On January 20, Joe Biden will leave the White House—and politics as a whole—for the last time. The 82-year-old soon-to-be former president has held political office for 50 of the last 54 years.
His journey from being the youngest possible senator to the second-oldest president has been defined by his perseverance through both personal setbacks and political failures. Follow the timeline of his entire political career, from start to finish.
Joe Biden: A Complete Career Overview
Biden (pictured in the center at age nine) was born to a Catholic family of four in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1942. Much of his childhood was defined by his speech-crippling stutter, drawing him harassment from his peers; he was unable to overcome it until he was over 20 years old. Although an unremarkable student, Biden graduated from the University of Delaware with a double major in history and political science. (Photo: Archivio GBB/Alamy, Editorial Use)
On December 18, 1972, Biden’s wife, Neilia, and his children were involved in a severe car accident. Neilia and Biden’s daughter, Naomi, died. His sons, Beau and Hunter, sustained injuries. The tragedy plagued Biden’s early Senate career, and he even had to be motivated against resigning by the then-Senate Majority Leader. However, three years later, Biden met teacher Jill Jacobs, and the pair married in 1977. (Photo: Bettmann, Pixabay)
Biden first entered political office in 1971 as a county councilman and ran for the U.S. Senate Delaware as a Democrat one year later. Biden had largely been drawn to the party by his opposition to Republican President Richard Nixon. Although Biden’s campaign lacked adequate financial resources and was behind by thirty percentage points just four months before the election, he successfully unseated longtime Republican Senator Caleb Boggs and took his seat in 1973. Biden would be reelected six times, each by a landslide margin. Despite the joy and excitement that surrounded his election to the Senate, Biden’s life would soon change forever. (Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Senate Historical Office, Editorial Use.)
Within the Senate, Biden rose to the chairmanship of the powerful Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees. He presided over the heavily controversial Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, but received criticisms for his handling of Anita Hill’s accusations against Thomas. His high-profile role in the hearings expanded his national recognition, and he positioned himself for national office. (Photo: CBS Photo Archive, Editorial Use)
In 1987, at the age of 44, Biden began his first presidential campaign. Although he was initially viewed as a strong contender for the Democratic nomination, his campaign failed to gain traction in opinion polls. In September that year, The New York Times and The Des Moines Register published articles accusing Biden of plagiarising a speech by Neil Kinnock, the British leader of the opposition. The scandal quickly devoured his campaign, and he withdrew from the race just 11 days after the accusation. (Photo: Consolidated News Pictures, Editorial Use)
After his presidential failure, Biden returned to active service in the Senate, and became a leading legislator of the 1990s. Biden led efforts to pass the 1994 Crime Bill, which included an assault weapons ban, expanded use of the death penalty, and created new provisions protecting women from acts of violence. The bill was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Although Biden was praised for his role in the creation of the womens’ provision, he would later be criticized for his role in the broader crime bill. Critics charged that the bill led to racist policing practices and over-incarceration. (Consolidated News Pictures, Editorial Use)
Biden sought the presidency again in 2008, competing in a crowded Democratic primary against the then-Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Biden’s campaign emphasized his lengthy Senate experience in both domestic and foreign affairs due to the Great Recession and Iraq War looming over the country. But, much like his earlier bid, Biden was unable to gain support against the frontrunners, and he finished with less than one percent of the vote in the Iowa caucus. He withdrew from the race shortly thereafter. (Photo: Eric Thayer, Pixabay)
By the summer of 2008, Obama had secured the presidential nomination in a narrow victory over Clinton. After vetting seven potential candidates, Obama selected Biden to be his vice presidential running mate. The pair would go on to win the fall general election against Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and they took office on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (Joe Raedle, Pixabay)
President Obama granted Biden significant authority over both domestic and foreign policy. He oversaw both the administration’s Iraq War policy and its domestic infrastructure agenda. When Republicans gained control of Congress, Biden’s bipartisan relationships with Senators proved invaluable as he led negotiations on fiscal policy with then-Speaker John Boehner and Leader Mitch McConnell. After Obama’s re-election in 2012, Biden was expected to run for president again in 2016. However, after tragically losing his son Beau to brain cancer, Biden declined to run. Hillary Clinton would ultimately go on to win the Democratic nomination but lose to Republican candidate Donald Trump. Just days before the end of his vice presidency, Obama awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom in an emotional ceremony. (Tom Pennington, iStock)
During Trump’s first presidency, Biden remained politically active in his opposition to the then-president. He was especially motivated by the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where participants carried the Nazi flag and were convicted of violent crimes. Politically charged, Biden officially announced his candidacy for President on April 25, 2019, and focused his messaging on unity and patriotism. (Photo: Consolidated News Pictures, Editorial Use)
Although Biden performed poorly in the early February Iowa caucus, he remained in the race and secured a major victory in the South Carolina primary at the end of the month. His momentum would continue to build through the spring, and all of his major rivals withdrew by April, making Biden the presumptive nominee. Biden chose California Senator Kamala Harris as his vice presidential nominee after deciding to appoint a woman for the role. However, the 2020 general election campaign was marred by the rapid rise of the Covid pandemic. Biden presented himself as a steady hand in the midst of a national crisis, and he attacked the Trump Administration’s handling of Covid. He pledged to sign a stimulus relief and infrastructure bill to rebuild the economy after the significant 2020 recession. Trump defended his record and primarily attacked Biden for his advanced age of 77. (Photo: Consolidated News Pictures, Editorial Use)
The Biden-Harris ticket ultimately prevailed against Trump at the November election, but Trump declined to concede. After months of tumultuous attempts to prevent the certification of Biden’s election, which culminated in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president on January 20, 2021. Harris became the first female and second person of color to serve as vice president. (Drew Angerer, Pixabay)
Later that year, Biden announced the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. The ensuing collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban takeover drew the Biden Administration rampant criticism, and Biden would never again have a net positive approval rating. In Nov. 2021, Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated funds for the expansion of broadband internet, renewal of the water and electric grid, and the construction of new roads and bridges. Biden also introduced the Build Back Better Act, which included provisions regarding climate change, childcare, healthcare, and housing. However, after months of intense negotiation in the Senate, opposition from then-West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin effectively killed the bill. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla, Almany, Editorial Use)
In Feb. 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Biden Administration responded with intense economic sanctions on Russia and sent funds and ammunition to Ukraine. Despite early expectations of a quick Ukrainian defeat, the war is still ongoing, as Russia has been unable to capture the capital city of Kyiv. The economic ramifications of the Russian sanctions played a role in 2022’s significant rise in inflation, food prices, and energy cost. In Aug., Biden signed both the CHIPs and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which included many reworked provisions of the Build Back Better Act and funding for the United States manufacturing of modern technology. Despite the significant reduction of inflation by 2024, the Biden Administration would hold a poor economic reputation for the remainder of its term. (Photo: Drew Angerer, Pixabay)
Along with the economy, the Biden Administration oversaw a major immigration surge at the border with Mexico. Democrats negotiated a bipartisan immigration bill with Republican legislators, most notably Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma. However, opposition from Trump unified Republican legislators in opposition to the bill, and it never passed. Biden would later sign an executive order closing the border, but it failed to change the majority of the public’s opposition to Biden’s immigration policy. (Nathan Howard, iStock)
On Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian Nationalist Group, Hamas, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over a thousand Israelis. The Biden Administration quickly authorized billions of dollars in monetary support for Israel along with providing weapons and ammunition. This drew widespread criticism as Israel was accused of committing atrocities in Gaza and members of both parties supported a ceasefire agreement that included the release of hostages and prisoners. In the final days of his term, Biden oversaw the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (Photo: The Washington Post, Editorial Use)
From April 2023 to July 2024, Biden was an active candidate for a second term in office, despite bipartisan concerns about his age and cognitive health. He consistently polled behind Republican nominee Donald Trump, and after a widely criticized debate performance in which Biden was perceived to appear old and weak, Biden withdrew from the race. He immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President, but she lost the general election to Trump. (Photo: Pool, Pixabay)
Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation on Jan. 15. He defended his administration’s record in both foreign and domestic affairs and looked ahead at the potential long-term impact of his presidency. “It will take time to feel the full impact of what we’ve done together,” Biden said. “But the seeds are planted, and they’ll continue to grow for decades to come.” Furthermore, Biden warned Americans of powerful and wealthy individuals consolidating political influence and asked that all work towards defending the rights of individuals. “There’s a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people. There are dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked,” Biden said. “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America … that … threatens our entire democracy.” Biden noted that he included members of the incoming Trump Administration in his ceasefire negotiations, and he repeated his support for the peaceful transfer of power. “I wish the incoming administration well because I want America to succeed,” Biden said. Lastly, Biden reflected on his five-decade career in public service and his patriotism and optimism for the nation. “After 50 years of public service, I’ve kept my word. I still believe in the idea of which this nation stands. A nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure,” Biden said. “Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame; may you keep the faith. I love America [and] you love it too.” (Photo: Joe Biden’s Official Instagram)
