[applause] >> were you surprised at collin powell's comments, secretary powell's comments? >> i was a bit, because it clear if he read the book he only read a part of it because there is a lot of time devoted in the first half of the book basically to my early career, going back to my early days growing up. but then also three chapters, for example, on my time in the defense department where general powell was chairman of the joint chiefs of staffs. i got him appointed to the post and we worked together very closely and successfully i think through desert storm and the breakup of the soviet union and did some good work together. by the time we got down to me being in the voice presidency and him secretary of state, obviously the relationship had groned somewhat strained. >> you actually wrote in the book that powell was disdainful and the supportive of the president's policy. he personally made over the united nations and made the case about wmd, that he personally went out of his way to confirm the information because he didn't accept it on its face value. >> he did. he sp

. >> and when i interviewed the secretary of defense, done rumsfeld and over the years collin powell, i don't know if people understand the enormity of sacrifice for public service. and as we are going to get into your story here tonight i'm thinking about all the guys that are running for president. as we discuss this, herman cain is under tremendous fire. an allegation that i don't think should have made it into the press. and, you know, we watched clarence thomas in the hearings. we have an african-american president, and i'm thinking these are great strides for the country, and i wonder if at times we don't take a step back, especially it seems african americans that are conservative are excoriated on a regular basis. i wanted to get your been on that. you served all these years. >> first of all, politics are a little rough. we know that. it's a little bit rough and tumble. when you go into the political arena you can expect it. i know that many, many times i would get up and i would look at the newspaper and i would say is that the person that they are talking about? is that me t

. >> sean, it is great to be here. [ applause ] >> sean: were you surprised at collin powell's comments? >> i was a bit. because it is clear that if he read in the book, he only read a part of it. there's a lot of time devoted in the first half of the book to my early career going back to my early days growing up. then also three chapters on my time in the defense department. where general powell was chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. i got him appointed at the post and we worked together closely and successfully, i think through desert storm and the break up of the soviet union and did some good work together. by the time we got to me being in the vice president and he was secretary of state obviously the relationship had grown somewhat strained. >> sean: you wrote powell was disdainful and not supportive of the president's policies. you said he personally confirmed the information when he went before the united nations and made the case about wmd that he went out of his way to confirm the information because he didn't accept it on face value. >> that's true. he spent a lot of time