Joe Biden

== Vice presidency (2009–2017) ==
{{See also|Presidency of Barack Obama}}

=== First term (2009–2013) ===
[[File:Joe Biden sworn in 1-20-09 hires 090120-N-0696M-204a.jpg|thumb|Biden being sworn in as vice president on [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|January 20, 2009]]|alt=Photo of Biden raising his right hand, reciting the Oath]]

Biden said he intended to eliminate some explicit roles assumed by [[George W. Bush]]'s vice president, [[Dick Cheney]], and did not intend to emulate any previous vice presidency.<ref name="lkl122208">{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/biden.lkl/index.html |title=Biden says he'll be different vice president |work=[[CNN]] |date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-date=December 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224093055/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/biden.lkl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was sworn in as the 47th vice president of the United States on January 20, 2009.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=January 20, 2009|title=In culminating moment, Biden is vice president |work=[[The Oregonian]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2009/01/in_culminating_moment_biden_is.html|access-date=July 27, 2016|archive-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101194210/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2009/01/in_culminating_moment_biden_is.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was the first vice president from Delaware<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=November 3, 2008 |title=Think you know your election trivia? |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/election.trivia/index.html |access-date=November 9, 2008 |archive-date=November 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106075757/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/election.trivia/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the first [[Roman Catholic]] vice president.<ref name="npr2008">{{#invoke:cite news||first=Ken |last=Rudin |date=January 9, 2009|title=The First Catholic Vice President? |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2009/01/the_first_catholic_vice_presid.html|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925060421/https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2009/01/the_first_catholic_vice_presid.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole|date=November 6, 2008 |title=VP's home awaits if Biden chooses |work=[[The News Journal]] |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/811060379 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109060406/http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/811060379 |archive-date=November 9, 2008}}</ref>

Obama was soon comparing Biden to a basketball player "who does a bunch of things that don't show up in the stat sheet".<ref name="nyt032809">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Leibovich|first=Mark|date=March 28, 2009|title=Speaking Freely, Biden Finds Influential Role|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html|access-date=March 31, 2009|archive-date=April 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401232903/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden visited [[Kosovo]] in May and affirmed the U.S. position that its "independence is irreversible."<ref name="Chun9194">{{cite journal|last=Chun|first=Kwang-Ho|title=Kosovo: A New European Nation-State?|url=https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/96517/1/5.Kosovo-A-New-European-Nation-State_Kwang-ho-Chun.pdf|journal=Journal of International and Area Studies|volume=18|issue=1|year=2011|pages=91, 94|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082124/https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/96517/1/5.Kosovo-A-New-European-Nation-State_Kwang-ho-Chun.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden lost an internal debate to Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] about [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|sending 21,000 new troops to Afghanistan]],<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Dilanian|first=Ken|date=June 11, 2009|title=In a supporting role, Clinton takes a low-key approach at State Dept.|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090611/1aclinton11_cv.art.htm|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=May 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516020144/http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090611/1aclinton11_cv.art.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Smith|first=Ben|date=June 23, 2009|title=Hillary Clinton toils in the shadows|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916005405/http://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067|url-status=live}}</ref> but his skepticism was valued,<ref name="pol091609">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Cummings|first=Jeanne|date=September 16, 2009|title=Joe Biden, 'the skunk at the family picnic'|publisher=[[The Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/the-skunk-at-the-family-picnic-027211|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> and in 2009, Biden's views gained more influence as Obama reconsidered his Afghanistan strategy.<ref name="nw-cov-1010092">{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Bailey|first1=Holly|last2=Thomas|first2=Evan|author-link2=Evan Thomas|date=October 10, 2009|title=An Inconvenient Truth Teller|magazine=[[Newsweek]]|url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181|access-date=November 6, 2009|archive-date=November 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123063731/http://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden visited Iraq about every two months,<ref name="nytm-traub" /> becoming the administration's point man in delivering messages to Iraqi leadership about expected progress there.<ref name="pol091609" /> More generally, overseeing Iraq policy became Biden's responsibility: Obama was said to have said, "Joe, you do Iraq."<ref>{{#invoke:cite magazine||last=Osnos|first=Evan|author-link=Evan Osnos|date=August 12, 2014|title=Breaking Up: Maliki and Biden|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/breaking-maliki-biden|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002053443/http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/breaking-maliki-biden|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2012, Biden had made eight trips there, but his oversight of U.S. policy in Iraq receded with the exit of U.S. troops in 2011.<ref name="time-mo" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Crowley|first=Michael|date=November 9, 2014|title=The war over President Obama's new war in Iraq|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/president-obama-war-iraq-112730|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=October 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013002931/http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/president-obama-war-iraq-112730|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden shake hands in the Oval Office following a phone call with House Speaker John Boehner securing a bipartisan deal to reduce the nation's deficit and avoid default.jpg|thumb|left|President Obama congratulates Biden for his role in shaping the [[United States debt ceiling|debt ceiling]] deal which led to the [[Budget Control Act of 2011]].|alt=Photo of Obama and Biden shaking hands in the Oval Office]]

Biden oversaw [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009#Infrastructure investment|infrastructure spending from the Obama stimulus package]] intended to help counteract the [[Late-2000s recession|ongoing recession]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite magazine||last=Scherer|first=Michael|date=July 1, 2009|title=What Happened to the Stimulus?|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908417,00.html|access-date=July 8, 2009|archive-date=January 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109095116/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908417,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During this period, Biden was satisfied that no major instances of waste or corruption had occurred,<ref name="pol091609" /> and when he completed that role in February 2011, he said the number of fraud incidents with stimulus monies had been less than one percent.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Travers|first=Karen|date=February 17, 2011|title='Sheriff Joe' Biden Touts Recovery Act Success—and Hands Over His Badge|work=[[ABC News]]|url=https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/sheriff-joe-biden-touts-recovery-act-success-and-hands-over-his-badge.html|url-status=dead|access-date=March 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221153327/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/sheriff-joe-biden-touts-recovery-act-success-and-hands-over-his-badge.html|archive-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref>

Biden's off-message response to a question in late April 2009, during the beginning of the [[2009 flu pandemic|swine flu outbreak]], led to a swift retraction by the White House.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Silva|first1=Mark|last2=Parsons|first2=Christi|date=May 1, 2009|title=White House adjusts Biden's swine flu advice|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-01-na-biden1-story.html|access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009170032/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-01-na-biden1-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The remark revived Biden's reputation for [[Political gaffe|gaffes]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=May 1, 2009|title=White House tempers Biden's swine flu advice|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=https://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/01/white_house_tempers_bidens_swine_flu_advice/|url-status=dead |access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505114058/http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/01/white_house_tempers_bidens_swine_flu_advice/|archive-date=May 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="nw-cov-1010092" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Kurtzman|first=Daniel|date=May 8, 2009|title=The Week's Best Late-Night Jokes|publisher=[[About.com]]|url=https://www.liveabout.com/late-night-political-jokes-2733896|access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611193402/https://www.liveabout.com/late-night-political-jokes-2733896|url-status=live}}</ref> Confronted with rising unemployment through July 2009, Biden acknowledged that the administration had "misread how bad the economy was" but maintained confidence the stimulus package would create many more jobs once the pace of expenditures picked up.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||date=July 5, 2009|title=Biden: 'We misread how bad the economy was'|publisher=[[NBC News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563|access-date=July 9, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217104812/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[hot mic]] picked up Biden telling Obama that his signing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] was "a big fucking deal" on March 23, 2010. Despite their different personalities, Obama and Biden formed a friendship, partly based around Obama's daughter Sasha and Biden's granddaughter Maisy, who attended [[Sidwell Friends School]] together.<ref name="nyt0508122">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Leibovich|first=Mark|date=May 7, 2012|title=For a Blunt Biden, an Uneasy Supporting Role|page=1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081748/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Members of the Obama administration said Biden's role in the White House was to be a contrarian and force others to defend their positions.<ref name=":32">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Baker|first=Peter|date=April 28, 2019|title=Biden and Obama's 'Odd Couple' Relationship Aged Into Family Ties|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/politics/barack-obama-biden.html|access-date=April 26, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606093422/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/politics/barack-obama-biden.html|quote=He was also the in-house skeptic on the use of force, arguing against a troop surge to Afghanistan, military intervention in Libya and the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rahm Emanuel]], White House chief of staff, said that Biden helped counter [[groupthink]].<ref name="nyt032809" /> Obama said, "The best thing about Joe is that when we get everybody together, he really forces people to think and defend their positions, to look at things from every angle, and that is very valuable for me."<ref name="pol091609" /> The Bidens maintained a relaxed atmosphere at their [[Number One Observatory Circle|official residence]] in Washington, often entertaining their grandchildren, and regularly returned to their home in Delaware.<ref name="pol-regular">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Parnes|first=Amie|date=June 28, 2011|title=The Bidens' 'regular' lives|newspaper=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887|access-date=June 28, 2011|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194519/http://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887|url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden campaigned heavily for Democrats in the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 midterm elections]], maintaining an attitude of optimism in the face of predictions of large-scale losses for the party.<ref name="nyt1013102">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=October 12, 2010|title=Vice President Tries to Energize Democrats|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|access-date=October 14, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028044617/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following big Republican gains in the elections and the departure of White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]], Biden's past relationships with Republicans in Congress became more important.<ref name="pol1209102">{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Lee|first1=Carol E.|last2=Bresnahan|first2=John|date=December 9, 2010|title=Joe Biden expands role as White House link to Congress|newspaper=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/biden-steps-into-rahms-shoes-046173|access-date=December 10, 2010|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194519/http://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/biden-steps-into-rahms-shoes-046173|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt1211102">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=December 11, 2010|title=As the Ground Shifts, Biden Plays a Bigger Role|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12biden.html|access-date=December 13, 2010|archive-date=December 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213044241/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He led the successful administration effort to gain Senate approval for the [[New START treaty]].<ref name="pol1209102" /><ref name="nyt1211102" /> In December 2010, Biden's advocacy for a middle ground, followed by his negotiations with Senate minority leader [[Mitch McConnell]], were instrumental in producing the administration's compromise tax package that included a temporary [[extension of the Bush tax cuts]].<ref name="nyt1211102" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Hulse|first1=Carl|last2=Calmes|first2=Jackie|date=December 7, 2010|title=Biden and G.O.P. Leader Helped Hammer Out Bipartisan Tax Accord|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html|access-date=December 8, 2010|archive-date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208043606/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The package passed as the [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]].

[[File:Obama and Biden await updates on bin Laden.jpg|thumb|Biden, Obama and the national security team gathered in the [[White House Situation Room]] to monitor the progress of the May 2011 [[Killing of Osama bin Laden|mission]] to kill [[Osama bin Laden]].|alt=Photo of Obama, Biden, and national security staffers in the Situation Room, somberly listening to updates on the bin Laden raid]]

Obama delegated Biden to lead negotiations with Congress in March 2011 to resolve federal spending levels for the rest of the year and avoid a government shutdown.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||title=Congress averts shutdown, sends stopgap to Obama |date=March 2, 2011 |first1=Andy |last1=Sullivan |first2=Kim |last2=Dixon |first3=Alister |last3=Bull |first4=Thomas |last4=Ferraro |first5=Richard |last5=Cowan |work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-spending-idUSTRE7205MS20110302 }}</ref> The [[United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011|U.S. debt ceiling crisis]] developed over the next few months, but Biden's relationship with McConnell again proved key in breaking a deadlock and bringing about a deal to resolve it, in the form of the [[Budget Control Act of 2011]], signed on August 2, 2011, the same day an unprecedented [[Sovereign default|U.S. default]] had loomed.<ref name="pol-bca2">{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Thrush |first1=Glenn |last2=Brown |first2=Carrie Budoff |last3=Raju |first3=Manu |last4=Bresnahan |first4=John |date=August 2, 2011 |title=Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell and the making of a debt deal |newspaper=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/biden-mcconnell-and-the-making-of-a-deal-060463 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-date=September 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922144250/http://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/biden-mcconnell-and-the-making-of-a-deal-060463|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ap-bca2">{{#invoke:cite news||date=August 3, 2011 |first1=Ben |last1=Feller |first2=Julie |last2=Pace |first3=Laurie |last3=Kellman |first4=Nancy |last4=Benac |title=The real drama was in private as debt deal hatched |work=[[Fox News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-real-drama-was-in-private-as-debt-deal-hatched |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230142752/https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-real-drama-was-in-private-as-debt-deal-hatched |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Bohan |first1=Caren |last2=Sullivan |first2=Andy |last3=Ferraro |first3=Thomas |date=August 3, 2011 |title=Special report: How Washington took the U.S. to the brink |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-debt-brink/special-report-how-washington-took-the-u-s-to-the-brink-idUSTRE77271R20110803|access-date=August 4, 2011|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013231825/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-debt-brink/special-report-how-washington-took-the-u-s-to-the-brink-idUSTRE77271R20110803|url-status=live}}</ref> Some reports suggest that Biden opposed proceeding with the May 2011 [[U.S. mission to kill Osama bin Laden]],<ref name="time-mo" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Weigel |first=David |author-link=David Weigel |date=January 10, 2014 |title=Hillary Told the President That Her Opposition to the Surge in Iraq Had Been Political |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/01/robert-gates-duty-hillary-told-the-president-that-her-opposition-to-the-surge-in-iraq-had-been-political.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082441/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/01/robert-gates-duty-hillary-told-the-president-that-her-opposition-to-the-surge-in-iraq-had-been-political.html |url-status=live}}</ref> lest failure adversely affect Obama's reelection prospects.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thiessen |first=Marc A. |date=October 8, 2012 |title=Biden's Bin Laden Hypocrisy |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marc-thiessen-bidens-bin-laden-hypocrisy/2012/10/08/990aca7c-114d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html |access-date=August 29, 2015 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904124649/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marc-thiessen-bidens-bin-laden-hypocrisy/2012/10/08/990aca7c-114d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Andersen Brower |first=Kate |date=June 1, 2018 |title=Hillary Clinton's 'ass-covering' on bin Laden raid 'rattled' Biden |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/390144-hillary-clintons-ass-covering-on-bin-laden-raid-rattled-biden |access-date=April 29, 2019 |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513134732/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/390144-hillary-clintons-ass-covering-on-bin-laden-raid-rattled-biden |url-status=live}}</ref>

Obama named Biden to head the [[Gun Violence Task Force]], created to address the causes of [[school shooting]]s and consider possible [[gun control]] to implement in the aftermath of the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], in December 2012.<ref name="Caldwell">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Caldwell|first=Leigh Ann|date=December 19, 2012|title=Obama sets up gun violence task force|publisher=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-sets-up-gun-violence-task-force/|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185454/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-sets-up-gun-violence-task-force/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, during the final days before the United States fell off the "[[United States fiscal cliff|fiscal cliff]]", Biden's relationship with McConnell again proved important as the two negotiated a deal that led to the [[American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012]] being passed at the start of 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/01/its-over-house-passes-fiscal-cliff-deal/ |title=It's over: House passes 'fiscal cliff' deal |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Sun]] |date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185455/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/01/its-over-house-passes-fiscal-cliff-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ap-cliff">{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.startribune.com/politics/national/185276422.html |title=Congress' OK of fiscal cliff deal gives Obama a win, prevents GOP blame for tax boosts |last=Fram|first=Alan |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |location=Minneapolis |date=January 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105020524/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/185276422.html |archive-date=January 5, 2013 }}</ref> It made many of the Bush tax cuts permanent but raised rates on upper income levels.<ref name="ap-cliff" />

=== Second term (2013–2017) ===
[[File:Joe and Jill Biden arrive in Morocco - 2014-11-20.jpg|thumb|left|Biden in [[Morocco]], November 2014]]
Biden was [[Second inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugurated to a second term]] on January 20, 2013, at a small ceremony at [[Number One Observatory Circle]], his official residence, with Justice [[Sonia Sotomayor]] presiding (a public ceremony took place on January 21).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-inauguration-biden-idUSBRE90J08B20130120 | title=Vice President Biden sworn into office for second term | last=Rampton|first=Roberta | work=[[Reuters]] | date=January 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122062434/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/20/us-usa-inauguration-biden-idUSBRE90J08B20130120| archive-date=January 22, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Biden played little part in discussions that led to the October 2013 passage of the [[Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014]], which resolved the [[2013 United States federal government shutdown|federal government shutdown of 2013]] and the [[United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2013|debt-ceiling crisis of 2013]]. This was because Senate majority leader [[Harry Reid]] and other Democratic leaders cut him out of any direct talks with Congress, feeling Biden had given too much away during previous negotiations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/anatomy-of-a-shutdown-098518 |title=Anatomy of a shutdown |last1=Bresnahan |first1=John |last2=Manu |first2=Raju |last3=Sherman |first3=Jake |last4=Brown |first4=Carrie Budoff |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185529/https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/anatomy-of-a-shutdown-098518 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/13/biden-mostly-out-of-sight-during-shutdown-showdown/2968373/ |title=Biden mostly out of sight as shutdown drags on |last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=October 13, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082716/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/13/biden-mostly-out-of-sight-during-shutdown-showdown/2968373/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/biden-takes-back-seat-in-budget-negotiations-during-shutdown | title=Biden takes a back seat during budget negotiations over shutdown | last=Bowman | first=Bridget | work=[[PBS NewsHour]] | publisher=[[PBS]] | date=October 14, 2013 | access-date=January 24, 2021 | archive-date=January 3, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082723/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/biden-takes-back-seat-in-budget-negotiations-during-shutdown | url-status=live }}</ref>

Biden's Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized again in 2013. The act led to related developments, such as the [[White House Council on Women and Girls]], begun in the first term, as well as the [[White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault]], begun in January 2014 with Biden and [[Valerie Jarrett]] as co-chairs.<ref name="Report">{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sexual_assault_report_1-21-14.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121105625/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sexual_assault_report_1-21-14.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=January 21, 2017 |title=Rape and sexual assault: A renewed call to action |date=January 2014 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |publisher=[[White House]] |access-date=August 24, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/22/memorandum-establishing-white-house-task-force-protect-students-sexual-a | title=Memorandum: Establishing White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault | date=January 22, 2014 | access-date=June 10, 2014 | archive-date=January 22, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122115707/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/22/memorandum-establishing-white-house-task-force-protect-students-sexual-a | via=[[NARA|National Archives]] | publisher=[[White House]] | url-status=live }}</ref>

Biden favored arming [[Timber Sycamore|Syria's rebel fighters]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who to Blame If Arming the Syrian Rebels Goes Wrong |first=Conor |last=Friedersdorf |author-link=Conor Friedersdorf |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/09/who-to-blame-if-arming-syrian-rebels-goes-wrong/380411/ |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512184447/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/09/who-to-blame-if-arming-syrian-rebels-goes-wrong/380411/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As the [[ISIL]] [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)|insurgency in Iraq]] intensified in 2014, renewed attention was paid to the Biden-Gelb Iraqi federalization plan of 2006, with some observers suggesting Biden had been right all along.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/joe-biden-iraq-107858 | title=Was Joe Biden right? | last=Gerstein | first=Josh | newspaper=[[Politico]] | date=June 13, 2014 | access-date=September 14, 2014 | archive-date=September 27, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927001111/http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/joe-biden-iraq-107858 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/62830 |title=Turns Out, Joe Biden Was Right About Dividing Iraq |last=Kitfield |first=James |magazine=[[National Journal]] |date=January 30, 2014 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011194233/https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/62830 |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden himself said the U.S. would follow ISIL "to the gates of hell".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Decoder/2014/0903/Joe-Biden-vows-to-chase-Islamic-State-to-gates-of-hell.-Does-he-mean-it |title=Joe Biden vows to chase Islamic State to 'gates of hell'. Does he mean it? |last=Grier |first=Peter |newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185455/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Decoder/2014/0903/Joe-Biden-vows-to-chase-Islamic-State-to-gates-of-hell.-Does-he-mean-it |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden had close relationships with several Latin American leaders and was assigned a focus on the region during the administration; he visited the region 16 times during his vice presidency, the most of any president or vice president.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Paz|first=Christian|date=October 26, 2020|title=The Biden Doctrine Begins With Latin America|work=[[The Atlantic]]|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/10/joe-biden-foreign-policy-latin-america/616841/|access-date=November 15, 2020|issn=1072-7825|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111041523/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/10/joe-biden-foreign-policy-latin-america/616841/|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2016, Biden visited [[Serbia]], where he met with the Serbian Prime Minister, [[Aleksandar Vučić]], and expressed his condolences for civilian victims of the bombing campaign during the Kosovo War.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Melander |first1=Ingrid |date=August 16, 2016 |title=Biden offers condolences for Serbs killed in 1999 NATO air strikes |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-balkans-biden-serbia/biden-offers-condolences-for-serbs-killed-in-1999-nato-air-strikes-idUSKCN10R1ZD |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185455/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-balkans-biden-serbia/biden-offers-condolences-for-serbs-killed-in-1999-nato-air-strikes-idUSKCN10R1ZD |archive-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Vice President Joe Biden visit to Israel March 2016 (25554709411).jpg|thumb|Biden with Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in [[Jerusalem]], March 9, 2016|alt=Photo of Biden and Netanyahu giving speeches, with American and Israeli flags in the background]]
Biden never [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by vice presidents of the United States|cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate]], making him the longest-serving vice president with this distinction.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bycoffe|first=Aaron|date=February 7, 2017|title=Pence Has Already Done Something Biden Never Did: Break A Senate Tie|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/pence-has-already-done-something-biden-never-did-break-a-senate-tie/|website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|quote=Twelve vice presidents, including Biden, never broke a tie; Biden was the longest-serving vice president to never do so.|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082937/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/pence-has-already-done-something-biden-never-did-break-a-senate-tie/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Role in the 2016 presidential campaign ====
During his second term, Biden was often said to be preparing for a bid for the [[2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2016 Democratic presidential nomination]].<ref name=Itkowitz1 /> With his family, many friends, and donors encouraging him in mid-2015 to enter the race, and with [[Hillary Clinton]]'s favorability ratings in decline at that time, Biden was reported to again be seriously considering the prospect and a "[[Draft (politics)|Draft]] Biden 2016" [[Political action committee|PAC]] was established.<ref name=Itkowitz1>{{cite news |first=Colby |last=Itkowitz |title=There is a 'Draft Joe Biden' Super PAC Now; It's Even Hiring a Fundraiser |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 23, 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/03/23/job-opening-raise-money-to-draft-joe-biden-to-run-in-2016/ |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716011912/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/03/23/job-opening-raise-money-to-draft-joe-biden-to-run-in-2016/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Dowd1>{{cite news |first=Maureen |last=Dowd |title=Joe Biden in 2016: What Would Beau Do? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-joe-biden-in-2016-what-would-beau-do.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106105547/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-joe-biden-in-2016-what-would-beau-do.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Jeff |last1=Zeleny |first2=Kevin |last2=Liptak |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/ |title=Joe Biden Keeps Watchful Eye on 2016 Race |work=[[CNN]] |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202185430/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By late 2015, Biden was still uncertain about running. He felt his son Beau's recent death had largely drained his emotional energy, and said, "nobody has a right{{nbsp}}... to seek that office unless they're willing to give it 110% of who they are."<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34216117|title=Joe Biden still undecided on presidential run|work=[[BBC News]]|date=September 11, 2015|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103083021/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34216117|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 21, speaking from a podium in the [[White House Rose Garden|Rose Garden]] with his wife and Obama by his side, Biden announced his decision not to run for president in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Mason |url=https://www.aol.com/article/2015/10/21/biden-announces-hes-not-running-for-president/21252056/ |title=Biden says he will not seek 2016 Democratic nomination |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=October 21, 2015 |website=[[aol.com]] |archive-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022211907/http://www.aol.com/article/2015/10/21/biden-announces-hes-not-running-for-president/21252056/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||first=Mollie|last=Reilly|title=Joe Biden Is Not Running For President In 2016|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-president-2016_n_55f1cefbe4b093be51be0d69|work=[[Huff Post]]|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405213056/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-president-2016_n_55f1cefbe4b093be51be0d69|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||first1=Colleen|last1=McCain Nelson|first2=Peter|last2=Nicholas|title=Joe Biden Decides Not to Enter Presidential Race|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-decides-not-to-enter-presidential-race-1445444657|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021204730/http://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-decides-not-to-enter-presidential-race-1445444657|url-status=live}}</ref>