Left, nearly 2 million people crowd the National Mall for President Obama’s inauguration Jan. 20, 2009, as the nation’s 44th and first African-American president.
President Obama dances with his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, at the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball in Washington.
newly sworn-in President Obama and his wife walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the cheers of the crowd during his Inaugural Parade in 2009.
Surrounded by members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act in March 2010 as youngster Marcelas Owens of Seattle watches.
President Obama, cabinet members and staff watch inside the Situation Room as U.S. forces raid Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan, killing the terrorist leader in May 2011.
Above, President Obama campaigning for re-election at the Carillon in Richmond’s Byrd Park in October 2012.
President Obama awards singer Stevie Wonder the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony in November 2014.
President Obama, former President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the Lincoln Memorial in August 2013 for the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
President Obama speaks at the national NAACP 106th Annual Conference in Philadelphia in July 2015.
President Obama is greeted by Tyrone Nelson, chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors, left, and Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones upon arrival at Richmond International Airport in September 2016. The president stopped in Richmond on his way to Fort Lee in Petersburg for a town hall with military families.
A worker from Stonee Masonry of Henrico County crafts new steps for the Main Library in Downtown. The facelift was needed because the old steps were cracked and broken. The nearly $100,000 project is almost complete, despite delays from recent snow and rain.
Supporting Obamacare //
Gov. Terry McAuliffe, left, and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine rally Virginians against Republican plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, during an event last Sunday in Capital Square.
Nearly 1,000 people attended the event, which was joined by several other state, local and federal elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, Rep. A. Donald McEachin of Richmond and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Newport News.
The rally at the Bell Tower was one of dozens held across the United States last weekend to coalesce support for saving the health insurance program. Republicans have made repeal of the Affordable Care Act a priority with the election of President-elect Donald Trump.
More than 400,000 Virginians and 20 million Americans have enrolled in health insurance plans since the law was passed in 2010.
Sen. Kaine, who ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, is encouraging Virginians to share how the ACA has helped them or a family member, or to offer suggestions for improvement. Stories may be submitted by visiting www.kaine.senate.gov/acastory.
Nandina in North Side