The World As It Is

1. Obama's presidency: A journey from hope to complex realities

"Picture him as a young man, standing on the waterfront in North Williamsburg, at a polling site, on Sept. 11, 2001, which was Election Day in New York City."

From campaign to White House. Ben Rhodes' journey with Barack Obama began in 2007, transitioning from a hopeful campaign focused on change to the complex realities of governing. As a key advisor and speechwriter, Rhodes witnessed firsthand the challenges of translating campaign promises into policy actions.

Navigating crises and opposition. The administration faced numerous obstacles, including:

• The 2008 financial crisis
• Ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Fierce Republican opposition
• Global challenges like the Arab Spring and the rise of ISIS

Throughout these challenges, Obama sought to maintain his core principles while adapting to the realities of governing in a deeply divided political landscape.

2. The power of storytelling in shaping political narratives

"Obama's closest advisers always understood him to be eager to do a deal with Iran as far back as 2012."

Crafting the narrative. Rhodes highlights the crucial role of storytelling in politics, both in shaping public perception and in guiding policy decisions. The administration worked to create compelling narratives around key issues such as:

• The Iran nuclear deal
• The normalization of relations with Cuba
• The response to the Arab Spring

Media landscape challenges. The book explores the evolving media environment, including:

• The decline of traditional foreign bureaus
• The rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles
• The challenge of countering misinformation and "fake news"

Rhodes reflects on the ethical considerations and practical challenges of managing information in this new landscape.

3. Navigating foreign policy challenges in a rapidly changing world

"Obama wanted to extricate the United States from the permanent war that had begun on 9/11."

Shifting priorities. The Obama administration sought to reorient U.S. foreign policy by:

• Ending the war in Iraq
• Focusing on counterterrorism efforts, including the raid that killed Osama bin Laden
• Engaging with previously isolated nations like Iran and Cuba
• Pivoting attention towards Asia

Balancing idealism and realism. Rhodes describes the constant tension between Obama's idealistic vision for American leadership and the harsh realities of global politics. This included grappling with:

• The limits of American power
• The complexities of intervening in foreign conflicts
• The need to maintain relationships with problematic allies

The book provides insight into the decision-making process behind key foreign policy choices, illustrating the challenges of implementing a coherent strategy in a rapidly changing world.

4. The Arab Spring: Balancing idealism with pragmatism

"I felt I was living in an alternate reality that was in some way insane, unable to recognize hypocrisy or to separate facts from politics."

Initial optimism. The Arab Spring initially seemed to align with Obama's vision of supporting democratic movements. The administration:

• Supported protesters in Egypt, leading to Hosni Mubarak's ouster
• Intervened militarily in Libya to prevent a massacre in Benghazi

Unforeseen consequences. As events unfolded, the administration faced difficult choices:

• The rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
• The descent of Libya into chaos
• The brutal civil war in Syria

Rhodes candidly discusses the administration's struggle to balance support for democratic movements with the need for regional stability, and the painful lessons learned from these experiences.

5. The Iran nuclear deal: Diplomacy in the face of opposition

"We created an echo chamber."

Negotiating breakthrough. Rhodes played a key role in the secret negotiations that led to the Iran nuclear deal. The process involved:

• Establishing back-channel communications with Iran
• Coordinating with international partners
• Navigating complex technical details of nuclear policy

Selling the deal. The administration faced significant opposition to the deal, including:

• Skepticism from Congress
• Strong objections from Israel and Gulf allies
• A well-funded campaign against the agreement

Rhodes describes the intense effort to build support for the deal, including media outreach and lobbying Congress. He reflects on the controversy surrounding his comments about creating an "echo chamber" to support the agreement.

6. Cuba: Thawing relations and bridging historical divides

"To the memory of José Martí, who is beloved in both the United States and Cuba."

Secret negotiations. Rhodes led secret talks with Cuban officials to normalize relations, which involved:

• Negotiating the release of prisoners
• Addressing complex historical grievances
• Navigating domestic political challenges in both countries

Historic breakthrough. The normalization process culminated in:

• The reestablishment of diplomatic relations
• Obama's historic visit to Cuba in 2016
• Easing of travel and trade restrictions

Rhodes reflects on the personal significance of this achievement and the potential for reconciliation between long-standing adversaries.

7. Confronting the rise of disinformation and new media challenges

"Whoever did my job in Russia was sitting on top of billion-dollar investments in television stations, marshaled an army of Internet trolls who populated social media, and was empowered to lie with impunity."

Russian disinformation. The administration faced growing challenges from Russian information warfare, including:

• Propaganda surrounding the annexation of Crimea
• Disinformation about the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
• Interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election

Adapting to new realities. Rhodes describes the administration's efforts to counter disinformation, including:

• Creating new government entities like the Global Engagement Center
• Attempting to modernize U.S. international broadcasting
• Grappling with the ethical and practical challenges of countering state-sponsored propaganda

The book highlights the growing importance of information warfare in geopolitics and the difficulties democracies face in combating it.

8. Personal growth and the weight of presidential decision-making

"Obama had a way of looking straight ahead when he was listening at the same time that his mind was elsewhere."

Rhodes' evolution. The book traces Rhodes' personal growth from a young, idealistic speechwriter to a seasoned foreign policy advisor. He candidly discusses:

• The stress and pressure of working in the White House
• The impact on his personal life and relationships
• The ethical dilemmas and self-doubt he faced

Obama's decision-making process. Rhodes provides insight into Obama's approach to major decisions, including:

• His tendency to seek out diverse viewpoints
• His ability to see long-term consequences
• The emotional toll of decisions involving military action

The narrative offers a humanizing portrait of both the president and his staff as they grapple with weighty decisions.

9. Racial dynamics and their impact on Obama's presidency

"We may not have earned it, this grace, with our rancor and complacency and shortsightedness and fear of each other—but we got it all the same."

Unspoken presence. Rhodes reflects on how race was a constant, often unspoken factor in Obama's presidency:

• The historic nature of Obama being the first Black president
• The racist undertones in much of the opposition he faced
• The careful way Obama had to navigate racial issues

Moments of reckoning. The book highlights key moments where racial issues came to the forefront:

• Obama's response to the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston
• His careful balancing act in addressing police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement
• The birther conspiracy theory promoted by Donald Trump

Rhodes provides a nuanced look at how race shaped both the opportunities and challenges of the Obama presidency.

10. The complexities of military intervention and use of force

"I don't know if I'd second-guess Truman's decision to drop the bomb. But there's something about the way we did it."

Grappling with intervention. The book explores the administration's evolving approach to military intervention:

• The decision to intervene in Libya
• The choice not to intervene directly in Syria
• The expansion of drone warfare

Ethical considerations. Rhodes reflects on the moral weight of decisions involving force:

• The visit to Hiroshima and reflections on nuclear weapons
• The impact of civilian casualties in drone strikes
• The long-term consequences of military action

The narrative provides insight into the administration's efforts to balance security concerns with moral considerations and the lessons of past interventions.

Last updated: January 22, 2025