In his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things, Hunter Biden wrote candidly about the depth of his drug addiction and the difficult period that consumed much of his life. He described seeking crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, D.C., and also using it in a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles. At one point, he said, he was living in a Super 8 motel room that cost $59 a night, a reflection of how far his life had deteriorated during that period.
The memoir also details the strain his addiction placed on his family, including his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden. According to Hunter’s account, Joe Biden confronted him at his home and told him that he needed help. The intervention underscored the seriousness of Hunter’s condition and the concern his family felt as his drug use escalated.
Despite the chaos surrounding his addiction, Hunter Biden emphasized the role his father played in keeping him connected to the possibility of recovery. He wrote that his father never let him believe that everything was lost. In his telling, Joe Biden remained a steady presence through the worst of the crisis, refusing to abandon, shun, or judge him even as circumstances worsened.
Hunter’s account presents addiction not only as a personal struggle but also as a family ordeal marked by fear, frustration, and continued support. He portrays his father as someone who combined tough love with unwavering loyalty, stepping in when necessary while still standing by him emotionally. The memoir suggests that this support was crucial during a period when Hunter’s life was rapidly unraveling.
The passage reflects the raw tone of Beautiful Things, in which Hunter Biden attempts to describe his experiences with addiction in personal detail. His recollection of buying drugs in public, cooking crack in a hotel setting, and moving through unstable living conditions paints a picture of severe substance abuse and instability. The story also highlights the contrast between his private struggles and his public identity as the son of a prominent political figure.
By sharing these details, Hunter Biden aimed to convey both the destructive power of addiction and the importance of family support in the possibility of recovery. His description of his father’s response frames Joe Biden not as distant or judgmental, but as persistent and compassionate in a moment of crisis. The memoir’s account shows how addiction can affect not only the person using drugs but also the people closest to them, who often must balance concern, intervention, and hope.
