SUNY Press

List of Illustrations . . ix
Preface . . xi

I Introduction
1. Rating Presidents and Assessing Obama . . 3

II Character and Identity
2. Rhetoric and Image . . 21
3. Obama's Lincoln: Image to Ideology . . 37
4. The Optimist and the Realist . . 51
5. Obamania in Europe . . 67

III Politics and Leadership
6. The First Hundred Days . . 85
7. Legislative Leadership . . 99
8. The Firing of General Stanley McChrystal . . 113
9. 2010 Midterm Election . . 129

IV Domestic Policy
10. U.S. Auto Industry Rescue . . 45
11. Environmental Policy and Global Climate Change . . 161
12. Food and Agricultural Policy . . 183
13. Health Care Reform . . 197
14. Response to the Gulf Oil Spill . . 213

V Foreign Policy and National Security
15. Inherited Wars: Afghanistan and Iraq . . 231
16. Iran Policy . . 247
17. China Policy . . 263
18. Counterterrorism Policy . . 277
19. Obama, Libya, and War Powers . . 297

VI The Obama Administration
20. The Policy Czar Debate . . 315
21. Unilateral Directives . . 343
22. Vice President Joe Biden . . 363
23. First Lady Michelle Obama . . 379

VII Conclusion
24. Making History . . 401

Appendix A: Barack Obama Biography . . 419
Appendix B: The Obama Administration . . 421
List of Contributors . . 423
Index . . 431