Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have met with world leaders all over the globe, but they’re not afraid to get emotional when talking about their love for one another.
The former president met Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in June 1989 while they were working at the same Chicago law firm. While Barack was “smitten,” Michelle was not immediately impressed by her future husband, who joined the firm as a summer associate while still in school at Harvard Law. She was suspicious of how much praise their coworkers were heaping on him, and to top it all off, he showed up late for their first work meeting.
“And then in walks Barack Obama. And Barack Obama has always walked like Barack Obama,” she told Robin Roberts in November 2018. “Like he’s got all the time in the world. He had that stride. I was like, ‘Dude, you’re cute.’ But in my mind, I was like … not even not interested. I’m not going to date one of the few Black summer associates, Robin. How tacky!”
Eventually, the Nobel Peace Prize winner convinced her to go on a date with him. The pair wed in October 1992 at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, with a reception at the South Shore Cultural Center. In July 1998, they welcomed their first daughter, Malia. A second daughter, Sasha, followed in June 2001.
Keep scrolling for a look back at some of Barack and Michelle’s sweetest quotes about each other:
