As Joe Biden bid an emotional farewell in Chicago, dawn was breaking in his home country of Ireland. The inaugural evening of the Democratic convention signified a notable generational shift and saw the onset of aspiring presidential hopefuls as the party set its sights on expanding upon its impressive revival in August.
After a touching and very personal introduction from his wife, Jill, and his daughter Ashley, an emotional Biden took to the stage shortly after ten in the evening. He conducted an extensive and fierce defence of his achievements during his three-year tenure in the Oval Office, whilst subtly hinting at the sunset of his momentous political career. His speech was interrupted on several occasions by the appreciative chants of “Thank You Joe” from the delegates present at the convention.
Biden’s speech was commendable. His voice appeared robust, more than it had during the summer as his election campaign started dwindling. He also confidently pronounced the mantra, “we finally beat big pharma”, which he had previously struggled with in his debate against Donald Trump just two months prior. Despite his aspirations for a second term coming to an end, Biden seemed content. The term “Bittersweet” was used to anticipate his speech, but the recent surge of enthusiasm and optimism in the Democratic campaign seemed to convince Biden that his difficult decisions were justified. If it hurt at all, he hid it masterfully.
As he stated, “I’ve got five months left in my presidency. I’ve got a lot to do. I intend to get it done. It’s been the honour of a lifetime to serve as your president. I love the job. But I love my country more. I love my country more. And we need to preserve our democracy.”
In a moment that could arguably be defined as the beginning of his transition away from public life, he reflected, albeit indirectly, on his historic choice to step back. There was no mistaking the notion that the audience was witness to perhaps the start of his gradual retreat: the starting point of a unique story that took a stuttering boy from a humble Delaware home right to the coveted office in the Oval Room. He expressed sincere gratitude for the privilege to preside over the nation, more so when it seemed his prime chances had faded. He clearly stated that he was driven by a sense of responsibility and was disturbed by the blatant instances of white supremacy he experienced firsthand in Charlottesville in 2017. These experiences gave him the determination to confont Donald Trump.
Amid discussions of hate regaining momentum and America being haunted by its past, he expressed his initial reluctance to run again, especially at a time when he was still grieving the passing of his son Beau, two years prior.
Joe Biden might have been central to the event, but it was several female Democratic speakers whose elocution defined the night. Notable contributions came from the likes of emergent stars Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Texan representative Jasmine Crockett who delivered potent and scathing criticisms of Donald Trump, winning the most amount of laughter for the night with their comparison of the nominees’ career choices.
However, the evening’s most poignant part was when Hadley Duvall, a lady from Kentucky took to the stage, sharing her traumatic experience of conceiving a child through rape at just twelve years old, her own stepfather being the perpetrator. She openly questioned Donald Trump’s support of abortion restrictions. Using his own words against him, she questioned, “He calls it a beautiful thing. What is so beautiful about a child having to carry her parents’ child?”.
Reflecting on Hillary Clinton’s saga, it’s impossible not to sense that a significant aspect of her was seemingly lost following her shocking defeat in an election she thought she was destined to conquer in 2016. The certainty of her victory was sabotaged by a plethora of factors that her team had ignored in the strongholds of Rust Belt states, her lack of public warmth, and America’s unreadiness to elect its first woman president. All these proved insignificant with the advent of Donald Trump’s reign, as he commandeered the White House with an alarming inauguration speech. This was a bitter pill for Hillary, and strangely, it paved the way for her heartfelt farewell to Joe Biden.
Presently, Hillary appeared in her soft-toned attire under the glaring lights, surprisingly unchanged from the woman who eight years ago won the majority of votes and yet was deprived of achieving political mastery. Her public presence gradually faded over the years. Nevertheless, when recovering the stage, Clinton was met with an intense wave of appreciation and gratitude from the delegates. Her speech was arguably more impassioned and compelling than during that traumatic campaign when she struggled to portray a convincing presidential image.
Clinton addressed the breakthrough of shattering glass ceilings whilst Kamala Harris experienced a surprising growth in Democratic zeal and a remarkable leap in the polls. The persisting and unyielding applause subtly acknowledged Hillary’s initial efforts to break the glass ceiling which undoubtedly paved the way for Kamala Harris.
She was the trailblazer. Here, there was no need for pretenses. She told the crowd that her mother, Dorothy, was born in Chicago during a time when women were not permitted to vote – a status she noted, “altered 104 years ago, yesterday”.
Observing her reinvigorated spirit after the election debacle, Clinton advocated for resilience and persistence. She said: “And after the setback, we never turned away from America. Millions were stirred to action; many sought political office. We remained focused on the future. And now, my friends, the future has arrived. I wish that Kamala’s mother and mine could witness this moment. They would encourage us: keep moving forward. And women championing for reproductive healthcare are also urging: keep advancing. People facing healthcare and rental issues are all imploring: don’t stop now.”
The stadium was brimming with emphasises on a singular idea: the belief that the Democrats embody kindness, fairness, positivity, and opportunity. There was an air of unadulterated joy, something they hadn’t relished for ages. Thus it was hardly a surprise that Joe Biden sported a beam on his face at the culmination of events, as he was warmly greeted and embraced by Jill Biden and later Kamala Harris on stage. The crowd showered him with affection and fervently chanted his name. For many years to come, his legacy will be associated with a poignant moment where he quoted a verse from the anthem that probably resonated like an epitaph to those listening at the venue and at home. “America,” said Joe Biden, “I gave you my all.”