The Obama administration

President Obama extends his hand as he stands behind a podium. On the podium is a sign that reads, “BarackObama.com” and features the Obama rising sun logo. The Illinois State Capitol building is in the background.
  • Presidential History
  • Watch
18 Years of Hope: The Evolution of the Obama Legacy

A look back at the beginning of President Obama’s candidacy as we celebrate what’s to come at the Obama Presidential Center

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An image of Michelle Obama embracing her mother Marian Robinson. Both women have a medium deep complexion and straight dark hair that hits their shoulders. They are both wearing white.
  • In memoriam
  • Donate
Celebrating the legacy of Marian Robinson

Honoring the legacy of our “First Mother-in-Law”

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Watch Meeting—Dec. 31st 1862—Waiting for the Hour by William Tolman Carlton (1863)
  • Watch
  • Equality
Commemorating Juneteenth

Take a look at how President Obama honored this chapter of American history.

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President Obama sits at a desk signing the Affordable Care Act, surrounded by a group of politicians, then Vice President Joe Biden, and a young boy.
  • Watch
  • Presidential History
A look back at 14 years of the Affordable Care Act

Hear from President Obama as he reflects on this milestone moment.

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President Obama and then Vice President Joe Biden clap as they stand at a conference table. In the background, people with a range of light skin tones clap and cheer. All are dressed professionally.
  • Presidential History
  • Watch
Oral histories offer reflections on the Affordable Care Act

Personal stories released that highlight the legacy and impact of the ACA

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The image is a combined photo of five women. The first is Clarissa Kornell: she has long curly dark hair, a light olive complexion and is wearing a dark pink shirt with a light pink scarf. Clarissa is smiling in the picture. The second woman is Sabra Townsend: she has shoulder length locs that are curled. Sabra has a medium brown skinned complexion and is wearing a dark blue blazer with an orange shirt underneath. Sabra is smiling in the picture. The third woman is Juliet Choi: she has dark hair cut into a shoulder-length bob and she has an olive complexion. Juliet is wearing black glasses, a brown necklace, and a short sleeved blue blouse. Juliet is smiling in the picture. The fourth woman is Alefiyah Mesiwala. Alefiyah has long black hair, dark olive skin and hazel eyes. Alefiyah is wearing a dark blue scarf and a black shirt and smiling in the picture. The fifth woman is Jamie Lockhart: Jamie has long dark brown hair and pale skin. Jamie is wearing a pink blazer and a black shirt underneath. Jamie is also wearing a small diamond necklace and smiling in the picture.
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Alumni
Meet five women making their mark in health care

Meet five women carrying forward the legacy of the Affordable Care Act in their communities

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Daniel Fairley II, a Black man with a light skin tone smiles at the camera. He has short black hair and glasses. He is wearing a light purple blazer and a dark purple hoodie.
  • Alumni
  • Leaders
How a former White House intern and Obama Leader is making a difference today

Meet an Obama Leader supporting Virginians in need.

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44 Alumni, Tess Hetzel (on the left) and Paul Montiero Jr. (on the right) are smiling into the camera. They are located in an office in the Maryland Capitol. In the room is a white fireplace with a black firepit, a black lace couch, and a beige wall with a larger painting – person unseen – with a gold frame. Tess Hetzel has a pale complexion, long reddish blonde hair, and blue eyes. She is wearing a yellow cardigan and a black v-neck t-shirt. Paul Montiero Jr. has a brown complexion, dark brown curly hair, and brown eyes. He is wearing a black and white pinstriped suit, with a white button-down, and a gray tie.
  • Alumni
  • Presidential History
Meet five Obama alum making a difference in state and local government

Meet five people whose time campaigning for President Obama inspired them to continue serving their communities

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Michelle Obama is sitting at a wood table surrounded by young teens from the Ludzi Girls Secondary School in Malawi. In the image Michelle Obama has braids in her hair and is wearing a gray and black geometric shirt, with a series of gold bangles on her left wrist; she is smiling and clapping her hands together. Sitting on both sides of her and across from her are young teen girls. The two sitting next to her are wearing white button-down shirts. The young girl to her left is clasping his hands and smiling at her. Across from Michelle Obama are the backs of two young teen girls, who are staring at her. Both girls have closely cut hair; the boy on the left of the image is wearing a white button down shirt. The girl on the right of the image is wearing a bright blue collared shirt.
  • Michelle Obama
  • Presidential History
Send a message to Mrs. Obama for her 60th birthday

Learn how Michelle Obama’s legacy is shaping the Obama Presidential Center.

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A black man, with medium skin tone, Jesse Thomas talks with his hand up into a microphone. Separated by a white line, a black woman, with dark skin tone in a blue suit, Representative Lauren Underwood, stands smiling.
  • Event
  • Defending Democracy
Two Obama alumni share their stories on stage at the 2023 Democracy Forum

Meet two Obama Alumni working to carry progress forward.

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  • Alumni
  • Changemakers
Six campaign alumni share how they continue the Obama legacy

Learn about six 2008 alumni and their positive impact on our world 15 years later.

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Rebecca speaks at Harvard Kennedy School affinity celebration for disabled graduates. She is wearing silver hoop earrings, a purple dress, and a black blazer. She is sitting in front of a red background that reads, “Affinity Celebration for Graduates.”
  • Alumni
  • Equality
Meet the Obama alum championing disability rights for all

Meet the Obama alum who is championing disability rights for all.

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Angela Barranco stands next to seven others as they watch President Obama sign a document in the Oval Office. All people are a range of light to medium skin tones. President Obama sits behind his desk.
  • Sustainability
  • Alumni
Obama alum continues fighting for climate goals

Meet the Obama alum who is leading climate action efforts at The Climate Group.

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Barack Obama a man with golden brown skin sitting at a table wearing a formal suit while writing with a diverse group of people behind him with mainly neutral light skin and a little boy with brown skin wearing a formal suit looking at the paper Barack is writing on
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Watch
In depth: How the Affordable Care Act changed America

Understand the impact of this historic legislation for American families and share your story.

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Michelle Obama, her eyes watering with tears and her mouth pursed, sits in a room full of people. Bright spotlights are on the back wall. Everyone looks dressed in formal suit attire.
  • Equality
  • Presidential History
15 Years Later: a look back at the “More Perfect Union” speech

When then-Senator Obama delivered a speech titled “A More Perfect Union” 15 years ago today, it became known simply as the “speech on race.”

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Barack Obama sits on a red and tan couch holding the hand of a woman (his mother-in-law Marian Robinson). They are both dressed formally, in suit attire. The two appear to be watching something intently.
  • In-depth
  • Presidential History
A look back at the 2008 election

Relive the 2008 election through the eyes and words of those who lived it below.

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  • Barack Obama
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President Obama reunites with woman behind 2008’s ‘hottest’ campaign catchphrase

Meet the woman behind the famous chant that inspired the nation.

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Devin Hampton, a Black man with a light medium skin tone, holds a closed-lip smile. He has short black hair and is wearing a gray suit jacket and white shirt. In the background is an office space with plants.
  • Sustainability
  • Alumni
Obama alum brings diversity to the clean energy space

Meet the Obama alum who is working to create new opportunities for Black and Brown professionals in the clean energy space.

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A photo of President Obama and a circle group of middle aged men and women. They are in a small office space, that has see in glass on the left. On the floor is a yellow/beige carpet with brown designs. Each person sits in a light black chair except President Obama who is standing and saying something. On their right are a set of spread out Obama Foundation Posters. Two men and women sit with light skin are sitting in the left of the photo in formal attire. On the right is one man and woman with medium to deep skin tones in formal attire. There faces are not visible to the camera.
  • Stories
  • USA
They said this day would never come

Then-Senator Obama’s Iowa Caucus Victory, 15 Years Later

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A side view of President Obama wearing black shades, a black jacket, and black pants, He at the bow of a boat surrounded by water around.
  • Presidential History
  • Sustainability
The best possible shot to save the one planet we’ve got

Five years ago this week, the Paris Climate Agreement took effect, as nearly 200 nations committed to reduce their carbon emissions for the first time.

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama shake hands with Queen Elizabeth.
  • In memoriam
  • Stories
A legacy of tireless, dignified public service

Revisiting President and Mrs. Obama’s moments with Queen Elizabeth II.

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President Barack Obama, dressed in a black suit with a grey tie, stands prominently at the center of the canvas.
  • Watch
  • The Arts
President and Mrs. Obama become a part of White House history with reveal of official portraits

Gathered together in the East Room of the White House, President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden presented the official portraits of President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, painted by Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, respectively.

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Crowd surrounding The white house lit up by colors representing pride
  • Equality
  • Presidential History
Justice like a thunderbolt

June 26, 2015 marked an unforgettable day in the Obama Presidency. The Supreme Court ruled on marriage equality, President Obama paid tribute to Reverend Pinckney and his eight parishioners in Charleston, and the White House shone with pride for all to see

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A woman with a medium deep skin tone smiles. She has grey-streaked black hair, glasses, red lipstick, a pearl necklace, and is wearing a white suit jacket with white accents on the collar.
  • Equality
  • Alumni
Taking up the baton: Jocelyn Frye

Meet One Obama Alum Who is Leading the Fight for Women's Equality

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President Obama on stage taking a group photo with people who have a light golden skin tone wearing formal clothing
  • Barack Obama
  • Watch
Ten years of DACA

On June 15, 2012, President Obama announced DACA, an executive action to lift the shadow of deportation for young people who came to the United States as undocumented immigrants.

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A collage photo of Barack Obama and Asian American people wearing suits and a poster that says Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders for Obama in red,white , and blue
  • Asia-Pacific
  • About
Celebrating AANHPI month at the Obama Foundation

Throughout May, the Obama Foundation is celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.

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In a room full of warm, dappled sunlight, former First Lady Michelle Obama leans down to hug her mother, Marian Robinson. Mrs. Robinson has her face against Mrs. Obama's, and embraces her with her hand.
  • Building the Center
  • Michelle Obama
For Mother’s Day, Michelle Obama announces a special honor for her mom Marian Robinson

Learn more about Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, and how she will be honored at the Obama Presidential Center.

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President Obama sits at a formal desk in the center of the image, glancing down as he signs a document. A young boy in a vest and tie looks on, as do Vice President Biden, Nancy Pelosi.
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  • Barack Obama
Twelve years later, Obamacare continues to thrive

12 years ago today, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law.

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President Obama is shown shaking the hand of a young man with a deep skin tone while surrounded by other women with deep and medium skin tones.
  • Alumni
  • The Arts
Taking up the baton: Jason Green

This Obama alum is using stories from our past to help communities move forward today.

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A black and white photo shows three airmen seated in a military truck in conversation.
  • Equality
  • Building the Center
Preserving Black history: The HistoryMakers

It all started with an interview with Tuskegee Airman Colonel William R. Thompson.

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President Obama is on a walkway in a parade talking to and shaking the hands of many different people with various skin tones.
  • Presidential History
  • Changemakers
“This campaign can’t only be about me”

A look back at the 2007 announcement in Springfield and the campaign that inspired so many to serve.

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José Rico, former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, speaks at the White House Hispanic Action Summit in Durham, NC.
  • Alumni
  • Education
Taking up the baton: José Rico

Meet an Obama Alum who is helping young Chicagoans reach their dreams

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President Obama fist bumps a young girl with a medium skin tone while sitting in front of a computer. He is sitting at a table with another young woman with a deep skin tone.
  • Education
  • Presidential History
Celebrating 100,000 new STEM teachers for America’s classrooms

This week, 100kin10 announced they exceeded a goal President Obama set in 2011: to recruit and train 100,000 new STEM teachers by 2021.

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  • Alumni
  • Watch
President Obama catches up with Obama alumni

Thanks for tuning in for a special conversation between President Obama, David Plouffe, and Obama Alumni Association members.

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President Obama stands next to a man with a light skin tone with short wavy brown hair while they look over a document in an office
  • Watch
  • Alumni
A conversation with Cody Keenan, former White House chief speechwriter

Learn more about the Selma text that will appear on the exterior of the Museum of the Obama Presidential Center

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President Obama sits in the situation room, talking to a man in a blue collared shirt.
  • Defending Democracy
  • Presidential History
America hadn’t forgotten: Ten years later, a look back at the Osama bin Laden raid

Ten years after the raid against Osama bin Laden, watch a special conversation between President Obama and Admiral William McRaven, the commander of the special operations forces who executed the historic operation.

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An illustration of four people with a range of light to deep skin tones lifting one another up on top of a paper plane. The background is pink.

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