http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli.../23/2008-08-23
_joe_biden_beats_odds_after_wife_daughter.html

Joe Biden beats odds after wife, daughter killed

BY LARRY McSHANE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, August 24th 2008, 1:26 AM

Joe Biden never works on Dec.18.

It was one week before Christmas 1972, and the senator-elect from
Delaware awaited his first term. There was plenty to celebrate as his
wife and three kids left home to find a Christmas tree.

Biden was already in Washington. It was his sister Val who took the phone
call, her face drained of color when she hung up and told him of "a
slight accident."

Biden thought immediately of his wife, Neilia. "She's dead, isn't she?"
the politician asked.

She was.

As the Bidens were driving home in the family station wagon, their tree
picked out, they were broad sided by a tractor-trailer. Neilia was
killed, along with 13-month-old daughter, Naomi.

Sons Beau and Hunter, toddlers themselves, were critically injured. With
their father's constant care and attention, both recovered.

(snip)

----------------------------------------------------------