The Torch Has Been Passed

Follow the journey from President Kennedy to Vice President Harris and explore the significance of representation in American leadership

In his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, 43, declared a momentous shift in American leadership, stating, “Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans. 

With the above statement, Kennedy referred to the passing of America’s leadership and responsibility from the previous generation of United States citizens to a new, younger generation.

Kennedy succeeded President Dwight D.  Eisenhower, 70, and narrowly defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon, 48, to win the White House in November 1960.

The Democratic National Convention last week in Chicago, Illinois, was a vibrant and hopeful event, filled with excitement and optimism. Despite the numerous accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration—changing the impact of the COVID global pandemic on Americans, rebuilding our infrastructure, historic student debt relief for middle—and working-class families, and the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, to name a few—voters were ready for a change.

Indeed, an overwhelming majority of voters in the Democratic and Republican parties were not pleased with the November 5, 2024, choices, once again, of two old white men for president, Biden and Donald J. Trump.

For Democrats, as well as countless Republicans, Independents, and undecided voters, the sense of hopelessness and dread, fear,  and acceptance of the possibility of the twice-impeached, 34-time convicted felon returning to office was suddenly replaced with a renewed sense of hope when President Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 and immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him.

By doing so, despite his preference to remain in the race, Biden, 82, in yet another selfless act of public service in a career that has spanned over 50 years as a senator, vice president, and president, put his country first, did what was best for the Democratic Party, and passed the torch to Harris, 59, and a “new generation of Americans.”

Indeed, in his remarks to the Democratic party faithful on the convention’s opening night, the president acknowledged as much: “I gave my best to you. For 50 years, like many of you, I’ve given my heart and soul to our nation. I’ve either been the – too young to be in the Senate because I wasn’t 30 yet and too old to stay as president.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton, 76, whose distinguished public service career includes serving as First Lady, a member of the U.S. Senate, and U.S. Secretary of State, also spoke in Chicago, symbolically passing the torch of public service to a “new generation of Americans.” 

Clinton was the only woman to clinch a major party nomination for president until late last Thursday evening, August 22. She praised President Biden for being a “true patriot” and for his years of public service, then described “a new chapter in America’s story” with Harris running and becoming the 47^th president of the United States.

It’s unlikely that when President Kennedy spoke of a “new generation of Americans” 63 years ago, he envisioned Rep. Shirley P. Chisholm, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, President Barack H. Obama, Secretary Clinton, or Vice President Harris running for the presidency, much less sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as Commander-In-Chief.

However, he could no doubt relate to San Francisco District Attorney Harris when she stood before judges in countless courtrooms declaring five words: “Kamala Harris, for the people.” 

Each of us –  “the people” – must do our part to ensure that Harris stands on the steps of the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025, raises her right hand, places her left on the Bible, and recites the 35-word oath as the next president of the United States and the first woman, and one of Black and Asian descent.

“Kamala Harris, for the people.”

#AmericanLeadership #KamalaHarris #Progress