President Joe Biden, hosting both Republican and Democratic governors for a black-tie affair at the White House, raised his glass to the toast.
Standing under a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, he asked those in the room to remember who he was. “We are the United States of America. We can do great things if we do it together.”
“encourage!” the crowd replied, as the clatter of glasses rang about the State Dining Room.
Biden hosted a dinner for members of the National Governors Association at the White House for the first time in his administration. It’s usually a tradition, but the dinner was held last year at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Virginia estate, and virtually in 2021 due to COVID-19.
The dinner came as federal leaders seemed as divided as ever as the new Republican majority in the House prepares for a risky debt ceiling showdown.
At the White House on Saturday, however, the message was simultaneous — and not just because the room was tightly packed with governors, spouses, and cabinet members. Biden and the leaders of both unions, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, talked about the need to put aside increasingly fraught political differences to work together to better the nation.
“I think it works when we work together,” Biden said, adding that he would work to be a little more bipartisan and praised the work of governors.
The tables were set with purple velvet tablecloths (wink on bipartisanship), China emblazoned with the presidential seal and large flowers in white and pink.
Cabinet members mingled with the governor in ball gowns, tuxedos, and sparkles. Michigan Govt. Gretchen Whitmer sat next to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and New York Gov. Cathy Hochul, both Democrats, sat next to Vice President Kamala Harris. Not far away were Republican governments. Bill Lee of Tennessee and Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
First Lady Jill Biden held a service project event for the couple earlier Saturday but had to skip Friday’s event because she was not feeling well. He tested negative for COVID-19.
Biden, who doesn’t drink, gave the toast with his left hand, explaining that he was told by his grandfather that’s what you did when you didn’t take wine into the glass. Cox, who also doesn’t drink alcohol, did the same while making a toast, telling the room it was ginger ale.
Cox said, “Republicans and Democrats breaking bread together is symbolic.” “That’s what’s missing.”
“And I do believe that the people of our country, at least the weary majority, want us to do more of this.”
Cox thanked Biden and the first lady before introducing Murphy, who joked that he was definitely holding his glass in his right hand. He said that their party affiliation was less important than their shared surname of “Americans”.
After dinner, guests entered the East Room, where country singer Brad Paisley performed the song “American Saturday Night” and other tunes.