Highlights of Obama’s life and times
November 5th, 2008 - 11:28 am ICT by IANS
Washington, Nov 5 (IANS) Here are the highlights of US president elect Barack Obama’s life and career:Born: Aug 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Parentage: Father Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a Luo from Nyang’oma Kogelo, Nyanza Province, Kenya. Mother Ann Dunham, a white American from Wichita, Kansas.
Education: B.A. in international relations, 1983, Columbia University. J.D. from Harvard Law School; Elected first black president of the Law Review in February 1990.
Present Family: Married Michelle Robinson, another Harvard Law School graduate, Oct 18, 1992. They have two young daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Faith: Christian, United Church of Christ.
Political career: Worked as a civil rights lawyer in Chicago in 1991. Organised one of the largest voter registration drives in Chicago history to help Bill Clinton’s 1992 election as president. Elected thrice to Illinois state senate in 1996, 1998 and 2002. Made an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the US House of Representatives in 2000.
Rises to national prominence with an inspiring keynote speech at the July 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Elected to the US Senate Nov 2, 2004, as the fifth African American Senator in US history, and the third to have been popularly elected. Declared his candidacy for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination Feb 10, 2007.
Officially becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency June 3, 2008.
Accepts party nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, Aug 28, 2008.
Wins US presidential election: Nov 4, 2008.
Other Accomplishments:
Signed a $1.9 million deal to author three books in 2004. The first, “The Audacity of Hope,” discusses his political convictions. The second book will be co-written with his wife.
Dubbed one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2005.
- Milestones in the life and presidency of Obama - Nov 04, 2010
- US Democrat Geraldine passes away, aged 75 - Mar 27, 2011
- Barack Obama's defence of jeans - Jul 22, 2009
- Obama to run for second term in 2012 - Apr 04, 2011
- Obama names Indian-American to communications body - Nov 01, 2011
- From Hawaii to the White House: Obama's career - Jan 18, 2009
- Former US senator indicted - Jun 04, 2011
- John McCain ranked most conservative US senator in 2010 - Feb 25, 2011
- Barack Hussein Obamaa brief profile of the 44th United States President - Jan 20, 2009
- 'Dark horse candidate' will be formidable opponent to Obama: Richardson - Mar 07, 2011
- U.S. Senate confirms Elena Kagan as 112th Supreme Court Justice of the U.S. - Aug 06, 2010
- Clinton won't stay on even if Obama gets second term - Mar 17, 2011
- Obama considering moving 2012 Presidential election campaign base to Chicago - Dec 28, 2010
- Despite mid-term polls setbacks, Obama may still be re-elected in 2012 - Jan 24, 2011
- First US woman vice presidential candidate dead (Lead) - Mar 27, 2011
Tags: democratic presidential nomination, first black president, harvard law school, illinois state senate, law school graduate, national prominence, party nomination, political convictions, presumptive democratic nominee, voter registration drives
