Vice President Joe Biden despatched the next message to the White Home e mail listing.
Over the previous eight years, I’ve been proud to face by President Obama’s facet by way of each step of this journey.
Heading again to Chicago, I can’t assist fascinated with that evening when the 4 of us have been collectively in Grant Park. November 4, 2008.
We’d obtained the decision conceding the race from our buddy and patriot, John McCain. Barack had simply completed addressing the nation for the primary time as President-elect. The park was simply full of lots of of 1000’s of individuals from throughout town and the nation, of all ages and background. After which, after Barack’s speech, our households joined us on stage — two households from totally different components of the nation, from totally different walks of life, however with the identical values, that had grown so shut over the previous a number of months and have stayed so shut over the past eight years.
And I noticed my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, who was 91 years previous on the time, strolling over to us. She actually appreciated Barack. All the time had.
And my mother reached out, grabbed Barack’s hand, and mentioned, “It may be okay, honey, include me.” And holding each of our arms, she walks us as much as the entrance of the stage. Barack and I take a look at one another. Right here we go.
Collectively, we took that first step in our journey that has continued till at this time — a journey to revive our financial system, rebuild the center class, and deal with everybody with dignity.
It was a sense I am going to always remember — standing out on that stage collectively for the primary time for the reason that overwhelming majority of the American individuals positioned their belief in us. I bear in mind how the robust days on the marketing campaign path have been nothing in comparison with the robust days tens of millions of households have been going by way of because the financial system was crashing they usually have been dropping their jobs, their houses, and their financial savings. I bear in mind seeing the hope of their eyes, and being reminded that there isn’t a stop in America.
And though we might go to mattress exhausted each evening, we might get up within the morning impressed by the tens of millions of people that volunteered, organized, voted, and put each ounce of coronary heart and hustle into one thing larger than themselves. It was electrical — one thing that this nation had by no means seen earlier than. At its core, it was actually a marketing campaign about our conviction that bizarre individuals can do extraordinary issues. That is the historical past of the journey of our nation.
Being requested to be a part of this journey was a fantastic honor. Barack and I and our households have fashioned an actual and lasting bond over this unimaginable expertise. Throughout lengthy hours within the Oval Workplace and State of affairs Room, throughout personal lunches and quiet moments, I’ve seen Barack lead this nation from financial disaster to restoration to resurgence. I’ve seen him lead the world not simply by the instance of our energy, however by the ability of our instance.
I’ve seen a president who by no means forgot the core that makes us who we’re as Individuals — robust, resilient, however at all times stuffed with hope and optimism. Simply give individuals a good probability and they’ll do extraordinary issues.
Eight years later, I hope you’ll be a part of me in Chicago because the President speaks about all we have completed on our journey as a rustic over the past eight years and the work that is nonetheless forward.
Joe
Vice President Joe Biden
