Dodd Says Dole Resignation Indictment Of GOP Congress

Aired May 15, 1996

JUDY WOODRUFF, Anchor: Now, for some Democratic perspective on Bob Dole's announcement, we're going to go to the general chairman of the Democratic party, Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

[interviewing] Senator, were you surprised? President Clinton apparently was.

Sen. CHRISTOPHER DODD, DNC General Chairman: Yes, I was. I, frankly, was very surprised by the decision. Let me just say right up front, Judy, that I- on a personal level, this is a real loss for the institution. Bob is a good legislator, well liked here, and I'm saddened by it. Now, having said that - and I don't in any way try to- that I don't mean that, at all - but this, today, is an admission of failure if I've ever seen one. This is an indictment of this Congress. This is a Republican Congress; this is a Republican leader who helped shape the agenda. And he's basically made a decision with 25 weeks to go - `I've got to get out of town. I have no chance of winning the presidency if I stay in town associated with this Congress and its agenda.' So, aside from the personal implications today - and I'm saddened by those, and I mean that - this was a political decision made that you had to get away from Washington; you had to get away from you agenda; you had to get away from the people who've led this Congress, including yourself and your own support, and move on.

WOODRUFF: Well, if you're saying that the other way was the wrong way and it wasn't working, you're then acknowledging that this has a good chance of helping Senator Dole.

DODD: No, I didn't say it was the wrong way before. I've always thought that people ought to do what they're comfortable with in politics. But, believe me, if this Congress were successful, if this were an agenda that Bob Dole helped shape that the American people endorse, Bob Dole would be sleeping on the floor of the United States Senate. He'd vote on the floor, on November fifth, of the United States Senate. They've made a decision that if you're associated with this agenda, associated with this Congress, then you're not going to win this election. So they've made the calculated decision - a political choice here - to get out of town with 25 weeks to go in hopes that you can save this campaign. That's the reason they made it. Otherwise, they'd be here 24 hours a day.

WOODRUFF: Doesn't this mean now that President Clinton has to adjust his strategy and run a different campaign against someone who is not sitting in the U.S. Senate?

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DODD: No, I don't think so, and to this extent - I mean, the president extended his hand to Bob Dole and said, `Come on down. Let's work this out. Let's get a budget deal done here. Let's get minimum wage. Let's get the Kassebaum/Kennedy, both bipartisan bills,' and the president's going to stick with that program, whoever the leader is up here, in order to try and govern.

WOODRUFF: But Bob Dole says he's going to be running as a private citizen with no where to go after November but the White House or back to Kansas.

DODD: Well, it's a nice idea, but you know, Bob's been here for 35 years. You're not going to all of the sudden say, `You know, in 25 weeks forget 35 years.' Lincoln was right. You can feel fool some of the people, but you can't fool all of them all of the time.

WOODRUFF: So you're saying that if he's trying not to be an insider anymore it's not going to work?

DODD: Well, I just say, `Here. I appreciate the move, but it's a political move, and it will certainly be discussed as a political move.' But this isn't a battle over principle. And why was he making the move? Why did Bob Dole decide today - with 25 weeks to go - he had to leave Washington? It's clearly because this agenda of this Congress has been so poorly received by the American public that his association with it would be just further- make further difficulty. Remember, he helped co-author this agenda.

WOODRUFF: And just quickly - what's one thing the president's going to have to do differently now?

DODD: Well, I think still continue. Whether it's Trent Lott or Don Nickles up here - whoever it is - extend that hand and still govern. The people worry about jobs, education, health. They want to know that their leaders are working on their problems, not the candidate's problems. And so the president is going to continue, over the coming weeks, to work on those issues.

WOODRUFF: All right, Senator Christopher Dodd, the general chairman of the Democratic Party, we thank you for being with us.

DODD: Thank you, Judy.

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