When your husband won the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump, we were excited and relieved. In Philadelphia, church bells rang, cars honked, and we all took to the streets and onto Independence Mall to celebrate.
We thank your families for standing by their side throughout the January 6th insurrection, and we also thank President Biden for the leadership he has shown through the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous international crises. He has strengthened U.S. support for our NATO allies, put in place environmental safeguards while promoting American industrial growth, and supported women’s reproductive health rights. He has strengthened our democracy at a time when our country and the world are in crisis.
The possible return of Donald Trump now threatens our country, our democracy, our economy and our humanitarian values. Trump and his allies spread outrageous lies with breathtaking confidence. We have entered a different political era, one that calls for a unique style of leadership.
Ms. Biden, we urge you to urge your husband to stop campaigning for president. It’s time for a younger generation to take the lead, stop Trump, and build on your husband’s legacy, not destroy it.
We are all grateful for your tremendous contributions to our country as First Lady. Mr. Biden is fortunate to have you here, and so are we.
Lillian Cohen, Virginia Clark, Helen Cunningham, Ellen B. Davis, Wendy Epstein, Carol Fixman, Blair Bartle McInnes, Juliana Pearson, Nora Pomerantz, Angeles Gonzalez Prado, Bonnie Rains, Lynn Yarmunock Strieb, Joan Rollins Tropp, Beatriz Urraca, Victoria Bartle Valery, Janet Weinberger, Flora Barth Wolf, Cordella Manning, Cintra Rogers, Philadelphia
I have voted Democratic for President, Vice President and Congress every time I was old enough to vote. I have always been proud of my liberal values – the same values that President Biden has so eloquently, powerfully and compassionately defended throughout his career. So it is with a heavy heart that I tell you now that I agree with the 72 percent of registered voters who feel that Biden is no longer physically or mentally fit to continue this campaign.
We would all agree that the stakes are higher now than they have ever been in our lifetimes. But as in 2020, it is no longer true that your husband is the person most likely to beat Donald Trump. In fact, the longer he remains in the race, the more likely it is that Trump will win.
If it is true that you influence him more than anyone else, persuade him to back off now while he can still do so with dignity. Encouraging him to “stand up” after being “beaten down” will certainly appeal to his “fighting” impulse, but it will only prolong the abuse he will receive. The campaign’s plan appears to be to have him read carefully crafted messages from a teleprompter. But many American voters, regardless of political allegiance, have already seen through that losing strategy.
Maya Angelou’s words have taken on a new, vivid ring: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” During the CNN debate, Biden showed the whole world exactly who he is now. And no matter how painful it may be, all of us — not just those who have looked up to him for decades, but those closest to him and who love him most — should embrace what we see. For the sake of our country, and for his sake, please urge him to step aside.
Richard Young, Lexington, New York
I have completely lost all respect for Jill Biden.
There is some truth in her statement to Vogue that she doesn’t want to erase the accomplishments of the past few years in 90 minutes. President Biden has accomplished a lot in office and throughout his career, and this debate is not going to change the past.
What has become clear is that Biden is no longer the man he once was, nor does he have what it takes to serve as president for another four years.
Biden needs to acknowledge this. She has options other than supporting the president. Once you start to fade, there’s no going back. It’s not just a cold. Biden needs to understand that it’s time to step aside with the legacy of the presidency intact.
It’s time to take away the car keys. Any adult child of an elderly parent knows this is one of the hardest conversations to have, and it’s almost always met with resistance. Unfortunately, Biden has to play the part of the kid in this situation.
A president is not a toddler to be placated. He should not be protected or surrounded by people who are not willing to tell the truth. Biden needs to stand up and have the tough conversations. I am confident that she has the power to influence the president’s decisions. There is no shame in facing the truth. All it takes is courage.
Robin Marquis, Alexandria
As the aftermath of the first presidential debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump continues, Jill Biden might want to take a lesson from Nancy Reagan, whose husband, Ronald Reagan, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease nearly six years after leaving office. Reagan prided herself on her role as a faithful wife, taking it upon herself to care for and protect her husband, ensuring that his final years were spent in dignity and privacy.
Like Reagan, Biden was always by her husband’s side, often acting as a confidant and close advisor, but there comes a time when love and loyalty must transcend political ambition. For Biden, it was time to protect her husband not just as president, but as the man she loved.
Reagan’s actions are a poignant reminder of the importance of recognizing and addressing the mental health of our leaders. By openly acknowledging his decline, the couple protected and enhanced his achievements, allowing him to spend his final years out of the public eye. Biden can likewise protect her husband’s dignity and health by urging him to step aside.
The implications of ignoring Biden’s mental health are grave. The demands of the presidency require a sharp mind and the ability to make quick and accurate decisions. Any diminution is dangerous not only to the individual but to the nation. Ignoring what was all too clear during the debate and what has been reported since could have unpredictable and politically disastrous consequences.
Asking Biden to step down would not be an admission of defeat, but it would demonstrate a commitment to putting the country’s best interests above personal ambition and ego.
Biden’s influence and support have been a huge help to her husband’s career, and now she has a chance to ensure that his legacy is not tainted by one of the few things a president can’t control: time. By guiding him through a graceful exit from public office, she can follow Reagan’s example of compassion and foresight.
Andrew Long LawrenceSavannah, Georgia
In a recent phone interview, Jill Biden said her husband will “always do what’s best for the country.” The real question is whether the Bidens’ perceptions match reality and the perceptions of the American people.
There is no doubt that preventing Donald Trump from returning to the White House is in the vital interests and well-being of our nation. What is open to debate is whether Biden or another Democrat is best placed to prevent what will surely be a disastrous and disastrous second term for Trump. If Biden is not in a position to defeat Trump, then the country would be best served by him and Mrs. Biden honestly acknowledging this.
Ken Derow Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
We love you and Joe Biden. With all our hearts.
That is why it is so urgent and urgent for you to convince President Biden to immediately halt his campaign and release his delegates.
Biden has accomplished so much for so many people throughout his life and especially during his presidency. He has overcome difficult obstacles, unfounded criticism and personal attacks. His track record is truly remarkable.
But it is clear that Biden cannot win reelection, and the impression left by the recent debates about his health will not and cannot be changed. We cannot forget what we all saw. If he continues to campaign, his legacy will be irreparably tarnished and our future as a nation will be in jeopardy. As Biden himself said, “Our democracy is at stake.”
We have come to this firm conclusion after much consideration and with deep affection for you both.
Chris and Carol Kearns, Washington
