President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he will not seek re-election, bringing a sudden and unexpected end to his storied political career.
The 81-year-old leader’s decision comes just four months before the election and is seen as a response to growing sentiment within his party that he is too frail to serve another term and is likely to lose to Donald Trump.
Biden, who won the presidency in 2020 with a razor-thin margin, has had a storied career spanning decades.
He began his political journey as a young lawyer.
He won a U.S. Senate seat in 1972, ousting longtime Republican incumbent Caleb Boggs.
Just 29 years old, Biden did not meet the Senate’s minimum age requirement of 30 at the time. He turned 30 a couple of weeks after his victory.
Before his life in politics was even underway, Joe Biden’s world was shattered by an unimaginable tragedy.
Just before he was sworn into the Senate in 1973, Biden’s wife Neilia and their 13-month-old daughter Naomi were killed in a devastating car accident. A tractor-trailer struck the family’s Chevy station wagon while they were out shopping for a Christmas tree, leaving Biden’s two young sons, Beau and Hunter, injured in the crash.
The loss was crushing for Biden, who was just 30 years old at the time. He was so shaken by the tragedy that he considered renouncing his Catholic faith and even thought of giving up his newly won Senate seat. The pain of his loss was still raw, and he struggled to come to terms with the sudden and senseless taking of his loved ones.
This personal tragedy would have a lasting impact on Biden’s life and career, shaping his perspective and empathy as a public servant. Despite the immense grief he endured, Biden persevered, finding solace in his role as a husband to Neilia’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, whom he married in 1977.
went on to serve 36 years in the U.S. Senate, where he chaired the powerful Judiciary Committee and presided over two of the most polarizing Supreme Court picks in U.S. history.
As vice president under Barack Obama, Biden was known for his loyalty and friendship with the former president. He pushed to be the last person in the room when Obama faced the most consequential decisions and was seen as a trusted confidant.
Despite his strong start as president, Biden’s final years in office have been marked by controversy and heartbreak. His son Hunter, who has struggled with addiction and legal troubles, faced criminal charges and is set to face another trial later this year.
The president’s family has also faced personal tragedy, including the death of his son Beau in 2015. Biden has spoken publicly about the pain of losing his children and has used his platform to advocate for grief support and mental health awareness.
Biden the old folk
Throughout his career, Biden has been known for his folksy, old-school persona, which has sometimes clashed with the more modern approach of younger politicians.
Despite these challenges, Biden remains a beloved figure among many Americans, who see him as a genuine and empathetic leader.
His decision to drop out of the re-election race is likely to send shockwaves through the Democratic Party and raise questions about the future of its leadership.
As he leaves office, Biden will be remembered for his resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. His legacy will be shaped by his efforts to build bipartisanship and pass landmark legislation on infrastructure, clean energy, and healthcare.
For now, Biden will finish his lame duck Presidency. When his term concludes on January 20, Biden will return home to Delaware, handing up leadership to a younger generation. If given the opportunity, he believed he could defeat Trump a second time.
