Joseph R. Biden Jr.
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| Joseph R. Biden Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Name | Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
| Birth date | November 20, 1942 |
| Birth place | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Neilia Hunter (m. 1966; d. 1972), Jill Biden (m. 1977) |
| Children | Beau Biden, Hunter Biden, Naomi Biden |
| Alma mater | University of Delaware, Syracuse University College of Law |
| Office | 46th President of the United States |
| Term start | January 20, 2021 |
| Predecessor | Donald Trump |
| Prior office | 47th Vice President of the United States; United States Senator from Delaware |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. is an American politician and public official who became the 46th President of the United States in 2021 after a long career in the United States Senate and two terms as 47th Vice President of the United States under Barack Obama. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, he served as a U.S. Senator for Delaware from 1973 to 2009, chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, and led major legislative initiatives on crime, violence against women, and foreign policy. His presidency has focused on responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, climate change policy, and international relations including responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Early life and education
Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Finnegan Biden and Joseph R. Biden Sr.; his family later moved to Wilmington, Delaware where he attended Archmere Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware and a juris doctor from the Syracuse University College of Law. During his youth he was influenced by Catholic figures such as Pope John XXIII and public servants like John F. Kennedy, and he drew on experiences in Neonatal care advocacy following family tragedies involving his first wife Neilia Hunter and daughter Naomi Biden.
Legal and early political career
After passing the Delaware Bar, Biden worked as an attorney in Wilmington, Delaware and served on the New Castle County Council. He ran for United States Senate in 1972, drawing on support from state leaders including Pete du Pont and national figures in the Democratic Party. His early political network included interactions with figures such as Hubert Humphrey, Ed Muskie, and local activists connected to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
U.S. Senate (1973–2009)
Elected in 1972, Biden became one of the youngest United States Senators and served six terms, joining colleagues such as Ted Kennedy, Strom Thurmond, and Robert Byrd. He served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the hearings for Supreme Court nominees including Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, and as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during debates over interventions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Kosovo War, and post-9/11 policy involving Afghanistan and Iraq. Biden sponsored the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the Violence Against Women Act, worked with senators like Arlen Specter and Orrin Hatch on crime legislation, and participated in bipartisan initiatives with John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Chuck Hagel on national security. He was involved in diplomacy with leaders including Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Tony Blair, and Hamid Karzai and helped shape treaties such as discussions around the Chemical Weapons Convention and arms control talks with Russia. Biden's Senate career intersected with events like the Iran–Contra affair, the Clinton impeachment, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and he authored works on foreign policy and law alongside scholars from Harvard University and Georgetown University.
Vice Presidency (2009–2017)
Selected as Barack Obama's running mate in 2008, Biden served two terms as Vice President of the United States partnering with cabinet officials including Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Joe Biden's advisers such as Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod. He played roles in the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, energy initiatives involving Department of Energy leadership like Steven Chu, and oversight of policy toward Iraq and Afghanistan in coordination with General David Petraeus and Robert Gates. Biden led the administration's efforts on the Cancer Moonshot with figures like Candace Johnson and engaged with congressional leaders including Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell on budget and appropriations negotiations. He represented the United States at summits such as the G20 and met with international counterparts including Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
2020 presidential campaign and 2021 inauguration
Biden announced his 2020 presidential campaign after serving as a prominent voice in the Democratic Party and secured the nomination following primaries against candidates like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar. His platform emphasized pandemic response, economic relief tied to proposals discussed with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-aligned progressives and centrists like Joe Manchin, climate action connected to the Paris Agreement, and restoring alliances with NATO partners including Germany and France. Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate; the ticket defeated incumbent Donald Trump and Mike Pence in the 2020 election. He was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, in a ceremony attended by officials such as Chief Justice John Roberts and witnesses including former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, amid events tied to the aftermath of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
Presidency (2021–present)
As president, Biden has overseen legislation including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with congressional negotiation involving Chuck Schumer and Kevin McCarthy. His administration rejoined the Paris Agreement, pursued nominations to the Supreme Court and federal judiciary in coordination with Senate Judiciary Committee leaders, and issued executive actions on COVID-19 pandemic response with guidance from Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biden's foreign policy addressed the Afghanistan withdrawal, responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine including sanctions coordinated with the European Union and G7, and strategic competition with China over matters involving Taiwan and trade with frameworks shaped alongside allies like Japan and South Korea. His administration advanced climate initiatives through agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and cabinet members like John Kerry as special envoy, implemented economic measures to address inflation in coordination with Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve, and managed domestic policy debates on infrastructure, voting rights tied to the For the People Act, and immigration in coordination with Department of Homeland Security officials including Alejandro Mayorkas. Biden's presidency continues to evolve amid legal, political, and international developments involving figures such as Rudy Giuliani, Robert Mueller, William Barr, and ongoing interactions with congressional leaders and state governors like Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis.