Khalid Al-Mansour (Donald Warden) agent for Prince Alwaleed bin Talal put Obama in Harvard and paid his bills. Google them.
I think that is what Percy Sutton said.
In general, Columbia and Harvard (as well as other highly selective schools) will do almost anything to improve their AA numbers. That is all the more true when someone comes along with the right sponsors and political pedigree.
Once he was in HLS, Obamalini was astute enough to use his personality to allow the anguished leftists on the faculty feel good about themselves. Larry Tribe would be a good example.