Joe,
The memory of the moment when I first became truly concerned about your performance on debate night remains strong and clear: when I heard those helicopters roaring over my house.
It was midmorning on Thursday, the day of the debate. I knew from the roar of the air that this was your Marine One and its security escorts, taking you from Camp David to the military base from where Air Force One would take you to Atlanta for the debate, which would begin in perhaps 10 hours.
Your planners didn’t give you a travel day — time to arrive, settle in, get a good night’s sleep, followed by a day to make sure you’re in tip-top shape for the biggest debate of our lifetimes. In short, what you needed to make sure our democracy isn’t at risk of being trampled by Trump.
I am writing this very personal letter to my longtime friend (and certainly not to the president of my country) because this is how we have always talked, since you were a rookie senator and I was a young journalist. We never talked about your career, or what you should do. We talked about things we have seen and learned in our activities in this city: you in the Senate, me covering the rest of the government, especially all these presidencies.
Well, Joe, I went out, saw your Marine One overhead, and wondered what that meant for your debate night. “That’s Joe Biden!” I told my wife. “He’s headed from Camp David to downtown Atlanta. He’s going to be exhausted when he gets on stage for tonight’s debate. He’s not going to be in the best shape.”
I explained to him that for big presidential moments, White House chiefs of staff like to give their president time to settle in and get comfortable before they perform. Jim Baker protected Ronald Reagan this way. And Bob Haldeman did the same thing for Richard Nixon before a big summit. But either Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, didn’t do it that way, or he tried to and his boss contradicted him.
Joe, I was worried you were too tired when the debate between you and Donald Trump on CNN started. When that happens, I said, you often speak too fast, slur your words, and get your thoughts mixed up.
A few hours later, I saw something even more disturbing. When Air Force One arrived in Atlanta, I saw you walk down the stairs of the plane and into a line of local thugs. Being the Joe Biden I know, you of course had your little chat with each of them.
And then it got worse. You walked up to a crowd of supporters and, by golly, you started courting the crowd, making small talk like you do. I told my wife that after a week of exhausting rehearsals to prepare for the debate at Camp David, you were wearing out your often overworked voice and sapping your octogenarian energy. I hated to see it because I knew you would pay a high price in the debate. Joe, I told him what you needed was an afternoon off and a nap. I said, “I bet he’ll go on stage exhausted. His voice will sound like hell. I’m afraid it’s going to be a disaster.”
I wish I was wrong, and by far. But from the very first question, even your closest supporters knew that we were about to witness your worst performance yet on this night of critically important debate.
Smartphones exploded with calls and text messages. Your biggest fans wondered if there was a way — a conventional mechanism — for Democrats to find someone else to save America and the world from four more years of Donald Trump.
Well, there is a surefire way, Joe. I ask you, with great reluctance, but with even greater eagerness, to devote 90 minutes of your time to America. Sit alone and watch the entire debate on Thursday night. You will see the 46th president as all Americans have seen him. But you will understand that the painful performance is your new permanent reality — and you cannot repress it on your show.
But you can add a final, perfect, patriotic chapter: a portrait of 21st-century courage. You can complete the accomplished career of the president who saved and restored America by announcing that you will not seek reelection after all—and starting a new career: that of America’s new statesman. Then you can set an example by advising a new generation on how we can benefit from the gifts that Joe Biden has given to this country.
I hope you do what you know is right, Joe.
All my wishes,
Marty
Copy story link
” Previous
Editorial cartoon of the day
Related articles
