MY NAME IS JOE BIDEN. I'VE BEEN A UNITED STATES
SENATOR FOR 15 YEARS.
>> HE BECAME THE FIFTH TO SEEK THE NOMINATION.
>> I HONEST TO GOD BELIEVE I'LL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
>> COME ON.
>> HONEST TO GOD.
>> SENATOR JOE BIDEN BOWS OUT.
>> THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS AND I'LL
BE THERE.
>> FRIENDS, TODAY I FILED THE NECESSARY PAPERS TO BECOME
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE WORLD IS READY. AMERICA IS READY AND I'M READY.
>> JOE BIDEN. I'M RUNNING AS CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT. HOW ARE YOU?
>> JOE BIDEN NOT DOING WELL IN IOWA, WILL DROP OUT.
>> LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR TO YOU.
I AIN'T GOING AWAY.
>> WHAT A MOMENT IN HISTORY.
>> THE THIRD TIME HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE CHARM.
>> JOE BIDEN FINALLY WINS THE PRESIDENCY.
>> I PLEDGE TO BE A PRESIDENT WHO SEEKS NOT TO DIVIDE BUT
UNIFY. WHO DOESN'T SEE RED STATES AND
BLUE STATES, ONLY SEES THE UNITED STATES.
>> PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN FACES A DAUNTING TASK.
>> WHAT HE TAKES OVER IS A FRACTURED AND DIVIDED COUNTRY.
>> IMPEACHMENT TRIAL LOOMING --
>> 400,000 AMERICANS DEAD FROM CORONAVIRUS.
UNEMPLOYMENT, EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES.
>> THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> THE RACIAL RECKONING WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
>> THAT EACH GENERATION HAS LEFT BEHIND A COUNTRY A LITTLE BIT
BETTER THAN THE COUNTRY THAT IT INHERITED.
AND I BELIEVED I COULD AND I STILL BELIEVE I WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN FULFILLING THAT LEGACY.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, MR. PRESIDENT!
>> HEY, GUYS.
>> HEY, STRETCH.
>> HEY!
>> HOW IS IT GOING, GUYS?
>> IT'S GOING WEIRD. I'M IN THE D.C. GREEN ZONE.
>> IT'S MONDAY OF INAUGURATION WEEK, THE WEEK THAT FOLLOWS
IMPEACHMENT WEEK WHICH WAS THE WEEK THAT FOLLOWED INSURRECTION
WEEK. IT'S BEEN A BUSY JANUARY.
>> I FOR ONE AM LOOKING FORWARD TO INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK.
>> I WOULD KILL FOR INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK RIGHT NOW.
>> AN INAUGURATION THAT WAS GOING TO BE STRANGE NO MATTER
WHAT BECAUSE OF COVID NOW REALLY LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT.
>> THE REALITY IS THAT JOE BIDEN WILL HAVE A HUGE CROWD BUT
THEY'LL ALL BE IN CAMOUFLAGE.
>> 25,000 NATIONAL GUARD, ZERO TICKETS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC.
>> ONE THING THAT'S REALLY SAD, WE USUALLY SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL
FORMALITY OF THE PRESIDENT HANDING OVER THE WHITE HOUSE TO
THE NEXT PRESIDENT. WE SAW IT WITH H.W. TO CLINTON
TO OBAMA AND THEN OBAMA TO TRUMP AND THAT WON'T HAPPEN THIS TIME.
>> IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1869 WITH ANDREW JOHNSON
THAT THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO ATTEND THE
INAUGURATION. TRUMP IS SHATTERING TRADITIONS
THAT HAVE PRE-EXISTED THE AUTOMOBILE AND THE LIGHT BULB.
>> WE KNOW HE'S LEAVING. THERE'S A LOT OF SP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> AND HE IS THE PRESIDENT FACING ALL OF THIS STUFF, RIGHT?
THAT HE'S COMING IN HOT.
>> HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDO THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT
DONALD TRUMP DID. THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE CONGRESS.
SO HE CAN ACT ON THE TRAVEL BAN, ON JOINING THE PARIS CLIMATE
ACCORD ACCORD.
>> I THINK BIDEN THINKS THE ONLY WAY HE CAN SURVIVE LIKE THE
CRISES ON TOP OF CRISES ON TOP OF CRISES IS TO GO ON OFFENSE
AND NEVER TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE PEDAL.
>> THE ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENING ON WEDNESDAY THAT HAS
NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, AN HISTORIC FIRST.
WE'LL SEE A WOMAN SWORN IN AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, NOT JUST A WOMAN BUT A WOMAN OF COLOR.
>> YEAH. IT'S ONE MOMENT OF PROGRESS THAT
YOU JUST, THAT CANNOT BE DENIED. HOW IMPORTANT IT WILL BE THAT
LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS LOOK AND SEE A BIRACIAL WOMAN AS VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> IT'S A REALLY POWERFUL LIGHT IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY DARK
NIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY.
>> IT IS AMAZING THAT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AGO WHEN THEY
FINALLY CALLED THE ELECTION, PEOPLE WERE DANCING IN THE
STREETS. LET'S GET PAST THE ABNORMALITY
OF THE TRUMP ERA AND RETURN TO NORMAL.
>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING THAT IS TRUE, THIS WEEK WILL BE THE
LAST TIME WE SAY THE WORDS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE FIRST
TIME WE STAY WORDS PRESIDENT BIDEN.
STARTING AT THIRD STREET, WE HAVE AN INSTALLATION THAT RUNS
THE LENGTH OF THE MALL. WE'VE GOT THIS SCAFFOLDING
STRUCTURE. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS A GRID
THAT IS GOING TO SUPPORT 3,888, THREE BY FIVE AMERICAN FLAGS,
EIGHT FOOT TALL.
>> WHY THAT NUMBER?
>> BECAUSE THAT'S THE NUMBER FITS ON THE GRID.
>> WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THIS, YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE
FLAGS AND NOT PEOPLE?
>> YES. WE WANTED TO UTILIZE THE MALL IN
SUCH A WAY THAT IT COULD REPRESENT THAT WE COULD NOT
SAFELY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ON THIS DAY BUT WE WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTED ALL OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> HOW ARE YOU, SIR? THIS GROUP IS ALL OF US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING.
WE ARE STARTING WITH A 150 FOOT BY 300 FOOT AMERICAN FLAG.
>> WOW!
>> YEAH. IT'S A FOOTBALL FIELD.
>> KNOWN IN OUR BUSNESS AS A BAF.
A BIG ASS FLAG. IT WILL BE UP A LITTLE HIGHER.
>> BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY GET.
>> IN A LITTLE MORE THAN 24 HOURS, JOE BIDEN WILL BE SWORN
IN AS THE 46th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
HE WILL INHERIT AN INCREDIBLE SET OF CHALLENGES.
AMERICA PASSING THE 400,000 DEATHS.
PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN WILL HONOR THE VICTIMS THIS AFTERNOON
AT A CEREMONY AT THE REFLECTING POOL.
>> JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS ARE STARTING THEIR INAUGURATION
CEREMONIES HERE AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE
FOR COVID VICTIMS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING TRUMP HAS
NEVER DONE. 400,000 DEATHS TODAY.
THAT'S NEARLY AS MANY AMERICANS AS DIED IN WORLD WAR II.
[ BELLS ]
>> TO HEAL, WE MUST REMEMBER. IT IS HARD SOMETIMES TO
REMEMBER. BUT THAT'S HOW WE HEAL.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THAT AS A NATION.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. BETWEEN SUNDOWN AND DUSK, LET US
SHINE THE LIGHTS AND REMEMBER ALL WE LOST.
>> THERE ARE OFFICIALLY 6 HOURS LEFT WITH DONALD J. TRUMP AS
45th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> IT'S SO HARD TO ENCAPSULATE IT INTO WORDS.
FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS A VERY MR. SMITH GOES TO
WASHINGTON MENTALITY, YOU LOOK BACK ON THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND
YOU COME TO MOVE TO D.C. SARAH SANDERS SAID SHE NEEDED
YOUR HELP, BASICALLY. AND THE WEIGHT OF IT IS
SOMETHING I DON'T THINK I EXPECTED WHEN I CAME HERE AND
THE WEIGHT OF THIS MOMENT TODAY IS NOT SOMETHING I WAS
EXPECTING, EITHER.
>> SO LET ME GIVE YOU THIS CAMERA.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD OF IT. IT IS AN iPHONE.
LIKE, YOU'RE OUR GO PRO.
>> DO I HAVE TO DO THOSE MOTIONS?
CAN I JUST WALK IN AND DO IT?
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> NOW AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY
EXITING THE BACK OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
ABOUT TO LEAVE WASHINGTON AS A TWICE IMPEACHED PRESIDENT WHO
HAS INCITED AN INSURRECTION. THE DISGRACED 45th PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WALKING TO MARINE ONE FOR THEIR LAST RIDE.
>> THERE IT GOES.
>> DONALD J. TRUMP IS OF COURSE THROWING HIMSELF A POMP-FILLED
SENDOFF AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW HE'S COMING OVER HERE.
>> ARE THOSE VULTURES CIRCLING?
AND THERE HE IS.
>> TRYING TO GET IN TO SEE THE PRESIDENT DEPART DOWN TO
FLORIDA. THE SUN IS UP.
SHOULD BE A GOOD DAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT IS MY GREATEST HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO
HAVE BEEN YOUR PRESIDENT. SO JUST A GOODBYE.
WE LOVE YOU. WE WILL BE BACK IN SOME FORM.
SO HAVE A GOOD LIFE. WE WILL SEE YOU SOON.
THANK YOU.
>> HAVE A GOOD LIFE. WE WILL SEE YOU SOON.
>> HAVE A GOOD LIFE. WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
>> HAVE A GOOD LIFE TO THE VILLAGE PEOPLE, YMCA.
YMCA
>> SO HE'S TAKEN OFF. WE'VE LEFT WASHINGTON.
>> INSIDE, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE CRYING, OF COURSE.
I FELT ONE PERSON NEXT TO ME COMMENTED, THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS
A FUNERAL.h2W THEY WERE AT A FUNERAL.
A PERSON SAID, IN MANY WAYS, THE COUNTRY DIED.
>> THAT'S DARK.
>> IT WAS. WHEN THE PRESIDENT STARTED
SPEAKING, A GIRL I KNOW THAT I WORKED WITH IN THE WHITE HOUSE
WHO ALL DAY WAS LIKE, I'M GOING TO BE FINE.
IT'S ALL OKAY. THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE.
EVERYTHING IS FINE. AS SOON AS HE START SPEAKING, I
LOOKED OUT. TEARS WERE POURING OUT FROM HER
GLASSES, AND SHE SAID, I'M NOT FINE, I'M NOT FINE, I'M NOT
FINE.
>> YOU SAW HIM GIVE THOSE REMARKS.
IT WAS LIKE A PREEMPTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST A WIDESPREAD CHORUS OF
CRITICISM.
>> HE'S DEFENDING HIS RECORD AS WOULD ANY PRESIDENT.
THAT'S A REITERATION OF LOOK AT ALL THE STUFF WE COULD
ACCOMPLISH. IF THEY WON'T GIVE US CREDIT FOR
IT, BUT REMEMBER THAT.
>> YOU KNOW, HOGAN, THE THING HE'LL BE REMEMBERED FOR, THE
FINAL ACT OF HIS PRESIDENCY, A WHITE SUPREMACIST MOB STORMING
THE CAPITOL TRYING TO KILL LAWMAKERS.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THING IN THAT ADMINISTRATION THAT
HAPPENED IN FOUR YEARS THAT PEOPLE WILL TRY TO POINT TO,
THIS ONE THING.
>> HE'S GETTING IMPEACHED FOR A SECOND TIME FOR THIS THING.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT, HE
ACCOMPLISHED A LOT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.
HE WAS A LIGHTNING ROD FROM A PERSONALITY STANDPOINT.
AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THIS LAST LITTLE BIT WAS A BLACK EYE.
>> DO YOU THINK HE REGRETS ANYTHING ABOUT HOW HE HANDLED
IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT
PARTICULAR THING. ALL I CAN DO IS LOOK AT WHAT HE
SAID IN REAL-TIME. I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE REGRETS ANYTHING OR NOT.
>> THERE ARE HISTORIANS THAT SAY THIS WAS THE WORST
PRESIDENCY IN AMERICAN HISTORY. THIS IS WORST ECONOMY SINCE THE
GREAT DEPRESSION. THERE IS A SEPTEMBER 11th OF
DEATH EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF COVID, ALL UNDER THIS
PRESIDENT'S WATCH.
>> TO PUT THE STATE OF WHERE THE COUNTRY IS AT THE FEET OF THE
PRESIDENT IS --
>> WHO ELSE'S FEET SHOULD IT BE AT IF NOT HIS?
>> I'M SAYING, THE VITRIOL. THEY ATTACKED HIM BEFORE HE EVEN
BECAME PRESIDENT. OF COURSE, THEY ATTACKED HIM
DURING HIS PRESIDENCY. NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPEACH
HIM AFTER HE'S GONE? THEY CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS
GUY.
>> HE ENDED WITH GOODBYE, WE LOVE YOU, WE WILL BE BACK IN
SOME FORM.
>> YES. HE LIKES TO LEAVE IT OPEN-ENDED
LIKE THAT. 91% OF REPUBLICANS SAID THEY
WOULD VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN SO WHO KNOWS?
>> YOU'RE SAYING THE TRUE HEART OF THE PARTY REMAINS WITH HIM,
STAUNCHLY.
>> YEAH. THE GOP OF THE LOVABLE LOSER I
THINK IS OVER. I THINK THE SELF-LOATHING
REPUBLICAN IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A PLACE IN THE PARTY, I THINK,
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.wY■
>> SOMETHING I THINK WILL HAPPEN UPSTAIRS HERE, DIVINE ENTER
SPRENGS WILL PREVENT JOE BIDEN FROM PUTTING HIS HANDS ON THE
PEDESTAL. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR.
>> BIDEN MOTORCADE STRETCHING ITS WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF
WASHL ON ROUTE UP TO THE CAPITOL.
THIS IS A MESSAGE OF NOT TONIGHT TRANSITION OF POWER BUT THE
STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF THE SYSTEM.
>> THE BIDEN MOTORCADE DRIVING RIGHT PAST ALL THE NATIONAL
GUARD TROOPS. O SAY CAN YOU SEE
>> THE DIGNITARIES ARRIVING ON CAPITOL HILL AS WE GET CLOSER
AND CLOSER TO THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY.
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL
>> THIS IS THE PRIZE FOR JOE BIDEN AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF
TRYING, AFTER SO MANY YEARS, A MEMBER OF THE U.S. SENATE.
THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE
>> SOLEMNLY SWEAR --
>> I SOLEMNLY SWEAR --? THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, SO HELP ME GOD.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> ALL RIGHT!
>> DID NOT FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT CHAPTER AFTER TRUMP.
BUT IT IS.
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
>> THE PRESIDENT'S OATH IS ABOUT TO BE ADMINISTERED.
>> I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR --
>> DO I JOSEPH ROBINETT BIDEN SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
SO HELP ME GOD.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.
>> JOE BIDEN TAKING THE OATH. NOW HE WILL GIVE HIS SPEECH.
>> WE FACE AN ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY AND ON TRUTH.
A RAGING VIRUS, GROWING INEQUITY, THE STING OF SYSTEMIC
RACISM, CLIMATE CRISIS, AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD.
WE WILL BE JUDGED BY HOW WE RESOLVE THESE CASCADING CRISES.
WILL WE MASTER THIS RARE AND DIFFICULT HOUR?
WILL WE MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS AND PASS ALONG A NEW AND BETTER
WORLD TO OUR CHILDREN? I BELIEVE WE MUST.
I'M SURE YOU DO AS WELL. I BELIEVE WE WILL.
TOGETHER, WE SHALL WRITE AN AMERICAN STORY OF HOPE, NOT
FEAR. OF UNITY, NOT DIVISION.
OF LIGHT, NOT DARKNESS. MAY THIS BE THE STORY THAT
GUIDES US. THE STORY THAT INSPIRES US.
AND THE STORY THAT TELLS AGES YET TO COME THAT WE ANSWER THE
CALL OF HISTORY. WE MET THE MOMENT.
DEMOCRACY AND HOPE, TRUTH AND JUSTICE DID NOT DIE ON OUR WATCH
BUT THRIVED. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND MAY
GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS.
>> WE SAW THIS STEELY DETERMINATION AND COMPASSION OF
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.
>> THE STAKES COULD NOT BE MORE WITH REGARD TO WHO JOE BIDEN IS,
WHAT HIS MESSAGE IS, AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO COME.
>> THAT SPEECH WAS, I THOUGHT, A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SPEECH.
>> HE IS KIND OF PHYSICIAN IN CHIEF.
IT IS LIKE EM, I KNOW YOU HAD A TEMPERATURE.
I'LL GIVE YOU A COLD COMPRESS, I'LL TUCK YOU IN, MANAGER, AND
MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF SPEECH LIKE HAVING COME AT THE END OF
FOUR YEARS OF MAKE BELIEVE AND BULL SHIT AND LIES, WE'LL JUST
TELL YOU HOW IT IS ALL THE TIME.
>> THERE WILL BE BATTLES OVER POLICY FOR SURE IN CONGRESS THAT
DOES FEEL LIKE THE TRUE BATTLE IS TO FORCE PEOPLE TO FACE FACTS
AND FACE TRUTH AND TRY UNIFY THE COUNTRY.
>> IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE MITCH McCONNELL ON THE
STAGE. LIKE IT'S THE LOOMING SHADOW OF
DISCORD.
>> THE REMINDER OF THE FIGHT THAT LIES AHEAD.
>> YEAH. THE THING THAT HAS BEEN MOST AD
NOISHL NOI
, ADMIRABLE, TO SAY WE HAVE THIS.
WE'LL HAVE TO BUCKLE UP AND DO IT.
>> THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON ALREADY EVEN THOUGH JOE BIDEN
HAS JUST ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED A SERIES
OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS.
>> WE ARE STANDING BY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST PRESS
BRIEFING. IT IS EXPECTED TO GET UNDERWAY
AT ANY MOMENT NOW.
>> GOOD LUCK, THANK YOU, MA'AM!
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY. HERE WE GO.
READY?
>> ARE WE GOOD? ARE WE GOOD, ANGELA?
>> 40 SECONDS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE'RE VERY PATRIOTIC TODAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOOD?
>> WE'RE GOOD.
>> WHETHER THEY CAN DO IT AT THE SAME TIME WITH LEGISLATIVE
THINGS. BUT THAT NO DOUBT -- HERE COMES
JEN PSAKI. LET'S LISTEN IN TO THE PRESS
SECRETARY.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WHEN THE PRESIDENT ASKED ME TO
SERVE IN THIS ROLE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING
TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY BACK TO THE BRIEFING ROOM.
REBUILDING TRUST WILL BE CENTRAL TO OUR FOCUS EVERY SINGLE DAY
WITH. THAT, I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> JEN, HAS PRESIDENT BIDEN INVITED CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO
SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE COVID RELIEF MEASURE THAT HE
INTRODUCED?
>> HE'S BEEN DISCUSSING THAT WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
SINCE LONG BEFORE HE WAS SWORN IN TODAY.
IN TERMS OF WHEN HE WILL MEET IN PERSON, I WILL SAY SOON.
WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE OF AN UPDATE ON THAT FOR YOU.
>> HI!
>> YOU'RE SO NICE TO GET US ON THE DANCE CARD.
I KNOW HOW CRAZY IT HAS GOT TO BE.
>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE.
>> YEAH. SO YOU'VE BEEN AT THE PODIUM
BEFORE. NOT THIS SPECIFIC ONE.
HOW DID IT FEEL?
>> EVEN THOUGH I HAD DONE A SIMILAR JOB AT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE THE WEIGHT OF, I WANT TO REPRESENT THE
PRESIDENT. I WANT TO MEET THIS MOMENT.
YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE WATCHING. I WANT MY MOM TO BE PROUD.
ALL THE THINGS. ONCE I GOT OUT THERE, IT FELT
GREAT. I USED HIM AS MY GUIDE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, HOW TO MAKE SURE
THAT I'M ALINED WITH WHERE HE IS.
AND YOU KNOW, FROM HAVING WORKED FOR A PRESIDENT BEFORE, IT HELPS
JUST TO LISTEN TO THEM.
>> I REMEMBER HEARING FROM MY BOSS AFTER HE READ THE
NEWSPAPER. EMI CAN GET PEOPLE TO SAY THAT
ABOUT ME FOR FREE.
>> THERE WILL BE DAYS WHERE I DO NOT SAY THINGS IN THE WAY HE
WANTS ME TO SO I'M PREPARED FOR THAT, TOO.
>> HOW DO YOU INTEND TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?
>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT MY MODEL.
>> THIS WAS THE LARGEST AUDIENCE TO EVER WITNESS AN INAUGURATION,
PERIOD.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, SELF-IMPORTANT TO ME PERSONALLY
TO CONVEY YESTERDAY THAT WE WOULD DISAGREE AT TIMES IN THE
BRIEFING ROOM AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR
THAT. THAT'S PART OF THE HEALTHY BACK
AND FORTH AND THAT'S PART OF DEMOCRACY.
>> SO THE, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS COME IN WITH A PLEDGE TO
BIPARTISANSHIP. IT IS KIND OF HIS DNA.
YOU HAVE BIG STUFF TO DO. HOW WILL YOU SQUARE THE THINGS
YOU NEED 22nd THE PARTISAN SMIP WILL CERTAINLY COME WITH AN
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL? WELL, FIRST WE HAVE TO KIND OF
KEEP OUR BLINDERS ON AND FOCUS WHAT WE FEEL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
ELECTED HIM TO DO. TO ADDRESS COVID.
ADDRESS COVID, ADDRESS COVID. GET IT UNDER CONTROL.
>> IS THERE A POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT BIPARTISANSHIP ASIDE
AND GET RESOLUTIONS PASSED?
>> MAYBE. WE'LL SEE.
WE WON'T WAIT FOR A KUMBAYA. WE'LL TRY FOR A BIPARTISAN
PACKAGE AND A BIPARTISAN APPROACH.
THAT REQUIRES LOTS OF TALK, ENGAGEMENT CONVERSATIONS.
IT IS OUR FIRST GOAL. WE'LL SEE IF IT STICKS.
>> WE ALL KNOW THE OLD AXIOM THAT OVERNIGHT?
A LONG TIME AND A WEEK IS FOREVER IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
>> SO THINGS CAN CHANGE FAST. I CAST MY FIRST PRESIDENTIAL
VOTE IN 1964 FOR BARRY GOLDWATER.
HE CARRIED SIX STATES.
>> YEAH. A LAND SLIDE AGAINST BARRY
GOLDWATER. IT PRODUCED LOP SIDE DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITIES SINCE 1965 AND 1966. LYNDON JOHNSON COULD DO WHATEVER
HE WANTED AND HE WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING AND HE DID IT.
AND THEN THE REACTION SET IN. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WON FIVE OF
THE LAST SIX PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
>> IF WRITE SPEAKING TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, I WOULD SAY,
DON'T OVERREACH.
>> THESE FOUR CRISES, COVID, ECONOMY, RACE, CLIMATE.
THE MOST URGENT ONE IS COVID. THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN ITS
FIRST HOURS OF OFFICE SAYING, THIS IS WHAT HE GOES TO SLEEP
THINKING ABOUT, THIS IS WHAT HE WAKES UP THINKING ABOUT.
DO YOU THINK IF THEY GET COVID RIGHT, HE'LL BE ON A PRETTY GOOD
PATH?
>> IF. I THINK IT IS A HIGH
PROBABILITY. WE REACH SOMETHING LIKE HERD
IMMUNITY. WE GET THE CRITICAL MASS OF
VACCINES AND WE GET, ON THE WAY THERE, COMPLIANCE WITH MASK
WEARING, SIMPLE PROTOCOLS OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
IF WE DO THAT, I THINK HE'S APT TO BE ON A ROCKET SHIP BECAUSE
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE WITH PENT-UP DEMAND.
PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO RESTAURANTS TORSION GET BACK ON AIRPLANES.
>> WE'RE AT THE END OF THE INAUGURAL WEEK.
THIS EXTRAORDINARY, UNUSUAL, UNPRECEDENTED INAUGURAL.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE VARIOUS THINGS YOU THINK THAT JOE BIDEN
DID RIGHT THIS WEEK. THE INAUGURAL WAS A SUCCESS.
IT HAD A LITURGICAL FUNCTION. THE NATION HAS BEEN WAITING
MONTHS TO EXHALE AND I THINK THEY DID THAT BAT
THEY DID THAT BABOUT NOON ON TH 20th.
PRESIDENT BIDEN JUST NOW AS HE TAKES OFFICE, 74 MILLION PEOPLE
VOTED NOT JUST FOR HIS OPPONENT BUT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STYLE
OF RHETORIC AND POLITICS AND COMPORTMENT AND DEMEANOR.
AND HE GAVE THEM THE OPPOSITE. HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS WAS
RHETORICAL OATMEAL, NOURISHING, GOOD FOR US, NOT VERY EXCITING.
AND I MEAN THAT IN THE NICEST, POSSIBLE WAY.
DONALD TRUMP TRIED INJURY HIM BY SAYING SLEEPY JOE BIDEN.
I THINK MILLIONS OF AMERICANS SAID, SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.