This past Friday, Rice students and the Houston community had the incredible opportunity to hear Joe Biden speak about a project that he was put in charge of by President Obama during his State of the Union speech this past year. The project is called Cancer Moonshot, and its mission is to end cancer through extensive research. Vice President Biden came to Rice to speak in front of students, officials, and MD Anderson doctors and staff to highlight the successes and progress of cancer research at MD Anderson.
The first to speak was the previous Secretary of State James A. Baker III. He gave an empowering speech that both introduced the next speaker, Dr. Jill Biden, in a professional manner, and showed his integrity, as Vice President Biden referenced later in his speech. Baker spoke of the necessity to be respectful in politics, even when you don’t necessarily agree with someone’s views on certain issues (he even noted that he and Biden disagree on many issues). Baker noted that many of his family members have been treated at MD Anderson over the years, and that his father is often credited with starting MD Anderson. He introduced Dr. Biden as a wonderful educator, and really set the tone for a respectful event.
Dr. Jill Biden spoke next, and was a wonderful addition to the program. She talked of her work as a teacher, and thanked all the students and professors in the audience for taking time out of their busy schedule (“I know better than anyone how busy you all are”) to come to the event. Dr. Biden was clearly proud to introduce her husband, and remarked that she knew of no one better to headline this campaign for cancer research. She spoke of their son, Beau, who died from cancer and was treated at MD Anderson, and thanked all the doctors at MD Anderson for their constant support of their family throughout their struggle. It was inspiring to see a woman so passionate for increased cancer research speak, and as a woman and Rice student, I was glad to see her there.
After being introduced by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Biden took the stage. He was friendly, direct, and loaded with facts about cancer and the research that is being done today, specifically by MD Anderson. Vice President Biden referenced President John F. Kennedy’s “moon speech,” given at Rice’s football stadium, the anniversary of which was last week.
“So much progress has been made in recent years,” he said, but there is so much more to be done. “We made it to the moon, but there is only one moon. There are over 200 kinds of cancer, and we need to make it our mission to beat all of them.” Like President Kennedy said of going to the moon, Vice President Biden insisted, “We are unwilling to postpone ... this is about today, not about tomorrow.” He spoke of a society where children are given vaccines for cancer just as they are given the flu shot.
It was heartbreaking to hear Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden speak of their lost son, Beau Biden, but their experience is a prime example of how merciless cancer can be. The vice president congratulated and thanked MD Anderson for giving them hope when they found out Beau was diagnosed with cancer, even when they “knew it was a death sentence.” Vice President Biden spoke prominently about the benefits of clinical trials, and how results from those trials should be reported even if they are failures, so that scientists have a clear record of what has and hasn’t been done. This was extremely powerful, and was a great message for all the Rice students and future researchers in the crowd.
My favorite part of the speech was when he congratulated President Leebron on his work with Rice, and called Rice “one of the best universities in the world.” Of course it’s great press for Rice, but most of all it was an honor to have Vice President Biden speak at our university. I’m so glad I got to attend, and I hope that cancer one day does become a thing of the past.