WASHINGTON (AP) — When Joe Biden walked into the Oval Office for the first time as president a month ago, his pens were ready. Already.
Lining a fine wooden box, they bore the presidential seal and an imprint of his signature, a micro-mission accomplished in advance of his swearing-in.
kAmu@FC J62CD 28@[ A6?D H6C6 ;FDE @?6 >@C6 =:EE=6 5C2>2 :? s@?2=5 %CF>AVD (9:E6 w@FD6] %96 8@=5\A=2E65 D:8?2EFC6 A6?D 96 72G@C65 925 E@ 36 A=2465 @? CFD9 @C56C :? 9:D @A6?:?8 52JD] ~G6C E:>6[ 96 42>6 E@ 72G@C $92CA:6D @G6C E96 8@G6C?>6?E\:DDF65 A6?D]k^Am
kAm~? >2EE6CD 72C >@C6 AC@7@F?5 E92? 2 A6?[ k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^;@6\3:56?Qmq:56?k^2m :D @FE E@ 56>@?DEC2E6 E92E E96 52JD @7 2 D62E\@7\E96\A2?ED AC6D:56?4J 2C6 @G6C]k^Am
kAmw6 H2?ED E@ D9@H E92E E96 :?7=2E:@?2CJ 4J4=6 @7 @FEC286 42? 36 4@?E2:?65] %92E E9:?8D 42? 86E 5@?6 3J E96 3@@<] %92E E96 ?6H 8FJ 42? 6C2D6 E96 =6824J @7 E96 “7@C>6C 8FJ[” 2D q:56? 92D 42==65 %CF>A]k^Am
kAm~? A@=:4J[ DJ>3@=:D> 2?5 DEJ=6[ 7C@> E96 t2CE9’D 4=:>2E6 E@ H92E’D ?@E @? 9:D 56D< W%CF>AVD 3FEE@? E@ DF>>@? 2 s:6E r@<6X[ q:56? 92D 366? AFC8:?8 %CF>A:D> 9@H6G6C 96 42? :? 2? @A6?:?8 DEC6E49 E92E :D H9@==J F?=:<6 E96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4f`_7f63d5dfca2gggg6a_bcdg_b2bebQmEFC>@:= 2?5 EC@F3=6k^2m @7 9:D AC65646DD@CVD 7:CDE >@?E9]k^Am
kAm%96 E6DE 7@C q:56? :D H96E96C 9:D DEJ=:DE:4 492?86D H:== 36 >2E4965 3J A@=:4:6D E92E 56=:G6C 2 >2C<65 :>AC@G6>6?E 7C@> %CF>A[ 2?5 2 >@?E9 :D ?@E =@?8 6?@F89 E@ >62DFC6 E92E] uFCE96C[ E96 =6?8E9 @7 q:56?’D 9@?6J>@@? :D =:<6=J E@ 36 3C:67 :? 9:89=J A@=2C:K65 (2D9:?8E@?[ H:E9 #6AF3=:42?D 2=C625J D2J:?8 96 92D 42G65 E@ E96 =67E H:?8 @7 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE E:>6 E96 ?2E:@? D2H q:56? :? E96 ~G2= ~77:46[ 9@FCD 27E6C 96 H2D DH@C? :?[ 96 D2E 369:?5 E96 #6D@=FE6 s6D< H:E9 2 >2D< @? 9:D 7246]k^Am
kAm%CF>A[ @7 4@FCD6[ 925 6D496H65 >2D<D] }@E @?=J E92E[ 3FE 96 925 >256 E96:C FD6 2 4F=EFC6 H2C E@E6> 2?5 A@=:E:42= 4F586= 6G6? 2D E9@FD2?5D @7 p>6C:42?D H6C6 5J:?8 6249 52J 7C@> 2 G:CFD E92E AC@A6C=J H@C? >2D<D 42? H2C5 @77]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 q:56? H@C6 2 >2D< :? E96 42>A2:8?[ D66:?8 :E @? E96 7246 @7 E96 ?6H AC6D:56?E 2E E96 56D< :? E96 72>65 ~G2= ~77:46 >256 7@C 2 5:776C6?E >6DD286] q:56? H:D965 E@ >2<6 2 D92CA 3C62< H:E9 9:D AC65646DD@C H9:=6 9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 42>6 E@ @H? E96 566A 2?5 :?EC24E23=6 4C:D6D E92E 2H2:E65 9:>]k^Am
kAm%96 DEC2E68J 925 366? :? E96 H@C<D D:?46 367@C6 E96 6=64E:@? 2?5 3682? H:E9 q:56? 2E E96 56D< D:8?:?8 2 7=FCCJ @7 6I64FE:G6 @C56CD] %96 :?E6?E H2D 4=62Ci E@ F?H:?5 E96 962CE @7 %CF>A’D 286?52 @? :>>:8C2E:@?[ E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 >@C6 H9:=6 2=D@ C6;@:?:?8 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 2==:2?46D 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 2DDFC6 9:DE@C:4 2==:6D E92E E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 4@F=5 36 C6=:65 FA@? @?46 282:?]k^Am
kAm“%96 DF3E6IE F?56C 6G6CJ @?6 @7 E96 :>286D H6 2C6 D66:?8 7C@> E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 :D E96 32??6Ci ‘&?56C ?6H >2?286>6?E’[Q D2JD #@36CE v:33D[ H9@ H2D AC6DD D64C6E2CJ 7@C !C6D:56?E q2C24< ~32>2]k^Am
kAmQ(96E96C D9@H:?8 :E @G6CE=J @C DF3E=J[ E96 >6DD286 E96J 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 56=:G6C[ H:E9@FE 6?828:?8 E96 7@C>6C AC6D:56?E[ :D E@ >2<6 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 F?56CDE2?5D E92E E9:?8D H6C6 8@:?8 E@ @A6C2E6 5:776C6?E=J ?@H 2?5 E92E 9@A67F==J E96 C6DF=ED H@F=5 36 5:776C6?E[ E@@]”k^Am
kAmx? 2 H9:E6@FE @7 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;@6\3:56?\6I64FE:G6\@C56CD\5ebb3fdeade5efdeh2h_4aghaha3_hb6Qm6I64FE:G6 24E:@?Dk^2m :? 9:D 7:CDE H66<D[ q:56? C6G6CD65 %CF>A’D 4@FCD6 @? E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 A=2465 E96 ~32>2 962=E9 =2H 2E E96 46?E6C @7 E96 A2?56>:4 C6DA@?D6 H:E9 2? k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^962=E9\42C6\@32>242C6\242\6?C@==>6?E\75b45aehe_746553_gcfdggg66466h5aQm6IE6?565 DA64:2= 6?C@==>6?E A6C:@5k^2m 7@C E96 :?DFC2?46 AC@8C2> E92E %CF>A DH@C6 E@ <:==]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:56?\:C2?\?F4=62C\562=\5ae`736hafhgc5hbag53_6_7fc3eac`_QmxC2? ?F4=62C 562=k^2m E92E q:56?’D AC65646DD@C 232?5@?65 :D 324< @? E96 5:A=@>2E:4 A=2E6] %96 &]$] :D 324< :? E96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^FD\H9@\DFAA@CE\__e65`g`6_`e272dd5c462b_27abeaafQm(@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@?k^2m 2D H6== 2D E96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^FD\C6EFC?\A2C:D\4=:>2E6\H@C=5\=6256CD\66g63g3efccbhc25c`6bb7hcgcb3edgeQm!2C:D 4=:>2E6 244@C5k^2m]k^Am
kAmqFE >6>36CD9:AD 2?5 5:A=@>2E:4 @FEC6249 @?=J 8@ D@ 72C] %96 H@C=5 H2?ED E@ D66 9@H 72C q:56? H:== 24EF2==J 8@ :? >2<:?8 8@@5 @? 4=:>2E6 8@2=D[ H96E96C 96 H:== DE66C >@C6 96=A E@ A@@C6C 4@F?EC:6D :? E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 H96E96C 9:D H@C5D @7 C6?6H65 D@=:52C:EJ H:E9 }p%~ >2J @?=J =2DE F?E:= E96 ?6IE A6?5F=F> DH:?8 @7 &]$] A@=:E:4D]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@?[ q:56? 7246D E96 C62=:EJ E92E @G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD r9:?2 92D >@G65 :? E@ 7:== E96 G@:5 =67E 3J E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D @? EC256[ 2?5 2==:6D 92G6 =62C?65 E@ C6=J =6DD @? E96 &]$] 5FC:?8 E96 >@C6 9@DE:=6 %CF>A 6C2]k^Am
kAm~?6 >@?E9 :?E@ %CF>AVD AC6D:56?4J[ 96 925 2=C625J =@DE 9:D ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ 25G:D6C 2?5 9:D 49@:46 7@C =23@C D64C6E2CJ E@ D42?52=] %96 C6G@=G:?8 5@@C @7 3FC?65\@FE[ 5:D8C2465 @C 5:D72G@C65 2:56D H2D 2=C625J 4C62<:?8 :?E@ >@E:@?]k^Am
kAmu@C46D :? E96 3FC62F4C24J H6C6 =62<:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 C6D:DE:?8 9:D A@=:4:6D] #6G6=2E:@?D H6C6 6>6C8:?8 23@FE 2? uqx :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ 9:D 42>A2:8?’D 4@?E24ED H:E9 #FDD:2? :?E6==:86?46 @77:4:2=D[ 2 AC64FCD@C @7 2 DA64:2= :?BF:CJ E92E H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J >@CA9 :?E@ :>A6249>6?E] yF586D 925 2=C625J 3=@4<65 9:D @C56C E@ DFDA6?5 E96 C67F866 AC@8C2> 2?5 32? G:D:E@CD 7C@> D6G6? |FD=:>\>2;@C:EJ 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
kAmq:56?VD 7:CDE >@?E9 92D 366? 4@>A2C2E:G6=J 5C2>2\7C66[ H:E9 >2?J @7 9:D r23:?6E A:4<D 2AAC@G65 2?5 ?@ 6G:56?E 4@?GF=D:@?D 2>@?8 9:D DE277 @E96C E92? E96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;@6\3:56?\C@?\<=2:?\;6?\AD2<:\_gfcb76`ce7aabg7ahea3`h_c75fega7Qm56A2CEFC6 @7 2 (9:E6 w@FD6 AC6DD @77:46Ck^2m H9@ >256 2 AC@72?6 E9C62E E@ 2 ;@FC?2=:DE]k^Am
kAmp7E6C c_ J62CD :? (2D9:?8E@?[ 6:89E J62CD 2D ~32>2VD G:46 AC6D:56?E 2?5 EH@ 72:=65 AC6D:56?E:2= 42>A2:8?D 367@C6 9:D DF446DD7F= @?6[ q:56? 92D 925 2 =:76E:>6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE E96 >2C< 96 H2?ED E@ >2<6 2D AC6D:56?E 2?5 9@H E@ 86E C@==:?8 @? :E]k^Am
kAm“}@3@5J H9@ @3D6CG65 y@6 q:56? 2D 2 42?5:52E6 D9@F=5 36 DFCAC:D65 3J 2?J @7 E9:D[” D2:5 D6?:@C 25G:D6C p?:E2 sF??] “w6 925 ?@ =62C?:?8 4FCG6 :? E6C>D @7 E96 :DDF6D 3FE 2=D@ :? 9@H E@ 36 AC6D:56?E]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 92G6 366? 492==6?86D ?@?6E96=6DDi E96 5:DEC24E:@? @7 %CF>AVD A@DE\AC6D:56?E:2= :>A6249>6?E EC:2=[ 2 >@C6 ?2CC@H=J 5:G:565 $6?2E6 E92? 9:D AC65646DD@C 72465 2?5 2 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;@6\3:56?\>65:2\9:==2CJ\4=:?E@?\D@4:2=\>65:2\?66C2\E2?56?\`aa_d2bah6_a2h_47_6aehdff6abcf74Qm?@>:?66 E@ =625 E96 ~77:46 @7 |2?286>6?E 2?5 qF586Ek^2m H9@VD 366? 3FDJ 56=6E:?8 J62CD @7 D@4:2= >65:2 A@DED 2DD2:=:?8 #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 D@>6 @? E96 s6>@4C2E:4 =67E]k^Am
kAm|F49 @7 H92E q:56? 92D D6E @FE E@ 5@ 92D 366? E@ >2C< 2 492?86 7C@> %CF>A :? 3@E9 DEJ=6 2?5 DF3DE2?46]k^Am
kAm%96 s6>@4C2E 7C2>65 9:D 7:CDE >@?E9 2D @?6 E@ DE2CE E@ “962= E96 D@F=” @7 E96 ?2E:@?[ C6A2:C E96 AC6D:56?4J 2?5 C6DE@C6 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 2D 2 DJ>3@= @7 DE23:=:EJ 2?5 4C65:3:=:EJ]k^Am
kAmw6 92D 24E65 E@ =@H6C (2D9:?8E@?VD A2CE:D2? C2?4@C[ 5:D6?828:?8 2=>@DE 4@>A=6E6=J 7C@> E96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^ECF>A\:>A6249>6?EQm%CF>A :>A6249>6?E DA64E24=6k^2m E92E 4@?DF>65 E96 42A:E2= 7@C >F49 @7 E96 >@?E9 2?5 ?@E H2E49:?8 :E =:G6 @? %'] *6E 9:D 62C=J 677@CED E@ H@C< H:E9 #6AF3=:42?D @? r~'xs\`h C6=:67 92G6 DE2==65]k^Am
kAmv@?6 2C6 E96 AC652H? EH66ED E92E C2EE=65 (2D9:?8E@? H:E9 :>AC@>AEF A@=:4J 2??@F?46>6?ED 2?5 :?46?5:2CJ C96E@C:4] v@?6 2C6 E96 6IE6?565[ @77\E96\4F77[ 4@>32E:G6 6I492?86D H:E9 E96 “6?6>J @7 E96 A6@A=6” >2:?DEC62> AC6DD]k^Am
kAmv@?6 2C6 C@DJ AC@;64E:@?D 23@FE E96 G:CFD[ H:E9 :==\72E65 AC@>:D6D E92E E96 ?2E:@? :D “C@F?5:?8 E96 4@C?6C” @? E96 A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAmx? 4@?EC2DE H:E9 9:D AC65646DD@C[ q:56? 92D =6G6=65 H:E9 E96 AF3=:4 23@FE E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 E96 C6DF=E:?8 64@?@>:4 56G2DE2E:@?[ 24<?@H=658:?8 E92E E9:?8D H@F=5 86E H@CD6 367@C6 E96J 8@E 36EE6C]k^Am
kAm“*@F 925 E96 7@C>6C 8FJ D2J:?8 E92E[ H6==[ J@F <?@H[ H6’C6 ;FDE 8@:?8 E@ @A6? E9:?8D FA[ 2?5 E92E’D 2== H6 ?665 E@ 5@[” q:56? E@=5 9:D 7:CDE E@H?\92== >66E:?8 2D AC6D:56?E[ E9:D A2DE H66<] “(6 D2:5[ ?@[ J@F’G6 8@E E@ 562= H:E9 E96 5:D62D6 367@C6 J@F 562= H:E9 86EE:?8 E96 64@?@>J 8@:?8]”k^Am
kAmp A2EE6C? 6>6C865i %96 AC6D:56?E 2?5 9:D E62> H@F=5 56=:36C2E6=J D6E 6IA64E2E:@?D =@H — A2CE:4F=2C=J @? G244:?2E:@?D 2?5 D49@@= C6@A6?:?8 — E96? ECJ E@ =2?5 2 A@=:E:42= H:? 3J 362E:?8 E92E E:>6E23=6]k^Am
kAmw@H =@Hn ~? uC:52J :? |:49:82?[ 96 96=5 @FE @?=J E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E E96 4@F?ECJ H:== 36 C6EFC?:?8 E@ ?@C>2= 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C] “v@5 H:==:?8[ E9:D r9C:DE>2D H:== 36 5:776C6?E E92? =2DE 3FE x 42?’E >2<6 E92E 4@>>:E>6?E E@ J@F[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq:56?’D E62> 92D :?DE2==65 2 ?6H 5:D4:A=:?6 H:E9:? E96 H2==D @7 E96 (6DE (:?8] %96 ?6H AC6D:56?E 92D @?=J 96=5 @?6 6IE6?565 BF6DE:@?\2?5\2?DH6C D6DD:@? H:E9 C6A@CE6CD[ 2?5 9:D 6I492?86D :? E96 ~G2= ~77:46 @C 367@C6 3@2C5:?8 |2C:?6 ~?6 92G6 366? 3C:67]k^Am
kAm%96 >6DD286D 7C@> E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 EC24< H:E9 E96 2DD6DD>6?ED q:56? 56=:G6C65 :? 9:D :?2F8FC2= 255C6DDi %96 &]$] :D 36:?8 E6DE65 2?5 E96 2?DH6CD H:== ?@E 36 62DJ]k^Am
kAm%96 52:=J AC6DD 3C:67:?8D 2C6 324<[ E9:D E:>6 H:E9 D:8? =2?8F286] !6ED C@2> E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 =2H? 282:?] u:C6D 4C24<=6 :? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 7:C6A=246] q:56? D2JD 96 368:?D 9:D 52J 3J H@C<:?8 @FE[ >2<:?8 4@7766 2?5 62E:?8 J@8FCE @C #2:D:? qC2?]k^Am
kAmpE 9:D E@H? 92== 6G6?E :? (:D4@?D:?[ q:56? C6A62E65=J E2=<65 23@FE 9@H 96 5@6D?’E H2?E E@ E2=< 23@FE E96 7@C>6C 8FJ]k^Am
kAm“x’> E:C65 @7 E2=<:?8 23@FE s@?2=5 %CF>A[ 5@?’E H2?E E@ E2=< 23@FE 9:> 2?J>@C6[” 96 D2:5] “u@C 7@FC J62CD[ 2== E92E’D 366? :? E96 ?6HD :D %CF>A] %96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD[ x H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 2== E96 ?6HD :D E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6]”k^Am
kAm%92EVD 2 E2== @C56C] %96 6I\AC6D:56?E >2:?E2:?D k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^5@?2=5\ECF>A\42A:E@=\D:686\:>A6249>6?ED\24BF:EE2=D\ba_g_h6hcbbcd5_2h46dfb`c7hb5hc27Qm9:D 9@=5 @? >:==:@?D @7 DFAA@CE6CDk^2m 2?5 9:D =@4< @? >F49 @7 E96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ[ H96E96C 96 6?5D FA CF??:?8 282:? @C ?@E]k^Am
kAmqFE E@ E96 6IE6?E q:56? 42?[ 96 :D 5@:?8 H92E ~32>2 7@C6D2H 5FC:?8 E96 a_a_ 42>A2:8? :7 E96 s6>@4C2E H@?] q:56? 2?5 CF??:?8 >2E6 z2>2=2 w2CC:D H@F=5 >2<6 :E A@DD:3=6 E@ :8?@C6 E96 (2D9:?8E@? 4:C4FD 282:?[ ~32>2 E@=5 2 C2==J[ 2?5 8:G6 p>6C:42?D D@>6 AC65:4E23:=:EJ H96E96C E96J =:<6 q:56?VD 4@FCD6 @C ?@E]k^Am
kAm“*@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE E96> 6G6CJ D:?8=6 52J[” ~32>2 D2:5] “xE ;FDE H@?’E 36 D@ 6I92FDE:?8] *@F’== 36 23=6 E@ 8@ 23@FE J@FC =:G6D]”k^Am