Biden’s son dies of brain cancer
Vice president of the United States Joe Biden is mourning the death of his son Beau, who lost his battle with brain cancer on Saturday.
Joseph Robinette ‘Beau’ Biden III, 46, fought the disease for several years as his father’s worked as Barack Obama’s second-in-charge since 2009.
• George pell’s position is ‘untenable’: Pope advisor
• Greens unhappy with labour’s gay marriage bill
• Australia angry over China’s military move
In a statement after Beau’s passing the vice president said, “The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words.
“We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us — especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter.”
Vice president Biden has had to deal with family grief before. In 1972 a few months before elected to the US Senate, his first wife and 13-month-old daughter died in a car crash.
In 2012, Biden delivered a speech to the families and friends of American soldiers who had died in action where he shared details of how he dealt with the tragic loss of his wife and daughter.
“No parents should be pre-deceased by their sons or daughters,” Biden said. “I, unfortunately, have that experience, too.
“I used to resent people. They’d come up to me and say, ‘Joe, I know how you feel.’
“I knew they meant well. I knew they were genuine. But you knew they didn’t have any damn idea.”
See the whole speech below: