Beau Biden Passes Away: Tributes and Condolences Pour In
— -- Tributes and condolences poured in after the passing of Beau Biden, the son of Vice President Joe Biden, Saturday night.
Beau Biden, the former attorney general of Delaware, passed away at the age of 46 after a battle with brain cancer.
After tweeting condolences Saturday night, Bill and Hillary Clinton issued a joint statement this morning, saying, "Hillary and I mourn the loss and give thanks for the life of Beau Biden, so full of love, honor and service - and we pray for the strength of his wonderful family. He was a son to be proud of, a brother to cherish, a husband and father to love and be grateful for. The pain of his loss is so great because his life was so large and good."
Secretary of State John Kerry, who broke his leg this morning in a bike accident in France, said today in a statement, "Beau’s loss is crushing for everyone lucky enough to have known him and the whole Biden family, because you can’t know them without feeling their overwhelming love for each other – for family."
"For the Bidens, being there for each other was and is everything. Any real conversation with Joe was about family and how much he and Jill loved their children and grandchildren."
President Obama, along with the first lady, visited the Bidens at the Naval Observatory to share their condolences in person today.
He also weighed in shortly after the announcement of Beau Biden's death, saying the Obama family was "grieving" for the Biden's loss.
"Beau Biden believed the best of us all. For him, and for his family, we swing our lanterns higher," the president said. "Michelle and I humbly pray for the good Lord to watch over Beau Biden, and to protect and comfort his family here on Earth."
Democrats and Republicans alike released statements and tweeted condolences and remembrances to the Biden family.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who served along side the vice president during his time in the Senate, called Beau Biden a "wonderful, strong and courageous man."
"His life was so rich and it is unspeakably sad to see him leave us far too soon. Beau's dedication to public service was deep, broad and profound. He embodied the best and most noble traits that his parents sought to instill in him," Reid said in a statement. "I know Joe is very proud and he should be proud because Beau was simply a joy to know."
ABC News' Erin Dooley contributed to this report.
