Sandra g boodman biography of barack

Against the much older Republican candidate Senator John McCain, Obama won a hard-fought contest taking the presidential election. His victory was greeted with an unusual degree of enthusiasm and excitement — not just in America, but around the world. After decades of racism and segregation blighting American society, the election of the first black American president was hugely symbolic.

On becoming President, he found the political environment hostile. However, with considerable modifications, he was able to pass a health care bill which went a considerable way to ensuring greater universal provision. We are the change that we seek. Obama was elected on a liberal platform. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

Compared to other American political figures, he is perceived as less accommodating to Israel and more sympathetic to the Palestinian position. In , the US was the only country to veto a Security Council resolution condemning illegal Israeli settlements. However, one of his last acts as President in Dec was for the US to abstain on a similar motion condemning Israeli settlement building.

A year into his presidency, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his promise to promote world peace. Many thought this somewhat premature for occurring at the start of his presidency. In , he signed with Russia the New START Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty which included a reduction in nuclear arms between the two countries; though in , relations between the two countries soured after the Russian invasion of the Ukraine caused Obama to initiate economic sanctions against Russia.

Obama pledged to end American troops involvement in Iraq and by could announce all troops would be leaving Iraq. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Milkis and Nelson, Origins and Development, Herbert Mitgang. Thomas J. Rights and permissions Reprints and permissions. About this article Cite this article Lowndes, J.

Search Search by keyword or author Search. Navigation Find a journal Publish with us Track your research. In foreign affairs, the United States still had troops deployed in difficult conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the first two years of his first term, President Obama was able to work with the Democratic-controlled Congress to improve the economy, pass health-care reform legislation, and withdraw most US troops from Iraq.

After the Republicans won control of the House of Representatives in , the president spent significant time and political effort negotiating, for the most part unsuccessfully, with congressional Republicans about taxes, budgets, and the deficit. After winning reelection in , Obama began his second term focused on securing legislation on immigration reform and gun control, neither of which he was able to achieve.

Sandra g boodman biography of barack

When the Republicans won the Senate in , Obama refocused on actions that he could take unilaterally, invoking his executive authority as president. In foreign policy, Obama concentrated during the second term on the Middle East and climate change. Obama left the presidency, at age fifty-five, after his constitutionally limited two terms ended on January 20, He announced plans to remain in Washington, DC, until his younger daughter finished high school and, as a former president, to play a restrained but active role in public affairs.

He also devoted energy to raising money and planning for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois. Your site has become an indispensable resource for us and is always our first reference. We have great discussions on many different topics but invariably come back to the discussion of what makes a great leader or president.

Do you have thoughts and time to share a few of your ideas on this topic? I am also wondering if you might be able to recommend a few good books that compare presidents and their leadership traits? Thanks again so very much. December 21, at am. The rifle-shot topic which has long been of great interest to me is the question of what makes a great president and how would one really attempt to go about comparing presidents from different eras who each faced a variety of dissimilar challenges.

Like Loading Steve said: February 18, at pm. Many thanks for the project, for your reviews. Best of luck. Thank you!