Lens of history may cast different light

Last month, following the announcement by President Joe Biden that he was dropping out of the race for the presidency, a former U.S. Navy air traffic controller colleague sent me this.

With his blessing I’ll share it here, and I quote him directly.

“I write this without reservation or hesitation and a simple expression of gratitude.

“Thank you Joe Biden for years of dedicated service to our great country.

“Though I agreed more with Biden the senator and less as Biden the president, you stepped in when called upon.

“When you served in the senate, you worked toward finding a middle ground. I felt you knew opposite ends of the political spectrum were not good for our country. 

“I missed that Joe Biden. 

“Nonetheless, you had a good run. 

“Not always perfect, but then again no one is.

“May your retirement be enjoyed with your family and filled with peace and comfort.”

I couldn’t possibly agree more. 

Years ago, fate placed me in Concordville, Pennsylvania. 

I lived so close to Delaware that we would routinely do our shopping in Delaware because the state had no sales tax.

I was invited to a huge annual airshow put on by the DuPont family in the late 1980s. Sen. Joe Biden attended and our group met him. I can assure you that he was literally “rock-star popular” with the fine folks of Delaware and was a beloved figure by his constituents. 

In recent years, seeing all of the ill will and negativity directed his way sure was more than a little disconcerting to those of us who genuinely recall a hugely popular guy who was engaging and effective senator back in the good old days when our government actually governed and didn’t endlessly investigate each other. 

As president, although I personally did not vote for him, I always wished him well, as I have all of them. 

I will never grasp the mentality of wishing for any president to fail. It’s as stupid and ridiculous as wishing for the pilot of the aircraft you’re a passenger in to fail.

I sincerely wish him fair winds and following seas in the golden warm September of his years.

I sincerely believe the lens of history will cast him in a far more favorable light than what we’ve been led to believe in recent years about the man and his lasting legacy.