And I might feel that the "born in Kenya" was some conscious attempt (by Obama) to make his profile seem a bit more exotic were it not for 1) national media reporting the year or so prior that he was born in Hawaii (and the source for that had to be Obama) and 2) the "born in Kenya" being omitted from the "Dreams" book text and the book dust jacket, showing up only on a pamphlet the agency put out where Obama's bio was one of about 90 such bios that were sent just to a relatively small set of publishers.
So, yes, taking all this into account, the "born in Kenya" appears to be an error on account of it not being part of something warranting close checking.
‘the “born in Kenya” appears to be an error on account of it not being part of something warranting close checking.’
Now you’re just being funny. The agency prominently marketed Obama as being born in Kenya, but couldn’t be bothered to ascertain whether or not this was true? Are you here all week? Should I try the veal?
One thing I will grant you. Something changed between Journeys in Black and White and Dreams. Journeys was advertised as telling the story of a person born in Kenya, and Dreams tells an entirely different story.
What happened?
One of two things. Either Obama had aspired for the Oval Office all along but had no idea his Kenyan birth would be an issue, and by the time of Dreams’ writing he was informed otherwise.
The other possibility is that the Punahou choomer/coke snorter had not previously seen himself as POTUS material. But someone, perhaps Ayers, realized he had a shot. Thus the narrative was changed accordingly.
Obama always had the option of going either way. His birth was registered in HI, likely as a result of Granny Dunham’s machinations. So he could claim in truth a Kenyan birth, as he did with Acton & Dystel, or he could claim a HI birth, as he did whenever that was more beneficial. However, from the time of Dreams onward, he had to leave his Kenyan beginnings behind. The birth narrative coalesces from that point onward.