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.

  • Bill McKibben

    Environmental Activist

  • Heather Zichal

    Energy and Climate Advisor

  • Robert Trapp

    Newspaper Publisher and Correspondent

  • Zeke Emanuel

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Art and Helen Tanderup

    Farmers

  • Nancy Nielsen

    American Medical Association President

  • Bob Kocher

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Nancy Sutley

    Environmental Policy Official

  • Kate Orff

    Landscape Architect

  • Aneesh Chopra

    US Chief Technology Officer

  • Michael Minor

    Pastor and Healthcare Advocate

  • Nancy-Ann DeParle

    White House Deputy Chief of Staff

  • Sandra Fluke

    Reproductive Health Advocate

  • Sylvia Burwell

    OMB Director and HHS Secretary

  • Cecile Richards

    Planned Parenthood President

  • Elizabeth Fowler

    Health Policy Official

  • Gina McCarthy

    EPA Administrator

  • Lisa Jackson

    EPA Administrator

  • Melanie Bahnke

    Alaska Native and Arctic Issues Advocate

  • Max Baucus

    Ambassador and US Senator from Montana

Bill McKibben
Environmental Activist
43

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.

Learn more

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
    Proposal of the healthcare reserve fund in the first budget and its role in healthcare reform negotiations Peter Orszag
    02:31
  • go to the interview
    Involvement in promoting electronic health records in the Recovery Act Zeke Emanuel
    02:01
  • go to the interview
    Efforts to ensure bipartisan support for the Affordable Care Act Kathleen Sebelius
    03:18
  • go to the interview
    Working with Hillary Clinton on her presidential campaign and transitioning to Obama's team Neera Tanden
    06:14
  • go to the interview
    Discussion on various versions of the public option in 2009 health care reform Nancy-Ann DeParle
    02:20
  • go to the interview
    Public concerns and insurer challenges during ACA implementation Sylvia Burwell
    03:53
  • go to the interview
    Al Gore's environmental stance and its impact during the Clinton administration Frances Beinecke
    02:39
  • go to the interview
    Negotiations on healthcare reform and Obama's commitment to family Max Baucus
    04:45
  • go to the interview
    Balancing Washington duties with direct engagement with the public Nancy Sutley
    02:39
  • go to the interview
    Addressing energy issues in low-income communities during the Obama administration Arun Majumdar
    01:24
Explore all stories

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.

See more topics

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