so that theodore roosevelt's one of the few that is a near great president. because of his personality, he didn't have a war. when lincoln was a young man, he lamented the fact the rep re public had been formed, all the great guys were on mountains, rivers, and streams and his generation had no challenge. he's saying what's left for us? maybe a congress, a presidency without purpose. then of course the civil war comes along. i remember jfk saying at one time could i be a great president -- i don't remember but he is said to have said can i be a great president without a war? clinton wondered the same thing. a war can undo you as with lbj or it can offer you that chance to make the country come together. and in a certain sense, bush had that chance at 9/11. could he have summoned the country to greatness at that point, which did not happen. >> and evan, here's another example of dwight eisenhower possibly not getting his due because he avoided war. and one of the most extraordinary moments i think of his presidency was the suez crisis where everybody was ready

as commander of the uss theodore roosevelt carrier strike group, he led a task forces in support operationraqi freedom. he had commanded the u.s. -- the nato allied joint command in lisbon. his tours include service on the fleet force command, joint forces command and the j5 and executive assistant to the vice- chairman of naval operations. he commanded the north american aerospace defense command norad and u.s. northern command before selected as the vice-chairman of the authorities of staff. admiral winnefeld is a highly decorated leader. please welcome the vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral sandy winnefeld. >> good afternoon, everybody. general, to keep that introduction. distinguished guest -- thank you for that introduction. distinguished guests, what an honor it is to be with you here today and to stand in front of these world war ii veterans. as i was listening to that rendition of america the beautiful, it struck me what a wonderful idea america is and what america -- a wonderful place america is and all of you fought for her and we deeply appreciate what you did f

as commander of the uss theodore roosevelt carrier, he led task forces and support operations in operation recce freedom. he has also commanded nato allied joint command in lisbon. he has served on the joint forces command, tours and the joint staff, aid to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, an executive assistant to the vice chairman of naval operations. he demanded the north american aerospace command, and u.s. northern command, and being selected as a vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. admiral winnefeld is a highly decorated combat leader. ladies and gentlemen, please look, the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral sandy winnefeld. [applause] >> afternoon, everybody. great to see you. general kicklighter, thank you for that introduction. mr. vogel, mr.s hayes, good afternoon. what an honor it is to be with you this afternoon. what an honor it is to stand in front of the world war ii and pearl harbor veterans who are here today. i can tell you that as i was listening to the wonderful rendition of "american the beautiful," it struck me what a wonderful idea

theodore roosevelt became permit very aristocratic family. went to harvard, was independently wealthy. all of the social friends that she had and what are doing? roosevelts and ongoing to determine an irish forest. they said how can you do that? and incumbent gary sherman said irishman. [laughter] and roosevelt said, political power in this city is decided in the saloons and you can set appear in your penthouse all you want, but i want to be in the room with the decisions made. what to take your demographically. and this is very so deeply disagree with their consulting class and candidly with one of the comments of our last nominee. i don't see demographic problems what do you think asian americans while? they want a good education. their passionate. they love their children. their best to limit children. they invest more heavily in their children than any other group. just had a survey i saw this morning came out. guess what the number one validation of achievement as saying that college students is today released a 25, 30 or so now, how do y

maybe as theodore roosevelt said, my harvard buddies thought it was commonplace. i thought he spoke in a different tone today, more conversational, and that's something you learn from your first term, where he thought he had spoken too much over people's heads or too explanatory. jon meacham, there's something else that i want to pick up, the president's obvious irritation, chuck was just chenmentioning i before we started, at the notion that it's a pox on both houses. >> right. >> and one of the president's top advisers is rather defensive on twitter saying it should bug every american because it's lazy journalism and punditry and has a real effect on our political system. well, here's the reality that even his advisers have to understand. the american people, republicans and democrats, do look at results or the lack thereof. so it's not lazy punditry when people are out there very frustrated with both ends of this. >> right. and they see the system as broken because, as you say, it doesn't produce a result, a desirable result. >> being right is not enough, even

now, theodore roosevelt came from a very i risk accuratic -- aristocratic family. went to harvard, was independently wealthy. and all of his social friends said to hill, what are you doing? and roosevelt said, i'm going down to the german and the irish bars -- [laughter] and they said how can you do that? i mean, there are germans and irishmen there. [laughter] and roosevelt said political power in this city is decided in those saloons. and you can sit up here in your penthouse all you want, but i want to be in the room where the decision is made. i'll take your word "demographic." i don't, and this is where i so deeply disagree with our consulting class and, candidly, with one of the comments of our last nominee. i don't see demographic problems. what do you think asian-americans want? they want a good education for their kids. they're passionate about their children. they love their children. they invest heavily in their children. they invest more heavily in their children than any other ethnic group in america. what kind of future do you think they want? just saw

as commander of the uss theodore roosevelt carrier strike group, he led task force is in support of operatione u.s., united states six fleet, nato ally joint command in lisbon. is sure to was included service on the fleet forces command, joint forces command, to was on the joint staff including being a g5 aid to the joint chiefs of staff, and executive assistant to the vice chairman of enable operations. he commended the north american aerospace defense command norad and u.s. northern command before becoming and being selected as vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. admiral winnefeld is a highly decorated combat leader. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral sandy winnefeld. [applause] >> well, good afternoon, everybody. great to see you general kicklighter. great. mr. hayes, to see which guests, good afternoon. what an honor it is to be with you all here today. what an honor it is to stand in front of these wonderful world war ii and pearl harbor veterans. i can tell you that as i was listening to that wonderful rendition of americ

you may have heard it was theodore roosevelt who started the health insurance business in the 20th century. but actually it was women garment workers and labor organizers in the 1910s who first joined with progressive reformers for workers. earlier i talked about how of florence greenberg demanded recognition of health care as a right during the great depression and in the time remaining i would like to talk about two other women later in the 20th century who refused to accept the american way of rationing on health care as a right. we are going to jump ahead three decades after florence greenberg. after the passage of medicare and medicaid to september of 1970 when the american hospital association held its annual meeting in houston, texas. the american hospital association, or the h a, you may have heard of them, they're not as well-known but very powerful lobbying group on behalf of private hospitals in the u.s. for over a century. the 1970 meeting turned out to be unlike any they had ever had before because the hospital delegates were greeted by picket lines of mostly african-american

he did so with the same push and shove as his political hero, theodore roosevelt. he spent the last three years of his life trying to rescue the united states from the threats emanating from a divided middle east, from the country's negligence about national security, and from the self- destructive synergy of chronic deficits and delusional economics. that is a sketch of a great patriot and a great friend, too. i will yield to others who are going to fill in that the sketch, beginning with warren's close friend, the majority leader of the united states senate, senator reid. [applause] >> we just made a deal. [laughter] the vice president and i were going to meet in the morning, but we will be in session tomorrow having votes. i also apologize. we have a bill that warren rudman was well aware of. the defense authorization bill is on the floor. i may have to excuse myself and go back and leave and try to work that out. we have given john mccain a little bit of time off from the floor tonight. i will go back to see if we can speed things up a little. warren rudman was

and i think he's learned what theodore roosevelt learned, when you're speaking to the american peopled want to make an argument, it has to be simple. i thought he spoke in a different tone today, more conversational, and that's something you learn from your first term, where he thought he had spoken too much over people's heads or too explanatory. >> jon meacham, the president's obvious irritation, chuck was just mentioning it before we started, at the notion that it's a pox on both houses. >> right. >> and one of the president's top advisers is rather defensive on twitter saying it should bug every american because it's lazy journalism and punditry and has a real effect on our political system. well, here's the reality that even his advisers have to understand. the american people, republicans and democrats, do look at results or the lack thereof. so it's not lazy punditry when people are out there very frustrated with both ends of this. >> right. and i see the system as broken because as you say it doesn't produce a result, a desirable result. >> being right is not enough, even if y

in other words, the party of abraham lincoln, theodore roosevelt and dwight d. eisenhower is in the grip of an ideology conceived by a pre-teenager who apparently remains to this day in a state of arrested adolescence. >> well, you know, the fact is, the idea that, you know, "no, i'm not ever going to do this no matter the circumstances, no matter if we're at war," whatever, it is a 12-year-old kind of thinking. you know, it's a childish way of thinking. but you can't just blame grover. there are members of the united states senate and united states house who have signed those pledges. and let me say, i mean, we're talking about taxes and that's the norquist pledge. you know, but supporters of other positions on immigration, a lot of different issues, when you're running for office ask you to sign a pledge, sign a pledge that you will support this, sign a pledge that you -- you know, the right thing for a member of congress to say is, "you know the way i think. you know what my values are. i will look at the issues through that lens. you know, but, you know, the

and i think he's learned what theodore roosevelt learned, when you're speaking to the american people want to make an argument, it has to be simple. maybe as roosevelt said, my harvard buddies might think it's commonplace but i thought he spoke in a different tone today, more conversational, and that's something you learn from your first term, where he thought he had spoken too much over people's heads or too explanatory. >> jon meacham, the president's obvious irritation, chuck was just mentioning it before we started, at the notion that it's a pox on both houses. >> right. >> and one of the president's top advisers is rather defensive on twitter saying it should bug every american because it's lazy journalism and punditry and has a real effect on our political system. well, here's the reality that even his advisers have to understand. the american people, republicans and democrats, do look at results or the lack thereof. so it's not lazy punditry when people are out there very frustrated with both ends of this. >> right. and i see the system as broken because, as you say, it doesn't

theodore roosevelt hung his picture in the president's office and said, "whenever i have a major decision to make, i always ask myself would lincoln would do." woodrow wilson, who was a son of the south, who remembered seeing jefferson davis in chains being led past him at the end of the war nevertheless developed something of a hero worship for lincoln. richard nixon, as a 12-year-old, was given a portrait of lincoln that he hung over his bed. nixon also justified what would later be seen as abuses of power by comparing america in the vietnam era to the country during the civil war. so over and over again, lincoln is always there if you want to cite him to justify the expansion of presidential power, particularly in war time. >> sreenivasan: why do you think it is that people keep coming back to lincoln to study and to write and rewrite? >> it's a great question. he's not washington or jefferson, about whom scholars obviously continue to write but who seem more remote. lincoln seems more accessible to us. in many ways, lincoln is one of us. a number of reasons for that. first of all, he

theodore teddy roosevelt. you listening? and that's why i'm called "teddy."they come back. any chance of a lift? just to the school, it's not far. of course, climb on. i'll take you there. ♪ do you think any of these children will want us? a beauitful doll like you? of course they will. what about me? you think i'll find a house where they never have sprouts and the telly is on all the t i'm sure you will. why don't you stay, choncey? find some children to love and look after you. children? i'm far too old for them. goodbye, annie. choncey, yes? you're not bad for a dog. goodbye, teddy. ♪ ♪ [ school bell rings ] they're coming. the new kids are coming. good luck, teddy. good luck, annie. you call me by my real name. you called me annie. annie! ♪when you're left ♪out in the cold just let me know ♪ ♪and i'll be on my way ♪i'll be ♪there to chase your blues away ♪ ♪ ♪when it feels that life ♪too tough, you've had enough ♪empty promises ♪i'll be here to ♪hold your fears at bay ♪ ♪anytime you need ♪a friend just ♪call out my name and i'll come running ♪ ♪anywhere

>> it's a great question and theodore roosevelt in the 80's decides he wants to go into politics. roosevelt came from a very aristocratic family, went to harvard, was independently wealthy and all of his social friends said to him what are you doing? and he said i'm going to the german and the irish bars. they said how can you do that? there are germans and irishman. [laughter] roosevelt said political power in the city is decided in those saloons you can sit up here in your penthouse all you want, but i want to be in the room where the decision is made. i will take your word demographic. and this is where i so deeply disagree with our consulting class and with one of the comments of the last nominee. i don't see demographic problems. what do you think of what asian-americans want? they want a good education for their kids. they're passionate about their children. they love their children. the invest heavily in their children, more heavily than any other ethnic group in america. what kind of future? just had a survey that i saw this morning. guess what the number one validation of

he was--henry adams said of theodore roosevelt that he was pure act, and you could have said that about morgan as well. he was instinctive, he was intuitive, i think he was actually quite a brilliant man, but it's not the kind of brilliance that people trained in the humanities know about. and i had to really learn to see how his intelligence operated. i did find a lot of his letters and they were better than--i mean, i'm exaggerating slightly to say that he was inarticulate when he was interested in something, he absolutely could express it, and i found there were wonderful glimpses, but not enough, not as many as for the james's. c-span: i want to ask you about the women in his life. who is this? >> guest: that was his first wife. her name was amelia sturges. she was the daughter of a prominent new york merchant and patron of the arts named jonathan sturges. he fell in love with her shortly after he moved to new york, when he was 20 years old, in 1857, and courted her for a couple of years. they got engaged in '59 and--i'm sorry, in 1960 they got engaged--and the winter--they were goi

. >> good point, but we had grover cleveland and theodore roosevelt and william howard taft.ge in the 50s when you had to be telegenic. something about chris christie the way he handles it and the jersey accent. he is a can do guy. it works for him and comes off as his personality. the cartoonists would have a field day and the comics would make fun of him, but i think the american people will love him all the more for it. >> chris christie, people do love it, but we have our issues and that's what makes all of us human. his situation ask he admits it involves a behavior and would be considered compulsive. would that give pause to a fair-minded voter? >> i don't think so. bill clinton used it to great effect. jogging and eating a big mac and he was able to use it in his favor. later he had heart problems and he is on cnn all the time talking about it. >> on the other side, we have republican strategist who said voters find so little they can believe. they put a premium on anything they perceive as authentic. that makes him more human and more real and therefore credible. do y

then in the early 1900s, president theodore roosevelt said e we need to make changes to the game because players are getting injured. >> they did. they made changes because they had to. there are commentators who say change is bad. dean simon said i'm a favor of adjusting the game for safety, but don't remove one of the most exciting parts of the football game. fans love to see the returns. it always gets people excited. he goes on and on. it's not just a change, it's ""change in his opinion. >> there will still be a commencement to the game. and punt returns are exciting too. that's just as exciting. especially now with the touchback percentage. the unreturnable kicks have gone up to 43%. so maybe we should find a way to make it safer, but still be able to have a kicking phase of the game. so it's not eliminating injuries, it's just about making smart changes that will injury the catastrophic injuries. >> i would never let my kids play if it doesn't get safer. coy wire, nice to have you with us this morning. we appreciate it. >> thanks for having me. >>> still ahead, reports that syria

and i think he's learned what theodore roosevelt learned, when you're speaking to the american people and want to make an argument, it has to be simple. i thought he spoke in a different tone today, more conversational, and that's something you learn from your first term, where he thought he had spoken too much over people's heads or too explanatory. >> jon meacham, the president's obvious irritation, chuck was just mentioning it before we started, at the notion that it's a pox on both houses. >> right. >> and one of the president's top advisers is rather defensive on twitter saying it should bug every american because it's lazy journalism and punditry and has a real effect on our political system. well, here's the reality that even his advisers have to understand. the american people, republicans and democrats, do look at results or the lack thereof. so it's not lazy punditry when people are out there very frustrated with both ends of this. >> right. and i see the system as broken because as you say it doesn't produce a result, a desirable result. >> being right is not enough, even i

bill clinton was showed a note card, theodore roosevelt's national parks and it had another car cardbill clinton and had two. so he started to use executive orders to create all sorts of national monuments around the country. you start every field, whether it's dealing with the environment, the role of big business, we will checkmark these off. president obama has had two supreme court justices put in. probably will have a third and maybe a fourth, which means the influence of the supreme court of barack obama could be with us for generations. >> shannon: douglas brinkley, always nice to get the historical insight. thawferg. >> thanks. >> shannon: still to come on america's news headquarters. of the: a last-ditch effort to get a deal done. the ball is in the senate's court. can the leaders there come up with a fiscal plan that the house republicans would put up to a vote? we will talk to two senators. >> could a shrimp cost you your property? the obama administration rolls out a mountain of proposed legislation, is this the epa run amok. if you shop online, brace yourself, prices cou

in 1900, theodore roosevelt said we have to make changes in the game.. then in the '50s and '60s, we went from leather hel mmets to plastic helmets. these times are no different. >> how do you think the fans would react if this were to com making it safer, so this is no different. >> how do you think the fans would react? >> well, rightly so you have to stress the game can still be violent and exciting. but with the slight modifications that can lessen the opportunities where the less threatening and life-threatening injuries can occur, that is where change is necessary. >>> okay, let's move on to college football, today is heisman trophy day, of course. and there are two guys who could make history, first, the possibility of the freshman winning the heisman trophy, did you ever think you would see the day? >> phenomenal, the closest we came, adrian peterson finished second, dynamic player, nonetheless, i mean he has won the hearts and minds of many in the college football this year. formerly owned by tim tebow, and cam newton who won, phenomenal, there