One-On-One With The Obamas
In the days leading up to the inauguration, CBS Evening News Anchor and Managing Editor Katie Couric had the chance to sit down with then President-elect Barack Obama and also, with his wife, Michelle.
They talked about family, their hopes, dreams and, of course, each other.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: Well, I mean, she's the one who always keeps me straight. Yeah, Michelle, has really handled this whole process with extraordinary grace and wisdom. And she's so honest to her core that she's just a breath of fresh air sometimes when I come home and I've been dealing with politics and politicians. And she'll talk to me about my work. But she has the perspective of somebody who's outside it, who's grounded, who thinks of herself as a citizen but also as a mother. And she can ask disarming questions. But she really, I think, can keep me focused. And every day I say how lucky I am to have her.
KATIE COURIC: Will you be there to keep him honest?
MICHELLE OBAMA: Absolutely. What else am I gonna do?
COURIC: That's what you've always done, right?
MICHELLE OBAMA: That's what I've always done.
COURIC: That's what he says, anyway.
MICHELLE OBAMA: That's what he counts on too. I'll be right there every step of the way. And so will Malia and Sasha. They keep him honest. So we'll do our part to make sure that-- that he stays grounded.
COURIC: Do your daughters appreciate the historical significance of your presidency?
BARACK OBAMA: They're not overwhelmed by it. They're not awed by it. I think they understand it. My favorite moment this week was on Saturday. I took Malia and Sasha and Michelle, we all went on a nighttime field trip to the Lincoln Memorial. And I love the memorial at night, you know? Lincoln's statue lit up and you can see all across the Mall down to the Capitol. And so we stand in front of the Gettysburg Address.
And Michelle's explaining to the girls how what Lincoln is saying, that this ground that has been consecrated by the blood of people who fought, means that any words we say are cheap, that they don't mean much, that the only way we can honor them is by making this country more just and more equal.
And at this point, Malia, who's 10, turns to me and she says, "Yeah, how are we doing on that? How are we doing on that, Mr. President-elect?" So then we go to the other side and we're looking at the second inaugural by Lincoln. And Sasha, who's seven, she says, "Oh, that's longer. Are you gonna have to give one of those?" And I say, yeah, I'm gonna have to give one of those. In fact, this is a pretty short one. I explained to her mine might, will probably be longer 'cause I'm not as good a writer as Lincoln. And at which point Malia says "First African-American president, better be good. Have you started yet?" I said, "Thanks, kid." So --
COURIC: Do you feel as if African Americans in this country have reached the dream? Or is it just the beginning?
MICHELLE OBAMA: You know, I think we have come an amazingly long way from the-- from my youth. When I was a child, I-- I would have never dreamed of being this nation's First Lady. I think about my girls. They don't see race in the same way that I grew up seeing it. They think about the world in a much broader sense.Barack Obama understands that he and Michelle will forever be in the spotlight, but is adamant that light shouldn't shine too brightly on his two young daughters.
COURIC: How will you keep things normal for them to avoid those big therapy bills (laughs) 10 years from now?
BARACK OBAMA: They, so far at least, have such poise, such equanimity and nothing seems to faze them. I am concerned about as they go into their teenage years, how they deal with the scrutiny. And so part of my hope is that the press gives them room. If they do, then I think they'll be fine.
BARACK OBAMA: Kids are out of bounds. And I think everybody should understand that. That will be the one thing that will get me, as a father, real riled up, if I start seeing people not respecting them.
COURIC: I know Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson, will be coming to live at the White House. It has the makings, it seems to me, of a sitcom, though.
OBAMA: This is very good. Well, you know, first of all, my mother-in-law and I get along great. In fact, she defends me when Michelle's too hard on me. So I want her. She's an ally. 'Cause she can be a little bit of a buffer if I screw up. And she's so good with the girls. And that really helps to give them some normalcy. But, look, this is a huge leap for her. Here's somebody who has lived in the same house in Chicago for 40 years, small bungalow on the south side of Chicago. You know, it was most of her working life was a secretary. And then suddenly her first move is to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That's a big leap.
COURIC: I can only imagine the kind of comfort that will give both you and Michelle -- to have -- the girls' grandmother there. I mean -- you're so lucky.
BARACK OBAMA: I -- we are.
MICHELLE OBAMA: I have seen him grow. I have seen him work hard. I have seen him-- just embrace the responsibilities that he's gonna have. And-- and I am so confident that he's ready to lead. I am so proud of him.
COURIC: What do you think is going to be the most fun thing about living in the White House?
OBAMA: …look, I've got a home office basically. And what that means is that when the girls come home, they can run and say hello to their daddy. I will have dinner with them every night that I'm home, you know, even if I have to go back to work.
COURIC: You don't really think of this job as working at home, do you, necessarily (laughter). But speaking of stress, what's going on with the smoking thing?
BARACK OBAMA: You know, we're doing fine with it. I know everybody likes to poke, you know. I haven't had an interview yet where this one doesn't get raised.
COURIC: Well, I think people just wanna know how it's going. And I think -- they feel for you.
BARACK OBAMA: Yeah, we're doing fine. I'll do better if people don't keep on bringing it up (laughter).
COURIC: Mrs. Hubbard's fifth grade class from New Canaan, Conn., wanted me to ask you this question. What motivated you to become President of the United States?
OBAMA: When I was in fifth grade, I wasn't dreaming of being president. But I was dreaming that I could make a difference in some way. And as I got older, that led me into politics. But I think there are a lot of ways to serve. One of the things that we wanna communicate during this inauguration is that you don't have to be president to serve your country. You don't have to be in the military to serve your country, although that is one of the most noble ways you can serve. You can decide to be a teacher. You can volunteer in your local community to help the homeless … My main message to fifth graders is dream big dreams. Don't sell yourself short.