Family of Barack Obama - Immediate Family

Immediate Family

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama, née Robinson, the wife of Barack Obama, was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois. She is a lawyer and was a University of Chicago Hospital vice-president. She is the First Lady of the United States.

Malia Obama and Sasha Obama

Barack and Michelle Obama have two daughters: Malia Ann /məˈliːə/, born on July 4, 1998, and Natasha (known as Sasha /ˈsɑːʃə/), born on June 10, 2001. They were both delivered by their parents' friend Dr. Anita Blanchard at University of Chicago Medical Center. Sasha is the youngest child to reside in the White House since John F. Kennedy, Jr. arrived as an infant in 1961.

Before his inauguration, President Obama published an open letter to his daughters in Parade magazine, describing what he wants for them and every child in America: "to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world."

While living in Chicago, the Obamas kept busy schedules, as the Associated Press reports: "soccer, dance and drama for Malia, gymnastics and tap for Sasha, piano and tennis for both." In July 2008, the family gave an interview to the television series Access Hollywood. Obama later said they regretted allowing the children to be included.

Malia and Sasha attend the private Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., the same school that Chelsea Clinton, Tricia Nixon Cox, and Archibald Roosevelt attended and that the grandchildren of Vice President Joe Biden attend. The Obama girls began classes there on January 5, 2009. While in Chicago, both attended the private University of Chicago Laboratory School.

In his victory speech on the night of his election, President Obama repeated his promise to Sasha and Malia to get a puppy to take with them to the White House. The selection was slow because Malia is allergic to animal dander; the president subsequently said that the choice had been narrowed down to either a labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog, and they hoped to find a shelter animal. On April 12, 2009, it was reported that the Obamas had adopted a six-month-old Portuguese Water Dog given to them as a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy; the dog was named Bo by Malia and Sasha. The White House refers to Bo as the "First Dog".

Marian Robinson

Marian Robinson, Barack Obama's mother-in-law, resides in the White House. She is part of the Robinson family (see below).