A newly released book centered on the life and political journey of Joe Biden paints a vivid picture of the President, highlighting how his middle-class upbringing played a pivotal role in shaping his political trajectory. This upbringing, the book posits, led to a deep-seated resentment of intellectual elitism, at times causing tensions with his former boss, the Harvard-educated Barack Obama.
During Biden's eight-year tenure as Obama's vice president, an intriguing anecdote emerged, revealing Biden's perspective on Obama's linguistic abilities. According to the book titled "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future," authored by Franklin Foer, a distinguished staff writer at The Atlantic, Biden once confided in a friend that Obama struggled with profanity, suggesting that he couldn't even curse properly. Biden, with his characteristic candor, remarked that Obama failed to deliver a "f—- you" with "the right elongation of vowels and the necessary hardness of consonants." Biden humorously attributed this deficiency to the culture of the intellectual elite, referring to it as "how they must curse in the ivory tower."
As President Biden seeks re-election, his chief rival among Republicans is none other than the former President, Donald Trump. Interestingly, Trump's supporters have often expressed resentment toward what they perceive as the elitism prevalent within the Washington political establishment, hinting at a certain resonance with Biden's sentiments.
The aforementioned anecdote may also strike a chord with Democrats, particularly those who hold deep affection for both Biden and Obama. They fondly recall a memorable incident in which then-Vice President Biden, captured on a hot microphone, declared during the signing ceremony for Obama's signature health care law in 2010, "This is a big f—-ing deal."
Foer's book offers an in-depth exploration of Biden's initial two years in office, characterizing this period as one marked by substantial "flailing" before the President began solidifying his legacy through the enactment of key policy initiatives and the implementation of "creative diplomacy." This diplomatic prowess played a pivotal role in garnering global support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion.
Despite his accomplishments, the 80-year-old Biden continues to face questions about his age. The book by Foer notes that Biden tends to have a light morning schedule, with few meetings or public events before 10 a.m. In private, Biden occasionally confided in friends about feeling tired, as revealed in the book.
When asked by a reporter about this aspect, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre initially brushed off the notion, calling it a "ridiculous assumption." She later referred to the book's context during a briefing, suggesting that it actually praised Biden for his contributions in pushing significant legislation through Congress and rallying global support against authoritarianism.
Jean-Pierre acknowledged that books offering various perspectives on administrations were common and that a range of claims could be expected. She emphasized that the White House would not engage in a public debate over such matters.
Foer's book also delves into Vice President Kamala Harris's struggles in defining her role as Biden's second-in-command. Harris's initial request to oversee relations with Scandinavia, ostensibly away from the spotlight, is mentioned in the book. It reports that Harris initially showed enthusiasm for addressing the root causes of immigration, particularly the influx of Central American migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, over time, she seemed to embrace the conventional wisdom that this was a thankless task.
Additionally, the book sheds light on Biden's approach to Harris, where he aimed to accord her more respect than he felt he had received as Obama's vice president. Biden referred to her as "the vice president" rather than "my vice president." However, in the early days of his presidency, he made a jest about Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, occupying the vice president's seat.
Finally, "The Last Politician" provides insight into the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. It describes the moment when Biden was informed by his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had fled, leaving Kabul to fall to the Taliban. Biden's frustrated response was, "Give me a break!"
