Annual Review of the Presidency
Obama Takes Charge
The President's First Three Months
Barack Obama is a historic president who took office at a historic moment, amid an economic crisis at home and a lingering war abroad. After exactly three months in office, our panel of experts assesses the new administration. What has the president accomplished? Where has he failed? And has he laid the groundwork for a successful first term, or is the administration already adrift?
These topics and more were discussed during this year’s review of the presidency, held on April 20, 2009. If you missed the event, or would like to view it again, please visit one of the sites below.
The Berkeley Webcast
Berkeley on Youtube
Berkeley on iTunes
A recording of the event is also available from UCTV.
Confirmed panelists include:
Theda Skocpol
The Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University. Skocpol has authored nine books and in 2007 was awarded the most prestigious award in Political Science, the Skytte Prize, for her work.
Maria Echaveste
Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2001 and a Senior U.S. Department of Labor Official. Currently Echaveste is the Lecturer in Residence at UC-Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall.
David Frum
Former economic speechwriter for President George W. Bush and author of the first "insider" book about the Bush presidency. Frum is currently a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and writes a daily column for the National Review Online.
Kathleen Parker
A nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group and a journalist for over 20 years. Parker is currently writer in residence at the Buckley School of Public Speaking in Camden, S.C.
The Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service at the Institute of Governmental Studies, in conjunction with the UC Berkeley Extension, is proud to present the 28th in a series of annual assessments of the American presidency.
