FASANO, ITALY – JUNE 13: U.S. President Joe Biden joins G7 leaders as they gather to watch a … [+] parachute drop at San Domenico Golf Club
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One of the broad topics about which I am tasked to write is leadership. With the turn of events this past weekend, I may never get an opportunity like this again.
“Leaders make history,” said Karl Marx, “but not always under circumstances of their own choosing.” I hasten to offer this thought: change “not aways” to “almost never.” But when a leader stands up to circumstances of enormous proportions and makes a decision that meets these circumstances, it is then that history is written and legacies are carved and judged. These are called leadership moments. Few – very few – leaders can say they had one.
Joseph R. Biden, 46th president of the United States, is one of them. His decision to extricate himself from this year’s presidential campaign – especially with so much of it in the books already, not to mention the near- and long-term future of his party and country, especially with the nomination firmly and formally in hand – bore the gravitas of an epic leadership moment, to say the very least. But it’s one thing to make a decision despite throbbing pressure and fever pitch from both sides within his Democratic party and unsurpassed vitriol and taunting from the Republicans; it’s another thing to make one of such courage, honor, and selflessness. President Biden made such a decision – and it’s one that will not have to wait for history to evaluate it.
Leadership Without Ego
President Biden had come off an absolutely horrible week, what with his pathetic showing in the debate followed by his Covid diagnosis. In one short week, his dreams of culminating a life of service in the way he envisioned, disintegrated before his eyes. But as heavyweight colleagues and donors continued to pile it on, the president made it clear the decision was his, and – day by day – he had not yet reached it. When it finally came, comparisons to Truman in 1952 and LBJ in 1968 turning down their parties’ nominations abounded. There was a major difference, though, as neither of them yet had a nomination they would have to give up. Joe Biden has his nomination, one that it took nearly a half century of selfless dreams and tireless work, soaring triumphs and unfathomable tragedies to earn. The nomination was his, fair and square, and all he wanted to do was continue to build on an already mighty body of accomplishments.
“Ultimately, we are here for others.”
But in the end, the decision to step aside was a typical Joe Biden decision: it had others in mind.
Look what he did in one day with one decision:
He unified the Democratic party like few of us have ever seen, bringing to mind something Will Rogers said a century ago. When asked if he was a member of an organized political party, he replied, “Organized? No, I’m a Democrat.” Today the Dems are enthusiastically and energetically united.
He anointed his successor, creating a new party leader: Kamala Harris, a young vibrant standard bearer. There is no doubt or hesitation.
He created a force field that swept the country and brought in a record $150 million in two days. Astounding.
He reaffirmed the role of transfer of power. Like George Washington, President Biden did this willingly.
By brushing aside all the personal drama, he made us turn our attention to the issues of the day, where it belongs, with only 15 weeks left until election day.
He created, single-handedly, a close race, with at least one poll already showing Harris ahead.
He delivered once again to the nation and the world the formula for how democracies thrive.
And he may very well have shown the way to restoring civility, ethics, integrity, and mutual respect.
It was an extraordinary decision, a leadership moment with a leadership example for the ages, and it will be the focus of case studies for years to come.
Thomas Merton – an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, poet, scholar, and social activist – declared, “Ultimately, we are here for others.” That’s what Joe Biden showed us, and in doing so, carved his own legacy.
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