Obama’s Inauguration

News, multimedia and reader impressions related to Barack Obama’s historic Jan. 20 inauguration as president of the United States. Read our inauguration blog for impressions from Inland Northwest residents attending the event.

News > Nation/World

Conservative states seek to end protections for immigrant ‘Dreamers’

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 10, 2024

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday before a three-judge panel about whether to uphold a sweeping ruling by a trial court judge that would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program known as DACA.

News > Nation/World

Former President Barack Obama pushes Kamala Harris as alternative to ‘bluster, bumbling and chaos’ of Donald Trump

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 21, 2024

Former President Barack Obama returned to his adopted hometown to keynote the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, offering an aspirational goal for the county to elect Kamala Harris and reject “four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos” if Donald Trump is returned to the White House.

News > Nation/World

Obama tells allies Biden needs to seriously consider his viability

UPDATED: Thu., July 18, 2024

Former president Barack Obama has told allies in recent days that President Biden’s path to victory has greatly diminished and he thinks the president needs to seriously consider the viability of his candidacy, according to multiple people briefed on his thinking.

News > Military

Biden pardons U.S. veterans convicted in gay-sex cases by military

UPDATED: Wed., June 26, 2024

President Biden on Wednesday pardoned thousands of U.S. veterans who were convicted of having gay sex while serving in the military, an election-year move that could allow them to recover financial benefits that had been withheld by the government.

News > Nation/World

Biden campaign raises $28 million ahead of star-studded fundraiser

UPDATED: Sat., June 15, 2024

The Biden campaign raised $28 million ahead of a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles headlined by actors George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jimmy Kimmel and former president Barack Obama, a campaign official said Saturday.

News > Nation/World

Obama a surprise guest among allies at Biden’s state dinner for Kenya

UPDATED: Fri., May 24, 2024

Yes, Barack Obama was there. State dinners are best known as bear hugs for overseas allies, and Thursday's honoree was Kenya. But the sixth state dinner of President Joe Biden's term was designed to clutch domestic allies -- not the least of them Obama, whose father was Kenyan -- even tighter as the president makes the long slog toward November.

News > Nation/World

Under Biden and Trump, the presidential first pitch has disappeared

UPDATED: Mon., April 1, 2024

In 2010, President Barack Obama marked the 100th anniversary of a unique D.C. tradition, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington baseball team’s home opener. From William Howard Taft to Richard M. Nixon, every president participated in this custom at least once during his presidency, and when baseball returned to Washington early this century, George W. Bush and Obama picked up where Nixon had left off.

News > Nation/World

At glitzy Biden fundraiser, three presidents unite to blast Trump

UPDATED: Fri., March 29, 2024

In a rarity in presidential history, three Democratic presidents gathered here Thursday to publicly pillory and mock another former occupant of the Oval Office, blasting Donald Trump on the economy, immigration, abortion, his character and even his golf game.

News > Nation/World

Since JFK assassination, no US president has visited Dallas’ Dealey Plaza

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 22, 2023

In the six decades since President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, the United States has had 11 presidents. If any of them visited Dealey Plaza or even drove through the triple underpass, there’s no record of it.

News > Nation/World

Obama Presidential Center museum director aims for history, context

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 13, 2023

The tower of the Obama Presidential Center is getting a lot of attention as it rises in Jackson Park on the South Side. Meanwhile, Louise Bernard is trying to build the centerpiece museum’s interior: balancing former President Barack Obama’s philosophy and his namesake foundation’s mission with historical accuracy in a time of corrosive partisanship.

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Medal of Freedom ceremony
Tue., Feb. 15, 2011

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News > Spokane
Mayor Verner on Obama exchange
Fri., Jan. 22, 2010