The cheers Mr. Biden received at the packed Democratic National Convention were equally strong. Democrats in Chicago cheered all day. But the cheers for the president could be a gesture of appreciation for his reluctant decision to step down, or a tribute to his legendary political career that began when he was first elected to Congress in 1972 at the age of 29.
Tomorrow, Barack Obama is scheduled to address the convention crowd. On Wednesday, Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak. Both are former presidents who ran for reelection and won.
Mr. Biden will not have that opportunity. Instead, he will have to define and defend his legacy as a one-term president in a speech that, absent major national events for the next five months, will likely be his last before a massive American television audience.
Towards the end of his speech, he quoted a verse from the song American Anthem.
“When my life is over, let it be known in your heart, America, America, that I gave you my best,” he said.
The crowd applauded and cheered again.
Eight years ago, Mr. Biden dropped out of the presidential race in favor of Mrs. Clinton, under not-so-subtle pressure from Mr. Obama. Four years ago, he won the nomination, but the pandemic deprived him of the chance to enjoy a packed Democratic National Convention and balloon-dropping speeches.
So it was almost like a moment at the Democratic National Convention when Mr. Biden got the spotlight.
After the speech—after midnight on the East Coast—the president left the stadium and boarded Air Force One for California for a vacation. His time in Chicago was measured in hours, not days. And despite his wishes just months ago, his remaining time as president will be measured in months, not years.
