Barack Obama

Presidential candidate Barack Obama addressed a crowd of almost 22,000 students, staff, and community members on the steps of Old Main. During his speech, Obama spoke on issues such as the Iraq War and the economy. 

“We are spending $10 billion a month in Iraq. Imagine if we were spending $10 billion right here in the United States of America rebuilding roads, rebuilding bridges, rebuilding schools, laying broadband lines, putting Americans back to work,” Obama said. “That is what we should be doing. That’s what we will be doing when I’m President of the United States of America.”

Barack Obama was elected the first African American President of the United States of America on November 4, 2008.