# Beau Biden's Widow in Relationship with his Brother **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138 "2017-03-01T22:48:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/1 "2017-03-01T22:48:53Z")
The widow of Joe Biden’s deceased son Beau has reportedly [begun a romantic relationship](http://pagesix.com/2017/03/01/widow-of-joe-bidens-deceased-son-having-affair-with-brother-in-law-hunter/) with Beau’s married brother Hunter. Beau passed away in May 2015. Hunter and his wife separated in October 2015. They have five children between them. Joe and Jill Biden reportedly gave the relationship their blessing. This strikes me as incredibly weird for everyone involved. Thanksgiving might be a bit awkward at the Biden home. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/2 "2017-03-01T23:00:30Z")
I mean, my cousin’s my brother, so it won’t be THAT weird. The article calling it an affair when the married couple has been separated for so long seems misleading, if technically correct. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/3 "2017-03-01T23:11:30Z")
According to the Bible, isn’t this what Hunter must do? Isn’t he obligated to marry his brother’s widow? ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/4 "2017-03-01T23:17:50Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > According to the Bible, isn’t this what Hunter must do? Isn’t he obligated to marry his brother’s widow? Only if she doesn’t have a son, right? And this one does. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/5 "2017-03-01T23:23:50Z")
I don’t find it very strange that someone could want a romantic relationship with the sibling of their late spouse, but the fact that it apparently commenced while the sibling is still married to someone else seems very unfortunate. Seems like it would be easier for the kids (and other family/friends) if there had been a very clear delineation there. I can understand why the Bidens want to put a good face on it, but the precipitous timing just seems not in the best interest of anyone involved, in my opinion. I guess time will tell, as it always does. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/6 "2017-03-02T00:42:38Z")
I don’t see anything wrong. They deserve to be happy, and I wish them the best. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/7 "2017-03-02T01:29:38Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > According to the Bible, isn’t this what Hunter must do? Isn’t he obligated to marry his brother’s widow? Only applies to a man who dies without a male child, so that “his name will not be lost to Israel.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/8 "2017-03-02T01:45:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Only applies to a man who dies without a male child, so that “his name will not be lost to Israel.” How does that reasoning make any sense at all? As long as the brother has kids with anybody at all, or a paternal fist cousin (etc.) does, the name would not be lost. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/9 "2017-03-02T02:34:56Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > fist cousin Oy vey. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/10 "2017-03-02T02:43:57Z")
Maybe a little weird but not really wrong, what may have started as comfort and support for a shared, mutual grief probably just blossomed into a romance, stranger things have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/11 "2017-03-02T03:23:53Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > How does that reasoning make any sense at all? As long as the brother has kids with anybody at all, or a paternal fist cousin (etc.) does, the name would not be lost. As I understand biblical Jewish naming traditions, the difference is Barney ben Beau versus Barney ben Hunter (ben = “son of”) - so the name would be lost if there is no male offspring. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/12 "2017-03-02T05:09:11Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > Thanksgiving might be a bit awkward at the Biden home. But it keeps the Guest List tight. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/13 "2017-03-02T08:18:04Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > As I understand biblical Jewish naming traditions, the difference is Barney ben Beau versus Barney ben Hunter (ben = “son of”) - so the name would be lost if there is no male offspring. I think there were also legal issues pertaining to inheritance, as the the child will inherit all of the dead brother’s property. That’s important, particularly when women couldn’t inherit, as the mother will then have control of the assets until the child reaches the age of majority (and later have an adult son to support her). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/14 "2017-03-02T12:19:50Z")
If all the people involved (brother, brother’s wife, widower) were on board with it, and it wasn’t being done behind anyone’s back, no harm and no foul. Bless their happiness. Ain’t anyone else’s business. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/15 "2017-03-02T12:23:13Z")
Gotta agree. Consenting adults. What’s the problem? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/16 "2017-03-02T13:38:44Z")
If you do any sort of genealogy research you will find tons of examples of men marrying their deceased wife’s sister and such. So forget that aspect. The only issue is the married/separated timing thing. And that’s their business not ours. The current Cheeto in Chief has set a low bar for whether a _public_ person’s infidelity issues are a matter of concern. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/17 "2017-03-02T13:42:00Z")
It’s just a little bit squicky to me, I have to admit, but they’re consenting adults and if it makes them both happy, God bless 'em. **ftg** , this might be of interest: [Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act 1907 - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deceased_Wife%27s_Sister%27s_Marriage_Act_1907) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/18 "2017-03-02T18:56:48Z")
And your interest in this is…? Seems like a MYOB moment to me. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/19 "2017-03-02T19:09:28Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > As I understand biblical Jewish naming traditions, the difference is Barney ben Beau versus Barney ben Hunter (ben = “son of”) - so the name would be lost if there is no male offspring. Interesting. From the linked article… _“Beau, the former attorney general of Delaware, and Hallie have two children, named Natalie and, confusingly, **Hunter**.”_ So would he have then become Hunter ben Hunter? Understandably, Beau and Hallie already had a great deal of affection for “Hunter” in all its forms. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138/20 "2017-03-03T05:13:22Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > As I understand biblical Jewish naming traditions, the difference is Barney ben Beau versus Barney ben Hunter (ben = “son of”) - so the name would be lost if there is no male offspring. Still, how would a brother marrying his deceased brother’s widow (and having a son) continue the dead brother’s name? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beau-bidens-widow-in-relationship-with-his-brother/781138.md?page=2)