Joe Biden's Presidency: Possible New Era in American Politics

Joe Biden, who was responsible for introducing the Gun-Free School Zones Act in 1990, is an accomplished man with a sizeable net worth. Joe Biden had enjoyed enormous praise from the African-American community after serving as former President Barack Obama’s second in command for eight years. Born in Pennsylvania on November 20, 1942, Joe Biden briefly worked as an attorney before turning to politics. He became the fifth-youngest U.S. senator in history as well as Delaware's longest-serving senator.

Joe Biden started his education at St. P Paul’s Elementary School in Scranton and St. Helena School before going to Archmere Academy. He got admitted to the University of Delaware to study History and Political Science. After his graduation, he got admitted to Syracuse University Law School and graduated in 1968. Joe Biden began his political career at the age of 27. He won a seat on the New Castle County, Delaware council in 1970. Biden served on the council for two years before making the leap to the U.S. Senate. At the age of 29, Biden unseated Republican Delaware Senator James Caleb Boggs, the two-term incumbent.

After the successful Senate race in November 1972, only days before Christmas, Biden's wife and three children were in a car accident and only his two toddler sons survived. Grief-stricken, Biden chose to fulfill his Senate seat, and a few weeks after he turned 30 years old, he took the Oath of Office in his boys' hospital room and began his Senate career. He worked hard and he formulated several foreign and domestic policies and became one of the Senate’s leading experts on foreign policy.

Mr. Biden’s advocacy for government action on climate change goes back more than 30 years: he introduced the Senate’s first climate change bill in 1986. He also became a member of the International Narcotics Control Caucus. He also tried to become the president but didn’t get much support and was not selected in 2007. In 2008, Biden was the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and became the first Roman Catholic to serve as vice president of the United States.

As vice president, Joe Biden appointed the first White House Advisor on Violence Against Women to prevent gender-based violence worldwide. In the Senate, he authored the Violence Against Women Act and led the charge to pass it. In 2012, as vice president, he stepped out in favor of same-sex marriage even before President Obama did. He has taken other steps since then to advance gay and transgender rights that have made him something of a hero to the LGBTQ community. On January 12, 2017, Obama surprised Biden by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.

Back in June 2014, Biden referred to himself as the poorest man in Congress. He said that he only wore “mildly” expensive suits, especially when compared to other Congressmen. He said he didn’t own any stocks or bonds and he had no savings accounts. The Washington Post reviewed those claims more closely and found them to be mostly true. Nevertheless, that isn’t to say Joe Biden doesn’t have a net worth that can’t be discussed. Joe Biden has multi-million-dollar properties and charges ample fees for speaking engagements and the like. He reportedly owns a $2.7 million vacation home on the Delaware seashore. He also has a house in Wilmington, Delaware that is worth almost $1.9 million. When he bought it in 1996 it cost much less at $350,000. All in all, Joe Biden has a net worth estimated at a nice $1.5 million. His salary as vice president was $230,000, and some reports suggest his pension is worth $248,000 per year. In addition, Biden is reported to make an estimated $100,000 per speaking engagement. In addition to his pensions and former salaries, Biden reportedly signed a book deal with Flatiron Books to the tune of $8 million. On December 11, 2018, the University of Delaware renamed their School of Public Policy and Administration after Biden, naming it the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, which also houses the Biden Institute.

Last but not the least, as Joe Biden gears up for another presidential campaign, with his family by his side the entire way. Former Vice President Joe Biden formally launched his 2019 presidential campaign in a rally in Philadelphia. Biden reportedly announced his campaign with $0 so far, evidently planning to raise the funds for his campaign through outside donors. According to a recent report, allies and supporters of Biden can donate up to $2,800 per election for the primary.