7/26/00

LC000726

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> THE TALK IN LAGUNA BEACH THESE DAYS IS ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE WELL-KNOWN FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS.

GAY YEE>> THE FESTIVAL BOARD ISN'T HAPPY WITH ITS LANDLORD, THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH. IT MAY PACK UP AND MOVE TO SAN CLEMENTE. THAT SEASIDE COMMUNITY SEEMS EAGER TO MAKE A DEAL AND THE FESTIVAL BOARD SAYS THERE'S GOOD REASON.

SHERRI BUTTERFIELD>> NOTHING REMAINS THE SAME. YOU EITHER STAGNATE, WITHER AND DIE OR YOU ADAPT, GROW AND CHANGE.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, POLITICAL CONVENTIONS ARE LESS ABOUT POLITICS AND MORE ABOUT TELEVISION. WE'LL PORE OVER THE REPUBLICAN TELEVISION SCHEDULE AND HEAR FROM ONE ANALYST ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL US.

WARREN>> ALSO TONIGHT, THEY CREATED THE SYMBOL OF MODERN POST-WAR CULTURE, BUT THESE DESIGNERS MADE MORE THAN JUST CHAIRS. FROM MOVIES TO HOUSES, WE LOOK AT THE WORKS OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY.

VAL>> AND I'M VAL ZAVALA.

WARREN>> OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, THE BATTLE OVER A LAGUNA BEACH INSTITUTION. FOR NEARLY SEVENTY YEARS, LAGUNA BEACH HAS BOASTED THAT IT'S HOME TO THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS. THE POPULAR EVENT ALLOWS ARTISTS TO SELL AND DISPLAY THEIR WORKS, IT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF SUMMER TOURISTS AND IT'S GIVEN THE BEACHSIDE TOWN A CULTURAL CACHE.

VAL>> BUT THIS YEAR, THE FESTIVAL IS MIRED IN POLITICAL TURMOIL. IT STARTED WHEN FESTIVAL DIRECTORS COULDN'T COME TO TERMS WITH THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, SO THEY APPROACHED THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE AS A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE SITE. WELL, THAT TRIGGERED A FEUD AS NASTY AS ANY BATTLE OVER TOXIC WASTE. GAY YEE HAS THE STORY.

GAY>> LAGUNA BEACH IS AN AFFLUENT BEACHFRONT COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS AN ABUNDANCE OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS. THOUSANDS OF VISITORS COME HERE EVERY YEAR. LAGUNA LIKES TO BE KNOWN AS AN ARTIST COLONY. SINCE THE LATE 1930'S, THIS PLACE HAS BEEN HOME TO A MAJOR SUMMER EVENT: THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS.

THE FESTIVAL PORTION OFFERS 160 ARTISTS SPACE TO SHOW OFF AND SELL THEIR WORK. THEN WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, 2,000 PATRONS POUR INTO THE AMPHITHEATER FOR THE PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS. IT'S A ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENT IN WHICH ELABORATELY MADE-UP AND COSTUMED VOLUNTEERS STAGE SCENES FROM WELL-KNOWN ART WORKS. THIS YEAR THE THEME IS "CALIFORNIA DREAMING". MANY OF THE WORKS DEPICT THE STATE'S HISTORY, BUT THESE DAYS, THE ART HAS BEEN ECLIPSED BY A BITTER BATTLE OVER THE FUTURE HOME OF THE FESTIVAL AND PAGEANT. LAGUNA BEACH OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THE FESTIVAL RENTS.

SHERRI BUTTERFIELD>> THE CITY GETS MOST OF THE GOODIES. THE CITY GETS THE GOLD MINE AND THE FESTIVAL GETS THE SHAFT UNDER THAT LEASE, SO WHAT THIS BOARD RESOLVED TO DO WAS TO TRY TO CREATE A LEASE THAT'S BALANCED, THAT'S FAIR.

GAY>> BOARD PRESIDENT, SHERRI BUTTERFIELD, STARTED AS A PAGEANT VOLUNTEER NEARLY TWENTY YEARS AGO. SHE'S LOOKING TO MOVE THE ORGANIZATION TO A NEW HOME IN A NEW BEACHFRONT CITY, SAN CLEMENTE. SAN CLEMENTE AND THE FESTIVAL BOARD ARE DEVELOPING A PLAN TO BRING THE EVENT TO THIS VACANT MOUNTAIN LAND AND THE IDEA HAS LAGUNA BEACH MAYOR, KATHLEEN BLACKBURN, REELING.

KATHLEEN BLACKBURN>> I FIND IT ODD THAT ANOTHER CITY WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF ANOTHER CITY. JUST A REAL SURPRISING PHENOMENON.

GAY>> SAN CLEMENTE CITY MANAGER, MIKE PARNESS, DENIES HIS CITY RAIDED LAGUNA BEACH.

MIKE PARNESS>> IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, "WE HAVE A LEASE THAT EXPIRES IN 2001. IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IMMEDIATELY. WE'RE GOING TO EITHER GO TO SAN CLEMENTE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE CAN'T WORK THINGS OUT WITH LAGUNA BEACH." AT THAT POINT, WE FELT THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT WE COULD WORK OUT.

GAY>> SAN CLEMENTE AND THE FESTIVAL ARE TALKING ABOUT A MUCH LARGER PROJECT THAN WHAT EXISTS NOW, A TWENTY-ACRE SITE THAT COULD HOUSE A 3,000-FOOT AMPHITHEATER, AN ART MUSEUM AND A 500-SEAT THEATER. ANOTHER DOZEN ACRES COULD BE USED FOR PARKING. THE LAGUNA BEACH FESTIVAL SITE IS ONLY FIVE AND A HALF ACRES AND THERE’S LITTLE SPACE TO GROW. LAGUNA’S MAYOR SAYS THAT IS THE REAL SOURCE OF THE CONFLICT.

KATHLEEN BLACKBURN>> CONTRARY TO THE IMPRESSION THAT’S BEING GIVEN BY THE FESTIVAL, THE CITY REALLY IS NOT THE REASON THE FESTIVAL IS GOING TO SAN CLEMENTE. CLEARLY, THE CURRENT BOARD HAS A DIFFERENT VISION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS DICHOTOMY OF INTEREST IS THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS DON’T LIVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF LAGUNA BEACH. WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND DOESN’T FIT HERE.

GAY>> DAVID YOUNG AGREES. HE RECENTLY RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD AFTER SERVING OVER FORTY YEARS, SAYING HE WAS A MINORITY OF ONE.

DAVID YOUNG>> I THINK THEY’VE GOT BIG BUSINESS MAINLY IN THEIR MINDS. YOU TALK TO CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME IDEA THAT THE FESTIVAL SHOULD GROW IN THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE IT SHOWS TO AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT BRINGS IN. ESPECIALLY, THEY’RE VERY INTERESTED IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT BRINGS IN.

GAY>> BUTTERFIELD SEES IT DIFFERENTLY. SHE ARGUES THE CITY DEMANDED TOO MUCH RENT. THE FESTIVAL PAID WELL OVER A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CITY LAST YEAR AND SAYS THAT NEGOTIATIONS FOR A MORE REASONABLE NEW CONTRACT DID NOT GO WELL. ONLY THEN DID SHE CONSIDER LEAVING LAGUNA.

SHERRI BUTTERFIELD>> BY CHOICE, I DROVE DOWN HERE EACH SUMMER FOR TWENTY YEARS TO VOLUNTEER HERE BECAUSE I LIKE LAGUNA BEACH. ON THE OTHER HAND, I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT NOTHING REMAINS THE SAME. YOU EITHER STAGNATE, WITHER AND DIE OR YOU ADAPT, GROW AND CHANGE.

GAY>> MANY OF THESE ARTISTS HERE DON’T WANT TO MOVE. IN FACT, THEY’VE ORGANIZED AGAINST THE BOARD.

BRUCE RASNER>> OUT OF 160 ARTISTS HERE, WE HAVE WELL OVER 130 WHO ARE DISAGREEING WITH THIS MOVE, AS WELL AS THEIR ACTIONS. WE NOW HAVE THE BACKSTAGE PEOPLE IN THE PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS ON OUR SIDE.

GAY>> EXHIBITOR, BRUCE RASNER, IS LEADING A FIGHT FOR BOARD RECALL.

BRUCE RASNER>> TO BE VERY CANDID, I THINK IT’S ARROGANCE. I THINK THE BOARD HAS FAILED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THERE’S SOME VERY SMART PEOPLE AMONGST THE MEMBERSHIP THAT OUGHT TO BE CONSULTED AND ARE EVERY BIT AS BRIGHT AS THEY ARE. I THINK THEY’VE JUST TAKEN A LIBERTY TO MAKE THIS, AND THEY HAVE PROCLAIMED THIS WILL BE, A BOARD DECISION.

GAY>> AS AN EXHIBITOR AND ONE OF THE SIX BOARD MEMBERS, ROARK GOURLEY IS ON THE HOT SEAT.

ROARK GOURLEY>> EVERYBODY GOES, “WELL, YOU GOT TO STAY IN LAGUNA AT ANY COST” AND I JUST DON’T BELIEVE IT’S AT ANY COST.

GAY>> WHETHER IT’S A QUESTION OF MONEY OR VISION, GOURLEY SAYS THE FIGHT HAS GOTTEN VICIOUS.

ROARK GOURLEY>> THERE’S THINGS HERE IN THE PAPERS, THERE’S E-MAILS, THERE’S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT I’VE GOTTEN THAT ARE JUST HATEFUL STUFF WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IGNORE, YOU CAN PUT OFF. IT’S JUST THAT WHEN THEY START GOING AT MY MOM WHO’S HERE A LOT OF THE TIME OR GOING AT MY WIFE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GETS TO A POINT WHERE YOU’RE GOING, “LOOK, YOU KNOW, YOU’RE STEPPING OVER THE LINE.”

GAY>> DESPITE THE BITTERNESS AND PENDING RECALL VOTE, THE FESTIVAL SAYS IT HAS NO PLANS TO BACK AWAY FROM THE SAN CLEMENTE PROPOSAL.

SHERRI BUTTERFIELD>> I’VE HEARD PEOPLE EXPRESS THE FEAR THAT IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL, THAT IT WILL HAVE ITS OWN AMBIENCE, ITS OWN ATTRACTION, ITS OWN BEAUTY AND BE A SPECTACULAR SETTING FOR ARTISTS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME AND ENJOY ART.

GAY>> BUT THE CRITICS ARE EQUALLY CONFIDENT A MOVE WON’T WORK.

DAVID YOUNG>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE FESTIVAL LIKE TO COME TO LAGUNA AND I’D SAY 25 PERCENT OF THEM COME BECAUSE IT IS IN LAGUNA, AT LEAST 25 PERCENT AND MAYBE MORE. WHO WANTS TO GO TO SAN CLEMENTE TO A FESTIVAL OF ARTS THAT THEY’VE STOLEN FROM LAGUNA? IT’S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. IT’S JUST POOR JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF THE PRESENT BOARD, I THINK.

WARREN>> SO THE PEOPLE IN LAGUNA BEACH ARE REALLY CRANKED UP ABOUT THIS AND NOW THERE’S GOING TO BE A RECALL ELECTION?

GAY>> WELL, THIS PAST SATURDAY, THEY WENT AHEAD AND VOTED WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED A RECALL ELECTION. THOSE BALLOTS WERE TABULATED TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY’VE DETERMINED 77 PERCENT ARE IN FAVOR OF A RECALL ELECTION.

VAL>> MEANING RECALLING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FESTIVAL?

GAY>> RIGHT, AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY VOTE ON THAT LATER THIS FALL. THIS CONTRACT ACTUALLY GOES UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2000, SO THEY HAVE SOME GRACE PERIOD. BUT IF THEY DO CHANGE OUT THE PEOPLE WHO’S ON THAT BOARD, IT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT OF WHICH WAY IT GOES.

WARREN>> WORTH POINTING OUT THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION BECAUSE THE VOTE TO HAVE THE RECALL WAS 446 TO 132.

GAY>> BUT ACTUALLY IT’S THE MEMBERSHIP AT LARGE IN ORANGE COUNTY THAT GETS TO VOTE ON THIS, SO WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A MUCH LARGER POPULATION. NOT JUST LAGUNA BEACH, BUT ORANGE COUNTY.

WARREN>> SO JUST THIS LITTLE VOTE, THEN, TO HAVE THE RECALL ELECTION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 77 PERCENT IN FAVOR OF THAT MAY NOT REFLECT THE TOTAL?

GAY>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE THE WAY THEY SET THIS UP, YOU HAD TO BE ON THE GROUNDS ON SATURDAY, SO NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP.

WARREN>> SO IT’S NOT OVER YET FOR SAN CLEMENTE?

GAY>> NOT OVER YET.

VAL>> ART. A HOT TOPIC.

GAY>> YES, IT IS.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GAY.

OUR TOP STORY FOR TOMORROW, THE THREE WORDS THAT STRIKE FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF WINEMAKERS. HERE THEY ARE: THE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER, A FLYING PEST THAT THREATENS TO DEVASTATE VINEYARDS IN THE TEMECULA AREA OF RIVERSIDE. THAT’S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

WARREN>> WELL, THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IS JUST FIVE DAYS AWAY FROM OPENING UP IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE EVENT, OF COURSE, IS IN MANY WAYS MORE ABOUT TELEVISION THESE DAYS THAN IT IS ABOUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

VAL>> THAT’S RIGHT. CONVENTION PLANNERS SCRIPT THEMES, THEY CAST ROLES JUST LIKE ANY HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER WOULD DO, IN AN EFFORT TO SEND A VERY SPECIFIC MESSAGE TO TELEVISION VIEWERS. SO, WHAT’S ON THE GRAND OLD PARTY CHANNEL NEXT WEEK? WE’LL GO OVER THE PRIME TIME SCHEDULE WITH THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE LA WEEKLY, HAROLD MEYERSON, IN TONIGHT’S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

WARREN>> AND HERE HE IS, A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT, TO TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA. GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> ONE OF LIFE’S CONUNDRUMS, HERE I AM.

WARREN>> WELL, YOU CAN BE A TELEVISION CRITIC.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> WELL, THAT’S ESSENTIALLY WHAT ANYONE LOOKING AT THIS CONVENTION IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE MAIN INTENT OF THE SCHEDULING IS SIMPLY A PLEA TO THE AVERAGE AMERICAN: TURN US ON. SOMETHING MAY, IN FACT, HAPPEN TONIGHT.

WARREN>> OKAY, SO WE’LL START WITH MONDAY. WHAT HAVE THEY GOT THAT’S GOING TO LEAD PEOPLE TO TURN ON?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> COLIN POWELL IS WHAT THEY HAVE ON MONDAY, CERTAINLY ONE OF THE STELLAR LIGHTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO, I’M SURE, THEY WISH THEY COULD GET AS THEIR VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOD AND DIDN’T. HE WILL BE ON ON MONDAY, AS WELL AS LAURA BUSH, WHO IS ESSENTIALLY A MYSTERY YET TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TALKING ABOUT KIDS AND EDUCATION, BASICALLY.

VAL>> AND LAURA BUSH IS...?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> GEORGE W. BUSH’S WIFE. MRS. BUSH. THE YOUNGER MRS. BUSH.

VAL>> WE HAVEN’T HEARD MUCH FROM HER AT ALL.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> NO, WE HAVE NOT.

VAL>> SO, COLIN POWELL, LAURA BUSH AND WHO’S NEXT ON THE STAR LINE?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> ON TUESDAY, IT’S FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MILITARY POLICY AND, OF COURSE, THE BIG NAME HERE IS JOHN MCCAIN. THE THEATER HERE IS, OF COURSE, A SMALL ELEMENT OF SUSPENSE IN WHAT WILL JOHN MCCAIN SAY, WILL HE STICK TO THE SCRIPT, HE USUALLY DOESN’T --

VAL>> -- OR WILL HE BE HIS MAVERICK SELF?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY. SO THAT’S SORT OF THE SLIGHT ELEMENT OF SUSPENSE. ALSO ON TUESDAY, BUSH’S CHIEF FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR, CONDOLEEZZA RICE. NOW WHAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS FOR ME IS THAT SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE, IF HE’S ELECTED, THE LIKELY CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. THERE’S NEVER BEEN A NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR WHO’S TALKED TO A DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. I THINK THE FACT THAT SHE’S ALSO FEMALE AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SHOWCASING HER AS WELL.

WARREN>> JUST BRIEFLY, WE WON’T EXPECT JOHN MCCAIN TO TALK ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED, BUT I’VE BEEN VERY SURPRISED BEFORE.

WARREN>> AND IF HE DID, IT WOULD BE WORTH WATCHING.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. THE JAWS DROPPING ALONE WOULD BE WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION.

VAL>> BUT, YOU KNOW, WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHEN THERE WERE REAL SURPRISES IN CONVENTIONS WHEN THEY WOULD, FOR EXAMPLE, WAIT TO ANNOUNCE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DURING THE CONVENTION? NOW IT’S DONE, YOU KNOW, IT’S DICK CHENEY, IT’S NO SURPRISE.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> OH, ABSOLUTELY --

VAL>> -- I MEAN, WHY WOULDN’T THEY WANT TO HOLD THAT UNTIL THE CONVENTION TO HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF SURPRISE?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> WELL, I THINK THE THEORY NOW IS YOU WANT TO BUILD MOMENTUM GOING IN. BUSH AND CHENEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUR, I THINK, UP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, DOWN HIGHWAYS, DOWN BYWAYS, GOING TO THE CONVENTION, NOT ARRIVING THERE UNTIL WEDNESDAY. IT'S SORT OF LIKE A DELAYED ACTION CORONATION. --

VAL>> -- OH, BIG ENTRY.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> PARTLY, THEY LEARNED THIS FROM CLINTON AND GORE IN ’92. THAT WAS A VERY WELL SORT OF SCRIPTED EVENT AND PLAYED TERRIFICALLY AS THEATER, AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE MODEL FOR BOTH PARTIES TODAY.

WARREN>> THIS IS GETTING GREAT. NOW WHAT’S UP ON THE NEXT NIGHT?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> ON THE NEXT NIGHT, THEY ARE TROTTING OUT DICK CHENEY THEN BECAUSE I THINK THEY’VE MAYBE RUN OUT OF MASSIVE NAMES. THEY ARE TROTTING OUT DICK CHENEY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT --

WARREN>> -- WELL, HE’S A MASSIVE NAME IF HE’S GOING TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE --

HAROLD MEYERSON>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> IT’S THE FIRST WE’LL REALLY SEE HIM, GET AN IMPRESSION OF HIM.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> THAT’S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THE THEME OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS BASICALLY TO PROMOTE GEORGE W. BUSH’S TAX CUTS AND HIS SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN. I SUSPECT THAT WILL GO BY RATHER QUICKLY AND THEN THE MAIN EVENT WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS MR. CHENEY.

WARREN>> WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE WE WOULD EXPECT FROM HIM? HERE’S A GUY WHO WAS AN EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE CONGRESSMAN FOR SIX TERMS, VOTED AGAINST GUN CONTROL, AGAINST WOMEN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. MUCH MORE MODERATE PERSON LATER ON WHEN HE WAS WITH GERALD FORD AS WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF AND DEFENSE SECRETARY WITH GEORGE BUSH, THE FIRST.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> RIGHT. ACTUALLY, HE WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF BEFORE HE WENT INTO CONGRESS --

WARREN>> -- BEFORE HE WENT INTO CONGRESS, YOU’RE RIGHT.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> ONE REASON WHY HE ROSE SO QUICKLY IN CONGRESS. WELL, I THINK THIS WILL BE AN ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE THE THEME OF COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM. YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HEAR ANY STRIDENT RHETORIC ABOUT GUNS, CHOICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT --

WARREN>> -- NO CULTURAL WORDS LIKE PAT BUCHANAN --

HAROLD MEYERSON>> -- HEAVENS, NO. I MEAN, THE KEYSTONE OF GEORGE W. BUSH’S CAMPAIGN IS NOT ONLY THAT HE’S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, BUT HE’S RUNNING AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS. CHENEY HAS THE GREAT BLESSING THAT HE’S BEEN OUT OF THERE FOR A DECADE NOW, SO HE’S NOT TAINTED BY THE MARK OF GINGRICH.

WARREN>> SO WHO ARE WE NOT GOING TO SEE IN ADDITION TO THE FORMER SPEAKER, MR. GINGRICH?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> WELL, THE SENSIBLE CHAIRS OF THE CONVENTION ARE DENNY HASTERT, WHO IS THE HOUSE SPEAKER, AND TRENT LOTT, WHO IS THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. I SUSPECT YOU CAN DISPENSE WITH CHAIRMEN BEFORE PRIME TIME. I DON’T THINK WE’RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE LOT OF TRENT LOTT.

VAL>> NOW WHY WOULD THEY STILL BE PLAYING TO TELEVISION WHEN THE BROADCAST NETWORKS HAVE NEVER CARRIED SO LITTLE OF THE CONVENTION IN YEARS? YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE SHRINKS, SHRINKS, SHRINKS, SHRINKS. ARE THEY NOW JUST BASICALLY PLAYING TO CNN OR MSNBC?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> WELL, THE NETWORKS ARE UNDER SOME PRESSURE TO COVER A LITTLE MORE AND I THINK THEY’RE BEGINNING TO MOVE ON THIS. THERE’S CERTAINLY THE CASE THAT VERY HIGH RATINGS GO TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BECAUSE THAT’S REALLY WHEN MOST AMERICANS GET THEIR FIRST SERIOUS LOOK AT THE TWO PARTY’S MAJOR CANDIDATES. THAT GETS RATINGS. THE OTHER STUFF, WELL, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE FROM SHOWCASING SOMETHING AND HOPING THAT SOMEBODY TURNS IN, BE IT ON CNN OR MAYBE ONE OF THE THREE NETWORKS WILL COVER IT. THEY’LL PROBABLY COVER MCCAIN BECAUSE THAT MAY WELL BE NEWS.

WARREN>> OKAY. WE HAVE BEEN HERE WITH OUR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT, HAROLD MEYERSON, A LITTLE BIT SNIDE ABOUT WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE UP TO. WE’LL PROBABLY BE JUST AS SNIDE ABOUT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE UP TO WHEN THEY COME HERE BECAUSE THEY ALL LIPPED OUT AS A TV SHOW AS WELL. 

VAL>> -- EQUAL.

WARREN>> BUT HOW DO YOU -- HOW SERIOUSLY NOW DO YOU TAKE THE BUSH-CHENEY CANDIDACY AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF WINNING?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> WELL, I DON’T THINK CHENEY ADDS ALL THAT MUCH TO THE TICKET. I THINK THAT IT ACTUALLY MAY RAISE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT GEORGE BUSH NEEDS TO HAVE AROUND HIM. I WOULD SAY THIS ELECTION IS 50-50. I THINK THAT IT’S GOING TO BE DETERMINED IN THE MIDWEST. I THINK GORE WILL TAKE THE COAST, BUSH WILL TAKE THE REPUBLICAN BELT IN THE SOUTH AND THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, AND GORE’S IN TROUBLE IN THE MIDWEST. THE TRADE POLICIES OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HURT HIM ON THE LEFT AND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WENT ON IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HURTS HIM ON THE RIGHT.

WARREN>> SO WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR, THEN, IN THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION TO SEE HOW THEY’RE PLAYING TO THEIR STRENGTHS OR NOT?

HAROLD MEYERSON>> THEY DON’T HAVE TO PLAY TO THEIR BASE. GEORGE W. BUSH IS POLLING 90 PERCENT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT. AL GORE IS ONLY POLLING 70 PERCENT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT. SO THEY PLAY TO THE CENTER, AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY CENTRIST MESSAGE THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE.

VAL>> BOTH OF THEM PLAYING TO THE CENTER, SO THERE WE ARE. HAROLD MEYERSON FROM THE LA WEEKLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DROPPING BY.

HAROLD MEYERSON>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICANS CAN COMPETE WITH “WEST WING”? LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OR ANY OF THE REPORTS WE HAVE HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
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LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

WARREN>> IF YOU HAVE SAT IN A CHAIR DURING THE LAST FEW DECADES, THEN YOU KNOW VERY WELL THE WORK OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE DESIGN TEAM ARE MOST FAMOUS FOR THEIR CLASSICALLY SIMPLE FURNITURE. BUT ALL THEIR WORK HELPED TO DEFINE THE LOOK OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

VAL>> WELL, NOW A NEW EXHIBITION AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART EXAMINES, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE LEGACY OF THESE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTISTS. WE’LL LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARLES AND RAY EAMES FROM A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY, IN TONIGHT’S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

ALTHOUGH THEIR GREATEST IMPACT WAS FELT THROUGH THEIR AFFORDABLE AND STYLISH FURNITURE, THE EAMES ALSO CREATED ARCHITECTURE, EXHIBITIONS, FILMS, TOYS AND EVEN BOOKS.

WARREN>> AND HERE WITH MORE IS EAMES DEMETRIOS. HE IS THE GRANDSON OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES. WE’RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY PLEASURE.

WARREN>> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE THE GRANDSON OF A COUPLE LIKE THIS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING, MANY THINGS REALLY, WORLD-WIDE?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION. GROWING UP, THEY WERE JUST GREAT GRANDPARENTS AND DIDN’T THINK OF THEM AS ANYTHING SPECIAL. THEY WERE JUST FUN TO HANG OUT WITH, TAKE PICTURES OF SPIDER WEBS WITH IN THE MORNING AND, UNTIL I WAS ABOUT SIX, I THOUGHT EVERYBODY SAW A LITTLE FILM FESTIVAL WHEN THEY WENT AND VISITED THEIR GRANDPARENTS. NOW, AS I RUN THE EAMES OFFICE TODAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR A LOT OF THEIR PHILOSOPHY AND COMMUNICATING THAT TO PEOPLE AND THAT’S BEEN FUN AS WELL.

WARREN>> HERE WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THEM. A VERY HANDSOME COUPLE.

VAL>> THEY ARE.

WARREN>> THIS IS ABOUT HOW LONG AGO, DO YOU THINK?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> THIS IS LIKE IN THE EARLY 70’S.

VAL>> BOY, WHAT PRESSURE TO BE CREATIVE AND TO GO INTO DESIGN. DID YOU GO INTO DESIGN YOURSELF?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> ACTUALLY, I WENT INTO FILMMAKING. MY BACKGROUND IS MORE IN FILMMAKING. GOT THROWN OUT OF FILM SCHOOL, SO THAT’S IT.

VAL>> HERE YOU ARE. WELL, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR. WHAT STRIKES ME ABOUT THIS IS THAT, WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS STUFF, I GO, OH MY GOSH, I DIDN’T KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE LEGACY OF EAMES. THEIR FAMOUS LOUNGE CHAIRS. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> YES, THIS IS --

VAL>> -- THIS IS JUST A PART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIVING ROOMS NOW.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> ABSOLUTELY. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY ENJOY AT THE OFFICE TODAY IS HELPING PEOPLE SEE THE SEAMLESS CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL THE WORK THEY DID. THE CHAIR IS DEFINITELY THE MOST FAMILIAR. SOME PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR OF FURNITURE, BUT THERE WERE FILMS AS WELL AND ARCHITECTURE.

WARREN>> BUT THE CHAIRS, FOR SOME REASON, HAVE, WELL, I GUESS BECAUSE YOU SIT IN THEM, I MEAN, IT’S AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH THAT PIECE OF FURNITURE.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO SOLVE A NEED AND THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE COMFORTABLE FURNITURE, USE MATERIALS HONESTLY AND THAT’S WHAT THEY DID.

WARREN>> YOU MENTION FILM. “POWERS OF 10” IS ONE OF THE VERY FAMOUS THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE. TELL US A BIT ABOUT THAT AND WE’LL SEE A BIT OF IT TOO.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> “POWERS OF 10” IS AN EDUCATIONAL CLASSIC AND WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT IT IS THAT IT FOCUSED ON THE HAND OF ONE MAN WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN CHICAGO AND THEN, SIMPLY BY CHANGING THE POWERS OF 10, LITERALLY ENDS UP REVEALING THE UNIVERSE.

WARREN>> POWERS OF 10, IN OTHER WORDS, MAGNIFYING THE PICTURE BY TEN TIMES --

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> -- EXACTLY. TEN TIMES FURTHER EVERY TEN SECONDS.

VAL>> OKAY.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> SO, IT’S BASICALLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ADD ANOTHER ZERO. WE HEAR ALL THESE NUMBERS, MILLIONS, BILLIONS, AND THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU A HANDLE ON WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.

WARREN>> OKAY, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AND LISTEN.

[FILM CLIP]

WARREN>> WHAT A PIECE OF WORK. ASTRONOMY, MATHEMATICS, I DON’T KNOW, PERSPECTIVE PROPORTION, ALL KINDS OF LESSONS IN THAT ONE.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> ABSOLUTELY. IT’S A WORK OF PHILOSOPHY, IT’S A WORK OF SCIENCE, IT’S USED BY BUSINESS PEOPLE TO OPEN SALES CONFERENCES, IT’S USED BY MATH TEACHERS AND PHYSICS TEACHERS, AND IT’S PROBABLY THE MOST WIDELY SEEN OF THE EAMES FILMS.

WARREN>> WHAT’S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT FILM AND THE FURNITURE?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT’S A DEEP CONNECTION. BOTH ARE ABOUT CONSTRAINT. THAT BEAUTIFUL CHAIR YOU JUST SAW HERE THAT’S STILL IN PRODUCTION USED THE CONSTRAINTS OF DESIGN OF THE WOOD, OF THE MATERIALS, OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. THAT FILM ALSO USES CONSTRAINT. EVEN THOUGH IT LITERALLY REVEALS EVERYTHING, IT’S FOCUSED ON ONE ATOM THAT HAPPENS TO BE ON ONE GUY’S HAND. IT SHOWS THE IDEA THAT CONSTRAINTS CAN LIBERATE AND THAT WAS SORT OF KEY TO THEIR DESIGN PROCESS.

WARREN>> SO IT’S A SORT OF MINIMALIST APPROACH?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> IT’S MINIMALIST, BUT NOT AS ARID AS THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE CONSTRUED AS. ONE LOOK AT THEIR HOUSE WILL SHOW YOU THAT IT CERTAINLY WASN’T MINIMAL.

VAL>> IN FACT, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW. WHY DON’T YOU TELL US ABOUT IT AS WE’RE LOOKING AT IT?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> WELL, THE CLIP WE’RE GOING TO SEE IS A CLIP THAT I PUT TOGETHER FOR THE EXHIBITION THAT’S AT LACMA. THIS IS A HOUSE THEY BUILT OUT OF OFF-THE-SHELF INDUSTRIAL PARTS, SO IT SHOWS YOU CAN MAKE A PREFABRICATED HOUSE THAT COULD REALLY WORK BOTH VISUALLY AND AESTHETICALLY. THAT’S WHERE WE’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE OFFICE TODAY. THEY MADE A LOT OF THEIR EARLY FILMS HERE. YOU’LL SEE THAT THE COLLECTIONS THERE, THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT THEY VALUED, AREN’T NECESSARILY IN A BOX CALLED MODERNIST OR MINIMALIST OR WHATEVER.

VAL>> THAT’S BEAUTIFUL. CAN YOU VISIT THAT? CAN PEOPLE VISIT THE HOME?

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> THE EXTERIOR CAN BE VISITED ONLY BY APPOINTMENT, BUT WE HAVE A GALLERY IN SANTA MONICA WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONNECT WITH US.

WARREN>> RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> WELL, I THOUGHT THIS WAS B.Y.O.C., SO I BROUGHT MY OWN CHAIR. THIS IS A CHAIR THAT’S BEEN IN CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS BY HERMAN MILLER AND PEOPLE STILL SIT IN THEM IN OUR GALLERY COMFORTABLY. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT CHARLES AND RAY’S INNOVATION WAS TO MASS PRODUCE, MULTIPLY WOOD INTO COMPOUND CURVES. OTHER PEOPLE HAD DONE SIMPLE CURVES AND OTHER PEOPLE HAD BEEN DEFEATED BY THE MASS PRODUCTION ELEMENT. THEY REALIZED THAT TECHNOLOGY AND BEAUTY WERE NOT IN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER.

VAL>> WELL, THAT’S WHAT I’M STRUCK ABOUT. YOU KNOW, SOME ARTISTS ARE SO INACCESSIBLE AND YOU KIND OF WONDER, WHAT ARE THEY GETTING AT? YOUR GRANDPARENTS WERE JUST INCREDIBLY PRAGMATIC.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> THEY WERE PRAGMATIC AND THEY REALLY BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL OF US THAT THEY COULD REACH AND THAT WAS SORT OF THE OPTIMISTIC LESSON OF ALL OF US. WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AS PEOPLE WHO SIT IN CHAIRS IS A LOT BIGGER THAN OUR DIFFERENCES. WHEN WE USE THIS “POWERS OF 10” FILM TO TEACH AS WE DO TODAY, WHAT’S FUNNY IS, THE PEOPLE SAY, “OH, IT’S TOTALLY DIFFERENT IF YOU CHANGE THE PLACE.” BUT NO, WHEN YOU GO OUT SEVEN POWERS OF TEN, IT’S ALL THE EARTH. WHEN YOU DO IT IN THREE POWERS OF TEN, IT’S ALL THE SAME SKIN, SO THERE’S SO MUCH MORE WE HAVE IN COMMON THAN WHAT SEPARATES US.

WARREN>> AND THEY HAD A WORLD-WIDE IMPACT, AS WE WILL SEE AT THE EXHIBIT.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> EXACTLY. I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HAS SAT IN ONE OF THEIR CHAIRS.

WARREN>> THANKS SO MUCH.

EAMES DEMETRIOS>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, EAMES DEMETRIOS, FOR COMING BY. YOU CAN CHECK THE NUMBER AND THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SPECTACULAR EXHIBITION, “THE WORK OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES: A LEGACY OF INVENTION”. IT’S ON DISPLAY AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10.

[323-857-6000]
[WWW.EAMES.ORG]

WARREN>> AND THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.

TOMORROW ON WHICH WAY LA, GEORGE BUSH’S CHOICE FOR A RUNNING MATE WON’T BRING DIVERSITY TO THE TICKET OR DELIVER ANY IMPORTANT STATE, BUT DOES DICK CHENEY REPRESENT STABILITY OR OVERCONFIDENCE ON THE PART OF THE BUSH CAMPAIGN? THAT’S TOMORROW.

KCRW 89.9 FM, WHICH WAY LA
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VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

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AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
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