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.

  • Michelle Gavin

    Ambassador

  • Heather Zichal

    Energy and Climate Advisor

  • Vivek Murthy

    Surgeon General

  • Stephanie Cutter

    Political and Policy Advisor

  • Earl Smith

    US Army Veteran

  • Jon Favreau

    Speechwriter

  • Tom Wheeler

    FCC Chair

  • Beverly Daniel Tatum

    University President

  • Gerald Kellman

    Community Organizer and Journalist

  • Tyler Swanson

    Voting Rights Activist

  • William Taylor

    Foreign Policy Official

  • Daniel Shomon

    Campaign Strategist and Political Aide

  • Kori Schulman

    Communications Official

  • Cecile Richards

    Planned Parenthood President

  • Brian Mosteller

    Director of Oval Office Operations

  • Victoria Nuland

    Foreign Policy Official

  • Regina Benjamin

    Surgeon General

  • Fiona Reeves

    Director of Presidential Correspondence

  • Johnnie Carson

    Diplomat and Foreign Policy Official

  • Bess Evans

    Policy Advisor

Michelle Gavin
Ambassador
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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
    Obama's storytelling to connect with Americans on healthcare and economic challenges Martin Nesbitt
    03:41
  • go to the interview
    Initial involvement in the bin Laden raid planning William McRaven
    02:50
  • go to the interview
    Obama and Clinton's views on American exceptionalism and foreign policy optimism Derek Chollet
    07:57
  • go to the interview
    Establishing the National Prevention Council and the National Prevention Strategy Regina Benjamin
    04:37
  • go to the interview
    Navigating economic pressures and budgeting challenges in Arlington's school district Libby Garvey
    03:38
  • go to the interview
    Perception of bipartisan cooperation on the stimulus bill in early 2009 Pete Rouse
    01:29
  • go to the interview
    Early memories of the inauguration and initial challenges as chief of staff Mark Lippert
    04:59
  • go to the interview
    Introducing the First Lady to Washington DC's political and community circles Jocelyn Frye
    07:45
  • go to the interview
    Visa Waiver Program's role and security enhancements in response to terrorism Alan Bersin
    03:56
  • go to the interview
    Advocating for rural America's visibility and contributions within the Obama administration Tom Vilsack
    05:43
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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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