Preisdent Obama interview

I GENERALLY BELIEVE THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CANDIDATE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE PRESIDENCY THAN HILLARY CLINTON. >> Dickerson: NOT EISENHOWER, NOT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH? >> I SAID " MORE PREPARED ." I DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, CHOPPED LIVER. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HEADING UP THE ALLIED FORCES IS PRETTY GOOD TRAINING FOR THE PRESIDENCY, AND I'M HUGE ADMIRERS OF BOTH EISENHOWER AND HERBERT WALKER BUSH, IN FACT, I THINK THAT GEORGE H. W. BUSH IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED PRESIDENTS WE'VE HAD AND I THINK HE IS A REALLY GOOD MAN, BUT THE SKILL SETS THAT HILLARY HAS ARE SIMILAR TO MANY OF THE SKILL SETS THAT THEY HAD, EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT, EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE, SOLVING BIG, DIFFICULT PROBLEMS, FAMILIARITY WITH THE WORLD. YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS THAT HILLARY AND I HAVE BECOME FRIENDS, BUT WE'RE NOT BOSOM BUDDIES. WE DON'T GO VACATIONING TOGETHER. I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY CLEAR SENSE OF BOTH HER STRENGTHS AND HER WEAKNESSES, AND WHAT I WOULD SAY WOULD BE THAT THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS AS MUCH ABOUT DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY AS ANYBODY, IS TOUGH AS NAILS, IS MOTIVATED BY WHAT'S BEST FOR AMERICA AND ORDINARY PEOPLE, UNDERSTANDS THAT IN THIS DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE, THINGS DON'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AS FAST AS WE'D LIKE AND IT REQUIRES COMPROMISE AND GRINDING IT OUT. SHE'S NOT ALWAYS FLASHY, AND THERE ARE BETTER SPEECH MAKERS, BUT SHE KNOWS HER STUFF. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, THAT IS WHAT IS ULTIMATELY REQUIRED TO DO A GOOD JOB IN THIS OFFICE. >> Dickerson: WE'LL HAVE MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR. STAY WITH US. >> Dickerson: BE SURE THE TUNE INTO CBS NEWS AT 10: 00 P. M. EASTERN STARTING TOMORROW NIGHT FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA. AND YOU CAN WATCH EXTENDED COVERAGE OF OUR DIGITAL NETWORK, CBSN AT CBSNEWS. COM. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. >> Dickerson: SOME OF OUR CBS STATIONS ARE LEAVING US NOW, BUT FOR MOST OF YOU WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT. >> HILLARY CLINTON HAS CHOSEN HER RUNNING MATE, AND THEY WILL GIVE THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW TOGETHER ON " 60 MINUTES" TONIGHT. >> Dickerson: WELCOME BACK THE " FACE THE NATION ." WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF, TALKING ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON. YOU BUILT A TEAM AT THE BEGINNING, AND YOU WERE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. YOU WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE WHITE HOUSE AND BE TRANSPARENT. SHE SET UP AN E- MAIL SERVER THAT WAS NEITHER IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LETTER OF THAT TRANSPARENCY. THAT'S NO SMALL THING GIVEN WHAT YOU TOLD EVERYBODY ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AT THE BEGINNING. >> RIGHT. AND I THINK SHE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE SHE MADE A MISTAKE, BUT WHAT I ALSO THINK IS TRUE IS THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE FOR DECADES AT IF HIGHEST LEVELS OF SCRUTINY, FOLKS ARE GOING THE FIND SOME MISTAKES YOU MAKE. I'VE MADE MISTAKES. I DON'T KNOW ANY PRESIDENT OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL AT HER LEVEL WHO AREN'T GOING THE LOOK BACK AND SAY, I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT DIFFERENTLY, BUT WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS THAT THE CONSISTENCY WITH WHICH SHE HAS DEVOTED HER LIFE TO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS GET HEALTH CARE AND A GOOD EDUCATION AND THAT FAMILIES ARE GETTING A FAIR BREAK IF THEY'RE WORKING HARD AND THAT AMERICA UPHOLDS ITS BEST TRADITIONS OF FOREIGN POLICY, ON THE BIG STUFF, SHE'S GOTTEN IT RIGHT. >> Dickerson: BUT IF YOU MAKE MISTAKES, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THEM QUICK AND COME CLEAN. >> WELL... >> Dickerson: YOU SAID THAT ABOUT THE REVEREND WRIGHT. YOU SAID AFTERWARD, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE. >> ULTIMATELY GOVERNMENT IS A HUMAN ENTERPRISE. NONE OF US ARE PERFECT, AND THIS JOB BY DEFINITION, LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY AND WEALTHIEST COUNTRY AND MOST INFLUENTIAL COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, IT'S A BIG JOB, AND IT HAS GOTTEN MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED. AND THE SPEED AND THE PACE AT WHICH YOU'RE MOVING IS DIFFERENT. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT NOW THAT WE KNOW OUR HISTORY ABOUT THE ERRORS OF EVEN OUR GREATEST PRESIDENTS, OF F. D. R. OR J. F. K. OR RONALD REAGAN OR HARRY TRUMAN, THEN WHAT YOU REALIZE IS THAT ULTIMATELY EACH OF US WHO OCCUPY THIS OFFICE, INCLUDING ME, ARE GOING TO IN SOME WAYS, IN SOME AREAS FALL SHORT OF THE IDEA. AND I PROMISE YOU, IF YOU OCCUPY THIS JOB LONG ENOUGH, YOU'RE ACUTELY AWARE OF IT. YOU'RE PAINFULLY AWARE OF IT. THERE ISN'T A DAY WHERE I DON'T SAY THE MYSELF, I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE THIS JUST A LITTLE BETTER. I WISH I COULD EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THIS ISSUE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFECTIVELY. I WISH THAT I HAD SOME PERFECT SCHEME THAT COULD BRING ABOUT AN END TO THE CRISIS IN SYRIA QUICKER BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF EVENTS THAT ARE UNFOLDING ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING IS THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST, THAT YOU ARE... YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT BE WORKING HARDER OR BE SMARTER OR MORE EFFECTIVE, AND WHAT YOU ALSO KNOW IS AT THE END OF THE DAY OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS BECAUSE IT'S NOT RELIANT JUST ON ONE PERSON, BUT IT'S A PROCESS OF SELF- GOVERNMENT WHERE WE'RE ALL INVOLVED IN MAKING THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. >> Dickerson: F. D. R. AND LISTEN CON-- LINCOLN WERE BOTH TALENTED AT LETTING BOTH SIDES OF AN ISSUE THINKING THAT THEY AGREED WITH THEM. IS HONESTY OVERRATED AS A PRESIDENTIAL QUALITY? >> IT'S INTERESTING. I ACTUALLY THINK THAT HONESTY IS NOT OVERRATED. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, BECAUSE THE TRUST YOU HAVE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS CURRENCY THAT CAN GET DEPLETED. AND IT'S HARD TO BUILD BACK UP. WHAT I ALSO BELIEVE, THOUGH, IS THAT THE ISSUES WE DEAL WITH ARE SO COMPLICATED AND TRYING TO MOVE ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, THE MOVE THIS HUGE OCEAN LINER THAT IS THE U. S. GOVERNMENT, MEANS THAT SOMETIMES HOLDING YOUR TONGUE, SOMETIMES LETTING THINGS PLAY THEMSELVES OUT, KNOWING NOT JUST WHEN TO ACT BUT ALSO WHEN TO HOLD BACK AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE PLAYING OUT SO THAT YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THE TIME TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THE MOMENT MAY NOT BE RIPE YET, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS I THINK ARE A MATTER OF FEEL, YOU KNOW. LINCOLN AND F. D. R. WITH MASTERS AT IT. I'M NOT IN THEIR LEAGUE, BUT HOPEFULLY AFTER SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS I'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE BETTER AT IT. >> Dickerson: WHAT'S THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT YOUR PREDECESSOR GAVE YOU THAT WORKED, THAT WAS REALLY USEFUL? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, GEORGE W. BUSH, DESPITE OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFERENT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES, IS A REALLY GOOD MAN AND HAS BEEN VERY GRACIOUS TO ME AND LAURA HAS BEEN GRACIOUS TO MICHELLE. THE WHOLE FAMILY HAS BEEN TERRIFIC. PROBABLY TWO USEFUL PIECES OF ADVICE. THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE WAS TRUST YOURSELF AND KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY, REGARDLESS OF THE DAY- TO- DAY NEWS CYCLES AND THE NOISE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED THEIR PRESIDENT TO SUCCEED, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY GENEROUS. THE SECOND PIECE OF ADVICE IS ALWAYS USE PURELL HAND SANITIZER, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF COLDS BECAUSE YOU SHAKE A LOT OF HANDS. >> Dickerson: NEWS YOU CAN USE. >> THANKS. I ENJOYED IT. >> Dickerson: WE ALSO VISITED THE OVAL OFFICE WHILE WE WERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE FRIDAY. THAT'S COMING UP. >> Dickerson: DURING OUR VISIT TO THE OVAL OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT GAVE US HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT LEAVING OFFICE. SO YOU'RE READY TO GO WHEN IT'S TIME? >> YEAH. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE COME THE REALIZE IS THE WISDOM OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE FOUNDERS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY, HAVING SOME TURNOVER, HAVING SOME FRESH LEGS COME IN I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I FEEL AS IF I'M A BETTER PRESIDENT THAN I'VE EVER BEEN, THAT THE EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME SHARPER, CLEARER ABOUT HOW TO GET STUFF DONE. MY TEAM IS OPERATING AT A PEAK LEVEL AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE TAPE. BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SELF- GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRACY THAT WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND I'M ABLE TO TURN OVER THE KEYS. >> Dickerson: DO YOU WALK IN HERE AND THINK, ANOTHER DAY HAS GONE OFF THE CALENDAR, THE DAYS ARE DWINDLING, WE HAVE TO MOVE FAST BECAUSE TIME IS PASSING. >> THERE IS A STRONG SENSE OF URGENCY, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ON THE LAST DAY AS I'M LEAVING THIS OFFICE FOR THE FINAL TIME THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MELANCHOLY AND NOSTALGIA, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH HERE, BUT, FRANKLY, ON A DAY- TO- DAY BASIS, YOU'RE SO BUSY, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR THAT KIND OF REFLECTION. I THINK THAT COMES WHEN YOU'RE GONE. >> Dickerson: ON THE LAST DAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? ARE YOU GOING THE LOOK AT THE REMINGTON? ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT THE HOP CENTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IS NOT HERE. >> THAT'S NOT HERE ANY LONGER. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT THE CARPET BECAUSE I STILL REMEMBER IT TOOK US A COUPLE YEARS TO ACTUALLY GET THE THING IN. WE DIDN'T WANT TO REMODEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THE TRADITION, BUT I STILL REMEMBER THINKING ABOUT THOSE QUOTES FROM TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND J. F. K. AND MARTIN LUTHER KING. I'LL PROBABLY WONDER WHETHER I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO STAY TRUE TO THOSE QUOTES, AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO SAY YES. >> Dickerson: DO YOU FEEL THAT'S TRUE IN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING QUOTE, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS IN YOUR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH ON ELECTION NIGHT IN CHICAGO. >> RIGHT. >> Dickerson: IS THAT QUOTE TRUE DURING THE TIME YOU'VE BEEN PRESIDENT? >> YES. >> Dickerson: REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THAT QUOTED. >> THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE. I BELIEVE THAT IT DOES. ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS STEM CELL MY STAFF IS THAT-- I ALWAYS TELL MY STAFF IS THAT WE'RE HERE FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME IN HISTORY, AND WE NEVER ARE GOING TO GET DONE EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE SHOULD GET DONE. IN THAT SENSE WE'RE RELAY RUNNERS, AND WE THIS OUR PART, WE RUN A GOOD RACE, BUT EVEN DURING THIS EIGHT- YEAR PERIOD, THIS EIGHT- YEAR STRETCH, WHICH IN HUMAN HISTORY IS THE BLINK OF AN EYE, 20 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE. SAME- SEX COUPLES CAN GET MARRIED IN ALL 50 STATES. YOU KNOW, FAMILIES WHO SAW THEIR LOVED ONES STRUCK DOWN ON 9 / 11 KNOW THAT JUSTICE WAS DONE TO BIN LADEN. COMPANIES AND FAMILIES ARE MORE FINANCIALLY SECURE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GO INTO ANOTHER GREAT DEPRESSION. AND THE CUMULATION OF WORK THAT WE'VE DONE MOVED THE NEEDLE. IT DIDN'T REVOLUTIONIZE THE COUNTRY, BUT IT BENT THAT ARC. AND MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I LEAVE THIS PLACE AMERICA IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER OFF, AND IT WILL BE UP TO THE NEXT PERSON TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS, AND I'LL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS A CITIZEN TO MAKING SURE THAT THAT ARC KEEPS BENDING TOWARD JUSTICE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN. >> Pelley: AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH OUR POLITICAL FAMILY. >> Dickerson: WE'RE BACK WITH SOME POLITICAL ANALYSIS. JAMELLE BOUIE IS THE CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR " SLATE" MAGAZINE. HE'S ALSO A CBS NEWS POLITICAL ANALYST. RAMESH PONNURU IS THE SENIOR EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REVIEW. NANCY CORDES COVERS THE DEMOCRATS FOR US HERE AT CBS, AND RON BROWNSTEIN IS AN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ATLANTIC MEDIA. OUR NEW BATTLEGROUND TRACKER POLL SHOWS A TWO- POINT BOUNCE FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE 11 BATTLEGROUND STATES FOLLOWING HIS CONVENTION. THE CHANGE COMES ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM A HANDFUL OF THOSE REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO WENT IN THE CONVENTION AS UNDECIDED, NOT FROM A CONVERSION OF VOTERS PREVIOUSLY WITH CLINTON. CLINTON'S SUPPORT REMAINS THE SAME DESPITE SO MUCH OF THE CONVENTION'S FOCUS ON HER. RON, I WANT THE START WITH YOU. WHAT DID DONALD TRUMP GET OUT OF HIS CONVENTION? WHO DID HE PICK UP? WHO DID HE APPEAL TO? >> I THINK THOSE RESULTS MAKE SENSE TO THOSE OF US WHO WERE THERE. I THINK THE CONVENTION BURNISHED HIM AS A STRONG LEADER TO GET THINGS DONE. I THINK THAT WAS EFFECTIVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK. BUT THE TONE AND THE MESSAGE WAS OMINOUS. IT WAS CONFRONTATIONAL. IT WAS DIVISIVE. IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING, WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE FINAL SPEECH, THE ECHO OF RICHARD NIXON'S " FIRE INTO THE NIGHT" PRETTY MUCH REFLECTS THE VIEW OF TRUMP VOTERS WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO FEEL THEY'RE THE VICTIM OF VIOLENT CRIME OR TERRORISM, MORE LIKELY TO SAY AMERICA WAS BETTER 50 YEARS AGO, BUT IF YOU'RE A MODERATE SUBURBAN WHITE COLLAR VOTER WHO WORRIED DONALD TRUMP WAS TOO DIVISIVE GOING IN, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT MADE YOU LESS WORRIED AND PROBABLY THINGS THAT MADE YOU MORE WORRIED. THE MOST CONSPICUOUS WEAKNESS FOR DONALD TRUMP IS HE IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPERFORMING AMONG COLLEGE EDUCATED WHITES, SUBURBAN VOTERS, THE TIME OF VOTERS THAT TIM KAINE IS MOST PRECISELY AIMED AT. >> Dickerson: THERE WAS A LOT OF HILLARY CLINTON AT THIS CONVENTION, NANCY, A LOT OF ATTACKS. WAS THERE A CENTRAL THEME THAT EMERGED OR JUST A BLAST AT CLINTON? >> I THINK THE CENTRAL THEME WAS SHE'S A CRIMINAL. I HEARD AS MANY CHANTS OF " LOCK HER UP" AS I DID OF " U- S- A, U- S- A ." THE QUESTION, AS RON POINTS OUT, DOES THAT GET A HUGE RESPONSE IN THE COUNTRY? YOU CAN SEE IT GOING EITHER WAY. YOU COULD SEE THOSE INDEPENDENT WHITE SUBURBAN VOTERS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT GOES TOO FAR. THIS WOMAN HAS NOT BEEN INDICTED OF ANYTHING. AND YOU COULD SEE OTHERS, YOU KNOW, HEARING THAT MESSAGE OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND HAVING IT FEED INTO A VIEW THAT MANY PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE THAT PERHAPS SHE'S NOT AS HONEST AS SHE COULD BE, AND THAT MAY BURNISH THE CASE. >> THE QUICKEN LOANS ARENA DID SOMETIMES HAVE THE FEELING OF A COLISEUM. THE THING THAT STRIKES ME, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW PESSIMISTIC TRUMP'S SPEECH WAS, BUT HE'S PEARCE-- PERSONALLY, OF COURSE, VERY OPTIMISTIC, AND IT'S NOT THE SPEECH OF SOMEBODY WHO THINKS HE'S AN UNDERDOG. IT'S THE SPEECH OF SOMEBODY WHO THINKS HE'S STRUCTURALLY AHEAD. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO PIVOT, TO MODERATE TO, EXPAND THE MESSAGE TO BRING IN NEW PEOPLE. IT'S JUST THE EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING MESSAGE. THEY THINK THEY'RE WINNING THIS POINT. THE POLLS DON'T SUGGEST THAT. IF YOU'RE ONE POINT UP AFTER YOUR CONVENTION AND BEFORE THE OTHER PARTY'S CONVENTION, I THINK THAT MEANS YOU'RE STRUCTURALLY BEHIND, BUT THEY DON'T. >> Dickerson: DID WE LEARN ANYTHING NEW ABOUT DONALD TRUMP? >> I DON'T THINK WE LEARNED MUCH OF ANYTHING NEW. I THINK WE GOT CLARIFICATION OF WHAT'S DRIVING A GOOD CHUNK OF TRUMP'S SUPPORT. THE THING THAT STRUCK ME OVER THE COURSE OF THE CONVENTION, ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY NIGHT AND ON THURSDAY NIGHT, WERE THE EXTREMELY HEATED DENUNCIATIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, OF RADICAL ISLAM, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THOSE MESSAGES ARE THE ONES THAT GOT PEOPLE EXCITED. PEOPLE WERE NOT EXCITED ABOUT A NEW POLICY PROPOSAL. PEOPLE ARE NOT EXCITED ABOUT DURING HIS SPEECH TRUMP MENTIONED TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES. THAT DIDN'T GET VERY MUCH APPLAUSE. BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE GOT PEOPLE STOMPING THE FLOOR. SO I THINK IF ANYTHING THIS CONVENTION HAS FOR ME AT LEAST CLARIFIED WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS AN ETHNNATIONALLIST MOVEMENT, A CAMPAIGN CENTRALIZED ON THE IDEA THAT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY BY SIGHT ARE THREATENING TO AMERICANS. >> I WAS ON CNN YESTERDAY WITH A TRUMP SUPPORTER WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT TIM KAINE TALKING IN SPANISH AND SAID, I DIDN'T NEED THE TRANSLATOR FOR ANYTHING AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. AND THEN ANN COULTER TWEETED, " INTERESTING TO HEAR FAREED ZACCARIA TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING ." 77 % OF TRUMP SUPPORT CENTERS A POLL SAID THEY ARE BOTHERED WHEN THEY HEAR IMMIGRANTS TALKING IN OTHER LANGUAGES. I AGREE. I THINK IT WAS STRIKING TO ME THAT THE DISCUSSION ON TRADE WAS GREETED ALMOST WITH SILENCE. WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS AN ELECTION TO DIVIDE THE COUNTRY ALONG CULTURAL LINES, BETWEEN A COALITION OF TRANSFORMATION, WHICH IS THE DEMOCRATIC COALITION, ESSENTIALLY DIVERSE AMERICA AND THE PORTIONS OF WHITE AMERICA WHO ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THEY TEND TO URBAN AND YOUNGER AND SECULAR, AND A GROUP OF RESTORATION, MORE DEEPLY RELIGIOUS BLUE COLLAR WHO FEEL THE COUNTRY IS EVOLVING AWAY FROM WHAT THEY BELIEVE THE CORE OF AMERICA IS. I THINK THAT MORE THAN NICK-- INCOME IS GOING TO BE THE LINES WE'LL SEE IN THIS ELECTION. >> BY THE WAY, A LOT OF REPUBLICAN LEADERS DON'T AGREE WITH THE APPROACH THAT YOU JUST OUTLINED. THAT'S WHY YOU HEARD SO MUCH HILLARY CLINTON TALK FROM THE PODIUM, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REALLY GET BEHIND THAT MESSAGE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS PUTTING OUT THERE, SO THEY HAD TO TALK INSTEAD ABOUT HER. >> Dickerson: AND IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY TO HEAR MITCH McCONNELL, THE SENATE LEADER, WHO WAS BOOED, AND PAUL RYAN RECEIVE VERY TEPID APPLAUSE. AND TRUMP NEVER MENTIONED HE WOULD WORK WITH CONGRESS. RAMESH, TED CRUZ CAME ON STAGE, SAID VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE, HE WAS BOOED OFF THE STAGE. NOW THAT THIS IS SORTED OUT A FEW DAYS, DOES THIS MATTER? IS THIS JUST ABOUT TED CRUZ? DOES THIS HAVE ANY LARGER POINT ABOUT UNITY? >> I THINK IT DOES MATTER. IT CERTAINLY MATTERS FOR THE FUTURE OF SENATOR CRUZ, WHO I SHOULD NOTE IS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE, BUT I THINK IT ALSO MATTERS FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT SENATOR CRUZ MADE A BLOW AGAINST REPUBLICAN UNITY, ALTHOUGH HE DID, IT'S THAT TRUMP HAS COMPOUNDED THAT BLOW BY CONTINUING TO OBSESS ABOUT IT. HE HAS SAID MORE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT TED CRUZ IN AN ATTACK ON HIM THAN ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON SINCE HIS CONVENTION ENDED. THAT'S REALLY AN AMAZING THING. HE IS BROADCASTING HIS LACK OF SELF- CONTROL AND HIS PETTINESS IN A WAY THAT'S UNUSUAL FOR MAJOR PARTY NOMINEE. >> Dickerson: WE SHOULD SWITCH TO THE DEMOCRATS OR WE'LL RUN OUT. SO TIM KAINE IS PICKED, COUNTER- PROGRAMMING YESTERDAY TO THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, WASN'T IT? >> RIGHT. NOT JUST IN TERMS OF SORT OF TIM KAINE IS A, YOU KNOW, VERY... MOST PEOPLE SAY HE'S A VERY PROFESSIONAL KIND OF GUY, VERY DOWN THE LINE, VERY... NO SURPRISES WITH TIM KAINE. BUT ALSO HIS COMING OUT SPEECH WAS VERY POSITIVE AND VERY OPTIMISTIC AND VERY MUCH SORT OF A STATEMENT I THINK OF PURPOSE FOR THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN. WE ARE GOING TO RUN A CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON UNITY, FOCUSED ON SORT OF SHOWCASING THE BEST OF THE COUNTRY AND NOT TRYING TO SCARE PEOPLE. I WILL SAY THAT THERE WAS SOME UNHAPPINESS ON THE LEFT WITH THE KAINE CHOICE, IN PART BECAUSE OF KAINE'S STANCE ON ABORTION, HE'S PERSONALLY ANTI- ABORTION AS GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA AND SUPPORTED MINOR MEASURES THAT WERE FAVORED BY PRO- LIFE VIRGINNIANS, BUT OTHERWISE HE'S A PRO- CHOICE POLITICIAN. >> THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN PUSHED BACK IMMEDIATELY. THEY KNEW THAT WOULD BE A CRITICISM. THEY PUT OUT BASICALLY HIS RECORD CARD FROM ALL OF THESE PROGRESSIVE GROUPS LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN SAYING, HE'S GOT 100 % VOTING RECORD WITH THESE PEOPLE. I THINK THE BIGGEST NEWS TO COME OUT OF THAT SPEECH YESTERDAY WAS THAT TIM KAINE IS NOT BORING. HE DID A MASTERFUL JOB OF LOWERING EXPECTATIONS, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST SPEECHES THAT WE HAVE SEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND I THINK HE'S GOT THE SMILE ON HIS FACE ALL THE TIME, WHAT HE'S KNOWN FOR IN THE SENATE. HE'S A PRETTY UPBEAT GUY. AND IT KIND OF LENT AN AIR OF SUNNINESS TO A CAMPAIGN THAT HAS REALLY BEEN MISSING IT. >> Dickerson: IF YOU'RE A BERNIE SANDERS SUPPORTER HARD CORE, IT'S A TOUGH 72 HOURS. THE WIKILEAKS SHOWING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE MOVING... IT PROBABLY DIDN'T MATTER THAT MUCH, BUT IT WAS AWKWARD AND INAPPROPRIATE. BUT KAINE HIMSELF THOUGHT I DID A VERY GOOD JOB IN TWO RESPECTS. FIRST, HE TALKED ABOUT HIS SON IN THE MILITARY. I HAVE A SON IN THE MILITARY, I CAN SAY HOW UNSPEAKABLY PROUD I AM. I THOUGHT THAT BROUGHT THAT OUT. BUT EVEN MORE, HE BRAIDED HIS PERSONAL STORY INTO THE MODERN DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. HE TIED HIMSELF INTO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WITH HIS WIFE'S ROLE IN DESEGREGATING SCHOOLS, AND HE TIED HIMSELF INTO THE URBAN AREA. HE'S A CANDIDATE WHO IN 2012 DID EVEN BETTER THAN OBAMA IN THE BIG SUBURBAN AREAS OF VIRGINIA. THAT'S FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. >> Dickerson: TRYING TO MAKE THIS A NON- CHANGE TICKET. THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, THESE ARE TWO POLITICIANS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THE REPUBLICANS WANT IT TO BE A REFERENDUM ON THE STATUS QUO. AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WANT IT TO BE A REFERENDUM ON VOTING IT DOWN. I THEY SELECTING KAINE, WHO HILLARY CLINTON WAS ASKED ABOUT HIS REPUTATION AS BEING BORING, AND SHE SAID, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HIM. AND I THINK THAT'S A TELLING REMARK BECAUSE YOU WANT A SAFE, STEADY PAIR OF HANDS IF THE CAMPAIGN YOU'RE RUNNING IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE RECKLESSNESS, IMPULLSIVENESS AND UNFITNESS FOR OFFICE OF YOUR OPPONENT. >> AND TO THE POINT OF CONTRAST, THE DIFFERENCE WITH DONALD TRUMP, KAINE'S FIRST SORT OF BIG THING IN HIS CAREER WAS FIGHTING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. HE WON ONE OF THE LARGEST SETTLEMENTS AGAINST RED LIGHTING IN AMERICAN HISTORY. THIS COMES AS DONALD TRUMP'S FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE, AT LEAST IN MAJOR NEWSPAPERS WAS AS A DEFENDANT IN A HOUSING DISCRIMINATION SUIT, BEING SUED FOR BLOCKING BLACK TENANTS FROM HIS BUILDINGS. SO I THINK HERE YOU SEE A SLY KIND OF NOT JUST SETTING UP A DISPOSITIONAL AND TEMPERAMENTAL CONTRAST, BUT SORT OF VERY MUCH THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE STOOD FOR, THIS IS WHAT HE HAS STOOD FOR KIND OF CONTRAST. >> Dickerson: WE'LL HAVE THE LEAVE IT THERE. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS. WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT. >> Dickerson: THAT'S IT FOR US TODAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING. BE SURE TO TUNE IN TONIGHT AT 6: 00 P. M. FOR A SPECIAL HOUR- LONG EDITION OF THE EVENING NEWS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA. AND AT 7: 00 P. M ., SCOTT PELLEY SITS DOWN WITH THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON " 60 MINUTES ." UNTIL NEXT WEEK, FOR " FACE THE NATION ," I'M JOHN DICKERSON.