Joe Biden sells out event in Madison

(NBC15)
Published: Dec. 10, 2017 at 11:32 PM CST
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Former Vice President Joe Biden has left his duties in the White House, but is taking on a new job of traveling around the country in part of his American Promise book tour.

Madison was one of the 19 cities on the tour. Two events were held at the Orpheum Theater on Sunday. Hundreds to thousands of people, both republicans and democrats, came to hear the 47th Vice President speak.

Biden's new memoir, "Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, hardship, and Purpose," zeroes in on the struggles he faced after losing his son Beau Biden in 2015 to cancer. The VP says this book is to show others that finding a purpose in their life can give them the strength to overcome grief.

"Giving helps you find a purpose," Biden advised as he spoke about the advocacy and charity work he did to help find solace.

He got personal at the event that was a sit down conversation with a journalist moderator. Biden mentioned some of his most intimate life stories. One of which, was how he couldn't get out of bed after learning the deadly diagnosis of his son's cancer.

Beau wasn't the first family member he lost.

His first wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident weeks after he won his first senate election in 1972. He spoke briefly about that accident at the events on Sunday in Madison, and how he found love again five years later with his wife Jill Biden.

The VP says there are three main things to help conquer grief.

1. Find something to do.

2. Find someone to love.

3. Find something to look forward to.

Welteroth pressed Biden at the end about his political future.

She said, " Do you plan on running for office in 2020? "

"Right now? No," Biden answered.

He said he was preparing to run for president but found out Beau's diagnosis. When Beau was dying, he asked his dad to run for president. Biden explained that he still thinks about Beau's request, but explained why he didn't run in 2016. He says he wasn't mentally ready yet after Beau's death.

Biden's next stop on his tour is Chicago on Monday.