Defeated John McCain in general election-2008 Becoming the First African-American President of the United States of America 2008 won against Hilary Rodham Clinton in primary campaign Defeated John McCain in general election-2008 Re-elected after defeating Mitt Romney-2012 Barack Obama began his presidential campaign in 2007, and in 2008, after a close primary campaign against Hilary Rodham Clinton, he won sufficient delegates in the democratic Party primaries to receive the primaries to receive the presidential nomination. He then defeated Republican nominee John McCain in the general election, and was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2009. He was re-elected president in November 2012, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney, and was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2013.

Election Promises Economic stimulus package - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Health Care Close Guantanamo Bay End war in Iraq within 16-months Some of Obama’s more popular election promises (still in progress): On February 17, 2009, Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a $787 billion economic stimulus package aimed at helping the economy recover from the deepening worldwide recession. The act includes increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and incentives, and direct assistance to individuals, which is being distributed over the course of several years. Legislation reforming health care in the United States, a key campaign promise and a top legislative goal. Obama proposed an expansion of health insurance coverage to cover the uninsured, to cap premium increases, and to allow people to retain their coverage when they leave or change job Obama’s proposal was to spend $900 billion over 10 years and include a government insurance plan, also known as the public option, to compete with the corporate insurance sector as a main component to lowering costs and improving quality of health care. Ban torture and close Guantanamo. Within days of his inauguration, Obama signed executive orders to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay within one year and to end torture in interrogation. Obama announced he would withdraw all combat forces from Iraq by August 2010 and the remaining troops by the end of 2011. Completed and these are now peacekeeping missions.

What makes Obama a Great Speaker? One of the Democratic Party’s great contemporary orators Lyricism in writing Obama borrows devices from great speakers of the past (Kennedy) Body orientation, hands closed, limited pitch ranges (enables him to “convey passion without exhibiting it”) Barack Obama’s has a reputation as one of the Democratic Party’s great contemporary orators. And that reputation has only been further hyped since the beginning of the presidential campaign, most recently because of the wildly popular music video, “Yes We Can,” which set to music Obama’s primary night speech in New Hampshire. Liberman, a linguistics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, thinks the most distinctive thing about Obama’s speeches isn’t the delivery, but the lyricism in the writing. Inspiration from John Kennedy, King and Robert F. Kennedy, suggesting, again, that Obama’s reputation as a master speechmaker owes a large debt to the simple act of borrowing devices from great public speakers of the past. When Obama is speaking, Nunberg said, his arms move, but his body orientation does not change. Also, he doesn’t let his arms get too far away from his body and he keeps his hands closed, instead of open. Another similarity Obama has with Kennedy is his limited pitch range, which enables him to “convey passion without exhibiting it,” Nunberg said. Liberman said, “There’s no silver bullet. I don’t think the answer is something so superficial as sentence structure, intonation, that kind of stuff. You couldn’t say if you adapted his style then you would be successful.

Challenges Overcome Affordable Care Act, March 2010 health-care reform plan intended to strengthen consumers’ rights, provide affordable insurance coverage and increase access to medical care Overseas War Efforts Ended the U.S. combat mission in Iraq in 2010 Gave authorization for a raid by the U.S. Navy SEALS, which lead to the capture and assassination of al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden

Conclusion: A Great Leader Hardworking Values education, healthcare, and helping others Pro positive change Strong believer in equality Acts for the benefit of society