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Edward Luce

Joe Biden’s year of living dangerously

A Donald Trump victory next year would make the incumbent the most consequential single-term president in history – but not in a way he would wish.

Edward LuceColumnist

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Some of America’s most accomplished presidents lasted only one term. Among these, George H.W. Bush, John Adams, Jimmy Carter and John F. Kennedy stand out.

The difference with Joe Biden, whom recent polls show has at best even odds of being re-elected next year, is that they were followed by figures who believed in the system. Bush snr was defeated by Bill Clinton; Thomas Jefferson ejected Adams; Ronald Reagan trounced Carter; and JFK, who was murdered after barely 1000 days in office, was followed by his vice-president, Lyndon Johnson.

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Financial Times

Edward Luce is the Washington columnist and commentator for the Financial Times. He writes about American politics and the economy.

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/joe-biden-s-year-of-living-dangerously-20231112-p5eja9