The Losers: Losing Presidential Candidates Explain their Losses

Time now … for the losers. Time to hear from presidential candidates who ran for the White House – and lost … and the reasons they gave for losing. Like Democrat John Kerry after the 2004 election Fear and the war were shoved at America in an exploited way that made it very difficult for people to get out from under that 9-11. And when Osama bin Laden appeared on the Friday before the election in that tape, it shifted the last days of that election. And Republican George Bush after the 1992 election: I think by beating back against tremendous odds, some lousy legislation, we ended up with getting good legislation. I'm afraid in the campaign, in the process, we were accused of being against people because of having to take a stand for fiscal responsibility Losing a presidential election is back in the news. In September 2025, Kamala Harris will publish a memoir on her losing run for the White House in 2024.   Which makes this the perfect time to hear other presidential candidates explain why they lost.   What do they say about losing? What went wrong? Why failure? Who's to blame? – And -- is it ever the losers' fault?   Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" — when we hear exclusively from just one group of people — the losers.   Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you imagine a time when Democrats and Republicans in Congress not only voted the same way — but said the same thing? It actually did happen — right after the terror attacks of 9/11 "Today, we join together not as Democrats nor Republicans, but Mr. Speaker, as proud Americans prepared to defend freedom as our forebears did before us." That was House Democratic Minority Whip David Bonior — September 14th, 2001 ... and from that same day, here's Congressman Jerry Lewis — a Republican: There is no party. My colleague, Jack Murtha and I working on this Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, know the importance of national strength. But when our people come together, there is no Democrat, there is no Republican. We are the American people. What was the specific legislation Congress was considering that inspired such bipartisan rhetoric? Who else — in both the House and the Senate — used that identicial rhetorical construct - "We are not Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans." And what did Democrats in Congress say about Republican President George W. Bush that day in Congress — three days after the terror attacks. Find out in the special 9/11 anniversary episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 30th, 2025, Mark Knoller, the legendary, long-time member of the White House press corps, died. In tribute, the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" is all about Mark Knoller — his decades of appearances — and mentions — on C-SPAN. Like this: TONY SNOW: "Knoller — have you had family over to the White House?" MARK KNOLLER: "A couple of years ago I brought my mom to the Christmas reception. It blew her mind. She was really awestruck by it." TONY SNOW: "What did you do?" MARK KNOLLER: "She got to meet the president. The president noted I brought my mom. And we've heard the president speak about his mom, And his relationship with him mom. As we walked away from getting our picture taken, he pointed at my mom and gave me a thumbs up." That was February 20th, 2007... Mark Knoller's birthday. He was on a panel discussing the White House press corps. But in a twist, the panel moderator, the one asking the questions, was then-press secretary to President George W. Bush — Tony Snow. What stories did Mark Knoller tell on C-SPAN about his decades covering the White House? What did fellow reporters say about him? What did Presidents say to him? And what was his single greatest contribution to modern day White House history and the presidency? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" — as we remember Mark Knoller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you have a lovely summer vacation? Was it long enough? Sad it's over? You know who once had a nice, long, summer vacation? That's right — President Dwight D. Eisenhower! The president's Colorado vacation draws to a close. But the chief executive doesn't seem to mind as long as they keep fighting this a-way. He hooks a beauty — which gives him a nice fight before being hauled in by the hand of an experienced angler. It's a far cry from this peaceful setting to the cares of state which await him. But when you can catch your legal limit in one morning It makes even a presidential vacation perfect October 1955. ... A newsreel reports on President Eisenhower fishing in Colorado. The newsreel shows the President knee deep in water ... a fishing rod ... And a fish! For President Eisenhower, it was the enjoyable end to a summer vacation that lasted — get this — six weeks! • Whatever happened to Presidents taking six-week-long vacations? • Where do Presidents go now — and for how long? • Which presidents golf… And which don't? • And what do Presidents tell the public about their vacations? In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" — we find out! ... While you're returning from your vacations, we hear Presidents talking about their own vacations — and then we talk about the clips with a special guest ... America's foremost political junkie and top presidential observer ... You know him as editor of National Journal's Hotline — and you've seen and heard him on C-SPAN many times — and now he's on "The Weekly" ... Talking about the history of presidential vacations — it's Kirk Bado! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think you know everything there is to know about Warren Buffett? You likely know how he got wealthy as CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.... And you probably know his support for Democratic Party politicians, like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. .. And you might also remember President Obama giving him a Medal of Freedom. But did you know this: Warren Buffett's father was ... a member of Congress. Warren Buffett recently announced he's stepping down from Berkshire Hathaway. And that's what inspires this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." But instead of using that news to reflect on Warren Buffett's own connection to politics-- we focus on someone else: His father. What did Warren Buffett have to say about his father — a Republican congressman? What did Doris Buffett — Warren's sister — also say about Howard Buffett? And what did Howard Buffett say in Congress — at the height of the Cold War? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear all the time from politicians talking about how to reduce the deficit and the debt.But have you ever heard a politician talk about how to spend a surplus.Believe it or not, that did happen.   It is now official and I'm proud to announce that we posted a budget surplus of $123 billion -- the largest surplus in American history. And in the last two years alone, we have paid down our nation's debt by $140 billion -- the largest debt reduction in our nation's history. We have closed the book on deficits and open the door on a new era of economic opportunity.     That was President Bill Clinton ... October 27th, 1999Ever wonder what it sounds like when the government has more money than it spends?And then - politicians come up with ideas for how to spend that extra money?And then - those ideas lead to angry arguments about how to spend that money -- arguments that kind of sound like what we hear now, but in reverse?Then this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" is just the thing for you.Because that's exactly what you'll hear.No, these aren't fake AI-generated hallucinations. Yes, it really did happen —  actual real politicians saying real things about a real budget surplus...  The year was 1999 ... a year politicians fought over not how to cut the deficit and debt — but how to spend the surplus.Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House parliamentarian.  The C-SPAN audience knows the parliamentarian from House rules and procedures and various parliamentary inquiries and interruptions… But what about the personal side of the job?  …. The unrivaled opportunity to see Congress history up close and personal – watching it all from the front, facing the chamber, and seeing all the faces…  What's that like? In the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," we find out. We talk with former House parliamentarian Tom Wickham .. His career in Congress spanned over a quarter century.  And during that time, from his front row seat, Tom Wickham witnessed first-hand some of the most dramatic and iconic moments in House history. Tom Wickham left Congress in 2020. He's now Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. And now – Tom Wickham is back on C-SPAN! He's picked the five most memorable moments he experienced as House parliamentarian — and he reveals that list in "The Weekly." What are Tom Wickham's five most memorable House moments — and why? Go behind the scenes and find out — in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" — with Tom Wickham. Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House of Representatives … October 10th, 1998, … A Republican Congressman from Florida rises and makes remarks about a bill he's introducing:   In the closing days of World War II, the U.S.S. Indianapolis had its hull pierced by three Japanese torpedoes. Twelve minutes later the cruiser went down. On board were almost 1,200 crew members and only 300 survived, the others dying of shark attacks and exposure. For half a century, the 316 remaining surviving crew members of the worst disaster in Naval history tried in vain to defend the honor of their captain, Charles McVay. This year a new secret weapon was employed in their quest, and that weapon was a 13-year-old boy named Hunter Scott    Who was that? That was former representative Joe Scarborough. His mention of the U.S.S. Indianapolis might sound familiar –The story of its sinking by a sub was shared in that speech by Congressman Scarborough – and in a stirring soliloquy from a salty seasoned shark hunter in Steven Spielberg's seminal Seventies summer spectacular, Jaws. But the mention of Hunter Scott might be new to you. Who's Hunter Scott? Why did Joe Scarborough call him "a secret weapon"? And how did they take on the U.S. Navy together to change history – and win? Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" – as we mark the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster movie "Jaws" … Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably saw video of Republican Senator Joni Ernst recently telling an Iowa town hall: "We're all going to die." And you probably saw the ensuing Democratic outrage. But do you remember who said this? "It says that eventually we are all going to die!" "Under the Clinton health plan? You mean after Bill and Hillary put all those new bureaucrats and taxes on us; we're still all going to die?" That was Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. When did they say that? Where did they say that? And – maybe most important -- Why did they say that? Plus: Which other politicians have publicly suggested "We're all going to die?" Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Peace through strength" — it's a phrase heard frequently after the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. These days, "peace through strength" has become associated with President Donald Trump. But an earlier President also famously embraced the doctrine of "Peace through Strength." Happy Thanksgiving as well to Captain Pat Hannifin and all of the sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. Great ship. Your ship's motto is one that we embrace every day: "Peace Through Strength". That's what the motto is, and we have that motto at home. Everywhere the Seventh Fleet sails, the USS Ronald Reagan is an enduring symbol of American might, American strength, American power and, really, American goodness, in so many ways.  That was President Trump on Thanksgiving in 2018.  Speaking to the crew aboard the USS Ronald Reagan — and noting the ship's motto — "Peace Through Strength." What is the history of the USS Ronald Reagan? How did "Peace Through Strength" become associated with the Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier? And which other presidents and politicians have cited "Peace Through Strength" when talking about the USS Ronald Reagan? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices