Barack Hussein Obama II, born August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an American politician, lawyer, and author who served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017[2][3][8]. He is widely recognized as the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office, marking a historic milestone in U.S. history[1][2][3]. Obama’s early life was shaped by a diverse heritage—his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was a white American from Kansas, and his father, Barack Obama Sr., was a Kenyan economist[2][4][9]. He spent part of his childhood in Indonesia before returning to Hawaii, where he was raised primarily by his maternal grandparents[4][5]. Obama attended Columbia University, graduating with a degree in political science, and later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he became the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review[2][3][4]. After law school, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago, a civil rights attorney, and a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School[2][3]. He entered politics as a member of the Illinois State Senate (1997–2004) and then represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate (2005–2008)[2][3]. His 2008 presidential campaign, built on themes of “hope” and “change,” resonated with voters during a period of economic uncertainty and war[2]. Obama defeated Republican John McCain to become president and was reelected in 2012, defeating Mitt Romney[3][5]. As president, Obama’s major domestic achievements included the Affordable Care Act (expanding health insurance coverage), economic stimulus measures in response to the 2008 financial crisis, and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” allowing LGBTQ individuals to serve openly in the military[2][4]. In foreign policy, he oversaw the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, authorized the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, and pursued the normalization of relations with Cuba[4][6]. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy[1][2]. Since leaving office, Obama has remained active in public life through his foundation, speaking engagements, and media projects, though he has generally maintained a lower public profile than some predecessors[2]. He continues to be a prominent voice on issues such as democracy, climate change, and civic engagement. As of late 2025, Obama is not holding any official government position but remains a symbol of progress in American politics and a respected figure in global discourse[2].