Cecily Zamora
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is the fourth former constitutional law professor to serve as president, joining William Howard Taft (University of Cincinnati Law School), Woodrow Wilson (Princeton and New York Law School), and Bill Clinton (University of Arkansas Law School). Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004, first as a Lecturer and then as a Senior Lecturer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Barack Obama |
| Title | Senior Lecturer |
| University | University of Chicago Law School |
| Duration | 1992-2004 |
| Courses Taught | Constitutional Law |
| Number of Courses per Year | 3 |
| Status | Non-tenure track |
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What You'll Learn
- Barack Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School
- William Howard Taft taught at the University of Cincinnati Law School
- Woodrow Wilson taught at Princeton and New York Law School
- Bill Clinton taught at the University of Arkansas Law School
- John Adams taught at a Latin school in Worcester
Barack Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School
Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. Obama graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991 with a Juris Doctor magna cum laude. He then accepted a two-year position as a Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School to work on his first book.
Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, from 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. During this time, he also taught courses in due process and equal protection, voting rights, and racism and law. Obama's formal title at the University of Chicago was "senior lecturer," but the law school considered him a professor and stated that he served as a professor and was regarded as one.
Obama has referred to himself as "a constitutional law professor," most famously at a March 30, 2007, fundraiser when he said, "I was a constitutional law professor, which means unlike the current president I actually respect the Constitution." This remark sparked controversy, with some pointing out that his official title was "senior lecturer." However, the University of Chicago Law School clarified that senior lecturers are considered members of the law school faculty and are regarded as professors, even if not full-time or tenure-track.
Obama is the fourth US president to have taught constitutional law, following William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Bill Clinton.
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William Howard Taft taught at the University of Cincinnati Law School
William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, taught at the University of Cincinnati Law School. The University of Cincinnati was founded in 1870, with its law school being the fourth oldest continuously operating law school in the country, established in 1833. The Cincinnati Law School became a department of the Cincinnati College in 1835, which gave it the authority to confer degrees.
Taft was born in the Mount Auburn neighbourhood of Cincinnati in 1857. He attended Woodward High School, where he participated in sports and graduated second in his class. He then took his undergraduate degree at Yale University. Following this, Taft attended the Cincinnati College Law School, graduating in 1880. In the same year, he was granted the position of assistant prosecutor for Hamilton County. Taft served in this position until 1887 when he filled in for the remainder of a term on the Ohio Superior Court. After this term expired, he was elected for his own term. Taft attempted to become a Supreme Court Justice in 1890, but President William Henry Harrison appointed him as Solicitor General, a role he held for two years. Taft would later achieve his dream of becoming a Supreme Court Justice in 1921.
In 1896, Taft was made Dean of the University of Cincinnati Law School. In this role, he was a major force in the merger between the Cincinnati College Law School and the University of Cincinnati Law Department. Taft served as both judge and dean for a few years until 1900 when he left the college to serve as Governor of the Philippines at President William McKinley's request. Taft served in this position until December 1903, after which he became the Secretary of War in 1904. In 1906, he was elected President of the United States. Taft's time at the University of Cincinnati Law School is commemorated with a statue of him on campus, dedicated in 1992.
Barack Obama is another example of a president who taught constitutional law. He taught at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. His formal title was "senior lecturer", although the University of Chicago Law School says he "served as a professor" and was regarded as one.
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Woodrow Wilson taught at Princeton and New York Law School
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, taught constitutional law at Princeton and New York Law School. Wilson was also the 13th president of Princeton University and the governor of New Jersey.
Wilson's tenure at Princeton University led to the school being named after him in 1948. The graduate program was then known as the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. However, in 2020, the Princeton University Board of Trustees voted to remove his name due to his racist thinking and policies.
Wilson was a prominent member of the New York Law School (NYLS) faculty. NYLS is the only law school founded in New York City between the end of the US Civil War and the 1898 consolidation of the five boroughs into the City of Greater New York. John Bigelow, who served as the American Consul in Paris under President Abraham Lincoln, was the first president of NYLS's Board of Trustees.
NYLS has produced several notable alumni, including Judge Judy, a New York family court judge, author, and television personality, and Wallace Stevens, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.
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Bill Clinton taught at the University of Arkansas Law School
Bill Clinton, the former president of the United States, taught constitutional law at the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas and graduated from Yale Law School in 1973. After graduating, he returned to his home state and accepted a teaching position at the University of Arkansas School of Law. He taught courses in constitutional law, criminal procedure, and admiralty law. Clinton's annual salary for this role was $14,709.
Clinton's teaching style was described as fair and tolerant of conservative views. He encouraged discussion and was comfortable in the classroom setting. He was also known for his compassion and understanding towards students. Clinton's time at the University of Arkansas Law School was marked by his willingness to engage with various perspectives and his ability to facilitate relevant and engaging discussions.
Clinton's decision to teach at the University of Arkansas Law School was influenced by his desire to return to his home state and his interest in pursuing a legal career in Arkansas. He had initially intended to establish a small-town law practice after graduating from Yale Law School. However, one of his professors informed him about two openings at the University of Arkansas Law School, and he decided to pursue a teaching position instead.
Clinton's teaching career at the University of Arkansas Law School was relatively brief, as he soon entered politics. In 1974, he launched an unsuccessful campaign for the House of Representatives, running against incumbent Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt. Despite the loss, Clinton continued his political pursuits and was elected Arkansas Attorney General in 1976. He went on to serve as governor of Arkansas from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1982 to 1993. Clinton's political career culminated in his election as President of the United States in 1992, defeating incumbent Republican President George H. W. Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot.
Clinton was not the only US president to have taught constitutional law. Barack Obama taught the subject at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004, and other presidents with similar academic backgrounds include William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson.
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John Adams taught at a Latin school in Worcester
Barack Obama is the only former professor of constitutional law to have served as president of the United States. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.
John Adams, the second president of the United States, did not teach constitutional law. However, Adams did teach at a Latin school in Worcester, Massachusetts, for a year while pondering his permanent vocation. Adams attended Braintree Latin School, where his studies included Latin, rhetoric, logic, and arithmetic. He disliked his schoolmaster, Joseph Cleverly, and did not excel academically. At age fourteen, Adams's father hired a new schoolmaster named Joseph Marsh, and Adams responded positively. Marsh inspired Adams, who soon became disciplined and determined to immerse himself in his books. Within a year, he was ready to take the admission exams for Harvard. Adams later taught during the day and studied law at night under Worcester attorney James Putnam.
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Frequently asked questions
Barack Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. His formal title was "senior lecturer", but the university says he "served as a professor" and was regarded as one.
Yes, three other US presidents taught constitutional law: William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Bill Clinton.
Yes, Barack Obama referred to himself as a constitutional law professor during a fundraiser in 2007.
Senior Lecturers are considered members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, but they are not full-time or on a tenure track.
Yes, many US presidents were teachers before they occupied the White House. Some of them include John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Chester Alan Arthur.
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