By Don C. Reed
Dear Mr President:
For millions of Americans, you will always be: “Uncle Joe”. You have earned that title; for half a century of active duty, you were always there for us
Shakespeare asked whether it is nobler to “endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles– and by opposing, end them.” There was never any question as to how you would respond.
Whether it was pollution, or prescription drugs—or the price of shrimp—you would study the problem, come up with a possible solution, and then fight to make it real.
Future presidents will study how you got things done; whether that meant re-building bridges and highways, in an infrastructure bill which no previous Administration had been able to pass- but which you made happen.
When pollution’s deadly toxins entered our water supply, and billions were needed to protect the environment, you somehow raised the funding.
To a country in trouble, like Ukraine, you were the most reliable of partners. Others might abandon their commitments, but your word was always good, and lives were saved because of it.
You loved being President, and you were good at it: the best.
But then, having climbed to the very peak of accomplishments, achieving the Presidency- a new crisis arose. To help your country in our hour of greatest need, you had to set aside the chance for another term as President. How many Presidents could have done that? Certainly not your predecessor! Former President Trump lost the election by 7 million votes, but still was not apparently capable of abiding by the Constitution, and the clearly-expressed will of the people.
But you did what was best for the country. Not only did you relinquish another chance at power, but you underlined the process of Presidential succession, enthusiastically endorsing vice-President Harris, so clearly the right person for the job.
You set a noble example in a selfish world.
America thanks you, Uncle Joe.