Obama, Afghan president have Columbia connection

President Obama and new Afghanistan counterpart Ashraf Ghani seemed to get along well when they met Tuesday at the White House, and one reason became readily apparent.

They're both Ivy Leaguers.

Ghani "happened to go to Columbia University, where we both studied, and then spent time at the World Bank just down the street from here," Obama said during a news conference at the White House.

Obama also cited another connection to the new Afghanistan leader.

"President Ghani is, by training, an anthropologist — as was my mother," Obama said.

Ghani returned the favor to Obama in his remarks.

"It's again a pleasure to be standing next to a graduate of Columbia University," Ghani said.

"There's much that unites us," the Afghan president added. "And your mother was an inspiration to us."