Obama Presidency Oral History
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Carolyn Britton
National Medical Association President
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Christy Goldfuss
Environmental Policy Official
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Michael Minor
Pastor and Healthcare Advocate
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Robert Trapp
Newspaper Publisher and Correspondent
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Tom Harkin
US Senator from Iowa
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Lisa Jackson
EPA Administrator
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Sandra Fluke
Reproductive Health Advocate
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Don Verrilli
Solicitor General
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Art and Helen Tanderup
Farmers
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Sylvia Burwell
OMB Director and HHS Secretary
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Joe Del Bosque
Farmer
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Heather Zichal
Energy and Climate Advisor
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Regina Benjamin
Surgeon General
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Nancy Sutley
Environmental Policy Official
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Bob Kocher
Health Policy Advisor
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Peter Orszag
White House Budget Director
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Aneesh Chopra
US Chief Technology Officer
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Nancy-Ann DeParle
White House Deputy Chief of Staff
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Todd Stern
Special Envoy
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Frances Beinecke
Environmentalist and Nonprofit Executive
Interviews released
Explore a special preview of interviews related to climate, energy, the environment, and healthcare.
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Fluke
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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Importance of healthcare data availability and its impact on reducing costs Zeke Emanuel04:36
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Choosing Georgetown University for President Obama's climate action plan speech Heather Zichal01:21
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Reflections on meeting President Obama and its impact on Alaska Native leadership Melanie Bahnke02:15
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Reflections on the "keep your doctor" promise and its impact on the AMA membership Nancy Nielsen01:10
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Reflections on the role of scientists in government and advising administrations Steven Chu05:05
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Adjusting to the political dynamics of climate and energy policy Steven Chu02:25
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Impact of trade agreements on US agriculture and almond exports Joe Del Bosque03:50
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Evaluating natural gas's role in the energy mix and its impact on the economy and communities Heather Zichal07:38
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Challenges faced by states in adopting Medicaid expansion Kathleen Sebelius02:44
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Journey from EPA to White House and focus on climate change Gina McCarthy05:16
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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ChicagoComing soon
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EducationComing soon
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East WingComing soon
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Nuclear NonproliferationComing soon
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Elections and CampaignsComing soon
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Atlantic RelationsComing soon
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Inherited WarsComing soon
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AgricultureComing 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
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