started a second data processing company, perot systems corporation. it sold to dell in 2009 for almost $4 billion. in 1969, president richard nixon asked perot to seek better treatment for u.s. prisoners of war in north vietnam. he traveled where he mess with ambassadors from russia and north vietnam. perot made headlines again in 1979 when two eds employees were taken hostage during the revolution in iran, he organized and paid for a successful private mission to rescue the men and bring them home. perot ran for president again in 1996, but this time he was barred from the debates, so he bought network air time and broadcast a series to express his vision for america. perot won only 8% of the vote in 1996. wolf blitzer, cnn washington. >> jamie joins us now on the phone. and of course our thoughts with