Biden speaks about family and political office
Joe Biden stopped at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis Friday night and spoke about his family and life in political office. The event was part of the “American Promise Tour,” which is tied to his book, Promise Me Dad: A Year of Hope Hardship and Purpose.
He spoke for an hour and discussed the new memoir about his son Beau, who died of a brain tumor in May 2015, during Biden’s time as vice president.
Biden said Beau ensured him before he died that he would be OK even though he knew his illness was terminal, but told his father “Promise me, Dad, you’re gonna be OK. Promise me, Dad.” He said after the death of Neilia, his first wife, by car accident, his sons always worried about him and how he would handle things.
He said he was “lucky” with both his boys, adding “I thank God I had (Beau) as long as I did.”
Biden said in hardship, the tendency is to shut people out, but he promised his son he would do his job. The former vice president ensured the audience he had not promised Beau that he would run for president despite a political article that said he would run because of a promise to his son.
However, Biden closes the book saying he is “nostalgic for the future.” He described the current political scene as “broken.”
“It’s become crass,” he said sitting and leaning forward with his hands on his knees. “It’s become mean. It’s dominated by money.”
Biden said he stuck to his roots during his time in the political scene. He said that his son Beau would always remind him before a political debate “home base.”
Alan and Millie Katzen attended the event and hoped Biden would run in the 2020 election.
“In this day of nasty politics, Joe Biden is a good human being that would make a great president of the United States,” Alan Katzen said. “I think after four years of Donald Trump, maybe the country will be ready for someone with the character of a Joe Biden.”
They said they knew if he had run in 2016 his race would been tough because of Beau’s death.
“He’s very much a family man,” Millie Katzen said. “I think we need to go back to more middle Biden and what has happened is that people have forgotten common manners and common sense. That’s the thing that makes me sad because that’s not what America is. America is a place that’s inclusive and welcoming for everybody.”
Terri Freeman, president of the National Civil Rights Museum and moderator of the event, asked Biden if she could read into the books closing phrase as the audience laughed.
Biden said the next 10 years could be different “if we remember who the hell we are ... I’m nostalgic about what I know is possible.”