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 for Illinois (2005-2008) and an Illinois State Senator (1997-2004). His presidency was marked by the Affordable Care Act, the end of the Iraq War, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. He faced challenges including the Great Recession and political polarization. Prior to his political career, Obama was a community organizer and civil rights attorney. His background and rise to the presidency made him a symbol of hope and change for many.

Sections (7)

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

1993: Named to "40 under Forty"

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

2006: Grammy Award for Dreams from My Father

In 2006, Barack 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

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June 2, 2008: Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination

On June 2, 2008, Barack Obama received enough votes to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination after a close primary race against Hillary Clinton.

2008: Obama's 2008 campaign highlighted

In 2008, Barack Obama conducted what has been described as one of the most effective campaigns in American history. He is also considered as one of the most talented political orators of the 21st century.

2008: Time Person of the Year

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

2008: Nomination for President

In 2008, Barack Obama was nominated by the Democratic Party for president and selected Joe Biden as his running mate. He later defeated John McCain in the presidential election.

February 2009: Obama Rated Most Respected World Leader

In a February 2009 poll conducted in Western Europe and the U.S. by Harris Interactive, Obama was recognized as the most respected and powerful world leader.

May 2009: Obama Rated Most Popular World Leader

In a May 2009 Harris poll, Obama was recognized as the most popular world leader and the figure on whom most people pinned their hopes for global economic recovery.

June 2009: Economic Stimulus and Car Allowance Rebate System

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

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 8, 2009: Hate Crimes Prevention Act Signed

On October 8, 2009, Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

October 9, 2009: Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

On October 9, 2009, Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The prize was given "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". Obama became the fourth U.S. president and third sitting president to receive the award.

October 30, 2009: HIV Travel Ban Lifted

On October 30, 2009, Obama lifted the ban on travel to the United States by those infected with HIV.

2009: Nobel Peace Prize

In 2009, Barack Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize.

2009: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 signed into law

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.

March 23, 2010: Signing of the Affordable Care Act

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law.

August 5, 2010: Confirmation of Elena Kagan

On August 5, 2010, Elena Kagan was confirmed, bringing the number of women sitting simultaneously on the Court to three for the first time in American history.

December 22, 2010: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Signed

On December 22, 2010, Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, fulfilling a promise made in the 2008 presidential campaign to end the 1993 'don't ask, don't tell' policy that had prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces.

2010: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed

In 2010, Obama signed into effect the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in response to the 2008 financial crisis. It brought the most significant changes to financial regulation in the United States since the Great Depression.

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: Affordable Care Act provisions go into effect

In 2010, provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect. The ACA is considered Obama's most significant accomplishment.

May 1, 2011: Authorization and Execution of Raid Resulting in Death of Osama bin Laden

On May 1, 2011, an operation authorized by President Obama, conducted by United States Navy SEALs, resulted in the shooting death of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Papers, computer drives and disks were seized from the compound. Celebrations erupted across the country.

May 2, 2011: Death of Osama bin Laden Boosts Obama's Approval

Following the death of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011, Obama experienced a slight increase in his poll numbers and maintained a 50–53 percent approval rating for about a month before his approval numbers decreased again.

August 2, 2011: Signing of the Budget Control Act of 2011

On August 2, 2011, President Obama signed the bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011, following a congressional debate over raising the nation's debt limit. The legislation enforced limits on discretionary spending until 2021, established a procedure to increase the debt limit, created a Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, and established procedures for reducing spending.

April 3, 2012: Obama Secures Democratic Nomination for Reelection

On April 3, 2012, Barack Obama secured the 2778 convention delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, running virtually unopposed in the Democratic Party presidential primaries.

May 9, 2012: Obama Affirms Support for Same-Sex Marriage

On May 9, 2012, shortly after launching his reelection campaign, Obama publicly affirmed his personal support for the legalization of same-sex marriage, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to do so.

November 6, 2012: Obama Re-elected as President

On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama won 332 electoral votes, exceeding the 270 required to be reelected as president. He addressed supporters in Chicago, vowing to focus on jobs and work with both parties.

November 2012: Unemployment Rate Decrease

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

2012: Re-election as President

In 2012, Barack Obama defeated Republican opponent Mitt Romney in the presidential election, securing his second term as president.

2012: Time Person of the Year

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

January 21, 2013: Obama Calls for Full Equality for Gay Americans

During his second inaugural address on January 21, 2013, Obama became the first U.S. president in office to call for full equality for gay Americans, and the first to mention gay rights or the word 'gay' in an inaugural address.

2013: Unemployment Rate Decrease

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

December 2014: Negotiation of Restoration of Relations with Cuba

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

2014: Continued Decline in Unemployment Rate

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

2014: Ambassador of Humanity Award

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

June 2015: Supreme Court Ruling in King v. Burwell

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, not only those purchasing plans "established by the State", as the statute reads.

July 1, 2015: Announcement of Resumption of Formal Diplomatic Relations Between Cuba and the United States

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.

March 2016: Obama's Approval Rating Reaches 50 Percent

According to Gallup, Obama's approval rating reached 50 percent in March 2016, a level not seen since May 2013.

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

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

2016: Pentagon Ends Ban on Transgender People Serving Openly in the Military

In 2016, during Obama's presidency, the Pentagon ended the policy that barred transgender people from serving openly in the military.

2017: John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award

In 2017, Barack 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, Barack Obama received the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award.

2018: Obama's Retrospective Approval Rating

In 2018, Gallup's retrospective approval polls of former presidents indicated that Obama garnered a 63 percent approval rating, ranking him among the most popular presidents since World War II.

2020: American Factory Wins Academy Award

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

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2020: Affordable Care Act provisions went into effect

In 2020, provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect. The ACA is considered Obama's most significant accomplishment.

March 4, 2022: Obama Wins Audio Publishers Association Award

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

A Promised Land

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2022: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for Our Great National Parks

In 2022, Barack Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for Our Great National Parks.

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2023: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for Working: What We Do All Day

In 2023, Barack Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for Working: What We Do All Day.

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2023: Obama's Continued High Approval Rating

In 2023, Gallup's retrospective approval polls indicated Obama again garnered a 63 percent approval rating, maintaining his position as one of the most popular presidents since World War II.