Joe Biden: Look back at his journey in politics

A young Joe Biden (30) crouches beside Archmere Academy football coach John Walsh in 1960.

Sen. Edward "Ted " Kennedy (front) appears at a Sept. 30, 1972, campaign event at Turners Hall in Wilmington to support local Democratic candidates, including Senate candidate Joe Biden (left), with his wife Neilia.

Joe Biden visits with his sons, Beau (lying) and Hunter in their Delaware hospital room in 1972. Days before Biden lost his wife, Neilia, and baby daughter, Naomi, in a car crash that left his sons badly injured.

Sen. Joe Biden shows federal housing officials a newspaper page showing poor living conditions in West Laurel. Biden was fighting for federal funds for urban renewal efforts in the town on Feb. 22, 1973.

Joe Biden, from left, Beau Biden, Jill Biden, and Hunter Biden sit for a portrait October 1978.

Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. delivers a powerful speech at the Democratic State Convention in Wilmington on Feb 8, 1986.

Senator Joseph Biden speaks to an audience at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. on Dec. 7, 1987.

Joseph R. Biden, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee shares a laugh with Sen. Strom Thurmond, N.C., at todays Supreme Court Confrontation Hearings on Sept 15, 1987.

Sen. Joe Biden speaks to a full ballroom at the Radisson as TV lights beam down on him as he makes his announcement as to when he will announce for the presidency at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner fund raiser on Apr 28, 1987.

Sen. Joe Biden speaks in the Russell building rotunda during his presidential campaign on June 9, 1987.

Sen. Joe Biden, with his wife Jill at his left, holds a press conference on Capitol Hill to announce his withdrawal from the presidential race on Sept 23, 1987.

Sen. Joe Biden and his wife move through the Wilmington train station after his formal announcement to run for president on June 9, 1987.

Sen. Joe Biden lines up at the start of the Newark parade along with Gov. Castle and Sen. Roth on Main Street on Sept. 16, 1988.

Senator Joseph Biden's presidential bid carried his name outside the First State.

Sen. Joe Biden hugs his son Beau after Beau received his diploma at the commencement ceremony for the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences, where the Delaware senator spoke to graduating seniors on May 22, 1991.

U.S. Senator from Del., Joe Biden works while riding a train to Washington, D.C. in 2003. Biden, who has been a Senator for over 31 years, has spent over two years of his life on trains.

Senator Joe Biden meets privately with Pope John Paul II in April of 1980 in his library at the Vatican.

After winning the attorney general race in 2006, Beau Biden makes his acceptance speech with his father, Joe Biden, in his room at a Wilmington hotel on Nov. 7, 2006.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden meets with Air Force Col. Ron Rutland, 447th Air Expeditionary Group commander, and Delaware native Maj. Laura Soule after landing at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq July 7, 2006.

Senator Barack Obama makes a point to answer a question from the moderator along with Senator Joe Biden during the debate in 2007 in Des Moines, IA.

Senator Joe Biden says good-bye to his family members before leaving his home headed for the airport as he's chosen as Barack Obama's running mate in 2008.

Joe Biden speaks at the DNC as the Vice Presidential candidate in Denver in 2008.

Vice presidential nominee Sen Joe Biden with his wife Jill and Presidential nominee Barack Obama and Malia on the 4th and final night of the convention in Denver in 2008.

Biden leads a discussion in a backyard barbecue setting during his visit to Scranton, Pa on Sept. 1, 2008.

Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden meets with veterans and residents at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Joe Biden speaks Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne, Pa. on September 5, 2008.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden chats with New Hampshire Rep. Jane Clemons as he arrives for a town hall style forum at the Wellness Center at Nashua Community College Wednesday, September 10, 2008. The event is being called ÒChange We Need Town Hall with Senator Joe Biden." The forum is to rally Granite State voters and discuss the Obama/Biden blueprint for change.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden hosts a town hall style forum at the Wellness Center at Nashua Community College Wednesday, September 10, 2008. The event is being called ÒChange We Need Town Hall with Senator Joe Biden." The forum is to rally Granite State voters and discuss the Obama/Biden blueprint for change.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden hosts a town hall style forum at the Wellness Center at Nashua Community College Wednesday, September 10, 2008. The event is being called ÒChange We Need Town Hall with Senator Joe Biden." The forum is to rally Granite State voters and discuss the Obama/Biden blueprint for change.

Democratic candidate for vice president Joe Biden makes a campaign appearance at Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pa., with his wife, Jill, and granddaughter Natalie on Tuesday, Sept 16, 2008.

People holds a campaign poster at an event in Philadelphia on Sept 24, 2008.

Sen. Joe Biden D-DE, reacts to the crowd after he finished making his remarks during a campaign event in Nesbitt Park in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.

Sen. Barack Obama gives his victory speech joined by Sen. Joe Biden. A huge rally starring presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden draws hundreds of thousands of party supporters at Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, 2008.

Vice President-Elect Joe Biden gives an interview in his hideaway office at the Capitol building in Washington, DC after giving his good-bye speech on the Senate floor on Jan 15, 2009.

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden waves to the media in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 during the historical Inaugural whistle stop train tour to Washington.

Vice President Joe Biden dances with his wife Jill at his own Biden Ball in the Convention Center in Washington on Jan 20, 2009.

Joe Biden, vice president of the United States, greets Baltimore Orioles catcher Chad Moeller after throwing out the first pitch prior to the opening day game against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards on April 6, 2009.

Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Frank Lautenberg are shown at Route 46 and Main St. in Lodi, N.J. on May 7, 2009. The infrastructure project which starts in the area next week will be cost $31.5 million, will be the first of its kind in the Garden State to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

Vice President-Elect Joe Biden goes over his speech as his wife, Jill, looks on as they head to Washington, DC for his last day at the Senate on Jan 15, 2009.

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a ceremony observing the tenth anniversary of the terror attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2011. A flag hangs at the point where the plane crashed into the building.

Vice president Joe Biden reacts during the national anthem before a game between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Dec. 8, 2012.

President Barack Obama talks with Vice President Joe Biden during the first half of the basketball game between team USA and team Brazil at Verizon Center on July 16, 2012.

Vice President Joe Biden and Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., share the stage at the McCain Institute for International LeadershipÔs 2013 Sedona Forum at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. On April 26, 2013.

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from a balcony of the US Capital Building after addressing a joint session of Congress on Sept 24, 2015. With Pope Francis are, among others, Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker of the house John Boehner, and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

Vice President Joe Biden poses with Villanova Wildcats students at halftime in the 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Championship semi-final game against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium in Houston on Apr 2, 2016.

Vice President Joe Biden arrives for the United States Military Academy graduation and commissioning ceremony at Michie Stadium at West Point on May 21, 2016.

Vice President Joe Biden takes the stage during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson (second from left) and Vice President Joe Biden (navy in center) hold the flag along with 9/11 first responders before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on Sep 11, 2016.

Vice President Biden stops for water ice with his granddaughter Natalie, 5, in Little Italy in Wilmington in 2016.

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI), right, and Vice President Joe Biden prior to delivering the State of the Union address from the House chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington on Jan. 12, 2016.

Vice President Joe Biden greets Melania Trump during the 2017 Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol.

Former Vice President Joe Biden wipes away a tear while addressing a crowd at his welcome back to Wilmington rally at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on Jan 20, 2017.

Democratic presidential candidate former vice president Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate U.S. senator Kamala Harris of California speaks the second night of the Democratic presidential debates at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Tuesday, July 31, 2019.

A group of Democratic presidential primary candidates (from left), Gov. John Hickenlooper, Andrew Yang, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Eric Swalwell, enter the debate stage Thursday, June 27, 2019, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. at the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at the National Urban League conference at the Indiana Convention Center on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Former Vice President Joe Biden buys an ice cream Wonder Bar for himself and sisters Grace and Noelle Beasley, of Urbandale, on the first day of the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Des Moines.

South Bend Indiana Mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg and Former Vice-President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden talk before speaking during the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry in Water Works Park on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 in Des Moines.

Former Vice President Joe Biden campaigns in a packed hall in Ottumwa, Iowa Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden celebrates on stage with Jill Biden, from left, running mate Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff Friday, August 21, 2020 on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Wilmington.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to a crowd of supporters in Columbia after his victory in the South Carolina primary Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020.

Former Vice President Joe Biden greets Former Second Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden after she delivered a speech for viewers during the Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center on August 18, 2020.

President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden appear in the first Presidential debate in the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion at the Cleveland Clinic, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in Cleveland.

Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden speak to supporters on election night at an event held outside of the Chase Center in Wilmington on Nov. 3, 2020.

President-elect Joe Biden (2R) and Dr. Jill Biden (R) with Vice President Elect Kamala Harris (2L) and Doug Emhoff (L) are joined by family memebrs wave after Biden delivered his victory address after being declared the winner in the 2020 presidential election in Wilmington, Delaware.

Joe Biden is sworn in as President of the United Staes during the 2021 Presidential Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the U.S. Capitol.

President Joe Biden hosts a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on Dec 21, 2022. The Ukrainian President visited Washington to meet with Biden and US lawmakers during his first trip outside his country since Russia began its violent invasion of Ukraine in February.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden give remarks to people on the South Lawn during the White House Easter egg roll on Apr 18, 2022.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visit to pay respects at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX on May 29, 2022 where a mass shooting on May 24, 2022 killed 19 students and two teachers.

Gymnast Simone Biles smiles as President Joe Biden places a Medal of Freedom on her during the Medal of Freedom Ceremony at The White House Thursday, July 7, 2022.

President Joe Biden speaks during Laborfest at Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022.

President Joe Biden talks with General Motors CEO Mary Barra while stepping inside of a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 during a tour of the show floor during the 2022 North American International Auto Show held at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit on Wed., Sept. 14, 2022

President Joe Biden hosts a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House to sign the Respect for Marriage Act on Dec 13, 2022.

President Joe Biden, currently on vacation in Rehoboth Beach, rides a bike on the Gordon’s Pond Trail to Herring Point in Lewes on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

President Joe Biden arrives to pardon a pair of turkeys, Liberty and Bell, in a decades-old White House Thanksgiving tradition on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023.

President Joe Biden speaks at the historic Red Butte Airfield near Tusayan, Ariz., on Aug. 8, 2023. Biden designated a new national monument, The Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, to preserve land around the park.

LSU's Angel Reese, right, and Emily Ward, left, present President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden jerseys from Louisiana State University as they visit White House on May 26, 2023. The President and First Lady welcomed the LSU Tigers womenÕs basketball team to the White House to celebrate their 2022-2023 NCAA Championship seasons at The White House.

President Joe Biden, left center, marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on Sunday March 5, 2023 to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday bridge crossing.

President Joe Biden fakes out members of the Golden State Warriors as he stands up after kneeling for a photograph during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House to celebrate their 2022 NBA championship on Jan 17, 2023.

President Joe Biden departs Air Force One at CVG Wednesday morning, Jan. 4, 2023. Biden was en-route to Covington, Ky. to deliver remarks about the $1.6 billion federal investment in the Brent Spence Bridge. He was also joined at the airport by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, along with Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. Former Sen. Rob Portman was also at the airport.

President Joe Biden takes selfies with soldiers and their family members during his visit to Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, N.C. on Friday, June 9, 2023. President Joe Biden signed an executive order to support military-connected families during his visit.

Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis escorts President Joe Biden before he formally apologizes for abuses committed against Native boarding school students over the past century during a visit to the Gila Crossing Community School on Oct. 25, 2024, in the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.

With their hands over their hearts, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at Dover Air Force Base on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, watch as an Army carry team moves a transfer case of one of three U.S. Army Reserve sergeants killed by a drone strike Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, on their base in Jordan near the Syrian border.

President Joe Biden speaks about the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse at the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Headquarters in Dundalk, MD on April 5, 2024. The bridge collapsed on March 26 after a massive cargo ship rammed into it, causing the structure to crumble into the Patapsco River and kill six workers who were patching potholes.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden participate in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on on April 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. In addition to the traditional egg roll and egg hunt, First Lady Jill Biden continues last year's theme of ÒEGGucationÓ with educational activities and special performances on the South Lawn.

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington March 7, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris, left and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La) is at right.

President Joe Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 7, 2024.

President Joe Biden puts on an autographed helmet during the Kansas City Chiefs visit to the White House to celebrate their championship season and victory in Super Bowl LVIII on Friday, May 31, 2024.

President Joe Biden, House and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, (R-LA) at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial MuseumÕs Days of Remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

President Biden welcomes Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Mrs. Kishida Yuko of Japan to the White House in Washington on Apr 10, 2024.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks in St. Pete Beach following Hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaging FloridaÕs Gulf Coast, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024.

President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign stop at Sherman Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, July 5, 2024.

President Joe Biden speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug 19, 2024.

President Joe Biden debates former President Donald Trump in Atlanta on Jun 27, 2024.

President Joe Biden during the debate at CNN's studios in Atlanta on Jun 27, 2024.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrive ahead of the 60th inaugural ceremony on January 20, 2025, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States in a rare indoor inauguration ceremony. The parade was also moved inside Capitol One Arena due to weather.

Former President Joe Biden congratulates US President Donald Trump after he was sworn in during an inauguration ceremony in the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC on January 20, 2025. Trump, who defeated Kamala Harris, is being sworn in today as the 47th president of the United States, though the planned outdoor ceremonies and events have been cancelled due to a forecast of extreme cold temperatures.

Former President Joe Biden speaks during a conference of the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) at the Sofitel Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, on April 15, 2025. The event marked Biden's first public remarks since leaving the office of the US Presidency.