President Joe Biden often credits his family for shaping his career in politics.
When former President Barack Obama asked him to be vice president in 2008, it was no different.
During an interview on the Sirius XM Holdings Inc SIRI "Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend" podcast, Biden looked back on becoming the VP candidate — a role he remembers not wanting to take.
"I don't want to be vice president," Biden recalled telling Obama during his interview with Conan O’Brien.
The future president told Biden to go home and talk over the decision with his family. Biden said the first person he called was his mother, Catherine Finnegan.
"I called her and I said, ‘The President asked me to consider being vice president," Biden said.
Biden's mother encouraged her son to reconsider and told him how important it was to consider running.
"Joey, let me get this straight, honey. The first black man has a chance to be president, he says he needs you, and you told him no?" Biden's mom said to him.
Biden changed his mind and agreed to be Obama’s running mate. The ticket won the 2008 election, as well as the 2012 election.
Biden and Obama still communicate regularly, according to the president.
Related Link: 5 Things You Might Not Know About Joe Biden
Why It's Important: Biden is a front-runner for the 2024 presidential election.
During his interview with O'Brien, Biden recalled the role his family played in influencing his life and teaching him life lessons like not making fun of people.
Biden recalled wearing nuts and bolts as cuff links to a social gathering because he didn't have actual cuff links. After someone pointed out the item in an attempt to poke fun of him, Biden did what his mother told him to and questioned the person on why they didn't have a pair of nuts and bolts cuff links, suggesting they were cool.
The president also recalled getting a call about his wife and children being in an accident and feeling enraged. It was his family that helped him get through the tough times and push forward in his career.
"I was really lucky."
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