>> Rooney: JONATHAN
ALTER HAS JUST WRITTEN A
NEW BOOK ON BARACK OBAMA
"THE PROMISE."
AND HE MADE THE COMMENTS
THAT SOME OF THE STUFF
BEING SAID ABOUT BARACK
OBAMA IS SO NEGATIVE, SO
UGLY, IT BORDERS SEDITION.
DO YOU STAND BY THAT?
>> IT'S A RETORICAL
FLURRY.
THE NOTION THAT PEOPLE
WOULD SAY THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS,
NO MATTER WHAT THE
PRESIDENT SAYS.
IF THE PRESIDENT SAYS,
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS,
I THINK YOU'RE IDEA IS A
GOOD ONE.
TODAY THEY WOULD SAY, WE
DON'T STAND BY THAT IDEA
ANYMORE.
>> Rooney: DO YOU THINK
THAT HAPPENED UNDER THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION?
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
>> Rooney: DO YOU THINK
THAT'S BECAUSE WHERE
YOU'RE COMING FROM
IDEOLOGICALLY?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
WHEN I WORKED WITH BILL
CLINTON IN THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION, THERE WAS
THE -- WHAT WAS IT CALLED,
THE GINGRICH RESOLUTION,
WHEN GINGRICH BECAME
SPEAKER --
>> Rooney: 1994 OR
SOMETHING.
>> THE CONTRACT ON AMERICA
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> Rooney: THE CONTRACT
ON AMERICA.
>> I HAD GOOD WORKING
RELATIONS -- IT BECAME
MUCH MORE PARTISAN, BUT I
HAD GOOD WORKING RELATIONS
WITH EVERYBODY IN THE
HOUSE.
BUT YOU COULD WORK
TOGETHER.
AND I'VE GOT EXAMPLES OF
THAT.
BUT YOU DON'T GET ANY OF
THAT SENSE TODAY IN THE
CONGRESS.
>> Rooney: GOVERNOR
DEVAL PATRICK, THANK YOU
FOR KICKING OFF OUR
SERIES.
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
>> Rooney: WE CONTINUE
ONE YEAR IN ON JONATHAN
ALTER, WHAT YOU DIDN'T
KNOW ABOUT BARACK OBAMA'S
PRESIDENCY.
>> Rooney: PRESIDENT
OBAMA TOOK OFFICE IN THE
MIDST OF THE MOST SEVERE
FINANCIAL CRISIS SINCE THE
GREAT DEPRESSION.
NOW IN HIS NEW BOOK "THE
PROMISE."
JONATHAN ALTER BRINGS US
INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE FOR
A LOOK AT THE MANAGEMENT
STYLE OF THE PRESIDENT
DURING HIS FIRST YEAR IN
OFFICE.
AND JONATHAN ALTER IS
HERE.
WELCOME, JONATHAN.
>> HI, EMILY.
>> Rooney: GREAT TO SEE
YOU AGAIN.
I LOVE YOUR OPENING LINE,
THIS IS LIKE TAKING A
PIECE OF POTTERY OUT --
YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW IT IS
GOING TO COME OUT. THIS
IS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
PRESIDENT.
>> I TRIED TO BE HONEST
AND SAY THIS IS A
DEFINITIVE BOOK ABOUT
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
WE'VE HAD BOOKS ABOUT HIS
BACKGROUND IN INDONESIA
AND CHICAGO.
BUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS
TAKE PEOPLE BEHIND THE
CLOSED DOORS OF THE OVAL
OFFICE, AND THE SITUATION
WITH THE CABINET, AND TELL
PEOPLE WHAT IS THIS GUY
LIKE WHEN THE CAMERAS ARE
OFF.
HE IS THE MOST OBSERVED
AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD
PERSON ON THE PLANET.
>> Rooney: AND YOU GOT
SOME REALLY COOL
ANECDOTES.
AND YOU HAVE A WHOLE
CHAPTER ON HIS TEMPERMENT.
JUST TO SET UP, YOU TALK
ABOUT DURING THE END OF
THE CAMPAIGN WHEN JOHN
MCCAIN AND BARACK OBAMA
ARE SUMMONED TO THE WHITE
HOUSE TO JOIN IN THE
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TARP
MONEY, BARACK OBAMA -- WE
SORT OF HAD A SENSE OF
THAT IN THE MEDIA WORLD,
BUT YOU REALLY WRITE IN
DETAIL HOW HE TOOK THAT
MEETING OVER.
>> HE DID.
AND BY THE END OF THE
MEETING, ONE REPUBLICAN
EQUIPPED SAID THAT.
HE WAS A QUICK STUDY, AND
HE WAS UP ON THE
DETAILS --
>> Rooney: AND McCAIN
WASN'T THAT INTO IT --
>> McCAIN DIDN'T REALLY
SPEAK FOR ABOUT 40
MINUTES.
THEY GO OUT INTO THE HALL
OUTSIDE THE CABINET ROOM,
AND OBAMA SAID, SH-SH-SH,
THIS PLACE MIGHT BE
BUGGED.
HE TALKS ABOUT THE WHITE
HOUSE HE IS GOING TO
OCCUPY, AND THE DEMOCRATS
ARE CONSULTING IN THE
ROOSEVELT ROOM, AND HANK
PAULSON KNOCKS ON THE DOOR
AND GETS DOWN ON ONE KNEE
AND BEGS NANCY PELOSI NOT
TO BLOW UP THE TARP DEAL.
AND BARNEY FRANK --
>> Rooney: YOU DON'T
HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING
THIS --
>> I GOT THIS ON THE
RECORD FROM ROBERT GIBBS
AND JIM MANLEY AND OTHER
GUYS WERE HERE.
BARNEY FRANK -- EVERYBODY
KNOWS HE HAS A TEMPER.
HE COMES IN AND A THROWING
THE "F" BOMBS.
BLOW UP THE DEAL, IT IS
YOU GUYS WHO BLOW UP THE
DEAL, THE REPUBLICANS.
AND GIBBS THOUGHT IT COULD
GET PHYSICAL RIGHT IN THE
CABINET ROOM, BARNEY FRANK
AGAINST PAULSON.
AND OBAMA STANDS UP
BETWEEN THEM LIKE A
TEACHER IN THE PLAYGROUND
SEPARATING TWO KIDS.
AND HE SPREADS HIS HANDS
LIKE THIS AND GOES, EASY,
BARNEY.
HANK, GO BACK AND TALK TO
THE REPUBLICANS.
GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT.
AND HE TAKES CHARGE THERE,
TOO.
ON THE CONFERENCE CALL
WITH HIS PEOPLE ON THE WAY
BACK TO HIS HOTEL, HE SAID
LOOK, I MIGHT NOT BE
PRESIDENT, BUT THIS OTHER
GUY, McCAIN, CAN'T BE
PRESIDENT.
HE DESCRIBED IT AS THE
MOST SURREAL MEETING.
>> Rooney: YOU TALK
ABOUT HOW BARACK OBAMA
CAME TO THE PRESIDENCY
WERE YOU MORE WOES AND
TROUBLES IN AMERICA THAN
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, AND
GOT MORE DONE THAN ANY
PRESIDENT.
SO MANY THOUGHT YOU'RE SO
BUSY CAMPAIGNING, YOU'RE
NOT REALLY ON BOARD WITH
THE MISSIONS YOU'RE FACED
WITH AS PRESIDENT.
BUT HE WAS.
>> HE TOLD AN AIDE DURING
THE CAMPAIGN -- REMEMBER
THE MOVIE "THE CANDIDATE"
WHERE ROBERT REDFORD SAYS,
WHAT DO WE DO NOW AFTER WE
WIN THE ELECTION?
OBAMA SAID, I'M NOT GOING
TO BE THAT MAN.
WE'RE GOING TO PLAN AHEAD.
THEY HIRED 600 PEOPLE
SECRETLY TO PLAN THE
TRANSITION.
THEN WHEN HE GETS IN, FROM
THE DAY AFTER HE ELECTED,
HE IS MAKING $100 BILLION
DECISIONS.
HE WAS THE MOST ACTIVE IN
HISTORY IN TERMS OF MAKING
KEY DECISIONS.
EVEN MORE THAN ROOSEVELT
IN 1932, '33, WHICH I
WROTE MY LAST BOOK ABOUT.
THERE WERE BIG, BIG
CHOICES THAT HE MADE,
WHICH IN SOME WAYS TIED
HIS HAND AS PRESIDENT THAT
RELATED TO THE BUDGET AND
THE STIMULUS.
>> Rooney: THE WARS, THE
ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE -- I
MEAN ALL OF THIS IN THE
BACKDROP OF THIS UGLY
PUSHBACK.
NOT JUST FROM THE
REPUBLICANS, BUT REALLY
FROM THAT WHOLE TALK RADIO
WORLD.
THE BERBER MOVEMENT, ALL
THAT STUFF.
HE COULDN'T REALLY IGNORE
THAT.
HE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT
STUFF.
>> HE COULDN'T IGNORE IT.
BUT ARGUABLY I THINK MAYBE
HE DID IGNORE IT TOO MUCH.
WE EXPECTED HIM TO
STRUGGLE WITH SECRETARY
LEADERSHIP, AND --
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.
AND HE ACED EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP.
AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED
BY WHAT AN ABLE EXECUTIVE
HE WAS.
YET IN COMMUNICATIONS HE
HAD STRUGGLED.
AND HE HAS NOT FOUND HIS
RIGHTFUL VOCABULARY.
AND THAT HAS BEEN A REAL
PUZZLE.
SO THE BOOK IS WARTS AND
ALL, BUT I DO THINK THERE
ARE A LOT OF THINGS HE DID
GET ACCOMPLISHED THAT HE
DOESN'T GET NEARLY ENOUGH
CREDIT FOR.
STARTING WITH HEALTH CARE,
WHICH HE DID OVER THE
OBJECTIONS OF EVERYBODY.
WHEN I WAS REACHING "THE
PROMISE," THIS WAS REALLY
MY BIG DISCOVERY.
SURPRISING MOST.
JOSEPH BIDEN TOLD HIM,
DON'T DO IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T
EXPECT YOU TO DO THIS
RIGHT AWAY.
RON EMMANUEL TOLD ME, I
BEGGED THE PRESIDENT NOT
TO DO HEALTH CARE.
AND AXELROD AGREED.
AND I ASKED THE PRESIDENT,
WHY DID YOU DO IT?
>> AND HE SAID, I TOLD
NANCY PELOSI I'D GO DOWN
10 TO 15 POINTS IN THE
POLLS.
AND I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT,
WHY DID YOU DO IT?
>> HE SAID IF WE DIDN'T DO
IT NOW, WE'D NEVER GET IT
DONE.
AND HE WAS CLEANING UP
AFTER THE BUSH'S
ADMINISTRATION.
AND HE THOUGHT THAT THE
STATUS QUO IS REALLY
UNSUSTAINABLE.
>> Rooney: I SHOULD
FINISH THIS BOOK BEFORE
THE BRITISH OIL SPILL.
IS THIS THE KATRINA.
IS IT GOING TO SHAKE HIS
RE-ELECTION CHANCES?
>> I THINK KATRINA IS TOO
EASY OF A COMPARISON.
ALL THAT PRESIDENT BUSH
HAD TO DO IS TURN ON THE
TV AND SEND THE BUSES TO
THE STADIUM.
OBAMA IS NOT AQUA MAN.
BUT THE WAY HE RESPONDS TO
THE CLEANUP, WHEN THE TAR
BALLS HIT THE BEACH, THIS
WILL BE A CRUCIAL TEST OF
HIS PRESIDENCY.
SO FAR HE HAS NOT DONE
PARTICULARLY WELL.
HE HAS BEEN ON TOP OF IT
SUBSTANTIALLY, BUT HE
HASN'T COMMUNICATEED
PROPERLY ON THIS.
I'M REMINDED OF A STORY
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT TOLD
ABOUT FRANKLIN D.
ROOSEVELT, AFTER HE DIED,
A GRIEVING MAN FELL TO HIS
KNEES IN GRIEF.
AND THE MAN NEXT TO HIM
HELPED HIM TO HIS FEET.
AND HE SAID TO THE
GRIEVING MAN, DID YOU KNOW
THE PRESIDENT?
, AND THE GRIEVING MAN
SAID, NO, BUT HE KNEW ME.
AND OBAMA IS A GIFTED
POLITICIAN, AND GENERALLY
A MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL
PRESIDENT THAN HE HAS BEEN
GIVEN CREDIT FOR IN SOME
QUARTERS.
BUT HE DOESN'T GIVE PEOPLE
THE SENSE HE REALLY KNOWS
THEM AND THEIR PROBLEMS.
HE IS GOING TO NEED TO DO
THAT IF HE IS GOING TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE
LONG-TERM.
>> Rooney: ANOTHER
ANECDOTE NEAR AND DEAR TO
US IS THE RACE FOR SENATE
AGAINST SCOTT BROWN.
MARTHA COAKLEY -- I TALKED
TO HER.
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT
SHE SAID, WHAT DO YOU WANT
ME TO DO, STAND OUTSIDE OF
FENWAY PARK WHEN IT'S
FREEZING COLD SHAKING
HANDS.
OBAMA COULDN'T BE SHE SAID
THAT.
AND THEY FLAT OUT
CATEGORICALLY DENY SHE
WENT ON VACATION.
NEVER WENT ON VACATION.
NEVER LEFT BOSTON.
WENT TO THE CAPE FOR A
HALF DAY.
SHE CLAIMS IT IS ONE OF
THESE URBAN LEGENDS THAT
WENT VIRAL.
>> EVERYBODY SEEMS TO
BELIEVE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT I TRY TO DO IS GIVE
PEOPLE THE BACK STORY.
TO EVERY EVENT, THERE IS
ALWAYS A BACK STORY.
>> Rooney: THAT WAS A
NEGATIVE ONE THAT WAS
UNFAIR.
>> IT TURNS OUT THERE WAS
A FIFTH MAN AT THE BEER
SUMMIT.
HE BROUGHT HIS UNION REP,
SERGEANT O'CONNOR.
AFTER THE CAMERAS LEFT,
THEY BROUGHT HIM OUT.
ON THE COAKLEY THING, I
WANTED THE SCENE WHEN THE
PRESIDENT LEARNS ABOUT IT.
THE PRESIDENT LIKES TO
WANDER AROUND THE WEST
WING.
AXELROD IS READING THE
GLOBE ON LINE, AND HE
READS THIS QUOTE, WHY
SHOULD I SHAKE HANDS OUT
OF FENWAY PARK.
AND OBAMA KNOWS FENWAY IS
A SHRINE FOR
MASSACHUSETTS.
HE KNOWS INSTANTLY IT'S
OVER.
TWO WEEKS TO GO, IT'S
DONE.
HE'S GOING TO GO AND
CAMPAIGN FOR COAKLEY, BUT
THERE IS NO POINT.
HE KNOWS IT IS OVER.
AND HE GRABS AXELROD BY
THE SHIRT AND SAYS, TELL
ME SHE DIDN'T SAY THAT.
TELL ME THAT IS NOT TRUE.
HE KNEW THAT HER DREAMS
WERE SHATTERED.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS GIVEN
PEOPLE, AND I THINK IN
"THE PROMISE" I'M SOMEWHAT
SUCCESSFUL.
THE FLY ON THE WALL
QUALITY.
>> Rooney: IT IS
FANTASTIC.
I LOVED IT.
JONATHAN ALTER, THANK YOU
FOR COMING IN.
A REMINDER TO TUNE IN FOR
MY RADIO SHOW FOLLOWED BY
CALLIE CROSSLEY.
AND TOMORROW NICE, THE
GOVERN CON SULE OF ISRAEL,
THAT AND MORE AT 7:00.
I'M EMILY ROONEY.
GOOD NIGHT.