Subscribe

* indicates required
Okayplayer News

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

Illinois Commemorates Barack Obama's 57th Birthday with Statewide Holiday

Illinois is celebrating its first annual Barack Obama Day

Today, Barack Obama, aka The Last President, is celebrating his 57th birthday. For many, it's a sobering reminder of why the last year and a half has felt like a fucking century. But for others, it's a moment to join in toasting to a rare legacy.

READ: Barack and Michelle Obama Sign A Multi-Year Production Deal with Netflix

His home state of Illinois, where he'd ascended from Chicago organizer to state senator and eventually US Senator, is holding its first annual celebration of Barack Obama Day after governor Bruce Rauner signed the measure into law two days following his 56th birthday last year.

According to The Hill, an early version of the bill called for the occasion to be commemorated as a state holiday, to which Rauner responded, "I don't think it should be a formal holiday with paid, forced time off, but I think it should be a day of acknowledgment and celebration."

WATCH: Barack Obama and Rep. John Lewis Discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy

As for the president's own born day docket, he's already off to a good start, sharing an early celebratory lunch with right-hand-man, Joe Biden last week, (pictured above) and according to a spokeswoman, will have dinner with his family this evening in Washington, DC.