healthcare: increased access to affordable healthcare - jan21 12 million Americans had affordable healthcare insurance via ACA - 2024 number had surged to 21.3 million
economy: GDP growth best out of g7 countries. American rescue plan 2021 - 1.9 trillion economic stimulus package to facilitate pandemic recovery
infrastructure and investment and jobs act 2021 - massive investment in building of roads, bridges, water pipes, 550bn of 1.2trillion law was new spending
chips and science act 2022 - 52bn package designed to boost semiconductor manufacturing by subsiding tech companies
2021-2024 14.8mn jobs added to US economy. no other president in US history presided so much job creation. unemployment remained at below 4% for longest period since 1960s
foreign policy
Ukraine: reacted well to crisis when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 - marshalled impressive international coalition of support - over 200bn of military + economic aid, economic sanctions on Russia that devastated its economy. Apr24, biden rushed through another 300mn of military aid
failures
at start of 2024 - 56% Americans viewed personal finances as being fair to poor - only 44% thought finances were good to excellent
immigration: began dismantling tough immigration policies of Trump era - ended policies of rapid removal of Mexicans back to Mexico and building of border wall. border officials encountered 11 million unauthorised migrants attempting to enter USA between October 2019 2019 and June 2024. every year of Biden presidency, new annual record for illegal border crossings was set.
775 of Americans saw large number of migrants seeking to enter country as either a crisis (45%) or major problem (32%)
80% Americans thought US gov was doing bad job
foreign policy
withdrawal from Afghanistan: exit from Afghanistan in august 2021 marked end of Afghanistan war which had started in 2001. chaotic 2 week evacuation of 120,000 people from single airfield in Kabul echoed US exit from Vietnam in 1973. year after withdrawal, Afghanistan back in control of Taliban - economy collapsed, humanitarian crisis, women rights and freedom of media severely curtailed. argument for leaving was high cost of staying in Afghanistan for indeterminate period - critics argued had moral responsibility to ensure better outcome for Afghans. congressional criticism of withdrawal was bipartisan - republicans naturally scathing, democrats also critical of manner of withdrawal + consequences for Afghanistan
ukraine: Apr24, Biden rushed through another 300mn of military aid but while Americans initially supportive - enthusiasm waned due to fear of another prolonged involvement in expensive foreign war. feb24 Gallup poll - over 61% Americans wanted limits on financial aid that Ukraine receives from Washington. 70% wanted Biden administration to push Ukraine to negotiate peace ASAP. Biden administration rejected negotiation.
achievements didn’t know about - surprised
economic growth - outstripped G7 rivals
record job creation
low levels of unemployment
improved access to healthcare
why didn’t get credited for successes
Age - mental acuity loomed over presidency, lots of people questioned his cognitive ability. only 29% of Americans perceived Biden as mentally sharp.
less press conferences since Reagan - disengagement with people of America
cognitive decline, lost balance and fell over multiple occasions - not good public display and prevented him from standing for re-election, also what his presidency is mostly remembered for
high inflation environment - negatively affected large proportion of population
biggest failure was perceived crisis with immigration policy
Knowt
Note
Studied by 4 people
