Inside Joe Biden’s post-presidency

The Quiet Evolution of Joe Biden’s Post-Presidency Life

For over fifty years, Joe Biden’s life was a whirlwind of public engagements, bustling meetings, and a constant stream of aides and strategists bustling around him. His calendar was a testament to a life lived in the limelight, packed with speeches, consultations, and the occasional familial chaos. Richard Ben Cramer, in his seminal work “What It Takes,” vividly captured the frenetic energy of the Biden household during the lead-up to his 1988 presidential campaign, depicting a scene brimming with typists, advisers, and logistical chaos. Ultimately, Biden had the necessary components to clinch the presidency.

Fast forward to today, and Biden finds himself on the other side of the political mountain, in a phase of life marked by tranquility and a significant reduction in his public footprint.

His circle has shrunk to just a couple of aides and a modest Secret Service detail. Now, instead of grand political rallies, he spends hours in Delaware diligently working on his memoir with a new ghostwriter, all while managing treatments for an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He’s traded the luxuries of private flights for the mundanity of commercial travel—yes, he’s still Amtrak Joe, but now he’s also American Airlines Joe.

“He’s very in the wild,” remarked a source familiar with Biden’s new routine, observing how his public presence has dramatically decreased, a change that many find surprising.

In these quieter times outside of Washington, Biden is often met with warmth from the public, whether it’s friendly handshakes or spontaneous conversations. However, the political landscape remains turbulent. His close advisers find themselves embroiled in closed-door depositions regarding allegations of a “cover-up” concerning Biden’s cognitive decline and the use of an autopen for his signatures. As the political climate shifts, Biden’s presidency looms over the Democratic Party like a millstone, especially with the upcoming 2028 primary looming large.

On Thursday night, Biden will address attendees at the National Bar Association’s Centennial Convention in Chicago, focusing on “the progress we’ve made, and the important work that remains to further the cause of justice in America,” according to a source familiar with his speech.

Biden’s post-presidency trajectory is already notable. His memoir sold for $10 million—a significant amount, yet notably less than the fortunes amassed by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Reports suggest Biden may be facing challenges in raising funds for his presidential library, although this has been contested by his spokesperson as an “unfair” characterization. In June, at a San Diego conference for human resource managers, he acknowledged their contributions to workplace culture, saying, “thanks to you, the people in your workplace feel secure and respected. I think you underestimate what you do.”

However, in the corridors of official Washington, expressions of gratitude for the former president are scarce. Biden continues to cast a long shadow over his party, with his former Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, recently fielding questions about Biden’s cognitive abilities during his tenure. Buttigieg admitted, “I told the truth, which is that he was old,” a statement that echoes the concerns surrounding Biden’s capacity to lead. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, had she pursued a gubernatorial run in California, would have faced tough inquiries regarding her knowledge of Biden’s health and any potential cover-ups.

As Biden prepares to speak in Chicago, his longtime aide Mike Donilon will be providing transcribed testimony to the House Oversight Committee, following former aide Steve Ricchetti’s earlier testimony where he denounced Republican assertions regarding Biden’s mental acuity as “baseless.” The Oversight Committee, undeterred, has continued its investigations, with Chair James Comer comparing Biden’s inner circle to a “cult” for their insistence on his cognitive fitness.

Biden, who has traditionally respected congressional authority, has chosen to maintain a distance from these proceedings, opting instead to receive updates from his advisers. A source familiar with his mindset noted, “He’s really keeping himself at a distance — deliberately and intentionally — because he honors the oversight process.” However, a Republican insider contests this claim, suggesting Biden was briefed on legal strategies prior to Ricchetti’s testimony, implying a more hands-on approach than his team admits.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Biden’s aides believe that the Oversight Committee’s efforts have largely gone unnoticed by the broader public. “It really hasn’t been meaningfully breaking through for a wide array of reasons,” remarked one insider, noting that Biden’s age and health have already been well-documented, diminishing the impact of the committee’s inquiries.

The spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee countered this perspective, asserting that “Americans have witnessed President Biden’s cognitive decline with their own eyes,” and that the committee is diligently working to uncover the truth behind these claims.

Meanwhile, Biden’s allies have expressed discomfort regarding the media attention surrounding his son, Hunter Biden, particularly following his candid and expletive-filled interviews where he suggested that his father’s poor debate performance could be attributed to the medication Ambien. This has raised questions about whether Hunter is acting as his father’s unwelcome spokesperson.

As Biden navigates this phase of his life, he is focusing on his memoir, although he is not collaborating with his longtime writer, Mark Zwonitzer. The Biden Foundation declined to disclose the identity of his new co-writer.

With this streamlined entourage—often just Annie Tomasini, Biden Foundation spokesperson Kelly Scully, and a Secret Service detail—Biden has the opportunity for more genuine, unscripted interactions. Whether posing for photos with fellow travelers or penning encouragement notes to young Scouts, these moments reflect a shift from the chaotic atmosphere of his political heyday.

This transformation was evident during a recent Juneteenth celebration in Galveston, Texas, where Biden lingered for hours, engaging with attendees and church leaders. “Anyone who wanted to talk to him had the opportunity to talk to him,” reported a member of his team, highlighting the accessibility that comes with his reduced profile.

In many ways, this current chapter of Biden’s journey mirrors the bustling scenes of his past—a stark contrast to the smaller, quieter life he now leads. He remains a figure of significance, yet the crowd around him has thinned, indicating a transition toward the twilight of his political career.

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