1 00:00:11,049 --> 00:00:19,023 >>> WELCOME TO THE OVAL. >> FOR "60 MINUTES'" SEASON PREMIER, WE SPOKE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT A RANGE OF ISSUES 2 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:41,012 INCLUDING THE ECONOMY, UKRAINE, AND THOSE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS STORED IN DONALD TRUMP'S HOME. HOW COULD ANYONE BE THAT 3 00:00:41,079 --> 00:00:48,219 IRRESPONSIBLE. >> AS YOU'LL SEE, MR. BIDEN MADE NEWS AND MAY HAVE STIRRED UP A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 4 00:00:48,286 --> 00:00:53,591 CONTROVERSY HIMSELF. >> SIR, ARE YOU COMMITTED TO RUNNING AGAIN? >> MY INTENTIONS, AS I SAID TO 5 00:00:53,658 --> 00:00:59,230 BEGIN WITH, IS THAT I WOULD RUN AGAIN. BUT IT'S JUST AN INTENTION. BUT IS IT A FIRM DECISION THAT 6 00:00:59,297 --> 00:01:09,541 I'D RUN AGAIN? THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. >> WE MET IRANIAN PRESIDENT RAISI AT HIS PRESIDENTIAL 7 00:01:09,607 --> 00:01:17,282 COMPOUND IN TEHRAN FOR HIS FIRST INTERVIEW WITH A WESTERN REPORTER. I WAS TOLD HOW TO DRESS, NOT TO 8 00:01:17,348 --> 00:01:24,022 SIT BEFORE HE DID, AND NOT TO INTERRUPT HIM. WE WERE GIVEN ONE HOUR FOR THE INTERVIEW. 9 00:01:24,088 --> 00:01:32,163 I'M LESLIE. CAN WE START WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NUCLEAR DEAL? 10 00:01:32,230 --> 00:01:39,637 I'M LESLEY STAHL. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER. >> I'M ANDSOON COOPER. >> I'M SHARON ALFONSI. 11 00:01:39,704 --> 00:01:52,684 >> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THOSE STORIES AND MORE TONIGHT ON THE 55th SEASON PREMIERE OF "60 MINUTES." 12 00:01:52,750 --> 00:02:02,360 >>> SUMMER WAS GOING SO WELL FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE WHITE HOUSE THREW A PARTY LAST WEEK WITH A CONCERT BY JAMES TAYLOR. 13 00:02:02,427 --> 00:02:08,800 MR. BIDEN'S STREAK BEGAN IN JUNE WHEN HE SIGNED A BIPARTISAN GUN SAFETY LAW. THEN IN AUGUST, OVER REPUBLICAN 14 00:02:08,867 --> 00:02:16,441 OBJECTIONS, HE SIGNED THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER ON CLIMATE CHANGE, A MINIMUM TAX ON CORPORATIONS, A LAW TO LOWER 15 00:02:16,508 --> 00:02:27,385 PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, AND STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS. BUT, TUESDAY, AS JAMES TAYLOR SANG "FIRE AND RAIN," IT SEEMED 16 00:02:27,452 --> 00:02:33,324 LIKE BOTH DESCENDED ON THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY. THE DOW PLUMMETED NEARLY 1,300 POINTS AFTER A DISMAL INFLATION 17 00:02:33,391 --> 00:02:41,966 REPORT. AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY, WE SPOKE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT THE ECONOMY, UKRAINE, 18 00:02:42,033 --> 00:02:50,808 THOSE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS IN DONALD TRUMP'S HOME AND WHETHER MR. BIDEN WILL RUN AGAIN. THE PRESIDENT MADE NEWS AND WILL 19 00:02:50,875 --> 00:03:02,754 IGNITE A FEW CONTROVERSIES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, LAST TUESDAY THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE CAME IN AT 8.3%. 20 00:03:02,820 --> 00:03:08,159 THE STOCK MARKET NOSE-DIVED. PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED BY THEIR GROCERY BILLS. WHAT CAN YOU DO BETTER AND 21 00:03:08,226 --> 00:03:15,266 FASTER? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. INFLATION RATE MONTH TO MONTH 22 00:03:15,333 --> 00:03:19,604 WAS JUST -- JUST AN INCH, HARDLY AT ALL. >> YOU'RE NOT ARGUING THAT 8.3% IS GOOD NEWS. 23 00:03:19,671 --> 00:03:27,245 >> NO, I'M NOT SAYING IT IS GOOD NEWS. BUT IT WAS 8.2% -- OR 8.2% BEFORE. 24 00:03:27,312 --> 00:03:31,583 I MEAN, IT'S NOT -- YOU'RE AC -- WE ACT -- MAKE IT SOUND LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY GOD, IT WENT TO 8.2%. 25 00:03:31,649 --> 00:03:35,587 IT'S BEEN -- >> IT'S THE HIGHEST INFLATION RATE, MR. PRESIDENT, IN 40 YEARS. 26 00:03:35,653 --> 00:03:39,123 >> I GOT THAT. BUT GUESS WHAT WE ARE. WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IT 27 00:03:39,190 --> 00:03:45,630 HASN'T SPIKED. IT HAS JUST BARELY -- IT'S BEEN BASICALLY EVEN. AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE CREATED 28 00:03:45,697 --> 00:03:50,535 ALL THESE JOBS AND -- AND PRICES -- HAVE -- HAVE GONE UP, BUT THEY'VE COME DOWN FOR ENERGY. 29 00:03:50,602 --> 00:03:55,974 THE FACT IS THAT WE'VE CREATED 10 MILLION NEW JOBS. WE'RE IN -- SINCE WE CAME TO OFFICE. 30 00:03:56,040 --> 00:04:11,656 WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOUT 3.7%, ONE OF THE LOWEST IN HISTORY. 31 00:04:11,723 --> 00:04:16,461 WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE MNUFACTURING IS COMING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES IN A BIG WAY. AND LOOK DOWN THE ROAD, WE HAVE 32 00:04:16,527 --> 00:04:21,933 MASSIVE INVESTMENTS BEING MADE IN COMPUTER CHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT. SO I -- LOOK, THIS IS A PROCESS, 33 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,672 THIS IS A PROCESS. >> IS THE ECONOMY GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER? >> NO, I DON'T THINK SO. 34 00:04:27,739 --> 00:04:32,877 WE HOPE WE CAN HAVE WHAT THEY SAY, A SOFT LANDING. A TRANSITION TO A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T LOSE THE GAINS THAT I RAN 35 00:04:32,944 --> 00:04:39,651 TO MAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR MIDDLE-CLASS FOLKS, BEING ABLE TO GENERATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND EXPANSION. 36 00:04:39,717 --> 00:04:47,659 AND, AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW. >> AND YOU WOULD TELL THE 37 00:04:47,725 --> 00:04:52,864 AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT INFLATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE? >> NO, I'M TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET 38 00:04:52,930 --> 00:04:58,302 CONTROL OF INFLATION. AND THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE GOING TO BE A HELL OF A LOT LOWER. 39 00:04:58,369 --> 00:05:03,741 THEIR HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE A LOT LOWER. THEIR BASIC COSTS FOR EVERYBODY, THEIR ENERGY PRICES ARE GOING TO 40 00:05:03,808 --> 00:05:07,612 BE LOWER. THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY BEGIN TO GAIN CONTROL AGAIN. 41 00:05:07,679 --> 00:05:15,653 I'M MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN I'VE BEEN IN A LONG TIME. >> SIR, WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE RAPIDLY RAISING INTEREST RATES, 42 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:22,694 WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT A RECESSION? >> CONTINUE TO GROW THE ECONOMY. AND WE'RE GROWING THE ECONOMY. 43 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,565 IT'S GROWING IN A WAY THAT IT HASN'T IN YEARS AND YEARS. >> HOW SO? >> WE'RE GROWING ENTIRE NEW 44 00:05:27,632 --> 00:05:35,773 INDUSTRIES. 695, I THINK IT IS, OR 85,000 NEW MANUFACTURING JOBS JUST SINCE I'VE BECOME PRESIDENT IN 45 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:43,748 UNITED STATES. CONTINUE TO GROW THE ECONOMY AND CONTINUE TO GIVE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE A BREAK IN TERMS OF WE 46 00:05:43,815 --> 00:05:54,692 PAY THE HIGHEST DRUG PRICES IN THE WORLD OF ANY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION. MAKING SURE THAT MEDICARE CAN 47 00:05:54,759 --> 00:06:04,135 NEGOTIATE DOWN THOSE PRICES. THE DEBT AND REDUCED THE DEFICIT BY $350 BILLION MY FIRST YEAR. THIS YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE OVER 48 00:06:04,202 --> 00:06:10,074 $1.5 TRILLION REDUCED THE DEBT. SO, TO CONTINUE TO PUT PEOPLE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING AND GROW, AND 49 00:06:10,141 --> 00:06:16,114 GROW, AND INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO GROW. >> TO SEE WHAT HE MEANS, WE WENT WITH MR. BIDEN TO THE DETROIT 50 00:06:16,180 --> 00:06:25,256 AUTO SHOW LAST WEDNESDAY. HE CELEBRATED HIS NEW FUNDING OF A NETWORK OF CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES. 51 00:06:25,323 --> 00:06:32,330 BUT THE NEWLY CROWDED CONVENTION CENTER BROUGHT A DIFFERENT QUESTION TO MIND. >> MR. PRESIDENT, FIRST DETROIT 52 00:06:32,396 --> 00:06:42,707 AUTO SHOW IN THREE YEARS. IS THE PANDEMIC OVER? >> THE PANDEMIC IS OVER. WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH 53 00:06:42,774 --> 00:06:47,011 COVID. WE'RE STILL DOING A LOT OF WORK ON IT. IT'S -- BUT THE PANDEMIC IS 54 00:06:47,078 --> 00:06:51,949 OVER. IF YOU NOTICE, NO ONE'S WEARING MASKS. EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE IN PRETTY 55 00:06:52,016 --> 00:06:57,922 GOOD SHAPE. AND SO I THINK IT'S CHANGING. AND I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT. 56 00:06:57,989 --> 00:07:03,861 >> THE CAR SHOW WAS A REMINDER THAT GASOLINE PRICES HIT A HISTORIC HIGH LAST JUNE, IN PART, BECAUSE RUSSIA CUT FUEL 57 00:07:03,928 --> 00:07:12,103 SUPPLIES IN ITS WAR ON UKRAINE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THE PRICE OF GASOLINE IS DOWN ABOUT 26% FROM THE $5 HIGH. 58 00:07:12,170 --> 00:07:19,877 WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP THAT PRICE DOWN WHILE VLADIMIR PUTIN IS THROTTLING ENERGY SUPPLIES? >> WELL, THERE'S -- THERE'S A 59 00:07:19,944 --> 00:07:24,482 COUPLE THINGS WE'VE DONE. FOR EXAMPLE, REMEMBER I GOT SOME CRITICISM FOR RELEASING A MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY 60 00:07:24,549 --> 00:07:30,521 FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE. AND THEN ALONG CAME THE INDUSTRY SAYING THEY'D PRODUCE ANOTHER 61 00:07:30,588 --> 00:07:33,791 MILLION BARRELS A DAY BY THE SPRING. SO, I THINK WE'RE IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE. 62 00:07:33,858 --> 00:07:39,864 >> VLADIMIR PUTIN IS GOING TO TRY TO BREAK YOUR WILL ON UKRAINE AND USE ENERGY PRICES TO DO IT. 63 00:07:39,931 --> 00:07:49,473 >> SURE HE IS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, THE UNITED STATES, ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN ANYONE ELSE IS, AND 64 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:54,378 RELATIVE TO RUSSIA PARTICULARLY. BUT HE'S BEEN TRYING THAT FOR A WHILE. HE'S NOT GOING TO SUCCEED. 65 00:07:54,445 --> 00:08:02,053 ANYBODY WANT TO GO TO WASHINGTON, JUMP IN. >> BUT AT THIS VERY MOMENT THAT MR. BIDEN STEERED FOR THE 66 00:08:02,119 --> 00:08:09,126 FUTURE, A 19th CENTURY FORM OF TRANSPORT THREATENED TO WRECK THE ECONOMY. A DEADLINE FOR A NATIONAL RAIL 67 00:08:09,193 --> 00:08:17,835 STRIKE WAS TWO DAYS AWAY. THE WHITE HOUSE BROKERED A DEAL, THURSDAY, AFTER A 20-HOUR MARATHON OF NEGOTIATIONS. 68 00:08:17,902 --> 00:08:27,612 >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF THEY'VE BEEN ELONGATED LIKE THESE HAVE, IS 69 00:08:27,678 --> 00:08:31,949 PEOPLE SAY AND DO THINGS WHERE THEY -- THE PRIDE GETS ENGAGED AS WELL. AND IT'S AWFUL HARD TO BACK OFF 70 00:08:32,016 --> 00:08:38,456 OF SOME OF THESE THINGS. THEY BOTH SAT DOWN, IN MY VIEW, AND THEY WERE IN THE OFFICE TODAY SAYING, WELL, WE FINALLY 71 00:08:38,522 --> 00:08:46,631 FIGURED IT OUT. THIS IS FAIR ON BOTH SIDES. AND IT TOOK THAT TIME TO FOCUS. AND -- AND THE ALTERNATIVE WAS 72 00:08:46,697 --> 00:08:53,571 JUST NOT THINKABLE. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> IF, IN FACT, THEY'D GONE ON A STRIKE, THE SUPPLY CHAINS IN 73 00:08:53,638 --> 00:08:58,209 THIS COUNTRY WOULD'VE COME TO A SCREECHING HALT. WE WOULD'VE SEEN A REAL ECONOMIC CRISIS. 74 00:08:58,276 --> 00:09:06,150 >> THE OTHER CRISIS ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK, UKRAINE, WAS ALSO IMPROVING LAST WEEK AS UKRAINIAN FORCES RECAPTURED 75 00:09:06,217 --> 00:09:15,993 ABOUT 3,000 SQUARE MILES FROM THE RUSSIAN INVASION. >> IS UKRAINE WINNING THE WAR? >> UKRAINE, THROUGH THEIR -- THE 76 00:09:16,060 --> 00:09:24,568 SIGNIFICANT HELP WE AND OUR ALLIES ARE GIVING THEM AND THE INCREDIBLE BRAVERY AND THE INCREDIBLE DETERMINATION OF THE 77 00:09:24,635 --> 00:09:33,811 UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, ARE NOT LOSING A WAR, AND THEY'RE MAKING GAINS IN CERTAIN AREAS. WINNING THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS TO 78 00:09:33,878 --> 00:09:42,386 GET RUSSIA OUT OF UKRAINE COMPLETELY AND RECOGNIZING THE SOVEREIGNTY. THEY'RE DEFEATING RUSSIA. 79 00:09:42,453 --> 00:09:49,327 RUSSIA'S TURNING OUT NOT TO BE AS COMPETENT AND CAPABLE AS MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE. 80 00:09:49,393 --> 00:09:55,800 BUT WINNING THE WAR? THE DAMAGE IT'S DOING, AND THE -- AND THE CITIZENS, AND THE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE BEING 81 00:09:55,866 --> 00:10:00,338 KILLED, IT'S AWFUL HARD TO COUNT THAT AS WINNING. >> AFTER THE HORRORS OF SEVEN MONTHS OF WAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN 82 00:10:00,404 --> 00:10:07,211 HAS CALLED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN A WAR CRIMINAL. >> IT HAS BEEN BARBARIC WHAT HE'S DONE. 83 00:10:07,278 --> 00:10:16,420 HIS ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN -- EVERYTHING FROM CIVILIAN HOSPITALS TO -- TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE -- OLD-AGE HOMES, TO 84 00:10:16,487 --> 00:10:21,225 NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVE. >> SCHOOLS. >> TO SCHOOLS. 85 00:10:21,292 --> 00:10:29,867 IT'S, IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS. AND SO THE PRICE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THIS WAR IS EXTREMELY HIGH. 86 00:10:29,934 --> 00:10:34,739 BUT WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH THEM AS LONG AS THEY NEED OUR HELP. >> YOU'RE ALREADY NORTH OF 87 00:10:34,805 --> 00:10:40,077 $15 BILLION IN TERMS OF THOSE COMMITMENTS. HOW FAR DO YOU GO? >> AS LONG AS IT TAKES. 88 00:10:40,144 --> 00:10:49,286 >> IRONCLAD COMMITMENT? >> YES. >> AS UKRAINE SUCCEEDS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, VLADIMIR PUTIN IS 89 00:10:49,353 --> 00:10:56,961 BECOMING EMBARRASSED AND PUSHED INTO A CORNER. AND I WONDER, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT YOU WOULD SAY TO HIM IF HE 90 00:10:57,028 --> 00:11:08,072 IS CONSIDERING USING CHEMICAL OR TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS. >> DON'T, DON'T, DON'T. YOU WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF WAR 91 00:11:08,139 --> 00:11:15,813 UNLIKE ANYTHING SINCE WORLD WAR II. >> AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT WOULD BE WHAT? 92 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,684 >> I AM NOT GOING TO SPECULATE. >> WHAT WOULD THE U.S. RESPONSE BE? >> YOU THINK I WOULD TELL YOU IF 93 00:11:20,751 --> 00:11:28,059 I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WOULD BE? OF COURSE I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU. IT'LL BE CONSEQUENTIAL. 94 00:11:28,125 --> 00:11:32,396 THEY'LL BECOME MORE OF A PARIAH IN THE WORLD THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN. AND DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF 95 00:11:32,463 --> 00:11:37,301 WHAT THEY DO WILL DETERMINE WHAT RESPONSE WOULD OCCUR. >> ON THE SAME DAY WE SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT, PUTIN MET WITH 96 00:11:37,368 --> 00:11:44,308 CHINA'S LEADER XI JINPING. THERE'S CONCERN THAT RUSSIA'S ATTEMPT TO FORCE REUNIFICATION WITH UKRAINE COULD INSPIRE CHINA 97 00:11:44,375 --> 00:11:56,887 TO ATTACK THE ISLAND OF TAIWAN. U.S. POLICY SINCE 1979 HAS BEEN TO RECOGNIZE TAIWAN AS PART OF CHINA, BUT REMAIN SILENT ON 98 00:11:56,954 --> 00:12:04,128 WHETHER THE U.S. MILITARY WOULD DEFEND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT THERE. THIS IS AMONG THE PLACES WHERE 99 00:12:04,195 --> 00:12:10,468 OUR INTERVIEW RUNS INTO CONTROVERSY. >> WHAT SHOULD CHINESE PRESIDENT XI KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO 100 00:12:10,534 --> 00:12:20,144 TAIWAN? >> WE AGREE WITH WHAT WE SIGNED ONTO A LONG TIME AGO. AND THAT THERE'S ONE CHINA 101 00:12:20,211 --> 00:12:25,716 POLICY, AND TAIWAN MAKES THEIR OWN JUDGMENTS ABOUT THEIR INDEPENDENCE. WE ARE NOT MOVING -- WE'RE NOT 102 00:12:25,783 --> 00:12:29,019 ENCOURAGING THEIR BEING INDEPENDENT. WE'RE NOT -- THAT -- THAT'S THEIR DECISION. 103 00:12:29,086 --> 00:12:36,127 >> BUT WOULD U.S. FORCES DEFEND THE ISLAND? >> YES, IF IN FACT THERE WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK. 104 00:12:36,193 --> 00:12:45,836 >> AFTER OUR INTERVIEW A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL TOLD US U.S. POLICY HAS NOT CHANGED. OFFICIALLY, THE U.S. WILL NOT 105 00:12:45,903 --> 00:12:52,209 SAY WHETHER AMERICAN FORCES WOULD DEFEND TAIWAN. BUT THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF HAD A VIEW OF HIS OWN. 106 00:12:52,276 --> 00:12:56,881 >> SO, UNLIKE UKRAINE, TO BE CLEAR, SIR, U.S. FORCES, U.S. MEN AND WOMEN WOULD DEFEND TAIWAN IN THE EVENT OF A CHINESE 107 00:12:56,947 --> 00:13:05,990 INVASION? >> YES. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME, MR. BIDEN SPOKE ABOUT THE CLASSIFIED 108 00:13:06,056 --> 00:13:12,997 DOCUMENTS THAT THE FBI FOUND IN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HOME. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS OPENED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. 109 00:13:13,063 --> 00:13:20,271 >> HAVE YOU BEEN BRIEFED, SIR, ON THE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS THAT WERE FOUND AT MAR-A-LAGO? >> NO. 110 00:13:20,337 --> 00:13:28,679 >> NO ONE HAS COME TO YOU TO WARN YOU THAT IMPORTANT NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETS WERE REVEALED BY THE STORAGE OF THOSE 111 00:13:28,746 --> 00:13:33,651 DOCUMENTS AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S HOME? >> I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY SPOKEN TO ANYONE ON THAT IN THAT 112 00:13:33,717 --> 00:13:40,224 REGARD. I'M SURE MY ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE OF ALL OF THAT, AND SO IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. 113 00:13:40,291 --> 00:13:48,666 BUT I HAVE NOT. >> WERE YOU NOTIFIED OF THE FBI'S EXECUTION OF A SEARCH WARRANT AT MAR-A-LAGO? 114 00:13:48,732 --> 00:13:56,607 >> NO, NOT AHEAD OF TIME. >> THE FBI SPREAD THE DOCUMENTS OUT ON A FLOOR TO MAKE A RECORD OF WHAT WAS FOUND. 115 00:13:56,674 --> 00:14:04,248 >> WHEN YOU SAW THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS LAID OUT ON THE FLOOR AT MAR-A-LAGO, WHAT DID YOU THINK TO YOURSELF? 116 00:14:04,315 --> 00:14:12,256 LOOKING AT THAT IMAGE. >> HOW THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. HOW ONE -- ANYONE COULD BE THAT 117 00:14:12,323 --> 00:14:19,964 IRRESPONSIBLE. AND I THOUGHT WHAT DATA WAS IN THERE THAT MAY COMPROMISE SOURCES AND METHODS? 118 00:14:20,030 --> 00:14:32,142 BY THAT I MEAN NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HELPED OR -- ET CETERA. AND IT JUST -- TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. 119 00:14:32,209 --> 00:14:35,512 >> AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THOSE DOCUMENTS? >> I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE DOCUMENTS 120 00:14:35,579 --> 00:14:40,251 BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF WHETHER OR NOT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD MOVE OR NOT MOVE ON 121 00:14:40,317 --> 00:14:46,991 CERTAIN ACTIONS THEY COULD TAKE. I -- I AGREED I WOULD NOT TELL THEM WHAT TO DO AND NOT, IN FACT, ENGAGE IN TELLING THEM HOW 122 00:14:47,057 --> 00:14:54,498 TO PROSECUTE OR NOT. >> WHEN WE COME BACK, A SURPRISING ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PRESIDENT 123 00:14:54,565 --> 00:14:57,101 BIDEN WILL RUN FOR A SECOND TERM. 124 00:15:06,443 --> 00:15:14,385 >>> AT THE WHITE HOUSE LAST THURSDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN TOLD US HE HOPES TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN THE 125 00:15:14,451 --> 00:15:22,393 MIDTERM ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. BUT GIVEN THE PRESIDENT'S JOB APPROVAL RATING OF AROUND 40% THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. 126 00:15:22,459 --> 00:15:30,067 FOR HIS PART, MR. BIDEN HAS SAID HE PLANS TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024. BUT HERE IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE OUR INTERVIEW MAY CAUSE 127 00:15:30,134 --> 00:15:38,375 CONTROVERSY. >> SIR, ARE YOU COMMITTED TO RUNNING AGAIN, OR ARE THERE CERTAIN CONDITIONS THAT HAVE TO 128 00:15:38,442 --> 00:15:45,816 BE RIGHT? >> LOOK, IF I WERE TO SAY TO YOU, I'M RUNNING AGAIN, ALL OF A SUDDEN A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS 129 00:15:45,883 --> 00:15:52,323 COME INTO PLAY THAT I HAVE -- REQUIREMENTS I HAVE TO CHANGE AND MOVE AND DO. >> IN TERMS OF ELECTION LAWS? 130 00:15:52,389 --> 00:15:56,694 >> IN TERMS OF ELECTION LAWS. AND IT'S MUCH TOO EARLY TO MAKE THAT KIND OF DECISION. I'M A GREAT RESPECTER OF FATE. 131 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:02,199 AND SO WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M DOING MY JOB. I'M GOING TO DO THAT JOB. AND WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT 132 00:16:02,266 --> 00:16:07,938 MAKES SENSE AFTER THIS NEXT ELECTION CYCLE HERE, GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, MAKE A JUDGMENT ON WHAT TO DO. 133 00:16:08,005 --> 00:16:14,745 >> YOU SAY THAT IT'S MUCH TOO EARLY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. I TAKE IT THE DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE IN YOUR OWN HEAD. 134 00:16:14,812 --> 00:16:21,251 >> LOOK, MY INTENTION AS I SAID TO BEGIN WITH IS THAT I WOULD RUN AGAIN. BUT IT'S JUST AN INTENTION. 135 00:16:21,318 --> 00:16:28,325 BUT IS IT A FIRM DECISION THAT I RUN AGAIN? THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, YOU ARE THE 136 00:16:28,392 --> 00:16:34,465 OLDEST PRESIDENT EVER. >> PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, HUH? >> WHICH LEADS TO MY NEXT QUESTION. 137 00:16:34,531 --> 00:16:41,872 YOU ARE MORE AWARE OF THIS THAN ANYONE. SOME PEOPLE ASK WHETHER YOU ARE FIT FOR THE JOB. 138 00:16:41,939 --> 00:16:48,412 AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK. >> WATCH ME. AND, HONEST TO GOD, THAT'S ALL I 139 00:16:48,479 --> 00:16:55,018 THINK. WATCH ME. IF YOU THINK I DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY LEVEL OR THE MENTAL 140 00:16:55,085 --> 00:16:59,857 ACUITY, THEN -- THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING. IT'S ANOTHER THING, YOU JUST WATCH AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP MY 141 00:16:59,923 --> 00:17:07,564 SCHEDULE. DO WHAT I'M DOING. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH 142 00:17:07,631 --> 00:17:18,809 OUR NATO ALLIES AND KEEP THEM TOGETHER, I DON'T HAVE THEM SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, HOW -- HOW OLD ARE YOU? 143 00:17:18,876 --> 00:17:23,414 WHAT ARE YOU -- WHAT SAY? YOU KNOW, I MEAN IT'S A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, THAT OLD EXPRESSION, THE PROOF OF THE 144 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:29,386 PUDDING'S IN THE EATING. I MEAN, I RESPECT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OLD. 145 00:17:29,453 --> 00:17:32,790 BUT I THINK IT RELATES TO HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU HAVE, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE JOB YOU'RE DOING IS ONE CONSISTENT WITH 146 00:17:32,856 --> 00:17:37,795 WHAT ANY PERSON OF ANY AGE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. >> HOW WOULD YOU SAY YOUR MENTAL FOCUS IS? 147 00:17:37,861 --> 00:17:46,236 >> OH, IT'S FOCUSED. I'D SAY IT'S -- I THINK IT'S -- I, I HAVEN'T -- LOOK, I HAVE TROUBLE EVEN MENTIONING, EVEN 148 00:17:46,303 --> 00:17:55,412 SAYING TO MYSELF, MY OWN HEAD, THE NUMBER OF YEARS. I NO MORE THINK OF MYSELF AS BEING AS OLD AS I AM THAN FLY. 149 00:17:55,479 --> 00:18:02,619 I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT -- I HAVEN'T OBSERVED ANYTHING IN TERMS OF -- THERE'S NOT THINGS I DON'T DO NOW THAT I DID BEFORE, 150 00:18:02,686 --> 00:18:17,234 WHETHER IT'S PHYSICAL, OR MENTAL, OR ANYTHING ELSE. >> YOU HAVE HAD A STRING OF LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES RECENTLY. 151 00:18:17,301 --> 00:18:22,639 >> HOW'S AN OLD GUY DO THAT? >> BUT YOUR APPROVAL RATING IN THE COUNTRY IS WELL BELOW 50%. AND I WONDER WHY YOU THINK THAT 152 00:18:22,706 --> 00:18:27,478 IS. >> THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME. WE'RE AT AN INFLEXION POINT IN 153 00:18:27,544 --> 00:18:34,685 THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS NOW THAT ARE GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT 154 00:18:34,751 --> 00:18:44,862 WE'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE NEXT TEN YEARS FROM NOW. I THINK YOU'D AGREE THAT THE IMPACT ON THE PSYCHE OF THE 155 00:18:44,928 --> 00:18:50,667 AMERICAN PEOPLE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PANDEMIC IS PROFOUND. THINK OF HOW THAT HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING. 156 00:18:50,734 --> 00:18:56,874 YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, ABOUT THE STATE OF THE NATION, ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR 157 00:18:56,940 --> 00:19:02,279 COMMUNITIES. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE, A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY. 158 00:19:02,346 --> 00:19:09,453 AND WE LOST A MILLION PEOPLE. A MILLION PEOPLE TO COVID. WHEN I GOT IN OFFICE, WHEN I GOT ELECTED, ONLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE 159 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:15,993 HAD BEEN VACCINATED. I GOT 220 MILLION -- MY POINT IS IT TAKES TIME. WE WERE LEFT IN A VERY DIFFICULT 160 00:19:16,059 --> 00:19:26,670 SITUATION. IT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, VERY DIFFICULT. >> AND A DIFFICULT LIFE FOR THE 161 00:19:26,737 --> 00:19:33,343 PRESIDENT. IN 1972 HE LOST HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE LOST HIS SON, BEAU, TO CANCER 162 00:19:33,410 --> 00:19:44,922 IN 2015 AT THE AGE OF 46. AND HIS SON, HUNTER, HAS BEEN A LIGHTNING ROD FOR SUSPICION. HUNTER BIDEN'S FORMER ADDICTION 163 00:19:44,988 --> 00:19:50,661 TO CRACK COCAINE LED TO A LIFE HE DESCRIBES AS NONSTOP DEPRAVITY. HE HAS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED A 164 00:19:50,727 --> 00:19:58,669 FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO HIS TAXES. CONGRESS INVESTIGATED HUNTER BIDEN'S JOB WITH A UKRAINIAN 165 00:19:58,735 --> 00:20:06,276 COMPANY AT THE TIME THAT HIS FATHER RAN UKRAINIAN POLICY IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. A REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATION, 166 00:20:06,343 --> 00:20:16,620 HOWEVER, UNCOVERED NO WRONGDOING BY THEN VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU RUN AGAIN, REPUBLICANS ARE MOST 167 00:20:16,687 --> 00:20:28,098 LIKELY TO GO AFTER YOUR SON HUNTER ONCE AGAIN. AND I WONDER WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR SON AND 168 00:20:28,165 --> 00:20:39,509 WHETHER ANY OF HIS TROUBLES HAVE CAUSED CONFLICTS FOR YOU OR FOR THE UNITED STATES. >> I LOVE MY SON, NUMBER ONE. 169 00:20:39,576 --> 00:20:50,687 HE FOUGHT AN ADDICTION PROBLEM. HE OVERCAME IT. HE WROTE ABOUT IT. AND, NO, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE 170 00:20:50,754 --> 00:20:55,225 THING THAT I'VE OBSERVED AT ALL FROM THAT THAT WOULD AFFECT ME OR THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO MY SON HUNTER. 171 00:20:55,292 --> 00:21:03,500 >> REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATIONS ARE LIKELY TO RESUME IF MR. BIDEN LOSES EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE, AND HISTORY SHOWS THAT 172 00:21:03,567 --> 00:21:13,644 PRESIDENTS USUALLY LOSE SEATS IN CONGRESS IN A MIDTERM ELECTION. IF SO, THE PRESIDENT'S REMAINING AMBITIONS MAY BE BEYOND HIS 173 00:21:13,710 --> 00:21:18,715 REACH. >> FOR EXAMPLE, WE PASSED THE MOST EXTENSIVE GUN LEGISLATION IN 30 YEARS, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT 174 00:21:18,782 --> 00:21:22,719 GOING TO REST TILL WE GET ASSAULT WEAPONS BANNED, WHICH I DID ONCE BEFORE WHEN I WAS A SENATOR. 175 00:21:22,786 --> 00:21:30,727 >> ASSAULT WEAPONS BANNED? >> ASSAULT WEAPONS BANNED. THERE'S NO RATIONALE. DEER AREN'T RUNNING THROUGH THE 176 00:21:30,794 --> 00:21:41,238 WOODS WEARING KEVLAR VESTS. >> SOMEBODY CAME IN AND TOLD YOU ABOUT UVALDE WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I WONDER WHAT YOU THOUGHT. 177 00:21:41,304 --> 00:21:56,553 >> AGAIN, I'VE GONE TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE PLACES. AND IN UVALDE, I SPENT TIME WITH EVERY SING -- FOUR HOURS. 178 00:21:56,620 --> 00:22:02,259 FOUR HOURS IN THE PAIN, PAIN. AND IT'S JUST SO, SO UNNECESSARY. SO WRONG. 179 00:22:02,325 --> 00:22:11,334 WHO THE HELL -- DON'T GET ME GOING. BUT I MET WITH EVERY ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES AND THE EXTENDED 180 00:22:11,401 --> 00:22:17,207 FAMILIES FOR FOUR HOURS. LOOK, OUR KIDS SHOULD BE LEARNING HOW TO READ AND WRITE, NOT DUCK AND COVER. 181 00:22:17,274 --> 00:22:22,579 THINK ABOUT THAT. THINK OF THE MENTAL IMPACT ON THESE KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. WE SAW IT. 182 00:22:22,646 --> 00:22:30,787 IT'S WRONG. IT'S WRONG. IT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. AND WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT. 183 00:22:30,854 --> 00:22:38,295 WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT. AND THE NRA CONTINUING TO PUSH THE SALE OF ASSAULT AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS IS 184 00:22:38,361 --> 00:22:44,901 BIZARRE. >> THE MUCH MORE MODEST BIPARTISAN GUN LAW THAT PASSED THIS SUMMER MAY BE THE BEST 185 00:22:44,968 --> 00:22:51,441 EXAMPLE OF THE PRESIDENT'S LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT NO ONE THOUGHT POSSIBLE. "HOW'D AN OLD GUY DO THAT?" HE 186 00:22:51,508 --> 00:22:58,782 ASKED US EARLIER. WE HAVE A THEORY. JOE BIDEN IS AMONG THE LONGEST SERVING POLITICIANS IN 187 00:22:58,849 --> 00:23:07,657 WASHINGTON. IF THERE IS LESS BOUNCE IN THE STEP THAN THERE ONCE WAS, IF THE WORDS DON'T FLOW LIKE THEY USED 188 00:23:07,724 --> 00:23:14,898 TO, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KNOWHOW, FIVE DECADES ON THE HILL AND IN THE OVAL. 189 00:23:14,965 --> 00:23:26,843 >> CONCERNING POLITICS, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 1972. YOU WERE 29 YEARS OLD. 190 00:23:26,910 --> 00:23:35,452 AND IN THOSE DAYS, IT SEEMED THAT THE PARTIES WORKED TOGETHER TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD. AND I THINK MANY AMERICANS FEEL 191 00:23:35,519 --> 00:23:42,025 THAT THAT NO LONGER HAPPENS, AND, IN FACT, MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE NOW. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S 192 00:23:42,092 --> 00:23:49,499 IMPOSSIBLE. BUT IT -- IT'S CHANGED. WHAT WE DO TODAY, THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S ALL PERSONAL ATTACKS. 193 00:23:49,566 --> 00:23:54,571 IT'S ABOUT MOTIVE. IT'S NOT ABOUT "I DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THE -- ON THE SUBJECT MATTER." 194 00:23:54,638 --> 00:24:03,246 AND, SECONDLY, I THINK THAT IT'S -- I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE'VE NOT HAD A PRESIDENT LIKE THE LAST PRESIDENT WHO HAS 195 00:24:03,313 --> 00:24:10,921 MADE ALL OF IT SO PERSONAL. I'VE HAD SIX REPUBLICAN SENATORS -- I PROMISED I'D NEVER SAY THEIR NAMES AND I WON'T -- COME 196 00:24:10,987 --> 00:24:18,962 UP TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND SAY, JOE, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IF I -- IF I VOTE THIS WAY IT'S GOING TO -- THEY'RE GOING 197 00:24:19,029 --> 00:24:24,835 TO PRIMARY ME, I'M GOING TO LOSE AN ELECTION. IT DIDN'T USED TO BE THAT WAY. BUT IT'S COMING BACK A LITTLE 198 00:24:24,901 --> 00:24:30,841 BIT. IT'S COMING BACK. >> DO YOU SEE IT? IT SEEMS TO ME, MR. PRESIDENT, 199 00:24:30,907 --> 00:24:35,745 THAT -- WHEN YOU WERE -- FIRST CAME TO THE SENATE, THE OTHER GUY HAD A BAD IDEA, AND NOW THE OTHER GUY IS A BAD GUY. 200 00:24:35,812 --> 00:24:40,617 AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET BACK TO THAT. >> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THINK ABOUT THIS. 201 00:24:40,684 --> 00:24:47,624 I WAS ABLE TO GET -- WE WERE ABLE TO GET A BIPARTISAN $1.2 TRILLION PACKAGE DONE FOR DEALING WITH THE WHOLE QUESTION 202 00:24:47,691 --> 00:24:52,996 OF REBUILDING THE COUNTRY, THE ROADS AND THE HIGHWAYS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF THINGS DONE 203 00:24:53,063 --> 00:25:00,103 BIPARTISANLY. AND EVERYBODY SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING, DON'T LET BIDEN HAVE ANY SUCCESSES, ET 204 00:25:00,170 --> 00:25:06,676 CETERA. SO IT'S STILL A WAY TO GO, BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS. 205 00:25:06,743 --> 00:25:14,317 >> YOU HAVE LIVED A LONG LIFE OF TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY. IN NOVEMBER YOU'LL BE 80. AND I WONDER WHAT IT IS THAT 206 00:25:14,384 --> 00:25:24,561 KEEPS YOU IN THE ARENA. >> WELL, LOOK, I'VE HAD TRAGEDIES. I'VE LOST PART OF MY SOUL WHEN I 207 00:25:24,628 --> 00:25:33,303 LOST MY SON BEAU, I LOST MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE THROUGH WHAT I'VE GONE 208 00:25:33,370 --> 00:25:40,744 THROUGH AND A LOT MORE WITHOUT WHAT I HAD. I HAVE HAD INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY. 209 00:25:40,810 --> 00:25:47,284 THERE'S SO MANY LITERALLY HEROES GETTING UP EVERY DAY PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER WITH NO HELP. 210 00:25:47,350 --> 00:25:54,991 I CONSTANTLY THINK WHAT WOULD BEAU WANT ME TO DO. WHAT WOULD -- AND, YOU KNOW, THIS GETS ME A LONG WAY, THIS 211 00:25:55,058 --> 00:26:02,599 ROSARY. >> CATHOLIC AND DEVOUT, HE KEEPS A ROSARY IN HIS POCKET, AND HE SHOWED US HIS OTHER INSPIRATION 212 00:26:02,666 --> 00:26:12,809 IN A CARTOON THAT HIS FATHER HAD FRAMED. IN IT, THE VIKING HAGAR, CONFRONTS GOD AFTER A LIGHTNING 213 00:26:12,876 --> 00:26:19,049 STRIKE, A BLOW LIKE THOSE ENDURED BY THE PRESIDENT. >> AND HE'S LOOKING UP, AND WHAT'S HE SAY? 214 00:26:19,115 --> 00:26:23,620 HE SAYS, WHY ME, GOD? AND THE NEXT SCENE, A VOICE FROM HEAVEN. WHY NOT? 215 00:26:23,687 --> 00:26:28,558 THAT'S MY DAD. WHY NOT, JOEY? WHY NOT YOU? WHY NOT -- WHAT MAKES YOU SO 216 00:26:28,625 --> 00:26:35,665 DIFFERENT? JUST GET UP. MY MOM'S EXPRESSION WAS, JUST GET UP, GET UP, GET UP. 217 00:26:35,732 --> 00:26:42,038 >> AND YOU FEEL YOU HAVE MORE TO GIVE? >> A LOT MORE TO GIVE, A LOT MORE TO GIVE. 218 00:26:52,716 --> 00:27:03,026 >>> THE UNITED STATES FIRST PLACED FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON IRAN BACK IN 1979, DURING THE HOSTAGE CRISIS. 219 00:27:03,093 --> 00:27:10,600 FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HAS DESIGNATED IRAN ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. 220 00:27:10,667 --> 00:27:16,606 BUT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER COUNTRIES, AGREED TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SANCTIONS RELIEF IN EXCHANGE FOR 221 00:27:16,673 --> 00:27:25,915 IRAN'S AGREEMENT TO DISMANTLE MUCH OF ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND OPEN ITS FACILITIES TO EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION. 222 00:27:25,982 --> 00:27:34,624 THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, DISTRUSTING TEHRAN, PULLED OUT OF THE DEAL AND STEPPED UP CRUSHING ECONOMIC PRESSURE. 223 00:27:34,691 --> 00:27:44,267 THAT'S WHERE EBRAHIM RAISI FOUND HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT A YEAR AGO. LAST MONTH, IRAN AND THE 224 00:27:44,334 --> 00:27:52,342 61-YEAR-OLD HARD-LINER WERE ON THE VERGE OF STRIKING A NEW DEAL, BUT THEN IRAN SUBMITTED DEMANDS THAT SENT THE NUCLEAR 225 00:27:52,409 --> 00:28:00,283 TALKS INTO A STALEMATE. >> SIR, THANK YOU. I'M LESLIE. WE MET PRESIDENT RAISI TUESDAY 226 00:28:00,350 --> 00:28:08,224 AT THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND IN TEHRAN FOR HIS FIRST INTERVIEW WITH A WESTERN REPORTER. I WAS TOLD HOW TO DRESS, NOT TO 227 00:28:08,291 --> 00:28:15,865 SIT BEFORE HE DID, AND NOT TO INTERRUPT HIM. WE WERE GIVEN ONE HOUR FOR THE INTERVIEW. 228 00:28:15,932 --> 00:28:22,672 CAN WE START WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NUCLEAR DEAL. DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT DEAL 229 00:28:22,739 --> 00:28:27,844 RENEWED? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME AMERICAN OFFICIALS WHO ARE BEGINNING TO THINK THAT YOU 230 00:28:27,911 --> 00:28:38,555 DON'T -- TRANSITION. >> Translator: IF IT'S A GOOD DEAL AND FAIR DEAL, WE WOULD BE 231 00:28:38,621 --> 00:28:42,692 SERIOUS ABOUT REACHING AN AGREEMENT. IT NEEDS TO BE LASTING. THERE NEEDS TO BE GUARANTEES. 232 00:28:42,759 --> 00:28:52,368 IF THERE WERE A GUARANTEE, THEN THE AMERICANS COULD NOT WITHDRAW FROM THE DEAL. >> BUT YOU CAN PULL OUT OF THE 233 00:28:52,435 --> 00:28:58,842 DEAL, I MEAN, JUST AS WELL AS WE COULD PULL OUT OF THE DEAL. >> Translator: YOU SEE, THE AMERICANS BROKE THEIR PROMISES. 234 00:28:58,908 --> 00:29:08,418 THEY DID IT UNILATERALLY. THEY SAID THAT "I AM OUT OF THE DEAL." NOW, MAKING PROMISES IS BECOMING 235 00:29:08,485 --> 00:29:13,590 MEANINGLESS. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT TRUST THE AMERICANS? >> Translator: WE CANNOT TRUST 236 00:29:13,656 --> 00:29:18,962 THE AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN FROM THEM. THAT IS WHY IF THERE IS NO 237 00:29:19,028 --> 00:29:26,936 GUARANTEE, THERE IS NO TRUST. >> THE U.S. SAYS THE WEST CAN'T TRUST IRAN. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN IT CLAIMS ITS 238 00:29:27,003 --> 00:29:33,510 NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS PURELY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES. >> AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL YOU DON'T USE IT FOR, YOU KNOW, 239 00:29:33,576 --> 00:29:40,016 THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOUR CITIZENS, LIKE ELECTRICITY. YOU SAY YOU WANT IT FOR PEACEFUL REASONS. 240 00:29:40,083 --> 00:29:52,462 LIKE WHAT? >> Translator: LIKE IN MEDICINE, AGRICULTURE, OIL, GAS. >> IN TERMS OF "PEACEFUL 241 00:29:52,529 --> 00:30:02,939 PURPOSES," ONE AVAILABLE FIGURE FROM THE U.N. NUCLEAR WATCHDOG AGENCY, THE IAEA, IS THAT ONLY 1.8% OF THE COUNTRY'S 242 00:30:03,006 --> 00:30:09,078 ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED BY NUCLEAR POWER. >> THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN 243 00:30:09,145 --> 00:30:18,688 WORKING, AT LEAST BEFORE, TOWARD A BOMB, A BOMB, A WEAPON, AND THAT YOU MIGHT BE DOING THAT AGAIN. 244 00:30:18,755 --> 00:30:26,529 >> Translator: WE HAVE RESPONDED TO THESE CLAIMS SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ARE BASELESS. THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN HAS 245 00:30:26,596 --> 00:30:32,435 SAID MANY TIMES THAT POSSESSING NUCLEAR WEAPONS HAS NO PLACE IN OUR DOCTRINE. >> HOWEVER, THE U.S. 246 00:30:32,502 --> 00:30:44,113 INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS ASSESSED "WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE" THAT IRAN DID ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP A NUCLEAR BOMB IN THE PAST. 247 00:30:44,180 --> 00:30:48,418 AND THEN THERE ARE THE AMERICAN CITIZENS BEING DETAINED IN TEHRAN, THREE OF WHOM WERE BORN IN IRAN. 248 00:30:48,484 --> 00:30:54,390 IF THERE IS A DEAL, WOULD YOU AGREE TO RELEASE THE FOUR AMERICANS WHO ARE BEING HELD HERE? 249 00:30:54,457 --> 00:31:04,801 COULD THAT BE PART OF IT? >> Translator: THERE ARE IRANIAN NATIONALS ALSO IMPRISONED INSIDE THE U.S. 250 00:31:04,867 --> 00:31:10,473 THESE PEOPLE ARE ONLY IN THERE BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY TRIED TO CIRCUMVENT SANCTIONS. AND THE AMERICANS, WE HAVE TOLD 251 00:31:10,540 --> 00:31:20,783 THEM THAT WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS. IT CAN BE CONDUCTED SEPARATELY FROM THE NUCLEAR TALKS. 252 00:31:20,850 --> 00:31:26,089 IT CAN BE DONE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. IT IS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE. THIS CAN BE NEGOTIATED. 253 00:31:26,155 --> 00:31:32,128 >> YOU'RE OFF TO NEW YORK. YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK AT THE UNITED NATIONS. YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS 254 00:31:32,195 --> 00:31:38,167 GOING TO BE THERE. ARE YOU OPEN TO A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN? A FACE-TO-FACE? 255 00:31:38,234 --> 00:31:45,241 >> Translator: NO. I DON'T THINK THAT SUCH A MEETING WOULD HAPPEN. I DON'T BELIEVE HAVING A MEETING 256 00:31:45,308 --> 00:31:51,748 OR A TALK WITH HIM WILL BE BENEFICIAL. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS, FROM YOUR 257 00:31:51,814 --> 00:32:02,158 PERSPECTIVE, BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? >> THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE 258 00:32:02,225 --> 00:32:05,895 U.S., THEY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THEY HAVE SAID IT IN THEIR 259 00:32:05,962 --> 00:32:16,539 MESSAGES TO US. BUT WE HAVEN'T WITNESSED ANY CHANGES IN REALITY. >> HIS MAJOR GRIEVANCE AGAINST 260 00:32:16,606 --> 00:32:25,415 PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THAT HE HAS MAINTAINED THE SANCTIONS ON IRAN THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPOSED. >> Translator: THE SANCTIONS ARE 261 00:32:25,481 --> 00:32:32,555 VERY TYRANNICAL. THIS IS A TYRANNY AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF IRAN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE 262 00:32:32,622 --> 00:32:40,563 THE SANCTIONS LIFTED. >> THE SANCTIONS THRUST IRAN INTO A TWO-YEAR RECESSION, MAINLY BECAUSE OIL EXPORTS FROM 263 00:32:40,630 --> 00:32:48,538 REFINERIES LIKE THIS ONE, FELL OVERNIGHT FROM 2.8 MILLION BARRELS A DAY TO ABOUT 200,000. BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CUT OFF 264 00:32:48,604 --> 00:32:56,546 FROM INTERNATIONAL BANKING. WITH INFLATION TODAY IN IRAN AT OVER 40%, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE. 265 00:32:56,612 --> 00:33:06,923 AND YET -- WE FOUND TRAFFIC HERE. AS CLOGGED AS IN NEW YORK. AND, AS WE SAW, TEHRAN'S BAZAARS 266 00:33:06,989 --> 00:33:15,531 ARE TEEMING WITH SHOPPERS. THE ONES WE MET WERE FRIENDLY TO US. HOW ARE YOU? 267 00:33:15,598 --> 00:33:19,001 >> OH, I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? >> FANTASTIC. AND YOU? 268 00:33:19,068 --> 00:33:26,743 >> GOOD. DO YOU STUDY ENGLISH IN SCHOOL? >> NO. >> ONE REASON FOR THE BUSTLING 269 00:33:26,809 --> 00:33:30,480 COMMERCE IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT CALLS THE "RESISTANCE ECONOMY" IN WHICH BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE MORE OF THE 270 00:33:30,546 --> 00:33:40,623 THINGS THEMSELVES THAT THEY USED TO IMPORT. SO -- >> DO YOU KNOW WHERE THESE ARE 271 00:33:40,690 --> 00:33:52,902 MADE? HOME MADE BLUE JEANS. ALSO MADE IN IRAN? WASHING MACHINES, REFRIGERATORS, 272 00:33:52,969 --> 00:33:59,475 TVs. THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF UBER EATS CALLED SNAPP! FOOD. IRAN IS HOME TO ONE OF THE 273 00:33:59,542 --> 00:34:04,447 WORLD'S OLDEST CIVILIZATIONS, DATING BACK TO 4,000 B.C. IT'S WHERE THE FOUNDATIONS OF ALGEBRA AND CHEMISTRY WERE 274 00:34:04,514 --> 00:34:16,359 DEVELOPED. TODAY WHILE THERE'S ATTENTION TO RELIGIOUS TRADITION IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, IT'S ONE OF 275 00:34:16,426 --> 00:34:22,999 THE MOST WESTERNIZED COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WITH A WELL-EDUCATED POPULATION. THIS MALL COULD BE ANYWHERE IN 276 00:34:23,065 --> 00:34:32,708 AMERICA! WITH AN ICE-SKATING RINK, A FOOD COURT WITH HOT DOGS AND BURGERS, AND THE LEAST EXPECTED, SEXY 277 00:34:32,775 --> 00:34:42,985 WINDOW DISPLAYS. AND YET PRESIDENT RAISI JUST SIGNED A DECREE MAKING WOMEN WHO DON'T DRESS MODESTLY SUBJECT TO 278 00:34:43,052 --> 00:34:48,357 ARREST. A YOUNG WOMAN DIED FRIDAY AFTER THE MORALITY POLICE TOOK HER INTO CUSTODY FOR VIOLATING THE 279 00:34:48,424 --> 00:34:56,566 RULES ON HEAD COVERINGS. EYEWITNESSES SAY THEY SAW HER BEING BEATEN WHILE IN A POLICE VAN. 280 00:34:56,632 --> 00:35:07,376 PRESIDENT RAISI'S OFFICE SAYS HE ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION. SAYYID EBRAHIM RAISI DESCENDS FROM THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD, AS 281 00:35:07,443 --> 00:35:13,349 HIS BLACK TURBAN SIGNIFIES, ACCORDING TO SHIITE MUSLIM TRADITION. HE'S A HARD-LINE CONSERVATIVE 282 00:35:13,416 --> 00:35:19,288 CLERIC LIKE HIS MENTOR, THE SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR OWN 283 00:35:19,355 --> 00:35:26,262 RECORD. THERE IS A PERSONAL SANCTION AGAINST YOU. YOU TOOK PART IN A COMMISSION 284 00:35:26,329 --> 00:35:35,505 THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING UP TO 5,000 POLITICAL DISSIDENTS. THEY WERE HANGED OR SHOT BY 285 00:35:35,571 --> 00:35:45,281 FIRING SQUAD. I WANT TO ASK IF YOU REGRET THAT ACTION. >> Translator: WHAT KIND OF 286 00:35:45,348 --> 00:35:51,787 PROOF CAN YOU OFFER FOR THIS? THESE ARE JUST ALLEGATIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY MEMBERS OF A TERRORIST GROUP. 287 00:35:51,854 --> 00:36:00,730 >> YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE? AND THAT THE -- >> Translator: ANYBODY WHO 288 00:36:00,796 --> 00:36:08,804 COMMITS A CRIME IN IRAN STANDS TRIAL IN OFFICIAL COURTS OF LAW, AND THEY RECEIVE PUNISHMENTS FOR WHAT THEY DID. 289 00:36:08,871 --> 00:36:15,144 THEY WERE ASSASSINATING PEOPLE. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM WAS EXACTLY PROPORTIONATE TO WHAT THEY DID. 290 00:36:15,211 --> 00:36:21,751 >> BUT THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT SANCTIONED RAISI PERSONALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OVER THIS AND AMNESTY 291 00:36:21,817 --> 00:36:32,028 INTERNATIONAL CALLED IT A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. THE PRESIDENT WAS FEISTY WITH US, SPRINKLING HIS ANSWERS WITH 292 00:36:32,094 --> 00:36:40,169 A PREDICTABLE ANTIPATHY TOWARD ISRAEL AND JEWISH PEOPLE. THE SUPREME LEADER, AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, WAS SCATHING 293 00:36:40,236 --> 00:36:47,276 WHEN HE TWEETED ON THE SAME SUBJECT IN ENGLISH IN 2018. >> ISRAEL IS A MALIGNANT, CANCEROUS TUMOR THAT HAS TO BE 294 00:36:47,343 --> 00:36:54,183 REMOVED AND ERADICATED. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED? THAT 6 MILLION JEWS WERE 295 00:36:54,250 --> 00:37:09,465 SLAUGHTERED? >> Translator: LOOK, HISTORICAL EVENTS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY RESEARCHERS AND HISTORIANS. 296 00:37:09,532 --> 00:37:16,005 THERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT IT HAPPENED. IF SO, THEY SHOULD ALLOW IT TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RESEARCHED. 297 00:37:16,072 --> 00:37:22,545 >> SO YOU'RE NOT SURE -- I'M GETTING THAT YOU'RE NOT SURE. WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST? 298 00:37:22,612 --> 00:37:27,483 >> Translator: YOU SEE, THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE ARE THE REALITY. THIS IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE 299 00:37:27,550 --> 00:37:35,191 OF PALESTINE WHO WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSES AND MOTHERLAND. THE AMERICANS ARE SUPPORTING 300 00:37:35,257 --> 00:37:44,800 THIS FALSE REGIME THERE TO TAKE ROOT AND BE ESTABLISHED THERE. >> YOU KNOW THAT MOROCCO, BAHRAIN, SUDAN, AND THE UNITED 301 00:37:44,867 --> 00:37:53,609 ARAB EMIRATES HAVE ALL RECOGNIZED ISRAEL, AND HAVE RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL. AND IT IS SAID THAT SAUDI ARABIA 302 00:37:53,676 --> 00:38:04,954 IS ALSO TALKING DIRECTLY WITH ISRAEL. AND I WONDER IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT. 303 00:38:05,021 --> 00:38:09,759 >> Translator: IF A STATE SHAKES HANDS WITH THE ZIONIST REGIME, THEN THEY ARE ALSO AN ACCOMPLICE TO THEIR CRIMES. 304 00:38:09,825 --> 00:38:20,536 AND THEY ARE STABBING THE VERY IDEA OF PALESTINE IN THE BACK. >> YOU HAVE VOWED REVENGE ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR THE KILLING 305 00:38:20,603 --> 00:38:27,009 OF GENERAL SOLEIMANI. MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO THE U.S. KILLED GENERAL QASSEM SOLEIMANI IN A DRONE STRIKE. 306 00:38:27,076 --> 00:38:34,617 A REVERED MILITARY HERO IN IRAN, HE MASTERMINDED DEADLY ATTACKS ON AMERICAN FORCES THROUGHOUT THE REGION FOR YEARS. 307 00:38:34,684 --> 00:38:44,960 THE SUPREME LEADER HAS CALLED FOR RETALIATION. ARE YOU INTENDING TO RETALIATE BY ASSASSINATING OFFICIALS FROM 308 00:38:45,027 --> 00:38:54,103 THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? >> Translator: WHAT THE THEN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT DID, BY THE DIRECT ORDER OF TRUMP HIMSELF, 309 00:38:54,170 --> 00:39:02,311 TO ASSASSINATE MR. QASSEM SOLEIMANI, THIS WAS A HEINOUS CRIME. WE WANT JUSTICE TO BE SERVED. 310 00:39:02,378 --> 00:39:07,516 WE ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET ABOUT THIS. >> I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU MEAN BY "JUSTICE." 311 00:39:07,583 --> 00:39:15,891 DOES IT MEAN AN EYE FOR AN EYE? THERE WAS THIS ASSASSINATION, NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU KNOW, AN ANSWER ASSASSINATION? 312 00:39:15,958 --> 00:39:20,796 >> Translator: THAT'S THE TYPE OF THE ACTIONS THAT THE AMERICANS AND ZIONIST REGIMES ARE DOING IN THE WORLD, WE ARE 313 00:39:20,863 --> 00:39:29,004 NOT GOING TO CARRY OUT THE SAME ACTIONS. >> AND YET THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS CHARGED A MEMBER 314 00:39:29,071 --> 00:39:35,344 OF IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD WITH JUST THAT, PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE JOHN BOLTON, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FORMER 315 00:39:35,411 --> 00:39:43,486 NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS TRIP TO THE U.N., PRESIDENT RAISI IS DEFIANT. 316 00:39:43,552 --> 00:39:53,863 HIS MESSAGE: NO CONCESSIONS IN THE NUCLEAR DEAL, IRAN WILL NOT BACK DOWN, AND IT CAN SURVIVE THE SANCTIONS, WHICH HE SAYS 317 00:39:53,929 --> 00:39:59,401 COULD WELL BACKFIRE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. >> Translator: YES, THEY CAN CREATE RESTRICTIONS AND PROBLEMS 318 00:39:59,468 --> 00:40:04,507 FOR US AND DIFFICULTIES. BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE BEING SANCTIONED. 319 00:40:04,573 --> 00:40:11,347 BY DOING THIS, THEY ARE BRINGING THEM CLOSER TOGETHER, MAKING THEM MORE UNITED, AND THIS WILL RENDER AMERICAN SANCTIONS 320 00:40:11,413 --> 00:40:19,955 INEFFECTIVE. >> RIGHT, CHINESE, RUSSIANS, IRANIANS GETTING CLOSER. >> Translator: THIS APPROACH 321 00:40:20,022 --> 00:40:29,031 WON'T WORK. >> AS WE ENDED WHAT SEEMED TO BE A CORDIAL CONVERSATION, WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN A MEMBER OF 322 00:40:29,098 --> 00:40:38,974 RAISI'S STAFF REACHED UP AND BLOCKED ONE OF OUR CAMERAMEN FROM SHOOTING OUR GOOD-BYES. >> ANOTHER ONE OF OUR 323 00:40:39,041 --> 00:40:46,816 CAMERAMEN'S PHONES WAS CONFISCATED AND HELD BY PRESIDENT RAISI'S SECURITY TEAM FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS. 324 00:40:52,822 --> 00:41:00,629 FIVE DECADES OF COVERING IRAN. >> HE CALLS YOU IMAM, FORGIVE ME, HIS WORDS NOT MINE, A LUNATIC. 325 00:41:00,696 --> 00:41:17,880 >> YOU ARE LIKE A CIA INVESTIGATOR. >> GO INSIDE THE "60 M >>> "THE LAST MINUTE" OF "60 326 00:41:17,947 --> 00:41:26,021 MINUTES" IS SPONSORED BY UNITED HEALTH CARE. GET MEDICARE WITH MORE. >>> TONIGHT MARKS THE OPENING OF 327 00:41:26,088 --> 00:41:31,861 OUR 55th SEASON OF "60 MINUTES." AT ITS HEART, THE BROADCAST IS REMARKABLY UNCHANGED. AS IN THE DAYS OF MIKE WALLACE 328 00:41:31,927 --> 00:41:39,568 AND HARRY REASONER, IT CONTINUES TO BE BUILT AROUND REPORTING AND WRITING A GOOD STORY. "TELL ME A STORY," DON HEWITT, 329 00:41:39,635 --> 00:41:46,141 '60 MINUTES' CREATOR, USED TO SAY. TONIGHT, WE INTRODUCE A NEW WEEKLY FEATURE FOR YOU, "THE 330 00:41:46,208 --> 00:41:51,847 LAST MINUTE." IT MAY BE AN IMPORTANT UPDATE ON A STORY WE'VE REPORTED, A COMMENTARY, A LOOK AT AN 331 00:41:51,914 --> 00:41:58,254 UPCOMING STORY OF POINTED VIEWERS' COMMENTS FROM OUR MAIL. IT'S NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR ANDY ROONEY. 332 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:07,329 NOTHING COULD BE, BUT WE PROMISE SOMETHING INTERESTING AT THE END OF EACH SUNDAY EVENING. I'M BILL WHITAKER. 333 00:42:07,396 --> 00:42:11,100 WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "60 MINUTES." TOMORROW MORNING, BE SURE TO