Joe Biden’s Road to the White House
Following months of campaigning, speech-making, and anxious waiting, Joe Biden has been declared the official winner of the Presidential Election. Before this victory, Biden’s five decades of public service revealed a unique pattern: a career of moderate politics in a divisive America.
Graduating from the University of Delaware in 1965, Biden entered law school at Syracuse University, returning to Delaware in 1968 with a law degree and a new wife, Neilia Hunter. After a short stunt as an attorney, he quickly turned to politics, serving in the New Castle County Council for two years. Recognizing Delaware’s need for a new face during changing times, Biden announced a surprising bid for the Delaware Senate seat in 1972, campaigning through short radio ads and local events. Following a stunning upset of senate-incumbent J. Caleb Boggs, Biden became the fifth youngest United States senator at the age of twenty-nine. Considered the bright new hope of the Democrats, presidency rumors circulated as early as 1976. Though his first political wins were credited to his fresh perspectives and young age, Biden’s career would soon face unspeakable tragedy.
Less than a month after his win, he was devastated with the passing of his wife and 1-year-old daughter Naomi in a car accident. The loss led him to almost suspend his career to care for his two sons, who were also seriously injured in the accident. After relentless persuasion from his inner circle, Biden continued his post, eventually becoming Delaware's longest serving senator—holding office for six terms. Nevertheless, he still prioritized his family, commuting two hours back to Delaware after every Senate meeting; he continued this commitment throughout his career, even making time to attend parent teacher conferences.
During his time in the Upper House, Biden vocalized strong, often controversial stances on foreign policy and the justice system. During the Kosovo Conflict, Biden advocated for U.S. intervention against Serbian ethnic entrepreneur Slobodan Molescevic to protect ethnic Kosovars and Albanians. His voice would encourage American support, leading to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ultimately intervening to end the ethnic violence. However, in the 1990s, Biden co-authored a string of bipartisan justice bills, including the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, credited with accelerating the mass incarceration of Black men. While his most recent presidential campaign clearly states that “we can and must reduce the number of people incarcerated,” his previous references to “young thugs” and “predators on the streets” confuse this message. In a time where racial injustices have been magnified in the media, his presidential decisions regarding criminal justice reform and racial inequality are imperative to his future political success and the state of our nation.
Later in 2002, his reputation and influence would provide the needed votes to authorize Bush’s actions in Iraq. More than just vote for the war, Biden used his spotless foreign policy reputation to encourage support, and supported pro-war witnesses in the deciding Senate hearings. The war, which led to 4,500 American soldiers losing their lives, and Iraqi deaths numbered above 1 million, continued to haunt his platform campaign.Biden would run for president three times. When his first attempt was announced in 1988, it was quickly muddled by evident plagiarism in his previously praised speeches and wrong claims about his academic performance. 2008 revealed a smaller loss, when Democratic candidate Barack Obama announced him as vice-president. Holding the position for two consecutive terms, Biden worked to improve middle-class living standards, reduce gun violence, further cancer research, and advocate against gender based violence. The third time was proven to be the charm when he finally succeeded in 2020. His campaign addressed the current socio-economic issues surrounding COVID-19 and racial inequality; a clear voice of reason after months of Donald Trump’s denial over the nation’s current state.
As young people, it might be easy to think of Biden as a former vice president who overcame his significant age to win the presidency—but as participants in the nation’s political process, it is just as important to consider his political career before then. In the coming years, as the partisan split deepens, the decisions he makes to uphold unity and democracy will determine his legacy.
by LAASYA CHIDURUPPA