President Biden told radio host Howard Stern on Friday that he considered getting drunk and even killing himself after the death of his first wife in a car accident in 1972.
“You don’t have to be crazy to commit suicide. If you’ve been to the top of the mountain, you think it’s never going to be there again. In just a brief moment, I thought about going to the Delaware Memorial [Bridge] and jump, but I had two kids,” Mr. Biden said.
“It wasn’t like I got to commit suicide. It was like I had been to the top of the mountain and it’s never going to happen again. You’re never going to be OK,” he said.
Mr. Biden also said that after his wife’s death, he used to take out a bottle of scotch and planned to get drunk, but could never bring himself to do it. The president has repeatedly talked about how he abstains from alcohol, once saying “there are enough drunks” in his family history.
The stunning revelations were part of Mr. Biden‘s surprise hourlong live interview with radio Host Stern at his New York City studio.
The event was not listed on the president’s public schedule and was not announced by the White House until it went on the air. Mr. Biden spent Thursday night in New York City after attending a fundraiser hosted by actor Michael Douglas in nearby Westchester County.
Mr. Stern began the interview by telling the president he was a longtime admirer and wanted to meet him for a long time. He reportedly had pressed the Biden campaign for an interview during the 2020 election, but it never happened.
The friendly interview began with Mr. Biden talking about meeting his first wife, Neilia, playing football in high school and his work to overcome his stutter. Mr. Biden lamented that he didn’t take school seriously, calling himself a “jerk” for not being more studious. He also told a story about throwing away textbooks.
Mr. Biden recounted how he met first lady Jill Biden. Stern repeatedly praised Mr. Biden and his family as “amazing” when the president talked about how relatives offered support following Neilia’s death.
Mr. Stern used to have former President Donald Trump on as a regular guest before he won the White House, but has since become a fierce critic of him.
The Biden campaign said the interview was an effort by the president to meet voters through nontraditional avenues.
The appearance also comes on the heels of The New York Times ripping Mr. Biden for avoiding interviews with established news outlets.