Robert P. Watson & Jack Covarrubias 
The Obama Presidency 
A Preliminary Assessment

Barack Obama’s presidency is a pivotal one in American history, coming at a time of dramatic political change in the United States and amidst an astonishing array of domestic and foreign policy challenges. Not surprisingly, then, the Obama administration has been the focus of intense scrutiny by scholars, the press, and the public, and rarely has the tone of political discourse been more polarized and emotionally charged. In this book a distinguished group of scholars offers an objective and timely examination of the Obama administration; Obama’s character, leadership style, and rhetoric; and his domestic, foreign, and national security policies. Engaging, lively, and highly readable, each essay offers important insight into this historic president and presidency.

Inhoudsopgave

List of Illustrations



Preface




PART I. Introduction



1. Rating Presidents and Assessing Obama


Robert P. Watson


PART II. Character and Identity



2. Rhetoric and Image


Casey Malone Maugh

3. Obama’s Lincoln: Image to Ideology


William D. Pederson

4. The Optimist and the Realist


R. Ward Holder

5. Obamania in Europe


Marie des Neiges Léonard


PART III. Politics and Leadership



6. The First Hundred Days


Sean Savage

7. Legislative Leadership


Max J. Skidmore

8. The Firing of General Stanley Mc Chrystal


Douglas M. Brattebo

9. 2010 Midterm Election


Matthew N. Green


PART IV. Domestic Policy



10. U.S. Auto Industry Rescue


Steven A. Stuglin

11. Environmental Policy and Global Climate Change


Byron W. Daynes & Glen Sussman

12. Food and Agricultural Policy


Julie A. Lester

13. Health Care Reform


Michael K. Gusmano

14. Response to the Gulf Oil Spill


Matthew A. Williams & Brian Richard


PART V. Foreign Policy and National Security



15. Inherited Wars: Afghanistan and Iraq


Tom Lansford & Jack Covarrubias

16. Iran Policy


Robert J. Pauly

17. China Policy


De-Yuan Kao

18. Counterterrorism Policy


Leonard Cutler

19. Obama, Libya, and War Powers


Louis Fisher


PART VI. The Obama Administration



20. The Policy Czar Debate


Justin S. Vaughn & José D. Villalobos

21. Unilateral Directives


Graham G. Dodds

22. Vice President Joe Biden


Richard M. Yon

23. First Lady Michelle Obama


Robert P. Watson


PART VII. Conclusion



24. Making History


Douglas M. Brattebo & Robert P. Watson

Appendix A: Barack Obama Biography

Appendix B: The Obama Administration

List of Contributors

Index

Over de auteur

Robert P. Watson is Professor of American Studies at Lynn University. His many books include
George W. Bush: Evaluating the President at Midterm (coedited with Bryan Hilliard and Tom Lansford) and
Life in the White House: A Social History of the First Family and the President’s House, both also published by SUNY Press. At the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast,
Jack Covarrubias is Assistant Professor of Political Science, and
Tom Lansford is Professor of Political Science.
Douglas M. Brattebo is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hiram College.