Biden planning book with his narrative on presidency, election exit

• Biden's own version of those events has hardly registered, beyond his contentious claims that he could have beaten Trump.
• If the book project comes to fruition, it will be a chance for Biden to lay out, in full, his views on what he accomplished and why he handled the 2024 cycle the way he did.
• NBC News first reported that Biden was planning a book. A White House spokesperson confirmed the plans but did not provide additional details.

Between the lines: Biden was remarkably successful at holding his party together and passing consequential legislation during most of his term. He continues to contend that history will look kindly upon his four years in office.

• But he's leaving under a cloud, and handing power back to the man he vanquished in 2020 and condemned as a danger to American democracy.

• A widespread belief has set in among Democrats that by clinging on for too long, Biden helped doom his party — and the country — to a second Trump presidency.
• Biden, his family members, and some of his longtime aides disagree. He told USA Today last week that he still thinks he would have beaten Trump, while conceding he's not certain he could have handled the rigors of the presidency for four more years given his age.