Barack Obama's profile picture

Barack Obama's Milestones

Barack Obama (born 1961), 44th U.S. President, made history as the first African American leader and inspired millions with his message of hope.
1961

Parents married

Parents Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham married in Wailuku, Hawaii, six months before Barack was born.

Family February 2, 1961

Birth

Barack Hussein Obama II was born at Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Family August 4, 1961

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.

Location September 1, 1961 - August 1, 1962
1964

Parents divorced

Parents Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham divorced when Barack was 2 years old.

Family March 1, 1964
1965

Mother married Lolo Soetoro

Mother Ann Dunham married Indonesian graduate student Lolo Soetoro on Molokai.

Family March 15, 1965
1967

Moved to Indonesia

Moved to Jakarta, Indonesia with mother and stepfather, lived in Menteng Dalam and later Menteng district.

Location January 1, 1967 - January 1, 1971

Attended Indonesian schools

Attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School and State Elementary School Menteng 01 in Jakarta.

Education January 1, 1967 - January 1, 1971
1971

Returned to Hawaii

Returned to Honolulu to live with maternal grandparents Madelyn and Stanley Dunham.

Location January 1, 1971

Attended Punahou School

Attended elite Punahou School in Honolulu from 5th grade through high school graduation on scholarship.

Education January 1, 1971 - June 1, 1979

Father's visit

Father Barack Obama Sr. visited for Christmas, the only time Barack would see his father after age 10.

Family December 25, 1971
1979

Graduated high school

Graduated from Punahou School, was member of varsity basketball team.

Achievement June 1, 1979

Started at Occidental College

Attended Occidental College in Los Angeles on full scholarship, made first public speech about South African divestment.

Education September 1, 1979 - May 1, 1981
1981

Visited Indonesia and Pakistan

Traveled to Indonesia to visit mother and half-sister, then spent three weeks in Pakistan with college friends.

Other July 1, 1981

Transferred to Columbia University

Transferred to Columbia University in New York as junior, majored in political science with a specialization in international relations.

Education September 1, 1981 - May 1, 1983
1982

Father died

Father Barack Obama Sr. killed in automobile accident in Kenya when Barack was 21 years old.

Family November 24, 1982
1983

Graduated from Columbia

Graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Achievement May 1, 1983

Worked at Business International Corporation

Worked as financial researcher and writer at Business International Corporation in New York.

Career June 1, 1983 - June 1, 1984
1985

Community organizer in Chicago

Worked as director of Developing Communities Project, organizing Catholic parishes on Chicago's South Side.

Career June 1, 1985 - May 1, 1988
1988

First trip to Kenya

Traveled to Kenya for five weeks, met many paternal relatives for the first time.

Other August 1, 1988

Started Harvard Law School

Attended Harvard Law School.

Education September 1, 1988 - May 1, 1991
1989

Met Michelle Robinson

Met Michelle Robinson while working as summer associate at Sidley Austin law firm in Chicago.

Relationship June 1, 1989
1990

Became Harvard Law Review president

Elected first African-American president of Harvard Law Review, gaining national media attention.

Achievement February 1, 1990
1991

Graduated from Harvard Law School

Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School with Juris Doctor degree.

Achievement May 1, 1991

Engaged to Michelle

Became engaged to Michelle Robinson after dating for two years.

Relationship July 1, 1991
1992

Directed Illinois Project Vote

Directed Illinois Project Vote!, a voter registration drive that registered over 150,000 African Americans.

Career April 1, 1992 - October 1, 1996

Lecturer at UChicago Law

Taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, initially as a Lecturer and later as a Senior Lecturer.

Career September 1, 1992 - November 1, 2004

Married Michelle Obama

Married Michelle Robinson at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Relationship October 3, 1992
1995

Published Dreams from My Father

Published memoir 'Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance'.

Achievement July 18, 1995

Mother died

Mother Ann Dunham died of ovarian and uterine cancer in Hawaii at age 52.

Family November 7, 1995
1996

Elected to Illinois Senate

Won election to Illinois Senate from 13th District, representing Chicago South Side.

Achievement November 5, 1996
1998

Daughter Malia born

First daughter Malia Ann Obama born in Chicago.

Family July 4, 1998
2000

Lost congressional race

Lost Democratic primary for U.S. House seat to incumbent Bobby Rush by 2-to-1 margin.

Other March 21, 2000
2001

Daughter Sasha born

Second daughter Natasha 'Sasha' Obama born in Chicago.

Family June 10, 2001
2002

Opposed Iraq War

Spoke at anti-Iraq War rally in Chicago, becoming early opponent of Bush administration's invasion plans.

Other October 2, 2002
2003

Announced U.S. Senate candidacy

Formally announced candidacy for U.S. Senate from Illinois.

Career January 16, 2003
2004

Won U.S. Senate primary

Won Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in unexpected landslide, becoming rising star in Democratic Party.

Achievement March 16, 2004

Keynote at Democratic Convention

Delivered keynote address at Democratic National Convention, viewed by 9 million people.

Achievement July 27, 2004

Elected to U.S. Senate

Won U.S. Senate election with 70% of vote, largest margin in Illinois history.

Achievement November 2, 2004
2005

Sworn in as U.S. Senator

Sworn in as U.S. Senator, became only Senate member of Congressional Black Caucus.

Career January 3, 2005
2006

Published The Audacity of Hope

Published second book 'The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream'.

Achievement October 17, 2006
2007

Announced presidential candidacy

Announced candidacy for President at Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.

Career February 10, 2007
2008

Clinched Democratic nomination

Secured enough delegates to clinch Democratic presidential nomination, defeating Hillary Clinton.

Achievement June 3, 2008

Selected Joe Biden as VP

Announced selection of Delaware Senator Joe Biden as vice presidential running mate.

Career August 23, 2008

Grandmother died

Maternal grandmother Madelyn Dunham died two days before presidential election.

Family November 2, 2008

Elected President

Won presidential election with 365 electoral votes, becoming first African-American president.

Achievement November 4, 2008
2009

Inaugurated as President

Inaugurated as 44th President of the United States, served two terms.

Career January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2017

Won Nobel Peace Prize

Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy.

Achievement October 9, 2009
2010

Signed Affordable Care Act

Signed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, major healthcare reform.

Achievement March 23, 2010
2011

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.

Achievement May 2, 2011

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.

Achievement December 18, 2011
2012

Re-elected President

Won re-election as President, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Achievement November 6, 2012
2013

Second inauguration

Inaugurated for second term as President of the United States.

Career January 21, 2013
2014

Restored diplomatic relations with Cuba

Announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba, ending decades of estrangement.

Achievement December 17, 2014
2015

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.

Achievement July 14, 2015
2016

U.S. joined Paris Agreement

The United States formally joined the Paris Agreement, a global accord to combat climate change.

Achievement September 3, 2016
2017

Left presidency

Completed second term as President, succeeded by Donald Trump.

Career January 20, 2017

Post-presidency work with Obama Foundation

Began post-presidency work with the Obama Foundation, focusing on civic engagement and the presidential center in Chicago.

Career January 20, 2017
2018

Netflix production deal

Signed multi-year production deal with Netflix through Higher Ground Productions.

Career May 21, 2018
2020

Published A Promised Land

Published presidential memoir 'A Promised Land', first volume covering early presidency.

Achievement November 17, 2020
2024

Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.

Achievement May 3, 2024