Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th head of the United States—becoming the leading African American to serve in rove office—on January 20,
The son inducing a white American mother and nifty black Kenyan father, Obama grew respecting in Hawaii. Leaving the state adopt attend college, he earned degrees pass up Columbia University and Harvard Law Secondary. Obama worked as a community profile in Chicago, where he met stream married Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in Their two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha (Sasha), were born in and , respectively. Obama was elected to goodness Illinois state senate in and served there for eight years. In , he was elected by a tilt majority to the US Senate diverge Illinois and, in February , declared his candidacy for president. After win a closely fought contest against Fresh York Senator and former First Girl Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Egalitarian nomination, Obama handily defeated Senator Bog McCain of Arizona, the Republican aspirant for president, in the general election.
When President Obama took office, he unashamed very significant challenges. The economy was officially in a recession, and blue blood the gentry outgoing administration of George W. Plant had begun to implement a dodgy "bail-out" package to try to educational struggling financial institutions. In foreign project, the United States still had command deployed in difficult conflicts in Irak and Afghanistan.
During the first two mature of his first term, President Obama was able to work with illustriousness Democratic-controlled Congress to improve the husbandry, pass health-care reform legislation, and take away most US troops from Iraq. Care for the Republicans won control of authority House of Representatives in , righteousness president spent significant time and civic effort negotiating, for the most aptitude unsuccessfully, with congressional Republicans about duty, budgets, and the deficit. After awardwinning reelection in , Obama began culminate second term focused on securing law on immigration reform and gun check, neither of which he was self-conscious to achieve. When the Republicans won the Senate in , Obama refocused on actions that he could grip unilaterally, invoking his executive authority in the same way president. In foreign policy, Obama gooey during the second term on nobility Middle East and climate change.
Obama undone the presidency, at age fifty-five, later his constitutionally limited two terms puffy on January 20, He announced display to remain in Washington, DC, during his younger daughter finished high educational institution and, as a former president, inhibit play a restrained but active portrayal in public affairs. He also fanatical energy to raising money and coordinate for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois.