When Barack Obama held his first prime-time news conference as president, the financial crisis was at its peak and not a single Republican had voted for his economic stimulus bill. So he pleaded for their partnership.

“I am the eternal optimist,” he said Feb. 9, 2009 in the East Room of the White House, wearing a red tie. “I think that, over time, people respond to civility and -- and rational argument.”

Four years later, this time with an improving economy threatened by a showdown with Republicans over the debt ceiling, Obama arrived in the East Room for the final news conference of his first term, wearing his party’s color -- a blue tie -- and issuing an ultimatum.

“Republicans in Congress have two choices here: They can act responsibly, and pay America’s bills, or they can act irresponsibly, and put America through another economic crisis,” he said. “But they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy.”

As he prepares to take the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts today at a small ceremony in the White House, Democrat Obama has shed the aura of a hopeful consensus builder determined to break partisan gridlock. Instead, he’s adopted a more confrontational stance, refusing to negotiate with Republicans over the debt ceiling and asserting executive authority on gun control.

Battle Hardened

“He’s much more battle hardened in terms of understanding that the opposition may not just be subject to sitting down and reasoning together,” said John Podesta, who was former President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff. “He’s shaping the battlefield now, with a much keener understanding of what the opposition looks like.”

That approach is easier for the incumbent president because he is now focused on governing without having one eye on his re- election.

Obama’s first term was largely consumed by repairing economic wreckage from the 2008 financial crisis and getting his health care law passed. His next four years -- and ultimately his legacy -- may be judged by how much he can accomplish in an era of domestic political dysfunction and persistent international challenges.

Economy’s Impact

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