Barack Obama launched into our national consciousness at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and ever since, he's delivered messages of patriotism, unity, and hope through the power of words. But of all the speeches he's given, six in particular may define his legacy as, in historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's words, "one of the best writers and orators in the presidency." Interviews with eminent historians and key figures in his writing process give rare insights into these iconic speeches, as well as the Obama presidency and the man himself.
Writing
Favreau and Obama editing speeches like jazz musicians improvising.
Production
Historians who actually know their stuff, no talking heads from Twitter.
Jesse Williams
Self - Narrator (voice)
David Axelrod
Self - Senior Advisor to President Obama
Douglas Brinkley
Self - Presidential Historian
Jon Favreau
Self - Speechwriter for President Obama
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Self - Historian
Valerie Jarrett
Self - Senior Advisor to President Obama
John Lewis
Self - Congressman and Civil Rights Advocate
Barack Obama
Self (archive footage)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jon Favreau was only 27 when he became Obama's chief speechwriter — the millennial whisperer before millennial was even a slur.
Doris Kearns Goodwin comparing Obama to Lincoln isn't casual praise; she literally wrote the book on Lincoln's political genius, making this scholarly shade or sincere respect depending on your cynicism levels.
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