<p>Barack Obama came to the White House with a desire to be a “consequential” President who would reset the Democratic agenda. But he faced a deluge of problems and an almost unprecedented degree of resistance from Congress. <em>The New Yorker</em>’<em>s</em> <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/contributors/amy-davidson">Amy Davidson</a>, <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/contributors/ryan-lizza">Ryan Lizza</a>, and David Remnick all spent years covering the Obama White House, and they conclude that some of Obama’s most important achievements might be things he <em>didn’t</em> do.</p>
Barack Obama came to the White House with a desire to be a “consequential” President who would reset the Democratic agenda. But he faced a deluge of problems and an almost unprecedented degree of resistance from Congress. The New Yorker’s Amy Davidson, Ryan Lizza, and David Remnick all spent years covering the Obama White House, and they conclude that some of Obama’s most important achievements might be things he didn’t do.