Lets give each other a chance and lower the temperature. I like the tone hes setting john, already. Reporter and just adding, see each other again, listen to each other again. So thats thats the, you know, its not just words but actually putting them into action. The speech really ranged. You had Langston Hughes reference in there, on eagles wings, he quoted theodore parker. It was, again, this is what speech making sound like, and President Trump hasnt spoken like this, hasnt chosen to, and this was a speech that seeks to use the words in the moment to bring the nation together and move it along. Words cant do everything in a presidency, but they can do a lot. Reporter and to say he wants to root out systemic racism. Do you know how long people have been waiting for someone in that position to say that, to acknowledge, a, that it exists, and then to acknowledge we want to do something about it. Thats very powerful. Odonnell that it will be a priority. Reporter exactly, exactly, norah, a priority. Reporter you have my back and i have yours. Odonnell the significance of joe biden speaking of his loss, not only with his first wife killed in a car accident, as well as his son who died of glioblastoma, and the catholic hymn, raise you up on eagles wings joe biden is only the second catholic to ever be elected president of the United States, since john f. Kennedy. So there is a resonance here as well. Reporter well have a churchgoing president again, not since george w. Bush have we had somebody who goes to church on sundays with regularity. We should reflect on the modernlooking family up there on stage. We saw bidens son hunter who we have not seen in public during the course of the campaign. Odonnell holding his new grandchild. Excuse me, the president elect is. Reporter and he has a total of seven grandchildren, natalie, robert, mazie, finnegan, naomi, another child that was born to another woman with hunter, and the youngest there, with his new wife, melissa. Kamala harris, those young children, one of them is emara, her niece. There was a video shot actually, her grandniece, her niece shot video of them talking the other day how that fouryearold could one kay be president. Reporter she was sitting on her lap. This was a very cute video. And she mentioned her stepchildren, cole and ella, the Vice President elect very good friends with emhoffs former life, theyre all friendly back in los angeles. These are faces and names well get to know over the next few years as they take office. Reporter i mean, you know, when you talk about, you know, filling your cabinet with people that look like america, thats what that stage looks like right now. Look at the range of color, the range of age, male, female it really is a beautiful sight to see them all there together. And i love when he said to Kamala Harris, youre now a biden, like it or not. laughter youre now a biden for life, like it or want. You get the feeling he would like to deputize the whole family into that. Odonnell you know, there is something that always strikes me about joe biden, given that he has 47 years in public life and has been busy, he calls his children every single day. He calls most of his grandchildren every single day. Reporter just to say hey . Odonnell just to say hey. I know you text with your kids every day and send pictures and stuff, too. Reporter with teenagers, you dont get a response. laughter . Odonnell exactly. Reporter its temporary, john, its temporary. Odonnell something you need, that diligence with which he loves and cares for his family. It was really something actually you heard now Vice President elect harris mention in her remarks about the decency that embodies joe biden. Its a word he used, too, to marshal the forces of decency. They both had similar words they used decency, truth, healer, uniter. Reporter science, they both emphasized science, which i thought was interesting. A nod to covid. Reporter it was a speech very true to joe biden. The reason it sounded toy natural is these are the themes he has sound throughout his political career, including 36 years on capitol hill. He was always someone who was trying to make a deal, trying to reach out to the other side. In fact, some democrats were frustrated with him when she was Vice President because they felt he was too eager to reach out to the other side and make a deal. I was just reading a quote from a republican in congress from a few years ago who said, s i dont always agree with him, but i do trust him implicitly. He doesnt break his word. He doesnt waste time telling me why im wrong. He gets down to brass tacks and keeps sight of the stakes. You know who said that . Mitch mcconnell. Reporter oh when, nancy, when . I was going to say, john, how did you know that . How did you know that, John Dickerson. Heres another first in the Biden White House bidens dog major will be the first shelter pup to live in the white house. I dont know what kind of dog major John Dickerson, what kind of dog is major. laughter . Odonnell i know, its a german sheppard. The bidens have always had german sheppards. Reporter they have. Odonnell yes. Reporter by the way i was keeping count he said folks seven times. No malarkey tonight. Reporter he threw a yall in there, too. Odonnell the phrase i was looking for, Vice President elect, she said, he is a man with a big heart who loves with abandon. He has done that with his family and throughout his career as a public servant, and that will be his task, love with abandon, those who disagree with him investmently, and the direction he wants to take the country and feel stuck in their ways about what they believe and the distrust that has really come to embody our politics. For some reason its extended beyond what you believe that you cant trust the other person. Reporter its interesting, were sitting here at times square, you can hear the roar of the field, the applause, the car horns have gotten louder now that its over. You feel its a big celebration. I like, too, that he mentioned again he will work just as hard for those who didnt work for me. I will work just as hard for you. Again, he keeps extending that branch to say im here for you and i want to work with you. I think thats a very Important Message to send. And you cant say it enough. You cant say it enough. Because we are deeply divided as we sit here tonight as a nation. Reporter and, of course, saying it isnt enough. Which is to say but i think behind these words whether it actually works out this way in his presidency or not behind him is the struggle to get caught trying to reach out. Anybody can put words on a page, but he really in fact, he was penalized by this in the democratic primaries for this idea that you have to reach out to get anything done. And you sometimes have to reach out and work with people you might not think are the most swell people in the world, but thats the way you make progress. Reporter but i say ag the fe Kamala Harris we talked about this, this afternoon after he felt slighted by her during the debate. He clearly was irritated and many people thought it was a low blow. But you could see he got past that because he chose what he felt was best for him and what was best for the country. I think that speaks volumes about who he is as a person. There are many people who would not be able to get past that, but he did. Reporter and theres no one who understands better how important having that rapport with your running mate is, because he did that for eight years for president obama, who, also, extended the olive branch. Reporter he did. Reporter many times. Remember the beer summit, kept trying to go back to capitol hill, but actually got rather disillusioned towards the end of his presidency and didnt feel he was getting the same goodwill and response. He said it was like youre digging the ditch, and youve got, you know, the rest of the construction crew standing there at the edge saying, dig more, dig more, instead of jumping in to help. Reporter he has a new book coming out in a couple of weeks. We can hear more about that. Im looking forward to that. Odonnell oh, this was Barack Obamas book. Reporter Barack Obamas book to see if we can get the inside scoop. Odonnell there you see times square and the celebration as thousandses have gathered at whats called the crossroads of the world, to mark this moment. Its as if reporter those are live pictures. Its happening right now. Odonnell its as if in some ways the pandemic has ended. It has not. But people feel the sense they want to rush to the scene of where other people are to join in the celebration of the election of the 46th president of the United States. And i think theres not only a sense of excitement about that, but i also think, you know, Kamala Harris said that the audacity of joe biden to choose a woman. But i think there was also something pragmatic about that as well. Reporter yes. Odonnell not just the audacity of it. I think that the president elect has been surrounded by strong women, including his sister. Reporter and i remember i believe, theres a congresswoman from delaware, lisa blunt rochester, who said at the beginning, before he even ran, he told her he would likely pick a woman as a running mate because he understood that it was time for that threshold to be crossed. So it was always in the back of his mind. He surprised everyone in march, right as the pandemic was beginning, and the primary debate with bernie sanders, and immediately faced pressure to pick a woman of color. And understanding that there was an opportunity, given that Kamala Harris was in the race reporter and what was going on in the country at the time. Reporter he in the process elivate several women of color in his party who are now household names, at least to those who watch a lot of tv news, val demming of florida, people not well known who he helped elevate. Thats what his administration plans to do, to put people in positions of power that have not been in those kinds of positions before because he wants the country to understand and accept that people like that can be working in government. Reporter and i thought he was actually very explicit about that right at the start of his speech tonight, saying the African American community has always had my back, and now its my turn to have yours. Its a real recognition, some would say an overdue recognition, that African Americans, and African American women, in particular, have delivered victories for democrats time and time again, and perhaps have not gotten the recognition and the respect that they deserved for that reliability. Reporter since 1976. 80 of African American women have voted for the democratic president ial candidate every time, no other bloc of voters has been that loyal to a democratic president ial candidate each time. He understood that. Odonnell and certainly propelled his victory, not only in the primary but also backed him in the general election as well. We want to bring in senator chris coons, a close friend of the new president elect. He holds the senate seat that joe biden once held. Good evening, senator coons, and thank you so much for joining us. Especially on this momentous occasion. And i guess have the fireworks already stopped . Norah, its been an amazing evening. Ung joe gave a powerful, a moving speech, and to see joe biden and Kamala Harris on this stage behind me, just a few moments ago, brought tears to many eyes here in wilmington, delaware. And hope to many hearts all across our nation. Odonnell i know youve spoken with him. Just how ambitious is his agenda, even before he moves into the white house . Well, as you know, bringing our country together in this moment of deep division, getting us out of this pandemic, rebuilding our economy, so its more just and sustainable, and restoring our place in the world, thats a fairly ambitious agenda. Thats what joes been running on since he announced in april of last year. And i think he is exactly the right leader to deliver on that ambitious agenda for our nation this coming year. Odonnell and have you been able to speak with him today . Do you know if hes going to reach out to President Trump or is he waiting first to hear from him . Whats your sense of that . I dont know whether he will reach out first. But as you heard in his speech tonight and as youve heard from him all along the campaign trail, joe is someone who believes deeply in healing the divisions in this country, in bringing us together. So i expect that hell be reaching out in a variety of ways to republican leaders, to americans of all backgrounds and political persuasions. Reporter senator coons, its John Dickerson here. You have a lot of relationships with republicans that youve tended in a variety of different ways. Have you heard from any republicans . Theres been not many not much wellwishing of the president elect. Have you heard from any republicans privately or otherwise about their feelings . Absolutely. Ive spoken to about a dozen of my colleagues, some by text, most by phone, in recent days. You know, initially, a number of us were calling each other to offer congratulations for being reelected or condolences in being unsuccessful, and talking to republican and Democratic Senators alike. Theres a passion for moving forward, for getting things done in congress, for responding to the real needs of our constituents. This has been one of the most divisive elections of my lifetime and recent years in the senate has been profoundly unsatisfying to senators of both parties because we know we havent addressed the needs of middle america. So im optimistic senators who have served with joe for many years, who have known him as a senator and Vice President , know his character, know his heart, and are going to be willing to risk working across the aisle with a Biden Administration, a Bidenharris Administration. Reporter senator, do you think they will risk reaching across the aisle now to hasten this moment of unity that youre talking about by saying something, congratulating the president elect . I hope so. You know, look, ive been disappointed many times in the ways in which my colleagues have not stood up to President Trump. Twhoz privately have expressed grave concern about things he done that have been unconventional or have violated some of the important traditions of our nation. This is a moment for all of us to come together, to support the president elect and the Vice President elect, but more importantly to support the American People. You heard in joes remarks tonight that his hope, his ambition, is to lead as an american president , not a democratic president. And we have an opportunity to do that now. And im hopeful my colleagues of all backgrounds democrat, independent, and republican in the senate will come forward and do that. Reporter senator coons, i agree with you its gayle king speaking where you said you think its one of the best speeches he has ever given. There were so many highlights, if you will, but as someone who has known him for such a long time, can you share with us what this moment means him . Its true when they say, third times the charm, it seems for your friend tonight. But, gayle, swrun, this is the moment that joe biden was made for. This was the moment that all the ups and downs of his life its tragedies and losses, the successes and the soaring accomplishments all of it came together in this election, in this moment. Were in the middle of a terrible pandemic where more than 100,000 americans have been infected each of the last three days. We need a president who is compassionate, who can reach across the aisle, who can listen to science and who can get us out of our current challenges. Joe has run twice before, but this is the moment that he was built for. Because of his optimism, his deep belief in the American People. You heard his message tonight of confidence that we can do things together. Thats, i think, just the right note to hit in this challenging time in our nation. And Kamala Harris is just the right person to lead alongside him as Vice President. Reporter i dont know if youve had a chance to look at your tv this afternoon, but i described it as a nationwide block party. Yes. Reporter you can really see the exuberance and bliss of the people in the street. What does that say to you . Of course the Trump Supporters are not happy tonight and we acknowledge that, too, and acknowledge the power donald trump has among the people who supported him. What does it say to you when you look at the people celebrating in the streets the way they are in this country tonight . Well, i think the joy that i heard here in delaware wasnt just for republicans or democrats. It was really about our democracy working and moving forward. The last four days have been long, and people have been patient, and 150 million americans, roughly, came out to vote in this election. And think about it. The ways in which we have shown, as a nation, our confidence in our system, in our democracy, and the ways in which the elation, the jubilation, the dancing in the streets that youre talking about, gayle, thats an expression of joyfulness and of hopefulness about what is possible with the leadership of joe biden and Kamala Harris, and with the willingness to work together. Reporter senator coons, its nancy cordes. Good to see you. You talked a minute ago about the need to restore the magazines place in the world weapon well, youve been mentioned several times as someone who might be on the president elects short list for secretary of state. So is that a position youd be interested in . And what qualities would you thriek see in the next secretary of state . Well, nancy, as you know, ive worked hard in the last decade to bridge the differenc