The Paw Print

by Steven Jiang, Associate Opinions Editor

The Democratic National Convention ceremonies officially kicked off Monday night at the United Center, just a month after president Biden ended his reelection bid. In that time, the party coalesced around vice president Kamala Harris and her chosen running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The opening night was highlighted by key speakers including former Secretary of State and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr, and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Officially branded as “For the People,” the theme of the first night emphasized the party’s appeal to ordinary Americans. It included everything you’d expect at a political convention, including fiery speeches, music performances and crowd cheers that echoed throughout the stadium. 

But the main spectacle of the night was Joe Biden’s final major speech to his party as president of the United States. It was a crossroads in American history as Biden placed his trust in Harris to build off of his storied legacy. 

A Look Back at Biden’s Career

Joe Biden’s political career spanned over five decades. At only 29 years old, he first entered Washington as a senator from Delaware. Throughout his time in Congress, he readily adapted to the broad changes in American politics and within his own party. The Democrats evolved from their segregationist southern influence into progressivism under President Johnson’s social welfare programs, and later shifted to the right after the nationwide conservative trend of the Reagan years. As senator, he served on the Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees. He was a key architect of the 1994 Crime Bill, which was criticized for creating mass incarceration, and originally supported the Iraq War. 

During the Obama administration, vice president Biden was instrumental in negotiating directly with Republican congressmen on the debt ceiling. Notably, Biden brokered an eleventh-hour tax policy deal with Sen. Mitch McConnell to avert the fiscal cliff. He established his reputation as a pragmatic policymaker with an eye for bipartisanship. 

In 2020, he defeated then-president Trump’s re-election bid to become the 46th president of the United States. As president, Biden championed bipartisan laws including the American Rescue Plan stimulus package, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Safer Communities Act for gun violence prevention, according to the White House website. He faced challenges both at home and abroad, presiding over economic inflation, the migrant crisis at the southern border, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

The themes of the night

Prior to Biden’s grand entrance at the climax of the night, a diverse lineup of speakers took to the stage. As the White House incumbents, the Democrats bore the burden of defending the Biden-Harris administration and praising its accomplishments. 

The speakers of the night primarily focused on healthcare reform, abortion rights, and the nation’s economic recovery from the pandemic. Party Chair Jaime Harrison asserted that Biden “strengthened the middle class.” Rep. Lauren Underwood, D – Ill., lauded the transition and “healing” from the Trump administration. “Under the Biden-Harris administration, the number of uninsured Americans hit an all-time low,” she declared. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear used his speech to recognize Hadley Duvall, a pro-choice activist and rape survivor, and touted the administration for fighting abortion bans. Notably, there was surprisingly little mention of the administration’s record on immigration, foreign policy and climate change. 

Beyond celebrating the achievements of the past, most speakers chose to focus on the future by embracing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Many in the lineup had personal connections to Harris throughout her career, such as California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. One after another, they lavished praise upon Harris and detailed her journey from California prosecutor to the vice presidency. In addition, they highlighted the significance of Harris, as a Black and Asian American woman, as a culmination of the civil rights movement. Hillary Clinton expressed confidence that Kamala Harris would finally shatter the “glass ceiling” to become the first female president of the United States.

Still, the party paid homage to Joe Biden. They revered his commitment to the nation and praised his decision to drop out as an act of political courage, humility and honor. 

“In a true act of patriotism, he passed the torch to the next generation,” asserted Convention Chair Minyon Moore.

“Joe Biden’s determination to heal the soul of our nation gave us hope…I have never known a more compassionate man…For your courage in fighting for our democracy, we thank you,” said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons. 

First Lady Jill Biden painted a picture of a caring man who loved his family and his country. She spoke about her husband “digging deep into his soul” when he decided to endorse his vice president. 

Merely two months ago, the party was thrown into disarray following president Biden’s disastrous debate performance. Now, with Biden no longer a candidate, the Democrats shifted to celebrating Biden’s service to the nation. In a display of unity, organizers distributed signs reading “We Love Joe” and “Thank you, Joe!” to convention attendees right before Biden’s entrance.

“Joe Biden put the country first [in stepping down],” remarked Daniel Schack, a volunteer at the convention. “It’s hard to give up power…especially the most powerful job in the world.”

Biden’s triumphant farewell

Joe Biden’s entrance was punctuated by a raucous standing ovation that engulfed the stadium for nearly five minutes. 

Unlike his debate performance in June, Biden appeared energized and passionate. In his speech, he expressed gratitude to the American people for their support before pivoting to attacks on former president Trump. Like many speakers before him, the president boasted about his administration’s record, particularly on bipartisan legislation, and at times exaggerated his achievements. He was constantly interrupted by enthusiastic chants of “Thank you, Joe!” and “We love Joe!”

Notably, he only briefly touched on his decision to drop out, stating, “I love the job, but I love my country more,” before calling upon Democrats to rally behind his chosen successor.

The most poignant moment of Biden’s speech came during his reflection on his years of public service. He quoted from Norah Jones’ song “American Anthem”: 

“Let me know in my heart

When my days are through

America, America,

I gave my best to you.” 

It was an emotional farewell conveyed in just a few simple words, encapsulating his journey from working-class Scranton, Pennsylvania, to the highest office in the world. 

Joe Biden ended his speech with a message of hope and unity for the future of America. Then, in perhaps the highest point of his career, he stood on the stage and took it all in: the bright lights of the stadium, the roaring applause, and the sea of campaign signs bearing his name. He was joined on stage by his wife Jill and his children Hunter and Ashley. It wasn’t a political funeral. It was a triumphant farewell on his terms, the way he wanted to be remembered.