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.

  • Lauren Vrazilek

    Deputy Press Secretary to the First Lady

  • Otis Moss III

    Pastor and Theologian

  • Robert McDonald

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs

  • Michael Leiter

    Counterterrorism Official

  • Kathy Greenlee

    Assistant HHS Secretary for Aging

  • Thomas Tidwell

    Chief of the US Forest Service

  • Jeremy Bash

    Intelligence and Defense Official

  • Rumana Ahmed

    Public Engagement Official

  • Art and Helen Tanderup

    Farmers

  • Neil Abercrombie

    Governor of Hawaii

  • Sally Jewell

    Secretary of the Interior

  • Doug O'Brien

    Rural Development Official

  • John Drew

    Anti-Poverty Advocate

  • Frank Rose

    Foreign Policy Official

  • Ryan Crocker

    Ambassador

  • Donald Molloy

    Judge

  • Katie Johnson

    Personal Presidential Secretary

  • Ash Carter

    Secretary of Defense

  • Harry Reid

    Senate Majority Leader

  • Astra Taylor

    Filmmaker and Activist

Lauren Vrazilek
Deputy Press Secretary to the First Lady
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Interviews

Explore oral histories in the collection.

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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
    Development and impact of the Morton memos on immigration enforcement policy John Morton
    07:37
  • go to the interview
    Transition from primary to general election against McCain and Palin Josh Earnest
    02:12
  • go to the interview
    Key relationships and engagement with Australia, the Philippines, and Pacific Islands Elizabeth Phu
    03:35
  • go to the interview
    Navigating unprecedented cyber threats and government response strategies Michael Daniel
    03:38
  • go to the interview
    Michelle Obama's influence on public health and childhood obesity through Let's Move! campaign Joanna Rosholm
    03:49
  • go to the interview
    Reflections on the US-Cuba relationship and attending Obama's 2016 visit to Cuba Roberta Jacobson
    01:17
  • go to the interview
    Experiences and outcomes of the Obama administration's historic trip to Cuba Josh Earnest
    05:13
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    Reforms in personnel, budget, transparency, IT security, and enforcement during the administration Richard Cordray
    01:03
  • go to the interview
    Strategic review and decision-making on troop withdrawal from Iraq Denis McDonough
    03:19
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    Reflections on the inevitability of healthcare reform during Obama's presidency Rahm Emanuel
    04:49
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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

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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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