I first met U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in 1987, roughly six months into his first term, at Scottsdale, AZ.
McConnell was energetic, vibrant, quick-witted, and very thoughtful in his public policy position statements.
McConnell is retiring as U.S. Senate Minority Leader after leading the GOP Senate Caucus since 2007. While still a brilliant political strategist and tactician, the senator is clearly missing a step following a fall and reasonably severe concussion roughly 18 months ago.
Though given a conditional clean bill of health by the U.S. Senate physician, McConnell is pale, appears fragile, speaks slowly, and in a softer timber these days. In addition to his two highly documented “freeze” moments, some of McConnell’s public speaking has occasionally been non-sensical.
McConnell has the good sense and money to know his best days will likely be behind him. Though he has not yet announced any planned retirement from the U.S. Senate, he is voluntarily leaving his post as Minority Leader at the end of this year.
Power and fame are two highly addictive, as well as fleeting, circumstances in life for some. Voluntarily letting go of either can be challenging. But perhaps even harder for those who become accustomed to that life is just knowing when it is time to go home.
I started this column discussing Senator McConnell, though President Joe Biden's effective service warranty and expiration date have been blinking red hot for nearly two years now.
Yet McConnell, 81, and Biden, 80, appear as young pups next to Senator Charles Grassley(R-Iowa), 89. Meanwhile, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-San Francisco) is 83 and again seeking re-election in 2024 as a member of the House Democratic Caucus, while former President Donald Trump, 77, has also repeatedly demonstrated episodes of cognitive dissonance out on the campaign trail.
I don’t believe in term limits, and there is almost no place in Washington where more value is placed on seniority than on Capitol Hill. However, when “senior moments” become daily or weekly occurrences, it becomes time for some self-evaluation and medical assessment.
Congressional staff often tend to be closest, even making policy decisions in the White House or on the Hill for aging and failing elected officials. But that is representative democracy.
There are some incredible staff members in government at all levels. Still, staff members’ desires to maintain their own power and position do not justify propping up public servants who endanger their health by staying past their effective expiration dates.
No matter how much cuddling you might receive from staff, and some party officials, public life is no picnic. The hours are long, and the schedules are demanding.
Here in Georgia, Senator Johnny Isakson resigned when his Parkinson’s Disease had too fully compromised his ability to serve. Still, for several years after his diagnosis, he put in 10 miles a day on a treadmill.
Senator Saxby Chambliss, after receiving a cancer diagnosis, decided not to seek re-election and to focus on his family and remaining time, which thankfully has likely been years more now due to stepping back to a lighter and less demanding lifestyle and schedule.
So, I’m not suggesting that we codify age limits, particularly as modern medicine and new treatments can slow or, in some cases, even roll back the clock advancing. However, as periodic tests for issuing a driver’s license are primarily concerned with keeping our roads safe, perhaps we need to consider essential fitness and competency tests for continuing service after a benchmark birthday, such as 75.
I believe in the many values of proven performance and experience, but there comes a time when the best leaders realize it is time to step aside or focus on shaping and building that next leadership team. At least to my knowledge, none of us live or perform near-optimum levels in perpetuity.
To slightly misquote Kenny Rogers’ song, The Gambler, “You got to know when to hold’ em, know when to fold’ em … Know when to walk away, and know when NOT to run.”
So, thank you, Senator McConnell, President Biden, and others, for your decades of public service. Please consider making the intelligent choice before a stroke or, possibly worse, make the following selection for you. It is time to plan for your successor, organize your affairs, and then take that long road home.