Peter Kastor, professor of history in Arts & Sciences
Observers long wondered what would become of Barack Obama after he left office. Young and healthy, still pondering social problems, he always seemed an unlikely candidate for the list of distant former presidents. In September 2016, he stated that then-candidate Donald Trump “appears to only care about himself,” adding that Trump “doesn’t do his homework, doesn’t know basic facts that you’d need to know.” Obama came out swinging again last week when he condemned President Trump for rescinding DACA, calling the move “cruel.” Obama is not the first former president to speak out, but he may well be transforming the post-presidency in ways no less profound than Trump’s efforts to change the presidency.
Read the full piece in Fortune.