Jenna Bush Hager: Don’t forget politicians ‘are humans’

>> a little insight. we're going to watch this election as journalists and at citizens and as interested parties. you've watched several as a daughter and a granddaughter. what's the tension like on election night when you're part of the family?

>> it's hard. you know, i'm glad to be watching it as a citizen, i have to say, you know, because one thing i think we don't talk about enough in this country is politicians as humans, as fathers, as husbands, and both of the men tonight, you know, they are dads, and they are husbands and so for me watching my dad, you know, go through that stress, it's hard for the kids.

>> let me go back even earlier. when your grandfather lost his bid for re-election were you in fourth grade.

>> yeah.

>> do you remember the disappointment?

>> we were in houston and remember watching him and he's my gampy and i remember watching him work so hard, that's what he wanted. i remember crying. i was a fourth grader.

>> let's go forward to 2000 , election to end all elections. how old?

>> i was 18.

>> that turned into not election night but election month basically.

>> 36 days.

>> going to the supreme court . how much tension was it?

>> really hard and particularly hard for my mom because, you know, she -- we were 18 so we were off at college and kind of could go back to our routine of christmas break and then school, but it was hard for my mom to watch my dad, you know, go through this really stressful time.

>> tried to keep normal in her life. there's this picture of her in 2000 in the governor's mansion in austin, texas doing dishes.

>> cleaning.

>> who can do dishes?

>> my mom is like you where she has a little bit of an ocd issue.

>> i knew i liked your mom.

>> has a little bit of an ocd issue, when she's stressed she cleans.

>> when your dad was running for re-election in 2004 , was there any -- also a tense night. was there any part of you that wanted it to go the other way so that you could have your life back completely?

>> no, you know. i mean, i think maybe when we were 18 there might have been some of that selfishness when they told us he was running for president. barbara and i were shocked because we were college kids and we were most important, our freedom, but in 2004 we wanted him to be president. we'd witnessed september 11 as college students, and we wanted him to keep us safe, and, you know, we want what's best for your parents because they want what's best for you. both in 2000 and 2004 , we went to bed. our whole family not knowing that he had been elected so i just hope we go to bed with a winner, for all the families' sake.

>> nice of you to share this.

>> sure.

>> it's not something you do very often. you don't walk around the office and say let me tell you about my time in the white house .

>> no, not much.

>> thanks, jenna, i appreciate it.

>> just ahead, more from here on democracy plaza on election day 2012 after your local news.