Obama calls moms to wish them a happy Mother's Day - CNN Politics

Whether they have passed away or are still with us today, these mothers have helped shape some of the most influential people of our time.

Photos: Politicians and their moms

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Whether they have passed away or are still with us today, these mothers have helped shape some of the most influential people of our time.

President Barack Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, passed away on November 7, 1995. In a tribute to his mother, he said "Had I known she would not survive her illness, I might have written a different book," referencing "Dreams from My Father," his 1995 autobiography. "Less a meditation on the absent parent, more a celebration of the one who was the single constant in my life."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

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President Barack Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, passed away on November 7, 1995. In a tribute to his mother, he said "Had I known she would not survive her illness, I might have written a different book," referencing "Dreams from My Father," his 1995 autobiography. "Less a meditation on the absent parent, more a celebration of the one who was the single constant in my life."

Hillary Clinton's mother, Dorothy Howell Rodham, passed away on November 1, 2011, at age 92. In "Living History" Clinton wrote that her mother taught her to stand up for herself. After young Hillary was bullied, Rodham told her: "You have to face things and show them you're not afraid." Clinton wrote that her mother "watched from behind the curtain as I squared my shoulders and marched across the street. I returned a few minutes later, glowing with victory."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

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Hillary Clinton's mother, Dorothy Howell Rodham, passed away on November 1, 2011, at age 92. In "Living History" Clinton wrote that her mother taught her to stand up for herself. After young Hillary was bullied, Rodham told her: "You have to face things and show them you're not afraid." Clinton wrote that her mother "watched from behind the curtain as I squared my shoulders and marched across the street. I returned a few minutes later, glowing with victory."

Former President George W. Bush recounted his parents' differing discipline styles and said that when he was caught stealing toy soldiers at the age of 6, his father made him apologize to the store owner. "There was no harsh follow-up," Bush said. But his mother might have handled things differently. "One time she caught me urinating in the hedges and washed my mouth out with soap," he said.

Photos: Politicians and their moms

PHOTO: PAUL J. RICHARDS/CHRIS WILKINS/AFP/Getty Images

Former President George W. Bush recounted his parents' differing discipline styles and said that when he was caught stealing toy soldiers at the age of 6, his father made him apologize to the store owner. "There was no harsh follow-up," Bush said. But his mother might have handled things differently. "One time she caught me urinating in the hedges and washed my mouth out with soap," he said.

Barbara Bush has always been an advocate for her younger son, Jeb. But amid speculation that he might run for president, the former first lady said, "There are other people out there that are very qualified and we've had enough Bushes." But in February 2015 she changed her mind, calling into one of her son's fundraisers: "Just listening in. Anyway ... what do you mean too many Bushes? ... I've changed my mind."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

PHOTO: Joe Raedle/TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images/Newsmakers

Barbara Bush has always been an advocate for her younger son, Jeb. But amid speculation that he might run for president, the former first lady said, "There are other people out there that are very qualified and we've had enough Bushes." But in February 2015 she changed her mind, calling into one of her son's fundraisers: "Just listening in. Anyway ... what do you mean too many Bushes? ... I've changed my mind."

On Mother's Day 2014, House Speaker John Boehner posted a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Mary Ann Boehner, who passed away in 1998. Boehner wrote: "They say behind every great man is a great woman. Well, behind an Ohio barkeeper and his 12 kids, there is a saint."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

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On Mother's Day 2014, House Speaker John Boehner posted a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Mary Ann Boehner, who passed away in 1998. Boehner wrote: "They say behind every great man is a great woman. Well, behind an Ohio barkeeper and his 12 kids, there is a saint."

Reflecting on her mother in an interview with CNN's State of the Union, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said: "My mother was so spectacular. She knew women were capable of more things. Every day I think, if she lived now, what she would be?"

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PHOTO: Courtsey of the office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi

Reflecting on her mother in an interview with CNN's State of the Union, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said: "My mother was so spectacular. She knew women were capable of more things. Every day I think, if she lived now, what she would be?"

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was raised in an East Bronx housing project and grew up to became the first Hispanic to serve in the nation's highest court. And on the day of her swearing in she thanked her mother, Celina Báez: "I have often said that I am all I am because of her, and I am only half the woman she is."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was raised in an East Bronx housing project and grew up to became the first Hispanic to serve in the nation's highest court. And on the day of her swearing in she thanked her mother, Celina Báez: "I have often said that I am all I am because of her, and I am only half the woman she is."

While reflecting on growing up in the segregated South, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recounted a time when she went to a department store with her mother to buy an Easter dress and was told she'll have to try it on in a storage room. "My mother said, looking [the saleswoman] dead in the eye, 'Either she tries this dress on in the fitting room or we don't buy it,'" said Rice.

Photos: Politicians and their moms

PHOTO: Courtey of Condoleezza Rice

While reflecting on growing up in the segregated South, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recounted a time when she went to a department store with her mother to buy an Easter dress and was told she'll have to try it on in a storage room. "My mother said, looking [the saleswoman] dead in the eye, 'Either she tries this dress on in the fitting room or we don't buy it,'" said Rice.

Betty Douglas, the mother of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, was a familiar face on the campaign trail in 2012, when he was the GOP candidate for vice president, supporting her son each step of the way. Ryan's father died of a heart attack in 1986. Ryan said his mother gave him a "big nudge" to take a job in politics because "she was worried I would become a ski bum."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

PHOTO: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Gerardo Mora/STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages

Betty Douglas, the mother of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, was a familiar face on the campaign trail in 2012, when he was the GOP candidate for vice president, supporting her son each step of the way. Ryan's father died of a heart attack in 1986. Ryan said his mother gave him a "big nudge" to take a job in politics because "she was worried I would become a ski bum."

Vice President Joe Biden's mother, Jean Biden, passed away at 92 on January 8, 2010. In his 2008 acceptance speech as Obama's running mate, Biden said "My mother's creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. You are everyone's equal, and everyone is equal to you."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

PHOTO: Joe Raedle/PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

Vice President Joe Biden's mother, Jean Biden, passed away at 92 on January 8, 2010. In his 2008 acceptance speech as Obama's running mate, Biden said "My mother's creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. You are everyone's equal, and everyone is equal to you."

World-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson announced his presidential bid in April 2015 but took time away from the campaign trail to be with his ailing mother. Reflecting on his mother in 2013, Carson said, "Not only did she tell us to turn off the TV and start reading books, but she was always sort of struggling to try to learn how to read, herself."

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PHOTO: Courtesy of Dr. Ben Carson

World-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson announced his presidential bid in April 2015 but took time away from the campaign trail to be with his ailing mother. Reflecting on his mother in 2013, Carson said, "Not only did she tell us to turn off the TV and start reading books, but she was always sort of struggling to try to learn how to read, herself."

Sen. Marco Rubio, a presidential candidate, is the son of Cuban immigrants. In an interview with Time magazine in 2013, Rubio said that his mother, Oriales Garcia, left him a voice message, asking him in Spanish, "Don't mess with the immigrants, my son ... They're human beings just like us, and they came for the same reasons we came."

Photos: Politicians and their moms

PHOTO: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Sen. Marco Rubio, a presidential candidate, is the son of Cuban immigrants. In an interview with Time magazine in 2013, Rubio said that his mother, Oriales Garcia, left him a voice message, asking him in Spanish, "Don't mess with the immigrants, my son ... They're human beings just like us, and they came for the same reasons we came."

(CNN) —

It’s not the voice you’d expect to hear on the other end of the phone.

“Hi. This is Barack Obama. Your President.”

In celebration of Mother’s Day weekend, Obama surprised three mothers with individual phone calls this to wish them a Happy Mother’s Day, according to a White House official.

The mothers, from Minnesota, Arizona and Florida, had all written the President letters over the course of the year.

“I know how tough it is to raise kids and do right by them, and if it hadn’t been for my mother, I certainly wouldn’t be here,” Obama said on a phone call with one of the mothers, referring to his own mother, Ann Dunham, who passed away in 1995. “You are doing the most important work there is.”

Stephanie Tarr, a waitress from Coon Rapids, Minnesota and mother of two boys, was one of the mothers to receive a phone call. She wrote to the President to thank the first family for what they do “each day for our country and normal families like us throughout America,” according to a White House official’s description of the letter, which included mentions of the minimum wage and affordable preschool as issues most important to her.

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“Not uh … no way,” Stephanie Tarr responded as she was greeted with the President’s voice, seemingly in disbelief who was on the other end of the phone.

“It’s me! Give me a test,” the President replied. “Ask me about anything,”

Dawn Miller, a corrections officer from Tucson, Arizona, also wrote to the President and received a phone call from Obama this week, in calls he made from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

According to a White House official, Dawn wrote to the President about her 22-year-old son. His job didn’t offer health insurance, but he was still able to receive treatment through his mother’s insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act after being bitten by a rattlesnake.

“I decided since it was Mother’s Day, I should call letter-writers and moms and say ‘thank you’ for being great moms,” he said.

The last mother the President called, Patricia Church of Ormond Beach, Florida, has raised four children, one of whom is a Marine based out of Camp Lejeune.

She wrote to the President on the night of his State on the Union address and expressed the challenge of raising children as a single mother. According to a White House official, she concluded her letter by saying, “Mr. President, I know you are far too busy to talk to or meet me and I understand that. But I hope and pray you will at least be able to read my words …”

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Obama thanked Dawn on the phone call for her son’s service.

“I was so proud of everything you’ve done raising four kids and you know serving our country,” he said. “Those boys are going to turn out good because of you.”