Research Guides: Barack Obama: Biography

Barack Hussein Obama (Born on August 4, 1961)

On November 4, 2008, the United States of America elected its first African American president: Barack Obama. Although the young Democrat from Illinois had served in the U.S. Senate for only three years prior to his 2008 campaign, Obama's profound skill as an orator, success in using social media, and overall appearance as the embodiment of “change” for a nation craving new direction won him a decisive victory over Republican candidate John McCain. Buoyed by his positive proclamations of “hope” and “change,” Obama rode a wave of incredible enthusiasm into office, receiving a 68 percent approval rating in the first Gallup poll following his inauguration on January 20, 2009. Continue . . .

Source: Niblock, Elliott J. "Obama, Barack (1961– )." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 4, St. James Press, 2013, pp. 26-29. From Gale Virtual Reference database.

eBook Collection

Barack Obama: the Fulfillment of an American Dream

Resources

Barack Obama Presidential Library The Barack Obama Presidential Library is the 14th presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency.
Barack Obama Video Collection from C-SPAN Networks On the C-SPAN Networks: Barack Obama has 3,020 videos in the C-SPAN Video Library; the first appearance was a 1998 Forum as a State Senator. The year with the most videos was 2009 with 428 videos as a President-Elect for the United States. The year with the highest average number of views per program was 2018 with an average of 8,156 views per program. Most appearances with Joe Biden Jr. (121), Michelle Obama (80), Hillary Clinton (48). Most common tags: U.S. Economy, Obama, Road to the White House.
The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama As President Obama has said, the change we seek will take longer than one term or one presidency. Real change—big change—takes many years and requires each generation to embrace the obligations and opportunities that come with the title of Citizen.
U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: Barack Obama This information is based on a compilation by the Office of the Curator, Architect of the Capitol, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, from contemporary accounts and other sources. Additional research provided by Library of Congress staff.

From Films On Demand database:

Made in Chicago: The Making of Barack Obama It was in Chicago, Barack Obama’s adopted hometown, that the 24-year-old future president of the United States began a personal and political odyssey that would take him all the way to the White House. In this program, many of the people who have known Obama best since his arrival in Chicago offer their insights. Obama’s work as a community organizer, his achievements at Harvard Law School, the writing of Dreams from My Father, his brief stints as a law professor at the University of Chicago and as a civil rights lawyer, and his meteoric political career are all discussed. The program ends with Obama’s victory in the 2008 primaries and his speech on the issue of race in the wake of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s controversial “God Damn America” sermon. Additional portions of Obama oratory are included throughout.
Barack Obama: Biography and Accomplishments Barack Obama addressd the issue of racial relations in the nation. In a widely praised speech, he spoke frankly about the grievances and resentments harbored by both sides, saying these legitimate concerns have led to racial stalemate.
Barack Obama: "A More Perfect Union" Speech On March 18, 2008, presidential candidate Barack Obama delivers a speech on race relations in America.
Barack Obama: 2004 Convention Speech Barack Obama address the 2004 Democratic National Convention.