Barack Hussein Obama II is an American politician who made history as the 44th President of the United States, serving from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American to hold the office. Obama’s presidency was defined by his efforts to lead the country out of the Great Recession, fundamentally reform the healthcare system, and redirect U.S. foreign policy after two long wars.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Barack Hussein Obama II |
| Born | August 4, 1961, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Spouse | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson (married 1992) |
| Children | Malia Ann Obama, Natasha “Sasha” Obama |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Presidential Term | January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 |
| Previous Offices | U.S. Senator (Illinois, 2005–2008); Illinois State Senator (1997–2004) |
| Key Award | Nobel Peace Prize (2009) |
Early Life, Education, and Career
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Diverse Background: Obama was born in Hawaii to an American mother, Stanley Ann Dunham (from Kansas), and a Kenyan father, Barack Obama Sr., a Luo-speaking Kenyan student. His parents divorced when he was young, and he spent part of his childhood (ages 6 to 10) living in Jakarta, Indonesia, with his mother and Indonesian stepfather, Lolo Soetoro.
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Education: He returned to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents and graduated from the prestigious Punahou School in 1979. He attended Occidental College before transferring to Columbia University, where he earned a B.A. in Political Science in 1983.
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Community Organizer: After graduating, Obama moved to Chicago’s South Side to work as a community organizer for the Developing Communities Project, working with low-income communities.
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Harvard Law: He enrolled in Harvard Law School in 1988, where he excelled and became the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude in 1991.
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Marriage and Early Politics: He married Michelle Robinson in 1992. He worked as a civil rights lawyer and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. He began his political career by serving in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.
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National Profile: Obama’s national profile soared after he delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which led to his landslide election as the U.S. Senator for Illinois later that year.
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The Obama Presidency (2009–2017)
Obama took office during the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression and focused his first term on economic recovery and major structural reforms.
Domestic Policy Achievements
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Economic Recovery: Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stimulate the economy and prevent a second Great Depression. He also oversaw the bailout and restructuring of the U.S. auto industry (General Motors and Chrysler).
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Healthcare Reform: Signed the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), widely known as “Obamacare,” which expanded health insurance coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans and instituted new consumer protections.
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Financial Reform: Signed the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010 to regulate financial markets and prevent a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis.
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Social Policy: Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and oversaw the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2010, allowing gay and lesbian individuals to serve openly in the military. His administration also filed briefs urging the Supreme Court to strike down same-sex marriage bans, which was legalized nationwide in 2015.
Foreign Policy and Security
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Iraq and Afghanistan: Ended the Iraq War by fully withdrawing U.S. troops in 2011, as mandated by the previous administration’s agreement. He also oversaw a major draw-down of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
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Osama bin Laden: Ordered the successful May 2011 operation by U.S. Navy SEALs that resulted in the killing of Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaeda.
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Iran Nuclear Deal: Negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 with Iran and five other world powers, which aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
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Cuba Rapprochement: Initiated the normalization of relations with Cuba in 2014, lifting some restrictions and reopening the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
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Climate Change: The U.S. under Obama was instrumental in securing the 2015 Paris Agreement on global climate change.
Legacy and Post-Presidency
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Nobel Peace Prize: Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize early in his first term, largely for his commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and diplomacy.
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Post-Presidency: Since leaving office, the Obamas have remained highly engaged in public life, establishing the Obama Foundation to support civic engagement and leadership development. They also launched Higher Ground Productions, a media company producing content for Netflix, covering topics from culture to democracy.
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Historical Significance: Obama’s election and presidency are viewed as a defining moment in U.S. racial and political history, symbolizing the closing of the gap between America’s founding ideals and its political reality.