The leader of the free world, President Barrack Obama in an exclusive interview with GQ magazine, sat down with founder of Grantland and the co-creator of ESPN’s 30 for 30 sports documentary series, Bill Simmons to discuss the Obama era and beyond.
The United States President is breaking records which was all documented in this issue. He is the first African-American to sit for two terms at the White House. He also became the first American President to grace the cover of OUT 100 magazine because of his support for equal civil rights and LGBT social movements.
Beyond the talks about his time in office, the policies he made, the U.S. economy, gun control, the #BlackLivesMatter movement in Ferguson, and more, we have culled the parts that give us a view of 'Obama the person', not the President in this cover interview for GQ magazine.
You’re out to dinner with your wife and the phone rings. How many of the people in your life are you like, 'Uh-oh, I’ve got to take this'?
Malia and Sasha. [laughs] And maybe my mother-in-law. My national security adviser, Susan Rice, and Denis McDonough, my chief of staff. Those are the only people whose call I would take during a date night with Michelle. But the entire White House is full of people who have enormous responsibilities. You can’t do this by yourself.
The principle of team building in the White House is really no different than the principle of team building anywhere, on a sports team or a well-run business. Do they put team ahead of themselves? Do you make sure all the pieces fit together? Because just having the best athletes, if they’re knocking heads and nobody’s doing rebounding and everybody wants the ball, it isn’t always going to work.
What’s the most entertaining conspiracy theory you ever read about yourself?
That military exercises we were doing in Texas were designed to begin martial law so that I could usurp the Constitution and stay in power longer. Anybody who thinks I could get away with telling Michelle I’m going to be president any longer than eight years does not know my wife.
Has anyone come to the White House and picked up your older daughter for a date?
No, but I’ve seen some folks glancing at her in ways that made me not happy.
Tell the Secret Service, 'Just take out that guy over there'?
Just keep an eye on him.
Does it scare you that your wife could have a billion-dollar daytime talk show and you could be Stedman 2.0?
[laughs] Uh…
Because that’s in play. She could do that if she wanted.?
And if that’s what she wants to do, I’m okay with her making a whole lot of money. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Would you ever want to be part of the ownership for an NBA team?
Absolutely.
Would it have to be the Bulls, or would it have to be somebody else?
Well, you know, I know [Jerry] Reinsdorf pretty good—he’s not giving that thing up anytime soon. But I have fantasized about being able to put together a team and how much fun that would be. I think it’d be terrific.
How many times have you said to your kids, 'Stop Googling me'?
I don’t have to tell them that. They have no interest in me. I mean, they’re hopefully interested in me as a father.
What’s your guiltiest-pleasure TV show? Don’t say Game of Thrones, because that’s a good show.
Probably the guiltiest pleasure—and this is kind of lame—is Big Break. You know, on the Golf Channel? Which is kind of a silly show. [laughs] But I find it really relaxing.
So you watch it on the treadmill or something?
Yeah, when I’m working out sometimes late at night. I never see all the episodes, but if they’ve got some chipping contest or something… [laughs] It’s pretty lame. I do love Game of Thrones.
Which Game of Thrones character is Donald Trump?
Uh…I don’t think…I don’t think any of them rise to that level.
If you were campaigning against Trump, would you even bother?
I would’ve enjoyed campaigning against Trump. That would’ve been fun.
Which leadership style suits your vision of where America should go forward? Biden or Hillary?
[laughs] Come on, Bill.
Number of cigarettes you’ve smoked in the White House since you got here?
Zero in the last five years. I made a promise that once health care passed, I would never have a cigarette again. And I have not.
What perk of being president are you going to miss the most?
So the clear answer would be Air Force One: an amazing plane with an amazing crew, they clear out airspace so you don’t have to wait. And you land anytime, you leave anytime. But it may be Marine One, because even post presidency, I may be able to round up a private plane sometime, but it’s tough not to have your helicopter waiting for you. [laughs]