WITH FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BADEN N
BADEN N BIDEN, AND HIS WIFE, DR. JILL
BIDEN.
BIDEN. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
THE BIDENS ARE HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR A
FANTASTIC CAUSE, THE BIDEN
CANCER SUMMIT.
CANCER SUMMIT. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE
DAY, THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS OF
JUDGE BRETT KAVANAUGH HERE.
DR. FORD SAYS SHE WANTS TO
TESTIFY, AS YOU KNOW, MR. VICE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. BUT NOW, THE BATTLE SEEMS TO BE
OVER HOW VERSUS WHEN.
SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE SHE’S
PROTECTED.
PROTECTED. SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE SHE’S
TREATED FAIRLY.
TREATED FAIRLY. HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT THE
SENATE HANDLE THE ALLEGATIONS?
>> I THINK THEY SHOULD DO AN FBI
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. WE DID THAT FOR ANITA HILL.
IT TOOK TWO DAYS, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
ANITA HILL WAS VILIFIED BY A LOT
OF MY COLLEAGUES, CHARACTER
ASSASSINATION
ASSASSINATION ASSASSINATION.
ASSASSINATION. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES LEARNED
FROM THAT.
FROM THAT. LEARNED FROM THAT.
SHE DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH
DIGNITY.
DIGNITY. IT TAKES ENORMOUS COURAGE FOR A
WOMAN TO COME FORWARD UNDER THE
BRIGHT LIGHTS OF MILLION OF
PEOPLE WATCHING HER.
SHE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH
RESPECT.
RESPECT. >> YOU BROUGHT UP ANITA HILL.
YOU WERE CHAIRMAN OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN 1991.
YOU WERE ROUNDLY CRITICIZED FOR
NOT DOING MORE DURING THAT
HEARING.
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 IS MAKING
ACCUSATIONS LIKE THIS, VERSUS
THE PRESUMPTION THAT A PERSON IS
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
>> THE WOMAN SHOULD BE GIVEN THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND NOT BE
ABUSED AGAIN BY THE SYSTEM.
MY BIGGEST REGRET WAS, I DIDN’T
KNOW HOW TO SHUT YOU OFF IF YOU
WERE A SENATOR AND ATTACKING
ANITA HILL’S CHARACTER.
I CAN’T GAVEL YOU DOWN AND SAY
YOU CAN’T ASK THAT QUESTION.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, SHE GOT
VICTIMIZED AGAIN DURING THE
PROCESS.
PROCESS. I BELIEVED HER WHEN SHE CAME
FORWARD.
FORWARD. I ENCOURAGED HER TO COME
FORWARD.
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.
HE GOT SEVEN YESES AND SEVEN
NOES.
NOES. IT WAS A TIE VOTE IN THE
COMMITTEE.
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.
DON’T GO AFTER THE CHARACTER
ASSASSINATION
ASSASSINATION ASSASSINATION.
ASSASSINATION. >> IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GET IT NOW,
VERSUS IN ’91.
>> PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN
OPINION.
OPINION. THAT’S WHY I WROTE THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN ACT.
I WROTE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN ACT, AND DURING THIS
PERIOD.
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 ON THE CONDITION THAT IF
SHE WON SHE WOULD COME ON THE
COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND -- AND I THINK THEY
DO NOW -- UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT
IS TO COME FORWARD.
AND I ALWAYS SAY TO MEN, WHY IS
IT SO HARD?
HOW ABOUT IF YOU’VE BEEN ABUSED.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE
"DELIVERANCE."
"DELIVERANCE." WOULD YOU COME FORWARD?
WOULD YOU WANT TO RELIVE THAT?
I’M EARNEST.
I’M EARNEST. >> LET’S SAY HYPERTHREATICALLY
COME JANUARY, THIS GUY COMES TO
YOU.
YOU. HE’S BEEN CRISSCROSSING ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, CAMPAIGNING FOR
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. ANYONE WHO HAS HEARD TO HIM
KNOWS HE HAS HIS FIRE IN HIS
BELLY.
BELLY. IF HE COMES TO YOU IN JANUARY
AND SAYS, SWEETIE, I THINK I
WANT TO TRY TO BE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES AGAIN.
>> I THINK YOU WOULD BE A GREAT
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. BUT LET’S THINK ABOUT IT.
>> SAY YOU HAVEN’T MADE UP YOUR
MIND JUST YET, YOU SOUND LIKE A
MAN WHO WANTS TO RUN.
DO YOU WANT --
>> I WANT TO CHANGE THE
LANDSCAPE.
LANDSCAPE. I’M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE --
THERE’S A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE
OUT THERE.
OUT THERE. PAMELA HARRIS, YOU HAVE CORY
BOOKER.
BOOKER. YOU HAVE THE FORMER MAYOR OF
MASSACHUSETTS.
MASSACHUSETTS. YOU HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO STOP THIS DEGRADATION
OF THE SYSTEM THAT’S 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’RE GOING TO 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, YOU REGRET NOT
DOING IT.
DOING IT. IF YOU DON’T RUN THIS TIME, WILL
YOU REGRET IT?
>> I REGRET NOT BEING PRESIDENT.
BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.
NO MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD GO OUT
AND SAY, I’M RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT, UNLESS THEY CAN LOOK
YOU IN THE EYE AND SAY, YOU HAVE
MY WHOLE HEART, MY WHOLE SOUL,
AND ALL MY EMOTION.
>> OUR SON HAD JUST DIED FROM
CANCER.
CANCER. AND THAT’S HOW WE STARTED THIS
WHOLE BIDEN INITIATIVE.
WE KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GET
THAT DIAGNOSIS.
THAT DIAGNOSIS. CRAIG, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE
WITH YOUR BROTHER GETTING THAT
DIAGNOSIS.
DIAGNOSIS. WE’RE CRYING TO CREATE THE
URGENCY OF NOW WITH OUR SUMMIT
AND TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND GIVE
THEM INFORMATION.
THEM INFORMATION. WHEN YOUR BROTHER GOT THAT
DIAGNOSIS, JUST LIKE OUR SON
DID, AFTER YOU FEEL THAT PUNCH
IN YOUR STOMACH, IN YOUR GUT,
YOU SAY, WHAT 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 IN TRIALS?
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO
PROVIDE WITH THIS CANCER SUMMIT.
>> IT IS PERSONAL.
>> BEAU HAS LEFT GIGANTIC HOLES
IN OUR HEARTS FOR OUR WHOLE
FAMILY.
FAMILY. BUT THERE’S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY.
IF WE DIDN’T FIND ONE MORE CURE.
IF DOCS STARTED TO SHARE DATA
AND NOT HORDE IT, MAKE IT
AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY FOR
RESEARCH, WE WOULD EXTEND LIVES
BEYOND WHAT WE’RE DOING RIGHT
NOW.
NOW. IF WE MAKE ONE MORE
BREAKTHROUGH.
BREAKTHROUGH. IF WE PICK OUR HEAD UP AS A
COUNTRY AND LOOK AT WHAT WE
HAVE, THERE’S NOT ANOTHER
COUNTRY WITH A PATCH ON OUR
JEANS.
JEANS. WE CAN OWN THE 21st CENTURY.
>> WE’RE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE
HOPE.
HOPE. >> THERE IS REASON FOR HOPE.
THERE REALLY IS REASON FOR HOPE.
>> HYPOTHETICALLY, WHAT WOULD A
BIDEN PRESIDENCY MEAN FOR CANCER
RESEARCH IN THIS COUNTRY?
>> WHETHER THAT HAPPENS OR NOT,
WE’RE GOING TO 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 WORLDWIDE
WILL NOT RISE, BECAUSE OF
CANCER.
CANCER. AND THERE’S ANSWERS.
I’M CONVINCED, YOU SAY TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE’RE GOING TO
SPEND ONE-QUARTER OF THE ENTIRE
BUDGET AND WE KNOW WE CAN CURE
CANCER, THEY WOULD GO, GO.
>> IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE.
THERE’S NOT ONE PERSON YOU KNOW
THAT HASN’T BEEN AFFECTED BY
CANCER.
CANCER. >> YOU’RE RIGHT.
IT IS INTENSELY PERSONAL, AS
WELL.
WELL. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING
TO HOST THIS THING TODAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> IT’S A BIG DEAL.
>> BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE
STUDIO, I WANT TO GO BACK TO
WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE
INVESTIGATION IN THE BEGINNING.
IF THERE IS NO FBI
INVESTIGATION, SHOULD THERE BE A
VOTE?
VOTE? >> I DON’T THINK THERE SHOULD
BE.
BE. WHAT THE DEVIL HAVE WE LEARNED
HERE?
HERE? WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE I
WROTE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
ACT.
ACT. SO MUCH HAS CHANGED ABOUT HOW
THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THE
PRESSURE ON WOMEN.
I’VE LEARNED A LOT, AS WELL,
TOO.
TOO. AND SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO
THROUGH WHAT ANITA HILL WENT
THROUGH AND SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT SHE GOT ASKED AND
THE WAY THE RIGHT WENT AFTER HER
ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AND
QUESTIONED HER INTEGRITY AND
QUESTIONED HER -- NOT JUST HER
HONESTY, BUT QUESTIONED HER
BEHAVIOR.
BEHAVIOR. I MEAN, THAT’S JUST NOT
APPROPRIATE.
APPROPRIATE. YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE -- YOU
SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE TWICE PUT
THROUGH THE SAME EXACT THING.
>> MR. VICE PRESIDENT, THANK
YOU.
YOU. DR. BIDEN, THANK YOU.
>> IT TOOK HER A LOT OF COURAGE
TO COME FORWARD.
>> YOU SAID IN THE PAST, YOU
WOULD APOLOGIZE TO HER.
IF SHE WAS WATCHING RIGHT NOW,
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HER?
>> I’M SORRY I COULDN’T STOP THE
KIND OF ATTACKS THAT CAME TO
YOU.
YOU. I NEVER ATTACKED HER.
I SUPPORTED HER.
I BELIEVED HER FROM THE
BEGINNING AND I VOTED AGAINST
CLARENCE THOMAS.
CLARENCE THOMAS. >> THANK YOU.
WHEN WE COME BACK DOWN THE NEXT
TIME, I WANT TO DO THE STORY
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR
MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
AND YOU PUT UP WITH HIM THE WAY
YOU DO.
YOU DO. >> IT’S TRUE.
>> THEIF PEOPLE ONLY KNEW,
DR. BIDEN.
DR. BIDEN. WE’LL DO THAT STORY NEXT TIME.
BACK UP TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE
BIDENS.
BIDENS. FASCINATING.
FASCINATING. >> A LOT IN THERE.
WHETHER OR NOT JOE BIDEN RUNS
FOR PRESIDENT, WHAT A LEGACY