Former Vice President Joe Biden says he will use his new institute at University of Delaware to forge a new sense of bipartisanship across the country amid an era of “political carnage.”
“I owe this place, I owe this state, and I owe this university. It’s always had my loyalty. I will continue to, hopefully,” Biden said.
The Biden Institute will operate under UD’s School of Public Policy and Administration, with plans for a monthly guest speaker and lecturer series on campus, modeled after the World Economic Summit in Davos.
One of the goals, he says, is to foster conversations among people in politics instead of participating in a culture of divisiveness.
Biden adds he was astonished to recently receive an award for his bipartisan efforts in Congress – eight years after he vacated the senate seat he held for 36 years.
“What an indictment on the American political system right now that I get an award for my bipartisan work,” he said.
Such a culture, he says, has been allowed to persist through the nationalization of local political races.
In an effort to change that, Biden notes he and former President Barack Obama plan to build up the Democratic Party’s bench – but that work won’t be affiliated with University of Delaware.
Biden won’t draw a salary for his work.
His sister Valerie joins him as vice chair of the institute, along with other big names in the national political operative realm.
Biden won’t teach any classes himself, but is committing to being on campus one day a week.
His ultimate goal, he says it to inspire students that they can affect change in the world – including through politics.
