Zelizer, Julian E

A collection of essays by political historians that offer a critical look at the presidency of Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, discussing the big issues that shaped the Obama years, including the conservative backlash, race, the financial crisis, health care, crime, drugs, counterterrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan, the environment, immigration, education, gay rights, and urban policy.

Chronciles the life and political career of Jimmy Carter, describing his path from a peanut farmer in Georgia to the Oval Office in 1977, and discussing his accomplishments and the setbacks that caused him to lose the 1980 election.