sec. clinton: thank you. thank you so much. thank you. thank you all very much. thank you. [chanting hillary] sec. clinton: thank you, san diego, for that warm welcome. thanks to ellen for those moving words. her introduction and for reminding us that it is not only our men and women in uniform that serve our country, it is their families, spouses, children. we are grateful to each and every one of them. i want to recognize and thank congressman scott peters for being here. thank you very much. [applause] sec. clinton: and all of the other electeds and service members, active-duty and

retired, national guard, reservists, veterans, military spouses, family members that are all with us today. on monday, we observed memorial day. a day that means a great deal to san diego. home of so many active-duty and former military and their families. we honor the sacrifice of those who died for our country in many ways, by living our values, by making this a stronger and fair rer nation, -- fai and by carrying out a strong and principled foreign policy. that is what i want to speak about today, the challenges we face protecting our country and the choice at stake in this election. it is a choice between a fearful america that is less secure and

less engaged with the world and a strong, confident america that leads to keep our country safe and our economy growing. [applause] sec. clinton: as secretary of state, senator, and first lady, i had the honor of representing america abroad and helping shape our foreign policy at home. as a candidate for president, there is nothing i take more seriously than our national security. i have offered clear strategies on how to defeat isis, strengthen our alliances and , make sure iran never gets a nuclear weapon. i am going to keep america's security at the heart of my campaign. [applause] sec. clinton: because, as you

know so well, americans are not just electing a president in november, we are choosing our next commander in chief, the person we count on to decide questions of war and peace, life and death. like many, i believe the person the republicans have nominated for president cannot do the job. [applause] sec. clinton: donald trump's ideas are not just different. they are dangerously incoherent. [laughter] sec. clinton: they are not even really ideas, just a series of bizarre rants, personal feuds, and outright lies. [laughter] [applause]

sec. clinton: he is not just unprepared. he is temperamentally unfit to hold an office that requires knowledge, stability, and immense responsibility. [applause] sec. clinton: this is not someone who should ever have the nuclear codes because it is not hard to imagine donald trump leading us into a war just because somebody got under his very thin skin. [applause] sec. clinton: we cannot put the security of our children and grandchildren in donald trump's hands. we cannot let him roll the dice with america. this is a man who said that more

countries should have nuclear weapons, including saudi arabia. [booing] sec. clinton: this is someone who has threatened to abandon our allies in nato, the countries that work with us to root out terrorists abroad before they strike us at home. he believes we can treat the u.s. economy like one of his casinos and default on our debts to the rest of the world, which would cause an economic catastrophe far worse than anything we experienced in 2008. [applause] sec. clinton: he has said that he would order our military to carry out torture and the murder of civilians who are related to suspected terrorists even though those are war crimes. he says he doesn't have to listen to our generals or admirals, our ambassadors and other officials because he has

"a very good brain." [laughter] he also said, "i know more about isis than the generals do. believe me." you know what? i don't believe him. [applause] sec. clinton: he says climate change is a hoax invented by the chinese -- [laughter] sec. clinton: and he has the gall to say prisoners of war like john mccain are not heroes. [booing] sec. clinton: exactly. he praises dictators like vladimir putin and pick fights with our friends, including the british prime minister, the mayor of london, the german chancellor, the president of mexico, and the pope. [laughter] [applause] sec. clinton: he says he has foreign-policy experience,

because he ran the miss universe pageant in russia. [laughter] sec. clinton: and to top it off, he believes america is weak. an embarrassment. he called our military a disaster. he said we are, and i quote, "a third world country." and he's been saying things like that for decades. [booing] sec. clinton: those are the words of someone who doesn't understand america or the world. [applause] sec. clinton: and they are the words of someone who would lead us in the wrong direction, because if you really believe america is weak with our military, our values, our capabilities that no other country comes close to matching, then you don't know america.

sec. clinton: and you certainly don't deserve to lead it. [applause] that is why even if i weren't in this race, i would be doing everything i could to make sure donald trump never becomes president because i believe he will take our country down a truly dangerous path. unlike him, i have some experience with tough calls. i wrestled with the chinese over climate deal, brokered a cease-fire between israel and hamas, negotiated with russia, twisted arms, and stood up for the rights of women, religious minorities and the rights of lgbt people around the world. [applause]

sec. clinton: and i have sat in the situation room and advised the president on some of the toughest choices he faced. i am not new to this work and i am proud. to run on my record. i think the choice before the american people is clear. i believe in alliances, clarity, in dealing with our rivals and a , rocksolid commitment to the values that have always made america great. and i believe with all my heart that america is an exceptional country. that we are still, in lincoln's words, the last best hope of earth. we are not a country that cowers behind walls. we lead with purpose and we prevail.

if america doesn't lead, we leave a vacuum. that will either cause chaos or other countries will rush to fill the void. then they will be the ones making decisions about lives and jobs. and safety. trust me, the choices they make will not be our benefit. that is not an outcome we can live with. as i see it, there are important things the next president must do to keep us safe and the economy growing. these are areas that donald trump and i profoundly disagree and they are all critical to our future. first, we need to be strong at home. that means investing in our infrastructure, education, and innovation. the fundamentals of a strong economy. we need to reduce

income inequality because so many are struggling to provide the basics for their families. and we need to break down the barriers that hold americans back. including barriers of bigotry and discrimination. [applause] clinton: compare that with what trump wants to do. his economic plan would add more than 30 trillion, that's with a t, dollars to the national debt. over the next 20 years. he has no ideas on education, no ideas on innovation. he has a lot of ideas about who to blame but no clue about what to do. none of what donald trump is offering will make america stronger at home and that will make us weaker in the world. second, we need to stick with our allies.

america's network is part of what makes us exceptional and our allies deliver for us every day. [applause] ms. clinton: our armed forces fight terrorists together. our diplomats work side by side. allies provide staging areas for our military so we can respond quickly to events on other side of the world. and they share intelligence that helps us identify and diffuse potential threats. take north korea, perhaps the most repressive regime on the planet run by a sadistic dictator who wants to develop long-range missiles that can carry a nuclear weapon to the united states. when i was secretary of state, we worked closely with our allies, japan and south korea,

to respond to this thread threat including by creating a missile defense system that stands ready to shoot down a north korean warhead should the leaders be reckless enough to launch one. the technology is ours. key parts are located on japanese ships. all three countries contributed to it and all three of our militaries will run a joint drill to test it. this month. that is the power of allies. [applause] sec. clinton: it is also the legacy of american troops that fought and died to secure those bonds. because they knew we were safer with friends and partners. moscow and beijing are deeply envious of our alliances because

they have nothing to match them. they would love for us to elect a president that would jeopardize that source of strength. if donald gets his way, they will be celebrating in the kremlin. we cannot let that happen. [applause] sec. clinton: that's why it is no small passing thing when he talks about leaving nato or says he will stay neutral on israel. it's no small thing when he calls mexicans rapists and murderers. we are lucky to have two good friends on borders, why would he want to make one of them an enemy? [applause] sec. clinton: and it is no small thing when he suggests america should withdraw military support for japan and encourage them to get nuclear weapons.

and he said this about a war between japan and north korea. and i quote, if they do, they do. good luck. enjoy yourself, folks. i wonder if he even realizes he is talking about nuclear war. yes, our friends need to contribute their fair share. i made that point long before donald trump came onto the scene. a number of them have increased their defense spending. the real debate is if we keep those alliances strong or cut them off. what he says would weaken our country. third, we need to embrace all the tools of american power, especially diplomacy and development. to be on the front lines solving problems before they threaten us at home. diplomacy could be the only way to avoid a conflict that could end up exacting a much greater

cost. it takes patience, persistence, and an eye on the long game. but it is worth it. take the nuclear agreement with iran. when president obama took office iran was racing toward a nuclear , bomb. some called for military action. that could have ignited a broader war. our troopshave mired in another middle eastern conflict. president obama chose a different path and i got to lead the effort to impose crippling sanctions. we brought i ran to the table. we began talks. and eventually, we reached an agreement that should block every path for iran to get a nuclear weapon. now we must enforce the deal vigorously. as i have said many times before our approach must be distrust

, and verify. the world must understand the united states will act decisively if necessary, including with military action to stop iran from getting a nuclear weapon. in particular israel's security , is nonnegotiable. our closest ally in the region and we have a moral obligation to defend israel. [applause] sec. clinton: but there is no question that the world and the united states, we are safer now than we were before this agreement. we accomplished it without firing a single shot or putting a single american soldier in harm's way. [applause] sec. clinton: donald trump says we should not have done the deal. we should have walked away.

but that would have meant no more global sanctions and iran resuming their nuclear program and the world blaming us. then what? war? telling the world -- good luck, you deal with iran. of course, trump doesn't have answers to those questions. he does not know the first thing about iran or its nuclear program. ask him. it will become very clear very quickly. [applause] sec. clinton: there is no risk of people losing their lives if you blow up a golf course deal. but it doesn't work like that in world affairs. just like being interviewed on the same episode of 60 minutes is not the same thing as actually dealing with vladimir putin.

so the stakes are infinitely higher and more complex than in the world of luxury hotels. we know the tools donald trump brings to the table. bragging, mocking, composing nasty tweets. i'm willing to bet he's writing a few right now. [applause] [laughter] sec. clinton: but those tools will not do the trick. rather than solving global crises, he will create new ones. he has no sense of what it takes to deal with multiple countries with competing interests and reaching a solution everyone can get behind. in fact, he is downright contemptuous of that work. that means he's more likely to end up leading us into conflict. we need to be firm but wise with

rivals. countries often work against us. like russia and china. beijing dumps cheap steel in our market and that hurts american workers. moscow has taken aggressive military action in ukraine. on nato's doorstep. i have gone toe to toe with russia, china, and many other leaders around the world. i know we have to stand our ground when we must and find common ground when we can. that is how i can work with russia to reduce stockpiles and with china to increase pressure on north korea. it's how diplomats negotiated a landmark agreement on climate change that trump wants to rip up. [applause] ms. clinton: the key was never forgetting who we were dealing with. not friends or allies but countries that share a common

interest. amid many disagreements. donald doesn't see the complexity. he wants to start a trade war with china. i understand a lot of americans have concerns about our trade agreements. i do also. but a trade war is something , very different. we went down that road in the 1930's and it made the great depression longer and more painful. combine that with his comments about defaulting on our debt and it is not hard to see how a trump presidency could lead to a global economic crisis. i have to say i don't understand , his bizarre fascination with dictators and strong men who have no love for america. he praised china for the tiananmen square massacre and said that it showed strength. he said you've got to give him credit for taking over north korea, something he did by murdering everyone he saw as a

threat including his own uncle which donald described gleefully like he was recapping an action movie. and he said if he were rating vladimir putin as a leader, he will give him in a. i will leave it to a psychiatrists to explain his affection for tyrants. [applause] sec. clinton: i just wonder how anyone can be so wrong about who america's real friends are. because it matters. if you don't know exactly who you are dealing with, men like putin will eat your lunch. we need a real plan for confronting terrorists. as we saw six months ago in san bernardino, the threat is real and urgent. the past year, i have laid out my plans for defeating isis. we need to take out their strongholds in iraq and syria by

intensifying the air campaign and stepping up support. we need to keep pursuing diplomacy. two and serious civil war close iraq's sectarian divide. civil ware syria's and close iraq's sectarian divide. those conflicts are keeping isis alive. we need to lash out and ensure our intelligence services are working hand in hand to dismantle the global network that supplies money, armed propaganda, and fighters to the terrorists. and we need to win the battle in cyberspace. [applause] sec. clinton: and of course, we need to strengthen our defenses here at home. that, in a nutshell, is my plan for defeating isis. what is trump's? well he won't say. , he is literally keeping it a secret. the secret is he has no idea what he would do. look at the few things he has

said on the subject. he actually said, and i quote, "maybe syria should be a free zone for isis." oh, ok. let the terrorist group have of a major country in the middle east. we should send tens of thousands of american ground troops to the middle east to fight isis. he also refused to rule out nuclear weapons against isis which would mean mass civilian casualties. it's clear he doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. so we can't be certain which of , these things he would do. we can be certain he is capable of doing any or all of them. letting isis run wild, launching a nuclear attack, starting a ground war. these are all distinct possibilities with donald trump in charge. and through all his talk, there is one constant theme, demonizing muslims and playing right into the hands of isis.

his plan to ban muslims from even coming to our country doesn't just violate the religious freedom our country was founded on, it is a huge propaganda victory for isis. and it alienates the very countries we need to help us win in this fight. a trump presidency would embolden isis. [applause] sec. clinton: we cannot take that risk. this isn't reality television. this is actual reality. [applause] sec. clinton: defeating global terrorist networks and protecting the homeland takes more than empty talk and a handful of slogans. it takes a real plan. real experience and leadership. donald trump lacks all three. and one more thing.

a president has a sacred responsibility of defending troops in battle if we absolutely must. and only with the clear and well thought out strategy. our troops give their all. they deserve a commander-in-chief who knows that. i have side-by-side and fought for better health care. for national guard. better services for our veterans. support for our gold star families. you cannot with the lives of our young men and women in donald trump's hands. we need to stay true to our values. he says again and again, the world is laughing at us. he didn't just start this year. he bought full page ads in newspapers in 1987, america

lacked a backbone and america was, you guessed it, laughing at us. he was wrong then and he is wrong now. you've got to wonder why somebody who fundamentally has so little confidence in america and has felt that way for it least 30 years, wants to be our president. the truth is, there is not a country in the world that can rival us. it is not just that we have the greatest military or that are economy is larger than any in the world. it's also that americans work harder, dream bigger, and we never ever stop trying to make our country and the world a better place. [applause]

sec. clinton: so it really matters that donald trump says things that go against our deepest held values. it matters when he says he will order our military to murder the families of suspected terrorists. during the raid to kill osama bin laden, when every second counted, our seals took the time to move the women and children in the compound to safety. donald trump may not get it, but that is what honor looks like. [applause]

sec. clinton: and you know what? it also matters when he makes fun of people with disabilities. calls women pigs. proposes banning an entire religion from our country or plays coy with white supremacists. america stands up to countries that treat women like animals or people of different races, religions, or ethnicities as less human. [applause] sec. clinton: what happens to the moral example we set for the world and for our own children if our president engages in bigotry? and by the way, mr. trump, every time you insult american muslims or mexican immigrants, remember, plenty of muslims and immigrants serve and fight in our armed forces. [applause] sec. clinton: donald trump could learn something from them.

that brings me to the final point i want to make. the temperament it takes to be commander-in-chief. every president faces hard choices every day with imperfect information and conflicting imperatives. that is the job. a revolution threatens to topple a government in a key region. an adversary reaches out for the first time in years. what do you do? making the right call takes a cool head and respect for the facts. it takes a willingness to listen to other people's points of view with a truly open mind. it also takes humility knowing you don't know everything. because if you are convinced you are always right, you will never ask yourself the hard questions. i remember being in the situation room with president

obama debating the potential bin laden operation. the president's advisers were divided. the intelligence was compelling but far from definitive. and the risks of failure were daunting. the stakes were significant. for our battle with al qaeda and our relationship with pakistan. most of all, the lives of those brave seals and pilots hung in the balance. it was a decision only a president could make. and when he did, it was as crisp and courageous a display of leadership i have ever seen. imagine donald trump sitting in the situation room making life or death decisions on behalf of the united states. imagine him deciding whether to send your spouses or children into battle.

imagine if he had not just his twitter account at his disposal when he is angry but america's entire arsenal. do we want him making those calls? someone thin-skinned and quick to anger who lashes out at the smallest criticism. do we want his finger anywhere near the button? >> no! clinton: i have a lot of faith that the american people will make the right decision. this is a country with a deep reservoir of common sense and national pride. we are all counting on that. [applause] sec. clinton: because making donald trump our commander-in-chief would be a historic mistake and it would undo so much of the work that republicans and democrats alike have done. over many decades, making america stronger and more secure.

it would set back our standing in the world more than anything in recent memory. it would fuel an ugly narrative about who we are. that we are fearful, not confident. that we want to let others determine our future for us instead of shaping our own destiny. that is not the america i know and love. yes, we have a lot of work to do to keep our country secure and we need to do better by american families and workers. and we will. don't let anyone tell you america isn't great. donald trump has america all wrong. we are a big hearted and fair-minded country. [applause] sec. clinton: there is no challenge we can't meet, no goal we can't achieve when we each do our part and come together. as one nation. every lesson teaches us that we are stronger together. we remember that every memorial day.

this election is a choice between two very different visions of america. one that is angry, afraid, and based on the idea that america is fundamentally weak. and in decline. the other is hopeful, generous, and confident that america is great just like we always have been. [applause] sec. clinton: so let's resolve that we can be greater still. that is what i believe in my heart. i went to 112 countries as your secretary of state and i never lost my sense of pride and wonder at seeing the blue and white plane lit up on some far off runway with the united states of america emblazoned on the sides. that plane, those words, our

country represent something special. not just to us, but to the world. it presents -- it represents freedom, and hope. i love this country and i know you do, too. it has been an honor and a privilege to serve america and i'm going to do everything i can to protect our nation and make sure we never lose sight of how strong we really are. thank you all very much. [applause] [cheering] ♪

>> tomorrow, donald trump holds a campaign rally in redding, california. their --a voters holds hold their calc -- their primary on tuesday. president -- madam secretary, we proudly give 72 of our delegate votes to the next president of the united states. ♪

>> this weekend, the c-span city tour hosted by our coxe munication cable partners, explores the literacy -- literary culture of nevada. an artificial bird sanctuary in downtown las vegas. about the lasalks vegas literary scene and why he chose to open the only independent bookstore in the city. great, bige a lot of readers here and a population of

excellent writers. also, former las vegas mayor oscar goodman recounts his unique life in his book, "being oscar." >> a couple weeks later, the phone call comes through and it is from a reputed mobster. his brother had been arrested and he wanted to know who the best criminal lawyer was in las vegas. nothing changes over the years. the fella who picks a the phone asked who the best criminal lawyer was in las vegas. they say -- call oscar. >> we visit the center for gaming research at the center of university of las vegas. we learned about how the industry even all. >> gambling in las vegas goes back to the beginning of las vegas. las vegas was established by

what is now the union pacific railroad. then it was the salt lake, san pedro railroad. they ought a ranch from helen stewart and they laid out at town here. >> then we will visit bit national atomic testing museum. the site was established in 1951 for the testing of nuclear devices. from the 1950's to the early 1990's, mushroom clouds could be seen for 100 miles. commissionic energy advertised in advance so local planningd tourists their itinerary could come to las vegas and plan to observe a nuclear blast. >> watch the c-span's city tour. 2:00 onfternoon at american history.

president obama delivered this year's commencement address at the u.s. air force academy in colorado springs, colorado. he talked about his appreciation of the military and what he has learned about national security as his tenure of -- as president. this is 40 minutes. >> thank you very much, and most importantly to the mighty class of 2016. [applause] i can't hear you. that's more like it. isn't that cool, mr. president? i love that.