The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper: Season 4, Episode 8

4 - 8: Ben Sasse is Going Home: Lessons on Life and Death

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper returns with an intimate and deeply personal portrait of life, faith, and love in the face of mortality, through the eyes of former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, who is living with a terminal cancer diagnosis at the age of 54.In this special hour, Tapper, who has known and interviewed Sasse for more than a decade, travels to Sasse's beloved home of Nebraska to spend time with Sasse and his family as they navigate this uncertain, yet profound, chapter of life together. Their candid conversations explore how Sasse has approached the weight of a terminal diagnosis, how his perspective on life and death has evolved, and the unexpected moments of joy and gratitude that remain."We'll all face our own mortality one day, but most of us will never do it as publicly and openly as Ben Sasse," said Jake Tapper. "Amidst immense physical pain, Ben's ability to assign a higher meaning to it all, and to do it with so much grace, left a deep impact on me. I know others will feel the same, and I hope anyone who watches this hour gains a new perspective on what's truly important in this one life we are given."The episode features the first interview with Sasse's wife, Melissa, since his diagnosis, as the couple reflects on the role of faith in sustaining their family. Tapper also joins Sasse and his son at the College World Series, where baseball serves as both a backdrop and a reminder of the traditions and memories the family continues to cherish. Throughout the hour, Sasse opens up about the experimental treatment that has extended his life, offers candid reflections on the state of American politics, and considers the legacy he hopes to leave behind.