President Joe Biden, during a West Coast fundraising tour, participated in a shiva to commemorate the passing of Norman Lear, who died this week at the age of 101.
Biden attended the shiva at the Lear residence, according to the White House.
The president and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime friend of Lear’s, also paid tribute to him at a Hollywood-centric fundraiser for the Biden-Harris reelection campaign.
Biden said at the event, “His cast of characters painted a — a fuller picture of America, of our hopes and our hardships, our fears, our resilience, and changed the way we look at ourselves.
During a West Coast fundraising swing, President Joe Biden reflected on Norman Lear’s comedic philosophy, quoting Lear’s belief that to make people laugh and think, one should strive to make them care first. Biden emphasized the nation’s caring nature and mentioned Lear’s contribution to fostering patriotism by sharing an original copy of the Declaration of Independence with schools and museums.
Looking ahead to the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026, Biden expressed confidence that the nation would not turn to Donald Trump. Earlier in the week, the president lauded Lear as a “transformational force in American culture” and acknowledged Lear’s decades of political advocacy, spanning issues such as free speech, women’s rights, the environment, and voting rights.
Norman Lear’s influence extended beyond his television shows; he founded People for the American Way in the early 1980s, countering the rise of the religious right and participating in significant political battles, including opposition to Robert Bork’s Supreme Court nomination in 1987. a West Coast fundraising
President Biden attended private fundraising and campaign events with high-dollar donors during the West Coast visit, including one in Beverly Hills. First Lady Jill Biden also participated in a fundraiser at NeueHouse Hollywood, featuring an introduction by actress Connie Britton and a Q&A session with actress Elizabeth Banks.