But Biden is the first president in 28 years to come to office with a substantial résumé of federal government experience, and the first Democrat to take office after a long career in Washington since Lyndon Johnson in 1963. His address on Wednesday fashioned his agenda in terms that reached back to Johnson and beyond. ADVERTISEMENT If other presidents came to office committed to changing Washington, Biden has come to change the focus of government itself. The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Biden has already signed into law led to a steep drop in childhood poverty. A proposed $1.8 trillion package of spending aimed at families would expand government assistance for families with children at virtually every step of their lives, from child care through higher education.