Biden marks 50th anniversary of death of wife, daughter - POLITICO

WILMINGTON, Del. — President Joe Biden and his household held a backstage memorial work Sunday to people the 50th day of the car clang that killed his archetypal woman and their babe daughter.

Biden, who had conscionable been elected to the Senate successful November 1972, was not successful the car erstwhile his wife, 30-year-old Neilia, and their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, were broadsided by a tractor-trailer connected Dec. 18 of that twelvemonth arsenic they went retired to bargain a Christmas tree.

The couple’s 2 sons, Beau and Hunter, who were conscionable astir to crook 4 and 3 astatine the time, were besides successful the car and were earnestly injured.

The calamity astir prompted Biden, besides property 30 erstwhile the mishap happened, to springiness up his fledgling governmental career. But connected the proposal of different senators helium stayed successful office, commuting backmost and distant from Washington to Delaware. Biden’s earthy openness astir grief and his quality to empathize with chap Americans who person experienced nonaccomplishment person go defining traits of his governmental career.

Biden joined Jill Jacobs successful 1977 and they had a daughter, Ashley. Both women joined him connected Sunday, arsenic did Hunter and galore of the president’s grandchildren among others astatine St. Joseph connected the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church. After the service, the household walked retired toward the graves carrying 2 ample wreaths.

Beau Biden died of encephalon crab successful 2015 astatine 46. He is besides buried astatine the cemetery.