Ten things you (probably) did not know about the Obamas
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha pose for a family portrait with Bo and Sunny in the Rose Garden of the White House on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The moniker POTUS was first used in telegraphic codes from as far back as 1879. After that it became the Secret Service codename when referring to the president.
- It’s also used in President Obama’s official Twitter handle, @POTUS, with Obama being the first to use it, after it was launched mid-May 2015.
Love for basketball: Obama’s love affair with basketball is no secret. After moving into the Whitehouse for his first term, he had a basketball court installed on the grounds. He has regular pickup games with guests.
The Obama movie: There’s a movie that chronicles Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date. Titled Southside With You, stills for the movie were just released this month. The part of Barack is played by Parker Sawyer, while Tika Sumpter plays Michelle.
Mentioned in Rolling Stone: Rolling Stone Magazine named Obama “One of the Most Successful Presidents in American History”. President Obama graced the cover of their October 2014 edition of the magazine.
Gun threat on niece:Obama’s niece, Leslie Robinson, daughter to Michelle’s brother, and a player for Princeton University’s basketball team, recently had a gun threat made against her before her team faced off with Wisconsin-Greenbay.
Most influential teens:Malia and Sasha were both on the list of Time Magazine’s 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014 alongside celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Lorde, Malala Yousafzai, Rookie founder Tavi Gevinson, Jaden Smith, Kiernan Shipka, Austin Mahone, and Chloë Grace Moretz
Student loan: It took Obama decades before he finished repaying his student loan. He repaid his $120,000 loan after he had signed his book deal to write the Audacity of Hope in 2004, a deal valued at $1.9 million.
POTUS? The moniker POTUS was first used in telegraphic codes from as far back as 1879. After that it became the Secret Service codename when referring to the president. It’s also used in President Obama’s official Twitter handle, @POTUS, with Obama being the first to use it, after it was launched mid-May 2015.
Funny side: Obama is also known for his light side. He’s been on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (took over from Jay Leno in 2009), The Late Show with David Letterman, and of course his performances during the Whitehouse Correspondents’ Dinner are legendary.
Girls’ night outs: Michelle Obama’s “girl’s night outs” are part of schedule, for her to spend time with her friends or with her daughters, outside the confines of the Whitehouse. They entail outings to music concerts and restaurants.
Internship for daughter: Malia Obama has been in Manhattan for a summer internship at HBO, and has been seen on the set of “Girls”. She and her sister, Sasha, have been the focus of style magazines for their style evolution from when they were introduced to the public.
