The legacy of Barack Obama, in seven drawings

Synopsis

Barack Obama takes office in 2009 during a deep recession in America, with unemployment over 7% and nearly 800,000 jobs lost in one month. He successfully reduces unemployment to under 5% and creates 11.3 million jobs, significantly more than his predecessor, George W. Bush. Over his eight years, Obama takes 234 vacation days, fewer than Bush but more than Bill Clinton. At 48, he wins the Nobel Peace Prize, joining only two other sitting presidents. However, his legacy is complicated by the 503 drone strikes ordered during his administration, expanding the program initiated by Bush. This raises concerns about the implications of such military actions, especially as Obama had campaigned on closing Guantanamo Bay, which remains open despite his efforts. Numbers tell the story of Obama's presidency, highlighting both achievements and controversies.