Though they recently presented a very united front when it came to campaigning on behalf of Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House, that is not to say that former President Barack and former first lady Michelle Obama have always been on the same page.
In fact, as InStyle reports, there have been a number of bumps and hurdles along the way during the course of the Obamas' romance, including the then-future president's clunky advances at the start of their relationship.
Though millions of Americans are said to look up to the Obamas as an example of marital support and solidarity, their initial days of acquaintance did not necessarily foreshadow the impressive trajectory on which their union would embark.
Few would believe that the loved-up couple dancing together at two presidential inaugurations had a start that included rebuffed advances and a hearty dose of skepticism from the eventual first lady.
In Michelle Obama's own telling, her future husband made his interest clear just one month after their first meeting, but he did not make the sort of impression many would expect.
Looking back, Michelle Obama characterized Barack's overtures while working together at the Chicago office of the Sidley Austin law firm as “completely tacky.”
Eventually, however, Barack's persistence paid off, and the pair's first date included a visit to an art museum, a movie, and a stop for ice cream that was capped off by a goodnight kiss.
Despite her initial reluctance, Michelle Obama's first date with Barack was so successful that it set the stage for a marriage now poised for the history books.
“We clicked right away...by the end of the date, it was over...I was sold,” she would later explain.
A 1991 proposal during a romantic dinner out followed, and Barack and Michelle subsequently married in October of 1992.
It was just a few short years later that Barack Obama launched his political career in the Illinois legislature, a road that would ultimately lead him to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
With the birth of daughter Malia in 1998 and Sasha in 2001, the Obama family unit was complete, bringing a happy conclusion to the initial days of uncertainty about the couple's future together.
With 32 years and two terms in the White House under their belts, Barack and Michelle Obama look to many to be the image of a perfect partnership, but as the former first lady explained not long ago, a commitment to hard work and patience underlies their marital longevity.
“People aren't perfect. Marriage is hard. It's a struggle for everyone,” she said, adding, "You've got to know that there are going to be long periods of time when you can't stand each other...but that doesn't mean you quit,” and political disagreements aside, that is advice every married couple – regardless of age – would do well to heed.
