The age question for presidential candidates is more than four decades old. President Ronald Reagan answered it with a pledge to resign if he became impaired, and later with a clever joke that reset his campaign from a stumbling debate performance to a 49-state landslide and a second term.
"I will not make age an issue of this campaign," Reagan said to the question he knew was coming in perhaps the most famous mic-drop moment in campaign history. "I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience."
The audience roared, even Democratic Vice President Walter Mondale laughed — and Reagan's reelection was back on track.
Today, Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, is struggling for such a redemptive moment after a disastrous debate performance against Republican former president Donald Trump, 77. Those 90 minutes last week set off alarms among Democrats hoping Biden would keep Trump from returning to the White House — and heightened concern among voters long skeptical of how either elderly man would govern a complex nation of more than 330 million people for four more years.
At its heart, the question — how old is too old to be president? — is about competence. And Americans have never had wider personal experience with the effects of aging than they do today.
A surge of retiring baby boomers means that millions more Americans know when they see someone declining. For many, this widespread experience made Biden’s halting performance during Thursday’s debate a familiar reality check.
Trump seemed more vigorous, even though he lied about or misstated a long list of facts. When he challenged Biden to a cognitive test, Trump flubbed the name of the doctor who had administered his.
“Is this an episode, or is this a condition?” Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., 84, wondered on MSNBC, reflecting the question dominating Democratic circles this week. "It’s legitimate — of both candidates.”
Reagan faced the same questions even before he was elected as the oldest president to that point. In 1980, at 69, he pledged to resign if he sensed serious cognitive decline while in office.
“If I were president and had any feeling at all that my capabilities had been reduced before a second term came, I would walk away,” he told the New York Times on June 10, 1980. "By the same token, I would step down also.”
That didn't happen. Reagan served two full terms, leaving office in 1989. He announced in 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He died in 2004.
Neither Trump nor Biden has made a similar pledge, and their campaigns did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
For Reagan, the age issue faded in his first term as any health questions focused on his recovery from a nearly fatal assassination attempt in 1981. He seemed headed for an easy reelection. And debates seemed natural settings for the smooth-talking former Hollywood actor. But his performance in the first showdown with Mondale in the 1984 campaign brought the age issue roaring back.
The president, then 73, rambled and hesitated. He seemed to lose his train of thought at one point, and appeared tired at others. No one had seen him perform publicly in such a way, recalled Rich Jaroslovsky, who was then White House correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and co-author of a story headlined: “New Question in Race: Is Oldest U.S. President Now Showing His Age?”
Reagan's age — really, his fitness for a second term — was now indelibly part of the 1984 race, a striking parallel to what is happening in 2024 in the aftermath of Biden's shaky debate performance. But there are key differences.
Reagan was leading going into the first debate, while Biden and Trump were virtually tied. Onstage, "Biden was terrible out of the gate,” said Jaroslovsky, now the founder of the Online News Association and teaches a course on the history of digital journalism at the University of California Berkeley.
Then, as now, Jaroslovsky said, the embattled president's supporters provided vigorous spin.
Reagan's operation said he had been tired. There was sniping about the staff overpreparing him, Jaroslovsky said. Biden's team cited fatigue from two overseas trips that had exhausted even younger staffers. It was a bad night, they said. Blame flew at the president's aides. Democrats on Capitol Hill griped that Biden's performance had damaged their chances at the polls. And press critics asserted that reporters had failed to hold the president and his staff to account.
By Tuesday, pressure was building on Biden to withdraw from the race and open a difficult process for Democrats to nominate someone else. The crisis rippled across the Democratic Party just over six weeks before its convention in Chicago. It's not clear that Biden and Trump will debate a second time.
Reagan's moment in 1984 came at the 33 minute-mark, when The (Baltimore) Sun's Henry Trewhitt said: “You already are the oldest president in history, and some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale." Here, Reagan squared his feet and suppressed a smile. He was ready.
Trewhitt noted that President John F. Kennedy (the youngest American elected president) got hardly any sleep during the Cuban Missile Crisis: “Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances?”
“Not at all, Mr. Trewhitt," Reagan said. Later, he declared, “I am in charge.”
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
32 Comments
TokyoOldMan
Lets be realistic here. Aging effects different people in different ways and to varying levels.
Some people are insanely articulate and retain the majority of their abilities well into their 90's and beyond, others, do not.
Also, as this article highlights, Age also brings with it, the Wisdom of experience and History, something often lacking in a number of the Younger Generation - for obvious reasons.
I've stated the obvious here, clearly - How many of you, with Parents still alive, still seek their advice from time to time, think about it.
Putting Age aside, does the current President of the US meet the predefined requirements for remaining in Office - or has he been deemed to be in an incapacitated state ?
JJE
The people who supported him as just as culpable.
Peter Neil
books were written how reagan was “bored” in his second term and spent most his time in his pajamas in the east wing.
trump was rarely in the oval office, spending his time watching tv in the east wing and calling it “executive time.”
biden can’t get moving before 10 or 11 in the morning, takes an afternoon nap and can’t work past 4 pm.
why is it so difficult for people to accept that neither are up to the job. lbj declined to run for re-election for the good of the country. he knew of his unpopularity.
nixon resigned for the good of the country.
we're living in an age void of statesmen, those who think of the nation more than themselves. you’re witness to it. if you’re young, your children will asking you as they grow up what they heck your generation was thinking.
HonestDictator
Trump is also knocking on his 80s. These men should not be running for POTUS.
Slayer
It's not about Joe Biden's age. Joe Biden has Dementia and it is getting worse day by day. That's the issue.
bass4funk
I honestly think Biden has Alzheimer’s, his demeanor and how he responds, and this from watching him. I have at the moment someone in my family that is going through the same thing and yes, it’s worsening by the day, you can see the telltale signs.
The Dems know his condition for a long time and yet, they still selfishly pushed this guy to do his job, at his advanced age decline, and mental cognitive abilities.
blue in green
Comparing Reagan to Biden?
Reagan had respect for himself, the office, and the American people.
The press can put out all the "what about" stories 'till the cows come home,
but the man who took a pen and signed a pile of EO's, that took a wrecking ball to America's economy, way of life, and well being, won't be blamed on dementia.
Sanjinosebleed
Resign Joe!
Sanjinosebleed
Should be mandatory retirement age for politicians!
Calej
The fact that this is “news” shows how facetious mainstream media and the White House press has been. Many of us have seen his decline for years but the media has been routinely shielding the public to this. Biden as well has been lying about the economy, border patrol endorsing him and claiming that jobs people returned to after the pandemic were “new jobs” but this article states blanket statements about Trump lying without even mentioning one as if this is something everyone agrees on.
Media’s taking sides has a big hand in dividing and weakening the country. It’s sad how biased everything is these days and different news outlets have different statistics (for example Newsweek says more Covid deaths occurred under Trump and Reuters numbers showed Biden’s figures are almost double compared to Trump’s time).
Trump’s “lies” include - Hunter’s laptop was “Russian disinformation” but was all too true. Did media apologize? Ivermectin is safe to use is another one. Trump closed the border and was called racist. But if Biden dies this, there is no coverage of AOC crying at the border. It’s all too obvious where media stands on all these issues.
Media must be fair and balanced and seek to present both sides of the story.
proxy
It is interesting that as little as a month ago, stating the obvious in a comment here regarding Biden's mental decline, would have been immediately removed for violating something.
It has been clearly obvious for at least 2 years that Biden is in cognitive decline.
Slayer
Joe Biden Is finished. When you're that old and stubborn with a debilitating brain disease the family must make tough choices. The challenge is the family wants to hold on to power till the end with no regard for what's best for the country.
dagon
We have evidence of this in today's political scene. The choice is clear.
One of Reagan's greatest successes was using the skill of convenient forgetfulness to evade any responsibility for one of the greatest scandals in American history, Iran/Contra.
Funding death squads, drug running into American inner cities and starting off a crack cocaine epidemic, funding one of America's enemies; it was dirty dealings on an epic scale.
OssanAmerica
I
OssanAmerica
I would vote for a comatose Biden before that perpetually lying convicted felon he'll bent on destroyIng the country to preserve his power and own rear end.
bass4funk
No President is perfect, but overall his accomplishments were absolutely solid which helped more Americans to achieve financial prosperity.
To be clear, that was the Colombo family that was largely responsible for that in the East Coast and 18th street, Crips and the Bloods along the West Coast.
Economic Recovery: Implemented “Reaganomics” with tax cuts and deregulation, boosting the economy.
End of the Cold War: Contributed to the Soviet Union’s collapse through military build-up and diplomacy.
Tax Reform Act of 1986: Simplified the tax code and reduced tax rates.
Strengthening the Military: Increased defense spending to enhance national security.
Strategic Defense Initiative: Launched a missile defense program known as “Star Wars.”
Immigration Reform: Passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, granting amnesty to millions.
Conservative Judiciary: Appointed conservative judges, including three Supreme Court justices.
Anti-Communism: Supported anti-communist movements globally.
War on Drugs: Expanded federal efforts to combat drug abuse.
Republican Influence: Strengthened the Republican Party and shifted American politics rightward.
PTownsend
I do not believe media's job is to be fair and balanced, I do believe media outlets should be honest, for me to get a sense of what the far right are reading I check up on what Rupert Murdoch and Sinclair Broadcasting are reporting, and I see what to me is extreme bias, but I know both are for profit corporations trying to attract more viewers and more ad revenue, and millions of Americans want to be told by them what to think. Neither Murdoch nor Sinclair have criticized Trump's wack rants about Hannibal Lector, sharks and whales, but both love to show clips of Biden walking unsteadily, also both media giants love to report on crime in the US, usually by trying to blame those problems on 'others'. I said the outlets should be honest, but also think the candidates should be. I do not blame Biden as much as I blame the Democrat Party nabobs, for not having a better candidate, same with the GOP for pushing a failed human, most likely suffering from dementia, on top of delusions of grandeur, sociopathy and narcissistic impairment plus obesity, which is a great contributor to dementia.
Mr Kipling
In polls 33% said that Reagan was too old to be President. In a poll before Biden's disaster of a debate, that number was 67%.
Joe, you need to go.
dagon
Interesting list of 'accomplishments' you have there. Kind of like Trump's 289 accomplishments during his admin?
Quite a list of accomplishments which redound to the American people to this day.
GuruMick
High Court Judges in Australia must retire at age 70 years.
Seems like a good system, although designed from an earlier time of Federation.
Really think this, or similar, should apply to Leaders and Presidents.
Shame on USA for not putting up better candidates from both parties.
What a choice.
kurisupisu
It’s been obvious that the US President is mentally unfit.
All types of excuses have been floated by Jean-Pierre as to why there should be no cognitive test given.
It seems that we live in a fictional world where ‘not being fit for the job’ is just dandy.
bass4funk
No, their job is to be fair and honest, always and that’s because they are the people we empower that can get close to the people in power and to ask them questions that “we” “the people” cannot.
And the left….
No, that’s not what they they do, everyone has the right in the USA to watch and consume whatever media they want, it seems like the left has feverishly tried for 4 years to force feed Americans to think a certain way, free speech was severely either limited or blocked, you were not allowed to question the government, the media or medical industry, the 4 most powerful progressive liberalists have tried and almost succeeded in pushing a liberal one point of worldview.
They have numerous times, but as you said, it’s a rant, you alight and move on.
And this is why the Dems are in the political mess that they find themselves currently in, they tried to hide Biden’s declining mental cognitive health, it has nothing to do with glee, he is the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, every American has the right and should know good or bad how his health is, at one point, the Dems could hide it, but not now.
I definitely blame Jill Biden for not protecting her husband.
That would be primarily the fault of James Clyburn and his caucus to support Biden’s Candidacy as long as he adds Kamala Harris to the ticket. There was never any real enthusiasm on the left for Biden as first choice for President.
No dementia, last 4 cognitive tests didn’t show anything remotely close to it.
Trump said, anytime the Dems want a medical mental cognitive and documented report he is willing to give it, and asked the Dems do the same with Biden, the Biden camp refused. So there you go.
bass4funk
Yes, there’s a lot more.
Turned California into a domestic and global powerhouse, so yeah, the man was fantastic.
PTownsend
Zelig redux?
WoodyLee
""I will not make age an issue of this campaign," Reagan said to the question he knew was coming in perhaps the most famous mic-drop moment in campaign history. "I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.""
Pres. Reagan was a skillful talented communicator, gifted , and an Actor. He knew how to put on the right show at the right time.
Mr. Reagan is a hard to come by leader, once in a life time we may get lucky and have one like him.
RIP Sir.
WoodyLee
If America works to Pres. Biden work Hours and schedule it will go out of business.
GuruMick
Gee Bass....you sure get animated about your side of politics.
Not so much analysis, eg. usually call the Dems "the left " which I find hilarious.
bass4funk
Nothing to joke about. It’s serious. Alzheimer is no joke. Very sad, and depressing.
marc laden
I am a strong liberal lefti:st... AKA democrat..
I was only watching MSNBC and CNN etc... And only read Washington post and NY times, And online news JT...... here..
I trusted all of your says and writings..100% ... I swallowed everything you said about BIden ... About his health, ' youth fullness , his BRAIN,,,,, his braincells, and about his capability ... his photographic memory etc... etc... after all he was superman until June 27... AND TRUMP was a dead man walking.. he had no memory and his brain was dead for 23 seconds...( according to the above medias). I believed and and i was living with these utopia for the last 3 and a half years..
NOW I come to know the real truth with my own eyes... We were cheated for last 4 years... lie after lie .. brainwashed by the élite masters who are and were controlling the white house and entire nation. They used us as their slave to make money and control the power . Biden and Kamala are just puppets....
Look around the world .. All nations are laughing at us... what a shame ...
Any how still I am a slave ..... Masters please feed me with more super man news ...
bass4funk
No, not a all, I just point out political hypocrisy
Depends on the topic
And on that note, the denying part is why the left are losing
Aly Rustom
I also think Biden should step aside.
marc laden
SHUT UP ...
Now after the world come to know that the king was naked.. KING IS STILL NAKED...
Democrats wants Biden and TRUMP should go ..
OR TRUMP SHOULD GO........
These kind of reporting will not meet the ends...
We lost our trust in these fake media..
We saw with our own eyes WHAT IS TRUMP,,, his capabilities ... he is energetic for next 10 years...
WHY YOU PEOPLE still make Trump to BIDEN???????
You people think we are that stupid??? yes may be 50% among the democrats. BUT NOT ALL.