Students Get a Personal Visit From a Former President
Michael Lemos arrived at his usual study group expecting a regular meeting. Instead, he found himself sitting across from Joe Biden, the former president of the United States. The visit had been planned for several weeks, but it came as a surprise to Lemos and other students in the room.
For Biden, it was his first major visit to the university since 2009. During that earlier trip, he attended his nephew’s law school graduation. This time, he came to speak with students about public service, taking part in civic life, and protecting democracy.
A Conversation Focused on Students
The meeting was arranged with help from Mike Donilon, a fellow at the university’s political center. Donilon has worked with Biden since 1981 and later became one of his senior advisers. His experience gave him a close connection to the former president and a way to invite him to speak with students.
Donilon wanted the visit to focus on the students rather than on a formal speech. The goal was to give them a chance to talk directly with Biden about why public service matters, how people can get involved, and what it takes to defend democratic values.
The group met through a program that brings students together with fellows in small settings. These meetings let students share ideas and ask questions without the pressure of graded work or extra class credit. Groups usually have no more than 20 students. Donilon’s group, called “Democracy 2026,” grew to 25 because so many students wanted to take part.
The discussion fit the center’s larger purpose: bringing people with different political views together for respectful conversation. The program also gives students access to people who have worked in politics and helped shape public life.
Learning From Different Political Views
The center is led by Robert Shrum and Michael Murphy, who have worked as political advisers for the Democratic and Republican parties. Their different backgrounds reflect the center’s effort to make room for more than one political point of view.
Ruby Belt, a student worker and administrative coordinator at the center, said bringing people with experience in Washington to students on the West Coast was valuable. She described the center as the only bipartisan political institute on the West Coast.
For students, the visit offered more than a chance to hear a former president discuss democracy. It also gave them a direct view of how political experience can shape a person’s ideas about public service. They could ask questions and hear answers in a small group, instead of watching from an audience at a large event.
Time Together Beyond Politics
After the conversation, Biden stayed to eat pizza and ice cream with the students. They talked about their lives at the university and other subjects that were not about politics.
Belt said that informal time made the visit especially unusual. She did not expect to have another chance to sit down with a former president and talk about everyday life. The meal gave students a more personal view of Biden than they might have gotten during a formal public event.
Lemos said Biden’s story and manner left a strong impression on him. He felt that Biden’s path showed students that a career in politics is not limited to people from wealthy or privileged families. Lemos said Biden had faced major challenges and that his background encouraged people in the room.
He also described Biden as genuine during the conversation. For Lemos, hearing about the former president’s experiences made politics feel more reachable. His takeaway was that people can pursue public service if they work hard, commit themselves, and speak with voters.
Another Chance for Civic Discussion
The political center is also joining with several university programs to hold an election-night gathering. The event is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will include live analysis and discussion led by university faculty.
Together, the student meeting and the planned gathering reflect the center’s focus on civic participation and open discussion. The visit gave students time to speak with a former president face to face, hear about his path into public life, and continue the conversation over a shared meal.