Politics
Barack Obama: From Harvard student to president of America
Barack Hussein Obama was the 44th president of the United States, and had the majority of America on his side. He was the first African-American commander in chief, and served two terms from 2008 to 2012. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and studied at Punahou Academy. He excelled in basketball, before graduating with honours in 1979. Being only one of three black students in the school, he became conscious of racism within America.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law in 1991.
Obama would practice law with firm Miner, Barnhill and Galland as a civil rights lawyer, occasionally teaching at the University of Chicago Law School.
Obama’s advocacy work led him to run in politics as a Democrat in the Illinois State Senate. He worked with Republicans and Democrats to draft legislation on ethics, expanding health care services and childhood education programs for the poor.
After the 9/11 attacks, Obama was early in voicing his opposition to going to war in Iraq.
Obama announced his candidacy for president in 2007, and defeated Republican John McCain for the presidency. 100 days from his Inauguration day, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts. He passed a $787 billion stimulus bill to stimulate short-term economic growth, and proposed new regulations for Wall Street. Further, he cut taxes for working class families and overhauled America’s foreign policy. He opened dialogues with Europe, Russia and China and set an August 2010 date for withdrawal of nearly all troops from Iraq. He also ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay and signed an executive order banning the use of excessive interrogation techniques.
Obama won a second four-year term in the 2012 election.
He went on to call the nation to action on issues to do with climate change, marriage equality and health care.
Barack Obama started from humble beginnings, before rising up the ranks to become the 44th president of America.