2009

Jan. 20. Is sworn in as the 44th president.

2008

Nov. 4. With his running mate Joe Biden, he wins the election against the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Nov. 3. Madelyn Dunham, his white grandmother who raised him and whom he credits with shaping his values dies from cancer at her home in Hawaii.

Aug. 28. Accepts the nomination to be the Democratic candidate.

Aug. 23. Picks long-time Delaware Senator Joseph Biden as his vice-presidential running mate.

July 24. Makes a foreign policy tour of Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan. 200,000 attend his speech in Berlin.

June 3. Wins enough delegates in the primary process to secure the nomination over rival Hillary Clinton.

April 29. Denounces his former friend and pastor Jeremiah Wright for racist comments.

March 18. Gives a major speech on race issues in Philadelphia called ‘A more perfect union” after his longtime pastor causes some controversy.

Jan. 3. Wins the Iowa caucus suggesting he is the one to beat in the primaries.

2007

Dec. 8. Television personality Oprah Winfrey endorses Obama and campaigns for him.

Sept. 12. Outlines his plan for withdrawal from Iraq.

Feb. 10. Announces is candidacy for the Democratic nomination standing in front of the old state capital in Springfield, Ill., where Abraham Lincoln began his political career.

2006

Oct 17. Publishes his second book, The Audacity of Hope, that describes his views on a variety of issues.

Aug. 25. Travels to Kenya, his father’s home country and is mobbed like a rock star.

2004

Nov. 2. Wins a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Aug. 10. His first book, Dreams from my Father, is re-issued. It was originally published in 1995.

July 27. Gives a charismatic keynote speech at the Democratic national convention, establishing him as the new face of the party.