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Beau Biden, pictured in
2012 on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, the oldest son of
Vice President Joe Biden, has died of cancer, a White House statement said
©Stan Honda (AFP)
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Beau Biden, the eldest son of US Vice President Joe Biden and
the former attorney general of Delaware, has died of brain cancer, his family
announced. He was 46.
Beau Biden, who had
served in Iraq as a lawyer with the Delaware Army National Guard, had been
undergoing treatment at the Walter Reed Medical Center just outside Washington.
"He battled brain
cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day
of his life," the vice president's family said in a statement.
"The entire Biden
family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau's spirit will live on in all
of us -- especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable
children, Natalie and Hunter."
AFP report continues:
Beau Biden was a popular
Democrat in his East Coast state of Delaware and had once been expected to
follow his father onto the national political stage.
He joined the National
Guard in 2003 as a judge advocate general, or military lawyer, and deployed to
Iraq in 2008 as his father was campaigning for the vice presidency as Barack
Obama's running mate.
Beau Biden briefly
considered running for the US Senate to take the seat vacated when his father
became vice president after the 2008 election, but he ultimately decided to
continue working as Delaware's attorney general.
- Another Biden tragedy -
Obama paid homage late
Saturday, praising Beau Biden's commitment to his family.
"Like his dad, Beau
was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a
difference in the lives of all he touched -- and he lives on in their
hearts," Obama said in a statement.
"But for all that
Beau Biden achieved in his life, nothing made him prouder; nothing made him
happier; nothing claimed a fuller focus of his love and devotion than his
family. Just like his dad," the president added.
The death marks another
devastating loss for Joe Biden, whose first wife and infant daughter were
killed in a car accident as they were going Christmas shopping in 1972.
Beau Biden and his
younger brother Hunter, who were also in the car, were seriously injured but
survived.
According to the New York
Times, Beau Biden suffered what was described as a mild stroke in 2010. He went
on to receive treatment in Texas and in 2013 had a small lesion removed from
his brain.
Some Delaware politicians
as recently as this year thought Beau Biden would run for governor in 2016 but
his health declined in recent weeks and he was sent to Walter Reed on May 20,
the Times reported.
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Picture taken on July 4,
2009 shows US Vice President Joe Biden (R) with his son, Delaware Army National
Guard captain Beau Biden at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad ©Khalid
Mohammed (Pool/AFP)
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Tributes poured in
Saturday after news of the death broke.
"My heart is broken
for the family of Beau Biden -- a wonderful man who served his country with
devotion and lived his life with courage," Hillary Clinton wrote on
Twitter.
Senate Minority Leader
Harry Reid called Biden "strong and courageous."
"Beau's dedication
to public service was deep, broad and profound. He embodied the best and most
noble traits that his parents sought to instill in him," Reid said in a
statement.
Jeb Bush, the likely 2016
Republican presidential candidate, tweeted: "Saddened by the news of Beau
Biden's passing. My prayers are with The Vice President, Dr. Biden and the
whole family."
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