NYT Report on the Health of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates

Best write-up I’ve seen regarding John McCain’s history of melanoma and Joe Biden’s brain aneurysms.

Also interesting is to compare Sarah Palin to Ronald Reagan. Regarding Palin:

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, 44, Mr. McCain’s running mate, has released no medical information.

That’s it. Zip. Nada. Not even a one-page summary. Regarding Reagan, back in 1980:

A leading example of openness was Ronald Reagan, whose age, 69, had become an issue in the 1980 election. Mr. Reagan authorized his doctors to be interviewed. He also agreed to an interview himself, against the wishes of his aides, answering all my questions, including what would he do if he became senile as president.

“Resign,” he said.

★ Monday, 20 October 2008