Includes bibliographical references and index

Scranton -- Wilmington -- Building a dream -- The making of a politician -- David and Goliath -- The dream shattered -- A fresh start -- Finding himself, and Jill -- Civil rights and Jimmy Carter -- Joe Biden for president -- A judicial intrusion -- Debacle in Iowa -- Concentrating on Bork -- A costly victory -- Down but not out -- Holding out for peace -- Clarence and Anita -- In search of truth and fairness -- Cozy corporate capital of America -- Fighting crime and abuse of power -- Senate globetrotter -- Wars of necessity and choice -- Reassessing a quagmire -- Biden for president again -- A questionable prize -- An offer he couldn't refuse -- Vice President Biden

In the first definitive biography of Vice President Joe Biden, journalist Jules Witcover examines the life of a man who, with his tenacity, outspokenness, and charming smile, has shaped Washington politics for the past forty years and who now serves as the 47th vice president of the United States. Raised in working-class towns, with lackluster grades in school and no particular goals, Biden shocked the nation in 1972 when he became one of the youngest elected senators in U.S. history. From that point forward, he carved a legacy for himself as one of the most respected legislators in the country. Yet for all of Biden's achievements, his life has been filled with tragedy and countless challenges. Drawing on numerous exclusive interviews, Witcover has gone beyond conventional biography to track the forces that have shaped a man who, with his plainspoken style and inspiring life story, has resonated with millions of Americans.--From publisher description

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