People Flashcards
1
Q
Ben Rhodes
A
- lived in NY, witnessed 9/11, moved to DC
- worked at the Wilson Center (Iraq Study Group)
- met Obama in 2007
- speechwriting team during the 2008 elections
- deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and speechwriting
- 2nd term: Obama proposed him to take the lead on some issues
- led the negotiations with Cuba
2
Q
Susan Rice
A
- worked with Clinton (Secretary of State for Africa)
- leading Democratic voice on foreign policy
- American Ambassador to the UN (2009-2013)
- National Security Advisor (2013-2017)
3
Q
Lawrence (Larry) Summers
A
- Obama’s top economic advisor
- director of the National Economic Council 2009-2011
- key economic decision-maker
- stimulus: supported tax-cuts (criticized by opposition for not supporting infrastructure)
4
Q
Hillary Clinton
A
- US Senator from New York (2001-2009)
- Secretary of State 2009-2012
5
Q
Robert (Bob) Gates
A
- Republican
- Secretary of Defense 2006-08 (Bush)
- Secretary of Defense 2008-11 (Obama)
6
Q
David Petraeus
A
- public face of the war in Afghanistan when Bush was an unpopular figure
- Republican
7
Q
Richard Holbrooke
A
- Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP)
- not much popular in the administration
- attempted to aid Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s political opponents during his reelection bid
8
Q
Joe Biden
A
- Vice-President: reputation for foreign policy expertise
9
Q
General Stanley McChrystal
A
- Commander in Afghanistan
- wanted more troops in Afghanistan
- International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
- “out-of-control-boys’ club” in Rolling Stones - Obama fired him (replaced by Petraeus)
10
Q
John Brennan
A
- Obama’s top counterterrorism advisor
- United States Homeland Security Advisor (2009-13)
- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2013-17)
- need to destroy Al Qaeda
- his office was the nerve center during Bin Laden’s chase
11
Q
Donald Trump
A
- asked for Obama’s birth certificate (first mandate)
- announced his candidacy in June 2015
12
Q
Samantha Power
A
- emigrated from Ireland at 9
- humanitarian
- “People need to be at the center of our foreign policy thinking. Both because they’re people and they deserve respect and dignity, but also because that advances our national security” from The Final Year
- 2016, trip to Nigeria (Bring Back our Girls), fight against Boko Haram
- she visited Minawao Refugee Camp (Cameroon) for Boko Haram victims
- American Ambassador to the UN (2013-2017)
13
Q
John Boehner
A
- Speaker of the House (2011-2015)
14
Q
Ted Cruz
A
- Obama as an “apologist for radical Islam terrorists”
15
Q
Paul Ryan
A
- Chair of the House Budget Committee (2011-2015) (président de la Commission du budget)
- Speaker of the House (2015-2019)
- Presidential ticket with Mitt Romney 2012
16
Q
David Axelrod
A
- worked for Harold Washington in Chicago
- major roles in Obama administration
17
Q
John Kerry
A
- Vietnam veteran
- Massachussets Senator
- former Democratic candidate in 2004
- Secretary of State 2013-2017
- climate change: Paris agreement
- Guantanamo closure
18
Q
John McCain
A
- military hero in the Vietnam War
- US Senator from Arizona
- leading figure on foreign policy
- 2007, led “Cap-and-trade” with Obama
- 2008 Republican presidential candidate
19
Q
Rahm Emmanuel
A
- devoted loyalist in the Clinton White House
- director of finance, 1992 election
- was responsible for organizing the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1993
- House in 2006
- Obama’s first Chief of Staff 2009-2011
- 2008: crisis as an opportunity to reform
- “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”
- elected Mayor of Chicago 2011-2019
20
Q
Timothy Geithner
A
- Secretary of Treasury 2009-2013
- appointed because of his experience
- major role in the fincancial crisis
- defended Dodd-Frank and TARP
- stable economy: proof his policies worked
- lots of critics
21
Q
Nancy Pelosi
A
- première femme Speaker
- House Speaker 2007-2011
22
Q
Harry Reid
A
- Senate majority leader 2007-2015
23
Q
Denis McDonough
A
- National Security Advisor 2009-2013
- Chief of Staff 2013-2017
24
Q
Mitt Romney
A
- universal health care in Massachusetts
- 2012 election
- priviledged background
- career in an investment firm
- September 2012, leaker tape on the 47% who are with Obama because they entirely depend on the government // “victims”
- second debate: “act of terror” said by Obama 14 days after the Benghazi attack
25
Q
Eric Holder
A
- 1st AA Attorney General in US History
- 2009-2015
- worked hard to induce changes in the criminal justice system
26
Q
Jacob Lew
A
- Chief of Staff 2012-2013
- Treasury Secretary 2013-2017
27
Q
Mitch McConnell
A
- Senate Minority Leader 2007-2015
- Senate Majority Leader 2015-
- obstructionism
- worked to delay and obstruct health care reform and banking reform
- opposition to Sotomayor’s and Kagan’s confirmation
- prevented Obama from nominating Merrick Garland in 2016
