Obama: The Year Since His Election

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: White House

(AP)

In the 12 months since his election a year ago tomorrow, President Obama has learned first hand it's easier to run for president than to be president.

It was easier to talk about the expansive health care, education and energy programs he would pursue, than to get them enacted.

"But he was under no illusion that being president would be easy," says press secretary Robert Gibbs.

As one who gets to observe the president as a member of his inner circle, Gibbs says the job has proven to be harder and more exhausting than Mr. Obama expected.

"Oh, I don' think there's any doubt," said Gibbs in a CBS News interview in his office.

More exhausting being president than running for president?

"I actually think so," said Gibbs, "which is hard to believe since there were times in the campaign where coffee didn't do anything for you. There was no jolt left in your body."

He says this past year has "mostly been a whirlwind." And it's gone by so rapidly, says Gibbs, "it's hard to believe it's been a year."

In the 75 days from Election Day last year to Inauguration Day this year, Barack Obama morphed from Illinois' junior senator to president-elect to President of the United States. Gibbs says there's really no way to get ready for that kind of dramatic if not traumatic professional change.

"There really isn't on-the-job training regardless of what you've done beforehand," said Gibbs. "We haven't had the luxury of a learning curve because we faced so many different challenges so quickly."

From his perch down the hall from the Oval Office, Gibbs thinks Mr. Obama regards his job as "a tremendous joy." But not all aspects of the presidency fit into that category.

As president, every aspect of Mr. Obama's life is under intense scrutiny. He complained to the New York Times Sunday Magazine this week about the criticism he faced just because he took wife Michelle to New York City for dinner and a Broadway show last May.

"Annoyed me," the president said bluntly. The date night drew fire for the costs imposed on taxpayers by his use of Marine One, Air Force One and various limousines, Secret Service and other support personnel, just to take his wife out for a night.

But even simpler outings are denied Barack Obama since he assumed the awesome duties of the presidency.

(CBS)

"I think the one thing he genuinely misses is being able to take a walk," says Gibbs (pictured at left).

He thinks the president would love just to be able to walk off the grounds of the fortress that is the White House, without aides, security and other hangers-on, and spend an hour by himself browsing the shelves at a local bookstore. Just like any person who isn't president can do.

He would "enjoy the fall air and the late day sun," said Gibbs of such a presidential outing. But those days are gone.

"Maybe in 4 or 8 years he'll get to do that," said the spokesman, holding out the possibility that the drawbacks of the presidency won't keep Mr. Obama from seeking a second term.

Not even after the presidency. "His bookstore walking days are over," I tell Gibbs.

"Do me a favor," says Gibbs, "don't tell him that."

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
Follow on Twitter »

10 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by us_1776 November 3, 2009 5:17 PM EST: It's just easier not reading totally stupid articles such as this.; Reply to this comment


by bnjregan November 3, 2009 5:06 PM EST: I'm terribly sorry to hear that Barack Obama was ANNOYED by the criticism from his constituents for his "date night" in NYC with his wife. Obviously he feels people are petty because he took Air Force One and the secret service out for a night on the town for his "date night." Barack Obama still doesn't get it - it's not all about him. His life changed when he became President of the US. If he wants a "date night," couldn't it wait for a night he's already in NYC - when it would not cost taxpayers millions of dollars for a "date"?; Reply to this comment

by bcpats November 3, 2009 3:52 PM EST

Obama's First Six Months accomplishments:
I am so sorry for those of you who may be disappointed in the performance of the man you thought was going to make things better---or perhaps you think things are better.
I believe the changes we now have are for real, with more to come -- sort of like ignoring a yellow jacket wasp in your underwear.
Should any of you feel offended, that is regrettable ---as is the decline of our nation.

Obama's First Six Months' Accomplishments:
1. Offended the Queen of England .
2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia .
3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.
4. Kissed Socialist Hugo Chavez on the cheek.
5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia .
6. Sided with Hugo Chavez and Communist Fidel Castro against Honduras .
7. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no pre-conditions while they're building their nuclear weapons.
8. Gave away billions to AIG also without pre-conditions.
9. Expanded the bailouts.
10. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a "Special Olympian".
11. Doubled our national debt.
12. Announced the termination of our new missile defense system the day after North Korea launched an ICBM.
13. Released information on U.S. Intelligence gathering despite urgings of his own CIA director and the prior four CIA directors not to.
14. Accepted without comment that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two other nominees withdrew after they couldn't take the heat.
15. Appointed a Home land Security Chief who identified military veterans and abortion opponents as "dangers to the nation."
16. Ordered that the word "terrorism" no longer be used and instead refers to such acts as "man made disasters
17. Circled the globe to publicly apologize for America 's world leaders
18. Told the Mexican president that the violence in their country was because of us.
19. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from the Department of Commerce.
20. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion to Cuba of a 9-year-old whose mother died trying to bring him to freedom in the United States .
21. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three terrorists who threatened one American life and the next day announces members of the Bush administration may stand trial for "torturing" three 9/11 terrorists by pouring water up their noses.
22. Low altitude photo shoot of Air Force One over New York City that frightened thousands of New Yorkers
23. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure them that the US will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they might be on their own with the Muslims.
24. Praised Jimmy Carter's trip to Gaza where he sided with terrorist Hamas against Israel .
25. Nationalized General Motors and Chrysler while turning shareholder control over to the unions and freezing out retired investors who owned their bonds. Committed unlimited taxpayer billions in the process.
26. Passed a huge energy tax in the House that will make American industry even less competitive while costing homeowners thousands per year.
27. Announced nationalized health care "reform" that will strip seniors of their Medicare, cut pay of physicians, increase taxes yet another $1 trillion, and put everyone on rationed care with government bureaucrats deciding who gets care and who doesn't.
28. No "religious" ornaments on the "holiday" tree. (guess that might offend the muslims)
The list goes on and on. Any positive accomplishments are few and far between - - except for those that agree with the above mentioned.

Then, there is this from Bloomberg: Daschle says, "Health care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them,".

Former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm says seniors have "a duty to die.

Reply to this comment


by johntate777 November 10, 2009 12:35 PM EST: I didn't bother to read all of that non-sense but spotted the silly "holiday tree" item. It's a lie like most of those ignorant e-mails that go around. Republicans seem especially lazy about getting their news from any real sources and rely on ignorant e-mails. The tree thing likely originated from the Capitol tree which was like that the past two years but not this year.


by VinceP1974 November 12, 2009 2:20 AM EST: Is it not typical for a Leftist like Johntate to ignore all the substance and instead reply to the most trivial of matters? So sad.

by stuart-johns2 November 3, 2009 7:46 AM EST

Mark Knoller is an idiot. Obama never did claim that what he wanted to accomplish would be an easy task. He still characterizes things that way. Obama did'nt "learn" this. Obama always knew this. What a bogus story.

Reply to this comment


by louiville35 November 3, 2009 10:38 AM EST: Stuart,

Somewhere a violin is playing for all you cub fans. Let the sad walking and sad talking begin.


by VinceP1974 November 12, 2009 2:22 AM EST: Of course it's not going to be easy. His agenda is opposed by just about everyone in this country who wasn't already anti-American.


by michaelm07 November 3, 2009 3:39 AM EST: "President Obama has learned first hand it's easier to run for president than to be president."

Duh!; Reply to this comment