Campaign 2008 - Council on Foreign Relations

Campaign 2008

Foreign Policy and the Election

Throughout the 2008 presidential campaign and transition process, CFR.org provided background and analysis of the role of foreign policy in presidential politics. This page provides an archive of that coverage.

Related Materials

Obama's Inaugural Address
Foreign Policy Priorities
Candidates' Positions
The Incoming National Security Team

Barack
Obama

Joseph
Biden

Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton

Defense Secretary

Robert M. Gates

Attorney General

Eric H. Holder Jr.

National Security

James L. Jones

Treasury Secretary

Timothy Geithner

National Intel

Dennis C. Blair

Homeland Security

Janet Napolitano
The President's Inbox

Global Economy
The financial crisis has rocked nearly every facet of the country's financial policy, prompting experts to assess potential short- and long-term consequences.
Global Economy in Crisis Timeline
Sovereign Wealth and Sovereign Power
Grasping 'Radical' Economic Change

Pakistan
Many foreign policy experts place Pakistan at the top of the most serious foreign policy issues facing the next U.S. president.
Pakistan's Militants Trouble
The Troubled Afghan-Pakistani Border
U.S.-Pakistan Relations

Energy and Climate Change
Energy policy is expected to get new attention from the incoming administation, particularly ways to integrate climate change with new energy initiatives.
Oil Market Volatility
Challenges for Nuclear Power Expansion
Climate Change Crisis Guide

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Energy and Climate Change
Energy policy is expected to get new attention from the incoming administation, particularly ways to integrate climate change with new energy initiatives.
Oil Market Volatility
Challenges for Nuclear Power Expansion
Climate Change Crisis Guide

Iraq
The next president will face very difficult questions over the future of Iraq and U.S. forces.
U.S. Security Agreements and Iraq
The Surge and Iraq's Path to Sucess
'Winning' in Iraq, but 'Losing' in Afghanistan

Iran
One of the next administration's chief challenges is how to forestall an Iranian nuclear weapons program and whether to pursue greater engagement with Iran.
Negotiating with Hostile States
Iran's Nuclear Program
Policy Options for the Next Administration

Trade and Globalization
The next president will have to choose whether to revive the U.S. trade agenda or lead changes that will make more deals palatable to Americans.
NAFTA's Economic Impact
The Case for Wage Insurance
Fair Trade or Free Trade

Analysis and Opinions from the Campaign

Videos and Podcasts: Briefing the President

Preventive Priorities for the Next Administration

Video

Rethinking Trade Policy

Video

The Future of American Leadership

Video

Fixing Global Finance

Video

U.S.-Cuba Policy 'Caught Between Conflicting Impulses'

Podcast

Alden on U.S. Immigration Clampdown Post-9/11

Podcast

A View From Abroad

Sotero: Hope and Concern about U.S. Business Ties with Latin America

Europeans Await 'President' Obama With Some Nervousness

Iran Uncertain About Obama's Intentions

'Tremendous Expectations' for President Obama in Middle East

CFR Meetings Transcripts
A Conversation with Madeleine K. Albright
Addressing the Economy
A Middle East Strategy for the Next President
The Presidential Foreign Policy Debate
The Nuclear Dimension and Iranian Foreign Policy

CFR at the Conventions

Denver CFR Panels
U.S. Role in the World
Foreign Policy Challenges
Fighting Global Poverty

Minneapolis CFR Panels
Foreign Policy Challenges
Greater Middle East
Democracy and America's Role
The New Administration

The Candidates, the World, and CFR.org’s Foreign Policy Journey in the 2008 Campaign
January 20, 2009

Speeches and Debates from the Campaign
Barack Obama's Inaugural Address (January 20, 2009)
Obama's election night speech (November 4, 2008)
McCain's concession speech (November 4, 2008)
Palin on energy policy (October 29, 2008)
McCain on national security (October 29, 2008)
Obama on national security (October 22, 2008)
Obama/McCain final presidential debate (October 15, 2008)
Vice-presidential debate (October 3, 2008)
First Obama/McCain presidential debate (September 26, 2008)

Biden's speech on national security (September 24, 2008)
McCain at the Republican National Convention (September 4, 2008)
Obama at the Democratic National Convention (August 28, 2008)
Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention (August 26, 2008)
Obama on energy policy (August 5, 2008)
Obama's speech in Berlin (July 24, 2008)
Obama at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (June 4, 2008)
McCain at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (June 2, 2008)
Clinton, McCain, and Obama on Darfur (May 28, 2008)
Obama on the cost of war (March 20, 2008)
Democratic debate between Clinton and Obama (February 26, 2008)
Republican primary debate (January 30, 2008)

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