'MOST POPULAR PRESIDENT IN HISTORY'
The 55-year-old has made it out of his eight-year tenure with his youth and reputation intact, something virtually none of his tarnished predecessors have managed. And while he had spoken of lying low for a while, he recognised the need to speak out against the new President's controversial travel ban.
Many have denigrated Mr Obama's biggest achievement as simply what he represented for race relations as the first black president of the US, but Chait believes he sketched out a progressive vision for racial progress, despite the conflicts.
"He's the most popular outgoing president in US history, yet his successor is attempting to roll back his policies," said the Washington-based New York magazine columnist.
"People frame this the wrong way, as rolling back Obama's legacy. The legacy he's rolling back would be of all 44 presidents."
Chait says it is simply a shortsighted view and the smokescreen of extremist propaganda that conceal enormous evidence of Mr Obama's enduring accomplishments.
He says the former president's key role now will be to train the Democratic leaders of the next generation.
"There's a lack of appreciation for Obama and what he did, but people like him, they have sympathy for him and they admire him," said Chait.
"There's every reason to promote his role in the Opposition, and I think he'll take that."
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