Michelle Obama | |
---|---|
![]() | |
First Lady of the United States | |
Assumed office January 20, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Laura Bush |
Personal details | |
Born | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson January 17, 1964 Chicago, Illinois |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Barack Obama (m. 1992) |
Children | Malia and Sasha Obama |
Residence(s) | Chicago, IL (private) White House, Washington, D.C. (official) |
Alma mater | Princeton University, (A.B.) Harvard Law School, (J.D.) |
Profession | Lawyer |
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is the wife of the forty-fourth President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States.
Michelle Robinson was born and grew up on the South Side of Chicago and graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. After completing her formal education, she returned to Chicago and accepted a position with the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband. Subsequently, she worked as part of the staff of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, and for the University of Chicago Medical Center. Throughout 2007 and 2008, she helped campaign for her husband's presidential bid and delivered a keynote address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She is the mother of two daughters, Sasha and Malia, and is the sister of Craig Robinson, men's basketball coach at Oregon State University.
Family and education
- See also: Michelle Robinson's family tree
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois to Fraser Robinson III,[1] a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain, and Marian Shields Robinson, a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store.[2] Her mother stayed at home until Michelle entered high school.[3]
The Robinson family can trace their roots to pre-Civil War African Americans in the American South; her paternal great-great grandfather, Jim Robinson, was an American slave in the state of South Carolina,[4][5] where some of her family still reside.[6][7] She grew up on Euclid Avenue in the South Shore community area of Chicago.[2][8][9] [10] The family ate meals together and also entertained together as a family by playing games such as Monopoly and by reading.[11] She and her brother, Craig (who is 21 months older), skipped the second grade. By sixth grade, Michelle joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy).[12] She attended Whitney Young High School, Chicago's first magnet high school, where she was on the honor roll four years, took advanced placement classes, was a member of the National Honor Society and served as student council treasurer.[2] The round trip commute from her South Side home to the Near West Side took three hours.[13] She was a high school classmate of Santita Jackson, the daughter of Jesse Jackson and sister of Jesse Jackson, Jr.[11] She graduated from high school in 1981 as salutatorian,[13][14] and went on to major in sociology and minor in African American studies at Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985.[2][15]
She was inspired to follow her brother to Princeton because he had shown her it was possible;[3] he graduated in 1983. At Princeton, she challenged the teaching methodology for French because she felt that it should be more conversational.[16] As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a thesis entitled, "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community."[17] "I remember being shocked," she says, "by college students who drove BMWs. I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs."[13] She obtained her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.[18] While at Harvard, she participated in political demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who are members of minorities.[19] She is the third First Lady with a postgraduate degree, following Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush.[20] In July 2008, Obama accepted the invitation to become an honorary member of the 100-year-old black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, which had no active undergraduate chapter at Princeton when she attended.[21]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Barack_Michelle.jpg/220px-Barack_Michelle.jpg)
She met Barack Obama when they were among very few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin, (she has sometimes said only two, although others have pointed out there were others in different departments)[22] and she was assigned to mentor him while he was a summer associate.[23] Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her.[24] The couple's first date was to the Spike Lee movie Do the Right Thing.[25] The couple married in October 1992,[24] and they have two daughters, Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha) (born 2001).[26] After his election to the U.S. Senate, the Obama family continued to live on Chicago's South Side, choosing to remain there rather than moving to Washington, D.C. Throughout her husband's 2008 campaign for President of the United States, she made a "commitment to be away overnight only once a week—to campaign only two days a week and be home by the end of the second day" for their two children.[27] She is the sister of Craig Robinson, men's basketball coach at Oregon State University. She is the first cousin, once removed, of Rabbi Capers C. Funnye Jr., one of the country’s most prominent black rabbis.
She once requested that Barack, who was then her fiancé, meet her prospective boss, Valerie Jarrett, when considering her first career move.[10] Now, Jarrett is one of her husband’s closest advisors.[28][29] The marital relationship has had its ebbs and flows. The combination of an evolving family life and beginning political career led to many arguments about balancing work and family. Barack wrote in his second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance".[30] However, despite their family obligations and careers, they continue to attempt to schedule date nights.[31]
The Obamas' daughters attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a private school.[32] As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in the school when other board members connected with the University of Chicago tried to reserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school.[3] The Obamas' daughters now attend Sidwell Friends School in Washington after also considering Georgetown Day School.[33][34] She stated in an interview on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show that the couple does not intend to have any more children.[35] They have received advice from past first ladies Laura Bush, Rosalyn Carter and Hillary Rodham Clinton about raising children in the White House.[34] Marian Robinson has moved into the White House to assist with child care.[36]
Career
Following law school, she was an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley Austin, where she first met her future husband. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property.[2] Subsequently, she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an Assistant to the Mayor, and as Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies.[14] She worked there nearly four years and set fundraising records for the organization that still stood a dozen years after she left.[11]
In 1996, she served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University's Community Service Center.[37] In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and, beginning May 2005, as Vice President for Community and External Affairs.[38] She continued to hold the University of Chicago Hospitals position during the primary campaign, but cut back to part time in order to spend time with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election;[39] she subsequently took a leave of absence from her job.[40] According to the couple’s 2006 income tax return, Michelle's salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband had a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate. The total Obama income, however, was $991,296 which included $51,200 she earned as a member of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods, and investments and royalties from his books.[41]
She served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS),[42] a major Wal-Mart supplier with whom she cut ties immediately after her husband made comments critical of Wal-Mart at an AFL-CIO forum in Template:City-state, on May 14, 2007.[43] She serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.[44]
2008 Presidential election
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Michelle%2C_Oprah_Winfrey_and_Barack_Obama.jpg/220px-Michelle%2C_Oprah_Winfrey_and_Barack_Obama.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/20080603_Victory_Fist_Pound.jpg/220px-20080603_Victory_Fist_Pound.jpg)
Although Obama has campaigned on her husband's behalf since early in his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish the activity at first. When she campaigned during her husband's 2000 run for U.S. House of Representatives, her boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied visiting so many living rooms had given her some new decorating ideas.[45]
At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters.[46] She says that she negotiated an agreement in which her husband gave up smoking in exchange for her support of his decision to run.[47] About her role in her husband's presidential campaign she has said: "My job is not a senior adviser."[28][48][49] During the campaign, she has discussed race and education by using motherhood as a framework.[16]
In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, she reduced her professional responsibilities by eighty percent to support his presidential campaign.[10] Early in the campaign, she had limited involvement in which she traveled to political events only two days a week and traveled overnight only if their daughters could come along;[1] by early February 2008 her participation had increased significantly, attending thirty-three events in eight days.[29] She made several campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey.[50][51] She wrote her own stump speeches for her husband's presidential campaign and generally spoke without notes.[13]
Throughout the campaign, the media often labeled her as an "angry black woman,"[52][53][54] and some websites attempted to propagate this perception,[55] causing her to respond: "Barack and I have been in the public eye for many years now, and we've developed a thick skin along the way. When you’re out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just take it in stride, and at the end of the day, I know that it comes with the territory."[56] By the time of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of the race, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows like The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal rather than appearing on news programs. The change was even reflected in her fashion choices, wearing more informal clothes in place of her previous designer pieces.[45] The View appearance was partly intended to help soften the perception of her,[52] and it was widely-covered in the press.[57]
The presidential campaign was her first exposure to the national political scene and even before the field of Democratic candidates was narrowed to two she was considered the least famous of the candidates' spouses.[48] Early in the campaign, she told anecdotes about the Obama family life; however, as the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned it down.[41][47] New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:
I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as a mere mortal—comic routine that rests on the presumption that we see him as a god ... But it may not be smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Ford, toasting his own English muffin. If all Senator Obama is peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk this mystique?[48][58]
On February 18, 2008, she commented in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback." Later that evening she reworded her stump speech in Madison, Wisconsin, saying "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."[59] Several commentators criticized her remarks,[60] and the campaign issued a statement that "anyone who heard her remarks ... would understand that she was commenting on our politics."[61] In June 2008, First Lady Laura Bush commented on the controversial words: "I think she probably meant I'm 'more proud,' you know, is what she really meant," adding, "I mean, I know that, and that's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president and for being the spouse of the president, and that is, everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued."[62]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Obamas_and_Bidens.jpg/220px-Obamas_and_Bidens.jpg)
Asked in February 2008 whether she could see herself "working to support" Hillary Rodham Clinton if she got the nomination, she said "I'd have to think about that. I'd have to think about policies, her approach, her tone." But when questioned about this by the interviewer, she stated "You know, everyone in this party is going to work hard for whoever the nominee is."[63] Despite her criticisms of Clinton during the 2008 campaign, when asked in 2004 which political spouse she admired, she had cited Hillary Clinton, stating, "She is smart and gracious and everything she appears to be in public—someone who's managed to raise what appears to be a solid, grounded child."[64]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Michelle_Obama_DNC_2008.jpg/220px-Michelle_Obama_DNC_2008.jpg)
On the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Craig Robinson introduced his younger sister.[65] She delivered the her speech, during which she sought to portray herself and her family as the embodiment of the American Dream.[66] Obama said both she and her husband believed "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."[67] She also emphasized loving her country, in response to criticism for her previous statements about feeling proud of her country for the first time.[66][68][69]
That keynote address was largely well received and drew mostly positive reviews.[70] A Rasmussen Reports poll found that her favorability among Americans reached 55%.[71] Political commentator Andrew Sullivan described the speech as "one of the best, most moving, intimate, rousing, humble, and beautiful speeches I've heard from a convention platform."[72] The speech made Juan Williams tear up over the thought of the significance of her presentation as a representative of Black America.[73] A pair of articles in the National Review, including one by Byron York, however, noted that although the speech presented America as the land of opportunity, it conflicted with her campaign trail speeches that described dark aspects of the country.[74][75]
On an October 6, 2008 broadcast, Larry King asked her if the American electorate was past the Bradley effect. She stated that Barack's achievement of the nomination was a fairly strong indicator that it was.[76] The same night she also was interviewed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show where she deflected criticism of her husband and his campaign.[77]
On E. D. Hill's Fox News show America's Pulse, Hill referred to the fist bump shared by the Obamas on the night that he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination as a "terrorist fist jab."[78] In June 2008, Hill was removed from her duties on the specific show, which was then canceled.[79][80]
First Lady of the United States
Style and fashion sense
With the ascent of her husband as a prominent national politician, Michelle Obama, like all other first ladies, has become a part of popular culture. In May 2006, Essence magazine listed her among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women."[81][82] In July 2007, Vanity Fair magazine listed her among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People." She was an honorary guest at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball as an "young'un" paying tribute to the 'Legends,' which helped pave the way for African American Women. In September 2007, 02138 magazine listed her 58th of 'The Harvard 100'; a list of the prior year's most influential Harvard alumni. Her husband was ranked fourth.[81][83] In July 2008, she made a repeat appearance on the Vanity Fair international best dressed list.[84] She also appeared on the 2008 People list of best-dressed women and was praised by the magazine for her "classic and confident" look.[85][86]
As a high-profile darker-complected woman in a stable marriage, it is anticipated that she will be a positive role model who will influence the view the world has of African-Americans.[87][88] Her fashion choices were part of Fashion week,[89] but Obama's influence in the field has not impacted the paucity of African-American models who participate, as some thought it might.[90][91] However, fitness trainers are noting that many women now aspire to have biceps and triceps like Obama.[92]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Barack_and_Michelle_Obama_at_the_Home_States_Ball.jpg/220px-Barack_and_Michelle_Obama_at_the_Home_States_Ball.jpg)
She has been compared to Jacqueline Kennedy due to her sleek but not overdone style,[84] and also to Barbara Bush for her discipline and decorum.[93][94] Her white, one-shoulder Jason Wu 2009 inaugural gown was said to be "an unlikely combination of Nancy Reagan and Jackie Kennedy".[95][96] Obama's style is described as populist.[20] She often wears clothes by designers Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Isabel Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez, Donna Ricco and Maria Pinto,[97] and has become a fashion trendsetter,[98][99] despite the country's economic woes.[100]
She appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in the March 2009 issue of Vogue.[101][102] Every First Lady since Lou Hoover (except Bess Truman) has been in Vogue,[101] but only Hillary Clinton had previously appeared on the cover.[103]
A desire has arisen among some[who?] that the media should focus more on the first lady's serious contributions rather than her fashion sense.[20][104] She has stated that she would like to focus attention as First Lady on issues of concern to military families and working families.[87][105][106] However, U.S.News & World Report blogger, PBS host and Scripps Howard columnist Bonnie Erbe has pointed out that her own publicists seem to be feeding the emphasis on style over substance.[107] Erbe has noted on several occasions that she is miscasting herself by overemphasizing style.[36][108]
Michelle Obama's arms
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Barack_and_Michelle_Obama_at_the_Home_States_Ball.jpg/250px-Barack_and_Michelle_Obama_at_the_Home_States_Ball.jpg)
Michelle Obama's arms are notable enough to have received much national media attention. In March 2009, the Boston Globe compared the notability of Obama's arms to that of the mortgage crisis and the high rate of unemployment. [109]
According to CNN, there are blogs which file daily reports on Obama's clothing choices. She appeared sleeveless on the covers of People magazine and Vogue magazine, as well as at the president's joint session of Congress. CNN reported that Obama's arms have become a "trademark" and "a source of inspiration for some women." [110]
The Chicago Sun-Times, the Seattle Times, and CNN have all published separate articles with exercise advice on how readers could get their arms to resemble Obama's. [111][112][110]
The New York Times compared the fashion notability of Obama's bare arms to that of Nancy Reagan's spangled ballgowns and Barbara Bush's fake pearls. [113]
The Washington Post wrote of Obama's arms: "When she bounded onto the stage in her sleeveless dresses, with her muscular post-Title IX arms in full view, the definition of a strong woman changed." [114]
The Chicago Tribune wrote that Obama's arms have "nicely toned biceps and triceps." [115]
MSNBC wrote of Obama's arms: "In modern times when we are dealing with headlines about obesity epidemics to anorexic models on the runway -- a first lady who is fit, healthy, active and takes pride in working out should be a role model." [116]
Obama's arms appear in her official White House portrait. [117]
Controversy over her arms
It has been suggested that Obama's arms have too much muscle and not enough fat, although it has also been acknowledged that what constitutes these things is a matter of personal opinion. [118]
The Los Angeles Times wrote that Obama's arms may be "intimidating and unsettling to some who are used to seeing first ladies more covered up." [118]
Obama has also been criticized for going sleeveless during subzero temperatures in the middle of winter. [110]
Obama's bare arms have been criticized for allegedly being too informal during serious events. [119]
Galleries of her arms
- Gallery of Michelle Obama's arms at the Chicago Sun-Times
- A different gallery of Michelle Obama's arms at Essence magazine
Work undertaken and causes promoted
During her early months as First Lady, she has frequently visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens.[120] She has also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service.[120][121] On her first trip abroad in April 2009, she toured a cancer ward with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.[122] She has began advocating on behalf of military families.[123] Like her predecessors Clinton and Bush, who supported the organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food, Obama has received attention by planting an organic garden and installing bee hives on the South Lawn of the White House, which will supply organic produce and honey to the First Family and for state dinners and other official gatherings.[124][125]
Obama has become an advocate of her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. Following the enactment of the Pay equity law, Obama hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration. She has pronounced her support for the economic stimulus bill in visits to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Department of Education. Some observers have looked favorably upon Mrs. Obama's legislative activities, while others feel that she should be less involved in the intense politics. According to her representatives, she intends to visit all United States Cabinet-level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington.[126]
She has gained growing public support in her early months as first lady.[120][127] She is notable for her support from military families and some Republicans.[120][123] As the public is growing accustomed to her, she is becoming more accepted as a role model.[120] Newsweek described her first trip abroad as an exhibition of her so-called "star power"[127] and MSN described it as an display of sartorial elegance.[82] There were questions raised in the American and British media regarding protocol when the Obamas met Queen Elizabeth II,[128] and Michelle reciprocated a touch on her back by the Queen during a reception, against traditional royal etiquette.[128][129] Palace sources denied that any breach in etiquette had occurred.[130]
References
- ^ a b White, Deborah. "Michelle Obama, Married to President Barack Obama". U.S. liberal politics. About.com. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ a b c d e Rossi, Rosalind (January 20, 2007). "The woman behind Obama". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ a b c Slevin, Peter (March 18, 2009). "Mrs. Obama goes to Washington". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 109 (10): 18–22.
- ^ Murray, Shailagh (October 2, 2008). "A Family Tree Rooted In American Soil: Michelle Obama Learns About Her Slave Ancestors, Herself and Her Country". The Washington Post. p. C01. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ Bone, James (November 6, 2008). "From slave cabin to White House, a family rooted in black America". The Times. London. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ Levinson, Molly (June 4, 2008). "Michelle: Barack's bitter or better half?". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Norris, Michele (July 9, 2007). "Spouses on the Campaign Trail: Michelle Obama Sees Election as Test for America". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- ^ Finnegan, William (May 31, 2004). "The Candidate: How the Son of a Kenyan Economist Became an Illinois Everyman". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
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(help) - ^ Pickert, Kate (October 13, 2008). "Michelle Obama, A Life". Time. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ a b c Bennetts, Leslie (December 27, 2007). "First Lady in waiting". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ a b c Newton-Small, Jay (August 25, 2008). "Michelle Obama's Savvy Sacrifice". Time. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
- ^ Ross, Rosalind (November 10, 2008). "Kids at Michelle Obama's old school see reflection". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Rebecca (2007). "The natural". Vogue. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (help) - ^ a b "Her Plan Went Awry, but Michelle Obama Doesn't Mind". Chicago Tribune. September 1, 2004.[dead link]
- ^ "Academic Departments & Programs". The Trustees of Princeton University. 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ^ a b Klein, Sarah A. (May 5, 2008). "Focus: Women to Watch: Michelle Obama". ChicagoBusiness. Crain Communications, Inc. p. 29.
- ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (February 22, 2008). "Michelle Obama thesis was on racial divide". Politico.com. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- ^ Brown, Sarah (December 7, 2005). "Obama '85 Masters Balancing Act". Daily Princetonian. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- ^ Wolffe, Richard (February 25, 2008). "Barack's Rock". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
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(help) - ^ a b c Connolly, Katie (November 29, 2008). "Very Little in Common But That 'O'". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ^ Bogues, Austin (July 14, 2008). "Sorority Celebrates Michelle Obama's Acceptance". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
- ^ Mundy, Liza (October 5, 2008). "When Michelle Met Barack". The Washington Post Magazine. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Kornblut, Anne E. (May 11, 2007). "Michelle Obama's Career Timeout". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ a b Fornek, Scott (October 3, 2007). "Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
- ^ "50 things you didn't know about Michelle Obama". IMDb.com, Inc. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ Springen, Karen and Darman, Jonathan (January 29, 2007). "Ground Support". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Piasecki, Joe (June 5, 2008). "Mother, wife, superstar". Pasadena Weekly. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- ^ a b Roberts, Robin (May 22, 2007). "Michelle Obama: 'I've Got a Loud Mouth'". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ a b Langley, Monica (February 11, 2008). "Michelle Obama Solidifies Her Role". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ Herrmann, Andrew (October 19, 2006). "Fame puts squeeze on family life: Many hurdles as Obamas seek balance". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ Bedard, Paul (November 21, 2008). "Whispers Poll: President-Elect Obama and Michelle Obama's Date Night". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Loh, Sandra Tsing (September 9, 2008). "The Rantings of a P.T.A. Mom". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Leiby, Richard L (November 22, 2008). "Obama Girls Will Go To Sidwell Friends: Elite Private School Is 'Best Fit' for Next First Family". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ a b Smalley, Suzanne (November 22, 2008). "Just One More Frame!: How do you raise kids in the White House and 'keep them normal,' too?". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ^ Zeleny, Jeff (September 4, 2008). "Michelle Obama: 'I'm Done'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ a b Erbe, Bonnie (November 7, 2008). "Michelle Obama Slights Working Women". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ "Obama named first Associate Dean of Student Services". University of Chicago Chronicle. 15 (19). June 6, 1996. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Michelle Obama appointed vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals" (Press release). University of Chicago Medical Center. May 9, 2005. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Snow, Kate (January 24, 2008). "Michelle Obama: Mom First, Politics Second". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ St. Clair, Stacy (November 8, 2008). "Michelle Obama blazes a new trail". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
- ^ a b Keen, Judy (May 12, 2007). "Michelle Obama: Campaigning her way". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Board of Directors: Michelle Obama". TreeHouse Foods. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Sweet, Lynn (May 22, 2007). "Sweet Column: Michelle Obama Quits Board of Wal-Mart Supplier". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Directors". Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ a b Kantor, Jodi (August 25, 2008). "Michelle Obama, reluctant no more". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ "Michelle Obama". The New York Times. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ a b Langley, Monica (February 11, 2008). "Michelle Obama on Campaign, Family". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ a b c Zakin, Carly (July 30, 2007). "Michelle Obama plays unique role in campaign". MSNBC. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Michelle Obama: I'm his wife, not adviser". Sioux City Journal. May 22, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ^ Marinucci, Carla; Wildermuth, John; Chronicle Political Writers (February 7, 2008). "Millions of cell calls for Clinton Big effort to contact list of likely backers gave her the state". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kornblut, Anne E. & Murray, Shailagh (December 19, 2007). "'I'm Tired of Politics as Usual'; Oprah Winfrey Makes Her Case for Sen. Obama's Presidential Candidacy". The Washington Post. p. A1.
{{cite news}}
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(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Powell, Michael and Jodi Kantor (June 18, 2008). "After Attacks, Michelle Obama Looks for a New Introduction". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Mann, Jonathan (May 23, 2008). "A First Lady of a different kind". CNN. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Transcript: 'FOX News Watch', June 14, 2008". Fox News. June 16, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Dowd, Maureen (June 11, 2008). "Mincing Up Michelle". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "20 Questions with Michelle Obama". momlogic.com. July 31, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Stanley, Alessandra (June 19, 2008). "Michelle Obama Shows Her Warmer Side on 'The View'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Dowd, Maureen (April 25, 2007). "She's Not Buttering Him Up". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ Tapper, Jake (February 18, 2008). "Michelle Obama: "For the First Time in My Adult Lifetime, I'm Really Proud of My Country"". Political Punch. ABC News. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ^ Associated Press (February 2, 2008). "Michelle Obama Explains Pride Remark". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ^ Halperin, Mark (February 20, 2008). "Obama's Chief Strategist David Axelrod on Michelle Obama's Remarks". Time. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ^ "Laura Bush Defends Michelle Obama Against Patriotism Attack". The Huffington Post. June 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ Koppelman, Alex (February 4, 2008). "War Room: If Clinton gets the nomination, would Michelle Obama support her?". Salon.com. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- ^ Springen, Karen (October 2004). "First Lady in waiting". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- ^ Halperin, Mark (August 2008). "Scorecard: First-Night Speeches: Craig Robinson: Grade: B+". Time. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ a b Nagourney, Adam (August 26, 2008). "Appeals evoking American Dream rally Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ Naylor, Brian (August 26, 2008). "Interpreting Michelle Obama's speech". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Pallasch, Abdon M. (August 26, 2008). "Michelle Obama celebrates Chicago roots". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
- ^ Helman, Scott (August 26, 2008). "Reaching back to her Chicago roots, Obama tells an American story". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ Suellentrop, Chris (August 25, 2008). "Michelle Obama's high note". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ "Michelle Obama Favorable Rating Reaches Highest Level Ever". Rasmussen Reports. August 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ Sullivan, Andrew (August 25, 2008). "Wow". The Daily Dish. The Atlantic Monthly. Retrieved 008-08-27.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Khanna, Satyam (August 26, 2008). "Juan Williams tears up after Michelle Obama speech: 'It's unbelievable'". ThinkProgress.org. Center for American Progress Action Fund. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ York, Byron (August 26, 2008). "Michelle Obama's Two Americas". National Review. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ "Last Night, the Obama Campaign Conceded Michelle's Old Rhetoric Won't Sell". National Review. August 26, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Blow, Charles M. (October 9, 2008). "Are We Past The 'Bradley Effect'?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (October 9, 2008). "Michelle Obama Dismisses Criticisms". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "Fox refers to Michelle Obama as 'baby mama': TV graphic read: 'Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama's baby mama'". MSNBC. June 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Spillius, Alex (June 13, 2008). "Fox News presenter taken off air after Barack Obama 'terrorist fist jab' remark". The Daily Telegraph. U.K. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Cloud, John (2008). "4. Fist bump". Time. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ a b "Michelle Obama". Biography.com. A&E Network. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ a b O'Neil, Nicole (2009). "First Lady style: Michelle Obama". U.K. MSN. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "The Harvard 100". 02138. 2007.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (help) - ^ a b "Michelle Obama makes best-dressed list: For the second year in a row, Obama's style puts her on Vanity Fair's list". MSNBC. July 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "Michelle Obama among 10 best dressed women: People magazine". The Economic Times. India. September 18, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "Michelle Obama, Rihanna Named To People's Best Dressed List". Access Hollywood. September 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ a b Samuels, Allison (November 22, 2008). "What Michelle Means to Us: We've never had a First Lady quite like Michelle Obama. How she'll change the world's image of African-American women—and the way we see ourselves". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ^ Fiori, Pamela (February 2009). "She's Got It!". Town & Country. pp. 78–83. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Von Glinow, Kiki (2009-03-09). "The New Black". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Soller, Kurt (2009-02-18). "Is Michelle Obama Diversifying Model Portfolios? Not So Much". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Trebay, Guy (2009-02-13). "Has the 'Obama Effect' Come to Runway Castings?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Robbins, Liz (2009-03-18). "She's Pumped. Your Turn". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Trebay, Guy (June 8, 2008). "She Dresses to Win". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Springen, Karen and Jonathan Darman (January 29, 2007). "Ground Support: Michelle Obama Has Seemed Ambivalent About Barack's'08 Run. But She's Provided The Entree For Him To Give It A Go". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ The New York Post. January 21, 2009 http://www.nypost.com/seven/01212009/news/politics/michelle_in_a_hue_turn_151202.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Soller, Kurt (December 2, 2008). "Feedback: Fashion First Ladies". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ^ "Michelle Obama's Winning Style". In Style. November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
- ^ Kroll, Betsy (December 2008). "6. Michelle Obama's $148 Dress". Time. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ Zimbalist, Kristina (October 31, 2008). "Purple Reign". Time. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ Roberts, Johnnie L. (November 29, 2008). "Luxury Shame: Why even the very rich are cutting back on conspicuous consumption". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ^ a b "Michelle Obama graces cover of Vogue magazine". Thompson Reuters. February 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Michelle Obama makes Vogue cover". BBC. February 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ Tschorn, Adam (February 11, 2009). "All the Rage: The Image Staff Muses On The Culture of Keeping Up Appearance in Hollywood and Beyond". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ Felchner, Morgan E. (November 14, 2008). "For Mom-in-Chief Michelle Obama and Women Everywhere, It's About Choice". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Obama, Michelle (October 17, 2008). "Michelle Obama: As Barack's First Lady, I Would Work to Help Working Families and Military Families". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Klaidman, Daniel (November 22, 2008). "The Editor's Desk". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ^ Erbe, Bonnie (November 13, 2008). "Michelle Obama Is Making Herself a Stay-at-Home Mom, Not the Media". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Erbe, Bonnie (November 6, 2008). "Barack and Michelle Obama Sound Tone-Deaf on Women's Issues". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Michelle Obama's right to bare arms, The Boston Globe, March 19, 2009
- ^ a b c How to get Michelle Obama's toned arms, CNN
- ^ Strong-arm tactics: First Lady of Fitness: Michelle Obama's guns inspire workouts, Chicago Sun-Times, March 10, 2009
- ^ How to get Michelle Obama's toned arms, The Seattle Times, March 25, 2009 (This is a different article than the CNN article of the same name)
- ^ Michelle Obama Goes Sleeveless, Again, The New York Times, February 25, 2009
- ^ All Hail the Leader of the Fashionable World, The Washington Post, January 21, 2009
- ^ Michelle Obama and our buff-arm fetish, The Chicago Tribune, February 26, 2009
- ^ Michelle Obama: The right to bare arms, MSNBC, February 25, 2009
- ^ Michelle Obama bares arms in official White House portrait, Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2009
- ^ a b Michelle Obama's toned arms are debated, Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2009
- ^ Obama's Choice to Bare Arms Causes Uproar, ABC News, March 2, 2009
- ^ a b c d e Romano, Lois (March 31, 2009). "Michelle's Image: From Off-Putting To Spot-On". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ Alter, Jonathan (2009-03-07). "An Army Of Changemakers". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ Scherer, Michael (April 2, 2009). "Michelle Obama Finds Her Role on the World Stage". Time. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ a b Walsh, Kenneth T. (2009-03-26). "Michelle Obama Makes Military Families Her Mission: The first lady is often moved by accounts of personal sacrifice by service families". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Bedard, Paul (2009-03-28). "Michelle Obama Goes Organic and Brings in the Bees". U.S.News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Black, Jane (2009-03-20). "Shovel-Ready Project: A White House Garden". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
- ^ Swarns, Rachel L. (2009-02-07). "'Mom in Chief' Touches on Policy; Tongues Wag". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ a b Stone, Daniel (April 3, 2009). "Mixed Review". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ a b Chua-Eoan, Howard (April 1, 2009). "The Queen and Mrs. Obama: A Breach in Protocol". Time. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ Bailey, Holly (April 2, 2009). "Touch Her... If You Dare". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ Bailey, Holly (April 1, 2009). "G-20 Gossip: No Touching, Please". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
Further reading
- David Colbert (December 2008). Michelle Obama, An American Story. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0547247702.
- Elizabeth Lightfoot (December 2008). Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1599215217.
- Liza Mundy (October 2008). Michelle Obama, A Life. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416599436.
External links
- First Lady Michelle Obama, Whitehouse.gov
- "Meet Michelle", biographical entry at BarackObama.com
- "Michelle Obama On Love, Family & Politics", interview with Katie Couric of CBS News.
- Photoessay in Newsweek
- Archive at The New York Times
- Archive at U.S.News & World Report