After President Joe Biden announced that he wouldn’t seek a second term, the Democratic incumbent wasted little time in endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris. The Californian, not surprisingly, issued a statement of her own that touted, among other things, Biden’s “remarkable legacy of accomplishment,” his leadership, his “honesty and integrity,” and his “big heart.”

But there was one sentence in Harris’ statement that stood out for me:

With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.

To acknowledge the obvious, Biden faced an incredibly difficult decision. The Delaware Democrat scored an impressive victory four years ago — by most measures, the best performance for a challenger since FDR — and took office facing daunting challenges, here and abroad.

In the months and years that followed, Biden’s steady hand helped guide the nation through dangerous waters, putting his skills and experience to use. The result is a stronger and safer nation, well positioned for the future.

In theory, his re-election should’ve been a foregone conclusion. In practice, it wasn’t nearly that simple, and his odds of electoral success were poor, despite his accomplishments.

It must’ve been tempting for the president, confronting unwelcome evidence and pressure, to put his desire to serve above other considerations, but when push came to shove, Americans were reminded of who Joe Biden is.

The New York Times’ Frank Bruni had a good column on “the bigness of what Biden just did.”

However grudging, Biden’s withdrawal is a remarkable reckoning and a historical anomaly. It runs counter to human nature, or at least to the nature of humans who have known the exhilaration of being on top. Rulers cling to their gilded stations. When they’re threatened, they cling tighter. History is lousy with guests who wouldn’t leave, not once they’d experienced the fluffiness of the pillows and the fawning of the help.

It’s no secret that Biden has long dreamed of the presidency, first seeking the office 36 years ago. Having finally attained the office, and delivering on his promises, it’s not surprising that he was slow to listen to those who urged him to acknowledge unpleasant electoral realities.

But in the American tradition, leaders became heroes, not just through the leadership, but also by choosing to voluntarily relinquish power for the benefit of the nation.

Biden didn’t just do the right thing with his decision to pass the torch, he did the patriotic thing — making a historic sacrifice for the good of the country — creating a case study for future generations to follow.

Take a bow, Mr. President. You’ve earned it.