Joe Biden: Difference between revisions

Biden's father had been wealthy and the family purchased a home in the affluent Long Island suburb of [[Garden City, New York|Garden City]] in the fall of 1946,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The New Yorker|date=August 15, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|first=Adam|last=Entous|title=The Untold History of the Biden Family|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/22/the-untold-history-of-the-biden-family|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825154155/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/22/the-untold-history-of-the-biden-family|url-status=live}}</ref> but he suffered business setbacks around the time Biden was seven years old,<ref>{{cite news |last=Russell |first=Katie |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Joe Biden's family tree: how tragedy shaped the US president-elect |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/joe-biden-family-tree-children-ashley-hunter/ |access-date=December 1, 2020 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108150352/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/joe-biden-family-tree-children-ashley-hunter/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="promises2008">{{cite book |last1=Biden |first1=Joe |title=Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics |date=2008 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-8129-7621-2 |pages=16–17}}</ref>{{sfn|Witcover|2010|pp=7–8}} and for several years the family lived with Biden's maternal grandparents in Scranton.<ref name="nyt-father">{{Cite news |last=Broder |first=John M. |date=October 23, 2008 |title=Father's Tough Life an Inspiration for Biden |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/us/politics/24biden.html |access-date=October 24, 2008 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108082045/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/us/politics/24biden.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Scranton fell into economic decline during the 1950s and Biden's father could not find steady work.<ref name="ap-scranton">{{Cite news |last=Rubinkam |first=Michael |date=August 27, 2008 |title=Biden's Scranton childhood left lasting impression |publisher=[[Fox News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug27/0,4670,CVNBidenapossScrantonRoots,00.html |access-date=September 7, 2008 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185424/https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug27/0,4670,CVNBidenapossScrantonRoots,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning in 1953 when Biden was ten,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/05/21/trump-biden-scranton-pennsylvania-deserted-delaware/ |title=Joe Biden, who left Scranton at 10, 'deserted' Pennsylvania |last=Farzan |first=Antonia Noori |date=May 21, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105045522/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/05/21/trump-biden-scranton-pennsylvania-deserted-delaware/ |url-status=live}}</ref> the family lived in an apartment in [[Claymont, Delaware]], before moving to a house in nearby [[Mayfield, Delaware]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Jennifer |title=Joe Biden's houses |work=Homes and Gardens |date=January 20, 2021 |url=https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/joe-biden-house |accessdate=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918200800/https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/joe-biden-house |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Newman |first=Meredith |title=How Joe Biden went from 'Stutterhead' to senior class president |newspaper=[[The News Journal]] |date=June 24, 2019 |url=https://eu.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/06/24/how-joe-biden-overcame-stutter-class-president-archmere-high-school/1261174001/ |accessdate=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103124946/https://eu.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/06/24/how-joe-biden-overcame-stutter-class-president-archmere-high-school/1261174001/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="promises2008" /><ref name="nyt-father" /> Biden Sr. later became a successful [[used-car salesman]], maintaining the family in a middle-class lifestyle.<ref name="nyt-father" /><ref name="ap-scranton" /><ref name="aap08-bio">''Almanac of American Politics'' 2008, p. 364.</ref>

A few weeks after Biden was elected senator, his wife Neilia and one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in an automobile accident while Christmas shopping in [[Hockessin, Delaware]], on December 18, 1972.<ref name="ap-timeline" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 19, 1972 |title=Biden's Wife, Child Killed in Car Crash |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/19/archives/bidens-wife-child-killed-in-car-crash.html |page=9 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |agency=United Press International |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202063824/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/19/archives/bidens-wife-child-killed-in-car-crash.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Neilia's station wagon was hit by a semi-trailer truck as she pulled out from an intersection. Their sons Beau (aged 3) and Hunter (aged 2) were in the car and were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Beau with a broken leg and other wounds and Hunter with a minor skull fracture and other head injuries.{{sfn|Witcover|2010|pp=93, 98}} Biden considered resigning to care for them,<ref name="aap08-bio" /> but [[Senate Majority Leader]] [[Mike Mansfield]] persuaded him not to.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levey |first=Noam M. |date=August 24, 2008 |title=In his home state, Biden is a regular Joe |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-biden24-story.html |access-date=September 7, 2008 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230125100/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-biden24-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden contemplated suicide and was filled with anger and religious doubt.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Max |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Biden says he thought about suicide after 1972 death of his wife and daughter |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/biden-contemplated-suicide-after-1972-deaths-wife-daughter-397487 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721183748/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/biden-contemplated-suicide-after-1972-deaths-wife-daughter-397487 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bedigan |first=Mike |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Biden opens up about contemplating suicide after tragic deaths of first wife and daughter |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-suicide-howard-stern-b2535629.html |access-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430031830/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-suicide-howard-stern-b2535629.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He wrote that he "felt God had played a horrible trick" on him<ref>Biden, ''Promises to Keep'', p. 81</ref> and had trouble focusing on work.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bumiller |first=Elisabeth |author-link=Elisabeth Bumiller |date=December 14, 2007 |title=Biden Campaigning With Ease After Hardships |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/us/politics/14biden.html |access-date=September 13, 2008 |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210154755/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/us/politics/14biden.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2007 |title=On Becoming Joe Biden |work=[[Morning Edition]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12389154 |access-date=September 12, 2008 |archive-date=September 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909093445/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12389154 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden met teacher [[Jill Tracy Jacobs]] in 1975 on a [[blind date]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Seelye |first=Katharine Q. |date=August 24, 2008 |title=Jill Biden Heads Toward Life in the Spotlight |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/us/politics/25wife.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210193454/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/us/politics/25wife.html |archive-date=December 10, 2008}}</ref> They married at the [[Church Center for the United Nations|United Nations chapel]] in New York on June 17, 1977,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dart |first=Bob |date=October 24, 2008 |title=Bidens met, forged life together after tragedy |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |agency=[[Cox News Service]] |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2008-10-24-a3bidenwife24-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020153208/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2008-10-24-a3bidenwife24-story.html |archive-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>Biden, ''Promises to Keep'', p. 117.</ref> and spent their honeymoon at [[Lake Balaton]] in the [[Hungarian People's Republic]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://444.hu/2020/11/08/biden-es-felesege-1977-ben-a-balatonnal-voltak-naszuton | title=Biden és felesége 1977-ben a Balatonnál voltak nászúton |last=Sarkadi |first= Zsolt | work=444.hu | date=November 8, 2020 | access-date=November 8, 2020 | language=hu | archive-date=November 8, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108225640/https://444.hu/2020/11/08/biden-es-felesege-1977-ben-a-balatonnal-voltak-naszuton | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54868002 | title=US election: What does Joe Biden's win mean for Brexit Britain and Europe? | author-first=Katya | author-last=Adler | work=BBC News | date=November 8, 2020 | access-date=November 9, 2020 | archive-date=November 10, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110014205/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54868002 | url-status=live}}</ref> Biden credits her with the renewal of his interest in politics and life.<ref>Biden, ''Promises to Keep'', p. 113.</ref> The couple attends Mass at [[St. Joseph's on the Brandywine]] in [[Greenville, Delaware]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Parishioners not surprised to see Biden at usual Mass |last=Gibson|first=Ginger |newspaper=[[The News Journal]] |date=August 25, 2008 |page=A.12 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/delawareonline/access/1742751081.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601093036/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/delawareonline/access/1742751081.html?FMT=ABS |archive-date=June 1, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yuan |first=Jada |date=October 28, 2021 |title=Jill Biden paid a surprise visit to the woman who helped her regain faith in God |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/10/18/jill-biden-lost-faith/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306230305/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/10/18/jill-biden-lost-faith/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stravinskas |first=Peter M.J. |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Some questions about the Bidens' 1977 Catholic wedding |work=[[The Catholic World Report]] |url=https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/01/27/some-questions-about-the-bidens-1977-catholic-wedding/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-date=March 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305141036/https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/01/27/some-questions-about-the-bidens-1977-catholic-wedding/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1981, the couple had a daughter, [[Ashley Biden]].<ref name="ap-timeline" /> She is a social worker and married to physician [[Howard Krein]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/fashion/weddings/ashley-biden-howard-krein-wedding.html |title=Ashley Biden and Howard Krein |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 3, 2012 |page=ST15 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101001405/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/fashion/weddings/ashley-biden-howard-krein-wedding.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Jill helped raise her stepsons, Hunter and Beau, who were seven and eight respectively at the time of her marriage. Hunter has worked as a Washington lobbyist and investment adviser; his business dealings, [[Hunter Biden laptop controversy|personal life]], and [[Weiss special counsel investigation|legal troubles]] have come under [[United States House Oversight Committee investigation into the Biden family|significant scrutiny]] during his father's presidency.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwartz |first=Emma |date=August 24, 2008 |title=My Son, The Lobbyist: Biden's Son a Well-Paid DC Insider |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5640118&page=1 |access-date=January 4, 2023 |agency=ABC News |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104005221/https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5640118&page=1 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Levenson |first=Michael |date=August 11, 2023 |title=A Timeline of Hunter Biden's Life and Legal Troubles |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/us/politics/hunter-biden-legal-troubles-timeline.html |access-date=September 28, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928092007/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/us/politics/hunter-biden-legal-troubles-timeline.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Beau became an Army [[judge-advocate]] in Iraq and later [[Delaware attorney general]];<ref>{{cite news|access-date=August 23, 2008 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121919956426355701|title=Biden's Foreign Policy Background Carries Growing Cachet |last=Cooper |first=Christopher |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 20, 2008 |page=A4 |archive-date=June 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601130450/https://online.wsj.com/article/SB121919956426355701.html |url-status=live}}</ref> he died of brain cancer in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vice-president-joe-bidens-son-beau-dies-n367171 |first=Phil |last=Helsel |title=Beau Biden, Son of Vice President Joe Biden, Dies After Battle With Brain Cancer |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=May 31, 2015 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122170447/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vice-president-joe-bidens-son-beau-dies-n367171 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Kane |date=May 31, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Family losses frame Vice President Biden's career |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/beau-biden-vice-presidents-son-dies-of-brain-cancer-at-46/2015/05/31/4198da78-07c6-11e5-9e39-0db921c47b93_story.html |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230125058/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/beau-biden-vice-presidents-son-dies-of-brain-cancer-at-46/2015/05/31/4198da78-07c6-11e5-9e39-0db921c47b93_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden became [[ranking minority member]] of the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]] in 1981. He was a Democratic floor manager for the successful passage of the [[Comprehensive Crime Control Act]] in 1984. His supporters praised him for modifying some of the law's worst provisions, and it was his most important legislative accomplishment to that time.<ref name="cby-44">''Current Biography Yearbook 1987'', p. 44.</ref> In 1994, Biden helped pass the [[Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act]], which included [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban|a ban on assault weapons]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Fifield |first=Anna |date=January 4, 2013 |title=Biden faces key role in second term |newspaper=[[Financial Times]]|url=https://www.ft.com/content/412f47b0-5694-11e2-aad0-00144feab49a |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210720074130/https://www.ft.com/content/412f47b0-5694-11e2-aad0-00144feab49a|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Scherer |first=Michael |date=January 16, 2013 |title=America's New Gunfight: Inside the Campaign to Avert Mass Shootings |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]| url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/01/16/americas-new-gunfight-inside-the-campaign-to-avert-mass-shootings/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081050/https://swampland.time.com/2013/01/16/americas-new-gunfight-inside-the-campaign-to-avert-mass-shootings/ |archive-date=January 3, 2021}} Cover story.</ref> and the [[Violence Against Women Act]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Finley|first=Bruce|date=September 19, 2014|title=Biden: Men who don't stop violence against women are "cowards"|newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2014/09/19/biden-men-who-dont-stop-violence-against-women-are-cowards/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013133013/https://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_26568257/vice-president-biden-denver-discuss-domestic-violence-issues|archive-date=October 13, 2015|access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> which he has called his most significant legislation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Domestic Violence|url=https://biden.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=975b0cf4-ce25-42cc-b63d-072fb81e8618|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822144642/https://biden.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=975b0cf4-ce25-42cc-b63d-072fb81e8618|archive-date=August 22, 2008|access-date=September 9, 2008|publisher=[[United States Senate|Biden senate website]]}}</ref> The 1994 crime law was unpopular among progressives and criticized for resulting in mass incarceration;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Herndon |first=Astead W. |date=January 21, 2019 |title=On King Holiday, Democrats Convey Hope, Remorse and Invective Against Trump |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/us/politics/biden-crime-bill-regrets.html |access-date=January 21, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110162903/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/us/politics/biden-crime-bill-regrets.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Jonathan|last1=Martin|first2=Alexander|last2=Burns|date=January 6, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-president.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110163104/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/us/politics/joe-biden-2020-president.html|title= Biden in 2020? Allies Say He Sees Himself as Democrats' Best Hope|url-status=live|archive-date=November 10, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2021|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> in 2019, Biden called his role in passing the bill a "big mistake", citing its policy on [[crack cocaine]] and saying that the bill "trapped an entire generation".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schor |first1=Elana |last2=Kinnard |first2=Meg |title=Biden says he regrets 1990s crime bill, calls it a 'big mistake' at MLK Day event |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/01/21/biden-says-he-regrets-1990-s-crime-bill-calls-big-mistake-mlk-day-event/2639190002/ |access-date=July 20, 2021 |newspaper=[[The News Journal]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=January 21, 2019 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704120222/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/01/21/biden-says-he-regrets-1990-s-crime-bill-calls-big-mistake-mlk-day-event/2639190002/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden voted for a 1993 provision that deemed homosexuality incompatible with military life, thereby banning gay people from serving in the armed forces.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Epstein |first1=Reid J. |last2=Lerer |first2=Lisa |date=September 20, 2019 |title=Joe Biden Has Tense Exchange Over L.G.B.T.Q. Record |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/us/politics/lgbt-forum-2020.html |access-date=April 15, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416100800/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/us/politics/lgbt-forum-2020.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Del Real |first=Jose A. |title=Sanders attacks Biden's record on gay rights and women's issues |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-calls-biden-my-friend-then-he-goes-on-the-attack/2020/03/08/20a23f86-60d0-11ea-9055-5fa12981bbbf_story.html |date=March 8, 2020 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308233903/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-calls-biden-my-friend-then-he-goes-on-the-attack/2020/03/08/20a23f86-60d0-11ea-9055-5fa12981bbbf_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, he voted for the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, thereby barring individuals in such marriages from equal protection under federal law and allowing states to do the same.<ref name="NYT Biden Evolution on LGBTQ">{{Cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |last2=Kaplan |first2=Thomas |date=June 21, 2020 |title=Behind Joe Biden's Evolution on L.G.B.T.Q. Rights |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/us/politics/biden-gay-rights-lgbt.html |access-date=January 4, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601215617/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/us/politics/biden-gay-rights-lgbt.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the act was ruled unconstitutional in ''[[Obergefell&nbsp;v. Hodges]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=de Vogue |first1=Ariane |last2=Diamond |first2=Jeremy |title=Supreme Court rules states must allow same-sex marriage |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/index.html |date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627065146/https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden was critical of [[United States Office of the Independent Counsel|Independent Counsel]] [[Ken Starr]] during the 1990s [[Whitewater controversy]] and [[Lewinsky scandal]] investigations, saying "it's going to be a cold day in hell" before another independent counsel would be granted similar powers.<ref>''Almanac of American Politics'' 2000, p. 372.</ref> He voted to acquit during the [[impeachment of President Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news |date=February 12, 1999 |title=How the senators voted on impeachment |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081326/https://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/ |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> During the 2000s, Biden sponsored bankruptcy legislation sought by credit card issuers.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] vetoed the bill in 2000, but it passed in 2005 as the [[Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act]],<ref name="aap08-bio" /> with Biden being one of only 18 Democrats to vote for it, while leading Democrats and consumer rights organizations opposed it.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |date=December 2, 2019 |title=How Biden Helped Create the Student Debt Problem He Now Promises to Fix |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/02/joe-biden-student-loan-debt-2005-act-2020 |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306071514/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/02/joe-biden-student-loan-debt-2005-act-2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> As a senator, Biden strongly supported increased [[Amtrak]] funding and rail security.<ref name="aap08-366" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Verma|first=Pranshu|date=October 24, 2020|title=Biden, an Amtrak Evangelist, Could Be a Lifeline for a Rail Agency in Crisis|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/24/us/biden-amtrak-covid.html|access-date=November 19, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119015056/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/24/us/biden-amtrak-covid.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 1988, after several episodes of increasingly severe neck pain, Biden underwent surgery to correct a leaking [[intracranial berry aneurysm]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Altman |first=Lawrence K. |date=February 23, 1998 |title=The Doctor's World; Subtle Clues Are Often The Only Warnings Of Perilous Aneurysms |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/23/science/the-doctors-world-subtle-clues-are-often-the-only-warnings-of-perilous-aneurysms.html |access-date=August 23, 2008 |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428023004/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/23/science/the-doctors-world-subtle-clues-are-often-the-only-warnings-of-perilous-aneurysms.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-4cmed">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/20health.html|title=Many Holes in Disclosure of Nominees' Health|last=Altman|first=Lawrence K.|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 19, 2008|access-date=October 26, 2008|archive-date=February 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225194337/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/20health.html|url-status=live}}</ref> While recuperating, he suffered a [[pulmonary embolism]], a serious complication.<ref name="nyt-4cmed" /> After a second aneurysm was surgically repaired in May,<ref name="nyt-4cmed" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/04/us/biden-resting-after-surgery-for-second-brain-aneurysm.html |title=Biden Resting After Surgery For Second Brain Aneurysm |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 4, 1988 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105212210/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/04/us/biden-resting-after-surgery-for-second-brain-aneurysm.html |url-status=live}}</ref> his recuperation kept him away from the Senate for seven months.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/vp-candidate-profile-sen-joe-biden/ |title=V.P. candidate profile: Sen. Joe Biden |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=August 23, 2008 |access-date=September 7, 2008 |first=Calvin |last=Woodward |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230131941/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/vp-candidate-profile-sen-joe-biden/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

As chair, Biden presided over two highly contentious [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] confirmation hearings.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> When [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination|Robert Bork was nominated]] in 1988, Biden reversed his approval{{mdashb}}given in an interview the previous year{{mdashb}}of a hypothetical Bork nomination. Conservatives were angered,{{sfn|Bronner|1989|pp=138–139, 214, 305}} but at the hearings' close Biden was praised for his fairness, humor, and courage.{{sfn|Bronner|1989|pp=138–139, 214, 305}}<ref name="nyt-lg-87">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/08/us/washington-talk-the-bork-hearings-for-biden-epoch-of-belief-epoch-of-incredulity.html |title=Washington Talk: The Bork Hearings; For Biden: Epoch of Belief, Epoch of Incredulity |last=Greenhouse |first=Linda |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 8, 1987 |author-link=Linda Greenhouse |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111141909/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/08/us/washington-talk-the-bork-hearings-for-biden-epoch-of-belief-epoch-of-incredulity.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Rejecting the arguments of some Bork opponents,<ref name="aap08-bio" /> Biden framed his objections to Bork in terms of the conflict between Bork's strong [[originalism]] and the view that the [[Constitution of the United States|U.S. Constitution]] provides rights to liberty and privacy beyond those explicitly enumerated in its text.<ref name="nyt-lg-87" /> Bork's nomination was rejected in the committee by a 5–9 vote<ref name="nyt-lg-87" /> and then in the full Senate, 42–58.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html|title=Senate's Roll-Call On the Bork Vote|date=October 24, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084644/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During [[Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination|Clarence Thomas's nomination hearings]] in 1991, Biden's questions on constitutional issues were often convoluted to the point that Thomas sometimes lost track of them,{{sfn|Mayer|Abramson|1994|pp=213, 218, 336}} and Thomas later wrote that Biden's questions were akin to "[[beanball]]s".<ref>{{cite news |title=Clarence Thomas: A Silent Justice Speaks Out: Part VI: Becoming a Judge—and perhaps a Justice |last=Greenburg |first=Jan Crawford |agency=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=September 30, 2007 |url=https://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=3664944&page=4 |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622121644/https://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=3664944&page=4 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After the committee hearing closed, the public learned that [[Anita Hill]], a [[University of Oklahoma]] law school professor, had accused Thomas of [[Sexual harassment|making unwelcome sexual comments]] when they had worked together.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101289|title=Nina Totenberg, NPR Biography|access-date=May 31, 2008|publisher=[[NPR]]|archive-date=April 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414042451/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101289|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Excerpt from Nina Totenberg's breaking National Public Radio report on Anita Hill's accusation of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas.|url=https://jwa.org/feminism/_html/_transcripts/transcript_JWA071a.htm|access-date=October 5, 2008|date=October 6, 1991|publisher=[[NPR]]|archive-date=February 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221202700/https://jwa.org/feminism/_html/_transcripts/transcript_JWA071a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden had known of some of these charges, but initially shared them only with the committee because Hill was then unwilling to testify.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> The committee hearing was reopened and Hill testified, but Biden did not permit testimony from other witnesses, such as a woman who had made similar charges and experts on harassment.<ref name="nyt-hill">{{cite news |url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/biden-and-anita-hill-revisited/ |title=Biden and Anita Hill, Revisited |last=Phillips |first=Kate |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 23, 2008 |access-date=September 12, 2008 |archive-date=September 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911204456/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/biden-and-anita-hill-revisited/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The full Senate confirmed Thomas by a 52–48 vote, with Biden opposed.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> Liberal legal advocates and women's groups felt strongly that Biden had mishandled the hearings and not done enough to support Hill.<ref name="nyt-hill" /> In 2019, he told Hill he regretted his treatment of her, but Hill said afterward she remained unsatisfied.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/politics/joe-biden-anita-hill.html|title=Joe Biden Expresses Regret to Anita Hill, but She Says 'I'm Sorry' Is Not Enough|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|date=April 25, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=April 25, 2019|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425205328/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/politics/joe-biden-anita-hill.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden was a longtime member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]. He became its ranking minority member in 1997 and chaired it from June 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009.<ref name="aap08-365" /> His positions were generally [[Liberal internationalism|liberal internationalist]].<ref name="nyt-foreign">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/world/americas/24iht-policy.4.15591832.html | title=In Biden, Obama chooses a foreign policy adherent of diplomacy before force | last=Gordon | first=Michael R. | newspaper=The New York Times | date=August 24, 2008 | access-date=November 5, 2009 | author-link=Michael R. Gordon | archive-date=February 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227192937/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/world/americas/24iht-policy.4.15591832.html | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="lat-foreign" /> He collaborated effectively with Republicans and sometimes went against elements of his own party.<ref name="aap08-365" /><ref name="lat-foreign" /> During this time he met with at least 150 leaders from 60 countries and international organizations, becoming a well-known Democratic voice on foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/23/meetings_with_foreign_leaders.html |title=Meetings with Foreign Leaders? Biden's Been There, Done That |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2009 |author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112112314/https://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/23/meetings_with_foreign_leaders.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Biden voted against authorization for the [[Gulf War]] in 1991,<ref name="lat-foreign">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-foreignpol24-story.html |title=Joe Biden respected—if not always popular—for foreign policy record |last1=Richter |first1=Paul |last2=Levey |first2=Noam N. |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 24, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2009 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051910/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-foreignpol24-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> siding with 45 of the 55 Democratic senators. He said the U.S. was bearing almost all the burden in the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|anti-Iraq coalition]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/13/world/confrontation-gulf-congress-acts-authorize-war-gulf-margins-are-5-votes-senate.html |title=Congress Acts to Authorize War in Gulf |last=Clymer |first=Adam |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 13, 1991 |author-link=Adam Clymer |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081353/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/13/world/confrontation-gulf-congress-acts-authorize-war-gulf-margins-are-5-votes-senate.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

By late 2006, Biden's stance had shifted considerably. He opposed the [[troop surge of 2007]],<ref name="lat-foreign" /><ref name="wapo-bosnia" /> saying General [[David Petraeus]] was "dead, flat wrong" in believing the surge could work.<ref name="nytm-traub">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Traub|first=James|author-link=James Traub|date=November 24, 2009|title=After Cheney |page=MM34 |magazine=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084703/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html|archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> Biden instead advocated dividing Iraq into a loose [[federalism|federation]] of three ethnic states.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/weekinreview/19shanker.html |title=Divided They Stand, but on Graves |first=Thom |last=Shanker |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 19, 2007 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081421/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/weekinreview/19shanker.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Rather than continue the existing approach or withdrawing, the plan called for "a third way": federalizing Iraq and giving [[Kurds]], [[Shiites]], and [[Sunnis]] "breathing room" in their own regions.{{sfn|Witcover|2010|pp=572–573}} In September 2007, a non-binding resolution endorsing the plan passed the Senate,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Ned |last2=Salman |first2=Raheem |date=October 1, 2007 |title=U.S. vote unites Iraqis in anger |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-01-fg-iraq1-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081500/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-01-fg-iraq1-story.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> but the idea failed to gain traction.<ref name="nytm-traub" />

Biden formally declared his candidacy for the [[1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1988 Democratic presidential nomination]] on June 9, 1987.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dionne |first=E. J. Jr. |author-link=E. J. Dionne |date=June 10, 1987 |title=Biden Joins Campaign for the Presidency |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/10/us/biden-joins-campaign-for-the-presidency.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=November 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105150453/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/10/us/biden-joins-campaign-for-the-presidency.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He was considered a strong candidate because of his moderate image, his speaking ability, his high profile as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the upcoming [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination]] hearings, and his appeal to [[Baby Boomer]]s; he would have been the second-youngest person elected president, after [[John F. Kennedy]].<ref name="dmn-87" /><ref name="nyt083187">{{Cite news |last=Toner |first=Robin |date=August 31, 1987 |title=Biden, Once the Field's Hot Democrat, Is Being Overtaken by Cooler Rivals |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/31/us/biden-once-the-field-s-hot-democrat-is-being-overtaken-by-cooler-rivals.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084657/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/31/us/biden-once-the-field-s-hot-democrat-is-being-overtaken-by-cooler-rivals.html |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Taylor|1990|p=83}} He raised more in the first quarter of 1987 than any other candidate.<ref name="nyt083187" />{{sfn|Taylor|1990|p=83}}

By August his campaign's messaging had become confused due to staff rivalries,{{sfn|Taylor|1990|pp=108–109}} and in September, he was accused of [[plagiarism|plagiarizing]] a speech by [[Labour Party (UK)|British Labour Party]] leader [[Neil Kinnock]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dowd |first=Maureen |author-link=Maureen Dowd |date=September 12, 1987 |title=Biden's Debate Finale: An Echo From Abroad |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/12/us/biden-s-debate-finale-an-echo-from-abroad.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215003637/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/12/us/biden-s-debate-finale-an-echo-from-abroad.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden's speech had similar lines about being the first person in his family to attend university. Biden had credited Kinnock with the formulation on previous occasions,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Randolph |first=Eleanor |date=September 13, 1987 |title=Plagiarism Suggestion Angers Biden's Aides |page=A6 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/09/13/plagiarism-suggestion-angers-bidens-aides/912bfcf1-b3f3-4850-a14d-e8b0bee1ed63/ |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081200/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/09/13/plagiarism-suggestion-angers-bidens-aides/912bfcf1-b3f3-4850-a14d-e8b0bee1ed63/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="lat-speech" /> but did not on two occasions in late August.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Germond|first1=Jack|url=https://archive.org/details/whosebroadstripe00germ|title=Whose Broad Stripes and Bright Stars? The Trivial Pursuit of the Presidency 1988|last2=Witcover|first2=Jules|publisher=[[Warner Books]]|year=1989|isbn=978-0-446-51424-8|author-link=Jack Germond|author-link2=Jules Witcover}}</ref>{{rp|230–232}}<ref name="lat-speech">{{Cite news |last1=Risen |first1=James |author-link=James Risen |last2=Shogan |first2=Robert |date=September 16, 1987 |title=Differing Versions Cited on Source of Passages: Biden Facing New Flap Over Speeches |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-16-mn-5412-story.html |access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081219/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-16-mn-5412-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Kinnock himself was more forgiving; the two men met in 1988, forming an enduring friendship.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=David|author-link=David Smith (journalist)|date=September 7, 2020|title=Neil Kinnock on Biden's plagiarism 'scandal' and why he deserves to win: 'Joe's an honest guy'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/07/neil-kinnock-joe-biden-1987-scandal|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|archive-date=February 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223091956/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/07/neil-kinnock-joe-biden-1987-scandal|url-status=live}}</ref>

Earlier that year, Biden had also used passages from a 1967 speech by [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (for which his aides took blame) and a short phrase from [[inaugural address of John F. Kennedy|John F. Kennedy's inaugural address]]; two years earlier he had used a 1976 passage by [[Hubert Humphrey]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dowd |first=Maureen |author-link=Maureen Dowd |date=September 16, 1987 |title=Biden Is Facing Growing Debate On His Speeches |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/16/us/biden-is-facing-growing-debate-on-his-speeches.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081135/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/16/us/biden-is-facing-growing-debate-on-his-speeches.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden responded that politicians often borrow from one another without giving credit, and that one of his rivals for the nomination, [[Jesse Jackson]], had called him to point out that he (Jackson) had used the same material by Humphrey that Biden had used.<ref name="aap08-bio" /><ref name="nyt091887">{{Cite news |last=Dionne | first=E. J. Jr. |author-link=E. J. Dionne |date=September 18, 1987 |title=Biden Admits Plagiarism in School But Says It Was Not 'Malevolent' |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/18/us/biden-admits-plagiarism-in-school-but-says-it-was-not-malevolent.html |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=April 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404115603/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/18/us/biden-admits-plagiarism-in-school-but-says-it-was-not-malevolent.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

A few days later, an incident was publicized in which, while in law school, Biden had taken text from a ''[[Fordham Law Review]]'' article with inadequate citations.<ref name="nyt091887" /> He was required to repeat the course and passed with high marks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=May |first=Lee |date=September 18, 1987 |title=Biden Admits Plagiarism in Writing Law School Brief |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-18-mn-5748-story.html |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=September 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130911001224/https://articles.latimes.com/print/1987-09-18/news/mn-5748_1_law-school |url-status=live}}</ref> At Biden's request the Delaware Supreme Court's Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the incident and concluded that he had violated no rules.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1989 |title=Professional Board Clears Biden In Two Allegations of Plagiarism |work=The New York Times|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/29/us/professional-board-clears-biden-in-two-allegations-of-plagiarism.html |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707020556/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/29/us/professional-board-clears-biden-in-two-allegations-of-plagiarism.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden has made several false or exaggerated claims about his early life: that he had earned three degrees in college, that he attended law school on a full scholarship, that he had graduated in the top half of his class,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dionne |first=E. J. Jr. |author-link=E. J. Dionne |date=September 22, 1987 |title=Biden Admits Errors and Criticizes Latest Report |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/22/us/biden-admits-errors-and-criticizes-latest-report.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081243/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/22/us/biden-admits-errors-and-criticizes-latest-report.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |date=August 23, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1j0FS0Z6ho |title=1988 Road to the White House with Sen. Biden |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104111625/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1j0FS0Z6ho |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> and that he had marched in the [[civil rights movement]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flegenheimer |first=Matt |date=June 3, 2019 |title=Biden's First Run for President Was a Calamity. Some Missteps Still Resonate. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/03/us/politics/biden-1988-presidential-campaign.html |access-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603140340/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/03/us/politics/biden-1988-presidential-campaign.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The limited amount of other news about the presidential race amplified these disclosures<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pomper |first=Gerald M. |url=https://archive.org/details/electionof1988re00pomp/page/37 |title=The Election of 1988 |publisher=Chatham House Publishers |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-934540-77-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/electionof1988re00pomp/page/37 37] |chapter=The Presidential Nominations |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/electionof1988re00pomp|access-date=August 28, 2021}}</ref> and on September 23, 1987, Biden withdrew his candidacy, saying it had been overrun by "the exaggerated shadow" of his past mistakes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dionne |first=E. J. Jr. |author-link=E. J. Dionne |date=September 24, 1987 |title=Biden Withdraws Bid for President in Wake of Furor |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/24/us/biden-withdraws-bid-for-president-in-wake-of-furor.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221235355/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/24/us/biden-withdraws-bid-for-president-in-wake-of-furor.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly after Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Obama privately told him he was interested in finding an important place for Biden in his administration.<ref name="ny-lizza">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/10/20/bidens-brief |title=Biden's Brief |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=October 20, 2008 |access-date=November 24, 2008 |author-link=Ryan Lizza |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725212805/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/10/20/bidens-brief |url-status=live}}</ref> In early August, Obama and Biden met in secret to discuss the possibility,<ref name="ny-lizza" /> and developed a strong personal rapport.{{sfn|Wolffe|2009|p=218}} On August 22, 2008, Obama announced that Biden would be his [[running mate]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama's veep message to supporters |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082300455.html |first=Jose Antonio |last=Vargas |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 23, 2008 |access-date=August 23, 2008 |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204011137/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082300455.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported that the strategy behind the choice reflected a desire to fill out the ticket with someone with [[foreign policy]] and [[national security]] experience.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Adam |last1=Nagourney |author-link=Adam Nagourney |first2=Jeff|last2=Zeleny |title=Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825223450/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html |archive-date=August 25, 2008 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The New York Times |date=August 23, 2008 |access-date=August 23, 2008}}</ref> Others pointed out Biden's appeal to middle-class and [[blue-collar]] voters.<ref>{{#invoke:cite magazine||last=Dionne |first=E. J. Jr. |author-link=E. J. Dionne |title=Tramps Like Us: How Joe Biden will reassure working class voters and change the tenor of this week's convention |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/62212/tramps-us |magazine=[[The New Republic]] |date=August 25, 2008 |access-date=August 25, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828210626/https://tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=2ecbd0b9-c2c4-44d7-824a-603b4a418c74 |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref>{{sfn|Wolffe|2009|p=217}} Biden was officially nominated for vice president on August 27 by voice vote at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/08/27/biden-accepts-vp-nominationhttps:// |title=Biden accepts VP nomination |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |work=[[The Denver Post]] |date=August 27, 2008 |access-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907020534/https://www.denverpost.com/2008/08/27/biden-accepts-vp-nomination/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden's vice-presidential campaigning gained little media attention, as the press devoted far more coverage to the Republican nominee, [[List of Governors of Alaska|Alaska governor]] [[Sarah Palin]].<ref name="nyt-no2">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/us/politics/20biden.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921063344/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/us/politics/20biden.html |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps On Punching |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |work=The New York Times |date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=September 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/joe-who.html |title=Joe Who? |last=Tapper |first=Jake |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=September 14, 2008 |access-date=September 15, 2008 |author-link=Jake Tapper |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915055913/https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/joe-who.html |archive-date=September 15, 2008}}</ref> Under instructions from the campaign, Biden kept his speeches succinct and tried to avoid offhand remarks, such as one he made about Obama's being tested by a foreign power soon after taking office, which had attracted negative attention.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broder |first=John M. |date=October 30, 2008 |title=Hitting the Backroads, and Having Less to Say |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31biden.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031091558/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31biden.html |archive-date=October 31, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tumulty |first=Karen |date=October 29, 2008 |title=Hidin' Biden: Reining In a Voluble No. 2 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1855355,00.html |access-date=November 1, 2008 |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109102805/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1855355,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Privately, Biden's remarks frustrated Obama. "How many times is Biden gonna say something stupid?", he asked.<ref name="gamechange" />{{rp|411–414, 419}} Obama campaign staffers called Biden's blunders "Joe bombs" and kept Biden uninformed about strategy discussions, which in turn irked Biden.<ref name="nyt0508122" /> Relations between the two campaigns became strained for a month, until Biden apologized on a call to Obama and the two built a stronger partnership.<ref name="gamechange" />{{rp|411–414}}

In October 2010, Biden said Obama had asked him to remain as his running mate for the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]],<ref name="nyt1013102" /> but with Obama's popularity on the decline, [[White House Chief of Staff]] [[William M. Daley]] conducted some secret polling and focus group research in late 2011 on the idea of replacing Biden on the ticket with Hillary Clinton.<ref name="nyt-dd-replace" /> The notion was dropped when the results showed no appreciable improvement for Obama,<ref name="nyt-dd-replace">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/book-details-consideration-of-replacing-biden-on-2012-ticket.html |title=Book Details Obama Aides' Talks About Replacing Biden on 2012 Ticket |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082553/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/book-details-consideration-of-replacing-biden-on-2012-ticket.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and White House officials later said Obama himself had never entertained the idea.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/11/wh-obama-never-considered-dropping-joe-biden-176520 |title=W.H.: Obama never considered dropping Joe Biden |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104143531/https://www.politico.com/politico44/2013/11/wh-obama-never-considered-dropping-biden-176520.html |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden's May 2012 statement that he was "absolutely comfortable" with [[same-sex marriage]] gained considerable public attention in comparison to Obama's position, which had been described as "evolving".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-06-la-na-biden-gay-marriage-20120507-story.html |title=Biden 'comfortable' with equal rights for gays who wed |date=May 6, 2012 |first=Christi |last=Parsons |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526082737/https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-06-la-na-biden-gay-marriage-20120507-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden made his statement without administration consent, and Obama and his aides were quite irked, since Obama had planned to shift position several months later, in the build-up to the party convention.<ref name="nyt0508122" /><ref name="ap051012" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/6-hidden-obama-campaign-fault-lines-080028 |title=6 hidden fault lines in President Obama's campaign |last=Thursh |first=Glenn |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208190849/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/6-hidden-obama-campaign-fault-lines-080028 |url-status=live}}</ref> Gay rights advocates seized upon Biden's statement,<ref name="ap051012" /> and within days, Obama announced that he too supported same-sex marriage, an action in part forced by Biden's remarks.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html | title=Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal | first1=Jackie | last1=Calmes | first2=Peter | last2=Baker | newspaper=The New York Times | date=May 9, 2012 | access-date=May 10, 2012 | archive-date=May 10, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510014102/https://www.nytimes.comhttps://2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html | url-status=live}}</ref> Biden apologized to Obama in private for having spoken out,<ref>{{cite news |last=Thrush |first=Glenn |date=August 20, 2012 |title=Politico e-book: Obama campaign roiled by conflict |newspaper=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/politico-e-book-obama-campaign-roiled-by-conflict-079867 |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084846/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/politico-e-book-obama-campaign-roiled-by-conflict-079867 |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Julie|last=Pace|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/joe-biden-gay-marriage-apology_n_1507939.html |title=Joe Biden Reportedly Apologized To Obama Over Gay Marriage Comments |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528233546/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/joe-biden-gay-marriage-apology_n_1507939.html |archive-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> while Obama acknowledged publicly it had been done from the heart.<ref name="ap051012">{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-source-biden-apologizes-to-obama-over-comments | title=AP source: Biden apologizes to Obama over comments | agency=[[Associated Press]] | publisher=[[Fox News]] | date=May 10, 2012 | access-date=May 16, 2012 | archive-date=October 6, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006123920/https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-source-biden-apologizes-to-obama-over-comments | url-status=live}}</ref>

Obama was soon comparing Biden to a basketball player "who does a bunch of things that don't show up in the stat sheet".<ref name="nyt032809">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Leibovich|first=Mark|date=March 28, 2009|title=Speaking Freely, Biden Finds Influential Role|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html|access-date=March 31, 2009|archive-date=April 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401232903/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden visited [[Kosovo]] in May and affirmed the U.S. position that its "independence is irreversible".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Chun|first=Kwang-Ho|title=Kosovo: A New European Nation-State?|url=https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/96517/1/5.Kosovo-A-New-European-Nation-State_Kwang-ho-Chun.pdf|journal=Journal of International and Area Studies|volume=18|issue=1|year=2011|pages=91, 94|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082124/https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/96517/1/5.Kosovo-A-New-European-Nation-State_Kwang-ho-Chun.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden lost an internal debate to Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] about [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|sending 21,000 new troops to Afghanistan]],<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Dilanian|first=Ken|date=June 11, 2009|title=In a supporting role, Clinton takes a low-key approach at State Dept.|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090611/1aclinton11_cv.art.htm|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=May 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516020144/https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090611/1aclinton11_cv.art.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Smith|first=Ben|date=June 23, 2009|title=Hillary Clinton toils in the shadows|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916005405/https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067|url-status=live}}</ref> but his skepticism was valued,<ref name="pol091609">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Cummings|first=Jeanne|date=September 16, 2009|title=Joe Biden, 'the skunk at the family picnic'|publisher=[[The Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/the-skunk-at-the-family-picnic-027211|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> and in 2009, Biden's views gained more influence as Obama reconsidered his Afghanistan strategy.<ref name="nw-cov-1010092">{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Bailey|first1=Holly|last2=Thomas|first2=Evan|author-link2=Evan Thomas|date=October 10, 2009|title=An Inconvenient Truth Teller|magazine=[[Newsweek]]|url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181|access-date=November 6, 2009|archive-date=November 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123063731/https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden visited Iraq about every two months,<ref name="nytm-traub" /> becoming the administration's point man in delivering messages to Iraqi leadership about expected progress there.<ref name="pol091609" /> More generally, overseeing Iraq policy became Biden's responsibility: Obama was said to have said, "Joe, you do Iraq."<ref>{{#invoke:cite magazine||last=Osnos|first=Evan|author-link=Evan Osnos|date=August 12, 2014|title=Breaking Up: Maliki and Biden|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/breaking-maliki-biden|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002053443/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/breaking-maliki-biden|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2012, Biden had made eight trips there, but his oversight of U.S. policy in Iraq receded with the exit of U.S. troops in 2011.<ref name="time-mo" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Crowley|first=Michael|date=November 9, 2014|title=The war over President Obama's new war in Iraq|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/president-obama-war-iraq-112730|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=October 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013002931/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/president-obama-war-iraq-112730|url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden's off-message response to a question in late April 2009, during the beginning of the [[2009 flu pandemic|swine flu outbreak]], led to a swift retraction by the White House.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Silva|first1=Mark|last2=Parsons|first2=Christi|date=May 1, 2009|title=White House adjusts Biden's swine flu advice|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-01-na-biden1-story.html|access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009170032/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-01-na-biden1-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The remark revived Biden's reputation for [[Political gaffe|gaffes]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=May 1, 2009|title=White House tempers Biden's swine flu advice|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=https://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/01/white_house_tempers_bidens_swine_flu_advice/|url-status=dead |access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505114058/https://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/01/white_house_tempers_bidens_swine_flu_advice/|archive-date=May 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="nw-cov-1010092" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Kurtzman|first=Daniel|date=May 8, 2009|title=The Week's Best Late-Night Jokes|publisher=[[About.com]]|url=https://www.liveabout.com/late-night-political-jokes-2733896|access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611193402/https://www.liveabout.com/late-night-political-jokes-2733896|url-status=live}}</ref> Confronted with rising unemployment through July 2009, Biden acknowledged that the administration had "misread how bad the economy was", but maintained confidence the stimulus package would create many more jobs once the pace of expenditures picked up.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=July 5, 2009|title=Biden: 'We misread how bad the economy was'|publisher=[[NBC News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563|access-date=July 9, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217104812/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[hot mic]] picked up Biden telling Obama that his signing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] was "a big fucking deal" on March 23, 2010. Despite their different personalities, Obama and Biden formed a friendship, partly based around Obama's daughter Sasha and Biden's granddaughter Maisy, who attended [[Sidwell Friends School]] together.<ref name="nyt0508122">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Leibovich|first=Mark|date=May 7, 2012|title=For a Blunt Biden, an Uneasy Supporting Role|page=1|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081748/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Members of the Obama administration said Biden's role in the White House was to be a contrarian and force others to defend their positions.<ref name="The New York Times-2">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Baker|first=Peter|date=April 28, 2019|title=Biden and Obama's 'Odd Couple' Relationship Aged Into Family Ties|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/politics/barack-obama-biden.html|access-date=April 26, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606093422/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/politics/barack-obama-biden.html|quote=He was also the in-house skeptic on the use of force, arguing against a troop surge to Afghanistan, military intervention in Libya and the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rahm Emanuel]], White House chief of staff, said that Biden helped counter [[groupthink]].<ref name="nyt032809" /> Obama said, "The best thing about Joe is that when we get everybody together, he really forces people to think and defend their positions, to look at things from every angle, and that is very valuable for me."<ref name="pol091609" /> The Bidens maintained a relaxed atmosphere at their [[Number One Observatory Circle|official residence]] in Washington, often entertaining their grandchildren, and regularly returned to their home in Delaware.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Parnes|first=Amie|date=June 28, 2011|title=The Bidens' 'regular' lives|newspaper=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887|access-date=June 28, 2011|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194519/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887|url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden campaigned heavily for Democrats in the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 midterm elections]], maintaining an attitude of optimism in the face of predictions of large-scale losses for the party.<ref name="nyt1013102">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=October 12, 2010|title=Vice President Tries to Energize Democrats|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|access-date=October 14, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028044617/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following big Republican gains in the elections and the departure of White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]], Biden's past relationships with Republicans in Congress became more important.<ref name="pol1209102">{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Lee|first1=Carol E.|last2=Bresnahan|first2=John|date=December 9, 2010|title=Joe Biden expands role as White House link to Congress|newspaper=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/biden-steps-into-rahms-shoes-046173|access-date=December 10, 2010|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194519/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/biden-steps-into-rahms-shoes-046173|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt1211102">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=December 11, 2010|title=As the Ground Shifts, Biden Plays a Bigger Role|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12biden.html|access-date=December 13, 2010|archive-date=December 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213044241/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He led the successful administration effort to gain Senate approval for the [[New START treaty]].<ref name="pol1209102" /><ref name="nyt1211102" /> In December 2010, Biden's advocacy for a middle ground, followed by his negotiations with Senate minority leader [[Mitch McConnell]], were instrumental in producing the administration's compromise tax package that included a temporary [[extension of the Bush tax cuts]].<ref name="nyt1211102" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Hulse|first1=Carl|last2=Calmes|first2=Jackie|date=December 7, 2010|title=Biden and G.O.P. Leader Helped Hammer Out Bipartisan Tax Accord|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html|access-date=December 8, 2010|archive-date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208043606/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The package passed as the [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]].

During his second term, Biden was often said to be preparing for a bid for the [[2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2016 Democratic presidential nomination]].<ref name="Itkowitz1" /> With his family, many friends, and donors encouraging him in mid-2015 to enter the race, and with [[Hillary Clinton]]'s favorability ratings in decline at that time, Biden was reported to again be seriously considering the prospect and a "[[Draft (politics)|Draft]] Biden 2016" [[Political action committee|PAC]] was established.<ref name="Itkowitz1">{{cite news |first=Colby |last=Itkowitz |title=There is a 'Draft Joe Biden' Super PAC Now; It's Even Hiring a Fundraiser |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 23, 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/03/23/job-opening-raise-money-to-draft-joe-biden-to-run-in-2016/ |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716011912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/03/23/job-opening-raise-money-to-draft-joe-biden-to-run-in-2016/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Maureen |last=Dowd |title=Joe Biden in 2016: What Would Beau Do? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-joe-biden-in-2016-what-would-beau-do.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106105547/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-joe-biden-in-2016-what-would-beau-do.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Jeff |last1=Zeleny |first2=Kevin |last2=Liptak |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/ |title=Joe Biden Keeps Watchful Eye on 2016 Race |publisher=CNN |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202185430/https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Biden wrote a memoir, ''[[Promise Me, Dad]]'', and went on a book tour.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kane|first=Paul|title=Biden wraps up book tour amid persistent questions about the next chapter|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/biden-wraps-up-book-tour-amid-persistent-questions-about-the-next-chapter/2018/06/11/33ebbe8e-6daf-11e8-bf86-a2351b5ece99_story.html|date=June 11, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2020|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107171225/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/biden-wraps-up-book-tour-amid-persistent-questions-about-the-next-chapter/2018/06/11/33ebbe8e-6daf-11e8-bf86-a2351b5ece99_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2019, he and his wife reported that they had earned over $15 million since the end of his vice presidency from speaking engagements and book sales.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Eder|first1=Steve|last2=Glueck|first2=Katie|date=July 9, 2019|title=Joe Biden's Tax Returns Show More Than $15 Million in Income After 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/joe-biden-net-worth.html|access-date=July 16, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715211457/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/joe-biden-net-worth.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As the 2020 campaign season heated up, voluminous public polling showed Biden as one of the best-performing Democratic candidates in a head-to-head matchup against President Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Ashley Pratte |last=Oates |title=Opinion |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=January 24, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Every 2020 Democrat Wants To Be The Electable Candidate |first1=Kevin |last1=Robillard |first2=Amanda |last2=Terkel |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=HuffPost |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |title=Here's how Biden, Sanders, Warren and other top Democrats are faring against Trump in national polls |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=November 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |url-status=live}}</ref> With Democrats keenly focused on "electability" for defeating Trump,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barabak |first=Mark Z. |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Desperate to beat Trump, Democrats differ over who is best |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003532/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |url-status=live}}</ref> this boosted his popularity among Democratic voters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Scocca |first=Tom |date=April 12, 2020 |title=Biden's Electability Only Works if There Is an Election |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/biden-won-without-votes.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |issn=1091-2339 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/biden-won-without-votes.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It also made Biden a frequent target of Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Scoop: Trump fears Biden 2020, losing Pennsylvania |url=https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Axios |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Adam |last=Edelman |title=Trump says Biden would go down "fast" and "crying" in a fight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2019, it was reported that Trump had pressured Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] to investigate [[Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory|alleged wrongdoing]] by Biden and his son [[Hunter Biden]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |title=Ukraine Pressured on U.S. Political Investigations |last=Kramer |first=Andrew E. |date=September 20, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 20, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920171010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the allegations, no evidence was produced of any wrongdoing by the Bidens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isachenkov |first=Vladimir |title=Ukraine's prosecutor says there is no probe into Biden |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |access-date=October 1, 2019 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 27, 2019 |quote=Though the timing raised concerns among anti-corruption advocates, there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either the former vice president or his son. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005328/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=White House 'tried to cover up details of Trump-Ukraine call' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=September 26, 2019 |quote=There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930105132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Matthew |last1=Brown |date=January 15, 2021|accessdate=July 7, 2021|title=Fact check: False conspiracy theories allege connection between Biden victory and Ukraine |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608213107/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump's pressure to investigate the Bidens was perceived by many as an attempt to hurt Biden's chances of winning the presidency.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mackinnon |first=Amy |date=September 20, 2019 |title=Is Trump Trying to Get Ukraine to Take Out Biden for Him? |magazine=[[Foreign Policy]] |publisher=[[Graham Holdings]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/20/is-trump-trying-to-get-ukraine-to-take-out-biden-for-him/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920210034/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/20/is-trump-trying-to-get-ukraine-to-take-out-biden-for-him/ |archive-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> Trump's alleged actions against Biden resulted in [[Trump–Ukraine scandal|a political scandal]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Trump Repeatedly Pressed Ukraine President to Investigate Biden's Son |first1=Alan |last1=Cullison |first2=Rebecca |last2=Ballhaus |first3=Dustin |last3=Volz |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923092317/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump's impeachment]] by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of congress.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2021 |title=This is why Donald Trump was impeached the first time – previous charges against former US president explained |first=Matt |last=Brooks |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2019 and April 2019, eight women accused Biden of previous instances of inappropriate physical contact, such as embracing, touching or kissing.<ref>{{cite web|title=All the Women Who Have Spoken Out Against Joe Biden|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html|work=[[The Cut (website)|The Cut]]|access-date=May 19, 2021|date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201217214742/https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html|url-status=live|first1=Amanda|last1=Arnold|first2=Claire|last2=Lampen}}</ref> Biden had previously called himself a "tactile politician" and admitted this behavior had caused trouble for him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html |title=Nevada Democrat accuses Joe Biden of touching and kissing her without consent at 2014 event |access-date=December 30, 2019 |last=Brice-Saddler |first=Michael |date=March 29, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090227/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Journalist [[Mark Bowden]] described Biden's lifelong habit of talking close, writing that he "doesn't just meet you, he engulfs you... scooting closer" and leaning forward to talk.<ref name="The Atlantic">{{Cite magazine |last=Bowden |first=Mark |date=August 30, 2010 |title=The Salesman |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/10/the-salesman/308226/ |access-date=March 27, 2023 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123045827/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/10/the-salesman/308226/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2019, Biden pledged to be more "respectful of people's personal space".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html|title=Joe Biden, in video, says he will be 'more mindful' of personal space|date=April 3, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090251/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late March 2020, Tara Reade, one of the eight women who in 2019 had accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, [[Joe Biden sexual assault allegation|accused]] Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.<ref name="nytimesallegations">{{cite news |last1=Lerer |first1=Lisa |last2=Ember |first2=Sydney |title=Examining Tara Reade's Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412090835/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 12, 2020}}</ref> There were inconsistencies between Reade's 2019 and 2020 allegations.<ref name="nytimesallegations" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=McGann |first1=Laura |title=The Agonizing Story of Tara Reade |url=https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507224441/https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden and his campaign denied the sexual assault allegation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html|title=Sexual assault allegation by former Biden Senate aide emerges in campaign, draws denial |date=April 12, 2020|access-date=April 14, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first1=Beth |last1=Reinhard |first2=Elise |last2=Viebeck |first3=Matt |last3=Viser |first4=Alice |last4=Crites |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200428141345/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Amber |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |title=What we know about Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618153105/https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

When Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8, 2020, Biden became the Democratic Party's [[presumptive nominee]] for president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ember|first=Sydney|date=April 8, 2020|title=Bernie Sanders Drops Out of 2020 Democratic Race for President |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |access-date=April 8, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408160232/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 13, Sanders endorsed Biden in a live-streamed discussion from their homes.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html|title=Bernie Sanders Endorses Joe Biden for President|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Glueck|first2=Katie|date=April 13, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413182004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Former president [[Barack Obama]] endorsed Biden the next day.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Merica |first1=Dan |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |title=Obama endorses Biden for president in video message |date=April 14, 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414183659/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 11, Biden announced U.S. senator [[Kamala Harris]] of California as his running mate, making her the first African American and first [[South Asian American]] vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |title=Biden VP pick: Kamala Harris chosen as running mate |website=[[BBC News]] |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010223842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 18, 2020, Biden was officially nominated at the [[2020 Democratic National Convention]] as the Democratic Party nominee for president in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=DNC Nominates Joe Biden to Lead Nation Through Pandemic |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Joshua |last1=Jamerson |first2=Chad |last2=Day |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818221830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Biden officially becomes the Democratic Party's nominee on convention's second night |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 19, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Toluse |last1=Olorunnipa |first2=Chelsea |last2=Janes |first3=Felicia |last3=Sonmez |first4=Colby |last4=Itkowitz |first5=John |last5=Wagner |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 11, the first anniversary of COVID-19 having been declared a global pandemic by the [[World Health Organization]], Biden signed into law the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]], a $1.9&nbsp;trillion [[Stimulus (economics)|economic stimulus]] and relief package that he had proposed to support the United States' recovery from the [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|economic]] and health effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 11, 2021 |title=H.R.1319 – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313014919/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319 |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |publisher=[[United States Congress]]}}</ref> The package included direct payments to most Americans, an extension of increased unemployment benefits, funds for vaccine distribution and school reopenings, and expansions of health insurance subsidies and the [[Child tax credit (United States)|child tax credit]]. Biden's initial proposal included an increase of the [[Minimum wage in the United States|federal minimum wage]] to $15 per hour, but after the [[Parliamentarian of the United States Senate|Senate parliamentarian]] determined that including the increase in a [[budget reconciliation]] bill would violate Senate rules, Democrats declined to pursue overruling her and removed the increase from the package.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luhby |first1=Tami |last2=Lobosco |first2=Katie |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Here's what's in Biden's $1.9 trillion economic rescue package |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218023132/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html |archive-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |last2=Crowley |first2=Michael |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Here are the highlights of Biden's $1.9 trillion 'American Rescue Plan.' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/biden-american-rescue-plan.html |url-access=limited |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/biden-american-rescue-plan.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Thomas |date=March 7, 2021 |title=What's in the Stimulus Bill? A Guide to Where the $1.9 Trillion Is Going |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html |url-access=limited |access-date=March 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 14, Biden announced that the United States [[2020–2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan|would delay the withdrawal of all troops]] from the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|war in Afghanistan]] until September 11, signaling an end to the country's direct military involvement in Afghanistan after nearly 20 years.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Shear |first2=Michael D. |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Biden, Setting Afghanistan Withdrawal, Says 'It Is Time to End the Forever War' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html|archive-date=December 28, 2021|url-access=limited |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=April 23, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In February 2020, the Trump administration had [[United States–Taliban deal|made a deal]] with the Taliban to completely withdraw U.S. forces by May 1, 2021.<ref name="images">{{cite news |last1=E. Sanger |first1=David |date=August 15, 2021 |title=For Biden, Images of Defeat He Wanted to Avoid |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/politics/afghanistan-biden.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210816031133/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/politics/afghanistan-biden.html |archive-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Biden's decision met with a wide range of reactions, from support and relief to trepidation at the possible collapse of the Afghan government without American support.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wadington |first=Katie |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Afghanistan withdrawal draws strong Capitol Hill reactions, making some strange alliances |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/14/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-plan-draws-strong-reaction-capitol-hill/7220926002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422144959/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/14/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-plan-draws-strong-reaction-capitol-hill/7220926002/ |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> On April 22–23, Biden held an [[2021 Leaders' Climate Summit|international climate summit]] at which he announced that the U.S. would cut its [[greenhouse gas emissions]] by 50%–52% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Other countries also increased their pledges.<ref>{{cite press release |title=New momentum reduces emissions gap, but huge gap remains – analysis |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/press/new-momentum-reduces-emissions-gap-but-huge-gap-remains-analysis/ |work=Carbon Action Tracker |publisher=climateactiontracker.org |date=April 23, 2021 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426182048/https://climateactiontracker.org/press/new-momentum-reduces-emissions-gap-but-huge-gap-remains-analysis/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Here's what countries pledged on climate change at Biden's global summit |publisher=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-climate-summit-2021-what-brazil-japan-canada-others-pledged.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429043848/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-climate-summit-2021-what-brazil-japan-canada-others-pledged.html |archive-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> On April 28, the eve of his 100th day in office, Biden delivered his [[2021 Joe Biden speech to a joint session of Congress|first address to a joint session of Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |last2=Boak |first2=Josh |date=April 28, 2021 |title=Biden to the nation and world: 'America is rising anew' |url=https://www.startribune.com/biden-to-the-nation-and-world-america-is-rising-anew/600051057/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429023533/https://www.startribune.com/biden-to-the-nation-and-world-america-is-rising-anew/600051057/ |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |access-date=April 28, 2021 |website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref>

Biden did not support national [[same-sex marriage]] rights while in the Senate and voted for the [[Defense of Marriage Act]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roll Call Votes 104th Congress – 2nd Session |date=September 10, 1996 |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1042/vote_104_2_00280.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Senate]]}}</ref> but opposed proposals for constitutional amendments that would have banned same-sex marriage nationwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roll Call Vote 109th Congress – 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1092/vote_109_2_00163.htm |date=June 7, 2006 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Senate]]}}</ref> Biden has supported same-sex marriage since 2012.<ref name="NYT Biden Evolution on LGBTQ" /><ref>{{cite news |date=May 6, 2012|title=May 6: Joe Biden, Kelly Ayotte, Diane Swonk, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47311900 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405045344/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/47311900/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/may-joe-biden-kelly-ayotte-diane-swonk-tom-brokaw-chuck-todd/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As a senator, Biden forged deep relationships with police groups and was a chief proponent of a [[Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights|Police Officer's Bill of Rights]] measure that police unions supported but police chiefs opposed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kranish |first=Michael |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Joe Biden let police groups write his crime bill. Now, his agenda has changed.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/joe-biden-let-police-groups-write-his-crime-bill-now-his-agenda-has-changed/2020/06/08/82ab969e-a434-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112174038/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/joe-biden-let-police-groups-write-his-crime-bill-now-his-agenda-has-changed/2020/06/08/82ab969e-a434-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html|archive-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McDermott|first1=Nathan|last2=Steck|first2=Em|date=June 10, 2020|title=Biden repeatedly pushed bill in Senate that critics said would have made investigating police officers for misconduct more difficult|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/10/politics/biden-senate-police-officers-kfile/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116122904/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/10/politics/biden-senate-police-officers-kfile/index.html|archive-date=November 16, 2020|access-date=November 13, 2020|publisher=CNN}}</ref> In 2020, Biden also ran on decriminalizing [[cannabis]],<ref>{{cite web |date=December 28, 2020 |title=President-Elect Joe Biden and the Future of Cannabis Policy in America |first=Whitt |last=Steineker |publisher=[[Bradley Arant Boult Cummings]] |url=https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2020/12/president-elect-joe-biden-and-the-future-of-cannabis-policy-in-america |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217144322/https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2020/12/president-elect-joe-biden-and-the-future-of-cannabis-policy-in-america |url-status=dead }}</ref> after advocating harsher penalties for drug use as a U.S. senator.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 9, 1982 |title=U.S. Plans A New Drive On Narcotics |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/09/us/us-plans-a-new-drive-on-narcotics.html |first=Leslie |last=Maitland |access-date=August 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Democratic Response to Drug Policy Address |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?8997-1/democratic-response-drug-policy-address |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=C-SPAN.org}}</ref>

Biden has said the U.S. needs to "get tough" on China, calling it the "most serious competitor" that poses challenges to the United States' "prosperity, security, and democratic values".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Why America Must Lead Again |last=Biden |first=Joseph R. Jr. |magazine=[[Foreign Affairs]] |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=January 29, 2021 |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-01-23/why-america-must-lead-again}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remarks by President Biden on America's Place in the World |publisher=[[The White House]] |date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |url= https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-americas-place-in-the-world/}}</ref> Biden has spoken about human rights abuses in the [[Xinjiang]] region to the [[Chinese Communist Party]] leader [[Xi Jinping]], pledging to sanction and commercially restrict Chinese government officials and entities who carry out repression.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Edward |first1=Wong |last2=Crawley |first2=Michael |last3=Swanson |first3=Ana |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Joe Biden's China Journey |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/06/us/politics/biden-china.html|access-date=November 13, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112163033/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/06/us/politics/biden-china.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first1=Peter |last1=Martin |first2=Saleha |last2=Mohsin |first3=Nick |last3=Wadhams |first4=Jenny |last4=Leonard |title=President Biden Raises Human Rights and Trade Concerns in First Call With China's Xi |url=https://time.com/5938307/biden-xi-china-first-call/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=February 11, 2021 |access-date=February 8, 2021}}</ref> Biden has said he is against [[regime change]] but is for providing non-military support to opposition movements.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/politics/joe-biden-foreign-policy.html |title=Foreign Policy, Joseph R. Biden Jr. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811235654/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/politics/joe-biden-foreign-policy.html |archive-date=August 11, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> He opposed direct U.S. [[2011 military intervention in Libya|intervention in Libya]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Baker |date=October 9, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2021|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/us/politics/a-biden-run-would-expose-foreign-policy-differences-with-hillary-clinton.html |title=A Biden Run Would Expose Foreign Policy Differences With Hillary Clinton |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201216223923/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/us/politics/a-biden-run-would-expose-foreign-policy-differences-with-hillary-clinton.html|archive-date=December 16, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times-2" /> voted against U.S. participation in the [[Gulf War]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Wehner |title=Biden Was Wrong On the Cold War|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122049148440397625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006022121/https://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB122049148440397625.html |date=September 4, 2008 |archive-date=October 6, 2008|access-date=August 26, 2021}}</ref> voted in favor of the [[Iraq War]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Robert |last=Farley |date=September 10, 2019|title=Biden's Record on Iraq War |publisher=[[FactCheck.org]] |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/bidens-record-on-iraq-war/|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107172331/https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/bidens-record-on-iraq-war/|url-status=live}}</ref> and supports a [[two-state solution]] in the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]].<ref>{{cite news|date=December 12, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2021|url= https://www.jta.org/2019/12/12/united-states/where-does-joe-biden-stand-on-anti-semitism-israel-and-other-issues-that-matter-to-jewish-voters-in-2020|title=Where does Joe Biden stand on anti-Semitism, Israel and other issues that matter to Jewish voters in 2020?|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111070241/https://www.jta.org/2019/12/12/united-states/where-does-joe-biden-stand-on-anti-semitism-israel-and-other-issues-that-matter-to-jewish-voters-in-2020|archive-date=January 11, 2021|publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]}}</ref> Biden has pledged to end U.S. support for the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] and to reevaluate the [[Saudi Arabia–United States relations|United States' relationship]] with [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="foreign-policy2">{{cite magazine|title=The Democratic candidates on foreign policy|magazine=[[Foreign Policy]]|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020-election/|archive-date=June 16, 2020|access-date=August 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616084737/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020-election/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Biden supports extending the [[New START]] arms control treaty with Russia to limit the number of [[nuclear weapon]]s deployed by both sides.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Jonathan|last1=Landay|first2=Arshad|last2=Mohammed |title=Biden urged to extend U.S.-Russia arms treaty for full 5 years without conditions |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-armscontrol-idUSKBN2852Y0 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=November 25, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512204150/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-armscontrol-idUSKBN2852Y0 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pifer |first1=Steven |title=Reviving nuclear arms control under Biden |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/12/01/reviving-nuclear-arms-control-under-biden/ |publisher=[[Brookings Institution]] |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201173216/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/12/01/reviving-nuclear-arms-control-under-biden/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Biden officially [[Armenian genocide recognition|recognized]] the [[Armenian genocide]], becoming the first U.S. president to do so.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Liptak|title=Biden officially recognizes the massacre of Armenians in World War I as a genocide|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/24/politics/armenian-genocide-biden-erdogan-turkey/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=April 24, 2021|access-date=April 25, 2021}}</ref>{{efn|In 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] referred to the Armenian genocide in passing in a statement regarding [[The Holocaust]], but never made a formal declaration recognizing it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |last2=Chulov |first2=Martin |title=Biden becomes first US president to recognise Armenian genocide |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/24/joe-biden-armenian-genocide-recognition |newspaper=The Observer |access-date=February 27, 2023 |date=April 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |date=April 24, 2021 |title=Analysis {{!}} Biden goes where his predecessors wouldn't in recognizing Armenian genocide |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/22/bidens-bold-move-recognize-armenian-genocide/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 27, 2023}}</ref>}}

Biden has supported [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights]] throughout his presidency, though he personally opposes abortion because of his Catholic faith.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Michael |last2=Jackson |first2=David |title=Abortion shapes Joe Biden's and Donald Trump's legacies. It may help one of them win reelection. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/04/13/abortion-joe-biden-donald-trumps-legacies-reelection/73121953007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=April 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |title=Biden says he's "not big on abortion" because of Catholic faith, but Roe "got it right" – CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-abortion-catholic-faith-roe-v-wade-got-it-right/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 16, 2024 |date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> In 2019, he said he supported ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and repealing the [[Hyde Amendment]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lerer|first=Lisa|date=March 29, 2019|title=When Joe Biden Voted to Let States Overturn Roe v. Wade|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/us/politics/biden-abortion-rights.html|access-date=August 8, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806121254/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/us/politics/biden-abortion-rights.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Siders |first=Dave |date=June 22, 2019 |title=Biden calls for enshrining Roe v. Wade in federal law |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/22/biden-roe-v-wade-2020-1376712 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402175549/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/22/biden-roe-v-wade-2020-1376712 |archive-date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |newspaper=[[Politico]]}}</ref> After ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]]'', he criticized [[Abortion law in the United States by state|near-total bans on abortion access]] passed in a majority of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]-controlled states,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leonhardt |first=David |date=April 6, 2023 |title=The Power and Limits of Abortion Politics |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/world/wisconsin-chicago-elections-abortion.html |access-date=April 7, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |quote=After the Supreme Court overturned Roe last June and allowed states to ban abortion, more than a dozen quickly imposed tight restrictions. Today, abortion is largely illegal in most of red America, even though polls suggest many voters in these states support at least some access.}}</ref> and took measures to protect [[Abortion in the United States|abortion rights in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Panetta |first=Grace |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Biden calls out abortion by name and skewers 'extreme' bans in State of the Union address |url=https://19thnews.org/2023/02/biden-abortion-state-of-the-union/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |agency=The 19th}}</ref> He has vowed to sign a bill codifying the protections of ''Roe'' into federal law; such a bill passed the House in 2022, but was unable to clear the Senate filibuster.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kinery |first=Emma |title=Biden promises to codify Roe if two more Democrats are elected to the Senate |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/23/biden-promises-to-codify-roe-if-two-more-democrats-are-elected-to-the-senate.html |access-date=May 13, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=September 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hutzler |first=Alexandra |title=House passes bills to codify Roe, protect interstate travel for abortion |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-vote-codifying-abortion-rights-travel-protections/story?id=86884239 |date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |agency=ABC News}}</ref>

Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy [[United States Senate|members of the Senate]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallsten|first=Peter|date=August 24, 2008|title=Demographics part of calculation: Biden adds experience, yes, but he could also help with Catholics, blue-collar whites and women|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-assess24-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515025410/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-assess24-story.html|archive-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Broder|first=John M.|date=September 13, 2008|title=Biden Releases Tax Returns, in Part to Pressure Rivals|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/politics/13biden.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425024153/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/politics/13biden.html|archive-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref> which he attributed to having been elected young.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mooney|first=Alexander|date=September 12, 2008|title=Biden tax returns revealed|publisher=CNN|url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/12/biden-tax-returns-revealed/|url-status=dead|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913001912/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/12/biden-tax-returns-revealed/|archive-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> Feeling that less-wealthy public officials may be tempted to accept contributions in exchange for political favors, he proposed [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]] measures during his first term.<ref name="cby-44" /> {{As of|2009|November}}, Biden's net worth was $27,012.<ref>{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Montopoli|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/237-millionaires-in-congress/|title=237 Millionaires in Congress|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=November 6, 2009|access-date=August 25, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818145713/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/237-millionaires-in-congress/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2020|November|alt=By November 2020}}, the Bidens were worth $9&nbsp;million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his vice presidency.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 7, 2020|access-date=August 25, 2021|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-net-worth-lifestyle-real-estate-family-wealth-assets-2020-1|title=President-elect Joe Biden just turned 78. Here's how he went from 'Middle-Class Joe' to millionaire.|first=Taylor|last=Borden|website=[[Business Insider]]|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319163402/https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-net-worth-lifestyle-real-estate-family-wealth-assets-2020-1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2019/08/28/joe-bidens-net-worth-how-the-2020-presidential-candidate-built-a-9-million-fortune/|title=Here's How Much 2020 Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Is Worth|first=Michela|last=Tindera|date=August 28, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2021|magazine=[[Forbes]]|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319162048/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2019/08/28/joe-bidens-net-worth-how-the-2020-presidential-candidate-built-a-9-million-fortune/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Political columnist [[David S. Broder]] wrote that Biden has grown over time: "He responds to real people—that's been consistent throughout. And his ability to understand himself and deal with other politicians has gotten much, much better."<ref name="watn020109" /> Journalist [[James Traub]] has written that "Biden is the kind of fundamentally happy person who can be as generous toward others as he is to himself".<ref name="nytm-traub" /> In recent years, especially after the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Biden has been noted for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Baldoni|first=John|title=How Empathy Defines Joe Biden|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2020/08/20/how-empathy-defines-joe-biden/|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=March 17, 2021|magazine=[[Forbes]]|archive-date=June 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618172934/https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2020/08/20/how-empathy-defines-joe-biden/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nagle|first=Molly|date=December 19, 2020|title=Nearly 50 years after death of wife and daughter, empathy remains at Joe Biden's core|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/50-years-death-wife-daughter-empathy-remains-joe/story?id=74814251|access-date=March 17, 2021|agency=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302080416/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/50-years-death-wife-daughter-empathy-remains-joe/story?id=74814251|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, CNN wrote that his presidential campaign aimed to make him "healer-in-chief", while ''The New York Times'' described his extensive history of being called upon to give eulogies.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Glueck|first1=Katie|last2=Flegenheimer|first2=Matt|date=June 11, 2020|title=Joe Biden, Emissary of Grief|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/joe-biden-funeral-speech.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611071047/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/joe-biden-funeral-speech.html |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=March 17, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>  

According to ''The New York Times'', Biden often embellishes elements of his life or exaggerates, a trait also noted by ''[[The New Yorker]]'' in 2014.<ref name="The New Yorker">{{Cite magazine |last=Osnos |first=Evan |date=July 20, 2014 |title=The Evolution of Joe Biden |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/07/28/biden-agenda |access-date=December 6, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Qiu |first2=Linda |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Biden, Storyteller in Chief, Spins Yarns That Often Unravel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/10/us/politics/biden-exaggeration-falsehood.html |accessdate=October 11, 2022 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> For instance, he has claimed to have been more active in the [[civil rights movement]] than he actually was, and has falsely recalled being an excellent student who earned three college degrees.<ref name="The New Yorker" /> The ''Times'' wrote, "Mr. Biden's folksiness can veer into folklore, with dates that don't quite add up and details that are exaggerated or wrong, the factual edges shaved off to make them more powerful for audiences."<ref name="The New York Times" />