What I see in the Biden address to the nation tonight

President Joe Biden delivers his farewell speech tonight, just days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. We can expect Biden to use these last fleeting moments behind the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk to present what he considers to be his greatest successes. But I’m more interested in seeing which Joe Biden actually shows up.

Will America look to the gracious man who rightfully invited the president-elect to the White House, a tradition Trump broke when he lost to Biden in 2020? Or will we see a man still trying, clumsily and helplessly, to defend himself, as Biden did in his exit interview with Susan Page of USA Today? Biden told the paper he believed he would have beaten Trump in November “based on polling.” Fire-advised doesn’t begin to cover it. To be clear, there is no doubt that Biden is a patriot. No one should ever question his love for the nation or his drive to advance its best interests. But Biden has also historically refused to acknowledge his own limitations. And his decision to pardon Hunter Biden in his final months in office effectively put his son’s interests above the country — even as he faced what must have felt like an impossible choice.

I personally believe that politicians, and yes, even presidents, let their farewell tours drag on far too long. But I will nevertheless watch Biden tonight with a few important things in mind.

In terms of his successes, Biden will likely discuss how the economy is picking up (which it actually is) and successes of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. Yet one of the most important acts of his presidency was to press on NATO must protect Ukraine. Without Biden’s foreign policy chops, Russia may have been able to take over some or all of its smaller neighbors. Biden is also likely to get some credit — though it’s still unclear how much — for the long-delayed Gaza ceasefire. It’s time for Biden to rise above his own personal frustrations and resist the urge to go on the defensive. Biden has long wanted more credit for the economy and less blame for problems along the southern border. At the same time, he still refuses to acknowledge that, due to his age, he should never have considered running for a second term. Biden must not use this address to rehash the past. Now is not the time to fight over his legacy or air old grievances. He should know better.

Instead, Biden should lean into what makes him a great politician. Insights are welcome as long as they are not selfish. I’d much rather hear a classic Biden yarn than a political diatribe, especially right now. We tend to remember the worst times, but Biden should instead remind America of what it has accomplished — and what it can be proud of.

Along these lines, it might also be a good time to highlight some of the work that still needs to be done. Back in 2022Biden called for a new one “national purpose”, with the goal of ending cancer “as we know it.” Why not renew your commitment to that goal? Recent flashes of stinginess aside, this is a man who uses optimism often and well. And that’s probably because, in the end, he really believes in the promise of America. There are better days ahead, although there may be a few bumps (or Trumps) along the way. Let’s see some of that happy warrior as former President Barack Obama talked about years ago.

I have strongly criticized Biden throughout his career. He is neither perfect nor blameless. He leaves office with a complicated legacy and a mixed record – like all politicians. But I hope that most Americans will be able to pause their analysis for 15 minutes and remember that, at the end of the day, this is a man who has served our country well for over 50 years. We owe it to him and ourselves to find time to say thank you.