Barack and Michelle Obama are the former U.S. presidential couple, with Barack serving as the 44th president (2009-2017), the first African American in that role, and Michelle as the first African American first lady.[1][4][5] Born Barack Hussein Obama II in 1961, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991, became the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, and worked as a community organizer in Chicago before entering politics.[9][10] Elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996 and the U.S. Senate in 2004, his acclaimed Democratic National Convention keynote that year propelled him to national prominence.[4][8] As president, key achievements included the Affordable Care Act for health care reform, economic stimulus measures, banking reforms, consumer protections, and repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy to allow open military service for LGBTQ+ individuals.[4] Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, born in 1964, earned degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School (1988), then worked at Chicago's Sidley & Austin firm, where she met Barack.[2][3][5] She later held roles in Chicago city government, founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, and served as associate dean at the University of Chicago and vice president at its medical center.[3][5][8] As first lady, she championed initiatives like Let's Move! to combat childhood obesity, Reach Higher for education and career guidance, Joining Forces (with Jill Biden) for military families, and Let Girls Learn for global girls' education; she also planted the White House kitchen garden.[1][2][3][7] The couple married in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia (born 1998) and Sasha (born 2001).[2][3][4] Post-White House, Michelle's memoir *Becoming* (2018) sold over 15 million copies, won a Grammy, and inspired *The Light We Carry* (2022).[1][2] They remain influential through the Obama Foundation, public speaking, and advocacy, maintaining relevance in Democratic politics and social issues.[1][2]