Barack Obama's Milestones
Parents married
Parents Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham married in Wailuku, Hawaii, six months before Barack was born.
Birth
Barack Hussein Obama II was born at Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Moved to Seattle
Moved with mother to University of Washington in Seattle for one year, shortly after his birth, while father completed degree in Hawaii.
Parents divorced
Parents Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham divorced when Barack was 2 years old.
Mother married Lolo Soetoro
Mother Ann Dunham married Indonesian graduate student Lolo Soetoro on Molokai.
Moved to Indonesia
Moved to Jakarta, Indonesia with mother and stepfather, lived in Menteng Dalam and later Menteng district.
Attended Indonesian schools
Attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School and State Elementary School Menteng 01 in Jakarta.
Returned to Hawaii
Returned to Honolulu to live with maternal grandparents Madelyn and Stanley Dunham.
Attended Punahou School
Attended elite Punahou School in Honolulu from 5th grade through high school graduation on scholarship.
Father's visit
Father Barack Obama Sr. visited for Christmas, the only time Barack would see his father after age 10.
Graduated high school
Graduated from Punahou School, was member of varsity basketball team.
Started at Occidental College
Attended Occidental College in Los Angeles on full scholarship, made first public speech about South African divestment.
Visited Indonesia and Pakistan
Traveled to Indonesia to visit mother and half-sister, then spent three weeks in Pakistan with college friends.
Transferred to Columbia University
Transferred to Columbia University in New York as junior, majored in political science with a specialization in international relations.
Father died
Father Barack Obama Sr. killed in automobile accident in Kenya when Barack was 21 years old.
Graduated from Columbia
Graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Worked at Business International Corporation
Worked as financial researcher and writer at Business International Corporation in New York.
Community organizer in Chicago
Worked as director of Developing Communities Project, organizing Catholic parishes on Chicago's South Side.
First trip to Kenya
Traveled to Kenya for five weeks, met many paternal relatives for the first time.
Started Harvard Law School
Attended Harvard Law School.
Met Michelle Robinson
Met Michelle Robinson while working as summer associate at Sidley Austin law firm in Chicago.
Became Harvard Law Review president
Elected first African-American president of Harvard Law Review, gaining national media attention.
Graduated from Harvard Law School
Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School with Juris Doctor degree.
Engaged to Michelle
Became engaged to Michelle Robinson after dating for two years.
Directed Illinois Project Vote
Directed Illinois Project Vote!, a voter registration drive that registered over 150,000 African Americans.
Lecturer at UChicago Law
Taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, initially as a Lecturer and later as a Senior Lecturer.
Married Michelle Obama
Married Michelle Robinson at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
Published Dreams from My Father
Published memoir 'Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance'.
Mother died
Mother Ann Dunham died of ovarian and uterine cancer in Hawaii at age 52.
Elected to Illinois Senate
Won election to Illinois Senate from 13th District, representing Chicago South Side.
Daughter Malia born
First daughter Malia Ann Obama born in Chicago.
Lost congressional race
Lost Democratic primary for U.S. House seat to incumbent Bobby Rush by 2-to-1 margin.
Daughter Sasha born
Second daughter Natasha 'Sasha' Obama born in Chicago.
Opposed Iraq War
Spoke at anti-Iraq War rally in Chicago, becoming early opponent of Bush administration's invasion plans.
Announced U.S. Senate candidacy
Formally announced candidacy for U.S. Senate from Illinois.
Won U.S. Senate primary
Won Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in unexpected landslide, becoming rising star in Democratic Party.
Keynote at Democratic Convention
Delivered keynote address at Democratic National Convention, viewed by 9 million people.
Elected to U.S. Senate
Won U.S. Senate election with 70% of vote, largest margin in Illinois history.
Sworn in as U.S. Senator
Sworn in as U.S. Senator, became only Senate member of Congressional Black Caucus.
Published The Audacity of Hope
Published second book 'The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream'.
Announced presidential candidacy
Announced candidacy for President at Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.
Clinched Democratic nomination
Secured enough delegates to clinch Democratic presidential nomination, defeating Hillary Clinton.
Selected Joe Biden as VP
Announced selection of Delaware Senator Joe Biden as vice presidential running mate.
Grandmother died
Maternal grandmother Madelyn Dunham died two days before presidential election.
Elected President
Won presidential election with 365 electoral votes, becoming first African-American president.
Inaugurated as President
Inaugurated as 44th President of the United States, served two terms.
Won Nobel Peace Prize
Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy.
Signed Affordable Care Act
Signed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, major healthcare reform.
Authorized raid killing Osama bin Laden
Authorized and announced the U.S. special operations raid in Pakistan that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.
Ended U.S. combat operations in Iraq
Formally declared the end of the U.S. mission in Iraq, with the last U.S. troops withdrawing.
Re-elected President
Won re-election as President, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
Second inauguration
Inaugurated for second term as President of the United States.
Restored diplomatic relations with Cuba
Announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba, ending decades of estrangement.
Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) reached
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, was finalized between Iran and the P5+1.
U.S. joined Paris Agreement
The United States formally joined the Paris Agreement, a global accord to combat climate change.
Left presidency
Completed second term as President, succeeded by Donald Trump.
Post-presidency work with Obama Foundation
Began post-presidency work with the Obama Foundation, focusing on civic engagement and the presidential center in Chicago.
Netflix production deal
Signed multi-year production deal with Netflix through Higher Ground Productions.
Published A Promised Land
Published presidential memoir 'A Promised Land', first volume covering early presidency.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.