NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.  

Before we get to the news, I have a few thoughts on D-Day.

The sacrifices of 80 years ago at Normandy — but also at Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Crete and a thousand other places across the Earth — gave birth to the greatest peace and economic expansion of world history.  

The men we honored today at Normandy represent the greatest generation, and it is now collectively our responsibility to remember and fear the dangers that required their sacrifice.  

Their humility embodies everything about men who put country above self. 

Watching today, we were reminded that the heroes of D-Day returned to the soil where their fellow soldiers died not to receive honors but to honor the men buried above Omaha Beach. 

Most of us know D-Day because of “Saving Private Ryan,” where in the opening scene Ryan asks his wife if he’s lived a good life and if he earned the sacrifices of those men who had come to rescue him.  

In a sense, we should all ask ourselves that question today — and every day — do we honor the sacrifices of a generation that gave so much? Would they be proud of the country they died for and we now shepherd? Are we fighting for the ideas of democracy they stormed the beaches to protect? 

Was Today Enough?

President Joe Biden succeeded in making the case that 80 years later, the same dark forces that swept the world in the late 1930s are at work again:  

• Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Russia threatens to plunge Europe, and thus America through NATO, into another ground war. 
• China’s rise and promise to reunite Taiwan by force plus take over Southeast Asia presents an existential threat to America’s economy and primacy in the world. 
• An Iranian nuclear weapon would give the ultimate power to religious fanatics who routinely chant “death to America.” 

Ground truth: Let’s dispense with the absurd notion that the world is safer and more stable now than it was three years ago when Mr. Biden came to office. 

• Be fair: The administration can argue it’s not their fault, but objectively, the world is a far, far more dangerous place. 
• If you want more on the dangers, listen to people far better read and credential than me: former Supreme Allied Commanders Philip Breedlove and Wesley Clark, who I spoke with this morning on “Morning in America.” 

Look forward: In his order of battle to D-Day troops, Dwight D. Eisenhower told them, “The eyes of the world are upon you.”

• First lady Jill Biden could have said the same thing to her husband this morning.
  • Politico’s Playbook says Biden wanted his “Reagan at Pointe du Hoc” moment — here is Reagan’s speech if you need a refresher.
  • Today offered Mr. Biden that Reagan moment — let’s see how he did.

Was Biden’s performance enough to:

• Establish without question that he can handle the awesome responsibilities of commander-in-chief and leader of the free world? 
• Put fear in our enemies that we could summon another greatest generation?
• Convince America that we must not succumb to the same dangerous ideology inside our own borders that we did during the 1930s?
• Inspire America of our exceptionalism and convince a new generation the defense of democracy is worth dying for?
• Reassure our allies that America would defend freedom around the world? 
• Put to rest nagging questions, including those raised in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal article?
• Define Biden as the singular figure to lead America through the stormy waters he just warned of?
  • Verdict: That’s up to the voters. 

Reagan playbook: The Pointe du Hoc speech set up Reagan’s 1984 landslide victory and the “Morning in America” campaign. 

• More from Politico: “Biden aides are open about their desire for a rerun and inviting comparisons to ‘The Gipper.’”
• Expectations game: Wait … what? The Biden White House invites comparisons to the greatest communicator since Churchill?  What does this mean for the expectations game predebate? 

Watch tonight: We’ll talk to Philippe Reines about why the White House set expectations high for today and whether Biden met them. 

Look FAR Forward: Biden’s next big moment is the debate June 27. How does today’s performance, including a bizarre moment where Jill Biden helped usher him off stage, play in? 

Fact check: In Biden’s ABC sit-down today, he said he has known Putin for over 40 years, but Putin would have been in the KGB then. 

“Reagan: Portrait of a Presidency”

Set your DVRs for Saturday at 9 p.m. ET to watch NewsNation’s documentary, “Reagan: Portrait of a Presidency,” and tune in afterward for the post-show with me and George Will.

Tune into “On Balance with Leland Vittert” weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.