former defense secretary chuck hagel spoke to the veterans group for about 15 minutes. >> thank you for your leadership to the american legion and all of you who are devoted so many years of their lives to this country and to the american legion. i am particularly honored to receive this award. has a some of you know, my friends from nebraska know. you get two drinks tonight. [laughter] maybe three, i don't know how that works. i cover the legion family. my father was a three-time commander of the american legion post in the 1950's. asmother served three terms president of the legion auxiliary. think, my 47th year of being a life member of the american legion. [laughter] i am particularly proud of this honor. recognize there are so many of you, people across this country -- veterans, people who have given so much that deserve it for more than i do. at one time i was a shameless politician, so i will accept the reward of course. [laughter] [applause] but again, thank you very much. let me offer a couple of thoughts. acknowledge what this institution of the american legion needs to this e

record in washington going against the washington establishment when it comes to voting against chuck hageleading that fight a long time ago, leading the fight against gun control. leading the fight against immigration reform. leading the fight against bureaucracy. they want to emphasize it. this week he'll be on ckrcnn an colbert. but ted cruz is the original outside per. >> we'll keep an eye on ted cruz. post debate pressure on rand paul to rethink his presidential ambitions and focus on his kentucky senate seat. paul can run for both offices at the same time. he's struggling in the presidential race. and party strategies whose job it is to worry about the white house but the republican senate majority are voicing more and more concerns. it isn't raising anywhere near enough money when they press for new contributions there's a lot of resistance because donors question senator paul's equipment to the senate race. there is zero, underscore, zero evidence that senator paul is listening. keep your eyes on the polls. it's a discussion worth keeping an eye on. that's it for "inside politics."

i don't think chuck hagel or the pentagon is going to do anything.im out and they will very quietly get him out. that's what's going to happen. with us is colonel hunt. new information about some tape recordings bergdahl made. what's the headline, colonel? june 30th, 2009, he deserts his post in afghanistan. july 1st and 2ened standard briefing to a commander of his unit at fort brigade of the division we have tapes of talking on bergdahl's phone saying bergdahl wanted to join them and they talking about bergdahl trying to join them. this information was known from july 2ened on yet we still traded him for five terrorists had a white house ceremony and now would have taken two years since he has come back to do something which takes 90 days. the government has not yet and doesn't sound like it's going to use these tapes against sergeant bergdahl its expolitic cable. it doesn't make sense. does the numbers make any sense about on bergdahl? >> how did the government gets tapes? >> programs we have been doing it since world war ii in which we listen to

former defense secretary chuck hagel spoke to the veterans group for about 15 minutes. >> thank

[applause] ♪ >> the american legion heard from chuck hagel who was the recipient of this year's testingith service medal. his remarks are 15 minutes. >> thank you for what you have done and continue to do for this institution and for all our leadership, the american legion, and all of you who have devoted so many years of your lives to this country into the american legion. i am particularly honored to receive this award. as some of you know, my friends you getraska know that to drinks tonight -- two drinks tonight. [laughter] maybe three. i don't know how that works. i cover the legion family. my father was a three-time commander of the american legion post in nebraska in 1950. my mother served three terms as president of the legion auxiliary. this is, i think, my 47th year of being a life member of the american legion. my brother is. [applause] i am particularly proud of this honor. i recognize there are so many of you, people across this country -- veterans, people who have given so much that deserve it far more than i do. at one time i was a shameless politician, so i will accept th

. >> defense secretary ashton carter and former defense secretary chuck hagel were among the featuredhis year's american legion conference. here's a look at their comments. >> well, good morning, and thank you. thank you very much. i want to thank the leadership of this great organization for inviting me come in each and every one of you here for your tireless advocacy on behalf of our veterans and our men and women in uniform. i want to thank baltimore for hosting this years convention. i don't know whether bob mcdonnell is here, but also want to thank him for his determined the leadership at the va and his partnership. from the second battle of the marne to the battle of the bulge, from inchon to caisson, from fallujah, to every person here who proudly calls himself a soldier, sailor, airman or marine, now proud to call themselves legionnaire, thank you. you are defending those who defend us. [applause] spirit there is someone else who did it, a great personal friend and distinguished predecessor who i want to mention and thank, chuck hagel. [applause] chuck was a soldier in vietnam

last year and i remember covering that, covering president obama and then secretary of defense chuck hagel. the big news was all about the coalition against isis. that's not going to be the case, i imagine, next year. why don't you start off with your thoughts about what the key outcomes of next year's summit should be and i'd love to hear me tell you what you think they will be. >> thank you, first of all, and thank you for having me. it's good to speak to this crowd. as i looked at the diversity of those in attendance, i expect a lively question and answer period. that's all very good. i think that in talking about warsaw, you start at wales. i was privileged to be at wales. i think we saw an agreement to make probably the most substantiative changes to our alliance in the history of the alliance. i was privileged to sit in the room with the heads of 28 nations, encolluding our president, and watch them with their deliberations. i think the things that struck me most and right up front was how quick and how firm their commitment to solidarity, their commitment to collective defense, thei

there is someone friend anda great distinguished predecessor who i want to mention and thanks, chuck hagel. [applause] chuck was a soldier in vietnam. the stories of his bravery are well known. throughout the rest of his life of public service, check dedicated himself -- chuck dedicated himself to those who serve, and that is why he probably worth the goldenseal. waynam taught us the hard that while one may question why we fight we must never question the honor of the men and women who do the fighting. [applause] sec. carter: our vietnam that's -- vets were not given the recognition or respect they deserve. we cannot reverse that wrong, but we can learn from it. that is what we are trying to do together. never forgetting the sacrifices of american -- america's bravest sons and daughters make is what drives, inspires, and gives meaning to his organization. for nearly 100 years legionnaires like you has fought for freedom's nobly earned by our country's finest patriots. you are driven by an enduring truth, that above all the strength of our military and our nation is our men and women in uni

. >> former defense secretary chuck hagel was recently at the american legion convention to talk about for about 15 minutes. >> commander, thank you for what you have done and continue to do. and for this institution, and to all of our leadership, american legion, and all of you who have devoted so many years of your lives to this country and to the american legion. i am particularly honored to receive this award. as some of you know, mike knows, my friends are nebraska here know, that -- you get two drinks tonight. [laughter] >> maybe three, i don't know how that works. i come from a leaking family. my father was a three-time commander of the american legion post in the 1950s. my mother served three terms as president of the legion auxiliary. this is i think my 47th year of being a life member of the american legion. my brother is. [applause] so i'm particularly proud of this honor, and i recognize you are so many of you and people across this country, veterans, people who have given so much that deserve far more than i do. but at one time i was a shameless politician so i will accept

last year and i remember covering that, covering president obama and then secretary of defense chuck hagel. the big news was all about the coalition against isis. that's not going to be the case, i imagine, next year. why don't you start off with your thoughts about what the key outcomes of next year's summit should be and i'd love to hear me tell you what you think they will be. >> thank you, first of all, and thank you for having me. it's good to speak to this crowd. as i looked at the diversity of those in attendance, i expect a lively question and answer period. that's all very good. i think that in talking about warsaw, you start at wales. i was privileged to be at wales. i think we saw an agreement to make probably the most substantiative changes to our alliance in the history of the alliance. i was privileged to sit in the room with the heads of 28 nations, encolluding our president, and watch them with their deliberations. i think the things that struck me most and right up front was how quick and how firm their commitment to solidarity, their commitment to collective defense, thei