"The TV camera does not simply love Sen. Joe Biden. It goes positively weak with desire whenever he flashes his dazzling teeth at the lens."
So begins a 1986 People Magazine profile of the man who, decades later, is the presumptive frontrunner to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. The piece, which described the "hot, handsome" Biden as "the Dems’ new White House hope," could have been written yesterday, and serves as a timely reminder as to why Hillary Clinton will have her work cut out for her if she wants to become one of the oldest world leaders in history.
"Joseph R. Biden Jr., remember the name," People scribe Garry Clifford wrote. "Not that you'll have much chance to forget it. As the Democrats plot to win back control of the Senate, Biden is currently the party's most visible asset—and not just on TV, but wherever rubber chicken dinners are served."
Biden was "43, three-quarters Irish, a Roman Catholic, the possessor of an athletic frame and boyish good looks," and "the son of a retired Chevy sales manager." None of which has changed, apart from his age. (He’s only a few years older than Hillary.) And Biden has even managed to regrow some of his hair using completely natural methods such as sheer will and determination.
Democratic strategists were practically begging Biden to run in 1988, Clifford explained:
In short, in the words of Robert Squier, a well-known consultant to Democratic campaigns, Joe Biden is "image-perfect." Squier believes that the Senator from Delaware combines the charisma of John F. Kennedy with the communication skills of Ronald Reagan. "I think what Reagan did for the process, Biden has in heroic proportions," says Squier. "I've seen him give a hall speech and bring the crowd to its feet. On television he comes across with earnestness and caring. You have got to give him consideration as a presidential candidate for 1988."
Of course, Biden did go on to run in the 1988 Democratic primary, but his campaign was cut short after some unfortunate plagiarism allegations and a few innocent exaggerations about his law schools records. Fast forward to the present, and he's the sitting vice president.
Biden hasn't let his old age prevent his from exuding that same youthful spirit that People Magazine fell in love with years ago. For example, he hasn’t let a Secret Service entourage get in the way of his nude swimming fetish, which will go a long way toward convincing the American public that he is a down-to-earth guy—unlike Hillary Clinton, who is straight out of the Gilded Age.
One has to wonder if People Magazine has ever stopped rooting for a Joe Biden presidency. When the publication featured Hillary Clinton on its cover in June, for example, critics were quick to notice the subtle attack on the elderly homeowner’s deteriorating health:
People Magazine tried to dismiss these allegations, but ended up raising even more questions about the suspicious cover photo. Either way, this much is clear: America has a fever, and the only prescription is more of this:
