bill bradley was the banker's son. she was a doting mother high in expectations but strikingly low on praise. >> the only compliment that i ever got from her was on her deathbed when she looked up at me and said, bill, you've been a good boy. i was 52. my mother always wanted me to be a success. my father always wanted me to be a gentleman. and neither one of them ever wanted me to be a basketball player or a politician. >> reporter: and so pivoting directly to politics, at 35, bill bradley of new jersey was the youngest member of the united states senate. >> the place for leadership is here. >> reporter: a seat he occupied for 18 years. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: but the white house, people always said that was bill bradley's destiny. >> the next president of the united states, senator bill bradley. >> reporter: and in 1999, he took his shot and missed. >> the storm former senator was very direct during his concession speech in new york. >> he won. i lost. >> reporter: and his marriage of 33 years was ending