Biden: Once Considered Too Young to Serve, Now Too Old to Win
Introduction Joe Biden’s political career spans over five decades, talking much about his perseverance, evolution, and adaptation. Elected as one of the youngest United States Senators at the age of 29, Biden has seen it all and done it all to finally become the oldest President at the age of 78. From this journey of youthful vigor to statesmanship at an older age, he has done a lot and surmounted a good deal. But as he navigates the complications of his presidency and contemplates a re-election bid, it could hardly be more relevant. The piece below explains how Biden’s political image was remade, why his age became such a double-edged sword, and what that means for his presidency and future electoral prospects. The Early Days: Too Young to Serve Joe Biden’s political career took off at a very fast and dramatic pace. In 1972, at age twenty-nine, Biden ran for a U.S. Senate seat from Delaware. Having considered the general political outlook at that time, his candidature against incumbent Republican Senator J. Caleb Boggs, who was by then seasoned in politics and enjoyed a massive following, was more of a tall order. Still, the energetic campaign mounted by Biden—prodigious in its grassroots and one-on-one contact with voters—carried the day. The election at age 29 made Biden one of the youngest people ever to serve in the U.S. Senate. This youth was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it brought a sense of vitality and freshness of ideas to the Senate, which appealed to young voters and people turned off by the status quo; on the other, it opened him up to questions about readiness and experience for the complex task of being a senator, Shane Barker. Biden’s campaign strategy back in 1972 was innovative and very person-to-person. With his sister Valerie Biden Owens as campaign manager, Biden and his campaign worked strenuously on a door-to-door campaign. Such a strategy could prove successful in a small state like Delaware, where personal contact can make all the difference in the way that people vote. Biden did an incredibly effective job of connecting with people personally, and that was a major factor in his upset victory at the time, something no one expected. Weeks after his electoral win, calamity came in giant steps for Biden as he faced personal tragedies of immeasurable proportions. His wife, Neilia, and their one-year-old daughter, Naomi, died in a car accident while Christmas shopping. His two sons, Beau and Hunter, were also injured in the accident but survived. This terrible event occurred on December 18, 1972, and it profoundly affected Biden’s life and career. Biden thought of resigning and not taking office so that he could care for his injured sons but was persuaded to take office by many, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield. Biden was sworn into office from the hospital bedside of his sons, a gesture that made it clear that he would be balancing life as a senator and a devoted father to his sons. Biden served during his early years in the Senate on major committees and worked on important legislative issues. He established himself very quickly as an expert in foreign policy after serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, later becoming chairman of it. His work in the Senate further includes some very important contributions to criminal justice reform, civil rights legislation, and initiatives that were aimed at ending domestic violence. Despite this apparently weak start, Biden’s personal fortitude and commitment to public service did much to lay a strong foundation for a long and distinguished political career. His early Senate tenure was such that it laid the groundwork for his subsequent rise into national prominence and eventually to the presidency. The Long Road to Presidency In the course of the 1980s and 1990s, Biden became one of the most recognizable figures in American politics. Biden chaired some very influential committees—indeed, not least the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His work with the Violence Against Women Act and his efforts during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s underpinned his legislative skills and commitment to human rights. Presidential ambitions in Biden were ripe early. He had first contested for the presidency in 1988 but had to withdraw following a plagiarism scandal. His second bid in 2008 ended very quickly, but that provided him with a way into the Vice Presidency under Barack Obama. All this was quite important in molding Biden’s national and international persona, underscored by his experience and competencies in governance. From 2009 to 2017, he was Vice President to then-President Barack Obama and at the very Centre of major domestic and foreign policy decisions. He worked hand in glove on implementing the Affordable Care Act and was on the front lines of recovery from the Great Recession. His vice-presidential years sealed his reputation as an experienced and efficient leader. The 2020 Election: A Victory Amidst Uncertainty It was an unprecedented presidential election, pitched against the global pandemic and widespread social unrest in the country. Biden’s campaign focused on unity, restoring the soul of America, and competent leadership amidst the crisis. His message reached far and wide across a broad coalition of voters, which paved his way to victory against incumbent President Donald Trump. At 78, Biden became the oldest man to assume the presidency. His age had been an issue throughout the campaign as foes lampooned his physical and mental fitness for the role. However, years of experience and a calm demeanor reassured many who were seeking stability and experience in the next president. The 2024 Election: As Joe Biden reaches the end of his first mandate, voices and debates regarding his bid for re-election are gaining momentum. He would be 82 when seeking re-election, worrying more about the matter. His performance in the office will be the leading factor in public opinion regarding Biden running for a second term. The political narrative has hugely changed in recent years, with different voices of young