Oral history interview with Henry "Hank" M. Paulson Jr., 2020
Abstract
Henry "Hank" Paulson discusses his service as secretary of the treasury from 2006 to 2009 during the presidency of George W. Bush, and his engagement with Senator Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign and transition. Paulson narrates the events of the 2008 financial crisis, focusing in particular on the legislative journey of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), capital injections to American banks, and interventions in American mortgage insurance markets. Paulson describes his frequent conversations with candidate Barack Obama and select members of the Obama 2008 campaign and transition during the summer and fall of 2008, and outlines Obama's work in support of treasury initiatives both publicly and with Democrats in Congress. Paulson also reflects on the continuity of Ben Bernanke and Timothy Geithner in the Obama administration, and shares his views on select Obama administration policies, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Presidents--United States; Presidential campaigns--United States; Presidents--Transition periods--United States; Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009--United States; United States--Bailouts (Government policy); Paulson, Henry M., 1946-; Obama, Barack; Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-; Troubled Asset Relief Program (U.S.); Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement ( 2016 February 4); United States. Department of the Treasury; United States; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
65 pages
Note (Biographical)
Henry "Hank" Paulson served as secretary of the treasury from 2006 until 2009. Prior to that, Paulson was the chairman and chief executive officer at Goldman Sachs. After leaving the treasury, Paulson founded and chaired the Paulson Institute
Note
Interviewed by William McAllister on August 12, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Henry "Hank" M. Paulson Jr., Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022