KARL ROVE: Politics has constantly been changing.

DAVID AXELROD: It's exhilarating.

It can be exasperating.

Truth is that Karl and I don't see eye to eye on some things.

We'll just keep this between us,

but I actually like the guy.

There goes my career.

KARL ROVE: Reagan used to say that our American democracy was

always one generation away from extinction.

DAVID AXELROD: We're more polarized now than ever.

That's understandable.

We're in a tribal moment.

DAVID AXELROD: In a great campaign,

you have a very clear sense of what it's about.

KARL ROVE: A lot of the campaign is going

to depend upon the message.

Donald Trump was the anti-Obama.

He held himself out as, I'm going to take a brick

and throw it through the plate glass window.

Mission accomplished.

If you're in a campaign and you don't

believe you're going to make a mistake,

you're in the wrong business.

The lesson is, when you're attacked,

respond, impeach the charge, and then go back on the offensive.

I have as much experience as Jack Kennedy did.

Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

[LAUGHTER]

KARL ROVE: Pow!

Right there.

These are battles of definition.

KARL ROVE: Each candidate's trying to say,

I'm the answer to your question in this election.

DAVID AXELROD: Exactly.

It's a performance.

And look at the campaigns in the 19th century.

And they were brutal.

They just weren't on television.

The one corrective in a democracy is the vote.

Our moment is now.

KARL ROVE: If you've never been involved in politics,

don't be afraid to get started.

DAVID AXELROD: It is really important

to be agents of change.

KARL ROVE: Politics is a wonderful, noble profession,

and it ought to be the passion of every single American.

DAVID AXELROD: If you want change, this is your choice.

Well said.

DAVID AXELROD: I'm David Axelrod.

KARL ROVE: I'm Karl Rove.

BOTH: And this is our MasterClass.