The passing of Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden, in May of last year understandably inspired dramatic changes in Biden's presumed 2016 presidential bid. "As my family and I have worked through the grieving process, I've said all along that it may very well be that the process closes the window on mounting a realistic campaign," Biden told the nation in October, standing alongside his wife, Jill Biden. "I have concluded that it has closed."
Speaking candidly about Beau's battle with brain cancer with CNN earlier this week, Biden revealed that his close circle of support from friends and family also included a touching gesture from Obama himself. After learning that Biden might have to sell their Delaware home to provide for Beau's family, Obama quickly took action in the name of friendship. "He got up and he said, 'Don't sell that house. Promise me you won't sell the house,'" Biden recalls. "He said 'I'll give you the money. Whatever you need. I'll give you the money. Don't, Joe. Promise me. Promise me.' I said, 'I don't think we're going to have to anyway.' He said, 'Promise me.'"
"More than his professional accomplishments, Beau measured himself as a husband, father, son and brother," Biden said in his initial White House statement on Beau's passing. "His absolute honor made him a role model for our family. Beau embodied my father's saying that a parent knows success when his child turns out better than he did."
Rest in peace, Beau.
