doi:10.7916/nc7f-a682Oral history interview with Max S. Baucus, 2021Baucus, Maxoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesTea Party movementHealth care reform--United StatesClimatic changes--United StatesNuclear weapons--Korea (North)Nuclear nonproliferation--Korea (North)United States Foreign relations ChinaIslands of the South China Sea MilitarizationBaucus, MaxObama, BarackUnited StatesUnited States CongressPatient Protection and Affordable Care ActMax Baucus reflects on his career in the U.S. Senate, focusing on his tenure as chair of the Senate Finance Committee from 2007-2014, and his service as U.S. ambassador to China from 2014 to 2017. Baucus' Finance Committee had primary jurisdiction in the Senate for healthcare reform, and he describes the process by which the committee developed much of the legislation that became the Affordable Care Act. Baucus provides details about the process' key negotiations, including those with Republicans on the Finance Committee, between Senate committees, and between House and Senate Democrats. Baucus also describes encounters with Tea Party protesters during the summer of 2009, and the launch of insurance exchanges on HealthCare.gov. Baucus outlines the role of the U.S. ambassador in the management of the U.S. mission to China, and describes his efforts to develop a coherent, long-term strategy across federal agencies active in the country. He also provides details about bilateral negotiations in which he participated, including surrounding climate change policy, North Korea's development of nuclear capabilities, the protection of commercial intellectual property, cybersecurity, the militarization of islands in the South China Sea, and the access of U.S. companies to Chinese markets