Is Age Just a Number? No.
While some may wish to believe that age is just a number, in such a diverse world, reality must be faced. President Joe Biden attempted to outrun his biological clock, but he could only do so within a political system that promotes aging politicians. In a discourse heavily focused on punchlines and ageist comments, it is important to restore some honor to the 46th President of the United States.
Are U.S. Lawmakers Too Old? Yes.
As of 2021, the average retirement age in the U.S. was 65 for men and 62 for women. By January 3rd, 2023, when the 118th Congress convened, the median age of lawmakers was nearing that threshold: House members had an average age of 57.9 years, and U.S. Senators were 65.3 years old. Although most people their age might be busy planning their next cruise or round of golf, they remain hard at work making decisions that are just a bit more significant. The U.S. has a problem: its politicians are too old and do not reflect the median age of the country, which is a mere 38.9 years.
This problem extends to both the current president and former presidents, who stand out among the leaders of the 187 United Nations member states. The current median age of world leaders is 62. President Joe Biden, at 81, is 19 years older than the average head of state, while former President Donald Trump, at 78, is 16 years older. Remarkably, both presidents are still younger than the oldest sitting U.S. senator, Chuck Grassley, who is 91.
Are There Age Restrictions? Sort Of.
The U.S. has established minimum age requirements for politicians: 35 years old for presidents, 30 for senators, and 25 for representatives. However, there are no maximum age limits, even though 79% of Americans support implementing age restrictions for elected officials. As a result, the political system seems to promote older politicians, and recent events have shown that this has not aged well.
What Happens When the Public Realizes Their Leader Is Past Their Prime? They Start Speaking Up.
Growing concerns about Biden's age, particularly regarding his cognitive ability to serve as president, intensified after the debate with former President Trump on June 27th, 2024. Biden’s performance reignited the popular nickname “Sleepy Joe.” Just days later, 72% of registered voters expressed doubts about Biden's mental and cognitive ability to serve as president. The general public reached a consensus: he is too old to continue serving.
However, the general public was not alone in their concerns: Democrats had been quietly nudging Biden to step aside in the 2024 presidential race. The first public call came from Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas on July 2nd, quickly followed by Senator Peter Welch of Vermont on July 10th. By July 21st, Senator Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, became the final Democrat to urge Biden to step down. In total, around 37 vocal Democrats joined in unison to ask him to reconsider his candidacy, signaling a growing tide of dissent within the party. Even Oscar-winning actor and major Democratic donor George Clooney weighed in, writing an op-ed in The New York Times titled, “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.”
Did Biden Respond to Calls to Withdraw? Absolutely.
The general public began to distance themselves, and support from within his own party dwindled. Confronted with this harsh reality, the decision to pass the torch became inevitable: he recognized that winning a second term was unlikely. On July 21st, 2024, Biden dropped a bombshell: he was officially withdrawing from the election. This decision places him alongside only seven other sitting presidents who have withdrawn from the race. In doing so, Biden became the first sitting president since 1968 to withdraw from a presidential campaign, marking a significant moment in political history.
In a letter posted on X, he declared that he would no longer seek reelection in the 2024 Presidential election. It was surprisingly modern for him to use this platform, especially considering the critiques about his age. “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Days later, on July 24th, in a televised address from the Oval Office, Biden expanded on his decision: “The best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It is the best way to unite our nation. There is a time and place for long years of experience in public life. But there is also a time and place for new voices, fresh voices, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”
Join me as I deliver an address from the Oval Office. https://t.co/MPTTLv6nyn
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 24, 2024
Will This Event Be the Only Thing Remembered in His Career? No.
It is easy to latch onto a punchline like “Sleepy Joe” when describing his character, but it is important to look beyond that and not belittle him for it. His age reflects more of a failure in the political system than a personal flaw. In recent years, Biden has worked to restore political integrity in a landscape shaken by Trump’s presidency. The long-term effects of Biden’s current presidency will only be fully realized in the years to come.
Other key events in his 50-year career should be honored alongside his decision to withdraw from the 2024 campaign. Born November 20th, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden rose from a working-class Irish-Catholic family to represent Delaware in the Senate for 36 years before serving as Vice President under Barack Obama.
He co-sponsored one of the Senate's first climate change bills in 1986 and championed the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 to combat online child exploitation. As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden pushed for sanctions against Apartheid-era South Africa in '86 and supported U.S. intervention in the Yugoslav civil war in the '90s. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from '87 to '95, Biden influenced the U.S. judicial system, particularly through his involvement in Supreme Court nominations. He famously helped block Robert Bork’s confirmation and oversaw the hearings for Ruth Bader Ginsburg in '93. His actions introduced terms to the political lexicon, such as “borking,” which refers to derailing a judicial nominee's confirmation. Despite his many achievements, Biden’s legacy remains clouded by his support for the controversial '94 Crime Bill, which critics argue led to mass incarceration and disproportionately affected African Americans.
Is This the Last of Biden? No.
Biden may never hold public office again, but his voice will continue to resonate. His endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris marks the start of how he plans to influence the political landscape. He might be too old to serve as president, but he is not too old to provide valuable insights to the world.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
The weeks leading up to Biden's decision were grueling and unworthy of someone with his political experience. However, they were necessary to shake up the political landscape and highlight a crucial truth: many politicians are simply too old. The core issue of age in politics remains, but the memory of Biden as an impressive political figure should endure as well. The lives of politicians may be incomprehensible to most voters, but one thing remains true, as Clooney noted in his op-ed:
“The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can.”
