Joe Biden was inaugurated just two weeks later, four years ago Rioters stormed the Capitol To disrupt the certification of their winnings. When Biden's presidency began with him preaching that “democracy has won,” few imagined it would end like this: being succeeded by a man who, as Biden warned, “Will forever and fundamentally change the character of this nation.”
Atlantic staff writer Franklin Foer said, “When Joe Biden came into office, he said he was going to defend democracy against autocracy.” “That was job #1 to him. And everyone knew what that meant.”
Foer wrote a book about President Biden's first two years in office, titled “The Last Politician.” What did he mean by that? “I was thinking about how our politics is a battle of attrition between these two sides that despise each other,” Foer said.
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Biden said in 2019, “People are saying, 'Biden doesn't get it.' 'You can't work with Republicans anymore.' 'It doesn't work that way anymore.' Well, guys, I'm going to say something outrageous: I Know How should the government work?
According to Foer, “Biden had this very old-fashioned sense of how he could do things. He felt like, to save American democracy, he needed to prove that this old-fashioned style of politics still worked.” “Things that can deliver significant, meaningful, tangible results for the American people.”
In many ways, President Biden Did deliver. their administration supervised Successful rollout of COVID vaccine, Stock market continues to reach record highsWhereas Unemployment hits near record low,
abroad, he expanded nato, strengthened alliance in Asia with the goal of controlling China, and united permanent support for Ukraine Because it defended itself against Russia.
He did so while scoring major legislative victories Large scale new investments in clean energy And semiconductor manufacturing,
And he achieved victories that his predecessors had not achieved: $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill signed,
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said a lot of infrastructure money came through New Jersey: “We are the most densely populated state in America. So, moving people and things is easier for us than perhaps any other More important than the state, and President Biden did what he said he would do. I would almost call it a renaissance in American infrastructure. There are all kinds of projects in our state.
most notably, $16 billion gateway tunnel projectWhich would expand centuries-old tunnels under the Hudson River and double train capacity between New York and New Jersey. It is the largest project of its kind in American history.
In his farewell address to the nation on Wednesday, Mr Biden remarked, “It will take time to feel the full impact of what we have done together. But the seeds have been planted, and they will grow, and they will bloom.” in the coming decades.”
Murphy said, “I think this is a very successful presidency. I think history will treat him very, very well.”
And yet, despite his major accomplishments, Mr. Biden was in trouble almost from the start.
Why? “I think it's fair to ask, is this fair?” Murphy said. “And frankly, I don't think it is. But it is what it is. I mean, the numbers don't lie.”
President Biden's approval ratings began to strengthen. But they drowned after six months Deadly withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan,
their polling was pushed further down high inflationa record surge illegal border crossingAnd war in gaza He divided his party,
And then there were the persistent questions about his age that had been troubling him from the moment he assumed office.
Asked if he was aware that he was slowing down a bit, Foer replied, “Anybody with eyes could watch him walk across the stage and they could see that his gait was stiff. They could see he was walking around like an old man. And so, he knew he was an old man too, but I think he probably overestimated his own political skills, because all this time I have come back from the dead.”
After this, Democratic leaders pressured Mr. Biden to leave the race His disastrous debate performance last JuneWith only three months to launch her own campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris lost the popular vote and every swing state. Democrats have also lost their majority in the Senate, meaning Republicans will now control the White House and both houses of Congress, with the power to undo some of Mr Biden's actions.
And so, the man who started his campaign with warnings about Donald Trump suddenly finds that his legacy is largely in Trump's hands.
Foer said, “He was going to prevent Donald Trump from returning to the White House. And now, at the end of his presidency, it's clear by any measure that he failed in his #1 objective. Donald Trump is going to come back. Have gone.”
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The story is produced by Mark Hudspeth. Editor: Joseph Frandino.
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