Splaine: Joe Biden − Stepping into history

On the night of March 31, 1968, I joined friends squeezed into the TV room at our East-West Hall dormitory to watch President Lyndon Johnson announce plans for bombing in Vietnam.

Already our UNH campus had experienced the impact of the war, not only in our uncertainty about being drafted into service but also stories of horror and seeing body bags of men our ages returned to our shores.

That night, President Johnson knew it was time − he needed to step aside. Anti-war demonstrators lined up in front of the White House. Less than three weeks earlier on March 12th he did poorly in the N.H. First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary.  On March 16th, U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy announced his own candidacy.

Toward the end of his speech came a surprise: "I will not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President."  The uncertainty of what his announcement meant was foreboding to us.

The next time a sitting President made a similar announcement was unexpected by many. But the conditions are very different. President Joe Biden won the N.H. Presidential Primary earlier this year and had the Democratic Presidential nomination in hand.

But President Joe Biden knew it was time, and is doing it his way. In this case, the impact gives new hope to an invigorated electorate.  For many of us who don't want to see America have another four years of a revenge-filled ex-president, we welcome the reboot. The November 5th election is 100 days from this Sunday.  Those days may be American politics at its toughest, but also can be America at its best.  With the Democratic National Convention three weeks away, Kamala Harris will be defining herself and her vision for America to tens of millions who are waiting for a fresh start.

We have the possibility of electing an energetic, exciting, dynamic, humorous, passionate woman who in the past three and a half years has been mentored by one of the best, most knowledgeable and compassionate men to ever hold the job.

Joe Biden's lifelong journey of over 50 years of public service has been filled with great accomplishments and involvement in thousands of important causes that in one way or another has positively affected the lives of all Americans. He spent eight years as Vice President at a crucial time in world history, then four years as President. He has taken on controversial issues with courage, class, and honesty. He has nothing more to prove to himself, or to us.

History will treat him well, and his work isn't done yet. Stopping an always angry and confused ex-president from returning to the White House, as well as preventing the adoption of a "Project 2025" scheme that would devastate our American democracy, our Constitution, and our values are remaining parts of his job. It's clear that President Biden welcomes stopping that man and his intentions (see note below).

"Unity" is an elusive concept in America.

The premise of democracy is that there is indeed disagreement among people, and that dialogue − that talking about those disagreements among us − eventually brings us together toward the shared goals of individual freedom and the right for people to be themselves.

As Joe Biden steps into history, his new role will be as statesman extraordinaire. 

Right now, I look forward to the very real possibility that on Monday, January 20, 2025, we will hear a Presidential inaugural speech that will be filled with messages of hope, vision, and unity, not hate, retribution, and revenge.  About that, I'm excited.  I'm expecting the "Wow" factor. I bet we'll get it.

And we will have both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden to thank.

Today's quote:  "I believe today what I always have:  that there is nothing America can't do − when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America."  − President Joe Biden, announcing he will not run for reelection.

Note:  Type  "Project 2025" into your search bar and you can learn about the scheme a hidden cabal has for us.  You need to know.

Next time: Transgender Discrimination Is Wrong.

Variously since 1969, Jim Splaine has been New Hampshire state senator for six years, representative for 24 years, Police Commission and School Board member, Portsmouth assistant mayor for 12 years and city councilor for 18 years.  He can be reached at jimsplaineportsmouthnh@gmail.com  (This is a new email address.)

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: Joe Biden − Stepping into history