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See rough notes below. Missy can speak better; everyone is raving about how well he did. Not surprising, but still remarkable. Very emotional.

Tune in tonight!

ASM

Begin forwarded message:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Spector, Stephen
> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 06:54 PM
> To: Ricchetti, Steven; 'tedkaufman@comcast.net' <tedkaufman@comcast.net>; Donilon, Michael; Barkoff, Kendra A.; Bedingfield, Kate; Mackler, Alexander; Reddy, Vinay
> Subject: Colbert
>
> Non-verbatim notes. These notes don't do the interview justice - it was extremely raw and personal and moving. Colbert leaned in at the end and encouraged him to run.
>
> Q: Why does everyone like you in washington dc?
> A: It wasn't always the way it is now. I start off with the assumption that everyone means well.
>
> MIC problems. Show breaks to fix VP mic.
>
> Q: When we see you, we think we see the real you. Why is that?
> A: Why take the job if you don't believe in what you say? If you're going to run for public office, you want the job for a reason. And you want to say what you believe.
>
> Q: You're a man of substance, and we are inspired by the way you respond to tragedy. I would like to offer condolences on behalf of our nation. Can you tell us a story? Potus said Joe 2.0. Is that a compliment?
> A: My dad used to say you're a success if your child turned out better than you. He was better than me in every way. Never complain, never explain. When he lost his mom and sister, he was injured. My other son hunter was 3. "I love you" story then story about hallie and beau at dinner table in Delaware. He had enormous sense og empathy.
>
> Q:Talk to us about your faith?
> This shouldn't be about me. So many people have lost people. I feel so conscious talking about, but so many others have experienced this. Faith sees best in the dark. Religion is a sense of solace. I go to mass and I'm alone. Rosary.
>
> Q: what's your lessons for others?
> Mom expression: not dead till you see the face of god. Nobody owes you anything. You gotta get up. I marvel at the ability of ppl to absorb hurt and get back up. The ppl I'm most drawn to are people who've been hurt. You know stephen.
>
> Did beau and hunter raise you?
> They really did. Always there. Home base story from debate.
>
> COMMERCIAL BREAK
>
> Q:I want to. Give the office of the vp the respect it deserves. How much Is that?
> No inherent power as vp. All about your relationship with potus. I told barack I don't want to be vp at first. He said go home and think about it. If you have good relationship with potus, then you can do something worthwhile.
>
> Why is your relationship with him so good?
> The only two ppl who didn't disagree in 08 primary is barack and me. This president has had more land on his desk than any other potus. I've watched him. Learn his charachter. At our root, we are convinved and optisimirtc about prospects of this country. We just gotta get out of your way.
>
> There is one job that preps you president and its the one you have now. Lets talk about elephant in the room. Do you want to announce something?
> Yes. I think you should run for potus, stephen.
>
> You said you don't know you had the energy?
> I don't think anyone should run if 1) why they want to be potus 2) look at folks and say that you have whole energy. I'd be lying if I said I knew I was there. I'm being completely honest. Nobody has right to seek that office unless 110 of it. I'm optimistic but I find myself being overwhelmed. I went out
> to denver and met military families and I walked up to them and thanked them. All of sudden, a guy yells major beau biden. And all of sudden I lost it. I shouldn't be saying this but you can't do that.
>
> Q: He didn't want special attention in Iraq. Why
>
> He had such great courage and empathy. He asked if he could remove name Biden from his uniform. Offered ag. Offered senate seat. That's who beau was. He abhorred ppl with sense of entitlement. He won bronze star and made us all promise we wouldn't tell people. Mom said nobody is better than you.
>
> Q:Thomas jefferson said that too. I think your experience and suffering and service and would be sorely missed in race. We'd all be very happy if you ran, and if you don't we are all very proud of your service.