The woman behind Joe Biden's success

The man who "resurrected" Biden

Jill Biden is said to be a highly influential figure.politician Joe BidenShe is not only the one who "brought new life" to Mr. Biden after the great tragedies of his life, but also his companion and invaluable support. They met in 1975 when both were traumatized and nearly broken by tragedy. Just before Christmas 1972, Joe Biden's first wife, Neilia, and their one-year-old daughter died in a car accident. Their two young sons were also seriously injured.

Biden, then 30 years old, had just been elected senator from Delaware. In his autobiography, *Promise Me, Dad*, the politician called it an "unbearable" pain, and said it took a long time to heal. Part of that healing process came from "rebuilding" his family with Jill by his side. "She gave me life, making me start to think that my family could be whole again," he wrote in his memoir.

The Biden family stands at the back of a train, campaigning for Joe Biden to become the Democratic presidential nominee, in June 1987. Photo: Getty Images

For her part, after finalizing her divorce from her first husband, Jill Tracy Jacobs (Jill Biden's maiden name) decided to take a year off from school to recover emotionally. During this time, Jill took on modeling work for a local agency, and it was there that Joe Biden met her. According to Biography, Joe was intrigued and wanted to get to know her better after seeing Jill's photo in an advertisement at a bus stop. They eventually met through an introduction by Biden's brother.

In an interview with Vogue magazine in 2019, Jill revealed that the two immediately hit it off after their first date. “We went to see ‘A Man and a Woman’ at a movie theater in Philadelphia. When he dropped me off, he shook my hand and wished me goodnight. I went upstairs and called my mom at 1 a.m. and said, ‘Mom, I’ve finally met a gentleman.’” However, it wasn’t until the fifth time that Jill accepted Joe’s proposal, fearing a repeat of her first marriage. “At that time, I loved his two sons very much. They were motherless, and I couldn’t let them lose another mother. So I had to be 100% sure,” Jill shared.

The couple eventually married in 1977. They settled in Wilmington, Delaware, and welcomed their daughter Ashley in 1981. When Joe Biden was elected senator and moved from Delaware to Washington, Jill became an English teacher. While caring for her family, Jill Biden continued her academic pursuits, earning two master's degrees and a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware.

Jill Biden, as the Second Lady, visits Fort Belvoir Elementary School in Virginia in June 2009. Photo: Getty Images

Since then, the couple have journeyed together through two failed presidential campaigns (1988 and 2008), eight years of Biden's vice presidency, the death of their eldest son Beau Biden after a battle with cancer – and now, a campaign.running for the White HouseAlmost a success.

The affection and mutual respect between the "Joe-Jill" couple were clearly demonstrated during the 2020 presidential campaign. At this year's Democratic National Convention, former Vice President Joe Biden described his wife as the love of his life and the "rock" of their family. Jill, for her part, believes their complementary personalities have strengthened their marriage: "He tends to pull me out of my shell, and I help him stay grounded," Jill wrote in her book, "Where the Light Comes In."

The 2020 presidential election marked another significant milestone in the couple's more than four-decade journey, and the outcome could well usher in a new, most memorable and brilliant chapter in their lives. On November 8th, shortly after Joe Biden was announced by American news agencies as the 46th President of the United States, Jill posted a photo with her husband along with the message: "He will be the president of our family."

Throughout her husband's campaign, Jill Biden appeared giving speeches to encourage voters to cast their ballots for Biden. Photo: ABC

The ideal image of the modern American woman.

Before becoming a familiar face in American politics, few knew that Dr. Jill disliked being involved in the political arena. In her memoir, Jill mentioned her reluctance to speak in front of crowds at political events. She was skeptical of her husband's 1988 presidential campaign, but strongly encouraged him to run again in 2008.

Gradually, life as a politician's wife forced her to be strong and accustomed to the spotlight of the political stage, while also becoming her husband's closest "advisor"—although Jill disliked this title. According to colleagues, Jill had a significant influence on her husband's decisions, both professionally and personally.

At this year's Democratic National Convention, she delivered a passionate speech on the issues facing America, such asCovid-19 pandemicShe spoke about racism through her own family stories. She talked about making America whole again through the Black Lives Matter movement, comparing it to rebuilding life with Joe after the tragic loss of his first wife: “How do you rebuild a broken family? It’s actually like how you build a country: with love and understanding and small acts of kindness. I know that we should entrust this country to Joe; he will do for your family what he did for us,” Jill stated.

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks with his wife Jill Biden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 10, 2020. Photo: AFP

In addition to being a strong support system for her husband's career, Jill also pursued her own work. When Biden became Vice President in 2009, she continued teaching at Northern Virginia Community College. This year's campaign marks the first time she has taken a break from teaching since giving birth to her daughter, Ashley Biden. However, she stated that she will continue working and pursuing her passions, even after her husband's death.become President of the United StatesIf Jill Biden becomes the first woman to occupy the White House next year, she could do something unprecedented by becoming the first First Lady to pursue her own professional career.

“Most American women have jobs both outside the home and at home, but first ladies have never been allowed to do so,” observes Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University. “However, perhaps the time has come when more Americans will feel comfortable with a first lady who isn’t permanently stationed at the White House 24/7.”

Observers suggest that Mrs. Biden could be a role model for 21st-century American women. A woman who has experienced many hardships, values ​​both family and work, Jill Biden could bring a "breath of fresh air" to the East Wing of the White House if all goes well. For her personally, the new responsibility may not be a burden, as she has been contemplating this role since 1987, when speaking at a forum on first ladies in Iowa. She said there is no precise definition of the role of a first lady, but there is a goal.

“That person can meet the interests and concerns of American women today, who are mothers, wives, workers, and struggling to balance all three roles. I think they would resonate with a first lady who is trying to balance all three of those roles.”

Old Biden

The 2020 presidential election marked another significant milestone in the couple's more than four-decade journey – and the outcome could well usher in the most memorable and brilliant chapter of their lives. (Photos: Getty Images - Reuters - CNN)