95-473: Carla Diane Hayden (born August 10, 1952) is an American librarian who is serving as the 14th librarian of Congress . Since the creation of the office of the librarian of Congress in 1802, Hayden is both the first African American and the first woman to hold this post. Appointed in 2016, she is the first professional librarian to hold the post since 1974. Born in Tallahassee, Florida , Hayden began her career at
190-539: A 2016 Time magazine interview she stated that the library became a command center of sorts as many stores in the community closed, and that "we knew that [people] would look for that place of refuge and relief and opportunity." She left this position on August 11, 2016, when she was appointed to the Library of Congress. As president of the American Library Association (ALA) from 2003 to 2004, Hayden chose
285-510: A Bachelor of Arts in 1985 after completing a 99-page senior thesis titled Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community under the supervision of Walter Wallace. Robinson recalls that some of her teachers in high school tried to dissuade her from applying, and that she had been warned against "setting my sights too high". She believed her brother's status as a student in good standing (he graduated in 1983) might have helped her during
380-734: A White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Pay equity law. She supported the economic stimulus bill in visits to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Department of Education . Some observers looked favorably upon her legislative activities, while others said she should be less involved in politics. According to her representatives, she intended to visit all United States Cabinet -level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington. On June 5, 2009,
475-498: A business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her. Before meeting Obama, Michelle had told her mother she intended to focus solely on her career. The couple's first date was to Spike Lee 's movie Do the Right Thing (1989). Barack Obama has said the couple had an "opposites attract" scenario in their initial interest in each other since Michelle had stability from her two-parent home while he
570-660: A career until after she had graduated from Roosevelt University with majors in political science and African history in 1973. Hayden received her master's degree in Library Science in 1977, and a doctorate degree in Library Science in 1987, both from the University of Chicago Graduate Library School . Hayden began her library career at the Chicago Public Library telling stories to children with autism. From 1973 to 1979, she worked as an associate/children's librarian at
665-633: A given subject, people commonly tended to ask what her older brother thought. She was on the honor roll for four years, took advanced placement classes, was a member of the National Honor Society , and served as student council treasurer. She graduated in 1981 as the salutatorian of her class. Robinson was inspired to follow her brother to Princeton University , which she entered in 1981. She majored in sociology and minored in African-American studies , graduating cum laude with
760-720: A graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA". On February 24, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Hayden to serve as the next librarian of Congress . In a press release from the White House, President Obama stated: Michelle and I have known Carla Hayden for a long time, since her days working at the Chicago Public Library, and I am proud to nominate her to lead our nation's oldest federal institution as our 14th Librarian of Congress. Hayden has devoted her career to modernizing libraries so that everyone can participate in today's digital culture. She has
855-536: A letter of support. The letter said in part that Congress had "an opportunity to equip the library and the nation with the unique combination of professional skills and sensibilities that Dr. Hayden will bring to the post." The nomination was received by the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration . On April 20, 2016, the Committee on Rules and Administration , chaired by Senator Roy Blunt with Charles E. Schumer as ranking member , held
950-627: A member of the National Museum and Library Services Board and National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. On July 1, 1993, Hayden began the appointed position of Director at Enoch Pratt Free Library , the public library system in Baltimore, Maryland. During her tenure, Hayden oversaw a library co-operative with 22 locations, hundreds of employees, and an annual budget of $ 40 million. She also oversaw
1045-605: A mere mortal – a comic routine that rests on the presumption that we see him as a god ... But it may not be smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Ford , toasting his own English muffin. If all Senator Obama is peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk this mystique? On the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention , Craig Robinson introduced his younger sister. She delivered her speech, during which she sought to portray herself and her family as
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#17330853124761140-581: A permanent chief information officer to effectively manage and update the library's information technology . According to Section 136-1 of Title 2 of the U.S.C., the Librarian of Congress shall be appointed to office by a nomination from the president and the advice and consent of the Senate. The librarian may then serve for a term of 10 years and be reappointed to the post with the same procedure. The Librarian of Congress shall be compensated for his/her services with
1235-554: A rustic cabin in White Cloud, Michigan . She and her 21-month-older brother, Craig , skipped the second grade. Robinson's father suffered from multiple sclerosis , which had a profound effect on her. Subsequently, she was determined to stay out of trouble and perform well in school. By sixth grade, Michelle joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy). She attended Whitney Young High School , Chicago's first magnet high school , established as
1330-617: A selective enrollment school, where she was a classmate of Jesse Jackson 's daughter Santita . The round-trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side home to the Near West Side , where the school was located, took three hours. Michelle recalled being fearful of how others would perceive her, but disregarded any negativity around her and used it "to fuel me, to keep me going". She recalled facing gender discrimination growing up, saying, for example, that rather than asking her for her opinion on
1425-690: A time when our public is challenged on multiple fronts, we need to recommit ourselves to the ideal of providing equal access to everyone, anywhere, anytime, and in any format ... By finally embracing equity of access we will be affirming our core values, recognizing realities, and assuring our future. One program she is notable for is for the outreach program she began at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. This outreach program included "an after school center for Baltimore teens offering homework assistance and college and career counseling." Because of this, Hayden received Library Journal 's Librarian of
1520-539: A week and rarely traveling overnight; by early February 2008, her participation had increased significantly. She attended thirty-three events in eight days. She made several campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey . She wrote her own stump speeches for her husband's presidential campaign and generally spoke without notes. During the campaign, columnist Cal Thomas on Fox News described Michelle Obama as an " Angry Black Woman " and some websites attempted to promote this image. Obama said: "Barack and I have been in
1615-533: Is Rabbi Capers Funnye , her first cousin once removed born in Georgetown, South Carolina. Funnye is the son of her paternal grandfather's sister and her husband, and he is about 12 years older than Michelle. He converted to Judaism after college. Robinson's childhood home was on the upper floor of 7436 South Euclid Avenue in Chicago's South Shore community area , which her parents rented from her great-aunt, who had
1710-551: Is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama , the 44th president of the United States . Raised on the South Side of Chicago , Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School . In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband. She subsequently worked in nonprofits and as
1805-399: Is not a senior adviser". During the campaign, she discussed race and education by using motherhood as a framework. In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign. Early in the campaign, she had limited involvement, traveling to political events only two days
1900-686: The American South . On her father's side, she is descended from the Gullah people of South Carolina's Lowcountry region. Her paternal great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was born into slavery in 1850 on Friendfield Plantation , near Georgetown, South Carolina . He became a freedman at age 15 after the war. Some of Obama's paternal family still reside in the Georgetown area. Her grandfather, Fraser Robinson Jr., built his own house in South Carolina. He and his wife LaVaughn (née Johnson) returned to
1995-622: The Chicago Public Library , and earned a Ph.D. in library science from the University of Chicago . From 1993 until 2016, she was the CEO of Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore , Maryland, and president of the American Library Association (ALA) from 2003 to 2004. During her presidency, she was the leading voice of the ALA in speaking out against provisions of the newly passed United States Patriot Act , which impacted public information services. In 2020, she
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#17330853124762090-525: The McCarthy Era . Hayden asserted that Ashcroft should release information as to the number of libraries that had been visited under the provisions of Section 215. She has stated that the concern stemmed from making sure that a balance existed "between security and personal freedoms." As a result of her stand for the rights of every American, she became Ms. magazine's 2003 Woman of the Year. In her interview with
2185-785: The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools , a private school. As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in the school when other board members connected with the University of Chicago tried to reserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school to increase enrollment. In Washington, DC, Malia and Sasha attended Sidwell Friends School , after also considering Georgetown Day School . In 2008, Michelle said in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that they did not intend to have any more children. The Obamas received advice from past first ladies Laura Bush , Rosalynn Carter , and Hillary Clinton about raising children in
2280-839: The White House . Marian Robinson , Michelle's mother, moved in to the White House to assist with child care. Obama was raised United Methodist and joined the Trinity United Church of Christ , a mostly black congregation of the Reformed denomination known as the United Church of Christ . She and Barack Obama were married there by Rev. Jeremiah Wright . On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced that they had withdrawn their membership in Trinity United Church of Christ saying: "Our relations with Trinity have been strained by
2375-521: The Whitney Young branch. From 1979 to 1982, she served as the young adult services coordinator. From 1982 to 1987, Hayden worked as a library services coordinator at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry . Hayden moved to Pittsburgh, where she was an associate professor, teaching at the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences from 1987 to 1991. At the time, well known African-American librarians E. J. Josey and Spencer Shaw were on
2470-536: The mayor and as the assistant commissioner of planning and development. In 1993, she became executive director for the Chicago office of Public Allies , a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies. She worked there nearly four years and set fundraising records for the organization that stood twelve years after she had left. Obama later said she had never been happier in her life prior to working "to build Public Allies". In 1996, Obama served as
2565-405: The Black Community . She researched her thesis by sending a questionnaire to African-American graduates, asking that they specify when and how comfortable they were with their race prior to their enrollment at Princeton and how they felt about it when they were a student and since then. Of the 400 alumni to whom she sent the survey, fewer than 90 responded. Her findings did not support her hope that
2660-409: The Chicago office of the law firm Sidley & Austin , where she met her future husband Barack. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property law. She continues to hold her law license , but as she no longer needs it for her work, she has kept it on a voluntary inactive status since 1993. In 1991, she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an assistant to
2755-579: The Civil War. They were great-great-grandparents of Robinson, whose grandparents had moved to Chicago. Other of their children's lines migrated to Cleveland , Ohio, in the 20th century. All four of Robinson's grandparents had multiracial ancestors, reflecting the complex history of the United States. Her extended family has said that people did not talk about the era of slavery when they were growing up. Her distant ancestry includes Irish, English, and Native American roots. Among her contemporary extended family
2850-663: The House of Representatives. It was not until 1897 that Congress was given the power to confirm the president's nominee. This same law gave the librarian the sole power for making the institution's rules and appointing the library's staff. Up until the nomination of Herbert Putnam in 1899 under President McKinley , all previous librarians lacked any prior experience in the profession of librarianship; these librarians had held roles in journalism, law, writing, publishing, and politics. Even to this day, only three librarians – four including acting librarian David S. Mao in 2015 – have worked in
2945-417: The Library of Congress will soon mirror society's rapidly changing information environment, while successfully preserving the cultural record of the United States." She spoke of her desire to reach people outside of Washington, D.C., especially in rural areas and in accessible formats to people with visual disabilities. Another one of her main goals is to improve the infrastructure and "technological capacity" of
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3040-635: The Library of Congress. She is undecided if the United States Copyright Office , which is overseen by the Library, should be independent of the library, but believes the Office should be "fully functional" and be able carry to out its mandates to protect creators. In January 2017, Hayden hosted 4-year-old Daliyah Marie Arana as Librarian of Congress for the day. Following that, in October 2017, she hosted 8-year-old Adam Coffey as Librarian of Congress for
3135-548: The Lowcountry from Chicago after retirement. Among her maternal ancestors was her great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Dosey Shields, born into slavery in South Carolina but sold to Henry Walls Shields, who had a 200-acre farm in Clayton County, Georgia , near Atlanta. Melvinia's first son, Adolphus T. Shields, was biracial and born into slavery around 1860. Based on DNA and other evidence, in 2012, researchers said his father
3230-545: The Third World Center (now known as the Carl A. Fields Center), an academic and cultural group who supported minority students. She ran their daycare center, which also offered after-school tutoring for older children. She challenged the teaching methodology for French because she felt it should be more conversational. As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a sociology thesis, entitled Princeton-Educated Blacks and
3325-545: The White House. An Obama senior campaign official said she was "the most popular political figure in America". The positive assessment was reasoned to have contributed to her active role in the re-election campaign, but it was noted that the challenge for the Obama campaign was to use her without tarnishing her popularity. Obama was considered a polarizing figure, having aroused both "sharp enmity and deep loyalty" from Americans, but she
3420-693: The Year Award in 1995. She is the first African-American to have received this award. Prior to and during her ALA presidency, Hayden also played a role in influencing the creation of the Spectrum Scholarship Program, which was first developed in 1997 and still offers yearly scholarships. This scholarship program seeks to "actively recruit and provide scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining
3515-450: The activity at first. When she campaigned during her husband's 2000 run for United States House of Representatives , her boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied that visiting so many living rooms had given her some new decorating ideas. Obama opposed her husband's run for the congressional seat, and, after his defeat, she preferred he tend to
3610-416: The admission process, but she was resolved to demonstrate her own worth. She has said she was overwhelmed during her first year, attributing this to the fact that neither of her parents had graduated from college, and that she had never spent time on a college campus. The mother of a white roommate reportedly tried to get her daughter reassigned because of Michelle's race. Robinson said being at Princeton
3705-684: The advice and consent of the United States Senate , for a term of ten years. The librarian of Congress also appoints and oversees the Register of Copyrights of the U.S. Copyright Office and has broad responsibilities around copyright , extending to electronic resources and fair use provisions outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act . The librarian determines whether particular works are subject to DMCA prohibitions regarding technological access protection. In addition,
3800-461: The amount of work to spend more time with her husband. During an interview in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career, but said she was "wary" of the process. She knew it meant their lives would be subject to scrutiny and she was intensely private. Although she campaigned on her husband's behalf since early in his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish
3895-690: The associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago . Later, she served as vice president for community and external affairs of the University of Chicago Medical Center . Michelle married Barack in 1992, and they have two daughters. Obama campaigned for her husband's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. She was the first African-American woman to serve as first lady. As first lady, Obama worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She has written three books including her The New York Times best selling memoir Becoming (2018) and The Light We Carry (2022). Michelle LaVaughn Robinson
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3990-410: The associate dean of student services at the University of Chicago , where she developed the university's Community Service Center. In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and, beginning May 2005, as vice president for community and external affairs. She continued to hold the University of Chicago Hospitals position during
4085-480: The attendees to advocate for political awareness, saying, "To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better – no place better, because ultimately, these are not just political issues – they are moral issues, they're issues that have to do with human dignity and human potential, and the future we want for our kids and our grandkids." Following law school, Obama became an associate at
4180-472: The black alumni would still identify with the African-American community, even though they had attended an elite university and had the advantages that accrue to its graduates. Robinson pursued professional study, earning her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988. By the time she applied for Harvard Law, biographer Bond wrote, her confidence had increased: "This time around, there
4275-621: The book, It's Good to Be Black , by Ruby Berkley Goodwin. Hayden said that her passion for reading was inspired by Marguerite de Angeli 's Bright April , the 1946 book about a young African-American girl who was in the Brownies . At Chicago's South Shore High School , Hayden became interested in books on British history and "cozy mysteries". She attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois , and then transferred to Roosevelt University . While she loved libraries she didn't consider it as
4370-523: The collection and modernizing access to it, as she will be the first librarian of Congress appointed "since the advent of the internet." In a press release by the ALA Washington Office, ALA president Julie Todaro said, "Hayden holds a profound understanding of the integral role libraries play in formal education, community-based learning, and the promotion of individual opportunity and community progress. I believe that through her visionary leadership
4465-534: The combination of an evolving family life and beginning political career led to many arguments about balancing work and family. Barack Obama wrote in his second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream , that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance." Despite their family obligations and careers, they continued to try to schedule "date nights" while they lived in Chicago. The Obamas' daughters attended
4560-547: The confirmation hearing. Hayden opposed the 2000 Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which was a sticking point in her nomination to become Librarian of Congress. On July 13, 2016, she was confirmed as Librarian of Congress by a 74–18 vote in the United States Senate . Hayden was sworn in by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts on September 14, 2016. Even though more than eighty percent of American librarians are women, for over two hundred years
4655-449: The day. In 1995, Hayden was honored with the national Librarian of the Year Award by Library Journal , becoming the first African American to receive the prestigious award. Her commitment to equity of access was central to the honor. Librarian of Congress The librarian of Congress is the head of the Library of Congress , appointed by the president of the United States with
4750-467: The divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views." The Obama family attended several different Protestant churches after moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, including Shiloh Baptist Church and St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square, known as the Presidents' Church. At the 49th African Methodist Episcopal Church 's general conference, Michelle Obama encouraged
4845-500: The embodiment of the American Dream . Obama said she and her husband believe "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them." She also emphasized loving her country, likely responding to criticism for having said that she felt "proud of her country for
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#17330853124764940-560: The equivalent of the rate of pay set by Level II of the Executive Schedule. There are no laws or regulations delineating qualifications for the office holder. The position of librarian of Congress has been held by candidates of different backgrounds, interests, and talents, throughout its history. Politicians, businessmen, authors, poets, lawyers, and professional librarians have served as the Librarian of Congress. However, at various times there have been proposals for requirements for
5035-473: The faculty there. Hayden then moved back to Chicago and became Deputy Commissioner and Chief Librarian of the Chicago Public Library , posts she held from 1991 to 1993. During her time working at the Chicago Public Library, Hayden became acquainted with Michelle Obama and Barack Obama . From 1993 to 2016, Hayden was executive director of Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library . In January 2010, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Hayden as
5130-433: The financial needs of the family in what she deemed a more practical way. At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters. She says that she negotiated an agreement in which her husband was to quit smoking in exchange for her support of his decision to run. About her role in her husband's presidential campaign, she has said: "My job
5225-507: The first floor. She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother at home, the father works, you have dinner around the table". Her elementary school was down the street. She and her family enjoyed playing games such as Monopoly , reading, and frequently saw extended family on both sides. She played piano, learning from her great-aunt, who was a piano teacher. The Robinsons attended services at nearby South Shore United Methodist Church. They used to vacation in
5320-438: The first new branch opening in 35 years along with the renovation of the co-operative's central branch, at a cost of $ 112 million. During the 2015 protests of the death of Freddie Gray , Hayden kept Baltimore's libraries open, an act for which she received extensive praise. When interviewed by American Libraries Magazine during the Baltimore unrest in 2015 why she decided to keep the libraries open, Hayden replied, I knew that
5415-513: The first time". The first statement was seen as a gaffe. Her keynote address was largely well-received and drew mostly positive reviews. A Rasmussen Reports poll found that her favorability among Americans reached 55%, the highest for her. On an October 6, 2008, broadcast, Larry King asked Obama if the American electorate was past the Bradley effect . She said her husband's winning the nomination
5510-484: The hiring of professors who were members of minority groups. She worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau , assisting low-income tenants with housing cases. She is the third first lady with a postgraduate degree , after her two immediate predecessors, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush . She later said her education gave her opportunities beyond what she had ever imagined. Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson,
5605-409: The ideal of providing equal access to everyone, anywhere, anytime, and in any format. We need to pay particular attention to those groups who are already underserved, such as residents of rural and urban America, senior citizens and the disabled. By finally embracing equity of access we will be affirming our core valves, recognizing realities, and assuring our future. In her role as ALA president, Hayden
5700-530: The law. Ashcroft often ridiculed the library community, and stated that the ALA had been "misled into opposing provisions of the act that make it easier for FBI agents to fish through library records". Hayden's response was immediate, stating that the ALA was "deeply concerned that the Attorney General would be so openly contemptuous" (to the library community), while also pointing out that librarians had been monitored and been under FBI surveillance as far back as
5795-534: The librarian appoints the U.S. poet laureate and awards the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song . On July 13, 2016, the US Senate confirmed President Barack Obama 's nomination of Carla Hayden as the librarian, and she was sworn in on September 14, 2016. On April 24, 1800, the 6th United States Congress passed an appropriations bill signed by President John Adams which created the Library of Congress. This law
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#17330853124765890-499: The librarian field, despite several instances of opposition from the American Library Association. From its creation until 2015, the post of the librarian was not subject to term limits and allowed incumbents to maintain a lifetime appointment once confirmed. Most librarians of Congress have served until death or retirement. There were only 13 librarians of Congress in the more than two centuries from 1802 to 2015, and
5985-401: The libraries are community resources. I knew that they are anchors in so many communities. In a lot of communities in Baltimore, especially challenged ones, we are the only resource. If we close, we're sending a signal that we're afraid or that we aren't going to be available when times are tough. We should be open especially when times are tough. When later asked to reflect about the incident in
6080-420: The library "enjoyed a continuity of atmosphere and of policy that is rare in national institutions". In 2015, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law the "Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015", which put a 10-year term limit on the position with an option for reappointment. The legislation was seen as a critique of Librarian James H. Billington 's unwillingness to hire
6175-554: The magazine, she stated: Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy—where information is free and equally available to everyone. People tend to take that for granted, and they don't realize what is at stake when that is put at risk. Hayden says, "[Librarians] are activists, engaged in the social work aspect of librarianship. Now we are fighters for freedom". Along with her objections to the Patriot Act, Hayden has done much in her career in outreach programs. As ALA President she wrote: At
6270-412: The materials of scholarship and organizing them for use—in short, a distinguished librarian". In 1989, Congressman Major Owens (D–NY) introduced a bill to set stricter requirements for who may be appointed. He argued appointed librarians need to have specialized training; the bill did not become law. Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama ( née Robinson ; born January 17, 1964)
6365-437: The new library. In 1802, two years after the creation of the library, President Thomas Jefferson approved a congressional act that created the Office of the Librarian and granted the president power of appointment over the new office. Shortly thereafter, Jefferson appointed his former campaign manager John J. Beckley to serve as the first librarian of Congress. He was paid $ 2 a day and was also required to serve as clerk to
6460-407: The next five years, Hayden will also focus on making sure that at least half of the library's 162 million items are digitized, especially rare collections. Hayden hopes for the library to have live performances and broadcasts and have traveling exhibits tour America that tie in with educational programming for schoolkids. Hayden aspires to modernize the institution during her tenure by both preserving
6555-498: The position of librarian of Congress was filled exclusively by white men, making Hayden the first woman and the first African American to hold the position. Notably, she is also a librarian by profession. Many past librarians of Congress have been scholars and historians. As Librarian of Congress, Hayden says she hopes to continue "the movement to open the treasure chest that is the Library of Congress." She says that much of her early effort will focus on building and retaining staff. In
6650-432: The position. In 1945, Carl Vitz , then president of the American Library Association , wrote a letter to the president of the United States regarding the position of librarian of Congress, which had recently become vacant. Vitz felt it necessary to recommend potential librarians. Vitz stated the position "requires a top-flight administrator, a statesman-like leader in the world of knowledge, and an expert in bringing together
6745-507: The presidency; he criticized Wal-Mart labor policies at an AFL–CIO forum in Trenton, New Jersey , on May 14, 2007. She also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs . In 2021, the former first lady announced that she has been "moving toward retirement". Though she continues to be active in political campaigns, the former first lady has said she is reducing
6840-418: The primary campaign of 2008 but cut back to part-time in order to spend time with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election. She subsequently took a leave of absence from her job. According to the couple's 2006 income tax return , her salary was $ 273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband had a salary of $ 157,082 from the United States Senate . The Obamas' total income
6935-413: The proven experience, dedication, and deep knowledge of our nation's libraries to serve our country well and that's why I look forward to working with her in the months ahead. If confirmed, Hayden would be the first woman and the first African American to hold the position – both of which are long overdue. After her nomination, more than 140 library, publishing, educational, and academic organizations signed
7030-459: The public eye for many years now, and we've developed a thick skin along the way. When you're out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just take it in stride, and at the end of the day, I know that it comes with the territory." By the time of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of
7125-474: The race, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows such as The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal rather than appearing on news programs. The change was reflected in her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces. Partly intended to help soften her public image, her appearance on The View
7220-756: The same tactic was being used by Ann Romney , wife of 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney . Polls in October showed their husbands tied at 47% for the female vote. However, Michelle Obama's favorability ratings remained higher than Ann Romney's at 69% to 52%. Despite Obama's higher poll numbers, comparisons between Obama and Romney were repeatedly made by the media until the election. But, as Michelle Cottle of Newsweek wrote, "... nobody votes for first lady." During her early months as First Lady, Obama visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens . She also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service. Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. She hosted
7315-485: The show was canceled. Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election in 2012. Beginning in 2011, Obama became more politically active than she had been since the 2008 election, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid. By the time of the election cycle, she had developed a more open public image. Some commentators viewed her as the most popular member of the Obama administration, noting that her poll approval numbers had not dropped below 60% since she entered
7410-403: The theme "Equity of Access". The term "Equity of Access" refers to idea that all people, from every background and of all ages, income, and capabilities, should have access to information they need in uncensored and varied formats (digital, print, etc.). On the topic of Equity of Access, Hayden has stated: At a time when our public is challenged on multiple fronts, we need to recommit ourselves to
7505-532: Was "adventurous". They married on October 3, 1992. After suffering a miscarriage, Michelle underwent in vitro fertilisation to conceive their daughters Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha, born 2001). The Obama family lived on Chicago's South Side, where Barack taught at the University of Chicago Law School. He was elected to the state senate in 1996 and to the U.S. Senate in 2004. They chose to keep their residence in Chicago after Barack's election rather than to move to Washington, DC, as they felt it
7600-407: Was $ 991,296, which included $ 51,200 that she earned as a member of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods and investments and royalties from his books. Obama served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods , Inc. ( NYSE : THS ), a major Wal-Mart supplier from shortly after her husband was seated in the Senate until she cut ties shortly after her husband announced his candidacy for
7695-455: Was 10 years old, her parents divorced and she moved with her mother to Chicago, Illinois. She had a younger half-brother from her father's second marriage, Bruce Kennard Hayden, III, who died in 1992. Hayden's mother's side of the family comes from Helena, Arkansas . Her father's maternal side of the family, who eventually settled in Du Quoin, Illinois , had been enslaved , which is chronicled in
7790-512: Was a fairly strong indicator that it was. The same night she was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show , where she deflected criticism of her husband and his campaign. On Fox News' America's Pulse , E. D. Hill referred to the fist bump shared by the Obamas the night he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination , describing it as a "terrorist fist jab". Hill was taken off air, and
7885-548: Was a stay-at-home mother. Her father was Fraser C. Robinson III, who worked at the city's water purification plant. Robinson's father, Fraser , died from complications from his illness in March 1991. She would later say that although he was the "hole in my heart" and "loss in my scar", the memory of her father has motivated her each day since. Her friend Suzanne Alele died from cancer around this time as well. These losses made her think of her contributions toward society and how well she
7980-483: Was also seen as having improved her image since 2008 when her husband first ran for the presidency. Isabel Wilkinson of The Daily Beast said Obama's fashion style changed over the course of the campaign to be sensitive and economical. Prior to the first debate of the election cycle, Obama expressed confidence in her husband's debating skills. He was later criticized for appearing detached and for looking down when addressing Romney. Consensus among uncommitted voters
8075-511: Was better for their daughters. Throughout her husband's 2008 campaign for U.S. president , Obama made a "commitment to be away overnight only once a week – to campaign only two days a week and be home by the end of the second day" for their two daughters. She once requested that her then-fiancé meet her prospective boss, Valerie Jarrett , when considering her first career move; Jarrett became one of her husband's closest advisors. The marital relationship has had its ebbs and flows;
8170-407: Was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III (1935–1991), a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain , and Marian Shields Robinson (1937–2024), a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store . Her mother was a full-time homemaker until Michelle entered high school. The Robinson and Shields families trace their roots to pre- Civil War African Americans in
8265-690: Was elected to the American Philosophical Society . Hayden was born in Tallahassee, Florida , to Bruce Kennard Hayden Jr., at that time director of the String Department at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, and Colleen Hayden ( née Dowling ), a social worker. Her parents met while attending Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois . Hayden grew up in Queens , New York. When she
8360-490: Was influencing the world from her law firm in her first job after law school. She considered this a turning point. Robinson met Barack Obama when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin LLP (she has sometimes said only two, although others have noted that there were others in different departments). She was assigned to mentor him while he was a summer associate . Their relationship started with
8455-414: Was likely 20-year-old Charles Marion Shields, son of Melvinia's master. They may have had a continuing relationship, as she had two more mixed-race children and lived near Shields after emancipation, taking his surname (she later changed her surname). As was often the case, Melvinia did not talk to relatives about Dolphus's father. Dolphus Shields, with his wife Alice, moved to Birmingham, Alabama , after
8550-469: Was no doubt in her mind that she had earned her place". Her faculty mentor at Harvard Law was Charles Ogletree , who has said she had answered the question that had plagued her throughout Princeton by the time she arrived at Harvard Law: whether she would remain the product of her parents or keep the identity she had acquired at Princeton; she had concluded she could be "both brilliant and black". At Harvard, Robinson participated in demonstrations advocating
8645-521: Was that the latter had won the debate. After Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention , the first lady was found through a CBS News/ New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she had polled since April 2009. Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states. Paul Harris of The Guardian said
8740-399: Was the first time she became more aware of her ethnicity and, despite the willingness of her classmates and teachers to reach out to her, she still felt "like a visitor on campus". There were also issues of economic class. "I remember being shocked," she says, "by college students who drove BMWs . I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs." While at Princeton, Robinson became involved with
8835-584: Was to serve a "further provision for the removal and accommodation of the Government of the United States". The fifth section of the act specifically created the Library of Congress and designated some of its early capabilities. The act provided for "the acquisition of books for congressional use, a suitable place in the Capitol in which to house them, a joint committee to make rules for their selection, acquisition, and circulation", as well as an appropriation of $ 5,000 for
8930-610: Was vocal in her public opposition to the Patriot Act , leading a battle for the protections of library users' privacy. She especially objected to the special permissions contained in Section 215 of that law, which gave the Justice Department and the FBI the power to access library user records. Hayden often sparred publicly with then- U.S. attorney general John Ashcroft over the language of
9025-445: Was widely covered in the press. The presidential campaign was Obama's first exposure to the national political scene; she was considered the least famous of the candidates' spouses. Early in the campaign, she told anecdotes about Obama family life; however, as the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned it down. New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote: I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as
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