Own where you are, Mr. President. Live with it.

Follow this authorColbert I. King's opinions

Ah, that was then.

Little more than a year later, Mr. President, we are experiencing profound changes in the state of our union. We are seeing a Supreme Court, reconfigured by President Donald Trump, shaking our constitutional foundation. We are witnessing the resurgence of the twice-impeached, convicted-felon Trump as a future commander in chief.

And then there’s your personal situation. You are facing doubts from within your own party about whether you should continue to seek reelection following an abysmal performance in the first presidential debate.

Many are concerned about your fitness as a candidate. About whether you have the mental sharpness and physical ability not only to go head to head with Trump but also to competently take your case to the American people. And about whether you could handle the presidency for another four years should you win.

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I know you have heard calls to step aside. That hurts and infuriates, I’m sure. But this isn’t a matter of pride or your competitive instincts. The question for you, Mr. President, is whether your presence on the ticket, even if you tenaciously give it your all, will help or diminish the chances of keeping Trump out of the White House.

One thing hasn’t changed, Mr. President. I remain three years your senior. So, I have standing to ruminate on aging.

I don’t have to speculate. At 84, going on 85 in September, I’m ensconced in the late winter of life.

I don’t fake it. I use a walking stick not to convey strength and power but because I need it for balance. Nowadays, I’m not as sharp with names as I once was, and facts come to mind more slowly. And, yes, I often catch myself rambling on. I also find young, whip-smart know-it-alls boring and hard to take. I endure, not enjoy, meetings. My day also comes to a hard stop at 5 p.m. Please, no lecturing about my cocktail-hour ritual. The self-righteous should live so long.

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But I ain’t what I used to be, and neither are you, Mr. President. I retired from The Post’s Editorial Board in 2007. Now I’m on a glide path to my final exit.

Own where you are. Live with it. Recognize that you did the best you could with what you had.

And Mr. President, you did good.

What’s that “Gambler” song? “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know........

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