President Barack Obama on Saturday remembered Beau Biden as a “consummate public servant” with a “mighty heart” in an emotional, moving eulogy for Vice President Joe Biden’s oldest son.
“Beau Biden brought to his work a mighty heart,” Obama said. “He brought to his family a mighty heart. What a good man. What an original.”
Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III died on May 31 after a nearly two-year battle with brain cancer. The former Delaware attorney general and Iraq War veteran was 46 years old and had been expected to run for governor of the state in 2016.
Obama gave a nod to Biden’s accomplishments in public service during the eulogy, calling him the “consummate public servant.”
“He did in 46 years what a lot of us couldn’t do in 146,” Obama said. “He left nothing in the tank.”
The President choked up at times as he recalled Biden’s love for his father, noting how closely the younger Biden’s career trajectory tracked to the vice president’s.
“It’s no secret that a lot of what made Beau the way he was was just how much he loved and admired his dad…He learned how to make everybody else feel like we matter because his dad taught him that everybody matters,” Obama said.
“He even looked and sounded like Joe,” the President added. “Although I think Joe would be the first to admit that Beau was an upgrade, Joe 2.0.”
Obama also spoke fondly of his family’s close connection to the entire Biden clan, which he said considers him and his family “honorary members.”
“Joe you are my brother,” Obama said. “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.”
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