Inside Obama's Presidency

With President Obama now in his second term, filmmaker Michael Kirk's PBS-aired Frontline documentary recalls the successes and missed opportunities of his initial four years in the White House. Inside Obama's Presidency documents Obama's quick ascent from Illinois state legislator to young U.S. Senator, followed by his stunning 2008 election as America's first African-American President. Elected on a promise to fix America's steep partisan divide, Obama came into office inheriting a terrible mess that ranged from collapsing financial markets to two long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film looks at Obama's controversial stimulus package, the mounting public anger over the bonuses awarded to Wall Street bankers, the historic moves to achieve national healthcare coverage, and the Tea Party rebellion that resulted in big midterm losses of Democratic seats in Congress. Like many previous presidents, Obama seemed unprepared for the bitter partisan divisions in Washington, and he also had to contend with divided advisors, infighting, and his own seeming desire to maintain a cool distance rather than engage his rivals. Journalists, elected officials, and Obama insiders discuss the Republican "full court strategy" to confront, delay, and obstruct Obama at every turn, a tactic which spilled into public view when a Republican legislator shouted "you lie!" during a speech by Obama. Like earlier Presidents, Obama enjoyed relative freedom to conduct foreign policy, an area which saw one of his greatest triumphs, the killing of Osama Bin Laden. The documentary also reviews the failed "grand bargain" on debt limits and tax cuts, golf "summits" with House leader John Boehner, super committees, the fiscal cliff and sequester, and more. While it's still too early for history's verdict, this program does a good nonpartisan job of summarizing Obama's first four years. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)