HOW MANY SIMILARITIES THERE CONTINUE TO BE, HOW MANY
PARALLELS.
PARALLELS. WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM
WHAT YOU HEARD OF THE FORMER
VICE PRESIDENT?
VICE PRESIDENT? >> HE HAD SOME REGRETDS OVER HOW
THAT HEARING WAS HANDLED.
HE WAS CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AT THE TIME.
AND HE’S GOT SOME REGRETS OVER
THAT AND OVER THE AFTERMATH.
BUT IN ADDITION TO TALKING ABOUT
JUDGE KAVANAUGH AND THE
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS THAT LOOK
TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK, WE ALSO
TALKED ABOUT HIS PRESIDENTIAL
ASPIRATIONS AND THE REASON THAT
AND HIS WIFE ARE HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. TODAY ALONG
WITH MYSELF.
WITH MYSELF. HIS VERY PERSONAL, PERSONAL
FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.
>> I THINK THEY SHOULD DO A FBI
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. WE DID THAT FOR ANITA HILL.
TOOK TWO DAYS, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
ANITA HILL WAS VILIFIED BY A LOT
OF MY COLLEAGUES, CHARACTER
ASSASSINATION.
ASSASSINATION. I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE MORE TO
PREVENT THOSE QUESTIONS AND THE
WAY THEY ASKED THEM.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES LEARNED
FROM THAT, LEARN FROM THAT.
SHE DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH
DIGNITY.
DIGNITY. AND THE BRIGHT LICES OF MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE WATCHING AND RELIVE
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO HER.
ASSERT THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO HER AND SHOULD BE TREATED
WITH RESPECT.
WITH RESPECT. >> YOU BROUGHT UP ANITA HILL.
YOU WERE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE THEN.
COMMITTEE THEN. YOU WERE ROUNDLY CRITICIZED NOT
DOING MORE DURING THAT HEARING.
LOOKING BACK ON THAT,
SPECIFICALLY HOW WOULD YOU
ADVISE SENATORS TO PROCEED NEXT
WEEK?
WEEK? AND HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE
RIGHTS OF A WOMAN WHO’S MAKING
ACCUSATIONS LIKE THIS VERSUS THE
PRESUMPTION THAT A PERSON IS
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY?
>> I THINK THE PRESUMPTION
SHOULD EXIST AND WHAT SHOULD
HAPPEN IS THE WOMAN GIVEN THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND NOT BE,
YOU KNOW, ABUSED AGAIN.
BY THE SYSTEM.
BY BIGGEST REGRET WAS I DIDN’T
KNOW HOW TO SHUT YOU OFF AS A
SENATOR AND ATTACK ANITA HILL’S
CHARACTER.
CHARACTER. UNDER THE SENATE RULES I CAN’T
GAVEL YOU DOWN AND SAY YOU CAN’T
ASK THAT QUESTION ALTHOUGH I
TRIED AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS SHE
WAS VICTIMIZED AGAIN IN THE
PROCESS.
PROCESS. AND I BELIEVED HER WHEN SHE CAME
FORWARD.
FORWARD. ENCOURAGED HER TO COME FORWARD.
WE WERE IN A POSITION WHERE WE
GOT THE FBI TO DO AN
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. AND I VOTED AGAINST CLARENCE
THOMAS.
THOMAS. HE ONLY GOT SEVEN VOTES, SEVEN
YES AND YES NOES.
A TIE VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE.
I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT
COURAGE IT TAKES FOR SOMEONE TO
COME FORWARD AND RELIVE WHAT
THEY BELIEVE HAPPENED TO THEM
AND LET THEM STATE IT BUT TREAT
HER WITH RESPECT.
ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS.
ASK SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS.
WHERE WERE YOU?
WHO SAID WHAT, ET CETERA.
NOT THE CHARACTER ASSASSINATION.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GET IT NOW
VERSUS BACK IN ’91.
>> I THINK I GOT IT IN ’91.
WELL, PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN
OPINION.
OPINION. THAT’S WHY I WROTE "THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN" ACT.
I WROTE IT.
DURING THIS PERIOD.
AND THE SECOND REASON I INSISTED
THE NEXT TIME OUT TWO WOMEN COME
ON THE COMMITTEE.
TWO WOMEN.
TWO WOMEN. THEY DIDN’T WANT TO COME ON THE
COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. I CAMPAIGNED FOR KAREN MOSELEY
BROWN IF SHE WON TO COME ON THE
COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. IT’S IMPORTANT.
IT’S IMPORTANT. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND AND I THINK PEOPLE DO
NOW, UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS
TO COME FORWARD.
AND I ALWAYS SAY TO MEN, THEY
SAY WHY SO HARD?
HOW ABOUT IF YOU’VE BEEN ABUSED?
YOU SEE "DELIVERANCE"?
WHAT ABOUT IF YOU WERE THE GUY
STRAPPED TO THE TREE?
I’M DEADLY EARNEST.
>> DR. BIDEN, LET’S JUST SAY
COME JANUARY THIS FELLOW SITTING
NEXT TO YOU COMES TO YOU,
CRISSCROSSING THE COUNTRY,
CAMPAIGNING FOR PEOPLE, ANYONE
WHO HEARD HIM RECENTLY KNOWS
THAT HE STILL HAS A FIRE IN HIS
BELLY.
BELLY. IF HE COMES TO HIM --
>> DO YOU?
>> SAYING SWEETIE, I THINK I
WANT TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES AGAIN, YOU SAY
WHY?
WHY? >> JOE, YOU WOULD MAKE A GREAT
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. BUT LET’S THINK ABOUT IT.
>> THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN
ENDORSEMENT.
ENDORSEMENT. HERE’S THE THING.
YOU KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAVEN’T
MADE UP YOUR MIND JUST YET.
YOU SOUND LIKE A MAN WHO WANTS
TO RUN.
TO RUN. YOU SOUND LIKE A GUY WHO REALLY
WANTS TO DO IT.
DO YOU WANT --
>> I DESPERATELY WANT TO CHANGE
THE LANDSCAPE AND THERE’S MORE
THAN ONE WAY -- THERE’S A LOT OF
REALLY TALENTED PEOPLE OUT
THERE.
THERE. COREY BOOKER, KAMALA HARRIS, THE
FORMER MAYOR OF MASSACHUSETTS.
A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TO STOP THIS DEGRADATION
OF THE SYSTEM GOING ON.
THAT’S WHY I’M CAMPAIGNING ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
I’M CAMPAIGNING FOR CANDIDATES
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BUILD A BERM
OUT THERE.
OUT THERE. WE’LL WIN BACK THE UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
I PROMISE YOU.
AND I PREDICT WE’LL WIN BACK THE
SENATE, TOO.
SENATE, TOO. >> REALLY?
>> REALLY? YOU SAID IN 2016 THAT YOU
REGRETTED NOT DOING IT.
IF YOU DON’T RUN THIS TIME, WILL
YOU REGRET IT?
>> NO.
>> NO. WHAT I SAID I REGRET NOT BEING
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.
NO MAN --
NO MAN -- >> IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.
>> OR WOMAN SHOULD GO OUT AND
SAY I’M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
UNLESS THEY CAN LOOK YOU IN THE
EYE SAYING YOU HAVE MY WHOLE
HEART AND WHOLE SOUL --
>> OUR SON HAD JUST DIED FROM
CANCER.
CANCER. THAT’S HOW WE STARTED THIS BIDEN
INITIATIVE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE
KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GET THAT
DIAGNOSIS.
DIAGNOSIS. CRAIG, YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE
WITH YOUR BROTHER.
>> I DO.
>> I DO. >> JUST GETTING THAT DIAGNOSIS.
WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE THE YOU
ARE URGENCY OF NOW AND GIVE THEM
INFORMATION SO WHEN YOUR BROTHER
GOT THAT DIAGNOSIS, JUST LIKE
OUR SON DID, YOU -- AFTER YOU
FEEL THAT PUNCH IN YOUR STOMACH,
IN YOUR GUT, THEN YOU SAY, WHAT
NOW?
NOW? WHERE DO I GO?
WHAT DO I DO?
WHAT’S THIS GOING TO BE LIKE?
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
WE NEED INFORMATION?
CAN WE GET INTO TRIALS.
THAT’S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
PROVIDE WITH THIS CANCER SUMMIT.
>> IT IS INTENSELY PERSONAL.
>> INTENSELY.
>> INTENSELY. >> IT IS.
>> IT IS. BO’S LEFT A GIGANTIC HOLE IN OUR
HEARTS, FOR OUR WHOLE FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, IT’S -- BUT THERE’S SO
MUCH OPPORTUNITY.
MUCH OPPORTUNITY. IF WE DIDN’T FIND ONE MORE CURE,
IF DOCS STARTED TO SHARE DATA,
NOT HOARD IT, MAKE IT AVAILABLE
TO EVERYBODY FOR RESEARCH, WE
WOULD EXTEND LIVES BEYOND WHAT
ANYTHING WE’RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
IF WE DIDN’T MAKE ONE MORE
BREAKTHROUGH.
BREAKTHROUGH. AND IF WE JUST PICK OUR HEAD UP
AS A COUNTRY AND LOOK AT WHAT WE
HAVE, I MEAN, THE’S NOT ANOTHER
COUNTRY WITH THE PATCH ON OUR
GENES.
GENES. WE CAN OWN THE 21st CENTURY.
>> TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE HOPE.
>> THERE IS REASON FOR HOPE.
>> WHAT WOULD A HYPOTHETICALLY,
WHAT WOULD A BIDEN PRESIDENCY
MEAN FOR CANCER RESEARCH IN THIS
COUNTRY?
COUNTRY? >> I CAN TELL YOU WHETHER THAT
HAPPENS OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO
PUSH.
PUSH. 18 MILLION PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER THIS YEAR.
BY 2020, 26 MILLION WILL BE
DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
26 MILLION.
26 MILLION. AND THE SINGLE GREATEST REASON
WHY LIFE EXPECTANCY WILL NOT
RISE AS PREDICTED IS BECAUSE OF
CANCER.
CANCER. AND THERE ARE ANSWERS.
THERE ARE ANSWERS.
I’M CONVINCED, I REALLY AM.
IF YOU SAY WE’LL SPEND ONE
QUARTER OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET AN
WE KNOW WE CAN CURE CANCER, THEY
GO, GO.
GO, GO. GO.
GO. >> IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE.
THERE’S NOT ONE PERSON YOU KNOW
WHO HASN’T BEEN AFFECTED BY
CANCER.
CANCER. >> YOU’RE RIGHT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT’S INTENSELY
PERSONAL, AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING
TO HOST THIS TODAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
>> IT IS A BIG DEAL.
>> REALLY QUICKLY, BEFORE I LET
YOU GET OUT OF HERE AND GO BACK
TO THE STUDIO, SOMETHING YOU
SAID AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. IF THERE IS NO FBI
INVESTIGATION, SHOULD THE SENATE
PROCEED AS USUAL?
AND SHOULD THERE BE A VOTE IF
SHE DOESN’T TESTIFY?
>> I DON’T THINK THERE SHOULD
BE.
BE. WHAT THE DEVIL HAVE WE LEARNED
HERE?
HERE? WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
I MEAN, SO MUCH HAS CHANGED
SINCE I WROTE THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN ACT.
SO MUCH HAS CHANGED ABOUT HOW
THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THE
PRESSURE ON WOMEN AND I’VE
LEARNED A LOT, AS WELL, TOO.
SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO
THROUGH WHAT ANITA HILL WENT
THROUGH AND THE QUESTIONS ASKED
AND THE WAY THE RIGHT WENT AFTER
HER ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AND
QUESTIONED HER INTEGRITY AND
QUESTIONED HER -- NOT JUST THE
INTEGRITY BUT THE BEHAVIOR.
THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE --
SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE TWICE PUT
THROUGH THE SAME EXACT THING.
>> MR. VICE PRESIDENT, THANK
YOU.
YOU. DR. BIDEN, THANK YOU.
>> TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE TO COME
FORWARD.
FORWARD. >> YOU HAVE SAID IN THE PAST YOU
WOULD APOLOGIZE TO HER.
IF SHE WAS WATCHING, WHAT WOULD
YOU SAY?
YOU SAY? >> I’M SORRY I COULDN’T STOP THE
KIND OF ATTACKS THAT CAME TO YOU
BUT I NEVER ATTACKED HER.
I BELIEVED HER FROM THE
BEGINNING AND VOTED AGAINST
CLARENCE THOMAS.
CLARENCE THOMAS. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
>> THANKS. >> WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT TIME,
I WANT TO DO DID STORY ON THE
FACT YOU’VE BEEN MARRIED MORE
THAN 40 YEARS AND YOU PUT UP
WITH HIM THE WAY THAT YOU DO.
IF PEOPLE ONLY KNEW.
>> IT’S TRUE.
>> IF PEOPLE ONLY KNEW.
WE’LL DO THAT STORY NEXT TIME.
THANK YOU BOTH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> FOR THE RECORD, DR. JILL
BIDEN IS MY FAVORITE BIDEN.
KRISTEN, ONE THING BECOMES
APPARENT WHETHER THE BIDENS TALK
ABOUT CANCER RESEARCH, FUNDING,
A CURE.
A CURE. THEY ARE ALL IN ON THIS.
THAT’S WHY ME AND MY WIFE DOWN
HERE TODAY FOR THE BIDEN CANCER
SUMMIT.
SUMMIT. THEY’RE SPENDING THE DAY
CONVENING THOUGHT LEADERS,
RESEARCHERS, DOCTORS, HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS AND THEY’RE
COMING UP AND TALKING ABOUT BEST
PRACTICES.
PRACTICES. THEY FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE NEXT
TEN OR 15 YEARS WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO FIND A CURE FOR SEVERAL
CANCERS IN THIS COUNTRY SO
THAT’S WHY I’M HERE AND WHY
THEY’RE HERE.
THEY’RE HERE. HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM YOU.
>> JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.
CRAIG, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW
PERSONAL IT WAS FOR BOTH OF YOU.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS ONE OF
THE MORE REVEALING PARTS OF THE
INTERVIEW.
INTERVIEW. AND YOU ASKED THEM, LOOK, IF YOU
DO BECOME PRESIDENT, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN FOR CANCER RESEARCH?
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT YOU
ASKED AND I WONDER, CRAIG, IF
YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR SENSE OF
HIS ANSWER TO YOU NOT ONLY IN
THAT MOMENT BUT WHEN YOU ASKED
MORE BROADLY IF HE IS SERIOUSLY
THINKING ABOUT RUNNING.
WHAT WAS YOUR TAKES A WAYAWAY, C
>> IF YOU LISTEN TO 2016 AND HE
CORRECTED ME THAT HE REGRETTED
NOT RUNNING, THE POINT WAS HE
REGRETTED NOT BEING PRESIDENT.
YOU GET THE SENSE FROM THAT
INTERVIEW THAT VICE PRESIDENT
BIDEN MIGHT BE MORE INCLINED TO
RUN AND DR. BIDEN MIGHT WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE MORE.
THAT’S THE SENSE THAT I GOT.
AND THE OTHER PART OF THAT
INTERVIEW, ONE OF THE DEFINING
MOMENTS OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER
WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE HEARINGS IN
1991, THE CLARENCE THOMAS
HEARINGS.
HEARINGS. THAT’S NOT LOST ON HIM AND IT’S
MANAGER THAT HE TALKS ABOUT A
FAIR AMOUNT HE TOLD ME HE
THINKS ABOUT A FAIR AMOUNT AND
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
INTERVIEW I DIDN’T MENTION ANITA
HILL.
HILL. HE BROUGHT ANITA HILL UP WITHIN
THE FIRST 15 OR 20 SECONDS AND
ACUTELY AWARE THAT’S PART OF HIS
POLITICAL LEGACY.
POLITICAL LEGACY. >> IF HE WERE TO RUN UNDOUBTEDLY
THAT HEARING WOULD GET FRESH
SCRUTINY.
SCRUTINY. WHAT A TREMENDOUS INTERVIEW,
CRAIG.
CRAIG. WHAT IMPORTANT WORK THEY’RE
DOING AS IT RELATES TO CANCER