The people who worked for former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. did not want him to talk to me.
I repeatedly asked for an interview with Mr. Biden for months while I was writing a book about the 2024 presidential race. We felt it was essential to speak with Mr. Biden after one of my co-authors had a meeting with President-elect Donald J. Trump. However, according to the former president’s advisors, he was writing a memoir, which would be in opposition to my book.
In late March, however, I called Mr. Biden on his cell phone, and he answered and agreed to speak. In the first few weeks of Mr. Trump’s second administration, he spoke out against his successor. The former president stated, “I don’t see anything he’s done that’s been productive.”
Mr. Biden responded coldly when I asked if he regretted leaving the presidential race: “No, not right now.” I don’t dwell on regrets very often. Then, as he was getting on an Amtrak train, he hung up.
My brief encounter with Mr. Biden caused his senior advisers to become extremely concerned. When I called the previous president personally, one person yelled at me. I received a flurry of texts from people who were trying to figure out how I had Mr. Biden’s number.
My subsequent calls went straight to voice mail, even though Mr. Biden had appeared willing to continue the conversation. “Joe,” was all that was said in his prerecorded greeting.
Verizon Wireless replaced its welcome two days later with the following message: The number you dialed has been disconnected, changed, or is no longer in service.
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