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| Author | Christoph von Marschall |
|---|---|
| Language | German |
| Subject | Barack Obama |
| Genre | Biography |
| Publisher | Orell Füssli |
Publication date | 2007 |
| Publication place | Germany |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 978-3-280-06108-4 |
| OCLC | 254783705 |
Barack Obama – Der schwarze Kennedy (English:Barack Obama – The black Kennedy) is a best-sellingGerman-languagebiography ofPresident of the United StatesBarack Obama by journalistChristoph von Marschall.[1] The book was written by Marschall while he spent much of 2007 travelling withBarack Obama 2008 presidential campaign as a reporter for theBerlin newspaperDer Tagesspiegel. It covers Obama's life from hischildhood, through hiscollege years, histime as a community organizer inChicago,Illinois, and hispolitical career including his 2008 presidential campaign. Marschall sums up his impressions of Obama by saying, "Seine Lebensgeschichte steht für den amerikanischen Traum." ("His life story stands for theAmerican Dream.")[2]
The title of the book, which implies a close similarity between Obama andJohn F. Kennedy, seemed gimmicky to some people when it was published in December 2007. However, in the following months many other Germans compared the two men and expressed hope that an Obama presidency would bring betterrelations between the United States and Europe. Kennedy is very popular in Germany, with many recalling his famous statement, "Ich bin ein Berliner" ("I am a Berliner") – given inWest Berlin in 1963 at the height of theCold War.Steffen Hallaschka, a moderator for Germany'sNDR TV, said: "Germans in the '60s projected a lot of hope and fantasies on Kennedy. This is what they are doing with Obama."[3]
Barack Obama – Der schwarze Kennedy has been credited with helping to inspire interest in and support for Obama among people in Germany, with "der schwarze Kennedy" becoming a popular expression. Marschall, however, has pointed out in some interviews that Obama'sDemocratic Partyprimary rivalHillary Clinton and her husband, former PresidentBill Clinton, are also popular in Germany and in the rest of Europe.[4][5]
"Only a small, informed minority knew about Barack Obama in December," said Christoph von Marschall, Washington bureau chief for theTagesspiegel newspaper, whose book,Barack Obama, The Black Kennedy, came out then. He said after the Iowa Caucuses last week, interest in Mr. Obama and sales of the book – which was sold out on the German Amazon Web site – suddenly surged.
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