Obama Presidency Oral History
Interviews released
Explore a special preview of interviews related to climate, energy, the environment, and healthcare.
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Orszag -
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DeParle -
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Emanuel -
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Fluke -
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Lambrew
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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Negotiation experiences during health care cost curve discussions Nancy Nielsen03:50
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Obama's disciplined eating habits and the role of a traveling chief of staff Nancy-Ann DeParle03:26
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Coordinating disaster response with Carol Browner during the oil spill crisis Heather Zichal06:53
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Planned Parenthood's engagement with the Obama administration on health reform Cecile Richards02:00
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Negotiating with the pharmaceutical industry during healthcare reform Elizabeth Fowler02:14
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Connection between healthcare reform and the economy during the 2008 financial crisis Zeke Emanuel02:13
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Reflection on personal values aligning with President Obama's and a humorous exchange about job acceptance Nancy-Ann DeParle02:45
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Reflections on education and No Child Left Behind before the 2008 election Sarah Holway02:24
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Defense strategy for the Affordable Care Act and the tax-power argument Don Verrilli07:32
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First experience on the House of Representatives Chamber floor Jim Houser02:23
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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go to the Climate, Environment, and Energy
Climate, Environment, and Energy
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Healthcare
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Arts and HumanitiesComing soon
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The People's HouseComing soon
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Republican OppositionComing soon
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LGBTQ PolicyComing soon
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DemocratsComing soon
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Gun ControlComing soon
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Black PoliticsComing soon
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Asia RebalanceComing 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