60 Minutes Presents Obama: All Access - Barack Obama's Road To The White House

A look at Barack Obama's rise from Illinois senator to the United States' first African-American president. Correspondent Steve Kroft hosts this 60 Minutes special documenting Barack Obama's path to the presidency. The two programs include The 44th President, from November 16th, 2008, and The Road to the White House, from December 28th, 2008. The opening segment features the President-elect's first post-election interview, in which he discusses his plans for the days ahead, but takes pains to avoid too many specifics. When Kroft asks about the future of General Motors, for instance, Obama replies, "Let's see how this thing plays out." On the subject of cabinet appointments, he speaks in general terms, smiles, and then says, "Beyond that, you're not getting any more out of me, Steve." At the midway point, Michelle Obama joins in to talk about their personal goals. For their children, they say they’re striving to maintain normalcy, though her husband acknowledges that "the loss of anonymity" is an unavoidable drawback. (Kroft's only silly question: "Do you have a transition team for the dog?"). The second episode begins as the former senator lays the groundwork for candidacy and ends with his victory speech in Chicago. If the previous program focuses primarily on positives, the second touches on concerns that threatened to curtail Obama's rise, like his association with Pastor Jeremiah Wright. The feature "What You Haven't Seen" offers never-before-seen material from seven different stories, while "Major Speeches" presents six key public appearances, notably his declaration, inaugural address, and "A More Perfect Union," in which he talks about race in America, including the Wright controversy. --Kathleen C. Fennessy