Obama wasn't always so reserved: In one anecdote, a household servant, Saman, tells of an 8- or 9-year-old Obama hitting him twice in the chest for not turning out a light as he'd requested. Perhaps Obama learned to dole out such punishment from his mother, who, according to two sources, would spank Obama with her hand or a belt if he misbehaved or failed to finish his homework. (Obama denies his mom used such parenting tactics.) Then there's this anecdote: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” [Obama's stepfather] Lolo asked Barry one evening, according to Saman....