Early Life and Education of Barack Obama: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Barack Obama. A timeline of key moments.
Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. President (2009-2017), was the first African American to hold the office. A Democrat, he previously served as a U.S. Senator for Illinois (2005-2008) and as an Illinois State Senator (1997-2004). His presidency saw the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the end of the Iraq War, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. He faced challenges including the Great Recession and political polarization. Obama is often praised for his eloquence and commitment to progressive policies.
1934: Birth of Barack Obama Sr.
In 1934, Barack Obama Sr. (Barack Obama's father) was born.
1942: Birth of Ann Dunham
In 1942, Ann Dunham (Barack Obama's mother) was born.
1960: Meeting of Obama's Parents
In 1960, Barack Obama's parents met in a Russian language class at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
February 2, 1961: Marriage of Barack Obama's parents
On February 2, 1961, Barack Obama's parents married in Wailuku, Hawaii.
August 4, 1961: Barack Obama's Birth
On August 4, 1961, Barack Hussein Obama II was born. He later became the 44th president of the United States.
August 1961: Move to Seattle
In late August 1961, a few weeks after he was born, Barack and his mother moved to the University of Washington in Seattle.
June 1962: Obama Sr.'s Graduation
In June 1962, Barack Obama's father completed his undergraduate degree in economics in Hawaii.
1963: Dunham meets Lolo Soetoro
In 1963, Ann Dunham met Lolo Soetoro at the University of Hawaiʻi.
March 1964: Divorce of Obama's Parents
In March 1964, Barack Obama's parents divorced.
March 15, 1965: Dunham marries Lolo Soetoro
On March 15, 1965, Ann Dunham married Lolo Soetoro on Molokai.
1966: Soetoro returns to Indonesia
In 1966, Lolo Soetoro returned to Indonesia after two one-year extensions of his J-1 visa.
1967: Family moves to Indonesia
In 1967, Ann Dunham and Barack Obama followed Lolo Soetoro to Indonesia, where they lived in Jakarta.
1970: Move to Menteng district
From 1970, the family lived in the Menteng district of Central Jakarta.
1971: Obama returns to Honolulu
In 1971, Barack Obama returned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents.
1971: Visit from Obama Sr.
In 1971, Obama Sr. visited his son in Hawaii for the first and only time.
1972: Obama lives with mother and sister in Hawaii
From 1972, Barack Obama lived with his mother and half-sister in Hawaii for three years while his mother was a graduate student.
1975: Obama's Mother and Sister Return to Indonesia
In 1975, Obama's mother and half-sister returned to Indonesia, while Obama stayed in Hawaii.
1979: High School Graduation
In 1979, Barack Obama graduated from high school.
1979: Move to Los Angeles
In 1979, Barack Obama moved to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College.
February 1981: First public speech
In February 1981, Barack Obama made his first public speech, calling for Occidental to participate in the disinvestment from South Africa.
1982: Death of Barack Obama Sr.
In 1982, Barack Obama Sr., Barack Obama's father, died.
1983: Graduation from Columbia University
In 1983, Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
1986: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
In 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster prevented the 1985 Chicago Bears from visiting the White House after their Super Bowl win.
October 1987: Obama Meets Jeremiah Wright
In October 1987, Barack Obama met Trinity United Church of Christ pastor Jeremiah Wright.
1988: Enrollment in Harvard Law School
In 1988, Barack Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School.
June 1989: Meeting Michelle Robinson
In June 1989, Barack Obama met Michelle Robinson while working at Sidley Austin. Michelle was assigned as Barack's advisor for three months at the firm.
1991: Fellow at University of Chicago Law School
In 1991, Barack Obama accepted a position as Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School.
1991: Engagement to Michelle Robinson
In 1991, Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson became engaged.
1991: Graduation from Harvard Law
In 1991, Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law with a Juris Doctor magna cum laude.
October 3, 1992: Marriage to Michelle Robinson
On October 3, 1992, Barack Obama married Michelle Robinson after becoming engaged in 1991.
1992: Lecturer at University of Chicago Law School
In 1992, Barack Obama began teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School as a lecturer.
1992: Obama becomes a member of Trinity
In 1992, Obama became a member of Trinity United Church of Christ.
1995: Death of Ann Dunham
In 1995, Ann Dunham, Barack Obama's mother, died.
1996: Obama Favors Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
As a candidate for the Illinois state senate in 1996, Obama stated he favored legalizing same-sex marriage.
1996: Senior Lecturer
In 1996, Barack Obama became a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School.
1998: Birth of Malia Ann Obama
In 1998, Barack and Michelle Obama's first daughter, Malia Ann, was born.
2001: Birth of Natasha (Sasha) Obama
In 2001, Barack and Michelle Obama's second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), was born.
2004: Obama Supports Civil Unions
During his Senate run in 2004, Barack Obama said he supported civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex partners but opposed same-sex marriages.
2004: End of Lectureship
In 2004, Barack Obama ended his tenure as a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School.
2005: Throws first pitch at ALCS
In 2005, Barack Obama, then a senator, threw out the first pitch at the American League Championship Series (ALCS) game.
2005: Obama family moves to Kenwood
In 2005, the Obama family moved from a Hyde Park condominium in Chicago to a $1.6 million house in neighboring Kenwood, Chicago.
2005: Obama's tax return shows household income of $1.6 million
Obama's tax return in 2005 showed a household income of $1.6 million.
2006: Diversity of Family
In a 2006 interview, Obama highlighted the diversity of his extended family.
December 2007: Money Magazine estimates Obama's net worth
In December 2007, Money Magazine estimated Barack Obama's net worth at $1.3 million.
2007: Discovery of Dunham's Ancestor
In 2007, it was discovered that Ann Dunham's great-great-grandfather Falmouth Kearney emigrated from Moneygall, Ireland to the U.S. in 1850.
January 2008: Obama Discusses Christian Faith
In January 2008, Barack Obama affirmed his Christian faith in an interview with Christianity Today, stating his belief in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
May 2008: Resignation from Trinity United Church of Christ
During his first presidential campaign, in May 2008, Barack Obama resigned from Trinity United Church of Christ after some of Jeremiah Wright's statements were criticized.
November 2, 2008: Death of Madelyn Dunham
On November 2, 2008, Madelyn Dunham, Obama's maternal grandmother, died two days before his election to the presidency.
2008: Obama Opposes Gay Marriage
In 2008, Barack Obama reaffirmed his position that "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage."
January 2009: Move to Washington, D.C.
In January 2009, after Barack Obama's presidential inauguration, the Obama family moved to Washington, D.C., and daughters Malia and Sasha began attending Sidwell Friends School.
2009: Obama's tax return shows household income of $5.5 million
Obama's 2009 tax return showed a household income of $5.5 million, up from $4.2 million in 2007 and $1.6 million in 2005, primarily from sales of his books.
2009: Obama Family Attends Various Churches in Washington, D.C.
Since moving to Washington, D.C., in 2009, the Obama family has attended several Protestant churches, but they do not attend church on a regular basis.
September 27, 2010: Release of Statement on Religious Views
On September 27, 2010, Barack Obama released a statement commenting on his religious views.
2010: Obama donates 14 percent of income to non-profits
In 2010, Barack Obama's income was $1.7 million and he donated 14 percent to non-profit organizations, including $131,000 to the Fisher House Foundation.
May 2011: Meeting with Irish cousins
In May 2011, Obama met with his Irish cousins in Moneygall.
2011: Invites 1985 Chicago Bears to White House
In 2011, Barack Obama invited the 1985 Chicago Bears to the White House, as the team was not able to visit in 1986 after their Super Bowl win due to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
July 2012: Ancestry research
In July 2012, Ancestry.com found a strong likelihood that Ann Dunham was descended from John Punch, an enslaved African man who lived in the Colony of Virginia during the seventeenth century.
2012: Obama's financial disclosure estimates worth
Per his 2012 financial disclosure, Obama may be worth as much as $10 million.
2013: Addition of Sunny to the Obama Family
In 2013, Sunny, a female Portuguese Water Dog, joined the Obama family alongside their first dog, Bo.
2016: Obama Speaks About Inspirational Items
In 2016, Barack Obama discussed several items he carries that serve as inspiration, including rosary beads from Pope Francis, a Hanuman figurine, a Coptic cross from Ethiopia, a Buddha statue, and a metal poker chip.
January 20, 2017: End of Obama's presidency
On January 20, 2017, Obama's presidency concluded with the inauguration of Donald Trump as his successor, marking the end of his time in office.
May 2017: Public Disclosure of Relationship with Sheila Miyoshi Jager
In May 2017, the relationship between Barack Obama and anthropologist Sheila Miyoshi Jager became public, several months after the end of Obama's presidency. The relationship, which included two marriage proposals from Obama that were turned down, occurred in the 1980s while Obama was a community organizer in Chicago.
April 14, 2020: Obama endorses Joe Biden for president
On April 14, 2020, Obama endorsed his former vice president, Joe Biden, for president in the upcoming presidential election, citing Biden's qualities needed in a president.
2020: Campaigning for Biden
In 2020, Barack Obama campaigned for candidates in various American elections, including in Joe Biden's successful presidential bid.
May 8, 2021: Death of Bo
On May 8, 2021, the Obama family's first Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, died of cancer.
March 2023: Obama's speaking tour in Australia
In March 2023, Obama traveled to Australia as part of his speaking tour, where he met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and visited Melbourne for the first time, reportedly earning over $1 million for two speeches.
July 2024: Obama expresses concerns about Biden's campaign viability
In July 2024, Obama expressed concerns about Biden's campaign viability after his critically maligned debate performance against former president Trump.
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