Obama_NP1 's_GE and_CC Lincoln_NP1 's_GE Inaugural_JJ Addresses_NN2 and_CC Much_DA1 More_DAR 1_MC1 ._. 
Inaugurations_NN2 ,_, Past_JJ and_CC Present_JJ When_CS Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 took_VVD this_DD1 oath_NN1 at_II noon_NNT1 on_II January_NPM1 20_MC ,_, 2009_MC ,_, he_PPHS1 became_VVD the_AT forty-fourth_MD president_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 to_TO repeat_VVI these_DD2 exact_JJ thirty-five_MC words_NN2 ._. 
The_AT words_NN2 have_VH0 n't_XX changed_VVN since_CS our_APPGE first_MD president_NN1 ,_, George_NP1 Washington_NP1 ,_, spoke_VVD them_PPHO2 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 on_II April_NPM1 30_MC ,_, 1789_MC ._. 
A_RR31 great_RR32 deal_RR33 about_II presidential_JJ inaugurations_NN2 has_VHZ changed_VVN over_II the_AT course_NN1 of_IO two_MC centuries_NNT2 --_NN1 their_APPGE date_NN1 ,_, where_CS they_PPHS2 are_VBR held_VVN ,_, the_AT ceremonies_NN2 surrounding_VVG them_PPHO2 ,_, and_CC the_AT number_NN1 of_IO people_NN who_PNQS are_VBR able_JK to_TO see_VVI and_CC hear_VVI them_PPHO2 ,_, just_RR for_IF starters_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 oath_NN1 of_IO office_NN1 ,_, however_RR ,_, as_CSA written_VVN into_II the_AT U.S._NP1 Constitution_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ not_XX changed_VVN at_RR21 all_RR22 ._. 
Think_VV0 of_IO the_AT often-violent_JJ changes_NN2 of_IO power_NN1 that_CST go_VV0 on_RP routinely_RR in_II other_JJ countries_NN2 ._. 
In_II many_DA2 cases_NN2 ,_, power-hungry_JJ factions_NN2 ignore_VV0 the_AT will_NN1 of_IO the_AT people_NN and_CC seize_VV0 the_AT reins_NN2 of_IO government_NN1 by_II force_NN1 ._. 
Now_RT think_VV0 of_IO the_AT forty-four_MC U.S._NP1 presidents_NN2 over_II the_AT course_NN1 of_IO 220_MC years_NNT2 ,_, standing_VVG in_II31 front_II32 of_II33 the_AT American_JJ people_NN ,_, raising_VVG their_APPGE hands_NN2 ,_, and_CC taking_VVG this_DD1 oath_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA Dr._NNB Donald_NP1 R._NP1 Kennon_NP1 ,_, chief_JJ historian_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Capitol_NP1 Historical_JJ Society_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ :_: "_" Our_APPGE American_JJ Revolution_NN1 was_VBDZ an_AT1 experiment_NN1 to_TO see_VVI if_CSW the_AT people_NN could_VM govern_VVI themselves_PPX2 ._. 
And_CC the_AT regular_JJ and_CC routine_NN1 nature_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 presidential_JJ inauguration_NN1 reassures_VVZ the_AT people_NN that_CST the_AT experiment_NN1 is_VBZ continuing_JJ and_CC succeeding_JJ ._. "_" 
3_MC ._. 
Barack_VV0 Obama_NP1 "_" That_DD1 Great_JJ Gift_NN1 of_IO Freedom_NN1 "_" :_: Setting_VVG the_AT Scene_NN1 The_AT Washington_NP1 D.C._NP1 morning_NNT1 dawned_VVD partly_RR cloudy_JJ and_CC cold_JJ --_JJ temperatures_NN2 under_RG 20_MC degrees_NN2 --_JJ as_CSA hundreds_NNO2 of_IO thousands_NNO2 of_IO people_NN began_VVD gathering_VVG expectantly_RR in_II the_AT city_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 came_VVD from_II every_AT1 part_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 and_CC were_VBDR mainly_RR ordinary_JJ people_NN ._. 
There_EX was_VBDZ Rebecca_NP1 Wilks_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 forty-six-year-old_JJ woman_NN1 with_IW cerebral_JJ palsy_NN1 whose_DDQGE friends_NN2 raised_VVD $2,500_NNU to_TO send_VVI her_PPHO1 to_II the_AT inauguration_NN1 :_: "_" Just_RR pinch_VV0 me_PPIO1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 told_VVD a_AT1 reporter_NN1 ._. 
There_EX was_VBDZ Greg_NP1 Weaver_NP1 ,_, the_AT Amtrak_NP1 conductor_NN1 who_PNQS had_VHD befriended_VVN Senator_NNB Joe_NP1 Biden_NP1 as_CSA Biden_NP1 commuted_VVD from_II Wilmington_NP1 ,_, Delaware_NP1 ,_, to_II his_APPGE office_NN1 in_II Washington_NP1 every_AT1 day_NNT1 --_NN1 and_CC now_RT Biden_NP1 had_VHD invited_VVN Weaver_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE wife_NN1 to_II the_AT inauguration_NN1 ._. 
There_EX was_VBDZ Chesley_NP1 "_" Sully_VV0 "_" Sullenberger_NP1 ,_, the_AT pilot_NN1 who_PNQS had_VHD miraculously_RR landed_VVN US_NP1 Airways_NN2 Flight_NN1 1549_MC in_II the_AT Hudson_NP1 River_NNL1 the_AT week_NNT1 before_RT ,_, without_IW loss_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 ,_, after_CS the_AT plane_NN1 was_VBDZ hit_VVN by_II birds_NN2 ._. 
President-elect_NNB Obama_NP1 had_VHD invited_VVN him_PPHO1 ,_, his_APPGE family_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT entire_JJ crew_NN1 of_IO 1549_MC to_TO attend_VVI ._. 
There_EX were_VBDR the_AT members_NN2 of_IO high_JJ school_NN1 and_CC college_NN1 marching_NN1 bands_VVZ from_II all_RR over_II the_AT country_NN1 ,_, including_II boys_NN2 from_II the_AT Bonnie_NP1 Brae_NP1 Residential_JJ Treatment_NN1 Center_NN1 in_II New_NP1 Jersey_NP1 ,_, boys_NN2 without_IW homes_NN2 to_II whom_PNQO was_VBDZ attached_VVN ,_, according_II21 to_II22 their_APPGE director_NN1 ,_, "_" a_AT1 long_JJ laundry_NN1 list_NN1 of_IO negative_JJ labels_NN2 ._. "_" 
Yet_RR because_CS oftheir_NN1 "_" pride_NN1 and_CC hope_VV0 for_IF the_AT future_NN1 ,_, "_" they_PPHS2 had_VHD been_VBN picked_VVN to_TO march_VVI in_II the_AT inaugural_JJ parade_NN1 that_CST would_VM come_VVI after_II Obama_NP1 's_GE swearing-in_NN1 ._. 
About_RG a_AT1 quarter_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 million_NNO people_NN with_IW tickets_NN2 --_JJ many_DA2 of_IO them_PPHO2 picked_VVD through_II a_AT1 lottery_NN1 system_NN1 --_NN1 gathered_VVN near_II the_AT west_ND1 front_NN1 of_IO the_AT Capitol_NP1 Building_NN1 ._. 
There_EX were_VBDR also_RR the_AT lucky_JJ sixteen_MC hundred_NNO who_PNQS would_VM view_VVI the_AT inauguration_NN1 from_II seats_NN2 on_II the_AT specially_RR erected_VVN platform_NN1 ._. 
Hundreds_NNO2 of_IO thousands_NNO2 more_RRR thronged_VVD the_AT National_JJ Mall_NN1 ._. 
People_NN were_VBDR cold_JJ ._. 
They_PPHS2 had_VHD endured_VVN security_NN1 precautions_NN2 that_CST had_VHD never_RR before_RT occurred_VVN at_II any_DD inauguration_NN1 ._. 
More_DAR than_CSN thirty-five_MC thousand_NNO police_NN2 officers_NN2 ,_, National_JJ Guardsmen_NN2 ,_, and_CC plainclothes_NN2 agents_NN2 from_II more_DAR than_CSN fifty_MC agencies_NN2 were_VBDR present_JJ ._. 
The_AT spectators_NN2 were_VBDR not_XX allowed_VVN to_TO bring_VVI in_RP any_DD drinks_NN2 or_CC food_NN1 items_NN2 larger_JJR than_CSN a_AT1 small_JJ snack_NN1 ._. 
There_EX was_VBDZ no_AT place_NN1 to_TO sit_VVI in_II the_AT mall_NN1 and_CC long_JJ lines_NN2 for_IF the_AT portable_JJ bathrooms_NN2 ._. 
What_DDQ had_VHD brought_VVN all_DB these_DD2 people_NN together_RL --_JJ and_CC what_DDQ had_VHD caused_VVN millions_NNO2 more_RRR to_TO gather_VVI ,_, in_II schools_NN2 ,_, homes_NN2 ,_, and_CC workplaces_NN2 ,_, to_TO watch_VVI the_AT inaugural_JJ events_NN2 on_II television_NN1 and_CC on_II the_AT internet_NN1 --_NN1 was_VBDZ hope_NN1 ,_, hope_NN1 embodied_VVN in_II the_AT person_NN1 of_IO one_MC1 man_NN1 :_: Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ about_RPK to_TO become_VVI the_AT first_MD African_JJ American_JJ president_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 Better_RRR Be_VBI Good_JJ !_! "_" 
As_CSA all_DB these_DD2 people_NN gathered_VVD ,_, Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE wife_NN1 ,_, Michelle_NP1 ,_, attended_VVD services_NN2 at_II St._NP1 John_NP1 's_GE Episcopal_JJ Church_NN1 ._. 
St._NP1 John_NP1 's_GE is_VBZ known_VVN as_II "_" the_AT Church_NN1 of_IO the_AT Presidents_NN2 "_" because_CS every_AT1 president-elect_NNB since_CS Franklin_NP1 Roosevelt_NP1 in_II 1933_MC has_VHZ prayed_VVN there_RL on_II the_AT morning_NNT1 of_IO his_APPGE inauguration_NN1 ._. 
Then_RT he_PPHS1 and_CC Michelle_NP1 went_VVD with_IW Vice_JJ President_NN1 -_- elect_VV0 Joe_NP1 Biden_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE wife_NN1 ,_, Jill_NP1 ,_, to_TO meet_VVI briefly_RR with_IW President_NNB George_NP1 Bush_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE wife_NN1 ,_, Laura_NP1 ,_, at_II the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 ._. 
After_II that_DD1 ,_, Bush_NP1 and_CC Obama_NP1 rode_VVD together_RL to_II the_AT swearing-in_NN1 ceremony_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 ride_NN1 that_CST had_VHD become_VVN traditional_JJ since_CS Martin_NP1 Van_NP1 Buren_NP1 picked_VVD up_RP outgoing_JJ president_NN1 Andrew_NP1 Jackson_NP1 in_II 1837_MC ._. 
As_CSA he_PPHS1 rode_VVD to_II the_AT Capitol_NP1 Building_NN1 with_IW Bush_NP1 ,_, it_PPH1 must_VM have_VHI been_VBN hard_JJ for_IF Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 to_TO keep_VVI from_II thinking_VVG about_II the_AT speech_NN1 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ going_VVGK to_TO make_VVI ,_, one_PN1 that_CST so_RG many_DA2 people_NN around_II the_AT world_NN1 were_VBDR waiting_VVG to_TO hear_VVI ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD spent_VVN days_NNT2 working_VVG on_II it_PPH1 ,_, going_VVG through_II three_MC different_JJ drafts_NN2 to_TO try_VVI to_TO get_VVI the_AT wording_NN1 just_RR right_JJ ._. 
The_AT thought_NN1 of_IO Abraham_NP1 Lincoln_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE inspiring_JJ inaugural_JJ speeches_NN2 was_VBDZ never_RR far_RR from_II Obama_NP1 's_GE mind_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 knew_VVD that_CST comparisons_NN2 to_II the_AT best_JJT inaugural_JJ speeches_NN2 in_II our_APPGE nation_NN1 's_GE history_NN1 would_VM be_VBI made_VVN ,_, yet_RR it_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 challenge_NN1 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ prepared_VVN to_TO accept_VVI ._. 
One_MC1 night_NNT1 the_AT previous_JJ week_NNT1 ,_, Obama_NP1 took_VVD Michelle_NP1 and_CC their_APPGE daughters_NN2 ,_, Malia_NP1 and_CC Sasha_NP1 ,_, to_II the_AT Lincoln_NP1 Memorial_NN1 ,_, thrilling_JJ and_CC startling_VVG some_DD tourists_NN2 who_PNQS were_VBDR surprised_JJ to_TO see_VVI the_AT president-elect_NNB show_NN1 up_RP just_RR before_II closing_JJ time_NNT1 ._. 
Lincoln_NP1 's_GE second_MD inaugural_JJ address_NN1 is_VBZ inscribed_VVN on_II the_AT huge_JJ wall_NN1 of_IO the_AT memorial_NN1 ._. 
The_AT speech_NN1 is_VBZ short_JJ --_NN1 only_RR 704_MC words_NN2 long_RR --_JJ and_CC Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 said_VVD after_II his_APPGE visit_NN1 :_: "_" I_PPIS1 'm_VBM not_XX sure_JJ whether_CSW &lsqb;_( visiting_VVG the_AT Lincoln_NP1 Memorial_NN1 &rsqb;_) was_VBDZ wise_JJ ,_, because_CS every_AT1 time_NNT1 you_PPY read_VV0 that_DD1 second_NNT1 inaugural_JJ ,_, you_PPY start_VV0 getting_VVG intimidated_JJ ...._... 
There_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 genius_NN1 to_II Lincoln_NP1 that_DD1 is_VBZ not_XX going_VVGK to_TO be_VBI matched_VVN ._. "_" 
Things_NN2 were_VBDR n't_XX helped_VVN any_RR when_CS his_APPGE daughter_NN1 Sasha_NP1 asked_VVD if_CS Obama_NP1 's_GE own_DA speech_NN1 was_VBDZ going_VVGK to_TO be_VBI that_RG short_JJ ,_, and_CC his_APPGE daughter_NN1 Malia_NP1 interrupted_VVD :_: "_" First_MD African_JJ American_JJ president_NN1 --_NN1 it_PPH1 better_RRR be_VBI good_JJ ._. "_" 
5_MC ._. 
Two_MC Senators_NN2 from_II Illinois_NP1 Introducing_VVG Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 There_EX are_VBR so_RG many_DA2 firsts_NN2 associated_VVN with_IW Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 's_VBZ the_AT first_MD president_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 name_NN1 as_RG distinctive_JJ as_CSA Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ,_, the_AT first_MD president_NN1 born_VVN in_II Hawaii_NP1 ,_, even_RR the_AT first_MD president_NN1 to_TO have_VHI his_APPGE own_DA My_APPGE Space_NN1 page_NN1 !_! 
The_AT most_RGT important_JJ first_MD is_VBZ that_CST in_II 220_MC years_NNT2 of_IO America_NP1 's_GE existence_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 is_VBZ our_APPGE first_MD African_JJ American_JJ president_NN1 ._. 
Like_II Abraham_NP1 Lincoln_NP1 ,_, Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 had_VHD an_AT1 unusual_JJ and_CC in_II some_DD ways_NN2 difficult_JJ childhood_NN1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 was_VBDZ one_PN1 that_CST allowed_VVD him_PPHO1 to_TO develop_VVI empathy_NN1 for_IF those_DD2 in_II pain_NN1 or_CC trouble_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ born_VVN on_II August_NPM1 4_MC ,_, 1961_MC ,_, in_II Honolulu_NP1 ,_, Hawaii_NP1 ._. 
His_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ,_, Sr._NNA ,_, was_VBDZ from_II the_AT African_JJ country_NN1 of_IO Kenya_NP1 ._. 
His_APPGE mother_NN1 ,_, Ann_NP1 Dunham_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ from_II a_AT1 small_JJ town_NN1 in_II Kansas_NP1 ._. 
Both_DB2 of_IO them_PPHO2 were_VBDR studying_VVG at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Hawaii_NP1 when_CS they_PPHS2 met_VVD ._. 
Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ,_, Sr._NNA ,_, was_VBDZ the_AT school_NN1 's_GE first_MD black_JJ student_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 fell_VVD in_II love_NN1 ,_, got_VVD married_VVN ,_, and_CC had_VHD a_AT1 son_NN1 ,_, whom_PNQO they_PPHS2 named_VVD Barack_NP1 ,_, which_DDQ means_VVZ "_" blessing_VVG "_" in_II Swahili_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 native_JJ African_JJ language_NN1 ._. 
Obama_NP1 's_GE middle_JJ name_NN1 ,_, Hussein_NP1 ,_, comes_VVZ from_II his_APPGE Kenyan_JJ grandfather_NN1 ,_, Hussein_NP1 Onyango_NP1 Obama_NP1 ._. 
When_CS Barack_NP1 was_VBDZ two_MC ,_, his_APPGE parents_NN2 divorced_VVD ._. 
His_APPGE father_NN1 eventually_RR returned_VVN to_II Kenya_NP1 ,_, and_CC his_APPGE mother_NN1 remarried_VVD ._. 
Barack_NP1 's_GE stepfather_NN1 was_VBDZ also_RR a_AT1 student_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ from_II Indonesia_NP1 ,_, in_II Southeast_ND1 Asia_NP1 ._. 
Young_JJ Barack_NN1 and_CC his_APPGE mother_NN1 moved_VVN to_II Jakarta_NP1 ,_, the_AT capital_NN1 of_IO Indonesia_NP1 ,_, where_CS Barack_NP1 lived_VVD until_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ ten_MC ._. 
At_II that_DD1 time_NNT1 ,_, because_CS his_APPGE mother_NN1 was_VBDZ continuing_VVG her_APPGE work_NN1 in_II Indonesia_NP1 and_CC she_PPHS1 thought_VVD Barack_NP1 would_VM get_VVI a_AT1 better_JJR education_NN1 in_II Hawaii_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 returned_VVD to_II Honolulu_NP1 ._. 
There_RL he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ raised_VVN by_II his_APPGE grandparents_NN2 on_II his_APPGE mother_NN1 's_GE side_NN1 ._. 
From_II fifth_MD through_II twelfth_MD grade_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 attended_VVD the_AT Punahou_NN1 School_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 well-known_JJ private_JJ school_NN1 ._. 
From_II Barry_NP1 to_II Barack_NP1 Barack_NP1 graduated_VVD with_IW honors_NN2 in_II 1979_MC ,_, but_CCB in_II some_DD ways_NN2 his_APPGE life_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 tough_JJ one_PN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 admitted_VVD to_II trying_VVG drugs_NN2 and_CC alcohol_NN1 in_II high_JJ school_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 poor_JJ choice_NN1 that_CST represented_VVD "_" the_AT struggles_NN2 and_CC confusion_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 teenage_JJ boy_NN1 ,_, "_" as_CSA he_PPHS1 later_RRR put_VVD it_PPH1 ._. 
The_AT absence_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE father_NN1 was_VBDZ difficult_JJ for_IF him_PPHO1 ._. 
When_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ twelve_MC ,_, his_APPGE father_NN1 returned_VVN to_II Hawaii_NP1 for_IF a_AT1 month-long_JJ visit_NN1 ._. 
After_CS that_DD1 visit_NN1 ,_, Barack_NP1 would_VM never_RR see_VVI his_APPGE father_NN1 again_RT ._. 
His_APPGE father_NN1 died_VVD in_II a_AT1 car_NN1 accident_NN1 in_II Africa_NP1 in_II 1982_MC ._. 
Obama_NN1 would_VM later_RRR write_VVI ,_, "_" I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ trying_VVG to_TO raise_VVI myself_PPX1 to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 black_JJ man_NN1 in_II America_NP1 ,_, but_CCB having_VHG a_AT1 hard_JJ time_NNT1 knowing_VVG how_RRQ to_TO do_VDI it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
This_DD1 was_VBDZ especially_RR difficult_JJ in_II Hawaii_NP1 ,_, where_RRQ the_AT number_NN1 of_IO African_JJ Americans_NN2 was_VBDZ small_JJ ._. 
In_II fact_NN1 ,_, while_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ in_II high_JJ school_NN1 ,_, Obama_NP1 told_VVD few_DA2 people_NN that_CST his_APPGE real_JJ first_MD name_NN1 was_VBDZ Barack_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 introduced_VVD himself_PPX1 as_CSA Barry_NP1 ._. 
From_II Hawaii_NP1 ,_, Obama_NP1 went_VVD to_II California_NP1 ,_, where_CS he_PPHS1 studied_VVD for_IF two_MC years_NNT2 at_II Occidental_JJ College_NN1 before_II transferring_VVG to_II Columbia_NP1 University_NN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ._. 
After_CS he_PPHS1 graduated_VVD ,_, he_PPHS1 went_VVD to_II Chicago_NP1 --_NN1 the_AT city_NN1 that_CST he_PPHS1 would_VM eventually_RR call_VVI home_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC became_VVD a_AT1 community_NN1 organizer_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 helped_VVD poor_JJ people_NN to_TO improve_VVI their_APPGE lives_NN2 by_II setting_VVG up_RP job_NN1 training_NN1 programs_NN2 and_CC by_II organizing_VVG them_PPHO2 into_II groups_NN2 to_TO fight_VVI for_IF their_APPGE rights_NN2 ._. 
While_CS his_APPGE friends_NN2 still_RR called_VVN him_PPHO1 Barry_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ no_RR21 longer_RR22 ashamed_JJ of_IO introducing_VVG himself_PPX1 as_CSA Barack_NP1 ._. 
After_CS a_AT1 few_DA2 years_NNT2 in_II Chicago_NP1 ,_, Obama_NP1 went_VVD to_II Harvard_NP1 University_NN1 in_II Cambridge_NP1 ,_, Massachusetts_NP1 ,_, where_CS he_PPHS1 studied_VVD law_NN1 and_CC graduated_VVN with_IW highest_JJT honors_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT summer_NNT1 of_IO 1988_MC ,_, while_CS working_VVG part-time_JJ in_II a_AT1 Chicago_NP1 law_NN1 firm_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 met_VVD his_APPGE future_JJ wife_NN1 ,_, Michelle_NP1 Robinson_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS had_VHD also_RR attended_VVN Harvard_NP1 Law_NN1 School_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 later_RRR described_VVD him_PPHO1 as_II wearing_VVG a_AT1 "_" bad_JJ sports_NN2 jacket_NN1 "_" and_CC having_VHG "_" a_AT1 cigarette_NN1 dangling_VVG from_II his_APPGE mouth_NN1 ._. "_" 
(_( Obama_NN1 has_VHZ struggled_VVN with_IW quitting_VVG smoking_NN1 ._. )_) 
But_CCB she_PPHS1 found_VVD herself_PPX1 liking_VVG him_PPHO1 because_CS ,_, despite_II his_APPGE obvious_JJ talent_NN1 and_CC intelligence_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 did_VDD n't_XX take_VVI himself_PPX1 too_RG seriously_RR ._. "_" 
The_AT two_MC were_VBDR married_JJ in_II 1992_MC and_CC would_VM have_VHI two_MC children_NN2 ,_, Malia_NP1 ,_, now_RT 10_MC ,_, and_CC Sasha_NP1 ,_, now_RT 7_MC ._. 
In_II the_AT early_JJ 1990s_MC2 ,_, Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 got_VVD involved_JJ in_II politics_NN1 ,_, working_VVG for_IF the_AT Democratic_JJ Party_NN1 in_II Chicago_NP1 ,_, and_CC --_NN1 like_II Lincoln_NP1 before_II him_PPHO1 --_NN1 was_VBDZ elected_VVN to_II the_AT Illinois_NP1 General_JJ Assembly_NN1 ._. 
There_RL he_PPHS1 continued_VVD to_TO work_VVI for_IF poor_JJ people_NN by_II helping_VVG to_TO pass_VVI laws_NN2 that_CST provided_CS health_NN1 insurance_NN1 for_IF those_DD2 without_IW it_PPH1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 also_RR sponsored_VVD a_AT1 law_NN1 that_CST increased_JJ funding_NN1 for_IF the_AT prevention_NN1 of_IO AIDS_NN1 ._. 
"_" Part_NN1 of_IO the_AT Larger_JJR American_JJ Story_NN1 "_" In_II 2004_MC ,_, Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 came_VVD to_II national_JJ attention_NN1 when_CS he_PPHS1 gave_VVD an_AT1 important_JJ address_NN1 at_II the_AT Democratic_JJ Convention_NN1 ._. 
Once_RR every_AT1 four_MC years_NNT2 ,_, when_CS there_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 national_JJ election_NN1 for_IF president_NN1 ,_, the_AT two_MC major_JJ parties_NN2 ,_, the_AT Republicans_NN2 and_CC Democrats_NN2 ,_, hold_VV0 a_AT1 convention_NN1 where_CS they_PPHS2 officially_RR nominate_VV0 their_APPGE candidate_NN1 ._. 
Obama_NN1 ,_, then_RT known_VVN to_II few_DA2 Americans_NN2 outside_II his_APPGE home_NN1 state_NN1 of_IO Illinois_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ running_VVG for_IF the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Senate_NN1 ._. 
"_" Let_VM21 's_VM22 face_VVI it_PPH1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 began_VVD ._. 
"_" My_APPGE presence_NN1 on_II this_DD1 stage_NN1 is_VBZ pretty_RG unlikely_JJ ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 introduced_VVD himself_PPX1 by_II describing_VVG his_APPGE mixed_JJ heritage_NN1 and_CC out-of-the-ordinary_JJ upbringing_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 stand_VV0 here_RL today_RT grateful_JJ for_IF the_AT diversity_NN1 of_IO my_APPGE heritage_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 continued_VVD ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 stand_VV0 here_RL knowing_VVG that_CST my_APPGE story_NN1 is_VBZ part_NN1 of_IO the_AT larger_JJR American_JJ story_NN1 ,_, that_CST I_PPIS1 owe_VV0 a_AT1 debt_NN1 to_II all_DB those_DD2 who_PNQS came_VVD before_II me_PPIO1 ._. "_" 
By_II this_DD1 he_PPHS1 meant_VVD that_CST those_DD2 Americans_NN2 who_PNQS worked_VVD for_IF freedom_NN1 and_CC equality_NN1 in_II the_AT past_NN1 had_VHD made_VVN it_PPH1 possible_JJ for_IF Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ,_, born_VVN of_IO a_AT1 white_JJ mother_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 black_JJ father_NN1 ,_, to_TO run_VVI for_IF the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Senate_NN1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT highest_JJT offices_NN2 in_II the_AT land_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 live_VV0 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, "_" in_II a_AT1 generous_JJ America_NP1 ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 added_VVD to_II thunderous_JJ applause_NN1 ,_, "_" There_EX 's_VBZ not_XX a_AT1 liberal_JJ America_NP1 and_CC a_AT1 conservative_JJ America_NP1 ;_; there_EX 's_VBZ the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 of_IO America_NP1 ._. "_" 
Obama_NP1 won_VVD his_APPGE race_NN1 for_IF senator_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 of_IO the_AT key_JJ roles_NN2 of_IO the_AT Senate_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO establish_VVI laws_NN2 by_II sponsoring_VVG what_DDQ are_VBR called_VVN bills_NN2 ._. 
One_MC1 bill_NN1 that_CST Obama_NP1 sponsored_VVD established_JJ awards_NN2 that_CST would_VM help_VVI college_NN1 students_NN2 pay_VV0 off_RP their_APPGE loans_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 also_RR worked_VVD on_II the_AT Veterans_NN2 '_GE Affairs_NN2 Committee_NN1 ._. 
Obama_NP1 joined_VVD with_IW other_JJ senators_NN2 in_II trying_VVG to_TO improve_VVI conditions_NN2 for_IF soldiers_NN2 returning_VVG from_II the_AT war_NN1 in_II Iraq_NP1 --_NN1 a_AT1 war_NN1 that_CST Obama_NP1 opposed_VVD ._. 
Then_RT came_VVD the_AT longest_JJT presidential_JJ campaign_NN1 in_II American_JJ history_NN1 ._. 
In_II early_RR 2007_MC ,_, more_RRR than_CSN a_AT1 year_NNT1 before_II the_AT election_NN1 ,_, Hillary_NP1 Clinton_NP1 ,_, John_NP1 Edwards_NP1 ,_, John_NP1 McCain_NP1 ,_, and_CC numerous_JJ other_JJ politicians_NN2 all_DB announced_VVD that_CST they_PPHS2 were_VBDR running_VVG for_IF president_NN1 ._. 
So_RR did_VDD Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 ,_, the_AT junior_JJ senator_NN1 from_II Illinois_NP1 ._. 
After_CS a_AT1 hard_JJ battle_NN1 ,_, Obama_NP1 became_VVD the_AT Democratic_JJ Party_NN1 nominee_NN1 ._. 
