a complete and completely secret nuclear supply chain from start to finish. the experts of france, germany, britain and nuclearnd russia -- weapons countries -- agreed they would never get away with such deception. and although some of the specific limitations in the plan apply for tenure -- 10 years, my friends, some applied for 15, 20, 25. the basic monitoring provisions are in effect for the lifetime of iran's nuclear program. and under the agreement, iran will be prohibited from pursuing a nuclear weapon forever. now, and the u.n. resolution, i

might add. so signing the deal and implement and want are obviously two different things. we have given one of our most capable foreign service officers, steve small, the day -- steve mull, the day-to-day job of living -- making sure iran lives up to every single one of the commitments they have made. we will continue to consult closely with our allies as that process goes forward. the iran agreement was considered on its own terms. it wasn't part of some opening the door shift or hope or some, you know, speculation about behavior. it was the right thing to do whether it leads to cooperation or not in other areas because any effort to roll back iran's behavior, my friends, is a heckuva lot easier if they don't have a nuclear weapon. we are not making any assumptions about iran's future

policies because we base our policy on observable facts, actions we can see and verify. the fact is that tehran's policies are a major reason why we work so closely with our partners in the region. is nowhere, nowhere, nowhere that more evident than with our friend and ally, israel. prime minister netanyahu will agree we have engaged in an unprecedented level with military intelligence and security cooperation. the defense minister told his gallery yesterday that those relations were superb, and they are. and we are determined to help israel to address new and complex security threats because it is changing, and we understand that. we know how this region and turmoil poses a problem. , mr.e are just determined minister, to guarantee there is a qualitative military edge.

we work with israel every day to enforce sanctions, to prevent terrorist organizations such as hezbollah from obtaining the financing and weapons they seek, whether from iran or any other source, and we will stand with israel to stop its adversaries from once again launching deadly and unprovoked attacks against civilians. provided $20e have billion in foreign military financing to israel. half of all the military assistance we have given worldwide. over and above that, we have invested some $3 billion in the production and deployment. and other missile defense programs and systems. we saw lives were saved and israel because of that assistance. -- in israel because of that assistance. we have given privileged access. israel is the only nation in the

middle east to which the united states sold this fifth-generation aircraft. and earlier this year, the president authorized a massive re-authorization package. diplomatically, our support for israel also remains as rocksolid as we continue to oppose any effort to delegitimize the jewish state or to pass by us resolutions -- biased resolutions. i have personally been on the phone lobbying, whether it is a human rights commission or counsel or individual, you name it, we are constantly fighting that battle. month, i went to new york and i spoke at a very moving event commemorating the extraordinary speech 40 years ago to not take the u.n. general assembly's infamous resolution.

one of the finest speeches i have ever heard. patrick moynihan called it the day of infamy when the abomination of anti-feminism was given the appearance of -- anti-feminism was given the appearance of sanctions. it was not only absurd, it was a sad day for the united nations itself did it brought -- itself. it brought people together to seek nothing less than to grant a global license to hate. and i'm delighted that he is here. we honor your father because he spoke the truth, and so must we. is there today, it is a threat today, and europe, in the middle east -- -- in europe, in the middle east, and asia, and everywhere.

, to defeathat what it is our responsibility. friends, is a lesson taught to us by history. which we must and never ever forget. us thetory also teaches importance of peace. because peace is ultimately the best guarantor of security. the net estates is deeply committed to secure israel's future as a jewish and democratic state. and we are also committed to an independent and viable palestinian state, where palestinians can live with freedom and dignity. is only way to achieve that through a negotiated solution that creates to states for two peoples living side-by-side in peace and security.

i know how complicated it is today, but out there enough times, i think i understand it. the united states remains deeply committed to helping the parties realize the vision that we just articulated that the prime minister and everybody has accepted. it is a vision that we put out there not for our sake, but because it is the best hope for both israelis and palestinians. but ultimately it is up to both sides to take the steps necessary to make peace possible. so today, i want to talk about some of the difficult questions and hard choices that everybody faces. because there are no easy answers here. it will take leadership, courage , and both sides have to make decisions that could have a profound impact on their future and on the future of the entire region. first, the violence must stop.

nobody should ever be subjected to attacks as they go about their daily lives. and there is no justification for violent targeted against civilians, now or ever, and we condemn these outrageous attacks in the strongest possible terms. president obama has made clear that israel has not only the right, but the obligation to defend its citizens. and we have worked hard to try and find a way to end the violence. we have stressed the importance of refraining from inflammatory rhetoric. steps thatain from obviously are going have an impact on other people's perceptions. we need to have people exercise restraint, take affirmative steps to reduce tensions. and i have called on the palestinian leadership to do everything possible to combat all forms of incitement and to explicitly condemn terrorist

attacks. i have urged israeli leaders to bring those responsible for terrorism against palestinian civilians to justice, and i applaud the recent arrest that was made in that regard. and we work with jordanian-israeli and leaders. last week, because of our concern about the increased violence, i again visited jerusalem and the west bank. the terrorist attack had just tragically claimed the life of anything else didn't from my home state of massachusetts. and president obama and i both talked to his. did and it brought home to us the her brenda's level of grief parent feels with the loss of a child, and particularly under those circumstances. we also had brought home to us the urgency of preventing the

senseless loss of more innocent lives. now i heard prime minister netanyahu described the fears israel is left with on a daily basis. -- live with on a daily basis. and i heard his obligations to provide them with basic security. spoke moresident despairingly about the sense of hope the palestinian people feel. and i have been traveling over there since the 1980's. i have spent more time with him than any other leader in america today. i have had a lot of discussions with both sides over the past two years. and let me tell you the level of distrust between them has never been more profound. israelis believe the palestinians will never accept israel's right to live in peace as a jewish state, and that they are teaching hate and glorifying terrorists. and that a peace agreement would turn the west bank into another gaza. i have heard all that.

the palestinians believe this is really government will never give them a state, and that their land is being systematically taken away, and the daily indignation's of occupation will never and and that there is -- never end and that there is impunity for attacks against palestinians. here's what i know. the israeli and palestinian people deserve better. but the current path is not leading to a more peaceful future. i am concerned that unless significant efforts are made to change the dynamic, and i mean significant, it will only bring more violence, more heartbreak, and more despair. that is a fear. not a threat. and changing course will require real courage, leadership, and difficult choices. the palestinians must decide what kind of future they want for their people. u.s.-israelcuses on

relations, but i want to highlight some of the key questions now facing the palestinians. how would ceasing security quite a nation and cooperation, and dissolving the palestinian authority, which some over there have suggested -- how would that bring them closer to be his? isn't it the palestinian people who would then suffer most? do they really believe that boycotts and efforts to delegitimize israel or past biased resolutions will help them achieve a palestinian state? the president has long been committed to nonviolence. don't forget that. but our palestinian officials are really doing everything possible? attacksese terrorist against innocent civilians deserve condemnation?

assuredcan israelis be that the palestinians are truly prepared to end the conflict and allow them to live in peace as part of a two state solution? how do they address israel's concerns about not crating another situation like oz in the west bank. creating another situation like gaza and the west bank. all kinds of security and other kinds of steps could be taken, and buffers and guarantees and oversight and cooperation, countless answers if you want to find them. israelis are appropriately debating some of these issues. some officials in israel have reportedly argued it is not in israel's interest to have a palestinian authority. prime minister netanyahu made clear he does not wish for the collapse of the pa because despite serious differences, he

recognizes the alternative could be worse. nobody can tell you what the alternative is in a world buzzing with daesh and thomas. -- hamas. circumstances i believe force us to consider it seriously. because there are valid questions as to how long the pa will survive if the current situation continues. mark my words. remember, there are some 30,000 palestinian authority's security forces in the west bank, and israel security officials acknowledge their key role in preventing the situation from spiraling out of control, including during the turmoil of three wars with gaza. didn't blowup in the west bank. without the pa security forces, they could be forced to deploy tens of thousands of soldiers to the west bank indefinitely to fill the void. our israelis prepared for the

consequences -- are israelis prepared for the consequences? when the inevitable friction is to confrontation and violence. what are the financial and strategic costs when israel is already facing new threats in the region? to accept theeady risk, cass, and desperation and allow terrorists -- chaos, and desperation and allow terrorists to fill the vacuum? without the pa, israel would also shoulder the responsibility of providing basic services in the west bank, including maintaining schools, hospital, and law and order. up israelis ready to make for over $1 billion a year and assistance that were no longer be provided by the internet -- international community because it is no longer there? happen if the

palestinian economy and private sector collapsed and there was widespread unemployment, poverty? this brings us to a broader question. if there is a risk that the pa could collapse, and it is in israel's interest for it to survive, as the prime minister suggested, should more, therefore, not be done to help sustain it? this really goes to the heart of the bigger debate. because the truth is that many of those arguing against the pa simply don't believe in two states. the prime minister has been clear, he does not want a binational state and he remains committed to the vision of two states for two peoples. but at the same time, many current israeli ministers have been clear they oppose a palestinian state not just now, whatever.

-- but ever. come to a, we can't form like this, we can't have meetings, we can't go back and fourth and maintain the norms of diplomacy and pretend -- we have to be honest about whether a one state solution. thet, nobody should below into complacency that the pa would still be there under those circumstances. the chances that it would collapse increase over time every day now, let alone what would happen if that were the direction you're moving -- you would move in. it would collapse sooner rather than later, along with all of the other risks. let's focus on a few other critical questions that that approach raises. i'm just asking questions. how does israel possibly maintain its character as a jewish and democratic state when

from the river to the sea there was not even the a jewish majority? then, next question. with millions of palestinians the given the basic rights of israeli citizens, including the right to vote? or would they be relegated to a permanent underclass? with the israelis and palestinians have segregated roads and transportation systems with different laws? would anyone really believe they were being treated equally? what with the international response be to that, i friends? -- my friends? israel ever have true peace with its neighbors as the arab peace initiative promises and as every arab leader i have met with in the last year

reinforces to me as recently as in the last month that they are prepared to do? but how will they do that if there is no chance for a two state solution? street lete arab death -- that go by? i think the answers are to make it clear to all, the one state solution is no solution at all for a secure jewish democratic israel living in peace. it is simply not a viable option. statesman -- the man i admire most in the world, one of the most eloquent people i have ever heard talk, as perez put it himself, anyone who rejects the two state solution won't bring a one state solution. war,will instead bring one

not one state. so, my friends, that again brings us to a broader question. if this to -- if the two state solution is only the option, what can be done to advance it? record over% voting years, and i remember the great fans we have made over there, but i ask people to answer this question as honestly as possible. issues not an abstract that you can put off for some distant day. the status quo is simply not sustainable. and the fact is that current trends, including violence, settlement activity, demolitions are in fairly the violin of the of a two state solution -- the valid ability of a two state -- the validity of a two state

solution. i can't stress this enough. the terrorist attacks are devastating the hopes of israelis who want to believe that peace is possible and the violence must stop. yes. the palestinian hopes are also being dashed by what they see happening every day. the transition to greater palestinian civil authority contemplated by the oslo process has, in many ways, been reversed. c,fact, nearly all of area which comprises 60% of the west bank, is effectively restricted for any palestinian development. much of it claimed for is really state land or for settlement counsel -- four israeli state land-- for israeli state or settlement counsel. outposts are

regularly being legalized while demolition of the palestinian structures is increasing. you get it? at the same time, the settler population in the west bank has increased by tens of thousands over just the past five years, including many in remote areas. settlements are no excuse for violence. no, they are not. and we aren't clear about that. but the continued settlement growth raises honest questions about israel's long-term intentions. and will only make separating from the palestinians much more difficult. there are no easy answers, but we can't stop trying to find solutions that move us closer to peace. has is why president obama called on both sides to demonstrate with actions and policies a genuine commitment to a two state solution. the court has suggested steps on the ground that would reverse

current trends and resume the oslo transition in ways that do not affect israel's security at all. and i want to stress that point. increasing palestinian civil authority does not happen at the expense of israeli security. in fact, strengthening the palestinian economy will help security for palestinians and israelis alike. and the palestinians must also meet their commitments. including combating violence and incitement, improving governance , and building their institutions. the steps can be a very important beginning, and they want ever take the place, however, of a real, credible political horizon for two states that meets the legitimate aspirations of both peoples. but these steps could help begin to reduce tensions, build some trust, restore a measure of

hope, open up new possibilities, and hopefully create some political space for people to be able to make bigger, more critical decisions. again, i repeat, i know these are difficult decisions. i understand why is israelis feel the seized. -- feel besieged. i understand why palestinians feel there is no hope. and there will always be a reason not to act. you have to keep those questions i put you in front of you every moment of that time. now is the time to see be on the politics of the moment and to look to the future. both sides need to act in the long-term best interests of their people, not as a kind of concession. it is not a concession. to be doing things that make you safer and broaden the political space to make choices and to

begin to give justice and sense of rectitude to agreements which have been signed. keeps waitingdy for the other person to move first, the risk is the situation spirals downwards and it makes it harder to ever be that first-person the move. we obviously hope that both sides will choose a path that leads towards peace. we want both to show that they are serious. and we will be there every step of the way in every way possible. to support them in that effort. we are ready to bring jordan, egypt, the rest of the gulf states, others to the table for a regional security arrangement that includes israel that will make the entire region safer. and i know that many in the region are absolutely committed to recognizing israel in the way that israel wants to be ward, toed and move for

begin to make the region a financial hub and in agriculture and technology hub for the world -- an agriculture and technology help for the world. we all know from years of discussion an effort this is not an impossible dream. it is achievable, but it demands we never lose hope and we all draw strength from those who have sacrificed so much for peace. the man who was murdered 20 years ago last month is the example of that. the prime minister did to take risks. he dared to take bold initiatives to end the conflict because he knew the answers to some of those questions i posed. because he knew the alternative. because he believed it was essential for the future security and prosperity of the jewish and democratic state of israel, and because he

understood the on the complicating factors, that influenced the events in the region, that this is a struggle that transcends any distinction of national or religious identity. the struggle between people who are intent on opening wounds versus those who want to close them. he is gone. but his legacy in jurors as a challenge and as an inspiration to all of us -- his legacy endures as a challenge and inspiration to all of us. i encourage all of us to use our words and our actions to advance the cause of peace. thank you very much. [applause] [applause] [indistinct chatter]

>> thank you very much, mr. secretary. it is wonderful to have you here again. and that was a really great speech. i just want to say on behalf of everybody here how much we appreciate everything that you do, nor untiring efforts in every regard, not just on is really-calloused any issues, but on the libya and so on. you are an inspiration and we hope that your energy never tires. regard, i got a sense -- mr. kerry: i should ask him all the questions. mr. indyk: [laughter] i was the only one that could ask you questions because i think they are worried about your answers. [laughter] in that regard, there was a

certain sense, i felt, and what you had to say of frustration. and that the underlying message, correct me if i'm wrong, is basically it is up to them now. and it is up to netanyahu and the palestinian authority on the government of israel. in a sense, you have done what you can, and they are going to have to take the steps. is that the message? mr. kerry: not completely. no, not entirely. ome frustrations? sure there is. we made great progress, and they know we really advanced the ball in many different ways. we're close on certain things. and then things got in the way of it. i don't want to go backwards and talk about that, but i think believe we do still have -- i don't think it is just

exclusively up to them, but it is mostly up to them. we can help shape, we can support, we can provide a foundation which will give them confidence that if they do x, y, or z, we will be there, others will be there, and following things will happen. and i think the united states always plays a very critical role in providing that kind of assurance. and we are a, i think, unparalleled convener on the planet. we have the ability to many years of her relationships, -- many years of relationships to be able to bring people to the table to help in these matters. but fundamentally, i say this very respectfully, there are a couple cabinet members here and folks outside the cabinet on the other side of the fence, the

choices are clear. abbas gets weaker, i believe that is a danger for israel. gaza is ready to -- you know -- it is very, very tense. and it is very important for us to take steps with respect to gaza and the west bank together. i think the prime minister has some good ideas about gaza. , obviously, the violence has made the climate a difficult when politicians are screaming at you from one side or the other. it closes the political space. but nevertheless, you have to do what is in the best interest of the country. and it security. thei believe strengthening prime minister -- and it hasn't happened sufficiently for years -- it's critical because if you

don't strengthen the one person who is most committed to nonviolence, you send an incredibly negative message to all the rest of the people who are frustrated. and they will finally say, well, we can't do it that way. they tried it for 30 years. madrid, all these things were done and signed, but nothing happened. you can't do that. you know, you have to give life to these instruments, or want to find ways to give life to them, in order to build that different set of possibilities. right now, you've got a lot of young people growing up in the west bank who don't have jobs, who don't see a future. and the question is: what choices are they going to make? i think israel has a vital national security interest in wanting to do more, and i believe -- i say this nicely -- but i believe there are people

within the security establishment of israel that believe what i just said. so, it is not exclusively up to them, that it is predominantly up to them. and there has got to be a greater indication of the things that both are willing to do to move down this road. mr. indyk: can you -- without violating any diplomatic protocols -- can you give us a sense of what those things should be? mr. kerry: well, an example, oslo called for. oslo divided the west bank into three sectors. a is a sector which has exclusive security and administrative rights to the palestinians. b is a split. security in israel, administrative to palestinians. and c has both in the hands of the israelis. c is 60%, as i just said. regrettably, has seen

multiple incursions of security forces from israel notwithstanding that it is supposed to be exclusively within the jurisdiction of the palestinians. and the reason for that is that israel asserts they don't do it. or that they haven't done things to protect israel. and israel gets wind of some the various activities, so israel is going to resort to self-help. and i'm sympathetic to that. but there should be a greater effort cooperatively with everybody, including us, by the way. we have a role. , weave a person represented work with some of the training, the jordanians do it. we need to do more to guarantee they are getting the job done and uphold the agreement. but more importantly, what we need to do now -- and the reason we need to do this, when i first went over there and we started this process, we put in a whole

bunch of economic measures. opening the bridge for a period of time, increasing the amount of water that flowed paid lowering -- flowed, lowering this or that. we did a lot of things grade some were fully implemented, many were not. the problem is now we are three years down the road with a disappointing process in the intervening time that reduces trust and hope, and so just coming in with the same kinds of measures will not get it done again. to persuadetrying people is to have to go a little further to indicate to the palestinians a political horizon. something that begins to say to them, yes, you can have estate. there is a way to get there. here is what you have to do. and begin to open up some opportunities in area c for them to build, to have some agriculture, do some business, and begin to strengthen themselves. that would began to send a very

different message. it doesn't mean you have a big negotiation, it is not opening up a whole new set of promises for some outcome you can produce, but it is real and tangible in terms of the transition to oslo and to rights. as i said earlier, and does not have any negative impact on israel's security because in area c you would still have a legal right to israel for full security. it only affects their right to build some housing, not to have their houses demolished, and to begin to have some hope. that is one of the steps we are looking for. mr. indyk: and it sends a signal that the area is not going to be in israel's hands for ever. mr. kerry: that is absolutely correct, and that is very important, my friends, because right now because of the municipality laws and because of the settlements that are there, there is a significant reduction

in the availability. there is a lot of area c that has actually been, as i said, taken under state control and therefore not available to palestinians, which raises the questions about whether it is ever going to come back to them or not and where israel is really going with this. so both side have legitimate questions. the other day i was in cyprus. we are working very hard to try to break the frozen conflicts. and i had dinner. leader ofer with the the turk site prints and the leader -- cypriots and the leader of the greek cypriots. and they are talking to each other. we had dinner together. and they sat there and had a discussion about how they cooper -- how they could provide for each other security. that doesn't happen in this

conflict of 30 whatever -- 1948 -- it just doesn't happen. so we have to change the paradigm. and rather than keep blaming each other, we've got to start saying, we've got to build. i just talked to about builders paid we need to build. and that is what we think these policies could begin to do. mr. indyk: what do you want to see mahmoud do? mr. kerry: he needs to change the rhetoric above all. i was very direct with him about the mosques. and there were some very insightful comments made. i think one of the problems is he now doesn't control some of the people, he doesn't control an arab israeli who runs around with a pair of scissors or grabs a knife. in fact, nobody, to some degree, controls that now. that is social media driven. and it is a reflection of some of the challenges we face daesh

in fighting daesh in terms of what is -- we face in fighting daesh in terms of the youthful populations that have no sense of future. the issue here is can the palestinians work to deal with a transition in their own governance, which has to improve? there are levels of some corruption and challenges within the pa that have to be taken on. to texte in addition books, education, maps, things like that. a lot of things that could begin to change that would reflect her israel that the palestinians are working sincerely. but if you are not sitting down isif all you are doing hurling rhetoric at each other on a daily basis, there is no prayer in be getting back on of conversation. other than the security exchanges, which he is responsible for ultimately, there is good cooperation there.

they are working still, despite everything else. if that could be translated to another level, you could begin to break down some of these barriers. mr. indyk: i am very conscious of the presses on your time. so just one more question. in have done an amazing job managing to get all of these external parties around the table, even though, as you said in your speech, they disagree on so much. how do you see them actually getting to agreement between iran with its commitment to the he were to go if they feel that their whole position in the region would go ifthe russians who fear, that he goes there will be chaos, and the saudi's who won't do anything unless he goes -- how do you navigate that? how do deal with the fears about the day after? because that seems to be what

motivates a lot of the concern. mr. kerry: i think the key is that you don't have one day after. process, and this is what we worked very hard to achieve. i had a very constructive meeting with the foreign minister in belgrade the other day on the sidelines of the osce. and that followed a very constructive meeting that president obama and i had with president putin the day before in paris. two days before in paris. where we really talked about these hard kinds of questions. believe it or not, despite all the other problems, it was generally -- genuinely constructive in trying to find answers. i think russia understands, and i think iran is coming to understand, that no matter how

much you might want to keep assad, even if we're the most i could valley and in the world -- even if we were the -- let's say we said we wanted assad and go fight daesh. couldn't do it. you can't do it. there is no way to stop the fighters.r the and remember, most of this is on that side of the ledger. there is no way to stop them from attacking and going after assad as long as he is there. no matter what your feelings are about supporting him, you can't and to the war. -- you can't end the war. and if your goal is to get daesh out of the picture, and are certainly is because part of daesh's attraction is the

fact that it is there and it has this caliphate that is taking on the russia -- taking on russia and the united states and giving people a sense of external assault by the rest of the world, which if you have the right to narrative you can build into a pretty good recruitment tool. and that is what they are doing. and that is the danger. and so if assad stays, those who are continuing to fight assad will attract more jihadis, more daesh. and ultimately it is they who will be the tougher fighters and the better armed and the more perceived as capable of getting rid of assad. then what you have? that is rudy of implosion, not progressive transfer -- that is your day of implosion, not progressive transfer. right now, russia has just plunked itself in, gone into the fight to support their friend

assad but in doing so they are supporting hezbollah, iran, and assad. if you have an interest in having a relationship with the sunni world, which they do, that is not a good equation. so, i think there is a -- there is a reason here. that is what happens always in diplomacy, obviously. or in anything. people have to have a reason for doing something. your interest has to be divine. you have to make it tangible. in this case, russia has lost an aircraft. they have seen what has happened with respect to the heading of their russian citizen the other day. there is -- -- i just saw today's newspapers, which had a report on unrest in russia because of the economic situation. so i think there are reasons we all have to want to end this as

fast as possible. and what we tried to set up is a transitional negotiation where assad has to under the geneva communique begin to dissolve some power. the election is fixed. we all said we are going to have an election. even iran and russia accepted that. iran had its own postal of cease-fire. a constitutional rewrite. a unity government. even iran is pushing for a transition of some kind. and the question here is when and how can we get to the point where it is clear that really assad has to make a choice, and you can have a smooth transition where they are protected, the chris -- christians are protected, the jews are the sunni are protected, and you have all segments of society?

the other thing, as i said, which is not a small deal, is a nonsectarian unified state. it is absolutely vital to have iran, turkey, jordan, lebanon, russia, united states, and all of the other allies and coalition united and wanting a united syria --. now, if russia and iran stand as tolock and allow assad simply stiff the process, and we get no transition at all, then it will be clear who the problem children are. and our options will be narrowed. and we will have to make some to of choices. because we cannot allow this to go on. to the security threat united states and every country in europe. it is not just a threat to europe in terms of what happened in paris or elsewhere.

it is a threat because this migration can alter the politics in europe and an exit stencil way forever. -- an existential way forever. it is a danger to russia appeared they could return to russia and bring it to their muslim population. so there is a lot of reason people, i think, have an interest here. and what we have been doing and i think is the right strategy as we have been trying to underscore to everybody what to their interests are and get them to act on those interests. and if we can do that successfully, we may get somewhere. i am not sitting here saying this will work. i'm saying it could if everybody plays the role, making the right choice of the road to go down. but if they don't, we are still going to have to go destroy daesh.

we are just going to have to decide to do it in a different way. mr. indyk: mr. secretary, as you head off to paris again, i think i can speak for everybody here. , andsh you god's speed thank you for all that you do. [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter] [indistinct chatter] president obama addresses the nation tonight from the oval office. he is expected to talk about the ongoing investigation into the

shootings in san bernardino, california, as well as steps the u.s. is taking to counterterrorist threat. attorney general loretta lynch was asked what to expect from the president's speech. >> the president understands that the country is very concerned about this issue. and i think what you will hear from him is a discussion about what the government is doing to protect the american people. i think you will talk about the steps the u.s. has taken to keep the american people safe. you may hear him call on congress to take action as well. i think he will call on the american people to pull out the best in themselves and not give into peer at this time. >> is this time for a gun-control conversation? >> we are in the middle of that conversation. we always are. we are talking about this terrible san bernardino shooting now. a week ago, we were talking about planned parenthood in

colorado. , or a gun problem violence problem? isi think dealing with guns one way to handle the violent crime issues we have in this country. announcer: we will bring you the president's address to the nation live tonight at 8:00 eastern here on c-span. we will follow with your calls and reaction on facebook and twitter. right now, we are asking what you want to hear from the president tonight. go to facebook.com/c-span and leave a comment. or you can send us a tweet using the twitter handle @cspan. persons having business before the honorable, the supreme court of the united states, give their attention. announcer: monday on c-span's "landmark cases," we will look at baker versus carr. it rolled federal courts could intercede in disputes in the

drawing of election districts. enn called it the most important during his time. >> they live and five of the largest cities in tennessee. they are the actual victims of a statutory scheme, which devalues, reduces their right to 1/20 the value. announcer: population shifts in states like tennessee had a majority of voters from rural areas move into the cities, yet those world districts held voting power equal to the larger urban districts. so a group of voters from nasa, memphis, and knoxville challenged the disparity and took their case all the way to the supreme court. it became a major milestone in supreme court activism and has

continuing relevance today. joining us in the discussion, theodore olson and douglas smith. that is live monday night at 9:00 eastern on c-span, c-span and c-span radio. case,ckground on each order your copy of "landmark cases" companion book at c-span.org/landmarkcases. a marble bust of former vice president dick cheney was in bill this past week at the u.s. capitol. the ceremony included remarks from the former vice president, as well as former president george w. bush, joe biden, and several lawmakers. this is one hour. >> -- on rules and

administration, roy blunt. senate president pro tempore, orrin hatch --. speaker of the house of representatives, paul ryan. president, george w. bush. and vice president, dick cheney. [applause] [applause] [indistinct chatter]

>> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of the colors by the united states armed forces color guard, the singing of our national anthem, and the retiring of our colors. >> ♪ >> halt.

>> ♪ o say can you see ♪ by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight over the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there star-spangledt banner yet wave

the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ >> halt. forward. >> ♪

gentlemen, please stand as the chaplain of the united states senate, dr. black, gives the invitation. -- invocation. >> let us pray. refuge and, our strength, as we begin this unveiling ceremony of the marble bust of vice president take cheney, -- dick cheney, we thank you for his service to you and country. remembering the many years he labored in the political arena. we are grateful for your gifts of people who are passionate about keeping this nation strong.

keep viceo bless and president cheney and his loved inspirationreceive from his contributions. ,emind us that with your power we are strong enough to overcome the difficulties that trouble our nation and world. lord, strengthen our commitment to you and country by turning our thoughts towards hope, our hearts towards justice, and our hands towards works of peace. name.y in your cyber amen.

>> please, be seated. >> ladies and gentlemen, the chairman of the senate committee on rules and administration, the honorable roy blonde. >> welcome this morning. it is a great opportunity for us to be here and be part of this presentation of welcoming vice president cheney officially to the capitol as part of the collection that the senate started in 1885. 130 years ago, the senate decided it would be appropriate to recognize the vice in his job as president of the senate. certainly we get to recognize spent a lot of time in the senate as vice president and before, the 46th vice

president of the united states, dick cheney. impact on theheir country is an important part of history. as we celebrate the event today, -- we get a chance to welcome the former members of the house and senate, some of whom you will hear from, former members of the cabinet, justice scalia, and of course by president bush and vice president biden. asare particularly pleased the vice president is to be here with his family. it is an important part of his great partner, mrs. cheney. she has been a partner in so many other things. she has written great children's

history and adult history. a wonderful book, speaker ryan, on speakers of the house, when , ands serving in the house lucky to have her come last year and visit about groundbreaking book on james madison. a member ofeney was the house, i remember him telling me that he and others founded the dennis thatcher society. mrs. cheney was the chairman of the national endowment for humanities. they thought they should band together and see what it was like to have a spouse with a more powerful job than they had. they have been great partners and when mrs. cheney said she captured theam had character of the vice president, whom she and the vice president got to see the bus for the first time, that was probably the most important indication that anything -- everything was going

to work out all right. we also have members of their family here with us today. this is the second bust he has done, part of the vice presidential collection. third, the bust he is doing as we're talking today. he is planning that. vice president cheney, welcome back to the capital. man withrs said the the easiest job in the country was the vice president because all he had to do was get up every day and say, how is the president doing? [laughter] presidents and recent vice presidents have changed the job a lot. since will rogers would have said that, every vice president starting with john adams, has done a lot to make their own impact on the country and uniquely have the opportunity to make an impact on congress.

dick cheney brought to the vice presidency a preparation of a lifetime of service. no nonsense approach, the willingness to solve problems, made him an influential and an active part of president bush's administration. job in washington is to be a fellowship in the capital. six years later, he is the chief of staff for the president of the united states. his 10 years in the house, he was the chairman of the republican conference, the republican whip, and when i have that job, i was the majority whip. for a little while, i lost the votes. dick cheney was the only minority whip who never lost a vote because the president us

his father asked him to be secretary of defense before he could ever with a vote. [laughter] he holds a lot of distinction in the history of the country. it is an honor to be a part of this presentation today and it will be a great honor to see him, recognize, and remember with this bust. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [applause] mitch mcconnell: richard cheney. he has had one of the most

interesting careers and one of the most fascinating lives of anyone you would ever want to meet. as for roy indicated, chief of staff, secretary of defense, member of congress in wyoming, house minority whip, vice president to person george -- president george w. bush. many have spent their lives in pursuit of just one of these offices and many have failed in , that he succeeded i think says quite a lot about him. when dick cheney says his death sets his mind to something, he is determined to achieve it. it is a trait he is well known for. here is another one. dick cheney loves his family. i want to say how much i enjoyed

the biography of james madison. i've read a few others, yours, thingsly, and one of the george and i agree on is we think he is our favorite president who went to princeton. the other one being woodrow wilson, engulfed in some bit of controversy lately. he loves his daughter's obviously as well. for all the vice president us is well-deserved reputation, as a man of action, we know she is a real force in the family. scholar, public servant, a strong woman never afraid to share her opinion on an issue. dick cheney might be tough, but she is tougher. i think the vice president is just fine with that. what is interesting to me as a member of the senate, and it is a reason that we are gathered here today, dick cheney was not

just of the united states, but the president of the united states senate. presidents do several but not the one we are honoring today. was vice president, he was up at our policy lunch. an active member of the senate. he sat there like a sponge and soaked up the information and we could rarely get him to say anything. think not that we did not he was getting strong opinions, but figuring out what we were up to. one of the instances i remember to the viceelates president's only opportunity to vote. that is to break a tie. here is the setting. modest deficit reduction package which we would do through the senate

reconciliation. we could do it with 51 votes. i was the guy in charge of counting the votes. i counted and recounted and recounted. at the55 republicans time. i can only get 250. here is the complication. dick was in pakistan. countnot want to have the be incorrect. i had to call him in pakistan eight and a half times along the way. i said, we need you to come back. i sweated as he flew all the way back hoping we in fact have a tie and alas, we did anddick broke the tie. that was my most memorable moment in the senate.

he eventually made his way back after all of those and mercifully, i was right in my account. we have had with us a president and vice president who have taken very different paths in their post presidency and post vice presidency. one continues to engage passionately in the debates of today p writes and speaks, lets his opinion be known in no uncertain terms. other is viewed in a different way. he has done important work but has stayed home in the background. humanitarian work and something else. he thinks. who can say which role is the leftct one when you've both of these important offices? it is a matter of personal opinion. forward toooking

seeing president bush's's masterpieces. thank you for gathering today. andk you president bush vice president cheney for all of your remarkable service to our country for many, many years. thank you very much. [applause] >> speaker of the house of representatives, congressman paul ryan. mr. ryan: thank you very much. i want to welcome all of you to the capitol visitor's center. the way i see it, nobody could accuse dick cheney of living an inconsequential life.

he was working in the white house on 9/11. he oversaw operation desert storm. he worked at the side of gerald ford as that man restore the presidency. he dedicated his life to public service. this is a man who witnessed the very first drawing of the laffer curve. [laughter] given my position, i am especially interested in his career as a congressman. he was elected in 1978. he served in the house for 10 years. he literally wrote the book on this place with his wife. he vigorously supported ronald reagan in those times. over that time, he rose in the ranks. the list of people he knew and people he befriended is like a who's who of the conservative movement. he succeeded jack kemp.

newt gingrich seceded him as the house republican whip. he moved among giants in american politics. he is one himself. he left the house to become our defense secretary. he went on to serve as the president of the upper chamber which we and has prefer to call, that other chamber. then he was never heard from again. [laughter] i think one thing people forget about vice president cheney is that he is a funny guy. i study the debates because i had my on presidential debate and if you remember, the 2000 vice presidential debate, he is up against joe lieberman peerage joe lieberman is talking over the boom times under president clinton and he says, i am pleased to see dick that you are better off than you were eight years ago. i can tell you that the government had absolutely nothing to do with it.

joe lieberman continues, i can see my wife and i think she is thinking, gee, i wish we could go into the private sector without missing a beat -- dick cheney says, i'm going to try to help you do that, joe. this runs in the family. years later, when the vice president had his critics, he asked his wife, does it bug you when people refer to me as darth vader? and she said, no, it humanizes you. [laughter] [applause] and that is what i am always going to remember about the cheney family. that calm determination, the fierce love of country.

through all of the years, through war and peace, he did all he could to keep this country safe. and we all over him a tremendous debt of gratitude. thank you, vice president cheney. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the 43rd president of the united states, george w. bush. [applause] george w. bush: thank you for the warm welcome. lynn and family, i am delighted to be here. i must confess, i am somewhat reluctant to come back to

washington. the last time i showed appear, i was hanged in the white house. this time, i return only to find my vice president getting busted in the capital. i really appreciate you being here, thank you for coming. i want to thank paul ryan for his leadership. he is trying out for the abraham lincoln look-alike contest. mitch, when dick cheney was the leader, mitch was the minority leader appeared as majority -- leader. as majority leader, mitch is in charge now. as a matter of fact, he assured me that dick cheney's bust would be prominently displayed in an undisclosed location.

thank you roy blunt and for organizing this event. william behrens is the sculptor pete i can't wait to see what it looks like peter meissner had a time somebody did with me and i looked like alfred a newman. over the years, i have a chance to meet a number of his predecessors. i have known one my whole life. lastly, i told mom and dad i was coming here for the bust unveiling. dad perked up and said, send my best regards to old ironass. [laughter] [applause] dick, that is indeed a badge of honor or the 43rd vice

president, and the 41st president asked me to give you his heartfelt congratulations. he and mom join us in thanking you for your selfless service. dick is a man of the west and i find it interesting he was the son of a soil conservation service employee, that he laid powerlines for a living before he got his degree from the university of wyoming after he got kicked out of the al. he first came to this town in the late 1960's as a phd student working on his dissertation. which probably explains the special affection he has always attracted from the world of academia. as others have mentioned, his experience mattered. when i asked him to the head of the vice presidential search

committee, as he likes to tell people, if you ever get asked to chair such a committee, do it. the truth is, i knew that dick cheney had the character and judgment that i needed as a running mate. he had the experience to step in as commander-in-chief if i were to get hit by a bus or choke on a pretzel. and fortunately, he agreed to serve. for eight years, i benefited from his wise counsel. he was a principal and trusted advisor on the most difficult questions. he is an effective advocate on capitol hill. he did an exceptional job discharging his two days as the president of the senate. every time he cast a vote, we

won. [laughter] [applause] although he did not spend much time speaking on the floor, he managed to convey a lot in a few words. just ask senator leahy. people ask, do i miss washington? the answer is, not really weird i loved our time here but i'm happy to be home. i miss some things i miss saluting those who wear the uniform and i miss my friends. and dick cheney is one of those friends. i always look forward to our weekly lunches. i could always count on him to take on any tough assignment and i could always trust that the advice he offered was given with our country's best interest at heart. he became acting president for two hours and five minutes in july, 2007. while i was undergoing an undisclosed medical exam. he wrote the only document ever

signed by an acting president, a letter to his grandchildren. in classic dick cheney fashion, he offered them could vice, to always strive to do what is right. for eight years, dick cheney stood by my side and always did what was right for our nation. i cannot of asked for a better vice president. we cannot of asked for the better vice president than dick cheney. he is a man who loves his country and really loves his family. laura and i are proud to call

him and his wonderful daughters friends. i'm glad his likeness will be an everlasting presence in these halls of democracy. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the united states, joe biden. vice president biden: thank you. as i look around this room, i want to say thank you for letting me crash a family reunion. [laughter] i'm afraid i said to dick i walked by that i'm afraid i have blown his cover. i actually like dick cheney. [laughter] i'm on the other family. i'm nothing but inordinate respect for you, and i mean that sincerely. we started about the same time. your little bit earlier, and the late 60's. i got elected and 72, president

nixon was president. when gerald ford took on that awesome responsibility at a difficult time he turned to somebody to be a strong, guiding hand. he picked the right guy. mr. speaker, you said that no one would challenge the statement he then went on to make. i would say that anyone who is thinking about challenging dick cheney should think twice before they set about doing it. when we changed houses, there was a change going on. he showed me the bottom of the white house with a were manacles on the wall and there were skeletons, and dick in the cartoon looked at me and said you may want to renovate a little bit. [laughter] there was no such thing in the

white house. the only thing we ever received from the cheney's was there good wishes. and the way tried to help us out. i say to your daughters, and all your family, the thing that my family has cared deeply. i hope we communicated that about his health and i'm glad to see him in such a great health. i want to thank your whole family for the kindness you have shown when i lost my son. and the generosity you showed contributing to a memorial. it means a lot. it's a part of washington people don't see enough of a. we have seldom had direct conflict, but we have gone at each other's ideas.

i can say, without fear of contradiction, there was never one single time a harsh word. not one single time in our entire relationship. not only to one another, but about one another. that is what i think is most desperately missing today in washington, d.c. you questioned their judgment, but not the motive. i learned that lesson a long time ago from who was then the leader of the senate mike mansfield. i came in and our friend orrin hatch, there was a guy from

south carolina who got elected -- jesse helms. i kept in touch with his wife. i will remember walking on the floor when i would show up. i did not particularly want to be in the senate and that time. i wound up once a week at the office of the majority leader. he would give me, every tuesday, assignments. i had just turned 30. i thought that is what happened. leaders give assignments for real. i realized after the fact he was just taking my pulse. what i had been through, i said i would only stay six months. a lot of people wish i had kept that commitment. one day i walked in and the men later became my friend jesse helms -- i had to go to my meeting with the leader. i guess i looked upset. what's the matter, i went on to really go after jesse. why would he not help, i went on

and on. i never forget what he said to me. he said joe, what would you say if i told you that in 1969 sitting in the living room in raleigh before christmas there was an advertisement in the observer. as a young man said all he wanted for christmas with someone to love him and adopt him. what would you say if i told you they went down and adopted that young man, which they did. i said i would feel like a fool. he said to joe, it is always appropriate to question of the man's judgment, but not their motive because you don't know the motive. when you question motive it is virtually impossible to reach consensus. dick and i could argue like hell about everything from domestic to foreign policy, but if we went at each other in personal ways there would be no possibility to reach a resolution.

quite frankly, mr. president, that is why i enjoyed working with you. i came more than any other democrat, i spend time with you. we disagree, but it really never was disagreeable. i might add that if my dad were here he would look at you and say he had, you got the good blood. your father -- why the bushes chose the cheney's. when a phone call saying we would like to meet with you. he said he wanted to come to my hotel. i thought that was inappropriate, it is the

president of the united states i should visit him. but your dad insisted, he came in on a wheelchair. his agenda was welcoming me to houston. he thought it was appropriate. so dick, your career, as i look back on it because it was the same time frame, i don't think that there are many vice presidents -- or presidents -- who have been in the eye of the storm on so many critical events. from the transition of a presidency in the wake of an impeachment, to several wars, to

the genesis that threatens the social fabric of the world. the thing about you that i have admired most is that you are absolutely steady. absolutely steady and thoughtful. we disagree a lot. but i really mean it. it is amazing. there is one other thing that i would like to mention. at i was riding up i was thinking you know, the truth of the matter is that they should unveil a family bust. because with your incredibly talented daughters, he did not do this on his own.

he really didn't. that sound like hyperbole. but it isn't. the truth is, you have the same intellect and backbone that he has, so do your daughters. i want to thank them personally for the phone calls. this is a family affair. this doesn't just happen. one man cannot take on as many critical roles at critical moments without the overwhelming support of their family. it is not easy.

so, from now on i will propose that it be a family bust. because i know, speaking for myself, i've no doubt -- i cannot speak for dick and never presume to -- but this recognition today goes to you as much as it does to him. i mean that sincerely. you know, i consider it a privilege to know you. to have known you, watched you work, i just wished i could've changed her your mind on a half a dozen things. [laughter] all kidding aside, you have been a great asset to this country. the way you will personally conducted yourself as a model for anyone in high public office in this country. thank you all very much. [applause] >> mr. cheney and the cheney grandchildren are here to unveil

this. vice president and is something almost nobody gets to do. if you would join your family, we will see what this looks like. >> all right, are you ready? [applause]

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the 46th vice president of the united states, dick cheney. [applause]

vice president cheney: thank you all very much. i appreciate you hosting this event today. i'm grateful to the friends and former colleagues that are with us. i'm especially proud to note one friend in particular, mr. president thank you very much for being here for all the years we shared together. we are happy that all of you