doi:10.7916/6xd9-2507Oral history interview with John Podesta, 2020Podesta, Johnoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesPresidents--Transition periods--United StatesPresidential campaigns--United StatesHealth care reform--Political aspects--United StatesClimate change mitigation--Law and legislation--United StatesClimate change mitigation--Political aspects--United StatesEnergy policy--United StatesRenewable energy sources--Political aspects--United StatesPodesta, JohnObama, BarackUnited StatesCenter for American ProgressDon't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010John Podesta discusses his activities during the presidency of Barack Obama, which he supported as co-chairman of the 2008 transition and as counselor to the president from 2014 to 2015; from 2003 to 2011, Podesta was the CEO of the Center for American Progress. Podesta provides details about the structure and activities of the transition, outlining its relationship with the Obama 2008 campaign, its coordination with the Bush administration, and the process by which staff and political appointees were selected. Podesta describes the relationship between the administration and the Center for American Progress, including its work on policy initiatives such as healthcare reform and the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell directive, and its efforts to organize public support for a progressive agenda. As counselor to the president, Podesta focused on the administration's climate policy, and he recounts his work guiding the implementation of the Presidential Climate Action Plan, detailing the regulatory coordination between the White House and relevant federal agencies, the introduction of a focus on resilience and adaptation, and the shift away from an "all-of-the-above" energy policy reliant on natural gas. Also discussed is the centrality of climate and energy policy to the United States' diplomatic relationships with China and India during this period