doi:10.7916/8n3t-8f46Oral history interview with Stephanie A. Cutter, 2021Cutter, Stephanieoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesPresidential campaigns--United StatesGlobal Financial Crisis, 2008-2009--United StatesCutter, StephanieObama, Michelle, 1964-Obama, BarackSotomayor, Sonia, 1954-Troubled Asset Relief Program (U.S.)Let's Move! (Campaign : U.S.)United States. Office of the First LadyUnited StatesUnited States. Department of the TreasuryPatient Protection and Affordable Care ActStephanie Cutter reflects on her work on Obama's presidential campaigns, for which she served as chief of staff to Michelle Obama in 2008 and deputy campaign manager in 2012, and in the Obama administration, in which she served from 2009 to 2011 in a variety of roles including counselor to Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, assistant to the president for special projects, and White House deputy senior advisor. Cutter outlines her responsibilities and activities in each of these roles, and speaks widely about the challenges of communicating effectively with the public about complex economic, policy, and legislative issues. She provides details about notable issues, events, and initiatives with which she was closely involved, including the handling of racist attacks against Michelle Obama during the 2008 campaign; Michelle Obama's popularity and political importance; the power of Timothy Geithner's public statements during the financial crisis; the politics of fairness and public criticism about the behaviors of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) fund recipients; the Senate confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court; the development and launch of the first lady's Let's Move! initiative; the coordination of interagency activities and relations between the East and West Wings of the Obama White House; communications in support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the response to misinformation about the legislation; the organization of White House advisory staff during the first term; the strategy for the 2012 reelection campaign; and the gender dynamics of the Obama White House. Cutter also discusses her experiences moving in and out of government service throughout the period of her service; the pace of work at the Department of the Treasury during the financial crisis; and her work with Senator Ted Kennedy, including during the Obama years