U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden will make arguably the most important speech of his political career tonight. With more than 30 years of experience on the Senate floor, the Democratic soon-to-be vice presidential nominee is no stranger to making speeches.

But a handful of those appearances happened right here. While Biden represents Delaware, he has political and personal connections in and around Auburn.

Biden has made multiple appearances in the area over the years, including two commencement speeches at Cayuga Community College, and was even referred to as “Auburn's adopted third senator” in local newspapers. He also had a hand in creating a commencement award for local students in memory of his late wife, who lived in Auburn with her family.

The Neilia Hunter Biden English Award is given each year to two students who excel in the fields of literature and journalism. Winners are selected annually by the English faculty.

The endowment was created in 1973, months after Hunter Biden passed away in a car accident that also claimed their infant daughter.

Martha MacKay, associate director for the Cayuga County Community College Foundation, said the two met at Syracuse University where Biden was studying law. After Hunter Biden's death, her family, friends and Biden started the memorial award.

“Both (awards) are fully-endowed, and they will go on as long as this college is open,” said MacKay, who added that Hunter Biden's father, Robert Hunter, was the head chef for many years at the college cafeteria and also opened Hunter's Dinerant in Auburn.

Biden gave a rousing message about public service to the college's class of 1973, imploring the students to get involved in government despite the developing Watergate scandal.

“Unless we can revitalize the institutions of this nation and convince the American people there is a reason to have confidence in their government, we've got no place to go,” Biden said during his speech, according to the May 28 version of The Citizen Advertiser.

“Upon whose shoulders does the burden fall?” continued Biden, who was in his first year in the Senate. “I hate to announce it to you, but it's now yours.”

In 1984, he again told CCC graduates to keep participating in government, even though such figures as John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were long gone.

“Just because our political heroes were murdered doesn't mean the dream is dead,” Biden said, according to the May 20 edition of The Citizen. “It still lives in our broken heart.”

In the same speech, he recognized the award memorializing his late wife, calling such memories “the power to gather roses in the winter.”

Cayuga Community College President Daniel Larson said in a written statement that the school is “honored” by its connection to Biden and the Hunter family.

“All of these links serve to illustrate how very connected Cayuga Community College is to the larger world,” Larson stated.

And that connection went beyond the school, said Auburn resident Bob Hunter, first cousin of Neilia Hunter Biden. The two surviving sons spent many summers in the area, and Biden attended and spoke at family funerals and weddings in subsequent years, Hunter said.

Hunter, who is an Obama-Biden supporter, said the family connection has given him an added interest in this election.

“I'm always interested in politics, both local and national, but it certainly heightens my interest,” said Hunter, a former Auburn councilman.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.

Biden speaks tonight

Sen. Joe Biden is scheduled to address the Democratic National Convention between 10 to 11 p.m. EDT. It will air on all the major television networks.