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.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-15.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-17.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-08.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-01.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-02.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![United States v Brazil - Men's Exhibition Game](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-03.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-04.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![Barack Obama, Joe Biden](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-09.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-07.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![Obama Works On Strategy For Syria](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-06.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![US-POLITICS-OBAMA-LGBT](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-11.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![Barack Obama Holds Election Night Gathering In Chicago's Grant Park](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-10.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![Democratic Presidential Candidate Senato](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-13.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![US vice presidential nominee Senator Joe](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-14.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![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.ÃÂ](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/president-barack-obama-vice-president-joe-biden-best-friends-16.jpg?w=760&w=760)
Nov. 16, 2016
Chelsea Matiash, who edited this photo essay, is TIME’s Deputy Multimedia Editor.