107 Days

by Kamala Harris

When Doug and I arrived at the White House on July 4, I greeted Joe with our usual hug. He felt so frail. One of the staff drew Doug aside. The First Lady wanted to speak with him. He was led to the Blue Room, where Jill Biden was standing alone. She seemed tense, even angry. “What’s going on?” she demanded. “Are you supporting us?” Of course, Doug said. Of course we are supporting you. “Okay. That’s really important. We need to know that.” When I joined him, Doug was wearing a grim expression. Doug runs cool. He’s slow to anger. But I could tell something had gotten to him. Later, he unloaded. “They hide you away for four years, give you impossible, shit jobs, don’t correct the record when those tasks are mischaracterized, never fight back when you’re attacked, never praise your accomplishments, and now, finally, they want you out there on that balcony, standing right beside them. Now, finally, they know you are an asset, and they need you to reassure the American people. “And still, they have to ask if we’re loyal?”