Obama Presidency Oral History
Interviews released
Explore a special preview of interviews related to climate, energy, the environment, and healthcare.
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Sebelius -
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Richards -
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Orff -
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Trapp -
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Mier -
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Stern -
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Burwell
Since 2019, Incite at Columbia University has interviewed hundreds of people to produce the official oral history of the Obama presidency. These in-depth interviews, conducted with those inside and outside of the administration, represent roughly 1,100 hours of audio and video that together form a comprehensive record of the Obama years.
Learn moreStories
Each oral history interview contains dozens of stories. Explore these stories through prepared playlists—or save stories to make your own.
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Nomination process for the position of Solicitor General Don Verrilli05:41
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Complexity of healthcare reform and its impact on American public discourse Nancy-Ann DeParle04:04
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Reflecting on the role of grassroots efforts in ACA passage and implementation Max Baucus02:33
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Reflections on handling the government shutdown and its impact on the ACA negotiations Sylvia Burwell05:10
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Development of feminist ideas and activism in college Sandra Fluke05:35
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Navigating financial challenges and trade-offs as a small business owner during a recession Jim Houser02:15
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Preparation for meeting with President Obama and prioritizing community issues Melanie Bahnke02:58
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Representing the President on an official visit to Guam Nancy Sutley02:55
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Coordination between Senate Finance and HELP Committees on early healthcare reform efforts Elizabeth Fowler04:42
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Advising President Obama on healthcare reform strategy after Scott Brown's election Bob Kocher04:54
Topics
From healthcare to the financial crisis to nuclear nonproliferation, each topic explored in this collection is brought to life by narrators from both inside and outside the Obama administration.
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Healthcare
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Climate, Environment, and Energy
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HawaiiComing soon
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TransitionComing soon
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Native AmericaComing soon
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DemocratsComing soon
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RussiaComing soon
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Gun ControlComing soon
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The Peoples' HouseComing soon
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Public HealthComing soon
Navigate
Navigate the interconnected events and places that make up this history, narrated by the stories of the people who lived it.
News& Events
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What a New Oral History Reveals About Obama, and the Tradeoffs He Made
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An Expansive View Into Obama’s Transformative Presidency
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The Obama Presidency Inside-Out: A Conversation About Climate
EventRead more