For the second time this week, I was taken by a political speech. Maybe I should rephrase. I was taken, again, by a speech given at the Democratic National Convention. Enter the national stage: Beau Biden, the Attorney General of Delaware. The rising Democratic star gave us insights about the newly-anointed Vice Presidential candidate only a son could.

The eldest son of Joe Biden introduced his father, giving the hungry audience a biography few outside the party faithful or Washington watchers know. He told the story of how his mother and baby sister were killed in a car crash on their way to buy a Christmas tree while his newly-elected father checked out his new Senate office in Washington, D.C. He told how his father almost refused to take his Senate seat because he and his brother, Hunter, were hospitalized from sever injuries. He told how his father took a two-hour train ride home to Delaware each night to be with the boys and journeyed back in the morning to report to work. He still makes that round-trip. For 36 years, he's made that round-trip. He knows the Amtrak workers by name.

I knew this about Biden. I've been in Washington for 17 years now and know it's nearly impossible to schedule Biden for interviews or events after hours because of his commute. But hearing this from his son—hearing about what his father's presence clearly meant to him and his brother—affected me. Hearing his son tell the story of what his father did all the while dealing with what must be unspeakable grief is heroic. Any of us who work long hours, who spend too much time commuting to work, who try to be all things to all people—especially our families—know how hard and exhausting that must be. How do you do this for over three decades—how do you even stay awake?— if your dedication to your work and family isn't utterly total?

I also know Biden as one of the more energetic Senators. (The stories about his marathon answers to simple questions are legendary—and completely true.)  One thing we can conclude about Biden, then, is both his passion for his role in the U.S. Senate and his dedication as a father and husband are genuine.