A few years ago, when I was thinking about retirement, one piece of advice caught my attention.
“You will know when there is certainty and you are not ignoring the truth,” the Los Angeles rabbi said. Naomi Levy“When the time comes, you'll know. You'll just know.”
For President Biden, who announced Sunday that he will not seek reelection, it was about time.
And finally, after weeks of resistance, he knew.
It had to be a painful, soul-searching and heart-wrenching decision. But dropping out of the presidential race won’t necessarily mean the end for Biden. If his health holds — and that’s a big “if” — he wouldn’t be the first former president to find ways to continue serving his country.
I've been advocating for those who want to keep working into their 70s, 80s or whatever, as many people do, just as efficiently as ever. But some people hang on for too long. When your skills are no longer up to par and health gets in the way, you deserve a break.
I can think of several advantages Biden will enjoy if he steps down.
A: His health is in decline, a fact that became painfully apparent during his shaky performance in the June 27 debate against former President Trump, and Biden can now devote his full attention to tending to his medical needs. Doctors have told me they see clear signs of a neurological disorder that may be progressive, and stepping away from one of the most demanding jobs in the world, at the age of 81, makes sense.
B: He's a family man whose time with family has been sacrificed, for five decades, by the demands of his high positions in public service. I've been to Rehobeth Beach, Del., where Biden has a vacation home. It will be nice for the family to gather there without the constant pressure of
National and global events.
C: Biden didn’t seem to have much of a chance of beating Trump, if the polls are to be believed. By stepping down now, his political career will end not with a painful electoral defeat, but with his decision to confront the reality of those polling trends, pass the baton to the next generation in Vice President Kamala Harris, and put the Democratic Party ahead of his own ego.
D: Biden made many mistakes in office (to name just two, the border has been mismanaged and the withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster), but his achievements are many. And he is a decent, civilized man who will now be out of the running in a country that has lost its way and its mind. That has to be a relief in some sense.
E: I don't think Biden could have won re-election, but Harris might be able to reinvigorate the antiquated and deflated Democratic Party and use her skills as a prosecutor to hammer Trump for his misdeeds on climate change and theft of women's reproductive rights, among other things. If she wins, she will have her own agenda, of course, but it will likely include some of the initiatives started by Biden.
Those are the advantages of Biden stepping aside, but will there be disadvantages, too?
Absolutely.
Transitions can be difficult for anyone at any age, and retirement is one of the biggest life changes.
In Biden’s case, we’re obviously not talking about a classic retirement, but he’s been in elected office for so long that that’s essentially what it will be. He’ll still have a public role and profile, like other former presidents. But in general, retirements are harder for people who are leaving jobs that were an important part of their identity. Jobs that weren’t just what they did, but who they were. As president of the United States.
For Biden or anyone else going through such a significant transition, I recall some advice I received while researching my book on retirement. Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang intervention and reentry program, said that whether you stay on the job or leave it, you need to go where the life is, stay tied and do what gives you a sense of relevance and purpose.
President Carter That's precisely what Biden did: He worked to resolve international conflicts and built homes with Habitat for Humanity after leaving office. I don't know if, at Biden's age and given his health, that sort of thing is in his immediate future. We'll have to wait and see.
In his letter announcing his decision, Biden said: “I believe it is in the interest of my party and the country that I step down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” He listed among his accomplishments “major climate legislation” and “the first gun safety law in 30 years.”
I can see him finding ways to contribute to both causes in the future, serving as a voice of reason.
After being wounded in an assassination attempt by a shooter in Pennsylvania, Trump said: “I felt very safe, because I had God on my side.”His disciples also spoke of Trump being saved by the hand of God.
I know I'm not the only one who cringed.
In Biden’s remaining time in office, I’d like him to point out that Trump and the Republican Party are the architects and protectors of the nation’s gun culture, and that God must have been out of commission every time school children or mall patrons were killed in mass shootings.
Biden has nothing to lose now, so why not keep throwing punches and calling out all the hypocrisy?
When Biden's decision first became known, I had two immediate thoughts.
First, it is a sad moment.
Whether he was ultimately motivated by health considerations, polls or both, it was a tough way to end a long career. Biden must have been bitter to see so many longtime supporters calling for him to step down. And yet he was able to swallow his pride, confront his fears and disappointments and handle his declining health and waning political viability with grace.
My second thought was that it was about time.
