On Sunday, July 21, 2024 President Joe Biden sent out a statement addressing the nation through X (formally Twitter) that he will not seek reelection. By giving up his presidential power, he is joining a small list of past presidents to do the same.
“I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down,” wrote President Biden towards the end of his letter. However, he reassured the nation he will continue to fulfill his last months as president.
Other presidents to not seek reelection include Lyndon B. Johnson, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman. After the death of the president, the vice president takes over to carry out the rest of their term and this is what Johnson, Coolidge and Truman all did.
The other three had other reasons for leaving before a second term. Polk and Hayes pledged when they initially ran to not seek a second term, as did Buchanan, but because there was push for new leadership within his party.
Along with these names, although rarely ever mentioned, sits George Washington. Washington addressed the nation through his Farewell Address on September 17, 1796. He wanted to help Americans to move on and accept a new president behind him, setting the precedent of presidents serving two terms.
This idea was later solidified in the 22nd Amendment on February 27, 1951. The amendment states “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,” and if a vice president serves as acting president “for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President” they can only run once more.
Now, President Biden is creating his own history with his decision. Although the decision itself was heavily influenced by the Democratic Party, he posted his decision through a letter on social media and later addressed the nation on television. At that time, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) had not yet happened and no one had officially accepted the Democratic nomination; however, being the incumbent, it had been assumed that he would receive it.
President Biden dropped out of the 2024 election just 29 days before the DNC, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. The question then arose, who will the Democratic Party endorse? The party ended up quickly agreeing with President Biden’s decision and at the DNC, on the last night, Harris accepted her Democratic nomination with Tim Walz, current Minnesota governor, as her running mate.
With all of the political and legal logistics, and America watching, this election will be one for the history books.
