Episode 12: Special Election Episode
President-Elect
Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
With the fate of democracy on the line, millions of Americans showed up to vote on November 3, 2020. Millions more voted before that day through early voting and mail-in ballots. Due to the shear number of votes to be counted, particularly the mail-in ballots, a winner could not be announced on election night, although the current president tried to declare himself the winner. It took days, and then on Saturday, the election was called. The winner was Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
In this special election episode, we profile President-elect Biden and dig into his fascinating family tree! We know a lot about his last 47 years of service to the country as a politician, but where did he come from? Who were his ancestors and did they shape who he would come to be? Listen as we discuss his roots in this episode of Murderous Roots.
Biden on the campaign trail.
Source: Gage Skidmore
Source: The Times Tribune, 9 Jan 2010
Source: The Morning News, 8 Sep 1988
Sister Valerie’s wedding announcement.
Source: The Morning News, 18 Oct 1975
Neilia Hunter Biden (1942-1972), Joe’s first wife who tragically died in a car accident
Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.’s birth announcement.
Source: The Scranton Times Tribune, 20 Nov 1942
Biden at 10 years old.
Photo credit: By Office of United States Senator Joe Biden (D – Delaware) - Public Domain,
Biden was young and luckily was not seriously injured in this car accident.
Source: The Morning News, 4 Aug 1964
The engagement announcement for Joe’s parents, Catherine Eugenia “Jean” Finnegan and Joseph R. Biden, Sr.
Source: The Scranton Tribune, 17 May 1941
From the wedding announcement of Joe’s parents, Joseph R. Biden, Sr. (1915-2002) and Jean Finnegan (1917-2010)
The great part about small town newspapers are the little personal tidbits that appear like this one.
Source: The Scrantonian, 1 Apr 1945
Obituary for Joseph H. Biden (1893-1941), Joe’s grandfather. Notice that they refer to Joseph R. Biden as Joseph Jr.
Source: The Tribune, 27 Sep 1941
Divorce of Joe’s great-grandparents, Mary Emily Liddell Biden (1872-1922) and George T. Biden (1867-1933) in 1915.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, 3 Dec 1915
Obituary for Joe’s second great-grandmother, Lydia Ann Randle Biden (1835-1902)
Source: The Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep 1902
Grave marker for the first Biden to live in America, William Henry Biden (1787-1849) and his wife, Mary Elkins Biden (1801-1863)
Source: Find A Grave
The story we shared about the animals wandering onto the property of William Elkins (1751-1798), Joe’s fifth great-grandfather.
Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, 26 Dec 1782
The wedding announcement for Joe’s grandparents, Ambrose Joseph Finnegan (1883-1957) and Geraldine Catharine Blewitt (1886-1949).
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 31 May 1909
Obituary of Joe’s maternal grandmother, Geraldine Blewitt Finnegan.
Obituary for Joe’s maternal grandfather, Ambrose Joseph Finnegan.
Source: The Tribune, 28 May 1957
The obituary of Patrick Blewitt (1832-1911); Source: The Tribune Republican, 27 Nov 1911