Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, has lived a life of extraordinary experiences that are not widely known to the public. Here are 8 personal facts about Barack Obama that you probably didn’t know.
1. He’s a Polyglot:
As well as being fluent in English, Obama can communicate in both Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia. The latter should come as no surprise, as he spent four years of his childhood in Jakarta.
2. He Smoked Cigarettes:
Obama admits to having smoked cigarettes in the past. This was following his father’s death when he was coping with stress and tough moments in his life.
3. He Loves Playing Basketball:
Obama loves basketball, and he was on his high school basketball team, where he was a strong player. He has written about basketball’s importance in his life, both for his own enjoyment and as a process of teamwork and discipline.
4. He Has His Own Pop Culture Playlist:
Barack Obama releases mixtapes of songs he likes every year. These carefully curated playlists were posted on Spotify during his presidency and gained popularity among Obama followers.
5. He Had A Difficult Relationship With His Father:
Obama has admitted in his book “Dreams From My Father” to having had a difficult relationship with his father. His father, Barack Obama Sr, left the family when Barack was only two years old.
6. He is a Book Lover:
Obama loves books and has confessed to always carrying a book with him when he travels, especially throughout his presidency. Through his choices, many Americans discovered authors that they had never heard before.
7. He Was In A Strain Marriage:
Obama and his wife Michelle have always depicted their relationship as a perfect one. However, they have admitted to having difficult times in their marriage and confessing that it was “stormy” during certain phases.
8. He Is Fond Of His Nickname:
As a boy, Barack Obama went by the nickname “Barry.” However, he changed back to his given name, Barack, when he was a young man. But since 2016, he has embraced the nickname “Baracky” too, which was given to him by his children.
These are some personal facts about Barack Obama that a lot of people never knew. They were hidden away in his memoirs, speeches, and interviews. With time, and his presidency, Barack Obama became a legend — a capable leader and a genuine person, whose life was a testament to the values he embraced.
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