on the broadcast tonight -- into the fray over health care reform. the president pushes back against his critics. who is winning this debate? strong medicine. beyond all the heated rhetoric, all the noise, bringing free health care to those who need it most. finally, at long last, gm is out with its car of the future. available soon. an astounding mpg number. but there is a catch.shriver, sister of a president, and hero but there is a catch.shriver, sister of a president, and hero

captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. if the president thought that by showing up at a town meeting in new hampshire today he was going to at least sample some of the noise and action and anger that we have seen at other gatherings across this country. he was mistaken. if he came fixing for a fight. he didn't get one. not today. it was a polite gathering unlike so many others. the anger isn't just over health care, but it has proven to be a catalyst. our chief white house correspondent chuck todd was in new hampshire with the president today. starts us off from portsmouth tonight. chuck, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. well from the outside the stage did appear set out here for the president to face some really tough critics. just like these members of congress are facing. but that wasn't the case on the inside.

divided only by a street and a few of portsmouth's finest. supporters and detractors of president obama's health care plan spent plenty of time, banging drums and yelling. as they waited for a chance to cheer or jeer, the president's motorcade. but the president skirted the crowd taking a back way. before emerging in a high school gym to a very friendly audience. still, the president found himself spending much of his time saying what his plan is not going to do. >> this is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. so i just want to assure we are not talking about cutting medicare benefits. i am not promoting a single pay plan. >> he used humor to push back on some of the wilder accusations. >> the rumor that has been circulating a lot lately is this idea that somehow the house of representatives voted for death

panels that will basically pull the plug on grandma. i am not in favor of that. >> reporter: he said his request for e-mails from americans who disagree with him is portrayed unfairly. >> suddenly some news outlets this is portrayed as obama collecting an enemy's list. now, come on, guys. >> reporter: as for the q & a, the president seemed determined to find skeptics which wasn't easy in this crowd. >> as i was walking in i saw a lot of signs outside saying mean things about reforming health care. >> i have seen some of those signs. >> but he found one skeptic, maine republican, ben hersingen. >> i am a republican. i don't know what i am doing here. >> we are happy to have you. >> reporter: he questioned the president on a public option, government-run health insurance plan. >> people say how can a private company compete against the government. >> reporter: the president answered his own question with a

shot at the post tal sal servic. if you think about it, ups and fed-ex are doing just fine. right? no, they are. it's the post office that is always having problems. >> but this man who didn't vote for obama wasn't convinced. >> he did a lot more studying than i thought he was going to do. let's see what happens. we need reform. >> reporter: the president pleaded for more folks to talk to each other not over one another. >> where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not the wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that is actually been proposed. >> reporter: outside, janet dillon of massachusetts proudly showed off a hitler caricature that her mother stayed up until 1:00 a.m. making for today's protest. >> under obama's plan, she along with other elderly people will not get the care that they deserve. they will be given the bill to make them comfortable while they die. >> reporter: while gordon miller shot back. >> the president needs to just come out swinging right now.

>> reporter: some supporters like danny burke left the townhall wishing they had learned more. >> i wish he had tougher questions. >> reporter: now, brian this is the first of three townhalls the president is going to have this week. two more, one in montana, one in colorado. but if he didn't get any heat here in new hampshire, it's probably unlikely he'll get real heat in colorado or montana. brian. chuck todd starting us off tonight. chuck, thanks. the sent m we have been talking about, anger, expressed at members of congress home for their summer recess one on full display again today elsewhere. and as nbc's anne thompson tells us tonight, health care is just one subject that has some americans feeling worried and downright angry. >> reporter: today pennsylvania senator arlen specter came face to face with what is now a familiar scene. >> he is right? >> he -- >> my constitutional! >> this is maoist china. >> reporter: voter anger at a townhall abut health care.

buflt the anger is not always about health care. this man erupted when he was not chosen to speak. >> i got news for you, that you and your cronies in the government do this kind of stuff all the time. >> reporter: and this self described conservative republican railed against the direction of the country. >> what are you going to do to restore this country back to what our founders created, according to the constitution? >> if people have really -- >> reporter: when the discussion turned to health care reform this woman made it personal for the senator who survived cancer. >> what it says is, as a 74-year-old man, if you develop cancer we're pretty much going to write you off. what are you going to do about it? you are here because of the plan we have now. >> well, you are just not right. nobody 74 is going to be written off because they have cancer, that's a vicious, malicious, untrue rumor.

>> reporter: for 60 years health care reform has polarized americans. but this time, there is something more. >> is there fear here? yes there is. it is mixed in with anxiety and a sense that people have, things are being take any way from me. my home isn't worth what it was. my retirement account. i don't know if i will keep my job. well at least i want to keep my health care. at least that is working. >> reporter: the fear stretches from the streets of maryland. >> you want it to be more efficient and cheaper. you want the government to do it. come on. katrina, medicare, medicaid, anyone. >> reporter: to anchorage, alaska. >> you don't know what you are for, you don't know what is in the bill? >> you do? >> yes, i do. >> you like it? >> the anger became physical at the senator's townhall in hillsboro, missouri where voters refused to by her assurance there will not be a single

payer's system. >> you don't trust me? >> no! >> but even in the most raucous meet g meetings there are those who want change. >> i am here to say i am happy you are dealing with health care reform. it is something our country need. >> analysts on both side of the aisle say one of the problems in this debate is the lack of specifics. the white house is letting congress come up with a bill. an that vacuum of information is getting filled by misinformation. such as those death panels. complicating what was already a contentious and emotional issue. brian. >> it couldn't beep hotter right now than it is. anne thompson. thanks as always. now we have an illustration of just how big the problem of affordable health care has become in this country. a group of doctors who started out providing free medical services in third-world country has also been working in this country. and they have been seeing more americans ask for their help than ever before. nbc's miguel amagure is with us

from los angeles. miguel, good evening. good evening, brian. a volunteer army of more than 800 people working the floors behind me since 4:00 a.m. they won't go home for several hours. and this is just day one. they streamed in by the hundred. camping out overnight, just for the chance to see a doctor. many say they're hurting for health care. some are literally in pain. angel rivera has a tooth problem. how desperate would you describe yourself to get some help? >> desperate enough that i was going to take the damn thing out with a pair of pliers. >> reporter: well before dawn, just about every race and every age packed overflowed bleachers. only 1,500 can be seen today. hundreds were turned away. it's first come, first serve for free health care here. >> there is a lot of people in need. >> who has number 51. >> reporter: those with a ticket into the l.a. forum found a sports complex turned mobile hospital. this woman has a temp job, no

insurance. she hasn't seen a doctor in five years. she has never had a mammogram. >> i can come here and get everything done at once. >> reporter: remote area medical, r.a.m. began working in developing countries back in 1985. here at home, they focus on rural communities without medical services. but the need for free health care has become so dire in this country, for the first time ever, r.a.m. is making stops in major cities like los angeles. stan brock is the founder. >> the people that are coming to these events are simply those that don't have access or cannot afford the care they need. >> reporter: even for many of them. free health care is the only health care they could afford. >> are you shocked by what you are seeing here? >> no. i were i was shocked. i wish that nobody was here. but we know the need is here. and if anything it is just -- it's heartbreaking. >> reporter: heartbreaking for doctors. but the reality for so many here. 12 hours later, this woman still

considers herself lucky. >> i am grateful to be here today to get this done. >> reporter: she has a job. and today she has her health care. organizers here say the need is so great this operation will extend for another seven days. by the time it is over, brian, more than 8,000 people will have received free health care. in los angeles tonight, miguel, thanks. as we continue along the way on a tuesday night. gm unveils its long-awaited hybrid. is 230 miles per gallon to be believed? later, the kennedy who was being remembered tonight for the mark she left on the world. and. but how close are you to your goals? there may be more you can do. only caduet combines two proven medicines... in a single pill to significantly lower... high blood pressure and high cholesterol. in a clinical study of patients... with slightly elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, caduet helped 48% reach both goals in just 4 weeks.

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general motors today unveiled a long-awaited car, an electric hybrid that is designed to show they are not to be counted out just yet. miles per gallon registering in the triple digits. phil lebeau covers the auto industry for nbc and for us. and tonight at the test track in millford, michigan. phil, good evening. good evening, brian. behind me the chevy volt, an electric car that comes out late next year. general motors believes this car will not only change the way americans drive it will also energize the company trying to rebound from bankruptcy. ♪ >> reporter: it is a stunning claim. general motors says its hybrid electric chevy volt will get the equivalent of 230 miles per

gallon when it goes on sale next year. >> having a car that gets triple digit fuel economy, we believe, can and vil be a game changer for us. >> reporter: the volt which can be recharged through any standard outlet is primarily powered by lithium ion batteries. the first 40 miles are all electric. after that a small gas engine helps the electric motor allowing you to go a total of 300 miles. >> we are very confident in the 230. and to tell you the truth we discounted it a little bit because we hope in the final certification, i wouldn't be surprised to see it even a little higher than that. >> reporter: the epa sets fuel economy ratings for all vehicles and says it has not tested a chevy volt and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by gm. critics are questioning the math. >> i don't think for any stretch of the imagination that general motors is fudging anything. there is nothing to compare it to particularly without any formula for finding out how they derived it. >> reporter: gm is not the only auto company developing aan

electric car. nissan, toyota and ford are also doing it. here it is the chevy volt. >> reporter: from its introduction through the test drives of prototypes the volt has been billed as the great green hope. >> driving right now the thing that stand out to me is -- it is a very smooth feeling. >> reporter: at an estimated price of $40,000, the volt's appeal may be limited. especially if gas prices stay low. so despite its mileage claims, the volt may give gm only a limited charge. >> a small volume vehicle. so the impact will obviously be in public relations and goodwill. >> reporter: to put the volt's 230 miles per gallon in some perspective. consider this the average american car gets about 22 to 23 miles per gallon. brian if the volt meets expectations it will be ten times more fuel efficient than the average on the road now. >> phil we have seen americans

step up and buy american cars to try to help out. for the folks who want one of these is there any way of nailing chevy down about show room time. you say late 2010, does that mean september, december? >> right. >> no specific month has been named. i would expect probably fourth quarter of next year. again, estimated price is going to be $40,000. a little steep. if you are looking at fuel prices at the pump being over $4 a gallon you know a lot of people will be interested in this car. all right. phil, thanks as always. an update on a story we brought you last night about the house of representatives plan to add $330 million to the air force budget to buy four high-end jets, two gulf streams, two boegz for use by government and military officials. the plan met with considerable opposition. that is an understatement. including the pentagon itself. and last night, house democratic leaders backed off, said they would drop the idea entirely. when we come back here tonight, another health study.

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eunice kennedy shriver has died at age 88. today outside the legendary kennedy compound, hyannisport, massachusetts, members of the most prominent political family gathered. late today we learned that funeral services will be held on friday for a woman who in her time changed the lives of so many americans.

plane crash, her older brother jack, 35th president of the united states, was killed by an assassin, so was her brother bobby. but in a way it was eunice's sister rosemary who influenced her life to such a great extent. for years rosemary was a kind of kennedy family secret. at age 23 she was given an experimental lobotomy to control her mood swings referred to at the time as mild retardation. the gruesome operation left her largely inca pass tatd for the rest of her life. her sister eunice first talked about it in a 1962 magazine article and from then on became a champion of the disabled, notably in one very big way. >> let me win, but if i cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

>> eunice kennedy shriver was a founder of the special olympics which for decades has offered hope and promise for the disabled through competition. >> the world said that people with intellectual problems should not be seen in public. tonight you are part of the largest sporting event in the world is watching. >> eunice kennedy shriver has labored on behalf of america's least powerful people. >> when president reagan awarded her the medal of freedom, a quarter century ago, the highest civilian honor in the nation it was for a lot more than special olympics, it was for the federal center she founded in the 60s that now bears her name as part of nih, and another center at the university of utah, and a life's work on mental retardation. while a lifelong liberal, democart, she was a lifelong opponent of abortion. she said based on her strong catholic faith. >> thank you very much. thank you. she was married to sargent shriver for 56 years.

he ran the peace corps, was ambassador to france, and ran for vice president under george mcgovern. while months ago, he slipped into the twi liflight of alzhei disease, sargent shriver survives her. eunice kennedy shriver was the mother of five including a long time member of the nbc family, the current first lady of california, maria shriver. >> ever since i was little she worked, she was successful in a man's world, she never took no for an answer. she never asked my brothers or myself if we wanted to work with her. she just gave us the ball and sent us out there. >> she insisted her life was full of great blessings. but it is the public traj deeps the american people remember. and in the case of eunice kennedy shriver, enormous public service. eunice kennedy shriver's son bobby famously said a few years back about his mom, quote, she never ran for office, and she

changed the world. eunice kennedy shriver was 88. that is our broadcast for this tuesday evening. thank you for being with us. i am brian williams. we hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. good night.