25 facts about Barack Obama
From the Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data series
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From pet gorillas and inflation to drone strikes, we explore these facts about Barack Obama from smallest to largest figures.
- Kelsey Warner
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As the final remaining year of the Obama administration is well underway, the legacy that President Barack Obama will forge in history remains hotly contested. Conservatives argue Obama is the “worst president ever” while liberals have claimed he has “done more good for this country than any president before him.”
He likely will not play the role of a “lame-duck” president, as the administration has yet to slow down. Obama currently finds himself in the middle of a heated standoff with the Republican-led Senate to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. He still pursues a workable plan to close Guantanamo Bay, one of his 2008 campaign promises. As his term nears its end, the passionate, vocal opinions on both sides of the political aisle may reach their crescendo as his legacy becomes ripe for interpretation.
When reflecting on Obama’s time in the White House, the facts beyond the opinions deserve to be examined. Obama has racked up notable historical accomplishments, such as being the first African-American U.S. president. Obama was also the first to use the internet widely in his 2008 campaignand once in office.
The team at InsideGov queried our presidential database to find key data points regarding this controversial sitting president. From pet gorillas and inflation to drone strikes, we explore these facts from smallest to largest figures.
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In 2009, Obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” with additional emphasis on “Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.” This award garnered controversy, which Obama noted in his acceptance speech. He acknowledged that at the time, he was “at the beginning, and not the end of my labors on the world stage” and the “commander in chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.”
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During his time in Indonesia as a child, Obama had a pet ape named Tata. This experience was revealed in his memoir “Dreams from My Father.”
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2 Grammy wins
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Obama secured two Grammy Awards, both for Best Spoken Word Album. He first won in 2006 for the narration of his memoir “Dreams from My Father.” In 2008, he won another Grammy for his audiobook "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.” Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter also nabbed Grammys in the Best Spoken Word category.
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3 years of "birthers"
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Obama publicly released his long form birth certificate on April 27, 2011, after three years of demands from “birthers,” people who believe Obama is not a U.S. citizen and therefore ineligible for the presidency. Current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump headed this campaign, and after the official release, stated: “Today, I’m very proud of myself, because I’ve been able to accomplish something that nobody else was able to accomplish.”
3-pointers
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Obama enjoys basketball and said that he “used to play basketball more.” He has been filmed multiple times sinking three-point shots throughout his presidency. Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff published a book about Obama and basketball titled “The Audacity of Hoop: Basketball and the Age of Obama.”
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7 books
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Obama read all seven books of the Harry Potter series, which he admitted to author J.K. Rowlingduring a dinner for the G20 summit.
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$21
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Obama’s haircuts cost $21. Zariff, a Chicago barber now known as the First Barber, has been cutting Obama’s hair for over two decades. He invented the “Obama Cut.”
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In 2011, the CIA-led Operation Neptune's Spear succeeded in killing Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaida. At the time of his death, bin Laden was 54 years old. During his subsequent address to the nation, Obama claimed the success of the operation was a “testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.”
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During his time in Indonesia as a child, Obama had a pet ape named Tata. This experience was revealed in his memoir “Dreams from My Father.”
- Updated
In 2009, Obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” with additional emphasis on “Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.” This award garnered controversy, which Obama noted in his acceptance speech. He acknowledged that at the time, he was “at the beginning, and not the end of my labors on the world stage” and the “commander in chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.”
- Updated
Inflation under the Obama administration has increased an average of 1.5 percent per year. As less than the ideal rate of 2 percent, this is considered low. When Obama assumed the presidency, the economy was experiencing deflation (negative inflation growth), which indicates a stagnant economy and discourages spending.
2 daughters
- Carolyn Kaster
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The economy under the Obama administration has experienced, on average, 2 percent annual GDP growth. During the last full year of Obama’s presidency, the economy started on “solid footing,” according to the “Wall Street Journal.”
- Updated
The federal debt has grown at an average of 6.2 percent annually under Obama. Near the end of 2011, the federal debt exceeded the GDP, which the Congressional Budget Office speculates can have long-term consequences on the economy and policy decisions.
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Through Executive Order 13505, Obama removed an eight-year President George W. Bush-era ban on federally funded stem cell research.
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Although he studied law at Harvard, Obama went on to teach as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992-2004. During that time, he also worked at Miner, Barnhill & Galland, ran campaigns for the Illinois state Senate, served as a state Senator and wrote his memoir “Dreams from My Father.”
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Obama was 27 years old when he first met Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama. Michelle was assigned as a mentor to Obama, who was a summer associate at the same corporate law firm.
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During his adolescence in Hawaii during the 1970s, Obama worked as an ice cream scooper at Baskin-Robbins. Nowadays, he dislikes ice cream.
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Obama was 47 at the time of his inauguration in January 2009. This makes him the fifth-youngest U.S. president.
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The Portuguese Water Dog is the 53rd most popular dog in the U.S., according to the 2015 American Kennel Club rankings. The Obama family currently owns two Portuguese Water Dogs, named Bo and Sunny.
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In 2011, the CIA-led Operation Neptune's Spear succeeded in killing Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaida. At the time of his death, bin Laden was 54 years old. During his subsequent address to the nation, Obama claimed the success of the operation was a “testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.”
- Updated
Obama’s approval rating peaked at 65.5 percent in 2009 — and then dropped to under 40 percent at the end of 2013. In his book “Polarization and the Presidency: From FDR to Barack Obama,” San Francisco State University professor Robert Smith reflected on the source of these low approval ratings. “Obama's race and his Ivy League background and the sense of his elitism, all of those come together to make his case the worst we've seen,” Smith wrote.
- Updated
Starting in 2009, Obama facilitated the re-establishment of relations with Cuba, separated from the U.S. by 90 miles of ocean. Relations initially were severed in January 1961 during the height of the Cold War. According to the White House, the two countries will commit to “improved human rights conditions and democratic reforms in Cuba.”
- Updated
As of March 2016, 147 detainees received transfer from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility during Obama’s time in the White House. Approximately six detainees released under Obama re-engaged in terrorism or militant activities. Ninety-one detainees are still held.
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Since 2009, there have been 372 CIA drone strikes in Pakistan. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism records that at least 108 drone strikes in Yemen and at least 18 strikes in Somalia have occurred under the Obama administration.
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Obama began his presidency with an order to send 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. This marked the beginning of the surge in Afghanistan. Promises of the eventual withdrawal have been repeatedly pushed back. Currently, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan is scheduled to end in 2017.
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- Kelsey Warner
As the final remaining year of the Obama administration is well underway, the legacy that President Barack Obama will forge in history remains hotly contested. Conservatives argue Obama is the “worst president ever” while liberals have claimed he has “done more good for this country than any president before him.”
He likely will not play the role of a “lame-duck” president, as the administration has yet to slow down. Obama currently finds himself in the middle of a heated standoff with the Republican-led Senate to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. He still pursues a workable plan to close Guantanamo Bay, one of his 2008 campaign promises. As his term nears its end, the passionate, vocal opinions on both sides of the political aisle may reach their crescendo as his legacy becomes ripe for interpretation.
When reflecting on Obama’s time in the White House, the facts beyond the opinions deserve to be examined. Obama has racked up notable historical accomplishments, such as being the first African-American U.S. president. Obama was also the first to use the internet widely in his 2008 campaignand once in office.
The team at InsideGov queried our presidential database to find key data points regarding this controversial sitting president. From pet gorillas and inflation to drone strikes, we explore these facts from smallest to largest figures.
2 Grammy wins
Obama secured two Grammy Awards, both for Best Spoken Word Album. He first won in 2006 for the narration of his memoir “Dreams from My Father.” In 2008, he won another Grammy for his audiobook "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.” Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter also nabbed Grammys in the Best Spoken Word category.
3 years of "birthers"
Obama publicly released his long form birth certificate on April 27, 2011, after three years of demands from “birthers,” people who believe Obama is not a U.S. citizen and therefore ineligible for the presidency. Current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump headed this campaign, and after the official release, stated: “Today, I’m very proud of myself, because I’ve been able to accomplish something that nobody else was able to accomplish.”
3-pointers
Obama enjoys basketball and said that he “used to play basketball more.” He has been filmed multiple times sinking three-point shots throughout his presidency. Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff published a book about Obama and basketball titled “The Audacity of Hoop: Basketball and the Age of Obama.”
In 2009, Obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” with additional emphasis on “Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.” This award garnered controversy, which Obama noted in his acceptance speech. He acknowledged that at the time, he was “at the beginning, and not the end of my labors on the world stage” and the “commander in chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.”
Inflation under the Obama administration has increased an average of 1.5 percent per year. As less than the ideal rate of 2 percent, this is considered low. When Obama assumed the presidency, the economy was experiencing deflation (negative inflation growth), which indicates a stagnant economy and discourages spending.
2 daughters
- Carolyn Kaster
The economy under the Obama administration has experienced, on average, 2 percent annual GDP growth. During the last full year of Obama’s presidency, the economy started on “solid footing,” according to the “Wall Street Journal.”
The federal debt has grown at an average of 6.2 percent annually under Obama. Near the end of 2011, the federal debt exceeded the GDP, which the Congressional Budget Office speculates can have long-term consequences on the economy and policy decisions.
Although he studied law at Harvard, Obama went on to teach as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992-2004. During that time, he also worked at Miner, Barnhill & Galland, ran campaigns for the Illinois state Senate, served as a state Senator and wrote his memoir “Dreams from My Father.”
During his adolescence in Hawaii during the 1970s, Obama worked as an ice cream scooper at Baskin-Robbins. Nowadays, he dislikes ice cream.
In 2011, the CIA-led Operation Neptune's Spear succeeded in killing Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaida. At the time of his death, bin Laden was 54 years old. During his subsequent address to the nation, Obama claimed the success of the operation was a “testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.”
Obama’s approval rating peaked at 65.5 percent in 2009 — and then dropped to under 40 percent at the end of 2013. In his book “Polarization and the Presidency: From FDR to Barack Obama,” San Francisco State University professor Robert Smith reflected on the source of these low approval ratings. “Obama's race and his Ivy League background and the sense of his elitism, all of those come together to make his case the worst we've seen,” Smith wrote.
Starting in 2009, Obama facilitated the re-establishment of relations with Cuba, separated from the U.S. by 90 miles of ocean. Relations initially were severed in January 1961 during the height of the Cold War. According to the White House, the two countries will commit to “improved human rights conditions and democratic reforms in Cuba.”
As of March 2016, 147 detainees received transfer from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility during Obama’s time in the White House. Approximately six detainees released under Obama re-engaged in terrorism or militant activities. Ninety-one detainees are still held.
Since 2009, there have been 372 CIA drone strikes in Pakistan. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism records that at least 108 drone strikes in Yemen and at least 18 strikes in Somalia have occurred under the Obama administration.
Obama began his presidency with an order to send 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. This marked the beginning of the surge in Afghanistan. Promises of the eventual withdrawal have been repeatedly pushed back. Currently, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan is scheduled to end in 2017.
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In this Series
Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data
1
Updated collection
10 moments to remember from Obama’s farewell address
2
Updated collection
25 facts about Barack Obama
3
Updated collection
Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling
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These charts capture the changes and the images recall key moments of the Obama administration.
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