Joe Biden can save his legacy and this nation by stepping aside and passing the torch

In a 2006 commentary entitled, “The Man Who Would Not Be King,” David Boaz of the Cato Institute reports that after King George III learned that George Washington was contemplating returning to private life on his farm after the Revolutionary War, he incredulously said that “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”

Washington not only returned his sword to Congress after the war ended, but he later decided not to run for reelection after serving two terms as U.S. president, both of which he had won unanimously.

This set a noble example that was followed until Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for four terms, but that was reaffirmed by the adoption of the 22nd Amendment.

Washington was often likened to Cincinnatus, the Roman paragon of civic virtue who left his plow to lead the Romans to victory over their enemies and then returned to his farm.

After the disastrous debate on June 27, in which Trump prevaricated with little pushback, and Biden had perhaps the worst showing in presidential debate history, many Democrats and independents have been considering whether the party should consider an alternative.

Biden should not wait for the Almighty to give him a sign

Biden’s poor debate performance does not stand alone. Not long ago, special counsel Robert Hur depicted Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”

The Wall Street Journal recently published its own account of what it claimed was Biden’s slipping memory. Biden has pushed back against such characterizations both at public rallies and in a short interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News on July 5, but his refusal to take a cognitive test suggests that he (like Trump and numerous other grandparents in America) might well fear the outcome.

Biden’s interview suggests that he is unlikely to step down absent a message from the Almighty, so it is uncertain whether an attempt to replace him at this late stage will succeed, but Biden can burnish his own reputation for statesmanship and decrease the likelihood of a second Trump term, by voluntarily stepping aside.

The circumstances differed, but the country gained increased sympathy and respect for Ronald Reagan after he gracefully exited the public scene by announcing his affliction with Alzheimer’s Disease and proclaimed that he would “leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.”

Biden may have been the only Democrat who could have beaten Donald Trump in 2020, and he has restored dignity to the office. In the face of declining poll numbers and increased frailty, it is far less certain that he can beat Trump again or whether he or Trump can adequately serve another four years.

Here’s how Biden can pass the torch successfully

For someone who has commendably been unwilling to blame his staff for his own failures, the most disconcerting aspect of Biden’s interview with Stephanopoulos is the manner in which Biden’s focus on his own achievements and claims about his indispensability echoed Trump’s ridiculed boast at the 2016 Republican Convention that “I alone can fix it.”

If Biden is indeed in physical and mental decline, he should address the nation, explain that he wants to use his remaining days in office to focus on key issues like the Middle East and NATO, withdraw from the 2024 race, and release his delegates.

Rather than calling for a convention free-for-all, Biden should use the respect he has garnered among fellow Democrats with a strong recommendation as to whom the party should choose to replace him.

Those who have voted for Biden’s nomination have already expressed their support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who would at this point be the most democratic, logical, and seamless choice. She might, in turn, strengthen the ticket by announcing her support of a strong and youthful running mate from a swing state like Michigan, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.

Biden has credibly argued that he is a statesman who is interested in the country whereas Trump is a narcissist who is only interested in himself. The best way for Biden to demonstrate his devotion to his party and his country may be to model the role of Cincinnatus and strongly support a successor with a similar commitment to the nation and its democratic-republican form of government.

During the debate with Biden, Trump alluded to his own desire to be doing something other than running for president. However even less likely it might seem, he might burnish his own image by doing the nation a similar favor.

Dr. John R. Vile is a professor of political science at MTSU who has published numerous books including books on presidential rhetoric.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: President Joe Biden, it's time to step aside and pass the torch