Presidential transition of Barack Obama

President George W. Bush (left) and President-elect Barack Obama (right) meet in theOval Office of theWhite House as part of the presidential transition
Date of election	November 4, 2008
Inauguration date	January 20, 2009
President-elect	Barack Obama (Democrat)
Vice president-elect	Joe Biden (Democrat)
Outgoing president	George W. Bush (Republican)
Outgoing vice president	Dick Cheney (Republican)
Headquarters	Chicago,Illinois andWashington, D.C.
Executive Director	Chris Lu
Budget	$12 million
Staff	450
Website	http://change.gov/[dead link‍]

Thepresidential transition ofBarack Obama began when he won the United Statespresidential election onNovember 4, 2008, and became thepresident-elect. Obama was formally elected by theElectoral College on December 15, 2008. The results were certified by a joint session ofCongress on January 8, 2009, and the transition ended when Obama wasinaugurated onJanuary 20, 2009.^[1][2]

This article or section is part of a series about United States presidential transitions
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This article is part of a series about Barack Obama
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The Obama transitionorganization was called the Obama-Biden Transition Project.^[3] The transition team was convened during the height of thecampaign, well before the outcome could be known, to begin making preparations for a potential administration. It was co-chaired byJohn Podesta, who wasBill Clinton's fourth and lastWhite House chief of staff and the president/chief executive officer of theCenter for American Progress,^[4]Valerie Jarrett, who is one of Obama's longest-serving advisers,^[5][6] andPete Rouse, former Senate chief of staff forTom Daschle who succeededRahm Emanuel as Obama's chief of staff.^[7]

On November 5, theGeneral Services Administration declared that Obama was the "apparent winner," making him eligible to receive transition funding and other government services, and granting him access to their 2008 presidential transition headquarters in Washington, D.C.^[8] Podesta estimated that the transition would employ approximately 450 people and have a budget of about $12 million: $5.2 million would be paid by thefederal government and the remaining $6.8 million would be funded by private sources, with each contribution limited to $5,000. The transition project would not accept money frompolitical action committees or federallobbyists.^[9]

On November 5, Obama announced his complete transition team, which was organized as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization under U.S. federal tax code501(c)(4). The advisory board consisted ofCarol Browner,William M. Daley,Christopher Edley,Michael Froman,Julius Genachowski,Donald Gips,Janet Napolitano,Federico Peña,Susan Rice,Sonal Shah,Mark Gitenstein andTed Kaufman.^[10]

Members of the transition team's senior staff included:^[10]

• Chris Lu – Executive Director
• Dan Pfeiffer – Communications Director
• Stephanie Cutter – Chief Spokesperson
• Robert Gibbs –Press Secretary^[11]
• Cassandra Butts – General Counsel
• Jim Messina – Personnel Director
• Patrick Gaspard – Associate Personnel Director
• Christine A. Varney – Personnel Counsel
• Melody Barnes – Co-director of Agency Review
• Lisa Brown – Co-director of Agency Review
• Phil Schiliro – Director of Congressional Relations
• Michael Strautmanis – Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Katy Kale – Co-director of Operations
• Brad Kiley – Co-director of Operations

Joshua Gotbaum and Michael Warren headed the transition team of theTreasury Department. In addition,Thomas Donilon andWendy Sherman oversaw the transition of theState Department.Seth Harris oversaw the transition in all of the labor, education, and transportation agencies withEdward B. Montgomery leading theLabor Department agency review team,Mortimer Downey leading theTransportation Department agency review team, and Judith Sherman leading theEducation Department agency review team. Finally,John P. White andMichele Flournoy led the transition of theDefense Department.^[12]

In mid-October, theGeorge W. Bushadministration convened a fourteen-member council to coordinate with and brief the winning campaign's transition team.^[5]The New York Times reported that White House chief of staffJoshua Bolten then planned to recruit his predecessor,Andrew Card, to oversee the activity.^[5] On November 6, Obama received his firstclassified intelligence briefing fromdirector of national intelligenceJohn Michael McConnell andCentral Intelligence AgencydirectorMichael Hayden.^[13]

President Bush invited Obama and his team to attend the2008 G-20 Washington summit held between November 15 and 20 in order to introduce him to more than twenty world leaders who attended the event. However, Obama did not come, and his transition team instead sent formerRepublican Rep.Jim Leach and former Secretary of StateMadeleine Albright to meet with the heads of state.^[14][15] Obama was expected to address aUnited Nationsglobal warming summit in Poland in December or allow a representative such asAl Gore to present his policies.^[4]

On November 10, Obama traveled to theWhite House and met with President Bush to discuss transition issues whileFirst LadyLaura Bush took his wifeMichelle on a tour of the mansion.NBC News reported that Obama advanced his economic agenda with Bush, asking him to attempt to pass a stimulus package in alame duck session of Congress before the inauguration. He also urged Bush to accelerate the disbursement of $25 billion in funds to bail out theautomobile industry and expressed concern about additional Americans losing their homes asmortgage rates increase again.^[16][17]

The Bush administration reportedly went out of its way to make the transition as seamless as possible for the incoming administration, earning accolades from Obama staff members and outside experts alike. According to nearly all accounts, the Bush administration streamlined the process for new officials to obtainsecurity clearances and planned training exercises for the incomingnational security team, to ensure that they would be ready to face a possible crisis on the first day in office. Part of this enhanced cooperation is required by laws passed at the behest of the9/11 Commission, while part is attributed to the difficulty that the Bush administration had with its own transition, which lasted only five weeks and was felt to have had a deleterious effect on Bush's ability to govern. "I'm not sure I've ever seen an outgoing administration work as hard at saying the right thing," said Stephen Hess of theBrookings Institution. "This is really quite memorable."^[18]

During the transition, the Bush administration had many important matters to address, even as a lame duck president. There wasan ongoing financial crisis,^[19] and this was the first presidential transition since thepresidential transition of Richard Nixon to occur while the United States was at war.^[20]

At the time of their election, President-elect Obama andVice President-electJoe Biden were incumbentU.S. senators fromIllinois andDelaware respectively. In accordance with Article I, Section 6 of theUnited States Constitution, both were required to resign their respective Senate seats on or before January 20, 2009, in order to become president and vice president.

Obama resigned from the Senate effective November 16, 2008.^[21][22] Initially, it was thought that his replacement would be named by Illinois GovernorRod Blagojevich. Since the term for the seat expired in January 2011, it would come up for its normal election in 2010 with nospecial election necessary. Blagojevich was expected to name Obama's immediate successor in the Senate by January 3, 2009.^[23] However, on December 9, 2008, the status of Obama's succession in the Senate was cast in doubt afterBlagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges, which included allegedly attempting to sell the appointment.^[24] Although placed in federal custody and released on $4,500 bail,^[25] as long as he remained governor Blagojevich continued to have sole authority to make the appointment.^[26] Several Democrats, including Sen.Dick Durbin, asked theIllinois General Assembly to schedule a special election instead.^[27]

Speaking through a surrogate, Obama called for Blagojevich's resignation on December 10.^[28] Had Blagojevich resigned or been removed from office before making the appointment, the duty would have fallen to Illinois Lt. Gov.Pat Quinn, who would succeed Blagojevich as governor. However,Illinois Senate presidentEmil Jones said that he would call the Senate back into session to write a law that would result in Obama's replacement being determined in a special election.^[29]

However, after the state legislature did not pass a law mandating a special election for the seat, on December 30, Blagojevich announced that he was appointingRoland Burris, a formerIllinois Attorney General,Illinois Comptroller, andU.S. Treasury Department official, to the seat, citing hisconstitutional duty in the absence of a law requiring a special election.^[30]Blagojevich, Burris, and RepresentativeBobby Rush urged the public to consider the qualifications of Burris as a public servant and not the scandals in which Blagojevich was embroiled.^[31]

However, the Senate Democrats released a statement in which they reaffirmed that they would refuse to seat anyone appointed to the seat by Blagojevich, as that individual would be an ineffective representative of Illinois because of "questions of impropriety."^[32]

Some members of theCongressional Black Caucus, including Rush, expressed their support for seating Burris, who would be the only African-American in the Senate; Rush compared a Senate rejection of Burris to alynching.^[33] However, President-elect Obama released a statement condemning the appointment and again calling on Blagojevich to resign.^[34] In addition, theIllinois Secretary of State,Jesse White, reiterated that he would not certify any appointment made by Blagojevich, although at the time it was not clear whether this could prevent Burris from taking office.^[35] Furthermore, the Senate might not actually have been able to refuse to seat Burris, as he met all constitutional requirements for the office and was not involved in the Blagojevich corruption scandal (per theU.S. Supreme Court decisionPowell v. McCormack).^[36]

On January 9, 2009, theIllinois Supreme Court ruled in the caseBurris v. White that the appointment only required the signature of the governor to be valid, and not that of the Illinois Secretary of State, and that the state of Illinois is not required to use the Senate's recommended certification form, as it is only "recommended" under the Standing Rules of the United States Senate.^[37][38] The Court further remarked that "no explanation has been given as to how any rule of the Senate, whether it be formal or merely a matter of tradition, could supersede the authority to fill vacancies conferred on the states by the federal constitution".^[39] Following the ruling, White provided Burris with a certified copy of the appointment's registration, and Burris delivered that copy, that bears the State Seal, to theSecretary of the Senate.^[40] His credentials declared valid, Burris was finally sworn in on January 15, 2009, by outgoing President of the SenateDick Cheney.^[41][42][43]

Biden had indicated that he would remain in the Senate until he was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2009.^[44] Although he was sworn in for a seventh Senate term in early January 2009, he resigned from the seat on January 15, 2009, having served just over 36 years in the body.^[45] He was Delaware's longest-serving senator.

On November 24, 2008, Delaware Gov.Ruth Ann Minner announced thatTed Kaufman would serve as Biden's appointed replacement.^[46] Kaufman was sworn in on January 16, 2009.^[47] Aspecial election was held in November 2010, which elected Democratic candidateChris Coons.

During his abbreviated final term in the Senate, Biden went on a diplomatic fact-finding trip toIraq,Afghanistan, and Pakistan, becoming the first vice-president-elect to undertake such a mission before entering office.^[48]

On November 5, 2008, the transition team launchedchange.gov, the official website of the transition.^[49]

The website included ablog and jobs page.^[50] It also had a section that allowed visitors to share stories or their visions for the country.^[51] Visitors were able to comment on issues important to them using theCitizen's Briefing Book. Individuals applying for work within the Obama administration via this site were required to go through intensive consumer and criminal background checks performed by the ChoicePoint Corporation.^[52] The website used aCreative Commons license.^[53]

As part of their efforts towards transparency, on December 5 the transition team announced that "all policy documents from official meetings with outside organizations will be publicly available for review and discussion on Change.gov." After the inauguration, many of the functions of change.gov were transferred to a redesigned White House website.^[54]

Thirty-one of the appointments to the transition team had previously worked in theClinton administration, including Podesta, chief of staffRahm Emanuel, and Biden's chief of staffRon Klain.^[55]

Obama held near-daily press conferences as president-elect to announce his administration nominees to the public.^[56] He introduced the nominees and occasionally took questions from the press regarding issues such as economic difficulties and the war in Afghanistan.^[57]

The appointments ofLawrence Summers andTimothy F. Geithner to key economic positions were criticized, on grounds that they had been prominently involved in creating many of the conditions that led to thefinancial crisis of 2007–2008, so "failure is being rewarded."^[58] Summers was a leading advocate of thederivatives deregulation, together withAlan Greenspan andRobert Rubin,^[59][60] and during his transition to Secretary of the Treasury, the act that keptcommercial banks out ofWall Street, theGlass–Steagall Act, was repealed.^[58] Geithner instead was criticized for his failure to pay $34,000 in income taxes.^[61]

The appointment ofEric Holder for attorney general raised concerns, due to his role in the last-minute pardon issued byBill Clinton for fugitive financierMarc Rich.^[62]

During his first press conference as president-elect, on November 7, Obama remarked about former first ladyNancy Reagan holdingseances in the White House, which gained widespread attention.^{[63][64][65][66]} Termed his "first gaffe,"^[67] Obama called Mrs. Reagan later that evening to apologize for what his spokesperson said was a "careless and off-handed remark."^[68]

• Chief of staff:RepresentativeRahm Emanuel ofIllinois was selected by President-elect Obama on November 6, two days after the election.^[69]
• Deputy Chiefs of Staff:Jim Messina, current director of personnel for the Obama Transition team and former chief of staff to SenatorMax Baucus; andMona Sutphen, a former career foreign service officer who worked for President Clinton'sNational Security Council.^[70]
• Senior Advisors to the President: Campaign strategistDavid Axelrod^[71] andPete Rouse, who has been serving as Obama's Senate chief of staff.^[70]
• Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison:Valerie Jarrett, a lawyer who served as Chicago's planning commissioner and later was chairperson of theChicago Transit Authority. In 1995, Jarrett left public service to join the Habitat Corporation, a Chicago real estate management company.^[72]
• Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs:Phil Schiliro.^[73]
• White House Counsel:Greg Craig.^[74]
• Cabinet Secretary:Chris Lu, former legislative director of Obama's Senate office.
• Staff Secretary:Lisa Brown, executive director of theAmerican Constitution Society.^[75]
• Press Secretary:Robert Gibbs, announced on November 22.^[76]
• Communications Director:Ellen Moran.^[76]
• Deputy Director of Communications:Dan Pfeiffer.^[76]
• Chair of the White HouseCouncil on Environmental Quality:Nancy Sutley, a well-known member of theLGBT community, and Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles.
• Deputy Director ofWhite House Office of Health Reform:Jeanne Lambrew.
• White House photographer:Pete Souza.^[77]

There was one withdrawal,New MexicoGovernorBill Richardson, whom Obama had namedSecretary of Commerce. Richardson's administration was, at the time, the subject of a federal corruption probe; while maintaining that his administration was responsible for no wrongdoing, he withdrew so as to prevent a lengthy confirmation process from hindering the work of theU.S. Department of Commerce.^[78] The position was filled byGary Locke.

Obama namedTim Kaine as new chairman of theDemocratic National Committee, replacingHoward Dean (who had clashed with Obama and his advisors in the past). Kaine served concurrently asGovernor of Virginia until his term ended in January 2010.^[79]

Obama namedAneesh Chopra for the new position ofChief Technology Officer of the United States,Vivek Kundra as Chief Information Officer andJeffrey Zients Chief Performance Officer^[80][81] and deputy director for management of the Office of Management and Budget^[82]

Initial reaction to Obama's choice ofLeon Panetta as CIA director was mixed, with some intelligence professionals expressing concern that Panetta lacked specific intelligence experience,^[83] and others such as former Congressman and co-chair of theIraq Study GroupLee H. Hamilton praising the choice.^[84]

• 
  Kathleen Sebelius
  Secretary of Health and Human Services
  (announced February 28, 2009)^[85]
• 
  Shaun Donovan
  Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
  (announced December 13, 2008)^[86]
• 
  Eric Shinseki
  Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  (announced December 7, 2008)^[87]
• 
  Arne Duncan
  Secretary of Education
  (announced December 16, 2008)^[88]
• 
  Tom Vilsack
  Secretary of Agriculture
  (announced December 17, 2008)^[89]
• 
  Ray LaHood
  Secretary of Transportation
  (announced December 19, 2008)^[90]
• 
  Hilda Solis
  Secretary of Labor
  (announced December 19, 2008)^[91][92]
• 
  Melody Barnes
  Director,Domestic Policy Council
  (announced November 24, 2008)^[93]
• 
  Gil Kerlikowske
  Director,National Drug Control Policy
  (announced February 10, 2009)^[94]

• 
  Timothy Geithner
  Secretary of the Treasury
  (announced November 24, 2008)^[93]
• 
  Gary Locke
  Secretary of Commerce
  (announced February 25, 2009)^[95]
• 
  Christina Romer
  Chairwoman,Council of Economic Advisers
  (announced November 24, 2008)^[93]
• 
  Lawrence Summers
  Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
  Director,National Economic Council
  (announced November 24, 2008)^[93]
• 
  Paul Volcker
  Chairman,Economic Recovery Advisory Board
  (announced November 26, 2008)^[96]
• 
  Peter R. Orszag
  Director,Office of Management and Budget
  (announced November 25, 2008)^[97]
• 
  Ron Kirk
  United States Trade Representative
  (announced December 19, 2008)

• 
  Steven Chu
  Secretary of Energy
  (announced December 15, 2008)^[98]
• 
  Ken Salazar
  Secretary of the Interior
  (announced December 17) (the nomination was given aSaxbe fix)^[92][99]
• 
  Lisa P. Jackson
  Administrator of the EPA
  (announced December 15, 2008)^[100]
• 
  Nancy Sutley
  Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality
  (announced December 15, 2008)^[101]
• 
  Carol Browner
  Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
  (announced December 15, 2008)^[102]

• 
  Hillary Clinton
  Secretary of State
  (announced December 1)^[103] (the nomination was given aSaxbe fix)^{[104][105][106][107][108]}
• 
  Robert Gates
  Secretary of Defense
  (continuation of previous administration's appointment, announced December 1)^[103]
• 
  Eric Holder
  Attorney General
  (announced December 1, 2008)^[103]
• 
  Janet Napolitano
  Secretary of Homeland Security
  (announced December 1)^[103]
• 
  James L. Jones
  Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
  (announced December 1)^[103]
• 
  Dennis Blair
  Director of National Intelligence
  (announced January 2009)
• 
  Leon Panetta
  Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
  (announced January 2009)
• 
  Susan Rice
  U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
  (announced December 1)^[109]

Obama's developingpresidential agenda was divided into domestic and foreign policy issues. In most cases, this agenda involved addressing crises already underway. His principalstrategic decisions concerned how quickly to move bills through Congress.^[110] Some of his advisors suggested moving quickly, asFranklin D. Roosevelt did in 1933, under the belief that a moremoderate approach would waste valuable time early in hispresidency, when hispolitical capital will be strongest. Others suggested moving more slowly, asBill Clinton did before his attempt to enact anational healthcare program, based on the notion that rapid change could quickly wear down anybipartisanconsensus. He was expected, in any case, to issue a series ofexecutive orders within days of his inauguration, including a reversal of Bush-era executive orders restricting funding tofamily planning (includingabortion) services andstem-cell research.^[110] There was also a possibility that a new cabinet level advisory post would be created overseeing theDepartment of Energy,Department of the Interior and theEnvironmental Protection Agency.^[111]

According to Podesta, the transition team planned to conduct an exhaustive review of Bush's executive orders in an effort to find quick changes that could be implemented on the first day in office. Podesta also says that there is a great deal that can be accomplished without waiting for Congress to act and that Obama wanted to move quickly once in office to restore "a sense that the country is working on behalf of the common good."^[112]

Theeconomic agenda under development initially focused on short-term measures intended to hold off widespread economic losses so that a longer-term economic agenda could then be formulated. That approach subsequently shifted to a longer-term stimulus plan, with a goal of creating 2.5 million jobs over a two-year period. With a cost of $700 to $800 billion, the stimulus plan would cost more than a quarter million dollars per job created (divide 750 billion by 2,500,000 yielding $300,000).^[113] In a nationally televised interview on December 7, he acknowledged that his agenda has changed over the past month, and that a short-term stimulus package had again become his first priority. He wanted to emphasize "shovel ready" infrastructure projects to create new jobs quickly.^[114] Barack Obama said he hoped to sign the stimulus package into law soon after taking office on January 20.

Obama's most immediate concern was an economic stimulus proposal that some CongressionalDemocrats had advocated. Like previous stimulus packages, that proposal wasdemand-side (Keynesian) in nature. It would likely consist of increased funding forunemployment benefits, theFood Stamp Program, andinfrastructure projects, rather thantax rebates.^[115] In fact, Obama claimed to be planning "the largest infrastructure program in roads and bridges and other traditional infrastructure since the building of theInterstate Highway System in the 1950s."^[116] However, he also emphasized his plans to "green" thefederal government by updatingheating and lighting systems in federal buildings, as well as significant investment in technology initiatives such as mandatoryelectronic medical records, improved computers in schools, and universal availability ofbroadband Internet access.^[117]

Additional funding forMedicaid was also being considered. A similar stimulus bill was passed by theHouse of Representatives on September 26, 2008, but never approved by theSenate.^[115] Obama promised to promote a stimulus bill early in his presidency if one was not passed before his inauguration on January 20, 2009.^[115]In addition, Obama considered the request of the U.S. automotive industry for a cash infusion of $50 billion in addition to the $25 billion that had already been approved, but emphasizing that his support is "conditioned on them making significant adjustments."^[114]

Obama also planned to push for a program to spend $150 billion over 10 years to develop newrenewable energy sources. This money would also be used to encourageenergy conservation and help the auto industry developfuel-efficient vehicles. However,Mother Jones reported that theWindfall Profits Tax on oil companies, which he frequently cited during the campaign, had been dropped from the agenda early in the transition.^[110][118]

According to the transition's website, Obama also hoped to rekindlevolunteerism by expandingAmeriCorps and thePeace Corps and also creating a new Classroom Corps. Other volunteer efforts reportedly include a Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, and Veterans Corps.Middle andhigh school students would be asked to do 50 hours ofcommunity service work a year. College students would be eligible for $4,000 intuitiontax credits in exchange for community service work. Improved volunteerism programs aimed atsenior citizens were projected, as well as augmented Youth Build andHead Start programs.^[119]

On December 5, Tom Daschle, who was designated to lead Obama's efforts forhealth care reform, announced a month-long campaign to solicit public input on the shape of that reform. People were encouraged to hold community meetings to discuss the issue, and to post their thoughts on www.change.gov, where over 10,000 comments had already been posted. Although Democratic leaders had met in private for several months to prepare a legislative package for unveiling in January, Daschle was anxious to avoid the appearance that the transition was working behind closed doors to create a sweeping agenda for change.

This technique, developed by grass roots organizations likeMoveOn.org, was designed to reinforce the notion that Obama intended to aggressively pursue his health care reform agenda despite the worsening economy. "President-elect Obama has made health reform one of his top priorities, and I'm here to tell you that his commitment to changing the healthcare system remains strong and focused", said Daschle.^[120]

During a news conference on December 11, 2008, Obama linked health care reform to the upcoming economic stimulus package, noting that "It's not something that we can sort of put off because we're in anemergency." "This is part of the emergency." He expected the stimulus legislation to include a $40 billion increase in Medicaid spending over two years, plus a massive investment inhealth information management technology. Consideration was also being given to funding for retraining medical workers, expansion of theState Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and expansion of theCOBRA provisions, which allow unemployed workers to purchasehealth insurance through their previous employer'splan.^[121]

One of the principalforeign policy issues that Obama ran on during the presidential campaign was his promise to withdraw most American troops from theIraq War within sixteen months of his inauguration.^[122]Another issue concerned the three areas that President Bush had been focusing on during the final months of his term:Iran's nuclear development,North Korea's nuclear arsenal, and theIsraeli-Palestinian peace talks. In all three cases, a diplomatic structure had already been established, although some of the Bush administration's goals differ from those Obama that would adopt as president.^[122]

In the Middle East, Bush began a new approach to the peace process, the so-calledAnnapolis process, which attempted to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to agree on the outlines of a peace accord. Although both sides cited some success in these discussions, critics believed the talks unduly ignoredHamas, which has been labeled by the United States as a terrorist organization, despite the fact that it had held an enormous amount of political power in the region.^[122]Obama had not specified what his approach would be, although it was considered likely that he would appoint a high-level Middle East envoy, in part to free his Secretary of State so that other matters can also be addressed.^[122] Hamas expressed a willingness to talk to Obama, who has said that he would reciprocate only if it renouncedterrorism, recognized Israel's right to exist, and agreed to abide by past agreements.^[123] The Hamas leader inGaza,Ismail Haniyeh, said the Hamas government would accept aPalestinian state that followed theGreen Line and would offer Israel a long-term truce if Israel recognised the Palestinians' national rights.^[124]

During his second term, Bush pursued an agreement with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons programs. To that end, Bush agreed to remove North Korea from the State Department's list ofState Sponsors of Terrorism, which Obama supported.^[122] Obama had criticized Bush for taking so long to engage with North Korea, and indicated he would be eager to engage in a more proactive manner in order to reach an agreement. A senior North Korean official recently^[when?] told reporters that "we are ready to deal" with the incoming Obama administration.^[122]

Obama also deliberated on how to deal with Iran. Outgoing Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice had assembled a coalition of six states—all five members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany—to confront Iran.^[122] While the group won approval from theUnited Nations, Iran largely ignored its demands. While Obama had previously advocated carefully planned direct talks with Iran, he was now being seen as likely to build on the current coalition to broker an agreement with Iran.^[122]

In addition, Obama formulated a policy to deal with the U.S.missile defense shield that was under construction in Poland. He discussed the matter with both PolishPresidentLech Kaczyński and RussianPresidentDmitry Medvedev. While his advisors were working on a missile shield policy, his position at that time was simply that one might be deployed if and when it has been "proved to be workable".^[125]

Obama also planned to revoke a series of executive orders enacted by Bush that authorizedenhanced interrogation techniques which many critics have labeled astorture against "detainees."^[110] The revocations would have the effect of requiring the CIA to abide by theArmy Field Manual when it interrogated prisoners. Resistance was expected, however, from some in theIntelligence Community, regarding the practicality of a complete revocation of these orders. Obama also hoped to close thedetention camp atGuantanamo Bay Naval Base inCuba, although issues were expected to arise because many of the detainees had been held without evidence or had been coerced in their confessions, which would not be admissible in afederal court.^[110]

A November 20, 2008,Los Angeles Times article stated, "Antiwar groups and other liberal activists are increasingly concerned at signs that Barack Obama's national security team will be dominated by appointees who favored the Iraq invasion... 'It's astonishing that not one of the 23 senators or 133 House members who voted against the war is in the mix,' said Sam Husseini of the liberal groupInstitute for Public Accuracy."^[126]

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who was retained in the Obama Administration, outlined an agenda for reform of theDepartment of Defense. His ideas centered on a perceived need to shift purchasing priorities away from costly high tech weapons, and toward lower cost alternatives that are more appropriate for the wars the U.S. was currently fighting, as well as those he believed might lie in the immediate future. He noted that there are limits to U.S. military power, and believed that the emphasis should be shifted away from fighting, and toward training, advising and equipping allied forces to fight.^[127]

Specific areas Gates and Obama agreed on were said to include:

• Improved coordination and cooperation between the military and theState Department, as well as othercivilian agencies.
• Improving the "security capacity" of USallies to allow them to increase their participation in theWar on Terrorism.
• Being attentive to the risk fromconventional military forces, as well asinsurgencies.
• Shifting troops and other resources fromIraq toAfghanistan.
• Continued expansion of theArmy andMarine Corps.
• Overhaul of thePentagon's procurement system.^[128]

Obama made energy policy one of his topmost priorities in his 2008 campaign.^[129] Towards his energy goals ofUnited States energy independence through investment inalternative energy production he has set the following objectives:

• Within ten years save more oil than current imports from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
• By 2015 put one millionplug-in hybrid vehicles on the road.
• By 2012, 10% of U.S. electricity shall come fromrenewable sources and 25% by 2025.
• By 2050, 80% of currently emittedgreenhouse gases shall be eliminated.

To achieve these objectives, Obama proposed the following measures^[130]

• Over 10 years invest $150 billion for energy development with a lower CO₂ emissions including:
  • Transition to adigital electricity grid. Create a Grid Modernization Commission to facilitate adoption ofsmart grid practices.^[131]
  • Accelerate commercialization ofplug-in hybrid technology.
  • Create 5 milliongreen collar jobs involved in projects such as in construction, retrofitting buildings to make them moreenergy efficient or to generate their own power.
• Develop and deployclean coal technology.
• Establish a nationallow-carbon fuel standard.
• Weatherize one million homes annually.
• Increase"CAFE" fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.
• Set construction of theAlaska natural gas pipeline as a high priority.
• Establish a "use it or lose it" approach to existingoil and gas leases granted for federal land.
• Establish an economy-widecap and trade program.

Appointees recruited by Obama with experience on energy policy included Peter Orszag, an expert on cap and trade programs, who was named as director of the Office of Management and Budget. John Podesta, transition chief, was an early advocate of Detroit's refocus on using lower carbon alternatives to gasoline.^[132]

Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44thpresident of the United States.

George W. Bush departing in a Marine Corps helicopter as he looks atU.S. Capitol after theInauguration of Barack Obama.

TheSecret Service, of theU.S. Department of Homeland Security, was the lead agency for both security and logistics for theInaugural Ceremony. Their plan was to open the event to as many spectators as possible.Security was expected to be strict, and vast portions of downtownWashington would be closed to all traffic. Initially, it was thought that up to 4 million people would descend upon the area of theNational Mall, but later reports from the Secret Service suggested that the number might not be that high. Arrangements for 8000police officers were made, however, and parking for up to 10,000tour buses was arranged. AMetro spokesperson warned that thesubway system "will be utterly overwhelmed."Camping was not permitted on the mall.^[133][134]

On November 13, 2008, the Secret Service announced that Obama'scodename would be "Renegade". In addition, his wife's is "Renaissance" and his daughters' are "Rosebud" and "Radiance".^[135]

The first family visited bothSidwell Friends School andGeorgetown Day School before deciding on Sidwell.^[136][137] The residential transition began with the first of two interim stops at theHay-Adams Hotel on January 4.^[138] The second interim stop was a move toBlair House on January 15, the traditional interim move date for residents-elect.^[139] The residential transition began earlier than for most incoming presidents because the daughters began school at Sidwell on January 5.^[139][140] During the campaign, Michelle Obama had stated that the residential transition would be planned to be as unified as possible for all members of the family.^[141] Michelle's mother,Marian Robinson, made plans to move into the White House to assist with child care.^[142] In the current real estate market, the Obamas did not intend to sell theirSouth Side Chicago home that sits on the border between theHyde Park andKenwoodcommunity areas.^[143]

Jenna andBarbara Bush had much advice for Malia and Sasha Obama. The Bush twins sent the Obama daughters an open letter that was published inThe Wall Street Journal.^[144][145]

The outgoing Bush family did not take much with them as they left the White House. Among the items they left behind was their officialstate china service, aLenox gilt-edged style with a green basket weave border, estimated to be worth $492,798. However, what they did not take with them can be included in the collection of the presidential library.^[146]

Vice PresidentDick Cheney was injured moving out of hisresidence just before the inauguration and used awheelchair during the ceremony.^[147]

Experts have given the transition high praise. Numerous experts have referred to the transition between Bush and Obama as the "gold standard" for presidential transitions.^{[148][149][150][151][152]} Both the Bush and Obama ends of the transition have been praised.^[20]

The transition has been praised as "seamless", in part, for its adherence to Obama's insistence that there be "one president at a time", with Obama largely avoiding giving comment during the transition on matters Bush was handling, such as the ongoing financial crisis.^[20][19]

• Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign
• Barack Obama election victory speech 2008
• First inauguration of Barack Obama

• Halchin, L. Elaine (November 25, 2008)."Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations"(PDF).Congressional Research Service. RetrievedJanuary 14, 2009.
• "Transcript: President-Elect Obama's First News Conference".The New York Times. November 7, 2008. RetrievedNovember 7, 2008.
• Sweet, Lynn (November 5, 2008)."Jarrett, Podesta, Rouse to lead Obama transition; Bill Daley co-chair".Chicago Sun-Times. Archived fromthe original on December 10, 2008. RetrievedNovember 5, 2008.
• Baker, Peter; Jeff Zeleny (November 5, 2008)."For Obama, No Day to Bask as He Starts to Build His Team for Transition".The New York Times. RetrievedNovember 5, 2008.
• Baker, Peter (November 4, 2008)."No Time for Laurels; Now the Hard Part".The New York Times. RetrievedNovember 5, 2008. (Initial likely appointments to the transition team.)
• "Possible Presidential Appointments".The New York Times. October 25, 2008. RetrievedNovember 5, 2008.
• Espo, David (October 17, 2008)."Obama's transition team meets, candidate pushes on".Associated Press. Archived fromthe original on October 21, 2008. RetrievedNovember 5, 2008. (Pre-election meeting of the Obama transition team.)

Wikimedia Commons has media related toPresidential transition of Barack Obama.

• Presidential Transition ResourceofficialGeneral Services Administration (GSA)/National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website
• Change.gov archive of the Obama-Biden presidential transition project
• Obama's Presidency fromBBC News
• The Obama Transition from theFinancial Times
• Lost in Transition from theNational Journal
• The Presidential Transition from theIBM Center for the Business of Government
• The New Team fromThe New York Times, profiles of potential members of the Obama administration
• HLS and the new administration: Whom will Obama choose? from theHarvard Law Record, November 13, 2008
• Joint Session of the 111th Congress for the purpose of certifying the Electoral College ballot count, January 9, 2009 (C-Span video)

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