Joe Biden reached out to comfort Meghan McCain in an emotion interview in which the pair talked about John McCain’s diagnosis with cancer.
The Arizona Senator was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July this year; it’s the same aggressive type of brain cancer that claimed the lives of the Irish American icon Ted Kennedy and Biden’s son, Beau.
Beau passed away at the age of 46 and his father has written a book about the grief that followed.
“Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship and Purpose” was released in November and for Meghan McCain it was too emotional to read.
Read More: Irish American John McCain shows 60 Minutes he’s truly a fighter
“I couldn’t get through your book, I tried,” the 33 year old told Biden with tears in her eyes.
“I think about Beau almost every day. I was told, sorry, that this doesn’t get easier, but you cultivate the tools to work with this and live with this. I know you and your family have been through tragedy that I couldn’t conceive of, what would you tell people? It’s not about me, it’s about everyone with cancer.”
“We all have to keep fighting.” What a powerful and incredibly emotional moment. We are here for you always @MeghanMcCain https://t.co/M5C8ooahXD
— Abby Huntsman (@HuntsmanAbby) December 13, 2017
Biden, whose friendship with her Dad stretches back decades, switched places with the TV anchor so he could hold her hand.
“One of the things that gave Beau courage was, my word, John. Your Dad, you may remember, when you were a little kid, took care of my Beau.”
There are no words I have to convey my immense gratitude to @JoeBiden and his family - your strength, hope and fortitude are an inspiration to me and so many others daily. Thank you for your kindness today and sharing your story with us @TheView pic.twitter.com/LYmAD5HaTq
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 13, 2017
In addition to serving as Attorney General of Delaware, Beau Biden was also a Major in the state’s Army National Guard. Like John McCain he saw active duty overseas and the elder statesman’s heroism clearly inspired him.
Read More: Ted Kennedy, a great Irish chieftain has passed
“There is hope, and if anybody can make it, your dad … her dad is one of my best friends,” Biden continued.
“The thing that I found, and Beau insisted on and your dad’s going to insist on, is you’ve got to maintain hope. You have to have hope.”
Afterwards Senator McCain tweeted his appreciation, saying that the whole Biden family served as “an example and source of strength to my entire family.”