By Kaya Weerasuriya — “I've got a pen, and I've got a phone.” President Barack Obama used this phrase as a metonymy for two actions he considered to be most effective for enacting change—the “pen” symbolizing his presidential capability to issue executive action, and the “phone” signifying his ability to mobilize public support during times of congressional deadlock. He used these dual actions across wide-ranging issues during his two terms, pertaining to economic, social, and...
