Obama's First Year: A Historical Perspective | The Kojo Nnamdi Show

President Barack Obama

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (January of second year in office): 51%

Major Issues During Campaign

• Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
• The War on Terror
• Improving America's image abroad
• Domestic economic downturn/global financial crisis
• Health care reform

Major Legislation Passed During First Year

• Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, 2009
• Expanded version of State Children's Health Insurance Program
• American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
• Repealed ban on using federal dollars for stem cell research
• Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

George W. Bush

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (January of second year in office): 84%

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (leaving office): 34%

Major Issues During Campaign

• Medicare expansion
• Health care reform
• Social security policy
• Education

Major Legislation Passed During First Year

• No Child Left Behind
• Economic Growth and Reconciliation Act 2001
• President's Surveillance Program (authorized by executive order, expanded the scope and capabilities of the NSA to monitor suspected terrorist activities, including warrantless wiretapping)
• USA Patriot Act
• Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act

Bill Clinton

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (January of second year in office): 55%

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (leaving office): 66%

Major Issues During Campaign

• Widespread discontent with political gridlock in Washington
• Tax/financial relief for the middle class
• Improving the economy

Major Legislation Passed During First Year

• Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (required large employers to allow employees unpaid leave for pregnancy andyes serious medical conditions)
• Enacted by Executive Order "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of allowing homosexuals to serve in the military
• Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (cut taxes for low-income families, raised taxes on wealthiest 1%; offered tax cuts to 90% of small businesses)
• NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
• The Brady Bill (mandatory 5-day waiting period on handgun purchases)

George H.W. Bush

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (January of second year in office): 80%

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (leaving office): 56%

Major Issues During Campaign

• $220 billion deficit
• Rising unemployment
• Foreign policy upheavals in Eastern Europe.

Major Legislation Passed During First Year

• Savings and Loan Rescue Bill (restructured financial industry regulation in the wake of the S&L crisis)
• Deregulation of natural gas prices
• Democrats control both houses of Congress, making it difficult for Bush to accomplish agenda items and ultimately forcing him to reverse a campaign pledge and raise taxes.

Ronald Reagan

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (January of second year in office): 48%

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (leaving office): 63%

Major Issues During Campaign

• Recession
• Rising unemployment rate (just under 9 % in January 1982)
• Inflation
• Growing deficit
• Economic inequality

Major Legislation Passed During First Year

• Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. This bill embodied the deep tax cuts Reagan's presidency came to be known for. It reduced marginal income tax rates in the United States by 25% over three years (the top rate falling from 70% to 50% while the bottom rate dropped from 14% to 11%). Critics claim the cuts increased the federal deficit; supporters say they're responsible for spurring economic expansion.

Jimmy Carter

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (January of second year in office): 54%

Gallup Poll Approval Rating (leaving office): 34%

Major Issues During Campaign

• Energy
• Middle East conflict
• Inflation

Major Legislation Passed During First Year

• Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (created Department of Energy)
• Panama Canal Treaties (gave Panama control of the canal after 1999)