en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Sr.
2 corrections found
Obama first worked as a government economist for an oil company in Kenya.
This job description is wrong. Sources say Obama first worked for an oil company, and only later worked as a government economist.
Full reasoning
Multiple reliable sources describe these as two separate jobs.
- A 2011 Chicago Sun-Times family profile says: "Barack Obama Sr. worked for a U.S. oil company and eventually went to work for the Kenyan government as a senior economist."
- An Associated Press report published by The Philadelphia Inquirer likewise says: "Obama worked for an oil company and as a government economist after returning to Africa."
So the article's wording incorrectly combines those into a single position, "a government economist for an oil company," which is not what the cited biographical sources describe.
2 sources
- BARACK OBAMA SR. :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Obama Family Tree
After Kenya achieved its independence, Barack Obama Sr. worked for a U.S. oil company and eventually went to work for the Kenyan government as a senior economist.
- Why Obama's father had to leave Harvard
Obama worked for an oil company and as a government economist after returning to Africa.
After graduating from Harvard, Obama returned to Kenya in 1964.
This reverses the timeline. Obama returned to Kenya in July 1964, but Harvard says his master’s degree was awarded in 1965.
Full reasoning
The chronology in this sentence is incorrect.
- An Associated Press report published by The Philadelphia Inquirer says Obama "returned to his native Kenya in July 1964."
- The Harvard Gazette says "Obama's father had graduated from Harvard with a master's degree in economics in 1965."
That means he did not return to Kenya after graduating from Harvard in 1964; he returned in 1964 and the master's degree is documented as 1965. So the sentence gets the order and date relationship wrong.
2 sources
- Why Obama's father had to leave Harvard
He left Harvard and - divorced from the president's mother, Ann Dunham - returned to his native Kenya in July 1964.
- Obama joins list of seven presidents with Harvard degrees - Harvard Gazette
Obama's father had graduated from Harvard with a master's degree in economics in 1965.