Perspective: The Lessons of Ben Franklin on Politicians Advancing in Years
A non-President named Benjamin Franklin, an elderly gentleman, graced the Constitutional Convention despite doubters whishing him away. Despite being a octogenarian, Franklin showcased his worth, setting a tone of negotiating and producing a breakthrough that saved the day for the new republic.
Franklin serves as an ideal role model for elder politicians. The latter part of his long life, stretching until 84, was the most intriguing, with the first two-thirds being equally compelling.
It was during his golden years, a period when he could have been enjoying a aged equivalent of sunny Florida leisure, that he accomplished his greatest feats and brought about the most change. This was the time when Franklin switched sides from Loyalist to Rebel, and later from Slaveholder to Abolitionist. This was also when he successfully persuaded the French to support the American cause, thus ensuring the revolution's success.
The debate about an age limit for the White House overlooks the importance of not just the number of years, but the kind of age. Are they cranky old or cheerful old? Resigned old or brave old? Franklin stood alone in his exceptional category. Although he was never President, he demonstrated that age need not hinder wisdom and inspiring leadership.
At 70, Franklin contributed to editing the Declaration of Independence. Among his most significant alterations was making an early revision, changing Jefferson’s "We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal" into "We hold these truths to be self-evident." Although it appears like a mere concise rephrasing, the change held profound implications - appealing to religious authority was replaced with an appeal to human reasoning, something Franklin strongly believed in.
Franklin was always active, staying relevant and useful, adhering to his beliefs that when it comes to public service, one should "never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign." His approach to living was to always strive towards useful purpose, viewing life as endless, just as he once said, "It has always been my maxim to live on as if I was to live always."
Recent studies back up Franklin's approach. People often grow happier as they age, even in adversity, provided they possess a flexible self-perception. Franklin was exceptionally adaptable, showing remarkable mental agility with each passing year. At 69, while serving in London, Franklin switched allegiance from British Loyalist to American rebel. Well into his 80s, he continued to change his stance on essential issues, such as slavery.
Let us remember Franklin's contributions at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. At 81, he was old enough to be everyone's father and most everyone's grandfather. James Madison was only three when Franklin championed colonial unity in 1754.
Franklin struggled with various physical ailments, including gout and kidney stones, and sometimes required a sedan chair for movement. Yet, his mind remained as sharp as ever, perhapsconditioned by regular exercise, especially swimming, and mental challenges like magic squares, his invention resembling modern-day Sudoku. Fellow delegate William Pierce deemed Franklin as energetic as a young man of 25. One visitor, Manasseh Cutler, was struck by Franklin's "unrestrained freedom and happiness."
However, Franklin did not sail smoothly. Age made him both revered and laughed at. Eager young delegates applauded his past achievements but were skeptical of his contemporary input. Some dismissed his ideas outright, while others whispered behind his back. Ageism was not unique to the 21st century.
Underestimation, though, was not new to Franklin. Although he did not play a decisive role in shaping the Constitution, Franklin succeeded in calming heated tempers and encouraging competing factions to compromise. Known as the "Old Conjurer" by John Adams, Franklin often used subtle tricks to achieve harmony, such as suggesting that each session begin with prayer, a motion that might have seemed absurd but provided the necessary pause.
During the sweltering Philadelphia summer of 1787, Franklin tirelessly worked, exemplifying the 17th-century jurist John Selden's saying: "They that govern most make (the) least noise." Contrasting this approach with our noisier-is-better assumption.
Amid the stalemate at the convention, Franklin played a crucial role in formulating the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. This compromise established the House of Representatives based on population, while the Senate would be composed equally by each state. This plan, endorsed by Franklin, provided the resolution needed, ensuring the nation's survival.
In a stirring speech, Franklin advocated for a rare concept that often goes unappreciated today: the willingness to question oneself. Recognizing the shortcomings of the recently drafted Constitution, Franklin decided to sign it regardless, acknowledging that past opinions might be incorrect and new information might emerge later: “As I have found in my own case, ‘for having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being oblig’d, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.” As he aged, Franklin emphasized, he grew increasingly skeptical of his own judgement and more open to the opinions of others.
Franklin's message remains relevant today, perhaps even more so than in 1787. Doubting the views of others is easy, but questioning one's own convictions is a far greater challenge. Franklin urged everyone to cast doubt on everything, including their own doubts, and warned against becoming too enamored with their intellectual ideas, as they may be built on sand. This sentiment, initially applied to scientific theories, can also be applied to political ones. "(H)ow many pretty systems do we build, which we soon find ourselves oblig’d to destroy!”
The essence of a mature democracy, according to Franklin, is not just the structures and policies it creates but its ability to adapt these structures and policies to meet changing circumstances. For this reason, Franklin viewed the new US Constitution not as a fixed document, but as a malleable “instrument.” As effective as the instrument is, its usefulness depends on the character of those who use it. Such an observation is profound, reflecting a wisdom that comes with age.
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Franklin's ability to change his opinions based on new information, even in his elder years, is commendable. This is evident in his amendment to the Declaration of Independence, replacing "sacred & undeniable" with "self-evident."
In his speech at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Franklin emphasized the importance of questioning one's own convictions, even as they age. He urged everyone to cast doubt on everything, including their own doubts, and warned against becoming too enamored with their intellectual ideas.
