New Delhi: Former Vice President of the US Kamala Harris recently picked her ‘Top Three most effective presidents’ in American history, snubbing Joe Biden from the list. Despite serving with Biden from 2021 to 2025, the 61-year-old did not mention his name, raising questions about the duo’s post-administration dynamic.
Harris served closely alongside Biden throughout his single term in office before running as the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election after he endorsed her.
During a fireside chat at the National Urban League conference in Nashville on 1 August, the organisation’s President Marc Morial bombarded her with the task of ranking the top three most effective American presidents in history.
Harris initially hesitated, telling Morial, “Oh Marc, don’t make me do that,” before choosing Franklin D Roosevelt, John F Kennedy and Barack Obama.
First, she highlighted Roosevelt’s three terms in office and his wife’s role in governance.
“It was, of course, his three terms in office, and it was interesting to … and of course the role of his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, and you know he did some good things. In fact, it was he who talked about the expansion of the Supreme Court, and then he got ferocious blowback for that,” she said.
Under the 32nd US president, the social security of the country flourished, Harris said, adding, “I think that he was a very important president. He appreciated that government has in my mind three essential functions, which is public health, public safety and public education.”
For Kennedy, she said he “laid the groundwork”, and then Lyndon B Johnson “followed up on around having the ability.”
Harris’ third pick, Obama, prompted loud cheering from the audience.
“And of course Barack Obama and what he did with the Affordable Care Act, among many things. If we had one issue that has been ailing America for generations, which is a health care system that has failed anyone other than the rich and addressing that in the way that he did and took a lot of heat for it,” she said.
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Biden-Harris fallout
Harris and Biden had a fallout after her presidential campaign failed in 2024. The political fallout centred on intense post-campaign revelations and mutual frustrations over the 2024 election dynamics.
In July 2024, Biden’s inner circle fiercely resisted the mounting pressure to step aside, viewing the push from party elites as a betrayal. When Biden ultimately made way for Harris, the latter was left with only 107 days to build a presidential campaign.
Following her loss to Donald Trump, the relationship imploded, and a mutual blame game erupted between the duo.