OUT OF YESTERDAY'S HEARING, WHAT
THE COMMITTEE CALLED THE "BIG RIPOFF."
THE FORMER PRESIDENT RAISED A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS OFF
THE BIG LIE FOR A SO-CALLED "ELECTION DEFENSE FUND" THAT,
INVESTIGATORS SAY, NEVER EXISTED.
>> WE HERE AT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WANT TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO
DONATED TO THE "ELECTION DEFENSE FUND," ONLY TO HAVE THEIR MONEY
STOLEN BY US, BECAUSE THE FUND DIDN'T ACTUALLY EXIST.
THAT'S WHY WE STARTED A NEW FUND, THE "FIGHT THE FRAUD FUND"
TO FIGHT THE FRAUD OF OUR FIRST FRAUD, WHICH, ADMITTEDLY, WAS
ALSO A FRAUD. BUT DUE TO THOSE TWO PREVIOUS
FRAUDS, WE'VE NEVER NEEDED YOUR MONEY MORE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING TO YOU, LOYAL TRUMP SUPPORTERS, ONE LAST
TIME WITH A NEW FRAUD-FIGHTING FUND TO FIGHT THE FRAUD OF THE
FUND CREATED TO FIGHT ELECTION FRAUD FRAUD.
INTRODUCING THE "FIGHT THE FRAUD OF THE FORMER FIGHT THE FRAUD
WHICH FOUGHT THE FRAUD OF THE FIRST FRAUD FUND."
PLEASE, DONATE GENEROUSLY. TOGETHER WE CAN HELP US BY
HELPING YOU HELP US TO GET YOUR MONEY AGAIN.
AND THIS TIME, WE PROMISE NO FRAUD.
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN FRAUD.
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT:
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN
AND MUSICAL GUEST, BONNIE RAITT
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
HEY, EVERYBODY! PLEASE HAVE A SEAT, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO
"THE LATE SHOW." I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
THE COUNTRY-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
ABUZZ ABOUT THE TELEVISED JANUARY 6th HEARINGS.
TODAY, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TOOK A DAY OFF TO EXPLAIN DRUNK
GIULIANI TO THEIR CHILDREN. "YOU SEE, KIDS, WHEN A MAN AND A
BOTTLE LOVE EACH OTHER VERY MUCH, THEY EXCHANGE A SPECIAL
KISS." ( LAUGHTER )
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE PLANNING TO TUNE IN TO THE
HEARINGS TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE LATEST CHAPTER, BECAUSE
THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE HAS POSTPONED WEDNESDAY'S HEARING.
THEY PROMISED US HEARINGS! WE AN'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH
THIS! I'M STORMING THE CAPITOL!
WHO'S WITH ME?! ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
I MAY HAVE MISSED THE SPIRIT OF THIS WHOLE THING.
THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IS, EVIDENTLY, TECHNICAL ISSUES.
AS CALIFORNIA REPRESENTATIVE ZOE LOFGREN EXPLAINED:
>> PUTTING TOGETHER THE VIDEO AND EXHIBITS IS AN
EXHAUSTING EXERCISE FOR OUR VERY SMALL VIDEO STAFF.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO-- WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE IN
ONE WEEK, AND IT IS JUST-- IT IS TOO MUCH TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.
>> Stephen: LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.
SO YOU HAVE TO POSTPONE SAVING DEMOCRACY BECAUSE YOUR VIDEO
STAFF IS OVERWHELMED? IT'S LIKE PAUL REVERE'S FAMOUS
CRY: "ERROR 404: HORSE NOT FOUND."
( LAUGHTER ) COME ON!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) COME ON, LOFGREN.
YOU'RE POSTPONING BECAUSE YOUR POOR WIDDLE VIDEO TEAM IS
TIE-TIE? I'VE GOT A VIDEO TEAM HERE AT
"THE LATE SHOW," AND I RIDE THEM LIKE A BORROWED MULE AND PUT
THEM AWAY WET. THEY PUT TOGETHER CLIPS FIVE
NIGHTS A WEEK UNDER INHUMAN CONDITIONS-- BY WHICH I MEAN
WATCHING FOX NEWS. THESE FOLKS HAVE SEEN--
( APPLAUSE ). THESE FOLKS HAVE SEEN TUCKER
CARLSON'S FACE MORE THAN THEIR OWN CHILDREN!
AND THEY CAN HANDLE ANYTHING I THROW AT THEM.
WATCH THIS: VIDEO TEAM, CAN I GET SOME
FOOTAGE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT REFUSING TO SAY HE'LL ACCEPT THE
ELECTION RESULTS MONTHS BEFORE THE VOTE?
GO! >> CAN YOU GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER?
YOU WILL ACCEPT THE ELECTION? >> I HAVE TO SEE.
LOOK, YOU... I HAVE TO SEE! >> Stephen: NAILED IT.
OKAY, HOW ABOUT SOME FOOTAGE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT LASHING OUT
AT PERCEIVED ENEMIES? >> I DON'T LIKE MOSQUITOS!
>> Stephen: YES! ( LAUGHTER )
GOOD JOB! NOW FOOTAGE OF MARK MEADOWS
TRYING TO SCRUB AWAY EVIDENCE OF HS INVOLVEMENT IN THE COUP!
PERFECT! ♪ ♪ ♪
PERFECT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
OF COURSE, I'M STILL DIGESTING YESTERDAY'S BOMBSHELL THAT THE
FORMER PRESIDENT DEMANDED HIS FOLLOWERS DONATE TO SOMETHING
CALLED THE "OFFICIAL ELECTION DEFENSE FUND," WHICH RAISED
A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS. AND, SURPRISE-SURPRISE, THE
COMMITTEE DISCOVERED THAT THE WHOLE THING WAS A GRIFT.
>> AS THE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS DEMONSTRATED, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
KNEW THESE CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD WERE FALSE, YET THEY CONTINUED
TO BARRAGE SMALL-DOLLAR DONORS WITH EMAILS, ENCOURAGING THEM TO
DONATE TO SOMETHING CALLED THE "OFFICIAL ELECTION DEFENSE
FUND." THE SELECT COMMITTEE DISCOVERED
THAT NO SUCH FUND EXISTED. >> Stephen: SO HE DUPED
$250 MILLION FROM HIS MOST PASSIONATE SUPPORTERS, AND THEN
WATCHED AS THEY ALL GO TO PRISON WHILE HE SAT IN MAR-A-LAGO
DOUBLE-FISTING COCONUT SHRIMP. AND THESE AREN'T WEALTHY PEOPLE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN THEY'RE WEARING NOTHING BUT GIVEAWAY
MERCH FROM THE LOSING TEAM. ( LAUGHTER )
SO IF THERE WAS NO ELECTION DEFENSE FUND--
( APPLAUSE ) COME ON!
SO IF THERE WAS NO ELECTION DEFENSE FUND, WHERE DID THE
MONEY GO? WELL, ACCORDING TO THE
COMMITTEE, THERE WAS A $1 MILLION DONATION TO THE
PERSONAL FOUNDATION OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S CHIEF
OF STAFF, MARK MEADOWS. YES, THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION IS A
CHARITY THAT RAISES MONEY TO FUND RESEARCH INTO HOW MUCH
MONEY IT CAN RAISE. ( LAUGHTER )
$200,000 FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S HOTELS.
AND THAT WAS JUST GIULIANI'S BAR TAB.
OF COURSE, THEY SPREAD CASH AROUND TO THEIR FRIENDS AND FAM.
FOR INSTANCE, DON JR.'S FIANCEE, KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, WAS
PAID $60,000 FOR HER TWO-MINUTE JANUARY 6th SPEECH.
BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. I'LL NEVER FORGET HER IMMORTAL
WORDS: YAAAHHG-HAAHHEET-AHAAAGHHH!
( LAUGHTER ) OF COURSE--
( APPLAUSE ) BIG GUILFOYLE FANS.
OF COURSE, THE BIG QUESTION LOOMING OVER ALL THESE HEARINGS
IS, "SOMEONE'S GOING TO JAIL FOR THIS, RIGHT?
RIGHT, GUYS?" SOMEBODY'S GOING TO JAIL?
WE GOT A HINT LAST NIGHT FROM COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND MAN
SEEING THE OTHER TABLE GET THEIR GUAC, EVEN THOUGH HE ORDERED
FIRST, BENNIE THOMPSON. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON TOLD
REPORTERS THAT THE PANEL WILL NOT MAKE ANY CRIMINAL REFERRAL
OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OR ANYONE ELSE TO THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT. COUNTERPOINT: WHY NOT?
THERE'S A REASON "LAW & ORDER" DOESN'T START LIKE THIS:
>> IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THERE IS ONE BRANCH WHO
INVESTIGATES THE CRIMES, AND THAT'S IT.
EVERYONE GOES FREE. DUN! DUN!
>> Stephen: NOW ONLY-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THE D.O.J. PROSECUTES ANYBODY, BUT
THE COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY ACCUSED RUDY GIULIANI OF FIRST
DEGREE BOOZE SLURPIN', WITH TENT TO CHUG-A-LUG.
COMMITTEE MEMBER JAMIE RASKIN WAS ASKED WHY THEY HIGHLIGHTED
RUDY'S INTOXICATION. >> THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE
HEARING TODAY THAT RUDY GIULIANI WAS DRUNK ON ELECTION NIGHT, I
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND FROM YOU WHY YOU FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
INCLUDE? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE, BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO CONDITIONS FOR HIM.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) TO TELL, BECAUSE SOMETIMES HE'S
DRUNK, AND SOMETIMES HE'S PRETENDING HE'S NOT.
( LAUGHTER ) LATE SHOW LABS" HAS CREATED A
COMPUTER RENDERING OF WHAT RUDY GIULIANI WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE
EVENT HE BRIEFLY BECAME SOBER ( LAUGHTER )
LOOKING GOOD. LOOKING GOOD, MR. MAYOR.
ONE PERSON UNHAPPY ABOUT THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST RUDY WAS
RUDY, WHO TODAY TWEETED: "I REFUSED ALL ALCOHOL THAT
EVENING. MY FAVORITE DRINK...
DIET PEPSI." ( AS RUDY )
ROBUST, RED DIET PEPSI. OR, IN THE SUMMER, A DIET PEPSI
ROSE. I ALSO ENJOY BOXED DIET PEPSI.
IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME NOTES AS THE BOTTLED ONE, BUT AFTER
( SLURRING ) ( APPLAUSE )
UNTIL THEY FACE CONSEQUENCES, THE EX-PRESIDENT'S FAMILY IS
STILL OUT THERE PEDDLING THEIR WARES, INCLUDING ELDEST MAGA
SON, DON JR., SEEN HERE WONDERING, "HOW COME THE
AIRPLANE DOESN'T HAVE TO FLAP?" ( LAUGHTER )
VENTURE IS AN HOMAGE TO HIS DAD.
HE'S BEEN PROMOTING GOOD RANCHERS, A MAGA-FRIENDLY
MAIL-ORDER MEAT COMPANY. HE PUT HIS ENDORSEMENT ON
INTA GRAM... SORRY. ( APPLAUSE )
WHAT IS INTA-GRAM? YOU PUT THAT UP ON THE
INTA-GRAM? YOU GOT THAT UP ON THE TITTER?
THE INTA-GRAM? SOME DELICIOUS...
( LAUGHTER ) HE PUT HIS ENDORSEMENT ON
INSTAGRAM, THE TV OF YOUR PHONE: >> GUYS, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
ABOUT GOOD RANCHERS BEFORE, YOU NEED TO!
THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONLY COMPANIES OUT THERE DELIVERING
100% OF MORE THAN MEAT TO YOUR DOOR 100% OF THE TIME.
>> Stephen: 100% OF THE TIME, THERE WILL BE MEAT AT YOUR DOOR.
EVERY TIME YOU OPEN IT-- BOOM-- MORE MEAT.
LIKE IT OR NOT, MEAT THERE! YOU HAVE TO WALK OVER THE MEAT
EVERY TIME. THAT SOUNDS LESS LIKE A TREAT
AND MORE LIKE A THREAT. ( MOBSTER )
I'D HATE TO SEE YOUR WIFE AND KIDS END UP WITH...
INFINITE MEAT." DON ALSO GOT HIS FIANCEE TO PUSH
HIS MEAT. HERE'S LIBERTY--
( LAUGHTER ) THANK YOU.
HERE'S LIBERTY LOVER, KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, IN HER OWN
STEAK-SCHILLING VIDEO: >> AND WHEN THE KIDS WANT GREAT
STEAKS, THEY ONLY WANT TO EAT GOOD RANCHERS, AND I DON'T BLAME
THEM. FROM STEAKS AND POTATOES, YOU
CAN GO TO goodranchers.com. >> Stephen: HOLY CARBON MONOXIDE
POISONING! WHO GRILLS INSIDE THE HOUSE?
( AS KIM, GETTING WOOZY ) ANY OCCASION: FATHER'S DAY...
GRADUATION... FATHER'S DAY... AND I JUST-- I
JUST WANT TO TAKE A NAP, DAD. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
NIGHTIE-NIGHT. WAGGA-WAGGA-WAGGA."
NOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU'RE SAYING, "STEVE, GIVEN
THIS FAMILY'S WHOLE DEAL, WHAT'S THE GRIFT HERE?
IS IT GOPHER MEAT?" MAYBE!
BECAUSE AFTER NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, GOOD RANCHERS'
ACCREDITATION WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WAS
REVOKED, WITH ONE PURCHASER SAYING, "STEAKS WERE DISCOLORED
AND HAD SLUDGE ON THEM." WELL, LIKE FATHER, LIKE STEAK.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN.
WE'LL TALK WATERGATE, A BYGONE ERA WHEN PRESIDENTS WERE CAPABLE
OF SHAME. STICK AROUND.
( APPLAUSE ) LOUIS CATO, AND EVERYBODY IN
STAY HUMAN RIGHT OVER THERE. FOLKS, MY GUESTS TONIGHT ARE
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING TITANS OF JOURNALISM WHO HAVE BEEN
REPORTING FOR OVER 50 YEARS COMBINED.
THEY'VE WRITTEN 25 BOOKS, INCLUDING THEIR LATEST TITLES:
"PERIL," AND "CHASING HISTORY." PLEASE WELCOME THE TRULY
LEGENDARY, BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE INTERVIEWED BOTH OF YOU
INDIVIDUALLY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE
SEEN YOU IN FULL FORM, THE TWO OF YOU TOGETHER, BRING THE BAND
BACK TOGETHER HERE. YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS
THIS FRIDAY THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WATER GRATE
BREAK-IN, BUT YOU HAVE A NEW 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF
"ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN," RIGHT THERE.
YOUR CLASSIC BOOK, ON THE WATERGATE SCANDAL.
>> IT'S OLD. >> Stephen: AND A NEW FORWARD
ON WHAT WATERGATE MEANS TODAY. I'LL BITE.
WHAT DOES WATERGATE MEAN TO US TODAY?
HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING THE HEARINGS?
>> YEAH. I MEAN, OBSESSIVELY.
I THINK THEY'RE GREAT HEARINGS. I THINK IT NOT ONLY TELLS YOU
WHAT HAPPENED, BUT AT THE CENTER OF THIS IS WHO IS DONALD TRUMP?
AND DONALD TRUMP IS SOMEBODY-- YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE A TOUGH
JUDGMENT. BUT HE DID ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND IT IS A CRIME IN THE SIMPLEST DEFINITION TO TRY TO
SUBVERT THE LEGITIMATE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.
AND THIS IS TO CERTIFY ON JANUARY 6 WHO'S PRESIDENT.
IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, WE DON'T HAVE A PRESIDENT.
I MEAN, IF -- >> Stephen: OR A DEMOCRACY.
>> OR A DEMOCRACY. IF PENCE HAD JUST WALKED OFF AND
SAID, "SORRY, NEVER MIND--" I'M SORRY, THAT'S ANOTHER SHOW.
AND THEN WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
AND SO, WE-- THE STAKES COULDN'T BE HIGHER.
>> NO, THAT'S RIGHT. >> Stephen: CARL, WHAT DO YOU
THINK-- WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM WATERGATE THAT'S APPLICABLE
TODAY? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, RICHARD
NIXON WAS A CRIMINAL PRESIDENT WHO TRIED TO UNDERMINE THE VERY
BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM.
AND THEN YOU HAVE DONALD TRUMP, WHO ALSO TRIED TO UNDERMINE THE
ELECTORAL SYSTEM, BUT WENT FARTHER.
HE STAGED A COUP TO PREVENT THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER TO
THE DUAL ELECTED SUCCESSOR, JOE BIDEN, WHO WAS ELECTED FAIRLY
AND FREELY. AND THEN WE HAVE, IN THIS COUP
ATTEMPT, THE FIRST SEDITIOUS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
IMAGINE, A PRESIDENT WHO ATTEMPTS TO INSPIRE AN
INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING TO SHUT DOWN AN
ELECTION. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES HAS TO BE ELECTED BY THE ELECTORS WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESIDING AT 1:00 P.M. ON JANUARY 6.
IF THEY CAN'T FULFILL THAT FUNCTION, THEN YOU'RE INTO
CHAOS, MAYBE MARTIAL LAW. WE HAD A COUP STAGED BY A
PRESIDENT, THE LIKES OF WHICH YOU SEE IN AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES
ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> Stephen: IN THE NEW FORWARD
TO "ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN," IT COMPARES THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO
NIXON. WHAT DO YOU GENTLEMEN SEE AS THE
STARKEST SIMILARITIES BETWEEN-- BETWEEN NIXON AND TRUMP?
>> AN OBSESSION WITH HATING THE OPPOSITION.
NIXON SAID SO FAMOUSLY THE DAY HE RESIGNED-- WE'LL NEVER FORGET
THIS. I MEAN HE'S GIVING THIS SPEECH.
HE'S LEAVING THE PRESIDENCY, SOMETHING HE WORKED ALL OF HIS
LIFE TO GET. AND HE SAYS, "ALWAYS REMEMBER,
OTHERS MAY HATE YOU, BUT THOSE WHO HATE YOU DON'T WIN UNLESS
YOU HATE THEM." AND THEN YOU DESTROY YOURSELF.
IT'S THE HATING THAT EATS AWAY AT YOU.
TRUMP IS THE SAME WAY. I WAS, IN 2020 DOWN AT
MAR-A-LAGO INTERVIEWING HIM, AND HE HAD A VIDEO OF HIMSELF GIVING
THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, BUT HE PUT IN VARIOUS DEMOCRATS.
AND THEY'RE JUST KIND OF SITTING THERE.
AND TRUMP'S RIGHT BEHIND ME. I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BITE
ME IN THE NECK. ( LAUGHTER )
IT'S HATE. IT'S HATE."
AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HATE HIM, AND HE
HATES THEM. BUT THIS ACCELERATED SENSE
SUFFICIENT OF, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE AFTER ME.
BERNIE SANDERS, THERE WAS A CLIP OF BERNIE SANDERS.
SEE, THE HATE? AND BERNIE IS JUST SITTING
THERE. ( LAUGHTER )
LITTLE BIT OF PROJECTION? WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN,
EVERYBODY. STICK AROUND.
( APPLAUSE ). WE'RE BACK HERE WITH THE AUTHORS
OF THE NEWLY RELEASED, UPDATED "ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN," CARL
BERNSTEIN AND BOB WOODWARD. YOU TALK ABOUT HATE AND THE HATE
THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT MIGHT HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE HE FEELS DO
NOT CONSTANTLY PRAISE HIM, LET'S SAY.
BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD-- CARL I KNOW YOU SAID THIS-- BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON JUST DETEST THE
FORMER PRESIDENT, BUT THEY WON'T SAY IT BECAUSE THEY'RE
FRIGHTENED OF HIS BASE. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WITH NIXON?
WAS THERE A RESPECT FOR NIXON, OR DID THE REPUBLICANS AT THE
TIME REALLY WANT TO GET RIT RID OF HIM?
>> THEY WERE RESPECTFUL OF HIM. MOST REPUBLICANS FOLLOWED HIS
POLICIES, LIKED HIS POLICIES, SUPPORTED HIM PRETTY
WHOLEHEARTEDLY. THE DIFFERENCE HERE-- YOU KNOW,
I DID THIS FOR FOR CNN, BOTH IN PRINT AND ON THE AIR, THAT SAID
THAT 21 REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE DESPISE TRUMP,
DISDAIN HIM. AND THEN I GOT A CALL THE NEXT
DAY FROM A FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO CALLED ME AND SAID,
"CARL, THE NUMBER IS REALLY CLOSER TO 40."
AND HERE YOU HAVE-- AND ONLY TWO OF THE ONES I NAMED-- NAMED ALL
21 OF THEM-- ONLY TWO DID ANYTHING LIKE DENYING WHAT I HAD
WRITTEN. BUT I HAD GOTTEN THIS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF EACH OF THESE SENATORS.
AND THEN YOU LOOK AT HOW CRAVEN THESE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE ARE
TO GO ALONG WITH TRUMPISM, TO GO ALONG WITH AUTHORITARIANISM, TO
GO ALONG WITH WHAT TRUMP HAS DONE TO UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY.
ONE OF OUR TWO POLITICAL PARTIES HAS BEEN CAPTURED-- CAPTURED BY
THESE FORCES. >> YEAH, AND THEY'RE JUST NOT
COMING CLEAN. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IN OUR POLITICS IS THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY. PEOPLE ARE NOT SAYING HOW THEY
FEEL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME
VERY MUCH IS A REMARK THAT WE REPORTED ON THAT GINA HASPEL,
TRUMP'S C.I.A. CORRECT, NOW, SHE IS A TOUGH LADY, SOMEBODY WHO
WATCHED WATERBOARDING AND SO FORTH.
SO ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION, WHICH TRUMP LOST, WE
KNOW FROM ALL THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, HE FIRED HIS DEFENSE
SECRETARY, MARK ESPER, WHO VERY WELL RESPECTED PERSON, AND GINA
HASPEL SAYS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS INSANITY.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING A RIGHT-WING COUP.
TRUMP IS ACTING LIKE A SIX-YEAR-OLD WITH A TANTRUM.
NOW, WE'VE HEARD SOME C.I.A. DIRECTORS SAY SOME NASTY THINGS
ABOUT PRESIDENTS. "A SIX-YEAR-OLD--" REMEMBER WHEN
YOU WERE A SIX-YEAR-OLD? I DO.
>> YOU HAVE A BETTER MEMORY THAN I.
>> Stephen: I WANT A BALLOON. I WANT A BALLOON.
I WANT A BALLOON.
>> GIVE IT TO ME. LET IT RIP.
>> Stephen: OKAY, SO,
EVENTUALLY THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN 1974, LED BY
GOLDWATER, ONCE THEY'D HEARD THE TAPES, RIGHT.
ONCE THEY'D HEARD THE TAPES THEY MARCHED OVER TO THE WHITE HOUSE
AND SAID YOU'VE GOT TO GO BECAUSE YOU'RE-- WE'RE GOING TO
VOTE TO IMPEACH YOU. WE'RE NOT ON YOUR SIDE ANYMORE.
IS THAT HOW IT WENT DOWN, ESSENTIALLY?
>> WE WROTE A BOOK CALLED "THE FINAL DAYS" ABOUT NIXON'S LAST
YEARS IN OFFICE. WE WENT TO SEE BARRY GOLDWATER,
THE 1964 NOMINEE OF HIS PARTY FOR PRESIDENT.
WE WENT UP TO HIS APARTMENT. HE POURED HIMSELF A BIG TUMBLER
OF WHISKEY, TURNED OUT HIS DIARY--
>> ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR ME, ALSO.
DON'T LEAVE THAT OUT. ( LAUGHTER ).
>> BUT GOLDWATER WAS SUCH THIS FIGURE.
>> HE WAS CONSIDERED REALLY, BY THAT TIME, A KIND OF CONSCIENCE
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, PULLS OUT THIS DIARY AND STARTS
READING TO US ABOUT HOW HE TOOK A GROUP OF LEADERS IN THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, TO THE OVAL OFFICE.
NIXON IS SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM.
NIXON FULLY EXPECTING GOLDWATER TO TELL HIM THAT HE'S PROBABLY
GOT ENOUGH VOTES TO PREVAIL AND NOT BE CONVICTED IN A SENATE
TRIAL. SO NIXON SAYS, "BARRY, HOW MANY
VOTES DO I HAVE IN THE SENATE FOR ACQUITTAL?"
GOLDWATER LOOKS AT HIM AND SAYS, "MR. PRESIDENT, MAYBE FOUR,
MAYBE SIX, AND YOU DON'T HAVE MINE."
AND THE NEXT DAY, RICHARD NIXON WENT ON TELEVISION AND ANNOUNCED
HE WAS GOING TO RESIGN. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
>> Stephen: OKAY-- >> BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND
CONGRESS TODAY AND THEN. >> Stephen: CAN I-- CAN I--
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) AUGUST 8-- AUGUST 9 WAS THE
RESIGNATION, 1974. I CAN SUGGEST ANOTHER DIFFERENCE
IS THAT NIXON, ON THESE TAPES IN SECRET-- THERE WERE SECRET
RECORDINGS OF HIM ADMITTING TO BE PART OF THESE CRIMES, WHEREAS
WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT, THE TAPES AREN'T SECRET.
HE SAID IT OUT LOUD. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY MULTIPLE TIMES AND FOR
YEARS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT THAT HE WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE
RESULTS. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Stephen: IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE SHAMELESSNESS OF THAT,
THAT PREVENTS THE MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING
IN PUBLIC WHEN THEY ARE SECRETLY HOPING THE RIGHT THING HAPPENS?
>> BUT THERE'S SOMETHING INTERVENING HERE, AND IT'S
CALLED THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW.
>> Stephen: I'VE HEARD OF THOSE THINGS.
>> YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE THINGS.
>> Stephen: YEAH. >> SOMETIMES YOU THINK TRUMP HAS
NOT. BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY, VERY
CLEAR THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE DAY BEFORE JANUARY 6 AND ON JANUARY 6,
TRUMP TALKS TO PENCE, HIS VICE PRESIDENT.
NOW, PENCE IS THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO BE LEADING THE CONGRESS
IN CERTIFYING WHO'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
AND HE BERATES PENCE. HE SAID , YOU KNOW, "YOU-- I'M
NOT GOING TO BE YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE IF YOU DON'T DO THIS.
IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, YOU ARE BETRAYING US.
YOU ARE FINISHED. YOUR LIFE-- YOU KNOW, YOUR
POLITICAL LIFE IS OVER." I MEAN IT IS RUMORED-- BUT NOT
AUTHENTICATED-- THAT TRUMP SAID TO HIM, "AND I'M NOT GOING TO
INVITE YOU TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY DOWN IN MAR-A-LAGO."
( APPLAUSE ) LOOK AT THIS, IT IS A CRIME IF
SOMEBODY TRIES TO GET SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL.
>> Stephen: WELL, THE REPORTING WAS THAT PENCE SAID,
"I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE YOU PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES." AND TRUMP SAID, "BUT WOULDN'T IT
BE COOL IF YOU DID?" >> AND HE DID USE THE WORD
"COOL." HE REALLY DID.
BUT HE REALLY THOUGHT THAT HE COULD OVERWHELM BOTH THE LAW AND
HIS VICE PRESIDENT. AND IN THIS CASE, THIS
REPUBLICAN STOOD HIS GROUND AND SAID, "YOU CANNOT DO THIS,
MR. PRESIDENT. I WON'T DO YOUR BIDDING."
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK, BUT WHEN I COME
BACK I WILL ASK BOB AND CARL ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE
FUTURE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. STICK AROUND.
( APPLAUSE ). WE'RE BACK WITH THE AUTHORS OF
THE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF "ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN,"
BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN. IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS THIS FRIDAY,
AND IT WAS A GREAT SCANDAL. AMERICA, BECAUSE OF THE
FUNCTIONING OF THE SENATE AT THE TIME, AND THE INVESTIGATION AND
THE PARTY-- REPUBLICAN PARTY DOING THE RIGHT THING, AVOIDED A
MOMENT OF GREAT PERIL FOR THE UNITED STATES THEN.
WE'VE JUST HAD ANOTHER MOMENT OF GREAT PERIL.
WE'RE IN ANOTHER MOMENT OF GREAT PERIL, AS YOU SAY IN YOUR BOOK
"PERIL." WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF THIS EXPERIMENT WE CALL AMERICAN DEMOCRACY?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, 50 YEARS AGO, WE HAD KATHRYN
GRAHAM, WHO WAS THE PUBLISHER-OWNER OF "THE
WASHINGTON POST." AND I REMEMBER EARLY ON HAVING
LUNCH WITH HER IN HER DINING ROOM AT THE "WASHINGTON POST,"
LUNCH. AND, YOU KNOW, AND WE-- HAD THIS
DISCUSSION, AND I SAID, "WE DON'T-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN IN WATERGATE." AND SHE SAID, "WHEN IS THE TRUTH
GOING TO COME OUT?" AND I SAID, "I NEED TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU. NEVER."
AND SHE TURNED TO ME AND SHE GRABBED MY ARM AND SAID, "DON'T
TELL ME NEVER." OAY.
( LAUGHTER ) >> THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO
KATHRYN GRAHAM. A LITTLE WHILE AFTER THIS, THE
GUARD DOWN AT THE DOOR AT THE "WASHINGTON POST" CALLED ME AND
SAID THERE'S A SUBPOENA SERVER HERE TO GET YOUR NOTES FROM THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE. AND I SAID, "WELL, KEEP THEM
DOWN THERE." AND I WENT TO BEN BRADLEE, THE
GREAT EDITOR OF "THE WASHINGTON POST," TOLD HIM THERE WAS A
SUBPOENA SERVER. SP HE SAID, "MAKE SURE HE STAYS
DOWN THERE. I'M GOING TO TALK TO KATHRYN."
WENT UP TO KATHRYN GRAHAM'S OFFICE, CAME BACK DOWN-- AND I
STILL GET EMOTIONAL WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS-- CAME BACK
DOWNSTAIRS, CAME OVER TO MY DESK AND SAID, "KATHRYN SAYS THEY'RE
NOT YOUR NOTES. THEY'RE HER NOTES.
AND IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO GO TO JAIL, IT'S GOING TO BE HER."
IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT MOMENTS IN JOURNALISM.
>> SO WHAT BRADLEY SAID-- ( APPLAUSE )
FIND A MOMENT. HE SAID, "OH, JUST THINK OF IT,
KATHRYN'S LIMOUSINE PULLS UP TO THE WOMEN'S DETENTION CENTER AND
THEY TAKE A PICTURE." AND BEN SAID, "THAT IS A PICTURE
THAT WILL RUN ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER-- NOT JUST IN
THIS COUNTRY BUT THE WORLD." >> Stephen: WELL, I AM GOING
TO TAKE FROM WHAT THE TWO OF YOU JUST SAID IS THAT THERE IS HOPE
AS LONG AS THE TRUTH IS STILL PURSUED.
( APPLAUSE ) YES.
>> Stephen: YES? YES?
>> IF-- IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AND OPEN MINDED THEMSELVES, THE
PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN THIS COUNTRY, IF THEY'RE OPEN TO THE
TRUTH, ABSOLUTELY. AND IT'S A BIG QUESTION WE NEED
TO ANSWER: ARE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY OPEN TO THE TRUTH?
>> AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE. AND I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO DO
MORE HARD WORK AND FIND OUT-- I MEAN, WHAT THE JANUARY 6
COMMITTEE-- I MEAN, I REALLY WANT TO GIVE THEM A LOT OF
CREDIT. THEY HAD DETAIL.
THEY HAD TESTIMONY. THERE WAS NO AMBIGUITY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> IN WHAT THEY PRESENTED.
( APPLAUSE ) FOR A COMMERCIAL.
BUT WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE CARL BERNSTEIN AND BOB
WOODWARD, EVERYBODY. ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE ). WE'RE HERE WITH CARL BERNSTEIN
AND BOB WOODWARD, AUTHOR OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF
"ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN." SO YOU BROKE THE STORY 50 YEARS
AGO. YOU'RE STILL BREAKING STORIES
HAVING TO DO WITH WATERGATE. PLEASE TELL THE STORY THAT YOU
GUYS HAVE JUST REVEALED ABOUT MARTHA MITCHELL CALLING YOU UP
IN 1974 WITH A SCOOP. >> YOU DID A PHONE CALL, AND
I'LL TELL YOU-- >> YES, I'M IN THE OFFICE AND
THE PHONE RINGS, AND IT'S MARTHA MITCHELL, WHO I KNOW.
I'VE INTERVIEWED HER. AND SHE --
>> Stephen: WIFE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER NIXON,
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW. >> WENT LITERALLY AND COMPLAINED
ABOUT THE SMOKESTACK IN GEORGETOWN THAT WAS PUTTING--
WHY THE HELL IS MY CELL PHONE GOING OFF NOW?
>> Stephen: IS YOUR CELL PHONE GOING OFF RIGHT NOW?
>> Stephen: ANSWER IT. >> IT'S MARTHA MITCHELL.
>> MAYBE IT'S MARTHA. >> IT'S MARTHA MITCHELL.
OKAY, SO SHE CALLS AND SHE SAID-- AND THIS IS 1974-75, AND
I MEAN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE CALLS SHE SAID, "SO, JOHN HAS LEFT
ME." >> ACTUALLY SHE SAID, "THE SON
OF A BITCH HAS LEFT ME." >> Stephen: THAT'S RIGHT.
JOHN MITCHELL, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> SHE SAID, "NOW, CAN YOU AND MR. BERNSTEIN COME UP HERE AND,
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO THROUGH HIS STUFF IN HIS OFFICE."
>> Stephen: SHE WAS JUST GOING TO LET YOU INTO HIS HOME OFFICE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE GOT ON A PLANE RIGHT THEN,
STRAIGHT TO THE AIRPORT. >> NO, WE CHECKED THE LAWYERS.
>> FIRST WE CALLED THE LAWYERS. >> AND THE LAWYERS SAID-- WE
SAID, "CAN WE DO THIS?" AND THEY SAID-- YOU KNOW, THE
LAWYERS WERE GREAT-- THEY SAID, "WELL, THIS IS CONSTRUCTIVE
ABANDONMENT." ( LAUGHTER )
STREET CORNER WITH YOUR TRASH. AND SO--
>> WE GET UP THERE AND WE'RE GREATED BY MARTHA MITCHELL WITH
A BIRD BATH MARTINI ABOUT LIKE THIS, KIND OF STUMBLING AROUND
THE LIVING ROOM, AND ALL THIS CHINTZ AROUND US.
AND SHE TAKES US INTO THE STUDY, THE WOOD-PANELED STUDY, AND SHE
SAID, "THERE IT IS, UP THERE IN THE CLOSET ALL THE BOOKS."
AND THE CLOSET IS ABOUT 12 FEET HIGH.
I SAY TO WOODWARD, "I'M CLIMBING UP THERE," I GET A LADDER AND GO
UP THERE. THERE'S A HEDGE UP TOP AND I
START HANDING THE BOOKS DOWN TO WOODWARD.
AND HIS CHECKBOOKS. AND HIS CHECKBOOKS.
AND WE GOT SOME STORIES OUT OF IT.
( LAUGHTER ). DISCLOSE OUR SOURCE, BECAUSE IT
WAS THE ANGRY WIFE. AND EVEN IF IT'S A RELIABLE
ANGRY WIFE, IT'S NOT A GREAT THING TO SAY WE GOT IT FROM
MARTHA. SO JOHN MITCHELL'S LAWYER CALLED
AND SAID, "YOU GOTTA TURN THIS STUFF BACK TO US."
SO WE DANCED AROUND, AND-- MITCHELL'S PREPARING FOR A TRIAL
AND, YOU KNOW, GOING ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIBERTY, AND HE SHOULD
BE ENTITLED TO HIS NOTES. SO WE'RE SITTING THERE, WHAT THE
HELL DO WE DO? DO WE GIVE ALL THIS STUFF BACK
THAT WE WENT ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK--
>> CLIMBED UP. >> AND MARTHA MITCHELL BLESSED?
AND THEN WE SAID TO THE COPY AIDES, "EMERGENCY XEROXING."
>> Stephen: SO YOU GAVE THEM BACK--
>> AND THEY ALL CAME AND WE XEROXED EVERYTHING.
WE GAVE THE ORIGINALS BACK, AND WE STILL HAVE THE DOCUMENT S.
>> Stephen: DID YOU TELL HIM YOU WERE XEROXING IT?
( LAUGHTER ) BOB, CARL.
THE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF "ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN" IS
AVAILABLE NOW. BOB WOODWARD AND CARL BERNSTEIN,
EVERYBODY! WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A
PERFORMANCE BY BONNIE RAITT. ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: PERFORMING "BLAME IT ON ME" FROM HER ALBUM "JUST LIKE
THAT," BONNIE RAITT! ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ BLAME IT ON ME
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ BLAME IT ON ME
HOLD UP MY FAULTS ♪ FOR ALL TO SEE
TRUTH IS LOVE'S ♪ FIRST CASUALTY
BLAME IT ON ME ♪ BLAME IT ON ME
IT'S NOT THE WAY ♪ LOVE'S SUPPOSED TO BE
WELL, HOW CAN YOU SO CASUALLY ♪ BLAME IT ON ME?
BLAME IT ON STARS ♪ SHINING LIKE HEADLIGHTS
FROM A MILLION CARS ♪ STRUNG LIKE JEWELS
FROM HERE TO MARS ♪ BLAME IT ON STARS
BLAME IT ON TIME ♪ THE FUGITIVE, THE VAGABOND
IT'S THE PERFECT CRIME ♪ POURED LIKE SAND THROUGH YOUR
HANDS AND MINE ♪ BLAME IT ON TIME
HOW CAN YOU TALK THAT WAY?
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
HOW CAN YOU TALK THAT WAY? ♪ JUST TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY
YOUR WORDS, THEY STING SO ♪ HEARTLESSLY
BUT GO AHEAD, BE FREE ♪ BLAME IT ALL ON ME
BUT ONE SUMMER NIGHT ♪ WHEN MY DOOR IS OPEN AND THE
MOON IS NEW ♪ AND SOME SAD MELODY COMES
STEALING THROUGH ♪ AND MY HEART
SHOULD BREAK IN TWO ♪ IF MY HEART
SHOULD BREAK IN TWO ♪ OH, BABY, OOH...
OH, BABY, I'M GONNA ♪ BLAME IT ON YOU
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> THANK YOU, STEPHEN.
GREAT TO SEE YOU. >> Stephen: BONNIE RAITT,
EVERYBODY! THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUESTS WILL BE EMMA THOMPSON AND
COMEDIAN TOM SEGURA. GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY!
THANKS, GENTLEMEN.