Beau Biden

Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III (1969-2015)

Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III was an American politician, lawyer, and military officer who served as the 44th Attorney General of Delaware from 2007 to 2015. As the eldest son of Joe Biden, who would later become the 46th President of the United States, Beau Biden established his own distinguished career in public service, law enforcement, and military service before his untimely death from brain cancer at age 46.

Early Life and Family Background

Born on February 3, 1969, in Wilmington, Delaware, Beau Biden was the eldest son of Joe Biden and his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden. His early life was marked by tragedy when, on December 18, 1972, his mother and infant sister Naomi were killed in an automobile accident while Christmas shopping. Beau, then nearly four years old, and his younger brother Hunter were also in the car and sustained serious injuries. Beau suffered multiple broken bones, while Hunter experienced skull injuries and severe traumatic brain damage. The brothers spent several months recovering in the hospital, during which time their father was sworn into the United States Senate.

In June 1977, Joe Biden married Jill Jacobs, whom Beau embraced as his stepmother. The family expanded with the birth of his half-sister Ashley in 1981. In 2002, Beau married Hallie Olivere, with whom he had two children: daughter Natalie Naomi (born 2004) and son Robert Hunter II (born 2006).

Education and Early Career

Biden attended Archmere Academy, his father's high school alma mater, before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991, where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. Following in his father's footsteps, he earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. After graduation, he clerked for Judge Steven McAuliffe of the United States District Court of New Hampshire.

From 1995 to 2004, Biden served at the United States Department of Justice in Philadelphia, initially as Counsel to the Office of Policy Development and later as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office. He also worked in Kosovo after the 1998-1999 Kosovo War, where he trained judges and prosecutors for the local judicial system. In 2004, he joined the law firm of Bifferato, Gentilotti, Biden & Balick as a partner.

Military Service

In 2003, Biden enlisted in the Delaware Army National Guard, attending The JAG School at the University of Virginia. He achieved the rank of major in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, serving with the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware. His military service included a yearlong deployment to Iraq from 2008 to 2009, with seven months spent in the combat zone.

During his deployment, Biden maintained his role as Delaware's Attorney General by coordinating with his senior staff, though he delegated most responsibilities to his chief deputy. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and, posthumously, the Legion of Merit and the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross.

Political Career

Delaware Attorney General (2007-2015)

Biden's political career began with his successful campaign for Delaware Attorney General in 2006, where he defeated veteran prosecutor Ferris Wharton by approximately five percentage points. As Attorney General, he:

• Appointed former Delaware Attorney General Richard S. Gebelein as Chief Deputy Attorney General
• Named former assistant U.S. Attorney Richard G. Andrews as State Prosecutor
• Strengthened registration requirements for sex offenders
• Won re-election in 2010 with 78.9% of the vote against Independent Party candidate Doug Campbell

His tenure as Attorney General faced controversy over his handling of the Robert H. Richards IV case, involving an heir of the Du Pont family accused of sexually assaulting his young daughter. Biden's office negotiated a plea deal that resulted in Richards receiving eight years' probation instead of mandatory prison time, a decision Biden defended as necessary given the case's weaknesses.

Political Aspirations

Despite speculation about a 2010 Senate run following his father's election as Vice President, Biden chose to focus on his role as Attorney General, particularly the prosecution of Earl Bradley, a convicted serial child rapist. In 2014, he announced his intention to run for Governor of Delaware in the 2016 election, though his illness would ultimately prevent this campaign.

Illness and Death

Biden faced significant health challenges throughout his adult life. In 2001, he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis after returning from Kosovo. In May 2010, he suffered a mild stroke and was treated at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

In August 2013, Biden was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Despite initial treatment success, the cancer recurred in 2015. He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 20, 2015, where he passed away on May 30, at age 46.

His funeral at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington drew numerous dignitaries, including:

• President Barack Obama and family
• Former President Bill Clinton
• Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
• Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno
• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

Coldplay's Chris Martin performed "Til Kingdom Come" at the service, honoring Biden's fondness for the band. He was laid to rest at St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville, Delaware, near his mother Neilia, sister Naomi, and grandparents.

Legacy and Honors

Biden's impact continues through various commemorations and initiatives:

• The Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, part of the 21st Century Cures Act (2016)
• A named scholarship at Syracuse University College of Law
• A southeastern Kosovar highway named "Joseph R. 'Beau' Biden, III"
• The Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center in New Castle, Delaware
• The Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award (posthumously awarded)

His father, Joe Biden, published a memoir titled "Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose" in 2017, reflecting on Beau's illness and death. On January 20, 2021, during Joe Biden's presidential inauguration, the band New Radicals reunited to perform "You Get What You Give," a favorite song of Beau's, in his memory.

Beau Biden's legacy endures as an example of public service, military duty, and dedication to family. His father has frequently cited Beau's example and character, including comparing Pete Buttigieg to Beau during the 2020 presidential campaign, calling it "the highest compliment I can give any man or woman."