The health of presidential candidates
 Date: November 8, 2016 |
Winner: Donald Trump (R) Hillary Clinton (D) • Jill Stein (G) • Gary Johnson (L) • Vice presidential candidates |
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Are the candidates healthy? Though this question is not an uncommon one in presidential election years, it played an outsized role in the 2016 election.
One reason for this was that—at 69 and 70 years old respectively—Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were two of the oldest presidential nominees in U.S. history on election day in November. “If they win their parties’ respective nominations, no pair atop the ballot will have been older, on average, since the nation’s founding,” wrote Mike Lillis of The Hill in March 2016.[1] For some context, the oldest presidential nominee of a major party in U.S. history was Ronald Reagan, who ran for re-election in 1984 at the age of 73.[2] The average age of presidents when they left office, going from George W. Bush all the way back to George Washington, is 59 years old.[3]
The issue of health became even more of a focal point after Clinton was forced to depart from a September 11 memorial ceremony in New York due to overheating. Her campaign later stated that she had been suffering from pneumonia. The event followed weeks of speculation from the Trump campaign and some media outlets that Clinton was in poor health.
Below Ballotpedia highlights what we knew about the health of the 2016 presidential candidates, how health and medical issues played out in past presidential elections, and what polling data tells us about how voters think about the health of presidential candidates.
A brief history of health in presidential elections
Candidates for president are not required by law to disclose anything about their personal health—other than verifying that they are at least 35 years old. But, since the 1990s, all the nominees of major parties have done so anyways, largely in order to assuage any concerns voters might have over potential health problems that could impede their ability to fulfill their responsibilities as commander-in-chief.
Concealed ailments
Prior to the 1990s, some candidates did occasionally choose to release details about their health. Ronald Reagan, for instance, who—at 69 years old—was at the time the oldest candidate to receive a major party’s nomination for president, released medical records and letters from doctors, authorized his physician to do interviews with the press, and even did an interview himself on the issue.[4][5]
But other candidates frequently concealed their medical ailments. For example, when Franklin Roosevelt ran for re-election in 1944, he had previously been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, hypertension, and pulmonary disease. His doctor, however, released a note testifying that Roosevelt was fine and in good health. He died on April 12, 1945, just a few months into his fourth term. (That Roosevelt suffered from polio was already public knowledge).[6] Another example can be found in President John F. Kennedy, who, according to presidential historian Robert Dallek, never disclosed the fact that he been hospitalized on nine different occasions throughout the 1950s. Kennedy, who was elected president in 1960, suffered from Addison’s disease.[7]
It was also not uncommon for presidents, while in office, to conceal health problems. One of the most famous examples comes from 1893 when President Grover Cleveland sailed on a friend’s yacht for four days to undergo surgery for oral cancer. This involved the removal of five teeth and a chunk of Cleveland’s jawbone. Neither the surgery nor the cancer were fully disclosed until after his death.[6] Similarly, Woodrow Wilson experienced a debilitating stroke in 1919. Historian John Milton Cooper called Wilson’s stroke, “the worst instance of presidential disability we've ever had. We stumbled along ... without a fully functioning president [until the end of Wilson’s term in March 1921].” The White House hid Wilson’s condition from the public, saying that he was suffering from “nervous exhaustion.”[6][8]
Paul Tsongas and Ronald Reagan
Two incidents in the early 1990s played a key role in causing the media and the general public to pay more attention to the health of presidential candidates, which, in turn, caused future candidates to release more information about their health.
The first was in December 1992, when it was reported that former U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas (MA-D) had stomach cancer. Tsongas, who survived a bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the mid-1980s, ran for the Democratic nomination in 1992 but dropped out in March due a lack of fundraising, despite having mounted a serious challenge to the eventual nominee Bill Clinton. Had Tsongas won the nomination and the election in 1992, he would have had to have undergone cancer treatment while in office. He died in 1997.[9]
Another presidential health incident occurred in 1994, when it was announced that former president Ronald Reagan had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Reagan had left office in January 1989. The news led former president Jimmy Carter to call for a law requiring doctors to assess a president’s health and to determine their fitness for office.[9][10]
Health and presidential elections since the mid-1990s
Since the events of 1993 and 1994, the disclosure of medical histories, health reports, or letters from physicians has become common practice for presidential candidates.
In 1996, both Bill Clinton and Bob Dole released medical records and letters from physicians, though Clinton released only partial records, causing some in the media as well as Republicans in Congress to raise questions about his health. Dole, who was 73 at the time, went so far as to not only release detailed results of medical examinations but—as Reagan had done before him—also made his personal physician available for interviews.[11] In the 2000 and 2004 elections, Republican George W. Bush and his Democratic opponents, Al Gore and John Kerry, all released information on their health.[12][13][14]
Health became a significant issue in the 2008 election between Barack Obama and John McCain. Both released medical details, but McCain, who was 72 at the time and had previously had problems with skin cancer, allowed reporters to peruse 1,200 pages of his medical history for a period of several hours.[15] In 2012, Mitt Romney released a letter from his physician.[16] Obama released a letter from his personal physician in 2008 and the results of an annual physical in 2014.[17]
Public opinion on the health of presidential candidates
Do voters actually care about the health of presidential candidates? Polling data on this question is meager, but the available data suggests the overall answer is yes. Most voters think that candidates should release personal health records, and most voters also say a candidate's health has at least some impact on their preference for president.
- In an NBC News poll from September 21, 2016, 44 percent of voters said they had "concerns" about Hillary Clinton's health, while 8 percent said they were "concerned the most about Clinton's recent health issues."[18]
- On September 18, 2016, ABC News asked voters “how much impact does a presidential candidate’s health have on your vote?” A total of 51 percent of respondents said it would have a “minor impact,” while 36 percent said it would have a “major impact.” Asked how important it was for candidates to release "detailed personal health records," 69 percent responded “very” or “somewhat” important.[19]
- A Morning Consult poll from September 14, 2016, asked voters, “do you think Hillary Clinton’s health concerns would negatively impact her ability to serve as president?” A total of 44 percent responded in the affirmative, and 43 percent said no.[20]
- A Rasmussen Reports poll from August 11, 2016, found that 59 percent of voters think that “all declared presidential candidates should release at least their most recent medical records to the public,” while 30 percent think candidates should not have to disclose recent medical records.[21]
- In 2014, a Rasmussen Reports survey found that 38 percent of voters believed that “all declared presidential candidates should release at least their most recent medical records to the public.” A total of 42 percent disagreed.[22]
- The Pew Research Center asked voters in February 2008 if they thought John McCain, 71 at the time of the survey, was too old to be president. 72 percent said no.[23]
- In February 2007, the Pew Research Center found that 48 percent of voters would be “less likely to vote for a candidate in their 70s.”[23]
- In a 2004 Gallup poll, when asked “How important would you say the health of president is to his ability to be a good president,” 70 percent of respondents said “very important,” while 26 percent said “somewhat important.”[24]
Health and the 2016 presidential candidates
Below are the details of what was known about the health of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Jill Stein, and Gary Johnson during the 2016 presidential election.
Hillary Clinton
- Age on election day: 69
- September 14, 2016: Clinton’s physician, Dr. Bardack, released a second letter stating that Clinton had been prescribed antibiotics for pneumonia the week before and “continues to improve.” She also wrote that while Clinton was diagnosed with a sinus and ear infection earlier in the year, she underwent a CT scan that “showed no abnormalities of the brain.” Bardack concluded, “She continues to remain healthy and fit to serve as President of the United States.”
- September 11, 2016: Clinton left a ceremony commemorating the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City early because she felt "overheated," according to her campaign. After video surfaced online of Clinton appearing to lose her balance before entering a vehicle, the campaign disclosed that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days earlier.[25]
- July 28, 2015: The Clinton campaign released a signed letter from Dr. Lisa Bardack, Clinton’s personal physician since 2001, stating that Clinton was “in excellent physical condition and fit to serve as the President of the United States.” Bardack also noted that Clinton’s “current medical conditions include hypothyroidism and seasonal pollen allergies. Her past medical history is notable for a deep vein thrombosis in 1998 and in 2009, an elbow fracture in 2009 and a concussion in 2012.”[26]
- December 2012: Clinton suffered a concussion after fainting. She reportedly had been experiencing a stomach virus and fainted due to dehydration.[27]
Donald Trump
- See also: Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
- Age on election day: 70
- September 15, 2016: The Trump campaign released a second letter from Bornstein dated to September 13, 2016. In the letter, Bornstein offered a more detailed overview of Trump’s health than in the first letter, concluding, “Mr. Trump is in excellent physical health.” The letter detailed Trump’s height (6’3”), weight (236 pounds), cholesterol (169), blood pressure (116/70), and blood sugar (99) and discussed the results of a colonoscopy from July 10, 2013, and an EKG and chest X-ray from April 14, 2016. Bornstein described the results of all of Trump’s tests as “normal.”
- September 15, 2016: Trump appeared on “The Dr. Oz Show” to discuss his personal health. When asked how he stays healthy on the campaign trail, Trump said, “It's a lot of work. when I'm speaking in front of 15 and 20,000 people and up there using a lot of motion, I guess in its own way it's pretty healthy, a pretty healthy act. I really enjoy doing it. A lot of times these rooms are very hot, like saunas, and I guess that is a form of exercise and, you know?” Trump also stated in the interview that he would like to lose weight. “I think I could lose a little weight. I've always been a little bit this way — you know? … If I had one thing, I’d like to lose weight. It's tough because of the way I live. But the one thing I would like to do is be able to drop 15, 20 pounds, would be good,” said Trump.[28]
- December 4, 2015: The Trump campaign released a signed letter from Trump’s physician, Dr. Jacob Bornstein, stating, “Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” In the letter, Bornstein stated that he has been Trump’s physician since 1980 and that Trump “has had no significant medical problems.” In August 2016, Bornstein said that he wrote the letter in five minutes, adding, "I think I picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own."[29]
Jill Stein
- See also: Jill Stein presidential campaign, 2016
- Age on election day: 66
- As of September 18, 2016, Stein had not formally released official details on her physical health.
- October 24, 2016: Stein canceled campaign events in Washington due to pneumonia and complications with asthma, a Green Party spokesperson said.[30]
- September 19, 2016: In an interview published by Politico, Stein said that her blood pressure was 110/70. She noted that she walks six miles a day and has run the Chicago and Boston Marathons.[31]
Gary Johnson
- See also: Gary Johnson presidential campaign, 2016
- Age on election day: 63
- September 30, 2016: Johnson's campaign released a letter from his physician saying that Johnson "is an extremely physically fit and healthy 63-year-old male." The letter went on to state, "His appetite is good. He is following a gluten-free diet. He has done that for the last five years. He is exercising at least an hour a day and actually was exercising up to two hours a day until he started campaigning. He does not drink alcohol. He has not had any alcohol since 1987."
- September 12, 2016: Men’s Health conducted an interview with Johnson and provided an overview of his health routine, saying, “The Libertarian may be a long shot to win, but his athletic resume is second to none.” The magazine noted that Johnson has completed 17 marathons and four Ironman World Championship races and has climbed the highest mountains on seven continents, including Mount Everest “on a broken leg that wasn’t fully healed.” The magazine also noted, “No other major presidential candidate has ever completed an Ironman triathlon.” Asked about his eating habits, Johnson said, “I don’t do sugar, and I haven’t had a drink of alcohol in 29 years. When you consider health and wellness, so much of it comes from what you eat. I always say ‘Your motor is only as good as the octane that you’re feeding it.’”[32]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 2016 presidential candidates health. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- 2016 presidential candidates on healthcare
- Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016
- Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
- Jill Stein presidential campaign, 2016
- Gary Johnson presidential campaign, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ The Hill, "Clinton-Trump would be the oldest White House match-up in history," March 24, 2016
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Can A Candidate Be Too Old To Run For President?" September 13, 2016
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "How the age of 2016 candidates stack up to past U.S. presidents; Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders would all be in their 70s," February 1, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Many Holes in Disclosure of Nominees’ Health," October 19, 2008
- ↑ McClatchyDC, "Why questions about McCain, Obama health? Eagleton," September 23, 2008
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 BBC, "Ail to the chief: A history of US presidential bad health," September 12, 2016
- ↑ NPR, "To Tell or Not? Disclosing Candidate Health Issues," March 24, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "A President's Illness Kept Under Wraps," February 3, 2007
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Time, "The Moment Presidential-Candidate Health Reports Became a Priority," September 12, 2016
- ↑ Lawrence Journal-World, "Carter: Let doctors judge presidents' fitness for office," December 7, 1994
- ↑ LA Times, "Questions on Health Records Dog Clinton," September 13, 1996
- ↑ The New York Times, "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE MEDICAL HISTORIES; Doctors Say Republican Candidates Are in Good Health," November 2, 2000
- ↑ LA Times, "Gore's Health 'Outstanding,' Doctors Say," December 16, 1999
- ↑ Boston.com, "Kerry allows Navy release of military, medical records," June 7, 2005
- ↑ LA Times, "How much do presidents and candidates need to tell the public about their health?" September 13, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney release medical summaries," September 21, 2012
- ↑ Politifact, "Comparing the medical histories of Clinton, Trump, Romney and Obama," September 14, 2016
- ↑ NBC News, "Poll: Nearly 70 Percent Have Concerns About Trump's Controversial Comments," September 21, 2016
- ↑ ABC News, "Most Americans Think Presidential Candidates Should Release Detailed Health Records," September 18, 2016
- ↑ Morning Consult, "Concerns About Hillary Clinton’s Health Abound, Poll Shows," September 14, 2016
- ↑ Rasmussen Reports, "Most Want to See Clinton, Trump Tax Returns, Medical Records," August 11, 2016
- ↑ Rasmussen Reports, "38% Say Presidential Candidates Should Disclose Medical Records," May 19, 2014
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Pew Research Center, "McCain’s Age Problem," May 21, 2008
- ↑ Gallup, "Fit for Office: Is Presidential Health a Public Matter?" October 12, 2004
- ↑ NBC News, "'That's on Us': Clinton Camp Explains Mishandled Health Scare, Will Release More Records," September 12, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "A Letter From Hillary Clinton’s Doctor," July 31, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "Clinton Is Recovering From a Concussion," December 15, 2012
- ↑ USA Today, "Top 5 moments from Trump's Dr. Oz interview," September 15, 2016
- ↑ NBC News, "Trump Doctor Wrote Health Letter in Just 5 Minutes as Limo Waited," August 26, 2016
- ↑ Seattle Times, "Green Party candidate Jill Stein has pneumonia, cancels local appearances," October 24, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Full Transcript," September 19, 2016
- ↑ Men's Health, "Is Gary Johnson the Fittest Presidential Candidate Of All Time?" September 12, 2016
