On Sunday, President Joe Biden made the historic decision to step aside and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place in November. Yet more proof that Aaron Sorkin himself would not have been able to script Biden’s career.
Just weeks before he was set to be sworn in as the youngest member elected to the Senate in 1972, Biden’s wife and 1-year-old daughter were killed in a car accident while shopping for a Christmas tree. The grieving and suddenly single dad of two boys, Biden was encouraged by his new Senate colleagues to stay in Congress, and for years he traveled back and forth on the Amtrak train to make sure he was there for his sons as much as possible.
It’s a story packed with enough tragedy and fortitude to last a lifetime. But that is far from the full story of Joe Biden.
It’s a story packed with enough tragedy and fortitude to last a lifetime. But that is far from the full story of Joe Biden.
He survived a brain aneurysm, an embarrassing exit from his 1988 run for the presidency, the loss of his son Beau and the conviction of his other son, Hunter.
And yet, despite it all, Biden has always chosen to reject bitterness. He refused to give in to his pain and spiral into self-pity or lash outward with hatred. He never went into hiding. He has instead channeled his loss and personal tragedy into a lifetime of public service and an incredibly deep well of empathy for others. Over and over and over again.
It’s easy to say that your job is not your life. But it really isn’t for this president.
Biden picks up the phone every time his granddaughters call. He talks about his wife (Dr. Jill Biden) the way a much younger guy might talk about a girl he has a huge crush on. And his love for his son Hunter and concern for Hunter’s mental well-being have resulted in decisions that sometimes made no political sense.
At the same time, Biden’s belief that through politics you can make a real difference has been the driving force of his adult life. His career was never about becoming rich (he was one of the least wealthy members of the Senate), nor was it about fame or clout (I don’t think he would know how to tweet if his life depended on it).
Obviously, you don’t run for office — and certainly not the presidency — without a healthy sense of self. And Biden has that. I remember sitting with him in the Oval Office early in the first few weeks of his presidency and asking how he was dealing with the weight of the office. He told me he’d been in this office before and knew exactly what he needed to do. But, he added, he was having trouble finding his socks.
It was a funny moment. And a very revealing one. Because Biden did know that office. He’s been visiting it for decades, as he negotiated legislation as a senator and later navigated his responsibilities as vice president — both at home and around the world. No one came into that job with more experience. And perhaps no one in modern history felt more out of place among the ornate trappings of the White House residence than the son of a used-car salesman from Scranton.
Biden doesn’t care about celebrities or fancy events. He would probably eat spaghetti and meatballs and chocolate chip ice cream every day if given the choice. He cares about workers being paid fair wages, about everyone getting a shot at a better education or training. About protecting the fundamentals of our institutions and the people who serve in them.
No one came into that job with more experience. And perhaps no one in modern history felt more out of place among the ornate trappings of the White House residence. He also has a chip on his shoulder — and as a result, a particular soft spot for every American who has ever felt underestimated and left behind. His career has been defined by stubbornness and tragedy and by proving many, many doubters wrong. He pledged to get a bipartisan infrastructure deal and did, with the help of 19 Republican senators. He finished fifth in the New Hampshire primary in 2020 and went on to win not only the nomination, but also the presidency. And all of that is why his decision to step back from the Democratic nomination right now is so powerful. Public service has been his life for over 50 years. He doesn’t know anything different. There is no other campaign. The next few months will be his last in public office. Make no mistake: Biden isn’t doing this because he doesn’t think he can do the job. He’s stepping down because he has been convinced that he is not the right person to defeat Donald Trump. Time and time again, Joe Biden proved his incredible strength by getting back up after being knocked down. This time, he shows it by stepping aside.
Jen Psaki is the host of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" airing Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 p.m. EST. She is the former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden. 
