Near the end of his speech, Biden turned personal as he recalled his roots and long career in public service.
"My fellow Americans, it has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years," he said. "Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States but here I am."
"I give my heart and my soul to my nation, like so many others, but I'm blessed a million times in return for the love and support of the American people," he said. "I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you."