History of Michelle Obama in Timeline
Michelle Obama is an American attorney and author best known for serving as the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, during the presidency of her husband, Barack Obama. As First Lady, she championed initiatives related to poverty awareness, education, nutrition, healthy eating, and physical activity. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Before her role as First Lady, she worked as a lawyer at Sidley & Austin and in community outreach. She is a prominent role model and influential figure, particularly for women and African Americans.
1935: Fraser Robinson III Born
In 1935, Fraser Robinson III, Michelle Obama's father, was born.
1937: Marian Shields Robinson Born
In 1937, Marian Shields Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, was born.
1981: Entered Princeton University
In 1981, Michelle Robinson entered Princeton University.
1981: Graduated as Salutatorian
In 1981, Michelle Robinson graduated as the salutatorian of her class from Whitney Young High School.
1983: Brother's Graduation from Princeton
In 1983, Michelle Obama's brother graduated from Princeton.
1985: Graduation from Princeton University
In 1985, Michelle Robinson graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
1988: Graduation from Harvard Law School
In 1988, Michelle Robinson earned her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.
1989: First Date with Barack Obama
In 1989, Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama had their first date, going to see Spike Lee's movie 'Do the Right Thing'.
March 1991: Death of Father
In March 1991, Michelle Robinson Obama's father, Fraser Robinson, died from complications of multiple sclerosis.
1991: Death of Fraser Robinson III
In 1991, Fraser Robinson III, Michelle Obama's father, passed away.
1991: Public Sector Positions
In 1991, Michelle Obama held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an assistant to the mayor and as the assistant commissioner of planning and development.
October 3, 1992: Marriage to Barack Obama
On October 3, 1992, Michelle Robinson married Barack Obama.
1992: Marriage to Barack Obama
In 1992, Michelle Robinson married Barack Obama.
1993: Executive Director at Public Allies
In 1993, Michelle Obama became the executive director for the Chicago office of Public Allies.
1993: Inactive Law License Status
Since 1993, Michelle Obama has kept her law license on a voluntary inactive status.
1996: Acknowledged Possibility of Political Career
During an interview in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged the "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career.
1996: Barack Obama Elected to State Senate
In 1996, Barack Obama was elected to the state senate.
1996: Associate Dean at University of Chicago
In 1996, Michelle Obama served as the associate dean of student services at the University of Chicago.
1998: Birth of Malia Ann Obama
In 1998, Malia Ann Obama, the Obamas' first daughter, was born.
2000: Campaigning for U.S. House of Representatives
In 2000, Michelle Obama campaigned during her husband's run for United States House of Representatives.
2001: Birth of Natasha (Sasha) Obama
In 2001, Natasha (Sasha) Obama, the Obamas' second daughter, was born.
2002: University of Chicago Hospitals
In 2002, Michelle Obama began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals as executive director for community affairs.
2004: Barack Obama Elected to U.S. Senate
In 2004, Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate.
May 2005: Vice President at University of Chicago Medical Center
Beginning in May 2005, Michelle Obama became the Vice President for Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
2005: Trump's Statements
On October 13, 2016, Michelle Obama criticized Donald Trump at a Clinton rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, for his statements made in a 2005 audio recording.
May 2006: Essence "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women"
In May 2006, Essence listed Michelle Obama among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women", marking her ascent into popular culture.
2006: Income Tax Return
According to the couple's 2006 income tax return, Michelle Obama's salary from the University of Chicago Hospitals was $273,618.
May 14, 2007: Wal-Mart Labor Policies Criticism
On May 14, 2007, Barack Obama criticized Wal-Mart labor policies at an AFL-CIO forum in Trenton, New Jersey.
May 2007: Reduced Professional Responsibilities
In May 2007, Michelle Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support her husband's presidential campaign.
July 2007: Vanity Fair "10 of the World's Best Dressed People"
In July 2007, Vanity Fair listed Michelle Obama among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People", marking her ascent into popular culture.
September 2007: 02138 magazine "The Harvard 100"
In September 2007, 02138 magazine listed Michelle Obama 58th of "The Harvard 100".
February 2008: Increased Campaign Participation
By early February 2008, Michelle Obama significantly increased her participation in her husband's presidential campaign, attending thirty-three events in eight days.
May 31, 2008: Withdrawal from Trinity United Church of Christ
On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced they were withdrawing their membership in Trinity United Church of Christ.
July 2008: Vanity Fair International Best Dressed List
In July 2008, Michelle Obama made a repeat appearance on the Vanity Fair international best dressed list.
October 6, 2008: Interviews and Media Controversy
On October 6, 2008, Michelle Obama addressed the Bradley effect on Larry King Live and deflected criticism on The Daily Show. A Fox News segment referring to a fist bump between the Obamas as a "terrorist fist jab" led to the show's cancellation.
2008: Past Comments About Clinton Revived by Trump
A week after Michelle Obama criticized Donald Trump, Trump attempted to revive past comments Michelle Obama made in regard to Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election.
2008: Voter Turnout
As part of an effort to encourage voter turnout in July 2014, Michelle Obama called on voters to be "hungry as you were back in 2008".
2008: Developing an Open Public Image
By 2008, Michelle Obama had developed a more open public image.
2008: Softening Campaign Trail Presence
By the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama's campaign trail presence softened, focusing on empathy and appearing on shows like The View, also her fashion choices shifted to more informal clothes.
2008: Democratic National Convention Speech
During the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama delivered a speech portraying her family as the embodiment of the American Dream, emphasizing hard work, integrity, and respect, likely responding to criticism for having said that she felt "proud of her country for the first time".
2008: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2008, Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband's presidential campaign.
2008: Part-time at University of Chicago Hospitals
In 2008, Michelle Obama cut back to part-time at the University of Chicago Hospitals to spend time with her daughters and work for her husband's election.
2008: Campaigning Commitment
In 2008, Michelle Obama made a commitment to campaign for her husband only two days a week.
2008: No More Children
In 2008, Michelle Obama stated that she and Barack Obama did not intend to have any more children.
2008: Focus on Fashion Sense
In 2008, The media has been criticized for focusing more on Michelle Obama's fashion sense than her serious contributions.
2008: Woman of the Year
In 2020, Time Magazine retroactively chose Michelle Obama as Woman of the Year for 2008.
2008: Support for LGBT Rights
In the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, Michelle Obama boasted to gay Democratic groups of her husband's record on LGBT rights.
2008: Kristen Jarvis started as aide
Kristen Jarvis served as aide to Michelle Obama starting in 2008.
2008: Image Improvement
Michelle Obama's image improved since 2008 when her husband first ran for the presidency and her fashion style changed to be more sensitive and economical.
March 2009: Vogue Cover Appearance
In March 2009, Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of Vogue. She later appeared two more times on the cover of Vogue while First Lady.
April 1, 2009: Meeting with Queen Elizabeth II
On April 1, 2009, Michelle Obama met with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Obama embraced the Queen, which generated controversy due to it being out of protocol when greeting Elizabeth.
April 2009: Favorable Rating
After Michelle Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the first lady was found through a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she had polled since April 2009.
April 2009: First Trip Abroad as First Lady
In April 2009, Michelle Obama went on her first trip abroad as First Lady, touring a cancer ward with Sarah Brown. Questions were raised regarding protocol when the Obamas met Queen Elizabeth II and Michelle reciprocated a touch on her back by the Queen during a reception.
May 2009: Commencement Speech at UC Merced
In May 2009, Michelle Obama delivered the commencement speech at UC Merced, California. The speech was praised for being relatable to the students, and a San Francisco Chronicle reporter noted the chemistry between Obama and the students.
June 5, 2009: Chief of Staff Replacement
On June 5, 2009, the White House announced that Michelle Obama was replacing her then chief of staff, Jackie Norris, with Susan Sher.
2009: Advocating for Policy Priorities
In 2009, Michelle Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it, including hosting a White House reception for women's rights advocates and supporting the economic stimulus bill.
2009: Became First Lady of the United States
In 2009, Michelle Obama became the First Lady of the United States upon Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president.
2009: Most Fascinating Person of the Year
In 2009, Michelle Obama was named Barbara Walters's Most Fascinating Person of the year and during that time framed four primary initiatives as first lady: Let's Move!, Reach Higher, Let Girls Learn, and Joining Forces.
2009: Church Attendance in Washington D.C.
In 2009, after moving to Washington D.C., the Obama family attended several different Protestant churches.
2009: Influence on the View of African Americans
In 2009, some anticipated that as a high-profile African-American woman in a stable marriage, Michelle Obama would be a positive role model who would influence the view the world has of African Americans.
January 2010: Let's Move! Initiative
In January 2010, Michelle Obama undertook her first lead role in an administration-wide initiative, which she named "Let's Move!", to make progress in reversing the 21st-century trend of childhood obesity.
January 2010: Speculation of involvement in campaign trail
In January 2010, despite it not being confirmed, speculation arose that Michelle Obama would be involved in the campaign trail for the midterm elections due to her high approval ratings.
February 9, 2010: Announcement of Let's Move!
On February 9, 2010, Michelle Obama announced Let's Move! and President Barack Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity.
April 2010: Solo Trip to Mexico
In April 2010, Michelle Obama made her first solo visit to a nation, traveling to Mexico. She spoke to students and encouraged them to take responsibility for their futures, citing herself and her husband as examples of potential found in unlikely places.
October 2010: Campaigning for Democratic Candidates
In October 2010, Michelle Obama toured seven states in two weeks, campaigning for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections. Although she was more popular than her husband, her "election scorecard proved no better than his".
2010: Style and Fashion Trends
In 2010, Michelle Obama's style was described as "fashion populist" and it was found that her patronage was worth an average of $14 million to a company. She favored sleeveless dresses and clothes by African designers.
June 2011: Official Trip to Africa
In June 2011, Michelle Obama traveled to Africa for her second official trip, touring Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Botswana, where she met with Graça Machel and participated in community events. Her trip was seen as advancing her husband's foreign policy.
August 2011: Better Homes and Gardens Cover
In August 2011, Michelle Obama became the first woman ever to appear on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
September 20, 2011: Inclusion of Gay Service Members
After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell on September 20, 2011, Michelle Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.
2011: Increased Political Activity
Beginning in 2011, Michelle Obama became more politically active than she had been since the 2008 election, though she avoided discussions about the re-election bid.
April 2012: Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award
In April 2012, Michelle Obama and her husband were awarded the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV).
May 9, 2012: Public Support for Same-Sex Marriage
On May 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came out publicly in favor of same-sex marriage.
2012: Democratic National Convention Speech
After Michelle Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the first lady was found through a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she had polled since April 2009.
2012: Voter Turnout
As part of an effort to encourage voter turnout in July 2014, Michelle Obama called on voters to be "hungry as you were back in 2012".
2012: Humanizing Her Husband
In 2012, Michelle Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states.
2012: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2012, Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband's presidential campaign.
2012: Campaigning for Re-election
In 2012, Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election, having developed a more open public image and being considered the most popular member of the administration.
2012: Remarks at the 2012 DNC
In 2012, Michelle Obama delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention, highlighting Barack Obama's embodiment of the American Dream and his commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all Americans.
2012: Guest appearance on iCarly
In 2012, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on iCarly, portraying herself.
2012: Ancestry Research Findings
In 2012, researchers uncovered information about Michelle Obama's great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Dosey Shields, and her biracial son.
2012: Publication of American Grown
Michelle Obama's 2012 book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America promoted healthy eating.
August 2013: Attendance at the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington
In August 2013, Michelle Obama attended the 50th anniversary ceremony for the March on Washington. Her attire, a black sleeveless dress with red flowers designed by Tracy Reese, received positive attention, and Reese expressed her honor at Obama wearing one of her designs for such a significant event.
November 2013: Criticism of Role as First Lady
In November 2013, a Politico article accused Michelle Obama of being a "feminist nightmare" for not advocating for women's issues, sparking sharp criticism.
2013: Academy Awards Appearance
In 2013, Michelle Obama became the first first lady to announce the winner of an Oscar (Best Picture, which went to Argo) during the 85th Academy Awards.
March 2014: Visit to China with Family
In March 2014, Michelle Obama, along with her daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson, visited China. She met with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and visited various historic and cultural sites. The purpose of the visit was to symbolize the relationship between the U.S. and China.
May 2014: Campaign to Bring Back School Girls
In May 2014, Michelle Obama joined the campaign to bring back school girls who had been kidnapped in Nigeria, tweeting a picture of herself holding a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.
May 2014: High Approval Rating
In May 2014, a CNN poll indicated that Michelle Obama had a 61% favorable approval rating.
October 2014: Rand Paul's Critique
In October 2014, senator Rand Paul linked to Michelle Obama's Twitter account when announcing on the website that he was going to Dunkin' Donuts.
2014: Guest appearance on Parks and Recreation
In 2014, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on Parks and Recreation, portraying herself.
January 2015: Travel to Saudi Arabia Following King Abdullah's Death
In January 2015, Michelle Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia with her husband after the death of King Abdullah. She faced criticism for not covering her head, but some defended her as a foreigner not bound by Saudi customs. She was neither greeted nor acknowledged by King Salman.
March 2015: Commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery Marches
In March 2015, Michelle Obama traveled to Selma, Alabama, with her family to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches. The Obamas, along with original marchers like John Lewis, crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge after President Obama's speech.
May 2015: Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award
In May 2015, Michelle Obama was again honored with the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award, accepting with Jill Biden.
May 2015: Presidential Speculation
In May 2015, a Rasmussen poll found Michelle Obama had 22% of support to Clinton's 56% of winning the Democratic nomination, higher than that of potential candidates Elizabeth Warren, Martin O'Malley, and Bernie Sanders.
June 2015: Trip to London and Italian Cities
In June 2015, Michelle Obama undertook a weeklong trip to London and three Italian cities. In London, she discussed international education for adolescent girls, meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Harry. Her daughters and mother accompanied her.
July 2015: Visit to Coachella Valley
In July 2015, Michelle Obama visited Coachella Valley during her trip to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games that year.
October 2015: Visit to Fort Belvoir with Jill Biden and Prince Harry
In October 2015, Michelle Obama, accompanied by Jill Biden and Prince Harry, visited a military base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This visit was part of Prince Harry's efforts to raise awareness for programs supporting harmed service members.
December 2015: Visit to San Bernardino After Terrorist Attack
In December 2015, Michelle Obama accompanied her husband to San Bernardino, California, to meet with the families of victims of a terrorist attack that had occurred two weeks prior.
2015: Kristen Jarvis became chief of staff
Kristen Jarvis left her role as aide to Michelle Obama in 2015 to become chief of staff to the Ford Foundation president Darren Walker.
January 14, 2016: President Obama Denies Michelle's Candidacy
On January 14, 2016, President Obama stated that Michelle Obama would not run for president.
January 2016: Chris Christie's Criticism
In January 2016, Chris Christie criticized Michelle Obama's involvement with healthy eating while he was campaigning in Iowa.
March 16, 2016: Obama Denies Presidential Run
On March 16, 2016, Michelle Obama denied that she would ever run for president, citing a desire to "impact as many people as possible in an unbiased way".
October 13, 2016: Criticism of Donald Trump at Clinton Rally
On October 13, 2016, Michelle Obama criticized Donald Trump at a Clinton rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, for his statements made in a 2005 audio recording.
December 2016: Vogue Cover Appearance
In December 2016, Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of Vogue for a third time while First Lady.
2016: Guest appearance on NCIS
In 2016, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on NCIS, portraying herself.
May 2017: Obama rebukes Trump administration on school lunch nutritional standards
In May 2017, Michelle Obama rebuked the Trump administration for delaying a federal requirement aimed at improving nutritional standards for school lunches.
2017: End of First Lady Term
In 2017, Michelle Obama's tenure as First Lady of the United States came to an end.
April 2018: Obama responds to presidential run speculation
In April 2018, Michelle Obama stated that she has "never had the passion for politics" in response to speculation about her running for president.
November 2018: Release of "Becoming"
In November 2018, Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming", was released.
2018: Most Admired Woman
In 2018, Michelle Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.
2018: Publication of 'Becoming'
In 2018, Michelle Obama's memoir, 'Becoming', was published and became a New York Times best seller.
November 2019: "Becoming" sells 11.5 million copies
By November 2019, Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming", had sold 11.5 million copies.
2019: Most Admired Woman
In 2019, Michelle Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.
May 6, 2020: "Becoming" documentary released on Netflix
On May 6, 2020, a documentary titled "Becoming," chronicling Michelle Obama's book tour, was released on Netflix.
July 2020: Premiere of The Michelle Obama Podcast
In July 2020, Michelle Obama premiered a podcast titled The Michelle Obama Podcast.
2020: Production of documentary film Crip Camp
In 2020, Michelle Obama produced the documentary film Crip Camp.
2020: Most Admired Woman
In 2020, Michelle Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.
2020: Woman of the Year
In 2020, Time Magazine retroactively chose Michelle Obama as Woman of the Year for 2008.
January 2, 2021: Obama encourages Georgia residents to vote
On January 2, 2021, Michelle Obama encouraged Georgia residents to vote in the U.S. Senate runoff election and to contact VoteRiders for voter ID assistance.
January 20, 2021: Obama attends Biden's inauguration
On January 20, 2021, Michelle Obama and her husband Barack attended the inauguration of Joe Biden. She wore a plum outfit designed by Sergio Hudson.
February 2021: Obama announced as executive producer and presenter on "Waffles + Mochi"
In February 2021, Michelle Obama was announced as an executive producer and presenter on the children's cooking show, "Waffles + Mochi."
March 16, 2021: "Waffles + Mochi" released on Netflix
On March 16, 2021, "Waffles + Mochi" was released by Netflix.
September 11, 2021: Obamas attend 9/11 memorial
On September 11, 2021, the Obamas attended a 9/11 memorial to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
2021: Moving Toward Retirement
In 2021, Michelle Obama announced that she has been "moving toward retirement".
2021: Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame
In 2021, Michelle Obama was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
July 21, 2022: Announcement of "The Light We Carry"
On July 21, 2022, it was announced that Michelle Obama's next book, "The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times", would be published in November 2022.
November 2022: Publication of "The Light We Carry"
In November 2022, "The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times" by Michelle Obama was published.
2022: Guest appearance on Black-ish
In 2022, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on Black-ish, portraying herself.
2022: Publication of 'The Light We Carry'
In 2022, Michelle Obama published 'The Light We Carry'.
April 28, 2023: Obama joins Bruce Springsteen on stage
On April 28, 2023, Michelle Obama, along with Kate Capshaw, joined Bruce Springsteen on stage in Barcelona to sing backing vocals and play tambourine on "Glory Days".
November 2023: Named to BBC's 100 Women list
In November 2023, Michelle Obama was named to the BBC's 100 Women list.
2023: Production of Rustin
In 2023, Michelle Obama produced the biographical drama film Rustin.
2023: Emmy nomination for "The Light We Carry"
In 2023, Michelle Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the Netflix documentary film "The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey".
March 2024: Obama's office announces she will not run for president
In March 2024, amidst media speculation, Michelle Obama's office announced that she would not be running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election.
July 2, 2024: Public opinion poll shows Obama defeating Trump
According to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll released on July 2, 2024, Michelle Obama was the only listed Democrat who would defeat Trump in a head-to-head confrontation, with a 50% to 39% lead.
August 20, 2024: Obama addresses Democratic National Convention
On August 20, 2024, Michelle Obama gave an "electrifying" speech at the Democratic National Convention and introduced Barack Obama. The New York Times suggested that she had outshone her husband.
2024: Death of Marian Shields Robinson
In 2024, Marian Shields Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, passed away.
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