Biden ought to take a page from Richard Nixon’s book and bravely step down

Joe Biden finds himself facing a similar situation to Richard Nixon half a century ago.

His presidency is at a standstill, and the decision now is what type of exit to make.

Nixon could have held onto power, fighting impeachment over Watergate all the way to a Senate trial. He may have even emerged victorious.

Impeachment has never led to the removal of a president — as evidenced by the failed attempts against Donald Trump. The high bar for removal is apparent in these instances.

However, even if Nixon had managed to stay in office, he would not have been able to effectively carry out his duties as president any longer.

Ultimately, he did the right thing: On August 8, 1974, Nixon resigned for the good of the country.

Does Biden have the courage to do the same?

Like Nixon, Biden can cling to power if he chooses to do so.

He might even secure reelection: Polls indicate that Biden is still competitive, despite public awareness of his age-related limitations.

No one can take the Democratic nomination from Biden if he refuses to relinquish it.

Furthermore, there is no clear, more electable alternative within the party.

The most likely replacement for Biden is Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, her polling numbers are not significantly better than his, and Harris has little incentive to advocate for his replacement when she stands to become president anyway if Biden is reelected — considering he won’t be able to serve for long.

The reality is that he is unable to serve now, regardless of whether he is willing to admit it.

Reports from the White House suggest that Biden is unable to work a full day: He is reportedly only “dependably engaged” between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to Alex Thompson of Axios.

Journalists themselves work much longer hours than that.

In a state of panic, Biden’s campaign is attempting to remove events after 8 p.m. from his schedule: CNN reports that the president informed a conference call of Democratic governors that he needs more sleep.

Never mind the campaign: There is simply no way Biden can fulfill his duties as president on such limited hours.

Yet this is all his stamina and reduced ability to focus will allow.

Americans have witnessed the consequences of a senile politician refusing to step down from power.

By the time of her passing last September, Senator Dianne Feinstein had become entirely reliant on her staff, unable to even navigate the halls of the Senate without assistance.

Senator Mitch McConnell, born in the same year as Biden, is stepping down from Senate Republican leadership after the election. However, his delay in resigning has negatively impacted the GOP’s efforts to regain the Senate, as uncertainty surrounds the leadership in the chamber and there is a lack of a vigorous leader to assist colleagues and new candidates in their campaigns.

It is unsettling for a senator to reach a point where he or she can no longer function in office — for a president, it is unacceptable.

Already, Biden’s administration is heavily managed by staff and family, including the president’s son Hunter, known for influence peddling and criminal activities, as critics have long warned.

A party that values democracy cannot present a feeble candidate for a second term.

The only medically qualified person on the Democratic ticket set to be nominated next month is Kamala Harris.

She owes voters a clear explanation of what her actions would be as president, not just vice president, if she and Biden win in November.

Harris may be willing to wait for Biden’s downfall, and the party may believe he is a better nominee than she is despite his compromised state — a damning assessment of Harris’ own abilities.

Trump and the Republicans may prefer Biden to stay in office and continue in the race, regardless of their confidence in defeating Harris.

This has been a preemptively practiced battle, with Biden’s age and health condition factoring into their strategy.

However, more than just political advantage is at stake.

Political considerations did influence Nixon’s decision to resign: He understood that if he clung to power, Republicans would face significant losses in the 1974 midterms and potential decimation in the 1976 presidential election.

He also recognized his responsibility to end the nation’s suffering and provide a president who could effectively govern.

Biden bears the same responsibility, and it is the final one he must face.

He should gracefully conclude his presidency and allow the country to make an informed choice about its future.

Like Nixon, Biden must now write the final chapter of his presidency — for one way or another, he has reached the end of his tenure.

Daniel McCarthy is the editor of Modern Age: A Conservative Review.