with me now is tom brokaw. tom, you've been open to your opposition in that decision to go to war in iraq. when you saw president obama today trying to really make out it had been a victory and all been worth it, did you agree with him? >> what i think, is and i think it's a complex question, by the way, what i think is however we feel about the decision to go to war in iraq and put the biggest emphasis on that as opposed to afghanistan and how we conducted that war and how unprepared we were for the realities on the ground with ieds and with the kind of uprising that occurred, the decision, for example, to disarm the baath party that was loyal to saddam hussein. however we feel about all that, i think you have to give great credit to the american military because these are all volunteers. and they represent less than 1% of the population. they went willingly and did a brilliant job of adapting to the new warfare on the ground. it was never more true that great military line about all battle plans come apart wh

brokaw's comments. but first, mad as hell, senator bernie sanders joins us next on the disconnect between washington and the rest of the united states. plus, the holiday menu in washington, pigs in a blanket, mini meatballs, and a healthy serving of wall street cash ealth probiotic cap a day helps defends against occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating. with three strains of good bacteria to help balance your colon. you had me at "probiotic." [ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement insurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to 80% of your part b expenses. if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company, helps cover some of the medical expenses... not paid by medicare part b. that can save you up to thousa

you all the owe who'd tom brokaw is. the last few years i have asked the various for a biography written buy themselves in seven words. the haiku of sorts if maybe tom brokaw and i will talk about. [laughter] so he sends me the following seven words. it's i ask for seven and they gave me 27. no. he knows the assignment. he said curious. talkative. impulsive. impatient. forgetful am i. tom brokaw. [applause] ♪ >> that was for you. you love to frank sinatra. >> i do. eye hand the experience my generation he was larger than life in many ways and i encountered not always pleasantly but all i was a reporter he did not like to be in the news especially the way he got himself there. he would do something inappropriate and we would report to the next day his public relations person would come to see me to say. frank doesn't think you are aware that he is underwriting and northridge in mexico. [laughter] for some good deed. i said i did hear about that that does not excuse the bar brawl that he was involved. or whenever. then one

tom brokaw "anchor man anchor man." tonight i'll ask him about this generation of the end of the war. >> we're ending the war with a final march towards home. this is an extraordinary achievement. >> this is politics. >> the protests at home and around the world. and his new book, "the time of our lives," what he thinks america needs now. >> this is what we can learn from our time. >> top of the hour, this is "piers morgan tonight." >>> tom brokaw's one of my journalistic heroes. he says exactly the saying, the nbc anchor of nbc news for 22 years announcing his retirement in the wake of 9/11. he's now an author "the time of our lives." tom, welcome. >> piers, it's really good to be here. and that business about me being your hero, you're going to get over that by the end of the hour, i promise. >> i doubt that very much. you're actually the perfect guy to ask this question. i your book with great fascination and also with an eye how this year, 2011, is going to rate in the news because to me, who is a new boy to this ne

first up tonight, a conversation with tom brokaw. the author of books like "the greatest generation" is out with a new text about how america can restore its greatness. the book is called "the time of our lives." also, oscar-award winning actor sir ben kingsley is with us. his latest work is called "hugo ." >> every community has a martin evtherulind.g ar bo it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stma to ke evedsur commy better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to .conomic empowerment amea ti t a ti a. nationwides on y ir side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: always pleased to welcome tom brokaw to the program. he is a perennial "new york times" best selling author. his latest book is called "the time of our lives, a

tom brokaw. [applause] ♪ >> that was for you. >> that was great. >> you love frank sinatra. >> guest: i do. i had mixed experiences with frank sinatra. in my generation he was the voice and he was larger than life. encountered along the way not always pleasantly because of was a reporter and he didn't like being in the news and especially the way he got himself into the news so he would do something inappropriate and we would report it and the next day his public relations person would come to see me and he would say frank doesn't think you are aware that he is underwriting an orphanage in mexico or some good deed. i would say i did hear about that. doesn't excuse the barber role in which he was involved last night or whatever. and for an odd set of circumstances one evening in new york we have a mutual friend, legendary figure by the name of swifty lazar who had invited us to dinner. he had also invited frank's wife and frank was going to arrive later. oh my god, what is this going to be like? s

tom brokaw. but isn't that the problem?s that we still are fighting those fights. >> well, that's the political year. i mean, part of the reason that we're not going to make a lot of progress this year is it's all about who gets the white house back. everyone knows that that's the great machine that moves the government and defines the culture in this country. and it's fairly discouraging, given all that is going on in the world, and the decisions that we have to make, that you can't operate on two different tracks. that you can have a big, vigorous political debate, but at the same time have something like what's happened this past week, with congressman ryan, and senator widen saying hey, here's something to look at when it comes to medicare. i found that the most heartening development of the week in many ways. it's not perfect, but it kick-starts that debate that is absolutely necessary to the future of this country in terms of entitlements and who gets them and how much we pay for them. and it was lost in the cacophony

now, you all know who tom brokaw is. and for the last two years, i have asked the various guess i am by for a biography of themselves written by themselves in seven words. a haiku of sorts. if you really want to be modern, which may be tom brokaw the net will talk about it to eat of sorts. and so, tom brokaw sent me the following seven words. he knows what an assignment is. he said, it curious? talkative. i'm grateful for the. impulsive, and patient, forget: my. tom brokaw. [applause] music not ♪ ♪ ♪ >> that was for you. you love frank's not sure. >> i do. and i had mixed experiences with frank's a notch or obviously in my generation he was the voice and use larger than life in many ways i encountered along the way and not always puzzling because i was a reporter and he didn't like being in the news, and especially how he got himself into the news. so he would do something inappropriate and we would report it and then the next day his public relations person would come to see me. and he would say, you know, frank doesn't

with me now, tom brokaw, nbc news special correspondent. i just have to have you react to that.st book "time of our lives a conversation about america who we are and where we have been and where we need to go" to recapture the american dream, they're not surprising but consider this is one of the worst years of all yitime, 2009 2010, people are depressed. >> that's what prompted eed me write the book. a lot of parents and grandparents would say to me i don't think my children will have lives that we've had. i had not heard that before because that goes to the heart of the american dream. by the way, those numbers that you're seeing there, really are going to drive the election next year and especially the numbers that proceeded that and the number of people who are now officially classified as poor in america and in my own judgment, i don't think we have enough of a political dialogue about that. what i tried to get at in my book "time of our lives" we have to talk about how to get out of this together because the essence of the american dream has always been realized when we're

no you will know who tom brokaw is. for the last few years i have asked the various guests for ideography of themselves written by themselves in seven words, the high court of sorts if you really want to be modern which may be tom brokaw and i will talk about a tweet of sorts. so tom brokaw said the the following seven words and they are. some people ask for seven words to give me 27. no, seven words. he knows what that assignment is. he says curious, talkative and grateful for that. impulsive, in patient, forgetful a am i. tom brokaw. [applause] ♪ >> of frank sinatra. >> have mixed feelings with frank sinatra. in my generation he was the voice and he was larger than life in many ways and i encountered along the way and always pleasantly because i was a reporter and he didn't like being in the news and the way that he got himself into the news so he went to something inappropriate and we would report it and then the next day his public relations person would come to see me and he would say you know, he doesn't think an

nellis book tv tom brokaw former managing editor and anchor of nbc nightly news with tom brokaw.he presents his thoughts on the current state of american society and politics. this is about in an hour and 20 minutes. >> good evening. and director from the public library as all of you know. clinical left the library is simply to make the lions roar to make a heavy institution with it and to make it dance. i would like to thank tonight's sponsor. they are a proud sponsor of the new york public library and have been from the new york public library for some years noted the are also members of the new york public library lawyers for the committee a firm which ended in 1924 and also forward thinking approaches and solutions to such a major parcorporate energy and environmental financial-services, real-estate litigation and intellectual property. so thank you very much. briefly let me tell you some of our other events coming up this evening. next week i will be interviewing the ambassador and afterwards we will have jessye norman, million, peter sellars and miniatures. the following we

joining me, nbc's tom brokaw. tom friedman, kathleen parker. marc morial.me to all of you and merry christmas. >> merry christmas. >> merry christmas to you. >> i suspect, tom brokaw, that families are getting together on this holiday, and there's gifts and ths

tom brokaw. but isn't that the problem? is that we still are fighting those fights. >> well, that's the political year. i mean, part of the reason that we're not going to make a lot of progress this year is it's all about who gets the white house back. everyone knows that that's the great machine that moves the government and defines the culture in this country. and it's fairly discouraging, given all that is going on in the world, and the decisions that we have to make, that you can't operate on two different tracks. that you can have a big, vigorous political debate, but at the same time have something like what's happened this past week, with congressman ryan, and senator widen saying hey, here's something to look at when it comes to medicare. i found that the most heartening development of the week in many ways. it's not perfect, but it kick-starts that debate that is absolutely necessary to the future of this country in terms of entitlements and who gets them and how much we pay for them. and it was lost in the cacopho

tom brokaw, tom friedman, mark politics in the new year.rokaw, tom friedman, mark morial and kathleen i joined the navy when i was nineteen. i spent four years in the military and i served a tour in iraq. all the skills that i learned in the military are very transferable into the corporate and real world. chase hired me to be a personal banker. the 100,000 jobs mission has definitely helped me get my foot in the door. chase is giving opportunities to vets who don't think that there's any opportunity out there. chase and these other companies are getting a great deal when they hire veterans. chase is proud to help 100,000 veterans find jobs at home. few years, up to 1 million new teachers will be needed as baby boomers retire. who's up for the job? you can have a remarkable impact on the life of a child... the more you know.

>> coming up next, tom brokaw. >> holy cow!ng joe." ♪ >>> hey, welcome back to "morning joe." by the way, today is my favorite day of the year. >> what's that? >> december 21st. >> yes. >> shortest day of the year. after today, every day gets a little bit longer. >> oh, the shortest day of the year. >> the shortest day of the year. >> joining us right now -- >> dark and cold. i was looking out of my window yesterday at 4:45 and it was dark and cold and i said, why am i not home? i am so far away from florida right now. >> yes, it is definitely -- >> i'll take you to montana this time of year where it gets light at 10:00 in the morning and dark at 2:00 in the afternoon. >> and there's a whole new definition of cold there. nbc news's tom brokaw is here with us, author of the book "the time of our lives." the conversation about america, who we are, where we've been, and where we need to go now to recapture the american dream. that's the question everyone's asking at this point. >> we were talking about new hampshire and some of yo

clearly this is nbc news worst mid broadcast calamity since that alpaca attacked tom brokaw. sorry could somebody please get peruvian hairball off my desk. it's biting my -- [ laughter ] still, still, kudos to brian williams for taking a frankly annoying situation in stride all the way to the commercial break. i'm sure they finally fixed that alert. >> friday 10:00, 9:00 central on abc. >> as we continue to deal with a fire alarm that is stuck we press on nonetheless with tonight as broadcast. that means we're back with the latest installment in our series of reports [ siren ] the war next door [ laughter ] >> jon: he's not even pretending anymore. he is just like -- [ laughter ] i will let everyone in this building burn. you know who i feel bad for the audience at home for nbc nightly news the high pitched incessant noise must have done terrible damage to the hearing aids. [ laughter ] seriously williams, nbc nightly news is like a centrum silver delivery system. [ laughter ] anyway in other news newt gingrich [ siren ] oh, for -- oh, this better not be what i think it is [

join me next time for a conversation with tom brokaw. and ben kingsley. that is next time. we will see you then. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we allit's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs stations from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] kcet public television] >>

joining me, nbc's tom brokaw. tom friedman, kathleen parker. marc morial.hristmas. >> merry christmas. >> merry christmas to you. >> i suspect, tom brokaw, that families are getting together on this holiday, and there's gifts and there's good times but there's probably a little talk about where things are. in their family, in their community, and in the country. and if you look at one key indicator, it's pretty downcast. the direction of the country. and look at the polling from "the wall street journal"/nbc news poll. nearly 7 in 10 americans think the country is headed on the wrong track, in the wrong direction, and as economic anxiety seems to make this so much deeper than other periods of turmoil. >> well, that's because economic confidence, and economic security is the underpinning of well-being in the country. in 1968, which i loved through, there was enormous turmoil. but everyone could get a job. we still had a manufacturing base in this country. and even though we had guns going on in vietnam there was a lot of money around. now, you have homeowner

next monday, november 21, tom brokaw, nbc news correspondent and author, will discuss the current moodf america. this will be a program starting at 1:00 p.m. at the santa clara convention center. on tuesday, november 29, paula kerger, who is president of pbs, and the president of kqed will discuss the challenges facing public broadcasting and how the challenges impact our program choices. this will be a 6:00 p.m. program here in san francisco at the commonwealth club. it is my pleasure to extend a

on thursday night, tom brokaw will join us along with oscar- winner ben kingsley. on friday night, a conversation with director roger corman. he helped foster the careers of people like jack nicholson and francis ford coppola, so many more. he is the subject of a new documentary. one week from tonight, a conversation with angelina jolie. she has written and directed a new project called "in the land of blood and heinie." tonight, i am pleased to kick off this week with michelle rhee. she is the former chancellor of the d.c. public school system. now the founder and ceo of students first, and non-profit designed to transform public education. thank you for your patience. >> absolutely. tavis: we let to note -- let people know where we're headed. let me ask about your experience, the d.c. experience because it has been just over a year since he resigned. what are your -- now that you have a full year in the rearview mirror, and named assessments? >> i do not think there is anything new. i continue to be proud of what the children up d.c. accomplished during the time