Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s disability from polio was a closely guarded secret, even from his mother. Only four known photos of him in a wheelchair exist, despite hundreds of thousands of photos being taken during his presidency. FDR ordered the Secret Service to destroy images of him in a wheelchair.
This secrecy is not unique to FDR. Other notable instances include:
- Grover Cleveland: Had a tumor removed while on a fishing trip, which was kept from the public.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: The severity of his 1955 heart attack was downplayed to avoid jeopardizing his re-election bid.
- John F. Kennedy: Suffered from Addison’s disease and received medication loaded with amphetamines from Dr. Feelgood, as revealed by The New York Times in 1972.
The controversy surrounding Joe Biden’s health issues is not new. Reports from CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Jonathan Swan indicate that Biden and those close to him conspired to hide his mental and physical decline from the public. Motivations behind this secrecy varied, including:
- An intense desire to keep Donald Trump out of office.
- Downplaying Biden’s condition as he seeks another term as president.
Recent revelations about Biden’s Stage 4 prostate cancer may be an extension of this pattern of concealment. David Axelrod noted on Twitter that discussions about Biden’s health should be more muted as he struggles through this diagnosis. Doctors indicate that prostate cancer progresses slowly, raising questions about why high-profile medical exams failed to catch it earlier.
The need for transparency regarding politicians’ health is underscored by these historical examples of concealment, especially when such actions contradict prevailing narratives or party lines.
On CNN Newsroom, Tapper stated that President Biden has been suffering from Stage 4 prostate cancer since before he took office. He mentioned discussions among Biden’s close associates about whether to reveal this information publicly before the recent announcement by Drs. Michael Gerson and Kevin O’Reilly at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Swan echoed these sentiments during an interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight, stating that he spoke with individuals close to Biden who confirmed discussions about revealing the diagnosis. He noted that these conversations occurred after January 6, a date marked by the violent insurrection at Capitol Hill.
Both journalists emphasized their belief that these revelations are part of ongoing efforts by Biden’s administration to keep former President Donald Trump out of office.
In conclusion, while the exact motivations behind concealing presidential health issues remain unclear, evidence suggests a pattern of maintaining power and influence, manipulating narratives, and shaping public perception. These tactics have been employed throughout history whenever individuals seek to gain an advantage over others, often at the cost of truthfulness, integrity, and transparency.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
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Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
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