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.

Stung by public reaction to news that AIG executives were awarded $165 million in bonuses while the company was on the public dole, Obama decries “recklessness and greed” on Wall Street. Information later leaks out that the administration, including the Treasury secretary, had prior knowledge of the bonuses but did not intervene.