2021 Year in Review: Presidential Politics

The Biden White House faced quite a first year - NBC's Monica Alba looks back at its success and challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NBC News) - It's been quite a first year for the Biden White House, between massive ups and downs with a global pandemic, successes and challenges on Capitol Hill, Afghanistan, Russia, climate, and more.

Every president's first year in office tests the power of promise, marked with campaign pledges kept, and those still unfulfilled.

"We're going to keep up the fight until we get it done!" said President Joe Biden.

Before Joe Biden was even sworn in, he knew the coronavirus pandemic would largely define the beginning of his term.

"To heal, we must remember," he said.

Honoring the hundreds of thousands of dead on the eve of his inauguration.

"This is America's day. This is democracy's day!" said Biden.

The Biden-Harris administration launching a massive effort to get Americans vaccinated.

"It's time to act. We can reduce suffering in this country." said the President.

Leading to the President's first legislative victory in March, in the form of a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill.

As 100 days in office marked more than 100,000,000 COVID vaccine shots administered.

"So much we have gotten done. Go get vaccinated America," Biden said.

Still, many refused to roll up their sleeves, even as new variants brought spikes and surges.

"It's become a political issue, which is a sad, sad commentary."

The Biden administration's vaccine mandates for federal workers, contractors, and private businesses were challenged in court.

"It's not about just go and get the vaccine. It's about having the choice to get it." said Olivia Gregg.

Rules and enforcement across the country became a tangled web as U.S. COVID deaths topped 800,000, and "normal" never quite returned.

"Do not wait, go and get your booster if it's time for you to do so," urged the President.

Overseas, high-stakes challenges on the world stage. As the U.S. rejoined the Paris Agreement, the International Treaty on climate change.

"The United States is determined to reengage with Europe," said Biden.

While also placing sanctions on Russia ahead of a critical face-to-face summit with Vladimir Putin in Switzerland. Yet it was Afghanistan that would move front and center after the President announced his decision to withdraw all troops from the country by the 20th anniversary of September 11th.

"We'll do it responsibly and safely."

Underestimating how quickly the Taliban would take control, resulting in a chaotic and deadly evacuation.

"The buck stops with me," said the President. "I do not regret my decision."

The President followed up on his pledge to combat global warming at a major U.N. summit in Glasgow.

"We meet with the eyes of history upon us," President Biden told world leaders.

Climate also a key part of the President's domestic agenda, revoking a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and halting new energy leading in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Also keeping his word when appointing a diverse cabinet and repealing the ban on transgender people in the armed forces.

"Transgender personnel, if qualified in every other way, can serve their government in the United States military." said the President.

On Capitol Hill, after months of negotiating and Democratic infighting, a scaled back $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill is signed into law.

"America is moving again, and your life is going to change for the better," promised Biden.

While the second half of the President's economic agenda, a massive social spending and climate plan, remains in limbo.

Along with other major priorities still stalled in Congress, like voting rights, police reform, and creating a pathway to citizenship.

"You ran your campaign of immigration reform and a promise of protection for immigrant families - nothing has changed!"

And making Roe V. Wade the law of the land.

"Abortion needs to be legal!."

With much still unfinished, the President will take the country into a new year of change and challenges ahead of the critical 2022 midterm elections.