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As President Joe Biden prepares to leave office on Monday, his presidency offers a study in contrasts — a blend of legislative achievements and political challenges that highlight both the promise and the pitfalls of leadership in an era of stark polarization. But while the current political climate may cloud assessments of his tenure right now, history is likely to take a more nuanced and favorable view of his accomplishments.
Biden took office during one of the most fraught periods in modern American history. The nation was still grappling with the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and a divisive postelection period that culminated in the storming of the Capitol. At the same time, the rising specter of an emboldened China and increasingly aggressive Russia loomed over the global stage. Yet over four years, his administration secured a series of victories at home and abroad that might have seemed unthinkable in an era defined by congressional gridlock and partisan rancor.
The American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act stand as cornerstones of the Biden presidency. Together, these measures infused the economy with much-needed relief, laid the groundwork for generational investments in infrastructure, breathed new life into domestic manufacturing, and committed billions to combating climate change — the largest such investment in world history. These domestic achievements reflect a vision of government as a force for collective progress, even when the machinery of Washington seems perpetually jammed.
But Biden’s successes extended far beyond our borders. He brought his diplomatic skill and decades of experience in foreign relations to the Oval Office, working to restore American leadership on the world stage and rebuild trust that had been strained during the Trump administration. From rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement to reinvigorating NATO’s resolve in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Biden emphasized collaboration and collective security at a time when the international order faced pressure on seemingly every front. This culminated in what may end up being his most notable accomplishment abroad: negotiating, with a bipartisan assist from the incoming administration, the recently announced ceasefire in Gaza.
And yet, for all these successes, Biden leaves office with favorability ratings that remain stubbornly low. Poll after poll has shown that many Americans are either unaware of his administration’s achievements or unconvinced of their impact. The president himself acknowledged this disconnect last week in an exit interview with USA Today, expressing regret that many of the infrastructure projects funded under his administration had not been implemented quickly enough for voters to feel their effects ahead of the 2024 election. “Historians will talk about (how) great the impact was, but it didn’t (have) any immediate impact on people’s lives,” he said. “I think we would’ve been a hell of a lot better off had we been able to go much harder at getting some of these projects in the ground quicker.”
Biden’s observation is a candid admission of a truth that has bedeviled many presidents: the lag between policy implementation and public perception. For example, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs reshaped the American economy, but they did not erase the hardship of the Great Depression overnight. Similarly, Lyndon B. Johnson’s landmark civil rights and anti-poverty legislation faced fierce backlash in their time but are now celebrated as transformative. In the long run, Biden’s legislative achievements may experience a similar retrospective reappraisal based on their enduring impact rather than their immediate reception.
However, no honest assessment of Biden’s presidency would be complete without grappling with the consequences of his decision to initially seek reelection in 2024. From the outset, polling consistently showed that a majority of voters — including many Democrats — harbored serious doubts about his ability to serve another term. Concerns about his age and vitality dominated headlines, fueling widespread skepticism about whether he was the right standard-bearer for his party in a high-stakes election.
We now know how that story ended, and it’s a sobering one for Democrats. Biden’s decision to run again, despite ominous signals from the electorate, may have played a key role in handing the White House back to his predecessor — a man who will spend the next four years seeking to dismantle much of the legacy that Biden sought to protect. While it is impossible to predict how events might have unfolded had he stepped aside sooner, the decision to seek reelection looms large as a pivotal moment with far-reaching consequences.
This tension between achievement and miscalculation makes Biden’s presidency a complicated chapter in American history. The coming years will test the resilience of his accomplishments. Will the investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and clean energy endure, or will they be unraveled by a new administration? Will the bipartisan coalitions that supported key legislation fracture under renewed partisan pressures, or will they provide a foundation for further progress?
Despite these uncertainties, there is reason to believe that history will ultimately judge Biden’s presidency more favorably than many do today. His legislative accomplishments address issues of long-term importance — economic competitiveness, climate resilience and the restoration of public goods — that transcend the daily churn of partisan politics. If these initiatives bear fruit and improve the lives of Americans, they may come to be seen as a testament to the power of pragmatic governance.
At the same time, Biden’s story serves as a cautionary tale for future leaders. It underscores the importance of not only pursuing bold policy agendas but also of listening to the electorate and reading the political moment with clarity. Balancing ambition with self-awareness is no easy task, but it is essential for leaders who hope to leave a lasting, positive impact on the nation they served.
In the end, the true measure of Biden’s presidency will not be found in the polls of January 2025 but in the lived experiences of Americans in the years to come. For better or worse, that is the legacy he leaves behind — and the challenge that lies ahead for all of us.
Steve Pierce, a contributing writer for the Deseret News, is a Democratic strategist and communications consultant who advises campaigns, causes and brands on matters of message and strategy. He is a senior director at Bully Pulpit International, a communications firm based in Washington, D.C.
