CHICAGO — President Biden on Monday bid farewell to the party he faithfully served for more than five decades, taking credit for his accomplishments and laying out the case that Vice President Kamala Harris is the heir to his legacy.
Mr. Biden closed out the first night of the Democratic Convention in Chicago with a bittersweet speech, punctuated with “thank you, Joe” chants from the packed United Center.
He used the opportunity, often in an angry tone, to tell the story of his administration again on his own terms and change the narrative surrounding his exit in the aftermath of his disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump.
In a lengthy speech that largely mirrored remarks Mr. Biden made on the campaign trail, he ticked off a list of his accomplishments, ranging from bringing America back from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic devastation, creating new jobs, lowering the cost of insulin and passing legislation to boost computer chip manufacturing and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
“I’ve been determined to keep America moving forward, not going back. To stand against hate and violence in all its forms, to be a nation where we not only live with but thrive on diversity, demonizing no one, leaving no one behind and becoming a nation that we profess to be,” he said.
“Because of you — and I’m not exaggerating — because of you, we’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever, period. And when I say we, I mean Kamala and me,” he continued.
Mr. Biden then vowed that Ms. Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, would carry forward the progress he made during his four years.
“She’ll be a president our children will look up to. She’ll be respected by world leaders because she already is. She’ll be a president we can all be proud of and she’ll be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future,” he said.
Democrats, who had grown weary of him following the debate, gave him a thunderous standing ovation after he sought to remind why they loved him in the first place.
He also paid tribute to the anti-Israel demonstrators on Chicago’s streets, saying “those protesters outside have a point.”
In the midst of frequent and harsh denunciation of Mr. Trump, he sought to cement his legacy after having succumbed to intense pressure from some of his biggest backers to drop out of the race.
But as his remarks and evening ticked past midnight on the East Coast, people in the audience began to leave.
Mr. Biden was surrounded by family as he delivered his remarks. First lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden both delivered speeches honoring his legacy.
Ashley Biden introduced him and the two embraced onstage before he began, as the president’s eyes teared up.
The first lady ticked off moments in which she said Mr. Biden made her fall in love with him all over again, including when abandoned his plans for a second term and endorsed Ms. Harris.
“I saw him look deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek reelection and endorse Kamala Harris with faith and conviction,” she said.
In a surprise appearance earlier in the evening, Ms. Harris praised her boss. Speaking for roughly two minutes, she thanked Mr. Biden for his service.
“This is going to be a great week and I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible President Joe Biden,” she said. “Thank you for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful for you.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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