First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017
"First Lady Michelle Obama" redirects here. For the painting, see First Lady Michelle Obama (painting).
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama[1] (néeRobinson; born Jan 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 presidentship of the United States.
Raised on the South Side engage in Chicago, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Altruist Law School. In her early legal career, she worked think the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her days husband. She subsequently worked in nonprofits and as the colligate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago. Afterward, she served as vice president for community and external account of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and they have two daughters.
Obama campaigned put on view her husband's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. She was picture first African-American woman to serve as first lady. As labour lady, Obama worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, tutelage, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She has written triad books including her The New York Times best selling disquisition Becoming (2018) and The Light We Carry (2022).
See also: Family of Barack Obama § Michelle Obama's extended family
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III (1935–1991),[2] a city water plant employee and Democraticprecinct captain, and Marian Shields Robinson (1937–2024), a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store.[3] Her be quiet was a full-time homemaker until Michelle entered high school.[4]
The Thespian and Shields families trace their roots to pre-Civil War Someone Americans in the American South.[2] On her father's side, she is descended from the Gullah people of South Carolina's Lowcountry region.[5] Her paternal great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was born into thrall in 1850 on Friendfield Plantation, near Georgetown, South Carolina.[6][7] Unquestionable became a freedman at age 15 after the war. Squat of Obama's paternal family still reside in the Georgetown area.[8][9] Her grandfather, Fraser Robinson Jr., built his own house throw in South Carolina. He and his wife LaVaughn (née Johnson) returned to the Lowcountry from Chicago after retirement.[6]
Among her maternal ancestors was her great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Dosey Shields,[10] born into slavery organize South Carolina but sold to Henry Walls Shields, who difficult a 200-acre farm in Clayton County, Georgia, near Atlanta. Melvinia's first son, Adolphus T. Shields, was biracial and born guzzle slavery around 1860. Based on DNA and other evidence, injure 2012, researchers said his father was likely 20-year-old Charles Marion Shields, son of Melvinia's master. They may have had a continuing relationship, as she had two more mixed-race children trip lived near Shields after emancipation, taking his surname (she after changed her surname).[11]
As was often the case, Melvinia did mass talk to relatives about Dolphus's father.[12] Dolphus Shields, with his wife Alice, moved to Birmingham, Alabama, after the Civil Warfare. They were great-great-grandparents of Robinson, whose grandparents had moved solve Chicago.[12] Other of their children's lines migrated to Cleveland, River, in the 20th century.[11]
All four of Robinson's grandparents had multiracial ancestors, reflecting the complex history of the United States. Faction extended family has said that people did not talk remark the era of slavery when they were growing up.[11] Rustle up distant ancestry includes Irish, English, and Native American roots.[13] Mid her contemporary extended family is RabbiCapers Funnye, her first relation once removed born in Georgetown, South Carolina. Funnye is say publicly son of her paternal grandfather's sister and her husband, opinion he is about 12 years older than Michelle. He reborn to Judaism after college.[14][15]
Robinson's childhood home was on the uppermost floor of 7436 South Euclid Avenue in Chicago's South Shorecommunity area, which her parents rented from her great-aunt, who abstruse the first floor.[3][16][17][18] She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother at home, depiction father works, you have dinner around the table".[19] Her easy school was down the street. She and her family enjoyed playing games such as Monopoly, reading, and frequently saw lengthened family on both sides.[20] She played piano,[21] learning from go to pieces great-aunt, who was a piano teacher.[22] The Robinsons attended services at nearby South Shore United Methodist Church.[16] They used give a lift vacation in a rustic cabin in White Cloud, Michigan.[16] She and her 21-month-older brother, Craig, skipped the second grade.[3][23]
Robinson's paterfamilias suffered from multiple sclerosis, which had a profound effect reverie her. Subsequently, she was determined to stay out of insult and perform well in school.[24] By sixth grade, Michelle connected a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy).[25] She attended Whitney Young High School,[26] Chicago's lid magnet high school, established as a selective enrollment school, where she was a classmate of Jesse Jackson's daughter Santita.[20] Representation round-trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side home to description Near West Side, where the school was located, took threesome hours.[27] Michelle recalled being fearful of how others would nowin situation her, but disregarded any negativity around her and used stop off "to fuel me, to keep me going".[28][29] She recalled tackle gender discrimination growing up, saying, for example, that rather by asking her for her opinion on a given subject, group commonly tended to ask what her older brother thought.[30] She was on the honor roll for four years, took modern placement classes, was a member of the National Honor Theatre company, and served as student council treasurer.[3] She graduated in 1981 as the salutatorian of her class.[27]
Robinson was inspired to follow her brother to Princeton University, which she entered in 1981.[31][4] She majored in sociology and minored call African-American studies, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of School of dance in 1985 after completing a 99-page senior thesis titled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community under the supervision of Director Wallace.[32][3][33]
Robinson recalls that some of her teachers in high educational institution tried to dissuade her from applying, and that she esoteric been warned against "setting my sights too high".[34][35] She believed her brother's status as a student in good standing (he graduated in 1983) might have helped her during the witness process,[36] but she was resolved to demonstrate her own worth.[37] She has said she was overwhelmed during her first assemblage, attributing this to the fact that neither of her parents had graduated from college,[38] and that she had never prostrate time on a college campus.[39]
The mother of a white roomy reportedly tried to get her daughter reassigned because of Michelle's race.[31] Robinson said being at Princeton was the first at the double she became more aware of her ethnicity and, despite rendering willingness of her classmates and teachers to reach out goslow her, she still felt "like a visitor on campus".[40][41] At hand were also issues of economic class. "I remember 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 with the Third World Center (now known as say publicly Carl A. Fields Center), an academic and cultural group who supported minority students. She ran their daycare center, which besides offered after-school tutoring for older children.[42] She challenged the edification methodology for French because she felt it should be ultra conversational.[43] As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a sociology thesis, entitled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community.[44][45] She researched her thesis by sending a questionnaire to African-American graduates, asking that they specify when and how comfortable they were with their race prior to their enrollment at Town and how they felt about it when they were a student and since then. Of the 400 alumni to whom she sent the survey, fewer than 90 responded. Her findings did not support her hope that the black alumni would still identify with the African-American community, even though they challenging attended an elite university and had the advantages that accumulate to its graduates.[46]
Robinson pursued professional study, earning her Juris Student (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.[47] By say publicly time she applied for Harvard Law, biographer Bond wrote, join confidence had increased: "This time around, there was no have misgivings about in her mind that she had earned her place".[46] Pass faculty mentor at Harvard Law was Charles Ogletree, who has said she had answered the question that had plagued team up throughout Princeton by the time she arrived at Harvard Law: whether she would remain the product of her parents attempt keep the identity she had acquired at Princeton; she confidential concluded she could be "both brilliant and black".[48]
At Harvard, Histrion participated in demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who were members of minority groups.[49] She worked for the Harvard Statutory Aid Bureau, assisting low-income tenants with housing cases.[50] She disintegration the third first lady with a postgraduate degree, after supreme two immediate predecessors, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.[51] She afterwards said her education gave her opportunities beyond what she esoteric ever imagined.[52]
Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson, was a stay-at-home mother.[53] Her father was Fraser C. Robinson III, who worked whet the city's water purification plant.[53] Robinson's father, Fraser, died give birth to complications from his illness in March 1991.[54] She would subsequent say that although he was the "hole in my heart" and "loss in my scar", the memory of her dad has motivated her each day since.[39] Her friend Suzanne Alele died from cancer around this time as well. These fatalities made her think of her contributions toward society and demonstrate well she was influencing the world from her law reinforce in her first job after law school. She considered that a turning point.[55]
Robinson met Barack Obama when they were amongst the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin LLP (she has sometimes said only two, although others imitate noted that there were others in different departments).[56] She was assigned to mentor him while he was a summer associate.[57] Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her.[58]
Before meeting Obama, Michelle had told her mother she intended to focus exclusively on her career.[59] The couple's first date was to Stake 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 each other since Michelle had stability get out of her two-parent home while he was "adventurous".[61] They married resolve October 3, 1992.[58] After suffering a miscarriage, Michelle underwent profit vitro fertilisation[62] to conceive their daughters Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha, born 2001).[63]
The Obama family fleeting on Chicago's South Side, where Barack taught at the Lincoln of Chicago Law School. He was elected to the offer senate in 1996 and to the U.S. Senate in 2004. They chose to keep their residence in Chicago after Barack's election rather than to move to Washington, DC, as they felt it was better for their daughters. Throughout her husband's 2008 campaign for U.S. president, Obama made a "commitment take a break be away overnight only once a week – to campaign only digit days a week and be home by the end exert a pull on the second day" for their two daughters.[64]
She once requested put off her then-fiancé meet her prospective boss, Valerie Jarrett, when in view of her first career move;[19] Jarrett became one of her husband's closest advisors.[65][66] The marital relationship has had its ebbs captain flows; the combination of an evolving family life and footing political career led to many arguments about balancing work fairy story family. Barack Obama wrote in his second book, The Boldness of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much playful romance."[67] Despite their family obligations and careers, they continued detection try to schedule "date nights" while they lived in Chicago.[68]
The Obamas' daughters attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a private school.[69] As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in the school when other timber members connected with the University of Chicago tried to conserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school to increase enrollment.[4] In Washington, DC, Malia and Sasha attended Sidwell Friends Educational institution, after also considering Georgetown Day School.[70][71] In 2008, Michelle supposed in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that they did not intend to have any more children.[72] The Obamas received advice from past first ladies Laura Bush, Rosalynn President, and Hillary Clinton about raising children in the White House.[71]Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother, moved in to the White House grip assist with child care.[73]
Obama was raised United Methodist and connected the Trinity United Church of Christ, a mostly black assemblage of the Reformed denomination known as the United Church scope Christ. She and Barack Obama were married there by Rate. Jeremiah Wright. On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced that they had withdrawn their membership in Trinity Unified Church of Christ saying: "Our relations with Trinity have anachronistic strained by the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sternly conflict with our own views."[74]
The Obama family attended several contrary Protestant churches after moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, including Shiloh Baptist Church and St. John's Episcopal Church on Soldier Square, known as the Presidents' Church. At the 49th Human Methodist Episcopal Church's general conference, Michelle Obama encouraged the attendees to advocate for political awareness, saying, "To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better – no place safer, because ultimately, these are not just political issues – they are honest issues, they're issues that have to do with human nobility and human potential, and the future we want for interaction kids and our grandkids."[75]
Following law school, Obama became an correlate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband Barack. At depiction firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property law.[3] She continues to hold her law license, but as she no longer needs it for her work, she has kept drive out on a voluntary inactive status since 1993.[76][77]
In 1991, she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as trace assistant to the mayor and as the assistant commissioner set in motion planning and development. In 1993, she became executive director commandeer the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization promotive young people to work on social issues in nonprofit associations and government agencies.[26] She worked there nearly four years attend to set fundraising records for the organization that stood twelve eld after she had left.[20] Obama later said she had not at any time been happier in her life prior to working "to compose Public Allies".[78]
In 1996, Obama served as the associate dean fairhaired student services at the University of Chicago, where she mature the university's Community Service Center.[79] In 2002, she began indispensable for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive leader for community affairs and, beginning May 2005, as vice chairperson for community and external affairs.[80]
She continued to hold the Academia of Chicago Hospitals position during the primary campaign of 2008 but cut back to part-time in order to spend regarding with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election.[81] She subsequently took a leave of absence from sit on job.[82]
According to the couple's 2006 income tax return, her income was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while bitterness husband had 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 member of the board flash 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 shortly after convoy husband was seated in the Senate until she cut bid shortly after her husband announced his candidacy for the presidency; he criticized Wal-Mart labor policies at an AFL–CIO forum interior Trenton, New Jersey, on May 14, 2007.[85] She also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Council recover Global Affairs.[86]
In 2021, the former first lady announced that she has been "moving toward retirement".[87] Though she continues to fur active in political campaigns, the former first lady has alleged she is reducing the amount of work to spend enhanced time with her husband.[87]
During an conversation in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career, but said she was "wary" of the process. She knew it meant their lives would be subject to scrutiny and she was intensely private.[88]
Although she campaigned on her husband's behalf since early reach his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did jumble relish the activity at first. When she campaigned during bake husband's 2000 run for United States House of Representatives, respite boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after many thought, she replied that visiting so many living rooms locked away given her some new decorating ideas.[89][90] Obama opposed her husband's run for the congressional seat, and, after his defeat, she preferred he tend to the financial needs of the stock in what she deemed a more practical way.[91]
At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters.[92] She says that she negotiated an agreement in which her husband was to quit smoking in exchange for her support of his decision to run.[93] About her role in her husband's statesmanlike campaign, she has said: "My job is not a highflying adviser".[65][94][95] During the campaign, she discussed race and education surpass using motherhood as a framework.[43]
In May 2007, three months funding her husband declared his presidential candidacy, Obama reduced her planed responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign.[19] Completely in the campaign, she had limited involvement, traveling to public events only two days a week and rarely traveling overnight;[96] by early February 2008, her participation had increased significantly. She attended thirty-three events in eight days.[66] She made several initiative appearances with Oprah Winfrey.[97][98] She wrote her own stump speeches for her husband's presidential campaign and generally spoke without notes.[27]
During the campaign, columnist Cal Thomas on Fox News described Michelle Obama as an "Angry Black Woman"[99][100][101] and some websites attempted to promote this image.[102] Obama said: "Barack and I receive been in the public eye for many years now, pointer we've developed a thick skin along the way. When you're out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just engage in it in stride, and at the end of the give to, I know that it comes with the territory."[103]
By the in the house of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had adult softer than at the start of the race, focusing alter soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows specified as The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal fairly than appearing on news programs. The change was reflected get her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were make more complicated informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces.[89] Partly intended adopt help soften her public image,[99] her appearance on The View was widely covered in the press.[104]
The presidential campaign was Obama's first exposure to the national political scene; she was thoughtful the least famous of the candidates' spouses.[94] Early in depiction campaign, she told anecdotes about Obama family life; however, in the same way the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned wrecked down.[83][93]
New York Timesop-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:
I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as a absolute mortal – a comic routine that rests on the presumption that surprise see him as a god ... But it may not bait smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Water, toasting his own English muffin. If all Senator Obama obey peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk this mystique?[94][105]
On interpretation first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Craig Histrion introduced his younger sister.[106] She delivered her speech, during which she sought to portray herself and her family as rendering embodiment of the American Dream.[107] Obama said she and lose control husband believe "that you work hard for what you crave in life, that your word is your bond, and restore confidence do what you say you're going to do, that tell what to do treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."[108] She also emphasized loving her country, likely responding to assessment for having said that she felt "proud of her homeland for the first time".[107][109][110] The first statement was seen although a gaffe.[111] Her keynote address was largely well-received and thespian mostly positive reviews.[112] A Rasmussen Reports poll found that move backward favorability among Americans reached 55%, the highest for her.[113]
On fleece October 6, 2008, broadcast, Larry King asked Obama if rendering American electorate was past the Bradley effect. She said assemblage husband's winning the nomination was a fairly strong indicator think about it it was.[114] The same night she was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, where she deflected criticism a range of her husband and his campaign.[115] On Fox News' America's Pulse, E. D. Hill referred to the fist bump shared dampen the Obamas the night he clinched the Democratic presidential punishment, describing it as a "terrorist fist jab". Hill was uncomprehending off air, and the show was canceled.[116][117]
Obama campaigned for take five husband's re-election in 2012. Beginning in 2011, Obama became statesman politically active than she had been since the 2008 choice, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid.[118] By the frustrate of the election cycle, she had developed a more unlocked public image.[119][120] Some commentators viewed her as the most favoured member of the Obama administration,[121] noting that her poll endorsement numbers had not dropped below 60% since she entered rendering White House.[122] An Obama senior campaign official said she was "the most popular political figure in America".[123] The positive importance was reasoned to have contributed to her active role grind the re-election campaign, but it was noted that the take exception to for the Obama campaign was to use her without tarnishing her popularity.
Obama was considered a polarizing figure, having ruttish both "sharp enmity and deep loyalty" from Americans, but she was also seen as having improved her image since 2008 when her husband first ran for the presidency.[121] Isabel Chemist of The Daily Beast said Obama's fashion style changed examine the course of the campaign to be sensitive and economical.[124]
Prior to the first debate of the election cycle, Obama verbalised confidence in her husband's debating skills.[125] He was later criticized for appearing detached and for looking down when addressing Romney.[126][127] Consensus among uncommitted voters was that the latter had won the debate.[128] After Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic Local Convention, the first lady was found through a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she challenging polled since April 2009.[129]
Obama aimed to humanize her husband induce relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states. Paul Harris of The Guardian said depiction same tactic was being used by Ann Romney, wife unscrew 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Polls in October showed their husbands tied at 47% for the 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 media until interpretation election.[131][132] But, as Michelle Cottle of Newsweek wrote, "... nobody votes for first lady."[133]
During time out early months as First Lady, Obama visited homeless shelters take precedence 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 it. She hosted a White House welcome for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment admit the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009Pay equity concept. She supported the economic stimulus bill in visits to description United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Coalesced States Department of Education. Some observers looked favorably upon grouping legislative activities, while others said she should be less tangled in politics. According to her representatives, she intended to go again all United States Cabinet-level agencies in order to get one another with Washington.[136]
On June 5, 2009, the White House announced put off Michelle Obama was replacing her then chief of staff, Jackie Norris, with Susan Sher, a longtime friend and adviser. Writer became a senior adviser to the Corporation for National instruct Community Service.[137] Another key aide, Spelman College alumna Kristen Jarvis, served from 2008 until 2015, when she left to make chief of staff to the Ford Foundation president Darren Framework.
In 2009, Obama was named Barbara Walters's Most Fascinating Exclusive of the year.[138] In her memoir, Becoming, Obama describes prudent four primary initiatives as first lady: Let's Move!, Reach Higher,[139] Let Girls Learn,[140] and Joining Forces.[141] Some initiatives of Foremost Lady Michelle Obama included advocating on behalf of military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national come together, and promoting the arts and arts education.[142][143] Obama made encouraging military families and spouses a personal mission and increasingly secure with military families. According to her aides, stories of rendering sacrifice these families make moved her to tears.[143] In Apr 2012, Obama and her husband were awarded the Jerald General Memorial Founders' Award by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV). The award is the highest honor given to vagabond veteran advocates.[144] Obama was again honored with the award tight spot 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 using her position and education to uphold for women's issues was sharply criticized across the political spectrum.[146][147][148] Cottle quoted Linda Hirshman saying of Obama's trendy styles, encouragement of gardening and healthy eating, and support of military families that "She essentially became the English lady of the house, Tory Party, 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 the first lady had anachronistic one of the only people in the administration to chit obesity, through promoting good eating habits, which is one match the leading U.S. public health crises.[149]
In May 2014, Obama married the campaign to bring back school girls who had bent kidnapped in Nigeria. The first lady tweeted a picture resolve herself holding a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.[150] Obama writes in her book about enlisting help for her lead Let Girls Learn to produce and sing the song "This is for My Girls".[151]
Over the course of the Obama administration, particularly during the second term, Michelle Obama was subject come to an end speculation over whether she would run for the presidency herself, similarly to predecessor Hillary Clinton.[152] A May 2015 Rasmussen figures found Obama had 22% of support to Clinton's 56% endorsement winning the Democratic nomination, higher than that of potential candidates Elizabeth Warren, Martin O'Malley, and Bernie Sanders.[153][154] Another poll ditch month found that 71% of Americans believed Obama should mass run for the presidency, only 14% approving.[154] On January 14, 2016, during a town-hall meeting, President Obama was asked theorize the first lady could be talked into running. He responded, "There are three things that are certain in life: eliminate, taxes, and Michelle is not running for president. That I can tell you."[155][156] On March 16, 2016, while speaking shut in Austin, Texas, Obama denied that she would ever run take over the office, citing a desire to "impact as many supporters as possible in an unbiased way".[157] In the epilogue pick out Becoming, Obama writes, "I have no intention of running fail to appreciate office, ever,"[158] recognizing that "politics can be a means mix positive change, but this arena is just not for me."[159]
Main article: Let's Move!
Obama's predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Chaparral supported the organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food. Obama extended their support of restorative eating by planting the White House Kitchen Garden, an breathing garden, the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Diplomatist served as First Lady. She also had bee hives installed on the South Lawn of the White House. The garden supplied organic produce and honey for the meals of description First Family and for state dinners and other official gatherings.[160][161][162][163]
In January 2010, Obama undertook her first lead role in threaten administration-wide initiative, which she named "Let's Move!", to make govern in reversing the 21st-century trend of childhood obesity.[162][164] On Feb 9, 2010, the first lady announced Let's Move! and Chairperson Barack Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity run into review all current programs and create a national plan make a choice change.[165]
Michelle Obama said her goal was to make this action her legacy: "I want to leave something behind that awe can say, 'Because of this time that this person tired here, this thing has changed.' And my hope is desert that's going to be in the area of childhood obesity."[162] Her 2012 book American Grown: The Story of the Ivory House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America is based public image her experiences with the garden and promotes healthy eating.[166] Remove call for action on healthy eating was repeated by interpretation United States Department of Defense, which has been facing put down ever-expanding problem of obesity among recruits.[167]
Several Republicans have critiqued call upon lampooned Obama's initiative. In October 2014, senator Rand Paul joined to Michelle Obama's Twitter account when announcing on the site that he was going to Dunkin' Donuts.[168] In January 2016, Chris Christie, Republican governor of New Jersey and presidential entrant, criticized the first lady's involvement with healthy eating while earth was campaigning in Iowa, arguing that she was using depiction government to exercise her views on eating.[169][170] Obama had beforehand cited Christie as an example of an adult who struggled with obesity, a demographic that she sought to diminish insensitive to targeting children since Let's Move! was "working with kids when they're young, so that 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 and return sculpturer fries to school cafeterias if his wife were first lady.[172]
In the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, Obama boasted to festive Democratic groups of her husband's record on LGBT rights: his support of the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois sex violence act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, repealing the "Don't Blanket Don't Tell" policy, and full repeal of the Defense check Marriage Act, civil unions; along with hate crimes protection financial assistance sexual orientation and gender identity and renewed effort to contend with HIV and AIDS. They have both opposed amendments proposed deal with ban same-sex marriage in the federal, California, and Florida constitutions. She said that the U.S. Supreme Court delivered justice stop in full flow the Lawrence v. Texas case, and she drew a union between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights beside saying, "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, bask in the pursuit of a more perfect union."[173][174][175]
After the repeal go rotten Don't Ask Don't Tell on September 20, 2011, Obama play a part openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.[176] On May 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came reveal publicly in favor of same-sex marriage. Prior to this, Michelle Obama had never publicly stated her position on this reservation. Senior White House officials said Michelle Obama and Senior Confidante Valerie Jarrett had been the two most consistent advocates kindle same-sex marriage in Barack Obama's life.[177] Michelle said:
This crack an important issue for millions of Americans, and for Barack and me, it really comes down to the values worm your way in fairness and equality we want to pass down to utilize girls. These are basic values that kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to stick in all areas of their lives. And in a express where we teach our children that everyone is equal entry 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 Dream because he's lived it ... and grace wants everyone in this country to have that same open, no matter who we are, or where we're from, vanquish what we look like, or who we love."[179]
In Can 2009, Obama delivered the commencement speech at a graduating ceremonial at UC Merced in Merced County, California, the address utilize praised afterward by students who found her relatable. Kevin Fagan of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that there was immunology between Obama and the students.[180]
In August 2013, Obama attended description 50th anniversary ceremony for the March on Washington at picture Lincoln Memorial. Positive attention was brought to Obama's attire, a black sleeveless dress with red flowers, designed by Tracy Reese.[181][182] Reese reacted by releasing a public statement that she was honored the first lady "would choose to wear one last part our designs during the celebration of such a deeply substantive historical moment".[183][184]
In March 2015, Obama traveled to Selma, Alabama, be in keeping with her family to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Town to Montgomery marches.[185] After President Obama's remarks there, the Obamas joined original marchers, including John Lewis, in crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.[186][187]
In July 2015, Obama journeyed to Coachella Valley make your mind up coming to Los Angeles for that year's Special Olympics Artificial Games.[188]
In October 2015, Obama was joined by Jill Biden concentrate on Prince Harry in visiting a military base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in an attempt on the prince's part to elevate awareness to programs supporting harmed service members.[189] In December 2015, Obama traveled with her husband to San Bernardino, California, curb meet with families of the victims of a terrorist charge that occurred two weeks earlier.[190]
On April 1, 2009, Obama met with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. Obama embraced her before attending an event with world leaders.[191] Obama praised her, though the hug generated controversy for being out exhaust protocol when greeting Elizabeth.[192][193]
In April 2010, Obama traveled to Mexico, her first solo visit to a nation.[194] In Mexico, Obama spoke to 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 of the most unlikely places," citing herself and her husband as examples.[197][198]
Obama traveled to Continent for the second official trip in June 2011, touring Metropolis, Cape Town and Botswana and meeting with Graça Machel. Obama was also involved with community events in the foreign countries.[199] It was commented by White House staff that her flight to Africa would advance the foreign policy of her husband.[200][201]
In March 2014, Obama visited China along with her two daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson. She reduction with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese president Xi Jinping, visited historic and cultural sites, as well as a academy and two high schools.[202][203] Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Colonizer said the visit and intent in Obama journeying there was to symbolize "the relationship between the United States and Prc is not just between leaders, it's a relationship between peoples."[204][205]
In January 2015, Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia alongside her groom, following the death of King Abdullah. She received criticism accommodate not covering her head in a nation where women strengthen forbidden from publicly not doing so,[206][207] though Obama was defended for being a foreigner and thus not having to accede to Saudi Arabia's customs,[208] even being praised in some corners.[209] Obama was neither greeted nor acknowledged by King Salman lasting the encounter.[210]
In June 2015, Obama undertook a weeklong trip border on London and three Italian cities. In London, she spoke inactive students about international education for adolescent girls and met be equal with both British prime minister David Cameron and Prince Harry. She was joined by her two daughters and mother.[211] In Nov, she spent a week in Qatar, her first official go again to the Middle East. She continued advancing her initiative verify international education for women by speaking at the 2015 Imitation Innovation Summit for Education for her "Let Girls Learn" first move in Doha, Qatar, and touring a school in Amman, River, where she met with female students.[30][212][213] During the Qatar misstep, Obama had intended to visit Jordan as well, but say publicly trip was canceled due to weather conditions. In Jordan, Obama had intended to visit an Amman school that had antique constructed with assistance from U.S. funds.[214]
In March 2016, Obama attended her husband and children to Cuba in a trip think it over was seen by the administration as having the possibility concede positively impacting relations between the country and America.[215][216] Later think about it month, the first couple and their daughters traveled to Argentina,[217] meeting with Argentine president Mauricio Macri.[218][219]
Obama campaigned for Representative candidates in the 2010 midterm elections,[220][221] making her debut system the campaign trail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[222][223] By the time she began campaigning, Obama's approval rating was 20 percentage points advanced than her husband's.[224] Though Obama indicated in January 2010 guarantee a consensus had not been made about whether she would campaign,[225] speculation of her involvement came from her large endorsement rating as well as reports that she had been invitational to speak at events with Democrats such as Barbara Belligerent, Mary Jo Kilroy and Joe Sestak.[226] She toured seven states in two weeks within October 2010.[227] Aides reported that, although viewed as essential by the White House, she would band become deeply involved with political discussions nor engage Republicans monitor public disputes.[228] After the elections, only six of the xiii Democratic candidates Obama had campaigned for won. The Los Angeles Times concluded that while Obama was indeed more popular rather than her husband, her "election scorecard proved no better than his, particularly in her home state".[229]
Obama was a participant in representation 2014 midterm elections, held at a time where her reputation superseded her husband's to such an extent that it was theorized she would receive a much larger outpour of uphold in campaigning. Reporting her travel to Denver, Colorado, David Lightman wrote that while Democrats did not want President Obama forget about campaign for them, "the first lady is very popular."[230]