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.

  • Esther Brimmer

    Foreign Policy Official

  • Paul Ryan

    Member of Congress

  • Michael Froman

    US Trade Representative

  • Don Verrilli

    Solicitor General

  • Jennifer Palmieri

    White House Communications Director

  • Olsen Jean-Julien

    Engineer and Architect

  • Thomas Kalil

    Science and Technology Policy Official

  • Zeke Emanuel

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Rick Wade

    Economic Policy Advisor

  • Janie Simms Hipp

    Tribal Relations Advisor

  • Huma Abedin

    Political Aide and Advisor

  • Chuck Freedman

    Communications Professional

  • Andre Johnson

    Substance Abuse Recovery Advocate

  • Lauren Vrazilek

    Deputy Press Secretary to the First Lady

  • Regina Benjamin

    Surgeon General

  • Neera Tanden

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Christina Romer

    Council of Economic Advisers Chair

  • Meredith Koop

    Stylist to the First Lady

  • Lee Bollinger

    University President

  • David Cote

    CEO of Honeywell International

Esther Brimmer
Foreign Policy Official
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Interviews

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Between 2019 and 2023 Incite at Columbia University 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
    Reflecting on the promotion of the administration's achievements, including the Affordable Care Act Yohannes Abraham
    02:55
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    Strategies for promoting the Affordable Care Act and overcoming opposition narratives Cody Keenan
    02:56
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    Influence of grassroots activism on legislative work and Everglades National Park expansion Carol Browner
    01:28
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    The role of plea bargains in the criminal justice system and their impact on trials Donald Molloy
    04:39
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    Early US reconciliation talks with the Taliban and Richard Holbrooke's involvement Dan Feldman
    04:53
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    Response to terrorist threats during the Obama administration and NCTC's role Michael Leiter
    07:06
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    Bush administration's conditions for auto companies to receive TARP funding Steven Rattner
    01:20
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    Initial response to the Edward Snowden leaks within the NSC Michael Daniel
    03:48
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    Involvement in the legislative process of the Electrify Africa Act Andrew Herscowitz
    02:20
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    Innovations in Obama's fundraising strategies and the use of traditional methods Tina Tchen
    02:41
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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
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Discover

Put thousands of stories in conversation with each other using our experimental collection visualizer.

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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
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