Jeff Wilser - The Book of Joe - (notes)

On December 18, 1972, newly elected Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, having won his post in November and then turning the constitutionally legal age of 30 for Senators on November 20th, received the tragic news that his wife Neilia and baby daughter Naomi had been killed in a traffic accident in Wilmington when her car was broad-sided by a tractor trailer. Their two boys, Hunter and Beau, were seriously injured. As you might imagine, Senator Biden was devastated. A few days later, Biden received a phone call. "Hello, Mr. President, how are you?" It was Richard Nixon calling to express his condolences, a Republican President to a Democratic Senator. This chokes me up. A bygone era evidently these days back when Republicans and Democrats talked to each and tried to get things done for the benefit of all Americans. Will those days ever come again?