Can Obama Keep Delivering on His Promise

How President Obama's epic victory in pushing forward health care reform revitalized his presidency

Brooks Kraft / Corbis for TIME

US President Barack Obama signs the health insurance reform bill in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Obama Tuesday signed into law his historic health care reform, enacting the most sweeping social legislation in decades which will ensure coverage for almost all Americans. Behind him Victoria Kennedy, the widow of late Senator Edward Kennedy.

On the day before the historic health care reform vote, Barack Obama made his final argument in favor of the bill to the Democratic members of Congress. "I am not bound to win," he began, quoting Abraham Lincoln, "but I am bound to be true." The next 45 minutes provided a rare, true, almost private glimpse of American politics. Some said they had never seen the President so passionate — although Obama's version of passion is much calmer than most. He did many of the things expected in a pep talk. He made the substantive case for the bill. He jabbed...

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