Throughout history, there have been numerous instances of American presidents concealing their physical ailments or conditions. A notable case was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose bout with polio was kept hidden from the public, even to the extent of ordering the removal of any pictures displaying him in a wheelchair. Such acts were deemed necessary to maintain the image of a physically strong and capable leader during challenging times like the Great Depression and World War II.
This trend of concealment wasn’t confined to Roosevelt. Similarly, the White House reported Grover Cleveland’s tumor extraction as a simple ‘fishing trip’. Likewise, Dwight D. Eisenhower deliberately minimized the severity of his 1955 heart attack to save his chances for re-election. Furthermore, JFK’s Addison’s disease was treated under the radar by ‘Miracle Max’ Jacobson, infamously referred to as ‘Dr. Feelgood’, who supplied him with amphetamine and methamphetamine-laden ‘vitamin’ injections.
This long-standing pattern of politicians hiding their personal health struggles from the public light has also been alleged with the current administration of Joe Biden. Recent reports suggest Biden’s medical condition, particularly his diagnosis with stage 4 prostate cancer, was not fully disclosed to the public. Additionally, the secrecy surrounding his decreasing mental and physical capacities has become a contentious topic of late.
According to the controversial book ‘Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again’, Biden along with his family and closest aides arguably kept his deteriorating health concealed. The motives behind this suppression varied, from partisan efforts to prevent Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Biden’s own denial, and his close aides’ yearning to remain in power.
An unidentified high-ranking aide commented, ‘He had to win and then be out of sight for four years, just showing signs of life here and there.’ Such remarks fuel the speculations that the recent revelation of his cancer is just another strategy by Biden’s team to dominate the conversation about his health.
David Axelrod, a highly influential Democratic strategist, had a reaction that was likely the desired output for Team Biden. He hinted that discussions on Biden’s frailty should be kept at bay while he copes with his current health crisis. While Axelrod’s apparent sympathy is not to be refuted, his perspective could still be viewed as part of Team Biden’s narrative control strategy.
Criticism following the announcement of an 82-year-old grandfather’s diagnosis with cancer is unnecessary and harsh. However, questions from the more critical observers are justified. Several medical experts, including oncologist Zeke Emmanuel, a former adviser to the Biden administration, expressed surprise at how the president’s condition remained undetected after countless medical evaluations.
The lesson that we can take away from this practice of hiding health issues by those in power is the importance of maintaining skepticism, especially when it’s politically inconvenient. For numerous Republicans, the relative lack of investigative gusto regarding Biden’s health and mental sharpness is a clear representation of journalistic partisan bias, a tactic employed to keep the possibility of a Trump comeback at bay.
In contrast to this widely held belief, partisanship can actually pave the way towards revealing the truth. Axelrod’s urge to replace Biden for the forthcoming 2024 election wasn’t spurred by his ties with the Republican party, but being a partisan Democrat who believed it was beneficial for his party’s future.
Likewise, the right’s reply to ‘Original Sin’ and its revelations weren’t shock, rather it had an air of vindication. While the attempt to shed light on Biden’s declining health may have suit their political motives, it doesn’t negate the possibly undeniable truth: the state of his health could be far from what was presented to the public.
The media often overlooks the fact that partisan bias can sometimes be the driving force behind unveiling inconvenient truths. However, it’s crucial to remember that shared facts provide the foundation for any meaningful conversation about a nation’s leadership, regardless of where one might stand on the political spectrum.