As part of a new segment on the "Today" show called "Candidate Cribs," NBC's Jonathan Alter went on a cab ride, with Democratic candidate Mike Gravel behind the wheel. However, Alter received more than a calm cruise through the city from the former Alaskan senator. In a gimmicky stunt, meant to showcase the candidate's past life as a New York City cabbie, Alter slid into the back seat for a ride but just after Gravel started griping about Iraq he crashed the taxi.
Alter: "Gravel is best remembered for helping end the Vietnam era draft with a filibuster and for reading the Pentagon Papers in the Senate. Now, after a quarter-century out of politics, he's an angry Rip Van Winkle."
Gravel: "I know how to get out of Iraq. I know how to affect the solution, it's a diplomatic solution."
Alter: "Careful! Ohh!"
Gravel: "Hang on!"
Off-camera voice: "Okay, we're okay."
Gravel: "Where's the-[bleeps]"
Off-camera voice: "The brakes went out."
The following is the full transcript of the segment as it occurred on the August 1, "Today" show:
Matt Lauer: "This morning we are starting a new series called Candidate Cribs. A chance to get to know the human side of the presidential candidates. Take them back to the places that were important to them in the past. NBC's Jonathan Alter took a ride with Democratic contender, former Senator Mike Gravel. And let's just say the Senator did a bang-up job."
[On screen headline: "Candidate Cribs, Cruising With Mike Gravel"]
Jonathan Alter: "Mike Gravel."
Mike Gravel, behind the wheel of a cab: "American people are fed up with the partisanship. They're fed up with the phoniness and if I'm hitting it right, I'll become President."
Alter: "Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, now 77, drove a Checker Cab in New York in the 1950s, while attending Columbia University. So we decided to rent him a Checker and ride with him up to his alma mater. Did you ever get jumped or in any accidents?"
Gravel: "Twice, no, never had an accident. I was lucky, knock on something."
Alter: "Gravel is best remembered for helping end the Vietnam era draft with a filibuster and for reading the Pentagon Papers in the Senate. Now, after a quarter-century out of politics, he's an angry Rip Van Winkle."
Gravel: "I know how to get out of Iraq. I know how to affect the solution, it's a diplomatic solution."
Alter: "Careful! Ohh!"
Gravel: "Hang on!"
Off-camera voice: "Okay, we're okay."
Gravel: "Where's the-[bleeps]"
Off-camera voice: "The brakes went out."
Alter: "It turns out the Checker we rented didn't exactly have the best brakes."
Gravel: "Wait a second, let me press it to see if the fluid goes out. Okay?"
Alter: "Gravel the cabbie, may be a little rusty but not Gravel the politician."
Gravel: "If we set the tone we're gonna see a better result in the world than the tone of imperialism, violence and war that we have been setting. Can I say it more emphatically?"
Alter: "When we arrive at Columbia, a warm welcome."
[Footage of students with signs cheering for Gravel]
Gravel: "Let's go find a place to talk."
Alter: "His message? Accountability with real teeth."
[Camera close-up on sign reading: "Columbia Democrats Say...End The War!"]
Gravel: "The sooner we put some of our leaders in jail for what we do to the people, the sooner we're gonna stop people doing that!"
Alter: "A ride on the wild side with Mike Gravel. For 'Today,' Jonathan Alter, NBC News, New York."
