Barack Obama Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research
Updated 3:44 PM EDT, Tue July 25, 2023
President Barack Obama, visiting Watertown, South Dakota, on Friday, May 8, shows off a note given to him by 11-year-old Rebecca Kelley. Rebecca had written him a letter asking him to visit South Dakota, which is the 50th state Obama has visited during his time in office. White House photographer Pete Souza highlights a picture from each state.
President Barack Obama, visiting Watertown, South Dakota, on Friday, May 8, shows off a note given to him by 11-year-old Rebecca Kelley. Rebecca had written him a letter asking him to visit South Dakota, which is the 50th state Obama has visited during his time in office. White House photographer Pete Souza highlights a picture from each state.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Marching at the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 2015.
Marching at the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 2015.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Air Force One refueling at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska, on November 12, 2009.
Air Force One refueling at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska, on November 12, 2009.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Viewing the Grand Canyon in Arizona on August 16, 2009.
Viewing the Grand Canyon in Arizona on August 16, 2009.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Touring tornado damage in Vilonia, Arkansas, on May 7, 2014.
Touring tornado damage in Vilonia, Arkansas, on May 7, 2014.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Viewing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, on July 23, 2014.
Viewing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, on July 23, 2014.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Playing pool with Gov. John Hickenlooper in Denver, Colorado, on July 8, 2014.
Playing pool with Gov. John Hickenlooper in Denver, Colorado, on July 8, 2014.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Making last-minute edits to his speech in Newtown, Connecticut, before a vigil for those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 16, 2012.
Making last-minute edits to his speech in Newtown, Connecticut, before a vigil for those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 16, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Honoring fallen soldiers from Afghanistan at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on October 29, 2009.
Honoring fallen soldiers from Afghanistan at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on October 29, 2009.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Keeping his distance from a baby alligator on Earth Day at Everglades National Park in Florida on April 22, 2015.
Keeping his distance from a baby alligator on Earth Day at Everglades National Park in Florida on April 22, 2015.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Graduates cheering the President during a heavy downpour at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 19, 2013.
Graduates cheering the President during a heavy downpour at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 19, 2013.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Swimming at Pyramid Rock Beach in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, on January 1, 2012.
Swimming at Pyramid Rock Beach in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, on January 1, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Posing for a photo with kids at Boise Airport in Idaho on January 21, 2015.
Posing for a photo with kids at Boise Airport in Idaho on January 21, 2015.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Viewing Chicago, Illinois, at sunset from Marine One on January 11, 2012.
Viewing Chicago, Illinois, at sunset from Marine One on January 11, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Dropping by the Gingerbread House Bakery in Kokomo, Indiana, with Vice President Joe Biden on November 23, 2010.
Dropping by the Gingerbread House Bakery in Kokomo, Indiana, with Vice President Joe Biden on November 23, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Speaking at a grassroots campaign event at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, on September 1, 2012.
Speaking at a grassroots campaign event at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, on September 1, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Waving to people after his economic speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, on December 6, 2011.
Waving to people after his economic speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, on December 6, 2011.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Greeting troops with Vice President Joe Biden at Fort Campbell in Kentucky on May 6, 2011.
Greeting troops with Vice President Joe Biden at Fort Campbell in Kentucky on May 6, 2011.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Flying over the Gulf of Mexico from Grand Isle to New Orleans, Louisiana, after the BP oil spill on June 4, 2010.
Flying over the Gulf of Mexico from Grand Isle to New Orleans, Louisiana, after the BP oil spill on June 4, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Hiking with the family on Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park in Maine on July 16, 2010.
Hiking with the family on Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park in Maine on July 16, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Graduates celebrating at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 22, 2009.
Graduates celebrating at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 22, 2009.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Discussing the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 14, 2014.
Discussing the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 14, 2014.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Sitting on the famed Rosa Parks bus at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 18, 2012.
Sitting on the famed Rosa Parks bus at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 18, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Talking with letter writer Rebekah Erler at Matt's Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 26, 2014.
Talking with letter writer Rebekah Erler at Matt's Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 26, 2014.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Meeting on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico at the Gulfport Coast Guard Station in Mississippi on June 14, 2010.
Meeting on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico at the Gulfport Coast Guard Station in Mississippi on June 14, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Consoling families affected by the deadly tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri, on May 29, 2011.
Consoling families affected by the deadly tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri, on May 29, 2011.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Fly fishing near Bozeman, Montana, on August 14, 2009.
Fly fishing near Bozeman, Montana, on August 14, 2009.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Greeting military personnel at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, on August 13, 2012.
Greeting military personnel at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, on August 13, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Viewing the Hoover Dam in Nevada on October 2, 2012.
Viewing the Hoover Dam in Nevada on October 2, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Joking with Vice President Joe Biden before a campaign rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on September 7, 2012.
Joking with Vice President Joe Biden before a campaign rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on September 7, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Highlighting the opening of the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on May 28, 2013, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his family after Superstorm Sandy's devastation the previous September.
Highlighting the opening of the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on May 28, 2013, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his family after Superstorm Sandy's devastation the previous September.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Having lemonade with Andy and Etta Cavalier at their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 28, 2010.
Having lemonade with Andy and Etta Cavalier at their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 28, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Greeting families with former first lady Laura Bush (from left), former President George W. Bush and first lady Michelle Obama before a commemoration ceremony on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York on September 11, 2011.
Greeting families with former first lady Laura Bush (from left), former President George W. Bush and first lady Michelle Obama before a commemoration ceremony on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York on September 11, 2011.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Listening to the President's remarks in Millers Creek, in the foothills of the Appalachians in North Carolina, on October 17, 2011.
Listening to the President's remarks in Millers Creek, in the foothills of the Appalachians in North Carolina, on October 17, 2011.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Greeting a young boy during a Flag Day celebration on June 13, 2014, at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Cannon Ball is south of Bismarck.
Greeting a young boy during a Flag Day celebration on June 13, 2014, at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Cannon Ball is south of Bismarck.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Greeting workers during a shift change at V&M Star, a manufacturer of steel products, in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 18, 2010.
Greeting workers during a shift change at V&M Star, a manufacturer of steel products, in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 18, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Hugging Amy Simpson, principal of Plaza Towers Elementary School, while viewing the remains of the school after a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, on May 26, 2013.
Hugging Amy Simpson, principal of Plaza Towers Elementary School, while viewing the remains of the school after a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, on May 26, 2013.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Reacting to a quip from a patron at the Gateway Breakfast House in Portland, Oregon, on July 24, 2012.
Reacting to a quip from a patron at the Gateway Breakfast House in Portland, Oregon, on July 24, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Addressing a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 10, 2010.
Addressing a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 10, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Viewing the ocean at Brenton Point in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 29, 2014.
Viewing the ocean at Brenton Point in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 29, 2014.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Reacting to an enthusiastic greeter at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina on March 6, 2015.
Reacting to an enthusiastic greeter at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina on March 6, 2015.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Shaking hands with Booker T. Washington students before their commencement ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 16, 2011.
Shaking hands with Booker T. Washington students before their commencement ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 16, 2011.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Trying on a pair of cowboy boots at the University of Texas in Austin on August 9, 2010.
Trying on a pair of cowboy boots at the University of Texas in Austin on August 9, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Viewing solar panels at Hill Air Force Base, north of Salt Lake City, in Utah on April 3, 2015.
Viewing solar panels at Hill Air Force Base, north of Salt Lake City, in Utah on April 3, 2015.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Greeting the crowd in Burlington, Vermont, on March 30, 2012.
Greeting the crowd in Burlington, Vermont, on March 30, 2012.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Speaking during a rainstorm in Glen Allen, Virginia, on July 14, 2012. Glen Allen is near Richmond.
Speaking during a rainstorm in Glen Allen, Virginia, on July 14, 2012. Glen Allen is near Richmond.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Departing Seattle, Washington, on a foggy morning on November 25, 2013.
Departing Seattle, Washington, on a foggy morning on November 25, 2013.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Celebrating the life of Sen. Robert C. Byrd with Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton, at a memorial service in Charleston, West Virginia, on June 28, 2010.
Celebrating the life of Sen. Robert C. Byrd with Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton, at a memorial service in Charleston, West Virginia, on June 28, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Cheering with the La Follette Lancers football team during their practice in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 28, 2010.
Cheering with the La Follette Lancers football team during their practice in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 28, 2010.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Watching geysers with the family at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming on August 15, 2009.
Watching geysers with the family at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming on August 15, 2009.
White House Photo by Pete Souza
Obama in 50 states
CNN  — 

Here’s a look at the life of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.