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.

  • Peter Orszag

    White House Budget Director

  • Kate Orff

    Landscape Architect

  • Arun Majumdar

    ARPA-E Director

  • Robert Trapp

    Newspaper Publisher and Correspondent

  • Carol Browner

    Energy and Climate Policy Director

  • Carolyn Britton

    National Medical Association President

  • Steven Chu

    Secretary of Energy

  • Art and Helen Tanderup

    Farmers

  • Tom Harkin

    US Senator from Iowa

  • Aneesh Chopra

    US Chief Technology Officer

  • Zeke Emanuel

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Michael Minor

    Pastor and Healthcare Advocate

  • Jeanne Lambrew

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Regina Benjamin

    Surgeon General

  • Neera Tanden

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Lisa Jackson

    EPA Administrator

  • Kathleen Sebelius

    Secretary of Health and Human Services

  • Nancy Nielsen

    American Medical Association President

  • Sylvia Burwell

    OMB Director and HHS Secretary

  • Nancy Sutley

    Environmental Policy Official

Peter Orszag
White House Budget Director
43

Interviews released

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

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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.

  • go to the interview
    Advocacy with state government on water issues and passing a water bond Joe Del Bosque
    03:20
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    Reservations about joining the Obama administration due to preference for government over politics Peter Orszag
    02:39
  • go to the interview
    Challenges in Senate climate and energy legislation discussions Carol Browner
    01:03
  • go to the interview
    Early life and family background of an Indian American immigrant's son Aneesh Chopra
    02:49
  • go to the interview
    Development of the climate action plan and the Clean Power Plan during Obama's second term Heather Zichal
    03:52
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    Challenges in implementing new Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards Nancy Sutley
    03:21
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    Setting negotiation boundaries for the Affordable Care Act discussions Sylvia Burwell
    01:18
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    Early influences on interest in nutrition and health in Coldwater, Mississippi Michael Minor
    03:31
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    Involvement in health care reform negotiations and relationship with White House staff Nancy Nielsen
    01:14
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    Lessons from Kyoto Protocol negotiations for Obama-era climate strategy Todd Stern
    06:44
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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