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.

  • Regina Benjamin

    Surgeon General

  • Cecile Richards

    Planned Parenthood President

  • Nancy-Ann DeParle

    White House Deputy Chief of Staff

  • Gina McCarthy

    EPA Administrator

  • Frances Beinecke

    Environmentalist and Nonprofit Executive

  • Joe Del Bosque

    Farmer

  • Arun Majumdar

    ARPA-E Director

  • Heather Zichal

    Energy and Climate Advisor

  • Kate Orff

    Landscape Architect

  • Max Baucus

    Ambassador and US Senator from Montana

  • Zeke Emanuel

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Andrew Stern

    Labor Leader

  • Christy Goldfuss

    Environmental Policy Official

  • Melanie Bahnke

    Alaska Native and Arctic Issues Advocate

  • Todd Stern

    Special Envoy

  • Tom Harkin

    US Senator from Iowa

  • Carolyn Britton

    National Medical Association President

  • Bob Kocher

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Aneesh Chopra

    US Chief Technology Officer

  • Sylvia Burwell

    OMB Director and HHS Secretary

Regina Benjamin
Surgeon General
43

Interviews released

Explore a special preview of interviews related to climate, energy, the environment, and healthcare.

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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
    Responsibilities as an executive director: budget management, fundraising, staff management, and coalition dynamics Courtney Hight
    01:29
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    Natoma's struggle with healthcare costs before the 2008 election Connie Anderson
    02:09
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    Transition from Obama administration to CEO of NRDC and its impact on environmental policy Gina McCarthy
    04:55
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    Research phase and site visits for modeling landscape interventions to mitigate storm impacts Kate Orff
    02:49
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    Reflections on leaving the Obama administration to influence climate policy Courtney Hight
    01:20
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    Reasons for the absence of a public option in healthcare reform discussions Max Baucus
    02:59
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    Inspiration from Mike Mansfield and interest in US-China relations Max Baucus
    03:36
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    Perspectives on the ambition of Obama's early agenda and the exclusion of EFCA Andrew Stern
    01:16
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    Perceptions of US nuclear policy and North Korea during the Obama administration Max Baucus
    03:41
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    Preparation for potential policy challenges during the Obama administration Jeanne Lambrew
    01:00
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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
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