Joe Biden: Quick Facts

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Nov. 13, 2026

News •

Joe Biden's White House memoir is an unapologetic defense of four years sandwiched between Trump • Nov. 13, 2026, 4:10 PM ET (AP)

Biden says he wouldn't have run for a second term in 2024 if he knew he had cancer • Nov. 11, 2026, 12:31 PM ET (AP)

A note to ‘46’: Donald Trump’s private message to Joe Biden emerges in new White House memoir • Nov. 10, 2026, 3:01 PM ET (AP)

Joe Biden, in White House memoir, says Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 riots 'to his grave' • Nov. 9, 2026, 7:59 AM ET (AP)

Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials • Oct. 27, 2026, 10:50 PM ET (AP)

Joe Biden was inaugurated as president of the United States on January 20, 2021, having beaten incumbent Pres. Donald Trump in the November 2020 general election by 306 electoral votes to 232. Biden previously served as the 47th vice president of the United States (2009–17) in the Democratic administration of Pres. Barack Obama. He represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009, during which time he won reelection six times.

Facts

Also Known As	Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Born	November 20, 1942 (age 83) • Scranton • Pennsylvania • (Birthday in 7 days)
Title / Office	presidency of the United States of America (2021-2025), United States • vice president of the United States of America (2009-2017), United States • United States Senate (1973-2009), United States
Political Affiliation	Democratic Party
Awards And Honors	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2017) • Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (2017)
Notable Family Members	spouse Jill Biden • son Beau Biden • son Hunter Biden • son of Joseph Robinette Biden, Sr. • son of Catherine Eugenia Biden • married to Jill Biden (June 17, 1977–present) • married to Neilia Hunter (August 27, 1966–December 18, 1972 [her death]) • father of Beau Biden (b. 1969–d. 2015) • father of Hunter Biden (b. 1970) • father of Naomi Biden (b. 1971–d. 1972) • father of Ashley Biden (b. 1981) • brother of James Biden • brother of Valerie Biden Owens • brother of Frank Biden
Role In	United States presidential election of 1988 • United States presidential election of 2008 • United States presidential election of 2020 • United States presidential election of 2024 • Comprehensive Thrift and Bank Fraud Prosecution and Taxpayer Recovery Act
Education	University of Delaware (B.A., 1965) • Archmere Academy (Claymont, Delaware) • St. Helena's School (Wilmington, Delaware) • Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 1968)
Taught At	Widener University Delaware Law School (1991–2008)
Published Works	"Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose" (2017) • "Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics" (2007)
Twitter Handle	@JoeBiden
Instagram Username	joebiden

Top Questions

When was Joe Biden in office as vice president?

Joe Biden served as the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 in the Democratic administration of Pres. Barack Obama.

When was Joe Biden born?

Joe Biden was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Where is Joe Biden originally from?

Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was raised there and in New Castle county, Delaware.

What did Joe Biden study?

Joe Biden majored in history and political science at the University of Delaware before earning his law degree at Syracuse University.

How many times has Joe Biden run for president?

Joe Biden campaigned for president two times prior to his successful 2020 presidential campaign. He pursued the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew after it was revealed that parts of his campaign stump speech had been plagiarized from British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock without appropriate attribution. His 2008 presidential campaign never gained momentum, and he withdrew from the race after placing fifth in the Iowa Democratic caucus in January of that year. After Barack Obama secured the Democratic presidential nomination, Biden emerged as a front-runner to be Obama's vice presidential running mate, and on August 23 Obama officially announced his selection of Biden as the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee.

Where was Joe Biden educated?

Joe Biden attended St. Helena's School in Wilmington, Delaware, and Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware, before attending the University of Delaware, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1965. Three years later, he received a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

Did You Know?

Although vice presidents are generally restricted from driving during their time in office, Biden received permission to drive Jay Leno around in Biden's own 1967 Corvette Stingray for an episode of the web series "Jay Leno's Garage" (2016); the car had been his father's wedding gift to him.
Shortly after Biden was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, his wife, Neilia, and his one-year-old daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car accident that also seriously injured his young sons Beau and Hunter; Biden was sworn in as senator from the boys' hospital bedside.
Throughout his decades-long career as a U.S. senator, Biden commuted daily via Amtrak train between Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.