Barack Obama in Becoming, by Michelle Obama

On Principles & Values: Met Michele when both worked as interns at law firm

Barack Obama was late on day one. I sat in my office on the 47th floor, waiting for him to arrive. Like most first-year lawyers, I put in long hours at Sidley & Austin, often eating both lunch and dinner at my desk.

Obama had already created a stir at the firm. He'd just finished his first year of law school, and normally we had only hired 2nd-year students for summer positions. But rumor had it he was exceptional. One of his professors at Harvard--the daughter of a managing partner--claimed he was the most gifted law student she'd ever encountered. Some of the secretaries who'd seen the guy come in for his interview were saying that on top of this apparent brilliance he was also cute. [When he arrived], he was quiet and deferential, listening attentively.

As Barack's adviser, I was meant to act as a social conduit more than anything. My assignment was to make sure he was happy in the job, that he had someone to come to if he needed advice, and that he felt connected to the larger team.

Source: Becoming, by Michelle Obama, p. 94-7 Nov 13, 2018

On Principles & Values: Goal of transition to Trump: grace and dignity

Barack and I walked out of the White House for the last time on January 20, 2017, accompanying Donald and Melania Trump to the inauguration ceremony. That day, I was feeling everything all at once--tired, proud, distraught, eager. Mostly though, I was trying to hold myself together, knowing we had television cameras following our every move. Barack and I were determined to make the transition with grace and dignity, to finish our eight years with both our ideals and our composure intact. We were down now to the final hour.

That morning, Barack had made a last visit to the Oval Office, leaving a handwritten note for his successor. [The White House's permanent staff] presented us with a parting gift of two United States flags--the one that had flown on the first day of Barack's presidency and the one that had flown on his last day in office, symbolic bookends to our family's experience.

Source: Becoming, by Michelle Obama, p.417-8 Nov 13, 2018

On Civil Rights: OpEd: Trump inauguration marked by white, male sameness

[In Jan. 2017], sitting on the inaugural stage in front of the U.S. Capitol for the third time, I worked to contain my emotions. The vibrant diversity of the two previous inaugurations was gone, replaced by what felt like a dispiriting uniformity, the kind of overwhelmingly white and male tableau I'd encountered so many times in my life--especially in the more privileged spaces. What I knew from working in professional environments is that sameness breeds more sameness, until you make a thoughtful effort to counteract it.

Looking around at the 300 or so people sitting on the stage that morning, the esteemed guests of the incoming president, it felt apparent to me that in the new White House, this effort wasn't likely to be made. Someone from Barack's administration might have said that the optics were bad--that what the public saw didn't reflect the president's reality or ideals. But in this case, maybe it did. Realizing it, I made my own optic adjustment: I stopped even trying to smile.

Source: Becoming, by Michelle Obama, p.418 Nov 13, 2018

On Principles & Values: Michelle Obama has no intention of running for office, ever

Because people often ask, I'll say it here directly: I have no intention of running for office, ever. I've never been a fan of politics, and my experience over the last ten years has done little to change that. I continue to be put off by the nastiness--the tribal segregation of the red and blue, this idea that we're supposed to choose one side and stick to it, unable to listen and compromise, or sometimes even be civil. I do believe that at its best, politics can be a means for positive change, but this arena is just not for me.

That isn't to say I don't care deeply about the future of our country. Since Barack left office, I've read news stories that turn my stomach. I sometimes wonder where the bottom might be.

What I won't allow myself to do, though, is to become cynical.

Source: Becoming, by Michelle Obama, p.419 Nov 13, 2018

The above quotations are from Becoming, by Michelle Obama. Click here for other excerpts from Becoming, by Michelle Obama. Click here for other excerpts by Barack Obama. Click here for a profile of Barack Obama.
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Page last updated: Apr 03, 2019