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 previously served as a U.S. Senator for Illinois (2005-2008) and as an Illinois State Senator (1997-2004). His presidency saw the passage of 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. Obama is often praised for his eloquence and commitment to progressive policies.
1969: United States federal hate-crime law
On October 8, 2009, Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a measure that expanded 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.
1993: Obama to Crain's List
In 1993, Crain's Chicago Business named Obama to its list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.
1993: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy
On December 22, 2010, Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which fulfilled a promise made in the 2008 presidential campaign to end the don't ask, don't tell policy of 1993 that had prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces.
1998: Re-election to Illinois Senate
In 1998, Barack Obama was re-elected to the Illinois Senate, defeating Republican Yesse Yehudah.
2002: Re-election to the Illinois Senate
In 2002, Barack Obama was re-elected to the Illinois Senate.
March 2004: Wins Democratic Primary
In the March 2004 primary election, Barack Obama won in an unexpected landslide, making him a rising star within the national Democratic Party and leading to speculation about a presidential future.
July 2004: Delivers Keynote Address at Democratic National Convention
In July 2004, Barack Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which was seen by nine million viewers and elevated his status within the Democratic Party.
November 2004: Elected to U.S. Senate
In the November 2004 general election, Barack Obama won with 70 percent of the vote, the largest margin of victory for a Senate candidate in Illinois history.
January 3, 2005: Sworn in as Senator
On January 3, 2005, Barack Obama was sworn in as a senator, becoming the only Senate member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
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".
2008: Effective Campaigner and Orator
In 2008, Barack Obama's presidential campaign was particularly highlighted, establishing him as one of the most effective campaigners in American history and a talented political orator.
2008: TIME Person of the Year and Grammy Award
In 2008, Obama was named TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year and received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for "The Audacity of Hope".
2008: Promises Made During 2008 presidential campaign
On December 22, 2010, Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which fulfilled a promise made in the 2008 presidential campaign to end the don't ask, don't tell policy of 1993 that had prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces.
February 17, 2009: Obama Signs American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion economic stimulus package designed to help the economy recover from the global recession. The act included increased federal spending in areas such as 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 continue operations while undergoing reorganization. The White House set terms for both firms' bankruptcies, including the sale of Chrysler to Fiat and a reorganization of GM, giving the U.S. government a temporary 60 percent equity stake.
March 2009: Treasury Secretary Takes Steps to Manage Financial Crisis
In March 2009, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner introduced the Public–Private Investment Program for Legacy Assets to manage the 2008 financial crisis. This program included provisions to buy up to $2 trillion in depreciated real estate assets.
June 2009: Obama Calls for Accelerated Economic Stimulus
In June 2009, dissatisfied with the pace of economic stimulus, President Obama called on his cabinet to accelerate investment. He also signed into law the Car Allowance Rebate System, colloquially known as "Cash for Clunkers", which temporarily boosted the economy.
August 6, 2009: Sotomayor Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice
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: Obama Signs Hate Crimes Prevention Act
On October 8, 2009, Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding the 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 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. He called it a call to action and an affirmation of American leadership.
2009: Nobel Peace Prize Awarded
In 2009, Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts in international diplomacy.
March 21, 2010: House Passes Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
On March 21, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, colloquially "Obamacare") passed by the Senate in December was passed in the House by a vote of 219 to 212.
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) into law.
August 5, 2010: Kagan Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice
On August 5, 2010, Elena Kagan was confirmed as Supreme Court Justice, bringing the number of women sitting simultaneously on the Court to three for the first time in American history.
December 17, 2010: Obama Signs Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010
On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. This compromise deal with Congressional Republican leadership 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.
December 22, 2010: Obama Signs Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act
On December 22, 2010, Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of 1993 that prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces.
May 1, 2011: Bin Laden Killed in Surgical Raid
On May 1, 2011, a United States Navy SEALs "surgical raid" authorized by President Obama resulted in the shooting death of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The operation also led to the seizure of papers, computer drives and disks from the compound.
August 2, 2011: Obama Signs Budget Control Act of 2011
On August 2, 2011, President Obama signed the bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011. This legislation 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.
June 28, 2012: Supreme Court Upholds ACA Individual Mandate
On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5–4 vote in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual mandate was constitutional under the U.S. Congress's taxing authority.
November 6, 2012: Obama Re-elected as President
On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama was re-elected as President of the United States, winning 332 electoral votes and 51.1% of the popular vote. He addressed supporters in Chicago after his reelection.
November 2012: Unemployment Rate Falls
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 and was re-elected as President of the United States.
2012: TIME Person of the Year
In 2012, Obama was named TIME Magazine's Time Person of the Year.
2013: Unemployment Rate Decreases
During the last month of 2013, the unemployment rate decreased to 6.7 percent.
December 2014: Obama Announces Restoration of Relations with Cuba
In December 2014, after secret meetings, 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 Upholds ACA Subsidies
In June 2015, the 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.
July 1, 2015: Formal Diplomatic Relations Between Cuba and U.S. Resume
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 to Embassies in Cuba and the US
On August 13, 2015, the countries' respective "interests sections" in one another's capitals were upgraded to embassies. This marks the establishment of embassies in both Washington and Havana.
March 2016: Obama Visits Havana, Cuba
In March 2016, President Obama visited Havana, Cuba, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to arrive since Calvin Coolidge in 1928, marking a historic moment in U.S.-Cuba relations.
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's Ripple of Hope Award
In 2018, Obama received the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award.
March 4, 2022: Obama wins Audio Publishers Association Award
On March 4, 2022, Obama was awarded an Audio Publishers Association (APA) Award for best narration by the author for his memoir A Promised Land.
2022: Primetime Emmy Award for Our Great National Parks
In 2022, Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for "Our Great National Parks".
2023: Primetime Emmy Award for Working: What We Do All Day
In 2023, Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for "Working: What We Do All Day".
2024: Sylvanus Thayer Award
In 2024 Obama became the first and so far only President from the Democratic Party to win the Sylvanus Thayer Award
2025: Primetime Emmy Award for Our Oceans
In 2025, Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for "Our Oceans".
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