Joe Biden, in his role as America’s 46th President, faced an arduous period around mid-July. After a cringeworthy debating performance against Donald Trump on June 27, there was speculation that the 81-year-old Biden might step aside from his presidential campaign. He seemed intent on outplaying Trump for a second time in the upcoming November elections, a goal that seemed more dubious due to the lack of conviction displayed during the debate.
The cord to this wayward kite was cut further with a blow that caught him off-guard – a positive COVID-19 test result on July 17. This unfortunate incident removed him from his campaign activities at a decisive point in his political journey, rendering him isolated in more ways than one.
In his extensive political career, Biden has been left behind in the dust multiple times. However, the documentary ‘Biden’s Decision’ presents a different narrative, questioning whether Biden could mount yet another comeback. This time though, it wasn’t about whether he could. Rather, it was about whether he should.
‘Biden’s Decision’, premiering on August 6, marks the diligence of FRONTLINE’s esteemed political team as it explores Biden’s life and legacy over five decades in U.S. politics. This exceptive narrative draws on fresh interviews with individuals closely acquainted with Biden, individuals who never shied away from his leadership, including his former chief of staff Ron Klain, and ex-press secretary Jen Psaki.
Another major contributor to the documentary was his former campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon. These interviews, coupled with previous FRONTLINE chronicles of his zealous wife, Jill Biden, his sister and one-time campaign manager Valerie Biden Owens, his secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other prominent figures, examined nuances of Biden’s political and personal journey.
The film unravels the challenging moments of Biden’s life – his early fight with stuttering, the untimely death of his first wife and young child, his journey as a U.S. senator, thwarted presidential campaigns, his stint as VP in the Obama administration, his besieged presidency amidst towering national crises, and his legacy of overcoming adversities.
Valerie Biden Owens, who coordinated Biden’s seven senatorial campaigns, sheds light on this recurring theme of resilience that apparently dates back to his childhood. She recreates a familial refrain: ‘Failures are a constant in life, but surrender is unpardonable. Dad would always say, ‘It’s not about how often you fall, it’s about how swiftly you get up again.”
The documentary, however, focuses critically on the grim aftermath of Biden’s debate performance, scrutinizing why he finally decided to step away from the world of political skirmishes. He himself admires the idea to ‘hand over the leadership reins to the younger generation.’
Washington Post’s Olorunnipa, featured in the documentary, paints a stark reality – Biden was not going to reverse the aging process, nor were his skills magically going to re-emerge. The decision to step away and understand his place as a one-term president seemed to resonate with this reality.
In conclusion, ‘Biden’s Decision’ meticulously dissects the highs and lows of Biden’s career, his dubious stances, and mixed legacy, further amplified in the aftermath of his failed debate performance and an unshakeable determination to fight what appears to be a losing battle.
His decision to retreat and pass on the mantle echoes the inevitability of his situation and, at the same time, brings into question the wisdom of earlier resurrections in an intrinsically young and dynamic political landscape.
Yet, Biden clings to an old adage: it’s not about the number of times one stumbles but the agility with which one rights oneself. Even though he often misses the mark, at least he strives to play the part of the trouper.
The full story is available on the documentary ‘Biden’s Decision’. The flaws and frailties of America’s 46th President are laid bare in this fact-based narration, reflecting his waning political cachet and his unceremonious decision to step aside, further illuminating the ambiguities and uncertainties in his political legacy.
Biden’s Crumbling Legacy: A Retreat Unveiled in ‘Biden’s Decision’ appeared first on Real News Now.
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