The historic prisoner swap with Russia that freed US journalist Evan Gershkovich and 15 other Westerners was the fruit of painstaking, secret talks -- and one crucial phone call from President Joe Biden an hour before he dropped his reelection bid.

Biden welcomed the families of the three US citizens and one US resident to the White House Thursday, just as the release was taking place in Ankara.

After placing an emotional phone call to their loved ones from the Oval Office, they appeared with the president in front of journalists.

Asked what he'd told the newly liberated Americans, Biden answered: "I said, 'Welcome almost home.'"

But the smiles hid the pain of waiting during long months of feverish negotiations.

The White House had worked desperately -- and largely out of public view -- to free Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, Radio Liberty reporter Alsu Kurmasheva, and US green card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza, an outspoken Putin critic.

This meant high-level talks with Russia at a time when East-West relations are in open conflict over the Ukraine war.

But it also........

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