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Former President Barack Obama continues reading from the first volume of his presidential memoirs A Promised Land, offering a unique and deeply personal account of some of the landmarks of his first term at the White House.

In today’s episode, Obama charts the extraordinary difficulties he must overcome to achieve his dream of universal healthcare. His team face challenging odds as they try to push through legislation against the backdrop of a historic recession, a distinct lack of co-operation from the Republicans and the slurs of the Tea Party movement. At last when things start to move, it is the Democratic party itself that causes an own goal. Obama also opens up to reveal a very personal reason for believing in affordable healthcare and introduces us to Bo who is a lively new member of the family.

Elected in 2008, Obama became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office. With extraordinary frankness he explores his own ambition and drive to achieve real change and how he had to confront the limitations of presidential power.

Abridged by Katrin Williams.
Produced by Julian Wilkinson; the editor is Di Speirs.