NBC Exclusive Interview with President Al Gore

[Odinson]

President Al Gore has not had a reputation of shying away from the press or the public, however he has rarely ever granted one-on-one interviews with reporters. These kinds of interviews are often risky for American politicians and can easily bring embarassment, or critical acclaim, depending on how they are handled. Since he was sworn in as President after the murder of President Clinton, President Gore has enjoyed relatively high approval ratings. He has successfully handled international affairs abroad, including leading the country during the war in Turkey which resulted in an allied victory. Domestically, Gore has focused on some of the most impoverished parts of the country and also decaying rural centers like Detroit or New Orleans. All of this has resulted in a popular president who has not needed to take the risk of one-on-one long-form interviews with tough questions. However, now that he is at the end of his presidency, he decided privately that it would be important for his legacy as an American President and for the historical record that he be interviewed before he leaves office. NBC News Anchor Katie Couric, who has been an up-and-coming journalist since the late 1980s, was chosen as the interviewer.

The prerecorded interview was advertised as a special look into the Gore Presidency and would be broken into three parts: the attack on the Capitol in 1997; the attempted assassination of President Gore and the riot in Washington in 2002; and the upcoming election for president and how the President feels about the state of the country and the world. Below is the first interview:

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Part One
The 1997 State of The Union Attack

COURIC: Good evening. I am Katie Couric with NBC News, and I am joined today by the President Al Gore. Mister President, thank you for joining us today.

GORE: Thank you for having me, Katie.

COURIC: Mister President, we're going to discuss several topics tonight, at length. I would like to start in the beginning. Can you walk me through your experience on February 4th, 1997?

GORE: I was suppose to be at the 1997 State of The Union. In fact, I had even told President Clinton I would be there. My plan was to be there, in person, and then fly to Tennessee later that night. However, my mother called and told me that my father didn't have much longer; she said that he maybe had a number of hours, not days, and that she wanted me there... I have put politics before my family so many times in my life and... it has led to a lot of regret, let me put it that way. Anyway, in that moment, I decided that I was going to put my family first. I flew to Tennessee and I had someone in my office inform the White House. When I arrived to my family's farm in Tennessee, my father had just passed away. He was laying in his bed and I asked for a minute alone with him. I was praying, and my family was watching the State of The Union, and... that was when the attack in Washington happened.

COURIC: How exactly did you get back to Washington? Were you taken to a secure location, or did you wait longer at your family's farm?

GORE: This has never been discussed publicly, but because the investigation is fully closed I can disclose it... Once the attack on the Capitol in Washington started, the Secret Service at our farm had us shelter in place. Then, there was an assault on our farm. There were a team of gunmen, who had been hastily sent there last minute, to kill me since I was not at the Capitol. The Secret Service held them off as long as they could. Meanwhile, back in Washington, someone had ordered special forces to fly to Tennessee and evacuate me. The special forces arrived shortly after the assault on our farmhouse began. At first, I didn't want to leave.

COURIC: Why is that?

GORE: My mother was there, several members of my family were there, my father's body was still in his bed, and gunmen had just tried to kill us. I didn't want to abandon my family. The Secret Service pointed out in the distance and showed me that more Secret Service and police were on the way to secure the farm, so I agreed to leave. The special forces flew us back to Washington.

COURIC: What were you thinking about on the flight there? Did you have a lot of information on what happened?

GORE: Well, no. You have to remember, this wasn't some ceremonial flight on Air Force Two or with my staff. I was sitting in a helicopter next to special forces. I didn't really know what to say, and they didn't either. We made a little bit of small talk, but that was about it. My first thought was that some foreign actor may have done this and that we could be in the opening stages of a strategic war between the United States and... another country. I started to wonder if it was the end of the world for a minute, and then I reminded myself that we didn't have all of the information and that it wouldn't do any good to worry. I prayed a bit, and I calmed myself down.

COURIC: So you weren't given any kind of update while you were being flown, by helicopter, to Washington?

GORE: Well... I can't exactly say where it happened, but we briefly landed to refuel somewhere in the mountains. That was when someone higher up radioed to the pilots that there was no way that President Clinton could have survived the attack. The pilots told the head of my security detail, and he came to the back of the helicopter and told me that Justice Clarance Thomas, who was the only surviving Supreme Court Justice, was waiting for us at the White House and that I was now the President of the United States.

COURIC: I can't imagine what that felt like.

GORE: It was gut-wrenching. My friend - our President - had just been killed, and from the sounds of it a lot of my friends on Capitol Hill were dead too. Later I would learn that almost all of them were dead... In that moment I felt pretty confident that we were at war with someone. They talked about taking me somewhere besides Washington, but I didn't want the world to see the Vice President hiding in a mountain somewhere while the Capitol burned.

COURIC: So after you landed in the mountains, you were informed that you were now the President. There was some discussion about taking you somewhere else, but you decided against that?

GORE: The pilot was an officer in the United States Army and I had just become the commander-in-chief. I ordered him to fly us back to the White House, so that abruptly ended the conversation about taking me somewhere else. Before we crosse the Potomac River, we could see the House Chamber of the Capitol burning. Helicopters were flying around it. The Air Force and the Air National Guard were scrambling fighter jets to secure Washington's air space and the Coast Guard was securing Chesapeake Bay. We were intercepted once and told not to enter the District's air space, but they cleared that up pretty quickly. Once we got to Washington, I told the pilot to bring us around the Capitol so that we could see the damage from the air. Then we landed at the White House.

COURIC: What did the Capitol Building look like from that vantage point?

GORE: It was utter devastation. The main portion of the building itself was still there, as was the Senate Chamber, but the House Chamber was totally ablaze. The roof had caved in and there was just this massive fire. It was pretty easy to see that not many people would be walking out of that alive... It was also very sobering to see the physical representation of a democratic republic ablaze. We had gone from having about 537 elected members of the United States government, to two... Myself, and then-Senator Benjamin Valentine Sinclair.

COURIC: Did you know Senator Sinclair well, at the time?

GORE: As Vice President, my primary constitutional duty was to be President of the Senate. I had gotten to know all of the Democratic Senators well, as well as some of the Republicans. Senator Sinclair was an independent, but he had respect across the aisle. I had met him a few times, but we didn't know each other well.

COURIC: Once you were sworn in, what was your plan? Did you have an immediate list of objectives or things that needed to be done?

GORE: First and foremost, I knew that we needed to make sure that this wasn't part of a larger attack. For example, there had been reports that a foreign submarine had been detected near Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. This was especially concerning because the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was heading to port there for maintenance, but the captain decided at the last second to abort their approach and remain at sea in case the submarine threat was real, or if the country was under attack. The Deputy Secretary of Defense, at the time, was aboard a secure military aircraft. The armed forces snapped to action immediately, and all indications were that we were not under attack by a foreign state. My next objective was to address the nation. The American People needed to know what had happened and that there was someone at the White House who was the President and was in charge. I sat down and wrote a speech with members of my staff and President Clinton's staff. Then we went on the air. After that I stayed up most of the night with Senator Sinclair and the surviving deputy directors of federal agencies to review what had happened, what we were going to do, and how we were going to rebuild the United States Congress legally, and as quickly as possible. The Senate was easier that the House of Representatives, constitutionally, since Governors could appoint Senators, but we needed to have elections for the House of Representatives.

COURIC: Did you have any fear at any point in time that the country would not be able to make it through something like that? That it would change us forever?

GORE: It did change us forever, but we persevered. We're Americans Katie, it's what we do.

 

[Odinson]

Part Two
The 2002 Assassination Attempt of President Gore and The Washington Riots

COURIC: I would like to switch gears now to 2002, Mister President. We did ask Vice President Sinclair to join us today-

GORE: The Vice President isn't a fan of interviews, I wouldn't take it personally. I think that he hates being the center of attention, but he constantly finds himself at it. When he can help it he tries to avoid the spotlight.

COURIC: It sounds like you know him really well.

GORE: Vice President Sinclair and I know each other very well. I think that presidents, especially modern presidents, select their vice presidents based off of political expedience. I did not have that opportunity, and I'm happy that I didn't. I wouldn't have been able to get through my presidency without him - but I'm taking us off track, you wanted to talk about 2002.

COURIC: Yes, sir. I have been told conflicting stories about how the events exactly transpired that night. Everyone knows, of course, that there was already protests and civil disturbances throughout the East Coast. New York City famously shut down the subway system and had to call in the State Police and National Guard. There were already protests going on in Washington that night, yet you chose to still speak to an assembly of college students at Georgetown. Why is that?

GORE: It is actually worse than that. The Secret Service told me, on several occasions, that they recommended that I cancel the event all together. Almost everyone told me I should cancel it, but I wanted to do it. I didn't want it to look like I was afraid of rioters. At the time, I didn't understand what was happening.

COURIC: What was happening?

GORE: There was a bill that had passed the House of Representatives called "The Patriot Act." A number of ultra-wealthy individuals and corporations, as well as some members of the intelligence community, were inciting these protests and riots around the country to help justify its passage. The Patriot Act would have given broad powers to the Central Intelligence Agency, including giving it the right to conduct clandestine operations inside of the United States, which is currently illegal. It would have also given the government the authority to intrude into the personal lives of Americans by giving the intelligence community broad authority to spy on the American people without a warrant. In hindsight, it would have been a national disgrace if it had passed.

COURIC: So you didn't support the bill at the time?

GORE: I did support the bill, nominally, at the time. Almost everyone around me was saying that it was necessary. Others were making deals with my office to pass this legislation, in exchange for support on other legislation that we needed to improve our country. I was duped into thinking that the ends would justify the means, that it would be for the greater good. There was only one man who was imploring me to publicly declare my opposition to it: Benjamin Valentine Sinclair. I told him that the bill would pass congress with a veto-proof majority. He told me to campaign against the bill and that the people would listen to me. I told him that I would think about it, and he made it clear to me that he couldn't publicly support it. I respected his decision. Anyway, at that point, whether I supported it or not didn't matter. It was time to go to Georgetown... I gave a speech to the students around the same time the Vice President was speaking to the Senate to urge them to oppose the bill. I stepped outside and before I went into the motorcade, I started shaking hands at the rope line. That's when I was shot and Special Agent Taylor Palmer gave up his life to save mine....

COURIC: Do you remember being shot?

GORE: Yes, somewhat. When I was unconscious I had some... dreams that were pretty powerful. The Secret Service gave me a blood transfusion on the way to the hospital. If it wasn't for the Secret Service that night, I wouldn't have made it to the hospital. Anyway, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate escorted the Vice President off the floor of the Senate. He was brought to the White House. They couldn't swear him in as Acting President because a quorum of the cabinet was not present. It was difficult to assemble a quorum at the time because Washington was full to the brim with protestors and rioters. The Secretary of Defense was flown from the Pentagon to the White House. A unanimous vote of those taken made Vice President Sinclair the Acting President. He took the reigns from there... I don't really want to speak on what he was feeling or thinking, that would be something he could explain himself one day.

COURIC: Of course. Well, at least, can you tell me what made him decide to go to the Capitol?

GORE: I know that the Secret Service wanted to evacuate him from the White House. They told him again, and again, and again. Finally, he agreed to leave. Marine One went wheels-up from the South Lawn. Sinclair asked for a flyover of the city, and he noticed that the Capitol Building's Tholos was still illuminated.

COURIC: What is the Tholos?

GORE: It is the upper part of the Capitol Building, above the Capitol Dome. It is lit when Congress is in session. Vice President Sinclair knew that the House of Representatives had been evacuated from the Capitol not long after he had been earlier in the day. But the Senate refused to leave the building. I've been told that they said they would not leave until the Vice President returned for them to vote on the Patriot Act and closed the session himself. They weren't going to surrender the United States Capitol Building to a mob. It was... a very noble thing for them to do... Where was I?

COURIC: The Vice President marching to the Capitol.

GORE: That's right. See, Benjamin realized that the Tholos was still lit. He found out that the Senate was still in session. If there is anything I know about him, it's that he loves the United States Senate. The Vice President is a proud American and he strongly believes in the United States Constitution and the Senate itself, as an American institution. He helped rebuild it, from the ground up after the 1997 attack. He called former Presidents and statesmen across the country and asked if they would be willing to serve their country again. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I think that may have been what made him decide to go back. He ordered Marine One to land in Washington. He went, on the ground, and assessed the situation. Keep in mind that he is a decorated veteran, he fought in Korea, and he was an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He had been a pilot and he knew how to command troops on the ground. The Capitol was being overrun and he decided to act.

COURIC: Wasn't the National Guard, the 82nd Airborne, and the Marines already deployed into Washington? Not to mention all of the police - why didn't they handle the situation?

GORE: The sheer number of people was overwhelming. Also, the Marine Corps and the 82nd Airborne weren't there yet, and the National Guard was held up in different choke points around the city. Benjamin took direct command of part of an Engineer Battalion, had them affix bayonets to intimidate the crowd, got on horseback himself, and led the troops to the Capitol. I think the rest of what happened is history, and everyone already knows, but he singlehandedly stopped the Capitol from being breached.

COURIC: What would have happened if he had decided to leave Washington?

GORE: I don't know, but what did happen is more important than what could have happened. The Vice President, who has already sacrificed so much for his country and given up so much of his life in service, took on the duties of the presidency without hesitation. He served his country excellently and handled that situation better than I could have. He was the first President since Washington to directly lead troops. He secured a foothold on the Capitol and gave an impassioned speech to get the rioters to stop... Benjamin Sinclair is an American hero - the Vice President saved our republic that night, and we all owe him our gratitude.

 

[Odinson]

Part Three
The 2004 Presidential Election and State of The World

COURIC: Mister President, you have made it clear that you will not endorse anyone for President. You were present at the DNC, but you didn't officially endorse Secretary Fitzgerald. Why is that?

GORE: My second term as President of the United States is almost concluded. Our constitution is clear in that I cannot run for President again. The American People have put their trust in me since 1997, and I couldn't be more thankful, but now it is time for someone else to take hold of the torch and start marching forward. My point is that I won't be the leader of the United States anymore, and new voices should be heard. I don't believe that it is my job, or the job of any former president, to try to crown the next president with their endorsement. That is why I will not be endorsing anyone, but I wish the candidates and their campaigns the best.

COURIC: Who will you be voting for?

GORE: Nice try, Katie.

COURIC: I thought I would give it a shot. What do you think of some of General Sharp's criticisms of your administration? Some examples... he says that the military has been neglected and that, "The United States has not asserted her dominance on the world stage. America is weaker today then it was ten years ago."

GORE: I think that is nonsense. We commissioned three new aircraft carriers under my administration and increased the size of the Marine Corps under my administration. Under my administration the size of the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps have all increased pretty dramatically. Just because we have worked well with other countries does not mean that we are weak, it means that we are smart. The United States has more military and logistical capabilities than any other country in the world, period. I think that General Sharp is trying to drum up support for a problem that isn't real. There have been weaknesses in my administration, which I take full responsibility for, but making America weaker is not one of them.

COURIC: What are some of those weaknesses?

GORE: I wish that we had more time to address more environmental concerns that our country faces. The EPA has made strides to address different kinds of pollutions and also many of America's Superfund sites, but it hasn't been enough. There is still so much more work to do in that area. I will do my best, with the rest of my life, to campaign for more environmental protections in our country. If, for nothing else, than the protection of our children and all future generations of Americans. They deserve the right to be able to fish in a clean river or go for a swim in a lake without fear of getting cancer from it.

COURIC: What do you think the national mood of the country is, right now? What do the American People want, what do they need?

GORE: In a presidential candidate? I think the American People want what they have wanted since our country's founding: hope. They don't need someone who is going to make them feel despair to get elected. What we need to do now is focus on increasing the size of the middle class, restoring more of America's inner-cities, and either repairing or rebuilding some of America's most important infrastructure. The "Restore America" projects started under my administration have been successful, but they need to be continued under the next administration.

COURIC: What is the state of the world right now, and where does America fit into it?

GORE: I think that we're blessed to be in a peaceful period of time right now. The war in Turkey is still in the back of everyone's minds, but there's peace in Europe and Western Civilization right now. What else could we ask for? We have a lot of great opportunities to foster stronger partnerships with other countries around the world. I'm thinking about the Polish, the Australians, the Portuguese and Spanish, and maybe even the Russians. If we have existing diplomatic channels and friendships, then it makes it a lot easier to work out our geopolitical differences when we discover them. My administration hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with the British on everything, but we have managed to come to agreements and make the best of our decisions for our people.

COURIC: Do you have any closing remarks that you would like to give, Mister President?

GORE: Having been a politician for decades now, I know that we can make election time sound like the end of the world... That the fate of the country depends on you voting for this candidate, and that if he doesn't win, everything will be ruined. As an older man, I want to tell the entire country, especially the young people in our country who may be voting for the first time, that that isn't true. I have seen both Democrats and Republicans in the White House in my life, and they all did the best they could to make America a better country and to lift up the American People higher than they were before. No matter who wins in this election, we need to all rally behind him when the time comes. When we are united and working together, there isn't anything that our country cannot accomplish. We're going to do more great things, and everything is going to be okay.

COURIC: Mister President, thank you for making time in your busy schedule to come here today for these interviews. For NBC News, I am Katie Couric. Good night.