Introduced by his wife and partner Dr. Jill Biden at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Joe Biden entered the stage to a backdrop reflecting a plethora of bright beautiful orange “JOE” signs and blue “Scranton” signs held by thousands in the Philadelphia convention center. The crowd had just viewed a montage of the vice president’s career passions and causes.
As he began to speak on that July night, you might have seen tear in “Joe’s” eyes, as if he was feeling the love coming from the massive crowd.
Americans and the world have witnessed the vice president serving this nation. We’ve witnessed him take on tough issues like violence against women. We’ve seen him triumph with President Obama in two presidential elections and in making this country a better place. And we watched him grieve the death of his son during his second term, with all the human grace and dignity one can imagine.
Vice President Biden’s speech Wednesday night on the Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention had to be one of his greatest. Below is the video followed by the transcript, along with some additional images for those who may not be able to view videos.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you. [Cheers] Ladies and gentlemen, thank you, thank you. [Cheers] I love you. Ladies and gentlemen, eight years ago, I stood on a stage in Denver. [Cheers] And I accepted your nomination to be Vice President of the United States. [Cheers] And every single day since then, it has been the honor of our lives for Jill and me, every day we have been grateful to Barack and Michelle for asking us to join them on the incredible journey — [Cheers] A journey that can only happen in America. [Cheers] We not only have worked together, as it has become obvious, we have become friends. We are now family. [Cheers] We’re family. [Cheers] You have all seen over the last eight years what President Obama means to this country. [Cheers] He is the embodiment of honor, resolve and character. One of the finest presidents we have ever had. [Cheers] That’s right. [Cheers]
This is a man of character. [Cheers] He has become a brother to Jill and me. And Michelle, I don’t know where you are, but you are incredible. [Cheers] You are incredible! [Cheers] I was talking to Barack today. It is no longer who’s going to give the best speech, we know who did that. You were incredible Monday night. [Cheers] The Delaware delegation, as they say, Barack and I married way up. Way up. [Cheers]
As I stand here tonight, I see so many friends and colleagues like my buddy Chris Dodd from the Connecticut delegation. So many people here. I see the faces of those who have placed their belief in Barack and me. So many faces. But one, this is kind of a bitter sweet moment for Jill and me and our family. In 2008, when he was about to deploy to Iraq and in 2012, our son though -- Bo introduced me to the country and placed my name in nomination. Susan: You got a glimpse of what an incredibly fine young man Bo was. [Cheers] Thank you. Thank you. [Cheers] His wife and his two kids are here tonight. [Cheers]
As Ernest Hemingway once wrote,
‘The world breaks everyone, and afterwards, many are strong at the broken places.”
I've been made strong at the broken places, by my love with Jill, but my heart and son, Hunter, and the love of my life, my Ashley. And by all of you, and I mean this sincerely, those who have been through this, you know I mean what I say, all of you, -- by all of you, your love and prayers and support… you know what, we talk about, we think about the countless thousands of other people who suffered so much more than we have, with so much less support. So much less reason to go on. But they get up every morning, every day. [Cheers] They put one foot in front of the other, they keep going. That is the unbreakable spirit of the people of America. [Cheers] That is who we are. [Cheers] That is who we are. Don't forget it.
Like the people of the neighborhood that Jill and I grew up in, -- Jill and I grew up in Claymont, the kind in Claimant who always jumped and when you are double teamed or your back was against the wall. Became a cop because he always wanted to help people. The middle daughter of three daughters, who always made her mother smile, who is a hero to her sisters. Now a Major in the United States Marine Corps because, Mr. Vice President, I wanted to serve my country. [Cheers] The teachers who Jill knows, who you know, who take money out of their own pockets to buy pencils and notebooks for their students who can't afford them. [Cheers] Why? Because being a teacher is not what they do, it is who they are . [Cheers] You know what I know, for real. These are the people who are the heart and soul of this country. It is the America that I know. The America that Hillary knows and Tim Kaine knows. [Cheers]
I've known Hillary for well over 30 years, before she was First Lady of the United States, when she became First Lady, we served together in the United States Senate and during her years as Secretary of State, once a week we had breakfast in my home, the vice president's residence. Everybody knows she is smart. Everyone knows she is tough. But I know what she is passionate about. [Cheers] I know Hillary. [Cheers] Hillary understands, Hillary gets it. She understands that a college loan is a lot more than getting a qualified student education. It is about saving the mom and dad from the indignity of having to look at the child and say I'm sorry, the bank would not let us the money. I can help you get to school.
I know that about Hillary. Hillary understood that for years, millions of people went to bed staring at the scaling -- ceiling thinking what if I get breast cancer or he has a heart attack? I will lose everything. What will we do then? I know about Hillary Clinton. [Cheers]
Ladies and gentlemen, we all understand what it will mean for our daughters and granddaughters when Hillary Clinton walks into the oval office as President of the United States of America. [Cheers] It will change their lives. [Cheers] My daughter and granddaughters can do anything any son or grandson can do and she will prove it, Mr. Mayor. [Cheers]
Let me say this as clearly as I can, if you live in the neighborhoods like the ones Jill and I grew up in, if you worry about your job and getting a decent pay, if you worry about your children's education, if you are taking care of an elderly parent, then there is only one person in the selection will help you, only one person in this race who will be there, who has always been there for you and that is Hillary Clinton's life story. Not just who she is, it is her life story. [Cheers] She is always there. She has always been there. [Cheers] And so has Tim Kaine. [Cheers]
Ladies and gentlemen, let's state the obvious, I really meant, that is not Donald Trump story. Just listen to me a second without doing or cheering. -- Booing or cheering, his cynicism is unbounded, his lack of empathy and compassion can be summed up in that phrase he is most proud of making famous, you're fired. I'm not joking. Think about that. Think about that. Think about everything you learned as a child. No matter where you were raised, how can there be pleasure in saying you're fired? He is trying to tell us he cares about the middle class. Give me a break. That is a bunch of malarkey. [Cheers]
Whatever he thinks, whatever he thinks, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I know I'm called middle-class Joe and in Washington, that is not meant as a compliment. It means you are not sophisticated. But I know why we are strong, I know why we are held together, I know why we are united, it is because there has always been a growing middle class. This guy does not have a clue about the middle class. Not a clue. [Cheers] Because folks, when the hill class -- middle class does well, the rich do very well and the poor have hope. They have a way out. He has no clue about what makes America great. Actually, he has no clue period. [Cheers]
(Crowd chants “Not a clue! Not a clue! Not a clue!”)
Folks, let me say, let me say something that has nothing to do with politics. Let me talk about something that I'm deadly serious about. This is a complicated and uncertain world we live in. The threats are too great, the times are too uncertain to elect Donald Trump as resident of the united States. Let me finish, no major party, no major party nominee in the history of this nation has ever known less or been less prepared to do with our national security.
We cannot elect a man who exploits our fears of ISIS and other terrorists, who has no plan whatsoever to make a safer. A man who embraces the tactics of our enemies, torture, religious intolerance, you all know. All the Republicans know, that is not who we are. It betrays our values. It alienates those who we need in the fight against ISIS. Donald Trump, with all his rhetoric would literally make us less safe.
We cannot elect a man who belittles our closest allies while embracing dictators like Vladimir Putin. I mean it. [Cheers] A man who seeks to go -- sow division in America for his own gain and disorder around the world. A man who confuses bluster with strength. We simply cannot let that happen as Americans. [Cheers] Period. [Cheers]
Folks -- [cheers] I have, whatever doubts I mean what I say. But sometimes I say all that I mean. Let me tell you what I literally tell everyone leader I've met with. And I met them all, it is never, never, never been a good bet against America. [Cheers] We have the finest fighting force in the world. Not only -- [cheers] Not only do we have the largest economy in the world, we have the strongest economy in the world. [Cheers]
We have the most productive workers in the world. And give it a fair shot. Given a fair chance. Americans have never, ever, ever, ever, ever let the country down. [Cheers] Never! [Cheers] Never!
Ordinary people like us, who do extraordinary things, we had candidates before attempting get elected by appealing to our fears, but they've never succeeded because we do not scare easily. We never bow, we never bend, we never break, when confronted with crisis. We endure! We overcome and we always, always move forward. [Cheers] That is why. [Cheers] That is why I can say, without salute -- absolute conviction that I am more optimistic about our chances today than when I was elected as a 29-year-old kid to the Senate. The 21st century is going to be the American century. [Cheers] Because we lead not only by example of our power, but by the power of our example. [Cheers] That is the history of the journey of Americans. And god willing, Hillary Clinton will write the next chapter in that journey.
We are America, second to none, and we own the finish line -- own the finish line! Don't forget it! [Cheers]
God bless you all and[cheers] God protect our troops! [Cheers]
We love you, Joe. And thank you, Mr. Vice President.