Obama Presidency Oral History

Incite at Columbia University
The Obama Presidency as told by 450+ officials, activists, organizers, and extraordinary people from all walks of life.

  • Christy Goldfuss

    Environmental Policy Official

  • Bill McKibben

    Environmental Activist

  • Regina Benjamin

    Surgeon General

  • Nancy Sutley

    Environmental Policy Official

  • Bob Kocher

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Sarah Holway

    School Teacher and Food Policy Activist

  • Sandra Fluke

    Reproductive Health Advocate

  • Neera Tanden

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Lisa Jackson

    EPA Administrator

  • Kate Orff

    Landscape Architect

  • Joe Del Bosque

    Farmer

  • Kathleen Sebelius

    Secretary of Health and Human Services

  • Art and Helen Tanderup

    Farmers

  • Tom Harkin

    US Senator from Iowa

  • Max Baucus

    Ambassador and US Senator from Montana

  • Steven Chu

    Secretary of Energy

  • Aneesh Chopra

    US Chief Technology Officer

  • Peter Orszag

    White House Budget Director

  • Jeanne Lambrew

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Andrew Stern

    Labor Leader

Christy Goldfuss
Environmental Policy Official
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Interviews released

Explore a special preview of interviews related to climate, energy, the environment, and healthcare.

Explore all interviews

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.

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Stories

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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    Reflections on the design and political constraints of the 2008 economic stimulus package Peter Orszag
    11:20
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    Reflections on family life during the Obama administration and the President's generosity Nancy-Ann DeParle
    03:58
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    Business owner's perspective on balancing activism with consumer base concerns Jim Houser
    03:45
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    Achieving a unified position to influence immigration policy and President Obama's actions on DACA and DAPA Richard Trumka
    02:51
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    Debate and challenges surrounding the public option in the Affordable Care Act Neera Tanden
    11:38
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    Personal experience on election night 2008 when Obama won Destiny Blackmon
    03:39
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    Unveiling of the White House Kitchen Garden and the impact of Michelle Obama's healthful eating initiative Sarah Holway
    04:40
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    Support for profit-sharing and flexible work arrangements for low-wage workers Andrew Stern
    01:14
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    Accidental entry into criminal justice reform work Kathleen Sebelius
    01:03
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    Reinvigoration of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice in 2010 Nancy Sutley
    04:31
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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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Navigate

Navigate the interconnected events and places that make up this history, narrated by the stories of the people who lived it.



2009-17

Timeline
Map

News& Events

  • read full text: What a New Oral History Reveals About Obama, and the Tradeoffs He Made
    Peter Baker in The New York Times.
    NewsRead more
  • read full text: An Expansive View Into Obama’s Transformative Presidency
    Caroline Harting in Columbia News.
    NewsRead more
  • read full text: The Obama Presidency Inside-Out: A Conversation About Climate
    New York City
    On May 31, 2023, we gathered in New York City to celebrate the completion of the Obama Presidency Oral History project's fieldwork.
    EventRead more
See more news