King and Obama: Eleven Things in Common

See some of the striking similarities between the leaders.

Powerful Speakers With Iconic Speeches - King: Known as a powerful orator, Dr. King's rousing speeches are a significant part of his legacy. His iconic "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. Obama: On Aug. 28, 2008, 45 years after King's "Dream" speech, Obama accepted the DNC nomination, evoking many symbolic King comparisons punctuated with the slogan "Yes We Can!"(Photos: dpa/Landov; Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Powerful Speakers With Iconic Speeches - King: Known as a powerful orator, Dr. King's rousing speeches are a significant part of his legacy. His iconic "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. Obama: On Aug. 28, 2008, 45 years after King's "Dream" speech, Obama accepted the DNC nomination, evoking many symbolic King comparisons punctuated with the slogan "Yes We Can!"(Photos: dpa/Landov; Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Advocates for the Working Class - King: King's Poor People's Campaign addressed issues of economic justice and attention to poverty, and was the inspiration for the March on Washington.\r\rObama: A huge point on the Obama campaign platform was a proposed tax cut for 95% of working families, and significant tax relief for the middle class.\r(Photos: Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Advocates for the Working Class - King: King's Poor People's Campaign addressed issues of economic justice and attention to poverty, and was the inspiration for the March on Washington.\r\rObama: A huge point on the Obama campaign platform was a proposed tax cut for 95% of working families, and significant tax relief for the middle class.\r(Photos: Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Both Attended Boston Area Grad Schools - King: Dr. King received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.\r\rObama: Obama received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991.\r(Photos: www.reobama.com, Getty Images)

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Both Attended Boston Area Grad Schools - King: Dr. King received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.\r\rObama: Obama received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991.\r(Photos: www.reobama.com, Getty Images)

Pretty, Smart and Elegant Wives - King: After his assassination, Coretta Scott King assumed the face of a strong widow, while gracefully fighting to maintain the integrity of her husband's legacy.\r\rObama: His wife Michelle is influential in her own right. She draws huge crowds, attracts interest in her style, and is single-handedly changing the public image of the African American woman and mother.\r\r(Photos: CBS/Landov; Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Pretty, Smart and Elegant Wives - King: After his assassination, Coretta Scott King assumed the face of a strong widow, while gracefully fighting to maintain the integrity of her husband's legacy.\r\rObama: His wife Michelle is influential in her own right. She draws huge crowds, attracts interest in her style, and is single-handedly changing the public image of the African American woman and mother.\r\r(Photos: CBS/Landov; Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

King and Obama, The Athletes - King: As a youngster, King played baseball, ran track, and was even on his high school football team. He was also a good pool player. Legend has it he was quite the trash talker.Obama: The president is an avid sports fan, and was a high school basketball player. He had a ritual of playing ball on the day of every primary election and hosted top NBA players at the White House for a pick-up game last year.(Photos: www.mlkonline.net, CBS Sports)

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King and Obama, The Athletes - King: As a youngster, King played baseball, ran track, and was even on his high school football team. He was also a good pool player. Legend has it he was quite the trash talker.Obama: The president is an avid sports fan, and was a high school basketball player. He had a ritual of playing ball on the day of every primary election and hosted top NBA players at the White House for a pick-up game last year.(Photos: www.mlkonline.net, CBS Sports)

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Leaders of Great Movements - King: As the public face of the civil rights movement, King's power attracted not only thousands of supporters and activists, but concern from the government.\r\rObama: During his presidential campaign, Obama inspired a movement for hope and change that took over the country. Since his inauguration, it has morphed into a philosophy that has reset American policy both at home and abroad.\r\r(Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

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Leaders of Great Movements - King: As the public face of the civil rights movement, King's power attracted not only thousands of supporters and activists, but concern from the government.\r\rObama: During his presidential campaign, Obama inspired a movement for hope and change that took over the country. Since his inauguration, it has morphed into a philosophy that has reset American policy both at home and abroad.\r\r(Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

Community Service - King: The civil rights leader saw the importance of community service, and his national holiday is designated as an American Day of Service.\r\rObama: His first foray into his professional life in Chicago was as a dedicated community organizer.\r\r(Photos: Three Lions/Getty Images, Gary Fabiano-Pool/Getty Images)

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Community Service - King: The civil rights leader saw the importance of community service, and his national holiday is designated as an American Day of Service.\r\rObama: His first foray into his professional life in Chicago was as a dedicated community organizer.\r\r(Photos: Three Lions/Getty Images, Gary Fabiano-Pool/Getty Images)

Crowds of Adoring Supporters - King: Before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, King was a reluctant leader. But his speeches grew huge crowds and many famous admirers and friends like Harry Belafonte.\r\rObama: Drawing enormous crowds throughout his presidential campaign, Obama drew criticism as a "rock star." Celeb supporters include Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.\r\r(Photos: dpa/Landov; Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Crowds of Adoring Supporters - King: Before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, King was a reluctant leader. But his speeches grew huge crowds and many famous admirers and friends like Harry Belafonte.\r\rObama: Drawing enormous crowds throughout his presidential campaign, Obama drew criticism as a "rock star." Celeb supporters include Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.\r\r(Photos: dpa/Landov; Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Vision for a United, Strong, Integrated America - King: His dream was to one day have all races living together in harmony.Obama: He is multiracial, and his diverse administration and supporters show he is making good on King's dream.(Photos: Dennis Brack/Landov; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Vision for a United, Strong, Integrated America - King: His dream was to one day have all races living together in harmony.Obama: He is multiracial, and his diverse administration and supporters show he is making good on King's dream.(Photos: Dennis Brack/Landov; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Two Loving Dads - King: Father to Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter and Bernice, Dr. King was a doting father who didn't allow his work to trump his family time.Obama: He's one of the coolest dads around, promising on national television that his girls Sasha and Malia could have a puppy.(Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, David Lienemann/Getty Images)

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Two Loving Dads - King: Father to Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter and Bernice, Dr. King was a doting father who didn't allow his work to trump his family time.Obama: He's one of the coolest dads around, promising on national television that his girls Sasha and Malia could have a puppy.(Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, David Lienemann/Getty Images)

Opponents of American War Efforts - King: In 1967, King gave a controversial speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam," in which he harshly criticized the U.S. involvement in the war. His position was unpopular, but he remained critical of the war.Obama: As an Illinois State Senator, Obama made a speech condemning the Iraq War before it even began.(Photos: Commercial Appeal/Landov; Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Opponents of American War Efforts - King: In 1967, King gave a controversial speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam," in which he harshly criticized the U.S. involvement in the war. His position was unpopular, but he remained critical of the war.Obama: As an Illinois State Senator, Obama made a speech condemning the Iraq War before it even began.(Photos: Commercial Appeal/Landov; Mark Wilson/Getty Images)