robinson obama born january american lawyer writer married 44th current president united_states barack_obama african american lady united_states raised illinois obama graduate princeton_university spent early legal career working law firm met husband subsequently worked university_of_chicago vice president married couple daughters obama campaigned husband presidential bid delivering address democratic national convention speaking democratic national convention spoke democratic national convention philadelphia delivered speech support hillary_clinton lady fashion icon role model women advocate poverty awareness nutrition physical activity healthy eating family education early life ancestry born january illinois city water plant employee democratic captain secretary catalog store mother time entered high school robinson shields families trace roots pre civil war african americans father descended people south_carolina low country region paternal great great grandfather slave south_carolina state paternal family reside grandfather built house south_carolina wife née johnson returned low country retirement maternal ancestors great great great grandmother slave acre farm georgia son born slavery based dna evidence researchers said father likely year old son master talk relatives father moved birmingham alabama civil war children migrated cleveland ohio chicago grandparents ancestors reflecting complex history extended family said people talk era slavery growing distant ancestry includes irish european roots addition paternal cousin removed african american jewish son grandfather sister robinson grew story avenue chicago south shore community area parents rented small apartment second floor great aunt lived raised describes conventional home mother home father works dinner table elementary school street enjoyed playing games monopoly reading frequently saw extended family sides played piano learning great aunt piano teacher attended services nearby vacation cabin michigan month older brother second grade father suffered multiple profound emotional effect growing determined stay trouble good student father wanted sixth grade joined gifted class later renamed attended chicago high school established selective enrollment school classmate daughter round trip south home school located took hours recalled fearful perceive disregarded fuel going recalled experiencing gender discrimination growing saying example asking opinion given subject people commonly tended ask older brother thought honor roll years took advanced placement classes member served student council treasurer graduated class education early career inspired follow brother princeton_university graduated went basketball coach recalls teachers high school tried dissuade applying told setting sights high believed brother alumni status helped admission process resolved demonstrate acknowledges overwhelmed arriving year fact parents graduated college spent time college campus mother white roommate reportedly unsuccessfully tried daughter moved race recalls time princeton time aware ethnicity despite willingness classmates teachers want understand felt like visitor campus remember shocked says college students drove didn know parents drove princeton got involved known academic cultural group supported minority students running day care center included school challenged teaching french felt requirements graduation wrote thesis titled researched thesis sending african american graduates requesting specify comfortable race prior enrollment princeton felt student sent survey small number fewer responded findings support hope black alumni identity african american community attended elite university advantages graduates african american studies graduating cum bachelor_of_arts robinson went earn doctor degree time applied biographer bond wrote confidence grown time doubt mind earned place faculty mentor said answered question plagued princeton time arrived remain product parents identity acquired princeton believing concluded brilliant black harvard participated demonstrations advocating hiring professors members minorities worked assisting low income tenants housing cases lady degree immediate predecessors later education gave opportunities imagined july accepted invitation honorary member year old black alpha alpha active undergraduate chapter princeton attended family life obama father died complications illness march later hole heart loss memory father motivated day friend died cancer time obama later telling loss think contributions society influencing world law firm seen turning point met barack_obama african americans law firm said pointed different departments assigned mentor summer associate relationship started business lunch community organization meeting impressed meeting obama previously told mother focus solely career couple date spike lee movie right thing barack_obama opined attract scenario interest initially stability parent home adventurous married october daughters born known born election obama family continued live chicago south choosing remain moving washington husband campaign president commitment away overnight week campaign days week home end second day daughters requested fiancé meet prospective boss considering career husband closest advisors marital relationship flows combination evolving family life beginning political career led arguments balancing work family barack_obama wrote second book hope thoughts american dream tired stressed little time conversation romance despite family obligations careers continued attempt schedule date nights lived chicago daughters attended private school member school board fought maintain diversity school board members connected university_of_chicago tried reserve slots children university faculty resulted plan expand school attend washington considering georgetown day school stated interview ellen degeneres intend children received advice past ladies raising children white house mother moved white_house assist child care religion obama protestant christian raised methodist joined barack_obama married performed announced withdrawn membership christ stating relations trinity strained divisive statements sharply conflict views obama family attended different protestant churches moving including 49th african methodist general conference encouraged attendees advocate political awareness saying says church place talk issues tell place better place better ultimately political issues moral issues issues human dignity human potential future want kids career following law school associate chicago office law firm met future husband firm worked marketing intellectual property continues hold law license longer needs work voluntary inactive status held public sector positions chicago city government assistant mayor assistant commissioner planning development executive director chicago office non profit organization encouraging young people work social issues nonprofit groups government agencies worked nearly years set fundraising records organization stood years left obama served university_of_chicago developed began working executive director community affairs beginning vice president continued hold position primary campaign cut time order spend time daughters work husband election subsequently took leave absence job according couple income tax return salary husband salary united_states senate total income included earned member board directors investments royalties books obama reflected life prior working build public allies obama served board member inc major supplier cut ties immediately husband comments critical forum new_jersey served board directors early campaigns interview acknowledged strong possibility husband begin political career said wary process meaning lives open book private campaigned husband behalf early political career fund raising activity campaigned husband run united_states house_of_representatives boss university_of_chicago asked single thing campaigning enjoyed thought replied visiting living rooms given new ideas reportedly turned requests campaign attend obama husband run congressional seat defeat preferred husband tending financial needs family deemed practical way obama reservations husband presidential campaign fears possible negative effect daughters says negotiated agreement husband smoking exchange support decision run role husband presidential campaign said job senior adviser campaign discussed race education framework months husband declared presidential candidacy obama reduced professional responsibilities percent support presidential campaign early campaign limited involvement traveled political events days week rarely traveled overnight early february participation increased significantly attending thirty events days campaign appearances wrote speeches husband presidential campaign generally spoke notes campaign media labeled angry black woman web sites attempted image prompting respond public eye years developed thick skin way campaigning criticism stride end day know comes territory time democratic national convention august media outlets observed presence campaign trail grown softer start race focusing concerns audience throwing challenges giving interviews shows like view publications like appearing news programs change reflected fashion choices wearing informal clothes place previous designer pieces view appearance partly intended help public image widely covered press presidential campaign obama exposure national political scene field democratic candidates narrowed considered famous candidates early campaign told anecdotes obama family life press began emphasize toned new_york_times columnist wrote bit husband mere mortal comic routine rests god smart politics mock way turns glam mundane english senator obama debunk night democratic national convention introduced younger sister delivered speech sought portray family embodiment obama said husband believed work hard want life word bond going treat people dignity respect don know don agree emphasized loving country response criticism previous statements feeling proud country time original statement seen address largely received drew positive reviews poll found americans reached october broadcast asked obama american electorate past bradley effect stated husband achievement nomination fairly strong indicator night interviewed daily criticism husband campaign pulse referred fist bump shared night clinched democratic presidential nomination terrorist fist hill taken air cancelled lady united_states early months lady obama visited homeless shelters soup sent representatives schools advocated public service obama advocated husband policy priorities promoting bills support hosted white_house reception women rights advocates celebration enactment fair pay act pay equity law supported economic bill visits observers looked favorably legislative activities said involved politics according representatives intends visit united_states cabinet level agencies order acquainted washington june white_house announced replacing current chief staff longtime friend adviser senior adviser key aide served left chief staff president named fascinating person year initiatives lady include advocating behalf military families helping working women balance career family encouraging national service promoting arts arts education obama supporting military families personal mission increasingly bonding military families according aides stories sacrifice families tears april obama husband awarded award highest honor given homeless veteran advocates obama honored award accepting november article accusing obama feminist nightmare position education advocate women issues sharply criticized political spectrum quoted saying obama styles promotion healthy eating support military families essentially english lady manor circa 1830s prominent critic host asked supporters obama note lady people administration address promoting good eating habits leading public health crises obama joined campaign bring school girls kidnapped nigeria lady tweeted picture holding poster campaign course obama presidency particularly second term subject speculation run presidency similarly predecessor hillary_clinton potential candidacy supported april cnn poll run presidency opposed idea poll found obama support clinton winning democratic nomination higher potential candidates alternatively poll month found americans believed obama run presidency approving january town hall meeting president obama asked lady talked running responded things certain life death taxes running president tell march speaking austin texas obama denied run office citing desire impact people possible way let obama predecessors hillary_clinton supported organic movement instructing white_house buy organic food obama extended efforts healthy eating planting white_house organic garden white_house vegetable garden served lady installing bee white_house garden supplied organic produce honey family state official gatherings january obama undertook lead role administration wide initiative named let progress reversing 21st century trend childhood february lady announced let president barack_obama created task force review current programs create national plan change stated goal effort legacy want leave time person spent thing changed hope going area childhood book story white_house gardens america based experiences garden promotes healthy eating action healthy eating echoed facing expanding problem recruit republicans obama initiative october senator linked twitter account announcing website going january republican governor new_jersey presidential candidate condemned lady involvement healthy eating campaign trail iowa arguing government exercise views eating obama previously cited example adult struggled demographic sought diminish targeting children let working kids young don direct challenges older february senator indicated obama health policies end administration promising french return wife lady lgbt rights presidential election obama boasted gay democrat groups husband record lgbt rights support illinois gender violence act don ask don tell repeal civil unions hate crimes protection sexual orientation gender identity renewed effort fight hiv aids opponents constitutional amendments banning sex marriage federal california florida said supreme_court delivered justice lawrence texas case drew connection struggles gay rights civil rights stating marched died pursuit perfect union repeal don ask don tell september obama included openly gay service members national military families initiative came publicly favor sex marriage prior stated position sex marriage publicly senior white_house officials said senior adviser consistent advocates sex marriage barack_obama life went important issue millions americans comes values equality want pass girls basic values kids learn young age encourage apply areas lives country teach children equal law sex couples isn right simple said knows lived wants country opportunity matter look like love presidential election obama campaigned husband election beginning obama politically active election avoided discussions election bid time election cycle developed open public image viewing popular member obama administration poll numbers having dropped entering white_house obama senior campaign official dubbed popular political figure america positive assessment reasoned contributed active role election campaign noted challenge obama campaign popularity obama viewed figure having sharp deep loyalty americans seen having improved image time election husband initially ran presidency commented daily beast style changed course campaign sensitive economical obama expressed confidence husband debating skills prior debate election cycle performance later criticized appearing detached looking addressing leading consensus won debate speech obama found new_york_times poll conducted september favorably rating registered voters highest sustained april obama aimed husband relating stories attempting appeal female voters swing states commented guardian tactic wife republican presidential candidate polls october showed husbands tied female vote ratings remained higher despite obama higher poll numbers comparisons obama consistently media election regardless newsweek writing votes lady domestic travels obama delivered commencement speech graduating ceremony california address praised afterward students found san_francisco_chronicle wrote chemistry obama students august obama attended 50th anniversary ceremony march washington lincoln memorial positive attention brought obama attire black dress red flowers designed reacted releasing public statement honored lady choose wear designs celebration deeply significant historical moment march obama traveled alabama family commemorate anniversary montgomery marches obama publicly stated daughter exposed violence protesters marches alive president obama remarks joined original crossing bridge july obama coming los_angeles year special olympics world games october obama joined visiting military base virginia attempt prince raise awareness programs supporting harmed service members december obama traveled husband california meet families victims terrorist attack occurred weeks earlier foreign trips april obama met queen elizabeth_ii buckingham palace obama embracing attending event world leaders obama praised generated controversy protocol elizabeth april obama traveled mexico solo visit nation mexico obama spoke students encouraging responsibility referring children obama argued potential found unlikely places citing husband examples obama traveled africa second official trip june touring cape_town meeting obama involved community events foreign countries commented white_house staff trip africa advance foreign policy husband march obama visited china daughters mother met wife chinese president visited historic cultural sites university high schools deputy national security adviser said visit intent obama symbolize relationship united_states china leaders relationship peoples january obama traveled saudi_arabia alongside husband following death king received criticism covering head nation women forbidden publicly obama defended having submit saudi_arabia customs praised corners obama greeted acknowledged encounter june obama undertook trip london italian cities london spoke students international education adolescent girls met british prime minister joined daughters mother november spent week official visit middle_east continued advancing initiative international education women speaking world innovation summit education let girls learn initiative touring school jordan met female students trip obama intended visit jordan trip canceled weather conditions jordan obama intended visit school constructed assistance funds march obama accompanied husband children cuba trip seen administration having possibility positively relations country america later month couple daughters traveled argentina meeting argentine president elections obama campaigned democratic candidates elections making debut campaign trail milwaukee wisconsin time began campaigning obama approval rating percentage points higher husband obama indicated january consensus campaign speculation involvement came large approval rating reports invited speak events democrats toured seven states weeks october viewed essential white_house aides reported deeply involved political discussions engage republicans public disputes elections took place thirteen democratic candidates obama campaigned won los_angeles_times concluded obama popular husband election proved better particularly home state obama participant elections held time popularity superseded husband extent receive larger support campaigning reporting travel denver colorado wrote democrats want president obama campaign lady popular obama found favorable approval rating cnn poll husband coming video released july effort encourage voter turnout called voters hungry obama appeared fundraiser georgia september democratic senate candidate obama approach campaigning georgia discussing current events instead broadly stressed importance registering vote turning elections obama appearances came dislike away children washington politics opposition republicans husband agenda view democrats sufficiently supporters initiatives end childhood obama raised profile october touring states days obama called elections husband campaign public image style ascent husband prominent national politician obama popular culture essence listed world inspiring women july vanity_fair listed world best dressed people honorary guest legends ball young paying tribute legends helped way african american women september magazine listed harvard list prior year influential harvard alumni husband ranked fourth july repeat appearance vanity_fair international best dressed list appeared people list best dressed women praised magazine classic confident look time husband election sources anticipated high profile african american woman stable marriage obama positive role model influence view world african americans fashion choices fashion week obama influence field impact african american models participate thought obama public support grew early months lady accepted role model trip abroad april toured cancer ward wife british prime minister newsweek described trip abroad exhibition called star power described display questions raised american british media protocol met touch queen reception traditional royal palace sources denied breach occurred obama compared sense style discipline obama style described fashion populist wore clothes high end design companies expensive pieces target year study found patronage worth average million company fashion particular favoring dresses including term official portrait dress ball designed obama appeared cover photo spread march issue vogue lady vogue hillary_clinton previously appeared cover august woman appear cover person years lady announce winner oscar best picture went media criticized focusing lady fashion sense contributions said election like focus attention lady issues concern military working families blogger pbs host columnist argued obama feeding emphasis style substance stated obama style
Michelle Obama