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Hear the 1972 Condolence Call Richard Nixon Made to Joe Biden After His Wife & Daughter Were Killed

Oct. 20, 2012 1:01pm Madeleine Morgenstern

BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski has unearthed audio of the 1972 condolence call President Richard Nixon made to newly-elected Sen. Joe Biden after his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash.

“Senator I know this is a very tragic day for you but I wanted you to know that all of us here at the White House are thinking about you and praying for you and also for your two children,” Nixon’s gravelly voice says.

Biden had just won his first Senate race when his wife Neilia and 13-month-old daughter were killed in the crash in Delaware several days before Christmas. Biden’s sons Beau and Hunter were also seriously injured; Biden was sworn in at Beau’s hospital bedside.

Nixon adds, “she was there when you won a great victory and now I’m sure that she’ll be watching you from now on. Good luck to you.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. President. I appreciate your call,” Biden replies.

This post has been updated to add the extended version of the call.

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Comments (51)

I Aint PC
Posted on October 22, 2012 at 8:57pm
TERM LIMITS. Biden was newly elected in 1972. He has been in Washington longer than I have been alive. ANYONE in Washington longer than 12 years (2 terms for a Senator) should go. The world changes faster than they get roll call finished.

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dovndce
Posted on October 22, 2012 at 4:46pm
Riochard Nixon was a class-act unlike the Demofascists who have occupied the Oval Office.

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- Gumbercules
  Posted on October 22, 2012 at 5:03pm
  I miss Nixon – he actually was a great president. Anything would be better now-a-days than what we currently have. . .
  
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thom1
Posted on October 22, 2012 at 2:06pm
My 30 year old son asked me about Watergate and what Nixon actually did to get impeached. I explained the break in and the fact that Nixon tried to cover it up. He asked who died? I said he was a Republican not a Democrat currently in the white house. He said I understand. Do you?

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ZeitgeistBuster
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:59pm
Nixon’s gesture was a nice one.

The fact that he reached out in person is classy.

But the content of the call has me scratching my head.

I boil it down like this:

“You know Joe, today is a sad day for you losing your wife and all, but hey, look, you have what is most important to all of us here in Washington, you won your election and get to hold office. You even got to celebrate your victory with your wife. She will be looking down on you as you get on with what is really important to us politicians. Good Luck to you.”

Have I been bitten by the cynic bug too many times or what?

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ResistSocialism
Posted on October 21, 2012 at 12:12pm
Biden was a wack job back then and still is today

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nespirina
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 6:46pm
I ask, what has this telephone call have to do with anything, absolutely nothing as far as I can tell, just interesting…

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- Chuck Stein
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 7:52pm
  Umm . . . k . . . and “interesting” isn’t worthwhile?
  
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- ZengaPA65
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:43pm
  Beck is such a shill for the Republican party if Nixon was running today The Blaze would be licking his feet.
  
  Report this comment
- Cruelnunusual
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:42pm
  It’s relevant in terms of how badly we were lied to in the 70′s by the Liberal Media, that Nixon was an evil cartoon character. The lying Wash Post and the lying networks brainwashed me as a youngster and they single-handedly ran Nixon out of town. Not to mention they lied about Nixon losing to JFK in 1960 in the first place; they covered up how JFK stole that election and Nixon actually won. We would’ve never had Vietnam!
  
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- rickc34
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 1:38am
  Nixon had more class than Carter , Clinton and Obama combined.
  
  Report this comment
- swamp_donkey
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 6:57am
  lol you trolls keep proving my point , liars cheats thieves and cowards , heroes of the right
  
  Report this comment
- Small_Craft
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 8:43am
  The call shows the decency and decorum that use to exist in our politics, even from a guy as demonized as Richard Nixon. Google “damon koch small craft advisory” to read political commentary.
  
  Report this comment
- Patriot Rider
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 1:08pm
  It shows that in a time of tragedy, political affiliations and personal differences don’t matter. Human life if above everything else.
  
  Report this comment
Kimoloka
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 4:15pm
Obviously, the point The Blaze is trying to make is to illustrate the empathy, compassion and humanity of a Republican, which for knee-jerk liberals, is a contradiction of terms. Here president Nixon makes a personal condolence call to a member of the opposition party. He does not send a form letter or task an underling for the job. It also serves to remind us that the so-called “scandal” called Watergate was in the final analysis merely a botched burglary in which nobody died. And Nixon paid the price for his deviousness. Unlike the current culprit of the Benghazi scandal who continues to dissemble to the American people. But hey, never mind about that. Let’s all pay close attention to the earthshaking news of what the Binder Bimbos have to say.

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- Platonician
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 4:59pm
  “Nixon paid the price for his deviousness”
  Please stop repeating the liberal interpretation of Watergate. Nixon was a honest man, that’s precisely the problem, he was not twisted enough.
  Liberal historians have tarnished his memory, like they did to that great patriot Joseph McCarthy.
  
  Nixon ended a war started by the democrats, prevented a war with China, avoided a communist take over of America, at a time when all university campuses were filled with Bill Ayers types, and long etc.
  
  Report this comment
- nespirina
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 6:48pm
  thank you, I needed an explanation and yours is great.
  
  Report this comment
- Wango
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 6:48pm
  Nixon:
  
  He implemented the first significant federal affirmative action program.
  
  He dramatically increased spending on federal employee salaries.
  
  He oversaw the first large-scale integration of public schools in the South (something the crackers where I grew up were none too happy about).
  
  He proposed a guaranteed annual wage (aka a “negative income tax”).
  
  He advocated comprehensive national health insurance (single payer) for all Americans.
  
  He imposed wage and price controls in times of economic crisis. This wasn’t a terribly good idea, but it was the furthest thing from a conservative idea. Truth is, it was positively socialist.
  
  He indexed Social Security for inflation and created Supplemental Security Income.
  
  He created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Office of Minority Business Enterprise.
  
  He promoted the Legacy of Parks program.
  
  He appointed four Supreme Court Justices. Three of them voted with the majority in Roe v. Wade.
  
  Now what’s to like about a man like that?
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 7:17pm
  As Spock lamented, “It took Nixon to go to China.”
  
  Report this comment
- Platonician
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:11pm
  @Wango
  Some of his policies may be contested by the ideologues, all policies can be, but Nixon was a STATESMAN, one of the best America has had, unfortunately the vindictive and immature baby-boomers crafted a distorted image of him, which has permeated the popular imaginary.
  
  Report this comment
- dissentnow
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 7:31am
  What Nixon did pales in comparison to the corruption of the Obama administration. Nixon was a saint compared to Obama. Nixon, however, was NO conservative.
  
  Report this comment
AzThunder
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:39pm
@LeadNotFollow

I agree with you… WTF Blaze,,,???

I subscribed to THE BLAZE on Dish~Network – But Glenn, What’s up with all the STUPID so called comedy on your network??? Your monologue is good then all the stupid stuff starts.
EVEN SNL IN NOT AS STUPID as the junk you broadcast.!!! I stopped telling folks about your channel because your stupid stunts are embarrassing. GROW UP GLENN BECK

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- AzThunder
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:46pm
  I plan on turning off Becks channel after the election if the stupid stuff continues. Just worth the money to me.
  
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- SeptamusNonovant
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 4:33pm
  Um… you people realize Glenn & Pat started out as zoo-style morning radio show hosts, right? Glenn is basically a comedic radio host who felt compelled to move into news and politics because of the blatant dishonesty going on. And his national morning show has always been the “Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment.” On the national show he’s always mixed comedy & current events, and even on his Fox show.
  
  I for one enjoy the mix of comedy and information. He doesn’t take himself too seriously unlike many so-called news outlets out there. Glenn never made himself out to be a news guy or his show to be a pure news show. That’s what shows like Real News are for. In fact, I like that both the radio and TV show have gotten funnier; it’s a sign that there is hope that things will be getting better soon (so long at Romney wins and Americans don’t go back to sleep once that happens).
  
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- nespirina
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 6:44pm
  If you think it is all stupid stuff then why are you still watching and why are you still reading. Does not equate~
  
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Ilikepeople
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:00pm
Strange, just strange.

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Watermain
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:58pm
Nixon had more class than most people give him credit for. Biden’s losses then might have left permanent scars, which is a shame, but doesn’t mitigate the fact that he appears to be an idiot today.

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:38pm
As someone who can speak from the same experience.. Biden is still an a-hole with no character.
Sorry folks. I’ve lived it and it will have to be me to speak to it. It is one of the great tragedies of American history that a fool like biden could be in high office for so long, being so wrong about everything he gets near. He has mastered ‘rhetoric’. I couldn’t care less about his tragedies any more than anyone else’s when it comes to the well being of America. Sorry for his loss- but the worse tragedy is biden himself and the millions who are adversely effected daily because of politicians like him. Call it 100s of millions, whether they know it or not.

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- TEARS FOR AMERICA
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:04pm
  Biden became full of himself like many career politicians…sad…
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:33pm
.
Is The Blaze trying to stir up sympathy votes for Joe Biden?
Seems like when conservatives take two steps forward, something like this turns up and we take one step back.

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- Malrick
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 4:03am
  I doubt it, I think it’s to contrast the “it’s just not optimal” quote, contrasting a flawed decent man against the perfect the a**hole.
  
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IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:11pm
It must have been so hard on him to lose the ones he loved. God is truly watching over them.

Mr. V.P. Biden should realize that is why we are so afraid of losing the freedom that we love as it would be unbearable.

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Margyt
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:59pm
I want to say “What the heck is wrong with you people?!” but my better self tells me to be nice. This is an important piece of history regarding a tragic event in the life of what we can assume to be a sincere young man entering a lifetime of government service. It shows way more about Nixon than Biden. It shows a compassion and sincerity that we might not otherwise credit to Nixon. Many years ago, I cared for the dying wife of a secret service man who served every VP since Roosevelt. His favorite was Nixon because he behaved himself and cared about the country. Whatever his failings, he needs to be given credit for that. Biden goes home at night to be with his family. Give him credit for that. He isn’t a monster. Even if he was already an idiot back then, he deserves our compassion for the tragic loss he suffered. Many of us who read this kind of thing and want an outlet to express our thoughts and feelings but have to filter through the intentionally obnoxious things some of you write would love to call you the same things you call other people. Consider the personal power you might feel to write thoughtful messages instead of enjoying the opportunity to say on the internet nasty things you couldn’t say in person.

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:45pm
  I don’t see one nasty comment here. Quite the opposite. Not taking my eye of the ball regardless of personal tragedies to anyone. We have a tragedy looming that affects more than Joe’s past. Sorry for his loss. Sincerely sorry for his loss. What else do you want? There is a bigger story going on than Joe’s past- and it affects everyone I know in a tragic way. One is that there are terrorists that want to intentionally kill our women and children and Joe says- “Calm down- it’s not as bad as you think”.. A-hole. There may be a crazy disjointed spring loose in Joe’s mind from this tragedy. If he were a Republican you know they would have called this a PTSD case and dangerous like they tried with McCain- A WAR HERO! It doesn’t take a Masters degree to see that there is something seriously, SERIOUSLY wrong with Joe… ??? “calm down? – terrorist wanting to kill your women and children (Months away from nukes and in possession of Plutonium) is NOT as bad as Ii think”?
  JUST THINK ABOUT THAT COMMENT!
  
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- AzThunder
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:59pm
  joe’s a snake no matter how you spin it. he didn’t learn a thing from his tragedy other than how to use it to his advantage. SHAME ON YOU JOE… your dead family is spinning in their graves
  
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GlennaBeckski
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:56pm
This is THE BIGGEST STORY IN THE U.S. AND IS NOT BEING REPORTED ON!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfayGHr3PGo

I am BEGGING .. LITERALLY BEGGING SOMEONE TO WATCH THIS!!! IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!!

It’s Long….. 2 hours give or take .. BUT YOU WILL BE HOOKED 20 MIN IN I PROMISE!!!!!
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- GlennaBeckski
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:01pm
  Start @ about 8:00
- aragona
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:31pm
  I don’t want to invest 2 hours listening to something when I have no idea what it’s about. Can you give us a summary so that we know whether we even want to spend the time? I clicked on it but coudn’t really figure it out. Thanks,
  
  Report this comment
- Legalette
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:23pm
  It’s liberal BS … don’t bother
  
  Report this comment
- ronin_6
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 5:35pm
  Every minute 40 people die.
  Every single day 56,000 people die.
  Every year, 20,440,444
  Every decade 204,404,440
  You get the point?
  
  Report this comment
- Look4DBigPicture
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 7:59pm
  I’m curious, so I listened to it. It’s about the Bilderberg’s role in the BP Oil Spill, FEMA camps, food shortages, martial law, and how Obama fits into all of this. It’s worth listening to.
  
  I had never heard of this Santilli guy, so I looked him up. He sounds like another Alex Jones kind of guy, but his front page story caught my eye:
  
  “Mass protest in Washington DC, Nov 5, to peacefully arrest all members of Congress, the President, and all Supreme Court Justices.” http://petersantilli.com/
  
  Is OWS going to rear it’s ugly head right before the election?
  
  Report this comment
bman546
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:40pm
Perhaps the story is out there to show that even Nixon knew how to be gracious, and caring. Nixon did not say losing your wife and daughter in a crash is not “optimum.”

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- CatB
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:00pm
  Didn’t use a recorded call … or say a FORM LETTER with a ROBO SIGNATURE .. like Obama does for our fallen military.
  
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- dissentnow
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 7:23am
  “or say a FORM LETTER with a ROBO SIGNATURE .. like Obama does for our fallen military”
  
  Just like Donald Rumsfeld!
  
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ElChupaCabraDeUSA
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:22pm
What is the point of releasing this? To prove that imbeciles can have tragedies occur in their lives too?

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BrotherWill
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:18pm
Think maybe God was trying to tell Biden something?

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- soundtracktowar
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:58pm
  What a nice thing to say, I don’t care what side of the aisle you stand on, losing family or friends is a tragedy that shouldn’t be politicized, you’re acting like Obama and his Benghazi crap. Congratulations.
  
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- AzThunder
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 3:43pm
  Too late, BiteMe-Joe plays the “oh my family” sympathy card every chance he gets. He had made it political… so to that effect, GET OVER IT JOE !!!
  
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tonypro
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:18pm
Interesting piece of history.
I shook Nixons hand when I was 11 years old while living in Keflavik, Iceland in the 70′s.
He was there for a NATO conference, and Bobby Fischer was the new world chess champ,
and the chess match was played in Reykjavik(sp)

I always credited this man for bringing my Father home from Vietnam, then I grew up,
and learned some of his darker secrets.

I’m not being ugly, but I can’t help but wonder if this event is what made biden the scatter brain he’s come to be today. Losing a wife, and child would be a terrible thing to live with, and would take a lot to come back from.

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Ducky657
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:12pm
The whole story is Biden actually was going to give up his seat but progressive Nixon told him to hang in there and to take care of his family. Another reason not to like Tricky Dick!

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sortsgt
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:10pm
shame…

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