Historic, intriguing, and important in so many ways, the Obama presidency will be studied by scholars and students for years to come. With the rise in hyperpartisanship, legislative gridlock, political dysfunction, "fake news," and other negative trends, it is imperative that academicians weigh in with a rigorous assessment of Obama's presidency. This volume applies a variety of scholarly approaches to analyze the impact of Obama as a leader and policymaker. Scholars from disciplines such as political science, history, environmental science, economics, and communication come together to provide an interdisciplinary and wide-ranging appraisal of the president. Across the varied chapters, Obama's leadership is central to understanding the success or failure of his policies and initiatives. The president's decisions and actions are also assessed against the constraints and possibilities created by the modern US political system, rapid changes in technology and society, and shifting patterns in international relations. The result is a book that covers executive leadership, administration, domestic issues, foreign and national security policy, and more, to present a comprehensive review of the Obama legacy.

Introduction: Their Place in HistoryRobert P. WatsonPart I: Executive, Administrative, and Party Leadership1. The Vice Presidency of Joe BidenRichard M. Yon, Michael J. Ferro, and Jeremy Hunt2. The Evolving Political Partnership of Barack Obama and Bill ClintonDouglas M. Brattebo3. Barack Obama's Executive OrdersRaymond Frey4. Obama, Party Leadership, and Domestic ElectionsTom Lansford5. Michelle Obama's First LadyshipElizabeth J. NatallePart II: Domestic Policy6. Obama, Economic Recovery and Macroeconomic PolicyPaul Burton and Joseph J. St. Marie7. The Affordable Care Act: Obama and the ACA-Innovation by TraditionMax J. Skidmore8. Obama and the Supreme CourtSean J. Savage9. Obama and CongressSean D. Foreman10. The Obama Administration's Approach to Disaster Response and RecoveryDavid Harms Holt and Casey Maugh FunderburkPart III: Foreign and Security Policy11. Obama and the Wars in Afghanistan and IraqRobert J. Pauly Jr.12. The Arab Spring and the Middle EastWayne F. Lesperance Jr. and John M. Callahan13. Obama's Leadership in Addressing Climate ChangeWayne Law, Alanna Lecher, Jonathan Smith, and April Watson14. China, Russia, and U.S. Primacy in World AffairsWilliam KeetonPart IV: Conclusion15. Barack Obama: The Post-PresidencyMichael J. DevineAppendix A: Grading President ObamaAppendix B: Barack Obama BiographyAppendix C: The Obama AdministrationSelect BibliographyAbout the EditorsAbout the ContributorsIndex