but they mentioned [inaudible] -- barbara jordan, let's talk a bit about her because i think that she is kind of -- we don't hear as much about barbara jordan. >> it's very interesting how much courage and reputation has faded from -- it's tragic. it's tragic really but yes, i talked about when she gave in 1976 the democratic -- >> she was bad. >> she was amazing. obama was great but should -- she was amazing. >> you got your credit back with me. [laughter] >> i said that in the book. i also point out letters she got. she got letters from white voters, identifying themselves as white voters saying before i heard you speak i would have never considered a woman -- >> this is 1976. >> i would never consider a woman candidate or never consider a black candidate but to have opened my eyes to the possibility. >> that is astounding. >> certain things had already begun to take place in the culture. >> you write this whole idea of reaching across the dial is nothing new -- well, it isn't something new that he's talking about when he talked about reaching across the nile. like a blanket had don

then barbara jordan. they were mentioned and not in the same depth. and i just, but barbara jordan really, and i think let's talk a bit about her because i think she's kind of, i mean, we don't hear as much about her. >> it's very interesting how, how much her image and reputation has faded from american -- it's tragic really. not yet, i talk about, when she gave in 1976, she gave the democratic keynote. she was amazing. obama was great but he was no greater. she was, she was amazing. >> you get your credit back with me. >> i say that in the book. [laughter] >> but i point to the letter she got. she got letters from white voters identifying themselves as white voters saying before he heard you speak i would never have considered a woman. >> 1976 be? 1976. or never considered a black candidate, but you have opened my eyes to that possibility. so i mean, certain things had already begun to take place in the culture of. >> and you write this whole idea of reaching across the aisle is nothing new for, i mean, it's not something new that he's talking about

the first black person to do a keynote address was barbara jordan in 1976 but then back-to-back in 2000 in los angeles and this was a convention by the way barack obama could not attend. he couldn't get in or even get credentials by 2004. his fortunes have changed and he gave an extraordinary speech. >> host: catapulted. >> guest: it catapulted to the senate because he wasn't a senator and then to the white house to a i would say yes he was the only person in that context who could have won. >> host: colin powell who declined to run in 1996 was someone who polled really well. was he someone who could have been elected president of this country? >> guest: i think colin powell would have had a tough time getting the party nomination and he knew that come to back because colin powell is a republican who is much more in a moderate gain of the kind of republicanism that is now a lost art and i think if people like nelson rockefeller. there is a republican party of the rockefeller wing of the republican party which were moderates compared to contemporary republicans so i think colin powell is

the first black person dressed to do a keynote address was barbara jordan in 1976 but then an back-to-back in 2000 los angeles and this was a commissioned by the way that barack obama could not attend. >> host: i was there. >> guest: he couldn't even get in, couldn't get credentials. by 2004 his credentials for change in a given extra newspeak or. that catapulted him really to the senate because he wasn't a senator when he gave a speech and then to the white house. i was was a guest that he was the only person in that context who could have won. >> host: : powell who declined to run in 1996 with someone who pulled really well. was he someone who could have been elected president of this country? >> guest: will you think colin powell would've had a tough time getting his party's elimination. colin powell is a republican who's much more in a moderate theme of the kind of republicanism that is now a lost art. and i think people like nelson rockefeller -- there is a republican party of the rockefeller wing of the republican party, which were really moderates compared to contemporary republican

the first black person dressed to do a keynote address was barbara jordan in 1976 but then an back-to-back in 2000 los angeles and this was a commissioned by the way that barack obama could not attend. >> host: i was there. >> guest: he couldn't even get in, couldn't get credentials. by 2004 his credentials for change in a given extra newspeak or. that catapulted him really to the senate because he wasn't a senator when he gave a speech and then to the white house. i was was a guest that he was the only person in that context who could have won. >> host: : powell who declined to run in 1996 with someone who pulled really well. was he someone who could have been elected president of this country? >> guest: will you think colin powell would've had a tough time getting his party's elimination. colin powell is a republican who's much more in a moderate theme of the kind of republicanism that is now a lost art. and i think people like nelson rockefeller -- there is a republican party of the rockefeller wing of the republican party, which were really moderates compared to contemporary republican