Why Historian Jon Meacham Is Endorsing Joe Biden

THIS TIME, YOU'RE ENDORSING JOE BIDEN.

WHY IS THAT?

IT IS AN EXISTENTIAL ELECTION.

IT IS CERTAINLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION SINCE 1932 WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT SINCE 1864.

I THINK THAT A FUNDAMENTAL KIND OF DECENCY IS ON THE BALLOT.

I THINK THAT A VALUE AND APPRECIATION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC LOWER CASE D INSTITUTIONS IS ON THE BALLOT, AND THAT I THINK A BIDEN VICTORY IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE A SIGNAL TO THE COUNTRY AND TO THE WORLD THAT IN FACT, DESPITE OUR WORST IMPULSES, DESPITE THESE DARK FORCES THAT HAVE ALWAYS SHAPED US AND ALWAYS WILL, BECAUSE WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.

WE'RE FALLEN AND FRAIL AND FALLIBLE.

THE COUNTRY WAS FRAMED TO MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT TO DO IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT MOSTLY WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO WAS BAD.

FUNDAMENTALLY THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION A CALVINISTIC DOCUMENT.

IT ASSUMES WE'RE SINFUL, IT ASSUMES WE'RE DRIVEN BY APPETITE AND AMBITION.

SO WE TRY TO BALANCE THAT.

THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT HAS KNOCKED THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES OUT OF WHACK.

AND I THINK VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR ALL HIS ILL PERFECTIONS WOULD APPRECIATE RESPECT AND RESTORE THE BEST OF THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES.

SO LET ME ASK BUT THE BETTER ANGELS PART.

FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

YOU TALK ABOUT POLITICIANS WHO SOMETIMES LEAD THOSE POSITIVE FORCES AND SOMETIMES PANELEDER TO THE WORST.

HERE'S A LITTLE CLIP.

SO OFTEN PEOPLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAVE FELT THEY WERE ON A PRECIPICE.

THEY LASH OUT.

HE SAW HAD IT WITH IMMIGRATION, THE SHIFTING ECONOMY.

HE SAW IT IN THE 1930s.

IT IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL POLITICAL EMOTION.

IS IT REALLY, REALLY MUCH WORSE THEN THAN IT IS NOW?

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES AND HOW MUCH MORE EVOLVED WE ARE NOW.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE THE FEELING ON THE STREETS DURING THIS ELECTION?

WELL, YOU KNOW, IN AMERICA YOU CAN BASICALLY COUNT ON 30% TO 40% OF THE COUNTRY BEING ELEMENTAL.

THAT IS, HOLDING ON TO THE FORCES.

IT IS A BIG NUMBER.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WON 46% OF THE VOTE IN 2016.

THE NUMBER I'M WATCHING VERY CLOSELY IS WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS ONCE THE VOTES ARE ALL COUNTED.

THAT WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING.