Vice President Joe Biden silenced months of suspicion about his presidential ambitions for the 2016 election today after announcing his intention to abandon campaign plans. According to a report from CNN, the VP addressed the nation in the Rose Garden at the White House alongside his wife, Jill, and President Barack Obama.

Biden announced that the window for his chances at running a successful campaign had closed, and appeared distraught about the recent death of his son, Beau Biden.

A spokesperson said that Biden made his decision on Tuesday night, and was seriously considering continuing to implement President Obama’s policies at the end of his term.

Biden touched on many themes that were central to Barack Obama’s legacy in the White House, from increased access to healthcare, standing up for the rights of the middle class, and continuing the effort to compromise and break the Congressional gridlock that has affected the country for the past decade.

Biden spoke about accelerating efforts to research potential cures for cancer, and about ensuring that people are given equal rights.

The Vice President spoke about his career as a public servant, and how he was grateful to be involved with everything he’s worked on. “I’ve had the very great, good fortune and privilege of being in public service most of my adult life, since I’ve been 25 years old. And through personal triumphs and tragedies, my entire family — my son Beau, my son Hunter, my daughter Ashley, Jill — our whole family — and this sounds corny — but we found purpose in public life. We found purpose in public life. So we intend, the whole family — not just me — we intend to spend the next 15 months fighting for what we’ve always cared about, what my family has always care about, with every ounce of our being. And working alongside the president and members of Congress and our future nominee, I am absolutely certain we are fully capable of accomplishing extraordinary things.”

“We can do this,” he added at the end. “And when we do, America won’t just win the future, we will own the finish line.”