conflict-peace/|website=[[ROAR Magazine]]|accessdate(contracted; show full) <ref name="Fellow">{{cite magazine |author = Merriner, James L. |date = June 2008 |title = The friends of O |magazine = Chicago |volume = 57 |issue = 6 |pages = 74–79, 97–99 |issn = 0362-4595 |url = http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2008/Obamas-Chicago-Posse/The-Friends-of-O/index.php?cp=2& amp;si=1 |accessdate = January 30, 2010 }} * {{cite news |author = Zengerle, Jason |date = July 30, 2008 |title = Con law; What the University of Chicago right thinks of Obama |work = The New Republic |volume = 239 |issue = 1 |pages = 7–8 |url = http://www.tnr.com/article/con-law?id=86dd0277-c6ee-4e3c-83e9-0bb468c5c40d&p=1 |accessdate = January 30, 2010 }} * {{cite news |author = Kantor, Jodi |date = July 30, 2008 |title = Teaching law, testing ideas, Obama stood slightly apart |newspaper = The New York Times |page = A1 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/us/politics/30law.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate = January 30, 2010 }} (contracted; show full) * {{cite news |author = Jarrett, Vernon |date = August 11, 1992 |title = 'Project Vote' brings power to the people |work = Chicago Sun-Times |page = 23 |format = paid archive |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB& p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Vernon%20Jarrett)%20AND%20date(8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Vernon%20Jarrett)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Vernon%20Jarrett)%20AND%20date(8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Vernon%20Jarrett)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = June 6, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = Reynolds, Gretchen |date = January 1993 |title = Vote of confidence |work = Chicago Magazine |volume = 42 |issue = 1 |pages = 53–54 |issn = 0362-4595 |url = http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence |accessdate = June 6, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080514183643/http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence |archivedate = May 14, 2008 |deadurl = no }} * {{cite news |author = Anderson, Veronica |date = October 3, 1993 |title = 40 under Forty: Barack Obama, Director, Illinois Project Vote |newspaper = Crain's Chicago Business |volume = 16 |issue = 39 |page = 43 |issn = 0149-6956 }}</ref> <ref name="DavisMiner">{{cite news|author=Robinson, Mike |agency=Associated Press |date=February 20, 2007 |title=Obama got start in civil rights practice |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/02/20/obama_got_start_in_civil_rights_practice |accessdate=June 15, 2008 }} * {{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M. |date=December 17, 2007 |title=As lawyer, Obama was strong, silent type; He was 'smart, innovative, relentless,' and he mostly let other lawyers do the talking |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |page=4 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Pallasch)_AND_date(12/17/2007_to_12/17/2007)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=December_17,_2007_to_12/17/2007)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Pallasch)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate=June 15, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news|author=Morain, Dan |date=April 6, 2008 |title=Obama's law days effective but brief |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=A14 |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/06/nation/na-obamalegal6 |accessdate=February 14, 2010 }} * {{cite news|date=June 27, 1993 |title=Document |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=9 (Business) |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24302659.html?dids=24302659:24302659&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate=June 15, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204190346/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/283584889.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=&author=&pub=&edition=&startpage=&desc= |archivedate=December 4, 2013 |deadurl=yes |df= }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news|date=July 5, 1993 |title=Business appointments |newspaper=Chicago-Sun-Times |page=40 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Business%20appointments)%20AND%20date(7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Business%20appointments)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate=June 15, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news|author=Ripley, Amanda |date=November 3, 2004 |title=Obama's ascent |work=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,750742,00.html |accessdate=February 13, 2010 }} * {{cite web|year=2008 |title=About us |url=http://www.lawmbg.com/index.cfm/PageID/2711 |publisher=Miner, Barnhill &p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Pallasch)_AND_date(12/17/2007_to_12/17/2007)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=December_17,_2007_to_12/17/2007)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Pallasch)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate=June 15, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news|author=Morain, Dan |date=April 6, 2008 |title=Obama's law days effective but brief |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=A14 |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/06/nation/na-obamalegal6 |accessdate=February 14, 2010 }} * {{cite news|date=June 27, 1993 |title=Document |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=9 (Business) |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24302659.html?dids=24302659:24302659&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate=June 15, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204190346/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/283584889.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=&author=&pub=&edition=&startpage=&desc= |archivedate=December 4, 2013 |deadurl=yes |df= }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news|date=July 5, 1993 |title=Business appointments |newspaper=Chicago-Sun-Times |page=40 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Business%20appointments)%20AND%20date(7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Business%20appointments)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate=June 15, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news|author=Ripley, Amanda |date=November 3, 2004 |title=Obama's ascent |work=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,750742,00.html |accessdate=February 13, 2010 }} * {{cite web|year=2008 |title=About us |url=http://www.lawmbg.com/index.cfm/PageID/2711 |publisher=Miner, Barnhill & Galland – Chicago, Illinois |accessdate=June 15, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720182856/http://www.lawmbg.com/index.cfm/PageID/2711 |archivedate=July 20, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }} * {{cite news|author=Reardon, Patrick T. |date=June 25, 2008 |title=Obama's Chicago |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Tempo) |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-obama-chicago-htmlstory,0,506256.htmlstory |accessdate=February 13, 2010 }} * Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 438–439. (contracted; show full) * {{cite news |author = Tackett, Michael |date = October 3, 2002 |title = Bush, House OK Iraq deal; Congress marches with Bush |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 1 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569641.html?dids=203569641:203569641& FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> <ref name="Federal Plaza">{{cite news |author = Glauber, Bill |date = October 3, 2003 |title = War protesters gentler, but passion still burns |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 1 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569621.html?dids=203569621:203569621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news |author = Strausberg, Chinta |date = October 3, 2002 |title = War with Iraq undermines U.N |newspaper = Chicago Defender |page = 1 |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220379051.html |quote = Photo caption: Left Photo: Sen. Barack Obama along with Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to nearly 3,000 anti-war protestors (below) during a rally at Federal Plaza Wednesday. |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }} * {{cite web |author = Katz, Marilyn |date = October 2, 2007 |title = Five years since our first action |publisher = Chicagoans Against War & Injustice |url = http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127 |accessdate = February 18, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721192331/http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127 |archivedate = July 21, 2011 }} * {{cite news |author = Greg Bryant |author2 = Jane B. Vaughn |date = October 3, 2002 |title = 300 attend rally against Iraq war |newspaper = Daily Herald |page = 8 |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=300%20AND%20attend%20AND%20rally%20AND%20against%20AND%20Iraq%20AND%20war&s_dispstring=300%20attend%20rally%20against%20Iraq%20war%20AND%20date(10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * Mendell (2007), pp. 172–177.</ref> <ref name="spoke out">{{cite web |author = Obama, Barack |date = October 2, 2002 |title = Remarks of Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama against going to war with Iraq |url = http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080130204029/http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php |archivedate = January 30, 2008 |publisher = Barack Obama |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = McCormick, John |date = October 3, 2007 |title = Obama marks '02 war speech; Contender highlights his early opposition in effort to distinguish him from his rivals |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 7 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1351610621.html?dids=1351610621:1351610621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |quote = The top strategist for Sen. Barack Obama has just 14 seconds of video of what is one of the most pivotal moments of the presidential candidate's political career. The video, obtained from a Chicago TV station, is of Obama's 2002 speech in opposition to the impending Iraq invasion. |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}{{Subscription required}} * {{cite news |author = Pallasch, Abdon M. |date = October 3, 2007 |title = Obama touts anti-war cred; Kicks off tour 5 years after speech critical of going to Iraq |newspaper = Chicago Sun-Times |page = 26 |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> <ref name="stop the war">{{cite news |author = Ritter, Jim |date = March 17, 2003 |newspaper = Chicago Sun-Times |page = 3 |title = Anti-war rally here draws thousands |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> <ref name="Federal Plaza">{{cite news |author = Glauber, Bill |date = October 3, 2003 |title = War protesters gentler, but passion still burns |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 1 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569621.html?dids=203569621:203569621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * {{cite news |author = Strausberg, Chinta |date = October 3, 2002 |title = War with Iraq undermines U.N |newspaper = Chicago Defender |page = 1 |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220379051.html |quote = Photo caption: Left Photo: Sen. Barack Obama along with Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to nearly 3,000 anti-war protestors (below) during a rally at Federal Plaza Wednesday. |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }} * {{cite web |author = Katz, Marilyn |date = October 2, 2007 |title = Five years since our first action |publisher = Chicagoans Against War & Injustice |url = http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127 |accessdate = February 18, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721192331/http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127 |archivedate = July 21, 2011 }} * {{cite news |author = Greg Bryant |author2 = Jane B. Vaughn |date = October 3, 2002 |title = 300 attend rally against Iraq war |newspaper = Daily Herald |page = 8 |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=300%20AND%20attend%20AND%20rally%20AND%20against%20AND%20Iraq%20AND%20war&s_dispstring=300%20attend%20rally%20against%20Iraq%20war%20AND%20date(10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}{{subscription required}} * Mendell (2007), pp. 172–177.</ref> <ref name="spoke out">{{cite web |author = Obama, Barack |date = October 2, 2002 |title = Remarks of Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama against going to war with Iraq |url = http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080130204029/http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php |archivedate = January 30, 2008 |publisher = Barack Obama |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }} * {{cite news |author = McCormick, John |date = October 3, 2007 |title = Obama marks '02 war speech; Contender highlights his early opposition in effort to distinguish him from his rivals |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |page = 7 |url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1351610621.html?dids=1351610621:1351610621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |quote = The top strategist for Sen. Barack Obama has just 14 seconds of video of what is one of the most pivotal moments of the presidential candidate's political career. The video, obtained from a Chicago TV station, is of Obama's 2002 speech in opposition to the impending Iraq invasion. |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}{{Subscription required}} * {{cite news |author = Pallasch, Abdon M. |date = October 3, 2007 |title = Obama touts anti-war cred; Kicks off tour 5 years after speech critical of going to Iraq |newspaper = Chicago Sun-Times |page = 26 |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = October 28, 2008 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> <ref name="stop the war">{{cite news |author = Ritter, Jim |date = March 17, 2003 |newspaper = Chicago Sun-Times |page = 3 |title = Anti-war rally here draws thousands |url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)Êl_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:DÊl_useweights=no |accessdate = February 3, 2008 }} {{subscription required}} * {{cite press release |author = Office of the Press Secretary |date = March 16, 2003 |title = President Bush: Monday 'moment of truth' for world on Iraq |publisher = The White House |url = http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030316-3.html |accessdate = February 18, 2008 }}</ref> (contracted; show full) * {{cite news |author=Samuel, Terence |date=August 2, 2004 |title=A shining star named Obama. How a most unlikely politician became a darling of the Democrats |work=U.S. News & amp; World Report |page=25 |url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040802/2obama.htm |accessdate=November 15, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206100640/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040802/2obama.htm |archivedate=December 6, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy }} (contracted; show full) * {{cite news|first=Chuck |last=Goudie |title=Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor |date=January 12, 2006 |url=http://a.abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local& amp;id=3806933 |publisher=WLS-TV |location=Chicago |accessdate=April 27, 2008 }} * {{cite news|title=Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud |date=August 28, 2006 |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1989646,00.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605213213/http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0%2C%2C2-11-1447_1989646%2C00.html |archivedate=June 5, 2008 |publisher=News24 |location=Cape Town |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |deadurl=yes |df= }} (contracted; show full) * {{cite news |title = Wall Street soars 7% on bank plan debut |date = March 23, 2009 |agency = Reuters |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE52H2FA20090323?feedType=RSS& amp;feedName=businessNews }}</ref> <ref name="preceding administration">{{cite news|title=Biden vows break with Bush era foreign policy |url=http://www.canada.com/news/unveils+changes+foreign+policy/1265065/story.html |accessdate=January 31, 2013 |first1=Ross |last1=Colvin |first2=Noah |last2=Barkin |publisher=Canada.com |location=Toronto |date=February 7, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106164443/http://www.canada.com/news/unveils%2Bchanges%2Bforeign%2Bpolicy/1265065/sto(contracted; show full) <ref name="Trinity">{{cite news |last1 = Garrett |first1 = Major |last2 = Obama |first2 = Barack |date = March 14, 2008 |title = Obama talks to Major Garrett on 'Hannity & amp; Colmes' |publisher = RealClearPolitics |url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/obama_talks_to_major_garrett_o.html |accessdate = November 10, 2012 |quote = Major Garrett, Fox News correspondent: So the first question, how long have you been a member in good standing of that church? Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), presidential candidate: You know, I've been a member since 1991 or '92. And – but I have known Trinity even before then when I was a community organizer on the S(contracted; show full) * {{cite book |last = Remnick |first = David |year = 2010 |title = [[The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama]] |location = New York |publisher = Alfred A. Knopf |page = <span class="plainlinks">[https://books.google.com/books?id=F6HAasv2v-4C& amp;pg=PA177 177]</span> |isbn = 978-1-4000-4360-6 |quote = In late October 1987, his third year as an organizer, Obama went with Kellman to a conference on the black church and social justice at the Harvard Divinity School. }} * Maraniss (2012), <span class="plainlinks">[https://books.google.com/books?id=Wnna9CLtblAC&pg=PT887 p. 557]</span>: It would take time for Obama to join and become fully engaged in Wright's church, a place where he would be baptized and married; that would not happen until later, during his second time around in Chicago, but the process started then, in October 1987 ... Jerry Kellman: "He wasn't a member of the church during those first three years, but he was drawn to Jeremiah." * [[Peter Baker (author)|Peter Baker]]: ''Obama: The Call of History'', New York Times/Callaway, New York, 2017, {{ISBN|0-935112-90-1}}.</ref> }} ===References=== {{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} * {{cite book |last = Jacobs |first = Sally H. |year = 2011 |title = [[The Other Barack: The Bold and Reckless Life of President Obama's Father]] |location = New York |publisher = [[PublicAffairs]] |isbn = 978-1-58648-793-5 |ref = harv }} * {{cite book |author = [[David Maraniss|Maraniss, David]] |year = 2012 |title = [[Barack Obama: The Story]] |location = New York |publisher = [[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn = 978-1-4391-6040-4 |ref = harv }} * {{cite book |author = [[David Mendell|Mendell, David]] |year = 2007 |title = [[Obama: From Promise to Power]] |location = New York |publisher = Amistad/[[HarperCollins]] |isbn = 978-0-06-085820-9 |ref = harv }} (contracted; show full) * {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Executive_Branch/President/POTUS_Barack_Obama}} * {{CongBio|O000167}} * {{C-SPAN|Barack Obama}} * {{ChicagoTribuneKeyword}} * [http://www.politifact.com/personalities/barack-obama/ Collected news and commentary] at the ''Tampa Bay Times's'' [[PolitiFact.com]] * [http://www.washingtonpost.com/2011/02/25/ABjfuEJ_category.html?blogId=fact-checker& amp;tag=barack%20obama Collected news and commentary] at ''The Washington Post''{{'}}s Fact Checker blog * ''[https://archive.is/20170402202312/http://www.vox.com/2015/6/26/8849925/obama-obamacare-history-presidents Barack Obama is officially one of the most consequential presidents in American history]'' by [[Vox (website)|Vox]] author Dylan Matthews on March 24, 2017. [https://www.vox.com/2015/6/26/8849925/obama-obamacare-history-presidents Archived from the origi(contracted; show full)[[Category:Presidents of the United States]] [[Category:Punahou School alumni]] [[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2008]] [[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2012]] [[Category:United States Senators from Illinois]] [[Category:University of Chicago Law School faculty]] [[Category:Washington, D.C. Democrats]] [[Category:Writers from Chicago]] </ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></ref></body></html> All content in the above text box is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license Version 4 and was originally sourced from https://test.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=prev&oldid=469125.
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