The choice she faces — promoting her husband’s political ambitions or protecting his legacy — can no longer be avoided. Having worked closely with Nancy Reagan during her husband’s first term, and seeing how she weighed choices like this one, I’ve found myself wondering if Mrs. Reagan were in Dr. Biden’s position, what advice would she have given to Ronald Reagan? Mr. Reagan and Mr. Biden’s legacies hung in the balance because of issues related to age. Mr. Biden’s age has clearly become a burden for his re-election prospects. Mrs. Reagan’s backing extended even to urging her husband to stand up to his powerful ideological advisers.

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