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Barack Obama was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year yesterday. As part of their coverage, the magazine published photos of the President-elect during his years at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Obama moved to California after graduating from high school and spent two years on the west coast. During his freshman year, he was approached by a young woman who was an aspiring photographer. Actually, an acquaintance had pointed her in his direction, mentioning that she might want to consider photographing an interesting young man on campus. They spoke and he agreed, arriving for the shoot wearing a panama hat and leather jacket.

The photos have remained in the basement of Lisa Jack for nearly 30 years. With the advent of Obama’s rise to fame, she contacted Time magazine about publishing the pics.

The newly elected POTUS has quit smoking multiple times over the course of his adulthood. He apparently succumbed to the temptation while on the campaign trail but says that he will adhere to the ‘smoke free’ policy of the White House. Puffers around the globe can identify with the difficulty of kicking the habit. We wish him well.

Check out more photos and an Andrea Mitchell video commentary below.


MORE PHOTOS HERE