Editing Joe Biden (section)

== Vice presidency (2009–2017) ==
{{main|Vice presidency of Joe Biden}}
{{See also|Presidency of Barack Obama}}
=== First term (2009–2013) ===
{{See also|First inauguration of Barack Obama}}
[[File:Joe Biden sworn in 1-20-09 hires 090120-N-0696M-204a.jpg|thumb|Biden being sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice [[John Paul Stevens]] on 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>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/biden.lkl/index.html |title=Biden says he'll be different vice president |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-date=December 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224093055/https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/biden.lkl/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He was sworn in 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? |publisher=[[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/https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/election.trivia/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the first [[Roman Catholic]] vice president.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Ken |last=Rudin |date=January 9, 2009|title=The First Catholic Vice President? |publisher=[[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/https://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/811060379 |archive-date=November 9, 2008}}</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="The New York Times-2">{{#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> White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]] said Biden helped counter [[groupthink]].<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/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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>{{#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/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Joe Biden official portrait 2013.jpg|thumb|left|Biden's official portrait as vice president]]
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/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908417,00.html|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/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 (United States)|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/https://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 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/https://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> 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>

Biden visited [[Kosovo]] in May 2009 and affirmed the U.S. position that its "independence is irreversible".<ref>{{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> He lost an internal debate to Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] about [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|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/https://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/https://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 his 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/https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181|url-status=live}}</ref> Obama delegated Biden to oversee Iraq policy, and he became the administration's point man in delivering messages to Iraqi leadership before the exit of U.S. troops in 2011.{{efn|Attributed to multiple sources:<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/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/president-obama-war-iraq-112730|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pol091609" /><ref name="nytm-traub" /><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/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/breaking-maliki-biden|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 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/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After big Republican gains in the elections and Emanuel's departure, 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/https://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/https://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/https://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 during the [[United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011|2011 U.S. debt ceiling crisis]].<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> Biden's relationship with McConnell brought about the [[Budget Control Act of 2011]] that solved the crisis.<ref>{{#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/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/biden-mcconnell-and-the-making-of-a-deal-060463|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#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 |publisher=[[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/https://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]] measures in the aftermath of the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], in December 2012.<ref>{{#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/https://www.startribune.com/politics/national/185276422.html |archive-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref>

=== Second term (2013–2017) ===
{{See also|Second inauguration of Barack Obama}}
Biden was 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 | publisher=[[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> He 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]]. Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] and other Democratic leaders cut him out of 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>

[[File:Joe and Jill Biden arrive in Morocco - 2014-11-20.jpg|thumb|left|Biden in [[Morocco]], November 2014]]
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>{{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> He talked about sexual violence while introducing [[Lady Gaga]] at the [[88th Academy Awards]] in 2016, receiving a [[standing ovation]] from the audience.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stone |first=Natalie |date=February 28, 2016 |title=Oscars: Joe Biden Introduces Lady Gaga for Performance of 'Til It Happens to You' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lady-gagas-oscars-performance-til-870679/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301042445/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lady-gagas-oscars-performance-til-870679 |url-status=live }}</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 favored arming [[Timber Sycamore|Syria's rebel fighters]].<ref>{{cite magazine |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/ |magazine=[[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/https://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> He had close relationships with several Latin American leaders and visited the region 16 times during his vice presidency, the most of any president or vice president.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Paz|first=Christian|date=October 26, 2020|title=The Biden Doctrine Begins With Latin America|magazine=[[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 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 |publisher=[[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> 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>

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, 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 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/https://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>{{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 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202185430/https://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, particularly due to the recent death of his son Beau,<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> and ultimately announced his decision not to run on October 21, 2015.<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/https://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=[[HuffPost]]|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/https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-decides-not-to-enter-presidential-race-1445444657|url-status=live}}</ref>