News

10 Facts About Joe Biden, The New President of the US Who Used to Stutter as a Child

2020-11-05 , 11:20 am

Last Updated on 2020-11-08 , 12:15 pm

Note: This article was written when people all over the world wonder whether Orange or White was sus and would be voted out. It’s now confirmed that Orange is voted out.

And of course, since this article is about White’s history, nothing has been changed. Except that we should start calling Joe Biden President-Elect instead.

Note 2: The new President will be formally “installed” in January 2021 instead, so he’s called a President-Elect at this moment, while Trump will remain as President until Joe Biden takes over.

By now, everyone already knows about Donald Trump, the man with the suspiciously orange skin and love for news organisations, but who exactly is Joe Biden?

Well, here are 10 facts about Biden, the name you’d hear much more often.

1. He Used to Stutter as a Child

Considering he’s a long-serving politician, it might surprise many that Biden suffered a debilitating stutter when he was a kid.

Classmates teased him and mockingly called him “Bye-Bye,” ridiculing his attempt to say his last name.

Biden worked hard to solve this problem, by practising public speaking while holding pebbles in his mouth and reciting poetry before a mirror.

2. He Has Two Degrees, Including One in Law

In 1965, when Biden was 23, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in history and political science, and a minor in English, from the University of Delaware.

Three years later, he received a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law, and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969.

3. He Has Endured Many Family Tragedies

Losing a loved one is never easy, and this is something Biden has had to go through many times.

Biden practised law until 1972, when he defeated Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs to become the junior U.S. senator from Delaware.

This was supposed to be a good year for him, but it ended in tragedy instead.

After going shopping for a Christmas tree, a tractor-trailer carrying corncobs crashed into the family’s station wagon as his wife and three children were driving home.

Neilia, his ex-wife, and their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, died before they reached the hospital.

His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Later, in 2015, his oldest son, Beau, died of brain cancer.

4. He Once Underwent Risky Brain Surgery

In 1988, after complaining about headaches for several weeks, it was discovered that Biden has a brain aneurysm.

He had to undergo brain surgery, and was told that he only had a 50% chance of survival.

He survived, and underwent successful surgery for a second brain aneurysm three months later.

5. He Has Been in Politics for 44 years

Fun fact: Biden has been in politics as long as former prime minister Goh Chok Tong.

Guess which is the wax statue – Image: Facebook (MParader)

Biden has served as a senator in the United States Senate from 1973 until 2009.

Just like an MP, a senator is elected by voters of a region or territorial district. He or she is a representative of the people, who defends and promotes their interests.

Biden was a senator until 2009, when he seized the second-most coveted role in American politics:

6. He Served as Vice President For 8 Years

In 2008, when Barack Obama became the first black president of the US, he chose Biden to be his second-in-command.

Though he initially didn’t want to be vice president, his family convinced him to say yes.

The two ended up forging a strong relationship, as Biden provided invaluable experience to a young Barack Obama who was comparatively new to the political arena.

7. He Has a Bromance with Obama

Even though the pair had some differences at first, their professional relationship eventually blossomed into a full-blown bromance, something the internet couldn’t get enough of.

They were often seen going to sporting events together, and erm, they also looked at each other like a couple who’ve been married for decades.

8. He’s Been Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In Jan 2017, just before Obama handed the reins to Trump, he surprised Biden with a touching gesture.

Biden was awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction‍, a medal which recognizes people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”.

Other recipients of the award under Obama include Ronald Reagan, Colin Powell and Pope John Paul II.

Obama said the award was for “faith in your fellow Americans, for your love of country and a lifetime of service that will endure through the generations.”

9. He Has Run For President Before

In 1988, when he was 46, Biden ran a presidential campaign for the 41st US Presidential Election.

Due to his moderate stance and speaking ability, Biden was considered one of the strongest candidates at the time.

However, Biden later withdrew from the race after he was accused of plagiarising a speech from a British politician.

He ran another campaign in 2008, but it was unsuccessful.

He actually wanted to run against Trump in the 2016 presidential election, but Obama had discouraged him from doing so, as he believed Hilary Clinton had a better chance of winning.

10. If He Wins, He Will Be the Oldest President In US History

When Biden met the mother of his first wife, Nelia, he was asked what he wanted to do for a living.

Biden said he intended to be President.

Decades later, this dream might finally come true.

If he wins, Biden will become the oldest president in the country’s history.

In fact, whether Trump or Biden wins, America will have its oldest president ever.

By inauguration day, which falls on 20 Jan in 2021, Biden will be 78, while Trump will be 74.

The oldest person to assume the presidency till now was… you guessed it: Donald Trump.

At the time, Trump was 70 years old.

In the meantime, you can also read 10 facts about Kamala Harris here, who’s the first female Vice-President of the United States. I mean, Vice-President-Elect, of course.