Joe Biden
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| Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1973 Serving with Tom Carper |
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| Preceded by | J. Caleb Boggs |
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| Born | November 20, 1942 Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Neilia Hunter (deceased) Jill Tracy Jacobs |
| Residence | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Alma mater | University of Delaware Syracuse University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Joe Biden |
Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, Delaware. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the incumbent senior U.S. Senator from Delaware. Biden is currently serving his sixth term and is sixth-longest serving among current Senators (fourth among Democrats) and Delaware's longest-serving Senator. He is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. Biden has served in that position in the past, and he has served as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. He was a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election, but dropped out after a poor performance in the Iowa caucuses on January 3, 2008.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and family
Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph R. Biden, Sr. and Catherine Eugenia Finnegan.[1] He was the first of four siblings and proudly identifies with his Irish Catholic heritage.[2][3] Joe has two brothers, James Brian Biden and Francis W. Biden; and a sister, Valerie Biden (Owens).[4] The Biden family moved to Delaware when Biden was 10 years old, and he grew up in suburban New Castle County, Delaware, where his father was a car salesman. In 1961, Biden graduated from Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware and, in 1965, from the University of Delaware in Newark. He then attended Syracuse University College of Law, graduated in 1968, and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1969.[5][6][7]
In 1966, while in law school, Biden married Neilia Hunter. They had three children, Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, Robert Hunter, and Naomi. His wife and infant daughter died in a car accident shortly after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured in the accident, but both eventually made full recoveries. Biden was sworn into office from their bedside. Persuaded not to resign in order to care for them, Biden began the practice of commuting an hour and a half each day on the train from his home in the Wilmington suburbs to Washington, DC, which he continues to do.
In 1977, Biden married Jill Tracy Jacobs. They have one daughter, Ashley, and are members of the Roman Catholic Church. In February 1988, Biden was hospitalized for two brain aneurysms which kept him from the Senate for seven months.
Biden's elder son, Beau, was a partner in the Wilmington law firm of Bifferato, Gentilotti, Biden & Balick, LLC and was elected Attorney General of Delaware in 2006. He is a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, where he serves in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. Biden's younger son, Hunter, works as a lawyer in Washington, DC, serves on the board of directors of Amtrak, and previously worked in the Commerce Department.
Since 1991, Biden has also served as an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, where he teaches a seminar on constitutional law.
[edit] United States Senator
- See also: List of current United States Senators
In 1969, Biden began practicing law in Wilmington, Delaware, and was soon elected to the New Castle County, County Council, where he served from 1970 to 1972. The 1972 U.S. Senate election presented Biden with a unique opportunity. Popular Republican incumbent Senator J. Caleb Boggs was considering retirement, which would likely have left U.S. Representative Pete du Pont and Wilmington Mayor Harry G. Haskell, Jr. in a divisive primary fight. To avoid that, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon was invited to a meeting to convince Boggs to run again with full Republican support. Boggs ran, but Biden eventually won.[8]
Biden took office on January 3, 1973, at age 30, becoming the fifth-youngest U.S. Senator in United States history. He has since won additional terms easily, defeating James H. Baxter, Jr. in 1978, John M. Burris in 1984, M. Jane Brady in 1990, and Raymond J. Clatworthy in 1996 and 2002, usually with about 60 percent of the vote. He is now the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Delaware history. He is an advocate for Amtrak, the Dover Air Force Base, and the downstate chicken processing industry.[citation needed]
[edit] 110th Congress
Biden serves on the following committees in the 110th U.S. Congress:[citation needed]
- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, (Chairman)
- As Chairman of the full committee Biden is an ex officio member of each subcommittee.
- U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Caucus on International Narcotics Control (Co-Chairman)
For a comprehensive accounting of Biden's voting record see Project Vote Smart[9] and other material noted in the Reference section.
[edit] Judiciary Committee
Biden is a long-time member of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, which he chaired from 1987 until 1995 and served as ranking minority member from 1981 until 1987 and again from 1995 until 1997. In this capacity, he dealt with issues related to drug policy, crime prevention, and civil liberties. While chairman, Biden presided over two of the most contentious U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings: Robert Bork in 1987 and Clarence Thomas in 1991.[10]
Biden has been involved in crafting many federal crime laws over the last decade, including the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, also known as the Biden Crime Law. He also authored the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA), which contains a broad array of measures to combat domestic violence and provides billions of dollars in federal funds to address gender-based crimes. Although part of this legislation later was struck down as unconstitutional, it was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005. In March 2004, Biden enlisted major American technology companies in diagnosing the problems of the Austin, Texas-based National Domestic Violence Hotline, and to donate equipment and expertise to it.[11][12][13]
As chairman of the International Narcotics Control Caucus, Biden wrote the laws that created the nation's "Drug Czar," who oversees and coordinates national drug control policy. In April 2003 he introduced the controversial Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act, also known as the RAVE Act. He continues to work to stop the spread of "date rape drugs" such as Rohypnol, and drugs such as Ecstasy and Ketamine. In 2004 he worked to pass a bill outlawing steroids like androstenedione, the drug used by many baseball players.[14]
Biden's legislation to promote college aid and loan programs allows families to deduct on their annual income tax returns up to $10,000 per year in higher education expenses. His "Kids 2000" legislation established a public/private partnership to provide computer centers, teachers, Internet access, and technical training to young people, particularly to low-income and at-risk youth.[15]
Throughout his career Biden has vehemently opposed tort reform, while continuously joining Senate Republicans to support stricter bankruptcy laws.[16]
[edit] Foreign Relations Committee
Biden is also a long-time member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In 1997, he became the ranking minority member and chaired the committee from June 2001 through 2003. His efforts to combat hostilities in the Balkans in the 1990s brought national attention and influenced presidential policy: traveling repeatedly to the region, he made one meeting famous by calling Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic a "war criminal." He consistently argued for lifting the arms embargo, training Bosnian Muslims, investigating war crimes and administering NATO air strikes. Biden's subsequent "lift and strike" resolution was instrumental in convincing President Bill Clinton to use military force in the face of systematic human rights violations.[citation needed] Biden has also called on Libya to release political prisoner Fathi Eljahmi.[17]
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Biden was supportive of the Bush administration's efforts, calling for additional ground troops in Afghanistan and agreeing with the administration's assertion that Saddam Hussein needed to be eliminated. The Bush administration rejected an effort Biden undertook with Senator Richard Lugar to pass a resolution authorizing military action only after the exhaustion of diplomatic efforts. In October 2002, Biden voted for the final resolution to support the war in Iraq. He has long supported the Bush administration's war effort and appropriations to pay for it, but has argued repeatedly that more soldiers are needed, the war should be internationalized, and the Bush administration should "level with the American people" about the cost and length of the conflict.[18]
In November 2006, Biden and Leslie Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, released a comprehensive strategy to end sectarian violence in Iraq. Rather than continuing the present approach or withdrawing, the plan calls for "a third way": federalizing Iraq and giving Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis "breathing room" in their own regions.[19]
[edit] Presidential campaigns
[edit] 1984
Biden entered the 1984 race, but failed to gain traction. He earned one delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention, finishing behind winner Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, Jesse Jackson, Thomas Eagleton, George McGovern, and John Glenn, and tying Martha Kirkland.[20]
[edit] 1988
In 1987, Joe Biden ran as a Democratic presidential candidate. When the campaign began, he was considered a frontrunner because of his moderate image. However, the campaign ended when he was accused of plagiarizing a speech by Neil Kinnock, then-leader of the British Labour Party. Though Biden had correctly credited the original author in all speeches but one, the one where he failed to make mention of the originator was caught on video. In the video Biden is filmed repeating a stump speech by Kinnock, with only minor modifications. “Why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go a university? Why is it that my wife . . . is the first in her family to ever go to college? Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright? . . . Is it because they didn't work hard? My ancestors who worked in the coal mines of northeast Pennsylvania and would come after 12 hours and play football for four hours? It's because they didn't have a platform on which to stand.” After Biden withdrew from the race it was learned that he had correctly credited Kinnock on other occasions. He failed to do so, however, in the Iowa speech that was recorded and distributed to reporters (with a parallel video of Kinnock) by aides to Michael Dukakis, the eventual nominee. Dukakis fired John Sasso, his campaign manager and long-time Chief of Staff, but Biden's campaign could not recover.[21][22]
Biden earned two delegates to the 1988 Democratic National Convention, finishing behind winner Michael Dukakis, Jesse Jackson, and Richard Stallings; tying Dick Gephardt; and ahead of Lloyd Bentsen and Gary Hart.[23]
[edit] 2004
In 2003, Biden considered joining the Democratic field of candidates for the 2004 presidential race but decided otherwise, saying he did not have enough time to cultivate a sufficient fundraising base. Some thought Biden a possible running mate for presidential candidate John Kerry, but Biden urged Kerry to select Republican Senator John McCain instead.[24] Biden also had been widely discussed as a possible U.S. Secretary of State in a Democratic administration.[25]
[edit] 2008
- See also: Political positions of Joe Biden
Biden declared his candidacy for president on January 31, 2007, although he had discussed running for months prior.[26] In the January 23, 2006 edition of The News Journal, Delaware's largest daily newspaper, columnist Harry F. Themal reported that Biden "occupies the sensible center of the Democratic Party." Themal concludes that this is the position Biden desires, and that in a campaign "he plans to stress the dangers to the security of the average American, not just from the terrorist threat, but from the lack of health assistance, crime, and energy dependence on unstable parts of the world." He goes on to quote Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen as saying that Biden's candidacy might be endangered by his "manic-obsessive running of the mouth." This foreshadowed Biden's embarassing gaffe when he commented on fellow Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Biden was quoted on January 31, 2007 as saying: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, I mean, that's a storybook, man." His comments took second place on Time Magazine's list of Top 10 Campaign Gaffes for 2007.
It has been speculated that Biden would accept the position of Secretary of State because of his foreign policy experience and credentials.[27] However, Biden has rejected the notion outright, saying "Under no administration will I accept the job of Secretary of State" and claimed to be focused only on the presidency. At a 2007 campaign event, Biden said, "I know a lot of my opponents out there say I'd be a great Secretary of State. Seriously, every one of them. Do you watch any of the debates? 'Joe's right, Joe's right, Joe's right.'"[28] Other candidates commenting that "Joe is right" in the Democratic debates was converted into a Biden campaign theme and ad.[29]
Biden was noted for his one-liners on the campaign trail, saying of then-Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani at the October 30, 2007, debate in Philadelphia, "There's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, and a verb and 9/11."[30]
On January 3, 2008, during the Iowa caucuses, Biden announced that he would be dropping out of the presidential race when over half of the precincts were tallied in which he only captured 1% of Iowa's delegates behind Barack Obama, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Richardson. He is now instead running for a 7th Senate term.
Biden's name has been mentioned in some circles as a possible vice presidential pick for either Obama or Clinton. [31] However, Biden has stated numerous times that he is not interested in a VP spot with either candidate. If a Democrat wins the general election, Biden is considered a major candidate for the Cabinet position of Secretary of State, a position he was seemingly going to have if John Kerry had won the 2004 election.[32] On May 30, 2008, it was reported by the Washington Times that likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama he was asked to play a "more prominent" and "deeply involved" role in his campaign, with some speculating that Biden is on Obama's shortlist of vice presidential candidates..[33]
[edit] Almanac
[edit] Positions
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Strom Thurmond |
Judiciary Committee (Chairman) January 4, 1987 – January 3, 1995 |
Succeeded by Orrin Hatch |
| Preceded by Jesse Helms |
Foreign Relations Committee (Chairman) June 1, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
Succeeded by Richard G. Lugar |
| Preceded by Richard G. Lugar |
Foreign Relations Committee (Chairman) January 4, 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| Public Offices | ||||||
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| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Term began | Term ends | notes |
| County Council | Legislature | Wilmington | 1970 | January 4, 1971 | January 3, 1973 | "4th" District |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1972 | January 3, 1973 | January 3, 1979 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1978 | January 3, 1979 | January 3, 1985 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1984 | January 3, 1985 | January 3, 1991 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1990 | January 3, 1991 | January 3, 1997 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 1996 | January 3, 1997 | January 3, 2003 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | 2002 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2009 | |
[edit] Electoral history
| Election results | ||||||||||||
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| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 1970 | County Councilman | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 10,573 | 55% | Lawrence T. Messick | Republican | 8,192 | 43% | ||
| 1972 | U.S. Senator | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 116,006 | 50% | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 112,844 | 49% | ||
| 1978 | U.S. Senator | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 93,930 | 58% | James H. Baxter, Jr. | Republican | 66,479 | 41% | ||
| 1984 | U.S. Senator | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 147,831 | 60% | John M. Burris | Republican | 98,101 | 40% | ||
| 1990 | U.S. Senator | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 112,918 | 63% | M. Jane Brady | Republican | 64,554 | 36% | ||
| 1996 | U.S. Senator | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 165,465 | 60% | Raymond J. Clatworthy | Republican | 105,088 | 38% | ||
| 2002 | U.S. Senator | General | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 135,253 | 58% | Raymond J. Clatworthy | Republican | 94,793 | 41% | ||
[edit] Works
- Administration’s Missile Defense Program and the ABM Treaty: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, December 2004) ISBN 0-7567-1959-3
- Examining The Theft Of American Intellectual Property At Home And Abroad: Hearing before the Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, May 2004) ISBN 0-7567-4177-7
- Hearings to Examine Threats, Responses, and Regional Considerations Surrounding Iraq: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, November 2003) ISBN 0-7567-2823-1
- Strategies for Homeland Defense: A Compilation by the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, September 2003) ISBN 0-7567-2623-9
- Putin Administration's Policies toward Non-Russian Regions of the Russian Federation: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, September 2003) ISBN 0-7567-2624-7
- Threat of Bioterrorism and the Spread of Infectious Diseases: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, September 2003) ISBN 0-7567-2625-5
- How Do We Promote Democratization, Poverty Alleviation, and Human Rights to Build a More Secure Future: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, June 2003) ISBN 0-7567-2478-3
- Political Future of Afghanistan: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, January 2003) ISBN 0-7567-3039-2
- International Campaign Against Terrorism: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, January 2003) ISBN 0-7567-3041-4
- Halting the Spread of HIV/AIDS: Future Efforts in the U.S. Bilateral & Multilateral Response: Hearings before the Comm. on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate edited by Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, 2002) ISBN 0-7567-3454-1
- Hague Convention On International Child Abduction: Applicable Law And Institutional Framework Within Certain Convention Countries Report To The Senate by Jesse Helms, Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Diane Publishing, April 2000) ISBN 0-7567-2250-0
- Homeland security law and policy edited by William C. Nicholson with a foreword by Joseph Biden (C. C Thomas, c2005)
[edit] Environmental Records
Joe Biden has had a consistent record on the environment. He has co-sponsored two bills including the “Sense of the Senate” resolution calling the United States to be a part of the United Nations climate negotiations and the “Boxer-Sanders Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act” the most stringent climate bill in the United States Senate. [34] He has voted yes for banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas and voted no for drilling ANWR on national security grounds and defunding renewable and solar energy. [35] Mr. Biden says as president his top priority would be "energy security." He has also been quoted as saying "If I could wave a wand, and the Lord said I could solve one problem, I would solve the energy crisis." [36]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ancestry of Joe Biden
- ^ Meet Joe Biden [1]
- ^ A Tribute to an Irish Mother [2]
- ^ Joe Biden biography [3]
- ^ Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [4]
- ^ Delaware’s Senators [5]
- ^ Barone, Michael & Richard E. Cohen. The Almanac of American Politics, p. 376.
- ^ Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, DE: Grapevine Publishing, 199.
- ^ Project Vote Smart - Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. - Voting Record
- ^ Barone, Michael & Richard E. Cohen. The Almanac of American Politics, p. 377.
- ^ History of the Violence Against Women Act [6]
- ^ Making connections to end Domestic Violence [7]
- ^ Barone, Michael & Richard E. Cohen. The Almanac of American Politics, p. 377.
- ^ Barone, Michael & Richard E. Cohen. The Almanac of American Politics, p. 377.
- ^ Kids 2000 Program [8]
- ^ The Left Coaster [9]
- ^ Biden Renews Call for Release of Libyan Political Prisoner [10]
- ^ Barone, Michael & Richard E. Cohen. The Almanac of American Politics, p. 378.
- ^ Iraq, A Way Forward [11]
- ^ Our Campaigns - US President - Democratic Convention race - July 16, 1984
- ^ "Offers Briton His Talks `Without Attribution' Biden Meets Kinnock, but He's Not Speechless", Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Calif.: Jan 12, 1988. pg. 2
- ^ Joseph Biden's Plagiarism; Michael Dukakis's 'Attack Video' – 1988 [12]
- ^ Our Campaigns - US President - Democratic Convention race - July 18, 1988
- ^ McCain urged to join Kerry ticket, Reuters MSNBC (May 16, 2004) [13].
- ^ Times Online [14]
- ^ Biden Stumbles at the Starting Gate - washingtonpost.com
- ^ http://www.observer.com/2007/candidate-secretary-state
- ^ FOXNews.com - Biden Won't Serve As Secretary of State - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum
- ^ YouTube - Joe is Right
- ^ Concord Monitor - 'A noun, a verb and 9/11'
- ^ [15]
- ^ Hirsh, Michael (2008-05-22). Secretary of State Biden?. Newsweek. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
- ^ Murray, Mark (2008-05-30). http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/30/1083566.aspx. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ Grist Jan 3, 2008 retrieved May 4, 2008 http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/08/29/biden_factsheet/
- ^ On the Issues retrieved May 4, 2008 http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Joe_Biden.htm#Energy_+_Oil
- ^ Grist Jan 3, 2008 Retrieved May 4, 2008 http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/08/29/biden/
[edit] References
- Barone, Michael; Richard E. Cohen (2005). Almanac of American Politics. Washington: National Journal Group. ISBN 0-89234-112-2.
- Boyer, William W. (2000). Governing Delaware. Newark, DE: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-721-7.
- Peirce, Neil R.; Michael Barone (1977). Mid-Atlantic States of America. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 0-393-05541-8.
- Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, DE: Grapevine Publishing.
[edit] Images
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [16]
[edit] External links
- Presidential campaign
- Joe Biden Presidential Campaign Website
- Joe Biden '08 Blog
- Joe Biden's presidential campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Joe Biden's presidential campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
- Washington Post Presidential Field
- Senate
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
- Informational
- Book tour information for Joe Biden
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Joe Biden profile
- The Political Graveyard
Joe Biden at the Open Directory Project
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware, 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
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