August 24, 1893; ILLINOIS DAY at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

Illinois day at the World's Fair was the day when the people of the proud Prairie State gathered in the grounds of the White City to do honor to the land of their birth and their adoption, and the estimate put on the number of patriotic folk who will be there - a figure set by Horace Tucker, the Department of Admissions Superintendent, - is 350,000, and they will come from every part of the State, from up by the dividing line between Illinois and Wisconsin, from down in lower Egypt, and from the counties that border on Indiana and those washed by the Mississippi.

The people who are numbered among the visitor to the Fair on this day will find arranged for their entertainment many things of interest, and there will not be a single speech to try their patience during the whole day. There will be music, parades, receptions, reviews, and fireworks. 

Illinois Day Schedule:
8 pm to 10 pm - Parade of the 5,000 State Soldiers of the Illinois National Guard.
8:30am - Guard Mount, West Point Cadets, in the Government Plaza.
9 am - Exhibition of Clydesdales and Herefords at Live-Stock Pavilion.
9 am to 12 pm - Pullman Military Band will Furnish Music from the Bandstand South of the Illinois State Building.
10 am - Parade of Illinois Troops over Entire Grounds.
11 am - Orchestral Concert at Festival Hall.
11 am -  Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World Grand Parade. 
12 pm - Review of Illinois Troops at Illinois Building.
1 pm - Organ Recital by Clarence Eddy at Festival Hall.
2 pm - Governor's Reception to the Public at Illinois Building.
2:30 pm to 5 pm - Pullman Military Band will Furnish Music from the Bandstand South of the Illinois State Building.
2pm to 4pm - Exhibition Drill by Company 'C' of the Third Infantry and the Springfield Cadets at the Illinois Building.
4 pm - Presentation of Medals for Heroism to Marshall Murphy, Lieutenants Barker and Miller, at Women's Building.
4 pm - Review of West Point Cadets by Gen. Miles in Front of Terminal Station.
5 pm - Performance at Prof. Albert's Natatorium on the Midway Plaisance.
5:30 pm - Prof. Bredberg Will Play the 'Chime of Bells' in the Tower of Machinery Hall.
6 pm - Dress Parade, West Point Cadets, Government Plaza.
8 pm - Grand Special Fireworks Display on Lake Front.
8 pm - Concert by Exposition Orchestra in Festival Hall.
8 pm to 10:30 pm - Electric Fountain Display and Grand Court Illumination.
8:30 pm - Reception to Citizens of Illinois at Their State Building.

The day's entertainment is, to begin with, the march of the people from Midway Plaisance. The State militia will march into Midway from Cottage Grove Avenue at 9 o'clock this morning and move down the street in the company front order. As they pass by the natives of each village, beginning with the Bedouins, will full in behind on their camels and donkeys and Arabian horses. The Bedouins will be followed by the Laplanders, then will come in the order Dahomans, the Chinese, the American Indians, the Hawaiians, the Persians, the Egyptians with their camels and donkeys from Cairo street, Old Vienna, the St. Peters band and guard, the Moorish Palace band, the Turks, the German Village band, the Swiss singers and horn blowers, Hagenbeck's performers, the Johore natives, the Samoans, the Algerian singers, the beauty show, and the Irish Villagers.

March Back to the Midway.
But there will be no parading through the grounds. So far as the Plaisance crowd is concerned it will simply march down to the Illinois Building and then march back again. The concessionaires would not agree to lose two or three hours' business in the middle or the day and make a tour of Jackson Park. 

Promptly at 11 o'clock, there will be a grand parade of the "Congress of Rough Riders of the World" shown in Buffalo Bill's "Wild West." Arabs, Indians, cowboys, and Mexicans will ride in the procession, which will be headed by the "Cowboy Band." 

The parade of the 5,000 State soldiers comprising the Illinois National Guard will pass the Illinois State Building at 12 o'clock. Gov. John P. Altgeld has promised to take the place to which he is entitled by virtue of his office as Commander-in-Chief. He is to ride at the head of the troops surrounded by his staff until he reaches the Illinois Building, where he will review the soldiers from a point just opposite the southwest corner of the building. The parade will enter the grounds between 8 and 10 o'clock at the southeast corner. It will pass the Anthropological Building, thence past the windmills to the east front of Machinery Hall, across the east plaza of Administration Building, then north between the Electricity and Mining buildings, across the bridge, north and west past the Manufactures Building to the lakefront, thence north to the Art Gallery, and west and south to the Illinois State Building. 

The festivities will begin early with the military department and continue until late in the afternoon. After the review, there will be an exhibition drill by Company C of the Third Infantry and the Springfield Cadets at the Illinois Building between 2 and 4 o'clock.

Reception of the Governor.
At 2 o'clock this afternoon, an informal reception to the Governor and staff will be held in the Illinois Building, to which all citizens of Illinois and other States and countries are invited. 

There will be a fine display of fireworks tonight from the lake east of Manufactures Building, the electric fountains will be running, the search lights going, Wooded Island will be illuminated, and gayly lighted craft will float about the waters of the lagoons.  In the fireworks display in addition to the numerous novel effects furnished there will be two special set pieces, one showing the facade of the Illinois State Building, 60 by 40 feet in size, containing 12,000 separate burning pieces, and the Lincoln Monument at Springfield, 40 by 40 feet, with 10,000 burning lances. "Old Glory" and the American eagle will burn in the Eastern sky. 

The Pullman Military Band will furnish music from the bandstand south of the Illinois State building from 9:30 am to 12pm and from 2:30 to 5 pm. Prof. Bredberg will play on the chime of bells in the tower of Machinery Hall at 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon, beginning with "My Prairie Land. My Illinois," and; running through fourteen selections.

Research by Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Visit: 1893 World's Columbian Exposition Reading Room™

         in my Digital Research Library of Illinois History®

The Biography of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, named "Sports Illustrated for Women" top female athlete of the 20th century.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born on March 3, 1962 in East St. Louis, Illinois, became one of the greatest athletes in American history. The first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the long jump and the first woman to compile more than 7,000 points in the seven-event heptathlon[1], Joyner-Kersee went on to win three golds, a silver and two bronze medals over four separate Olympics.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee rose to fame through her dominant performances on the world stage of the Olympic Games:

1984 - Los Angeles, California, USA - Competing in her first Olympics, in Los Angeles, Joyner-Kersee earned a silver medal in the heptathlon, a seven-event competition that includes the 200-meter run, 800-meter run and 100-meter hurdles. 

1988 - Seoul, South Korea - Building on her impressive showing at the 1986 Goodwill Games, Joyner-Kersee made a splash at the Seoul Games by accumulating a record 7,291 points in the heptathlon to win gold. Additionally, she became the first American woman to win gold in the long jump.

1992 - Barcelona, Spain - With her successful follow-up at the 1992 Barcelona Games, Joyner-Kersee became the first woman to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the heptathlon. She added a bronze in the long jump.

1996 - Atlanta, Georgia, USA - Joyner-Kersee's last Olympic run came in 1996, when she took home another bronze medal in the long jump at the Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia. She did not compete in the heptathlon that year due to a pulled hamstring.  

Other Records and Achievements
Along with her Olympic triumphs, Joyner-Kersee won four gold medals at the World Championships. She claimed the national heptathlon championship eight times and the national long jump title nine times, setting the American record with her leap of 24 feet, 7 inches in 1994. Joyner-Kersee also thrived in the hurdles, setting national records at distances of 50, 55 and 60 meters.

Family of Champions
Jackie Joyner-Kersee isn't the only athletic star in her family; at the 1984 Olympics, where she won silver, her older brother, Al, won the gold medal in the triple jump.

In 1986, Joyner-Kersee married her coach, Bob Kersee, who was also training sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner. "Flo-Jo" married Al Joyner the following year, before winning three golds at the 1988 Olympics. Al Joyner also briefly served as his wife's coach, before her retirement in 1989.

Later Career and Retirements
After announcing her retirement from track in the summer of 1998, Joyner-Kersee briefly attempted a career as a professional basketball player. She soon came out of retirement with the goal of making the U.S. Olympic team for the fifth time, but fell short at the 2000 Olympic trials. In February 2001, she formally retired for good, at age 38.

Early Hardship and Athletic Success
Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee was born on March 3, 1962, in East St. Louis, Illinois. The daughter of teenage parents, she endured financial hardship while growing up, but soon rose above the pack with her athletic prowess.

As a teen, she won the National Junior Pentathlon championships four years in a row, and received widespread honors in high school in various sports, including track, basketball and volleyball. Joyner-Kersee thrived as a basketball and track-and-field star, however, and during her junior year, she set the Illinois high-school long jump record for women, with a 6.68-meter jump.

Joyner-Kersee attended the University of California, Los Angeles on a full scholarship, and continued to gain fame on both the court and field. However, in 1981, at the age of 19, she began to focus on training for the Olympics, specifically for the heptathlon. She later graduated from UCLA in 1985 

Awards and Honors
Among her many accolades, Joyner-Kersee won the 1986 James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete, as well as USA Track & Field's Jesse Owens Award in 1986 and '87.

In 1999, she was named the greatest female athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated for Women, and in 2004, she was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. Wheaties put Jackie on cereal box in 2004.

Post-Track Career
Having created the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation, to encourage underprivileged youth in her hometown to play sports, the athletic great devoted more time to the endeavor in retirement. In 2007, she helped establish Athletes for Hope, along with other champions like Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali and Mia Hamm. This organization aims to "educate, encourage and assist athletes in their efforts to contribute to community and charitable causes," according to its website.

Joyner-Kersee joined the board of Directors of USA Track & Field in 2012. In 2016, she became a spokesperson for the cable TV company Comcast.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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[1] Heptathlon: a women's track and field event in which each competitor takes part in the same seven events; the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin, and 800-meter run.

Harold Lee Washington Chicago's first Black mayor in 1983, passing while in office on November 25, 1987.

Harold Lee Washington was born on April 15, 1922, in Chicago. He grew up in the city, spending his career trying to better Chicago. His father was a police officer and a lawyer, and his mother was a singer. Washington attended Chicago public schools. He attended DuSable High School from 1936 to 1939 but left high school before earning his diploma.

In 1942 he went into the military to serve during World War II. He served in the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, rising to the rank of first sergeant. The 1887th received the Meritorious Service Unit Award for building a bomber landing strip on the Pacific Island of Angaur in only 20 days. Washington received the American Campaign Medal, among other honors. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After the war, Washington received a G.E.D. diploma in 1946, awarded after military service, and then headed off to college. He earned a bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University in 1949. Continuing his studies, Washington enrolled in law school at Northwestern University. He was the only black man in his class, completed his law degree in 1952, was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1953 and commenced practice in Chicago.

Washington was the assistant city prosecutor of Chicago from 1954 to 1958, then served as an arbitrator for the Illinois Industrial Commission from 1960 to 1964.

In 1965, Washington won election to the Illinois House of Representatives. He served the city's 26th District for roughly a decade, supporting legislation to advance equality. Washington also sought to make the birthday of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. a statement holiday.

Washington ran into one serious legal problem during his time in the legislature. He was convicted of tax evasion for not filing tax returns for several years. For his crime, Washington spent 36 days in jail in 1972. He became a state senator in 1977. Three years later, Washington moved on to national politics. He won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives serving from 1981 to 1983.

Washington faced a difficult battle in his effort to become mayor. While he clinched the Democratic nomination away from incumbent mayor Jane Byrne, he had to deal with some questionable campaign tactics by his Republican opponent Bernard Epton. Epton used a slogan—"Before It's Too Late"—that many read to be a call for voters to prevent the first black American from getting the city's top job. Other racially oriented attacks were also orchestrated by Epton's supporters. On April 12, 1983, Washington made history when he won more than 50 percent of the vote to become Chicago's new mayor.

The struggle wasn't over once he won the post, however. In what is now known as the "council wars," Washington had wrangled with a block of city aldermans who seemed to oppose him at nearly every turn. Still, he managed to increase the number of contracts awarded to minority-owned businesses and made city government more transparent to the public. Washington, known as being a man of the people, invited his constituents to voice their opinions regarding the city's budget.

In 1987, Washington won re-election. This time around, he had a sizable block of aldermans behind him to help him advance his plans for the city. Unfortunately, Washington died of a heart attack not long into his second term. He collapsed at his desk in City Hall on November 25, 1987, and was declared dead at a nearby hospital that afternoon. 

Harold Lee Washington is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery at 1035 E. 67th St., Chicago.

The Harold Washington Library Center.

Washington's beloved city honored him in many ways after his passing, including renaming Loop College after him. The Harold Washington Library Center is another place that bears his name.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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PASSING JUDGMENT WITHOUT KNOWING THE FACTS LEADS TO THIS KIND OF COMMENT:

THE FACTS:

While street signs were likely removed and not immediately replaced during Harold Washington's time as mayor, it's important to understand this in the larger context of budgetary issues and a pre-existing problem. It would be incorrect to attribute this specifically as a policy he enacted.

Mayor Washington did not initiate the removal of street signs. The removal of street signs had been an ongoing issue in Chicago before Washington became mayor. Some reasons for this included theft and vandalism. Street signs were removed and often not immediately replaced during his administration, but this was due to inherited budget issues rather than a policy he created. Washington did not favor this practice and actively sought to improve city infrastructure.

As far as Mayor Washington's budget, he faced fierce opposition within the Chicago City Council from a bloc known as the "Vrdolyak 29." This group of predominantly white aldermen consistently obstructed his legislative initiatives and proposals, perhaps a racist statement. Mayor Washington inherited a significant budget deficit from the previous administration. This added further strain to the city's already troubled finances. During the Reagan era, major federal funding sources for cities were cut, which left Chicago with substantial financial shortfalls.

Chicago faced increasing costs in crucial areas such as public safety, health services, and infrastructure. Balancing these budgetary pressures, especially with limited revenue, proved to be a major challenge. While balancing the budget was a priority, Washington also pushed for progressive, equitable city development. Finding a way to fund those social justice goals while addressing financial limitations was a difficult juggling act. To foster public understanding and involvement, Mayor Washington pushed for greater budgetary transparency. The goal was to open up the budgeting process to more public scrutiny, making the flow of public funds more visible to constituents.

Despite the numerous budgetary challenges, a few accomplishments stand out as part of Harold Washington's legacy:

• He balanced the city's budget despite the challenges during his term.
• He improved the city's credit rating, demonstrating improved fiscal responsibility.
• Despite financial concerns, he was still committed to programs benefiting minority communities and underrepresented neighborhoods.

The Biography of Chicagoan and former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

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In historical writing and analysis, PRESENTISM introduces present-day ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past. Presentism is a form of cultural bias that creates a distorted understanding of the subject matter. Reading modern notions of morality into the past is committing the error of presentism. Historical accounts are written by people and can be slanted, so I try my hardest to present fact-based and well-researched articles.

Facts don't require one's approval or acceptance.

I present [PG-13] articles without regard to race, color, political party, or religious beliefs, including Atheism, national origin, citizenship status, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability, military status, or educational level. What I present are facts — NOT Alternative Facts — about the subject. You won't find articles or readers' comments that spread rumors, lies, hateful statements, and people instigating arguments or fights.

FOR HISTORICAL CLARITY

When I write about the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, I follow this historical terminology:

• The use of old commonly used terms, disrespectful today, i.e., REDMAN or REDMEN, SAVAGES, and HALF-BREED are explained in this article.

Writing about AFRICAN-AMERICAN history, I follow these race terms:

• "NEGRO" was the term used until the mid-1960s.
• "BLACK" started being used in the mid-1960s.
• "AFRICAN-AMERICAN" [Afro-American] began usage in the late 1980s.

— PLEASE PRACTICE HISTORICISM —

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PAST IN ITS OWN CONTEXT.

 

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Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 17, 1964, to parents Fraser and Marian Robinson.

Baby Michelle LaVaughn Robinson

Although Fraser's modest pay as a city pump operator led to cramped living in their South Shore bungalow, the Robinsons were a close-knit family, with Michelle and older brother Craig pushed to excel in school. Both children skipped the second grade, and Michelle was later chosen for a gifted-student program that enabled her to take French and advanced biology courses.

Making the lengthy daily trip to attend Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Michelle became student council treasurer and a member of the National Honor Society before graduating as class salutatorian in 1981.

High School Graduation Picture.

She then followed her brother to Princeton University, where she created a reading program for the children of the school's manual laborers. A sociology major with a minor in African-American studies, she explored the connections between the school's black alumni and their communities in her senior thesis, graduating cum laude in 1985.

After earning her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1988, Michelle joined the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley Austin as a junior associate specializing in marketing and intellectual property. Assigned to mentor a summer intern, Barack Obama, she deflected his initial romantic advancements before they began dating. They were engaged within two years and married at the Trinity United Church of Christ on October 3, 1992.

Wedding at Trinity United Church of Christ, October 3, 1992.

Michelle left corporate law in 1991 to pursue a career in public service, enabling her to fulfill a personal passion and create networking opportunities that would benefit her husband's future political career. Initially an assistant to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, she soon became the city's assistant commissioner of planning and development. In 1993, she was named executive director for the Chicago branch of Public Allies, a leadership-training program for young adults. Moving on to the University of Chicago as associate dean of student services, she developed the school's first community service program.

When Obama decided to run for Illinois state senator in 1996, Michelle proved a disciplined campaign aide by canvassing for signatures and throwing fundraising parties. However, their victory presented the family with new challenges; following the births of daughters Malia (1998) and Sasha (2001), Michelle often had to juggle the demands of work and child-rearing alone with her husband tending to business in the state capital of Springfield.

Successful despite the difficulties, Michelle was named executive director of community relations and external affairs for the University of Chicago Hospitals in 2002. She was promoted to Vice President after three years. She served on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools boards but eventually scaled back her work hours and commitments to support Obama's entry into the U.S. presidential race.
Initially criticized for her candor, Michelle soon proved an asset on the campaign trail with her knack for delivering relatable stories about her family. In addition to becoming the first African-American first lady upon Obama's Election Day victory in 2008, she became the third with a post-graduate degree.

Michelle sought to tie her own agendas to her husband's larger legislative goals, notably targeting the childhood obesity epidemic while the Affordable Care Act was being created.

In 2009, she worked with local elementary school students to plant a 1,100-square-foot vegetable garden on the South Lawn of the White House. The following year, she launched the Let's Move! Initiative to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

In 2011, Michelle co-founded the Joining Forces program to expand educational and employment options for veterans and to raise awareness about the difficulties plaguing military families. After helping Obama win a second term in office, she formed the Reach Higher initiative to inspire young people to explore higher education and career-development opportunities.

The First Family with Portuguese Water Dogs
Sunny (Male) and Bo (Female).

Continuing the family theme of her campaign speeches, the first lady stressed the importance of remaining a diligent parent and brought her mother to live with her in the White House. She was also recognized for her ability to connect to younger generations by remaining attuned to popular culture. Embracing the use of social media, she encouraged fans to follow her progress on her Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. She proved willing to bring her messages to audiences by appearing in humorous sketches online and on television.

Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming," topped 3.4 million book sales in its first month.

Michelle Obama started her book tour with guest interviewer Oprah Winfrey at Chicago's United Center.

Published November 13, 2018, "Becoming" is among the fastest-selling nonfiction books in history and already among the best-selling memoirs of all time.

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The Biography of Chicagoan and 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama II.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D. 

The History of Barack Hussein Obama II, the 44th President of the United States of America.

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In historical writing and analysis, PRESENTISM introduces present-day ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past. Presentism is a form of cultural bias that creates a distorted understanding of the subject matter. Reading modern notions of morality into the past is committing the error of presentism. Historical accounts are written by people and can be slanted, so I try my hardest to present fact-based and well-researched articles.

Facts don't require one's approval or acceptance.

I present [PG-13] articles without regard to race, color, political party, or religious beliefs, including Atheism, national origin, citizenship status, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability, military status, or educational level. What I present are facts — NOT Alternative Facts — about the subject. You won't find articles or readers' comments that spread rumors, lies, hateful statements, and people instigating arguments or fights.

FOR HISTORICAL CLARITY

When I write about the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, I follow this historical terminology:

• The use of old commonly used terms, disrespectful today, i.e., REDMAN or REDMEN, SAVAGES, and HALF-BREED are explained in this article.

Writing about AFRICAN-AMERICAN history, I follow these race terms:

• "NEGRO" was the term used until the mid-1960s.
• "BLACK" started being used in the mid-1960s.
• "AFRICAN-AMERICAN" [Afro-American] began usage in the late 1980s.

— PLEASE PRACTICE HISTORICISM —

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PAST IN ITS OWN CONTEXT.

 

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Barack Hussein Obama II was born on August 4, 1961, in Hawaii, where his black father and white mother met.

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Jr. (Junior): This suffix indicates that a son has the exact same name as his father. For example, if the father is named Barack Hussein Obama, the son would be Barack Hussein Obama Jr.

II (The Second): This suffix indicates that a male is named after a different male relative with the same name. This relative is often a grandfather, uncle, or cousin. For example, if a man is named after his grandfather, also named Barack Hussein Obama, he would be Barack Hussein Obama II.

His mother, Ann Dunham, moved there with her parents from Kansas following World War II. His father, Barack Obama, Sr., grew up in rural Kenya and earned a scholarship that enabled him to study at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where Ann was also a student. They married in 1961 and had one child.

Official Presidential Photograph

Obama's parents separated when he was two years old, and in 1964, they divorced. Barack Senior returned to Kenya, leaving Ann to raise her son. Her struggles as a working single mother made an early impression on Barack, as did her values of service and compassion.

She remarried, and the family moved to her husband's home country of Indonesia in 1967, where Obama remained until he was 10. He then returned to Honolulu and was subsequently raised by his maternal grandparents. After graduating from high school, he studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles for two years, then transferred to Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in political science. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Obama spent several years working in New York and relocated to Chicago in 1985. There, he began working with the Developing Communities Project, a church-based organization, as a community organizer committed to impoverished areas affected by high unemployment and crime. His achievements were significant, but as a result of the experience, he understood that effecting real change would require action at the level of the political and legal systems. Obama visited Kenya in 1988, where he met many of his deceased father's relatives for the first time. He was accepted at Harvard Law School that year, graduating in 1991 after serving as the first black President of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. This resulted in a contract for him to write a book about race relations, which became the memoir "Dreams from My Father."

Returning to Chicago shortly after, Obama began teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago while practicing as a civil and neighborhood rights attorney and serving on numerous social action boards of directors. In 1992, he married Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, whom he'd met in 1989 as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm where she worked. Living in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, they had two daughters, Malia, born in 1999, and Natasha (nicknamed Sasha), born in 2001. 

Malia (1999), First Lady Michelle Obama, President Obama, and Natasha, nicknamed Sasha (2001). And their two beautiful Portuguese Water Dogs, Sunny (left) and Bo (right).

Following his path of progressive social action, Obama then ran for and was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996. He served there for three terms and eight years, often reaching out to unify Republicans and Democrats to achieve essential goals and progressive policies in areas such as taxation, welfare reform, and education.

Obama had run unsuccessfully in the Illinois Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. Nevertheless, in 2003, he began campaigning for a seat in the U.S. Senate. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he was exposed to a national audience for the first time when he delivered the keynote address. The response was immediate, with political insiders citing his presidential potential and ordinary Americans resonating with his message of unity and promise, as expressed by the speech's title, "The Audacity of Hope." Propelled by this electrifying debut, he won the primary and general election for the Senate in 2004 by the most significant margin in Illinois history. He became only the third African American so honored since Reconstruction.

Acknowledged by his Senate peers as an exceptionally promising freshman, Obama continued to work with leaders from both parties in a spirit of bipartisan cooperation to create important legislation. He served on the Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works, and Veterans Affairs Committees and worked on arms proliferation, climate change, and ethics reform, among other notable achievements. In 2006, he published a second book titled "The Audacity of Hope," which climbed to the top of the best-seller lists.

President Obama is wearing a yarmulke (or kippah), a sign of respect,
while in God's Orthodox & Hasidic Jewish house of worship.
(Yiddish: Shul / English: School) The Synagogue is a place of Religious and Hebrew language studies.

On February 10, 2007, with Senator Hillary Clinton, the self-described presumptive Democratic nominee for President in the 2008 election, Obama announced his unlikely candidacy for the office at the site of President Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech of 1858. Shattering fund-raising records and enlisting a vast army of small contributors, Obama emerged victorious in June of that year despite controversies over his former pastor. This led to Obama's historic speech on race entitled "A More Perfect Union." In a complicated and frequently acrimonious general campaign against Republican nominee Senator John McCain, Obama distinguished himself with his poise and articulate focus on critical issues affecting all Americans. He continued to raise record-breaking sums from a growing grassroots base of support. His choice of Senator Joe Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as running mate offered a stark contrast to the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, as did his constant message of hope and unity epitomized by the hugely popular refrain, "Yes we can."

Throughout the campaign, Obama steadily established and widened a leading margin in polls, which accelerated with the deterioration of the U.S. economy in the fall of 2008. Toward the end of the contest, he campaigned actively in Republican strongholds, seeking a broad mandate from the electorate to enact his theme of "The change we need."

On November 4, 2008, history was made. Obama became the 44th President-Elect of the United States with a landslide victory, the first Black elected to the highest office in America. One hundred and forty-six years after the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans' march toward freedom, civil rights, equity, and full participation culminated in the leadership of this nation. A dream too long deferred had been realized. A new chapter in American history had begun.

In October 2009, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Obama responded to the honor with surprise and humility, saying the award was a "call to action" to engage other nations worldwide to promote peace. 

The second inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States marked the commencement of the second term of Barack Obama as President and Joe Biden as Vice President. A private swearing-in ceremony occurred on Sunday, January 20, 2013, in the Blue Room of the White House. A public inauguration ceremony occurred on Monday, January 21, 2013, at the United States Capitol building.

The inauguration theme was "Faith in America's Future," which draws upon the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the completion of the Capitol dome in 1863. The theme also stressed the "perseverance and unity" of the United States and echoed the "Forward" theme used in the closing months of Obama's reelection campaign. The inaugural events held in Washington, D.C., from January 19 to 21, 2013, included concerts, a national day of community service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the swearing-in ceremony, luncheon and parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service. The presidential oath was administered to Obama during his swearing-in ceremony on January 20 and 21, 2013, by Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts.

In his second inauguration address, Obama called for laws to combat climate change, enactment of immigration reform and gun control. Obama stated that more progress was needed on human and civil rights (including racial minority rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ rights). He vowed to promote democracy abroad and stated that the United States must "be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice" worldwide. The President vowed to keep existing alliances strong, emphasized the economic recovery and the end of wars, and stated that "no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation." Approximately one million people attended the inauguration, and millions more watched from around the world.

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The Biography of Chicagoan and Former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.