In April 2012, Hofstra University hosted a symposium comparing the presidencies of George W Bush and Barack Obama. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama promised major departures from the Bush administrations approach to political negotiations and policies. But in the White House, several, though certainly not all, of Obamas actions have suggested more continuity than change with his predecessor. This assessment of both presidencies provides a timely discussion of their leadership successes and challenges in the White House, with attention to immediate results as well as long-term effects.