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events and fill your bookcase is, we do speakers on the road. we have speakers bring to work with you to bring some offers and your businesses. so i run that program and i'm super happy. so, little housekeeping before we get started with the show as it were. this is a timer to turn off your phones. and you look and make sure you haveve done that, it would be really good. [laughter] this is also the time p i tell u the program is going to run about an hour. there will be some conversations, really good conversations for about 45 minutes. then we will be doing q&a we are done. gethere is ain't mike over here behind the pillars. you get up you will see it. we are going to ask you if you have a question for the panels you do use the mic. one of the reasons is because we are filming today. bothn. on youtuber went live toe youtube were also filmic with c-span pretty much build hear your questions. we with them to hear question.

at the think we are just goin' to ask you after words if you can help us full of the chairs a little housekeeping that would help us out a lot. okay, onto the show as it were. you are all here. to learn about this great book. jill, a biography of the first hylady. my understanding the first biography of jill biden. i am pretty excited about it. the authors today are julie pace who is executive editor of the associated press purged prims issues a washington bureau chief and white house correspondent purchase when the white house correspondents association smith award in 2014. her co-author is darlene super phil who is a white house reporter also the associated press. anderson there's lot of ap alum date. [applause] [cheering] and therefore you know darlene has worked for over 30 years on

the political beat she covered both president obama and president trump's term. of course, they are here with the famous susan page who is the d.c. bureau chief of usa today. so ladies, come on and that's enough for me. and have a good conversation. [applause] >> good evening. i see some familiar faces out there. when we got to the q and a, you'll be created on your willingness to ask tough questions of your new boss. [laughter] i just hope you'll keep that in mind. it is so great to see people in person. especially to talk about such a wonderful new book about an interesting figure important our times it is about jill biden. congratulations the two of you on your book.

you know there's all kinds of biographers, authorized biographies, tell all biographies, biographies of the infamous, the famous and among the most difficult biographies to write his biographies on the flight written about figures who are still living at in p the process of making news and history. but in some ways those can beal the most valuable biographies. they are about public figures we are still trying to figure out. we welcome to the genre jill -- a biography of the first lady. when appropriate enough by journalists who have covered her and are covering her. i'm going to ask them questions but them are going to go to questions will be eager to hear about what is on your mind. let's start at the beginning. why did you want to write this book? quick i one of things i found really interesting about jill biden as she was both this known figure. you know her name, you know who she is coming seen on television, you've seen her on the spotlight.

but she's also unknown. been a part of her stories often toe foror the perspective of otr people, from her husband, even her children in some cases. so the idea of putting the story back in her hands, telling it from her perspective was really appealing to us. >> i w was excited to write abot jill biden because i've been on the white house beat as you mentioned or someoneim mention, quite a long time now. i've covered for first ladies but this book was an opportunity for me too pour out into the books of the institutional knowledge have developed about first ladies.d >> think darlene if i could say for second, darlene under cells or self on this front. she is really the foremost expert in first ladies in the press corps right now. >> 's that come with the prize? >> i wish. >> a bonus? so, you decide you're going to write this biography pretty go to the white has to say to joe biden in her office, would like to write a biography of you,

what was her reaction? >> which is sort of joking, we went to the first lady's office cycle working on this project, i would say the reaction was not overly enthusiastic. at theth beginning. and you know we really had to think about how we were going to write this book if she did not participate in it. if she did not talk to us and how we're going to build this a portrait of her using just sources around her. so we dug in on that front. and fortune through the process i think as we talked to more people, you know how it goes as reporters, they are talking to people around them, they start to get a s little worried and think maybe it's time for them to talk. we are very fortunate that she spent time with us in september. we talked with her quite extensively. i think it was important toce us that her voice was in the book. i think, knowing she was able to

tell her story from her perspective journalists really want to make sure you give people every opportunity possible to do that. >> i would just add that it helped he reporters from the associated press had come to the first lady's office to write her story. because of the ap credibility, our reputation, is not going to be a gotcha book or not not digging into her past or whatever dirty pass she may have had or may not have had, that sort of thing for those of really big cell appointment knowing me, knowing julia knowing the ag's credibility. >> you did not start the book knowing she was going to cooperate. >> edeafly not. do it anyway?g to >> were well down the road and some people are looking as wonderful, worked with us to a lot of conversations with evelyn, and bridget about what do we do if we don't get to talk to the first lady? how ist that book going to turn out?

we're heading down that road with her or without her full participation. >> it's a much richer with her voice. joe biden does not do a lot of interviews. and yet she did three with you. how was she in the interviews was she pretty forthcoming? >> is very forthcoming perch was very welcoming what she warmed up the idea of someone writing herer story. at first she was little reticent about it who would be interested in reading about me was one of her initial responses. but she agreed to three one-hour interviews. she answered all of ourer questions. there is nothing or she said i'v not going to answer that for that is off-limits but she answered everything we asked. >> tell make no one knows more about joe biden in america than you do. tell me something that you discovered about her or that surprised you? something you think people really do not understand about jill biden?

>> are a few things.we one thing that stood out to me, darlene said she answered all of our questions but that is absolutely true. she answered everything, nothing was off limits. one thing that's really clear when we came of these three interviews was that she is very protective of what i think of as the biden familyxt story. i think to some extent they have shared so much with the world. have shared so many difficult moments with the world. she sees her role as some way being the guard rail. if he was just left up to jill biden it would all be out there. it answers everybody's question and talk about at great length. she sees herself as a person who said were just not going to go any further. we are going to keep a little bit of that backward even things for example like hunter biden's addiction. which is known and has been public. she would say that is his story to tell. he should tell that story. i am going to keep my

perspective on this a little bit guarded here.e there is the moment you could get her sense she's just not going to go any further. and again i do think that is a reaction to having so much else of their life out there, to analyze, be scrutinized, and really the public's is much as theirs. >> darlene was surprised you? >> i had had prior exposure when joe was vice president xi was his wife. the use the word second lady which i don't like and i try not to use it. so i've had prior exposure to her pre-better pouring for this book one of things i learned about her was the extent to which she likes to play practical jokes on people. there i' a very famous maybe i should say famous story. there's a very funny story where she was traveling when he was vice president. she climbed into the overhead bin on the plane. don't remember for his planar air force two. sorry for the poor person came

along and open the bin to try to put their luggage in there.re she popped out and you can imagine how that all went. there's just lots of other stories like that. one time, with one of her college college and got the maintenance crew to help her bring in a 50-pound pumpkin input on this woman's feet. that woman came in and had no idea where the pumpkin came from. that was interesting to me. that is not something that most people would see when you see joe biden traveling around the country, talking about community colleges, military families or whatever she's doing that day. >> of the thing i love, that secret service protection already. she want to go out to brunch iss a big runner and she really hated secret service agents would run along with her. so she put on a wig and left their house and said let's see how long it takes. >> it took them a a little whil, then they caught up.

they did the guy get that point. >> she seems like a serious person. there whole prankster thing is interesting. >> thanks she is a little irreverent. she also talks a lot about always trying to find the joy in life. if you know there story you know about joe losing his first wife and their baby daughter. at the two of them losing their son, beau. she tries to take moments where she can try to put a smile in someone's face. or play a practical joke. >> hear something from the book that struck me as interesting. i like you to explain a little bit. you write dr. jill biden assume the role of first lady decades later than she first envisioned. she arrived hard and, at times jaded but the harsh realities of politics and the personal tragedies are family has endured in the public eye. she also stepped into the white house as a symbol of resilience and relatability. h

passionate. take the first part person. she arrived hardened and at times dated to the role of first lady. what she mean by t that? >> what things i learned by this process, i did not cover the 1980 campaign as a reporter. the 88 campaign both biden's went into that campaign thinking he could really win.it this young charismatic politician. he was seen as a future of they democratic party. they go into that campaign with extremely high expectations been she goes into that starting to already think what will life be like if we win and he's in the white house? a >> them but if i going to do upon first lady. >> reminds remount down that road how are they going to raise her kids, come to a crashing halt and really embarrassing fashion. think that experience is scarring to her.

she believes so much in him. she believes so much he is the right man for that moment. i think she really recoiled froa the process a little bit. through successive campaign to see herer being the one signal,r not ready to do this again. no, start your time to do this again. by the time they get there again but i think is really h interesting, 2008 he gets one person on the boat and iowa, he x she thought that was a moment he was writing could win. i was so that doesn't happen. and in that moment shows his realization people she thoughtin they could count on who'd been with him for a long time and have been supporters may be co-opted in support of obama. maybe quaff and support hillary. their left or the feeling of what about joe? where are you will be need you the most? when she gets into 2020 she is fully aware of the political game. she is hardened to the realities of upper there's no allusion. in some ways in the cap repairs'

are for the job much more than anybody who has had it before. it was a very long process of getting her to this point. works with the words used in our interview to describe her feeling coming out of the 88 campaign she said it stung. to julie's point she internalize all of that. she told usop at one point she d not name any names of people who had made promises to joe, to be there, to support him, when they needed those people, those people were not there. so again, she has learned from experience having been a political wife, the wife of a set or kept running, and running, and running, andle running, took all of that and internalize it and use it to learn from. >> a stock but the second part of what you wrote in the message i read, fiercely protective of her family. that is something that is going to be tested with hunter biden,

subject of a grands jury note meeting in delaware on tax issues. if republicans gain control the house or the senate in november, as now seems likely, nothing is ever guaranteed in politics but likely. all but certain they will launch investigative hearings into hunter biden and his uncle jimmy biden, the president's brother. what does jill biden think about those controversies involving her son hunter? and the prospect really brutal investigations ahead? w ask aunt interesting because the family had questions and discussion for into 2020 campaign with the sydney for them. even before he got towe the powr hunter was under investigation are certainly elements of his past they knew what he put into the spotlight. they decided as a family they were ready to move forward. again they knew that was going be part of thehe process. i'm not sure they fully

understood what this is going to lookok like. certainly they anticipated would end up in a situation of the second half of the presidency could have a shadow of investigation. with thatf pretense for them politically but as a family as part of the legacy that will give the next couple of months. as much a she is a part of the reality of politics, she is still a mom. it does hurt her across her great pain to watch one of her children be put through the ringer the way heye has. >> will be very interesting to see how they deal with n it. right now there are lots of questions thatgs come to the whe house about hunter biden during the daily press briefings. you've seen the answer is hunter does not work for the government, i do not speak for hunter. if the elections in november go the way most people think they will, they will have to figure out how to deal with it and how to respond all about.

>> does she think hunter bear some responsibility for the pickle he is in? i or does she think of some of the family is said that it is not his fault. he is an addict, this was his addiction talking, not him a unfair to hold him responsible, what's her views? >> or of the conversations we had with her and conversations we have people around them, i don't think they feel he bears responsibility. they understand heon has addictn and he has struggled publicly. they also understand that maybe the optics of some of what he did in ukraine or may be in china during the obama industry sure problematic, we w never get past that point. it optics, it was a bad look, maybe he should not have been doing that. again, i think might take away from it as much is the story in the public sphere, is much as

this is something being picked apart for them it's also very personal. he is their son. i think they are going to defend him. they are going to defend him until the end, truly. >> what does joe biden think about the presss corps? >> that's a good question. i've never asked that. >> what is your sense? >> she seems very tolerance of the press. i have traveled with her a couple of times.he she has a press pool traveling with her.th she will come back to the back of the plane at the beginning or end of trips to do a little chitchat. i've not seen any outright disdain for the press were we have seen in prio' administrations. she has been in the public eye a for a long time. it was the wife of the vice president, the wife of longtime senator, dealing with the press is not something that is new to her is the way it has been for other first ladies.

>> you mentioned how prepared she was for this role of the first lady. i think first ladies in modern times, the only other person similar preparation was barbara bush would also served eight years in the role others call second lady, had also been the wife of a member of congress, somebody would run for office over and over again. there is no definition. there is no paycheck that comes with that, to joe biden arrive in the white house with a clear idea about what she wanted to do in this role? >> absolutely. because againin she had been thinking about being first lady during those previous campaigns it never went anywhere. so she had an idea of what she wanted to do. even before she became first lady she took some steps to resurrect the military family initiative that should work with michelle obama. and she knew she would have a platform to promote those

issues, cancer research, education, those types of issues she has worked on her whole life. i also think when things important to her was to continue to work. for those threads were for both sthe biden story or know anythig about joe biden should you probably know she is a teacher. something i was struck by, it's not as shtick. she is a real teacher. she actually goes to the class and bring her as first ladies actually dictated by your teaching schedule travel is both, events are both from that, the staff fiercely guards up time on her counterpart are interview schedules built around her teaching schedule. i was very much part of her identity. i think she came into the job wanting to make sure she could retain that. not just for herself even i think it's important her but to set a new standard you can be first lady, you can be a political spouse could have this

independent part of your life because you did not run for office. you're not an elected officials. she's trying to make clear you can support your spouse, you can do the ceremony aspects of the job and so to something you're really passionate about and you carried into that job. >> no first ladies ever done that. >> she is the first working first lady. while they are all progress working outside the white house. >> an independent rear she had before it gets a paycheck for. that's been so important to her even though some people said she can't do that when she's in the white house. it's important her people referred to her isn't dr. jill biden. what is also important her? >> he also taught when joe was b vice president. being able to do that all the duties she had back then a second lady works that made you say it. >> i note. [laughter] , she felt strongly she coulddoo it i was first lady.

she often says teaching is not something i do comment teaching is who i am. it is really about who she is. she has also throughout her entire life or at least her marriage to joe, maintain a separate identity. she did not want to be known as mrs. joe biden or have her be consumed by his senate career. she wanted to keep herch own identity. keep this career. she was teaching when they started dating, got married. those are some of the reasons why it's very important to her. she's also carved out this rural community for herself which is where she taught your second lady and continued after they left washington she would commute down here from delaware to keep teaching. she found this community know that is a very diverse community college. a lot of immigrant students are there. a lot of people who are really

trying to make a new life for themselves in this country, she is not a w particular affinity r women. he spent a lot of time with women from afghanistan, there's a large afghan population at the school. in some ways it's a whole other identity, so other community that she has. what will be really interesting with four years or eight years of the white house is she continues with that after they are out of office. >> one of the points i would add, she also told us that teaching has helped her get. through some of those tougher times in her life. particularly bo's death back in 2015. because when she goes to the classroom she is a teacher. her students know her's and duck derby. she can compartmentalize and push out the sets of going on io her life and focus on being a teacher. once she leaves the classroom of course, she goes home to all those other things.

it was another way forr her to get through some of life's c difficulties. >> you said she came into this rope a clear idea about what she wanted to t do. but there is been the pandemic, she is great ability to interact people that is not hard to do during covid. does she feel like she has succeeded in doing what she wanted to do in this job? >> i would say yes. and i say yes because she also has said that being first lady she recognizes the platform and is not want to waste a minute of it. she is also said she wants to do anything she can to help her husband help the y administrati. most of her first year was spent, as most of the administration first year spent on covid, the response toveou c. traveling around the country, trying people to take their

vaccination, their booster shots, vaccinate their kids so on soo forth. so i think knowing what i know about here, i think in that vein hurt doing all she did in that first year to help with the covid response, she would say it yes she is and what she wanted to do. in between there he said go to military bases and promote military family issues. she did visit committee colleges and talked about education presented a little work on theo cancer research. she was able to do that and more. >> one thing that will be interesting as we get towards e the end of this part of why they decided to run for it really was of both of them decided to run, they looked at the country during the trump administration and not only did they feel like trump was really breaking so many norms and pushing the guardrails and when they felt was unacceptable, they just felt the polarization in the country, intention and the country had reset this unhealthy and potentially dangerous point.

i do not think at this point she could look and say we have rolled that back. i think joe and office, joe biden, uncle joe, the guy with aviators has cool tensions. i don't think they can said thaw at this point. i don't know if in two years or two and half years the bible to say we succeeded on that for sure. >> is jill biden's work and standing effect joe biden's presidency? >> is a good question. think first ladies in general, they serve a purpose in terms of humanizing the president. in terms of the intangible duet like the guy? it's all the guys so far. they just like that person? that is one of the things she does bring some elementst of tht comment to him. i think when they are together, when there with the grandkids people still think that's a nice family. in that respect she isf helpful.

i just sort of wonder if we are at this point we are past the idea that she, or any kind of factor like that could really move the needle. >> also come anything that a first lady does is not supposed to take away from the president's agenda or what they are trying to accomplish. some and we interviewed for the book said whatever the first lady does is supposed to be value added. and at this point she has not done anything controversial. she is not worn a jacket with a message on the back. for high heels to go on a disaster trip. those kind of things that prompted a lot of controversy. so in that vein she is okay. >> sometimes you need to do something c controversial to get attention, to get something done, to shake thingsot up. not joe. sees that,think she the further as she almost out there was when they were

negotiating that "build back better" initiative she was really pushing for communityoc college funding. and she was pretty vocal about it she was pretty vocal about it. and it didn't goid anywhere. >> does she weigh in with him or with others when it comes to actual policy decisions in the administration? >> out so she probably d does. most first place we have come to know don't do that behind the scenes when they are alone at night, she likes hip candlelight dinner with joe. they're probably talking some policy between the twinkles of the candle brickwork the think education in particular she is very passionate about teacher paper she's very passionate about committee: access. that in particular is a place she will weigh in. i think it's less likely she's weighing in on the intricacies of negotiating with putin or arming the ukrainians, rights. >> i interviewed joe biden in

2012. she had a book that came out a children's book. this was at a point where the conventional wisdom was joe biden, his moment had passed he was not going to run for president again. i said that to her and she said don't be so sure. never say never. her response really surprised me because it was an odds with the direction everybody else was going. what do you make of that in her attitude toward his campaign? has she been more on board the conventional sense of many time the spouses are lesson enthused about the campaign be corrected depends which campaign you're talking about. you go back to 1988 she was a real force and wanting him to run. she really believed it was this moment. 2004 adamantly opposed to it and so at that point. the one campaign or i do her i political sensibilities proved to be off is 2008.

she feels like he is a leader in the democratic party on foreign relations. it's a campaign that's really centered on the future of the iraq war. she feels like he voted for the war he now up poses that he center of forceful voice there. shee sees a path forward for hi. think about it in retrospect he think how could you have thought joe biden was going to trumpt hillary clinton or barack obama and that that time john edwards in that campaign. i think her political and tenant in that campaign is the most off. if you go to 2016 and 2020 those are the two really most interesting moments for her. 2006 nancy josh lederman were sitting in her white house booth during that campaign trying to y figure out where the biden hofamily was, one who literally says advisors are putting timelines in front of them. here is how late you can get in.

here's what we have to be at these fundraising deadlines. she literally said we are not ready. beau has just died, we are not ready. she has to vocalize that almost for him for he really can't say it himself but he cannot get himself to the point of walking away. he plays it really important role pretty fast for to 2020 conventional wisdom again is too old, the parties to a liberal, the parties move too far to the left. she is actually the most forceful voices behind the scenes inc. no, this is actually your time. so her evolution and the role she plays in each of those campaigns i find really fascinating. >> her answer to you, never say never,r, i would say how much he learned during those campaigns. no goodo politician will close the door to anything, i think she learned that over the years and over all of those campaignss she worked on with joe. you do not close the door just yet. do not shutt it tight too.

>> maybe that's a lesson i should work myself. i should work on that. the she want him to run for reelection in two years? [laughter] [laughter] that is a great question, susan. [laughter] >> if he wants to i think she'll be there behind him, yes precook salsa guess what darlene is saying. once you close that door, you are a lame-duck. you are irrelevant. i think they will leave that door open publicly at least as long asho possible. >> only great reporters here i think we should go to questions. if youyo could line up at the microphone seal be recorded for eternity on youtube and c-span, that would be great. and while you are filing up there to ask some questions calmly let me just ask you did she have any advice on being the

spouse of the vice president xi gave to the second gentleman? but she did. i am trying to remember it. [laughter] what exactly it was. she did take them under heryo wg a little bit and tried to tell him like savor theit moment, tht type of thing. it's a lot easier when you're in that role than when you are a prisoner first lady because all the attention is on you. of course a lot of attention is on doug he's blazing a trail in this new role. she could try to help a little bit in the beginning but she is also helped us of thehe teachin. he is teaching now at georgetown law school. there are areas they do commiserate. >> there's part of that relationship, she and michelle obama had quite a close relationship. they didn't know until they got to each other little bit on the campaign trail. they actually developed a real friendship. the two couples really did.

i think there's part of the biden's that want to have that with eric and m half. they went to have that. not quite sure they are there completely in the same way. but i think there's part of her that wants to have a partner. >> are going to be embarrassed no one will step up and ask your question. >> look, please go ahead. [laughter] >> went to relive my glories in that it in. so julie, couple of things. >> multipart question two i love it. but you talk about 2016, to think she regrets that decision at all? there are some who >> a debate if he would've run there would not have a present for the courts of history could have been changed. and darlene, i just looked at your perspective of covering the first ladies, where do you think history will judge her? and also it's a problem with the second lady think? what's the beef you have with that? [laughter] works 2016 is t interesting.

we talked about with this, after clinton loses everywhere c theyo people are coming up to them sent you should have run, he should have run. i think it gets into your head a little bit you start to think maybe we should have run? at the same time i think shell come as much as anybody acknowledges, they really were not emotionally ready. beau had just died. they really did not feel he could goms through the or the family could put themselves through that. and obviously worked out in the end. i think it can be a little heavy everywhere you go you go to the supermarket, they go to in delaware people walkav up i wish you would have won, it could have beat trump. it kind of six in your head pretty think that also influence the eventual decision to run in 2020. >> wearable history rancor do you think? >> i think she will be remembered for being an active

first lady. it's a little hard right now because they're still so much time ahead and the administration that hasd,d, pas. but she has been very active. when the most active first lady's in years just with the travel schedule that rivals the president schedule. so there is that. the second lady think us back to an editor of mine who did not like it. i also did not like it quick to see editor we need to know now. >> just become a thing and they fell adopted second gentleman, second lady so i'm going to be stuck with that for a long time. [laughter] >> the editor someone who cannot be here tonight, kerri hunt longtime white house correspondent. >> congratulations. one of the relationships it attracted a lot of bill biden in the president's sister. there sort of dueling roles is

like the rock in the family that is gone through so much tragedy. just curious what you picked up dabout the dynamic in any conflict between them? what's its interest in the biden family has a lot of strong women. i think joe and the sons have gotten a lot of attention. but actually joe's mother is a really influential figure in his life. a lot of stories he tells about his mother. and his sister is a close family and a key political advisor.s there is this a moment she talks about with us when joe has his brain aneurysm. that is where i think the dynamic starts to shift a little work jill is the wife in that moment. and he is her husband and he ise ailing. that is where she steps up and plays the role of the wife, sister, smothered do do not get to make the decisions there. think it transforms the relationship ultimately end up

positively bit establishes her, she is the matriarch of that part of the biden family. it respects the relationship in a way that's probably a little healthier going forward. but they do, to the state they retain this incredibly close relationship. but that to me was a moment that really stood out for. >> in the book joe is innd the hospital and the whole family i' there. jill is sort of sitting off to the side with the rest of the families talking, debating, trying to figure out medical treatment, and making all of these decisions. it's almost as if she has an outer body experience she stops yourself and realizes wait a second, that is my husband. that is my decision to make. and then joe's mom agrees with her. they all let jill make the decisions about his medical care. there's also another story she told us about that's our time with valerie which was that in the beginning, she was very intimidated by valerie.

but they have since -- the relationship has evolved overd the years were valerie is to help her with her speeches, when she would go out to campaign for joe in iowa and stuff like that. they are now, what's the word i'm lookingot for? they are nowou cool. [laughter] >> families are complicated right? and in this family you hadte provided first wife, valerie biden stepping up, moving into the household really asking as a surrogate mother to the two little boys. and then he marries joe biden. has to be a complicated maneuver for the women involved not to mention for the kids. >> think it absolutely was. i think on the one hand, everyone you talk to that was around at that time, talks about a positive impact that jill had on the family.re on the show and pulling them out the slow moment inat his life wh the boys were young at the time.

but again, the biden family when there is a crisis that biden family closes in on your predicted that for joe and for the boys. and then end steps t jill. i think it does kinda shake up theth dynamic of it. >> wouldn't see i relationship but? what was the relationship like with beau and what is it like with hunter? >> they had a great relationship. she talked a lot to us about how beau was the protective one produce very protective of her when they were growing up. intercourse boys also took her almost immediately. they are kind of longing for some sort of mother figure even though valerie was there in their life. it's actually the boys that went to joe at one point in time and said you know, we think we should mary jo, not you should but we think we should mary jo. and she described hunter as being affectionate. she had seen early on his promises of artist which is

something we are seeing now which is again putting him in the spotlight. but she had a great relationship with both of them. hunter biden was at the white house on monday for the easter egg rope is going round gladhanding people and introducing himself. just working the rope line so to speak. onnext congratulations, thank y. you have described jill biden as a reallyy fierce advocate for hr husband. i was interested in both of your conversations to answer directly the question about reelection. if she felt it was not in his best interest next i definitely think so. >> i do too. i go back to 2016 example.

if he had been left to his best devices, i think he probably would've move forward with it. i thinksi it felt like it was a moment, why not me i'm the vice president even though we have the tragedy she was the one saying i don't think you are ready for a this. harm in some way, i think it's different if she thanks he might lose i do think you be a voice but perhaps the only voice that really mattered in that situation. >> which you think kamala harris would take. [inaudible] >> is a million-dollar question. that's dynamic is one i don't think we got as much insight into as we would have liked. it is a fascinating i dynamic.

that is a million-dollar question. your obvious your gaze turns the right of course requests of courses experience as vice president was obama weight in. >> hello congratulations hi. congratulations on your book. a later question. we note doctor biden does like to be called doctor biden. how does she feel about the title of your book? >> that is a good question but we interviewed her she wanted to be virtuous jill. she was pretty casual i would say. but she always is but she tells people to call her jill. shee tells reporter to call her jill.il she tells perfect strangers to call her jill. she walks into rooms and says hi, i am jill. not hi i'm the first lady but hi i am jill. and so i think, i like the title. you wonder how she feels about

the title but i'm going to tell you why i like the title. the purpose of the book is to try to introduce the public to this woman who is now serving as first lady. someone who is now getting her moment in the spotlight after years of almost being behind the ecscenes. and so because she wants people to call her jill, i think it is the perfect title for the book. >> youth and she's got a bad rap on this? there is a little controversy on this early in the administration, forget who was wall street journal. >> is during the transition. lonely voice out there who is being anti- woman. ? no, she went to school. she studied. she got her masters her bachelors her doctorate. she earned it. so yeah embrace it and she does. please go ahead. congratulations, first of all,

thank you, and i'm always interested in how reporters. right while they still working so that's a little bit about the the writing process of the book. and also a second question coming from and a second question coming from my professors side, talk a little bit about how the perception is that you are writing about someone that you may have to cover. is there objectivity issues here moving forward? >> i will take that last part first. i felt very strongly basically every conversation we had about the book and with each other and about the sources and others with her office we made very clear that r this was a reported biography and that we were reporting this and we didn't collaborate with her office. o this wasn't the authorized biography of joe biden, this was a reported project. it got to the client we kept

inserting it into every conversation to make sure to your point don't we have to cover the first lady every day and she's going to do it in an objective way so it's important to make sure people understand it's not a collaboration with their office. on the writing process, i would say we had a great team. bridget and the team this is the first book i've worked on. it is a team effort in a major way. it also involved a lot of late nights. we were doing edits and rewrites deep into the middle of the night while doing our day jobs. i don't necessarily recommend. >> i wouldn't say that it's the preferred way to do it, but it

was a crutch for sure. >> is there anything they wanted you to take out of the book or including the books? >> she answered all of our questions and there was nothing she said that was off limits or anything like that. we took everything she gave us, everything we gathered from all of the reporting and interview was weeded and reported into this thing. >> have you ever seen her mad? >> did we talk about the example with the priest in the hospital? >> we did not. >> this goes back to the 87 campaign after he dropped out after the plagiarismal allegatis then it's a discovered he has a brain aneurysm and is in the hospital, and we did talk about this briefly a moment ago. so he's in the hospital trying

to line up child care for her kids and goes back to the hospital one day and outside of joe's hospital room there is a nurse at a table doing charts or something so she's just trying to go in and the woman stops and says you can't go in there. she says that my t husband is in there and the nurse tells her you can't go in there because they are giving him last rites. she stormed in the room and yells at the priest get out, get out! [laughter] and the priest just collects his things and runs out. [laughter] >> why did she react to so to that? >> i think just because having a priest standing over your husband administering last rites kind of sends the message that the end is coming and she didn't want to believe that.

she didn't want joe to believe that. so that's l why. >> now that you know joe biden so b well and have written this wonderful book that i'm sure everyone will buy and everyone in this room will buy, what is misunderstood about her, what about her do people just get wrong? >> people don't understand or don'tw, know she's actually reay interesting. again, kind of this unknown first lady, this known unknown character. i think frankly people might think she's a little bland, she doesn't have this sort of compelling narrative. she's not the model like melania was. she'st snarky and irreverent and has come to this a great sense

of humor and is thehe kind of person you might like a glass of wine with. she's interesting and i know that it may sound basic that it was a misunderstanding thing. >> also a good thing when you're doing a biography. what do you think people may be get wrong about her? that doesn't always come through. as first ladies in general are initially underestimated and at least the ones that i've covered have all been fascinating in their own ways. so that's what i think. >> what does she think about your book? >> we don't know. we thinknk your book is great. thank you for writing it and for coming here tonight.

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