American statesman, 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. The first African American elected to the presidency, he left a lasting mark on the political history of the United States and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
Barack Obama(1961 — ?)
Barack Obama
États-Unis
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« Yes we can»
Key Facts
- Born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu (Hawaii)
- Elected Senator of Illinois in 2004
- Elected 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, inaugurated on January 20, 2009
- Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009
- Re-elected for a second term in 2012 (presidency until 2017)
Works & Achievements
Autobiography in which Obama recounts his search for identity between Africa and America. It reveals his talent as a writer.
Political essay laying out his vision of America. It sets the stage for his run for the presidency.
Law allowing millions of Americans without medical coverage to gain access to insurance. It is the major domestic reform of his presidency.
Massive measures to pull the country out of the 2008 financial crisis. They aimed to save the auto industry and jobs.
International commitment to limit global warming, actively championed by Obama. The United States plays a key role in it.
Resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, broken off for more than fifty years. A historic gesture of détente.
Detailed account of his years in the White House. The book becomes a huge global success.
Anecdotes
Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, in the Hawaiian archipelago, in 1961. His father was a Kenyan economist and his mother an American from Kansas. As a child, he lived several years in Indonesia, which gave him an early perspective on different cultures.
In 2004, while he was still only a local lawmaker from Illinois, Obama delivered a much-noticed speech at the Democratic Party convention. In just a few minutes, he became a national figure and truly launched his political career.
On the evening of his election in November 2008, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Chicago's Grant Park to hear him speak. As the first African American elected president, he declared: “Yes we can,” a phrase that became famous.
In October 2009, barely a few months after taking office, Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize. The award surprised many people, including himself, since he had carried out only a few actions so far; the committee mainly wanted to encourage his commitment to international dialogue.
Each year, in the gardens of the White House, Obama took part in the tradition of “pardoning” a turkey before the Thanksgiving holiday. The Obama family also planted a vegetable garden to teach American children about healthy eating.
Primary Sources
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. But know this, America: they will be met.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, tonight is your answer.
War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man. Our task is not to imagine a world without conflict, but to build a just and lasting peace.
I felt the weight of my name as both a burden and an inheritance, the fragile link between one continent and another.
Key Places
Obama's birthplace, on an island in the Pacific. He spends part of his childhood and teenage years there.
City where Obama works as a community organizer and then begins his political career. It is there that he celebrates his victory in 2008.
Obama studies law there and becomes the first African American editor-in-chief of the prestigious journal Harvard Law Review.
Residence and seat of American executive power, where Obama lives and governs from 2009 to 2017.
City where Obama lives for several years during his childhood after his mother's remarriage, discovering a culture very different from that of the United States.
Typical Objects
Obama was the first president to keep a secured smartphone, a symbol of a presidency in the digital age. Its use was strictly regulated for security reasons.
The presidential desk in the Oval Office, gifted by Queen Victoria in the 19th century. Obama signed many laws and executive orders at it.
When signing an important law, the president uses several pens, which he then gives to those who contributed to the text. Obama handed out many of them for the health care reform.
A transparent screen that displays the text of speeches, allowing the speaker to look at the audience. Obama, renowned as an excellent orator, used it frequently.
An international honor received in 2009 for his efforts in support of diplomacy. It represents global recognition, but also a challenge to live up to.
The official aircraft of the President of the United States, a true flying office and command center. Obama used it for his travels around the world.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Daily Life
Morning
Obama woke up early and often started with a workout in the White House gym. He would then have breakfast with his family before receiving, every morning, a confidential report on the state of the world.
Afternoon
His days were filled with meetings with his advisers, encounters with foreign heads of state, and working sessions on legislation. He also received citizens and signed official documents in the Oval Office.
Evening
In the evening, Obama made a point of having dinner with his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, despite his busy schedule. After dinner, he often worked late, reading files or letters from citizens.
Food
Known for his balanced diet, Obama enjoyed the vegetables from the garden Michelle planted at the White House. He did admit, however, to a weakness for hamburgers and roasted almonds.
Clothing
For his official duties, he almost always wore a dark suit, white shirt, and tie. In private, he was seen in more casual attire, and was once famously criticized for a tan suit.
Housing
For eight years, he lived in the White House residence, both the family home and the center of American power. Before that, the family lived in a large house in Chicago.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Les Rêves de mon père
1995
L'Audace d'espérer
2006
Réforme de l'assurance santé (« Obamacare »)
2010
Plan de relance économique
2009
Accord de Paris sur le climat
2015
Rapprochement avec Cuba
2015
Une terre promise (mémoires présidentiels)
2020
