by Jeff Wilser
A big thanks as always, of course, to Michael Sang, Betsy Poris, Judy Newman, Juliet Nuss, Harry McNeill (I finally learned how to spell your name!), Xiaodi Qu, Traci Swain, Ann-Marie Resnick, Ellie Chamberland, Wayne Friedman, Mike White, and the rest of the mighty crew at Scholastic. (I miss you guys already.)
Oh, one more bit of thanks? To President Barack Obama. Sir, you made a good choice.
ENDNOTES
A quick note on notes:
As this is not a scholarly or academic work, I wanted to avoid bogging the reader down with in-text citations and footnotes. Yet it’s important to attribute sources (part of the Wisdom of Joe, see Chapter 5), so I’ve done my best, in the following pages, to show where each quote is drawn from.
Broadly speaking, there are four buckets of sources for this book: (1) my interviews with people who knew or worked with Joe Biden; (2) books about Biden; (3) articles about Biden; and (4) the thousands and thousands of things he has said in speeches, interviews, and TV appearances.
Happily, Joe Biden has been in our lives for more than forty years, and with all that time in the public eye, he has given us a joyful amount of raw material. The Book of Joe, clearly, would not be possible without this mountain of quotations. (Am I the only one at 2 a.m. who watches old YouTube clips of the Bork hearings?)
The book also owes a huge debt to Jules Witcover’s hustle and legwork in Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption; he uncovered so many great gems and anecdotes. (Thank you, sir.) For anyone who has caught the bug and wants a more comprehensive look at Biden’s life, definitely check out Witcover. And the Biden chapters from Richard Ben Cramer’s classic, What It Takes, are absolutely top-notch. (The world lost Cramer to lung cancer in 2013. At the time, Vice President Biden said, “It is a powerful thing to read a book someone has written about you, and to find both the observations and criticisms so sharp and insightful that you learn something new and meaningful about yourself. That was my experience with Richard.”)
I’m especially indebted to the blue chip reporting by Evan Osnos in The New Yorker (shout-out to “The Biden Agenda”), Glenn Thrush in Politico (“Joe Biden in Winter”), Steve Clemons in The Atlantic (“The Biden Doctrine”), Jeanne Marie Laskas in GQ (“Have You Heard the One About Joe Biden?”), John Richardson in Esquire (“Joe Biden, Advisor in Chief”), Mark Bowden in The Atlantic (“The Salesman”), George Packer in The New Yorker (“Washington Man,” and of course Packer’s book The Unwinding), and all of the tireless, underappreciated journalists at the New York Times, the Washington Post, and countless others.
And as the best person to comment on the insight of Joe Biden is, well, Joe Biden, I’m especially grateful for the anecdotes, perspective, and lessons he shares in Promises to Keep. It was a brave book for him to write, and much of what we know about his early life, especially the painful moments from 1972, we only really learned from that book. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants the more complete Joe Biden picture. (Thank you, Mr. Vice President.)
Okay, on to the nitty-gritty:
INTRODUCTION
Cub Scouts anecdote—Herbie Ziskend phone interview, June 19, 2017, supplemented with contemporary TV coverage (such as CBS.com: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cub-scouts-get-a-campaign-plane-tour-from-biden).
“He’s almost exactly the same.”—Arun Chaudhary phone interview, June 22, 2017.
“Folks don’t just feel”—from the Medal of Freedom ceremony, January 12, 2017.
“If you can’t admire Joe Biden”—“Watch Lindsey Graham Choke Up Talking About Joe Biden,” Huffington Post, July 2, 2015.
“Joe Biden doesn’t have a mean bone”—Laskas, “Have You Heard the One About President Joe Biden?”
“I’ve known eight presidents”—August 22, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c23RegP8lU.
“If you ask me”—Biden has said the “luckiest/unluckiest man alive” quote many times; to cite two sources: “Speaking Freely, Biden Finds Influential Role,” New York Times, March 28, 2009, as well as United States Senate Oral Histories Project, which supply the rest of the Ted Kaufman quotes that appear in this book, https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Kaufman_Oral_History.pdf.
1
THE BOY WHO COULDN’T SPEAK (1942–60)
“I may be Irish, but I’m not stupid.”—“The Best of Biden Being Biden from the New Congress’ First Day,” PBS.org, January 6, 2015.
The four-hour talking marathon was actually the night of Biden’s aneurysm, as detailed in Richard Ben Cramer’s What It Takes.
“I talked like Morse code…”—Osnos, “The Biden Agenda.”
“spunky Irish lass with a mind of her own”—Jules Witcover’s delightful description, from Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption. (For brevity, the rest of the citations of “Witcover” refer to this book.)
“Nobody is better than you”—Biden’s speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, which is also the source for “it’s because you’re so bright you can’t get the thoughts out quickly enough.”
His sister, Val—Witcover.
“Feat of the Dump Truck”—Cramer, What It Takes.
“Joe was just a daring guy”—as told to Witcover.
“You ca-ca-can’t catch me!”—“Joe Biden’s Scranton Roots,” Times Tribune (Scranton, Penn.), January 21, 2009.
push-alert notifications from Car and Driver—Thrush, “Joe Biden in Winter.”
One year, the owner of his father’s dealership—story Biden has told many times.
“When I got knocked down by guys”—quote from Biden’s 2008 Democratic National Convention speech.
“Joe Impedimenta” nickname, kids in alphabetical order, Sir Walter Raleigh episode—Cramer’s What It Takes; 2011 essay Biden wrote for People.
Mother driving him back to school, “rip that bonnet off”—Promises to Keep.
“My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream”—“Vice President: ‘My Name Is Joe Biden, and I Love Ice Cream,’” TheHill.com, May 18, 2016.
“Find someone who looks at you like…”—@mgargeya, https://twitter.com/mgargeya/status/859601036578783232
“He gets excited about ice cream”—Arun Chaudhary phone interview, June 22, 2017.
Big Red, White & Biden: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/heres-scoop-new-joe-biden-ice-cream-flavor/, May 31, 2017.
Archmere, “my deepest desire, my Oz,” and washing windows, etc.—Promises to Keep.
“When Joe sticks up for the little guy”—President Obama’s comments honoring Biden during the Medal of Freedom ceremony, January 12, 2017.
Football and “Hands” anecdotes—Witcover.
“Biden…lugged the pigskin”—Chester Delaware County Daily Times.
Realizing that he liked public speaking—Promises to Keep.
“Mr. Walsh,” he said—Witcover.
The Sweater Kid—Branden Brooks phone interview, June 26, 2017.
2
HOT YOUNG BIDEN (1960–72)
“I probably started my first year of college”—Promises to Keep.
“dated a lot of girls,” thoughts of becoming a priest, advice from the headmaster—Witcover.
Hot Young Biden memes:
@_naidacielo, https://twitter.com/_naidacielo/status/797298666360819712
http://harryedward.tumblr.com/post/153113723249
@GalacticToasts, https://twitter.com/GalacticToasts/status/793962011793170432.
“a lot of new girls to meet,” “luscious pink pile,” “dozens of beautiful young college girls sunning themselves,” Spring Break/Bahamas anecdote—summarized from Promises to Keep and Witcover, whose interviews with Biden’s friend Fred Sears corroborate the coin-flip story.
Yacht Man, accompanying dialogue, “ass over tin cup in love,” and “You know we’re going to get married”—Promises to Keep.
Biden and Booze—“Biden Clenches Plastic Beer Cup in Teeth to Free Hands f
or Clapping,” The Onion, January 28, 2014.
“enough alcoholics in my family”—2008 Biden interview with the New York Times.
“Joe would do wild and crazy things…”—Witcover.
“I’m against chemical crutches”—Wilmington Journal, November 11, 1970 (via Witcover).
Quitting football and borrowing car to visit Neilia, car-ferrying scheme, “She wanted five…”—Promises to Keep.
“He’s going to be a senator by age thirty”—as Bobbie Greene McCarthy said to Witcover.
Neilia’s note on the windshield—“The Bidens: ‘Magical’ Years as Newlyweds in Syracuse,” Syracuse Post-Standard, May 31, 2002.
Biden marrying Neilia in 1966—Ibid.
Joe Sr. giving the Corvette as a wedding gift—as Biden shared on Jay Leno’s Garage, https://youtu.be/mP-hyDSlmUs.
Moving into 608 Stinard, the puppy “Senator”—“The Bidens: ‘Magical’ Years as Newlyweds in Syracuse.”
Casual attitude toward law school, “sloppy and arrogant” student, brush with plagiarism, and accompanying quotes—Promises to Keep.
Biden cramming for finals with Neilia’s help—Ibid.
3
THE HAIL MARY (1972)
“snowman’s chance in August”—Promises to Keep.
“Well, who’s going to be his campaign manager?”—from the United States Senate Oral History Project (all Kaufman quotes are from the Oral History Project, later referred to as “Senate oral histories”), https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/oral_history/KaufmanEdwardE.htm.
Ted Kaufman riff and quotes, on the party leaders mentioning Joe and Val Biden—Senate oral histories.
Val’s role in the first election—both Witcover and Promises to Keep.
Launching on March 20, 1972, flying in propeller plane—Witcover.
18 percent versus 93 percent name recognition—Kelley, “Death and the All-American Boy.”
Coffee, “carried them from house to house”—Promises to Keep.
Asking for vote—Herbie Ziskend phone interview, June 19, 2017.
Inviting scholars to dinner on Sunday nights—Promises to Keep.
“These were issues that not a lot of elected officials”—Senate oral histories.
“malarkey”—Promises to Keep.
“He’s just a very ethical guy”—Wilmington News, October 2, 1972 (via Witcover).
“a nice guy, but he’s just not an innovative senator”—Kelley, “Death and the All-American Boy.”
I LOVE CALE button anecdote—Nancy Doyle Palmer, “Joe Biden: ‘Everyone Calls Me Joe,’” The Washingtonian, February 1, 2009.
“We produced some radio advertising”—John Marttila phone interview, June 20, 2017.
“stupid and a horrendous waste of time”—Promises to Keep.
“Hey, I’m going to vote for your dad!”—Ibid.
“You know, not since Henry Clay”—Ibid. It’s possible that Biden’s reading of history wasn’t 100 percent accurate, as in 1818, John Henry Eaton was sworn in to the Senate at age twenty-eight, and in 1934, Rush Holt Sr., like Biden, turned thirty after his election to the Senate.
Hopping out of the car at red lights, wedding crashing, winning the Jewish vote—Witcover.
“Energizer Bunny”—Witcover.
F. Nordy Hoffman anecdote, quotes—Senate oral histories, https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/oral_history/F_Nordy_Hoffman.htm.
“Joe the Lifeguard”—story and all quotes (prior to 2017) as shared by Biden in Promises to Keep.
“I owe you all”—“Joe Biden Recalls Lessons Learned as the Only White Lifeguard at City Pool in 1962,” Washington Post, June 27, 2017.
Biden’s grocery store radio ads, Val quotes—“Biden’s Road to Senate Took Tragic Turn,” NPR, October 8, 2007, as well as Promises to Keep, corroborated by Marttila phone interview.
Description of brochures, Chris Matthews quotes—“Who Joe Biden Was When We Met Him Is Who You See Now,” MSNBC.com, June 1, 2015.
“Biden post office”—as told in Promises to Keep, Marttila phone interview, F. Nordy Hoffman via Senate oral histories.
debate night anecdote, quotes—“The Family Man Takes a Leap,” Chicago Tribune, August 14, 1987.
“clubbing the family’s favorite uncle”—Promises to Keep.
Boggs’s kitchen sink attack ad—Ibid.
“I knew the answer I thought they wanted to hear,” “Joe, I sure in hell hope”—Promises to Keep.
“You ran a good race, Joe,” and his response—Ibid.
Kaufman memories of victory—Senate oral histories.
“I may go down and be the lousiest senator”—Wilmington News, November 9, 1972 (via Witcover).
2,500 staffer applicants—Promises to Keep.
Description of family cutting cake—archival photo.
Traveling to DC to buy a house, “exceeded all my romantic youthful imagining”—Promises to Keep.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?”—2012 speech Biden gave to military families at the annual TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar, as well as Promises to Keep and “Joe Biden’s Heartfelt Speech on Grief,” Washington Post, May 31, 2015.
Thoughts of suicide—2012 speech to military families, “Joe Biden’s Heartfelt Speech on Grief.”
Comments at Neilia’s funeral—Wilmington Journal, December 20, 1972 (via Witcover).
“No words, no prayer, no sermon gave me ease,” “bust out of the hospital”—Promises to Keep.
“Look, Joe, why don’t you take a year”—Witcover.
“I’m going to jump right in there with you, son.”—“Senator-Elect’s Wife Dies in Auto Accident,” Cedar Rapids Gazette, December 19, 1972.
“One of my earliest memories”—Beau Biden’s 2008 speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Nixon, Biden audiotapes—now publicly available, accessed via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz2ofDFUlN4.
“There will come a day, I promise you”—2012 speech to military families, “Joe Biden’s Heartfelt Speech on Grief.”
“Caring about your colleague”—2017 commencement speech at Colby College (Waterville, Me.), “Joe Biden Explains How This One Trait Can Make You Both Happy and Successful,” CNBC.com, May 23, 2017.
Mike Mansfield “six months” anecdote, and Biden’s insistence on commuting every day via Amtrak—Promises to Keep.
Hägar the Horrible—Fussman, “Joe Biden: What I’ve Learned.”
“I’m going to shove my rosary down their throat”—Sullivan, “Does Biden Have a Catholic Problem?”
“I find great solace in my faith,” set of rosaries, “I will wear it till I die”—NPR Fresh Air, June 15, 2017.
Beau Biden wearing a sweater under a blazer, resting on a hospital bed—archival photo.
“I hope that I can be a good senator for you all”—Wilmington News, January 6, 1973 (via Witcover).
Val moving in to look after the boys, Biden leading them in prayers—Promises to Keep.
4
BIDEN TIME (1972–88)
“I ain’t changing my brand…”—Thrush, “Joe Biden in Winter.”
As a rookie senator, Neilia’s ring on his finger—Promises to Keep.
a rule for Beau and Hunter, “wild card”—Promises to Keep.
“We have an expression”—D’Agostino, “Things My Father Taught Me.”
Kissinger anecdote, accompanying quotations—Promises to Keep.
Seeing old senators naked—Ibid.
“We were walking the street late at night” in New Orleans—Wilmington Journal, January 3, 1974 (via Witcover).
“It seems to me that we should flat-out tell the American people”—Kelley, “Death and the All-American Boy.”
“The voters of Delaware who elected this stupid”—“Joe McQuaid’s Publisher’s Notebook: Biden, Mercier Said It Well,” UnionLeader.com, November 27, 2011.
Public financing idea, “youngest one-term senator”—Promis
es to Keep.
Helms once wrote, “Crime rates”—“Thunder from the Right,” New York Times Magazine, February 8, 1981.
Mike Mansfield anecdote—Biden’s commencement speech at Yale University (New Haven, Conn.), May 17, 2015, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/05/17/remarks-vice-president-yale-university-class-day; also appears in Promises to Keep.
“look past the caricatures”—Biden’s commencement speech at Yale.
“Every time there’s a crisis in the Congress”—Ibid.
Strom Thurmond, “Segregation in the South”—“Thurmond’s Support of Daughter Varied,” Washington Post, December 23, 2003.
“Strom Thurmond was” and the rest of “Biden and the Capacity for Change” sidebar—Biden’s eulogy for Strom Thurmond, http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/joebidenstromthurmondeulogy.htm.
“I’d be a damn liar”—TV News: The People Paper, September 26, 1974 (via Witcover).
“I want to make sure”—Ibid.
Purse-rescuing anecdote—“Though Small in Size, Delaware Big on Biden,” USA Today, October 9, 2008.
“If it’s ever a choice”—Mike Haltzel phone interview, June 21, 2017.
Seeing Jill’s poster in the airport, “blonde and gorgeous”—Promises to Keep, other public mentions.
Meet-cute anecdote and dialogue—as shared in Promises to Keep.
“I was really charmed by him”—Piers Morgan Tonight, January 23, 2012.
“She had that way of looking at you”—Cramer, What It Takes. (Technically, Cramer’s book is not a “biography” but a sprawling account of the ’88 election, yet his sections on Biden are so thorough and rich and well-researched, the word “biographer” feels appropriate.)
meeting the families—Promises to Keep.
Beau and Hunter lobbying Joe to propose to Jill—Ibid.
Five marriage proposals, the ultimatum, “I’m not going to wait any longer,” and finally yes—Ibid.
burgers at Blimpie’s—Promises to Keep, although, to be fair, it’s unclear if Blimpie’s ever served burgers.
“I’ve had two moms”—Beau Biden’s interview with Ann Curry, Today, August 27, 2008, https://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/flatview?cuecard=35906.