As Biden prepares for life after the presidency, he may look to past leaders for inspiration on how to spend his time.
Washington: President Biden is about to have a lot more free time. He can look to past presidents for ideas on what to do next.
At 82, he’s the oldest U.S. president. In a recent chat, he mentioned he’s unsure about his energy levels in the future, saying, “Who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?”
But age isn’t a big deal for former presidents. Many have lived past 90, like George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, who just passed away at 100.
So, what might Biden do in his upcoming years? For starters, he probably won’t try to make a political comeback like Trump. He hasn’t shared much about his plans, keeping it close to his circle of aides.
Some former presidents have made a good living from speaking engagements after leaving office. Biden, who faced low approval ratings, might use these opportunities to boost his legacy. He told USA Today he wants to be remembered for restoring the economy and America’s global standing.
Interestingly, many presidents see their popularity rise after they leave office. George W. Bush, for example, was unpopular at the end of his term but became more liked over time, even taking up painting. Trump, on the other hand, managed to win back the White House after a rocky first term.
Biden will likely focus on fundraising and planning his presidential library, probably in Delaware, where he spent many years as a senator. They’ve even brought in a Biden administration ambassador to help with fundraising, looking at models like the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
On a personal note, Biden tends to hold onto memorabilia from his time in the White House. But he needs to be careful. Federal officials must give up official documents and classified materials when they leave office. His lawyers have been managing this since classified documents were found in his garage and at the Penn Biden Center.
He’s also been cautious about writing another memoir. While he’s penned two already, he hasn’t shown much interest in a third. If he does decide to write again, he’ll need to be careful, especially after some issues with classified info during his previous book projects.
Biden might also enjoy being part of the ex-presidents club, where former leaders often support each other and work on projects together. This could be a nice change from Trump, who didn’t engage much with past presidents after his term.
Interestingly, Biden has already held a sort of ex-presidents meeting while in office, chatting with actors who played presidents in movies. They offered him encouragement and advice, which he appreciated.
And speaking of showbiz, Biden has joked about looking for a job in entertainment. He made light of his situation at events, asking celebrities like Jessica Alba and Robert De Niro for help finding work. He joked, “I can’t sing, I can’t act, I can’t dance, do a damn thing – but I could help ya.”
