Woodrow Wilson after his stroke
Age is a loaded word after it escapes the dictionary. At the upper reaches is sixty years of age old? I would say not but my friends who are on the verge do not welcome this turn of the calendar. I am a generation older so certainly regard the later Baby Boomers as relatively young.
I come to this loaded word because politics has magnetized it. Perhaps I can use the measure without the bias a younger writer inevitably feels. So let me get personal and then go on.
In 1972 I ran the campaign for Kit Bond to become Governor of Missouri. He won and I joined his cabinet. We were both 34. Recalling the campaign the Democrat’s nominee attacked Bond for being too young and after he won called his aides the “kiddie corp.” Kit Bond was very bright and had served as Missouri’s State Auditor prior to this election. That experience and an otherworldly energy offset most age-related disadvantages. At least that is my conclusion, even if a somewhat personal one.
I’m not sure at the Presidential level where the safe zone starts and stops. At the earliest perhaps 40. At the latest perhaps 75. If my intuition is correct, both likely nominees President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump are in the danger zone. And in the case of Biden, since he acts as President each day, 81 is a real danger zone. He cannot avoid the camera. Polls confirm this problem.
I know I am better informed today than I was in my 40s, but not as energetic. And it seems to me that energy is an important measure. While I didn’t work in the White House, I was there enough to know the unrelenting pressure and demands.
By now at least some of you are getting angry because I have personalized my scribbling. But inevitably, since age is relative, you take personal measure of age’s downsides through day-to-day experiences. That is what the public is doing and it is reflected in the polls. Policy positions, while important, do not have the potency of a shrinking Rolodex; I know mine is filled with friends that are no longer at the end of a call.
Politics rarely, if ever, measures up to what is thought to be ideal. And when it comes to Presidential candidates, each candidate in the final vote-off employs dozens of people to make them look better. It seems to me both candidates should pay them less.
In Biden’s case he is now so protected that the protection has become an issue. Should, for example, the recordings of his interview on the possession of classified documents be released to the public?
Moving to the Right (?), Trump is better protected because aside from physical attributes his outspokenness creates a maze of impressions. If asked to assess the way his persona is perceived by the public, I would be at a loss. I would have to jump over a very high ethical bias to arrive at an objective view. Just let me say that he is four years younger than Biden and he too shows wear and tear. In a sense they form a co-dependency; neither could defeat a strong competitor.
Reflecting back on my age and decades of experience in politics and business, I think presidential power is overstated in many ways. Economic measures—inflation, jobs, pay and the like are always at the top of voter concerns. Glib references say this is the Biden economy. In fact this economy is a very complicated mix of private and public decisions and is influenced by way more than domestic politics. We live in an international economy and if that was not true America would be the loser.
Returning to the issue of age and considering the Presidential term bracket from January 2025 to January 2029, how many of us are optimistic that term-length satisfactory service is likely from either?
A friend took the age issue far enough to opine that this race will be Vice-President against Vice-President in the minds of many. If that is the case, then the next card will be played by Trump; I wouldn’t bet against him.
Final thought. The Presidency is not overstated in one quite important way. Symbolism is important and is often influential beyond its weight. Inevitably the person who is chosen as the leader of our country will enjoy international influence and his morality and ethical standards will be of at least some importance (hopefully not too much). But regardless of who wins, his influence will begin to erode shortly after the inauguration. He will be a lame duck.
Hopefully, other influential people will step up in active defense of America and its foundational promises. We need good examples. Fortunately, the recent D-Day celebrations have undoubtedly humbled us while providing extraordinary inspiration. World-wide!
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
Charles Barranco says
Interesting! Agree with many of your points about age. For example, VP v VP. Kamala would not be an ace in the hole. With Tim Scott, she might break even, however, against JD Vance, I believe he would be much stronger and put her at a distinctive disadvantage. My guess, many people would see him as a better president, Of course the downside would be that you would be voting for Trump?
As for either candidate making it to the goal line, there are many people in their 80s who are still physically and mentally strong, present company included. You do raise Legitimate concerns about these two candidates, especially Trump; One can only hope that stress with hasten his just reward.
Thank you for writing the article.
William Dalton says
I continue to believe Al struggles to admit that Joe Biden is by far the better choice available to us as President. Yes, he may be too old, yes he is a Democrat, yes he has been in Washington too long which can be a liability as well as an asset. What Al needs to admit is that our Democracy may not be able to survive four years of a Trump administration. We all know the reasons because we know not only what Trump has done with his life but we know what he says he will do with our Democracy . It seems to me the time has come to quit wishing for better choices and to man up to reality.
Dr Tom Dalton says
Thank you Al for another thoughtful discourse on our political leadership. I think most of us can see exactly what you are referring to and appreciate the approach of voting for the Vice President as they will likely lead us into the future over the next decade. I hope we can all keep our wits about us for the next 5 years and move forward with our great country. To some of your other commenters, I would respectfully look back to their unfounded statements and fears from 2016 when Trump was elected the first time. Our democracy has survived really tough things in the past and my money remains on the people of the USA.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Spoken like a man who would not lose his personal
health care decisions to the government. Ugh.
Vote blue for freedom not theocracy.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Joe Biden and Donald Trump are approximately the same age; and both of them are old. However, Joe Biden is merely showing signs of a man that is getting old, while Donald Trump is showing signs of a man that is mentally ill, lacks character and fitness, is willing to sellout his country, has no respect for our democracy, and is a thirty-four time convicted felon who raped a woman and stole government secrets after inciting a riot/insurrection.
Too bad there are people who want cruel entertainment rather than sound judgment and carefully deliberated policies.
All of that aside….ANYONE that talks about retribution for assumed personal slights is automatically disqualified.. The fool clearly only cares about himself.
Mickey Terrone says
Thoughtful article, Al! I would add that considerably more significant than the issue of Vice President is the issue of the president’s closest advisors, the cabinet and prudent involvement of departmental leaders within the institutional structure of the federal bureaucracy.
Those thoughts should scare any thoughtful American who might reasonably consider the type of crackpot extremists Trump would involve as his “Yes Men”. Half of the slugs he appointed in 2017 were deeply involved in scandals. I’m far more comfortable with the type of people appointed by Joe Biden, not only by their professionalism but in their proactive management performances. Which Biden cabinet members have been immersed in scandals? Which Biden cabinet members were fired or quit, sharply criticizing Biden?
Remember Michael Flynn, Reince Priebus, Anthony Scaramucci, Tom Price, Mick Mulvaney, Scott Pruitt, Elaine Chao, John Kelly, Rex Tillerson and so many others? What kind of American wants a repeat of this presidential freak show? Some of those appointees set records for shortest tenures in American history. Numerous individuals had grotesque criticisms of Trump as they left. Some have testified against Trump in court.
I don’t care how much older Biden is than Trump. Biden is a mature political leader who surrounds himself with solid appointees. This is horrendous reflection, not only of Trump, but of the Republican Party, which has demonstrated a complete inability to check Trump’s extremism and irresponsible behavior. Trump has brought out the worst in the suckups who try to impress him and swallow their professional and personal pride to get close to him. Everything and everyone he touches seems to turn to feces.
Why would any American patriot support this clown show, ringmastered by this orange lunatic who is utterly self-possessed, vengeful and speaks the language of nazis. And you’re worried about Biden being in his mid-80’s at the end of his second term? Trump at any age is a clear and present danger to our country. That is THE issue in this election.
Elizabeth Hott says
Thank you, Mickey Terrone. I agree completely.
E P Newberg says
While some people may criticize this idea as ageist, I think there should be a mandatory retirement of all federal employees, whether elected, appointed, or hired, at the age of 75 or 78. The Maryland Judiciary has a mandatory retirement of 70 and the local Episcopal Diocese has mandatory retirement at 72, so it is certainly not unprecedented. We have a minimum age for many federal positions so why not a maximum? This would give a younger generation of leaders and workers a chance to bring new talent and ideas into government and would also be a hedge against leaders who are declining. I do not believe that the President is showing signs of mental decline (although he is surely showing signs of physical decline) but with either candidate, decline could come on quickly (and perhaps it already has for his opponent). In my experience with elder relatives, age related decline can come quickly and is often hard for the person experiencing it to recognize. This would also be an answer to those who say that there should be term limits on SCOTUS and Congress. Those who have to retire could be kept on in an advisory, emeritus way; but decision making would move on to the new blood. Of course, given the average age of our current law makers, such a law would never pass….