The Speech Biden Never Wanted to Give

Peter Baker: “When the crowd members in the United Center first chanted, ‘Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe!’ on Monday night, President Biden looked down, fought back tears and soaked in the admiration.”

“But he knew. He might not have wanted to admit it. But he knew. They were thanking him, yes, for what he accomplished during a lifetime in public service. But they were also thanking him, let’s be honest, for not running again.”

“It is hard to think of a more bittersweet moment for a president who spent more than a half-century on the stage only now to be involuntarily shown the exit. The warm bath of affection in Chicago, real as it may have been, could go just so far to salve the wounds of the past few weeks.”