>> i thought musky would beat us. he was ahead in the polls. knew him well because he was a new england senator when i was i think he caped 1960s. i stayed on with -- i got to know musky and his people quite well, and i liked him. had a lot of respect for him, believed he would be a very formidable opponent. i was concerned he could beat us. i looked at the demographics, breakdown, nixon's polls, standings, issues we were dealing with, and he -- his being the candidate was my worst nightmare. mcgovern was my fondest hope. but never thought it possible. >> would this explain the tricks that many later disvowed? >> i think so. it was not until after the democratic convention that any of us felt we could relax. that infamous letter i sent after the republican convention, i was dead serious. and the one that kwiped about the press kwiping said i would run over my own grandmother, everybody would be at their desks. it was a colorful memo, but i was dead serious. i thought we had to fight every inch of the way to get nixon reelected. and even as we w

bob dole, sarah palin, jack kemp, ed muskie, lloyd bent 17 and sargent shriver.le who lost the vice presidency since 1968. i was going to tweak this as vice presidents who ran for president but never got the name nation. remember, you would get the oooh from dick clark. you're watching "the daily rundown" only on msnbc. [ male announcer ] there's a crushing national debt hanging over us. hindering economic growth. it's time for some common sense -- people in congress who'll come together and put partisan politics aside. not with radical schemes that gamble with america's future. but with a plan that requires washington to balance the budget the right way -- protecting the priorities of america's families. tell congress to pass a common sense balanced budget -- now. sign the petition at center-forward.org. >>> i'll assure you one thing. if i decide to run for the presidency in 2016, i'll be in way before the summer of 2016, or 2015 sdplooeceven. >> it sounds like you're really interested. >> yeah, i am. i love this country. as long as my health stays good, which i

senate watergate committee found more than 50 people doing all kinds of things specifically to derail muskie. >> let me add one thing. there are two essential elements and we can see it so clearly with the tapes today, and that is an attempt to undermine the most basic of american democratic notions, which is free elections, that what watergate was really about was to derail the electoral process of the opposition party, to have the white house determine who the nominee of the democratic party would be. and then we found out, and i don't mean just the press, bob and i, but i mean the judicial system, the legislative system, that coincidentally that the anti-war movement had been regarded in almost exactly the same way by the nixon white house. and these two things came together. and there was this huge retrib tiff mechanism that really defined the president and the presidency. >> i'd like to know what was -- what do you see watergate was for journalism? i'm one of the people in the room, i'll bet you everybody here who is sit hearing because of you, i think all of us here are here because of

they didn't want to run against muskie. they thought he was the strong candidate. all the sabotaged spying efforts -- >> it's important to point out nixon wasn't in danger. >> that's not the case. first they were worried about ted kennedy and they got a former secret service agent to tail kennedy, report back to the white house, they infiltrated of aspect from way back of the democrat being campaign. >> one thor thing about this is the tapes never on those tapes had we found a single instance where the president of the united states or those around him say what would be the right thing for the country? on any matter. >> is there one thing that if it hadn't happened, we wouldn't be up here talk today? i would argue alex butterfield played a huge role in revealing the existence of taping system. >> i think that's right. i think if you didn't have the tapes, there would have been an ambiguity about all of this but it's the clarity of the tapes and the people who have listened to them, particularly republicans on the house judiciary committee would not only deal with t

now that i replace muskie, he was mind. he began by berating me for committing myself to be sworn in and ruining the party that was set for the next day. then he read off a list of instructions and he concluded by saying we have got a very nice introduction for you to give a speech here in washington tonight. it's really -- what is it? there are 3000 certified public accountants at a convention here in washington, and they just saw you being sworn in on tv, and they called and asked if he would come down and deliver the keynote address at their convention this evening. i thought to him -- i said to him, gosh this is really something. i always knew cpas were smart but until yesterday i myself didn't know i would be here. to think that these guys held this important speech open for me. i said i'm really impressed he said no, no it's nothing like that. he said they have had for last-minute cancellations. [laughter] he said you are the only member of congress they could think of who might not have anything to do tonight. [laugh

i guess they could have brought up ed musky or gene mccarthy. >> sean: i think that carter's right. me -- you know, liz, to me, this election is probably most like reagan/carter, liberalism on display, class warfare, the rhetoric is the same. and the results of the carter administration, very similar to what we see with obam. >> right. you know, "the wall street journal" reported this morning that the american people are more deeply concerned about the long-term prospects of our nation than they have been at any time since the 70s. but i think that barack obama is even worse. you know? i think you have seen an unprecedented assault on american freedom and liberties from the oval office wlrks it's what we saw with let's crucify business, to these restrictions on how our families can operate on family farms, to attempts to limit our freedom of religion. i would posit here that this president that we have now is much more radical, even than jimmy carter and in that sense, more dangerous to the nation. >> sean: i am going to add one thing that hop, this is a compliment, you may be surpr

. >> the lions catch the musky scent of dinner. muscled legs tighten. >> the lions crouch. the big cats are perfectly camouflaged. >> and he's looking like he doesn't have a care in the world. >> that is a huge buffalo. >> the lead buffalo, also called a bull, is a male, one of the largest and strongest in the herd. he is strolling along when suddenly his survival instinct kicks in. >> finally, the lead big buffalo understands that there's danger. he turns on a dime and starts running back. >> the herd catches on and starts a stampede. witnesses say the noise is deafening. >> i saw a lion come into view to the right, passed the other lions up. >> the hunt is on. in a battle for survival, the lions always go for the weakest. then the lioness, reaches speeds up to 50 miles per hour, makes her move. >> jumped on the baby, dragged it into the water. >> she's going for it. she caught him. oh, she did. she got him. >> unbelievable. >> and you could hear the baby screaming, you really could. >> they went into the watering hole. >> they're

when ed muskie, the great senator from maine, moved through the clean air act in 1970, it passed thenited states senate unanimously. i mean, think of that. those folks today couldn't agree on what time it is unanimously. >> that is true. governor king, thank you very much for your time and your first national interview. >>> a navy fighter jet crashes into an apartment complex. we have dramatic video. >>> and 100 years after the "titanic" sank, we take you to the wreck and show you what the ship looks like today. >>> yesterday was major league baseball's opening day. attendance has been on the decline since 2007, but there's good news. which brings us to tonight's number. 334,424. that's the number of people who went to a baseball game yesterday. now, that works out to more than 41,000 people per game. it's great news for america's pastime. a new season is a time for new beginnings. even cubs fans can hope that this is their year. and the last six times kentucky won the ncaa tournament, as they did this year, the yankees have won the world series. bottom line, play ball. springtime is

when ed muskie, the great senator from maine, moved through the clean air act in 1970, it passed thenited states senate unanimously. i mean, think of that. those folks today couldn't agree on what time it is unanimously. >> that is true. governor king, thank you very much for your time and your first national interview. >>> a navy fighter jet crashes into an apartment complex. we have dramatic video. >>> and 100 years after the "titanic" sank, we take you to the wreck and show you what the ship looks like today. i'm walt gale, i worked at the colorado springs mail processing plant for 22 years. we processed on a given day about a million pieces of mail. checks, newspapers, bills. a lot of people get their medications only through the mail. small businesses depend on this processing plant. they want to shut down 3000 post offices, cut 100,000 jobs. they're gonna be putting people out of work everywhere. the american people depend on the postal service. >> announcer: this is the day. the day that we say to the world of identity thieves "enough." we're lifelock, and we believe you have

it turned out he had been senator muskie's administrative assistant, and now that i replaced him, he was mine. he began by berating me beforfo committing myself to be sworn in and ruining the party that was set for the next day. then he read off the list of instructions and concluded by saying, we've got a very nice introduction. you will give a speech here in washington tonight. i said, what is it? he said, there are 3000 served -- certified by public accounts at a convention in washington and they just saw you being sworn in on tv and they called and asked if he would come down and deliver the keynote address at their convention this evening. i said to him, and i thought, this is really something. i always knew cpa's were smart, but until yesterday, i did not know myself i would be here to think that these guys held this important speech open for me. i said, i'm really impressed. he said, no, it is nothing like that. he said, they have had four last minute cancellations. [laughter] he said, your the only member of congress they could think of that might not have anything to do toni

when ed muskie, the great senator from maine, moved through the clean air act in 1970, it passed theted states senate unanimously. i mean, think of that. those folks today couldn't agree on what time it is unanimously. >> that is true. governor king, thank you very much for your time and your first national interview. >>> a navy fighter jet crashes into an apartment complex. we have dramatic video. >>> and 100 years after the "titanic" sank, we take you to the wreck and show you what the ship looks like today. of any interest to you? well, in that time there've been some good days. and some difficult ones. but, through it all, we've persevered, supporting some of the biggest ideas in modern history. like the transatlantic cable that connected continents. and the panama canal that made our world a smaller place. we supported the marshall plan that helped europe regain its strength. and pioneered the atm, so you can get cash when you want it. it's been our privilege to back ideas like these, and the leaders behind them. so why should our anniversary matter to you? because for 200 years

ed muskie is on the cover as well. it was a wonderful story when he came to the senate, democrat of maine, she'd been a very good governor. he comes to the senate and he gets on the wrong side of lyndon johnson, disrespects him and johnson gets mad and gives him the worst committee assignment to possibly give him. he sulks for a while and then realizes he's given him a favor. johnson put him into the position of becoming an environmental leader because the environment became the issue that it did right in the early 60's, sees a very famous for that and then there's robert byrd on the cover. >> host: we are going to take a short break and be back in a moment to talk with ira about how the but has changed in the senate over the years. thank you. >> host: ira, a lot of people out there to say the least are not enamored with what's going on in washington today. they think we are descended into single-digit favorability, not somewhere behind god knows who. i want to quote and i want to chat with you a little bit to get your

they did not want to run against muskie. they thought he was the strong candidate. all of the sabotage efforts were against him and they got george mcgovern, which they wanted. >> and nixon was not in danger. >> that's not the case. first, they were worried about ted kennedy. they get a former secret service agent detail kennedy, report back to the white house. they infiltrated every aspect from way back on the democratic campaign. the other thing about this is the tapes, never on those tapes have we found a single instance where the president of the united states for those around him say what would be the right thing for the country? on any matter. >> is there one thing that if it hadn't happened we would not be after talking today? i would argue alex butterfield played a huge role in revealing the existence of a taping system. >> i think that's right. if you did not have the tapes, there would have been an ambiguity about all of this. it is the clarity of the tapes and the people who listen to them. particularly the republicans on the house judiciary committee. it

it turned out he had been senator muskie's administrative assistant, and now that i replaced him, he was mine. he began by berating me before committing myself to be sworn in and ruining the party that was set for the next day. then he read off the list of instructions and concluded by saying, we've got a very nice introduction. you will give a speech here in washington tonight. i said, what is it? he said, there are 3000 served by public accounts at a convention in washington and they just saw you being sworn in on tv and they called and asked if he would come down and deliver the keynote address at their convention this evening. i said to him, and i thought, this is really something. i always knew cpa's were smart, but until yesterday, i did not know myself i would be here to think that these guys held this important speech open for me. i said, i'm really impressed. he said, no, it is nothing like that. he said, they have had four last minute cancellations. [laughter] your the only member of congress they could think of that might not have anything to do tonight. [laughter] and the

1970 -- you teamed up with ed muskie or the clean water act in 1972. 1973 -- when you're on the watergate with and you did something critical. the restored the confidence and america -- the confidence and integrity of the system at no small price to you. 1978 -- i watched him risk is career as he made sure the panel canal treaty passed -- panama canal treaty passed. 1970 -- you change your career, coming back to become the chief of staff for ronald reagan. as we used to say in the senate, i would like to share a story. you may remember this, howard. robert bork had been defeated in the senate. the president has set up another nominee, which the stock pulled down. howard said you ought to call biden down to the white house. asked his opinion and give him the 10 names you are considering. the president called me down. i sat there in the chair. couch.sitting on the president reagan was one of the most charming dies. i pulled out these cards and he said, "joe, tell me what you think about the prospects of these people." i said howard both the senate better than i do. he said, i want to know f

1970, you teamed up with ed muskie to pass the clean air act, the clean act of 70 but the clean watere to you and muskie. 1973 when you're in the watergate committee, with danny in a way, one of the most honorable men i've ever known in my whole life, you did something really critical. you restored for the american people the confidence and integrity of the system at no small price to you. 1978 i watched you risk your career. i watched him risk his career as he made sure the panama canal treaty passed. 1987 i watched you with admiration. you change your career leaving the private sector after having let the senate, coming back to become the chief of staff for ronald reagan. as we used to say in the senate, forgive me for a personal point of privilege, i'd like to share a story. you may remove her this, howard. robert bork had been defeated in the senate. the president had set up another nominee which he subsequently pulled out. and i'm confident it's because howard told, you ought to pull biden down to the united states, or to the white house. and ask his opinion and give him the 10 n

he didn't want to run again muskie. they thought he was a strong candidate and all were directed against him. >> support to point out the context. nixon was in danger. >> that is not the case. first they were worried about ted kennedy. so that then got a former secret service agent to tell kennedy, report back to the white house. they infiltrated every aspect from way back of the democratic campaign. and one other thing about this is the tapes, never on those tapes have we found a single instance where the states or those around him say what would be the right thing for the country on any matter quite >> is there one thing that it had happened we would be up here talking today? i mean, i would argue that alex butterfield played a huge role in revealing the assistance of the taping. >> i think that's right. i think if he didn't have the tapes that they would've been in ambiguity about all of this. but the clarity of the tapes and the people who listened to them, particularly republicans on the house judiciary committee w