All modern presidents have made the experience

David Greenberg is Professor of history at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. He is the author of several books, including "Nixon's Shadow: The History of an Image" (2003) which has received several awards. He regularly contributes to several newspapers and magazines of the American press, the "New York Times" to "the Atlantic Monthly", through "Slate", for which he wrote a column.

A year ago, Barack Obama was elected on the promise of change. Can we consider that it did not take his promises

The people who expected a new era were probably too optimistic or naive. It must also be aware of the period where he came to power... with the economic crisis, was told of the end of capitalism! Presidents who were elected with a majority larger than Obama have rarely succeeded in creating major changes the first year of their mandate. Even those that Obama for models, Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Kennedy, did not have a necessarily strong year. I expected so much of the President that it is virtually impossible that some are not disappointed. Obama, we expected everything and more, including the end of racism.

This will be not a Presidency of transformation

It is likely that the Presidency of Obama will be similar to that of Bill Clinton. The latter has revived the Democratic Party and revived the economy turning deficits into surpluses. Apart from the problems that one can have with his personality and his behaviour, this has been rather two good terms. If Obama was as much, there is something to celebrate.

That is it has succeeded to date

No doubt the reform of health insurance, but it is not yet quite there. For the moment, what we can see, is that the economy is not totally collapsed. It came back from the abyss, and has contributed to the fiscal stimulus plan. It was bold to say we are going to spend $ 800 billion, while the Congress had to authorize $ 700 billion to bail out the banks.

He missed some things

For me, personally, that he accepts that people are still detained in the United States without right to a trial is a serious breach of human rights. But I'm probably in the minority. He has also criticized to be too close to Wall Street...

Americans want more financial regulation and a more severe hand on bonuses. This is true to the left as to the right. In fact, has Obama more room for political manoeuvre that il is in use. A part of the problem is that it shows considerable deference to his economic advisers, which tend to give priority to Wall Street and finance. It should be that it the "mixed" with other advisors. It is his lack of personal comfort on this type of decision, her inexperience that explain this. Over time, it will better know in what direction he wants to lead the economy... and with that he wants to do.

Difficulties to pass the reforms of the health and financial institutions, how do you consider the attitude that Obama had with Congress

I think that it considered that have Rahm Emanuel as Chief of staff would resolve the difficulties with the Congress. Apparently, he got what he wanted of the House of representatives, where Rahm Emanuel has its entries, but much less than the Senate. The senators are very jealous of their prerogatives, and relations are not necessarily easier within the party which controls Congress. The fact that he cannot appoint Tom Daschle was also a real problem, this would no doubt much helped him to advance to the Senate health care reform.

Do you think that the mid-term elections will be risky for the Democrats

It is very rare to win seats... the question is how much they lose. I do not think that the Democrats lose control of Congress. There is a certain disillusionment, but nothing irreversible. All modern presidents have made the experience.

Will employment play a role

In 2012, the unemployment rate will be enough fallen to ensuring the re-election of Obama. The second part of its mandate will be dedicated to the revitalization of the economy.