After engaging in private discussions for weeks, Biden appeared before the cameras at the White House on Thursday, accompanied by an equal number of Democratic and Republican lawmakers, to proudly reveal a bipartisan infrastructure agreement worth $1.2 trillion over eight years. This deal has the potential to secure his reputation as a leader who can work across party lines. While Biden and his team reached a limited agreement with centrist senators on rebuilding infrastructure, they also indicated to progressives that they still plan to pursue a separate bill focused on climate change, education, child care, and other economic priorities that may only receive Democratic support. This moment highlighted Biden's confidence in his ability to handle legislative negotiations. However, during a later news conference, Biden unexpectedly stated that he would not sign the compromise bill without the partisan one. He made it clear that he needs both bills to be presented to him for approval. "I am not simply going to sign the bipartisan bill and move on." This statement by Biden caused concern among centrist senators and Republicans, as it implied that he would only sign their bipartisan plan if a larger, more ambitious package was also passed. This unexpected revelation led to confusion and concern among key negotiators, such as Sen Susan Collins, who had not anticipated this linkage between the two bills. The White House spent over 24 hours trying to mitigate the damage caused by Biden's statement, reaching out to senators from both parties. On Friday, the president's spokesperson attempted to distance the administration from his comments in a gentle manner, but it was not sufficient. As lawmakers and aides remained upset and the likelihood of a legislative victory appeared to diminish, Biden acknowledged on Saturday that he had misspoken. While the drama did not seem to jeopardize the deal, Biden confessed that his remarks on Thursday gave the impression that he was threatening to veto the very plan he had just agreed to, which was not his intention. The agreement that Biden celebrated on Thursday initially seemed like a major success for a president who had promised voters he could pass legislation that was both boldly progressive and broadly bipartisan. It took several weeks to put together a bipartisan framework involving Senators Rob Portman and Kyrsten Sinema and eight other centrist colleagues to discuss the potential for a successful bill similar to the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill passed in December. Sinema described the process as focusing on the difficult aspects rather than the easy ones. The possibility of liberal Democrats using reconciliation to bypass the filibuster threshold added tension to the meetings, prompting the senators to invite top advisers to President Biden, including Steve Ricchetti, Brian Deese, and Louisa Terrell. For several days, they moved back and forth within the Capitol building, with Sinema even attending meetings on crutches after breaking her foot running a marathon. They negotiated in private rooms, often ordering pizza, salads, and wine for sustenance. Portman's hideaway became crowded with extra staff, prompting an aide from Sen. Mitt Romney's office to secure a fan for the room. During a late-night session, Ricchetti personally poured wine for each senator at the table. Tensions rose as the senators debated how to fund the framework without increasing taxes, and the White House objected to user fees for drivers. On Wednesday, many centrist senators attended a funeral for former Sen. John Warner of Virginia before returning to the Capitol for final meetings, with thoughts of Biden's history of bipartisan agreements in mind. Sen Mark Warner, who is not related to John Warner but considered him a friend, wondered what John Warner would do in a difficult situation. He believed that many others in the room were also reflecting on this. Eventually, the 10 senators came out with a unified message that they had a plan and would be meeting with the White House the following day. The plan involved working together in tandem. This moment was seen as a validation for President Biden, who had been navigating tough legislative negotiations. By reaching a bipartisan agreement, Biden's team hoped to secure the support of centrist Democratic senators for a larger bill that included various liberal priorities funded by tax increases on corporations and the wealthy. Some Republicans, encouraged by business leaders, tried to block the larger bill by persuading moderate Democrats that the narrower infrastructure bill was sufficient. Lawmakers and Biden saw it as a crucial moment to demonstrate that the government could still function. Failure, according to Sen Jon Tester, would highlight extreme dysfunction. Sen Warner emphasized the importance of the message to both Americans and the global community, particularly after the events of January 6. Progressive lawmakers were concerned that the narrower bill would prevent a larger one from passing. Sen Chuck Schumer addressed these concerns on Thursday morning, reassuring his colleagues about the plan he and Speaker Pelosi had worked out with the president before making the deal public. Schumer emphasized the interconnectedness of the two efforts, stating that Speaker Pelosi also recognizes the importance of passing both together. Biden also echoed this strategy, expressing his commitment to working closely with Pelosi and Schumer to ensure both bills progress through the legislative process simultaneously. Biden emphasized the need for both measures to be addressed simultaneously, admitting that Democrats had anticipated such a statement. However, he surprised them by stating that he would not sign only one of the measures if presented to him, reiterating Schumer's earlier remarks. "It's happening at the same time." Senators left Washington on Thursday afternoon for a two-week recess for Fourth of July, and it wasn't until later in the evening that some negotiators saw Biden's comments, which Republicans viewed as a potential veto threat. Senators and their staff started communicating with each other and the White House. Liberal Democrats dismissed Republican frustration and accused them of seeking an excuse to oppose the deal, despite Democrats' public pursuit of reconciliation. On Saturday, Biden admitted his mistake as lawmakers and aides indicated they would continue working on writing text and gaining support. "The main point is this," he said. "I made a commitment to back the infrastructure plan, and I plan to follow through on that promise with determination. The plan, which both Democrats and Republicans agreed upon last Thursday, is beneficial for the economy, our nation, and our citizens. I support it wholeheartedly and without any doubts."