Former Vice President Biden Making 3rd Attempt for US Presidency
2020-09-08
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1Former Vice President Joe Biden is the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States.
2He has sought the presidency two times before, but this is his first time as a nominated candidate.
3The 77-year-old has been in national politics for many years --- first as a senator and two terms as vice president.
4If he wins the election November 3, and takes office in January, he will be the oldest person to serve as U.S. president.
5Biden has described his Republican Party opponent, President Donald Trump, as unfit to lead the country.
6"It's time for respected leadership on the world stage - and dignified leadership at home," Biden said.
7The coronavirus crisis has led Biden to campaign mainly from his home in Delaware.
8He has made a few visits to Wilmington, the state's biggest city, and to nearby Pennsylvania, for speeches and policy discussions with small groups of people.
9But he has avoided large gatherings, following guidelines set by the country's top health experts.
10Biden graduated from the University of Delaware and the Syracuse University College of Law.
11In 1972, at age 29, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Delaware.
12Just weeks later, Biden faced tragedy.
13His wife and one-year-old daughter were killed in a car accident.
14Biden was left a single father of two sons.
15He briefly considered leaving his Senate seat.
16But he decided to stay in office. Unlike most lawmakers, however, he did not move to Washington.
17He did not want to uproot his little boys.
18Instead, he traveled daily to and from Washington on the train, so he could be home with his sons every night.
19The senator continued this custom for 36 years, until he became vice president and moved to Washington.
20Biden was a candidate for president in 1987 and 2007.
21After Barack Obama was nominated as the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential candidate, he asked Biden to join the campaign as his running mate.
22They won election and Biden began serving as Vice President.
23Voters reelected the men in 2012.
24While in the Senate, Biden was a longtime member of the Foreign Relations Committee and served two times as its chairman.
25He opposed the Persian Gulf War in 1991 but supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
26He also supported U.S. and NATO intervention in Bosnia Herzegovina in 1994.
27While serving as vice president, Biden helped shape U.S. policy toward Iraq, including the withdrawal of troops in 2011.
28He also supported the NATO-led military intervention in Libya that same year.
29As a senator, Biden helped to write anti-crime bills, including a federal ban on assault weapons.
30The ban lasted 10 years, until 2004, but was not extended.
31He also supported strong punishment for crime, although his position on that issue has changed.
32He now argues that the U.S. imprisons too many people, especially black and brown people.
33Biden has said that he considers the Violence Against Women Act "the single most important legislation" he helped guide through Congress as a senator.
34It was in effect from 1994 until 2018, when the law expired during an extended government closure.
35Biden was closely involved with two historic Senate hearings on Supreme Court nominations.
36In the first, in 1987, Biden chaired the hearing of Judge Robert Bork, a conservative nominee for the high court.
37It lasted a record 12 days and led to a Senate rejection.
38Critics say the hearing marked the first modern political fight between Democrats and Republicans over Supreme Court nominees.
39In 1991, Biden chaired the Supreme Court hearing of Clarence Thomas, another conservative.
40Anita Hill, a lawyer and co-worker of Thomas, accused the nominee of sexual harassment and appeared before the committee.
41Thomas denied the accusations. Biden as chair barred other witnesses from speaking in support of Hill.
42Women's groups and liberal legal activists sharply criticized Biden's actions.
43The Senate narrowly confirmed Thomas's nomination and he serves on the Supreme Court to this day.
44Biden's campaign slogan is "Build Back Better."
45If he wins in November, many people expect Biden's policies as president to be similar to those of Obama's.
46He would support steps to strengthen the U.S. economy and deal with climate change.
47He would increase support for military alliances in Europe and Asia that President Trump has criticized.
48He would protect the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
49On other major issues, Biden's plans appear to still be taking shape.
50Over the years, Biden has worked with Republican lawmakers to reach compromise agreements.
51He is proposing new uses of the federal government's power to support U.S. manufacturing and technology companies.
52He accuses of Trump surrendering in the fight against the coronavirus.
53Biden says if he is elected president he will, in his words, "stop the political theater and willful misinformation that has heightened confusion and discrimination."
54I'm Caty Weaver.
1Editor's Note: Today's profile is of former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party presidential nominee. Check in tomorrow for a profile of Vice President Mike Pence, the Republican Party vice presidential nominee. 2Former Vice President Joe Biden is the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States. He has sought the presidency two times before, but this is his first time as a nominated candidate. 3The 77-year-old has been in national politics for many years --- first as a senator and two terms as vice president. If he wins the election November 3, and takes office in January, he will be the oldest person to serve as U.S. president. 4Biden has described his Republican Party opponent, President Donald Trump, as unfit to lead the country. 5"It's time for respected leadership on the world stage - and dignified leadership at home," Biden said. 6The coronavirus crisis has led Biden to campaign mainly from his home in Delaware. He has made a few visits to Wilmington, the state's biggest city, and to nearby Pennsylvania, for speeches and policy discussions with small groups of people. But he has avoided large gatherings, following guidelines set by the country's top health experts. 7Early successes and personal life 8Biden graduated from the University of Delaware and the Syracuse University College of Law. In 1972, at age 29, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Delaware. Just weeks later, Biden faced tragedy. His wife and one-year-old daughter were killed in a car accident. 9Biden was left a single father of two sons. He briefly considered leaving his Senate seat. But he decided to stay in office. Unlike most lawmakers, however, he did not move to Washington. He did not want to uproot his little boys. Instead, he traveled daily to and from Washington on the train, so he could be home with his sons every night. The senator continued this custom for 36 years, until he became vice president and moved to Washington. 10Biden was a candidate for president in 1987 and 2007. After Barack Obama was nominated as the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential candidate, he asked Biden to join the campaign as his running mate. They won election and Biden began serving as Vice President. Voters reelected the men in 2012. 11Foreign policy 12While in the Senate, Biden was a longtime member of the Foreign Relations Committee and served two times as its chairman. He opposed the Persian Gulf War in 1991 but supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He also supported U.S. and NATO intervention in Bosnia Herzegovina in 1994. While serving as vice president, Biden helped shape U.S. policy toward Iraq, including the withdrawal of troops in 2011. He also supported the NATO-led military intervention in Libya that same year. 13As a senator, Biden helped to write anti-crime bills, including a federal ban on assault weapons. The ban lasted 10 years, until 2004, but was not extended. He also supported strong punishment for crime, although his position on that issue has changed. He now argues that the U.S. imprisons too many people, especially black and brown people. 14Biden has said that he considers the Violence Against Women Act "the single most important legislation" he helped guide through Congress as a senator. It was in effect from 1994 until 2018, when the law expired during an extended government closure. 15Biden was closely involved with two historic Senate hearings on Supreme Court nominations. In the first, in 1987, Biden chaired the hearing of Judge Robert Bork, a conservative nominee for the high court. It lasted a record 12 days and led to a Senate rejection. Critics say the hearing marked the first modern political fight between Democrats and Republicans over Supreme Court nominees. 16In 1991, Biden chaired the Supreme Court hearing of Clarence Thomas, another conservative. Anita Hill, a lawyer and co-worker of Thomas, accused the nominee of sexual harassment and appeared before the committee. Thomas denied the accusations. Biden as chair barred other witnesses from speaking in support of Hill. Women's groups and liberal legal activists sharply criticized Biden's actions. The Senate narrowly confirmed Thomas's nomination and he serves on the Supreme Court to this day. 17His policies 18Biden's campaign slogan is "Build Back Better." If he wins in November, many people expect Biden's policies as president to be similar to those of Obama's. He would support steps to strengthen the U.S. economy and deal with climate change. He would increase support for military alliances in Europe and Asia that President Trump has criticized. He would protect the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. 19On other major issues, Biden's plans appear to still be taking shape. 20Over the years, Biden has worked with Republican lawmakers to reach compromise agreements. He is proposing new uses of the federal government's power to support U.S. manufacturing and technology companies. 21He accuses of Trump surrendering in the fight against the coronavirus. Biden says if he is elected president he will, in his words, "stop the political theater and willful misinformation that has heightened confusion and discrimination." 22I'm Caty Weaver. 23Ken Bredemeier wrote this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 24________________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26unfit - adj. not in good physical condition; not of the necessary condition or quality to meet a purpose 27dignify - v. to make something seem worthy 28graduate - v. to successfully complete a study program 29running mate - n. a candidate for the lesser of two closely linked political office 30assault - adj. involving or connected to a military attack or raid 31harassment - n. aggressive pressure 32confusion - n. lack of understanding; a breakdown of order 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.