Leon Panetta: The Joe Biden I know

My Italian father had a phrase that sums up the qualities of a good man — “a buon uomo.” It means more than just being a nice guy. It means that person can be trusted, that he is a hard worker, and that he is a reliable friend with a big heart. My father was careful about using this phrase; a man would have to be quite special to deserve it, he would say.

My Italian father had a phrase that sums up the qualities of a good man — “a buon uomo.” It means more than just being a nice guy. It means that person can be trusted, that he is a hard worker, and that he is a reliable friend with a big heart. My father was careful about using this phrase; a man would have to be quite special to deserve it, he would say.