doi:10.7916/2q87-w186Oral history interview with Rohit Kumar, 2021Kumar, Rohitoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesPolitical leadership--United StatesPolitical parties--United StatesLegislative power--United StatesKumar, RohitMcConnell, MitchObama, BarackTroubled Asset Relief Program (U.S.)United StatesAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection ActRohit Kumar reflects on his experiences in the U.S. Senate during the years of the Obama presidency, during which he worked in the office of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell as policy director and senior counsel and, from 2010 to 2013, as deputy chief of staff. Kumar speaks widely about the structure and function of the leader's office, and describes the Republican caucus' response to the election of Barack Obama and strategic approach to the Obama presidency. He also provides details about Senate Republicans' experience of, and approach to, major legislative initiatives, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP); the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Kumar also considers the importance of the relationship between McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden, and tells the stories of their emergency fiscal negotiations from 2011 to 2013. Also discussed are the Obama White House's engagement with the Republican leaders' office; President Obama's occasional personal involvement in congressional negotiations; the effects of the 2010 midterm elections on the balance of power in Congress; McConnell's style of leadership; the relationship between McConnell and Leader of the House Republican Conference John Boehner; and Kumar's memories of the 2008 presidential election cycle