Vice President Joe Biden (center). Photo: State Department.

New York Times – Hosting a rockfish and crab lunch for a visiting Vietnamese leader, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. seemed subdued as he talked of a painful history and a promising future between the United States and Vietnam. He ad-libbed some remarks, made a few mild jokes and stared straight ahead when his guest spoke.

Six weeks after the death of his elder son, Mr. Biden has thrown himself back into his work, meeting with foreign leaders, giving speeches and even cheering on the women’s national soccer team in its victory over Japan in the World Cup. Unsurprisingly, in the shadow of tragedy, he is not his typically ebullient self. But by all accounts he is feeling his way forward and trying to figure out what comes next.

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