Joe Biden ends 5 decades in public life: 'One of the great tragedies of American politics'
President Joe Biden leaves behind a complicated legacy of legislative wins, economic gains and fractured relationships and grievances within his own party.
Joe Biden ascended to the highest office in America with a pledge to unite the country, strengthen his party and defend democracy.
Instead, in the 82-year-old’s Oval Office denouement, he leaves a nation divided, a party in tatters and the American people questioning the self-described institutionalist’s respect for the rule of law.
Many Democrats are blaming Biden for handing the White House to Donald Trump, criticizing the aging politician for staying in office too long and reeling after he pardoned his son. Exacerbating the frustrations, Biden recently expressed doubt about his ability to serve another four years after dismissing voters’ concerns about that very issue as he sought re-election.
The president harbors similar resentment toward members of his own party. After the November election, he privately mused about the idea of pardoning Trump as a magnanimous move, according to a person directly familiar with his comments, though it’s not clear he seriously considered it. A White House official said “to our knowledge, this was not raised.” At the same time, Biden is not on speaking terms with some of his closest allies.
It is all an inglorious coda to five decades in public office.
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