Biden to Abortion-Rights Groups: 'I'm Jill's Husband and Kamala's Running Mate' and 'I Know I'm 198 Years Old' (June 23, 2023)

President Joe Biden opened his remarks to abortion-rights groups at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel with a line about the women in the room. “Jill said you women should take off your high heels or you should just lie down,” he said, to laughter. “My lord, talk about commitment, standing all this time.” [1]

Then he introduced himself. “My name is Joe Biden. I’m Jill’s husband and Kamala’s running mate,” Biden said, to laughter and applause. “You all think I’m kidding.” [1]

The groups were there to endorse the Biden-Harris ticket. “And I want to thank all of you — EMILYs List, NARAL, Planned Parenthood — for your endorsement. It’s a big deal,” Biden said [1].

The video above shows Biden’s June 23, 2023, remarks. Quotes are from the official White House transcripts [1][2].

”I Know I’m 198 Years Old”

Biden joked about his age while describing a new executive order on contraception. “I never ever thought I’d be signing an executive order protecting the right to contraception,” he said. “I know I’m 198 years old — (laughter) — but all kidding aside, think about that.” [1]

He also quoted his mother. “She said, ‘Joey, never bow, never bend, never yield. Just get up.’ Oh, you think I’m kidding? You didn’t know my mom,” Biden said [1].

”Beat the Hell Out of Them”

Biden celebrated the 2022 midterms. “In Kansas, in Michigan, in Kentucky, in the polls in November, Americans voted to protect the woman’s right to choose. In fact, you all showed up and beat the hell out of them,” he said [1].

He spoke to the Supreme Court directly. Quoting the Dobbs ruling that “Women are not without electoral or political power,” Biden said: “You ain’t seen nothing yet, Court.” [1]

He went after Republicans by name. “Speaker McCarthy said, quote, ‘Our work is far from done.’ End of quote. Senator Lindsey Graham wants to —” Biden began, as the audience booed [1]. “If somehow Congress were to pass a national ban, I will veto it,” he said [1].

Asked by Biden whether their colleagues were with them, the crowd said yes. “Well, I tell you what: They better damn well be,” Biden said [1].

Biden also took aim at Justice Clarence Thomas. “Judge Thomas said as much in his concurring opinion in Dobbs,” Biden said, before quoting it, and then: “These guys are serious, man.” [1]

Talking up child care spending, he stopped himself: “But there’s so much more to do. And we’re fighting over abortion?” [1]

“Four More Years”

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke before him. “Oh, it’s always so good for us to all be together. What a powerful, powerful group of true patriots — of true patriots — (applause) — of true patriots,” she began [2].

“We are fighting on behalf of foundational principles — one of the most important principles upon which our nation was founded: the importance of freedom,” Harris said. Then she announced the endorsement: “And for all of those reasons, today, President Biden and I are honored to accept the endorsement of these three organizations — (applause) — for four more years,” she said [2].

The crowd chanted, “Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!” Harris answered: “Right? Exactly. So, to get there, let’s talk about the work.” The transcript notes that she laughed [2].

”Smarter Than the Rest”

Biden boasted about diversity in his administration. “My Cabinet is the first majority-female Cabinet in history,” he said. “We’ve appointed more Black women to the federal Circuit Courts of Appeal — (applause) — than — than every other president in American history combined.” [1]

Biden praised the newest justice. “And, of course, I was proud to keep my promise to appoint Justice Jackson — (applause) — the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. And, by the way, she’s smarter than the rest,” he said [1].

By the Numbers

3: groups that endorsed Biden and Harris that day [1][2].
198: the age Biden joked he was [1].
2: executive orders Biden said he signed after Dobbs [1].
226: electoral votes Harris won as the nominee in 2024, to Trump’s 312 [4].

What Happened Next

The ticket fell apart. On July 21, 2024, Biden wrote that “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down” [5]. Harris, the “running mate” he joked about, lost to Donald Trump, 312 electoral votes to 226 [4].

Trump revoked the orders. On Jan. 24, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14182, “Enforcing the Hyde Amendment.” It revoked “Executive Order 14076 of July 8, 2022; and (b) Executive Order 14079 of August 3, 2022,” the two orders Biden issued after Dobbs [3].

“It is the policy of the United States, consistent with the Hyde Amendment, to end the forced use of Federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion,” the order says [3].

The White House said one of the revoked orders “imposed a whole-of-government effort to promote and fund abortion and to politicize enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act” [6].

For a similar line two weeks earlier, see HYGO News’ page on Rocky Mount.