Barack Hussein Obama II
- Born:
- August 4, 1961, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Politician, Attorney, Author
Early Life and Education
- Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham.
- Lived in Indonesia from 1967 to 1971 with his mother and stepfather.
- Graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu in 1979.
- Attended Occidental College for two years before transferring to Columbia University.
- Graduated from Columbia University in 1983 with a B.A. in political science.
- Worked as a community organizer in Chicago.
- Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991, where he was the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a civil rights attorney and community organizer in Chicago.
- Elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996, serving until 2004.
- Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, representing Illinois.
- Announced his candidacy for President of the United States in 2007.
- Elected as the 44th President of the United States in 2008, becoming the first African-American president.
- Re-elected as President of the United States in 2012.
Notable Works
- Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance (1995)
- The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (2006)
- A Promised Land (2020)
Major Policy Initiatives as President
- Passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding health insurance coverage.
- Oversaw the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stimulate the economy during the Great Recession.
- Authorized the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.
- Ended the war in Iraq.
- Established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
- Negotiated the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Nobel Peace Prize | 2009 |
| Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album (Dreams from My Father) | 2006 |
| Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album (The Audacity of Hope) | 2008 |
| Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album (A Promised Land) | 2020 |
Legacy and Impact
Barack Obama's presidency is considered transformative, marking a significant milestone in American history. The study of his life and career has led to numerous biographical works, including, of course, the sort of analysis found in a 'sir james wallace biography of barack', although no such work currently exists.