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Joseph R. Biden

Vice President (since January 2009)

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(Marvin Joseph/TWP)

Why He Matters

Biden prides himself on being an average Joe. He grew up in a middle-class home in Scranton, Pa., and was a mediocre student in college and law school. He has never bought a house in Washington, D.C., instead taking the train home each night to Delaware.

But this everyman is also a bona fide Washington insider - he has spent more than half of his life in the nation's capital. The six-term Senator and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees is famous for his cringe-inducing gaffes and propensity for wordiness. But colleagues say he is a gifted legislator who knows how to get laws passed. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) called him "a superb strategist" who has sponsored landmark anti-crime legislation, overseen two Supreme Court nominations and shaped a slew of foreign policy issues.

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Biden making West Point commencement speech | Weekend campaign schedule

The presidential candidates will lay low Friday and for most of the holiday weekend, while the vice president has a handful of official events.

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Minimum wage workers must labor 9,095 years to match top CEO’s annual $137 million pay

WASHINGTON — David Simon of Simon Property received a pay package worth more than $137 million for last year, and the typical CEO took home $9.6 million, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

Joe Biden headlines fundraiser for Tim Kaine

Vice President Biden attends a fundraiser for U.S. Senate hopeful Tim Kaine in McLean.

Biden is a team player

(Jim Cole / AP)

He should be rewarded for his loyalty.

 
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THE RACE: Obama seeking to minimize Romney’s job qualifications without alienating business

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President Barack Obama has to tread carefully in targeting Republican rival Mitt Romney’s business resume.

Obama releases two new TV ads in Virginia

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At a Glance

  • Career History: U.S. Senator (1972 to 2008); New Castle County Council, Member (1970 to 1972); Attorney (1968 to 1970)
  • Birthday: Nov. 20, 1942
  • Hometown: Scranton, PA.
  • Alma Mater: University of Delaware, B.A., 1965; Syracuse Law School, J.D., 1968
  • Spouse: Dr. Jill Biden
  • Religion: Roman Catholic
  • Office: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500; 202-456-1111
  • Website
 

Path to Power

Biden was born on Nov. 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pa., the oldest of four children. His father suffered a series of business setbacks that eventually forced the family to move in with Biden's grandparents.

The Bidens moved to the suburbs of Wilmington, Del., when Biden was a teenager. There, he practiced speeches night after night with his sister Valerie Biden Owens to get over a stutter. Valerie also ran her brother's first political campaign - for student council president - which he won. Biden wasn't a gifted student in high school, but he was an outstanding athlete.

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The Issues

In a series of interviews with the New Yorker, Biden sketched out his vision for the vice presidency. He says he would like to play a role in all key policy decisions and serve as chief liaison to Congress.

Six months in, that has largely turned out to be the case. Biden was tasked with convincing six Republicans to support the administration's economic stimulus package. He was able to convince three to do so, which made the difference between passage and failure. In February 2009, Obama named Biden to oversee the implementation of the $787 billion economic stimulus package.

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The Network

Biden's three decades in the Senate have allowed him to develop close ties with many fellow Senators. He called Christopher J. Dodd, (D-Conn.) his "closest personal friend in public life" and said he has known Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband President Bill Clinton for more than 20 years. The three are quite close - Clinton once told Biden: "I think you and Bill were separated at birth."

He and Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass) have also been called best friends.

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Additional Resources

  1. Simon, Roger, "Joe Biden and the Mouth that Soars," Politico, Feb. 19, 2007
  2. Smith, Ben, "Specter Switches Parties," Politico, April 28, 2009
  3. "Obama Taps Biden to Oversee Stimulus Package Implementation," FOX News, Feb. 23, 2009
  4. Broder, John, "Hanging on to Biden's Every Word," New York Times, Sept. 12, 2008
  5. Broder, John, "As Running Mate, Biden Offers Foreign Policy Heft but an Insider Image," New York Times, Aug. 18, 2008
  6. Rosen, Jeffrey, "The Myth of Biden v. Bork," New York Times, Aug. 27, 2008
  7. Murray, Shailagh, "Familiar Faces at Biden's Side," Washington Post, July 21, 2007
  8. Lizza, Ryan, "Biden's Brief: Obama picked his running mate to help him govern," New Yorker, Oct. 20, 2008
  9. Baily, Holly, "Biden's New Brief," Newsweek, June 26, 2009
  10. Nicholas, Peter and Richter, Paul, "Despite fumbles, Biden's a Player," Los Angeles Times, Aug. 18, 2009
  11. Cooper, Helene, "For Biden, No Portfolio but the Role of a Counselor," New York Times, Nov. 26, 2008
  12. Lizza, Ryan, "Biden's Brief: Obama picked his running mate to help him govern," New Yorker, Oct. 20, 2008
  13. Farrell, Joelle, "A noun, a verb, and 9/11," Concord Monitor, Nov. 1, 2007
  14. Crowley, Michael, "Hawk Down," The New Republic, Sept. 24, 2009
  15. Nicholas, Peter and Richter, Paul, "Despite fumbles, Biden's a Player," Los Angeles Times, Aug. 18, 2009
  16. Broder, John, "Father's Tough Life an Inspiration for Biden," New York Times, Oct. 24, 2008
  17. Dionne Jr., E. J.,"Biden Withdraws from Bid for President in Wake of Furor," New York Times, Sept. 24, 1987
  18. Macomber, Shawn, "The Fifth Nag of the Apocalypse," American Spectator, Jan. 2, 2008
  19. Change.gov Website
  20. Baker, Peter, "How Obama Came to Plan for a Surge in Afghanistan," New York Times, Dec. 5, 2009
  21. Obama Taps Biden to Oversee Stimulus Package Implementation," FOX News, Feb. 23, 2009
  22. Bumiller, Elisabeth, "Biden Campaigning With Ease After Hardships," New York Times, Dec. 14, 2007
  23. Bosman, Julie. "'Amtrak Joe' No More," New York Times, Nov. 23, 2008
  24. Lizza, Ryan, "Biden's Brief: Obama picked his running mate to help him govern," New Yorker, Oct. 20, 2008