3/25/02

LC020325

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

THERE'S PLENTY WRONG WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT ALL IT MAY TAKE TO FIX THEM IS A LITTLE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE.

>> I THINK THEY ENJOY BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IN, AND NOBODY IS GOING TO EVER ARGUE WITH HAVING FRESH AIR COME IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

>> A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE IN BEFORE BECAUSE WE WERE IN LIKE A LOCKER ROOM BEFORE.

VAL>> HE'S A PRACTICAL JOKER AND A PRANKSTER, NOT EXACTLY THE TRAITS YOU NORMALLY ASSOCIATE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. TONIGHT NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER, FRANK BRUNI, WITH A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT HOW GEORGE W. BUSH IS "AMBLING INTO HISTORY".

FRANK BRUNI>> MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE OF A GUY WHO, AS I WRITE, WAS THIS IRREVERENT JIM CARREY TRYING TO INCORPORATE A FEW MORE ELEMENTS OF AN EARNEST JIMMY STEWART. TO ME, THAT'S THE ARC OF HIS ENTIRE JOURNEY.

VAL>> FOR TWO DECADES, HE'S BEEN A MASTER OF SATIRE BEGINNING WITH A STARRING ROLE IN THE "MOCKUMENTARY", "THIS IS SPINAL TAP".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> NOW HARRY SHEARER IS TRADING PLACES, STEPPING BEHIND THE CAMERA AS DIRECTOR OF A NEW MOVIE. HE'S HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE FILM AND WHATEVER ELSE COMES TO HIS IRREVERENT MIND.

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

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

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.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA. JESS HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

WE'RE ABOUT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON SUNLIGHT AND HOW IT CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT'S A SIMPLE THING, BUT MANY CLASSROOMS REMAIN DARK AND WINDOWLESS WITH LITTLE OR NO FRESH AIR. TONIGHT A LOOK AT ONE ALTERNATIVE, A BACK-TO-BASICS PUBLIC SCHOOL IN ORANGE COUNTY. AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, THE CLASSROOMS THERE WERE DESIGNED TO SAVE ENERGY, BUT THE SCHOOL GOT SOMETHING ELSE IN THE BARGAIN: A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

PHILIP>> WELCOME TO A NEW OLD WORLD, NEWPORT COAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT HAS PLENTY OF WINDOWS AND THEY ALL OPEN.

>> IT'S CHEERFUL, AND CHEERFUL MAKES FOR HAPPY KIDS. IT'S NOT DARK AND DINGY. IT'S OPEN AND YOU CAN GET FRESH AIR.

>> WE HAVE MORE LIGHT, SO WE CAN WORK EASILY, MORE EASIER, BECAUSE AT MY OLD SCHOOL, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDOWS. THE SUN COULDN'T COME IN.

>> I THINK THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY WINDOWS AND YOU HAVE LIKE LIGHT HERE BECAUSE, IN MY OLD CLASSROOMS, IT USED TO BE KIND OF DARK.

PHILIP>> NEWPORT COAST IS ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN BRINGING BACK FRESH AIR AND DAYLIGHT TO THE CLASSROOMS. THE SCHOOL OPENED JUST A YEAR AGO. ITS DESIGNERS HAVE TWO BIG HOPES. ONE, THAT THE CHILDREN WILL LEARN BETTER, AND THE OTHER THAT THERE WILL BE BIG DOLLAR SAVINGS IN ENERGY COSTS FOR THE DISTRICT. NEWPORT COAST REPRESENTS A BREAK WITH RECENT SCHOOL DESIGN.

GAYLAIRD CHRISTOPHER>> I THINK IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE DESIGN. MANY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE DESIGNED BACK IN THE 70'S -- I SORT OF CALL THEM THE BOMB SHELTER DESIGNS -- ELIMINATE ANY WINDOWS OR HAVE VERY FEW WINDOWS IN THE SCHOOL, THE APPROACH THAT THEY SEAL THE BUILDING UP AND IT BECOMES ENERGY-EFFICIENT BY BEING SEALED AND NOT LETTING ANY HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN.

PHILIP>> ARCHITECT GAYLAIRD CHRISTOPHER HAS BEEN DESIGNING SCHOOLS FOR 25 YEARS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS AN OCEAN VIEW.

GAYLAIRD CHRISTOPHER>> THIS SCHOOL OPENS ITSELF UP TO THE ENVIRONMENT. IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, THE NATURAL BREEZES COMING OFF THE OCEAN. IT ALSO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT AND THE QUALITY OF LIGHT IN THE CLASSROOMS IS SOME OF THE BEST THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IN ANY SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE DESIGNED.

PHILIP>> THE CLASSROOM LIGHTING GETS A LITTLE HELP FROM NATURE. IT'S CALLED SUNLIGHT HARVESTING. A METAL OVERHANG WITH A SPECIAL COATING REFLECTS THROUGH THE WINDOW AND THERE'S A WHITE FABRIC SCREEN ON THE INSIDE ALSO REFLECTING LIGHT ONTO A SLOPED CEILING. FROM THERE, THE LIGHT BEAMS DOWN ON THE STUDENTS' DESKS. THE FRESH AIR AND DAYLIGHT ARE MAJOR PLUSES, BUT THE DISTRICT ALSO CHOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND BUILDING MATERIAL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PRINCIPAL MONIQUE VANZEEBROECK APPRECIATES. SHE ONCE WORKED IN A SCHOOL WITH BAD AIR QUALITY.

MONIQUE VANZEEBROECK>> THE ACTUAL WALLS AND MATERIALS USED TO BUILD THE CLASSROOM GAVE WHAT THEY CALL AN OFF-GASSING, ALMOST LIKE A FORMALDEHYDE KIND OF AN ODOR, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WANTING THEIR CHILDREN IN THAT KIND OF A PLACE. THIS SCHOOL WAS BUILT WITH THAT IN MIND IN TERMS OF EARTH-FRIENDLY MATERIAL.

PHILIP>> NEWPORT COAST DESIGNERS WANT THE CHILDREN TO THINK ABOUT ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. INSTEAD OF HIDING THE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS IN PLAIN VIEW.

MIKE FINE>> THE REASON WE HAVE IT RIGHT OUT HERE PROMINENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURTYARD FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE, NOT ONLY THE PANELS BUT THE TANKS, IS SO THAT WE CAN TEACH THE KIDS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY.

PHILIP>> ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, MIKE FINE, SAYS THE EXTRA COST IN MAKING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WILL BE MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE SAVINGS IN ENERGY COST OVER THE YEARS. THE HOPE IS THAT, ONCE EVERYONE HERE GETS USED TO KEEPING THE LIGHTS DOWN AND THE WINDOWS OPEN, THERE WILL BE A THIRTY PERCENT SAVINGS IN ENERGY BILLS. AND FOR PRINCIPAL VANZEEBROECK, THERE'S A HOPE OF IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING. A RECENT STUDY SUGGESTED THAT LEARNING IMPROVES A GOOD TWENTY PERCENT IN DAY-LIT CLASSROOMS. AND TO THOSE WHO WORRY THAT STUDENTS WILL BECOME DISTRACTED BY LOOKING OUT THE WINDOWS, VANZEEBROECK SAYS RELAX.

MONIQUE VANZEEBROECK>> I THINK THE ADVANTAGES FAR OUTWEIGH ANY DISTRACTIBILITY THERE MIGHT BE. IF THERE ARE CHILDREN WALKING BY THOSE WINDOWS, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, THEIR HEAD TURN OR THEIR ATTENTION COME OFF THE LESSON. THE CHILDREN SEEM TO ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. YOU KNOW, ON A BEAUTIFUL CLEAR DAY LIKE TODAY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SUCH A BAD THING TO GAZE OUT THE WINDOW A MOMENT OR TWO AND LOOK AT CATALINA ISLAND.

VAL>> THE BUILDING CONCEPT YOU JUST SAW COMES FROM AN ENERGY COMPANY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON. JOINING US NOW IS EDISON'S CHIEF ARCHITECT ON THE SCHOOL PROJECT, GREGG ANDER. AND ALSO JOINING US IS CAPRICE YOUNG. SHE IS PRESIDENT OF THE LOS ANGELES SCHOOL BOARD. WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THE LAUSD NEEDS TO BUILD DOZENS OF NEW SCHOOLS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. IN FACT, EIGHTY BY 2007. ARE THEY ALL GOING TO BE LIKE THIS?

CAPRICE YOUNG>> THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE LIKE THIS. WE HAVE A STANDARD PART OF OUR DESIGN, HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS, AND IT MEANS WE'RE USING NATURAL LIGHT, WE'RE USING INSULATION TO MAKE THEM ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND WE'RE USING THE KIND OF BUILDING MATERIALS THAT MAKE THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT BETTER THAN THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT.

VAL>> THAT'S AMAZING. NOW, GREGG, HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IS IT TO BUILD A SCHOOL LIKE THIS THAN A REGULAR SCHOOL?

GREGG ANDER>> WELL, WHEN WE DID THE ANALYSIS ON THE NEWPORT PROJECT, A LOT OF COMPUTER SIMULATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED TO OPTIMIZE SYSTEMS. BUT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT DID NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COST OVER STANDARD PRACTICE.

VAL>> NONE AT ALL? SO ALL THAT TECHNOLOGY DIDN'T COST ANY MORE?

GREGG ANDER>> IT'S ALL AT STANDARD PRACTICE COST. YOU BET.

VAL>> NOW CALIFORNIA, IN FACT, NOT JUST LAUSD, IS GOING TO BE BUILDING A LOT OF SCHOOLS OR RENOVATING SCHOOLS. THERE WAS UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT BY VOTERS IN THE RECENT ELECTION FOR THE SCHOOL BOND MEASURES. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SCHOOLS THAT JUST NEED REPAIR? CAN WE GO BACK AND PUT THIS IN OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE FROM THE GROUND UP?

GREGG ANDER>> YOU BET. THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEWPORT PROJECT. BUT WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CALL MODERNIZATION, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE GET LIGHT IN WITH GOOD ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND PICKING MATERIALS WHEN YOU MODERNIZE THAT DON'T HAVE THE OFF-GASSING CHARACTERISTICS.

VAL>> NOW THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL IN NEWPORT. YOU KNOW, A NICE OCEAN VIEW, I'M SURE IT'S A FAIRLY AFFLUENT AREA. IS THIS GOING TO BE A CASE WHERE WE HAVE THE HAVE AND HAVE-NOT SCHOOLS?

CAPRICE YOUNG>> OH, NO. THIS IS -- WELL, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS THAT THE EIGHTY SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE BUILDING ARE ALL IN OUR MOST OVER-CROWDED AREAS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL CITY LOS ANGELES, NORTHEAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, SOUTHEAST CITIES, SO THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED HAVE-NOT AREAS, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GET GOLDEN GLEAMING ENERGY-EFFICIENT SCHOOLS. AND AS WE MODERNIZE OUR OLDER SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE SAME PRINCIPLES IN THAT MODERNIZATION.

VAL>> THE OTHER QUESTION IS, DO WE REALLY WANT TO OPEN UP A WINDOW AND LET THE AIR COME IN WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BASIN OR NEXT TO A FREEWAY? I MEAN, IS IT --

CAPRICE YOUNG>> -- WELL, YOU CERTAINLY WANT THE OPTION.

VAL>> I SEE. SO, WHAT DOES THIS PORTEND FOR PERFORMANCE? THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE -- WE MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY -- THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE TAUGHT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT ACTUALLY DO BETTER ON TESTS?

GREGG ANDER>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF INTELLIGENCE NOW IN THE LITERATURE THAT SCHOOLS THAT IMPLEMENT DAYLIGHTING STRATEGIES, NATURAL LIGHT INTO CLASSROOMS, STUDIES DONE IN CAPISTRANO AND BOULDER, COLORADO AND IN THE NORTHWEST, WERE PERFORMING 26 PERCENT BETTER ON STANDARDIZED TESTS. IT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL.

VAL>> THAT IS PHENOMENAL. HOW DO YOU --

CAPRICE YOUNG>> -- SO IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. NOT JUST FOR THE HEALTH OF THE KIDS, BUT ALSO FOR THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

VAL>> NOW WHEN YOU GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD STANDARD PROCEDURE IN ALL THESE EIGHTY SCHOOLS. HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE RETROFITTED, IN A SENSE? ARE THERE GOING TO BE A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT WILL GO BACK AND INSTALL THIS?

CAPRICE YOUNG>> YEAH, BUT THAT'S GOING TO DEPEND A LOT ON THE VOTERS. WE HAVE TWO BOND MEASURES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT THAT ARE GOING TO HELP US BUILD THESE SCHOOLS AND ALSO MODERNIZE OUR OLDER SCHOOLS. AND IF THE VOTERS ARE WITH US, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS.

VAL>> SO THE MODERNIZATION WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL BOND MEASURE?

CAPRICE YOUNG>> RIGHT.

VAL>> I SEE. AND WHAT KIND OF MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

CAPRICE YOUNG>> BILLIONS.

VAL>> BILLIONS, JUST FOR LAUSD?

CAPRICE YOUNG>> JUST FOR LAUSD. BUT THE PAYOFF IS GOING TO BE HIGHER TEST SCORES, HAPPIER KIDS, A BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND NOT SO CROWDED CLASSROOMS.

VAL>> NOW HOW DID EDISON GET INVOLVED IN THIS SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION?

GREGG ANDER>> EDISON'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR A LONG TIME. THE SCHOOL MARKET SEGMENT IS VERY ACTIVE. STATEWIDE WE'LL BE SEEING NEARLY $30 BILLION DOLLARS SPENT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SO WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES SPECIFICALLY FOR SCHOOL CUSTOMERS INCLUDING THE PROJECT YOU SAW IN NEWPORT. WE'RE DOING PROJECTS WITH L.A. UNIFIED, GOOD PROJECTS, TRYING TO IMPLEMENT ALL THIS STUFF.

VAL>> WELL, I HOPE IT WORKS, AND THOSE LUCKY KIDS ARE COMING ALONG. THAT SCHOOL IS BEAUTIFUL. I HOPE THEY ALL TURN OUT THAT WAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GREGG ANDER AND CAPRICE YOUNG. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

CAPRICE YOUNG>> THANK YOU.

GREGG ANDER>> THANKS.

VAL>> TOMORROW NIGHT, THE CHILD MOLESTATION CRISIS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS CREATING A BACKLASH. PRIESTS WHO HAVE NO RECORD OF WRONGDOING SAY THEY ARE BEING TAINTED BY THE SCANDAL. SOME ARE EVEN AFRAID TO TOUCH YOUNG PARISHIONERS. THE STORY TOMORROW, TUESDAY, ON LIFE AND TIMES.

HE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST APPROVAL RATINGS EVER, BUT IN MANY WAYS, GEORGE W. BUSH DIDN'T SEEM AS THOUGH HE WAS BUILT FOR THE PRESIDENCY. A NEW BOOK GIVES A COMPELLING ACCOUNT OF HOW BUSH WENT FROM A PRANKSTER ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE. "AMBLING INTO HISTORY" IS WRITTEN BY NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER, FRANK BRUNI. HE RECENTLY TALKED ABOUT HIS BOOK WITH PHILIP BRUCE.

PHILIP>> FRANK BRUNI, WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

FRANK BRUNI>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

PHILIP>> YOU CALL YOUR BOOK THE UNLIKELY ODYSSEY OF GEORGE W. BUSH. WHAT'S SO UNLIKELY ABOUT HIM?

FRANK BRUNI>> WHAT'S UNLIKELY ABOUT IT IS THE GUY WITH HIS PERSONALITY DECIDED TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE KIND OF STRAIGHTJACKET OF BEING A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT AND THE STRAIGHTJACKET OF BEING PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE'S THIS JOCULAR, LIGHTHEARTED -- OR ALWAYS HAS BEEN A JOCULAR, LIGHTHEARTED -- GUY, DOESN'T LIKE FORMAL TRAPPINGS, DOESN'T LIKE FORMAL SITUATIONS AND HERE HE IS ASPIRING TO AND RUNNING FOR THE MOST AUGUST OFFICE IN THE LAND. YOU KNOW, IT'S UNLIKELY.

PHILIP>> WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER THAT? BECAUSE WHEN BUSH STARTED RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, AS FAR AS BEING A NATIONAL PERSON, HE WAS REALLY KIND OF AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY. WHEN HE WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN PLANE OR WHATEVER, WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF HIM?

FRANK BRUNI>> WELL, MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE OF A GUY WHO, AS I WRITE, WAS THIS IRREVERENT JIM CARREY TRYING TO INCORPORATE A FEW MORE ELEMENTS OF AN EARNEST JIMMY STEWART. TO ME, THAT'S THE ARC OF HIS ENTIRE JOURNEY, LEARNING TO TEMPER THAT ONE SIDE OF HIS PERSONALITY, PUT IT IN THE RIGHT KIND OF PROPORTION AND LEARNING TO SHOWCASE THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH PART OF WHO GEORGE W. BUSH IS.

PHILIP>> YOU TALK ABOUT HIM BEING A PRANKSTER. DOES THAT UNDERMINE HIS CREDIBILITY WITH THE PRESS CORPS AT THAT TIME OR DOES THAT ENDEAR HIM TO THE PRESS CORPS?

FRANK BRUNI>> YOU KNOW, I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH IN EQUAL MEASURE. ON THE ONE HAND, IT WAS REFRESHING OFTEN TO SEE HIM NOT ACT LIKE THE STUFFED STARCHED SHIRT THAT SOME CANDIDATES CAN BE. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU THOUGHT AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS CROSS INTO THE LINE OF INAPPROPRIATE? AT WHAT POINT IS HE SO INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING HIMSELF THAT HE DOESN'T DIGNIFY HIMSELF?

PHILIP>> WELL, THE CHARACTERIZATION OF PRESIDENT BUSH IN THE EARLY DAYS AND EVEN FROM HIS CRITICS AT THIS POINT IS THAT HE'S A LIGHTWEIGHT. DID YOU PERCEIVE HIM AS A LIGHTWEIGHT AND HOW HAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF HIM CHANGED?

FRANK BRUNI>> WELL, I THINK IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN LIGHTWEIGHT OR NOT. I THINK HE IS NOT THE MOST INTELLECTUALLY SOPHISTICATED OR INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS MAN I'VE MET BY A LONG SHOT AND HE TENDS NOT TO ENGAGE AT A DEEP LEVEL IN THE MINUTIA AND DETAILS OF A LOT OF THE POLICIES THAT HE'S DEALING WITH.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HE'S NOT A LIGHTWEIGHT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER HE'S SMART OR NOT. IT'S VERY CLEAR WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM ON THE SIDELINES OF EVENTS, WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM AWAY FROM PODIUMS AND LECTERNS, HIS BANTER IS CLEVER, HIS RESPONSES ARE OFTEN QUICK AND ON POINT. HE IS NOT A GUY WITHOUT INTELLIGENCE.

PHILIP>> WELL, YOU POINT OUT IN YOUR BOOK, IN FACT, THAT HE IS A READER. PEOPLE THINK HE'S NEVER READ A BOOK AND, IN FACT, HE DOES READ BOOKS.

FRANK BRUNI>> SURE. HE'S NOT THE KIND OF VORACIOUS READER THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE, BUT WE WOULD SEE HIM WITH A NEW BOOK EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. YOU KNOW, HE READS SOME MYSTERY STUFF, HE READS SOME NOVELS. MOSTLY HE READS HISTORY BOOKS, BUT YEAH, I THINK EVERY NIGHT BEFORE HE GOES TO BED, HE DOES SOME READING.

PHILIP>> TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW HE'S BEEN UNDERESTIMATED THROUGHOUT HIS FAIRLY SHORT POLITICAL CAREER. I REMEMBER BACK IN THE MID-90'S WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AND I WAS COVERING IT.

FRANK BRUNI>> I THINK GEORGE W. BUSH HAS LEARNED HOW TO TAKE SOME VERY SIMPLE THINGS AND STRETCH THEM AS FAR AS THEY CAN GO AND GET AS MUCH OUT OF THEM. YOU MENTIONED THE ANN RICHARDS RACE. HE DECIDED TO, I THINK IF YOU'LL RECALL, ADVOCATE FOUR THINGS AND JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT THOSE FOUR THINGS AND MAKE HIS GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN AS SIMPLE AS THESE FOUR PRIORITIES. HE'S A GUY WHO REALLY KNOWS HOW TO TAKE A LITTLE AND MAKE A LOT OUT OF IT.

PHILIP>> MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT HOW HE ROSE TO THE OCCASION AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS AND THAT'S WHEN HE REALLY BECAME PRESIDENT, WHEN HE SEEMED TO CHANGE IN FRONT OF OUR VERY EYES. WHAT WAS THE CRUCIAL POINT OF THAT? I MEAN, EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT WHEN HE WENT TO GROUND ZERO AND SPOKE TO THE FIREMEN. WAS THAT IT?

FRANK BRUNI>> I THINK THAT WAS ONE. I THINK THAT WHOLE DAY WAS CRUCIAL BECAUSE, IF MY TIMELINE IS CORRECT, IT WAS EARLIER THAT DAY THAT HE ALSO SPOKE AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL --

GEORGE W. BUSH>> "IN EVERY GENERATION, THE WORLD HAS PRODUCED ENEMIES OF HUMAN FREEDOM. THEY HAVE ATTACKED AMERICA BECAUSE WE ARE FREEDOM'S HOME AND DEFENDER AND THE COMMITMENT OF OUR FATHERS IS NOW THE CALLING OF OUR TIME."

FRANK BRUNI>> -- WHICH, IF YOU REMEMBER, WAS AN INCREDIBLE ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU HAD PAST PRESIDENTS, YOU HAD AL GORE THERE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT. I THINK IT WAS A HUGE DAY FOR HIM. HE FOUND AN ELOQUENCE THAT HE HAD NOT ALWAYS KNOWN BEFORE THAT DAY AND THEN, AT GROUND ZERO, HE REALLY KIND OF CONVEYED SOME GENUINE EMOTION THAT I THINK PEOPLE NEEDED TO SEE. I ALSO THINK SEPTEMBER 20 WHEN HE ADDRESSED CONGRESS WAS THE BEST SPEECH HE EVER GAVE, BEST DELIVERY. THAT WAS A HUGE MOMENT.

PHILIP>> WHY DID HE PICK A GUY LIKE DICK CHENEY, WHO DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HIS KIND OF REPUBLICAN? BUSH TALKED ABOUT, WHEN HE WAS RUNNING, I'M NOT YOUR STANDARD KIND OF REPUBLICAN --

FRANK BRUNI>> -- BUT DIFFERENT KIND OF REPUBLICAN.

PHILIP>> DICK CHENEY IS LIKE RIGHT OUT OF THE PRESS, OF OLD KIND OF REPUBLICAN.

FRANK BRUNI>> THAT'S RIGHT.

PHILIP>> WHY DID HE PICK HIM?

FRANK BRUNI>> I THINK A COUPLE OF REASONS. I THINK, ONE, HE IS SUCH A STICKLER FOR LOYALTY AND DICK CHENEY HAD PROVEN HIS LOYALTY TO THE BUSH FAMILY BACK WHEN THE FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH WAS IN OFFICE. I THINK, MORE INTERESTINGLY, I THINK IT PROBABLY WAS A VERY VALIDATING THING FOR GEORGE W. BUSH, VERY SELF-VALIDATING THING, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK TO A GUY WHO'D BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT SERVANT OF HIS FATHER AND SO IMPORTANT TO HIS FATHER, AND HAVE THAT GUY SAY, YES, I WILL WORK IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND SERVE YOU JUST AS FAITHFULLY AS I DID YOUR FATHER. I FIND YOU AS WORTHY AS I DID YOUR FATHER. I THINK PSYCHOLOGICALLY, MY OWN THEORY, THAT WAS PROBABLY HUGELY APPEALING TO GEORGE W.

PHILIP>> IS THE PRESIDENT REALLY IN CHARGE OR IS HE TAKING CUES FROM OTHER PEOPLE?

FRANK BRUNI>> YOU KNOW, EVERY PRESIDENT HAS A DIFFERENT STYLE AND THIS PRESIDENT, I THINK, HAS A MORE HANDS-OFF STYLE WITH HIS DEPUTIES THAN OTHER PRESIDENTS. I THINK HE DOES DELEGATE MORE TO THEM THAN MOST PRESIDENTS HAVE. BUT THE PRESIDENT IS ULTIMATELY IN CHARGE. I MEAN, DICK CHENEY GOES TO THE MIDDLE EAST AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT. EVERY SINGLE ADVISER THE PRESIDENT HAS SERVES AND COMES INTO THE OVAL OFFICE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT. SO ULTIMATELY, THE BUCK STOPS THERE IN TERMS OF CREDIT, IN TERMS OF BLAME, IN TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITY.

PHILIP>> AS A REPORTER, YOU HAVE TO BE OBJECTIVE, BUT I GET FROM YOUR BOOK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AFFECTION YOU MAY HAVE FOR GEORGE BUSH.

FRANK BRUNI>> YEAH, I THINK A REPORTER WOULD BE LYING TO SAY THAT YOU CAN COVER SOMEONE FOR TWO YEARS AND NOT HAVE -- YOU KNOW, POLITICS TO THE SIDE, IDEOLOGY TO THE SIDE -- SOME PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT THE PERSON. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS POLITICS, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS LEVEL OF PREPARATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY. ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, SITTING IN A ROOM TALKING TO HIM, I FIND HIM LIKABLE, YES.

PHILIP>> FRANK BRUNI, THANKS A LOT FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

FRANK BRUNI>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

VAL>> THE BOOK IS "AMBLING INTO HISTORY: THE UNLIKELY ODYSSEY OF GEORGE W. BUSH" BY VETERAN NEW YORK TIMES CORRESPONDENT, FRANK BRUNI.

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VAL>> TONIGHT, HARRY SHEARER EMERGES FROM THE UNDERGROUND STUDIOS OF KCRW RADIO WHERE HE HAS PRODUCED "LE SHOW" FOR 19 YEARS. BUT MOST OF US FIRST NOTICED HARRY BACK IN 1984 WHEN THE MOVIE "THIS IS SPINAL TAP" SATIRIZED ROCK BANDS AND ASSUMED CULT STATUS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> SINCE THEN, HE'S GAINED MORE ACCLAIM PARTIALLY FROM HIS WORK ON "THE SIMPSONS". MANY OF THOSE CARTOON CHARACTERS GET THEIR VOICES FROM HARRY SHEARER.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> NOW IN HIS LATEST PROJECT, A FILM CALLED "TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC", SHEARER PUTS ON THE DIRECTOR'S HAT TO LAMPOON PRIVILEGED WHITE MALE CULTURE. THE FILM IS ABOUT A CAMP IN WHICH POLITICAL AND CORPORATE ELITE MEET TO INDULGE THEIR MORE JUVENILE IMPULSES.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WITH US NOW IS HARRY SHEARER, THE DIRECTOR. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

HARRY SHEARER>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WRITER-DIRECTOR, I MIGHT SAY.

VAL>> WRITER-DIRECTOR, THAT'S RIGHT. EXCUSE ME.

HARRY SHEARER>> THERE'S A GUILD THAT WANTS ME TO SAY THAT, SO I MUST.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPOT JOKE?

HARRY SHEARER>> OH, YES.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SO TELL US, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS TOPIC? AND IT'S BASED ACTUALLY ON A REAL PLACE?

HARRY SHEARER>> A REAL PLACE THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS CALLED BOHEMIAN GROVE. EVERY SUMMER IN REDWOOD COUNTRY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE RICHEST MOST POWERFUL WHITE MEN IN THIS COUNTRY GATHER TO BASICALLY CAVORT LIKE COLLEGE SOPHOMORES, EXCEPT ON A HIGHER BUDGET. THAT IDEA MAKES ME LAUGH, THAT THAT WOULD BE THEIR CHOSEN FORM OF PLEASURE.

VAL>> LIKE HOW MANY OF THEM? A DOZEN OR TWO HUNDRED?

HARRY SHEARER>> NO, NO, NO. IN THE REAL PLACE, IT'S ABOUT -- ULTIMATELY, I THINK THEY HAVE MAYBE A THOUSAND WILL COME IN AND OUT OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK AND A HALF. WE HAD A SMALLER NUMBER BECAUSE OF A LOW-BUDGET PICTURE (LAUGHTER). TWENTY GUYS ARE MOVING AROUND A LOT, BUT, YOU KNOW --

VAL>> -- SO THEY COME TO THIS PLACE THAT YOU DEPICT IN THE FILM JUST TO LIKE LET LOOSE AND BE WACKY?

HARRY SHEARER>> LET VERY LOOSE, CONSUME LARGE AMOUNTS OF EXTREMELY POTENT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, WALK --

VAL>> -- IS THIS JUST A PLACE TO MISBEHAVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET TO IN REAL LIFE?

HARRY SHEARER>> WELL, I THINK THEY GET TO MISBEHAVE IN OTHER WAYS IN REAL LIFE. WATCH THE NEWS. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) TALK TO ARTHUR ANDERSEN.

HARRY SHEARER>> YEAH. BUT, NO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ODDLY PSYCHOLOGICAL. IT'S A REGRESSION TO, YOU KNOW, FORTY OR FIFTY YEARS EARLIER IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY WERE FRAT BOYS, AND THAT'S WHAT I FIND AMUSING ABOUT IT. SO THE STORY OF THIS IS THAT ONE YEAR THE SECRECY OF THIS RETREAT IS THREATENED BY A LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS BROADCAST AND HOW THEY REACT.

VAL>> I SEE. WHEN YOU WENT ABOUT MAKING IT, DID YOU -- YOU DO ACTUALLY PLAY A LITTLE CAMEO ROLE, CORRECT?

HARRY SHEARER>> YES, I DO.

VAL>> BUT WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO DIRECT? WHY DID YOU NOT WANT TO BE --

HARRY SHEARER>> -- WHY DID I NOT WANT TO STAR?

VAL>> YEAH.

HARRY SHEARER>> WELL, AS A WRITER, YOU KIND OF FEEL YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR MATERIAL. THIS IS NOT CONVENTIONAL HOLLYWOOD COMEDY, SO I FELT I WANTED TO DIRECT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TONE, THAT THE PERFORMANCE STYLE THAT I SAW IN MY MIND, WAS WHAT WE GOT ON THE FINAL PRODUCT.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE A CONTROL FREAK, BASICALLY?

HARRY SHEARER>> BASICALLY, I'M A CONTROL FREAK. ASK THE NEXT QUESTION.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SATIRE AND JUST SORT OF PLAIN POLITICAL HUMOR THAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME ON JAY LENO?

HARRY SHEARER>> WELL, YOU KNOW, TO ME --

VAL>> -- WHAT DO YOU DO THAT HE WOULD NEVER DO?

HARRY SHEARER>> WELL, A, I MADE GEORGE BUSH JOKES THE WEEK AFTER 9/11 THAT HE WOULD NEVER -- YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

VAL>> OH, YOU DIDN'T EVEN WAIT THE APPROPRIATE THIRTY DAYS?

HARRY SHEARER>> DIDN'T EVEN WAIT THE OBLIGATORY -- NO, I DID NOT. BUT BECAUSE I WAS DOING DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOKES. YOU KNOW, THE LATE NIGHT GUYS -- I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON JAY. THEY'RE DOING SHOWS EVERY NIGHT. THEY HAVE TO DO A DOZEN OR FIFTEEN JOKES A NIGHT. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT GAME. THEY TEND TO FIND A CLICHÉ THAT'S APPLICABLE TO A PARTICULAR PRESIDENT. "HE'S SO OLD THAT...", "HE'S SO HORNY THAT...", "HE'S SO DUMB THAT..." AND JUST WORK ENDLESS CHANGES OFF THAT PREMISE.

I'M DOING SOMETHING ELSE. I MEAN, THE PIECE THAT I DID ABOUT GEORGE W. BUSH THE WEEK AFTER 9/11 WAS BASED ON NEWSPAPER STORIES THAT SAID HE'D FOUND HIS FOCUS, HE'D FOUND HIS DETERMINATION NOW, HE'D FOUND HIS MISSION. SO I STARTED WITH THAT AND HAD HIM BITCHING TO HIS FATHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE THESE "41-43" PHONE CONVERSATIONS A LOT.

VAL>> THE "41" BEING THE 41ST PRESIDENT TALKING TO THE 43RD PRESIDENT (LAUGHTER)?

HARRY SHEARER>> THAT'S CORRECT. "YOU KNOW, I'M DETERMINED, I'M FOCUSED LIKE I HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE THE FOURTH TIME I QUIT DRINKING AND STILL RUDY GIULIANI'S GETTING ALL THE GOOD PRESS", WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A LEGITIMATE POINT, YOU KNOW? HE PROBABLY FEELS THAT WAY. HE PROBABLY FEELS TICKED OFF THAT RUDY IS GETTING BETTER PRESS THAN HE IS. SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

VAL>> RUDY WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

HARRY SHEARER>> SURE WAS.

VAL>> SO WHEN YOU GO ABOUT YOUR SHOW -- I MEAN, YOU DO "LE SHOW" EVERY SINGLE WEEK AND YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP -- AND BY THE WAY, WE SHOULD SAY, YOU DON'T PAID FOR THIS.

HARRY SHEARER>> WELL, WHATEVER.

VAL>> WELL, WHATEVER, MUST BE NICE, HUH? ARE YOU ONE OF THESE PEOPLE -- WELL, WE WON'T GO THERE. IS THERE A MARKET FOR SATIRE OR DO YOU FIND THAT THE AUDIENCE AND THE TASTE FOR TRUE SATIRE IS SHRINKING?

HARRY SHEARER>> I DON'T THINK IT'S SHRINKING. I THINK IT'S --

VAL>> -- ESPECIALLY IN THESE POLITICALLY CORRECT PATRIOTIC DAYS?

HARRY SHEARER>> WELL, I THINK IT SORT OF NEVER WAS HUGE. I MEAN, THE HUGEST IT EVER WAS WAS PROBABLY WHEN MORT SAHL WAS BREAKING THROUGH AND LENNY BRUCE WAS GETTING ON THE "STEVE ALLEN SHOW" EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND ON HUGH HEFNER'S SHOW -- "LENNY, WELCOME TO THE PENTHOUSE." BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A SOMEWHAT MINORITY TASTE. I'M TRYING -- YOU KNOW, I THINK "SPINAL TAP" GOT PRETTY FAR ALONG IN BREAKING THROUGH AS A KIND OF A SOCIAL SATIRE.

VAL>> HAVE YOU EVER GONE TOO FAR? WASN'T THERE A RADIO STATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT CANCELED YOU?

HARRY SHEARER>> YEAH. THEY WENT TOO FAR. (LAUGHTER) THAT WASN'T ME. THAT WAS THEM.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) DID THEY EVER TELL YOU WHY?

HARRY SHEARER>> YEAH, LACK OF ORIGINAL HUMOR. YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS ABOUT AS LAME AN EXCUSE AS I'VE EVER HEARD. IT WAS WASHINGTON. WHAT DO YOU WANT? THEY THINK THE CAPITOL STEPS ARE FUNNY. BUT HAVE I EVER GONE TOO FAR? I THINK WHEN I KNOCKED THE CAPITOL STEPS A MOMENT AGO. I TRY NOT TO. I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR QUITE A WHILE AND NEVER BEEN EVEN THREATENED WITH A LAWSUIT -- DON'T TRY IT -- SO THAT'S ONE MEASURE OF NOT GOING TOO FAR. I KNOW WHERE THE LINE IS.

VAL>> YOU DO KNOW WHERE THE LINE IS?

HARRY SHEARER>> YES.

VAL>> SO YOU DO SENSE WHEN YOU GO TOO FAR?

HARRY SHEARER>> I SENSE WHEN ONE WOULD BE GOING TOO FAR, YEAH.

VAL>> GOTCHA. YOU DON'T HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE TRUTHFUL, CORRECT? YOU CAN JUST MAKE UP ALL SORTS OF STUFF?

HARRY SHEARER>> WHAT, ON THE RADIO SHOW?

VAL>> YEAH. LIKE THE JOKE ABOUT GEORGE BUSH AND HIS QUITTING DRINKING. DID HE REALLY TRY TO QUIT DRINKING FOUR TIMES?

HARRY SHEARER>> MIGHT HAVE, MIGHT HAVE.

VAL>> MIGHT HAVE.

HARRY SHEARER>> NO, I FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO SORT OF START WITH WHAT I THINK IS -- YOU KNOW, I DO A LOT OF READING AND NEWS WATCHING AND START WITH THAT AS A BASIS, AND THEN USE KIND OF EMPATHIC LEAPS OR SATIRIC LEAPS TO JUMP TO WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE TRUE. IN THIS FILM, I STARTED WITH THE REAL PLACE AND THE REAL KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT GO THERE AND THEN IMAGINED HOW THE REACTION WOULD BE IF IT WAS THREATENED.

VAL>> SO, INSPIRED BY FACTS.

HARRY SHEARER>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, BASED ON A STORY THAT MIGHT BE TRUE. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> HARRY SHEARER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

HARRY SHEARER>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> WE SHOULD MENTION THAT "TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC" OPENS APRIL 5 AT THE SUNSET 5 THEATER IN WEST HOLLYWOOD.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. JESS WILL BE BACK TOMORROW. BYE-BYE.

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