was next to him and i don't think that david brinkley had any more idea than peter jennings what songt was and got into brinkley's ear and said peter, that wasn't the jefferson airplane, that was fleet wood mac. (laughter) >> a great moment in the history of political journalism. >> and a great brinkley impression. >> how about clinton impression in the cookie jar. >> and we'll see new a little bit. later, what state officials in ohio are doing to ensure a free and fair election in a state that's had troubles in the past. >> megyn: next, the trajectory of the race in the final hours, charles krauthammer joins us live. >> so scary, and the closest i've ever felt to my own mortality, you know, and my children, a devastating night. >> bret: the northeast is still reeling from hurricane sandy in parts of new jersey and new york, the devastation is staggering, with fuel and power in short supply. 1.8 million homes and businesses across the northeast still in the dark. the finish line for the new york city marathon was disassembled with the race cancelled on friday. some who had planned to

was next to him and i don't think that david brinkley had any more idea than peter jennings what songt was and got into brinkley's ear and said peter, that wasn't the jefferson airplane, that was fleet wood mac. (laughter) >> a great moment in the history of political journalism. >> and a great brinkley impression. >> how about clinton impression in the cookie jar. >> and we'll see new a little bit. later, what state officials in ohio are doing to ensure a free and fair election in a state that's had troubles in the past. >> megyn: next, the trajectory of the race in the final hours, charles krauthammer joins us live. how can you get back pain relief that lasts up to 16 hours? with thermacare heatwraps. thermacare works differently. it's the only wrap with patented heat cells that penetrate deep to relax, soothe, and unlock tight muscles. for up to 16 hours of relief, try thermacare. we don't let frequent heartburn come between us and what we love. so if you're one of them people who gets heartburn and then treats day afr day... block the acid with prilosec otc and don't get heartburn

here's nbc's chet hundley and david brinkley reporting the kennedy-nixon cliff hanger. >> kennedy needs five more to go over the top. and could now be the state of washington. it could be california. it could be new mexico. it could be illinois. the odds are that kennedy will win. there are still some of results still to come in. if the present trend continues. senator kennedy will be the next president of the united states. >> the election may have been a close one. but i want to express and my appreciation to all of them and to mr. nixon personally. chris: finally, the return of richard nixon winning narrowly over shubte humphrey in 19 -- over hubert humphrey in 1968. >> election night 1968. nixon's the one. that's the natural banner for any sprightly front page tonight. richard nixon won the election this time. where eight years ago, he lost it. in illinois. it was so close, it took forever. but he won it. it was again one of the closest elections in american history. >> i have done my best. i have lost. mr. nixon has won. so now let's get on with the urgent task of uniting our count

and david brinkley on nbc said, i don't know if that was a concession speech or not. >> that's right. one candidate rarmed-- he's going out the way he came in-- no class. >> judy, one of the cautionary notes-- it may be out of place at this moment-- >> ifill: nothing is out of place at this moment. ( laughter ). >> woodruff: gwen said that. i didn't say that. >> i take your point, gwen. in any event, history suggests this is a very vulnerable moment for a president re-elected. that the great dangers that presidents confront often come in moments of triumph when hubris steps in, and when people-- one thing we've learned. both parties in numerous election cycles there's a tend 18 to overinterpret one mandate-- george wvment bush learned that when he died after the election. i'm not suggesting history will repeat itself. all i'm saying is, it is a moment to also take stock. it's a moment for humility. as well as celebration. >> woodruff: do we think there's a drgt president may do that-- we have been told governor romney will speak six and a half minutes from now. not that we're watching

a little perspective on the tradition and its significance, author and presidential historian david brinkleyonkite." you and i had a chance to talk about this yesterday where we get a chance to see what comes of this meeting. very symbolic. jim was talking about a lot of specifics here, and we talk about the fiscal cliff. in some ways this is really a lot about symbolism and more for us, i think, than the two of them. can you describe what you think it means? >> sure. well, let me start by just saying across the street from where i'm at at rice, george herbert walker bush has been in the hospital, and we wish him a speedy recovery from his illness. it's an example of how you can form a friendship at these meetings. bill clinton had beat the sitting president, george herber walker bush, and they met similar to the way romney and obama are now, and now clinton and 41 are dear, close friends and have done many constructive things together around the world. i think, by and large, these meetings, the luncheon today, will be about optics. it's the photo ops. it's a chance to say america is united.

joining us to talk about this, douglas brinkley and david gergen.t forward ten years, what do you think we will remember about this election night? >> i think for 2012 people are going to be astounded at the billions of dollars that just went into this election. how terminal it seemed. and then, of course, the barack obama's missed opportunity in denver that first debate and how hurricane sandy seemed to give a little lift to the president ironically as the october surprise. as for this election night itself, it seems to me it's going to be a repeat of 2000 and 2004, down to the wire, very close, and all about a handful of swing states, florida and ohio are going to be in the news a lot tonight, just like they were in those two previous elections. >> we've got a lot to look forward to tonight. david, let's talk about the divisions in the country right now because you got a lot of them. we're talking about the gender gap. the latest poll showing 53% of women say they plan to vote for the president compared to 44% of men. that's a nine-point gender ga