Joe Biden confirmed the release of his next memoir today, titled Promise Me, America, which will detail his time as president. The book is out November 17, two weeks after the midterms, and will offer the “complete story,” according to the promotional video. Promise me, America: that’s not what his autopen inscribed.
“It’s about the challenges we faced as a nation,” Biden said in the video. “It’s about the decisions I made and why I made them.”
Biden’s book will address his handling of Covid-19, January 6, the retreat from Afghanistan, Ukraine and his work with NATO. It will also detail his decision to run for reelection and subsequent last-minute withdrawal.
What stands out in the video is the editing, which highlights Biden’s cognitive challenges and health issues. The quick, obvious cuts point to his struggle to speak coherently. Dramatic music soundtracks clips of Biden reading and being applauded, to highlight his team’s desire to preserve his legacy.
Cockburn can’t help but feel for the elder statesman, dragging himself trembling to the coalface once more. While the video attempts to show an honorable past leader reflecting on America, it instead comes across as a Hail Mary to redeem Biden’s image.
There is reason to be suspicious of such an agenda, at a time when the 46th president is battling metastatic prostate cancer. Biden’s book follows memoirs from his son Hunter, Beautiful Things, and wife Jill, View from the East Wing. Is Sleepy Joe being pushed to publish by his relatives, in order to keep the Biden family gravy train rolling?
Time and time again, the spotlight seems to do Biden more harm than good. Cockburn will watch the former president’s fall press tour through his fingers.
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