>> guest: richard nixon was a complicated man. i have come to the conclusion that in that essay of line, he is excessively harsh but occasionally -- richard nixon and henry kissinger, i jumped on them for day, that gave us time to work to the position. it fashion an arms buildup that brought the soviets back. he had an aspect of the presidency. he was a disaster in other areas. he is awfully argumentative. >> host: tempo, florida. you are on with r. emmett tyrrell. >> nice to talk to you. i think ronald reagan would be rolling in his grave if he knew conservatives -- no american middle class and for china -- the end of interesting. i voted republican. republicans this year highlighting social security, and millions going into social security. my question, started coming down, that was the only time i got really clear coverage, i watch c-span all the time for clear coverage of news. it became a dumbing down of the media, and catching goldman sachs. why was that it ignored? she knew was going on. here is in the middle east. why did

>> guest: uh, well, richard nixon was a complicated man. i've come to the conclusion that in that essay of mine on detente i was excessively harsh. but then occasionally i'm given to be excessively harsh. richard nixon and henry kissinger, i jumped on them for detente. the truth of the matter is detente worked. it gave us a breathing spell. it gave us time to work out to the position where ronald reagan could fashion an arms buildup that broke the soviets' back. so i think richard nixon was a successful president in that regard. in that aspect of his presidency. he was a disaster in other areas, particularly domestic spending. whoever that wonderful liberal is that just left us. [laughter] i think he's my kind of liberal, but he's awfully hard to -- [inaudible] >> host: grace in tampa, florida, you're on with r. emmett bob tyrrell. go ahead with your question. >> guest: hi, mr. tyrrell. i think ronald reagan would be rolling in his grave right now if he knew -- [inaudible] for china. it's kind of interesting, i did vote republican. i am a d

and then you'll see him later on, of course, at the 1968 republican convention standing next to richard nixon, walking out with him. >> one of the things in that first clip that we saw was reference to 60 million people were listening. i know that was on television but very few people could even see that. >> right. >> how important was radio in those days? >> it was the medium. and the fact there were 60 million, maybe, i don't know, maybe 182 million in the country. that was a pretty good size -- when you consider it's a political convention, that's a pretty good group of people. and when i first read that early on i thought it must have been six million but i checked it more than once and there were 60 million people listening. the tv was on the east coast and sort of closed circuit and was to a few stations and was in d.c. the president watched it on tv. a very little network on the east coast and that was it. other than that tv was really nowhere else so radio was it. >> which he was running for the senate, hubert humphrey then? >> yes. he declared -- >> in 1948. >> he declared in the spr

in his efforts to run a maverick campaign in 1972 losing in a devastating landslide defeat to richard nixon, carter pulled off. carter was also politically appealing in the new south. the increasingly urban cosmopolitan and racially tolerant choices of the region. he was a member of a group of progressive moderate governors like from south carolina or ruben of florida who represented the potential for democrats to regain the south after the passage of the civil-rights act in 1954. legislation had to convince president lyndon johnson that he had just handed way the region to the republican party for many generations to come. >> we must also acknowledge that carter had to govern in a tumultuous political time. americans elected parter -- parter at a moment when democrats had come out of the turmoil of the 1960s deeply divided, without any clear sense of direction and fundamental disagreement over the key issues that the party faced ranging from foreign policy with regards to the soviet union to issues like human rights. the struggles over vietnam and civil-rights had opened up few risks among

vice president richard nixon. but this picture shows nixon. nixon's career i picture i'm holding it was discovered only recently this time. nixon. was a master of b.r. of course but my father wasn't different for that reason nixon was deemed the victor in debt to being. the first official visit to the united states by soviet leader took place in one thousand nine hundred fifty nine. it was obvious that crucial for hope to make a favorable impression on americans. would be great russian people say that any good deeds should begin in the morning with out of moscow this morning and it's good to know that because of the time difference first meeting on american soil was in the morning of this. as you see all countries are not that far apart. it was the first time that the soviet communist leader was a human being someone who reacted openly and sincerely to current events during his tour of the united states crucial has always ready to to americans his freewheeling attitude was a headache for aides accompanying him on his foreign tools the most dif

it started in 1960 with richard nixon. it has been going on 50 years. nobody has even kept count of how many people have been arrested -- 10 million, 20 million, 30 million? it sounds like something out of stalin's russia. turn in your neighbors, turn in your friends. if you turn in 10 people, you get less time in prison. that is what it is, you know? this war on drugs is something out of stalin's russia. and let's stop this war on sex offenders before this gets way out of hand. it is already way out of hand. [applause] i know we are concerned about sexual assault and rape and people assaulting women and children -- i know that. most of the people in prison as sex offenders are not those people. i call them romeo and juliet's. he is 19 and she is 16 or she is 19 and he is 16. that is the most of the mark. let's face it -- we should know, especially in san francisco, that as human beings, we are not really comfortable with sex. some of us do not even know who we are, right? from day to day, right? you know, i mean, sex is a very complicated issue. the id

. >> in 1968 richard nixon was elected. he comes to you and asks you to take on the office of the economic opportunity, one of the crown jewels of the society. not very popular with republicans or nixon who basically wanted. not a great career move for you but you did it. what was your rationale? >> i voted against the legislation when it passed. sargent shriver recently passed away had been the person who headed up the office of economic opportunity, and it started under president kennedy, he and his brother bobby kennedy and the justice department had fashioned a program to try to assist the poor and the country and then president johnson came with his big texas approach and enlarged it and it became the war to eradicate poverty and if you define poverty has a certain percentage of the population, and then you try to eradicate it, it's not possible because there's always going to be a certain percentage in that category, and they immediately started a host of programs. there was the job corps, head start, migrant programs,

why did you not take the job of committee to reelect the president of richard nixon in 1972? >> i was -- i just did not have any interest in doing it. >> the book is called "known and unknown: a memoir." donald rumsfeld is our guest. thank you very much for being here. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> for a dvd copy of this program, called 1-877-662-7726. for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this program, visit our website. "q&a" programs are also available as c-span podcasts. >> today, this of the public and private spaces of america's most recognizable home, the white house. we provide a barely seen look at the history of the presidential residence and take you through the, the west wing, local office, and lagan betterment focus on the presidents and first families to most influenced how it looks today, airing in high-definition and newly updated with interviews with president obama and the first lady and comments from georgia and laura bush. that is today a 6:00 p.m. easter

why did you not take the job of committee to reelect the president of richard nixon in 1972? >> i was -- i just did not have any interest in doing it. >> the book is called "known and unknown: a memoir." donald rumsfeld is our guest. thank you very much for being here. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> for a dvd copy of this program, called 1-877-662-7726. for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this program, visit our website. "q&a" programs are also available as c-span podcasts. >> tomorrow, first look at the low energy income plan. then the national taxpayers union outline of hidden taxes that contained in the budget. that contained in the budget.

propelled forward the impeachment, he told me quite explicitly that he came into office just as richard nixond to resign, and that he would never forget those moments, and that he said to himself as this was moving forward, "well, by god, richard nixon was forced out of office for his conduct, and bill clinton should be forced out of office as well". so i think there was a certain amount of that. very honestly, watergate was a piece of it; iran-contra, even more so, in my view. there was a lot of anger by republicans about the investigation of president reagan and vice-president bush having to do with iran-contra, and finally, when they achieved control of the house and senate, i think there was a sense of "hey, we can play this game too. we can begin investigations". and so you had almost a perpetual investigation of bill clinton from the time he walked into the whitehouse, and that's what angered him so much, and to this day, i think, angers him. - and there are so many times in that battle where it could be coming to a conclusion--whether it's at the whitewater stage in arkansas, or the pa

why did you not take the job of committee to reelect the president of richard nixon in 1972?> i was -- adjusted not have any interest in doing it. >> the book is called "known and unknown." donald rumsfeld is our guest. thank you very much for being here. >> for a dvd copy of this program, called 1-877-662-7726. for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this program, visit our website. "q&a" programs are also available as c-span podcasts. >> tonight, british prime minister david cameron response to concerns about the recent rise in unemployment and prime ministers questions. after that, look it highlights from question period in the canadian house of commons with prime minister stephen harper. remarks from secretary hillary clinton on afghanistan and pakistan. andue

dwight eisenhower, richard nixon. barry goldwater for president 52, 56, 60 and 64.vernor california, '67 to '75. republican presidential nomination, ran unsuccessfully twice for, '68 and '76. u.s. president, '81 to '89. defeating president jimmy carter. died june 5, 2004, 93 years of age. bel air, california. as president, ronald reagan tackles historically high inflation and unemployment, during his presidency inflation dropped from 12.5% to 5.5%. and unemployment dropped from 9.7% to 4.4%. reagan launched a defense build- up against the soviet union and remain forever grateful, unquote. question, what characteristics did ronald reagan possess that other post-war presidents have lacked? pat, you worked for him. kepre-world war ii depth of belief in the goodness and greatness of his country that can't be replicated by any post-war generation. a man who had great convictions, the courage of those convictions he would often say, well, if this doesn't work out, can always go back to the -- >> he never knocked the united states. >> he -- america was great, an ideal in h

very unofficial and very curious alliance of sorts with the reagan people in an effort to prevent richard nixon from being nominated on the first ballot. guest: the strategy was if they could stop nixon, then katie bar the door, and both rockefeller and nixon believed over time the convention would turn to them. host: nelson rockefeller, was his selection for vice president an impetus for reagan to run? guest: that's an interesting question. i don't think it was directly, but i clearly, whether gerald ford reached out to this man who, talk about polarizing, was a lightning rod for many conservative republicans, for lots of reasons, there is no doubt that a growing conservative movement within and outside the republican party saw that as a defining moment for the ford presidency. they took umbrage at it. and the fact that ford, in effect, dumped rockefeller at the end of 1975, was not enough to assuage their feelings. host: bonnie joining us from greenville, north carolina. good morning. caller: good morning. thank you so much. i'm just listening to you spin about reagan. yes he did some wonderf

there was talkbout reagan changing the trajectory of america in a way that he said, for example, richard nixon or bill clinton hadot. not that they were not historiccally significant presidents. it is a very, very rare president that gets the opportunity and has the kills to in effect profoundly chae the course of america. host: and you have a remarkabl tour coming up? guest: starting in ash vill, north carolina, and then through tennessee and arkansas, texas, a day in the hill country, johnson's hill country. a visit with jackson's hermitage, the site of dr. king's assassination, even a night at the grand old opre. we're doing this trip. we have a few places left on the bus, and if anyone is interested, there will two ways. they can call. there is a phone number. 202-621-7250-, and there is online www. presidentsandpatriots.com. host: seven presidents, two kings, and the american century in 10 unforgettable days. guest: people that go with us on these strip trips are people who have been with us before, so that's pretty good advertisement. host: denise is joining us from the independent line

it started in 1960 with richard nixon. it has been going on 50 years. nobody has even kept count of how many people have been arrested -- 10 million, 20 million, 30 million? it sounds

>> when richard nixon resigned, we never had a president resign the presidency.nd the man who came in to succeed him was the only man in our country's history who had never been elected president or vice president. the country was in a terribly difficult time. the vietnam war was in turmoil. the economy was in the tank. and he was able to help restore integrity to the white house and to the government of the united states. but that was the most difficult task i ever had serving as his chief ostaff. >> so much of this nearly 800-page book covers your six years as george w. bush's secretary of defense. can you take us back to that time and some of the tough decisions that you had to make? i mean $700 billion spent on the war in iraq. over 4,000 american casualties. was it worth the cost? >> i was in congress when the first $100 billion budget, not deficit, but budget passed in the lyndon johnson presidency. you can think about that. that's amazing. here we are today with debt of a trillion plus. the short answer is it is worth it. if you think othe people in iraq a

it started in 1960 with richard nixon. it has been going on 50 years. nobody has even kept count of how many people have been arrested -- 10 million, 20 million, 30 million? it sounds like something out of stalin's russia. turn in your neighbors, turn in your friends. if you turn in 10 people, you get less time in prison. that is what it is, you know? this war on drugs is something out of stalin's russia

. >> reporter: behind that arena the man whose name they chant arrives carrying a richard nixon biography no clue about how today's audience will be entertained. what's your pregame ritual? i imagine you could do it in your sleep. >> well, i don't do anything. i'm not supposed to know what the show is about. this is it. >> reporter: he says he simply a hired gun with no creative control and doesn't know the topic until producers hand him an index card but regardless of what's on that card he knows and they know why they are here. >> you shut your face right now. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: but believe it or not, "the jerry springer show" wasn't always about angry little people and big surprises. >> you can't be a girl. i slept with you. >> reporter: yes, before the smoke and the pole many years and several food fights ago. this was a kinder gentler broadcast. >> you are going to meet your daughter cindy whom you have not seen in 35 years. cindy. >> reporter: a show devoted in part to complex national issues like gun control or the iran-contra affair. >> we had people like oliver

breaker if even the president of the united states you know the whole you know cause you know richard nixon to resign yeah it is ironic and it's tragic but again it's about profit centers not cost centers good journalism is a cost center they cannot afford that they have to funnel resources into these other properties and this is what happens you don't have you know that i see my communalism and chris thanks so much for joining us well still to come on tonight's show sign field and almost deliver the start treaty is just days away from taking now the us media is a little angry over the treaty signing while we come back and the g.o.p. says that they're making plans for the u.s. default on its debt thought as to plan over raising the debt ceiling but wait until you hear about their crazy idea that would basically leave everyday americans. well when one deals with wall street has to realize that this tremendous amounts of damage that are done not just human damage but damage to the physical environment in which the battlefield takes place tremendous amounts of damage done by these by . coming.

. >> richard nixon cherished his solitude and his intellectual privacy.n the white house, the lincoln sitting room. he led a fire in the fireplace. it was his habit to turn the air conditioning up as high as it would go and start a fire. it is important for every president to have not only a place but a time when he can think of. just think. for nixon, that is with the lincoln sitting room was about. it was a place of security as well as for memories. similarly, every president bonds with the lincoln. for nixon, he favors the compared himself to lankan in the sense that he justified actions and the abuse of power under the general heading of watergate with the wartime setting in which his administration could out. just about every president, particularly those who have military actions during their term of office, do tend to get very close to lincoln's ghost. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states of america and mrs. nixon, mr. and mrs. david eisenhower. >> and so we leave with high hopes, in good spirit, and with the deep humility. a