President Barack Obama Chronology

YENOBA.COM honors the historic election of the first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obama. The following is a chronology of some of the major events that help shape his life and his ascension to becoming our country's 44th President. Yes we did!!!
President Barack Obama Chronology
Aug 4, 1961 Barack Obama, Jr. was born in Honolulu, HI, to Ann Dunham (Obama) and Barack Obama, Sr.
1967 At age 6, moves with his mother and her second husband to Indonesia where he attends a Catholic school and later a public school. His mother taught him at home to make sure he kept up with his academics.
1969 Sister, Maya Soetoro is born to his mother and her second husband, Lolo Soetoro.
1971 At age 10, mother sends him back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents and to attend Punahou, a prestigious prep school, in Honolulu, Hi
1975 Now in high school, he joins the basketball team and is considered a leader in his class.
1979 Graduates from Punahou School. He enters Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA
1981 After completing his sophomore year at Occidental, he transfers to Colombia University.
1982 Receives the news that his father had been killed in a car accident in Kenya.
1988 Applies to and was admitted to Harvard University Law School.
1990 Was elected the first Black President of the Harvard Law Review.
1991 Graduates Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School.
Oct 18, 1992 Marries Princeton and Harvard Law graduate Michelle Robinson of Chicago, IL.
1995 Mother dies of cancer.
Jul 18, 1995 First book and memoirs, Dreams from My Father, is published. The book receives positive reviews.
1996 Is elected to the Illinois State Senate
1998 Re-elected to the Illinois State Senate
1999 Daughter Malia born
Mar 21, 2000 Challenges Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush; loses to him in primary
2001 Daughter Natasha (Sasha) born
Oct 2, 2002 Gave speech against Iraq war in downtown Chicago
2002 Re-elected to the Illinois State Senate (uncontested)
Mar 16, 2004 Won Democrat primary for Illinois US Senate race.
Jul 27, 2004 Keynote address at the Democratic National Convention
Nov 2, 2004 Elected to the U.S. Senate def. Alan Keyes
Jan 4, 2005 Sworn in to the US Senate as the third African American senator since Reconstruction, and the fifth in history. Serves on the Foreign Relations and Veteran's Affairs Committees.
Aug 2006 Travels to Kenya; also visits South Africa, Chad, Djibouti
Oct 17, 2006 The Audacity of Hope published
Dec 10, 2006 Made first trip to New Hampshire as part of his pre-exploratory 2008 presidential campaign
Jan 16, 2007 Announces his Presidential exploratory committee
Feb 10, 2007 Formally announced start of Presidential campaign in Springfield, IL
Mar 4, 2007 Participates in March on Selma with Sen. Clinton commemorating the historic 1965 civil rights march in Selma, AL
Sep 8, 2007 Oprah hosts $3million fundraiser
Sep 12, 2007 Presents extensive plan to get out of Iraq
Dec 8, 2007 Oprah joins him on the campaign trail in Iowa and South Carolina
Jan 3, 2008 Wins Iowa caucus
Jan 26, 2008 Wins South Carolina Primary
Jan 28, 2008 Is endorsed by Senator Ted Kennedy who quotes his younger brother John F Kennedy saying: "The world is changing. The old ways will not do.. It is time for a new generation of leadership."
Feb 5, 2008 Wins 13 states on Super Tuesday
Feb 10, 2008 Wins his 2nd Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album (Audacity of Hope)
Mar 18, 2008 Delivers speech to the nation on race
Apr 29, 2008 Barack Obama renounces Rev. Wright for comments he finds offensive
May 6, 2008 Wins decisive victory in North Carolina Primary
May 20, 2008 Obtains majority of pledge delegates
May 31, 2008 Leaves Trinity United Church
Jun 3, 2008 Becomes the first Black to ever win the Democrat Presidential primary nomination
Jul 24, 2008 Speaks in Berlin to over 200,000; also travels to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel
Aug 23, 2008 Selects Joseph Biden as running mate
Aug 27, 2008 Formally nominated at DNC; the first Black ever
Aug 28, 2008 Accepts nomination, spoke at DNC convention to over 80,000 in Denver
Sep 26, 2008 Presidential Debate 1 Oxford, MS
Oct 7, 2008 Presidential Debate 2 Nashville, TN
Oct 15, 2008 Presidential Debate 3 Hempstead, NY
Oct 19, 2008 Endorsed by Gen. Colin Powell; Record fundraising announced ($150 million)
Oct 23, 2008 Leaves campaign trail to visit his ailing Grandmother in Hawaii
Oct 29, 2008 Airs 30-min infomercial
Nov 2, 2008 Grandmother dies in Hawaii
Nov 4, 2008 Elected the 44th US President; first Black ever. He defeats John McCain
Nov 6, 2008 Names Rahm Emanuel Chief of Staff
Dec 1, 2008 Nominates his rival Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State
Dec 1, 2008 Nominates Eric Holder Attorney General
Dec 1, 2008 Names Susan Rice as Ambassador to the UN
Dec 15, 2008 Names Steven Chu, 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics winner, Secretary of Energy
Dec 15, 2008 Names Lisa Jackson to lead the EPA
Dec 15, 2008 Names Nancy Sutley to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality
Dec 15, 2008 Electoral College vote officially declared. Defeats McCain by a vote of 365 to McCain's 173
Jan 15, 2009 Roland Burris sworn into Senate to replace him in the US Senate
Jan 20, 2009 Inaugurated as 44th US President and 1st Black President
Feb 2, 2009 Eric Holder sworn in as 1st Black Attorney General
Feb 17, 2009 Signs into law a $787 billion Economic Stimulus Package, his first major legislative victory