Joe Biden — Senator, Vice President, and 46th President
The story of a long career in American public life — from decades in the U.S. Senate to the vice presidency and the presidency of the United States.
Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States. Before the presidency, he represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years and served as the 47th Vice President under Barack Obama. This is the complete, verified timeline of Joe Biden, presented neutrally.
Milestones
Joe Biden is born.
Biden wins a Senate seat.
A long Senate career.
Biden joins the Obama ticket.
Two terms as Vice President.
Biden wins the presidency.
Biden takes office.
- November 20, 1942Born in Scranton
Joe Biden is born.
- 1972Elected to the U.S. Senate
Biden wins a Senate seat.
- 1973–2009Decades in the Senate
A long Senate career.
- 2008Elected Vice President
Biden joins the Obama ticket.
- 2009–2017Vice Presidency
Two terms as Vice President.
- 2020Elected President
Biden wins the presidency.
- January 20, 2021Inauguration as President
Biden takes office.
Explore this story
Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he had one of the longest careers in modern American public life.
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1942, he represented Delaware in the United States Senate from 1973 to 2009 and served as the 47th Vice President of the United States under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
This timeline traces his public life and career with major dates and facts cross-checked against authoritative sources. As a subject involving politics, it is presented in a neutral, factual manner, focusing on documented events rather than opinion.
- November 20, 1942Born in Scranton
Joe Biden is born.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the first of four children.
The birth of a future U.S. president.
His family later moved to Delaware, the state he would represent for decades.
- 1972Elected to the U.S. Senate
Biden wins a Senate seat.
In 1972, Biden was elected to the United States Senate from Delaware, becoming one of the youngest Americans ever elected to that body, at age 29.
Began a Senate career that would last more than three decades.
Just weeks after his election, his wife Neilia and daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident, and his sons were injured.
- 1973–2009Decades in the Senate
A long Senate career.
Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009, a span of 36 years, during which he worked on numerous domestic and international issues.
Made him one of the most experienced legislators of his era.
He authored major legislation, including the Violence Against Women Act.
- 2008Elected Vice President
Biden joins the Obama ticket.
In 2008, Biden was elected Vice President of the United States alongside President Barack Obama.
Elevated him to national executive office.
He became the 47th Vice President of the United States.
- 2009–2017Vice Presidency
Two terms as Vice President.
Biden served as the 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama.
Placed him at the center of national policymaking for eight years.
He worked with Obama on major legislation and economic policy.
- 2020Elected President
Biden wins the presidency.
In 2020, Biden was elected the 46th President of the United States, with Kamala Harris as his running mate.
The culmination of a decades-long career in public life.
Harris became the first woman, first African American, and first person of South Asian heritage to serve as Vice President.
- January 20, 2021Inauguration as President
Biden takes office.
Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021, serving until January 20, 2025.
He became the first president from the state of Delaware.
He was the second Roman Catholic to serve as U.S. president.
— Early Life (1942–1972)
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1942, Biden grew up in Delaware, graduated from the University of Delaware and Syracuse Law School, and entered public life.
— The Senate Years (1972–2009)
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 at age 29, Biden represented Delaware for 36 years, working on major legislation.
— Vice President (2009–2017)
Biden served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama, at the center of national policymaking for two terms.
— The Presidency (2021–2025)
Elected in 2020, Biden served as the 46th President of the United States from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025.
- Joe Biden's full name is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
- He was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- He served as the 46th President of the United States.
- His presidency ran from 2021 to 2025.
- He was the 47th Vice President of the United States.
- He was Vice President from 2009 to 2017.
- He served under President Barack Obama.
- He represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
- His full name is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
- He was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- His family moved to Delaware when he was a child.
- He graduated from the University of Delaware.
- He earned his law degree from Syracuse University.
- He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972.
- He was one of the youngest people ever elected to the Senate, at 29.
- Weeks after his 1972 election, his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident.
Biden began his career as president
He served decades in the Senate and as Vice President first.
He represented Pennsylvania in the Senate
He represented Delaware, though he was born in Pennsylvania.
He was the first Catholic president
He was the second Roman Catholic president.
He served one Senate term
He served 36 years, from 1973 to 2009.
He was Vice President under a different president
He served under Barack Obama.
He was among the oldest first elected to the Senate
He was among the youngest, at 29.
He was the 47th President
He was the 46th President; he was the 47th Vice President.
His presidency lasted a single year
It ran from 2021 to 2025.
He had no legislative record
He authored major laws, including the Violence Against Women Act.
He was the first president from Pennsylvania
He was the first president from Delaware.
Note: To maintain neutrality and accuracy, exact verbatim quotations are omitted where wording could not be independently verified.
Biden has often spoken about themes of resilience, family, and public service throughout his career.
He has emphasized his long ties to Delaware and his belief in American leadership, though the exact wording of his statements varies across sources.
Joe Biden's legacy reflects one of the longest careers in modern American public life, spanning 36 years in the Senate, eight years as Vice President, and a term as President. This timeline presents his documented record neutrally, leaving broader assessments of his policies and impact to readers and historians.
Across the Senate, vice presidency, and presidency, Biden was a significant figure in American policymaking for decades. His long tenure placed him at the center of many national debates. This section notes his prominence factually, without evaluating specific policies.
- Did you know Joe Biden was born on November 20, 1942?
- Did you know he was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
- Did you know his full name is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.?
- Did you know he served as the 46th U.S. president?
- Did you know his presidency ran from 2021 to 2025?
- Did you know he was the 47th Vice President?
- Did you know he served under Barack Obama?
- Did you know he represented Delaware in the Senate?
Senator vs. president: Biden spent 36 years in the Senate before reaching the presidency. Vice president vs. president: He served as VP under Obama before becoming president himself. Before vs. after 2021: In 2021 he moved from decades in other offices to the presidency. Biden vs. many predecessors: His career was among the longest in modern American public life.
Biden's impact on American public life is tied to his unusually long career across the Senate, vice presidency, and presidency. This section records the factual scope of his roles; assessments of specific policies and outcomes are left to readers and historians in keeping with a neutral presentation.
Books on the modern political history of the United States.
Works on the U.S. Senate and the presidency.
Neutral biographies and analyses of American political leaders.
Books on U.S. presidential elections.
- Documentaries on modern U.S. politics and presidential history.
- Programs on the U.S. Senate and the vice presidency. (Specific titles omitted where accurate, balanced details could not be verified.)
1942 born in Scranton, Pennsylvania → family moves to Delaware → 1972 elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29 → 1973–2009 serves 36 years in the Senate → 2008 elected Vice President → 2009–2017 serves as the 47th Vice President under Obama → 2020 elected the 46th President → January 20, 2021 inaugurated, serving until January 20, 2025.
- His birth in Scranton, Pennsylvania (1942).
- His family's move to Delaware.
- Election to the U.S. Senate in 1972 at age 29.
- His decades of Senate service.
- Authoring major legislation, including the Violence Against Women Act.
- Election as Vice President in 2008.
- Serving two terms as Vice President under Obama.
- Election as the 46th President in 2020.
- Inauguration on January 20, 2021.
- The end of his presidency on January 20, 2025.
As a major political leader, Biden has been the subject of extensive public debate, and observers hold a wide range of views on his career and policies. In keeping with a neutral presentation, this timeline does not adjudicate contested political questions; readers seeking to evaluate specific debates should consult a range of balanced, well-sourced references and official records.
Biden has received various honors over the course of his long public career. Specific awards are summarized generally here where exact details could not be independently verified, in keeping with an accuracy-first, neutral approach.
Joe Biden is a prominent and widely discussed figure in American politics, with both supporters and critics. His long career reflects sustained electoral success, while political opinion about him varies. This section notes his prominence factually.
As of 2026, Joe Biden's decades-long career remains a significant part of recent American political history, spanning the Senate, vice presidency, and presidency. His record continues to inform discussion of U.S. governance. Historical assessments evolve over time, and this timeline reflects documented facts.
1. In what year was Joe Biden born?
2. Where was he born?
3. Which state did he represent in the Senate?
- 1942: Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- 1972: Elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29.
- 1973–2009: Serves 36 years in the Senate.
- 2009–2017: Serves as the 47th Vice President under Obama.
- 2020: Elected the 46th President.
- 2021–2025: Serves as President.
SHORT SUMMARY: Joe Biden (born 1942) is an American politician who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, served as the 47th Vice President under Barack Obama, and served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025.
MEDIUM SUMMARY: Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1942, Biden grew up in Delaware and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 at age 29, becoming one of the youngest people ever elected to that body. He represented Delaware for 36 years (1973–2009), authoring major legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act, then served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Elected the 46th President in 2020 with Kamala Harris as his running mate, he was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, and served until January 20, 2025. This summary presents documented facts neutrally.
LONG SUMMARY: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., born November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he grew up in Delaware after his family moved there during his childhood, graduated from the University of Delaware and Syracuse Law School, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 at age 29—among the youngest ever elected. He represented Delaware in the Senate for 36 years, from 1973 to 2009, working on major domestic and international issues and authoring legislation including the Violence Against Women Act. In 2008 he was elected Vice President alongside Barack Obama, serving as the 47th Vice President from 2009 to 2017. He was elected the 46th President in 2020, with Kamala Harris—the first woman, first African American, and first person of South Asian heritage to hold the office—as his running mate, and was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, serving until January 20, 2025. He was the first president from Delaware and the second Roman Catholic to hold the office. In keeping with an accuracy-first, neutral approach, this timeline focuses on documented events and roles rather than opinion.
- 1.Encyclopaedia Britannica — Joe Biden biography.
- 2.Official White House / presidential library biographical materials.
- 3.Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress.
- 4.Reputable, balanced news reporting on U.S. elections and government.
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