Thanks Don, I appreciate this reflection. I had forgotten the Kennedy speech using "pass the torch." I hadn't known that LBJ was that close in age to JFK or closer than to Eisenhower. In fact I enjoyed the reminder of that election and the idea that a new generation was coming of age. I am not sure I agree that Biden's non-age problems related to the future. Witness the difference in the way Kamala speaks about the Gaza conflict as an example of someone more in tune with the current zeitgeist of the Democratic progressives. But your piece offers some interesting nuances about how Biden's decision will be viewed in a historical perspective. All I can say is thank God - it was a painful month awaiting this inevitable decision, but in the end Biden was gracious and retained his legacy, one he can be proud of.
For me, and I think for a whole lot of Democrats, Biden’s debate performance wasn’t so much a loss of confidence as it was a validation of our worst fears about his ability to govern for 4 more years. I wouldn’t watch the debate because I couldn’t imagine how it was going to end well for Biden. The 30 seconds I didn’t tune in, I saw exactly what I feared and I swear I saw a tiny bit of compassion in Trump’s eyes for Biden, which I didn’t think was even possible.
The demands of the presidency have always taken a huge and demonstrative toll on even the youngest who have held the office. Just look at Obama in 2008 and then again in 2012. And then in 2016. And at 80, the toll has been much greater…Look at Biden in 2020 and again in 2024. It’s a dramatic and devastating difference.
Biden was absolutely the right man in 2020, and his administration made amazing progress in infrastructure and climate action and social justice. It would have been much better for his legacy if he had handed off the torch to the next generation willingly rather than being humiliated into the decision. 70% of Dems could see this needed to happen even before the debate. I wish he had taken that more seriously.
Thanks Don, I appreciate this reflection. I had forgotten the Kennedy speech using "pass the torch." I hadn't known that LBJ was that close in age to JFK or closer than to Eisenhower. In fact I enjoyed the reminder of that election and the idea that a new generation was coming of age. I am not sure I agree that Biden's non-age problems related to the future. Witness the difference in the way Kamala speaks about the Gaza conflict as an example of someone more in tune with the current zeitgeist of the Democratic progressives. But your piece offers some interesting nuances about how Biden's decision will be viewed in a historical perspective. All I can say is thank God - it was a painful month awaiting this inevitable decision, but in the end Biden was gracious and retained his legacy, one he can be proud of.
Thanks Diane.
For me, and I think for a whole lot of Democrats, Biden’s debate performance wasn’t so much a loss of confidence as it was a validation of our worst fears about his ability to govern for 4 more years. I wouldn’t watch the debate because I couldn’t imagine how it was going to end well for Biden. The 30 seconds I didn’t tune in, I saw exactly what I feared and I swear I saw a tiny bit of compassion in Trump’s eyes for Biden, which I didn’t think was even possible.
The demands of the presidency have always taken a huge and demonstrative toll on even the youngest who have held the office. Just look at Obama in 2008 and then again in 2012. And then in 2016. And at 80, the toll has been much greater…Look at Biden in 2020 and again in 2024. It’s a dramatic and devastating difference.
Biden was absolutely the right man in 2020, and his administration made amazing progress in infrastructure and climate action and social justice. It would have been much better for his legacy if he had handed off the torch to the next generation willingly rather than being humiliated into the decision. 70% of Dems could see this needed to happen even before the debate. I wish he had taken that more seriously.