Recently, former U.S. President Joe Biden’s name has been circulating. You hear it in the media. You hear it echoed through the halls and corridors of the U.S. Congress. Not for good reasons, though. His age and the use of the autopen during his presidency have become hot potato topics. Except in cases of high crimes and misdemeanors, current and past U.S. presidents should be accorded respect.
Let me explain, but first, a quick disclaimer: I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I call things as I see them, and I take no prisoners. Now, let’s get to it.
Americans cherish the peaceful transition of power. It is one of our nation’s founding values, embedded deep in our democracy. We also respect and honor our leaders, past and present. Joe Biden started his political career as a county councilman, culminating in a four-year stint as President of the United States of America. In between, he served as U.S. Senator and as Vice President for eight years. He deserves to relax and enjoy his golden years in peace. Anything to the contrary is uncivilized, petty, and beneath our nation.
One thing that cannot be denied is that he was 79 years old when he took office as president of the United States and 82 at the end of his term. No matter your politics, you should be able to admit that those are not easy years to run a country as vast and complex as the United States.
He joked about forgetting things and got flustered. Sometimes he told the wrong story. It is also true that the former President had many verbal slips during his time in office as president. Like other septuagenarians, he, as president, was prone to mental pauses and slow starts, particularly in highly formal or intense settings. That this happened is not surprising.
The verbal gaffes and mental stumbles got more frequent and prominent as a function of the weight of the White House on an ageing man. More than four decades of aging while in the public eye and under constant media pressure left him more susceptible to verbal slips and forgetfulness. These symptoms are natural ageing processes, not a revelation of dirt, deception, or abuse. At some point in the journey of life, age will happen to everyone. It should not be treated as taboo.
Now, onto the autopen matter. First, I am not against congressional investigations. However, such fact-finding must be purposeful and not serve as a mere political theater. The autopen is nothing new. It is a device that has been used by multiple presidents in the past to make sure an officeholder’s signature is honored on official documents. It has previously been used by presidents like George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Biden, like his predecessors, did not physically sign every document passed under his presidency. Presidents don’t have time to sit around signing papers every hour of every day. The autopen is a mechanical signifier of the president’s intent. Let me play the devil’s advocate for a moment: It is possible that Mr. Biden may not have been aware of some sensitive documents bearing his signature. But how do you prove that, since that would require Biden’s cooperation in the inquiry and to admit that a document or some documents bearing his signature were not approved by him? Mr. Biden is unlikely to admit that, since doing so would validate and exacerbate the purported theory of his detractors that he was aloof for the most part while serving as president.
I accede that serious questions about the executive branch should be asked. That is the function of the legislative branch. It is the job of Congress to check presidential power, call the administration’s bluff on constitutional challenges, and to confirm, remove, and, when needed, impeach the people in charge.
Looking ahead and focusing on why the current president, Mr. Donald Trump, was elected goes beyond political expediency. Launching investigations into a former president risks triggering unintended consequences and could intensify partisan divisions between the two major political parties. Consider a scenario where such an investigation concluded without significant charges or findings. That would further degrade the credibility of Congress in the court of public opinion.
On a personal level, Mr. Biden has endured some painful life experiences. He lost his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, in a car crash on December 18, 1972. Biden’s 13-month-old daughter, Naomi “Amy” Biden, died in the crash as well. The two sons, Beau, age 3, and Hunter, age 2, survived. The accident occurred three weeks after Biden was elected to the U.S. Senate. Biden initially considered resigning from the Senate to be with his sons. He ultimately decided against resignation after receiving entreaties from many people. He was sworn into office on January 3, 1973, at the hospital bed of his two recovering sons.
Let’s face it, America will not unite over autopen jokes or congressional hearings. Neither will she unite over a detailed assessment of a former president’s age-related cognitive slowdowns. Those investigating it will not score political points. The grubby details of signature mechanics and his age as U.S. president do nothing to help unite our country, address our challenges, or promote the American project.
As Americans, we need to rediscover the grace necessary to honor our elders and former political leaders. It is only fitting that Biden live out his days with some sense of privacy and dignity. History should be the judge of Mr. Biden’s legacy. Let the man be.
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