The historic prisoner swap with Russia that freed U.S. 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 U.S. citizens and one U.S. 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 …