As the opening act of Obama’s fledgling presidency unfolded, the country — and the
world — kept a close eye on the 44th
president’s every important move.

President Obama directs the Justice Department to release memos detailing the controversial methods the CIA used to interrogate terror suspects. Obama tries to reassure agency operatives, by promising not to prosecute agents who were following proper orders and guidelines. But he ignites a firestorm when he says later it would be up Attorney General Eric Holder to determine who could be prosecuted.