President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a significant speech during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday.

This address will likely mark a high point in a political career that spans more than 50 years.

A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Delaware, Biden’s journey has been marked not only by his political achievements but also by personal challenges, placing him in key moments throughout American history.

He became a prominent figure in the Senate, later taking the role of Vice President to the country’s first Black President, and entered this position during one of the nation’s most troubling times.

Below is a timeline highlighting key events in President Joe Biden’s political career.

1970: Biden’s First Election Victory

Joe Biden began his political career in 1970 by securing a position on the New Castle County Council after practicing law in Delaware.

1972: Election to the U.S. Senate

Biden claimed a U.S. Senate seat after defeating two-term Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs, a victory that was seen as improbable since he was within the minimum age to serve at the time of his swearing-in.

December 18, 1972: Family Tragedy

Shortly after his Senate victory, tragedy struck. Joe’s wife Nelia and their 1-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident while shopping for Christmas. His sons Beau and Hunter sustained serious injuries.

In the wake of this loss, Biden contemplated resigning from the Senate and even struggled with thoughts of ending his life.

“I contemplated what it might be like to just jump off the Delaware Memorial Bridge and end it all,” he recounted in a CNN documentary. “But I never acted on that thought.”

1987: Biden’s First Presidential Campaign

On June 9, 1987, Biden announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. Initially regarded as a strong candidate, his campaign faced setbacks due to mixed messaging and accusations of plagiarism and embellishment.

Biden ultimately withdrew from the race on September 23, 1987, without participating in any primaries or caucuses for the 1988 nomination.

1991: Anita Hill Hearings and the Confirmation of Clarence Thomas

Biden chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during two significant Supreme Court nomination hearings.

In 1988, he earned praise for his conduct during the nomination process for Robert Bork, although Bork was ultimately rejected by the committee and the Senate.

Later, during the Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991, Biden’s questioning was described by Thomas as “a beanball straight at my head,” for its complex nature. After the hearings concluded, Anita Hill testified about allegations of sexual harassment against Thomas, prompting the committee to reconvene.

During Hill’s testimony on October 11, 1991, the nomination fell into gridlock in the committee at 7-7 after the allegations emerged, yet Thomas was confirmed by the full Senate 52-48. Biden cast a vote against the nomination in the Senate.

1994: Introduction of the Crime Bill

Biden contributed to the passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, commonly known as the 1994 Crime Bill. This legislation included measures such as an assault weapons ban and the Violence Against Women Act, alongside broader use of the death penalty for federal offenses.

Reflecting on the bill’s impact, Biden later described parts of it that enforced mandatory sentences for crack cocaine offenses as “a big mistake,” admitting in a 2019 speech that it “imprisoned an entire generation” of Black Americans.

2008: Presidential Bid Turns to Vice Presidency

Biden launched his second presidential campaign on January 7, 2007. His campaign was highlighted by his humorous remarks, including a quip about Rudy Giuliani, stating, “He only mentions three things in a sentence: a noun, a verb, and 9/11,” during a debate.

However, Biden’s bid only reached the Iowa Caucuses, where he finished in fifth place. He withdrew from the race on January 3, 2008.

On August 30, 2008, former competitor Barack Obama chose Biden to be his vice-presidential running mate. Together, they secured the presidency, with Biden taking his oath of office on January 20, 2009.

May 30, 2015: Beau Biden passes away

Joseph Robinette “Beau” Biden III, Biden’s eldest son, passed away from brain cancer on May 30, 2015.

This tragic loss likely deterred Biden from pursuing a run for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

“I would be dishonest if I claimed to be fully present,” Biden remarked during a 2015 appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stating, “In my opinion, no one should aspire to that position unless they are prepared to give it their all.”

2020: The presidential race, COVID-19, and a tumultuous transition

Biden announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential election on April 25, 2019.

Initially, he trailed behind candidates like Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders early in the primaries. However, he surged ahead after winning the South Carolina primary and receiving endorsements from several candidates who withdrew after Super Tuesday.

The primaries and general elections were drastically disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Biden to campaign predominantly through Zoom.

He won against Trump, achieving a total of 306 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 232. Following the election, Trump filed numerous lawsuits to contest the results and pressured Republican officials to manipulate the electoral process.

On January 6, 2021, Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to halt the electoral vote counting and disrupt the democratic process. Ultimately, Biden was confirmed as the Electoral College winner early on January 7.

2021: Biden takes office

Biden was officially inaugurated as president on January 20, 2021.

He managed the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, and initiated significant infrastructure and climate legislation.

Biden also oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which resulted in the loss of 13 American service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians. The following year, he united NATO to support Ukraine in response to a Russian invasion.

A pivotal moment during his presidency was the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This development made abortion rights a key focus during the 2022 election cycle, with Democrats, led by Biden, using it as a strategy to counter a predicted Republican surge.

2024: A president considers stepping back from a second term

Biden launched his campaign for reelection on April 25, 2023.

His campaign faced ongoing scrutiny regarding his mental and physical health, even though he is only three years older than his main opponent, Donald Trump. An analysis by Media Matters for America noted that from January 15 to June 17, major publications like The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal published a total of 76 articles discussing Biden’s age while only seven articles mentioned Trump’s age.

Concerns about Biden’s health intensified after a lackluster performance in the first presidential debate on June 27, where he displayed low energy and made several verbal slip-ups. Speculation about his potential withdrawal from the expected Democratic nomination increased following this debate and after his COVID diagnosis on July 17.

Ultimately, Biden stepped back from the race and chose to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris on July 21.