As Biden Withdraws, Words of Praise and Caution

To the Editor:

Re “Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Harris” (live updates, nytimes.com, July 21):

Dear President Biden: Thank you for your many years of incredible service to the country. Thank you for realizing there was no viable way forward.

Thank you for the amazing job you have done as president and finally, but not least, for accepting what many of us elders have accepted: that we just can’t do it all anymore.

Barbara Gold
Philadelphia

To the Editor:

President Biden has once again shown himself to be the ultimate patriot by putting country and the need to protect America from the danger of another Trump presidency before his personal desire to run for re-election.

However, it was a mistake for him to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and possibly clear the field of competitors by doing so. The Democrats need an open selection process to ensure that the strongest candidate is selected.

In addition to competence and experience, the nominee must be the candidate who has the strongest chance to achieve victory. And Vice President Harris’s position as nominee, if she were to prevail, would be much so much stronger if it came after such an open process.

Ira Belsky
Franklin Lakes, N.J.

To the Editor:

Kudos to President Biden for putting country before personal ambition by deciding not to run and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. The vice president should be chosen to run because she is highly qualified. Ms. Harris can and will win, and her victory will preserve our democracy.

The Republican calls to have Mr. Biden resign are pure demagoguery. The president is obviously not up to campaigning 24/7, but certainly that does not preclude him from doing his job as president for six more months. He has now shown that if he cannot do the job, he will give it up.

Democrats should now rally in support of Ms. Harris and whomever she picks to be the V.P. nominee.

Robert R. Salman
Marlboro, N.J.

To the Editor:

As Representative James Clyburn, a Kamala Harris supporter, has suggested, there should be a “mini-primary,” not a coronation, to determine who will succeed President Biden as the Democratic nominee.

And given the limited time frame, those participating in that mini-primary should pledge to refrain from a circular firing squad of criticism of the other candidates and stick to presenting the positive points about their own candidacies.

John M. O’Connor
Montclair, N.J.

To the Editor:

Today — Sunday, July 21 — is simultaneously one of the saddest days in American history, one of the most exciting days in American history, but, best of all, one of the most promising days in American history.

Ken Portnoy
Naperville, Ill.

To the Editor:

We love you, Joe. You are brilliant! Thank you for passing the torch.

Susan Rankin
Portland, Ore.