Clinton, Dole to square off on '60 Minutes'

[Big-O Mark]

Clinton, Dole to square off on '60 Minutes'

Thursday, March 6, 2003

NEW YORK (CNN) -- In a prime-time rematch of the 1996 presidential campaign, former President Bill Clinton and former Sen. Bob Dole have signed contracts with CBS to do a commentary segment on the newsmagazine "60 Minutes."

The two have agreed to do 10 debate segments in a revival of the show's "Point/Counterpoint" segment, in which ideologically opposed commentators square off to debate hot button political issues. If successful -- and if the principals agree -- CBS officials say the debates may continue next season.

Clinton and Dole appeared on "The Early Show" on CBS Thursday morning to announce the launch of the segment, the first installment of which may air as early as Sunday, sources said.

The first segment was taped Friday, the pair said. Asked who won, Clinton said, "He did."

"I got a 'B,' " said Dole, the former Senate majority leader. "He got a 'B-minus.' "

Sources could not confirm the financial details of the contracts.

A source told CNN that Fox News Channel personality Bill O'Reilly was on the list of those originally considered as a potential conservative co-host with Clinton.

The segment will resemble "Point/Counterpoint," which was featured on "60 Minutes" from 1971-1979, but will be shorter than the original incarnation. Clinton and Dole will each have 45 seconds to argue their position instead of the three-minute debate conducted by the segment's original hosts, the conservative James Kilpatrick and the liberal Shana Alexander.

The segment will be a return to the spotlight for the two men, both of whose wives have politically outshone them recently in their current roles as U.S. senators.

Since leaving office, Clinton has flirted with the idea of hosting his own talk show and was involved in discussions last year with NBC executives to create a daytime program, although ultimately nothing materialized.

Clinton was re-elected president in 1996 after defeating Dole in a landslide. The two have put aside their differences and recently teamed up to head the Families of Freedom Scholarship fund, which raised over $100 million for the families of those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Both Clinton, 56, and Dole, 79, have commanded hefty fees for endorsements and speaking engagements since leaving public life. Clinton received an advance in excess of $10 million from Knopf Publishing to write his memoirs, and Dole has appeared in television commercials endorsing products such as Pepsi, Visa, and Viagra.

Clinton said he hoped the segments provide honest debate, and don't emulate the showboating screaming matches often seen on cable TV political shows.

"There may be a market for people who want light instead of heat," the former president said.

[harra]

I saw that article.

That should prove interesting. Clinton, if anything, is good behind the camera. Dole, once his campaign was over, seemed to actually have a personality. I hope he takes what he learned about being loose and funny and applies it here. It would make for a good debate to have two people who aren't ultra-serious, but informed about the current issues

[DADINK13]

"I will kick Bob Dole's viagra-using ass in this debate."


Go Bill!! w00t!