See Joe Biden's emotional interview about his late son Beau

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Vice President Joe Biden is still coping with the death of his son Beau who died in May. And on the "Late Show" with Stephen Colbert, he talked about his loss for the first time in a TV interview.

“You know, my dad had an expression,” Biden said. “He used to say, ‘You know you are a success as a parent when you turn and look at your child and realize they turned out better than you.’ I was a hell of a success. My son was better than me.”

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Biden praised his late son’s sense of empathy, something his father noticed when he, at just four years old, supported his younger brother after they were both badly injured in the accident that killed his mother and sister.

And he talked about Beau’s modesty — telling a story about how he refused to wear his military decorations in public, and wanted the name “Biden” taken off his uniform so he didn’t receive special treatment.

But the vice president said he was inspired by others who battled through tragedies like he did, including the man sitting across from him.

Colbert lost his father and two of his brothers in a plane crash when he was 10 years old.

Biden was remarkably honest in the interview, and Colbert pointed out his transparency is one of the reasons some Americans are hoping he’ll challenge Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.

Commentators seem to agree. In the words of one Washington Post writer, "Where Clinton is struggling with the perception that she is neither honest nor trustworthy, Biden is all honesty. Where Clinton is cautious and closed off, Biden is spontaneous and an open book."

Biden did talk to Colbert about a presidential run, saying he wasn’t quite ready to devote himself fully to the office. Though he did say if Colbert ran for president, he’d want to be his VP.