Former Boss Recalls How Obama Shook Off Real Rat

CHICAGO (WBBM) - Barack Obama hit the ground running Wednesday, his first full day as the nation's 44th President.

"What a moment we're in.  What an opportunity we have to change this country," Mr. Obama told staff and reporters at the White House Wednesday.

The attitude, and calm determination with which Mr. Obama expressed it, didn't surprise former boss Chuck Barnhill.

'He's unflappable," said Barnhill.  "He's very thoughtful.  He doesn't rush to judgment.  He thinks things through.  I think that he authentically tries to balance the interests of everybody who is sort of competing for his attention to try to find the best solution to any particular problem."

Barnhill's law firm, known today as Miner, Barnhill & Galland, was not considered a likely choice for Mr. Obama when the future President graduated as the president of the Harvard Law Review.  Mr. Obama listened deliberately to the firm's pitch over a number of meetings before deciding it was a good fit for him, joining it in 1993. 

The firm expects its associates to begin pulling their weight immediately, and Barnhill recalls that Mr. Obama was equal to the task, working primarily on civil rights and workers' rights cases as well as subsidized housing.

Barnhill said Mr. Obama represented Illinoisans alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act, whistleblowers who exposed fraud against the federal government and prospective home buyers who claimed that were the victim of credit discrimination, or "redlining." 

He said Mr. Obama could relate to anyone and, while supremely confident, was always understated about it. 

Mr. Obama's cool demeanor is legendary.  Barnhill said he saw it first hand.

"Our law firm is in an old building that at one time had a problem with rats running around in the conference room," Barnhill said. "And Barack was down there one time hosting a meeting and one ran right up his leg.  Without battling an eyelash he shook the rat off and continued to talk at the meeting in a completely composed way.  Other people would have erupted."

Barnhill said he considers the nation Mr. Obama inherited as President Tuesday "a mess" and said he can think of no one more qualified to undertake the work needed to address its problems.

"He's working all the time, as far as I can tell," said Barnhill, who was a personal guest of the President at inaugural festivities Tuesday and attended the Illinois inaugural ball.  "Not only does he work all the time -- he enjoys it...He's trying to make the world a better place.  He's having a great time.