In an emotion-filled appearance rare for a comedy show, Vice President Joe Biden taped an episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Thursday night and talked openly and extensively about the death of his son, his faith and his deliberations about running for president.
It was only the third episode with Colbert hosting the show that David Letterman made famous, and the political funnyman started out with a few laugh lines, noting that if Biden hadn’t showed up, the next guests on his list were the Speaker of the House and the winner of American ninja warrior.
There was also a bit of telling humor when the vice president’s microphone initially wasn’t working.
“By the way, they do this to me at the White House all the time, shut my mic off,” Biden quipped.
But the taped interview, which will air later Thursday, quickly turned serious with Colbert honing in on the death of Biden’s son, Beau, offering condolences and praising the vice president for the inspiration he has provided for many Americans in the way he had handled the tragic loss to his family.
Biden repeated a line he has used before — about an expression that his dad used to say about how you know you are a success as a parent when your child ends up better than you.
“I was a hell of a success. My son was better than me,” Biden said. “He was better than me in every way.”
He went on to say that his dad also taught him to “never complain and never explain” and that he had never heard Beau complain.
“I never once, my word as a Biden, never ever heard my child complain,” he said.
He also recalled how a few months before Beau died, his son said to him, “Dad, I know how much you love me. Promise me you’re going to be all right.”
Biden choked up several times during the stories about his son and said he felt a little embarrassed about all the attention to his loss that people have given him.
“It’s a little embarrassing. So many people who have losses as severe or maybe worse than mine and don’t have the support I have.”
Later, he added: “I feel self-conscious. The loss is serious and it’s consequential but there are so many other people going through this.”
Colbert took his time in trying to pin Biden on whether he will jump into the Democratic primary and challenge Hillary Clinton, waiting until the second segment with the vice president.
“I want to talk about the elephant in the room, which in this case is a donkey,” Colbert remarked. “Do you have anything to tell us about your plans?”
Biden immediately made light of the situation, encouraging Colbert to run for president again, and saying, “I’ll be your vice president.”
Colbert then again turned serious, asking if Biden was emotionally prepared for the arduous task of a campaign for the White House.
Biden replied in a long soliloquy: “I don’t think any man or woman should run for president unless, No. 1, they know exactly why they would want to be president and 2, they can look at folks out there and say ‘I promise you have my whole heart, my whole soul, my energy, and my passion.'”
“And, and, I’d be lying if I said that I knew I was there. I’m being completely honest. Nobody has a right in my view to seek that office unless they are willing to give it 110 percent of who they are.”
“I’m optimistic. I’m positive about where we’re going. But I find myself…you understand, sometimes it just sort of overwhelms you. I can’t…”
He then told a story about greeting members of the military and their families at a rope line in Denver. He said he broke down after one of the members of the military yelled out about Beau.
“It was going great. All of a sudden, guy in the back yells, ‘Major Beau Biden. Bronze star, sir. Served with him in Iraq.'”
“I lost it. How can you? That’s not. You can’t do that,” Biden stammered.
Biden then talked more about Beau not wanting anything special while he served in Iraq. He said he was “not unique,” noting that there have been many other people who served as selflessly.
Earlier, Colbert also asked about the role Biden’s faith has played in helping him get through tragedy in his life.
The vice president recalled how his wife often tapes notes for him on the bathroom mirror and once put up a note from Kierkegaard, the philosopher, which said: “Faith sees best in the dark.”
He then went into a long description about the role his Catholic faith and some of its rituals and traditions have played, saying it has given him an “enormous sense of solace.”
“I go to mass, and I’m able to be just alone, even in a crowd,” he said.
He noted that he often counts his rosary beads and said that his faith “takes everything about my life — my parents, my siblings and all the good things” and reminds him of his religion.
“It’s just a place you can go,” he said.
Biden’s voice again began to break up when Colbert noted that people are inspired by him because they see he has suffered yet “seem to have made some beautiful things” and dedicated himself to a life of service.
Referring to another of his mother’s expressions, he said she often told him, “As long as you are alive you have an obligation to strive and you’re not dead until you see the face of God.”
“No one owes you anything. You gotta get up. And I feel like I was letting down Beau, letting down my parents, letting down my family if I didn’t just get up.”
“I marvel at the ability of people who absorb hurt and just get back up,” Biden said, before noting that Colbert is one of those people and recalling how Colbert’s father and two brothers were killed in an airplane crash.
“You’re one of them, old buddy,” he said. “Losing your dad when you’re a kid. It’s like asking, ‘What made your mother do it every day?'”
Colbert interjected: “She had to take care of me.”
Biden then observed: “I imagine that would be a hell of a job.”
Colbert eventually wrapped up the interview with some words that appeared aimed at encouraging Biden to run.
“It’s going to be emotional for a lot of people if you don’t run,” he said. “Your example of suffering and service is something that would be sorely missed in the race.”
