we can do this. i know we can because we ve done it before. at the end of world war ii when another generation returned home from combat they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. [ applause ] my grandfather, a veteran of patton s army got the chance to go to college on the g.i. bill. my grand, mother, who worked on a bomber assembly line was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on earth. the two of them shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. they understand they were part of something larger. they were contributing to a story of success that every american had a chance to share.
i know we can because we ve done it before. at the end of world war ii when another generation returned home from combat they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. [ applause ] my grandfather, a veteran of patton s army got the chance to go to college on the g.i. bill. my grand, mother, who worked on a bomber assembly line was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on earth. the two of them shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. they understand they were part of something larger. they were contributing to a story of success that every american had a chance to share. the basic american promise that
not just him if you have frustration with washington. he s trying to set the tone for what we know will be a very competitive election year for president almost no matter who the republicans nominate, whether democrat, republican or independent. in this economy, political environment, any president would face a tough environment. this president s chance is to set the table, urge congress to do big things, jobs bill, payroll tax cut extension, other things ahead. all of us know, well aware the white house, republicans and democrats in the leadership on capitol hill will tell you, they don t expect big grand things to get done in this election year. payroll tax perhaps, a few other things. what the president is mostly doing tonight is framing his side of the debate for a very contentious election year. we re looking at gabrielle giffords, the congresswoman shot a year ago, just announced she will be retiring from the senate and hillary clinton, secretary of state giving her a
yes, you re in a state with high foreclosure, a state with very high unemployment. the president is trying to make the case things are getting better and his approach deserves a chance. he will make a case if things aren t getting better, perhaps because of dysfunction in washington. the president will make a case a do nothing congress is to blame, not just him if you have frustration with washington. he s trying to set the tone for what we know will be a very competitive election year for president almost no matter who the republicans nominate, whether democrat, republican or independent. in this economy, political environment, any president would face a tough environment. this president s chance is to set the table, urge congress to do big things, jobs bill, payroll tax cut extension, other things ahead. all of us know, well aware the white house, republicans and democrats in the leadership on capitol hill will tell you, they don t expect big grand things to get done in thi
tom brokaw anchor man anchor man. tonight i ll ask him about this generation of the end of the war. we re ending the war with a final march towards home. this is an extra ordinary achievement. this is politics. the protests at home and around the world. and his new book, the time of our lives, what he thinks america needs now. this is what we can learn from our time. top of the hour, this is piers morgan tonight. tom broe ka s one of my journalistic heroes. he says exactly the saying, the nbc anchor of nbc news for 22 years announcing his retirement in the wake of 9/11. he s now an author the time of our lives. tom, welcome. piers, it s really good to be here. and that business about me being your hero, you re going to get over that by the end of the hour, i promise. i doubt that very much. you re actually the perfect guy to ask this question. i your book with great fascination and also with an eye how this year, 2011, is going to rate in the news becaus