Barack Obama made history on 4 November 2008 when he defeated Republican rival John McCain to become the first black president of the United States.

He had already broken new ground in his White House campaign, as the first black candidate to become the presidential choice of either major US party.

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA II

Born August 4, 1961 (age 47)Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

Nationality

American

Political party

Democratic

Spouse Michelle Obama(m.1992)

Children Malia Ann (b. 1998)Sasha (b. 2001)

Residence

Kenwood, Chicago, Illinois

Alma mater Occidental College

Columbia UniversityHarvard Law School

Occupation

Community Organizer, Attorney

Profession AttorneyPolitician

Religion

Christianity (most recently with United Church of Christ)

          

Signature

 President-elect of the United States. The first African American to be elected President of the United States, Obama was elected to be the junior United States Senator from Illinois in 2004 and served until his resignation on November 16, 2008, following his election to the Presidency. His term of office as the forty-fourth U.S. president will begin on January 20, 2009.

365

173

0 100 200 300 400

Obama -Democrat

McCain -Republican

Electoral College votes

Winning post 270

Campaign•Barack Obama will rebuild the military for 21st century tasks:Obama will complete the effort to increase American ground forces by 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines. They will also invest in 21st century missions like counterinsurgency by building up their special operations forces, civil affairs, information operations, foreign language training and other units and capabilities that remain in chronic short supply.•Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump

•Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.

•Within 10 years save more oil than American currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.

•Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.

•STOP THE WAR IN IRAQ

Mr Obama used to joke that people were always getting his name wrong, calling him "Alabama" or "Yo Mama".Now, as he waits to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, it seems unlikely that many will continue to make such a mistake. 

Mr Obama has two young daughters with his wife, Michelle

Do you know, that Obama:

•Was chairman of prestigious magazine "Harvard Law Review„

•His name mean „blessed by God”

•Is fan of Chicago White Sox

•Is on the list of „10 persons, that can change the World” (by New Statesman in 2005)

Michał Olech

January 2009

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