Shortly after his re-election, Obama held a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House to map a strategy for his year-end confrontation with congressional Republicans over taxes and spending.
“He’ll often say, ‘I get how we’ll win the positioning here. But tell me how we’re actually going to accomplish it,’” said senior adviser David Plouffe.
In his second term, Obama has said he wants to accomplish a rewriting of immigration laws and the tax code and to continue boosting economic growth. He also wants his health care law implemented successfully, so that it’s regarded in the same positive light as Medicare and Social Security, helping solidify his legacy, aides said.
Shifting Debate
Just as Ronald Reagan’s vision of smaller government shifted the political debate in the U.S. for 30 years, Obama seeks to leave a lasting shift back to the positive role that it can play.
Like Reagan, Obama has offered soaring oratory to reach his goals. His challenge for the next four years is tapping his “eternal optimist” while keeping a sharp edge for adversaries.
Reagan and John F. Kennedy are among the few former presidents from the last 50 years who have a special place in public memory because of the hope they stirred, according to presidential historian Robert Dallek, who participated in this month’s dinner with Obama.
“They still inspire a degree of optimism, hope, positive feeling,” said Dallek. “It’s very difficult to sustain that, especially when you’re in office and reality is nipping at your heels.”