Writing the History of the Biden Presidency, in the Trump Era
Briefly

In the wake of Joe Biden's presidency, a group of history professors convened at Princeton University to conduct a first-cut evaluation of his time in office. While his approval ratings were low, Biden expressed hope that his achievements would grow and be recognized in time. Topics for evaluation included immigration, foreign policy, and political polarization. Contributors acknowledged the significant influence of Donald Trump, suggesting that Biden's presidency has to be understood within the context of the Trump era. The aim was to move beyond simplistic critiques and the expectation of a typical two-term presidency.
Joe Biden left office with abysmal approval ratings and faith that history would redeem him. 'The seeds are planted, and they'll grow...for decades to come.'
The group had submitted essays on topics including immigration, foreign policy, the economy, media, political polarization and L.G.B.T.Q. rights, before gathering to evaluate the Biden presidency.
In some ways, you could say Biden is a figure in the Trump era,' noted Michael Kazin, indicating the lasting impact of his predecessor.
Organizer Julian Zelizer emphasized the need to rise above 'Monday morning quarterbacking' and revising assumptions about presidencies.
Read at www.nytimes.com
[
|
]