The first couple: An intimate portrait

The World

In 1996 Barack and Michelle Obama were interviewed and photographed for a book on couples in America. The pictures didn’t make it into the book and they were filed away in photographer Mariana Cook’s studio until this week, when one of them appeared in The New Yorker. Photographer and writer Mariana Cook joins Adaora and Todd to talk about the interview and discuss her images.

Will you support The World with a monthly donation?

Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!