Exclusive: John And Elizabeth Edwards
Edwards Open About Cancer, Unconditional About Couple's Decision On Presidential Run
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Play CBS Video Video John And Elizabeth Edwards 60 Minutes Exclusive: Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with the presidential candidate and his wife after the announcement of the recurrence of Elizabeth's cancer.
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Video Edwards Campaign Forges Ahead On the same day his wife, Elizabeth, announced her cancer relapse, John Edwards and his presidential campaign forged ahead at a fundraiser in New York City. Gloria Borger reports.
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Video Politico On Edwards Campaign Jim VandeHei, executive editor of Politico.com, speaks with Hannah Storm about the impact of Elizabeth Edwards' cancer relapse on her husband's 2008 presidential campaign.
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Former Sen. John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, talk to Katie Couric in Las Vegas on March 24, 2007. (CBS)
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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Edwards greets his wife, Elizabeth, during the New Leadership on Health Care Presidential Forum on Saturday, March 24, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP)
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Photo Essay John Edwards The former N.C. senator and VP candidate makes another run for the White House
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Who's Who 2008 Democratic Hopefuls Clinton, Obama and Edwards lead the chase for the Democratic nomination.
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Interactive Cancer Learn about the most common cancers, who gets them and how they are treated.
Katie Couric:
At your press conference, you were both extremely confident, very upbeat.
Elizabeth said, “Right now we feel incredibly optimistic. I don’t expect my life to be significantly different.”
And I think some people wondered if you were in denial, if you were being realistic about what you were going to be facing here.
Elizabeth Edwards:
I... I... I... I think that it is our intention to deny cancer any control over us.
And though I know there are people who live short lives, I feel optimistic, not because I've got rose-colored glasses on, but because I know that I have only low-volume... a small amount of cancer in my bones.
John Edwards:
We don't understate or misunderstand the seriousness of this. I mean, this could kill her, and we know it. And what we won't choose to do is... we choose to live our lives fully, and with strength and optimism. We get to make that choice.
And that's what we choose.
Katie Couric:
Your decision to stay in this race has been analyzed, and quite frankly judged by a lot of people. And some say, what you're doing is courageous, others say it's callous. Some say, "Isn't it wonderful they care for something greater than themselves?" And others say, "It's a case of insatiable ambition." You say?
John Edwards:
I say all of those judgments and questions are entirely legitimate. I mean, you offer yourself up for service to the country as the President of the United States, you deserve to be evaluated. I am perfectly open to that evaluation. I think that I know, when I'm running for president, I'm running for president because I want to serve this country, and because I want all people in America to have the same kind of chances that I've had.
I've come from nothing to now have everything. And I think everybody in this country, no matter who their family is, or what the color of their skin, ought to get that chance.
But, throughout this process, people will be able to see very clearly into what we do, what we say, how we behave, and they can evaluate for themselves whether they think I'm, in fact, doing this for the right reason.
We know the truth. We know the truth, but I think it's a fair judgment for Americans to make.
Produced by Robert Anderson, Lori Beecher and Michael Rosenbaum
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