Biden selects Delaware as location for his presidential library; fundraising efforts initiated by his team
Biden Announces Location for Presidential Library in Delaware
Former President Joe Biden has made a decision regarding the location of his presidential library. After a thorough consideration, he has chosen Delaware as the site for his presidential archive.
Biden, who was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and lived there until age 10, has deep ties to Pennsylvania but ultimately settled on Delaware as the location for his library. This decision comes later than most of his recent predecessors, who announced the location of their libraries during or shortly after their second terms.
George H.W. Bush, for instance, announced the location of his presidential library more than a year before he lost his reelection bid. Clinton and George W. Bush also selected the sites for their libraries before finishing their second terms, with Clinton announcing the location weeks into his second term. Obama, on the other hand, selected the site for his presidential center before leaving office.
The Biden library team is still in the early stages of planning, but the initial vision is for it to include an immersive museum detailing Biden's four years in office and to serve as a hub for leadership, service, and civic engagement.
The construction and support for the library's programming will be paid for with private funds donated to the nonprofit organisation established by the former president. The Biden team has already met with officials operating 12 of the 13 presidential libraries managed by the National Archives and Records Administration, as well as Obama library officials to discuss programming and location considerations. They have also begun talks with Delaware leaders to assess potential partnerships.
However, it is uncertain whether corporations and institutional donors will be more hesitant to contribute to the Biden library due to President Donald Trump's criticisms of Biden. This could potentially impact the fundraising efforts for the project, which comes at a time when the Democratic party is fragmented and many big donors have stopped writing checks.
The Joe and Jill Biden Foundation has approved a 13-person governance board to steer the project. The board includes former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, longtime adviser Steve Ricchetti, prolific Democratic fundraiser Rufus Gifford, and other members such as Elizabeth Alexander, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón, Cedric Richmond, David Cohen, Tatiana Brandt Copeland, Jeff Peck, Fred C. Sears II, Marty Walsh, Shalanda Young, and Jack Markell.
The cost of presidential libraries has soared over the decades. The George H.W. Bush library's construction cost was about $43 million, Bill Clinton's cost about $165 million, and George W. Bush's team met its $500 million fundraising goal. The Obama Foundation has set a $1.6 billion fundraising goal for its presidential center. Trump, too, has accepted a free Air Force One replacement from the Qatar government, which he claims will be donated to his future presidential library.
Delaware elected officials are cheering Biden's decision to build his presidential library in the state. This decision not only brings a historical landmark to Delaware but also signifies a significant step in the state's political history.
As the Biden library team moves forward with their plans, they face the challenge of raising funds in a divided political climate. Regardless, the vision for the library remains clear: to serve as a hub for leadership, service, and civic engagement, providing an immersive experience into Biden's four years in office.
