Joe Biden

Vice President of the United States

Joe Biden (AS '65) was elected as the 47th United States Vice President in 2008, together with President Barack Obama. Even before this, Biden had a long and illustrious political career. In 1970, Biden was elected to his first political office on the New Castle County Council. In November 1972, in an upset victory, Biden became the fifth youngest person to be elected to the US Senate.

Biden has been one of the most important political figures in recent US history. During his 36-year Senate career, he served as leader of the Foreign Relations and Judiciary Committees. In the Senate he advocated for strategic arms limitations with the Soviet Union, promoted peace in the Balkans, and fought for U.S. action to end the genocide in Darfur.

Vice President Joe Biden and his fellow UD alumni, campaign strategists David Plouffe (AS '10) and Steve Schmidt (AS '13), inspired Bloomberg News to call University of Delaware the academic epicenter of national politics in 2008.

Biden earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Delaware in 1965, then earned his law degree from Syracuse Law School.