When Sidwell Friends School asked President Barack Obama if he would like to speak at his elder daughter's graduation this spring, he declined.
"I'm going to be wearing dark glasses," he told a group of lunch companions during a visit to Detroit earlier this year, "I'm going to cry."
Obama was true to his word Friday. He did not speak at Malia Obama's commencement ceremony, which he and the first lady attended along with family and friends of other graduates of the elite private school in Northwest Washington.
"He was just a total dad," the mother of a graduating senior said of the president. "No fanfare. You didn't know they were there."
If the president did cry during the outdoor ceremony, his tears were hidden behind his sunglasses.
Inside the gates of the school's campus, nestled in the woodsy fringe of Tenleytown, Malia was just one of 127 graduates. Like the other young women, she wore a white dress - the young men were in suits - and walked down the stairs of the Zartman House administrative building to take her seat on the lawn beneath vines of wisteria.
Over recent months Barack and Michelle Obama have expressed sadness and pride as their daughter has grown up. But primarily, they have been protective as Malia transitions to adulthood and out of their cocoon. She will turn 18 next month and has been accepted to Harvard. Her parents have said she will take a gap year, allowing her to enroll after her father's term ends.
Sidwell did its best to close the ceremony to the press. The Obamas, who also celebrated the 15th birthday of younger daughter Sasha on Friday with a post-ceremony luncheon at Georgetown's Cafe Milano, wanted to treat the event as a family affair - and the school and others in attendance tried to respect that desire.
Obama drew no attention to himself, and there was no special attention paid to the first family during the ceremony. Sidwell, which also educated the children of Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Herbert Hoover and Teddy Roosevelt, emphasizes equality among its Quaker traditions: Awards are not handed out at graduation, and VIPs get no special recognition. (Though after the ceremony, the president and Malia posed for a couple photos with well-wishers that quickly ended up on social media.)
"You have important people, dignitaries. But they are treated like everyone else," said Giulia Adelfio, a 1979 graduate who attended school's graduation ceremony last year.
"They try to make it as seamless as possible for everyone. There's no hoopla around the first family here," said Phronie Jackson, whose son graduated in Malia's class Friday.
The president, meanwhile, has spent less time on campus than his wife, perhaps seeking not to disturb the community. Visits by the first lady and her entourage to the school have caused relatively little fuss, said Robin Gaillard, whose daughter graduated from Sidwell two years ago. "However, when President Obama came on campus, things tightened considerably."
Special security measures were taken so that the Obamas could attend graduation, but other parents said the presence of Secret Service had not been overwhelming - until Friday morning, when police lined Wisconsin Avenue around the school and guests had to pass through metal detectors.
The ceremony, usually open to the public, required tickets this year. And one attendee noted that the traditional class pranks played on administrators seemed to have fallen by the wayside this year.
Like her classmates, Malia Obama walked across the stage to receive her diploma from Mamadou Gueye, the principal of Sidwell's upper school. She also heard a commencement address from the poet Elizabeth Alexander, a 1980 Sidwell graduate and who was launched to national prominence when she read an original work at Obama's 2009 inauguration.
It was the closest the low-key Sidwell ceremony came to presidential pomp. When Chelsea Clinton graduated from Sidwell in 1997, her father spoke. Joe Biden, who has had three grandchildren attend the school, gave a commencement speech in 2012.
But on this day, Barack Obama, who built his political career through soaring oratory, was quiet.
The Washington Post
Sat Jun 11 2016
![At Malia Obama's Sidwell graduation, the commander in chief is 'just a total dad' At Malia Obama's Sidwell graduation, the commander in chief is 'just a total dad'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-06/81465629166_Obama.jpg)
"I'm going to be wearing dark glasses," he told a group of lunch companions during a visit to Detroit earlier this year, "I'm going to cry." - File Photo
10 Berita Pilihan - (15 Ogos 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pasukan PBB lawat Bangladesh, siasat pembunuhan protes pelajar
Pasukan penyiasat Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) akan melawat Bangladesh minggu depan untuk menyiasat ratusan kematian semasa protes yang diketuai pelajar baru-baru ini, menurut pegawai badan dunia itu pada Khamis.
Gempa bumi bermagnitud 5.7 gegar timur laut Taiwan
Gempa bumi berukuran 5.7 skala richter melanda daerah Timur Laut Taiwan pada Khamis.
Angka kematian di Gaza cecah 40,000 individu
Pasukan tentera Israel melakukan tiga pembunuhan beramai-ramai terhadap keluarga-keluarga di Semenanjung Gaza dalam tempoh 24 jam lepas, mengakibatkan sekurang-kurangnya 40 rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan 107 lagi cedera, menurut sumber perubatan.
Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega
Dalam tempoh berjaga-jaga, Agensi Meteorologi Jepun tidak melihat sebarang pergerakan gempa bumi yang luar biasa atau kerak bumi.
Rakyat UK terancam dengan imigran rampas peluang pekerjaan
Bimbang golongan imigran akan merampas peluang peluang pekerjaan menjadikan rakyat United KIngdom terutamanya mereka yang mempunyai masalah ekonomi melihat imigran sebagai satu ancaman.
Parti Pheu Thai pilih anak perempuan Thaksin calon PM
Paetongtarn, 37, adalah anak perempuan kepada jutawan yang juga bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pemilihan anak Thaksin sebagai PM Thailand dianggap tidak efektif
Pemilihan anak perempuan bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, untuk menggantikan Srettha Thavisin sebagai Perdana Menteri negara itu dianggap sebagai tidak efektif.
![Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723343252_Palestiniansmourn.jpg)
Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera
Perkhidmatan kecemasan masih tidak dapat membantu ramai mangsa dan membawa keluar mayat yang terperangkap di bawah runtuhan.
DNA mangsa kebakaran di Pagoh diperoleh, jenazah dijangka dikebumikan esok
Polis mengesahkan telah menerima laporan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) dua mayat mangsa yang rentung dalam kebakaran rumah di Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh, Johor Jumaat lepas.
![Barack Obama, isteri sokong Kamala Harris dalam saingan Presiden AS Barack Obama, isteri sokong Kamala Harris dalam saingan Presiden AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/51482646389_BarackObama.jpg)
Barack Obama, isteri sokong Kamala Harris dalam saingan Presiden AS
Obama berkata beliau dan isteri, Michelle menyatakan sokongan kepada Naib Presiden Kamala Harris dalam perlumbaan presiden November ini.
![Obama ucap terima kasih kepada Biden, tidak sahkan sokongan terhadap Harris Obama ucap terima kasih kepada Biden, tidak sahkan sokongan terhadap Harris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721608751_BarackObama.jpg)
Obama ucap terima kasih kepada Biden, tidak sahkan sokongan terhadap Harris
Obama berkata, Biden merupakan salah seorang Presiden Amerika yang paling penting serta menjadi kawan dan rakan kongsi yang dikasihi.
![Obama, Pelosi mahu Biden pertimbang undur diri daripada pilihan raya AS Obama, Pelosi mahu Biden pertimbang undur diri daripada pilihan raya AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721339428_USPresident.jpg)
Obama, Pelosi mahu Biden pertimbang undur diri daripada pilihan raya AS
Pelosi turut mengemukakan tinjauan pendapat yang menunjukkan Biden tidak akan mampu menewaskan calon Republikan, Donald Trump.
![Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721093818_JoeBiden.jpg)
Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama
Kenyataan Obama mengundang kecaman warganet terutamanya istilah 'keganasan politik' yang dikatakan menunjukkan sisi hipokrasi Washington.
![Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61692782695_Obamaschef.jpg)
Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan
Punca kematian diisytiharkan sebagai kes lemas dan cara kematian disahkan sebagai satu kemalangan.
![Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/51690258357_TafariCampbell.jpg)
Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas
Mendiang Campbell meninggalkan seorang isteri, Sherise dan sepasang anak kembar.
![Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012 Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/61680574517_LeonardoDiCaprio.jpg)
Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012
DiCaprio memberitahu juri bahawa Jho Low merancang untuk menderma sekitar AS$30 juta bagi membantu kempen pemilihan semula Barack Obama.
![Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/81679810080_TBSINGHARRIS.jpg)
Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika
Kamala Harris memulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika bermula hujung minggu ini.
![Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/71672348957_Pele.jpg)
Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele
Pele meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun selepas bertarung dengan kanser kolon.
![Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81662617460_TBOBAMAPOTRAIT.jpg)
Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi
Bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Barack Obama dan isteri Michelle Obama kembali ke Rumah Putih untuk melancarkan potret rasmi mereka.