Barack Obama’s History Uncovered

It turns that we at MyHeritage are not the only ones that are interested in Barack Obama’s family history. This week president Barack Obama had that history mapped out to him when the leader of the Latter Day Saints Church, a US church known for keeping extensive genealogical records for the public to consult, presented him with five books that contain his family’s history.

Thomas S. Monson, president of the church, presented Obama with details of his family’s genealogy during their meeting at the White House.

Obama reportedly said that he is looking forward to reading through the materials with his daughter, saying that “It’s something our family will treasure for years to come.”

Mormon leaders traditionally meet with new presidents and share their genealogical records. There have been fourteen of such meetings so far. The first was when Joseph Smith met President Martin Van Buren in 1839 to present him with his family history.

The five leather-bound books that were given to Obama detail his family history for several generations and would show his ties to former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, who is his eighth cousin, and his link to former president Harry S. Truman. The two are 4th cousins 4 times removed.

Interested in these links too? Have a look at the Obama family tree we built to find out more!