Whether Barack Obama was a "good" president is a subject of ongoing debate, with assessments often depending on an individual's political priorities, values, and interpretation of his policy outcomes. Supporters and critics generally focus on different aspects of his two terms in office (2009–2017).

Here is a summary of the common arguments on both sides of the spectrum:

### Arguments often cited by supporters:
*   **Economic Recovery:** Obama took office during the height of the Great Recession. Supporters credit his administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the auto industry bailout with preventing a total economic collapse and initiating the longest period of job growth in U.S. history at the time.
*   **The Affordable Care Act (ACA):** Often called "Obamacare," this signature legislative achievement expanded health insurance coverage to roughly 20 million previously uninsured Americans and prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
*   **Foreign Policy and Diplomacy:** Supporters point to the killing of Osama bin Laden, the nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA), and the normalization of relations with Cuba as significant achievements in global security and diplomacy.
*   **Social progress:** Obama’s presidency saw the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (allowing LGBTQ+ individuals to serve openly in the military) and the Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage, which he supported.
*   **Crisis Management:** Many supporters emphasize his "no drama" governing style, noting that his administration—which oversaw the H1N1 response, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the financial crisis—was largely free of the personal scandals that often plague modern presidencies.

### Arguments often cited by critics:
*   **Economic Inequality and Stagnation:** Critics argue that the post-recession recovery was too slow and that the gains from the recovery were not felt equally, leaving many working-class families behind. Some also criticize the bank bailouts as "corporate welfare" that failed to punish the institutions responsible for the 2008 crash.
*   **Concerns over the Affordable Care Act:** Opponents argue that the ACA significantly increased insurance premiums for many Americans, limited choice in healthcare providers, and represented an overreach of federal government power.
*   **Foreign Policy and Interventionism:** Critics from the right often argue that his "leading from behind" strategy weakened American global influence, particularly regarding the Syrian Civil War and the rise of ISIS. Critics from the left have frequently criticized his aggressive use of drone warfare and the expansion of the surveillance state.
*   **Political Polarization:** Some analysts note that partisan division deepened significantly during the Obama years. Critics argue that his rhetoric occasionally exacerbated these divisions, while supporters argue that he was met with unprecedented levels of obstructionism from the Republican-led Congress.
*   **Executive Overreach:** Critics frequently accused the Obama administration of bypassing Congress through the use of executive orders, particularly regarding immigration (DACA) and environmental regulations.

### How Historians View Him
Presidential historians often rank Obama in the top half of U.S. presidents. In surveys such as those conducted by the C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey, he is generally placed in the top 10–15 range. Historians often praise his communication skills, moral authority, and administrative competence, though they sometimes note the difficulty he faced in achieving a truly transformative legislative agenda during his second term due to divided government.

### Conclusion
Ultimately, whether one views Barack Obama as a "good" president depends on what criteria are prioritized:
*   If you prioritize **social safety nets, civil rights, and stable, scandal-free governance**, you are more likely to view his presidency positively.
*   If you prioritize **limited government, lower taxes, and a more traditionally assertive foreign policy**, you are more likely to view his presidency negatively.
