When watching the inauguration of Barack Obama as US president on 20 January 2009 (Figure 1) the whole world was aware that this was a moment of monumental historical significance. The 44th president of the USA was to be the first black president, four decades after the civil rights movement and the unambiguous granting of the vote to black citizens — although, in 2001, Clinton had been honoured as the nation’s ‘first black president’ at the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Annual Awards Dinner.
Even though the achievement of other presidents in securing the office might pale into insignificance in comparison with that of Obama, many other presidents can claim historic ‘firsts’. George Washington was, of course, the first man to be granted the office of president of the United States, in 1789 (Figure 2), and was the first president to appear on a postage stamp. His image can still be seen on both a $1 bill and a quarter.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
