The 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump (DOB 14 June 1946; age 74), often shares that the 47th Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden (DOB 20 November 1942; age 77), is too feeble to be the 46th President of the United States on 20 January 2021.   

Might we prepare for an exchange-from-the-past during one of their three scheduled debates? 

Question: Mr. Vice President, I want to raise an issue that I think has been lurking out there for 2 or 3 weeks and cast it specifically in national security terms.  You would be the oldest President in history.  Some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounters.  I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep during the Cuban missile crisis.  Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances? 

Former Vice President Biden:  As President Reagan shared in 1994, “I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign.  I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.  If I still have time, I might add that it was Seneca or it was Cicero, I don't know which, that said, “If it was not for the elders correcting the mistakes of the young, there would be no state.”” 

The relevant portion of the 21 October 1984 presidential debate between the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan (DOB 6 February 1911; age 73), and the 42nd Vice President of the United States, Walter Mondale (5 January 1928; age 56) in Kansas City, Missouri.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPu1UIBkBc 

Ms. Ridings. Good evening from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. I am Dorothy Ridings, the president of the League of Women Voters, the sponsor of this final Presidential debate of the 1984 campaign between Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Walter Mondale. 

Our panelists for tonight's debate on defense and foreign policy issues are Georgie Anne Geyer, syndicated columnist for Universal Press Syndicate; Marvin Kalb, chief diplomatic correspondent for NBC News; Morton Kondracke, executive editor of the New Republic magazine; and Henry Trewhitt, diplomatic correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. Edwin Newman, formerly of NBC News and now a syndicated columnist for King Features, is our moderator.  Mr. Newman. Mr. Trewhitt, your question to President Reagan? 

Mr. Trewhitt. Mr. President, I want to raise an issue that I think has been lurking out there for 2 or 3 weeks and cast it specifically in national security terms. You already are the oldest President in history. And some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale. I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep during the Cuban missile crisis. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances? 

The President. Not at all, Mr. Trewhitt, and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience. [Laughter and applause] If I still have time, I might add, Mr. Trewhitt, I might add that it was Seneca or it was Cicero, I don't know which, that said, ``If it was not for the elders correcting the mistakes of the young, there would be no state.'' 

Mr. Trewhitt. Mr. President, I'd like to head for the fence and try to catch that one before it goes over, but I'll go on to another question.