It’s been a few days but President Biden’s marathon news conference still is on my mind. It bothers me because he and his staff seemingly do not understand how debilitating it is for a 79- year-old man to stand up in floodlit room in front of a group of self-important media representatives firing volleys of questions –many of the “gotcha” variety–for nearly two hours.
What were they thinking?
Were they–or was he–trying to show that the president could outmatch President Putin (69) or President Xi (68) for a public speaking endurance prize?
Or that his mental reflexes are just as sharp today as they were when he entered the Senate 49 years ago?
As that interminable press conference dragged on, anyone watching could see him begin to slip, to tire, to grasp for words and ideas as it neared its end.
For example, his harmful off-hand suggestion that the United States might not react strongly to a “minor incursion” into Ukraine by Russian troops came toward the conclusion of that endless afternoon, as did his extraordinary comments concerning the potential illegitimacy of the elections later this year.
Whatever the outcome, it was an embarrassment to the president and the country.
As many in the media reported the following morning, Mr. Biden had to “clean up” his remarks from the previous afternoon.
Most of the president’s closest advisors on matters of communications and public affairs are so much younger than he is. His chief of staff, Ron Klain at 60, is one of the oldest. Klain’s deputy, Jean O’Malley Dillon, is 45. His press secretary, Jen Psaki, is 43 and the White House director of communications, Kate Bedingfield, is 40. Yes, they are bright, capable and dedicated to the man they serve. But, at their ages, they cannot appreciate what it takes to function under extreme pressure when one is almost 80. They need to understand that despite good reports from annual physical check-ups and Biden’s own can-do spirit, his time and duties need to be managed with his age in mind.
The president simply is not up to a no-holds-barred, nearly two-hour press grilling.
Fortunately, there is someone, age 70, who could, if she would, step up and help save the president from himself and his staff. And that is Jill Biden.
No one knows Joe Biden better than she does. And no one has his best interest at heart more than she does. She needs to know, in advance, what the staff has planned for him as well as what he, himself, wants to do each day. She can shine the spotlight of reality on his schedule and help him avoid pitfalls that the younger members of the team may have unwittingly arranged for him. And she can assure–demand–breaks in his schedule for relaxation. If she is willing to be more assertive on matters related to his schedule, he needs to listen to her and follow her advice. It may not be easy for him to do that. If he doesn’t, he will place serious risks on his physical and mental health, on the office of the president and on his long-term reputation as president.
Dr. Jill Biden can begin today by insisting that press conferences be limited to one hour.
Ross Jones is a former vice president and secretary emeritus of The Johns Hopkins University. He joined the University in 1961 as assistant to President Milton S. Eisenhower. A 1953 Johns Hopkins graduate, he later earned a Master’s Degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Ross, What a delight to read your essay and see some honesty and objectivity regarding the diminished President. From the start of the second hour of this “presser”, I kept expecting a big hook or a life line to end that hot mess. I was embarrassed FOR Joe.
Yes, he was trying to show his stamina at 79. Joe Biden has much more than enough time off with a light daily schedule and 25% of his time spent in Delaware.
Ah, Jill Biden. It is my understanding that she is a very strict gatekeeper and has the final word on his daily schedule.
Of course, I have always wondered who on Earth encouraged Joe to run for this highest office? As you say, Jill knows the man better than anyone. She certainly knew he was not capable of meeting the demands of the Presidency.
Thank you-Steve
Mike Allison says
Really? If Mr. Biden can’t stand-up to the White House press core and has to have his wife run interference for him because he’s too old and too frail, how is he ever going to be able to stand-up to strong leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin or China’s President Xi Jinping?
It’s a sad day for our Country.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mike, Exactly the point. He is NOT going to stand up to Putin or Xi. Nice-Steve
David Reel says
On my first and even my second read of Ross Jone’s commentary I thought it was satire. Then I realized it is not.
You are suggesting we redo the job description for the President of the United Sates to account for the increasingly obvious reality that Joe Biden is physically and mentally incapable of doing the job he was “elected” to do. Maybe we should also revise the White House handbook for dealing with national and international crises to mandate they cannot not last more than two hours to make sure Biden is not overtaxed when he stumbles and bumbles through his efforts to address them. Your suggestion that the job expectations for the President of the United States be scaled back ignores the reality that we live in a VUCA world, a world increasingly characterized by intense levels of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Surviving and ultimately thriving in such a world requires strong leadership and stamina; two traits that Biden does not have.
You are further suggesting that Jill Biden, his “enabler in chief” should oversee and manage his schedule so he is not overwhelmed by the demands of his job. I have another suggestion. Give Joe a participation trophy and send he and Jill back to his basement in Delaware. The problem with this option is that it elevates a Vice President to the job who is even more incompetent than he is.
When Richard Nixon and his staff were fighting to survive the aftermath of the cover up of the burglary and wiretapping at the Democrat National Committee headquarters in Washington (aka the Watergate scandal) two questions were raised regularly by almost all Democrats, a significant number of Republicans and virtually everyone in the media. They questions were – “What did they (Nixon and his aides) know and when did they know it?” The very same questions need to be answered by all those who worked diligently to place Biden in the White House. They were the leadership of the Democrat Party, the mainstream media AND Jill Biden, They have some have some explaining to do. I have little doubt if they were honest with the American people they would acknowledge they all knew well in advance of the 2018 Presidential election that Biden was not the right man to serve as the leader of our country. Yet they collaborated then and continue to collaborate now on a coverup. They not only continue to do so, they have doubled down on their efforts. Putting and keeping Biden as President is nothing less than elder abuse at best and gross malfeasance at worst. Sadly those who promoted Biden for President and shield him to this day allowed their all consuming hatred for Donald Trump and their lust for power to place this burden on our country. Shame on them and shame on anyone who defends what we are now experiencing because of their actions. It is well past time to stop making excuses for Biden, stop lowering expectations for him and stop allowing him to lead a remaking America based on a tyranny by the loud. To do otherwise is inexcusable and indefensible. America deserves better.The world deserves better. Much better.
Eric P says
Well said, thank you.
Eric P says
Are you serious or just being polite? This is what being our President requires from time to time. Whoever holds this office is likely the most powerful person on earth and you’re suggesting a 2 hour press conference may be beyond his capabilities? Is it the concentrating for 2 hours? The standing for 2 hours? Being coherent for 2 hours? Having to answer an hours worth of questions, unscripted? C’mon man, he’s supposed to be the President of the Untied States. Should he have had a recess or quiet-time midway?
Carol Voyles says
Yes, our first president to turn 79 in office also has a speech impediment; but considering our 2020 alternative, and the possibility of treading water over 30,000 more lies, I am eternally grateful that President Biden has the stamina and courage to get up each morning.