President Joe Biden’s record over the past 3 1/2 years makes him one of the most-consequential leaders in our country’s history. 

Space allows only a brief and incomplete list of his accomplishments: creating more than 14 million jobs, preventing default on the national debt, capping some drug costs for seniors, expanded benefits for veterans; expanded affordable health care, creating an infrastructure bill to address our crumbling roads and bridges, lowering families’ everyday expenses, expanding the NATO Alliance, rallying our allies to support Ukraine, increased U.S. manufacturing, preserving access to reproductive care, protecting marriage for everyone, delivering on climate and environmental justice and signing significant gun safety legislation. And, he did this while guiding us out of a deadly pandemic and avoiding a predicted, dire recession.

Now, with humility and grace, he has stepped aside. Instead, he will finish some of the work he started, including a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages.

His predecessor and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump promises to attack every one of these accomplishments. A convicted felon, a man found in a civil case to have committed sexual assault, an admirer of authoritarians like Putin and Orban, an opponent of international organizations and women’s reproductive freedom, he is the antithesis of Joe Biden, who for more than half a century has worked tirelessly and unselfishly in Congress and the White House for all Americans, not just the rich and well-connected.

Thank you, President Biden. In November, we’ll be voting for Democrats up and down the ballot.

Eleanor Cochrane

Hancock