we always laughed among ourselves that there wasn't one dick holbrooke there was at least three dick holbrookes because he was watching the movie, the soccer game, talking about this, reading a book. >> rose: have you ever been at a dinner party with him where he didn't get up at least once to go take a phone call? >> no. >> or a meeting. >> rose: >> but there was not just one dick holbrooke, there was all sorts of dick holbrookess it was like winston churchill. there were five winston churchills. and the other thing was the dedication to something else, something bigger. and they were always fused. of course dick was ambitious. of course he wanted to be secretary of state but it was used to a cause. so the capacity, the cause, that... the capacity for friendship, too, endearing him to us so he could put up with anything. >> rose: let me just ask this for history's sake les, frank, dick, if in fact john kerry had been president, would dick holbrooke had been secretary of state? >> i hope so. >> i hope so but i don't know. >> there's no way of knowing, charlie. >> rose: if hillary clin

dick holbrooke was -- he was one of the best of his generation.e just two or three people in his generation that were anywhere near as good. i was there in the clinton administration when he came in, and he literally just sort of picked up aspects of foreign policy. just huge blocks of foreign policy and moved them. he was a force of nature. and had hillary clinton been president, dick holbrooke would have been her secretary of state. she had enormous faith in him as does her husband. i think president obama called him a towering figure. that's exactly what he was. he started in foreign service way back in the vietnam war. he's been in and out of government ever since. he's been a major, major figure in foreign policy. and of course, right in the cockpit for afghanistan and afpac as he called it. these were very hard years for him these last couple of years. >> david please stay with us. veteran diplomat richard holbrooke, the president's point person on afghanistan and pakistan, david noted going back to the vietnam war. in the clinton days he wa

i want to talk to you about the future of dick holbrooke. he's been in the far east.is obviously where we should send him. what about sending him to germany? because if he goes to germany it'll be a learning experience. he'll know another part of the world and it will prepare him for his future. >> and he became ambassador to germany, yet another extraordinary chapter in his life. >> his resume is clear, not that his resume even speaks to his mass of intellect, ambassador to united nations, germany, assistant secretary in two regions of the world but the ambassador to the entire world because of the depth of his knowledge and it was just remarkable. he understood that this was not just u.s./russia or u.s./china. there were so many other conflicts that could through mediation, use of force, trade, good resolutions could be brought to the forum. that's what he did over and over again. >> yes. and i think even while out of government through the international rescue committee which he worked very, very hard at, through any number of written articles or tv appearances, ri

>> anderson, it was also a very different side of dick holbrooke. he was tempestuous and larger than life. i think he was difficult to live with. his first two marriages ended in divorce. he had a couple of kids, sons, of whom he was very proud. but in 1995 he married kaat ifdz marton who had been married to peter jennings. that became one of the great romances of new york city especially in foreign policy circles. he told me on many occasions just how devoted he was to her and how important he was to her life. there was a soft side, a vulnerable side to have dick holbrooke that kati filled. i think a lot of people who knew them will remember them as that romantic couple. >> i want to play something for our viewers what president obama said earlier. >> richard is relentless. he never stops. he never quits, because he's always believed that if we stay focused, if we act on our mutual interests, that progress is possible. wars can end. peace can be forged. this is the conviction that an mates his -- an mates his work in afghanistan and pakistan. >> hi

. >> he was reading the european press after dick holbrook died. so tragically this week. and i was just amazed at the amount of coverage there was. it was front page story in europe. chris: why over there? >> because of bosnia. he is credited with the dayton accord which brought peace to the war in bosnia and a war europeans couldn't solve in their own back yard and were thanking dick holbrooke for the work he did on that. chris: norah. >> the president will use the new year and his state of the union address to call for a fundamental overhaul of the u.s. tax code. including the closing of a lot of these loopholes, and other things that could save over a trillion dollars and -- chris: will it be spending reduction or what will be the lead, tax reform? >> i think it will be both. because they're together. this -- overhaul of the tax code which everybody wants. and it will help reduce the deficit. chris: joe. >> not a prediction but a thank you. this program is picked up by armed forces network. it's watched on bases throughout the world. including in war zones. and i just

you had to face somebody who was a criminal or one of the bad guys out there, you called for dick holbrooketrue of the clintons. bill clinton and hillary clinton loved holbrooke. he was groomed for the secretary of state. other people thought he should have been secretary of state. he never got there, but he was still willing to go out and do messy jobs. >> holbrooke was a diplomate to the very end. a senior administration official says just going into surgery, holbrooke told his pakistani surgeon, quote, you've got to stop this war in afghanistan. >> northwest indiana, travelers were stranded for hours. lucky ones were able to find refuge inside some businesses that kept their doors open. two candidates there have been declared states of emergency. our next guests were bogged down in that snow for 15 hours. but, of course, they captured a time of this experience on camera. scott and jeremy trying to make their way to chicago. that's why we find them today, thank goodness. it was not an easy haul. scott, 15 hours, how did you pass the time besides taking pictures and detailing things for us

states and all those who supported this man and his great it's a group in all their activities and dick holbrooke who died today and who sat down with these people and sup with them well this is that these are the people he starts with ten years ago i could guess it should be a pretty seven lines for peace thank you of being on the program tonight here on r.t. . all right let's talk now about our top story the why does come to the u.s. senate is not going to adjourn for christmas until the nuclear cuts treaty that all important nuclear cuts treaty with russia is ratified i gather we've got a guest on the line of the can talk about that he's in the shape of max bergman he's joining us now in the in from washington d.c. hello mr bergman good evening to you good to see you and there are allegations that the white house is trading approval of the nuclear cuts treaty for a major tax cut steel demanded by republicans is that a price worth paying. well i'm not sure that is the deal there's been some speculation that that is taking place i mean i think that what's happened is that the tax cut thing was s

. >> let me say something about dick holbrook who i knew well. to the balkans. he will be sorely missed. he didn't get to be secretary of state which was his goal but he will be remembered fondly. boehner any criticism of him is misplaced. he grew up in a difficult situation when he taxes about kids going to school and going to college he means it. takes more courage for a politician to cry on television than it does to be tough. >> sean: why are people attacking him? >> i have no doubt idea if they are they have no heart and they ought to keep their mouth shut. >> in is the first time i agreed -- i've agreed with basketball. nancy pelosi says she never does anything like that. made her sound like such the ice queen, awful. >> when she told the members of her awcus to vote for obama care whether her constituents wanted them to or not. that shows me is not a soft touch. >> if we don't get these bush tax cuts resolved you will see a lot of men crying. >> sean: my jets have not had a good two weeks, new england and yet playing miami. their strength

the lack of dick holbrooke right now is going to be so tragically missed. >> john harris, thank you so much. we'll talk to you a little later. >>> coming up, just when michael vick was making news for what he was doing on the football field, the eagles quarterback tells nbc he's ready to own a dog again. >> no. don't do it. that's next in sports. >>> one of the greatest moments ever committed to tape, joe, you're going to love this one. chip and daels reforming for the pope. this happened at the vatican yesterday. >> no, it didn't. >> sure did. details -- >> this week las been outrageous. >> that's sacrilegious. >> what is wrong with you? >> what about christmas? ring ring. progresso. oh yes hi. can you please put my grandma on the phone please? thanks. excuse me a sec. another person calling for her grandmother. she thinks it's her soup huh? i'm told she's in the garden picking herbs. she is so cute. okay i'll hold. she's holding. wha? (announcer) progresso. you gotta taste this soup. princess of the powerpoint. your core competency... is competency. and you rent from national. becaus

but i have to say that dick holbrooke was a true polley got. he knew in dealing with diplomatic challenges that it took different talents and different styles regardless of where he was in the world, he was able to apply his unique talents. and i have to say that we worked together on a number of very important issues as we look at the challenge that exist today in afghanistan and pakistan, his passing will be a real loss for that effort, but his passing should lead us to redouble our commitment to pursue the goal that i believe dick holbrooke always pursued and that was for peace, stability, the rule of law, and self-determination around the world. our thoughts and prayers go to his wife and two sons. with that i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas rise? >> i ask permission to address the house for one minute. revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. boozman: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to honor one of america's bravest. sergeant david

both hillary and bill clinton loved dick holbrooke. should have won the nobel peace prize for his work. >> the deal negotiated by holbrooke and signed 15 years ago today. >>> a couple of hours ago in london, a judge set bail for julian assange if he could come up with the money. he will be under house arrest. swedish authorities say they will not appeal the bail decision. wikileaks has angered and embarrassed world leaders and governments by publicizing secret u.s. documents. >>> snow, ice and frigid temperatures, bitter cold weather wont release its grip on the eastern half of the country. indiana expected to get more snow today. drivers got stranded by the blizzard like conditions in indiana. these are pictures from a cnn i-reporter. we heard from him and -- >> we just wanted to say how awesome the gas station people were. it was the end of their shift and they ended up being there with just the two of them with us and another 100 people. >> another ireporter sent us these pictures of the waves pounding the lake front in chicago. man

dick holbrooke will always be remembered for pursuing the hardest missions, whether negotiating the daytonaccords which helped end the war in bosnia or his immensely difficult final assignment as special representative for afghanistan and pakistan. ambassador holbrooke doggedly pursued what, in his view, best enhanced the diplomacy and national security objectives of our nation. we honor his legacy of service to america's foreign policy and interest by continuing his efforts to help afghanistan deny the taliban a return to power and to disrupt defeat and dismantle al qaeda. i might just add, madam president, i remember running into dick at the white house a couple of weeks ago and he never missed an opportunity to be selling what he was doing, and so he sidled up to me, and in his usual, aggressive way began to discuss his current mission in afghanistan. he was a dedicated public servant, and we will all -- all miss him greatly. now, madam president, on another issue, i rise to pay tribute to senator george voinovich who has served this chamber and the people of ohio with honor over the pa

further words from a friends, dick holbrooke was a friend of mine. two days before he fell ill, i saw him and his devoted wife at a dinner where he proposed a toast with affection, self-depreciation and comic timing that made you think me missed his calling professionally. i liked him. i admired him much, much more. as you begin to reflect on ambassador holbrooke's life you have to admire him much, much more. that's from "time" magazine's international editor mikell yot. i'm sure we could account for so much twitter and blogging going on right now, the shock of losing this giant of a man, a man who exuded a desire for peace. but yet, he leaves a life of instruction. that if we are to really develop the kind of world that brings peace to all in the back drop of afghanistan and pakistan, the backdrop of the issues in the middle east and the backdrop of north and south korea, it has to be in quote the kind of hand-to-handy employee macy, insistent diplomacy, persistent, determined diplomacy and out of the box diplomacy. one of the champions of a unique

ambassador holbrooke did not accept no for an answer. i remember meeting dick -- we had planned a meeting. i was in mass massadonia. we could not go by helicopters. we had plans. we met on a slippery -- on a narrow, slippery road, several hundred foot dropoff on one side. we stood there with nervous security guards around. we sat on the hood of our car and he described what he had observed and he told me what he believed needed to be done. it was fascinating because he put everything into perspective. i was -- it was fair to say that we took advantage of the unlikely meeting to reminisce about other times and other places, some of which were just as unlikely. it is one of those rare conversations in an unlikely place that makes an unforgettable impression on you most of because it was dick holbrooke. he was so passionate, animated, and determination and sense of humor that made the challenge of solving the thorniest problems hard to resist. it is in his latest position i heard most often from him when he'd call me to keep me apprized of his efforts to get the m

by leaders on both countries, it should be possible to keep this going for another 30 years, as dick holbrookd in the past. this brings me to the third main point to raise which is the question i have in mind especially in the last year and a half of mounting episodic u.s./chinese tensions. the question is, has the fundamental agreement of the past 30-plus years been broken or not? what i mean here in a nutshell is, from the initial openings under richard nixon and chairman nao to the codification of the agreements dun dum ciao ping and jimmy carter, there's been a sense american/chinese relationships rested on a three-legged stool. one leg, it was better for the countries to work together that be to view each other as certain enemies. there was ground for partnership between the two. the second leg of the stool was the idea that china's prosperity need notbe at the direct expense of the rest of the world, including thenited states and leg number three was nonetheless, there would be serious disagreements between the countries still over matters of international policy, over domestic politics

dick had. >> lehrer: now how is his absence likely to affect the afghanistan situation? of course the review process is underway this week. holbrook will not be there. what is going to be missing? >> well, the timing really is extraordinary, isn't it, that they're in the midst of this major sort of mid course review at just the moment that this should occur. i think there will be some real talk about, are they just going to appoint a replacement for him or are they going to reorganize? and i could imagine both outcomes coming to be. clearly this was not only a really difficult assignment for ambassador holbrook but it wasn't one that there was a clear path for him through to victory. it's not like he was in the middle of some negotiations. first of all, what does that mean? second of all looking towards this july... they've been working to put more time on the clock in a way and to take some of the political pressure out of next summer as being the key moment. but i think there was a real sense that for all of his accomplish manys, he was not the most favored person, shall we say, in afghanistan. you had a very tense relationship

dick--gig www.kron4.com gabriel slate's tech report >> henry's garden coming up. live, from the bay area's news station this is the kron 4 morning news. >> richard holbrooke, presidentcal condition. and with a torn in ord- aorta and veteran ended the war in bosnia with some sophisticated negotiations. >> and this tax cut, the weekly address called on congress to pass the legislation before the end of the year to keep taxes from rising on january 1st. the president is >> and if they do not if the congress does not act? typical middle-class families would pay an extra $3,000. that is unacceptable to me that one of we know that the middle class was hit the hardest by the recession. and taking this money out of the pockets of working people is exactly the wrong thing to do to get our economy growing, faster. and this tax hike on families will cost us well over 1 million jobs. that is why i and fighting so hard to cut middle-class taxes. and i've brought democrats, republicans to the table to put together a compromise. so we can get this done. >> meanwhile, republicans are celebrating that this will help small businesses and representatives christine from south dakota sa