Ail to the chief on a draining night in Georgia, as all eyes today are on what Joe Biden next in the race to be the next US President.
And whether he can go forward for the Democratic candidacy in Chicago in August.
The hysteria and confusion over President Biden’s frailties and what to do if he declines further suggests all this is new to America.
Which, of course it is not.
With before Slow Joe, Franklin Delano and Woodrow… and a sprinkle of others.
FD-argh and Wobbly Woodrow
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was, of course, crippled with polio.
But he stood for office four times despite it being torture for him to even stand.
All of which contributed to his early death even before the Second World War was settled.
And Harry S. Truman stepped up seamlessly.
Even more impressively Woodrow Wilson’s wife filled in behind the scenes for the POTUS when he had a stroke in 1919.
Rickety Ronnie
None of which is being mentioned in the public discourse.
After Dim and Dimmer, or Biden and Trump, went head to head.
Then there was Ronald Reagan ‘The Gipper’, who many speculated had already contracted Alzheimers while in office.
And who had the formidable Barbara pulling his strings and the able Veep George HW Bush.
When he was recuperating after being shot, and from his colon cancer.
At the heart of US history
Now for Americanophiles the chance to see politics live and in action is always a thrill.
And we were fortunate enough to be there during Barack Obama’s procession to the White House.
And flying overnight to Orlando and discovering that the Donald had won.
Now while Washington moves to the beat of politics.
Other great American cities get a tourist spike when the politicos roll into town.
Winds of change in Chicago
The Windy City of Chicago, so-called because of the hot air from the politicians, is well used to welcoming the Democrat delegates.
And should Joe pull out, or be pulled out, of the race then observers will doubtless reflect.
On a stormy Chicago convention in 1968.
When Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy duked it out.
All against the backdrop of the assassination of Robert Kennedy who was racing towards the nomination.
Back to the Kennedys
As politicos all fixate on the advanced ages of Joe Biden and Donald J Trump.h
It has largely gone unnoticed that there is a Kennedy in the race for the White House again…
Bobby’s son, Robert F. Kennedy Jnr, who CNN wouldn’t allow in on the Atlanta debate.
And who had to hold his own Q&A in Los Angeles.
Kennedy is polling as high as 16 per cent but has not been quoted unusually as a possible replacement for Biden.
Of course, the takeaway from Atlanta was headlines (ours) Ail to the chief on a draining night in Georgia.
They won’t be the last.