Beau Biden’s Eulogy By Obama Offers Insight Into Relationship With Joe Biden

Beau Biden’s eulogy by president Barack Obama has become quite revealing.

Vanity Fair is reporting that Obama’s touching, thoughtful eulogy and his actions and reactions towards Joe Biden after, offer a glimpse into their professional and personal relationship that has been building over the last seven years. Beau Biden, 46, succumbed to brain cancer and passed away last week. Beau Biden was an Iraqi war veteran and the attorney general for the state of Delaware.

Of Beau Biden, president Obama spoke in glowing terms. “He did in 46 years what most of us couldn’t do in 146. He left nothing in the tank,” said Obama. “That’s what our country was built on—men like Beau.”

“Here was a scion of an incredible family who brushed away the possibility of privilege for the harder, better reward of earning his own way,” said Obama of Beau Biden. “Here was a soldier who dodged glory, and exuded true humility. A prosecutor who defended the defenseless. The rare politician who collected more fans than foes, and the rarer public figure who prioritized his private life above all else.”

It was Vice President Biden who asked President Obama to speak at Beau Biden’s funeral. Asking the president for such a event shows how much the two mean to each other on a personal level. “They trust one another and can be very honest with each other,” White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said. “They love each other.”

According to CNN, their relationship wasn’t always so smooth. Early on, Biden had backed same-sex marriage before Obama was given a chance, something that grated on Obama. Then just before a news conference, Biden was picked up by a hot mic before the conference where he said that Obama’s health care plan was a “big f*****g deal.” However, over the past seven years, the relationship between Obama and Biden has solidified, to the point where each considers the other a brother and confidant. Obama spoke to that during Beau Biden’s eulogy.

“Joe, you are my brother. I’m grateful every day that you’ve got such a big heart and a big soul and those broad shoulders. I couldn’t admire you more,” Obama said, looking Biden squarely in the eye. When the eulogy was over, Obama left the stage, walked over to Biden, and the two men embraced. As they unlocked their embrace, Obama gently pecked Biden on the cheek in a showing of support and true affection to Biden and his family after such a terrible loss.

[Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images]