Obama in 1980

Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, December 19th, 2008 - 11 comments
Categories: International - Tags: ,

From Time:

In 1980, when Obama was a freshman at Occidental College in Los Angeles, he was approached by an aspiring photographer named Lisa Jack, who asked him if he would be willing to pose for some black and white photographs that she could use in her portfolio.

She put the photos away until after the election lest they be used for political purposes but she says she believes that now’s the time to share them. Click the link above for more.

obama1

11 comments on “Obama in 1980 ”

  1. roger nome 1

    hmm cigarettes hey? The Republicans would have had a moral outrage ball with this – all the while ignoring Bush’s earlier cocaine use of course …

  2. Peter Johns - bigoted troll in jerkoff mode 2

    did he inhale? Was it da weed?

  3. burt 3

    Peter Johns

    The question of Obama and inhaling is answered here “I inhaled frequently” “That was the point”

    However the photo shoot is a great find. It’s truly a treasure.

    I guess people need to think of all the photo’s that have ever been taken of them before they enter politics….

    roger, todays PC position on smoking should not be used as a stick to beat a young black man photographed in America in 1980. Likewise having a few snorts for a young rich white guy in America anytime in the last 40 years. You are ridiculous some times.

  4. toms 4

    Regardless of the oddness of American politics, the freshness of a US president that is honest about inhaling, and has a wife who calls him “babe” is just outta there.

  5. Very cool photos of Obama when he was young. Heres hoping he can get the world out of this mess.

  6. Janet 6

    He has written about his time at university – and lots more – in his Dreams from my father. Great book, but it’s not illustrated. So this is a perfect accompaniment.

  7. Patrick 7

    Amazing photos, what an awesome find.

    Janet, I take it you’d recommend Dreams From My Father, have you read Audacity of Hope? Which would you recommend I read first?

  8. ghostwhowalks 8

    There are some photos of George W in his early days as a pilot..

    http://www.ebush.com/bush/photos/bush_pilot_button.jpg

    This one was the best

    http://www.ebush.com/bush/photos/bush_serving_beer.jpg

  9. ghostwhowalks 9

    Will the GOP now claim Obama is “all hat and no cattle”

  10. Chris G 10

    Those are such awseome photos. he looks damn cool.

    Blatant joint holding of the cigarette though… that’ll be why they didnt release them before the election. Republicans would have had a right field day with it.

  11. PFraser 11

    Patrick
    I’ve read both of those recently and both very worth reading, but they are different as there is about 12 years between his writing of each. And I think there is a more recent one as well. Dreams from my father is the first volume of his autobiography until he enters Harvard. Written in mid 1990s. Covers childhood and finding his Kenyan family. Audacity of Hope is Obama the politician and a great insight into US politics but not so gripping a personal story. So read Dreams first in my opinion.

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