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.

  • Robert Trapp

    Newspaper Publisher and Correspondent

  • Bob Kocher

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Michael Minor

    Pastor and Healthcare Advocate

  • Bill McKibben

    Environmental Activist

  • Andrew Stern

    Labor Leader

  • Kathleen Sebelius

    Secretary of Health and Human Services

  • Max Baucus

    Ambassador and US Senator from Montana

  • Peter Orszag

    White House Budget Director

  • Heather Zichal

    Energy and Climate Advisor

  • Steven Chu

    Secretary of Energy

  • Kate Orff

    Landscape Architect

  • Sarah Holway

    School Teacher and Food Policy Activist

  • Jeanne Lambrew

    Health Policy Advisor

  • Frances Beinecke

    Environmentalist and Nonprofit Executive

  • Lisa Jackson

    EPA Administrator

  • Elizabeth Fowler

    Health Policy Official

  • Christy Goldfuss

    Environmental Policy Official

  • Sandra Fluke

    Reproductive Health Advocate

  • Carolyn Britton

    National Medical Association President

  • Aneesh Chopra

    US Chief Technology Officer

Robert Trapp
Newspaper Publisher and Correspondent
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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
    Negotiations and challenges in passing the Employee Free Choice Act Andrew Stern
    04:43
  • go to the interview
    Coordinating multi-agency collaboration before Cabinet meetings Regina Benjamin
    01:17
  • go to the interview
    Development and implementation of the Climate Action Plan Christy Goldfuss
    03:28
  • go to the interview
    Reflections on the 2008 Democratic primary and support for Hillary Clinton Sandra Fluke
    02:18
  • go to the interview
    Challenges in passing labor law reform after Senator Kennedy's death Andrew Stern
    01:23
  • go to the interview
    Comparing the impact of hurricanes to the Gulf oil spill on community mental health Regina Benjamin
    02:01
  • go to the interview
    President Obama's unexpected entry at the Copenhagen climate meeting Carol Browner
    03:25
  • go to the interview
    Navigating US-China relations and prioritizing American interests without clear direction Max Baucus
    02:42
  • go to the interview
    Dealing with differing opinions among experts during the BP oil spill crisis Steven Chu
    01:03
  • go to the interview
    Visiting the Edible Schoolyard and exploring farm-to-table education programs Sarah Holway
    02:16
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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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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