In a revealing new memoir, "107 Days," Vice President Kamala Harris discloses that her close-knit team had devised a contingency plan, dubbed the "Red File," in case of a sudden and "traumatic" event involving President Joe Biden.
This revelation comes despite the Biden campaign's insistence that he was in the race for re-election until his unexpected withdrawal.
According to Harris, the architect of this succession plan was none other than her brother-in-law, Tony West. He had initiated the "Red File" a year before Biden's pivotal announcement. "With a President in his eighties, he suggested, it would be malpractice on my part to be unprepared if, God forbid, something should happen," Harris quoted West in her book.
West's meticulous planning included a list of the first dozen calls to global and political leaders, a timeline for releasing her initial statement, and the procedures for the transition. As the pressure mounted for Biden to step down, the "Red File" expanded, Harris noted.
In the face of "such a traumatic moment," West advised Harris that it would be "prudent to have a plan for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours, so people don't have to make a lot of decisions in the pressure of a crisis." Despite being the Vice President to a President in his eighties, Harris confessed that she was reluctant to contemplate such a scenario, leaving the matter in West's hands.
Harris revealed that West convened a meeting with four key members of her team during a family weekend, due to her unwillingness to participate in these discussions. "Let's assume he's dropping out tomorrow," West proposed, as reported by Harris.
However, Brian Fallon, Harris' communications chief, dismissed the idea, stating that Biden's withdrawal was "not going to happen," given his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that week.
The news of Biden's withdrawal broke on July 21, 2024, amidst Harris' team's discussions about the upcoming Democratic National Convention. At that time, they were unaware that Harris would be the candidate to formally accept the Democratic nomination at the convention.
West was the first person Harris spoke to after her call with Biden. "If this isn't handled right, he will crap all over his legacy," Harris recalls West warning her, both of them momentarily stunned and in disbelief.
Following Biden's endorsement, Harris expressed her gratitude and pledged, "I will do you proud." In response, Biden encouraged her, saying, "You're gonna do great, kid," according to Harris.
Biden's withdrawal announcement came twenty-two minutes later, followed by his endorsement of Harris as the Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States twenty-seven minutes after that.
Despite Harris' initial reluctance to engage in the "Red File" discussions, this shadow plan enabled her to promptly kick off her 107-day presidential campaign. West, currently the senior Vice President, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary at Uber, became one of Harris' "chosen committee of advisors" as the campaign accelerated. This committee played a crucial role in key decisions, such as selecting Harris' running mate and preparing for debates.
Harris portrays West as a seasoned "political thinker," who has been involved in campaigns since his teenage years. She affectionately refers to him as their "fifty-year-old teenage son," highlighting the close bond they share.
When reached for comment on the book by Fox News Digital, Biden's team declined to comment. The revelations in Harris' memoir underscore the importance of preparedness and strategic planning in the unpredictable world of politics, even when the scenarios considered are uncomfortable or unsettling.
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