Stephen Colbert's interview with Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday's Late Show was not your average late-night gabfest. As he did with Jeb Bush on Tuesday, Colbert began his interview with a compliment. "Everybody likes Joe Biden, right?" he said, theorizing that it's because people believe that when they look at the vice president, "we see the real you." After decades in Washington, he added, "how did you maintain your soul?" Biden was quick with the riposte: "I commuted every day for 36 years." And with few exceptions, things got gut-wrenchingly serious after that.
Colbert started out by offering his condolences over the loss of Beau Biden, the vice president's oldest son, who died from brain cancer three months ago. Biden talked about his son like you'd probably want your parents to talk about you, adding that all the attention on his own loss was "a little embarrassing" and giving a shout out to the "so many people who have losses as severe or maybe worse than mine and don't have the support I have."
One particularly moving story he did tell, however, was about visiting a military base in Colorado recently. Everything was going great, he said, until someone in the back of the crowd yelled out: "Maj. Beau Biden. Bronze Star, sir. Served with him in Iraq." At that point, "I lost it," Biden said, barely holding back tears. "You can't do that." The story was part of Biden's explanation for why he isn't sure he's emotionally able to run for president, a point he has made elsewhere. Colbert gave him a nudge. "It's going to be emotional for a lot of people if you don't run," he said. "I think we'd all be very happy if you did." The audience agreed.
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Colbert asked Biden about his how his faith was helping him cope with his loss — both men are Catholic — and Biden opened up, before turning the question back on Colbert. "I marvel at the ability of people who absorb hurt and just get back up," Biden said. "You're one of them, old buddy. Losing your dad when you're a kid." The whole interview is an emotional punch, and it's not one you'd see from Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon. You can watch below. Peter Weber
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