Today is President Barack Obama’s first visit to Baton Rouge. The Daily Reveille looked back on some of the 44th commander-in-chief’s biggest and most recent policy strides.
Same-sex Marriage June 26, 2015
In a 5 to 4 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court established the legality of same-sex marriage across the United States.
Obama, who first announced his support for same-sex marriage in 2012, called lead plaintiff Jim Obergefell to congratulate him moments after the ruling.
“There’s so much more work to be done to extend the full promise of America to every American. But today, we can say in no uncertain terms that we’ve made our union a little more perfect.” Remarks by the President on the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality
Trans-Pacific Partnership June 29, 2015
Obama signed legislation granting him “fast-track” negotiation authority to help firm up a trade deal among 12 Pacific Rim countries known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Obama appealed to lawmakers to grant the TPP deal congressional approval.
“With TPP, China doesn’t set the rules in that region, we do. You want to show our strength in this century? Approve this agreement. Give us the tools to enforce it.” 2016 State of the Union address
Cuban Relations July 20, 2015
The United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations after more than 54 years of Cold War tensions and reopened embassies in each other’s countries.
But Obama is still waiting for the Republican-dominated Congress to lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and he has yet to close the military base in Guantanamo Bay.
“Our nations are separated by only 90 miles, and there are deep bonds of family and friendship between our people. But there have been very real, profound differences between our governments, and sometimes we allow ourselves to be trapped by a certain way of doing things.” Statement by the President on the Re-Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
Paris Climate Agreement Dec. 12, 2015
World leaders, including Obama, reached a historic climate change agreement in Paris, France.
Nearly 200 participating countries agreed to keep the increase in global average temperature “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, aiming to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“Make no mistake, the Paris agreement establishes the enduring framework the world needs to solve the climate crisis. It creates the mechanism, the architecture, for us to continually tackle this problem in an effective way.” Statement by the President on the Paris Climate Agreement
Gun Reform Jan. 5, 2016
At an emotional press conference at the beginning of this year, Obama announced a set of executive actions to help curb gun violence.
Obama’s actions seek to expand background checks for gun purchasers, and mandate all sellers of firearms register as licensed gun dealers, helping to close the “gun show loophole.”
“The United States of America is not the only country on Earth with violent or dangerous people. We are not inherently more prone to violence. But we are the only advanced country on Earth that sees this kind of mass violence erupt with this kind of frequency.” Remarks by the President on Common-Sense Gun Safety Reform

Gallery • 5 Photos

“I would say first African American president. Just his mark on history.” - Mechanical Engineering Sophomore Kirk Selexman