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<h2>Barack Obama</h2> From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama">Wikipedia</a>, the free encyclopedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#mw-head">Jump to navigation</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#p-search">Jump to search</a> "Barack" and "Obama" redirect here. For other uses, see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_(disambiguation)">Barack (disambiguation)</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_(disambiguation)">Obama (disambiguation)</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_(disambiguation)">Barack Obama (disambiguation)</a>.   <figure class="table"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th colspan="2">Barack Obama</th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/President_Barack_Obama.jpg/220px-President_Barack_Obama.jpg" alt="Obama standing with his arms folded and smiling" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/President_Barack_Obama.jpg/330px-President_Barack_Obama.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/President_Barack_Obama.jpg/440px-President_Barack_Obama.jpg 2x" sizes="100vw" width="220"></figure> </th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"> </th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">44th <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States">President of the United States</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">In office January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Vice President</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden">Joe Biden</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Preceded by</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush">George W. Bush</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Succeeded by</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump">Donald Trump</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate">United States Senator</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois">Illinois</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">In office January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Preceded by</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Fitzgerald_(politician)">Peter Fitzgerald</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Succeeded by</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Burris">Roland Burris</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">Member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate">Illinois Senate</a> from the 13th district</th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">In office January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Preceded by</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Palmer_(politician)">Alice Palmer</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Succeeded by</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Raoul">Kwame Raoul</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">Personal details</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Born</th> <th> Barack Hussein Obama II August 4, 1961 (age 58) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu">Honolulu</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>, U.S. </th> </tr> <tr> <th>Political party</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)">Democratic</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Spouse(s)</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Robinson">Michelle Robinson</a> (m. 1992)</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Children</th> <th> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malia_Obama">Malia</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasha_Obama">Sasha</a></li> </ul> </th> </tr> <tr> <th>Mother</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Dunham">Ann Dunham</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Father</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Sr.">Barack Obama Sr.</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Relatives</th> <th>See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_family">Obama family</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th>Residence</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalorama_(Washington,_D.C.)">Kalorama (Washington, D.C.)</a> </th> </tr> <tr> <th>Education</th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punahou_School">Punahou School</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_mater">Alma mater</a></th> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University">Columbia University</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts">BA</a>) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_University">Harvard University</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor">JD</a>)</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Awards</th> <th> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize">Nobel Peace Prize</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Nobel_Peace_Prize">2009</a>)</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profile_in_Courage_Award">Profile in Courage Award</a> (2017)</li> </ul> </th> </tr> <tr> <th>Signature</th> <th> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Barack_Obama_signature.svg/128px-Barack_Obama_signature.svg.png" alt="" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Barack_Obama_signature.svg/192px-Barack_Obama_signature.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Barack_Obama_signature.svg/256px-Barack_Obama_signature.svg.png 2x" sizes="100vw" width="128"></figure> </th> </tr> <tr> <th>Website</th> <th><a href="http://barackobama.com/">Official website</a> <a href="http://obama.org/">Obama Foundation</a> <a href="http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/">White House Archives</a></th> </tr> </tbody> </table> </figure> <figure class="table"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/President_Barack_Obama%2C_2012_portrait_crop.jpg/75px-President_Barack_Obama%2C_2012_portrait_crop.jpg" alt="President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/President_Barack_Obama%2C_2012_portrait_crop.jpg/113px-President_Barack_Obama%2C_2012_portrait_crop.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/President_Barack_Obama%2C_2012_portrait_crop.jpg/150px-President_Barack_Obama%2C_2012_portrait_crop.jpg 2x" sizes="100vw" width="75"></figure> This article is part of a series about Barack Obama </th> </tr> <tr> <th> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama">Political positions</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_history_of_Barack_Obama">Electoral history</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Obama">Early life and career</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Barack_Obama">Family</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_image_of_Barack_Obama">Public image</a></li> </ul> Pre-presidency   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate_career_of_Barack_Obama">Illinois State Senator</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Democratic_National_Convention_keynote_address">2004 DNC keynote address</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_career_of_Barack_Obama">U.S. Senator from Illinois</a></li> </ul> President of the United States   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Barack_Obama">Presidency</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency">Timeline</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Policies   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration">Economy</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration">Energy</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration">Foreign policy</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_Doctrine">Obama Doctrine</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidential_trips_made_by_Barack_Obama">Foreign trips</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_granted_executive_clemency_by_Barack_Obama">Pardons</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration">Social</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration">Space</a> </li> </ul> Appointments   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Barack_Obama#Personnel">Cabinet</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama">Judges</a> </li> </ul> First term   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_2008_presidential_campaign">Campaign for the Presidency</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_United_States_presidential_election">2008 general election</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_2008_presidential_primary_campaign">Primaries</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_transition_of_Barack_Obama">Transition</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Barack_Obama">1st inauguration</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_100_days_of_Barack_Obama%27s_presidency">First 100 days</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act">Affordable Care Act</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_of_U.S._troops_from_Iraq">Iraq Withdrawal</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden">Death of Osama bin Laden</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Benghazi_attack">Benghazi attack</a></li> <li>Timeline<ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2009)">'09</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2010)">'10</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2011)">'11</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2012)">'12</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Second term   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_2012_presidential_campaign">Reelection campaign</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_presidential_election">2012 general election</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_reactions_to_the_2012_United_States_presidential_election">Reactions</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_inauguration_of_Barack_Obama">2nd inauguration</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_reform_in_the_United_States#Obama's_executive_actions_of_November_2014">Immigration executive action</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Comprehensive_Plan_of_Action">Iran deal</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_thaw">Cuban thaw</a></li> <li>Timeline<ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2013)">'13</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2014)">'14</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2015)">'15</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2016)">'16</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Barack_Obama_presidency_(2017)">'17</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Post-presidency   <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Presidential_Center">Planned Library</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_Foundation">Obama Foundation</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_America_Appeal">One America Appeal</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_from_My_Father">Dreams from My Father</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Audacity_of_Hope">The Audacity of Hope</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Nobel_Peace_Prize">Nobel Peace Prize</a></li> </ul> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/70px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png" alt="" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/105px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/140px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x" sizes="100vw" width="70"></figure> </th> </tr> <tr> <th> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Barack_Obama_series">v</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Barack_Obama_series">t</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Barack_Obama_series&action=edit">e</a> </li> </ul> </th> </tr> </tbody> </table> </figure> <figure class="table"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th>Part of a series on</th> </tr> <tr> <th><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrats">New Democrats</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Barack_Obama_and_Bill_Clinton_%28cropped1%29.jpg/180px-Barack_Obama_and_Bill_Clinton_%28cropped1%29.jpg" alt="Barack Obama and Bill Clinton" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Barack_Obama_and_Bill_Clinton_%28cropped1%29.jpg/270px-Barack_Obama_and_Bill_Clinton_%28cropped1%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Barack_Obama_and_Bill_Clinton_%28cropped1%29.jpg/360px-Barack_Obama_and_Bill_Clinton_%28cropped1%29.jpg 2x" sizes="100vw" width="180"></figure> </th> </tr> <tr> <th> Ideology<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#">[show]</a>   </th> </tr> <tr> <th> People<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#">[show]</a>   </th> </tr> <tr> <th> Organizations<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#">[show]</a>   </th> </tr> <tr> <th> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Politics">Politics portal</a> </li> </ul> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/A_coloured_voting_box.svg/16px-A_coloured_voting_box.svg.png" alt="A coloured voting box.svg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/A_coloured_voting_box.svg/24px-A_coloured_voting_box.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/A_coloured_voting_box.svg/32px-A_coloured_voting_box.svg.png 2x" sizes="100vw" width="16"></figure> </th> </tr> <tr> <th> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:New_Democrats">v</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:New_Democrats">t</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:New_Democrats&action=edit">e</a> </li> </ul> </th> </tr> </tbody> </table> </figure> Barack Hussein Obama II (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English">/bəˈrɑːk huːˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə/</a> ( <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png" alt="About this sound" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/17px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/22px-Loudspeaker.svg.png 2x" sizes="100vw" width="11"></figure> <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/En-us-Barack-Hussein-Obama.ogg">listen</a>);<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-1">[1]</a> born August 4, 1961) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 44th <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States">president of the United States</a> from 2009 to 2017. A member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)">Democratic Party</a>, he was the first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American">African American</a> president of the United States. He previously served as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._senator">U.S. senator</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois">Illinois</a> from 2005 to 2008 and an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate">Illinois state senator</a> from 1997 to 2004. Obama was born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu">Honolulu</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>. After graduating from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University">Columbia University</a> in 1983, he worked as a community organizer in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago">Chicago</a>. In 1988, he enrolled in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Law_School">Harvard Law School</a>, where he was the first black president of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Law_Review">Harvard Law Review</a>. After graduating, he became a civil rights attorney and an academic, teaching constitutional law at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Law_School">University of Chicago Law School</a> from 1992 to 2004. He <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate_career_of_Barack_Obama">represented the 13th district for three terms</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate">Illinois Senate</a> from 1997 until 2004, when he <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois,_2004">ran for the U.S. Senate</a>. He received national attention in 2004 with his March primary win, his well-received July <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Democratic_National_Convention">Democratic National Convention</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Democratic_National_Convention_keynote_address">keynote address</a>, and his landslide November election to the Senate. In 2008, he was nominated for president a year after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_2008_presidential_campaign">his campaign</a> began, after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries,_2008">a close primary campaign</a> against <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton">Hillary Clinton</a>. He was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_United_States_presidential_election">elected</a> over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)">Republican</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain">John McCain</a> and was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Barack_Obama">inaugurated</a> on January 20, 2009. Nine months later, he was named the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Nobel_Peace_Prize">2009 Nobel Peace Prize</a> laureate. Regarded as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrist">centrist</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat">New Democrat</a>, Obama signed many landmark bills into law during his first two years in office. The main reforms that were passed include the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act">Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act</a> (commonly referred to as the "Affordable Care Act" or "Obamacare"), the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodd%E2%80%93Frank_Wall_Street_Reform_and_Consumer_Protection_Act">Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Ask,_Don%27t_Tell_Repeal_Act_of_2010">Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010</a>. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009">American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Relief,_Unemployment_Insurance_Reauthorization,_and_Job_Creation_Act_of_2010">Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010</a> served as economic stimulus amidst the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Recession">Great Recession</a>. After a lengthy debate over the national debt limit, he signed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_Control_Act_of_2011">Budget Control</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Taxpayer_Relief_Act_of_2012">American Taxpayer Relief Acts</a>. In foreign policy, he increased U.S. troop levels in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)">Afghanistan</a>, reduced nuclear weapons with the United States–Russia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_START">New START</a> treaty, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_of_U.S._troops_from_Iraq">ended military involvement</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War">Iraq War</a>. He ordered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_military_intervention_in_Libya">military involvement in Libya</a>, contributing to the overthrow of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_Gaddafi">Muammar Gaddafi</a>. He also ordered the military operations that resulted in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden">the deaths of Osama bin Laden</a> and suspected Yemeni <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda">Al-Qaeda</a> operative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_al-Awlaki">Anwar al-Awlaki</a>. After winning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_presidential_election">re-election</a> by defeating Republican opponent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney">Mitt Romney</a>, Obama was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_inauguration_of_Barack_Obama">sworn in for a second term</a> in 2013. During this term, he promoted inclusion for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_American">LGBT Americans</a>. His administration filed briefs that urged the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States">Supreme Court</a> to strike down <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States">same-sex marriage</a> bans as unconstitutional (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Windsor">United States v. Windsor</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obergefell_v._Hodges">Obergefell v. Hodges</a>); same-sex marriage was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States">legalized</a> nationwide in 2015 after the Court ruled in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obergefell_v._Hodges">Obergefell</a>. He advocated for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_States">gun control</a> in response to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting">Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting</a>, indicating support for a ban on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapons">assault weapons</a>, and issued wide-ranging executive actions concerning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming">global warming</a> and immigration. In foreign policy, he ordered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_Iraq_(2014%E2%80%93present)">military intervention in Iraq</a> in response to gains made by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISIL">ISIL</a> after the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq, continued the process of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ending_U.S._combat_operations_in_Afghanistan">ending U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan</a> in 2016, promoted discussions that led to the 2015 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement">Paris Agreement</a> on global climate change, initiated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions_during_the_Ukrainian_crisis">sanctions against Russia</a> following the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_Ukraine_(2014%E2%80%93present)">invasion in Ukraine</a> and again after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2016_United_States_elections">Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections</a>, brokered a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Comprehensive_Plan_of_Action">nuclear deal with Iran</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States%E2%80%93Cuban_Thaw">normalized U.S. relations with Cuba</a>. Obama nominated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Supreme_Court_candidates">three justices to the Supreme Court</a>: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Sotomayor">Sonia Sotomayor</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Kagan">Elena Kagan</a> were confirmed as justices, while <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrick_Garland">Merrick Garland</a> faced unprecedented partisan <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrick_Garland_Supreme_Court_nomination">obstruction</a> and was ultimately not confirmed. During his term in office, America's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_power">soft power</a> and reputation abroad significantly improved.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-2">[2]</a> Obama's presidency has generally been regarded favorably, and evaluations of his presidency among historians, political scientists, and the general public place him among <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_presidents_of_the_United_States#Notable_scholar_surveys">the upper tier</a> of American presidents. Obama left office and retired in January 2017 and currently resides in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-3">[3]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-How_Does_Trump_Stack_Up_Against_the_Best%E2%80%94and_Worst%E2%80%94Presidents?-4">[4]</a> A December 2019 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallup%27s_most_admired_man_and_woman_poll">Gallup poll</a> found that Obama was the most admired man in America for a record 12th consecutive year.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-5">[5]</a> <h2>Contents</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Early_life_and_career">1Early life and career</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Education">1.1Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Family_and_personal_life">1.2Family and personal life</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Religious_views">1.2.1Religious views</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Law_career">1.3Law career</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Community_organizer_and_Harvard_Law_School">1.3.1Community organizer and Harvard Law School</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Chicago_Law_School_and_civil_rights_attorney">1.3.2Chicago Law School and civil rights attorney</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Legislative_career">1.4Legislative career</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Illinois_State_Senator_(1997%E2%80%932004)">1.4.1Illinois State Senator (1997–2004)</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#2004_U.S._Senate_campaign">1.4.22004 U.S. Senate campaign</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#U.S._Senator_from_Illinois_(2005%E2%80%9308)">1.4.3U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–08)</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Presidential_campaigns">2Presidential campaigns</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#2008">2.12008</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#2012">2.22012</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Presidency_(2009%E2%80%932017)">3Presidency (2009–2017)</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#First_100_days">3.1First 100 days</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Domestic_policy">3.2Domestic policy</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#LGBT_rights">3.2.1LGBT rights</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#White_House_advisory_and_oversight_groups">3.2.2White House advisory and oversight groups</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Economic_policy">3.2.3Economic policy</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Environmental_policy">3.2.4Environmental policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Health_care_reform">3.2.5Health care reform</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Energy_policy">3.2.6Energy policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Gun_control">3.2.7Gun control</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#2010_midterm_elections">3.2.82010 midterm elections</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Cybersecurity_and_Internet_policy">3.2.9Cybersecurity and Internet policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Government_mass_surveillance">3.2.10Government mass surveillance</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Foreign_policy">3.3Foreign policy</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#War_in_Iraq">3.3.1War in Iraq</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#War_in_Afghanistan">3.3.2War in Afghanistan</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Israel">3.3.3Israel</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Libya">3.3.4Libya</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Syrian_Civil_War">3.3.5Syrian Civil War</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden">3.3.6Death of Osama bin Laden</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Iran_nuclear_talks">3.3.7Iran nuclear talks</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Relations_with_Cuba">3.3.8Relations with Cuba</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Africa">3.3.9Africa</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Hiroshima_speech">3.3.10Hiroshima speech</a> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Russia">3.3.11Russia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Cultural_and_political_image">3.4Cultural and political image</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Post-presidency_(2017%E2%80%93present)">4Post-presidency (2017–present)</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Legacy">5Legacy</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Presidential_library">5.1Presidential library</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Bibliography">6Bibliography</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Audiobooks">6.1Audiobooks</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#See_also">7See also</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Politics">7.1Politics</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Other">7.2Other</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Lists">7.3Lists</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Notes_and_references">8Notes and references</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Notes">8.1Notes</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#References">8.2References</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Further_reading">9Further reading</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#External_links">10External links</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Official">10.1Official</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Other_2">10.2Other</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h2>Early life and career</h2> Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Obama">Early life and career of Barack Obama</a>   Obama was born on August 4, 1961,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-biography-6">[6]</a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapiolani_Medical_Center_for_Women_and_Children">Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu">Honolulu</a>, Hawaii.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-birth-certificate-7">[7]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-maraniss-8">[8]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-9">[9]</a> He is the only president born outside the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contiguous_United_States">contiguous</a> 48 states.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-BarretoO'Bryant2013-10">[10]</a> He was born to an American mother of European descent and an African father. His mother, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Dunham">Ann Dunham</a> (1942–1995), was born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichita,_Kansas">Wichita, Kansas</a>; she was mostly of English descent,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-11">[11]</a> with some German, Irish, Scottish, Swiss, and Welsh ancestry.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-12">[12]</a> His father, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Sr.">Barack Obama Sr.</a> (1936–1982),<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-13">[13]</a> was a married<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-autogenerated2-14">[14]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-15">[15]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-16">[16]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luo_people_of_Kenya_and_Tanzania">Luo Kenyan</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyang%27oma_Kogelo">Nyang'oma Kogelo</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-autogenerated2-14">[14]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-17">[17]</a> Obama's parents met in 1960 in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language">Russian language</a> class at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Hawaii_at_Manoa">University of Hawaii at Manoa</a>, where his father was a foreign student on a scholarship.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-Jones_2007-18">[18]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-Obama_1995,_2004,_pp._9%E2%80%9310-19">[19]</a> The couple married in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wailuku,_Hawaii">Wailuku, Hawaii</a>, on February 2, 1961, six months before Obama was born.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-Ripley_2008-20">[20]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-21">[21]</a> In late August 1961, a few weeks after he was born, Barack and his mother moved to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Washington">University of Washington</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle">Seattle</a>, where they lived for a year. During that time, the elder Obama completed his undergraduate degree in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics">economics</a> in Hawaii, graduating in June 1962. He left to attend graduate school on a scholarship at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_University">Harvard University</a>, where he earned an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Arts">M.A.</a> in economics. Obama's parents divorced in March 1964.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-22">[22]</a> Obama Sr. returned to Kenya in 1964, where he married for a third time and worked for the Kenyan government as the Senior Economic Analyst in the Ministry of Finance.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-23">[23]</a> He visited his son in Hawaii only once, at Christmas 1971,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-24">[24]</a> before he was killed in an automobile accident in 1982, when Obama was 21 years old.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-25">[25]</a> Recalling his early childhood, Obama said, "That my father looked nothing like the people around me—that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk—barely registered in my mind."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-Obama_1995,_2004,_pp._9%E2%80%9310-19">[19]</a> He described his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-26">[26]</a> <figure class="image"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/Barack_Obama_Sr_Jr.jpg/150px-Barack_Obama_Sr_Jr.jpg" alt="" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/Barack_Obama_Sr_Jr.jpg/225px-Barack_Obama_Sr_Jr.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Barack_Obama_Sr_Jr.jpg 2x" sizes="100vw" width="150"></figure>   Obama (right) with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama,_Sr.">his father</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>, 1971 In 1963, Dunham met <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolo_Soetoro">Lolo Soetoro</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Hawaii">University of Hawaii</a>; he was an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Indonesian">Indonesian</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Center">East–West Center</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_student">graduate student</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography">geography</a>. The couple married on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molokai">Molokai</a> on March 15, 1965.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-27">[27]</a> After two one-year extensions of his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-1_visa">J-1 visa</a>, Lolo returned to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia">Indonesia</a> in 1966. His wife and stepson followed sixteen months later in 1967. The family initially lived in the Menteng Dalam neighborhood in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tebet,_South_Jakarta">Tebet</a> sub district of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Jakarta">south Jakarta</a>. From 1970, they lived in a wealthier neighborhood in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menteng">Menteng</a> sub district of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Jakarta">central Jakarta</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-28">[28]</a> <h3>Education</h3> Obama started in St. Francis Pre-Education from age three to five. From age six to ten, he then attended local <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Language">Indonesian-language</a> schools: Sekolah Dasar Katolik Santo Fransiskus Asisi (St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School) for two years and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Elementary_School_Menteng_01">Sekolah Dasar Negeri Menteng 01</a> (State Elementary School Menteng 01/Besuki school) for one and a half years, supplemented by English-language <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvert_School">Calvert School</a> homeschooling by his mother.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-29">[29]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-30">[30]</a> As a result of those four years in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta">Jakarta</a>, he was able to speak <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_language">Indonesian</a> fluently as a child.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-31">[31]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-in_Jakarta-32">[32]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-in_Jakarta2-33">[33]</a> During his time in Indonesia, Obama's step-father taught him to be resilient and gave him "a pretty hardheaded assessment of how the world works."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-34">[34]</a> In 1971, Obama returned to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu">Honolulu</a> to live with his maternal grandparents, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madelyn_Dunham">Madelyn</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Armour_Dunham">Stanley Dunham</a>. He attended <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punahou_School">Punahou School</a>—a private <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University-preparatory_school">college preparatory school</a>—with the aid of a scholarship from fifth grade until he graduated from high school in 1979.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-35">[35]</a> In his youth, Obama went by the nickname "Barry."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-36">[36]</a> Obama lived with his mother and half-sister, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Soetoro-Ng">Maya Soetoro</a>, in Hawaii for three years from 1972 to 1975 while his mother was a graduate student in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropology">anthropology</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Hawaii">University of Hawaii</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-37">[37]</a> Obama chose to stay in Hawaii with his grandparents for high school at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punahou_School">Punahou</a> when his mother and half-sister returned to Indonesia in 1975 so his mother could begin anthropology field work.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-38">[38]</a> His mother spent most of the next two decades in Indonesia, divorcing Lolo in 1980 and earning a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhD">PhD</a> degree in 1992, before dying in 1995 in Hawaii following unsuccessful treatment for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovarian_cancer">ovarian</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_cancer">uterine cancer</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-39">[39]</a> Obama later reflected on his years in Honolulu and wrote: "The opportunity that Hawaii offered—to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect—became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-40">[40]</a> Obama has also written and talked about using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_(drug)">alcohol</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana">marijuana</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine">cocaine</a> during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-41">[41]</a> Obama was also a member of the "choom gang," a self-named group of friends who spent time together and occasionally smoked marijuana.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-42">[42]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-43">[43]</a> After graduating from high school in 1979, Obama moved to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles">Los Angeles</a> to attend <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_College">Occidental College</a>. In February 1981, Obama made his first public speech, calling for Occidental to participate in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disinvestment_from_South_Africa">disinvestment from South Africa</a> in response to that nation's policy of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid">apartheid</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-Occidental-44">[44]</a> In mid-1981, Obama traveled to Indonesia to visit his mother and half-sister Maya, and visited the families of college friends in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan">Pakistan</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India">India</a> for three weeks.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-Occidental-44">[44]</a> Later in 1981, he transferred as a junior to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_College,_Columbia_University">Columbia College, Columbia University</a> in New York City, where he majored in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_science">political science</a> with a specialty in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations">international relations</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-45">[45]</a> and in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_literature">English literature</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-46">[46]</a> and lived off-campus on West 109th Street.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-47">[47]</a> He graduated with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts">BA</a> degree in 1983 and worked for about a year at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_International_Corporation">Business International Corporation</a>, where he was a financial researcher and writer,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-48">[48]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#cite_note-49">[49]</a> then as a project coordinator for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Public_Interest_Research_Group">New York Public Interest Research Group</a> on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_College_of_New_York">City College of New York</a>