Joe Biden Then and Now

Joe Biden Then

Joe Biden was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, into a Catholic family. 

His upbringing was marked by early challenges as his family struggled financially during his childhood. 

In the 1950s, the economy in Scranton declined, and his father, unable to find steady work, moved the family to Delaware. 

There, his father found employment as a used car salesman, allowing the family to regain some financial stability. 

These early experiences of hardship and resilience deeply shaped Biden’s worldview, instilling in him a deep connection to working-class Americans and a commitment to improving their lives.

In his high school years, Biden demonstrated leadership and athleticism, joining the football team and being elected class president. These formative years laid the foundation for his later public service. 

After high school, Biden attended the University of Delaware, where he pursued a double major in history and political science. 

He balanced his academic studies with playing college football and graduated in 1965. 

His interest in politics began to grow during these years, setting him on a path toward a long career in public service.

Following his undergraduate education, Biden attended Syracuse University College of Law, earning his law degree in 1968. 

However, his time in law school was not without controversy, as he was accused of plagiarism in one of his papers. This incident became a point of criticism later in his political career. 

During his time as a student, Biden also received deferments from the military draft during the Vietnam War. 

Once he graduated, he became eligible for service again but received a medical deferment for asthma, despite having been active in sports throughout his life. 

This deferment would later spark debates about his military service, although it did not impede his rising political career.

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Joe Biden’s Political Career

After graduating from law school, Joe Biden began his legal career as a law clerk, gaining early experience in the field. 

He quickly moved on to work as a public defender, representing those who could not afford legal counsel, which deepened his commitment to public service.

 Soon after, Biden established his own law firm, further cementing his place within the legal community. 

His entry into politics came in 1969 when he successfully ran for a seat on the New Castle County Council in Delaware. 

This marked the beginning of his political journey, and from the start, he set his ambitions high. 

Almost immediately after his win, Biden began to consider higher office, particularly a run for the U.S. Senate. In 1972, at just 29 years old, Biden decided to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware. 

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Despite being a political newcomer and facing a well-established incumbent, he ran a highly effective grassroots campaign, ultimately securing a surprise victory. At age 30, he became one of the youngest senators in U.S. history. 

His early success in the Senate marked the start of a long and distinguished career in public office, where he developed a reputation for his work on foreign relations, criminal justice reform, and his commitment to bipartisanship. 

However, after nearly 15 years in the Senate, Biden’s ambition shifted toward the presidency.

In 1987, Biden made his first bid for the Democratic nomination for president. While he was initially seen as a strong contender, his campaign faltered when he was accused of plagiarizing a speech from British politician Neil Kinnock. 

The controversy, compounded by other campaign missteps, led to his withdrawal from the race. 

Biden returned to the Senate, where he continued to build his legacy over the following decades.

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In 2008, Biden sought the Democratic nomination once again, but his campaign faced significant challenges, including controversial comments he made about Barack Obama and Indian Americans. 

Additionally, Biden struggled to raise sufficient funds and was overshadowed by the high-profile campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 

Despite these setbacks, Biden’s experience and foreign policy expertise impressed Obama, who eventually selected him as his running mate. 

Biden went on to serve as vice president from 2009 to 2017, focusing on issues like economic recovery and foreign policy. 

After a period away from public office, Biden re-entered the national political stage, becoming the Democratic nominee for president in 2020, a campaign that culminated in his election as the 46th President of the United States.

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Joe Biden’s Wife and Children

In 1966, Joe Biden married Neilia Hunter, a pivotal figure in his early personal and political life. 

Together, they had three children: Joseph “Beau” Biden III, Robert Hunter Biden, and Naomi Biden. However, tragedy struck in December 1972, shortly after Joe’s election to the U.S. Senate. 

Neilia and their one-year-old daughter, Naomi, were involved in a fatal car accident while out Christmas shopping. 

Neilia and Naomi were killed instantly, while Beau and Hunter were severely injured but survived. 

This devastating event nearly led Biden to give up his Senate seat, but he was convinced to continue his public service while commuting daily from Delaware to Washington to care for his sons.

In 1975, a few years after the accident, Biden’s life took a positive turn when he met Jill Jacobs on a blind date arranged by Joe’s brother. The two quickly developed a strong connection, and they married in June 1977.

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Jill became an integral part of Joe’s family, stepping into the role of mother to Beau and Hunter. Together, they also had one daughter, Ashley Biden, born in 1981. 

Jill, a lifelong educator, has supported Biden throughout his career and has been a stabilizing presence in his personal life, helping him navigate through the numerous challenges they faced together. 

Biden often credits Jill with helping him rebuild his life after the tragic loss of Neilia and Naomi.

Joe Biden’s family has always been central to his public image, and he has maintained a close bond with his children and grandchildren. 

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In total, Biden has seven grandchildren, who frequently appear with him during public events and campaigns, further reinforcing his image as a family man.

Tragedy struck again in 2015 when Biden’s eldest son, Beau, passed away from brain cancer at the age of 46. 

Beau, a decorated Iraq War veteran and former attorney general of Delaware, was seen as a rising star in politics, with many speculating that he would follow in his father’s footsteps. 

His death was a profound loss for Biden, and he has often spoken about the impact Beau’s life and legacy had on him. 

Despite the personal hardships, Biden’s resilience and dedication to his family have remained a central theme throughout his life and political career.

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Joe Biden Now

At 81 years old, Joe Biden holds the distinction of being the oldest sitting president in U.S. history. 

His presidency, which began in 2021, has been marked by a variety of accomplishments and challenges, but throughout, questions regarding his age and health have been frequently raised by both the media and his political opponents. 

During the 2020 presidential election, former President Donald Trump and other critics expressed concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities, pointing to his age as a potential obstacle to effectively carrying out the duties of the presidency. 

Despite these critiques, Biden won the 2020 election and successfully took office as the 46th president.

In April 2023, Biden announced his intention to seek reelection, launching his campaign for the 2024 presidential race. 

Despite his age, he quickly gained traction as the presumptive Democratic nominee after securing a majority of delegates in the party’s primaries. 

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However, his age remained a focal point of discussion, particularly following his performance in the first presidential debate on June 27, 2024. 

Observers noted visible signs of fatigue and other health concerns during the debate, which reignited public discourse around whether Biden was fit for another term.

Amid mounting pressure, Biden made the unprecedented decision to withdraw from the race in July 2024, becoming the first U.S. president to do so after securing enough delegates to win renomination. 

His withdrawal was primarily motivated by concerns about his age and declining health, acknowledging that it was in the best interest of the country for him to step aside. 

In his withdrawal announcement, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee, fully backing her bid to succeed him in the White House. 

This decision marked a historic moment in U.S. politics, as Biden prioritized the future leadership of the Democratic Party while recognizing the physical limitations of his advancing age.

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Joe Biden’s Net Worth

Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, has an estimated net worth of $10 million, accumulated through a combination of his long political career, book deals, speaking engagements, and teaching positions.

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