Biden's Congressional address harkens FDR and LBJ By John Zogby
President Biden gave a legacy speech this week before Congress.
He channeled both FDR and LBJ by defining a strong role for the federal government in our lives. Roosevelt moved to save the U.S. economy; Johnson's efforts focused on reducing the causes of violence in U.S. cities and to offer services and hope for the poor.
Photo from N.P.S.
Biden's goal is to save U.S. democracy, build and rebuild infrastructure in its broadest terms, expand educational opportunities, and reduce the stress for families who need child care, tax breaks, and opportunities in growing sectors of the economy. He reiterated success made in his first 100 days, but he was clearly looking to position himself as one who will be viewed as one of our great presidents.
He sees himself as a transformational and not a transitional president. His speech was not fiery because he is not fiery. But it was authentic and played to his strengths of empathy and working-class roots.
Photo from White House
Thus far, the country likes him and like individual parts of his policies. It didn't hurt at all that the announcement that the U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 6.4% came just hours before his speech. Biden faces universal opposition among Republicans for his plan, and he also faces a skeptical public when it comes to trusting government. Aided by a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian, he should be able to accomplish quite a bit without one single GOP vote — but he has a daunting challenge there too. Nonetheless, this was a historical moment.
John Zogby (@TheJohnZogby) is the founder of the Zogby Poll and Zogby companies, including John Zogby Strategies, and author of We Are Many We Are One: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in the 21st Century America.
