The election of Barack Obama as president of the United States in November 2008 was an instantaneous historic event. Regardless of his legacy as chief executive, President Obama will forever be remembered as the first African-American president. Barack Obama is now serving his second term as president, so this seems a good time for an initial survey of his successes, failures, and challenges. Governing in a society ripe with ideological and partisan polarization, the Obama Administration has been surrounded by controversy, much of it manufactured by his opponents but salient nonetheless. The Historical Dictionary of the Barack Obama Administration covers the history of his life and his presidency through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and a bibliography. The dictionary section has over 200 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, including the president, his advisors, his family, his opponents, and his critics, as well as members of Congress, military leaders, and international leaders. This book is a vital access point for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the presidency of Barack Obama.

Author Biography

Michael J. Pomante II is a PhD candidate at Northern Illinois University. He has been teaching classes on American government and politics at several colleges for the past seven years. Scot Schraufnagel is associate professor and director of graduate studies at Northern Illinois University. His research appears in the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Legislative Studies, and Political Science Quarterly among other scholarly outlets. He is the author of Third Party Blues: The Truth and Consequences of Two-Party Dominance and Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress.