Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden
Adam Schultz · Public domain · source
Name	Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Office	47th Vice President of the United States
Term start	January 20, 2009
Term end	January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded	Dick Cheney
Succeeded	Mike Pence
Birth date	November 20, 1942
Birth place	Scranton, Pennsylvania
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Jill Biden
Children	Beau Biden; Hunter Biden; Naomi Biden

Vice President Joe Biden is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. A long-serving United States Senator from Delaware, he became known for work on foreign policy, criminal justice reform, and judiciary matters. Biden later ran for president in the 2020 United States presidential election and remained active in public life and advocacy.

Early life and education

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden was raised in a Catholic family with ancestral roots in Ireland. His family moved to Wilmington, Delaware during his childhood, where he attended Archmere Academy, a private Catholic school in Claymont, Delaware. Biden studied at University of Delaware earning a bachelor’s degree, then attended Syracuse University College of Law where he received a juris doctor. During his youth he was influenced by local figures such as Edward L. Nye and the political climate shaped by regional leaders like John J. Williams and national figures including John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Legal and early political career

After passing the Delaware Bar, Biden worked as an attorney at firms including Prickett, Jones & Elliott and engaged with civic institutions such as the New Castle County legal community. He served on the New Castle County Council, where he developed local policy experience interacting with officials from Delaware State University and regional actors like Sumner Redstone-era corporations and trade groups. During this period he forged relationships with party leaders in the Democratic National Committee and allied politicians such as Tom Carper and Joseph R. Biden Jr. became a candidate for the United States Senate following the retirement of J. Caleb Boggs.

U.S. Senate (1973–2009)

Elected to the United States Senate in 1972, Biden represented Delaware for 36 years, serving on influential panels including the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As a senator he worked with colleagues such as Ted Kennedy, Arlen Specter, John McCain, Richard Lugar, and Hillary Clinton on legislation impacting Supreme Court confirmations, notably during hearings for nominees like Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. Biden co-sponsored laws including the Violence Against Women Act with advocates like Biden and activists from groups such as NOW and partnered with prosecutors from Department of Justice initiatives. On foreign affairs he engaged with leaders including Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Iraq War policymakers like Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz, and diplomats tied to crises in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Iraq. Biden authored reports and amendments related to arms control involving entities like NATO and negotiated measures connected to treaties such as the START I accords. He made presidential bids in 1988 and 2008 before being selected as Barack Obama’s running mate.

Vice Presidency (2009–2017)

As Vice President of the United States, Biden chaired task forces on issues including economic recovery and engaged with leaders such as Tim Geithner, Larry Summers, Ben Bernanke, and Paulson-era figures on financial stabilization. He co-led the Administration’s responses to the Great Recession alongside Barack Obama, working with congressional leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and with policy advisors from institutions including the Carter Center and Brookings Institution. On foreign policy he joined high-level meetings with Afghanistan and Pakistan officials, consulted with Leon Panetta and Robert Gates, and participated in summits with Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. Biden emphasized initiatives on cancer research and led the Cancer Moonshot effort collaborating with National Institutes of Health and advocates like Biden’s family. He influenced judicial nominations, supported legislation such as the Affordable Care Act with allies like Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi, and represented the administration at state functions involving figures from United Nations assemblies and NATO meetings.

Post-vice-presidential activities and 2020 presidential campaign

After leaving office, Biden engaged with academia at institutions such as University of Pennsylvania and maintained ties with organizations including the Obama Foundation and United Nations forums. He campaigned for Democrats including Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, and his post-vice-presidential work included partnerships with groups such as Amtrak advocates and veterans’ organizations like VA-affiliated groups. In 2019 he launched a campaign for the 2020 United States presidential election, competing against candidates including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, and Michael Bloomberg. Biden secured the Democratic nomination with delegates and endorsements from leaders like Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Stacey Abrams, and Jim Clyburn, then faced Donald Trump in the general election.

Political positions and legacy

Biden’s record spans bipartisan work on crime with figures like Biden supporting measures such as the 1994 Crime Bill alongside Biden’s Senate colleagues, foreign-policy engagement with NATO expansion advocates, and advocacy for middle-class policies intersecting with proposals from Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. His legacy involves controversy and praise: critics reference positions during the 1994 Crime Bill debates and the Iraq War era, while supporters cite achievements like the Affordable Care Act passage and the Paris Agreement engagement. Biden’s public profile includes collaborations with cultural figures such as Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand on fundraising and with legal scholars from Harvard Law School and Yale Law School on judicial matters. Awards and honors include recognitions from institutions such as Amnesty International affiliates and ceremonies at the United States Capitol and various universities.

Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Vice Presidents of the United States Category:United States senators from Delaware