Biography of Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President

Barack Obama (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States, the first African-American to do so. Prior to that, he was a civil rights lawyer, constitutional law professor, and U.S. senator from Illinois. As president, Obama oversaw the passage of several notable pieces of legislation, including the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Fast Facts: Barack Obama Known For: Obama was the 44th president of the United States.Born: August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, HawaiiParents: Barack Obama Sr. and Ann DunhamEducation: Occidental College, Columbia University (B.A.), Harvard University (J.D.)Awards and Honors: Nobel Peace PrizeSpouse: Michelle Robinson Obama (m. 1992)Children: Malia, Sasha Early Life Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a white mother and a black father. His mother Ann Dunham was an anthropologist, and his father Barack Obama Sr. was an economist. They met while studying at the University of Hawaii. The couple divorced in 1964 and Obama Sr. returned to his native Kenya to work for the government. He rarely saw his son after this separation. In 1967, Barack Obama moved with his mother to Jakarta, where he lived for four years. At the age of 10, he returned to Hawaii to be raised by his maternal grandparents while his mother completed fieldwork in Indonesia. After finishing high school, Obama went on to study at Occidental College, where he gave his first public speech—a call for the school to divest from South Africa in protest of the countrys system of apartheid. In 1981, Obama transferred to Columbia University, where he graduated with a degree in political science and English literature. In 1988, Obama began studying at Harvard Law School. He became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review and spent his summers working at law firms in Chicago. He graduated magna cum laude in 1991. Marriage Obama married Michelle LaVaughn Robinson—a lawyer from Chicago he met while he was working in the city—on October 3, 1992. Together they have two children, Malia and Sasha. In her 2018 memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama described their marriage as a full-on merger, a reconfiguring of two lives into one, with the well-being of a family taking precedence over any one agenda or goal.† Barack supported Michelle when she chose to leave private law for public service, and she supported him when he decided to enter politics. Career Before Politics Upon graduating from Columbia University, Barack Obama worked at Business International Corporation and then at the New York Public Interest Research Group, a non-partisan political organization. He then moved to Chicago and became director of the Developing Communities Project. After law school, Obama wrote his memoir, Dreams from My Father, which was widely acclaimed by critics and other writers, including Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison. Obama worked as a community organizer and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years. He also worked as a lawyer during this same period. In 1996, Obama made his foray into political life as a member of the Illinois State Senate. He supported bipartisan efforts to improve healthcare and increase tax credits for childcare. Obama was reelected to the State Senate in 1998 and again in 2002. U.S. Senate In 2004, Obama launched a campaign for U.S. Senate. He positioned himself as a progressive and an opponent of the Iraq War. Obama won a decisive victory in November with 70% of the vote and was sworn in as a U.S. senator in January 2005. As a senator, Obama served on five committees and chaired the European Affairs subcommittee. He sponsored legislation to expand Pell grants, provide support for victims of Hurricane Katrina, improve the safety of consumer products, and reduce homelessness among veterans. By now, Obama was a national figure and a rising star in the Democratic Party, having delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In 2006, Obama released his second book, The Audacity of Hope, which became a New York Times bestseller. 2008 Election Obama began his run for U.S. president in February 2007. He was nominated after a very close primary race against key opponent Hillary Clinton, the wife of former president Bill Clinton. Obama chose Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate. The two campaigned on a platform of hope and change; Obama made ending the Iraq War and passing healthcare reform his primary issues. His campaign was notable for its digital strategy and fundraising efforts. With support from small donors and activists across the nation, the campaign raised a record $750 million. Obamas main opponent in the presidential race was Republican Sen. John McCain. In the end, Obama won 365 electoral votes and 52.9% of the popular vote. First Term Within the first 100 days of his presidency, Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a piece of legislation designed to address the worst effects of the Great Recession. The Recovery Act was a stimulus package that injected about $800 billion into the economy through tax incentives for individuals and businesses, infrastructure investment, aid for low-income workers, and scientific research. Leading economists broadly agreed that this stimulus spending helped reduce unemployment and avert further economic challenges. Obamas signature achievement—the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare)—was passed on March 23, 2010. The legislation was designed to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health insurance by subsidizing those who meet certain income requirements. At the time of its passage, the bill was quite controversial. In fact, it was even taken before the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2012 that it was not unconstitutional. By the end of 2010, Obama had also added two new judges to the Supreme Court—Sonia Sotomayor, who was confirmed on August 6, 2009, and Elena Kagan, who was confirmed on August 5, 2010. Both are members of the courts liberal wing. On May 1, 2011, Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, was killed during a Navy SEAL raid in Pakistan. This was a major victory for Obama, winning him praise across party lines. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda, Obama said in a public address to the nation. Today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people. 2012 Reelection Obama launched his campaign for reelection in 2011. His main challenger  was Republican Mitt Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts. To make use of growing social networks like Facebook and Twitter, the Obama campaign hired a team of tech workers to build digital campaign tools. The election centered on domestic issues, including healthcare and Social Security, and in many ways was a referendum on the Obama administrations response to the Great Recession. In November 2012, Obama defeated Romney with 332 electoral votes and 51.1% of the popular vote. Obama called the victory a vote for action, not politics as usual, and promised to work on bipartisan proposals to improve the American economy. Second Term During his second term as president, Obama focused on new challenges facing the country. In 2013, he organized a group to begin negotiations with Iran. An agreement was reached in 2015 in which the United States would lift sanctions and steps would be taken to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, Obama signed a series of executive orders designed to reduce gun violence. He also voiced support for more comprehensive background checks and a ban on assault weapons. In a press conference at the White House, Obama said, If there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then weve got an obligation to try. In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage was protected by the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This was a major milestone in the fight for LGBTQ rights. Obama called the ruling a victory for America. In July 2013, Obama announced that the United States had negotiated plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. The following year, he became the first American president to visit the country since Calvin Coolidge did so in 1928. The shift in U.S.-Cuba relations—dubbed the Cuban thaw—was met with approval by many political leaders around the world. Legacy Obama is the first African-American to not only be nominated by a major political party but also to win the presidency of the United States. He ran as an agent of change. His true impact and the significance of his presidency will not be determined for many years to come. Sources Obama, Barack.  Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. Canongate, 2016.Obama, Michelle. Becoming. Crown Publishing Group, 2018.Remnick, David.  The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama. Vintage Books, 2011.

Son of the Revolution Essay - 1727 Words

Son of the Revolution Liang Heng and Judith Shapiros Son of the Revolution is a comprehensive story of Liang Hengs life on growing up during the chaotic times of the Chinese revolution. The purpose of this novel was to depict the horrors and hardships of life during the revolution period in china during Mao Zedongs reign. In the beginning of the book, the author portrays that news and ideologies always stated that the government was working for the good of the people of the country. However, as the book unfolds the author reveals that the government is actually exploiting the people through misuse of peoples trust. The book also provides insights into the Chinese life during the period of 1954-1978. This 24 year period saw major†¦show more content†¦In hope to re-gain status and avoid from being further insulted, divorce was the path Liang Hengs father chose to take. However, even after the divorce, the Liang family still endured criticism because once branded, no matter what, they would always b e criticized. One of the ways to gain social status was to marry into a family who was part of a party or of a high social status. So after divorcing his wife for purely political reasons, Liang Hengs father married a woman who was both a party member and a high ranking cadre in the a factory. This marriage was obviously based on Liang Hengs fathers desperate need to gain social status rather than out of love. Marriage was also based on convenience to both partners. When Liang Hengs father married for the third time it was because he needed someone who could take care of the house and the children and in turn the woman had wanted to leave the village she was living in and live in the city residence where so many goods were available, however the process to transfer her teaching job from the village to the city was complicated. So she married to Liang Hengs father which Liang suspected in hope to move to the city easily. In 1958, soon after the Anti-Rightist Movement, Mao Zedong announced The Great Leap Forward movement in attempt to increase agricultural and industrial production and modernize Chinas economy. The author of the book doesnt talk muchShow MoreRelatedThe Sons Of Liberty And The American Revolution1849 Words   |  8 PagesThe Sons of Liberty was the name given to a group of patriots who worked underground to defend the rights of the colonists against the British government in the years before the American Revolution. They represented the ideals of liberty and justice, approving all the grievances and complaints of the colonists. Although the name was first used during the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1765, it continued to be stated to whenever colonists came together to fight new British laws, and especially taxes.Read More Napoleon Was NOT a Son of the Revolution Essay example770 Words   |  4 Pages At the end of the French Revolution, the hopes of the early stages of the Revolution had been mangled, leading into the Reign of Terror. France had dissolved into anarchy, with internal and international turmoil. It was out of the foreign wars that Napoleon came to power. Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power, victory by victory, eventually making himself Emperor of France, creating a strong central government while continuing the foreign wars, creating a mass French Empire. 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Strategies For Fisher And Paykel Electronics †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Strategies For Fisher And Paykel Electronics. Answer: One of the suitable strategies for Fisher and Paykel electronics will be the growth strategy. Initiation of the growth strategy will help the organization to increase the market share and market presence in the global market (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson, 2012). Thus, the business potentiality will get increased for them along with reduction in the business risk. In this case implementation of the Ansoffs matrix will be helpful. There are four models being stated in this matrix that can enhance the growth strategy of the business. The first model is the market penetration. This model will help them to penetrate in their existing market of New Zealand with their existing products. They can introduce more variants of their existing products to attract more customer segments. The next model is the market development. This refers to the entering in the new market with their existing products. The product portfolio of Fisher and Paykel will be new in other market apart from their operational area. Thus, it will be a huge opportunity for them. The next model is the product development (Buyukozkan Arsenyan, 2012). In this step, the organization can develop new products for their existing market. Thus, Fisher and Paykel can develop new products for their existing market, which will meet the latest market requirement effectively. The last model is the diversification. This will enable them to enter in a new market with new products. It will help them to reduce the business risk of them associated in a single market. Retrenchment strategy Another strategic alternative will be in the line of retrenchment. This is due to the reason that, retrenchment and cost control is important for the organization in reducing the production cost. The less will be the production cost, the more will be the profitability of the organization. One of the most effective strategic alternatives will be the outsourcing. (Schniderjans, Schniderjans Schniderjans, 2015) This will enable the organization to outsource their manufacturing facility in the developing countries to reduce the production as well as cost of human resources. This will also delegate the associated risk with the manufacturing facility to the third party vendor. Developing countries such as India and China are having less employee cost and other cost of raw materials. Thus, outsourcing the production facility to these countries will enable Fisher and Paykel to offer their products in less cost to their customers, which will further enhance their attractiveness among the cus tomers. Recommended strategy Among the above discussed two strategies, the recommended strategy will be the outsourcing strategy. This is due to the reason that, the business risk is less involved with the strategy of outsourcing compared to the strategy of market growth. In the case of the implementation of the Ansoffs matrix, there is huge risk and cost involved in designing new products and entering in the new market. Moreover, in the case of the diversification, there is no guarantee that entering in the new market with the new products will fetch positive outcome (Song, Ming Xu, 2013). On the other hand, initiation of the policy of outsourcing will have fewer risks associated. This is due to the reason that, Fisher and Paykel will have to pay for the amount to be outsourced. Moreover, it will enable them to offer their products to the customers in lower price. Thus, they can gain competitive advantages in the market (Schwarz, 2014). In addition, offering the products in lower price will automatically help them to increase their market share. Thus, there will be no need of initiation of additional strategies for growth. With the reduction in the production cost, they will have more capital in hand for further research and development and thus it will enhance their future business potentiality. References Bykzkan, G., Arsenyan, J. (2012). Collaborative product development: a literature overview.Production Planning Control,23(1), 47-66. Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., Hoskisson, R. E. (2012).Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning. Schniederjans, M. J., Schniederjans, A. M., Schniederjans, D. G. (2015).Outsourcing and insourcing in an international context. Schwarz, C. (2014). Toward an understanding of the nature and conceptualization of outsourcing success.Information Management,51(1), 152-164. Song, W., Ming, X., Xu, Z. (2013). Risk evaluation of customer integration in new product development under uncertainty.Computers Industrial Engineering,65(3), 402-412.

The Statement Citing The Essential Cause Of The French Essays

The statement citing the essential cause of the French Revolution as the "collision between a powerful, rising bourgeoisie and an entrenched aristocracy defending it's privileges" has great pertinence in summarizing the conflict of 1789. The causes of the French Revolution, being provoked by this collision of powers, was the Financial debt of the government and the long-standing political differences in the government. Over the course of twenty-five years after the Seven Years' War, the government of France--the Bourgeoisie royalty, could not manage it's finances on a sound basis. This was worsened when France aided the American Revolution against Great Britain. The Government had reached great financial debt. The problem lied and continued because of the government's inability to tap the wealth of the French nation by taxation. There was a great paradox in France being a rich nation with a government in poverty. The deteriorating finances of the government is what triggered the prolonged differences between the Bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. The political differences between the monarchy and the nobles came about after the Seven Years' war also. The increasing debt of the government escalated the hope for the monarchy to resume a "absolute power" status as it did with Louis XIV. However this could not be accomplished because of the doubt that the public had towards the present kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, and the public could not be swayed to help. The only result of the attempts for absolutism by the monarchy were a series of new and increase taxes on the nobles. The aristocracy immediately reacted to these taxes as declaring them unfair and would not accept them. Louis XV began with a series of Financial advisors chancellors which all had the intention of saving the monarchy from financial ruin. They made many attempts at taxation, such as a land tax, but each of these were defeated by the nobles -- the Parlements were even destroyed for a brief time, but were later restored by Louis XVI in attempt to gain public support. The government continued to become poorer and poorer and it seemed the only successful taxation was done towards the peasants, whom had the least money. The monarchy eventually fell and caused great unrest leading to the French Revolution. The French Revolution was caused by the escalating rivalry between the monarchy and the aristocracy. The conflict would make an impact on all of Europe to come and even world history. All this turmoil was caused by a bunch of greedy Nobles and kings which wanted power and money. It seems this problem repeats history, even today -- because big money-makers, like Texas Oil Ranchers, wouldn't pay to fix pollution problems early on it eventually lead and is still leading to great conflict for the future.