Joe Biden

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Joe Biden
Official portrait, 2021
Joe Biden
BornJoseph Robinette Biden Jr.
20 11, 1942
BirthplaceScranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, attorney
Known for46th President of the United States, 47th Vice President of the United States, U.S. Senator from Delaware
EducationSyracuse University (J.D.)
Spouse(s)Neilia Hunter (m. 1966; died 1972), Jill Jacobs (m. 1977)
Children4
AwardsPresidential Medal of Freedom (2017)

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who served as the 46th president of the United States from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Biden's career in public service spans more than five decades, beginning with his election to the New Castle County Council in 1970 and his subsequent election to the United States Senate in 1972, when he became one of the youngest people ever elected to that body. He represented Delaware in the Senate for 36 years before serving as the 47th vice president of the United States under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Biden was elected president in 2020, defeating incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. During his presidency, Biden signed major legislation addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure, manufacturing, and climate change. He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Following concerns about his age and health during the 2024 presidential campaign, Biden withdrew from the race. After leaving office in January 2025, Biden disclosed a diagnosis of aggressive Stage 4 prostate cancer.[1]

Early Life

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[2] He was the eldest of four children in a Catholic family. Biden spent his early childhood in Scranton before his family relocated to Claymont, Delaware, where his father found work. Biden has spoken publicly about struggling with a stutter as a child, an impediment he worked to overcome through years of practice, including reciting poetry in front of a mirror.

Biden's mother, Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Finnegan Biden, was of Irish descent and died in 2010 at the age of 92.[3] Biden was raised in a Roman Catholic household and became the first Catholic vice president of the United States upon taking office in 2009.[4]

Biden grew up in a middle-class family, and the themes of economic struggle and resilience that characterized his upbringing became central elements of his political identity throughout his career. His family's move from Pennsylvania to Delaware shaped his political trajectory, as it was in Delaware that Biden would build his entire electoral career.

Education

Biden attended Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware, where he played football and was active in student life. He went on to attend the University of Delaware in Newark, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965 with a double major in history and political science.[2]

Biden then enrolled at the Syracuse University College of Law in Syracuse, New York, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1968.[2] After completing his law degree, Biden was admitted to the Delaware bar and began practicing law in Wilmington, Delaware, while simultaneously becoming involved in local politics.

Career

Early Political Career and Election to the Senate

Biden began his political career when he was elected to the New Castle County Council in 1970, representing a traditionally Republican district. Just two years later, at the age of 29, Biden ran for the United States Senate against incumbent Republican J. Caleb Boggs. Biden won the election and, upon turning 30 before his swearing-in (the constitutionally mandated minimum age for senators), became one of the youngest people ever elected to the Senate.[2]

Weeks after his election, tragedy struck the Biden family. On December 18, 1972, Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and their one-year-old daughter, Naomi, were killed in an automobile accident. His two sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured but survived. Biden considered not taking his Senate seat, but was ultimately persuaded to serve. He was sworn in at the hospital bedside of his injured sons in January 1973. For years afterward, Biden commuted daily by Amtrak train between his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., a routine that became one of the defining images of his early Senate career.

United States Senate (1973–2009)

Biden served in the United States Senate for 36 years, representing the state of Delaware from January 3, 1973, to January 15, 2009.[2] During his tenure, he held several prominent committee positions that placed him at the center of major domestic and foreign policy debates.

Biden served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1995. In this capacity, he oversaw six United States Supreme Court confirmation hearings, including the contentious hearings for Robert Bork in 1987 and Clarence Thomas in 1991. The Bork hearings were notable for the Senate's rejection of the nominee, while the Thomas hearings drew national attention for the testimony of Anita Hill, who accused Thomas of sexual harassment.

As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Biden played a central role in drafting and securing passage of two major pieces of legislation. He was the principal author of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a comprehensive crime bill that included provisions for increased police funding, expanded federal crimes, and a federal assault weapons ban. Biden also authored the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), landmark legislation that established new legal protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Biden also served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during two separate periods: briefly in 2001, from 2001 to 2003, and again from 2007 to 2009. In this role, he was deeply involved in shaping American foreign policy. Biden opposed the Gulf War in 1991 but voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002, authorizing the use of military force against Iraq—a vote he later expressed regret over.

Throughout his Senate career, Biden developed a reputation for bipartisan negotiation and expertise in foreign affairs and criminal justice policy. He was re-elected to the Senate six consecutive times, serving as one of Delaware's longest-tenured senators.

Presidential Campaigns of 1988 and 2008

Biden first sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988. His campaign gained initial traction but collapsed after revelations that he had used passages from a speech by British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock without attribution. Biden withdrew from the race in September 1987.[5]

Biden launched a second presidential campaign in 2007, seeking the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.[6] The campaign struggled to gain traction in a field that included Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and Biden withdrew after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.

Vice Presidency (2009–2017)

In August 2008, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama selected Biden as his running mate for the 2008 presidential election. The Obama-Biden ticket won the general election, and Biden was inaugurated as the 47th vice president of the United States on January 20, 2009, succeeding Dick Cheney. He served two full terms as vice president, from 2009 to 2017.

Biden served as a close counselor to President Obama throughout their time in office. He was assigned significant policy portfolios, including oversight of the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Obama administration's primary response to the Great Recession. Biden also played a key role in negotiations with congressional Republicans on fiscal matters, drawing on relationships he had developed during his long Senate tenure.

In foreign policy, Biden was an influential voice within the Obama administration on matters including the troop surge in Afghanistan, the intervention in Libya, and relations with Iraq. He traveled extensively as vice president and served as a diplomatic envoy on numerous occasions.

In 2015, Biden's eldest son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer at the age of 46. The loss was a profound personal blow and was among the factors Biden cited in his decision not to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. At the end of his vice presidency, President Obama awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation's highest civilian honor, in a surprise ceremony in January 2017.

2020 Presidential Election

Biden announced his candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in April 2019. After a slow start in the early primary contests, Biden's campaign was revitalized by a decisive victory in the South Carolina primary on February 29, 2020. The result triggered a rapid consolidation of moderate Democratic support behind his candidacy. On Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020, Biden won ten of the fourteen states that voted, effectively securing a commanding delegate lead.[7]

Biden selected Senator Kamala Harris of California as his running mate, making her the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for vice president by a major party. In the November 2020 general election, Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump, receiving more than 81 million votes—the most in American presidential election history at that time. Biden won 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232.

Presidency (2021–2025)

Domestic Policy

Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021, with Kamala Harris serving as his vice president—the first woman, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to hold the office.

One of Biden's first major legislative achievements was the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package designed to address the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recession. The legislation included direct payments to Americans, expanded unemployment benefits, funding for vaccine distribution, and aid to state and local governments.

Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, a bipartisan bill that allocated approximately $1.2 trillion for transportation, broadband, and utility infrastructure improvements. Biden had proposed the more ambitious Build Back Better Act, which encompassed social spending and climate provisions, but the bill stalled in the Senate after Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced he could not support the plan.[8]

Elements of the Build Back Better Act were subsequently incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in August 2022. The legislation included significant investments in clean energy and climate change mitigation, provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, and measures aimed at reducing the federal deficit. Biden also addressed climate concerns through executive actions, including measures related to extreme heat protections.[9]

Biden also signed the CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan legislation designed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research. Taken together, the infrastructure, climate, and manufacturing legislation represented a significant expansion of federal investment in domestic industry and clean energy.[10]

Judicial Appointments

Biden made judicial appointments a priority during his presidency, with a focus on diversifying the federal bench. He nominated a significant number of judges to federal courts during his first two years in office, with an emphasis on demographic and professional diversity.[11]

In January 2022, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement.[12] Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the vacancy, fulfilling a campaign pledge to appoint the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Jackson was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in on June 30, 2022.[13]

Clemency and Pardons

In the latter years of his presidency, Biden exercised his clemency powers on multiple occasions. In December 2023, he issued pardons and commutations related to marijuana and drug offenses, part of a broader effort to address disparities in the criminal justice system.[14] In December 2024, Biden issued additional commutations and pardons as his presidency drew to a close.[15] Some of these clemency decisions proved controversial; one individual who received clemency, Oscar Freemond Fowler III, was subsequently taken back into custody on state charges in Florida.[16]

Foreign Policy

Upon taking office, Biden moved to reenter the Paris Agreement on climate change, from which the Trump administration had withdrawn. He also enacted the New Atlantic Charter with the United Kingdom, reaffirming the transatlantic alliance.

Biden oversaw the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, ending America's longest war after nearly two decades. The withdrawal was marked by chaos at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport and the rapid seizure of control by the Taliban, leading to significant criticism of the administration's execution of the withdrawal.

When Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Biden responded by imposing sweeping economic sanctions on Russia and authorizing military and financial aid to Ukraine. He requested and signed a $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan in April 2024.[17] Biden had previously requested congressional funding for both Ukraine and Israel in October 2023.[18]

During the Gaza war that began in October 2023 following attacks by Hamas, Biden condemned the actions of Hamas as terrorism and expressed strong support for Israel. The administration also sent limited humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. A temporary ceasefire proposal backed by Biden was adopted shortly before the end of his presidency.

Age and Health Concerns and 2024 Withdrawal

Throughout his presidency, Biden faced persistent scrutiny regarding his age and cognitive fitness. He became the first sitting president to turn 80 years old while in office. Biden initially sought re-election and, after the 2024 Democratic primaries, became the party's presumptive nominee. However, after a widely criticized performance in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, concerns about his age intensified from across the political spectrum. Biden subsequently made the decision to withdraw from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

Personal Life

Biden married his first wife, Neilia Hunter, in 1966. The couple had three children: Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, Robert Hunter Biden, and Naomi Christina Biden. In December 1972, Neilia and Naomi were killed in an automobile accident, and Beau and Hunter were seriously injured. Biden raised his two sons as a single father for several years while serving in the Senate.

Biden married Jill Tracy Jacobs in 1977. Together they have one daughter, Ashley Biden. Jill Biden became an educator and continued teaching throughout Biden's vice presidency and presidency, holding a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Delaware.

Biden's eldest son, Beau Biden, served in the Delaware National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq, and was elected Attorney General of Delaware. He died of brain cancer on May 30, 2015, at age 46. Biden has spoken extensively about the impact of his family tragedies on his personal life and political career.

Biden is a practicing Roman Catholic and attended Mass regularly throughout his time in public office. He was the second Catholic to be elected president of the United States, after John F. Kennedy.

Following his departure from the presidency in January 2025, Biden disclosed that he had been diagnosed with aggressive Stage 4 prostate cancer. As of February 2026, Biden and his aides have projected optimism about his treatment, though some close friends have expressed concern about increased fatigue related to his cancer battle.[19][20]

Recognition

In January 2017, President Barack Obama awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during a surprise ceremony at the White House. The award is the highest civilian honor in the United States, and the "with Distinction" designation is rarely bestowed.

Biden's legislative legacy includes authorship of the Violence Against Women Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, both of which had significant and lasting impacts on American criminal justice and civil rights law. The Violence Against Women Act has been reauthorized multiple times since its original passage.

Biden's appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in 2022 was recognized as a historic milestone, as Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court.[21]

Biden's emphasis on judicial diversity during his presidency resulted in a historically diverse set of federal judicial appointments, reshaping the composition of the federal judiciary.[22]

His legislative record during his first two years in office—including the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act—was described as a productive period for the Democratic legislative agenda despite narrow congressional majorities.[23]

Legacy

Biden's political career, spanning more than half a century, places him among the longest-serving public officials in American history. He is one of only a few individuals to have served in the Senate, as vice president, and as president. His career arc—from the youngest senator in the country to the oldest president in American history—mirrors significant changes in American politics and the Democratic Party.

Biden's Senate career was defined by his work on criminal justice, foreign relations, and bipartisan legislating. The Violence Against Women Act remains one of the most cited legislative accomplishments of any modern senator, having expanded legal protections and services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

As vice president, Biden was credited with playing a substantive policy role, in contrast to the more ceremonial functions historically associated with the office. His close partnership with President Obama was frequently cited as a model for the modern vice presidency.

Biden's presidency was marked by the passage of major legislation addressing the pandemic, infrastructure, climate change, and domestic manufacturing. His administration oversaw a period of significant economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession, though public dissatisfaction with inflation—which peaked at 9.1 percent in June 2022—contributed to declining approval ratings throughout his term.

In foreign affairs, Biden's presidency was shaped by the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the management of the Israel-Hamas conflict. His approach to the Ukraine crisis, including extensive military and financial support, represented a significant commitment of American resources to European security.

Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race marked the first time a sitting president eligible for re-election chose not to seek a second term since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. His subsequent cancer diagnosis has drawn public attention and expressions of concern from across the political spectrum.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Biden, aides project optimism in cancer fight, but some close friends worry".The Washington Post.2026-02-23.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/23/biden-prostate-cancer-worry/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "BIDEN, Joseph Robinette, Jr.".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000444.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Catherine Biden, VP's Mom, Dead At 92".NPR.2010-01-08.https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/01/catherine_biden_vps_mom_dead_a.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "The First Catholic Vice President".NPR.2009-01.https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2009/01/the_first_catholic_vice_presid.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Biden's Road to Senate Leadership".NPR.https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14999603.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Sen. Biden Joins 2008 Presidential Fray".NPR.https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12389154.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "5 Takeaways From Super Tuesday And Joe Biden's Big Night".NPR.2020-03-04.https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Joe Manchin Says He Cannot Support Biden's Build Back Better Plan".NPR.2021-12-19.https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065636709/joe-manchin-says-he-cannot-support-bidens-build-back-better-plan.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Biden Extreme Heat Climate".NPR.2023-07-27.https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1190435892/biden-extreme-heat-climate.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Despite Infighting, It's Been A Surprisingly Productive 2 Years For Democrats".NPR.2023-01-01.https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1143149435/despite-infighting-its-been-a-surprisingly-productive-2-years-for-democrats.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Biden Federal Judges Nominations Diverse".NPR.2021-12-28.https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067206141/biden-federal-judges-nominations-diverse.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Justice Stephen Breyer Supreme Court Retires".NPR.2022-01-26.https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075781724/justice-stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retires.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court Oath Swearing In".NPR.2022-06-30.https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1108714345/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-oath-swearing-in.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Biden Pardons Clemency Marijuana Drug Offenses".NPR.2023-12-22.https://www.npr.org/2023/12/22/1221230390/biden-pardons-clemency-marijuana-drug-offenses.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Biden Commutations Pardons".NPR.2024-12-12.https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5226683/biden-commutations-pardons.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "'Dangerous career criminal' Oscar Fowler back in custody after Biden clemency".New York Post.2026-02-23.https://nypost.com/2026/02/23/us-news/repeat-offender-oscar-fowler-back-in-custody-after-biden-clemency/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Biden Signs $95 Billion Military Aid Package For Ukraine, Israel And Taiwan".NPR.2024-04-24.https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1246839045/biden-signs-95-billion-military-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Biden Ukraine Israel Congress Funding Request".NPR.2023-10-20.https://www.npr.org/2023/10/20/1206301577/biden-ukraine-israel-congress-funding-request.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Biden, aides project optimism in cancer fight, but some close friends worry".The Washington Post.2026-02-23.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/23/biden-prostate-cancer-worry/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Biden friends voice concern over increased fatigue amid cancer battle: report".Fox News.2026-02-24.https://www.foxnews.com/us/joe-biden-friends-concern-increased-fatigue-battles-cancer-report.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court Oath Swearing In".NPR.2022-06-30.https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1108714345/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-oath-swearing-in.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Biden Federal Judges Nominations Diverse".NPR.2021-12-28.https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067206141/biden-federal-judges-nominations-diverse.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Despite Infighting, It's Been A Surprisingly Productive 2 Years For Democrats".NPR.2023-01-01.https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1143149435/despite-infighting-its-been-a-surprisingly-productive-2-years-for-democrats.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Allies are worried about the toll prostate cancer is taking on former president Biden: report".The Independent.2026-02-23.https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-prostate-cancer-allies-worry-b2925802.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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