Michelle Obama Named Barbara Walters’ Most Fascinating Person of 2009

The Obamas’ Marriage

“If I weren’t president, I would be happy to catch the shuttle with my wife to take her to a Broadway show, as I had promised her during the campaign, and there would be no fuss and no muss and no photographers,” the president said. “That would please me greatly.” He went on to say: “The notion that I just couldn’t take my wife out on a date without it being a political issue was not something I was happy with.”

– President Barack Obama

25 Black women who have the sought-after “It” factor

EBONY magazine puts the spotlight on 25 Black women who have the sought-after “It” factor.

Here’s the complete list of the 25 women being featured in their 4 cover summer issue:

Naomi Campbell
Jennifer Hudson
Michelle Obama
Tina Turner
Aretha Franklin
Halle Berry
Serena Williams
Condoleezza Rice
Oprah Winfrey
Tyra Banks
Angela Davis
Erykah Badu
Jill Scott
Lil’ Kim
Whoopi Goldberg
Diahann Carroll
Pam Grier
Patti LaBelle
Alicia Keys
Mo’ Nique
Diana Ross
Rihanna
Grace Jones
Mary J. Blige
Beyoncé

Date night with the Obamas

Saturday evening the President and First Lady enjoyed a date night in New York City, where they saw the  Broadway show ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ at the Belasco.  Aww so cute!

Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Michelle does Time

The Meaning of Michelle Obama

By Nancy Gibbs and Michael Scherer Thursday, May. 21, 2009

It was just two days after the Inauguration when an e-mail went around to Michelle Obama’s staff, instructing everyone to be in the East Room of the White House at 3 that afternoon. The First Lady’s advisers arrived to find the room filled with ushers and plumbers, electricians and maids and kitchen crew gathered in a huge circle, and Michelle in a T shirt and ponytail, very casual and very much in charge.

“This is my team that came with me from Chicago,” Michelle said, pointing to her communications staff and policy people. “This is my team who works here already,” she went on, indicating the ring of veterans around the room. Many of the household staff had served for decades; some had postponed retirement because they wanted to serve an African-American President. And so the two groups formed concentric rings and spent the next hour or so making sure that everyone had a chance to meet everyone else. I want you to know that you won’t be judged based on whether they know your name, Michelle had warned her advisers. You’ll be judged based on whether you know theirs. (See pictures of Michelle Obama behind the scenes.)

image sources:  Platon for Time