Frailty and strength in American politics

Photos: AP Images

Separated from death by millimeters in an act of what he recognized as Divine Providence, the former president looks unstoppable — especially against Democratic paralysis. Shaken, defiant, and now professing unity, Donald Trump takes center stage again. 

When a lone-wolf assassin pulled the trigger at Donald Trump’s televised rally in Pennsylvania this week, the shots were literally heard around the world. The failed hit might well have upended the 2024 race.

AN inch is all that separated Donald Trump from assassination. An inch is all that separated America from a kind of tragedy not seen since the deaths of two Kennedy brothers, one as president and the other as a candidate. An inch is all that kept political violence from upending the will of democracy.

Although that terrible outcome was averted, Americans who attended a political rally tragically ended up dead or injured. Despite this depressing reality, Americans are rallying during this moment. It’s what Americans do best. Rallying for the speedy recovery of Donald Trump and the victims of this tragedy. Rallying for the end to political violence. Rallying to come together as a nation.

But where does the election go from here? I like to cite history in this column (as do others) to frame for readers what past elections can tell us about today. But nothing comes close to what we’ve witnessed in American politics these last three weeks. The Democratic Party has wrestled with real questions involving President Biden’s cognitive abilities. The Republican Party is now wrestling with their candidate’s safety. Americans are wondering if Biden will still be on the ballot come November and are grateful that Trump survived an assassination attempt.

Americans see the presidency as the very best representation of who they are to the world. Ronald Reagan tending to his ranch. Abraham Lincoln, the rail splitter. George Washington’s honesty when confronted by his angry father about cutting down the family’s cherry tree. America is a melting pot of hundreds of different cultures and thousands of different ideas with millions more opinions. Reaching consensus is often contentious.

We seek a president who can lead during good times and reflect our nobility, pride, and ultimately our strength of character and will during difficult times. It wasn’t just a day of infamy, FDR told us after Pearl Harbor; it was our time for victory: “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”

It wasn’t just a “day of mourning and remembering” when the Challenger exploded for Ronald Reagan; it was a time to remember the explorers as people who declared, “Give me a challenge and I’ll meet it with joy.”

It wasn’t just George W. Bush standing atop the rubble of 9/11 to assess the damage; it was him rallying Americans with the words, “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear from all of us soon.”

In that light, the American presidency requires visible strength. Eisenhower knew this, and was careful after his heart attack to not be photographed convalescing, but instead to have his doctor publicly declare that he was “able to carry out an active life satisfactorily for another five to ten years.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt was disabled but made a point of never being photographed in his leg braces. Grover Cleveland had a tumor secretly removed on a yacht to conceal his illness from the American public.

Presidents want to be viewed as paragons of strength. This is why we have images of them golfing, riding horses, and pursuing vigorous athletic pursuits.

Frailty is what Americans are feeling right now, when strength is needed.

The Democratic Party has been in a tailspin ever since Biden’s debate performance called into question his ability to lead for another four years. Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and major donors have all been reported to be angling for him to step down. These well-known Democratic names are not the only ones losing faith in Biden; so are growing numbers of Americans.

A post-debate Pew Research survey had Trump’s approval rating at 44%, compared to Biden’s 40%. The bipartisan Cook Political Report reclassified Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada from swing states to now leaning Republican. Biden’s spiral is now dragging other down-ballot races with him, including the Democratic Party’s chances of reclaiming the House and now retaining the Senate.

America needs leadership and strength now more than ever.

Biden paused his campaign immediately after hearing of the assassination attempt, delivered a speech afterwards condemning the political violence, and called Trump. This is all strong leadership. I imagine that the Democratic Party will pause their attempt to boot Biden and allow him to demonstrate bipartisan unity and strength during this difficult time in American history. But formal speeches and statements from the Oval Office may not be enough for what Americans are looking for right now. They may be looking for the physical strength of a Bull Moose.

In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt was running as a third-party candidate for president. On his way to a Milwaukee speech, he was shot. Despite the assassination attempt, Roosevelt went up to the stage and delivered a 90-minute speech. He opened his vest during the speech to show his bloodstained shirt and the thick manuscript that had been punctured by bullet holes and prevented tragedy. Inches had prevented tragedy, and in the words of Roosevelt, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”

This is what Trump is being compared to, the youngest president to ever hold office. The iconic image of the man whom the “Teddy Bear” is named after due to his affinity for wildlife and cowboy demeanor. An iconic image has now been added to American politics: Trump rising from the ground, blood on his ear, pumping his fist with the American flag flying as a backdrop. This is strength the way Americans see themselves. This is dignity despite tragedy. This is America picking itself up and moving forward.

There is no going back from an assassination attempt. The politics have changed. The view of Trump has shifted. But what will remain is frailty. The feeling that democracy is precious. The feeling that tragically, political violence in American history remains. The feeling that how we manifest ourselves in our political leadership is shaky. The only thing that can change that feeling is strength and leadership. Physical strength. Strong character. Bold leadership. The American public is seeking that, and whoever gives them that will be president.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1020)