MR. BROWNSTEIN: And it’s hard to wait until the end of January to begin winning races. The question, will you still be seen as viable that far into the process if you have not been able to break through and actually win something earlier. I think that’s a very high-risk strategy, and, as you say, the Giuliani people...

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MR. DIONNE: He’s also...

MR. BROWNSTEIN: ...have shown signs of reconsidering it.

MR. DIONNE: Giuliani has also been playing harder in New Hampshire, and that’s a pretty good state for him potentially because a lot of libertarian kind of Republicans won’t mind his pro-choice position so much, and, obviously, McCain is playing for everything up there, and there are signs of a mini McCain surge. And I think there’s some certainty in the Republican race, you know, reflects the fact a lot of Republicans keep looking and say, “Who looks like a president in this lot? That is what we’re choosing.” I think that’s allowed McCain to have a new life in the—in this place.

MR. RUSSERT: And the volatility. If Hillary Clinton wins Iowa, people assume that, well, that’s the race, because Obama and Edwards will have a hard time. If Obama won Iowa, then what happens in New Hampshire? Those independents can vote in either primary.

MR. TODD: Exactly right.

MR. RUSSERT: Will they go to the Democratic primary excited about Obama, or will they stay with the Republican and be excited by John McCain or Ron Paul or Rudy Giuliani.

MR. DIONNE: What I feel...

MS. IFILL: It sounds like a cliche, but the truth is that this all comes down in both parties to who wins this fight over change, and that’s what Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are fighting about, and John Edwards as well. And that’s what’s happening on, on the other side, as well. I mean, when, when, when Mayor Giuliani comes out and says “I changed New York,” that counts for something. Republicans are as unhappy with the way things are as they were before. That’s why flip-flopping is such a dangerous charge in a race like this, because people want somebody who believes something and is consistent about it. I don’t remember it being such an equivalent issue for both parties, and perhaps it’s because there’s no incumbent seeking office.

MR. DIONNE: And because George Bush is at 32 percent in the polls...

MR. TODD: That’s right. Right.

MR. DIONNE: ...and change is a really big word. And you what’s funny about what you said, Tim, whatever anybody calls Hillary Clinton at a John McCain meeting, the McCain campaign is really rooting for Hillary to win Iowa because they want some of those independents to come into the Republican primary. And they’re more likely to if the Democratic race looks over.

MR. RUSSERT: Ten seconds.

MR. TODD: Well, now, I, I was just going to say that I think McCain, this McCain/New Hampshire thing, he needs a spark in Iowa, and he might be making a mistake. But...

MR. RUSSERT: To be continued. Thank you all.

We’ll be right back and look back at the 60-year history of MEET THE PRESS, the longest-running television program in history.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT: A look back at our 60-year history on MEET THE PRESS after this station break.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT: And we are back. Every president since John F. Kennedy has appeared on MEET THE PRESS, and so have nearly a dozen vice presidents, 15 secretaries of defense, every secretary of state since John Foster Dulles, and leaders from around the world—presidents, kings, dictators, premiers and prime ministers from nearly 40 countries. Most interesting to me has been the number of parents and children who have appeared on MEET THE PRESS over the past six decades—the Bayhs, the Bhuttos, the Browns, the Bushes, the Chaffees, the Clarks, the Dodds, the Fords, Nehru and Ghandi, the Gores, the Hoffas, the Kings of Jordan; John, Caroline and John Jr. Kennedy; Robert, Kathleen and Joe Kennedy; Edward and Patrick Kennedy, the Jacksons, the Landrieus, the Lodges, the Molinaris, the Roosevelts, the Nassers, the Spivaks, the Stevensons, the Symingtons, and the Tydings.

For 60 years, in more than 3,000 programs, Americans have watched newsmakers make their case right here on MEET THE PRESS. Let’s watch.

There are very few things in life that are permanent, particular in television. MEET THE PRESS has been on the air for more than a half century, 60 years, six decades.

(Videotape)

MR. HUBERT HUMPHREY: (1949) I’m one of those persons that doesn’t believe that a political party ought to just be a rallying ground for anybody that wants to get under the tent. I’m of the opinion that a political party ought to stand for something.

MR. JOSEPH McCARTHY: (1950) We may have to use lumberjack tactics, bare-knuckle tactics. If those are the only kind of tactics the communists understand, then those are the tactics we will use.

Offscreen Voice: (1957) Do you think we shall ever have a woman president?

MS. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: (1957) Yes. Of course we will.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: People all across the country can make an appointment on Sunday morning, sit in their chair and have a cup of coffee and learn quite a bit about their leaders and their government.

(Videotape)

PRES. JOHN F. KENNEDY: We have a situation now with Cuba where Mr. Khrushchev is threatening if we take any action. We don’t know exactly what action would bring about this rain of rockets.

PRES. LYNDON B. JOHNSON: Mr. Nixon has a Dixie speech, and he has a northern speech. I have made the same speech in all the places that I’ve been.

PRES. RICHARD NIXON: I’m a quite candid man. I’m quite direct, perhaps too direct.

PRES. GERALD FORD: Honesty and candor has been restored in government.

PRES. JIMMY CARTER: Neither I nor the American people would support the sending of an American team to Moscow with Soviet invasion troops in Afghanistan.

PRES. RONALD REAGAN: I don’t have an ideology. I think ideology is a scare word.

PRES. GEORGE H.W. BUSH: I do not approve of arms for hostages.

PRES. BILL CLINTON: I don’t think there’s ever been a president of either party and any philosophy that didn’t think that he should’ve gotten a better press.

PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH: A war of choice or a war of necessity? It’s a war of necessity.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: Part of understanding what’s going on here at home means understanding what’s going on globally. Dictators, prime ministers and kings—MEET THE PRESS is a real window to the world.

(Videotape)

PRES. FIDEL CASTRO: (1959) I am not communism. I am not agree with communism.

MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK: (1958) We do not recognize the communist regime on the mainland. We consider them bandits.

MS. GOLDA MEIR: (1969) A strong Israel is not only the best guarantee for peace, but is the best incentive for peace.

MR. YASSER ARAFAT: (1976) My aim and the aim of my organization and the aim of my people is to establish our democratic Palestinian state, where Jews, Christians and Muslims can live in equality and friendship.

CONTINUED

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