Losing a presidential election is tough for any candidate. It must be especially tough for a man who divides the world into “winners and losers,” and sees himself as a perpetual super-winner. Compounding this is that he has never lost anything in his life except a few law suits. 

So as expected, Trump is taking this defeat particularly hard, to the extent of denying reality. His greatest fear is being labeled, “loser.”

As usual, Trump is worries about the wrong things. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, “weak” or disgraceful about losing an election. Joe Biden has lost his share of elections. What’s important is the response. Let’s take a closer look at many previous good examples.

Adlai Stevenson lost the elections of 1952 and 1956 to Dwight Eisenhower. Apart from being the candidate with that hole in his shoe, he is remembered as a worthy, intelligent candidate. History looks favorably upon him.

Richard Nixon lost a close race to JFK in 1960. Even with some questionable results from Illinois, Nixon is remembered favorably for his concession speech, putting the country above himself and his Party. He went on to win two presidential elections of his own. His downfall in 1974 had absolutely nothing to do with his 1960 loss to JFK.

In 1964 Barry Goldwater lost a lopsided race to Lyndon Johnson. Goldwater is not remembered as a “loser,” but fondly characterized by Republicans as having set the stage for Ronald Reagan. 

Neither Hubert Humphrey in 1968, nor even George McGovern with his huge loss to Nixon in 1972, is remembered as a “loser” in the pejorative sense of the word.

After completing Nixon’s truncated second term, President Ford was defeated by Jimmy Carter in 1976. No one considers Gerald Ford as failure or a “loser.”

After one term that included some successes and some disappointments, including the Iranian hostage saga, Jimmy Carter lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Carter’s concession speech is considered a model of grace, decorum, and patriotism. Carter went on to become even more popular after his presidency than during his reign. He remains widely loved and admired to this day.

Walter Mondale got swept by Ronald Reagan in 1984. Michael Dukakis lost to George H.W. Bush in 1988, a race in which he had earlier been favored. Both Mondale and Dukakis conceded graciously. Mondale later ran for the vacant Senate seat left vacant by Paul Wellstone. Though defeated, Mondale is remembered as a successful Vice President.

This brings us to the presidency of George H. W. Bush and the election of 1992. This loss had to be especially excruciating, a successful president, considered near invincible, defeated by a then- unknown Governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton. But Bush’s concession speech was a model of patriotism, reflecting the peaceful transition of power in a democracy. No one, in any sense of the word, considers George H.W. Bush as a “loser.”

Moving on to 1996, absolutely no one denigrates Bob Dole as “a loser” because he lost to the popular Bill Clinton.

How about that election of 2000 during which Al Gore received more votes than George W. Bush. Again, Gore’s concession, abiding by that controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision, is considered to be a model of patriotism. Critics who don’t like Gore’s work on climate change still take some cheap shots at him. But he is remembered for his role in the peaceful transfer of power.

In the election of 2004, John Kerry also lost to George W. Bush. His concession speech was also graceful. This decorated combat veteran went on to become President Obama’s Secretary of State. No one with a positive IQ refers to Mr. Kerry as “a loser.”

This brings us to another combat veteran, John McCain. Being defeated by a freshman U.S. Senator from Illinois had to be a tough one for him. One could not have asked for a more gracious and patriotic concession speech than McCain gave to the nation’s first African-American president.

In 2012, it was Mitt Romney’s turn to concede in a race that many had expected him to win. Romney came through with what had long become expected, a gracious concession speech. Again, no one of rational persuasion considers Romney to be “a loser.” He continues to be an influential U.S. Senator.

All presidential races can get pretty rough. The 2016 race saw new lows. Donald Trump gave Secretary Clinton absolutely no respect, labeling her “Crooked Hillary,” while committing an un-American act of leading citizens in chants of “Lock her up.” Nevertheless, even though winning the popular vote, Secretary Clinton’s concession speech followed what the nation has come to expect. For the good of the country, she wished him success.

So now it’s President Trump’s turn to engage in the American tradition, an honorable concession speech and wishing his successor well—the hallmark of a functioning democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.

This would be difficult under any circumstances. But during his term Trump has set himself up to make it far more difficult than necessary. After President Obama graciously welcomed Trump to the White House, Trump responded by accusing Obama of “spying on him” during the campaign. He blamed Obama for a “weak economy,” which it was not. He even blamed his predecessor for leaving the country unprepared for an emergency such as a Pandemic. There was such a plan left with the NSA. Trump’s personnel threw it away.

But now the election is over. Past deeds can’t be changed. Trump may have a role in the future of the Republican Party. That’s up to the Republicans.

Will Trump be remembered as a “loser” in the pejorative sense of the word?

That’s totally up to him.

— John Waelti’s column appears every Saturday in the Times. He can be reached at jjwaeti1@tds.net