Barack Obama and Joe Biden: Their Friendship in Photos

TIME rounds up the best photographs of the president and vice president.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s Great American Bromance

A decade ago, it didn’t look like Barack Obama and Joseph Biden had all that much in common. Two men from different generations. One a longtime Washington hand; the other a relatively new arrival to politics. Then in 2007, they became actual rivals during a rough Democratic Presidential primary. But fast forward to the end of the Obama presidency and they’ve developed a strong partnership. And that, as Vice President Biden might say, is a big deal. The duo has shared milestones both big and small, from winning two presidential elections to sharing a pair of matching friendship bracelets that nearly broke the Internet. Whether they’re talking shop in the Oval Office or golfing together on the White House lawn, Obama and Biden share a heartwarming rapport. So as Obama helps Biden prepare to celebrate his birthday on Nov. 20, TIME looks back at some of the pair’s most magical moments together. —Cady Lang

President Barack Obama blows out candles on birthday cupcakes brought to him by Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, Aug. 4, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama blows out candles on birthday cupcakes brought to him by Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Aug. 4, 2016.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden participate in a Let's Move video taping on the Colonnade of the White House, Feb. 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden participate in a “Let’s Move!” video taping on the Colonnade of the White House, Feb. 21, 2014.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden practice their putting on the White House putting green April 24, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden practice putting on the White House putting green April 24, 2009.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walk to the motorcade on the South Lawn of the White House for departure en route to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for a St. Patrick's Day lunch, March 17, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walk to the motorcade on the South Lawn of the White House for departure en route to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, for a St. Patrick’s Day lunch, March 17, 2015.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden ride in the motorcade from the White House to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., July 21, 2010, to sign the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden ride in the motorcade from the White House to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, on July 21, 2010, to sign the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
United States v Brazil - Men's Exhibition Game
Patrick Smith—Getty Images President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden share a laugh as they watch the U.S. Senior Men’s National Team and Brazil during a pre-Olympic exhibition basketball game on July 16, 2012 in Washington.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden high-five after watching Sasha Obama and Maisy Biden play in a basketball game in Chevy Chase, Md., Feb. 27, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden high-five after watching Sasha Obama and Maisy Biden play in a basketball game in Chevy Chase, Md., Feb. 27, 2010.
Barack Obama, Joe Biden
Charles Dharapak—AP President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden smile in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 23, 2010, before the president signed the health care bill.
President Barack Obama jokes with Vice President Joe Biden backstage before the STOCK Act signing event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, April 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama jokes with Vice President Joe Biden backstage before the STOCK Act signing event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, April 4, 2012.
Obama Works On Strategy For Syria
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Speaker of the House Boehner as Vice President Joe Biden listens in the Oval Office of the White House Aug. 31, 2013 in Washington.
US-POLITICS-OBAMA-LGBT
Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden attend a reception in honor of LGBT Pride Month in the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 24, 2015.
Barack Obama Holds Election Night Gathering In Chicago's Grant Park
Joe Raedle—Getty Images Then President-elect Barack Obama and then Vice President-elect Joe Biden smile on stage after Obama delivered his victory speech during an election night gathering in Grant Park on Nov. 4, 2008 in Chicago.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Senato
Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images Then Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, order ice cream at the Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Aliquippa, Pa., Aug. 29, 2008.
US vice presidential nominee Senator Joe
Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images Then Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, eat ice cream at the Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Aliquippa, Pa., Aug. 29, 2008.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden head towards the Oval Office Private Dining Room for lunch, May 4, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.Ê
Pete Souza—The White House In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden head towards the Oval Office Private Dining Room for lunch, May 4, 2011.

 

Nov. 16, 2016

Chelsea Matiash, who edited this photo essay, is TIME’s Deputy Multimedia Editor.

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