Barack Obama's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Barack Obama. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. President (2009-2017), was the first African-American to hold the office. A Democrat, he served as a U.S. Senator representing Illinois (2005-2008) and an Illinois State Senator (1997-2004). His presidency was marked by significant policy changes and historical milestones, solidifying his place as a notable figure in American history.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1991: Graduation from Harvard Law School

In 1991, Obama graduated from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor magna cum laude.

1993: "40 Under Forty"

In 1993, Crain's Chicago Business named Obama to its list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.

1996: Election to Illinois Senate

In 1996, Barack Obama was elected to represent the 13th district in the Illinois Senate.

2004: Run for U.S. Senate

In 2004, Barack Obama successfully ran for the U.S. Senate.

2006: Grammy Award for Dreams from My Father

In 2006, Obama received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for "Dreams from My Father".

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Check it on Amazon

2008: Presidential Election Victory

In 2008, Barack Obama won the presidential election against John McCain, becoming the first African-American president.

2008: TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year

In 2008, Obama was named TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year.

February 17, 2009: Obama Signs American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a $787 billion economic stimulus package designed to help the U.S. economy recover from a worldwide recession. The act included increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, tax breaks, and direct assistance to individuals.

March 2009: Obama Intervenes in Automotive Industry

In March 2009, President Obama intervened in the troubled automotive industry by renewing loans for General Motors (GM) and Chrysler to allow them to continue operations during reorganization.

June 2009: Obama Calls to Accelerate Economic Stimulus and Signs "Cash for Clunkers" into Law

In June 2009, dissatisfied with the pace of economic stimulus, President Obama called on his cabinet to accelerate the investment. He also signed into law the Car Allowance Rebate System, known as "Cash for Clunkers", which temporarily boosted the economy in June 2009.

August 6, 2009: Confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor

On August 6, 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice, becoming the first Supreme Court Justice of Hispanic descent.

October 9, 2009: Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

On October 9, 2009, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Obama had won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".

2009: Nobel Peace Prize Awarded

In 2009, Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in international diplomacy.

2009: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act signed

In 2009, Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding federal hate crime laws to include crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

March 2010: CBO Estimates Deficit Reduction from ACA

In March 2010, the CBO estimated that the net effect of both ACA laws will be a reduction in the federal deficit by $143 billion over the first decade.

March 23, 2010: Obama Signs Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into Law

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, colloquially known as "Obamacare") into law.

August 5, 2010: Confirmation of Elena Kagan

On August 5, 2010, Elena Kagan was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice.

December 2010: Employment Rises

Between February and December 2010, employment rose by 0.8 percent, which was less than the average of 1.9 percent experienced during comparable periods in the past four employment recoveries.

December 17, 2010: Obama Signs Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 into law. The compromise included a temporary, two-year extension of the 2001 and 2003 income tax rates, a one-year payroll tax reduction, continuation of unemployment benefits, and a new rate and exemption amount for estate taxes.

2010: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act signed

In 2010, Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act, ending the policy banning open service from LGBT people in the U.S. armed forces.

2010: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010

In 2010, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, went into effect, which expanded federal hate crime laws to include crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

May 1, 2011: Death of Osama bin Laden

On May 1, 2011, a "surgical raid" authorized by President Obama and conducted by United States Navy SEALs resulted in the shooting death of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

August 2, 2011: Obama Signs Bipartisan Budget Control Act

On August 2, 2011, President Obama signed the bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011, which enforced limits on discretionary spending until 2021, established a procedure to increase the debt limit, and created a Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to propose further deficit reduction. The Act aimed to prevent a U.S. government default on its obligations.

June 28, 2012: Supreme Court Upholds ACA Mandate

On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5–4 vote in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius that the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was constitutional under the U.S. Congress's taxing authority.

November 6, 2012: Obama Re-elected as President

On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama won 332 electoral votes and was re-elected as president.

November 2012: Unemployment Rate Falls

By November 2012, the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent.

2012: Presidential Re-election

In 2012, Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney in the presidential election, winning a second term as president.

2012: TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year

In 2012, Obama was named TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year.

2013: Unemployment Rate Decreases

In the last month of 2013, the unemployment rate decreased to 6.7 percent.

December 2014: Negotiated Restoration of Relations with Cuba

In December 2014, it was announced that President Obama, with Pope Francis as an intermediary, had negotiated a restoration of relations with Cuba after nearly sixty years of détente.

2014: Unemployment Rate Continues to Decline

During 2014, the unemployment rate continued to decline, falling to 6.3 percent in the first quarter.

2014: Ambassador of Humanity Award

In 2014, Obama received The Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education's Ambassador of Humanity Award.

June 2015: Supreme Court Rules on ACA Subsidies

In June 2015, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in King v. Burwell that subsidies to help individuals and families purchase health insurance were authorized for those doing so on both the federal exchange and state exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

July 1, 2015: Announcement of Formal Diplomatic Relations with Cuba

On July 1, 2015, President Obama announced that formal diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States would resume, and embassies would be opened in Washington and Havana.

August 13, 2015: Upgrade of Interests Sections to Embassies

On August 13, 2015, the countries' respective "interests sections" in one another's capitals were upgraded to embassies.

2015: Ranked the 18th-greatest American president

In 2015, from the Brookings Institution survey, Obama was ranked the 18th-greatest American president.

March 2016: Obama Visits Cuba

In March 2016, President Obama visited Havana, Cuba, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to arrive since Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

2016: Ban on transgender people serving openly in the U.S. armed forces ends

In 2016, Obama's administration ended the ban on transgender people serving openly in the U.S. armed forces.

2017: John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award

In 2017, Obama received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

2018: Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award

In 2018, Obama received the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award.

2020: American Factory wins Academy Award

Higher Ground's first film, American Factory, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2020.

March 4, 2022: Obama wins Audio Publishers Association Award

On March 4, 2022, Obama won an Audio Publishers Association (APA) Award in the best narration by the author category for the narration of his memoir A Promised Land.