If you go look at it again tonight i was sitting there in it is in the book by the way. I was sitting there, carter is behind me jody is there with the big fellow in his arms. Saturday night before the election isnt there used to be a bump and there was cigarettes every where. Times have changed. Everybody was smoking and then we got the word in seattle last stop it was an amazing experience. I want to talk about my book a little bit but really what it is about. People walk up to me why you write this book now . I did not write it last night. [laughter] i gave a lecture on mintier years ago by the way. I talked about this years ago. But i do think it was a grownup aspect that was political and played by a the queens berry rules. The tousing total where warfare of limited fighting with that they get our job there eyes and the kicking and and on since mohammad ali was a great fighter because he played by the rules but there is no rules today it is like that of politics. All i will tweak some of it as i go through. [laughter] politics is a wonderful thing. Selfgovernment is the essence of who we are. We started it. It is what we have besides our Natural Resources to be have more than we thought we have selfgovernment and if not what do we have . And i also think the wonder of it was in the late 18th century when general washington was beating the British Empire with the french to riding horseback up on jenkins hill looking down over a swap and imagining how this National Capital flight producers. Who are they that think they can do this . Philadelphia the secondlargest city of the empire that will not do we have to have a great capital and imagining the carriage ride in the capital that would be the perfect up on a pedestal and how much imagination and courage to that take to think like that . Imagine about a country that govern itself that had never been done before in all the people of different passions like slavery that was very much alive to say we can deal with this. We can make it work if we ever congress, the presidency, the checks and balances we can make it work either with everybody screaming at each other. That is what we have today. It is not anomaly but carry to far with the message but tell me the times in American History when there is unity of political opinion there have been very short periods then they blew it by trying to pack the Supreme Court. But some parties have had nominal power but not the filibusterproof to dictate what they wanted to do. It is very rare. And all will see the other party to participate. That is true now and in the reagan era as well but with reagan and that was a little different that i will talk about. First of all, when president reagan went to washington, he benefited he has seen all the mistakes that carter had made. I mean that he had no friends on capitol hill. Nine. Everybody said make at least one. He will tell you what is going on. [laughter] obama is like carter that way he does not want to hang out with the boy is he is probably a great father and has been but not the regular guy come over we will have a drink sam play cards and talk about the hell he says things likes id be glad to meet at the Jefferson Hotel again with this set number of people and i will be that 915. That is how he does it with you want to have somebody come over to your house you invite them to your house. It is different than they can decide when to leave. Then they said lets me down at the bar in behalf to get back to the riding. Roosevelt you could argue with the greatest the greatest president of twentieth century. [laughter] but he played poker all the time with these guys and also knew that when he wrote the check for the 28 bucks he knew nobody would cash it because you would get ready rid of the Franklin Roosevelt check . You would keep that. Tip was like roosevelt. Love to hang out and that theres three ways to spend your life to skirls, a drink, which they do go together pretty well and play cards which keeps you away from both. He was a card player. I believe him. One time i was with him he said many morning i have seen that flag flying. [laughter] i thought of this one speech with his big thick sweater on ready for the night. He love to beat people at cards. The reagans were different than carter or president ial couples because they got to washington and immediately began making friends. Nancy made friends with kay graham of the Washington Post a and george and they went to the rounds and headed up to dinner and invited tip to the Birthday Party he just turned 70 policies friendly things were going on. But with his 69th Birthday Party reagan hosted at the white house for him and a couple others in that with dylan all afternoon and he even called up for champagne. This is amazing to order up share paid on a weekday. And reagan takes dip it was over the top if i had a ticket to heaven in you didnt then we would go to hell together i would not take that literally that is a little too much. Then they went arm in arm tuesday elevated to an outside tip kick to the hell out of him. Your friends in the room together but then afterwards we are political rivals. I first met reagans state of the new 1982 the first he got to give and he was in the holding room it is weird washington how close you have to deal with your political opponents. The green room was the ceremonial office in the capital had a big desk like a dork paper doorkeeper. That was not my role but i would sit there. And a new Ronald Reagan was in the room. What would i do . I went in. Mr. President will come to the room where we plots against your. [laughter] he said not after 6 00. [laughter] the speaker says were friends after 6 00. [laughter] that is the first i heard fact max some friends after six intel they talked about a relationship reagan recall and said it is after 6 00 . Can we change our watches if they wanted to deal with something. This is not a bromance they ramrods. He did not have a close relationship except for nancy which is obviously close but according to ron he said he would only say how far and he was of tip of roundhouse so i was impressed with that although tip was very tough really tough. I worked for him. A tough guy. So they had these Old School Rules that i would like to see resuscitated. Remember when a new president got a honeymoon . It is dead. Value start plotting the day he gets nominated. The voters vote the we made that decision that is my belief you could disagree but he says and every one of reagans proposals the tax cuts or spending cuts increase of defense spending he promised reagan you will get a vote on everyone by august 1st and he won every time for and gave him a schedule. No games. Today you have to fight with the filibuster rule. That is why they began with a good relationship. Also the assassination attempt that made reagan very hard to criticize. He came back like lazarus. Intuitively the people said he made it maybe he should have. Maybe theres something fair something fateful about his survival it was meant to be. Maybe he should get his turn would never was there before was all lot there afterwards an a lot harder. But i think he knew he was underscore purpose in he was driven after that. It was right here. They did pray after words the 23rd psalm in fact. A person lives nearby in the room and tip really did kiss him on the forehead and they really did hold hands and it was something. We dont have much time for that. The speaker was my boss and i really respected him because he knew what it meant to be unpopular just as reagan was in his wilderness period coming out of california scene too far right he did that for years right teeing commentary he was willing to be unpopular in that is a test of any politician for a very willing to be the war . Are you willing to be wrong by Public Opinion . Then there is as big fat the radical liberal everybody made fun of him and he had to go to work that was his greatest courage to go against reagan to looked a Million Dollars to put say he is the greatest speaker ever and better than kennedy or roosevelt. But he would do things the relationships between the two sides are so different that i was friends and even oliver north we all got along with. Charles wick, we all knew him there were nice courtesies passed back and forth it was totally different. A guy who was dying on a Hunger Strike i have mike on the phone on the speakerphone i said a Nuclear Attack submarine called the body of christ Corpus Christi. Can we do something in mike was drinking at the time and he said it seems like a stupid reason to kill yourself but by monday he obviously went around to president reagan they call the city of Corpus Christi and the guy had a cheeseburger. [laughter] these things can be worked out. King of the country diana wanted to go back to the chance to go over there to come back the next day was not a fun trip i figured there were not many republicans that had an interest. That was a shot but deaver probe beyond the playing with Lionel Hampton for the whole trip. People and he would save four months after that matthews built this country. [laughter] i thought he overdid it but it was great. This is the Lionel Hampton. A big republican big leaders in the york four years as the honorary chair and he is playing this states go marching in on a xylophone in the handicrafts section of the airport that was quite a trip but other things like my wife was an anchorwoman covering the g7 in williamsburg and i have a ticket to hang out could i get a press pass . Sure. These Little Things backandforth charlie wic sent me on africa. People were nice to each other and we worked together. It was just different. That is part of it. The not after 6 00 thing was real. Not personal. So lets get to the grubby aspects of politics to agree to disagree then you get something done. 1981 the president got what he wanted us speaker could make the country work then he said to get everything you wanted now it is your turn. And then they said and then with fiscal 83 but tip went on the floor for the president that you were here because of reagan in talking to the republican members of congress and now were on the eve of an election talking for a change of policy. And then reagan said how neece that was to be in the same side of the fight. Social security was a piece of choreography you cannot imagine today. But whats happening in this is the president has a provision for their the us speaker approves it so then that would get ahead them with a proposal that with the splitsecond it is just like a kidnapping. But then to make it work then that is how did it is simultaneously. I understand that speaker supports this package. It was behind them Social Security has been sound ever since because of the dealmaking. After that is the patricks day. Into we money of for dinner that night all on the same diary. Said patricks day a shamrock tie from a republican from massachusetts and one from to go deal. Bunch of and capitol hill as his guests including the former ambassador and Prime Minister from ireland. He could blakey personally well trying to beating your head. [laughter] a lot of trades, respect for the voter. Dont ignore the elections. Respect for the office. Deadlines. That government shut down i forgot them they were so small. Do you know, why . They got most appropriations done on time so the continuing resolution just covered what was it cover they got most of them done on time but to date none of them are done so now it covers the and tired government really is a Government Shutdown not a few agencies. Compromise does not mean the agreement it means you find what you are willing to give up with the other person which is willing to give up the and you put it together it is called a compromise. You dont say i want this you can have it i want this and that war did you do. Can i have it . I will get something of it then you get something. If somebody compared it to an orange. Were made to split up the doors is put a knife through it to get half to each some people want the stuff to make the juice some people want the skin to bake with say you give them what they want to the Social Security deal and all the deal is how they would do it. There were times they really did agree with Northern Ireland or the relationship with the soviet union. When i discovered riding this book is this is so important that clearly Ronald Reagan deserves credit for the cold war but tip did make a point in the back room to make sure he did not screwed up. He did go over there to april 1985 representing the president as head of a bipartisan delegation and did deliver the letter from reagan that he wanted to meet with gorbachev and more importantly he said what does opposition been . He did not get that part and tip said we dont disagree about everything. But neither one of your party is like a communist but on this point when it comes to superpower negotiations he is our resident even though we disagree in the past he is sincere it sincere about Nuclear Arms Reductions so reagan goes to geneva and took calls of bullfighting appropriation because he wanted reagan to pick up the check when he made negotiations. When he went to make a back he tillable liberals he had rondels from berkeley as his own Foreign Policy side have been with this Freeze Movement but it will embarrass the president so lets cool that while they are crying because they know they can win the fight. So not just about praying with those guys it is the big stuff expressing a common patriotism i think that was there. Also always been able to talk. Willing to talk because in a marriage you attitude be able to communicate. The jokes and the parties in the toast kept the door open he could call reagan to say mr. President is after 6 00 they could negotiate these deals and that is what this book is about. I think that is it. Willingness to talk is the most important fact is dead serious. Evil secretary louis things we have enough but were not sure because receipts Committee People pay their taxes and you dont know how expensive is moved around. To but this is my pitch that we dont Pay Attention and make some kind of agreement before the 17th. People say you should be religious but if there is a heaven or hell also assume there is . That is a good decision but nobody wants to find out. [laughter] we dont know what after the 17th looks like. The bench you yale or georgetown law and he looks exactly the same by the way. [laughter] i think were in a situation we had better be grownups but with serious probably paul ryan is beginning to rootstalks. We will not get an idea from obama or peter. They are too much like this. Reagan and tip where the same way from somebody else from one of the chairs of the finance committee are ways and means they know where the deals are in no though long history of the fight over and talk of reform in a Corporate Tax levels the alrich areas the president alludes to and republicans say they want lower taxes to compete better and also long term and have a reform with Social Security. And hadnt they make that happen between now and next sir say . Have you do all of that . So what is a good marker to put douser each side will trust the other . And to convince them they are serious . That probably wont get their votes the table dash half. Even though passer says he never said a role but everybody honor said. [laughter] like better not. Everybody thinks there is one. It really can be done. Half the democrats are half the republicans every betty is happy but you have to make a big commitment on the big stuff. I do think over time to see how they make it work but you cannot be on the commission if your goal is to kill it. It will be an interesting time to watch. It does not all have to be fighting to the death. I think we ought to remember we lived in different times in reagan was a helluva leader. Read my book. Now let me tell you what i really think. Alongside churchill. He does pretty well. Think you very much. Now i will take questions. [applause] we are on cspan so you have to be cleaned. He has agreed to take questions but the point he is trying to make. I was making it. [laughter] we have microphones that is what the people are standing up for. The microphone will come to you. By the way it is made to standing today this book is now ninth on the New York Times bestseller list. I hope all of you will get it tonight. [applause] it has been there five days into publication. With the battle of obamacare day you feel safe you will give the independent people to the oneyear reprieve . I dont think he will. He wants to try the car before he gives up. He wants to see if it will work. That is one year less he gets to make it work. Well get his political situation the people who want to put it off dont want it to work if their goal was to fix the car but it is not it is to keep off the road. He knows that. His position is he needs all the time of his second term to make it work. The but the giddy listen to senator cruz he said in jerry his concern is like it is sugar and is addictive and is afraid people will like it. He is afraid people will like it you who can bet obama will call upon the table like get. It is hard for him to give that up. But if he does he will be clobbered by the left as a weakling and he will lose his presidency over it. They will clobber him. That is what i think. In your opinion, how long do you think that Government Shutdown will last . And will shut down for the presidency of Ronald Reagan . The average todays was just some agencies one was over fcc rules over spending , you cannot even find it. We went to looking the other day. We were looking for news coverage. There is hardly any. This is big. This is big. How long will last . I hope not pass the 17th but my concern to is i believe he was always honest when i worked with him. But suppose and airline had winterset Safety Record for 100 years to 200 years. Then it announced it want the 95 . Would you get on the playing . You would . Good luck. [laughter] you would if there is another one with hundred . You would get off that. With high school with the paper boy to a and to buy a savings bond we always by the payments. As on our records like anybody is credit rating. I am worried because we dont know. We dont know the day after death is like. We can pretend. Why with the people say it doesnt count when another two or three days . What will they get politically . They are running a risk but what do they get out of it . Would you get saying the 20th or the 24th . That is the same gm we are in right now. I never got the politics of going after obamacare he would give with other stuff but not this. I dont know what cruz is up to accept something else. I cannot read minds but i hope it is the 17th and boehner said there will be no default he knows it is serious business. Mr. Matthews thank you for your time. Do you really think this is about obamacare . What do you mean . What is it about . Is it about going after the president . It has his name on it. There are 30 members who violently dislike the guy the be more like the bursars which i dont think favor ever serious because ted cruz deliver the baby in canada he is natural born he is not have to be naturalized even if donald trump was righty and secretly born in kenya because the woman said but i have a baby in kenya because that he could have the road to the presidency in rojas that is crazy. He just does this to appeal to people he does business with. There is a logic of the republican politics right now is pretty conservative. You know, the christie will have a hard time to get the nomination it will move between scott walker who is a dark horse he is tough, real executive he does stuff in wisconsin is really important. I say somewhere between him and rand paul is the nomination. Not jab jeb bush not rubio but it will happen pretty soon. That is when it begins. So i will be covered. I am good through 18. I signed up for five more. [laughter] [applause] i think hillary is the nominee bided is hoping that she wont run but whoever it is stable look really good if he does not attacker but those positive with the exposure you will get. She is unbeatable so you can lose it is brilliant. Put your name out there and campaigned for your debating partner make her look good and evil be great. I am just political. This woman has been holding her hand up since the beginning. [laughter] i was just wondering if you think the tea party has been divisive to the Republican Party . It is by nature because it is revolutionary. Newt gingrich was the First Tea Party or with his methods. I think here is the thing about zealotry. The one reason i dont worry in the long run short term over islam is islamism because zealots do not last. Roman candles. He is amazingly brilliant but you cannot say thats a hot for very long. You will burn out. People think he will blow up in front of their face. It is too much heat to heat a little charm, a smile, you want them around to and on tv. Can you imagine watching cruise for four years . It is too hot. The people that charmless like kennedy, of reagin, you want to keep their costs to it their company. It was like letting generals decide to use nuclear weapons. He should not have said that. [laughter] by the way hillary was also for goldwater. Because he was the smart politician. It looks like he read hardbound books. [laughter] what did you ask me . [laughter] the tea party . But the explain something really boring. The numbers. There are 432 Congressional Districts. A Strong Majority voted against the bomb as a windows members voted against obama people will say because he hugged him or federal one near him because theyre overwhelmingly conservative you cannot lose to a younger person more conservative video of lacquer liberal district you can only lose italy lose in San Francisco into your left moderates never win primaries love was bob bennetts record . He lost to them murdoch character. Talking about rape and dont say the word again. The trouble with the party is if youre at berkeley thinking youll lose to a moderate robert lee has the 85 percent no. Plus the 85 . Philadelphia 85 so the big cities will flood disown then they win statewide it pittsburgh of a fairly, the penn state, now a fair it is republican. So they win the electoral votes that is why republicans wanted to be by Congressional District. That is why we have divided government because we have a system that benefits the republicans by Congressional District not because of clever redistricting and gerrymandering although some of that and reapportionment is part of that. In pennsylvania 100,000 more votes for democrats statewide 13 republican congressman and five democrats. That is the way it works they cannot possibly be defeated ready by 85 . If you cannot lose the general election due to lose a primary to somebody more extreme than you. It is mathematics. What do you do . California took a big step. May be why things are starting to work i dont know you have a wideopen primary system now. But that is what we had people in congress who are 180 when we were growing up there was some overlap southern democrats are more conservative than northern republicans right now the most liberal republican senator has a voting record to the right of any democrat there is no overlap no southern democrat or john lindsay or rockefeller or those republicans these to be a republican senator in every northeastern states they are all gone now. New england had republicans over the place. Their god. They are gone. Also now with to jersey, it is all gone. No republicans or item no in the conservative democrats so the parties are very polarized and they fight it out. July want to go to stanford when i grow up so will the Government Shutdown affect its my future . No. If it is still shut down when you are 18 that i worry. [laughter] [applause] that is a grim prospect. It is a serious question but my wife went to stanford. Good luck. It is fabulous. [applause] the block. That was the worst Case Scenario right there. Give me your best shot. I have a question now who is the most likely democratic candidate . Everybody thinks it is hillary but about a chicken the upper . I hear a lot about him but i have to tell you that women my age, and sold many of them have been waiting for their turn. They believe the men have blown it and in many ways they dont want to hear about it again. Hillary clinton has the ability she does it well it with no campaign mood she has learned a lesson reagan won on his third try bush second try, nixons second try it is almost like the super bowl you have to go once before you can wind. Id it takes a hard thing. You have to run for two years. She is about my age. She has to make a commitment three years to get ready, a four years serving in the fiber her i would not think of the 11 but think about the seven do i want to commit seven then she can make a judgment personally about running again but is a big commitment and her time in life. People around her what her to brian including big deal. He wants back. [laughter] imagine. It would restrict em a that a bit but i think he has been pretty good. It is all good for him. Imagine being in the white house and not have to do anything . It is great. A mussy goes to social events. [laughter] i work with a lot of a democrat i know them it is just a cause right now. He cannot think of a reason to not give her a chance. Bang gauzy will be used against her i think some answers have to be given now. I would give them fast but what happened when the call came in . How quickly did they act . Todays also u. S. Forces . Why didnt they bring the planes from italy . Why didnt they stop everything to save those lives . Embassador decided where he was going i dont care what they say of the p. R. Or meet the press that his political but the reallife question of security looking of four americans is an issue you cannot say it doesnt matter it will matter more because that is her she could be hit. She has to decide. The kitchen will be hot and republicans to have a shot to beat her there is a shot a shot even rand paul could be terror of this country is falling taco id Chris Christie would give for one hell of a race. He will win big and he is a moderate. Scott walker would give a race i dont think todd cruz could give her a race everybody around her wants her to run. Who had their hand at the longest . Over there. Hillary . You once bill clinton back . Been a guest. Who would be a good vicepresident ial choice . A working man that went to i believe did not show it off too much. Working. To cut the gibb of sherry brown. He looks like labor you dont like labor but all little rough around the ages but she will pick somebody like that but somebody refined like its a good wife. [laughter] she will pick somebody like that she will pick will. Michael bennett the other colorado by. I dont know. Im just having fun. Jerry brown that is a little rough also working white people are looking for a hero again. They have their own problems with obama that are sometimes obvious and there was somebody to go harry out in to have the beer to feel like they could have a beer. Biden he cannot face he cannot be Vice President but i think he wants secretary of state. I know if barack obama wants to be on the Supreme Court or not. I dont know. He is Young Healthy liberal. That is a great prospect for some people. This has been great. You has been very nice for quite come from the other side of the ideal but not just on home turf by reducing a very good things about president reagan he is in the top10 of all president s. He is way up there. The big thing thats more president s do like obama they always respected the greatest of the of the side. Looking at a good politician they always point to the other side. Reagan really respected roosevelt even though he change politically you can spot its. Increasingly like his coming back he had a hard time with those intellectuals they thought were smarter than him but he got things done. We respect at 80 years old to the across the country in a nice way because he did it and built the country and also accepted the nazi surrender and was quite a president and general and people look back like canada harry truman. Every republicans favorite democrat. We will see how things turn of the obamacare when obama is in the air. Will he be a good president . It is how he handles the next week. If he gets up what he fought for then he is finished. If republicans back to Teddy Roosevelt or even extend if he gives up i dont know what he has to show. This is bigtime. I hope we get through this to respect the common fact in the end and not be to risk prone by the end of next week. Think you for coming. [applause] 8q2 been directed for having me here. That was an endorsement of your buck if you are welcome back any time. I will stay as long as you do to sign the book. He has agreed to personalize. This is how it will work. He will sit here and first come first served. Here is a line. If you are mafia above sore aficionados it is