David Simas reflects on his contribution to the legislative and political efforts of the Obama administration, in which he served as deputy assistant to the president from 2009 to 2011, White House director of political affairs from 2011 to 2016, and director of opinion research for the Obama 2012 presidential campaign. Simas outlines the structure and organization of the Obama White House, and des cribes the processes by which issues reached the president and decisions were taken. Simas also discusses the quantitative and qualitative methods he used to evaluate and understand American public opinion, and provides details about major events and initiatives with which he was closely involved, including the Affordable Care Act, the 2012 reelection campaign, the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and the administration's pursuit of gun control legislation, immigration reform efforts, and the launch of HealthCare.gov. Simas also discusses the rise of the Tea Party movement, Obama's approach to speaking about race in America, and the administration's response to police shootings
Presidents--United States; Presidents--Staff.--United States; Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre, Newtown, Conn; Gun control--United States; Tea Party Patriots; Police shootings--United States; Emigration and immigration--United States; Simas, David; Obama, Barack; United States; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
120 pages
Note (Biographical)
David Simas served as assistant to the president and director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach from 2013 to 2016. He was director of opinion research for Obama's 2012 reelection campaign and deputy assistant to the president from 2009 to 2011. In 2016, he was appointed as CEO for the Obama Foundation
Note
Interviewed by Nicole R. Hemmer on April 13, May 20, and October 29, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
David Simas, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022