It all began in 1989, when Michelle Robinson was an associate at Sidley & Austin–the sixth-largest corporate law firm based in the United States. Michelle had just completed her first year in the firm as an intern when the buzz started. The word around the office was that there was a promising first-year law student who was—at the time—enrolled at Harvard, who would be joining the firm.1 Even though the office was buzzing with this hot news, Michelle kept in mind that first-year law students hardly ever get this type of opportunity, considering the size and degree of the firm. So she assumed he was some sort of super geeky nerd. She also assumed, because of their similarities—such as the law school they attended, and their alike characteristic of being a minority—that they would be paired to work together, with Michelle as his adviser.2
courtyard at Princeton University | Courtesy
of The Princeton Weekly Bulletin
When Michelle first heard about Barack, she said she “probably did what a lot of people do when they hear about Barack Obama.”3 She explained that she had been taken back by the name, unique in its entirety, and she wondered where he was from. As she read more into his biography, she learned a lot about him, including the fact that he grew up in Hawaii, and that he was biracial.
Barack was in fact placed under her wing a few days later, and Michelle took him out to lunch on his first day as a way to establish a professional relationship.4 Little did anybody know that one day they would be much more than just co-workers. Since she had already made the assumption that he was a weird nerd, Michelle was prepared for a geek to walk through the door. However, what happened was her future husband walked through the door, and out to lunch they went.
Even though the lunch outing on Barack’s first day at the firm went extremely well, and she was completely intrigued by his humorous, down-to-earth personality, one couldn’t smell the romance beginning just yet because Michelle was not open to dating anyone at this stage in her life.5
Even though she was positively surprised by the much cuter man that walked in—not the nerd she expected—and completely intrigued by him at their lunch outing, she knew she needed to be focused solely on her career.6 Besides the fact that they were co-workers, she was his adviser, and Michelle took that very seriously. Since she knew it would be wrong to pursue anything romantically in the office, she settled for a mere friendship with Barack.
But Barack wanted more than that. He insisted time after time on her letting him take her out on a date, and she told him, time and time again, no—because it wouldn’t be right. Barack’s persistence eventually led Michelle to agree on going out with him, under the circumstances that it would not be called a date.7
of Michelle Obama’s Instagram [@michelleobama]
After the negotiated “non-date” that anyone else in the world would consider a date—including them at the end of it—Michelle was completely head over heels for this man. And well, the rest is history—literally.9
- “How Michelle met Barack Obama,” YouTube, January 30, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxrkOxnGjw. ↵
- “How Michelle met Barack Obama,” YouTube, January 30, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxrkOxnGjw. ↵
- “How Michelle met Barack Obama,” YouTube, January 30, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxrkOxnGjw. ↵
- “Michelle Obama,” Biography.com, November 08, 2017. Accessed November 20, 2017. https://www.biography.com/people/michelle-obama-307592. ↵
- Liza Mundy, “When Michelle Met Barack,” The Washington Post, October 5, 2008. Accessed November 20, 2017. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/10/03/ST2008100302144.html. ↵
- Liza Mundy, “When Michelle Met Barack,” The Washington Post, October 5, 2008. Accessed November 20, 2017. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/10/03/ST2008100302144.html. ↵
- Peter B. Slevin, Michelle Obama (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2015), 126. ↵
- “How Michelle met Barack Obama,” YouTube, January 30, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxrkOxnGjw. ↵
- Liza Mundy, “When Michelle Met Barack,” The Washington Post, October 5, 2008. Accessed November 20, 2017. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/10/03/ST2008100302144.html. ↵
88 comments
Honoka Sasahara
This was a sweet love story of one of the greatest couple in the world that I have never known. I could feel his humorous and dynamic personality and her sincere attitude through this article. I love their story of “non-date” that must have became a forgettable, special day in their lives. I am sure they will be an ideal wife and husband for people in the world forever.
Lamont Traylor
Michelle Obama and Barack Obama are such an inspiration to everyone. Not only was Barack the first African American president and Michelle was the first African American woman to be vice president, but they both maintained their positions very well. They never had any scandals or instances of infidelity that other presidents have had. Even after their time in office, they still continue to be faithful and inspirational.
Adam Portillo
Big fan of the Obama’s and this article seemed to be very on point on how their relationship first started out. I found it funny how Michelle was expecting a “geek nerd” but instead got a man with humor and charisma. Obama’s persistency definitely led to so much between him and Michelle and they both ended up making history together. Awesome article.
Brianna Ford
I love the part when she said that their first date was not technically “a date,” but a day out. This was such a good informative article. These two are just perfect for each other. It is nice to read about two individuals and how independently were intelligent people and had a very good mindset. They are my favorite couple to read on and this article gave me more of a reason to love them even more. Two very successful people end up falling in love, now that is a true love story.
Mia Stahl
It is comforting to see the successful love story of two incredibly smart and resourceful people of color. I feel that the Obama’s relationship is one that the entire nation has looked up to since the election of 2008. It is also important to recognize that such a beautiful relationship came of a once strictly professional relationship. I for one hold this relationship to be one that I strive towards.
Jocelyn Moreno
The way she said that it wasn’t a date and it was just a day out is so funny to me. It’s so crazy, how it started as a platonic relationship at work and knowing them now the former president and first lady who are deeply in love. It’s so nice that they stuck by each others side for all these years.
Donte Joseph
I had known the Obama’s had some history, but I did not know how intense their relationship with each other was. This article does a great job giving in depth detail of how they were way before they were married. I find it inspiring that they stuck with each other (even though they were not dating for some time) all through time and eventually married in the end.
Indhira Mata
I just had known that they had gone to the same school and assumed that is where they had meet and their friendship developed into their romance later on into their lives. It is amazing seeing that your true love is in the same line of work as you are and they are just as intelligent and open minded as you are as well. What does surprise me is Michelle’s quick assumption of how the mystery guy would look like and act like. She is the last person I would think of with that kind of mindset but then again we all do without even trying. They are honestly a great duo.
Valeria Perez
It is weird to think of the life these two people had before Barack’s presidency. It does not surprise me how dedicated and focused Michelle was, and still is, to her career. What did surprise me was the terms for their “non-date”.
The Obamas are an amazing power couple from battling obstacles and prejudices in college, to their internship, to the White House, and beyond!
Nathalie Herrera
The love story between the Obama’s is truly incredible. I love how Michelle Obama was so focused on her work she told herself that she was in no position in dating, but in the end found the man of her dreams. Their “non-date” would be the start of their happy relationship. This love story still continues and hopefully will continue on. Great read!