Checkup Finds President Biden Healthy; VP Harris Briefly In Power
Newsy
The oldest president in American history underwent his first routine physical in office.
President Joe Biden remains "healthy" and "vigorous" and fit for duty, but is showing some signs of aging, his doctor said Friday after the oldest president in American history underwent his first routine physical in office and — in a history-making moment — briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he underwent a colonoscopy.
Vice President Harris, the first woman, first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to be vice president, was — for one hour and 25 minutes — acting president while President Biden was under anesthesia.
Over more than five hours Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the president underwent a battery of blood, physical, gastrointestinal, dental, vision and neurological examinations. Dr. Kevin O'Connor, who has been President Biden's primary care physician since 2009, wrote in a six-page memo released by the White House that President Biden, who turns 79 on Saturday, "remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency."