How Joe Biden Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

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

Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States (2021-2025). A Democrat, he 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

1934: Midterm Election Since 1934

It was the first midterm election since 1934 in which the president's party lost no state legislative chambers.

1968: Historical reference of presidential nominee

In 2024, Kamala Harris becoming the Democratic presidential nominee marked the first time an eligible incumbent had declined to run for reelection since 1968.

1968: Biden's withdrawal from 2024 Presidential Election Compared to Johnson's in 1968

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election was compared to Lyndon B. Johnson's withdrawal from the 1968 presidential election.

1980: Historical Reference to Jimmy Carter

In 2024, Joe Biden lost the American Samoa contest to venture capitalist Jason Palmer, becoming the first incumbent president to lose a contest while appearing on the ballot since Jimmy Carter in 1980.

1986: Midterm Election Since 1986

It was the first midterm election since 1986 in which the incumbent president's party achieved a net gain in governorships.

2005: Calling Iraq War Vote a Mistake

By 2005, Joe Biden called his 2002 vote in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq a "mistake".

2015: Obergefell v. Hodges Ruling

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

2017: Published Memoir

In 2017, Joe Biden wrote a memoir, Promise Me, Dad, and went on a book tour.

[Joe Biden] Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose - Hardcover

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2018: Delivered Eulogy for John McCain

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

2019: Earned Over $15 Million

By 2019, Joe Biden and his wife reported that they had earned over $15 million since the end of his vice presidency from speaking engagements and book sales.

2019: Regret Over Treatment of Anita Hill

In 2019, Joe Biden told Anita Hill he regretted his treatment of her during the Clarence Thomas nomination hearings in 1991, but Hill remained unsatisfied.

2021: Judicial Appointments in 2021

By the end of 2021, President Biden had confirmed 40 nominees to the federal judiciary, prioritizing diversity in his judicial appointments more than any other president in U.S. history.

2021: 2021-2023 inflation surge

Journalist Ronald Brownstein compared Joe Biden to Jimmy Carter: Biden's presidency was overshadowed by the 2021–2023 inflation surge, much as the 1970s energy crisis and stagflation overshadowed Carter's presidency.

October 6, 2022: Pardons for Federal Cannabis Possession

On October 6, 2022, President Biden pardoned all Americans convicted of "small" amounts of cannabis possession under federal law.

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 ranked Biden 19th out of 45 presidents

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

December 22, 2023: Pardons for Cannabis Use on Federal Lands

On December 22, 2023, President Biden pardoned Americans for cannabis use or possession on federal lands, regardless of whether they had been charged or prosecuted.

2023: 2021-2023 inflation surge

February 2024: American Political Science Association poll ranks Biden 14th-greatest president

A February 2024 American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars ranked Joe Biden the 14th-greatest president, diverging from public assessments. The experts polled generally regarded Biden's signature accomplishment as his victory over Trump in the 2020 election.

August 2024: Continued U.S. aid to Afghanistan

As of August 2024, the U.S. remained the biggest aid donor to Afghanistan after the withdrawal, spending at least $20.7 billion post-withdrawal, which has helped support the Taliban government and stabilize Afghanistan's economy.

December 12, 2024: Clemency Act for Nonviolent Felons

On December 12, 2024, President Biden granted clemency to about 1,500 nonviolent felons in home confinement who had previously been released from prison.

December 23, 2024: Commutation of Death Row Sentences

On December 23, 2024, President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates.

2024: Harris's loss to Trump in 2024 presidential election

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.

January 2025: Biden's 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.

January 20, 2025: End of Biden's presidential term

Joe Biden's term ended on January 20, 2025. At the end of his presidency, Biden designated former senior advisors to raise funds for the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Library.