President Obama at 100 Days

Since Franklin Roosevelt’s first three months of government activism tackling the Great Depression, the 100th day of a presidential first term has become a rite of passage in American politics. The challenges facing the nation today seem likely to consume President Obama’s first two years – if not his entire first term. Still, the “100-day” milestone provides a useful vantage point to assess where his team has come from, and where it is going.

On April 30, the Brookings Institution hosted an event to discuss the president’s performance on issues ranging from health care to the Middle East. Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings, provided introductory comments. He also be released the first results of a new index that will track public opinion on Obama’s handling of the recovery effort.

The first panel delved into matters at home including the financial crisis and domestic policy; the second panel discussed President Obama’s role abroad, on foreign policy and global climate change. John Harris and Mike Allen of POLITICO moderated the discussions.

Participants took questions after each panel.