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Beau Biden, son of US vice-president Joe Biden, dies of brain cancer at 46 Beau Biden, son of US vice-president Joe Biden, dies of brain cancer at 46
(about 3 hours later)
Vice-president Joe Biden announced on Saturday that his son Beau had died of brain cancer. Vice-president Joe Biden said on Saturday that his son Beau had died of brain cancer, at the age of 46.
“The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us, especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter,” said a statement from Joe Biden that was released by the White House. “The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us, especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter.”
“It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life,” the vice president said in a statement late Saturday. The family was at Beau Biden’s side when he died, the vice-president said, adding: “It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life.”
The family was at Beau Biden’s side when he died, the vice-president said. On Sunday, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama visited the Biden family at the US Naval Observatory, the official residence of the vice-president, to pay their condolences. A scheduled reception at the White House was cancelled.
Beau Biden, 46, was a former Delaware attorney general. He was found to have brain cancer in August 2013. He underwent surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston to remove a lesion. That was followed by radiation treatment and chemotherapy, and Beau Biden’s doctor gave him a clean bill of health three months later, in November, officials said. Beau Biden, 46, a former Delaware attorney general, was found to have brain cancer in August 2013. He underwent surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston, to remove a lesion. That was followed by radiation treatment and chemotherapy, and his doctor gave him a clean bill of health in November, officials said.
He announced last year that he would not seek a third term as attorney general and instead planned to run for governor in 2016. He suffered a recurrence of illness this spring and was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in May, officials said. He suffered a recurrence of illness this spring and was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in May, officials said.
After eight years as attorney general Beau Biden joined the investor law firm Grant & Eisenhofer in 2015. He served a year-long tour in Iraq as a captain in the Delaware national guard and underwent surgery at a cancer center in Texas last year. He had a mild stroke in 2010. Biden announced last year that he would not seek a third term as Delaware attorney general, planning instead to run for governor in 2016. He suffered a recurrence of his illness this spring and was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in May, officials said.
Vice-President Biden’s statement continued: “More than his professional accomplishments, Beau measured himself as a husband, father, son and brother. His absolute honor made him a role model for our family. Beau embodied my father’s saying that a parent knows success when his child turns out better than he did. After eight years as attorney general, Beau Biden joined the investment law firm Grant & Eisenhofer in 2015. He also served a year-long tour in Iraq as a captain in the Delaware national guard. He had a mild stroke in 2010.
“In the words of the Biden family: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.” On Sunday, figures from across the US political spectrum expressed their condolences, often via social media. Secretary of State John Kerry – who on Sunday was in hospital in Geneva after breaking his leg in a cycling accident – called Beau Biden “a son any father might hope to raise” and recalled how he chose to continue serving in the military in Iraq rather than be appointed to the Senate seat his father was leaving to become vice-president in 2009.
Barack Obama released a lengthy statement praising Beau Biden, soon after the news was announced. Among 2016 presidential candidates, Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton used Twitter to say: “My heart is broken for the family of Beau Biden – a wonderful man who served his country with devotion and lived his life with courage.”
“Michelle and I are grieving tonight,” the statement said. “Beau Biden was a friend of ours. His beloved family – Hallie, Natalie, and Hunter – are friends of ours. And Joe and Jill Biden are as good as friends get. Presumed Republican frontrunner Jeb Bush said: “Saddened by the news of Beau Biden’s passing. My prayers are with the Vice President, Dr Biden and the whole family.”
The Obamas issued a lengthy statement on Saturday night, in which they said: “Michelle and I are grieving. Beau Biden was a friend of ours. His beloved family … are friends of ours. And Joe and Jill Biden are as good as friends get.
“Beau took after Joe. He studied the law, like his dad, even choosing the same law school. He chased a life of public service, like his dad, serving in Iraq and as Delaware’s attorney general. Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he touched – and he lives on in their hearts.“Beau took after Joe. He studied the law, like his dad, even choosing the same law school. He chased a life of public service, like his dad, serving in Iraq and as Delaware’s attorney general. Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he touched – and he lives on in their hearts.
The statement added: “Joe is one of the strongest men we’ve ever known. He’s as strong as they come, and nothing matters to him more than family. It’s one of the things we love about him. And it is a testament to Joe and Jill – to who they are – that Beau lived a life that was full; a life that mattered; a life that reflected their reverence for family.”The statement added: “Joe is one of the strongest men we’ve ever known. He’s as strong as they come, and nothing matters to him more than family. It’s one of the things we love about him. And it is a testament to Joe and Jill – to who they are – that Beau lived a life that was full; a life that mattered; a life that reflected their reverence for family.”
Tributes to Biden and expressions of sympathy for his family came from across the US political spectrum. A University of Pennsylvania graduate, Beau Biden earned a law degree from Syracuse University and was a law clerk for a federal judge in New Hampshire before joining the US justice department in 1995. He worked there until 2002, including five years as a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia. In 2001 he volunteered to train judges and prosecutors in postwar Kosovo.
Among 2016 presidential candidates, Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton used Twitter to say: “My heart is broken for the family of Beau Biden—a wonderful man who served his country with devotion and lived his life with courage.”
Presumed Republican frontrunner Jeb Bush said: “Saddened by the news of Beau Biden’s passing. My prayers are with the Vice President, Dr Biden and the whole family.”
A University of Pennsylvania graduate, Beau Biden earned a law degree from Syracuse University. He was a law clerk for a federal judge in New Hampshire before joining the US justice department from 1995 until 2002, including five years as a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia. In 2001 he volunteered for an interim assignment helping to train judges and prosecutors in postwar Kosovo.
With his father, then Delaware’s senior US senator, at his side in 2006, Joseph R “Beau” Biden III launched his campaign for attorney general. He promised to reorganise the state’s justice department to better combat identity theft, internet stalking by pedophiles, street crime and abuse of the elderly.With his father, then Delaware’s senior US senator, at his side in 2006, Joseph R “Beau” Biden III launched his campaign for attorney general. He promised to reorganise the state’s justice department to better combat identity theft, internet stalking by pedophiles, street crime and abuse of the elderly.
During the campaign Biden sidestepped questions about his ultimate political ambitions. “Sometimes it’s not good to look too far down the road,” said Biden, who was critically injured along with his brother in a 1972 car crash that killed their mother and infant sister. The accident happened just weeks after his father was elected to the US Senate.During the campaign Biden sidestepped questions about his ultimate political ambitions. “Sometimes it’s not good to look too far down the road,” said Biden, who was critically injured along with his brother in a 1972 car crash that killed their mother and infant sister. The accident happened just weeks after his father was elected to the US Senate.
Beau Biden remained cautious about discussing his long-range plans after suffering the stroke in 2010. “Having long-term dreams is a good thing … but having a plan has never worked for me, because life always intervenes,” he told the Associated Press months later. For Biden that initial health scare was a reminder to balance his job with family time advice he encouraged others to follow. After suffering the stroke in 2010, Beau Biden remained cautious about discussing his long-range plans.
“It’s kind of reinforced how I’ve operated my life,” he said at the time. “Having long-term dreams is a good thing … but having a plan has never worked for me, because life always intervenes,” he said.
Politically astute, photogenic and backed by his father’s political machine, Biden was elected attorney general in 2006 with 52.6% of the vote. For Biden, that initial health scare was a reminder to balance his job with family time, advice he encouraged others to follow.
“It’s kind of reinforced how I’ve operated my life,” he said.
Politically astute, photogenic and backed by his father’s political machine, Biden was elected attorney general of Delaware with 52.6% of the vote.
“He’s supped at this table since he’s been three years old,” Biden’s beaming father said in celebrating the election of his son, who was a toddler when his father was elected to the Senate.“He’s supped at this table since he’s been three years old,” Biden’s beaming father said in celebrating the election of his son, who was a toddler when his father was elected to the Senate.
As attorney general Biden established a child predator unit, joined other attorneys general in taking on mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses, proposed tougher bail restrictions for criminal defendants, and defended the death penalty, putting him at odds with some fellow Democrats. As attorney general Biden established a child predator unit, joined other attorneys general in taking on mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses, proposed tougher bail restrictions for criminal defendants and defended the death penalty, putting him at odds with some fellow Democrats.
But a spate of shootings in Biden’s hometown of Wilmington went largely unabated during his tenure, and his office stumbled in some high-profile murder prosecutions. Biden also faced scrutiny over how his office handled the case of Earl Bradley, a pediatrician who sexually assaulted scores of young patients over more than a decade before being arrested in December 2009. But a spate of shootings in his hometown of Wilmington went largely unabated and his office stumbled in some high-profile murder prosecutions. Biden also faced scrutiny over how his office handled the case of Earl Bradley, a pediatrician who sexually assaulted scores of young patients over more than a decade before being arrested in December 2009.
Biden cited his focus on the Bradley case in announcing in January 2010 that he would not run for the Senate seat that his father vacated after he was elected vice-president in 2008. Biden cited his focus on the Bradley case in announcing that he would not run for the Senate seat his father vacated.
The younger Biden’s decision stunned political observers, including many fellow Democrats, who thought Joe Biden’s former chief of staff, Ted Kaufman, had been appointed to the Senate on an interim basis to keep the seat warm for the son. A fellow Democrat, New Castle county executive Chris Coons, won the seat after former Republican governor and longtime congressman Mike Castle was upset by Tea Party-backed Christine O’Donnell in the GOP primary.The younger Biden’s decision stunned political observers, including many fellow Democrats, who thought Joe Biden’s former chief of staff, Ted Kaufman, had been appointed to the Senate on an interim basis to keep the seat warm for the son. A fellow Democrat, New Castle county executive Chris Coons, won the seat after former Republican governor and longtime congressman Mike Castle was upset by Tea Party-backed Christine O’Donnell in the GOP primary.
“I have no regrets,” Biden said after O’Donnell’s stunning primary victory scrambled the political calculus surrounding the Senate seat. “I have no regrets,” Biden said after O’Donnell’s stunning primary victory scrambled the political calculus.
Biden coasted to re-election in 2010 after Republicans declined to field a candidate against him. As attorney general Biden coasted to re-election in 2010, after Republicans declined to field a candidate against him.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this reportReuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report