Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician from the Democratic Party who served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He previously served as a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004 and worked as an attorney, having graduated at Harvard Law School. In the presidency, he succeeded George W. Bush and was succeeded by Donald Trump, both Republicans.

Notable bills passed in Obama's administration include the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

Opinions about Obama and his administration are fiercely divided. Supporters consider him one of the best presidents in American history, who passed landmark bills, recovered the country from the Great Recession, promoted LGBT rights, promoted discussions that led to the 2015 Paris Agreement on global climate change, and significantly improved the United States' reputation abroad. Opponents, on the other hand, put him among the worst presidents, saying that he insisted on failed policies, caused economical stagnation and federal debt, promoted censorship and political surveillance, uprooted cultural norms, and was involved in multiple scandals, citing the supposed aid to Benghazi rebels, the IRS scandal, the AP phone records scandal, and the ATF gunwalking scandal (Operation Fast and Furious).