A Reflection on President Joe Biden's Time in Office
On Sunday, July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden announced he would not continue his reelection bid, saying it is in "the best interest" of the Democratic Party and the country to withdraw from the race, and he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the nominee. The decision came nearly a month after Mr. Biden's poor debate performance in June, which alarmed Democrats in Washington and sparked discussion about whether he could be replaced on the Democratic ticket.
While President Biden has had a tough few weeks politically, it is hardly the first private tribulation he has faced while in the public eye.
Shortly after being elected as Delaware’s hot-shot Junior Senator in 1972, his first wife, Neilia, and the couple’s 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, were tragically killed in a car accident. Their young sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured. Biden debated relinquishing the Senate seat he’d yet to even occupy but eventually agreed to give the job a try for six months.
Two-and-half weeks after Neilia’s death, Biden was sworn in as senator in a small chapel at the hospital in Delaware. Beau, still in traction, was wheeled into the room in his bed; Hunter, by then out of the hospital, perched on his brother’s bed for the ceremony.
Senators were kind enough to give Biden broad leeway once in office. His sister Valerie moved in to take care of the boys, and the new senator took the train home to Delaware every night to kiss them good night.
As it turned out, Biden’s passage through hardship was not to be a one-time journey but a well-traveled path. His life was later rocked by serious illness, political setbacks, and, in 2015, Beau’s death from brain cancer at age 46. There were other, less public, trials, including Hunter’s struggles as an adult with addiction.
Biden’s life marked by tragedy shaped him into one of the most compassionate politicians in our lifetime.
When Delaware Senator Chris Coons’ father was dying in hospice care, he received comforting words from longtime friend, Joe Biden. “He knows what you’re going through,” said Coons. “He knows that you can come through it.” He’s seen Biden do the same for countless others — the family of a lost firefighter, the parent of a son killed in Afghanistan, the widow of local restaurateur, and so many more.
Often, these strangers-turned-partners-in-grief have come away with Biden’s cellphone number. “I have a long list of strangers who have my private number and an invitation to call,” Biden wrote in his 2017 book. “And many of them do.”
Former Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) said Biden called his mother in 2011 when the vice president heard that her husband had been diagnosed with lung cancer. In 2013, five months after Israel’s father died, the Congressman’s mother told him, “Joe called.” Israel assumed she was reminiscing about Biden’s call in 2011.
“No,” his mother told him. “He just called a few days ago to check in on me.” He called on New Year’s Day, because the start of a new year is hard without someone you love.
“For many politicians, empathy is a strategy,” Israel said. “For Joe Biden, it’s second nature.”
As President Joe Biden serves out the rest of his term, he has shared with us the accomplishments of which he is most proud:
The American Rescue Plan: Just six weeks into his presidency, Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan to jumpstart our economy and change the course of the pandemic.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: President Biden worked across the aisle to rebuild our nation’s roads and bridges, upgrade our public transit, clean up pollution, and provide high-speed internet to Americans.
Inflation Reduction Act: President Biden signed landmark legislation to bring down costs for families, lower prescription drug prices, and make historic investments in American clean energy jobs and manufacturing.
The Chips and Science Act: The CHIPS Act is bringing back manufacturing from overseas and creating good-paying union jobs here at home. Since President Biden signed it into law, companies have already announced almost $300 billion in new American manufacturing investments.
Confirming Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: President Biden appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court. She is also the first public defender to serve on our nation’s highest court.
Expanding Healthcare for Veterans Through the PACT Act: President Biden signed into law the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans in more than 30 years.
Signed Marriage Equality Into Law: President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act to enshrine marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples into federal law.
Protecting Reproductive Rights: In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and strip a constitutional right from the American people, President Biden issued executive orders to preserve access to reproductive care and protect the right to travel across state lines to receive care.
Climate Action: President Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accords on his first day in office. He delivered on an aggressive climate agenda with historic investments in clean energy.
Supporting Ukraine: Since the start of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, President Biden has rallied the world to stand with Ukraine, defend democracy, and stand up to autocracy.
Criminal Justice Reform: President Biden signed a landmark executive order to promote safe and accountable policing, ban chokeholds, restrict no-knock entries by police, create a national police accountability database, and prohibit the transfer of military equipment to local police departments.
Student Debt Relief: President Biden has approved the cancellation of billions in student loan debt for millions of Americans, as well as the largest increase in Pell Grants in over a decade.
With his great empathy for others, Joe Biden has reminded us that politicians are humans, too. We thank President Biden for his public service and look forward to helping our clients navigate the historic 2024 Presidential Election.