President Joe Biden made his first major raid outside the White House on Friday to visit wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital. Biden thanked hospital officials for looking after Beau “with great grace and dignity” in his last days. (January 29)
Video transcription
JOE BIDEN: Good to see you. How are you, man?
ANDREW BARR: Mr. President, welcome.
JOE BIDEN: It’s good to see you. I spent a lot of time here.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir. Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: How is your husband?
RANDY SWANSON: Sir, how are you? Commander Swanson. It is very nice to meet you.
ANDREW BARR: Mr. President, welcome to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I’m Colonel Andrew Barr, the director of the hospital. It is my special honor and privilege to welcome you back to the President’s Hospital, the flagship of military medicine. So–
JOE BIDEN: Well, you were, as Megan would tell you, done a lot for my family.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: My son Beau, after a year in Iraq, came back with a stage 4 glioblastoma. You took care of him in his last days –
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: – with great grace and dignity. And in old Walter Reed, I spent six months with some cranial aneurysms and an atrial embolism. Great fun.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: The documents are good. The nurses are better.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: Male and female.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: You know what I mean?
ANDREW BARR: Absolutely.
JOE BIDEN: Anyway, you saved my life here.
ANDREW BARR: I appreciate it. Sir, this is Randy Swanson, Commander – in – Chief. He is our senior designated leader.
JOE BIDEN: I know I know. I will never forget when my son Beau became a major. I said: Beau, you’re an officer in the field. He said: Dad, I have no illusions. I know nothing.
[LAUGHTER]
RANDY SWANSON: Sir, it is an absolute honor to have you here.
JOE BIDEN: It’s an honor to be back.
RANDY SWANSON: We look forward to showcasing our team and our mission here.
JOE BIDEN: Well, I’m looking forward to seeing it. As vice president, I would have come here for eight years. My whole family would spend the whole day here every Christmas day.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: And to see everyone, and the good news is that there are not many people here–
RANDY SWANSON: Yes sir.
ANDREW BARR: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: – today. There were many at that time.
RANDY SWANSON: Yes sir.
JOE BIDEN: Well, you’re doing great work. You do it really, really. I want to see you again.
ANDREW BARR: Thank you sir.
JOE BIDEN: Thank you.
– All right, sir.
– What is it like to be back as Commander-in-Chief?
– Where are we going?