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.

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.

  • go to the interview
    Efforts to advocate for TPP and its strategic importance in Asia Max Baucus
    02:06
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    First Lady Michelle Obama's involvement in healthcare reform communication efforts Nancy-Ann DeParle
    05:43
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    Reflections on the HealthCare.gov rollout challenges Elizabeth Fowler
    02:07
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    Campaign exposing KKR's practices and collaboration on environmental issues Andrew Stern
    01:48
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    Transition from investment banking to public policy with a focus on healthcare and technology Aneesh Chopra
    04:34
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    Impact of Michelle Obama's health and nutrition initiatives on the founding of DC Greens Sarah Holway
    02:59
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    Being selected to discuss drought issues with President Obama Joe Del Bosque
    02:31
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    Personal reflections on treasured US landscapes: Tongass National Forest, Acadia National Park, and the Grand Canyon Christy Goldfuss
    03:05
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    Environmental protection strategies from Florida to the Obama administration Carol Browner
    04:59
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    Comparing the rollout of a large project to historical events and addressing overpromising issues John Mier
    01:09
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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.

  • go to the Climate, Environment, and Energy
    Climate, Environment, and Energy
  • go to the Healthcare
    Healthcare
  • Counterterrorism
    Coming soon
  • Russia
    Coming soon
  • Science
    Coming soon
  • Financial Reform and Regulation
    Coming soon
  • Labor
    Coming soon
  • Inherited Wars
    Coming soon
  • Transparency and Media
    Coming soon
  • Nuclear Nonproliferation
    Coming soon
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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