First Lady Pool Reports of November 15, 2023

FLOTUS Pool Report #1 – Atherton Fundraiser

First Lady Jill Biden spoke at a fundraiser for the Biden Victory Fund this afternoon in Atherton, CA at the home of philanthropists Douglas and Lisa Goldman. The event was also hosted by former state Controller Steve Westly and his wife, Anita Yu Westly.

About 90 people attended the fundraiser, which was held in a tent in the Goldman's backyard under overcast skies. The First Lady wore a pink skirt suit and was introduced by Douglas Goldman who called her a "woman of great accomplishment and purpose."

Biden started her remarks, which lasted roughly 12 minutes, by talking about meeting her husband, President Joe Biden, for the first time. "One day I was asked out on a date from out of the blue and that evening, well you have to remember it was the 70's, and if you remember what you were wearing and the guys were wearing bellbottoms, tie-dye, clogs. I go to open the door and I took one look at his perfect suit and his leather loafers and I thought, 'Thank God this is only one date.' Well, one date eventually turned into a marriage proposal."

The First Lady talked about how she has been, "continually inspired by his resilience, his optimism and his determination to cut through partisan politics and make government work."

"He has an unshakeable hope in the future of our country and anyone can tell you what they want to do, but Joe can tell you what he's done."

Biden then listed off her husband's accomplishments, which were each met with a round of applause from the crowd. They included passing the "boldest climate change legislation in American history," appointing Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, championing one of the "strongest economic recoveries" and battling Big Pharma.

"He's brought people from both sides of the aisle together to find common ground, which so many people said was impossible," she said. "And of course, he's restored America's leadership on the world stage."

Biden also touched on the Israel-Hamas war, saying "When Russia invaded Ukraine, Joe knew what to do. When Hamas attacked Israel, Joe knew what to do."

She said she "wouldn't wish the tragic events of this last month on any American president, but I'm so grateful that Joe is our president during these uncertain, unpredictable and tumultuous times."

The First Lady addressed "what's in store if the extreme MAGA Republicans return to power," referencing "late-night Tweet storms" and "chaotic leadership lurching us from crisis to crisis."

She asked attendees to reflect on "what it felt like on the morning after the 2016 election," which was met with groans and noes from the vocal crowd.

"Take yourself back," she said. "We fell short. Remember that feeling? Remember how you woke up and you said to yourself 'Oh my god what just happened?"

Biden closed out her remarks by highlighting some of her hopes for a second term, which included instituting universal Pre-K, stopping gun violence, fighting for a woman's right to choose and defending democracy.

Please contact me if you have any questions.