On December 18, 1972, Joe Biden’s first wife, Neilia Hunter, died in a car accident alongside the couple’s baby daughter, Naomi.
![Neilia Hunter and family]
Future president Joe Biden with his first wife Neilia Hunter and their three children: Beau, Hunter, and Naomi.
Before becoming president of the United States, Joe Biden faced several personal tragedies that reshaped his life and career. One of the earliest was the death of his first wife, Neilia Hunter, who was remembered as a devoted mother and the “brains” behind Biden’s early political rise.
The Short Life Of Neilia Hunter
Neilia Hunter was born July 28, 1942, in Skaneateles, New York, to Robert and Louise Hunter, who owned a diner.
She attended Penn Hall Preparatory School in Pennsylvania, where she joined the French club, swimming team, and student council. She later studied at Syracuse University and pursued a career in teaching.
Her life changed during spring break when she met Joe Biden in the Bahamas. According to The New Yorker, when her mother asked Biden about his ambitions, he boldly replied, “President of the United States.”
Neilia and Joe married in 1966 while Biden attended Syracuse Law School. They had three children: Beau, Hunter, and Naomi. The couple settled in Wilmington, Delaware, where Biden practiced law and served on the New Castle County Council before running for the U.S. Senate in 1972.
A Key Role In Biden’s Political Career
During Biden’s underdog Senate campaign against J. Caleb Boggs, Neilia served as his closest adviser — traveling with him, bringing their children to events, and encouraging him to meet as many voters as possible.
Her presence and energy appealed to younger voters, and Biden narrowly won the Senate seat by just over 3,100 votes at age 29.
Not long before tragedy struck, Neilia reportedly asked her husband, “What’s going to happen, Joey? Things are too good.”
The Fatal Car Accident
On December 18, 1972, Neilia left home with her three children to buy a Christmas tree. While driving in Hockessin, Delaware, her car collided with a tractor-trailer driven by Curtis C. Dunn.
Investigators concluded that Neilia accidentally drove into the truck’s path. Rumors later claimed Dunn had been drinking, but Delaware Superior Court Judge Jerome O. Herlihy publicly stated those claims were false.
Neilia and 13-month-old Naomi were killed instantly. Beau (age 4) and Hunter (age 3) were seriously injured but survived.
At the time, Biden was in Washington, D.C., preparing to open his Senate office. His sister Valerie took the call about a “slight accident,” but Biden immediately asked, “She’s dead, isn’t she?”
Life After The Tragedy
Biden rushed to the hospital to be with his injured sons and considered resigning before being sworn in. He later admitted he also thought about suicide, but his sons’ survival gave him purpose.
Senior Senate members convinced him to try serving for six months before deciding whether to quit. Biden was sworn in at his sons’ hospital bedside.
He went on to represent Delaware in the Senate for 36 years, serve as Vice President to Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017, and win the presidency in 2020.
Biden remarried in 1977 to Jill Jacobs, and they had a daughter, Ashley, in 1981. Decades later, tragedy struck again when Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015.
Hunter Biden, Neilia’s surviving son, has faced personal struggles, including addiction and legal issues.
Biden often speaks about the role of faith and resilience in overcoming loss, recalling his son Beau’s advice:
“Put one foot in front of the other… just keep moving forward.”
Citation:
Morgan, Amber. Who Was Neilia Hunter Biden, The First Wife Of Joe Biden? AllThatsInteresting.com, May 14, 2024. https://allthatsinteresting.com/neilia-hunter
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