Jill Biden Talks Joy Triggers And Her Path To Success At WIE 2011 (Video)

Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, doesn't have much free time. In addition to her official responsibilities, she teaches English at a community college, co-chairs Global Race for the Cure, works with military families, and heads her own family, which includes three children, five grandchildren, and a man known to spout "Bidenisms."

We were lucky enough to catch up with her at this year's WIE Symposium, where our friend Laura Brown, Features/Special Projects Director of Harper's Bazaar asked her about her joy triggers, the "mythological" number of miles she runs each day, and how she found her true path.

WATCH:

Comments

[Nic the wonder puppy]

11:52 AM on 09/28/2011

Mine is juicy, sloppy, greasy, hamburg which has fallen off the grill

[Joseph Schmoe]

07:23 AM on 09/28/2011

She married power. She had a state job where she was appointed for mutually-backscratching reasons. She was UMC; now she's wealthy and well-connected.
So I assume her "path to success" will be an honest assessment of how to get politically connected and ride that gravy train to the top.
Right?
I don't mean to impune her character or doubt her sincerity or even her work ethic. But let's not pretend her "path to success" was anything more than pluck, luck and marrying up.
I voted for Obama/Biden. I just call it like I see it.

[HalfBakedSushi]

08:36 AM on 09/29/2011

Do you define "success" as being wealthy and connected?

Perhaps Dr. Biden's definition of success is being happy - happy in her job, happy in her marriage, happy with her body, happy with her education, happy with her soul. Perhaps her definition of success has nothing to do with money.

Are you aware that Dr. Biden taught for 13 years in the public schools system? And has worked with developmentally disabled mentally disturbed kids. She waited tables beginning at 15 years old. She is the first Second Lady to keep her job while her husband serves as VP. She got her Doctoral Degree under her maiden name (Jacobs) rather than her married name - and she was in her mid-50s and married to Joe Biden when she did it. Also, her Ph.D. is from the U of Delaware - a state college, not some Ivy League school. You know, because wealthy, well-connected people always attend state colleges.

And believe me, teaching Developmental English on the community college level ain't no joke.

So if *you* define success as being wealthy and well-connected, much of that comes from her own - as you say - pluck. And that pluck comes from hard effing work that she did on her own.

[MarshaA]

07:32 PM on 09/29/2011

Joe, You see it wrong. Jill Biden is a hard working acomplished lady. I like her.

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:53 AM on 10/03/2011

I know she is a hard-working and accomplished woman. I never said she wasn't. Bust she's still be a Special Education or Community College teacher if she hadn't married Joe Biden. Therefore, no need to attach guru-status to her 'secrets to success.'

[GraniteSkyline]

06:05 PM on 09/27/2011

She's charming.

[WalkTheTalk]

05:42 PM on 09/27/2011

Bright and attractive: Joe is one lucky guy! : )

[Grandma Koolfinger]

04:55 PM on 09/27/2011

Does Joe have the foggiest idea where they are? That's what I was afraid of.

[Dr Gachet]

03:30 PM on 09/27/2011

Can't we call her the Vice First Lady or something? "Second Lady" is awkward.

[Joseph Schmoe]

07:25 AM on 09/28/2011

You lend so much credence to dopeheads and their cause with your reasoned approach. ;-)

[bhawkes328]

02:41 PM on 09/27/2011

MAN AM I SURPRISED! I HAD NO IDEA THAT JOE'S TRIGGER STILL WORKED.

[InLosAngeles]

02:30 PM on 09/27/2011

When Joe has laryngitis?

[Burkelbile]

02:28 PM on 09/27/2011

"joy triggers?"

:/