Life is full of rich moments and some come as valuable lessons that have left lasting impressions. Of course, these encounters and experiences have been varied and numerous over these seven decades, for which I feel richly blessed.

This medium enjoys political talk. Therefore, that is the area I will focus on. Valour and integrity are two of the distinguishing attributes of leadership. The selfless actions of two presidents of the United States tick my box as heroic. They being, the resignations of President Richard Nixon, a Republican, and this year, Joe Biden, a Democrat.

The circumstances around each departure were very different. Nixon retired from his office as president, while Biden, as the Democratic Party nominee, stepped out of the presidential race, but both did so for the country's good.

Both Nixon and Biden had successful presidencies. Nixon was dynamic and perhaps a genius in foreign policy. He opened up the relationship with China, was the first president to meet with the leaders of the Soviet Union, and was responsible for détente between the two superpowers.

Ironically, his fall from grace occurred just a couple of months after he had visited the Middle East. He went from jubilation to humiliation in a matter of weeks as the Watergate saga unfolded at home in the courts and in Congress.

Faced with the likelihood of impeachment and against all of his instincts to fight on, he resigned, knowing that without the support of Congress, he was a loner. This is where the recognition that the most powerful job on Earth is the job of a servant to the people and the constitution of the US.

He preserved his integrity, and history is now allowed to judge him by what he contributed to the American cause. Yes, he had his flaws too and courted dictators, like one of his predecessors, Franklin D Roosevelt, who allegedly said of one of them, “He is a son of a b***h but he is our son of a b***h.”

Joe Biden made a tremendous personal sacrifice as the nominee of the Democratic Party by giving up that position. He was under no obligation to resign but yielded to the advice of his critics, who felt that, due to his age, he had lost his mental sharpness.

It became particularly obvious in his debate with former President Donald Trump. While some may argue he would have rebounded and come back stronger in the next debate, he bravely gave the position to Vice President Kamala Harris.

President Biden gave up rather than risk failure in a critical contest with Trump. He otherwise had a sterling career as a politician of over 50 years, eight of those years as a vice-president and four years as president, making him one of the longest of those serving in the White House.

It can only be said that he left for the good of the country and that he, too, saw himself as a servant. A servant who understands his role and, when their ability is compromised, makes way for someone better able to continue.

I contrast that with Trump, who was defeated in the 2020 presidential election, with 81 million voters rejecting him, but he refused to accept the result and still does.

Also, I compare that with many leaders, both foreign and local, who are unpopular today, yet go on ruling. It's the personality that does this. In my life, I have only been voted for or supported in any position of authority for two years and three years respectively, and the instant I lost that support, the record shows I resigned immediately with no hesitation.

That is because I honour the value of support and realise under any political construct the only currency that provides leaders with authority is visible support.

I am fortunate to have lived to be able to witness the two examples given. Naturally, we would long for local examples, and there are some mild examples, but the context is different. Sir John Swan gave up his premiership out of principle due to his failed independence referendum.

Another former United Bermuda Party premier, David Gibbons, also resigned during a period of labour strife, but, it will be argued, his decision was down to expediency. Dame Jennifer Smith’s exit was more of a coup d’état than a resignation.

Here we go once again, with the same ethical dilemma that will continue to face Bermuda, until the country has a meaning and something that its people can identify with and fight to uphold.

Until the country finds that something, Bermuda will always pump out mediocrity with leaders having no other cause than to fulfil their personal agendas.