President Obama will undoubtedly go down as one of, if not the most, likable presidents in history. His presidency was consequential, but was it a great presidency?
The Good
When President Obama took office, the world was teetering on the brink of catastrophe. A worldwide recession was the epicenter of the first days of the Obama presidency. A nearly $800 billion stimulus package was passed to reboot the economy, extend unemployment benefits, and later, bail out a failing auto industry.
1. The Affordable Care Act
More commonly known as "Obamacare," will undoubtedly be an immense accomplishment for President Obama, regardless of its current state of jeopardy. Since John F. Kennedy, presidents tried and failed repeatedly to establish universal healthcare, and President Obama managed to do it. Being careful not to accredit all the work to the President, who is subject to the discretion of the House and the Senate, the A.C.A. will be an accomplishment for the history books. It still has major glitches, such as rising premiums, but a blanket plan was the right way to start a path to universal healthcare. Once a plan is in place, it can be fixed- and Obama managed to implement a plan and deserves credit for it.
2. The Iran Deal
This was an important step in U.S. Foreign Relations. In 2014, President Obama and other world leaders came together to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In a comprehensive guide to the Iran Deal, the New York Times explains that as part of the Deal, Iran must transform its uranium plant in Fordo as a center for scientific research. (Uranium is an essential component in the making of a nuclear bomb.) Other parts of the Deal also focus on curbing the use of chemical components for the purposes of building a nuclear weapon. It was a major diplomatic win that showed that deals can be reached without force- a sentiment that doesn't seem consistent with the incumbent administration but will be an important one in history.
3. Cuba Relations
In 2015, the United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations under the leadership of President Obama. Americans will now be able to travel to Cuba, with some limitations. American businesses have expressed interest in operating in the island nation, ready to take advantage of eased trade restrictions. Another major diplomatic achievement, the reopening of Cuba will likely be an impressive part of Obama's legacy, but also an important lesson for future administrations in diplomacy.
The In-Between
President Obama will likely have a mixed legacy. The stimulus bill and other measures taken to contain the recession were only bandages on a much larger problem.
1. Recession
Stagnant growth in wages, a widening wealth gap- these are among several structural problems that were not addressed with the upheaval of the financial system. President Obama effectively failed to address a popular topic in the 2016 election- wages. Though he called for higher minimum wage, it was just, in effect, a call.
2. Race Relations
As the first black president, it is only inevitable that the black community had expectations from President Obama. Yet, under his presidency, race relations seemed to worsen. As more and more incidents of police brutality surfaced, it seemed as though President Obama stood by and watched, doing anything. And President Obama was frustrated, too- in a press conference after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the President remarked that if he had a son, he would "look like Trayvon." But diluting tensions between black communities and law enforcement is work that must take place on a micro level; it involves education, and changing hearts and minds. It involves work that is most heavily concentrated on the local level. Most people turn to the demilitarization of police as a solution to be addressed by higher levels of government. The militarization of police is one thing that breeds hostility in law enforcement, but it's not the end-all-be-all solution to the problem. What President Obama could have comprehensively done for relations between black communities and police is otherwise difficult to say. But the decreased turnout in African-American voters in the 2016 election shows some signs of disappointment in the community, unable to activate itself for President Obama's candidate, Hillary Clinton.
3. Foreign Policy
President Obama has also been criticized for his lack of involvement in the Syrian civil war and failing to act on his "red line" policy. But what could President Obama have done? Choosing sides is messy business. Some Syrian rebels are known to be part of ISIS- so if we backed the rebels, we would be making a costly mistake once again. It would be a repeat of the Taliban, when the U.S. backed mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan that would eventually form the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. United States military intervention is an unpopular idea amongst Americans. It would likely also increase tensions in the Middle East, where U.S. military intervention has done more harm than good in the past. Perhaps a more diplomatic route? After two failed ceasefires, it's hard to see what more the United States could have done for Syria in terms of diplomacy. Obama played a safe game around Syria, but how it will effect Syria in the future, only time will tell. One thing, however, is certain: military force will be messy business, and will likely only heighten tensions in the regions. It would be a costly mistake.
The Bad
Though President Obama campaigned on the promise of reduced U.S. military intervention in foreign countries, he has taken part in hidden warfare without Congressional approval.
1. Foreign Relations
In Yemen, U.S.-backed Saudi bombings have taken the lives of 4,000 Yemeni civilians. President Obama also authorized drone bombings, weapons of choice in Pakistan, Somalia, and Libya. While these secret wars are unlikely to taint his otherwise strong legacy, they will still be an important part of U.S. foreign relations in history.
The Ugly
President Obama's legacy is at stake. President-Elect Donald trump has promised to roll back all of Obama's accomplishments, particularly the Affordable Care Act.
1. Fear Of The Future
The A.C.A. gave health insurance to 20 million Americans. Diplomacy, rather than military force, was revitalized. He may not have been the greatest president of our time, but he was certainly one of the most consequential ones. History will likely treat him fairly, no matter what Donald Trump's plans may be.
Historians will debate about Obama's policies for decades to come. But one thing is certain: Obama will have a uniquely positive legacy going forward. He and Michelle Obama together opened the White House in ways it had never been before. The White House, in effect, became our house. We were charmed by the Obama family. In them, we saw hope.
President Obama campaigned on the promise of hope and continues that message forward. In a time where many Americans feel uncertain, he remains hopeful in the American people, the younger generations following him, and the promise of democracy. His commitment to fairness and upholding democratic traditions, such as a peaceful transfer of power, is important for the country now and moving forward. His message of hope will be essential these next four to eight years and beyond.
