The Rise of Barack Obama

161 Pages·2009·12.644 MB·English

by  Pete Souza

The
Rise
of
Barack
Obama
Photographs
and text by
Pete Souza
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Copyright © 2008 by Peter J. Souza
Text © 2008 by Peter J. Souza.
Photographs © 2005, 2006 by Chicago Tribune
and licensed by Peter J. Souza.
Photographs © 2007, 2008 by Peter J. Souza.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher,
Triumph Books, 542 South Dearborn Street,
Suite 750, Chicago, Illinois 60605.
Triumph Books and colophon are registered
trademarks of Random House, Inc.
This book is available in quantity at special
discounts for your group or organization.
For further information, contact:
TRIUMPH BOOKS
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ISBN 978-1-600078-163-6
Printed in U.S.A.
Produced by Pete Souza
Photographs edited by Pete Souza
and Julie Elman
Designed by Julie Elman
Production coordinated by Jill Donovan,
Wagner/Donovan Design
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“Dream big dreams.”
— BARACK OBAMA
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Sen. Barack Obama works in his office on Capitol Hill in 2005.
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Introduction
“Glad to have you,” Barack Obama said, on that first day, but I also tried to set a
shaking my hand in a relaxed manner. In a standard for the level of behind-the-scenes
few hours, he would be sworn in as the junior access I wanted to maintain. Photographs of
U.S. Senator from Illinois — 99th out of politicians in public settings are innumerable,
100 in seniority. I was meeting him on this but the images that often become timeless are
unseasonably warm January 2005 morning at the quiet moments captured in more intimate
his Washington hotel, ready to tag along during settings. These are also the photographs that, to
his first official day in the nation’s capital. me, reveal the true character of a person.
At the time, I was the Washington-based Sen. Obama’s family accompanied him to
national photographer for the Chicago Tribune, most of the ceremonial activities on his first day.
Sen. Obama’s hometown newspaper. My This presented some terrific opportunities to
Tribune colleague, political correspondent candidly photograph him interacting with his
Jeff Zeleny, had proposed a series for the paper two young daughters, Malia, then 6, and
on the senator’s first year in office and asked me Sasha, then 3. The loving relationship that
if I was interested in taking part. (“Of course!” the girls have with their father is obvious from
I replied.) those pictures.
Ever since his stirring keynote address at the A few days after the swearing-in ceremony,
2004 Democratic Convention, Sen. Obama had Jeff Zeleny and I headed to Springfield, Ill.,
been touted as an up-and-coming star of his where Sen. Obama officially opened his new
party. Ironically, I didn’t see or hear his speech. field office. The place was jam-packed. After
But I certainly had read about Barack Obama the senator addressed the crowd, supporters
and knew he was more than just the self- descended on him seeking handshakes and
mocking “skinny guy with a funny name.” autographs. At one point, Sen. Obama spotted
Several weeks before Sen. Obama was me trailing him, and turning back towards me
sworn in, Zeleny and I met with the senator’s said, “Hey, I really like those pictures you took
communications director, Robert Gibbs, to of me with my kids.” He asked me for some
outline our plan. Gibbs promised cooperation, prints and I followed through with his request
though pinning him down on the logistics later the following week.
became a challenge. I think he thought What struck me early on was how easily
I would go away, but I pestered him with Sen. Obama conducted himself while I was
e-mails and phone calls for the next couple of photographing him. He went about his
weeks, and Gibbs came through with the access business; I went about mine. Even on that very
he’d promised. first day, I thought the senator had a certain
I tried not to be a nuisance to Sen. Obama presence that I have not witnessed in a lot of
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Sen. Obama walks unrecognized down a Moscow sidewalk in 2005.
politicians. “He’s a natural,” I told friends. approached my photographic coverage of the
I have worked in Washington for 25 years, senator during the next two-and-a-half years.
covering presidents, senators and congressmen, I even used this thought process as a means
both in public and private settings. Barack to gain behind-the-scenes access to the senator.
Obama is truly one of a kind. His intelligence “This is for history,” I’d say to the senator’s
is obvious but not off-putting, his concern is communications director, when making
genuine, and if the occasion warrants, he can requests. I’m sure he knew what I meant,
give as inspirational a speech as any politician though we never openly discussed it.
I’ve ever seen. Having worked as an official White House
There is also something else: Early into photographer for President Ronald Reagan
that first year, I began to believe that I was and having covered numerous presidential
photographing a future president of the United campaigns of both Democratic and Republican
States, and that my pictures might become nominees, I have a keen sense of what life
an historic look at the rise of Sen. Obama’s becomes like for politicians who reach that
political career. That may sound like an easy plateau. Hundreds of media descend on such
statement to make now, but that’s really how I a person, the Secret Service takes control of
felt at the time. And it certainly affected how I security, and it becomes difficult for journalists
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Sen. Obama opens Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell in South Africa in 2006.
to make photographs that look genuine. Moscow sidewalk (above left) in 2005. I wanted
Throughout 2005 and 2006, I thought very you to see the symbolic gesture of the only
consciously about making photographs that African-American in the U.S. Senate opening
were timeless and that would have contextual the former prison cell door of Nelson Mandela
value in the future. My motivation went way (above) in 2006. And I wanted you to see
beyond merely meeting the demands of a the certitude on Sen. Obama’s face backstage
newspaper’s limited space. Even while I was seconds before he announced he was running
making these photographs two and three years for the presidency (page 123) in early 2007.
ago, I imagined that you would be looking at My coverage of Sen. Obama came to a self-
these photographs now, in the context of where imposed halt in the summer of 2007, when I
Sen. Obama is today. resigned from the Tribune to begin teaching
I wanted you to see the drab, basement photojournalism at Ohio University. I felt my job
office (page 24) that every freshman senator was done: I had documented the rise of Barack
endures during their first few months to show Obama. The masses had already descended
how far and how fast this particular senator has on the man likely to become the Democratic
risen to power. I wanted you to see how easily nominee for president of the United States.
Sen. Obama was able to walk unnoticed on a — Pete Souza
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Welcome to Washington
When Barack Obama first arrived in conference afterwards, Sen. Obama stood far
Washington, nearly every media outlet wanted in the back (page 30), shunning the cameras
access to him. But most of the cameras and and dozens of reporters.
reporters went away after his first couple of It was also interesting to watch people react
days in the U.S. Senate. That certainly made it to Sen. Obama in public settings. Supporters
easier for me to work. exhibited genuine excitement as they reached
The challenge now was in photographing to shake his hand or give him a hug or ask for
the routine. The senator’s family returned to his autograph. Early on, when signing books
Chicago and with them went the wonderful for youngsters, the senator would use the
moments that occurred with his daughters salutation, “Dream big dreams.”
Malia (pictured at right) and Sasha. By Every Thursday morning, Sen. Obama and
contrast, the working life of a U.S. senator the senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin,
is not that exciting. But keeping history would host “coffee with constituents.” Anyone
in the back of my mind, I made sure I was from Illinois visiting the nation’s capital
making pictures that would be interesting was invited to attend and participate in the
to future viewers. question-and-answer session (page 26). With
I also noticed an unusual dichotomy at play: the Senate Democrats now in the majority, Sen.
though Sen. Obama was somewhat of a rock Durbin had become the second most powerful
star in public settings, his mantra for that first senator in the United States. Before one of
year was to keep a low profile. Nowhere was the Thursday sessions, I overheard a couple of
that more evident than when he joined the Illinois constituents talking about how excited
Congressional Black Caucus in a meeting with they were to meet Sen. Obama.
President George W. Bush at the White House “Who’s the other senator from Illinois?” one
in January 2005. When the group held a press of them asked me. I could only chuckle.
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