By Charli Penn ·January 21, 2021January 21, 2021 01First Impressions
In the summer of 1989, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson heard the stories of a sharp intern named Barack Obama who’d just finished his first year at Harvard law.
“I thought, this is probably just a Black man who can talk straight. That’s w 
Reuters/Corbis 02The Big Day
Their romance continued to blossom as they supported each other through the good and bad, including the death of Michelle’s father in 1990.
Michelle and Barack became husband and wife on October 18, 1992.
“One of the finest men I ever knew was Michelle’s dad, who worked every day despite enormous hardship to make sure his children and his family were cared for,” he told ESSENCE.
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Obama For America/Handout/Reuters 03No. 1Fan
Michelle greets Barack after his electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
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Dallas Morning News/Corbis 04Reality Check
The couple makes their way off stage after the 2004 DNC Speech. Barack shares in his best-seller “The Audacity of Hope” that Michelle gave him the final boost as they embraced before he took the stage and told him, “Just don’t screw it up, buddy.”
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Reuters/Corbis 05The Big Win
The year 2004 continued to be a big year for the Obamas as Barack beat Alan Keyes in the first Senate race with two Black candidates. They celebrate with daughters Sasha, then 3, right, and Malia, then 6, at their campaign headquarters.
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Reuters/Corbis 06A Lovely Day
On January 5, 2005, Senator Barack Obama was sworn into office with his special ladies by his side on Capitol Hill. The two decided to keep their family based in Chicago instead of moving to Washington, D.C., and Michelle continued her position as vice-president of community and external affairs for the University of Chicago Hospitals.
“I’m every woman,” he sings to describe her, ESSENCE reports. “That’s Michelle. It’s like, Chaka Khan! Chaka Khan!”
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AP 07Night on the Town
The Obamas step out in >NAACP Image Awards in 2005. That same year they purchased a home in the South Side of Chicago, and were pleased to illustrate for children in the neighborhood they can reach for the stars.
“So for all of this wonderful madness that comes along with our lives—the secret service, the cars—there are kids on Forty-seventh and King Drive who can walk two blocks and be that close for the first time to somebody who can be the president of the United States. I love that… I like for them to be able to walk and stand in front of our house and see him up close and personal. ‘This man lives in my neighborhood,’ ” Michelle tells ESSENCE.
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Arnold Turner/WireImage 08It’s Official
After much speculation, Barack announced his candidacy for president of the United States on February 10, 2007, with wife Michelle ready to lend her full support to the campaign.
“I tell myself all the time, we’re supposed to take the risk,” she tells ESSENCE. “In the end, I think we have an obligation to give it a shot. To do our best. To give people a choice.”
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AP 09The Home Front
As the campaign took Barack far from home and he gained ground in the primaries, he still kept his family a top priority.
“The thing that Barack does is that when he is there, he is a parent,” Michelle tells ESSENCE. “He’s not like play dad. He’s the guy who has read through all of the Harry Potter books with Malia. Barack is very good about understanding that the kids and their structure and stability are important. And he’s somebody who, if there’s discipline that needs to be handed down, he doesn’t hesitate just because he hasn’t seen them in a week.”
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AP 10Seal the Deal
Barack and Michelle celebrate his winning the Democratic nomination in June 2008 as he makes history as the first Black candidate to run on the ticket of a major party.
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Corbis 11Family First
The Obama family spends time in Chicago after Barack won his Senate seat.
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Reuters/Corbis 12Ladies’ Night
Michelle holds her own in the spotlight, speaking at the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. After a standing ovation, Barack shares his appreciation for her speech via satellite, as Sasha, left, and Malia look on.
“We haven’t had a lot of peace and quiet over the last four years,” Obama tells ESSENCE. “Michelle’s always had veto power, and always will, over decisions that have a direct impact on her.”
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Corbis 13Face Off
The Obamas greet Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain and his wife, Cindy, after the first debate. Michelle contends what allows her to resonate with voters is her ability to relate.
“Michelle has done a heroic job of managing the house, the family and still finding time to campaign and be out on the road,” he says, “I’m always marveling at everything that she can do,” Barack tells ESSENCE.
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AFP 14By My Side
The Obamas find comfort and joy in the arms of one another as they continue their history-making bid for the White House. She greets him onstage after his culminating speech to accept the party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention.
“As president, obviously the day I am inaugurated, the racial dynamics in this country will change to some degree. If you’ve got Michelle as first lady, and Malia and Sasha running around on the South Lawn, that changes how America looks at itself,” Barack tells ESSENCE.
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AP 15The Campaign Trail
As the Obamas campaigned in a grueling primary race, friend and fellow Chicagoan Oprah Winfrey joined them at a rally with close to 11,000 supporters in New Hampshire.
“I’m not afraid to lose,” Obama tells Gwen Ifill. “When Michelle and I talked about this, our attitude was, it’s only worth it if we get out of this whole on the other end; if we haven’t given up who we are; if we’re pushing the envelope a little.”
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Corbis 16White House Bound
The Obama’s celebrate Barack’s win as the forty-fourth president of the United States. In his victory speech in Chicago, Barack acknowledged Michelle as a driving force in his life.
“And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years,” he told the crowd of thousands of supporters. “The rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation’s next first lady, Michelle Obama.”
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Kohta Asakura 17Walk With Me
The loving couple hold hands while strolling across the White House lawn — a picture of marital bliss.
18Side-by-Side
The President stares at the magnificent and strong First Lady by his side.
19Friends Forever
Best friends Barack and Michelle Obama share secrets and laughs at home at The White House.
20Sealed with a Kiss
The couple share a tender kiss of love and support.
21The Couple’s Couple
The couple attend the Hispanic Caucus Institute. What a beautiful and stylish couple!
22Kiss Me Darling
President Barack Obama kisses First Lady Michelle Obama on stage at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010.
23Paying Their Respects
The President of the United States Barack Obama and The First Lady Michelle Obama visit Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, in Arlington, Va., to pay their respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the past decade.
24Locked in Love
A proud President Barack Obama graciously waves as he holds First Lady Michelle Obama’s hand at his side while they attend a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event in DC.
25Absolutely Stunning
A captivating photo of the our President and First Lady.
26Lovebirds
Keeping it casual, the lovebirds walk down the street after a meet and greet with royal newlyweds the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
27I Only Have Eyes for You
Barack Obama takes a moment to admire the lovely First Lady.
28Never Part
The couple always makes time to show their affection for each other.
29New York Arrival
The First Lady Michelle Obama and President of the United States Barack Obama arrive at JFK International Airport in New York on their way to attend the 66th General Assembly Meeting of United Nations.
30All Smiles
Happiness becomes them!
31Emotional HonestyA picture perfect pair, who always complement each other when they’re side by side. 
32Meant To Be YoursWhat’s not to love about the Obamas’ love? 
33Family TimePresident Barack Obama and his daughters Sasha and Malia watch the World Cup soccer game between the U.S. and Japan, from the Treaty Room office in the residence of the White House, Sunday, July 17, 2011.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) 
Pete Souza 34Dressed To ImpressBest dressed first couple ever! 
35Walk With MeThe Obamas are #relationshipgoals for life. 
36Hello, Hello!Waving hello to the people and showing us what a united front truly looks like. 
37Hand In HandThe Obamas take a stroll hand-in-hand. 
38First Couple SwagTeamwork makes the dream work. 
39Hold Me CloseThis is one of our favorite photos of the Obamas’ love. 
Getty images 40Dinner DateWe just love the way FLOTUS looks at POTUS. 
AFP 41Dance With MeThis is love! 
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images 42Tender LoveA tender moment caught on camera between Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. 
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Wash DC 43Wife LifeThe proud wife and First Lady gives her husband a hand. 
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images 44Royalty 
Chip Somodevilla/Getty images 45A New ChapterThe Obamas shared a sweet kiss as they officially left the White House in 2017. We’ve missed them ever since! 
46Still The OneWe loved seeing them flash as smile after their portraits were unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in 2018. 
47Empty NestersThe Obamas have been living their best lives since their daughters, Sasha and Malia, left for college. Here they are taking a group photo as Sasha headed off to her senior prom. 
48An Epic ArrivalWe couldn’t get enough of the Obamas looking so dapper at the inauguration of president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris. 
TOPICS: Barack Obama Michelle Obama
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