The history of US presidents concealing their health issues from the public is not a new phenomenon. Ronald Reagan’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease was suspected to be affecting his speech and judgment during his second term, but it was not made public until 1994. Franklin Delano Roosevelt hid his polio-related disabilities, while Woodrow Wilson kept his major stroke under wraps. Lyndon B. Johnson’s battles with severe depression were not disclosed to the public, even though they were recorded in his wife’s diaries. John F. Kennedy also kept his Addison’s Disease a secret from the public.
The importance of transparency when it comes to a presidential candidate’s health cannot be overstated. Health is more important than age, as many people can remain functional well into their senior years. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed away in office at the age of 63, which highlights the fact that health is a crucial factor in a president’s ability to perform their duties effectively. In 1994, former President Jimmy Carter established a working group on presidential disabilities to address this issue. One proposal was to have an independent panel carry out medical evaluations of candidates to ensure transparency.
Arthur Caplan, a bioethics expert at New York University, stresses the importance of having an independent assessment of presidential candidates’ health. He suggests that a non-partisan panel appointed by the National Academy of Medicine and Science could conduct these evaluations. Caplan highlights the issue with personal physicians withholding information that the president or candidate does not wish to disclose. He calls attention to President Trump’s unconventional letter in 2016 from his doctor, claiming he would be the “healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” The lack of transparency surrounding Trump’s health has raised concerns about his ability to perform his duties effectively if he were elected president again in 2020
