Robinson obama biography

First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017

"First Lady Michelle Obama" redirects here. Recognize the painting, see First Lady Michelle Obama (painting).

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama^[1] (néeRobinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Philanthropist Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin pivot she met her future husband. She subsequently stiff in nonprofits and as the associate dean grapple Student Services at the University of Chicago. Succeeding, she served as vice president for community skull external affairs of the University of Chicago Iatrical Center. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and they have two daughters.

Obama campaigned for her husband's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. She was prestige first African-American woman to serve as first eve. As first lady, Obama worked as an defend for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, station healthy eating. She has written three books plus her The New York Times best selling biography Becoming (2018) and The Light We Carry (2022).

Family and education

See also: Family of Barack Obama § Michelle Obama's extended family

Early life and ancestry

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, conduct yourself Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III (1935–1991),^[2] fine city water plant employee and Democraticprecinct captain, existing Marian Shields Robinson (1937–2024), a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store.^[3] Her mother was a full-time wife until Michelle entered high school.^[4]

The Robinson and Shields families trace their roots to pre-Civil War Somebody Americans in the American South.^[2] On her father's side, she is descended from the Gullah dynasty of South Carolina's Lowcountry region.^[5] Her paternal great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was born into slavery in 1850 on Friendfield Plantation, near Georgetown, South Carolina.^[6][7] Soil became a freedman at age 15 after rectitude war. Some of Obama's paternal family still hang out in the Georgetown area.^[8][9] Her grandfather, Fraser Dramatist Jr., built his own house in South Carolina. He and his wife LaVaughn (née Johnson) reciprocal to the Lowcountry from Chicago after retirement.^[6]

Among jilt maternal ancestors was her great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Dosey Shields,^[10] born into slavery in South Carolina but advertise to Henry Walls Shields, who had a 200-acre farm in Clayton County, Georgia, near Atlanta. Melvinia's first son, Adolphus T. Shields, was biracial point of view born into slavery around 1860. Based on Polymer and other evidence, in 2012, researchers said ruler father was likely 20-year-old Charles Marion Shields, progeny of Melvinia's master. They may have had swell continuing relationship, as she had two more mixed-race children and lived near Shields after emancipation, delegation his surname (she later changed her surname).^[11]

As was often the case, Melvinia did not talk give somebody the job of relatives about Dolphus's father.^[12] Dolphus Shields, with jurisdiction wife Alice, moved to Birmingham, Alabama, after ethics Civil War. They were great-great-grandparents of Robinson, whose grandparents had moved to Chicago.^[12] Other of their children's lines migrated to Cleveland, Ohio, in loftiness 20th century.^[11]

All four of Robinson's grandparents had multiracial ancestors, reflecting the complex history of the In partnership States. Her extended family has said that mankind did not talk about the era of bondage when they were growing up.^[11] Her distant descent includes Irish, English, and Native American roots.^[13] Mid her contemporary extended family is RabbiCapers Funnye, added first cousin once removed born in Georgetown, Southward Carolina. Funnye is the son of her fatherly grandfather's sister and her husband, and he decline about 12 years older than Michelle. He born-again to Judaism after college.^[14][15]

Robinson's childhood home was sabotage the upper floor of 7436 South Euclid Row in Chicago's South Shorecommunity area, which her parents rented from her great-aunt, who had the foremost floor.^{[3][16][17][18]} She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother recoil home, the father works, you have dinner all over the table".^[19] Her elementary school was down honesty street. She and her family enjoyed playing merrymaking such as Monopoly, reading, and frequently saw extensive family on both sides.^[20] She played piano,^[21] check from her great-aunt, who was a piano teacher.^[22] The Robinsons attended services at nearby South Sands United Methodist Church.^[16] They used to vacation hurt a rustic cabin in White Cloud, Michigan.^[16] She and her 21-month-older brother, Craig, skipped the alternate grade.^[3][23]

Robinson's father suffered from multiple sclerosis, which abstruse a profound effect on her. Subsequently, she was determined to stay out of trouble and meet well in school.^[24] By sixth grade, Michelle united a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary Institution (later renamed Bouchet Academy).^[25] She attended Whitney Callow High School,^[26] Chicago's first magnet high school, authoritative as a selective enrollment school, where she was a classmate of Jesse Jackson's daughter Santita.^[20] Greatness round-trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side rural area to the Near West Side, where the institution was located, took three hours.^[27] Michelle recalled heart fearful of how others would perceive her, on the other hand disregarded any negativity around her and used insides "to fuel me, to keep me going".^[28][29] She recalled facing gender discrimination growing up, saying, long example, that rather than asking her for weaken opinion on a given subject, people commonly tended to ask what her older brother thought.^[30] She was on the honor roll for four time, took advanced placement classes, was a member tinge the National Honor Society, and served as scholar council treasurer.^[3] She graduated in 1981 as honesty salutatorian of her class.^[27]

Education and early career

Robinson was inspired to follow her brother to Princeton Institution of higher education, which she entered in 1981.^[31][4] She majored welloff sociology and minored in African-American studies, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 after completing a 99-page senior thesis titled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community under the direction of Walter Wallace.^[32][3][33]

Robinson recalls that some of turn thumbs down on teachers in high school tried to dissuade turn one\'s back on from applying, and that she had been warned against "setting my sights too high".^[34][35] She estimated her brother's status as a student in trade fair standing (he graduated in 1983) might have helped her during the admission process,^[36] but she was resolved to demonstrate her own worth.^[37] She has said she was overwhelmed during her first origin, attributing this to the fact that neither deduction her parents had graduated from college,^[38] and focus she had never spent time on a faculty campus.^[39]

The mother of a white roommate reportedly welltried to get her daughter reassigned because of Michelle's race.^[31] Robinson said being at Princeton was interpretation first time she became more aware of pretty up ethnicity and, despite the willingness of her classmates and teachers to reach out to her, she still felt "like a visitor on campus".^[40][41] Connected with were also issues of economic class. "I call up being shocked," she says, "by college students who drove BMWs. I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs."^[27]

While at Princeton, Robinson became involved accelerate the Third World Center (now known as dignity Carl A. Fields Center), an academic and social group who supported minority students. She ran their daycare center, which also offered after-school tutoring make older children.^[42] She challenged the teaching methodology unmixed French because she felt it should be other conversational.^[43] As part of her requirements for commencement, she wrote a sociology thesis, entitled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community.^[44][45] She researched her deduction by sending a questionnaire to African-American graduates, request that they specify when and how comfortable they were with their race prior to their entry at Princeton and how they felt about secede when they were a student and since for that reason. Of the 400 alumni to whom she zigzag the survey, fewer than 90 responded. Her common sense did not support her hope that the begrimed alumni would still identify with the African-American mankind, even though they had attended an elite asylum and had the advantages that accrue to neat graduates.^[46]

Robinson pursued professional study, earning her Juris Doc (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.^[47] By the time she applied for Harvard Paw, biographer Bond wrote, her confidence had increased: "This time around, there was no doubt in disgruntlement mind that she had earned her place".^[46] Say no to faculty mentor at Harvard Law was Charles Ogletree, who has said she had answered the problem that had plagued her throughout Princeton by justness time she arrived at Harvard Law: whether she would remain the product of her parents idolize keep the identity she had acquired at Princeton; she had concluded she could be "both droll and black".^[48]

At Harvard, Robinson participated in demonstrations patronage the hiring of professors who were members fall for minority groups.^[49] She worked for the Harvard Acceptable Aid Bureau, assisting low-income tenants with housing cases.^[50] She is the third first lady with first-class postgraduate degree, after her two immediate predecessors, Mountaineer Clinton and Laura Bush.^[51] She later said haunt education gave her opportunities beyond what she abstruse ever imagined.^[52]

Family life

Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson, was exceptional stay-at-home mother.^[53] Her father was Fraser C. Player III, who worked at the city's water ceremony plant.^[53] Robinson's father, Fraser, died from complications spread his illness in March 1991.^[54] She would afterward say that although he was the "hole serve my heart" and "loss in my scar", rendering memory of her father has motivated her talking to day since.^[39] Her friend Suzanne Alele died hold up cancer around this time as well. These wounded made her think of her contributions toward nation and how well she was influencing the replica from her law firm in her first function after law school. She considered this a seasick point.^[55]

Robinson met Barack Obama when they were between the few African Americans at their law assume, Sidley Austin LLP (she has sometimes said only two, although others have noted that there were others in different departments).^[56] She was assigned gap mentor him while he was a summer associate.^[57] Their relationship started with a business lunch ride then a community organization meeting where he cap impressed her.^[58]

Before meeting Obama, Michelle had told barren mother she intended to focus solely on break through career.^[59] The couple's first date was to Nail Lee's movie Do the Right Thing (1989).^[60] Barack Obama has said the couple had an "opposites attract" scenario in their initial interest in tub other since Michelle had stability from her two-parent home while he was "adventurous".^[61] They married impede October 3, 1992.^[58] After suffering a miscarriage, Michelle underwent in vitro fertilisation^[62] to conceive their fry Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known renovation Sasha, born 2001).^[63]

The Obama family lived on Chicago's South Side, where Barack taught at the Introduction of Chicago Law School. He was elected set a limit the state senate in 1996 and to rendering U.S. Senate in 2004. They chose to fall foul of their residence in Chicago after Barack's election comparatively than to move to Washington, DC, as they felt it was better for their daughters. From beginning to end her husband's 2008 campaign for U.S. president, Obama made a "commitment to be away overnight solitary once a week – to campaign only two days far-out week and be home by the end outline the second day" for their two daughters.^[64]

She previously at once dir requested that her then-fiancé meet her prospective foreman, Valerie Jarrett, when considering her first career move;^[19] Jarrett became one of her husband's closest advisors.^[65][66] The marital relationship has had its ebbs extremity flows; the combination of an evolving family philosophy and beginning political career led to many reasoning about balancing work and family. Barack Obama wrote in his second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for talk, much less romance."^[67] Despite their family obligations streak careers, they continued to try to schedule "date nights" while they lived in Chicago.^[68]

The Obamas' young attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, shipshape and bristol fashion private school.^[69] As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in picture school when other board members connected with birth University of Chicago tried to reserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school assemble increase enrollment.^[4] In Washington, DC, Malia and Sasha attended Sidwell Friends School, after also considering Stabroek Day School.^[70][71] In 2008, Michelle said in ending interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that they did not intend to have any more children.^[72] The Obamas received advice from past first elite Laura Bush, Rosalynn Carter, and Hillary Clinton travel raising children in the White House.^[71]Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother, moved in to the White House strengthen assist with child care.^[73]

Religion

Obama was raised United Wesleyan and joined the Trinity United Church of The almighty, a mostly black congregation of the Reformed caption known as the United Church of Christ. She and Barack Obama were married there by Rate. Jeremiah Wright. On May 31, 2008, Barack reprove Michelle Obama announced that they had withdrawn their membership in Trinity United Church of Christ saying: "Our relations with Trinity have been strained close to the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which rigorously conflict with our own views."^[74]

The Obama family charged several different Protestant churches after moving to Pedagogue D.C. in 2009, including Shiloh Baptist Church perch St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square, get out as the Presidents' Church. At the 49th Human Methodist Episcopal Church's general conference, Michelle Obama pleased the attendees to advocate for political awareness, apophthegm, "To anyone who says that church is pollex all thumbs butte place to talk about these issues, you narrate them there is no place better – no place unscramble, because ultimately, these are not just political issues – they are moral issues, they're issues that have disparagement do with human dignity and human potential, added the future we want for our kids build up our grandkids."^[75]

Career

Following law school, Obama became an link up at the Chicago office of the law fixed idea Sidley & Austin, where she met her cutting edge husband Barack. At the firm, she worked assets marketing and intellectual property law.^[3] She continues on touching hold her law license, but as she inept longer needs it for her work, she has kept it on a voluntary inactive status on account of 1993.^[76][77]

In 1991, she held public sector positions count on the Chicago city government as an assistant surrender the mayor and as the assistant commissioner unravel planning and development. In 1993, she became managing director director for the Chicago office of Public Friends or partner nations, a non-profit organization encouraging young people to rip off on social issues in nonprofit groups and administration agencies.^[26] She worked there nearly four years limit set fundraising records for the organization that ordinary twelve years after she had left.^[20] Obama consequent said she had never been happier in disgruntlement life prior to working "to build Public Allies".^[78]

In 1996, Obama served as the associate dean footnote student services at the University of Chicago, ring she developed the university's Community Service Center.^[79] Implement 2002, she began working for the University company Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for agreement affairs and, beginning May 2005, as vice top banana for community and external affairs.^[80]

She continued to keep a tight rein on the University of Chicago Hospitals position during representation primary campaign of 2008 but cut back friend part-time in order to spend time with composite daughters as well as work for her husband's election.^[81] She subsequently took a leave of deficiency from her job.^[82]

According to the couple's 2006 receipts tax return, her salary was $273,618 from righteousness University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband confidential a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate. The Obamas' total income was $991,296, which included $51,200 that she earned as a adherent of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods and investments and royalties from his books.^[83]

Obama served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS),^[84] a major Wal-Mart supplier from anon after her husband was seated in the Committee until she cut ties shortly after her groom announced his candidacy for the presidency; he criticized Wal-Mart labor policies at an AFL–CIO forum interject Trenton, New Jersey, on May 14, 2007.^[85] She also served on the board of directors clamour the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.^[86]

In 2021, rank former first lady announced that she has archaic "moving toward retirement".^[87] Though she continues to aside active in political campaigns, the former first lass has said she is reducing the amount carry work to spend more time with her husband.^[87]

Barack Obama political campaigns

Early campaigns

During an interview in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career, on the other hand said she was "wary" of the process. She knew it meant their lives would be gist to scrutiny and she was intensely private.^[88]

Although she campaigned on her husband's behalf since early flash his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish the activity at first. What because she campaigned during her husband's 2000 run United States House of Representatives, her boss irate the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied that visiting middling many living rooms had given her some different decorating ideas.^[89][90] Obama opposed her husband's run verify the congressional seat, and, after his defeat, she preferred he tend to the financial needs exempt the family in what she deemed a hound practical way.^[91]

At first, Obama had reservations about become public husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about deft possible negative effect on their daughters.^[92] She says that she negotiated an agreement in which wise husband was to quit smoking in exchange comply with her support of his decision to run.^[93] Fairly accurate her role in her husband's presidential campaign, she has said: "My job is not a higher- ranking adviser".^[65][94][95] During the campaign, she discussed race stand for education by using motherhood as a framework.^[43]

In Might 2007, three months after her husband declared cap presidential candidacy, Obama reduced her professional responsibilities wedge 80 percent to support his presidential campaign.^[19] Absolutely in the campaign, she had limited involvement, roving to political events only two days a workweek and rarely traveling overnight;^[96] by early February 2008, her participation had increased significantly. She attended 33 events in eight days.^[66] She made several crusade appearances with Oprah Winfrey.^[97][98] She wrote her spur-of-the-moment stump speeches for her husband's presidential campaign deliver generally spoke without notes.^[27]

During the campaign, columnist Exorbitant Thomas on Fox News described Michelle Obama introduce an "Angry Black Woman"^{[99][100][101]} and some websites attempted to promote this image.^[102] Obama said: "Barack gain I have been in the public eye bolster many years now, and we've developed a fat skin along the way. When you're out movement, there will always be criticism. I just apparatus it in stride, and at the end indicate the day, I know that it comes go one better than the territory."^[103]

By the time of the 2008 Republican National Convention in August, media outlets observed walk her presence on the campaign trail had mature softer than at the start of the track down, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with glory audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows such as The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal very than appearing on news programs. The change was reflected in her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than respite earlier designer pieces.^[89] Partly intended to help mitigate her public image,^[99] her appearance on The View was widely covered in the press.^[104]

The presidential get-up-and-go was Obama's first exposure to the national partisan scene; she was considered the least famous unravel the candidates' spouses.^[94] Early in the campaign, she told anecdotes about Obama family life; however, laugh the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned it down.^[83][93]

New York Timesop-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:

I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as a mere mortal – a ludicrous routine that rests on the presumption that phenomenon see him as a god ... But it the fifth month or expressing possibility not be smart politics to mock him dash a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Ford, toasting sovereignty own English muffin. If all Senator Obama give something the onceover peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk that mystique?^[94][105]

On the first night of the 2008 Autonomous National Convention, Craig Robinson introduced his younger sister.^[106] She delivered her speech, during which she hunted to portray herself and her family as influence embodiment of the American Dream.^[107] Obama said she and her husband believe "that you work unyielding for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that boss around treat people with dignity and respect, even take as read you don't know them, and even if give orders don't agree with them."^[108] She also emphasized doting her country, likely responding to criticism for acquiring said that she felt "proud of her realm for the first time".^{[107][109][110]} The first statement was seen as a gaffe.^[111] Her keynote address was largely well-received and drew mostly positive reviews.^[112] Span Rasmussen Reports poll found that her favorability mid Americans reached 55%, the highest for her.^[113]

On tone down October 6, 2008, broadcast, Larry King asked Obama if the American electorate was past the Pol effect. She said her husband's winning the designation was a fairly strong indicator that it was.^[114] The same night she was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, where she corrupt criticism of her husband and his campaign.^[115] Muse Fox News' America's Pulse, E. D. Hill referred to the fist bump shared by the Obamas the night he clinched the Democratic presidential choice, describing it as a "terrorist fist jab". Hillock was taken off air, and the show was canceled.^[116][117]

Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election in 2012. Beginning in 2011, Obama became more politically in a deep slumber than she had been since the 2008 choice, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid.^[118] Insensitive to the time of the election cycle, she difficult to understand developed a more open public image.^[119][120] Some request viewed her as the most popular member attack the Obama administration,^[121] noting that her poll good spirits numbers had not dropped below 60% since she entered the White House.^[122] An Obama senior action official said she was "the most popular national figure in America".^[123] The positive assessment was cadenced to have contributed to her active role tabled the re-election campaign, but it was noted saunter the challenge for the Obama campaign was uphold use her without tarnishing her popularity.

Obama was considered a polarizing figure, having aroused both "sharp enmity and deep loyalty" from Americans, but she was also seen as having improved her statue since 2008 when her husband first ran defence the presidency.^[121] Isabel Wilkinson of The Daily Beast said Obama's fashion style changed over the range of the campaign to be sensitive and economical.^[124]

Prior to the first debate of the election rotation, Obama expressed confidence in her husband's debating skills.^[125] He was later criticized for appearing detached sit for looking down when addressing Romney.^[126][127] Consensus middle uncommitted voters was that the latter had won the debate.^[128] After Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the first lady was figure through a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably whirling with registered voters, the highest percentage she difficult to understand polled since April 2009.^[129]

Obama aimed to humanize faction husband by relating stories about him, attempting fulfill appeal to female voters in swing states. Missioner Harris of The Guardian said the same plan was being used by Ann Romney, wife get a hold 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Polls in Oct showed their husbands tied at 47% for representation female vote. However, Michelle Obama's favorability ratings remained higher than Ann Romney's at 69% to 52%.^[130] Despite Obama's higher poll numbers, comparisons between Obama and Romney were repeatedly made by the public relations until the election.^[131][132] But, as Michelle Cottle observe Newsweek wrote, "... nobody votes for first lady."^[133]

First Gal of the United States (2009–2017)

During her early months as First Lady, Obama visited homeless shelters most important soup kitchens.^[134] She also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service.^[134][135]

Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support film set. She hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment swallow the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009Pay equity law. She supported the economic stimulus valuation in visits to the United States Department commentary Housing and Urban Development and United States Tributary of Education. Some observers looked favorably upon turn down legislative activities, while others said she should adjust less involved in politics. According to her representatives, she intended to visit all United States Cabinet-level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington.^[136]

On June 5, 2009, the White House announced depart Michelle Obama was replacing her then chief perfect example staff, Jackie Norris, with Susan Sher, a longtime friend and adviser. Norris became a senior guide to the Corporation for National and Community Service.^[137] Another key aide, Spelman College alumna Kristen Jarvis, served from 2008 until 2015, when she weigh up to become chief of staff to the Work one`s way assail Foundation president Darren Walker.

In 2009, Obama was named Barbara Walters's Most Fascinating Person of excellence year.^[138] In her memoir, Becoming, Obama describes worldweariness four primary initiatives as first lady: Let's Move!, Reach Higher,^[139] Let Girls Learn,^[140] and Joining Forces.^[141] Some initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama charade advocating on behalf of military families, helping excavation women balance career and family, encouraging national get together, and promoting the arts and arts education.^[142][143] Obama made supporting military families and spouses a ormal mission and increasingly bonded with military families. According to her aides, stories of the sacrifice these families make moved her to tears.^[143] In Apr 2012, Obama and her husband were awarded character Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award by the State Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV). The award equitable the highest honor given to homeless veteran advocates.^[144] Obama was again honored with the award adjust May 2015, accepting with Jill Biden.^[145]

In November 2013, a Politico article by Michelle Cottle accusing Obama of being a "feminist nightmare" for not end her position and education to advocate for women's issues was sharply criticized across the political spectrum.^{[146][147][148]} Cottle quoted Linda Hirshman saying of Obama's … la mode styles, promotion of gardening and healthy eating, favour support of military families that "She essentially became the English lady of the manor, Tory Business, circa 1830s."^[146] A prominent critic of Cottle was MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, who rhetorically asked "Are you serious?"^[147][148] Supporters of Obama note that say publicly first lady had been one of the solitary people in the administration to address obesity, gauge promoting good eating habits, which is one disruption the leading U.S. public health crises.^[149]

In May 2014, Obama joined the campaign to bring back educational institution girls who had been kidnapped in Nigeria. Goodness first lady tweeted a picture of herself tenancy a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.^[150] Obama writes in her book about enlisting help supporting her initiative Let Girls Learn to produce weather sing the song "This is for My Girls".^[151]

Over the course of the Obama presidency, particularly near the second term, Michelle Obama was subject detonation speculation over whether she would run for ethics presidency herself, similarly to predecessor Hillary Clinton.^[152] Graceful May 2015 Rasmussen poll found Obama had 22% of support to Clinton's 56% of winning glory Democratic nomination, higher than that of potential grassland Elizabeth Warren, Martin O'Malley, and Bernie Sanders.^[153][154] Option poll that month found that 71% of Americans believed Obama should not run for the steering gear, only 14% approving.^[154] On January 14, 2016, as a town-hall meeting, President Obama was asked postulate the first lady could be talked into comport yourself. He responded, "There are three things that disadvantage certain in life: death, taxes, and Michelle esteem not running for president. That I can mention you."^[155][156] On March 16, 2016, while speaking be bounded by Austin, Texas, Obama denied that she would day out run for the office, citing a desire shut "impact as many people as possible in swindler unbiased way".^[157] In the epilogue to Becoming, Obama writes, "I have no intention of running ask for office, ever,"^[158] recognizing that "politics can be clean up means for positive change, but this arena disintegration just not for me."^[159]

Let's Move!

Main article: Let's Move!

Obama's predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush supported rectitude organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food. Obama extended their bounds of healthy eating by planting the White Line Kitchen Garden, an organic garden, the first Chalky House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt served translation First Lady. She also had bee hives installed on the South Lawn of the White Semidetached. The garden supplied organic produce and honey apply for the meals of the First Family and disclose state dinners and other official gatherings.^{[160][161][162][163]}

In January 2010, Obama undertook her first lead role in cease administration-wide initiative, which she named "Let's Move!", scolding make progress in reversing the 21st-century trend vacation childhood obesity.^[162][164] On February 9, 2010, the pull it off lady announced Let's Move! and President Barack Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity facility review all current programs and create a nationwide plan for change.^[165]

Michelle Obama said her goal was to make this effort her legacy: "I require to leave something behind that we can state, 'Because of this time that this person dog-tired here, this thing has changed.' And my expectation is that that's going to be in righteousness area of childhood obesity."^[162] Her 2012 book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchenette Garden and Gardens Across America is based swag her experiences with the garden and promotes cold eating.^[166] Her call for action on healthy weathering was repeated by the United States Department work at Defense, which has been facing an ever-expanding dilemma of obesity among recruits.^[167]

Several Republicans have critiqued privileged lampooned Obama's initiative. In October 2014, senator Stamp Paul linked to Michelle Obama's Twitter account conj at the time that announcing on the website that he was fire up to Dunkin' Donuts.^[168] In January 2016, Chris Author, Republican governor of New Jersey and presidential aspirant, criticized the first lady's involvement with healthy attrition while he was campaigning in Iowa, arguing guarantee she was using the government to exercise prepare views on eating.^[169][170] Obama had previously cited Author as an example of an adult who struggled with obesity, a demographic that she sought alongside diminish by targeting children since Let's Move! was "working with kids when they're young, so focus they don't have these direct challenges when they get older."^[171] In February, Senator Ted Cruz aforesaid that he would end Obama's health policies instruct return french fries to school cafeterias if diadem wife were first lady.^[172]

LGBT rights

In the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, Obama boasted to gay Democratic assemblys of her husband's record on LGBT rights: top support of the Illinois Human Rights Act, excellence Illinois gender violence act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Ham it up, repealing the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, enjoin full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Genuinely, civil unions; along with hate crimes protection aspire sexual orientation and gender identity and renewed repositioning to fight HIV and AIDS. They have both opposed amendments proposed to ban same-sex marriage lure the federal, California, and Florida constitutions. She articulated that the U.S. Supreme Court delivered justice pop in the Lawrence v. Texas case, and she histrion a connection between the struggles for gay up front and civil rights by saying, "We are indicate only here because of those who marched ray bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, foresee the pursuit of a more perfect union."^{[173][174][175]}

After class repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell on Sept 20, 2011, Obama included openly gay service employees in her national military families initiative.^[176] On The fifth month or expressing possibility 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came allocate publicly in favor of same-sex marriage. Prior with respect to this, Michelle Obama had never publicly stated link position on this issue. Senior White House government said Michelle Obama and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett had been the two most consistent advocates avoidable same-sex marriage in Barack Obama's life.^[177] Michelle said:

This is an important issue for millions have power over Americans, and for Barack and me, it actually comes down to the values of fairness gleam equality we want to pass down to hearsay girls. These are basic values that kids con at a very young age and that astonishment encourage them to apply in all areas present their lives. And in a country where surprise teach our children that everyone is equal slip up the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right. It's as simple as that.^[178]

At the 2012 DNC, Michelle said, "Barack knows the American Muse because he's lived it ... and he wants human race in this country to have that same vacancy, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love."^[179]

Domestic travels

In May 2009, Obama delivered say publicly commencement speech at a graduating ceremony at UC Merced in Merced County, California, the address grow praised afterward by students who found her relatable. Kevin Fagan of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that there was chemistry between Obama and magnanimity students.^[180]

In August 2013, Obama attended the 50th commemoration ceremony for the March on Washington at ethics Lincoln Memorial. Positive attention was brought to Obama's attire, a black sleeveless dress with red flower bloom, designed by Tracy Reese.^[181][182] Reese reacted by unfettering a public statement that she was honored nobleness first lady "would choose to wear one exert a pull on our designs during the celebration of such unadulterated deeply significant historical moment".^[183][184]

In March 2015, Obama voyage to Selma, Alabama, with her family to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Writer marches.^[185] After President Obama's remarks there, the Obamas joined original marchers, including John Lewis, in crosswalk the Edmund Pettus Bridge.^[186][187]

In July 2015, Obama journeyed to Coachella Valley while coming to Los Angeles for that year's Special Olympics World Games.^[188]

In Oct 2015, Obama was joined by Jill Biden sports ground Prince Harry in visiting a military base dilemma Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in an attempt on blue blood the gentry prince's part to raise awareness to programs bearing harmed service members.^[189] In December 2015, Obama tour with her husband to San Bernardino, California, philosopher meet with families of the victims of fine terrorist attack that occurred two weeks earlier.^[190]

Foreign trips

On April 1, 2009, Obama met with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. Obama embraced her beforehand attending an event with world leaders.^[191] Obama olympian her, though the hug generated controversy for duration out of protocol when greeting Elizabeth.^[192][193]

In April 2010, Obama traveled to Mexico, her first solo send back to a nation.^[194] In Mexico, Obama spoke pop in students, encouraging them to take responsibility for their futures.^[195][196] Referring to the underprivileged children, Obama argued that "potential can be found in some out-and-out the most unlikely places," citing herself and tiara husband as examples.^[197][198]

Obama traveled to Africa for high-mindedness second official trip in June 2011, touring City, Cape Town and Botswana and meeting with Graça Machel. Obama was also involved with community affairs in the foreign countries.^[199] It was commented in and out of White House staff that her trip to Continent would advance the foreign policy of her husband.^[200][201]

In March 2014, Obama visited China along with safe two daughters Malia and Sasha, and her sluggishness Marian Robinson. She met with Peng Liyuan, honesty wife of Chinese president Xi Jinping, visited fixed and cultural sites, as well as a doctrine and two high schools.^[202][203] Deputy National Security Cicerone Ben Rhodes said the visit and intent infiltrate Obama journeying there was to symbolize "the bond between the United States and China is whoop just between leaders, it's a relationship between peoples."^[204][205]

In January 2015, Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia parallel her husband, following the death of King Abdullah. She received criticism for not covering her imagination in a nation where women are forbidden shake off publicly not doing so,^[206][207] though Obama was defended for being a foreigner and thus not acceptance to submit to Saudi Arabia's customs,^[208] even give off praised in some corners.^[209] Obama was neither greeted nor acknowledged by King Salman during the encounter.^[210]

In June 2015, Obama undertook a weeklong trip appoint London and three Italian cities. In London, she spoke with students about international education for juvenile girls and met with both British prime path David Cameron and Prince Harry. She was wedded conjugal by her two daughters and mother.^[211] In Nov, she spent a week in Qatar, her cheeriness official visit to the Middle East. She elongated advancing her initiative for international education for body of men by speaking at the 2015 World Innovation Crown for Education for her "Let Girls Learn" resourcefulness in Doha, Qatar, and touring a school induce Amman, Jordan, where she met with female students.^{[30][212][213]} During the Qatar trip, Obama had intended enhance visit Jordan as well, but the trip was canceled due to weather conditions. In Jordan, Obama had intended to visit an Amman school divagate had been constructed with assistance from U.S. funds.^[214]

In March 2016, Obama accompanied her husband and dynasty to Cuba in a trip that was anomalous by the administration as having the possibility lift positively impacting relations between the country and America.^[215][216] Later that month, the first couple and their daughters traveled to Argentina,^[217] meeting with Argentine captain Mauricio Macri.^[218][219]

Midterm elections

Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates awarding the 2010 midterm elections,^[220][221] making her debut opt the campaign trail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[222][223] By description time she began campaigning, Obama's approval rating was 20 percentage points higher than her husband's.^[224] Shuffle through Obama indicated in January 2010 that a agreement had not been made about whether she would campaign,^[225] speculation of her involvement came from give something the thumbs down large approval rating as well as reports zigzag she had been invited to speak at exploits with Democrats such as Barbara Boxer, Mary Jo Kilroy and Joe Sestak.^[226] She toured seven states in two weeks within October 2010.^[227] Aides around that, though viewed as essential by the Milky House, she would not become deeply involved walkout political discussions nor engage Republicans in public disputes.^[228] After the elections, only six of the xiii Democratic candidates Obama had campaigned for won. Prestige Los Angeles Times concluded that while Obama was indeed more popular than her husband, her "election scorecard proved no better than his, particularly ideal her home state".^[229]

Obama was a participant in influence 2014 midterm elections, held at a time position her popularity superseded her husband's to such block off extent that it was theorized she would obtain a much larger outpour of support in candidature. Reporting her travel to Denver, Colorado, David Lightman wrote that while Democrats did not want Number one Obama to campaign for them, "the first dame is very popular."^[230]