How Joe Biden Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Joe Biden—a timeline of influence.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. served as the 46th U.S. President (2021-2025). A Democrat, he previously represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009. He also served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

2015: Defense of Marriage Act ruled unconstitutional

In 2015, the Defense of Marriage Act, for which Biden voted in 1996, was ruled unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges.

2018: Eulogy for Senator John McCain

In 2018, Biden gave a eulogy for Senator John McCain.

April 2019: Pledge to be more respectful of people's personal space

In April 2019, after multiple accusations of inappropriate physical contact, Biden pledged to be more "respectful of people's personal space".

2019: Expressed regret to Anita Hill

In 2019, Biden told Anita Hill he regretted his treatment of her during the 1991 Clarence Thomas nomination hearings; however, Hill stated afterward that she remained unsatisfied.

2020: Biden Vows to Nominate Black Woman to Supreme Court

During his 2020 campaign, Joe Biden pledged to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court if a vacancy occurred.

2021: Judicial Nominees Confirmed

By the end of 2021, 40 of Biden's nominees to the federal judiciary had been confirmed, surpassing any president in their first year since Ronald Reagan. Biden prioritized diversity in his judicial appointments, with most appointees being women and people of color.

2022: Biden's political skill

In 2022, journalist Sasha Issenberg wrote that Joe Biden's "most valuable political skill" was "an innate compass for the ever-shifting mainstream of the Democratic Party".

2022: Siena College Research Institute's survey ranking

The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked Joe Biden 19th out of 45 presidents.

February 2024: Ranking as 14th-greatest president

In February 2024, an American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars ranked Joe Biden the 14th-greatest president.

January 2025: Final Approval Rating

In January 2025, Joe Biden's final approval rating was 40%, which was low but still higher than several other presidents' final approval ratings, according to Gallup, Inc.

January 20, 2025: Biden's term ends

On January 20, 2025, Joe Biden's presidential term ended. He designated advisors to raise funds for his presidential library and signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

2025: Trump Fills Judicial Vacancies

In 2025, President Trump filled judicial vacancies on the Third Circuit, including one in Delaware that Biden had not filled, flipping the Third Circuit to a conservative majority.

2025: Oldest Living Former President and Vice President

In 2025, after the second inauguration of Donald Trump and the death of Dick Cheney, Joe Biden became the oldest living former U.S. president and vice president.

2025: Assessment of Biden's presidency upon leaving office

When Joe Biden left office in 2025, journalists and many Democrats viewed his presidency as a failure due to age and health concerns, public frustration over inflation, and Harris's loss to Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The Guardian called the conclusion of Biden's presidency a "tragedy".