Barack Obama has named Senator Joe Biden as his running mate for the White House. So now we begin the process of learning every single thing we can about Biden, his family and political career. We start today with the person most close to him in his personal life, his wife, Jill Biden.

Joe married Jill Tracy Jacobs in 1977. They have been married for 31 years. Jill his is second wife. His first wife, Neilia Hunter and an infant daughter (Naomi), died in a car accident in 1972. Biden’s two sons were also seriously injured in the accident but made full recoveries.

Both of Biden’s sons, Beau Biden and Hunter Biden, are lawyers. Beau is the attorney general of the state of Delaware. Hunter practices in D.C. and is on the board of Amtrack.

Joe and Jill have one child together, a daughter Ashley, born in 1981.  She is a social worker.