WEBVTT - Author and Washington Post Journalist Bob Woodward Talks Election & "War"

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News.

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<v Speaker 2>Joining us now on this election eve, Bob Woodward. It's

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<v Speaker 2>four hundred pages. The book is war. He's done many

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<v Speaker 2>many interviews on it. It is an insight into the

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<v Speaker 2>Biden administration.

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<v Speaker 1>I love what Robert.

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<v Speaker 2>Gates has said, who's served both political persuasions on Woodward.

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<v Speaker 2>He has an extraordinary ability to get otherwise responsible adults

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<v Speaker 2>to spill their guts to him.

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<v Speaker 1>Bob Woodwards joins us on Election Eve, Bob.

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<v Speaker 2>This weekend I discovered someone in the keyhouse so who

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<v Speaker 2>had not seen all the president's men. I tried to

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<v Speaker 2>explain to them that I was interviewing Robert Redford on Monday.

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<v Speaker 2>In that movie, you show up with mister Katie in

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<v Speaker 2>the courtroom and you say, my name's Bob Woodward. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>from the Post and I wanted to ask you how

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<v Speaker 2>you happen to come.

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<v Speaker 1>On this case.

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<v Speaker 2>The rudeness and direction of Redford's question is appalling.

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<v Speaker 1>It's shocking.

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<v Speaker 2>Where did you learn to ask questions so abrupt, so direct,

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<v Speaker 2>so as Robert Gates would say, they all spill their guts?

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<v Speaker 1>Where did you learn that skill? Well?

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<v Speaker 3>Look, that morning I got called to the courthouse. This

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<v Speaker 3>was the morning of the Watergate burglary. I've been covering

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<v Speaker 3>night police for nine months and I go to the

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<v Speaker 3>courthouse and income these burglars dressed in business suits. I

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<v Speaker 3>had never seen a burglar in a business suit. I've

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<v Speaker 3>never seen a well dressed burglar. And the lee burglar

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<v Speaker 3>announced reluctantly to the judge that he'd worked at the CIA,

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<v Speaker 3>and I what CIA business suits? Five burglars, elder. I mean,

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<v Speaker 3>it was just like, Oh, how do you not follow

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<v Speaker 3>this story again?

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<v Speaker 2>I want to drive the conversation forward, Bob, on this

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<v Speaker 2>election for a nation some would say fighting with its

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<v Speaker 2>concept of democracy. In the epilogue to War, you have

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<v Speaker 2>a brilliant two sentences. Often I have said, only half jokingly,

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<v Speaker 2>that when I wake up in the morning, my first

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<v Speaker 2>thought is, quote, what are the bastards hiding? Unquote? So

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<v Speaker 2>let's get two answers. What is mister Trump hiding this morning?

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<v Speaker 3>Well? Trump is making very clear who he is, and

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<v Speaker 3>it's too it's so visible. Let me just give you

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<v Speaker 3>an example. I'm sorry this may sound a little boring,

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<v Speaker 3>but it's right at the heart of your question. The

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<v Speaker 3>people Trump, when he was president chose to be close

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<v Speaker 3>to him. People who've spent their lives defending our country.

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<v Speaker 3>And let's look at what these people that Trump picked

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<v Speaker 3>for key positions say about Trump. Now, former Chief of

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<v Speaker 3>Staff John Kelly, you know, one of the most respected

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<v Speaker 3>people in the military. This was Trump's selection to be

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<v Speaker 3>the chief of staff at the White House. Kelly says

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<v Speaker 3>of Trump, he's an idiot. It's pointless to try to

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<v Speaker 3>convince him of anything. He's gone off the rails were

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<v Speaker 3>in crazytown.

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<v Speaker 1>Bob.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me ask, also to your wonderful quote, what are

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<v Speaker 2>the bestards hiding? What is Vice President Harris hiding into

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<v Speaker 2>this election?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I think there are actually things that we don't

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<v Speaker 3>know enough about. I had some time to work on

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<v Speaker 3>how she deals with lots of issues, and it's very

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<v Speaker 3>let me get the right selection here, because she is tough.

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<v Speaker 3>She is the person who goes and has meeting with

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<v Speaker 3>net Yahoo, which I got the notes of and really get.

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<v Speaker 3>This was July twenty fifth of this year, just a

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<v Speaker 3>couple of months ago, and she is she could not

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<v Speaker 3>be tougher with net Yahoo, and the notes show her

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<v Speaker 3>saying the following in a closed meeting with bb net Yahoo.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm disturbed by the humanitarian situation in Gaza. People are

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<v Speaker 3>star there are four thousand people per toilet. She really

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<v Speaker 3>gets on him about this, and then she goes out

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<v Speaker 3>in public and doesn't pull any punches and says, I'm

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<v Speaker 3>not we cannot look away and become numb about what

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<v Speaker 3>is happening in Gaza, and I will not be silent.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm sorry, I'm giving a long answer.

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<v Speaker 4>No, it's excellent, Bob stepping away here. As we think

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<v Speaker 4>about this election here, I can't help but wonder thinking

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<v Speaker 4>about your work, your earliest work back of the Washington Post.

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<v Speaker 4>What has become of the GOP party? It seems like

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<v Speaker 4>it is now clearly the party of one former president

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<v Speaker 4>dot Donald Trump. Is that the new GOP going forward?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, it is at the moment. We'll see. I know

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<v Speaker 3>lots of republics and I know some who will say

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<v Speaker 3>kind of public oh, I support Trump. I like Trump

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<v Speaker 3>because he's the force in the party. But privately it's

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<v Speaker 3>thumbs down. They don't like Trump. Look who is Trump?

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<v Speaker 3>This is the question that people need to answer. He

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<v Speaker 3>doesn't like advice, he doesn't like democracy, doesn't like the Constitution,

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<v Speaker 3>doesn't like truth.

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<v Speaker 2>Joining us, Bob Woodward, we will continue with mister Woodward.

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<v Speaker 2>We said good morning to all of you across the

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<v Speaker 2>nation on this election eve. Under four hundred pages, War

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<v Speaker 2>by Bob Woodward is simply a look into the Biden administration,

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<v Speaker 2>framed by Netna who in putin Zelensky and of course

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<v Speaker 2>Vice President Harris war spent out some time now, Pauls,

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<v Speaker 2>when you pick it up with Bob Woodward, please.

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<v Speaker 4>Bob tomorrow obviously election day, what will you be focusing on?

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<v Speaker 4>Is it a state, is it a certain candidate? Is

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<v Speaker 4>it an issue? What are you going to be focusing on?

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<v Speaker 3>Going to well, I need to look at what happens,

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<v Speaker 3>and all the Poles say it's razor thin. So who knows.

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<v Speaker 3>I hope and that people will look at the candidates,

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<v Speaker 3>particularly he was president for four years. He has said

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<v Speaker 3>some things in this campaign that really and he really

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<v Speaker 3>shows what's at state in this election. He is a

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<v Speaker 3>danger to democracy. He is a danger to the United States.

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<v Speaker 3>Why go back? My first interview with him was thirty

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<v Speaker 3>five years ago when he was a real estate king

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<v Speaker 3>in New York City, and then and even in interviews

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<v Speaker 3>I did in the Oval Office with him when he

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<v Speaker 3>was president, he's's driven by instinct. He's got this idea

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<v Speaker 3>that his instincts, what his gut feel is is perfect.

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<v Speaker 3>That's the way to go. Yeah, both don't run a

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<v Speaker 3>government on anyone's instincts. You need a aim, you need

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<v Speaker 3>some alternative views. And Brump is locked, as we know,

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<v Speaker 3>locked into himself for the nation.

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<v Speaker 2>In the selection, Bob Woodward joins us, of course, forever

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<v Speaker 2>with the Washington Post. Bob, I had to do something

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<v Speaker 2>for the youngest afterthought. A while back, I had to

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<v Speaker 2>look at her Vietnam paper and that, and like a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of us, you were in nrotc at Yale, and

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<v Speaker 2>I was doing another act out at the time at Boulder.

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<v Speaker 2>I completely avoided reading or thinking about Vietnam. And I

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<v Speaker 2>enjoyed Max Hastings. You know him well from a telegraph

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<v Speaker 2>and his one volume on Vietnam as well. The crucible

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<v Speaker 2>of the modern Democratic Party is McGovern and hjh in

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<v Speaker 2>nineteen seventy two. The legacy that Vice President Harry.

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<v Speaker 3>Khs being Hubert Humphrey.

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<v Speaker 2>Hubert Humphrey, thank you. But the legacy that Harris carries forward.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you see her as a change agent for Democratic

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<v Speaker 2>Party theology? Or is the critics would say Obama version four.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, look she's tough. She's going to President's school. She's

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<v Speaker 3>very lucky in a sense, the country is very lucky

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<v Speaker 3>that Biden, who was vice president, wants himself and didn't

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<v Speaker 3>like to be cut out of things. He's made sure

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<v Speaker 3>that she really is is getting a graduate course in

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<v Speaker 3>the presidency. She's at the meetings, the discussions, the debates.

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<v Speaker 3>There are lots of signs of two qualities, independence and determination.

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<v Speaker 3>And I think that that is a good thing. That's

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<v Speaker 3>not a political judgment. It is what I was able

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<v Speaker 3>to do in the reporting about what her course of

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<v Speaker 3>going to President's school is. She's got a national security

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<v Speaker 3>advisor named Phil Gordon, who is really experienced. Billy goes

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<v Speaker 3>back a long time into the White House and the

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<v Speaker 3>State Department and brings a lot of knowledge. Who's Donald

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<v Speaker 3>Trump's national security advisor? His mouth, he will say whatever

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<v Speaker 3>he wants, whatever springs in. That is the danger we face.

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<v Speaker 2>But what one final question, the dedication for my lifelong

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<v Speaker 2>friend and reporting partner, Carl Bernstein. Do you guys talk

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<v Speaker 2>a lot like is there a Bernstein? What would take

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<v Speaker 2>on where this nation is going?

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<v Speaker 1>Right now?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, we do talk all the time three four times

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<v Speaker 3>a week. For sure. We saw each other. Recently we

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<v Speaker 3>did an appearance together and just a few days ago

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<v Speaker 3>in New York City. The question here is who's Trump?

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<v Speaker 3>Who's Harris. One important credential that Harris has is the

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<v Speaker 3>Secretary of Defense. Austin has a lot of respect for her.

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<v Speaker 3>I describe new scenes in the book about what Austin

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<v Speaker 3>has done and how he's been very tough with the

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<v Speaker 3>Russian defense minister, showgu and there's some transcripts I have

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<v Speaker 3>that are in the book and you can see exactly

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<v Speaker 3>what they said to each other. So there's hope. But

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<v Speaker 3>to be a president and deal with this world situation

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<v Speaker 3>now would stretch. Anyone would stretch. White Eisenhower would stretch.

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<v Speaker 3>It is a very dangerous time. We've got to get

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<v Speaker 3>it right and we got to be careful. And Trump

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<v Speaker 3>is not a manager. Trump is not a person who

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<v Speaker 3>understands what the national interest is because there is a blockage,

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<v Speaker 3>and that blockage is he only cares about himself on

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<v Speaker 3>this election.

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<v Speaker 2>We continue with Bob Woodward in a few more minutes,

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<v Speaker 2>with mister Woodward in celebration of his book War in

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<v Speaker 2>the twenty books or so before that as well.

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<v Speaker 1>We welcome all of you across.

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<v Speaker 2>This nation an Apple CarPlay Android Otto, and of course

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<v Speaker 2>this new technology YouTube.

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<v Speaker 1>Paul, there was no YouTube. No, there was not when

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<v Speaker 1>the Watergate thing was going on.

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<v Speaker 4>No, exactly, Hey, Bob, if a former president Trump were

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<v Speaker 4>to lose this election, is there an air apparent? Does

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<v Speaker 4>trump Ism remain a political force? Is a jdvans Er

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<v Speaker 4>someone like that out there in the wings?

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, I mean, that's you know, that speculation. I

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<v Speaker 3>don't know. What is very interesting is to listen to

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<v Speaker 3>Trump in the last couple of days. He's in a

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<v Speaker 3>very sour mood. And I think it was yesterday or

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<v Speaker 3>the day before he said, and this is the man

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<v Speaker 3>who wants to be president again. He's very dark, very

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<v Speaker 3>profane comments, and he said, this is a crooked country.

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<v Speaker 3>Now imagine somebody, this is not a crooked country. It

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<v Speaker 3>may become one if he becomes presentent.

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<v Speaker 2>Bob Woodward, I got to ask one final question, and

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<v Speaker 2>this is immense respect, and you know, we get a

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<v Speaker 2>huge response. Republicans hate you, Democrats love you.

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<v Speaker 1>I get it, folks, Bob Woodward, without.

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<v Speaker 3>No, that's just not I know lots of Republicans who

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<v Speaker 3>don't follow, don't march in line with Trump.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I'm running out of time, Bob Woodward, but he

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<v Speaker 2>got one final question. With great respect for your career,

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<v Speaker 2>should newspapers endorse presidents.

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<v Speaker 3>We that's obviously up to them. At the Washington Post,

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<v Speaker 3>there's a big controversy about the non endorsement. Now the

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<v Speaker 3>Washington Post I know very well for over fifty two years.

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<v Speaker 3>Is I say it's strong when the reporting is strong

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<v Speaker 3>as it has been now. I think it's been magnificent,

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<v Speaker 3>and the editorial page should deal with the strength of

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<v Speaker 3>that reporting. The editorial page needs to deal with reality,

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<v Speaker 3>and the reporting is real and incredibly strong. To ignore

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<v Speaker 3>it is to ignore reality. Not a good thing for

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<v Speaker 3>any institution.

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<v Speaker 1>Right Bob.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you so much, Bob Woodward on the selection eve.

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<v Speaker 2>Across the nation, of course, forever where the Washington Post,

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<v Speaker 2>the book is at war.