With his gregarious, warm personality, Biden is suited to offer direct, smart counsel to the 44th president, as he has done for many other U.S. presidents.As added bonus, the working chemistry and mutual respect between Obama and Biden is excellent. For Americans concerned about Barack Obama's level of experience, Joe Biden's presence on the ticket added a large dose of gravitas.
Six-term Sen. Joseph Biden, Jr. of Delaware was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 when 29 years old, the youngest U.S. senator in modern history.
In January 2007, Biden declared his candidacy for the presidency, but dropped out of the race on January 3, 2008. On August 23, 2008, Barack Obama named Biden to be his vice presidential running mate.
Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 110th Congress (2007-08), is a gifted negotiator who has helped shape U.S. security and foreign relations policies for decades. He's a moderate Democrat who often bridges the bipartisan gap.
Recently Notable:
On January 7, 2007, Sen. Biden declared his candidacy for the presidential race. However, after garnering little support, Biden dropped out on January 3, 2008. On August 23, 2008, Barack Obama named Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate.
Other notability came during Senate hearings when he vehemently objected to the nomination of neocon John Bolton to be U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden led confirmation fights against Supreme Court nominees Robert Bork (not confirmed) and Clarence Thomas (confirmed).
Major Areas of Interest:
Senator Biden is one of the most respected Senate voices on foreign policy, civil liberties, crime and college aid/loan programs, and an avid supporter of AMTRAK.
Biden is a leader in fighting drug use and deterring drugs from entering the U.S. Biden has crafted many landmark federal crime laws, including the Violent Crime Control Act of 1994 and the Violence Against Women Act of 2000.
Senate Committees in the 110th Congress:
Committee on Foreign Relations, Chair
Committee on the Judiciary, Chair from 1987 to 1995
Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Victims' rights, ranking Democratic member
Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, co-chair
Senate NATO Observer group, co-chair
Senate National Security working group, co-chair
Congressional Firemens Caucus, co-chair
Congressional International Anti-Piracy caucus, co-chair
Congressional Air Force and National Guard caucuses
Prior Experience:
After earning a law degree in 1968, Biden worked as a fledgling attorney in Wilmington, Delaware for 4 years until his 1972 election to the Senate. From 1970-72, Biden was a member of the New Castle County, Delaware council. Senator Biden has been an adjunct professor of Constitutional law at Widener University School of Law since 1991.
Personal Data:
Birth - November 20, 1942 in Scranton, PA into a working-class, Irish-Catholic family
Education - BA in history, political science, University of Delaware; JD, Syracuse University Law School
Family - Married Jill Jacobs, a teacher, in 1977; 3 children: Joseph Jr. (b.1969), Robert (b.1970), Ashley (b. 1981); 5 grandchildren (See Joe Biden Marriage Profile)
Faith - Roman Catholic
He lives in his home state, and commutes daily to D.C. by AMTRAK. Young Joe Biden was a stutterer and was terrified to read aloud in class. He would memorize pages of books before class, to minimize stuttering in front of his peers.
First Marriage to Neilia Hunter:
Biden married college girlfriend Neilia Hunter in 1966. They had 3 children: Joseph "Beau" Jr., 1969, Robert Hunter, 1970 and Naomi, 1971. Biden was first elected on November 7, 1972.
On December 18, 1972 while shopping for a Christmas tree with the children, Neilia's car was hit by a truck. Neilia and Naomi died instantly. The boys were seriously injured. Devastated, Biden was persuaded to be sworn into the Senate, which he did at the bedsides of his two young sons.
A single parent until he remarried 5 years later, Biden commuted each day between Delaware and D.C., a practice he's continued for 36 years.
The Biden Persona:
Joe Biden is one of the most charismatic members of the Senate. He's described as gregarious, outspoken, colorful, informal and yet, distinguished. Reality is that he's a loyal Democrat with moderate ideological views who seeks bipartisan solutions.
The 1988 Presidential Race:
Senator Biden ran for the presidency in 1988, but aborted his effort when the rival Dukakis campaign found that Biden had delivered an Iowa speech in which part was taken from a British politician. Biden defended the speech, arguing that he had credited the Brit on an earlier occasion.
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