Obama made history by becoming the first African American elected president of the United States. Like those who preceded him, he has faced challenges at home and abroad.
The president's biggest challenge proved to be the economy at the outset of his presidency. The housing and auto industry was in total free fall while the unemployment rate crept steadily upward in one of the worst financial crises in American History.
He saved both industries from collapse. He bailed out the big auto companies as a last result, which prevented the loss of thousands of jobs, and instituted housing reform to keep millions in their homes.
Over time, the unemployment rate started to drop due to the president's policies and consumer confidence. The president imposed tax breaks and a massive stimulus package to help spur the economy along. Obama also mandated infrastructure rebuilding in the Economic Recovery Act, which provided paychecks for millions.
Aside from his handling of the economy, The Affordable Care Act is considered by many to be the greatest accomplishment of the Obama presidency. It mandates that everyone be covered by health insurance to help drive down costs. It also prevents companies from denying coverage to anyone with a preexisting health condition. However, the president and Democrats in Congress failed to get a public option or government-run program included in the plan due to die-hard Republican opposition.
In addition, the administration dealt with a massive oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico soon after he took office that caused millions in damages to businesses and wildlife before the White House could get it under control.
The White House also endured ups and downs in foreign policy. Obama ended the War In Iraq as promised during his first term in office, which may have perpetuated the rise of Isis. On the other hand, The War In Afghanistan lingers on despite the president's inclination to end it.
Also overseas, the Obama Administration, with its European allies, hit Russia with tough sanctions for invading Ukraine, which nearly crippled Russia's economy, and bombed Isis training camps in Syria. The administration also seeks a diplomatic resolution to Syria's bloody civil war.
The president has announced a bold agenda for the last year of his presidency. The White House will close Guantanamo Bay, where the suspected terrorist is being held without due process. The president also wants to act on gun control and plans further executive action on immigration.
Moreover, Mr. Obama is gearing up for a head-to-head clash with the G.O.P. over his right to nominate a justice to succeed the late Anthony Scalia on the Supreme Court. Republicans believe strongly that the vacancy should be left to the next president since Obama has less than a year left in office.
We will see if the president will achieve his goals and be remembered as one of the great presidents of our generation.
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