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. is an American politician who served as the 46th president of the United States (2021-2025). As a member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 47th vice president (2009-2017) and as a U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973-2009).

Sections (7)

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

2015: Obergefell v. Hodges Decision

In 2015, the Defense of Marriage Act, which Joe Biden voted for in 1996, was ruled unconstitutional in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, marking a significant legal shift.

2015: Death of Beau Biden

Particularly since the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Joe Biden has been noted for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.

2017: Biden writes 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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2019: Regret for Treatment of Anita Hill

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

2020: Campaign Vow

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

2020: Biden's victory over Trump

In 2020, the experts polled generally regarded Joe Biden's signature accomplishment as his victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 election, which was perceived as helping to protect and restore political and institutional norms in American government.

2021: Judicial Nominations

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

January 2022: Supreme Court Justice Retirement

In January 2022, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire. President Biden reiterated his 2020 campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.

October 6, 2022: Cannabis Possession Pardons

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

2022: Journalist Sasha Issenberg on 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: Biden Ranked 19th by Siena College Research Institute

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.

February 2024: Biden Ranked as 14th-Greatest President in Poll

In February 2024, an American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars ranked Joe Biden as the 14th-greatest president. His ranking was considered unusually high for a presidency without military victories or institutional expansion.

December 12, 2024: Clemency 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, marking the largest single-day clemency act in history. The act generated controversy.

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: Biden Ranked 14th by Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert survey ranked Joe Biden the 14th best president.

January 20, 2025: Biden's Term Ends

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