But the speech was originally supposed to be an opportunity for Mr. Biden to reset his presidency after months of political and economic travails at h
But the speech was originally supposed to be an opportunity for Mr. Biden to reset his presidency after months of political and economic travails at home, and the White House was loath to let the foreign crisis completely overwhelm his domestic agenda.
Hoping to underscore his progress in containing the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding the economy, the White House sent mainly domestic officials to make television appearances previewing the speech and blitzed out fact sheets focused on initiatives on issues like clean energy, aid to veterans, supply chains and mental health programs.
Stymied in his effort to pass a sweeping $1.8 trillion social spending initiative, Mr. Biden planned to urge Congress to at least approve some of its component parts aimed at lowering the cost of child care, elder care and prescription drugs. And he intended to draw attention to his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
In particular, Mr. Biden wanted to reassure Americans feeling the pinch of rising inflation, which has taken a toll on his political standing as well, vowing to bring down prices by driving up production.
“Lower your costs, not your wages,” he said in excerpts released in advance by the White House. “Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America. And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it in America.”
In a sign of the times, the speech took place in a Capitol once again ringed by security fences and National Guard troops, almost 14 months after the building was stormed by a violent mob egged on by President Donald J. Trump in an effort to stop the counting of Electoral College votes sealing Mr. Biden’s victory.
But in a more hopeful indicator, all members of Congress were invited and the chamber was fuller than last year, when the audience was limited to a fraction of its usual size out of concern over Covid-19. While testing was required and every other seat was left vacant to encourage social distancing, masks were optional and only a few lawmakers covered their faces.
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