Few presidents have walked a more improbable path to the American presidency than Barack Obama. So it’s fitting that, much like the president it’s named for, nothing about the Obama Presidential Center is traditional. Not its Juneteenth opening. Not its location on the South Side of Chicago. Not its design, not its sprawling campus that includes a basketball court and outdoor grills, and not the exhibits that not only showcase what the 44th president accomplished but also highlight what he did not get done.
The unconventional approach begins with the name. It’s the Obama Presidential Center. Not a library. That distinction was deliberate and signals an orientation toward everyday people, rather than scholars and history buffs. A more conventionally safe version of this center might have also focused exclusively on Obama’s accomplishments and legislative victories. But it also includes an exhibit in the museum called “The Unfinished Work” that spells out the ways the Obama administration came up short. This is unusual. Presidential libraries do not normally dwell on disappointments or what did not get done.
The point is that governance is hard and that every effort is not always rewarded with success. The upshot is that the American public is now responsible for the unfinished work — and the museum’s designers are not subtle with that message.
This is a preview of a column by Michele Norris. Read the full column here.
And don’t miss Norris’ special “Hope Comes Home: Inside The Obama Presidential Center.” Get a behind-the-scenes look into the center and watch exclusive interviews with the former president and first lady tonight at 9 p.m. ET.
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Tonight, Michele Norris hosts a special behind-the-scenes look into the Obama Presidential Center, featuring exclusive interviews with the former President and First Lady and members of their inner circle. Tune in tonight at 9pm ET on MS NOW.
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This week on “Clock It,” Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels discuss the Obama Presidential Center, UFC 250, inflation, and most importantly – Juneteenth. Plus, a dive into celebrity activism and what it means to defend freedom. Listen now and subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening and bonus content.
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