Delaware
As Joe Biden rides into Delaware sunset, his sunglasses obsession will be his legacy?
Biden to Lincoln: A look back at presidents’ iconic styles
Biden’s dark-tinted sunglasses have been a part of his personal style for so many years that they’re now an inseparable part of his political persona.
STAFF VIDEO, USA TODAY
If you scroll through Joe Biden’s Instagram, past more than 2,900 posts to his very first photo, you’ll find him doing something that’s unmistakably him: wearing aviator sunglasses.
Biden has been known for rocking this iconic look for ages. From the New York Times to GQ, he’s garnered headlines for his obsession with aviators, particularly those made by Ray-Ban.
As Biden rides into sunset after his last day as president, which ends Monday, Jan. 20, here’s a look back at some wild times that shine a light on his love for sunglasses, including storied moments you may not remember, or even know about.
Joe Biden gifted gold sunglasses to Vladimir Putin
One could say Biden gave (but not threw) shade at Russian President Vladimir Putin when he gifted him a pair of custom gold-trimmed aviator sunglasses during the week he met his Russian counterpart for a Switzerland summit held June 16, 2021, according to the Associated Press.
The shades were manufactured by Randolph Engineering, based in Massachusetts, and the sunglasses were trimmed in 23-karat gold and reportedly cost $299.
Jim Carrey impersonates Biden with sunglasses on ‘SNL’
Comedic actor Jim Carrey, who plays the evil Dr. Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” had a brief run of parodying Biden on “Saturday Night Live” during the election year in 2020. And Biden’s aviators made a grand cameo. That fall, Carrey made waves when he appeared in a scene that spoofed the infamous fly that landed on the head of then-Vice President Mike Pence during the VP debate between him and Kamala Harris.
In the sketch, a frustrated Biden was at home watching the debate, where he formulated a plan designed to help Harris win. But he had to be careful to avoid getting COVID-19.
“Don’t worry, I’ll wear a mask … on my eyes,” Carrey said, impersonating Biden, wearing a pair of aviators.
Carrey then used a teleportation machine that shrunk him to the size of a bug. He disguised himself as a housefly, while sporting bug-eyed aviator sunglasses. He landed on Pence’s head and acted like he wanted to fight him, uttering the phrase: “Let me at ’em. Let me at ’em!”
Joe Biden does burnout in sunglasses with Jay Leno
It’s not every day you see Biden cruising around in his beloved ’67 Corvette Stingray, which is why it was a treat for Biden supporters when he did so in an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” that aired Nov. 9, 2016. Not only that, he did a burnout in the car with Leno as his passenger.
“It feels great, man,” Biden told Leno about driving his beloved Stingray. Although Biden was cautious to say it on TV, he eventually admitted to Leno, “I like speed.”
When the episode aired, Biden was two months away from finishing his second term as vice president under Barack Obama.
Biden said before he married his first wife, Neilia, in August 1967, his dad surprised him with the ’67 Stingray as a wedding gift.
Comic book draws Joe Biden in shades
After Biden’s first year as president, Jill Biden was featured in her own comic book titled “Female Force: Jill Biden,” released on April 7, 2021.
Published by TidalWave Comics, the biographical comic about his wife featured a pandemic scene where Biden is donning his tear-drop aviators with a face mask, while Jill delivered a speech. Even in comic books, Biden was too much of a rebel to show his eyes for an entire book.
Joe Biden rocks sunglasses beside Queen Elizabeth II
When Biden met Queen Elizabeth II on June 13, 2021, he did so with his shades on, which might have been “a potential breach of royal protocol,” according to a report by Newsweek.
The report said Biden was given a Guard of Honor at Windsor Castle and the U.S. national anthem was played. But the 46th U.S. president kept his aviators on as he put his hand up to his chest while standing beside the 95-year-old queen. But the queen reportedly didn’t seem to react badly and shared several moments of laughter.
When did Joe Biden start wearing aviator sunglasses?
It seems as long as folks can remember, Biden has been wearing shades. Delaware’s most famous person began rocking Ray-Ban aviators when he was a teenager, GQ reported in July.
While it’s easy to assume Ray-Ban appreciates the free marketing for their shades from the 82-year-old Biden, it’s unclear whether Ray-Ban ever considered releasing a pair of aviators dedicated to him.
Delaware Online/The News Journal reached out to EssilorLuxottica, the company that owns Ray-Ban, for a comment. But EssilorLuxottica wasn’t available.
Perhaps, EssilorLuxottica is secretly creating a pair of custom Biden shades ahead of the inauguration. But only time will tell.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
He speaks for silent Gettysburg witnesses
Greg Gober is fascinated by the living link to Gettysburg’s history – and he wants to protect the trees that stood by during the battle 161 years ago.
“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.
March 1, 2006, The News Journal
Under plan, 59% electric rate hike to be phased in
Delmarva Power has proposed phasing in electricity rate increases to reduce the shock of a 59% price hike for residents scheduled to begin May 1.
If the proposal is approved by the state, the typical residential bill would go up slightly less than $18 a month on May 1. Then on Jan. 1, the typical bill would go up again by the same amount. On May 1, 2007, a last increase of $34 would be added, assuming no other change in the market price for electricity. …
Delmarva Power officials unveiled the proposal Tuesday as part of a response to an executive order issued last month by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. She asked state agencies to study possible responses to the rate hike, including the option of reregulating the industry.
In 1999, state lawmakers removed controls on the price of wholesale electricity, reshaping the power market in the state. As part of the change, electricity rates were lowered by 7.5% until 2003.
Delmarva Power says the coming 59% increase is mainly caused by price hikes in the cost of the fuels that generate electricity, such as natural gas and coal.
Under deregulation, Delmarva must buy about one-third of its total power needs on the wholesale market every year. If the wholesale market is lower next year, customers could save some money. If the wholesale market is up, then rates could go even higher than they are currently expected to go….
Deregulation was expected to reduce electricity prices by bringing competition to the electric market, but only the largest power customers in the state are able to shop for power. Residents do not have a choice about who supplies their electricity.
Some lawmakers are calling for the state to reregulate the industry….
Reregulating part or all of the electricity market is unlikely to have any impact on the 59% rises in bills, experts say, but could prevent dramatic price spikes in the future….
March 3, 1976, The Morning News page
Sussex prison dilemma prompts judicial warning
If the General Assembly doesn’t do something soon about the crumbling Sussex Correctional Institution, he will, a federal judge strongly hinted yesterday.
Judge Murray M. Schwartz said he frankly hopes lawmakers will come up with the extra $1.6 million needed for a thorough overhaul of the Georgetown prison this month.
If they do, he said, it probably will “wash out” the inmates’ suit to close the prison. Schwartz is hearing the suit now, but isn’t expected to make a ruling for several months.
Should he find that the “legislature has abdicated its responsibilities [to the prison],” Schwartz warned, “then that has opened up a hole the federal court will have to fill.”
The state earmarked $2 million from a bond issue for Sussex prison renovation, but the base construction bid opened in January was $2.8 million. With alternate improvements officials want, the cost would rise to $3.4 million.
Acting Correction Commissioner Paul Keve, a defendant in the inmates’ suit, said it “looks very hopeful” that $1.6 million originally appropriated for another prison project will be reallocated to the Sussex work….
Several times yesterday, Schwartz expressed puzzlement over the state’s defense to the suit which seemed to be, “Yes, Sussex is bad, but we’re going to improve it,” the judge remarked.
The improvements are part of the defense, replied Deputy Atty. Gen. John Willard. But he said he would also contend the prison’s deficiencies aren’t an unconstitutional denial of due process or cruel and unusual punishment, as the inmates claim.
The prison’s 45-year-old main building “defeats efforts to improve it in a superficial way,” Keve said, and demands instead a “drastic, complete, comprehensive” renovation.
He said a new kitchen is most urgently needed, but the plans also call for complete replacement of the plumbing, electrical and heating systems, construction of a gymnasium, medical-dental suite and space for classrooms and group discussions.
Prisoners have complained of a lack of rehabilitation programs….
March 6, 1926, The Evening Journal
Woman, baby, dog rescued from burning home
Mary Anderson … and a year-old baby were carried from the burning house at 4 W. 12th St. in Wilmington this morning. …
The fire, which originated in the chimney of the house, caused a spectacular blaze that destroyed the roof and damaged the interior of the dwelling, and drew a large crowd.
Trolley traffic on Market Street was tied up for 20 minutes or more. Long lines of cars from the Boulevard, Washington, Shellpot and Darby lines blocked both tracks for two squares or more, owing to the lines of fire hose that were stretched across Market Street.
The fire was first discovered by Mrs. Anderson who was in the house with the year-old baby of Margaret Thomas who was at work. Smelling smoke, Mrs. Anderson went to the second floor and seeing a flame around the stove pipe hole in the chimney, threw water on it. Thinking she had extinguished the fire, she started downstairs.
In the meantime, the blaze broke out around the edge of the roof and the smoke was seen by John Wright and Stanley Pletuszka, who were in the office of the Pittsburg Independent Oil Company at 12th and Market streets.
Wright ran to the fire alarm box at 13th and King streets and turned in an alarm to which Engine Companies 1,7 and 10 and Truck Company 1 responded.
Pletuszka ran to the house where he was joined by Lloyd Smith of West 13th Street. Finding the door fastened and knowing that Mrs. Anderson and the baby were in the house, they broke down the door.
They met Mrs. Anderson coming downstairs and when an attempt was made to get her to leave, she refused, insisting that the fire was out. The rescuers had to carry the woman from the burning building, then returning they found the baby in the lower part of the house and carried it to the home of a neighbor where the baby and the woman were cared for.
Herbert Johnson, son of Mrs. Anderson of Orange Street, hearing that his mother’s home was on fire, hurried there and with other men saved practically all of the furniture in the house. A small dog, owned by Mrs. Anderson, was rescued by Johnson, but a larger dog defied the efforts of other men to take it from the house. …
The firemen prevented the spread of the fire by deluging the building with water, the chemical streams first used being found insufficient to check the fire. …
The loss is estimated at $800.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
RADNOR, Pa. – Authorities say a Delaware County school employee is accused of traveling to Texas to sexually assault a minor he met online.
What we know:
Michael Robinson, 43, was taken into custody near Radnor Middle School where investigators say he worked as a paraprofessional.
Investigators believe Robinson traveled to Tyler, Texas in the summer of 2024 to meet a minor he had connected with online.
Robinson, according to U.S. Marshals, allegedly sexually assaulted the teen over the course of a weekend.
Delaware County school employee accused of sex assault of minor in Texas
Prosecutors in Smith County, Texas charged Robinson in December with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 15-years-old.
Robinson is being held at a Delaware County jail where he is awaiting extradition to Texas.
What they’re saying:
U.S. Marshals in Pennsylvania said Robinson’s arrest shows that “sexual predators will always be pursued relentlessly.”
The Radnor Township School District said Robinson has been placed on leave and will not have contact with students.
“Parents of the limited number of children to whom the employee was assigned were contacted by the administration immediately.”
The district said it is cooperating with law enforcement and has “no information indicating misconduct involving district students.”
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