>> Dana: MY NEXT GUEST SPENT
YEARS AS SECOND LADY OF THE
UNITED STATES, SHE IS MARRIED TO
THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT AND IS ONE
OF HIS KEY ADVISORS.
SHE JOINED ME NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOUR BOOK WAS
A WONDERFUL READ AND I’M
GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ON THE
SHOW.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME NEWS
WHILE WE ALSO TALK ABOUT YOUR
BOOK.
LAST WEEK, FORMER WHITE HOUSE
PRESS SECRETARY JOE LOCKHART, HE
WORKS FOR BILL CLINTON, HE’S A
DEMOCRAT, SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR
HUSBAND, SAID "WHATEVER YOU DO,
DON’T DEBATE TRUMP."
WONDERING IF YOU CAN SETTLE THIS
FOR US, WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT
DEBATE DONALD TRUMP THIS FALL?
>> COME YES, YOU WELL.
I THINK THEY’VE ALREADY, I THINK
THERE’S THREE DEBATES THAT THEY
DECIDED ON.
SO YEAH, HE WILL BE THERE.
>> Dana: DO YOU THINK IT’S
UNHELPFUL FOR OTHER DEMOCRATS TO
SUGGEST THAT JOE BIDEN SHOULDN’T
DEBATE THE PRESIDENT?
>> NO, I DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE HE
HAD WRITTEN THE ARTICLE.
JOE WILL MAKE UP HIS OWN MIND.
>> Dana: ALL RIGHT.
YOUR BOOK, "WHERE THE LIGHT
ENTERS," SUCH AN EXPRESSION OF
LOVE FOR FAMILY AND YOU ARE
FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF ALL OF
THEM INCLUDING YOUR HUSBAND.
ONE OF THE THINGS
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS CAMPAIGN
HAS QUESTIONED IS YOUR HUSBAND’S
COGNITIVE ABILITY.
LISTEN TO THIS AND LET’S GET
YOUR REACTION.
>> I SAY HE’S NOT COMPETENT TO
BE PRESIDENT.
TO BE PRESIDENT YOU HAVE TO BE
SHARP AND TOUGH AND SO MANY
OTHER THINGS.
HE DOESN’T EVEN COME OUT OF HIS
BASEMENT.
>> Dana: WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT ABOUT THAT
CHARACTERIZATION?
>> YOU KNOW, JOE IS ANYTHING BUT
THAT CHARACTERIZATION.
WE’VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING, WE’VE
BEEN LISTENING TO THE EXPERTS,
THE SCIENTIST AND THE DOCTORS
AND THEY HAVE TOLD US, STAY HOME
AND BE SAFE.
AND I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS
REALLY ABOUT JOE’S AGE.
I THINK THERE’S TWO OR THREE
YEARS DIFFERENCE.
SURPRISING THAT HE WOULD SAY JOE
WOULDN’T BE UP TO IT AND MADE
THOSE COMMENTS.
>> Dana: THERE IS ANOTHER
ATTACK THAT THEY HAVE TRIED AND
THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE HAVING A
LITTLE MORE OF AN EFFECT.
WITH SOME PERSUADABLE VOTERS AND
THAT IS THAT YOUR HUSBAND WILL
BE A TOOL FOR THE LEFT, THE
PRESIDENT’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER
SAID JOE BIDEN IS AN EMPTY
VESSEL OF THE RADICAL LEFT.
YOUR HUSBAND HAS SAID HE WOULD
BE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE
PRESIDENT AND I WONDER HOW SEE
JOE BIDEN FITTING INTO THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS IT IS IN
2020.
>> YOU KNOW, JOE IS A MODERATE
AND THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT HIS
IDEAS AREN’T PROGRESSIVE AND
BOLD AND FORWARD-THINKING.
BUT HE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO IS
LEFT, HE’S NOT SOMEONE WHO IS
RIGHT, HE’S A MODERATE AND
THAT’S WHAT HE’S ALWAYS BEEN.
>> Dana: DO YOU THINK HE’S
MORE MODERATE IN TONE THEN MAYBE
IN POLICY?
SOME OF THE POLICIES HE’S
EMBRACED DURING THIS PRIMARY AND
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
BERNIE SANDERS, THEY ARE A LOT
MORE PROGRESSIVE EVEN THAN
DURING THE OBAMA YEARS.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK JOE HAS A
REALLY STRONG VISION OF WHERE HE
WANTS TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY AND
HE HAS A STRATEGY AND A PLAN.
AND WHETHER IT’S ON CLIMATE
CHANGE OR EDUCATION OR THE
ECONOMY, JOE KNOWS WHERE HE’S
GOING AND WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.
>> Dana: AS SECOND LADY AND
HIS CHAMPION SINCE YOU MET ALL
THOSE MANY YEARS AGO, YOU HAVE
BEEN HIS CHAMPION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT’S BEEN
CONSISTENT IN THE CAMPAIGN’S
ENTHUSIASM HAS BEEN LOW FOR
JOE BIDEN’S CANDIDACY.
DONALD TRUMP’S ENTHUSIASM
NUMBERS AMONGST REPUBLICANS ARE
QUITE HIGH, WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO
DEMOCRATS OR EVEN PERSUADABLE
VOTERS THAT SHOULD CHANGE THEIR
MIND AND GET THEM MORE EXCITED
TO WANT TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN?
>> YOU KNOW, DANA, THAT’S NOT
WHAT I SEE.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS PEOPLE
WERE COMING UP TO ME CONSTANTLY
AT THE GROCERY STORE OR ON THE
STREET AND SAYING JILL, YOUR
HUSBAND HAS TO RUN, HE HAS TO
RUN, WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE
DIRECTION OF THIS COUNTRY.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, A LOT OF
THOSE PEOPLE WERE REPUBLICANS
AND THEY WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW,
I DON’T LIKE THE WAY THE COUNTRY
IS MOVING, WE WANT CHANGE AND WE
THINK YOUR HUSBAND CAN BE THAT
CHANGE.
SO I DON’T SEE THAT, I SEE A LOT
OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG REPUBLICANS,
OF COURSE DEMOCRATS, AND
INDEPENDENCE.
>> Dana: WE WILL KEEP AN EYE
ON THOSE NUMBERS.
THE BIG DECISION YOUR HUSBAND IS
MAKING THIS WEEK OR NEXT IS
CHOOSING VICE PRESIDENT.
IN THE BOOK YOU WRITE ABOUT HOW
COMPATIBLE YOU AND JOE BIDEN
WERE WITH THE OBAMA’S.
YOU HAD A GREAT FRIENDSHIP.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR
HUSBAND IS LOOKING FOR IN A
VICE PRESIDENT?
AND HOW DO YOU WEIGH IN OR NOT
ON DECISIONS LIKE THIS?
>> YOU KNOW, JOE AND BARACK HAVE
A BIT OF A RELATIONSHIP AS DO
MICHELLE AND I AND I THINK
AMERICANS ADMIRE THAT ABOUT OUR
ADMINISTRATION SO GOING FORTH
WHEN JOE CHOOSES A WOMAN, AND I
KNOW, DANA, YOU’VE GOT TO BE
HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
HE WANTS SOMEONE WHO SHARES HIS
VALUES, JUST LIKE HE AND BARACK
SHARED THE SAME VALUES.
WHEN JOE AND I TALK, WE’VE BEEN
MARRIED 43 YEARS THIS YEAR, AND
WE ARE ONE ANOTHER’S
BEST FRIENDS.
HE RELIES ON THE END I RELY ON
HIM AND IT’S PARTNERSHIP.
AND YOU KNOW, IT’S JUST WHAT
MARRIED COUPLES DO, RIGHT?
>> Dana: ARE YOU CLOSE TO A
DECISION?
>> WE ARE CLOSE.
HE’S CLOSE.
HE’S GOT TO MAKE THE FINAL
DECISION.
>> Dana: HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET
THEM ON HERE TO TELL US MORE
ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE A PhD IN EDUCATION,
YOU’VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR
EDUCATION, CHILDREN, YOU’VE
TAUGHT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU
TAUGHT ALL THOSE YEARS YOU WERE
SECOND LADY.
DO YOU THINK IT’S BEST FOR KIDS
TO BE IN CLASSROOMS THIS FALL
WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND
WOULD YOU ADVISE AGAINST
TEACHERS UNIONS FROM STRIKING?
>> I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST,
WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE
DOCTORS, THE SCIENTISTS, THE
EXPERTS AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY
ARE SAYING. EVERY DAY, DANA, I AM GETTING
EVERY DAY, DANA, I AM GETTING
DELUGE WITH EMAILS AND PHONE
CALLS OF PEOPLE SAYING WHAT WE
DO, WHAT WE DO?
PARENTS AND EDUCATORS AND WE
HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT WHEN IT’S
GOING TO BE SAFE, NOT JUST FOR
THE TEACHERS WHO ARE REALLY
DYING TO GET BACK TO THE
CLASSROOM BUT FOR AMERICA’S
CHILDREN.
WE MUST KEEP THEM SAFE.
AND THAT HAS TO BE OUR PRIORITY
AND SO THAT’S WHAT I THINK.
YOU KNOW, JOE HAS A PLAN TO GET
OUR SCHOOLS BACK ON TRACK AND
GET THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE
EQUITY, YOU KNOW?
SO MANY PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY, IN RURAL AREAS ESPECIALLY DON’T
IN RURAL AREAS ESPECIALLY DON’T
HAVE BROADBAND SO THERE’S NOT...
>> Dana: I COME FROM WYOMING,
I KNOW IT’S A PROBLEM AND
CONCERN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION
HAS BEEN WORKING ON.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A MOMENT IN
2003 THAT YOU WRITE ABOUT IN
YOUR BOOK WHEN ADVISORS TO YOUR
HUSBAND CAME TO YOUR HOUSE AND
WERE TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM TO
RUN FOR PRESIDENT AGAINST
GEORGE W. BUSH AND HIS
REELECTION AND YOU WRITE ABOUT
BEING AT THE POOL AT THE HOUSE,
LISTENING TO THIS AND YOU SAID
YOU WERE FUMING AND TELL US WHAT
YOU DID TO SEND A MESSAGE.
>> I WENT UPSTAIRS AND I MADE
SURE THAT THEY KNEW THAT I
WASN’T SUPPORTING THE IDEA.
>> Dana: I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE,
YOU GOT A SHARPIE AND YOU DREW "
"NO" ON YOUR STOMACH IN BIG
LETTERS AND THEY MARCHED THROUGH
THE ROOM IN YOUR BIKINI AND THEY
GOT THE MESSAGE.
YOU WRITE VERY MOVINGLY ABOUT
THE LOSS OF BEAU, YOUR SON AND
HOW THAT GRIEF HELPED FIND YOU
TO OTHER WOMEN AND I WONDER IF
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ANYTHING YOU
MIGHT WANT TO ACHIEVE IF YOU
WERE TO BECOME FIRST LADY, IF
ANY OF THE PROGRAMS YOU HAVE IN
MIND HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY YOUR
EXPERIENCE.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
WAYS, DANA, THAT I THINK
SOMEONE, A MOTHER COPES WITH THE
DEATH, THE LOSS OF A CHILD IS TO
FIND A PURPOSE.
SO THAT’S WHAT JOE AND I BOTH
SOUGHT TO DO.
SO OUR SON BEAU DIED OF BRAIN
CANCER.
SO MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES HAVE
SUFFERED WITH CANCER OR KNOW
SOMEONE WHO IS SUFFERING FROM
CANCER.
IT’S NOT A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE,
IT’S NOT A REPUBLICAN ISSUE,
IT’S REALLY A HUMAN ISSUE AND SO
I THINK GOING FORWARD, NO MATTER
WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE
ELECTION, JOE AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
AS WE KNOW IT AND THAT WILL BE,
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MAJOR
INITIATIVES THAT I WILL BE
INVOLVED WITH.
>> Dana: YOU ALSO READ ABOUT
YOUR FAITH IN THE BOOK AND HOW
YOU HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK
SOME OF YOUR FAITH AFTER THIS
AND CERTAINLY WE PRAY FOR THAT
AS WELL FOR YOU.
DO YOU THINK THAT CANDIDATES
CHILDREN SHOULD BE OFF-LIMITS IN
A CAMPAIGN?
>> YOU KNOW, I WROTE ABOUT MY
FAITH BECAUSE WHEN BEAU DIED,
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVED SO STRONGLY
THAT HE WAS GOING TO LIVE AND
WHEN HE DIED I DID LOSE MY FAITH
AND IT WAS REALLY IN
SOUTH CAROLINA, WE WERE ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL LAST SUMMER AND A
WOMAN CAME UP TO ME, WE WERE IN
THE FRONT PEW AND SHE CAME UP TO
ME, PUT HER HAND ON ME AND SAID
"JILL, I WANT TO BE YOUR PRAYER
PARTNER" AND I HAD NEVER HEARD
OF A PRAYER PARTNER.
BUT TO THIS DAY, DANA, IT’S A
YEAR LATER, WE STILL KEEP IN
CONTACT, WE PRAY TOGETHER.
SHE SENDS ME EMAILS AND TEXT ALL
THE TIME AND SO SHE DID HELP ME,
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, IT’S BEEN
FIVE YEARS SINCE WE LOST OUR SON
AND SHE DID HELP ME RECOVER MY
FAITH.
AND FOR THAT I AM FOREVER
GRATEFUL.
AND I FEEL LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE
PRAYED FOR ME AND FOR JOE AND
FOR OUR SON BEAU AND I FEEL THAT
NOW I OWE THAT TO ALL OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH
LOSS, LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE
DURING THIS PANDEMIC ARE DEALING
WITH LOSS.
>> Dana: AND I THINK THAT
POWER OF PRAYER SPEAKS AND OF
COURSE IT’S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE
AT ALL.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, IT
TOOK YOU FIVE TIMES BEFORE YOU
SAID YES TO MARY JOE BIDEN.
WHAT WAS IT, ON THE FIFTH TIME
THAT WAS THE KEY TO WINNING YOUR
HEART?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, HE DID ASK ME
FIVE TIMES BUT YOU HAVE TO
REMEMBER, JOE HAD LOST HIS FIRST
WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN A CAR
ACCIDENT AND SO I LOVE THE BOYS
SO MUCH, I KNEW THAT THIS
MARRIAGE HAD TO BE FOREVER.
THEY HAD ALREADY LOST ONE
MOTHER, THEY COULDN’T LOSE
ANOTHER MOTHER THROUGH DIVORCE.
AND I HAD TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY
SURE THAT OUR MARRIAGE WAS GOING
TO BE TILL DEATH DO US PART.
AND IT HAS BEEN PAID IT’S BEEN
43 YEARS.
>> Dana: I WAS THINKING, IF
THERE’S ANY GUYS OUT THERE, JUST
KEEP AT IT, SHE MIGHT SAY YES
EVENTUALLY IF YOU KEEP ASKING.
JILL BIDEN, WHAT MAKES YOU MOST
PROUD OF AMERICA?
>> OH, MY GOSH, THERE’S SO MUCH
THAT MAKES ME SO PROUD.
I HAVE TO SAY OUR MILITARY
FAMILIES, ARE JUST AMAZING IN
THEIR RESILIENCE AND THE
FORTITUDE AND THE LIVES THAT
THEY LIVE AND YOU KNOW, MOVING
FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER SO I
GUESS OUR MILITARY MAKES US
PROUD.
>> Dana: OKAY AND I HAVE TO
ASK YOU.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC, I KNOW
YOU’VE BEEN STAYING CLOSE TO
HOME, FOLLOWING THE RULES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER, YOU
WRITE IN THE BOOK ABOUT HOW YOU
BECAME A MARATHON RUNNER, HOW
ARE YOU KEEPING FIT DURING A
PANDEMIC?
>> YOU KNOW, DANA, AND BACON TO
EXERCISE, NOT JUST FOR YOUR BODY
BUT FOR YOUR HEAD, I THINK IT CREATES BALANCE AND CALM.
CREATES BALANCE AND CALM.
SO I AM A RUNNER, I PAY, I --
>> Dana: IF YOU TAKE PELOTON
YOU HAVE TO TELL ME, WHAT’S YOUR
GO TO CLASS?
>> I LOVE THE INTERVALS CLASS,
YOU ARE WRITING AND YOU CAN DO
SOME WEIGHTS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT’S ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN, THEY DO
WEIGHT-BEARING EXERCISE.
>> Dana: MY MOM IS ALL ABOUT
THAT, SHE’S BEEN TELLING ME EVEN
IN THE PANDEMIC OUT IN DENVER.
YOUR BOOK IS A WONDERFUL READ