Originally Posted: August 23, 2017
Since leaving office, former President Barack Obama has kept a pretty low profile.
According to his his former senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, he’s enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He visited Palm Springs, the Caribbean and Hawaii for vacation and opened a brand new office in Washington, D.C.’s West End.
But this fall, he’s planning to re-emerge on the national stage, according to The Hill. He’ll be helping the Democratic Party rebuild, though a significant portion of his work will be backstage.
How will Obama’s re-emergence affect the Republican base? Should he be careful about eclipsing emerging leaders in the Democratic party? Historically, what role have former president’s played in the political landscape? And do you want to see Obama back in the spotlight?
Guests:
Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian and professor of history at Rice University; his most recent book is “Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America”
Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University; his most recent book is “The American Dream: In History, Politics, and Fiction”