and me ♪ this land was made for you and me ♪ senator hart: thank you very much. [applause] ♪ >> road to the white house rewind continues with more for the 1988 campaign of democratic candidate gary hart. just weeks after entering the presidential race the former colorado senator faced allegations of an extramarital affair with a miami woman named donna rice. next he addresses the con -- charges at a news conference in new hampshire. this portion is just under 40 minutes. i have nothing to

hide. i made a mistake. i made serious mistakes in fact. i read -- regret those very much for all those involved and for the people that have been unfairly maligned, my own family first of all. and for my supporters. we still believe and i believe --are going to go into fundamental facts about the events are still not clearly known. mentioned to me by supporters that they were not aware of. those, including this from the events of the evening in question. reporters did not confirm the event. a report i was walking aimlessly around the neighborhood.

i was finding them. i was when i found them confronted him and that is when they identified themselves. surveilling me and my home. questions ofwer those reporters on the spot for 45 minutes or 30 which i did not need to do. made iegations they flatly and vociferously refused. i want to make it clear there was no avoidance of questioning even at that time. there were a few other things i like to mention. the group involved in these reports came and went to my house in broad daylight on saturday afternoon.

apparently they were not observed by the press organization in question. why that is i don't know. they will have to account for it. twice,relieving once or entry to and from the house in broad daylight by three or four saturday when on i was supposed to have been in the house with one other person. finally as i hope most of you know, we requested a meeting with reporters. homeroadhurst did at his in the company of his guest to the reporters involved. he found them. it took some doing any called a headquarters. he came back to my house and asked where they can be found and found them. if they would not oppose their story, he would talk to them at whatever length they wanted to

make sure they were not under misapprehension. and make his comments available to them. for whatever reason they chose not to do that. finally, let me say a word about my wife. she has been under more stress because of these events in the last few days and i have. me continues to astonish with her strength and her courage. -- not needless to say for me enough for her children and particularly not for her. she has said that we've been married for 28 years. i hope you're married 28 more. -- we are married 28 more if it works out and i think it will. of the peopleears i have met in the world, friends that i have made, the most extraordinary human being i've

had the pleasure of knowing not sibley as a wife but as a human being. she is here today and will be with us. reporter: senator, a couple of weeks ago you didn't feel the american people have interest in your personal life. do you still maintain that is true or do you believe [indiscernible] it's raised questions about your judgment. senator hart: there are two separate questions and a think the answer to both is yes. they had more interest than i thought they would. is that i madeue a mistake. the issue is judgment. i would like to talk about judgment if i may. it's not a simple term. people who seek national office for leadership are qualified to make person -- judge in their personal lives, their ethical lives, their family lives.

but also decisions affecting millions if not hundreds of millions of people. perhaps everyone on the planet. judgments include sending people to cemeteries. judgments in my case involved with in the senate opposition the very possible -- popular tax cuts. opposing the mx missile which was popular in my state. standing up against reaganomics when it was a popular economic policy in this nation. we make judgments all our lives. analyzing or evaluating a person's character or ability to lead, then in all fairness you have to evaluate their entire history of their public and private lives. and take into account those hard political judgments of have to

be made. i have said and will say again i made a mistake. i underestimated the weight in which the appearance of something was wrong here could be raised. it was something i should not have done. reporter: on a couple of occasions you have [indiscernible] and yet they have said several times repeatedly, they asked you toeatedly for an opportunity [indiscernible] and you would not let them do that. could you tell us what happened on the street? senator hart: they asked me a bunch of questions about the comings and goings and so on. they alleged she stated my house and i said it was not true. i answered all those questions. can we talk to her?

at that point i had to make a judgment. i would not identified the people. they asked where is she now. i said maybe she is at my house. it was she with? they said with friends -- i said with friends. they were very suspicious. i did not know if they were still there or not. it was my judgment that i was not entitled to jeopardize them in some sort of -- without the permission. i did not identify her or her friend or her employers. subsequently after i talked to themselves --e 25 to identify themselves. senator hart? in talking to a number of leading democratic politicians yesterday about this i was struck by the fact that the majority of the ones i talked to

o did not believe your story. the reason is that all of them have heard rumors or claim to know of previous incidents that have occurred in the past 15 years. have a been times during the past 15 years other than when you are separated from your wife when you have spent time with women in a manner you did with miss rice? senator hart: the answer to the question is no. my wife said this morning, and i understand inaccurately so, she has friends who are men and i have friends that are women. most of them are friends of both of ours. she has gone to dinner with men friends and i had gone to dinner with women friends. in almost every case they were people my wife knew and had been longtime personal acquaintances.

someone remind me earlier today on a recent campaign trip after a hard day on the campaign trail, including staff, myself and journalists ended up having dinner and a cocktail dinner. they ended up dancing. the news organization taking a picture of me of the dance floor with a woman. they made a big deal out of that when there was nothing there. reporter: why is it do you think that so many people, people who have known you and dealt with peopley is it some way -- senator hart: i have no way of knowing what the number is. it's part of being in public life. on circumstances are more suspected behavior than others.

it's not just politics. it is people in business, entertainment. the more you are subjected to that kind of scrutiny and speculation, often innuendo and gossip. it goes with the territory. my mr. dake -- mistake was underestimating that. let me put it the other way around. a relationship ith this woman, believe me, am not stupid. if i were to bring someone into the house or an apartment [indiscernible] even the back entrance to our is visible from the street. saturday,y came in on

there was clearly no intention to hide. that goes without ask for nation. the place is surrounded by somebody. it was a mistake. i cannot account for everyone's analysis. i think part of it may even our separation -- may have been our separation and seeing other people in that period. we were very open about it. [indiscernible] reporter: these people came and went on saturday to your house in broad daylight. you spoke with reporters from the herald and said those three people were in your house, but they had come and gone during daylight. they came back. all three of them. reporter: how are you going to convince people in the -- convince democratic party people

to raise votes? how are you going to convince him you are not going to make this kind of mistake in judgment about personal behavior again? they're going to want more than that. you want to nominate a winner this year and don't want you to blow it. senator hart: i will demonstrate it through appealing to the voters on the issues they care about. my own view that as time goes on people will want to know about your judgment and character on issues that affect their lives, their families and the nation. that is what this campaign is going to be about. as we go on and i demonstrate that kind of leadership this story gets its proper perspective, i will be able to demonstrate that. we had a very successful event must night in new york. very knowledge we have had

strong support from our political and financial -- reporter: let me clarify a few points. a point on which you and ms. rice seem to differ. you said you spent the night in bimini because her office was closed. that office says it makes no difference. senator hart: i will tell you what i do with the time. when the boat arrived it was late afternoon, coming on dusk. -- toea was to go over which was there and have been repaired. and returned to miami that night. mr. rogers told me that the captain told him we waited around the docks for about half an hour to 45 minutes. there was no customs. -- i not involved in any

was talking to the boat people. i had my picture taken. i was not skulking around. they were people walking all over the place. we went finally without anyone coming with the papers over towards mr. rogers boat and we stayed there for a while. he said we can't leave until the morning. we agreed we would leave at the earliest time we could. we were prepared to go as early as 7:00 or so. the captain had to wait until 8:00. i'm just telling you what i was told. i have no independent way of verifying this. reporter: the second matter concerns the phone call to in from the road. ms. rice indicated these were phone calls from you to discuss the news media attention and the womanizing issue. he said these are primarily

calls for her to talk about a campaign job. senator hart: i suppose the keywords are "primarily." primarilygenerally, political. cs who she should talk to about getting involved in the fundraising efforts both in that area and in the entertainment community that she knew. leigh and i first met her briefly on the holidays at the home of some entertainment people. it was in recollection of that if i canhere she said get involved in the campaign, what can i do? there were discussions along that line. who areion to her was your contacts, your friends? we had general conversations that have been beaten up by a lot of rumors. senator --

senator hart: she did not have my number. her question was on coming up with a friend on that weekend. i said it's between you and her. reporter: if you do not know the about two men in their 50's that were married that spent a weekend with two young women in their 20's. [indiscernible] believe that was a totally innocent event? can't you agree that this really stretches the -- of the american public? senator hart: i think all four people assert the absolute innocence of their behavior.

i don't know that anyone is speculating about any relationship between -- and the woman he was hiring. i think the focus came to me for obvious reasons. the point being it is possible for modern times for people that are 50, 60, 70 or 20 or 25 to spend time together. this society is changing. i will answer your question with another question. i make mistakes. i will probably make more. i will not make this one. i am a human being. believe me, if i intended to have all relationship with an attractive woman, i certainly would not have gone about it this way. [laughter] you spend time alone

with this woman in this house on a weekend when your wife is out of town. senator hart: my house is in washington. everybody knows for it is. restauranthere is a in the city of bar harbor is as you sign the guestbook on the evening of february 12. you are part of a party. they were people in the restaurant at that time, one of whom was donna rice. a photo has been identified by employees of the restaurant. senator hart: i don't member the name of the restaurant. it was in the hotel where the labor conference is being held. rice between ms. new year's or the next day after new year's. the night she came on the boat, whatever they that was in march. reporter: who was with you in that booth at the restaurant that night? senator hart: there were more than four people.

my recollection is they were people with the convention. i had dinner with about 40 or 50 labor leaders in that complex. it was right across the hotel. i don't remember the name of the hotel. it was a large shopping complex. after dinner a group -- my recollection is there were seven. i will try to find the names for you. reporter: there is a new poll out put out at 6:00 by the boston herald about new hamster democratic voters. a week ago you were leading governor dukakis. you have dropped today 17%. he is polling at 27% with 74% of those surveyed saying the issue will have a very negative impact on your candidacy. can you respond? senator hart: i think it is true but i think it's an impact in the short term. one reason people have

difficulty believing your story is the question of phone calls. fairly says it's a casual acquaintance but you talk to her about half a dozen times in a short period. is it normal for you to talk to someone you barely know? senator hart: sometimes. i make a good deal of phone calls. it's not extraordinary. seems one of the fundraising goals i had was to put together groups that have not been together in a while. to me it's quite important to the campaign to put that together. habit that is resulted in a good deal of money. i have spent a good deal of time on the phones with people who can raise money. reporter: [indiscernible]

do you ever stop to think during the course of this that these coincide with statements you made about rumors that he did not step back and say these will be -- this will be perceived badly? i should not be doing this. senator hart: yes and no. it occurred to me that what i did it was for the steps together. -- what i did not do was put the steps together. [indiscernible] everybody should have gone back out. pattern of the mistake. when injury, one departure. i think it would not have been a problem. you raise in your remarks yesterday the issue of

morality and the issue of truthfulness. let me ask you what you mean when you talk about morality. let me be very specific. i have a series of questions about it. he said he did nothing wrong. did you mean you had no sexual relationship with donna rice last weekend or any other time? senator hart: that is correct. reporter: the believe adultery is wrong? reporter: senator hart: yes. reporter: have you ever committed adultery? senator hart: i cannot answer that question. reporter: it seems to me the question of morality -- senator hart: i am innocent by definition. it iser: i think incumbent upon us to know what your definition of morality is. you believe the doctor is not wrong? senator hart: yes, i do. reporter: have you ever committed adultery? senator hart: i'm not going into the theological definition. in some people's minds is people being married and having relationships with other people.

-- do you in your wife of an understanding about whether or not you can have relations -- sexual encounters? senator hart: the answer is no, we don't have that kind of relationship. we have an understanding of faithfulness and loyalty. rice's mothera said today she cannot go out of her house, she cannot go to work. that her daughter is devastated and it may ruin her life. have you called donna rice or her mother or are you planning to to apologize? senator hart: no for obvious reasons. there are all kinds of other questions. that he talked to her since? i will do so publicly and say i very much regret the events that have negatively impacted her life and her daughter's life and all the others i mentioned earlier. i have said i have made mistakes.

i have made a series of mistakes. i happen to believe that everybody has done their job and other people have made mistakes. if they hadn't, none of this would be in the circumstances today. there is plenty of response ability to go around. reporter: was it upon your invitation that donna rice went to bimini? senator hart: she did not force her way on the boat. we had decided to visit his boat. she was aboard the boat. we said would you like to go with us? she said yes, i would very much like to. -- did youou specifically invite her? senator hart: i don't recall. three or four of us were standing around. she just walked onto the boat. reporter: you said you called her on the phone and invited her on the boat. senator hart: she came back after we met that night at the boat. we talked about the fundraising and her purchase a patient in the campaign with her contacts

with the entertainment community. about midday or shortly broadhurst talk to the captain about taking the boat out. see what it is like. i would like to go over to bimini and see my boat. i suppose we told her and her friend what we were going to do and they said fine, we will go a long. i don't know whether i said do you want to go to bimini for he said you want to go to bimini, but that was a discussion. reporter: did you call her and ask her on a trip to lake? -- l.a.? senator hart: she said i want to get involved in your campaign. i believe as i always do that thousands of people giving your name. i do not even friendly recall her last name. i.s. or her address and phone number and she left it. i called the next day and asked if you would like to come back in and talk. she did.

then we talked about going on. reporter: did you ever specifically invite donna rice to take a trip with you? senator hart: no. reporter: how many times have you met her? [indiscernible] reporter: there is a discussion of morality. except that ties and you and your wife are separated, has your bid -- marriage been monogamous? senator hart: i will not be answering that question. reporter: he said he made a mistake. what was the mistake and what you make it? senator hart: the mistake was a have people engage in a series of activities that lead to things -- [indiscernible] mistakere parts of that i can single out.

ialso said i don't think [indiscernible] -- [indiscernible] it's nothing about fairness. i'm going through this and will continue to answer questions. i'm doing my best. as i said yesterday, there is another issue here. if national elections are fair or not. i will insist this the affair system. you can ask me about adultery, you can ask me any question you want, and my wife and i have answered more personal questions and i think anyone should. i will have to continue to my regret. but i demand, and i have a right to demand it. if someone scored to follow me around they had better print all the facts. if you feel you don't

answer about adultery and whether another relationship was monogamous, why is it necessary to say whether or not you had sexual relations with donna rice? senator hart: there's a lot of 'sfference between one person reputation and getting into different aspects of a long-term marriage. i don't intend to subject my life to that. reporter: could you please tell your eighth say you were to spend more time together with your wife. senator hart: that will be the result of it. can you tell us specifically when in the course of this campaign you have seen donna rice and tell us exactly when -- all the times?

senator hart: i met her briefly with 40 or 50 or -- people are more. i think your state -- new year's day or the next day. we introduced ourselves. subsequently and not anytime i went aboard a boat after a fundraising event in miami with mr. broadhurst. there were no invitations for him to join us. there was no plan for anyone to join us. i was there an effort to relax. a group:30 that night of about a dozen or 15 people showed up at the boat. they had been having dinner. the man who came aboard the boat to the owner and said i wanted to show my friends the boat. chemical motherboard? -- can we come on board? we said of course. we talked to a few of them.

how are you? we talked about miami. his wife came up and introduced herself. he said we met at don henley's party. yes, how do you do. she said i was hoping to serve the meal. i set a failure remember that -- vaguely remember that. we talked 10 minutes, maybe 15. tolso about 30 or 40 minutes three or four other people at the party. her conversation in my took place and his face no bigger than this. it could not have been more than 10 minutes. she said i've never been involved in a campaign, i've never -- i would like to. i know some entertainers. i can tell you i did not remember her name, address, phone number. i left it on the boat. then came the bimini trip.

the only time i saw her after that was in washington this week. period. have any did you ever intimate relations with donna rice while you are separated or not? senator hart: no. reporter: can you admit you made a mistake in judgment. apart from the allegations of sexual impropriety, has your image suffered in another way that now you may no longer be received as the rail splitter in , someone who goes on extensive yachts to the bahamas? they were all kinds of people there. people in the entertainment industry. the people of colorado new that when the elected me. secret.

people of colorado him. -- know who i am. reporter: you said you made a mistake in judgment. [indiscernible] even accepting your version of events some people have suggested a recklessness on your part. said, i loveonce danger but i do not love it that much. i shouldn't have done it. [indiscernible] can you describe your relationship with donna rice?

friendship. she is intelligent. i like to talk with her. you don't form that kind of relationship within a year. reporter: the washington times reported that a passenger on the descriptionen the to something in leu of flowers. to do with such subscription? sen. hart: i don't think i made that one. i cannot reflect on any intimacy. i cannot recall what i said in those books.

i might've said something like that, but i cannot remember. reporter: senator, how was your fundraising going? sen. hart: the only test we have had is the one in new york last night. we have seen above participation and revenue. to my knowledge, no one dropped out of that. some of you may have been there, and i think you can verify the atmosphere. i cannot remember anyone that said, you have serious problems under hands. most of the public response, and personal response was very positive. matter -- a routine

matter intensified, but the campaign has been full of , and they have been under siege from other candidates. to my knowledge, i do not want to be categorical, but i'd do -- i do not want to suggest their interest. reporter: some people think your relationship and dealings with donna rice indicate a willingness to take risk, the situation you are in. sen. hart: that is what we are talking about. reporter: right. if you are willing to take a risk as front runner during the campaign, what type of risks would you engage with as president? over here, we were talking about the issue of judgment and character, and my position is, and i feel strongly about this, they character and

judgment among other qualities, leadership, determination, will, confidence are tested over time interested in a variety of ways. awould cement, and i think fair assessment of my character and judgment and leadership ability would have to include my entire public life and my private personal life before the private life. i am perfectly willing to submit that entire life to scrutiny. have people in public life made mistakes, some of them have been a lot worse than mine and they have gone on to become president and good presidents. for some hundreds of years after they have been earlier presidents are still scrutinized in terms of their personal life, and i have learned a lot in the last few days. i have party suggested the major lesson is, even innocent, you cannot do something that will give anyone the impression of

something that is not innocent. i also learned there is a terrible price to pay for being in public life these days. >> we have time for two more questions. reporter: there are people in the american public looking at your relationship with this woman, knowing you had strummed on the gotland of the press corps. would you say it was risky? sen. hart: i do not think so, but at the time in terms of what i say my going to dinner, inviting these people into my house, and be going up that , any of those individual actions was risky. looking back on it now, if someone etc. ahead of time, if you did this, this, this, this could that be interpreted this way? probably.

i was tired and that is not think about it that way, i did not calculated that way. i just did what seemed to come naturally. when we have the conversation on the plane, i have two questions, one, the most young woman on the plane described as a friend of the man, but that -- was that donna rice? sen. hart: what plane rearm? were we on? >> the plane from austin to denver. sen. hart: no. how are you to persuade us or anyone that has looked at the story, given that you did sign a book to the ise on a crusi with her, how can you convince

us that this is true? sen. hart: i can only tell you fax. if you do not believe me, that is all i can do. facts, ms. you the rice has told you the facts and that is the best we can do. announcer: next on road to the white house, democratic candidate gary hart withdraws from the presidential race less than a month after his campaign began. the former colorado senator faced allegations of the next amerco affair with a miami woman named donna rice. in this 10 minute event, the former colorado senator continues to deny the affair, saying he is quitting the race to spare his family and friends from rumors and gossip. michael dukakis won the 1988 democratic nomination but lost to george h.w. bush in the general election. [applause] sen. hart: thank you very much.