Presidential transition of Barack Obama

File:Five Presidents Oval Office.jpg, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and President-elect Barack Obama at the White House Oval Office on January 7, 2009]]

The Obama transition organization was called the Obama-Biden Transition Project.{{cite news | first= Lynn | last= Sweet | title= Jarrett, Podesta, Rouse to lead Obama transition; Bill Daley co-chair | date= November 5, 2008 | url= http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/jarrett_podesta_rouse_to_lead.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | access-date= November 11, 2008 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081210145131/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/jarrett_podesta_rouse_to_lead.html | archive-date= December 10, 2008 | df= mdy-all }}

The transition team was convened during the height of the campaign, well before the outcome could be known, to begin making preparations for a potential administration. It was co-chaired by John Podesta, who was Bill Clinton's fourth and last White House chief of staff and the president/chief executive officer of the Center for American Progress,{{cite news |first=Shailagh |last=Murray |title=Early Transition Decisions to Shape Obama Presidency |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110404573.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 5, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2008}} Valerie Jarrett, who is one of Obama's longest-serving advisers,{{cite news | first= Peter | last= Baker |author2=Jackie Calmes | title= Building a White House Team Before the Election Is Decided | date= October 24, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/us/politics/25transition.html | work = The New York Times | access-date = November 5, 2008}}{{cite news | title= Obama looking to make impact quickly, aides say | date= November 9, 2008 | publisher=CNN| url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/09/obama.transition/index.html | access-date = November 9, 2008}} and Pete Rouse, former Senate chief of staff for Tom Daschle who succeeded Rahm Emanuel as Obama's chief of staff.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/06/132712318/obama-picks-william-daley-for-chief-of-staff-post |title=Obama Picks William Daley As Chief Of Staff |date=January 6, 2011 |publisher=NPR }}

On November 5, the General 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.{{cite news | first= Peter | last= Baker | title= GSA Turns Over Transition HQ to New Administration | date= November 5, 2008 | publisher= General Services Administration | url= http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=25144&noc=T | access-date= November 21, 2008 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090112053856/http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=25144&noc=T | archive-date= January 12, 2009 | df= mdy-all }} 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 the federal 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 from political action committees or federal lobbyists.{{cite news | first= Helene | last= Cooper |author2=Jeff Zeleny | title= Obama's Transition Team Restricts Lobbyists' Role | date= November 11, 2008 | work = The New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/us/politics/12obama.html | access-date = November 11, 2008}}

On November 5, Obama announced his complete transition team, which was organized as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization under U.S. federal tax code 501(c)(4). The advisory board consisted of Carol Browner, William M. Daley, Christopher Edley, Michael Froman, Julius Genachowski, Donald Gips, Janet Napolitano, Federico Peña, Susan Rice, Sonal Shah, Mark Gitenstein and Ted Kaufman.

{{cite web| url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/11/05/obama-names-transition-team.html | title=Obama Names Transition Team | access-date=November 6, 2008}}

File:2008 GSA letter to President-Elect Barack Obama.pdfMembers of the transition team's senior staff included:

• Chris Lu – Executive Director
• Dan Pfeiffer – Communications Director
• Stephanie Cutter – Chief Spokesperson
• Robert Gibbs – Press Secretary{{cite web |url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/open_for_questions_round_2_response/ |title=Open for Questions Round 2: Response | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team |publisher=Change.gov |date=January 9, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420014753/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/open_for_questions_round_2_response/ |archive-date=April 20, 2009 }}
• 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 the Treasury Department. In addition, Thomas Donilon and Wendy Sherman oversaw the transition of the State Department. Seth Harris oversaw the transition in all of the labor, education, and transportation agencies with Edward B. Montgomery leading the Labor Department agency review team, Mortimer Downey leading the Transportation Department agency review team, and Judith Sherman leading the Education Department agency review team. Finally, John P. White and Michele Flournoy led the transition of the Defense Department.{{cite news |first=David |last=Kirkpatrick |title=Clinton Officials to Lead 3 Departments' Transition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/us/politics/13appoint.html |work = The New York Times |date=November 12, 2008 |access-date=November 14, 2008 }}

File:President Bush, Barack Obama walking.jpg

File:Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.jpg meets with Michelle Obama.]]

In mid-October, the George W. Bush administration convened a fourteen-member council to coordinate with and brief the winning campaign's transition team. The New York Times reported that White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten then planned to recruit his predecessor, Andrew Card, to oversee the activity. On November 6, Obama received his first classified intelligence briefing from director of national intelligence John Michael McConnell and Central Intelligence Agency director Michael Hayden.

{{cite news | first= Joby | last= Warrick | title= Obama Gets First In-Depth Intelligence Briefing | date= November 7, 2008 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603339.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date = November 7, 2008 }}

President Bush invited Obama and his team to attend the 2008 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 former Republican Rep. Jim Leach and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to meet with the heads of state.{{cite press release |title=President-elect Obama taps bipartisan representatives to be available at G-20 Conference |work=Newsroom |publisher=Office of the President-elect |date=November 12, 2008 |url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_taps_bipartisan_representatives_to_be_available_at_g_/ |access-date=November 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112234032/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_taps_bipartisan_representatives_to_be_available_at_g_/ |archive-date=November 12, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Sargent |first=Greg |title=Obama Dispatches Bipartisan Reps To G-20 Summit |work=Talking Points Memo |date=November 12, 2008 |url=http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/obama_disptaches_bipartisan_re.php |access-date=November 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315121922/http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/obama_disptaches_bipartisan_re.php |archive-date=March 15, 2011 }} Obama was expected to address a United Nations global warming summit in Poland in December or allow a representative such as Al Gore to present his policies.

On November 10, Obama traveled to the White House and met with President Bush to discuss transition issues while First Lady Laura Bush took his wife Michelle 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 a lame duck session of Congress before the inauguration. He also urged Bush to accelerate the disbursement of $25 billion in funds to bail out the automobile industry and expressed concern about additional Americans losing their homes as mortgage rates increase again.

{{cite news | first= Brian | last= Knowlton | title= As Transfer of Power Begins, Obamas Visit White House | date= November 10, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/us/politics/11transition.html | work = The New York Times | access-date = November 10, 2008}}

{{cite news | first= Andrea | last= Mitchell | author-link=Andrea Mitchell | title= The Details on Today's Meeting| date= November 10, 2008 | url = http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/10/1667655.aspx | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103221722/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/10/1667655.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 3, 2013 |agency=NBC News |publisher=MSNBC | access-date = November 10, 2008}}

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 obtain security clearances and planned training exercises for the incoming national 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 the 9/11 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 the Brookings Institution. "This is really quite memorable."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110802267.html |title=Preparing for the Obama Era (Bush Officials and President-Elect Working Together On Pressing Issues)|last=Barnes|first=Robert |author2=Dan Eggen |author3=Anne E. Kornblut |date=November 9, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A01|access-date=November 10, 2008}}

During the transition, the Bush administration had many important matters to address, even as a lame duck president. There was the Great Recession, and this was the first presidential transition since the presidential transition of Richard Nixon to occur while the United States was at war.{{cite journal |last1=Burke |first1=John P. |title=The Contemporary Presidency: The Obama Presidential Transition: An Early Assessment |journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly |date=2009 |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=574–604 |doi=10.1111/j.1741-5705.2009.03691.x |jstor=41427379 |issn=0360-4918|doi-access=free }}

At the time of their election, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden were incumbent U.S. senators from Illinois and Delaware respectively. In accordance with Article I, Section 6 of the United 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.

File:20081219 avail jobs (12 of 16).jpg".]]

Obama resigned from the Senate effective November 16, 2008.Letter of resignation from Barack Obama to Richard Cheney, November 18, 2008; published in the Congressional Record, November 19, 2008, page S10609 ([http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/PDFgate.cgi?WAISdocID=557516393307+3+2+0&WAISaction=retrieve Communication from the Honorable Barack Obama]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}){{cite news|title=Obama sets date to leave Senate|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7728466.stm|date=November 13, 2008|work=BBC News|access-date=November 14, 2008}}

Initially, it was thought that his replacement would be named by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Since the term for the seat expired in January 2011, it would come up for its normal election in 2010 with no special election necessary. Blagojevich was expected to name Obama's immediate successor in the Senate by January 3, 2009.{{cite news|title=Blagojevich Won't Rush to Senate Appointment |work=Elections |publisher=WIFR–CBS |date=November 5, 2008 |url=http://www.wifr.com/elections/headlines/33924004.html |access-date=November 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226092549/http://www.wifr.com/elections/headlines/33924004.html |archive-date=December 26, 2008 }} However, on December 9, 2008, the status of Obama's succession in the Senate was cast in doubt after Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges, which included allegedly attempting to sell the appointment.{{cite news|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Gov.Blagojevich.Federal.2.883154.html |publisher=WBBM-TV |title=Feds: Blagojevich Put Obama Seat Up For Sale |date=December 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211104730/http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Gov.Blagojevich.Federal.2.883154.html |archive-date=December 11, 2008 }} Although placed in federal custody and released on $4,500 bail,{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/illinois.governor/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Blagojevich free on $4,500 bail after arrest | date=December 9, 2008 | access-date=May 22, 2010}} as long as he remained governor Blagojevich continued to have sole authority to make the appointment.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/governor.appoints/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Blagojevich could pick Obama successor from prison | date=December 9, 2008 | access-date=May 22, 2010}} Several Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin, asked the Illinois General Assembly to schedule a special election instead.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28142769 |publisher=NBC News |agency=Associated Press |title=Democrats urge special election in Illinois}}

Speaking through a surrogate, Obama called for Blagojevich's resignation on December 10.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/10/obama.blagojevich/index.html|publisher=CNN |title=Obama calls on Illinois governor to resign | date=December 10, 2008 | access-date=May 22, 2010}} 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 president Emil 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/10Illinois.html |work = The New York Times |title=Illinois Governor in Corruption Scandal | first1=Monica | last1=Davey | first2=Jack | last2=Healy | date=December 9, 2008 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}

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 appointing Roland Burris, a former Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Comptroller, and U.S. Treasury Department official, to the seat, citing his constitutional duty in the absence of a law requiring a special election.{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081231/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor;_ylt=Ap1AouxTPNMQl9lNmemBRlus0NUE |title=Blagojevich surprises many with Senate appointment – Yahoo! News |access-date=January 15, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231183656/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081231/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor |archive-date=December 31, 2008 }}

Blagojevich, Burris, and Representative Bobby Rush urged the public to consider the qualifications of Burris as a public servant and not the scandals in which Blagojevich was embroiled.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/blagojevich-to-name-burris-to-senate.html |title=Blagojevich snubs Senate, taps Burris for seat |publisher=Chicago Breaking News |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2010}}

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."{{cite web |author=David Kurtz |url=http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2008/12/dems_blago_appo.php |title=Blago Appointment 'Will Not Stand' |work=Talking Points Memo |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2010 |archive-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405030021/http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2008/12/dems_blago_appo.php |url-status=dead }}

Some members of the Congressional 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 a lynching.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-rush-invokes-race-in-defending-blagojevich-senate-appointment/ |title=Rep. Rush Invokes Race in Defending Blagojevich Senate Appointment |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2010}} However, President-elect Obama released a statement condemning the appointment and again calling on Blagojevich to resign.{{cite web|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1355423,obama-statement-burris-appointment-123008.article |title=Obama issues statement on Burris appointment :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Gov. Blagojevich |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103024503/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1355423,obama-statement-burris-appointment-123008.article |archive-date=January 3, 2009 }} In addition, the Illinois 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/illinois/ill_ap_springfield_white_will_try_to_reject_blago_pick_200812301415 |title=White will try to reject Blagojevich Senate pick |publisher=Wthitv.com |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503215816/http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/illinois/ill_ap_springfield_white_will_try_to_reject_blago_pick_200812301415 |archive-date=May 3, 2010 }} 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 the U.S. Supreme Court decision Powell v. McCormack).{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/washington/31congress.html | work=The New York Times | title=Democrats Seek to Block Appointee to Obama's Seat | first=Carl | last=Hulse | date=December 31, 2008 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}

On January 9, 2009, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in the case Burris 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.{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090109/ap_on_el_se/illinois_governor_burris |title=Ill. Court says Burris does not need 2nd signature |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=January 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119053453/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090109/ap_on_el_se/illinois_governor_burris |archive-date=January 19, 2009 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.state.il.us/court/OPINIONS/SupremeCourt/2009/January/107816.pdf |title=Burris v. White, Illinois Supreme Court, January 9, 2009 |access-date=January 23, 2009 |archive-date=January 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114195045/http://www.state.il.us/court/OPINIONS/SupremeCourt/2009/January/107816.pdf |url-status=dead }} 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".{{cite web | url= http://www.state.il.us/court/OPINIONS/SupremeCourt/2009/January/107816.pdf | title= Burris v. White, Illinois Supreme Court, No. 107816 | date= January 9, 2009 | access-date= January 23, 2009 | archive-date= January 14, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090114195045/http://www.state.il.us/court/OPINIONS/SupremeCourt/2009/January/107816.pdf | url-status= dead }} 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 the Secretary of the Senate.{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Mihalopoulos |title=Supreme Court ruling gives Burris the Senate seat, attorney says |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 10, 2009 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-burris-10-jan10,0,4632293.story |access-date=January 23, 2009 |archive-date=February 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202024446/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-burris-10-jan10,0,4632293.story |url-status=dead }} His credentials declared valid, Burris was finally sworn in on January 15, 2009, by outgoing President of the Senate Dick Cheney.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28625592|title=Senate Dems expect to seat Burris Thursday: Burris: 'I really never doubted that I would be seated'|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=January 13, 2009|publisher=NBC News}}{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/13/roland-burris-to-be-sworn-in-as-senator-on-thursday/|title=Roland Burris to Be Sworn In as Senator on Thursday|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=January 13, 2009|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc.|author=Davis, Susan}}{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/burris-is-sworn-in/|title=Burris Is Sworn In|access-date=January 15, 2009|date=January 15, 2009 |work=The New York Times|author=Hulse, Carl}}

Biden had indicated that he would remain in the Senate until he was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2009.{{cite news|url=http://thepage.time.com/excerpts-from-bidens-interview-with-ky3-tv/ |title=Excerpts from Biden's Interview with KY3 TV |last=Halperin |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Halperin |date=November 21, 2008 |work=The Page (Politics up to the Minute) |publisher=Time in partnership with CNN |access-date=November 21, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bidens-reminiscent-goodbye-to-the-senate/|title= Biden's Reminiscent Goodbye To The Senate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213193853/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4723798-503544.html|archive-date= February 13, 2011}} He was Delaware's longest-serving senator.

On November 24, 2008, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner announced that Ted Kaufman would serve as Biden's appointed replacement.{{cite news|last=Kornreich|first=Lauren|title=Former Biden advisor picked as Senate replacement|work=Political Ticker|publisher=CNN|date=November 24, 2008|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/24/former-biden-advisor-senate-replacement-picked/#more-31280|access-date=November 30, 2008|archive-date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125221929/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/24/former-biden-advisor-senate-replacement-picked/#more-31280|url-status=dead}} Kaufman was sworn in on January 16, 2009.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811025527/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/01/kaufman.html Kaufman Replaces Biden in the Senate] A special election was held in November 2010, which elected Democratic candidate Chris Coons.

During his abbreviated final term in the Senate, Biden went on a diplomatic fact-finding trip to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, becoming the first vice-president-elect to undertake such a mission before entering office.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17136.html |title='Senator' Biden's trip raises concerns – Carol E. Lee |date=January 6, 2009 |work=Politico|access-date=August 7, 2010}}

On November 5, 2008, the transition team launched [https://web.archive.org/web/20081107142640/http://www.change.gov/ change.gov], the official website of the transition.{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10084221-38.html |title=Government transition sites launched}}

The website included a blog and jobs page.{{Cite web |url=http://www.change.gov/ |title=change.gov |access-date=November 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107142640/http://www.change.gov/ |archive-date=November 7, 2008 |url-status=dead }} It also had a section that allowed visitors to share stories or their visions for the country.{{cite news |first=Stephanie |last=Condon |title=Government transition sites launched |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10084221-38.html |publisher=CNET |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=November 9, 2008}} Visitors were able to comment on issues important to them using the Citizen'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.[http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/13/obamaquestionnaire.pdf.pdf Obama Questionnaire], (November 13, 2008), CNN Retrieved on January 3, 2009 The website used a Creative Commons license.{{cite web|url=https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/11081|title=Obama-Biden transition site Change.gov now under a Creative Commons license}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/seat_at_the_table/|title=Your Seat at the Table|access-date=December 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206160502/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/seat_at_the_table/|archive-date=December 6, 2008|url-status=dead}}

{{see also|Cabinet of Barack Obama}}

Thirty-one of the appointments to the transition team had previously worked in the Clinton administration, including Podesta, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and Biden's chief of staff Ron Klain.{{cite news |first=Hannah |last=Strange |title=Two-thirds of Obama staffers so far come from Clinton era |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5156036.ece |work=The Times |date=November 14, 2008 |access-date=November 14, 2008 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Obama held near-daily press conferences as president-elect to announce his administration nominees to the public.{{cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Patsy |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/presidentelect_obama_fifth_pre.html |title=President-elect Obama fifth press conference. Transcript. – Lynn Sweet |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=August 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203054831/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/12/presidentelect_obama_fifth_pre.html |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }} He introduced the nominees and occasionally took questions from the press regarding issues such as economic difficulties and the war in Afghanistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/08/2414083.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110052211/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/08/2414083.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 10, 2008 |title=Economic crisis dominates Obama's first press conference – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=November 8, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2010}}

The appointments of Lawrence Summers and Timothy 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 the 2008 financial crisis, so "failure is being rewarded."{{cite news |first=Timothy |last=Canova |author-link=Timothy Canova |title=Obamanomics: Is this real change? |url=http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2852 |publisher=The Real News |date=November 25, 2008 |access-date=December 13, 2008 |archive-date=November 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111111034/http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2852 |url-status=dead }} Summers was a leading advocate of the derivatives deregulation, together with Alan Greenspan and Robert Rubin,{{cite news|last=Goodman|first=Peter S.|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/business/economy/09greenspan.html|title=Taking Hard New Look at a Greenspan Legacy|work=The New York Times|date=October 9, 2008|page=A1|access-date=February 15, 2025}}Faiola, Anthony, Ellen Nakashima and Jill Drew (October 15, 2008), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101403343.html The Crash: Risk and Regulation – What Went Wrong]. The Washington Post and during his transition to Secretary of the Treasury, the act that kept commercial banks out of Wall Street, the Glass–Steagall Act, was repealed. Geithner instead was criticized for his failure to pay $34,000 in income taxes.{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_090115.htm |title=Political Bulletin: Thursday, January 15, 2009 |publisher=USNews.com |date=January 15, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903155047/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_090115.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

The appointment of Eric Holder for attorney general raised concerns, due to his role in the last-minute pardon issued by Bill Clinton for fugitive financier Marc Rich.{{cite news|last=Perez |first=Evan |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123199542052685067 |title=Holder Vows to Restore Credibility at Justice Department | work = The Wall Street Journal |date=January 15, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2010}}

During his first press conference as president-elect, on November 7, Obama remarked about former first lady Nancy Reagan holding seances in the White House, which gained widespread attention.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/obama.seance/|title=Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for seance remark|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=November 7, 2008|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/07/obama-apologizes-to-nancy_n_142280.html|title=Obama Apologizes to Nancy Reagan for Joke About Seances|date=November 7, 2008|access-date=February 11, 2009|agency=Associated Press|work=HuffPost}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7717143.stm|title=Obama apologises to Nancy Reagan|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=November 8, 2008|publisher=BBC}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-11-07-4191988587_x.htm|agency=Associated Press|work=USA Today|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=November 7, 2008|title=Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for seance remark|author=Freking, Kevin}} Termed his "first gaffe,"{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3406298/Barack-Obama-apologises-to-Nancy-Reagan-after-first-gaffe-as-President-Elect.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211142450/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3406298/Barack-Obama-apologises-to-Nancy-Reagan-after-first-gaffe-as-President-Elect.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2008|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=November 8, 2008|work=The Times | location=London|title=Barack Obama apologises to Nancy Reagan after first gaffe as President-Elect|author=Shipman, Tim}} Obama called Mrs. Reagan later that evening to apologize for what his spokesperson said was a "careless and off-handed remark."{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE4A705E20081108|title=Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for seance quip|access-date=February 11, 2009|date=November 7, 2008|work=Reuters|author1=Charles, Deborah |author2=Donna Smith |name-list-style=amp }}

• Chief of staff: Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois was selected by President-elect Obama on November 6, two days after the election.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/07elect.html |title=Rahm Emanuel Accepts Post as White House Chief of Staff |author=Jeff Zeleny |author2=Peter Baker|date=November 6, 2008 |work = The New York Times |access-date=November 6, 2008}}
• Deputy Chiefs of Staff: Jim Messina, current director of personnel for the Obama Transition team and former chief of staff to Senator Max Baucus; and Mona Sutphen, a former career foreign service officer who worked for President Clinton's National Security Council.{{cite press release |title=President-elect Barack Obama announces additional key White House staff |publisher=Office of the President-elect |date=November 21, 2008 |url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_and_vice_president_elect_biden_announce_key_white_hou/ |access-date=November 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201204626/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_and_vice_president_elect_biden_announce_key_white_hou/ |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}
• Senior Advisors to the President: Campaign strategist David Axelrod{{Cite journal |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2008/11/axelrod-emanuel.html?xid=rss-page |title=Axelrod, Emanuel to Obama White House; Gibbs, Jarrett to Play Key Roles |last=Stephanopolis |first=George |author-link=George Stephanopoulos |date=November 6, 2008 |journal=This Week|publisher=ABC News |access-date= November 22, 2008 }} and Pete Rouse, who has been serving as Obama's Senate chief of staff.
• 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 the Chicago Transit Authority. In 1995, Jarrett left public service to join the Habitat Corporation, a Chicago real estate management company.{{cite news | first= Jodi | last= Kantor | title= Obama Hires Jarrett for Senior Role | date=November 14, 2008 | url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/obama-taps-jarrett-for-senior-role/ | work = The New York Times | access-date =November 14, 2008 }}
• Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs: Phil Schiliro.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/15/phil_schiliro_takes_on_key_con.html#more |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308204803/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/15/phil_schiliro_takes_on_key_con.html#more |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |title=Phil Schiliro Takes on Key Congressional Liaison Role in Obama Administration |last=Franke-Ruta |first= Garance |date=November 15, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date= November 21, 2008}}
• White House Counsel: Greg Craig.[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/16/greg_craig_selected_as_white_h.htmlGreg Craig Selected as White House Counsel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109004955/https://www.washingtonpost.com/error/not-found/ |date=November 9, 2021 }} from the Washington Post
• Cabinet Secretary: Chris Lu, former legislative director of Obama's Senate office.
• Staff Secretary: Lisa Brown, executive director of the American Constitution Society.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1108/Axelrod_and_other_senior_staff.html?showall|title=Ben Smith's Blog: Axelrod, and other senior staff |last=Smith|first=Ben |date=November 19, 2008 |work=Ben Smith's Blog|publisher=Politico|access-date=November 19, 2008}}
• Press Secretary: Robert Gibbs, announced on November 22.{{cite press release |title=White House Communications and Press Secretary positions announced |publisher=Office of the President-elect |date=November 22, 2008 |url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/white_house_communications_and_press_secretary_positions_announced/ |access-date=November 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619013500/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/white_house_communications_and_press_secretary_positions_announced/ |archive-date=June 19, 2012 }}
• Communications Director: Ellen Moran.
• Deputy Director of Communications: Dan Pfeiffer.
• Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality: Nancy Sutley, a well-known member of the LGBT community, and Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles.
• Deputy Director of White House Office of Health Reform: Jeanne Lambrew.
• White House photographer: Pete Souza.{{cite web |last=Downing |first=Garrett |url=http://dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/01/06/pete_souza.ART_ART_01-06-09_D1_LFCDHTL.html?sid=101 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708024754/http://dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/01/06/pete_souza.ART_ART_01-06-09_D1_LFCDHTL.html?sid=101 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=OU professor to return to job in White House |work=The Columbus Dispatch |date=January 6, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2010 }}

There was one withdrawal, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, whom Obama had named Secretary 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 the U.S. Department of Commerce.[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28493919 Richardson to withdraw as Commerce secretary] The position was filled by Gary Locke.

Obama named Tim Kaine as new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, replacing Howard Dean (who had clashed with Obama and his advisors in the past). Kaine served concurrently as Governor of Virginia until his term ended in January 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D95J83I80.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523233139/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D95J83I80.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2011|title=Obama names Virginia Gov. Kaine new DNC chief|access-date=January 12, 2009|date=January 8, 2009|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|publisher=The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.|author=Sidoti, Liz}}

Obama named Aneesh Chopra for the new position of Chief Technology Officer of the United States, Vivek Kundra as Chief Information Officer and Jeffrey Zients Chief Performance Officer{{cite news|author=Schatz, Amy|title=Tech Industry Cheers as Obama Taps Aneesh Chopra for CTO|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/18/tech-industry-cheers-as-obama-taps-aneesh-chopra-for-cto/|date=April 18, 2009|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 19, 2009}}{{cite news|author1=Shear, Michael D. |author2=Kumar, Anita |name-list-style=amp |title=Obama Picks Technology And Performance Officers|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/18/AR2009041801980.html|date=April 20, 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 20, 2009}} and deputy director for management of the Office of Management and Budget{{cite web|author=Obama, Barack|title=Weekly Address: Efficiency and Innovation|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/09/04/18/Weekly-Address-Efficiency-and-Innovation/|date=April 18, 2009|access-date=April 19, 2009|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov}}

Initial reaction to Obama's choice of Leon Panetta as CIA director was mixed, with some intelligence professionals expressing concern that Panetta lacked specific intelligence experience,{{cite news | title=00-Huh? Former intel officials react to Panetta CIA pick | url=http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/01/05/00_huh_former_intel_officials_react_to_panetta_cia_pick | author=Laura Rozen | work=Foreign Policy | date=January 5, 2009 | access-date=January 19, 2009 | archive-date=January 18, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118192404/http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/01/05/00_huh_former_intel_officials_react_to_panetta_cia_pick | url-status=dead }} and others such as former Congressman and co-chair of the Iraq Study Group Lee H. Hamilton praising the choice.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1863062_1863058_1869817,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124022747/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1863062_1863058_1869817,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 24, 2009 | title=Obama's White House: Leon Panetta | magazine=Time | author=Kate Pickert | date=January 2009 | access-date=January 19, 2009}}

File:Kathleen Sebelius official portrait.jpg|Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health and Human Services
(announced February 28, 2009)[https://web.archive.org/web/20090303064236/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/28/officials-sebelius-to-be-obamas-pick-for-hhs/ Officials: Sebelius to be Obama's pick for HHS]

File:DonovanShaunLS.jpg|Shaun Donovan
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
(announced December 13, 2008){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11gmqODMX44|title=12/13/08: President-Elect Obama's Weekly Address|via=YouTube|date=December 12, 2008 }}

File:Eric Shinseki official Veterans Affairs portrait.jpg|Eric Shinseki
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
(announced December 7, 2008){{cite news|last=MSNBC|title=Obama warns economy will get even worse|publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28096219|date=December 7, 2008|access-date=December 7, 2008}}

File:Arne Duncan official photo.jpg|Arne Duncan
Secretary of Education
(announced December 16, 2008){{cite press release|url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_announces_arne_duncan_as_secretary_of_education/|title=President-elect Obama announces Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education|access-date=December 16, 2008|date=December 16, 2008|publisher=Office of the President-elect|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217045949/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_announces_arne_duncan_as_secretary_of_education/|archive-date=December 17, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

File:Tom Vilsack, official USDA photo portrait.jpg|Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
(announced December 17, 2008){{cite news|first=Mike|last=Glover|title=Sources: Obama selects Vilsack for ag post|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081216/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_agriculture|publisher=Yahoo! News|agency=Associated Press|date=December 16, 2008|access-date=December 16, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217094928/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081216/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_agriculture|archive-date=December 17, 2008 }}

File:Ray LaHood official portrait.jpg|Ray LaHood
Secretary of Transportation
(announced December 19, 2008){{cite news|title=Obama adds another Republican to Cabinet|work=Politics|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/17/transition.wrap/index.html|date=December 17, 2008|access-date=December 17, 2008}}

File:Hilda Solis official DOL portrait.jpg|Hilda Solis
Secretary of Labor
(announced December 19, 2008){{cite news|author=Jesse J. Holland|title=AP source: Rep. Hilda Solis is Obama's labor pick|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/12/ap_source_rep_hilda_solis_is_o.php|date=December 18, 2008|access-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220225913/http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/12/ap_source_rep_hilda_solis_is_o.php|archive-date=December 20, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081219/pl_politico/27414|title=Congress to cut Cabinet salaries -- again|access-date=December 20, 2008|date=December 19, 2008|publisher=Yahoo! News}}

File:Melody Barnes.jpg|Melody Barnes
Director, Domestic Policy Council
(announced November 24, 2008)

File:Gil Kerlikowske official portrait small.jpg|Gil Kerlikowske
Director, National Drug Control Policy
(announced February 10, 2009)[https://web.archive.org/web/20090216113530/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1879306,00.html Pickert, Kate. "Gil Kerlikowske: Obama's New Drug Czar?" Time]

Image:Timothy Geithner official portrait.jpg|Timothy Geithner
Secretary of the Treasury
(announced November 24, 2008){{cite press release|title=Geithner, Summers among key economic team members announced today|publisher=Office of the President-elect|date=November 24, 2008|url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/geithner_summers_among_key_economic_team_members_announced_today/|access-date=November 30, 2008}}

File:Gary Locke official portrait.jpg|Gary Locke
Secretary of Commerce
(announced February 25, 2009)[Obama nominates Locke for Commerce chief http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/25/obama.commerce/index.html]

File:Christina Romer official portrait small.jpg|Christina Romer
Chairwoman, Council of Economic Advisers
(announced November 24, 2008)

File:Lawrence Summers Treasury portrait.jpg|Lawrence Summers
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Director, National Economic Council
(announced November 24, 2008)

Image:Paulvolcker.jpg|Paul Volcker
Chairman, Economic Recovery Advisory Board
(announced November 26, 2008){{cite press release|title=President-elect Barack Obama establishes President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board|publisher=Office of the President-elect|date=November 26, 2008|url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_barack_obama_establishes_presidents_economic_recovery_advis/|access-date=November 30, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224144943/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_barack_obama_establishes_presidents_economic_recovery_advis/|archive-date=February 24, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

File:Peter Orszag official portrait.jpg|Peter R. Orszag
Director, Office of Management and Budget
(announced November 25, 2008){{cite press release|title=President-elect Barack Obama announces Office of Management and Budget Director and Deputy Director|publisher=Office of the President-elect|date=November 25, 2008|url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_barack_obama_announces_office_of_management_and_budget_dire/|access-date=November 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912080522/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_barack_obama_announces_office_of_management_and_budget_dire/|archive-date=September 12, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

File:Ron Kirk official portrait.jpg|Ron Kirk
United States Trade Representative
(announced December 19, 2008)

File:Steven Chu official DOE portrait crop.jpg|Steven Chu
Secretary of Energy
(announced December 15, 2008){{cite press release|date=December 15, 2008|url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/the_energy_and_environment_team/|title=The energy and environment team|work=Newsroom|publisher=Office of the President-elect|access-date=December 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216030928/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/the_energy_and_environment_team/|archive-date=December 16, 2008|df=mdy-all}}

File:Ken Salazar official DOI portrait crop.jpg|Ken Salazar
Secretary of the Interior
(announced December 17) (the nomination was given a Saxbe fix){{cite web|title=cbs4denver.com - Ken Salazar Accepts Interior Secretary Job|url=http://cbs4denver.com/politics/salazar.interior.secretary.2.888059.html|access-date=December 16, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216055958/http://cbs4denver.com/politics/salazar.interior.secretary.2.888059.html|archive-date=December 16, 2008 }}

File:Lisa P. Jackson official portrait.jpg|Lisa P. Jackson
Administrator of the EPA
(announced December 15, 2008){{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/obama_picks_nj_official_to_lea.html|title = Obama picks N.J. Official to lead environmental agency|date = December 11, 2008}}

File:Nancy Sutley- nominated as chair of Council on Environmental Quality.jpg|Nancy Sutley
Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality
(announced December 15, 2008){{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_environment|title=Dem source: Obama to name environmental figure|last=Sidoti|first=Liz|date=December 10, 2008|agency=Associated Press|access-date=December 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212060043/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_environment|archive-date=December 12, 2008 }}

File:CarolBrowner2007.jpeg|Carol Browner
Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
(announced December 15, 2008)Camen, Al [https://web.archive.org/web/20090729110649/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/09/browner_to_take_white_house_en.html Browner to Take White House Energy and Environment Job] The Washington Post, December 10, 2008

File:Hillary Clinton official Secretary of State portrait crop.jpg|Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
(announced December 1) (the nomination was given a Saxbe fix){{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1208/Clinton_selection_could_face_court_challenge.html|title=Clinton selection could face court challenge|author=Raju, Manu|work=Politico|date=December 11, 2008|access-date=December 11, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/11/clintons-future-paycheck-cut/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081213234403/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/11/clintons-future-paycheck-cut/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2008|title=Clinton's future paycheck cut|access-date=December 11, 2008|date=December 11, 2008|publisher=CNN}}{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Harry|author-link=Harry Reid|title=S.J.RES.46|work=THOMAS|publisher=The Library of Congress|date=December 10, 2008|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SJ00046:@@@L&summ2=m&#status|access-date=December 11, 2008|archive-date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125221929/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SJ00046:@@@L&summ2=m&#status|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/bush-approves-bill-reducing-secretary-of-states-pay/|title=Bush Approves Bill Reducing Secretary of State's Pay|author=Falcone, Michael|work = The New York Times|date=December 19, 2008|access-date=December 19, 2008}}[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:sj46cps.txt.pdf S. J. RES. 46], 100th Cong., December 10, 2008

Image:Robert Gates, official DoD photo portrait, 2006.jpg|Robert Gates
Secretary of Defense
(continuation of previous administration's appointment, announced December 1)

File:Eric Holder official portrait.jpg|Eric Holder
Attorney General
(announced December 1, 2008){{cite news|author=Peter Baker|title= Clinton Flying to Chicago to Join Obama|work = The New York Times|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/clinton-flying-to-chicago-to-join-obama/|date=November 30, 2008|access-date=November 30, 2008}}

File:Janet Napolitano official portrait.jpg|Janet Napolitano
Secretary of Homeland Security
(announced December 1)

File:James L. Jones (cropped).jpg|James L. Jones
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
(announced December 1)

File:Dennis Blair official Director of National Intelligence portrait.jpg|Dennis Blair
Director of National Intelligence
(announced January 2009)

File:Leon Panetta official portrait.jpg|Leon Panetta
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
(announced January 2009)

File:Susan Rice, official State Dept photo portrait, 2009.jpg|Susan Rice
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
(announced December 1){{cite news|last=Baker|first=Peter|title=Obama's Choice for U.N. Is Advocate of Strong Action Against Mass Killings|work = The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/us/politics/01rice.html|date=November 30, 2008|access-date=November 30, 2008}}

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Obama's developing presidential agenda was divided into domestic and foreign policy issues. In most cases, this agenda involved addressing crises already underway. His principal strategic decisions concerned how quickly to move bills through Congress.

{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Baker |title=Obama Team Weighs What to Take On in First Months |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/politics/09promises.html | work = The New York Times |date= November 9, 2008 |access-date= November 9, 2008 }}

Some of his advisors suggested moving quickly, as Franklin D. Roosevelt did in 1933, under the belief that a more moderate approach would waste valuable time early in his presidency, when his political capital will be strongest. Others suggested moving more slowly, as Bill Clinton did before his attempt to enact a national healthcare program, based on the notion that rapid change could quickly wear down any bipartisan consensus. He was expected, in any case, to issue a series of executive orders within days of his inauguration, including a reversal of Bush-era executive orders restricting funding to family planning (including abortion) services and stem-cell research. There was also a possibility that a new cabinet level advisory post would be created overseeing the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency.{{cite web

| last = Todd

| first = Chuck

| author-link = Chuck Todd

| title = 'Meet the Press' transcript

| work = Meet the Press

| publisher=NBC News

| date = November 23, 2008

| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27873500

| format = Video

| access-date = November 23, 2008}}

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."{{cite news |title=Obama looking to make impact quickly, aides say |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/09/obama.transition/index.html | publisher=CNN |date= November 10, 2008 |access-date= November 21, 2008}}

{{further|American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan}}

The economic 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).{{cite news

| last = Calmes

| first = Jackie

|author2=Zeleny, Jeff

| title = Obama Vows Swift Action on Vast Economic Stimulus Plan

| work = The New York Times

| date = November 22, 2008

| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/us/politics/23obama.html

| access-date = November 23, 2008}} 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.{{cite news

| last = Johnson

| first = Alex

| title = Obama warns economy will get even worse

| work = NBC Meet the Press

| publisher=NBC News

| date = December 7, 2008

| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28096219

| access-date = November 23, 2008}} 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 Congressional Democrats had advocated. Like previous stimulus packages, that proposal was demand-side (Keynesian) in nature. It would likely consist of increased funding for unemployment benefits, the Food Stamp Program, and infrastructure projects, rather than tax rebates.{{cite news |first=David |last=Cho |author2=Shear, Michael |title=Obama Calls On Congress to Act Fast on Stimulus |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110701246.html | newspaper=The Washington Post |date= November 8, 2008 |access-date= November 8, 2008}} In fact, Obama claimed to be planning "the largest infrastructure program in roads and bridges and other traditional infrastructure since the building of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s."

{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Knowlton |title=Obama Warns of Further Economic Pain |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/us/politics/08obama.html | work = The New York Times|date= November 7, 2008 |access-date= November 8, 2008}} However, he also emphasized his plans to "green" the federal government by updating heating and lighting systems in federal buildings, as well as significant investment in technology initiatives such as mandatory electronic medical records, improved computers in schools, and universal availability of broadband Internet access.

{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Shear |author2=Lori Montgomery |title=Obama Offers First Look at Massive Plan To Create Jobs |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/06/AR2008120602187_3.html| newspaper=The Washington Post |date= November 7, 2008 |access-date= November 7, 2008}}

Additional funding for Medicaid was also being considered. A similar stimulus bill was passed by the House of Representatives on September 26, 2008, but never approved by the Senate. Obama promised to promote a stimulus bill early in his presidency if one was not passed before his inauguration on January 20, 2009.

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."

Obama also planned to push for a program to spend $150 billion over 10 years to develop new renewable energy sources. This money would also be used to encourage energy conservation and help the auto industry develop fuel-efficient vehicles. However, Mother Jones reported that the Windfall Profits Tax on oil companies, which he frequently cited during the campaign, had been dropped from the agenda early in the transition.{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Baumann |title=Obama's First Policy Retreat? |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/12/11132_obama_drops_windfall_profits_tax.html |work=Mother Jones |date= December 2, 2008 |access-date= December 3, 2008}}

According to the transition's website, Obama also hoped to rekindle volunteerism by expanding AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps and also creating a new Classroom Corps. Other volunteer efforts reportedly include a Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, and Veterans Corps. Middle and high school students would be asked to do 50 hours of community service work a year. College students would be eligible for $4,000 in tuition tax credits in exchange for community service work. Improved volunteerism programs aimed at senior citizens were projected, as well as augmented Youth Build and Head Start programs.{{cite web

|title = America Serves

|publisher = Change.gov

|url = http://change.gov/americaserves/

|access-date = November 22, 2008

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081107143031/http://www.change.gov/americaserves/

|archive-date = November 7, 2008

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

On December 5, Tom Daschle, who was designated to lead Obama's efforts for health 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 like MoveOn.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.{{cite news|first=Noam |last=Levey |title=Obama team seeks your input on healthcare reform |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-healthcare6-2008dec06,0,2994080.story |work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=December 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207030258/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-healthcare6-2008dec06,0,2994080.story |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}

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 an emergency." "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 in health information management technology. Consideration was also being given to funding for retraining medical workers, expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and expansion of the COBRA provisions, which allow unemployed workers to purchase health insurance through their previous employer's plan.{{cite news |first=Cici |last=Connoly |title= Obama, Lawmakers Expanding Health Measures in Stimulus Plan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121200003.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= December 12, 2008 |access-date= December 12, 2008}}

{{further|Foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration}}

One of the principal foreign policy issues that Obama ran on during the presidential campaign was his promise to withdraw most American troops from the Iraq War within sixteen months of his inauguration.

{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |title=Obama to Face Big Policy Decisions on Iran, N. Korea and Mideast | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110703522.html |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 8, 2008 |access-date= November 8, 2008}}

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 the Israeli-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.

File:20071127 Abbas speech at Annapolis Conference.jpg

In the Middle East, Bush began a new approach to the peace process, the so-called Annapolis 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 ignored Hamas, 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.

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. Hamas expressed a willingness to talk to Obama, who has said that he would reciprocate only if it renounced terrorism, recognized Israel's right to exist, and agreed to abide by past agreements.{{cite news |title=Hamas leader says he is ready to talk to Obama | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110801139.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press| date=November 8, 2008 |access-date= November 11, 2008}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said the Hamas government would accept a Palestinian state that followed the Green Line and would offer Israel a long-term truce if Israel recognised the Palestinians' national rights.{{cite news|title= Hamas willing to accept Palestinian state with 1967 borders|url= http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081110/GLOBALBRIEFING/59353884/-1/NEWS|work=The National|date= November 10, 2008|access-date= November 12, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090108060706/http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081110/GLOBALBRIEFING/59353884/-1/NEWS|archive-date= January 8, 2009|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}

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 of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which Obama supported. 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|date=February 2011}} told reporters that "we are ready to deal" with the incoming Obama administration.

Obama also deliberated on how to deal with Iran. Outgoing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had assembled a coalition of six states—all five members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany—to confront Iran. While the group won approval from the United 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.

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 Polish President Lech Kaczyński and Russian President Dmitry 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".{{cite news |title=Obama adviser: No commitment on defense shield | url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/08/obama.us.poland.missile.shield/index.html |publisher= CNN |date=November 8, 2008 |access-date= November 8, 2008}}

Obama also planned to revoke a series of executive orders enacted by Bush that authorized enhanced interrogation techniques which many critics have labeled as torture against "detainees." The revocations would have the effect of requiring the CIA to abide by the Army Field Manual when it interrogated prisoners. Resistance was expected, however, from some in the Intelligence Community, regarding the practicality of a complete revocation of these orders. Obama also hoped to close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, 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 a federal court.

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 group Institute for Public Accuracy."[https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-foreign-policy20-2008nov20,0,4430107.story Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet], Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2008.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who was retained in the Obama Administration, outlined an agenda for reform of the Department 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.{{cite news|first=Fred |last=Kaplan |title=Gates' Plan To Fix the Pentagon |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2206041/pagenum/2 |work=Slate|date=December 5, 2008 |access-date=December 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208060927/http://www.slate.com/id/2206041/pagenum/2 |archive-date=December 8, 2008 }}

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

• Improved coordination and cooperation between the military and the State Department, as well as other civilian agencies.
• Improving the "security capacity" of US allies to allow them to increase their participation in the War on Terrorism.
• Being attentive to the risk from conventional military forces, as well as insurgencies.
• Shifting troops and other resources from Iraq to Afghanistan.
• Continued expansion of the Army and Marine Corps.
• Overhaul of the Pentagon's procurement system.{{cite news|first=Robert |last=Burns |title=Analysis: Obama defense agenda resembles Gates' |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jcb1M07fWw91XPPtildy-tGKMr6wD94TDONO1 |agency=Associated Press|date=December 7, 2008 |access-date=December 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210081602/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jcb1M07fWw91XPPtildy-tGKMr6wD94TDONO1 |archive-date=December 10, 2008 }}

Obama made energy policy one of his topmost priorities in his 2008 campaign.{{cite news

| title = Transcript of first presidential debate

| publisher=CNN

| quote = But there's no doubt that we're not going to be able to do everything that I think needs to be done. There are some things that I think have to be done. We have to have energy independence, so I've put forward a plan to make sure that, in 10 years' time, we have freed ourselves from dependence on Middle Eastern oil by increasing production at home, but most importantly by starting to invest in alternative energy, solar, wind, biodiesel, making sure that we're developing the fuel-efficient cars of the future right here in the United States, in Ohio and Michigan, instead of Japan and South Korea.

| date = October 14, 2008

| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/26/debate.mississippi.transcript/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080928013220/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/26/debate.mississippi.transcript/

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = September 28, 2008

| access-date = November 27, 2008 }} Note that Obama listed energy goals before all others as a policy area that would not be scaled back in response to Lehrer's question. Towards his energy goals of United States energy independence through investment in alternative 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 million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road.
• By 2012, 10% of U.S. electricity shall come from renewable sources and 25% by 2025.
• By 2050, 80% of currently emitted greenhouse gases shall be eliminated.

To achieve these objectives, Obama proposed the following measures{{cite web

|title = The Agenda: Energy and Environment

|work = Change.gov website

|publisher = The Office of the President – Elect

|url = http://change.gov/agenda/energy_and_environment_agenda/

|access-date = November 27, 2008

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081116144940/http://change.gov/agenda/energy_and_environment_agenda/

|archive-date = November 16, 2008

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

:

• Over 10 years invest $150 billion for energy development with a lower {{CO2}} emissions including:
• Transition to a digital electricity grid. Create a Grid Modernization Commission to facilitate adoption of smart grid practices.{{cite web

|title = The Agenda: Homeland Security

|work = Change.gov website

|publisher = The Office of the President – Elect

|url = http://change.gov/agenda/homeland_security_agenda/

|access-date = November 27, 2008

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081116144012/http://change.gov/agenda/homeland_security_agenda/

|archive-date = November 16, 2008

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

• Accelerate commercialization of plug-in hybrid technology.
• Create 5 million green collar jobs involved in projects such as in construction, retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient or to generate their own power.
• Develop and deploy clean coal technology.
• Establish a national low-carbon fuel standard.
• Weatherize one million homes annually.
• Increase "CAFE" fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.
• Set construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline as a high priority.
• Establish a "use it or lose it" approach to existing oil and gas leases granted for federal land.
• Establish an economy-wide cap 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.{{cite news

| title = Save the Economy, and the Planet

| work = The New York Times

| date = November 26, 2008

| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/opinion/27thu1.html

| access-date = November 27, 2008 }}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Barack Obama Inauguration.jpg

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| caption1 = Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.

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| width2 = 200

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| caption2 = George W. Bush departing in a Marine Corps helicopter as he looks at U.S. Capitol after the Inauguration of Barack Obama.

}}

The Secret Service, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was the lead agency for both security and logistics for the Inaugural Ceremony. Their plan was to open the event to as many spectators as possible. Security was expected to be strict, and vast portions of downtown Washington would be closed to all traffic. Initially, it was thought that up to 4 million people would descend upon the area of the National Mall, but later reports from the Secret Service suggested that the number might not be that high. Arrangements for 8000 police officers were made, however, and parking for up to 10,000 tour buses was arranged. A Metro spokesperson warned that the subway system "will be utterly overwhelmed." Camping was not permitted on the mall.

{{cite news| title = Can Mall Be Filled For an Inauguration? 4 Million May Try It.| newspaper=The Washington Post| date = November 18, 2008| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/17/AR2008111703672.html | access-date = November 23, 2008 | first1=Nikita | last1=Stewart | first2=Michael E. | last2=Ruane}}

{{cite news| title = Officials plan for massive inaugural turnout| publisher=CNN| date = December 12, 2008| url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/11/inauguration.plans/index.html#cnnSTCText| access-date = December 12, 2008}}

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

{{cite news| title = 'Secret' Obama Code Name revealed| publisher=BBC News| date = November 13, 2008| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7726453.stm| access-date = November 13, 2008}}

File:EnvelopeFromBushtoObama.jpg) to Obama in the Oval Office.]]

The first family visited both Sidwell Friends School and Georgetown Day School before deciding on Sidwell.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170360|title=Just One More Frame!: How do you raise kids in the White House and 'keep them normal,' too?|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 22, 2008 |work=Newsweek|author=Smalley, Suzanne}}{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103248.html | title=Obama Girls Will Go To Sidwell Friends: Elite Private School Is 'Best Fit' for Next First Family | author=Richard Leiby | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=November 22, 2008 | access-date=December 9, 2008}} The residential transition began with the first of two interim stops at the Hay-Adams Hotel on January 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/luxe-life/2009/01/02/obama-family-moves-into-hay-adams.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630014506/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/luxe-life/2009/01/02/obama-family-moves-into-hay-adams.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2012|title=Obama Family Moves Into Hay-Adams|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=January 2, 2009|work=U.S. News & World Report|publisher=U.S. News & World Report LP|author=Castro, Kimberly}} The second interim stop was a move to Blair House on January 15, the traditional interim move date for residents-elect.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E1DD1F3EF932A05751C1A96E9C8B63|title=Home Sweet Hotel Suite For Obamas In the Capital |access-date=January 9, 2009|date=December 31, 2008 |work=The New York Times|author=Baker, Peter}} The residential transition began earlier than for most incoming presidents because the daughters began school at Sidwell on January 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17008.html|title=Malia & Sasha prepare for Sidwell|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=January 2, 2009|work=Politico|publisher=Capitol News Company LLC|author=Henderson, Nia-Malika}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/167813|title=Michelle, On The Move: The First Lady readies her family for Washington.|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 5, 2008 |work=Newsweek|author=Wolffe, Richard}} Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson, made plans to move into the White House to assist with child care.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/07/michelle-obama-slights-working-women.html|title=Michelle Obama Slights Working Women|work=U.S. News & World Report|publisher=U.S. News & World Report LP|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 7, 2008|author=Erbe, Bonnie}} In the current real estate market, the Obamas did not intend to sell their South Side Chicago home that sits on the border between the Hyde Park and Kenwood community areas.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-bellantoni/obama-not-selling-chicago_b_145677.html|title=Obama not selling Chicago home|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 22, 2008|work=HuffPost|publisher=HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.|author=Bellantoni, Christina}}

Jenna and Barbara Bush had much advice for Malia and Sasha Obama. The Bush twins sent the Obama daughters an open letter that was published in The Wall Street Journal.{{cite news|title=Feinstein plays key role|url=http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/21/1n21notebook002133-feinstein-plays-key-role/?uniontrib|work=U-T San Diego|publisher=Copley News Service|date=January 21, 2009|access-date=February 13, 2009|archive-date=February 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212134426/http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/21/1n21notebook002133-feinstein-plays-key-role/?uniontrib|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Bush twins offer advice for Sasha, Malia: 'Enjoy it all,' they say, while also urging girls to be protective of dad|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28759027|publisher=NBC News|date=January 20, 2009|access-date=February 13, 2009}}

The outgoing Bush family did not take much with them as they left the White House. Among the items they left behind was their official state china service, a Lenox 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bush-family-to-leave-many-treasured-items-inside-white-house/|title=Bush Family to Leave Many Treasured Items Inside White House|access-date=February 1, 2009|date=January 19, 2009|publisher=Fox News Channel}}

Vice President Dick Cheney was injured moving out of his residence just before the inauguration and used a wheelchair during the ceremony.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/19/cheney-pulls-muscle-moving-in-wheelchair/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123042222/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/19/cheney-pulls-muscle-moving-in-wheelchair/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2009|title=Cheney pulls muscle moving, in wheelchair|access-date=February 1, 2009|date=January 19, 2009|publisher=politicalticker.com}}

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.{{cite web |title=HOW BUSH AND OBAMA CREATED A GOLD STANDARD TRANSITION |url=https://presidentialtransition.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/11/How-Bush-and-Obama-Created-a-Gold-Standard-Transition.pdf |website=presidentialtransition.org |publisher=Center for Presidential Transitions |access-date=May 21, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Sonne |first1=Paul |title=Chaotic presidential transition brings vulnerability, security risks to nation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/defense-transition-trump-election/2020/11/11/7ca500a2-21ff-11eb-8599-406466ad1b8e_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=November 11, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Amanda |title=Law School event focuses on unprecedented presidential transition {{!}} The Law School {{!}} University of Notre Dame |url=https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/law-school-event-focuses-on-unprecedented-presidential-transition/ |website=law.nd.edu |publisher=Notre Dame Law School |access-date=May 21, 2021 |language=en |date=March 15, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Balcerski |first1=Opinion by Thomas |title=Opinion: Three terrible presidential transitions that hurt America |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/17/opinions/terrible-presidential-transitions-hurt-america-balcerski/ |website=CNN|access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=November 17, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Puzzanghera |first1=Jim |title=A tale of two transitions amid crisis: Bush smoothed the path for Obama, while Trump creates chaos for Biden – The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/22/nation/tale-two-transitions-amid-crisis-bush-smoothed-path-obama-while-trump-creates-chaos-biden/ |website=The Boston Globe|access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=December 22, 2020}} Both the Bush and Obama ends of the transition have been praised.

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 2008 financial crisis.{{cite web |last1=Nicholas |first1=Peter |last2=Lee |first2=Carol E. |title=Transition From Barack Obama to Donald Trump Turns Tense |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/transition-from-barack-obama-to-donald-trump-turns-tense-1483140623 |website=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=May 21, 2021 |date=December 31, 2016}}

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

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite news | first= L. Elaine | last= Halchin | title= Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations | date= November 25, 2008 | url = http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34722.pdf | work = Congressional Research Service | access-date = January 14, 2009}}
• {{cite news | title= Transcript: President-Elect Obama's First News Conference | date= November 7, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/us/politics/07obama-text.html | work = The New York Times | access-date = November 7, 2008}}
• {{cite news | first= Lynn | last= Sweet | title= Jarrett, Podesta, Rouse to lead Obama transition; Bill Daley co-chair | date= November 5, 2008 | url= http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/jarrett_podesta_rouse_to_lead.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | access-date= November 5, 2008 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081210145131/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/jarrett_podesta_rouse_to_lead.html | archive-date= December 10, 2008 | df= mdy-all }}
• {{cite news | first= Peter | last= Baker |author2=Jeff Zeleny | title= For Obama, No Day to Bask as He Starts to Build His Team for Transition | date= November 5, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06elect.html | work = The New York Times | access-date = November 5, 2008 }}
• {{cite news | first = Peter | last = Baker | title = No Time for Laurels; Now the Hard Part | date = November 4, 2008 | work = The New York Times| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05ahead.html | access-date = November 5, 2008 }} (Initial likely appointments to the transition team.)
• {{cite news | title= Possible Presidential Appointments | date = October 25, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/10/25/us/politics/25transitiongraphic.ready.html | work = The New York Times | access-date = November 5, 2008}}
• {{cite news|first=David |last=Espo |title=Obama's transition team meets, candidate pushes on |date=October 17, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD93SH0T80 |access-date=November 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021112109/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD93SH0T80 |archive-date=October 21, 2008 }} (Pre-election meeting of the Obama transition team.)

{{commons category|Presidential transition of Barack Obama}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161111190024/https://presidentialtransition.usa.gov/ Presidential Transition Resource] ''official General Services Administration (GSA)/National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081107142640/http://www.change.gov/ Change.gov] archive of the Obama-Biden presidential transition project
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/obama_presidency/default.stm Obama's Presidency] from BBC News
• [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a6b7f476-af02-11dd-a4bf-000077b07658.htm/ The Obama Transition] from the Financial Times
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081108032620/http://lostintransition.nationaljournal.com/ Lost in Transition] from the National Journal
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081106045626/http://www.businessofgovernment.org/transition2008/ The Presidential Transition] from the IBM Center for the Business of Government
• [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/us/series/the_new_team/index.html The New Team] from The New York Times, profiles of potential members of the Obama administration
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717140227/http://www.hlrecord.org/2.4464/hls-and-the-new-administration-whom-will-obama-choose-1.577442 HLS and the new administration: Whom will Obama choose?] from the Harvard Law Record, November 13, 2008
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725112843/http://www.c-spanarchives.org/congress/?q=node%2F69850&date=2009-01-08&hors=h Joint Session of the 111th Congress for the purpose of certifying the Electoral College ballot count], January 9, 2009 (C-Span video)

{{United States presidential transitions}}

{{Presidency of George W. Bush}}

{{Presidency of Barack Obama}}

{{Dick Cheney}}

{{Joe Biden}}

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