5/13/02

LC020513

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> MANY EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING A GRAND FAILURE, BUT L.A.'S FORMER MAYOR STILL WANTS TO START HIS OWN NEWSPAPER.

JIM HILL>> THE LOS ANGELES TRIBUNE. ESTABLISHED? NO, NOT YET. CIRCULATION? JUST THIS PROTOTYPE FRONT PAGE IN THE LIBRARY OF THE MAN WHO WOULD BE ITS FOUNDER.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> WELL, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB, AND THE IDEA OF A NEW NEWSPAPER IS EXCITING.

VAL>> THERE'S MORE TO ADULTHOOD THAN TURNING EIGHTEEN. TONIGHT JUDGE KEVIN ROSS TELLS US WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE LAW BEFORE THEY FIND OUT THE HARD WAY.

JESS>> PLUS, WE'LL GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON AN OLD WAR FROM THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF VIETNAM. NGUYEN CAO KY SURVIVED THE FALL OF SAIGON. HE NOW LIVES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. TONIGHT HE'S HERE WITH RECOLLECTIONS OF THAT TRAGIC CONFLICT AND THIS NATION'S ROLE IN IT.

VAL>> 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.

AND 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>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

THERE WAS A DAY WHEN GREAT NEWSPAPERS WERE RUN BY GREAT MEN, BUT IF YOU'VE EVER WATCHED "CITIZEN KANE", YOU KNOW THOSE STORIES DON'T ALWAYS HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS. WE'RE ASSUMING RICHARD RIORDAN HAS SEEN THAT MOVIE, BUT HE'S STILL DETERMINED TO BECOME A NEWSPAPER TITAN AND RIORDAN PLANS TO DO IT BY TAKING ON THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

VAL>> THE FORMER L.A. MAYOR SAYS HE'S TIRED OF WHAT HE CALLS THE TIMES' NEGATIVITY AND LIBERAL BIAS. THAT'S WHY HE WANTS TO LAUNCH A NEW DAILY PAPER FOR LOS ANGELES. BUT IN THE WORDS OF ONE BUSINESS ANALYST, THE ONLY THING DUMBER THAN STARTING A NEWSPAPER IS -- WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING DUMBER. TONIGHT JIM HILL REPORTS ON THE EX-MAYOR'S NEWEST CRUSADE.

JIM HILL>> THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, ESTABLISHED IN THE 1880'S, PRESENT CIRCULATION NEARLY ONE MILLION. THE DAILY NEWS, PUBLISHED SINCE WORLD WAR I WITH A CURRENT CIRCULATION OF 200,000. THE LOS ANGELES TRIBUNE, ESTABLISHED? NO, NOT YET. CIRCULATION? JUST THIS PROTOTYPE FRONT PAGE IN THE LIBRARY OF THE MAN WHO WOULD BE ITS FOUNDER.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> WELL, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB, AND THE IDEA OF A NEW NEWSPAPER IS EXCITING.

JIM HILL>> FORMER L.A. MAYOR, DICK RIORDAN, SAYS HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT STARTING A THIRD MAJOR NEWSPAPER IN LOS ANGELES, TALKING LIKE A MAN WITH INK IN HIS VEINS.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> TO ME, IT'S VERY EXCITING TO GET OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO WRITE THINGS, TO TELL THE TRUTH LIKE IT IS EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE. WHETHER IT GETS THE CONSERVATIVES MAD OR THE LIBERALS MAD, AT LEAST YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO GET OUT THERE AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

JIM HILL>> OKAY, TELL IT LIKE IT IS. HISTORY AND THE CURRENT STATE OF THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS ARE PROBABLY NOT ON MR. RIORDAN'S SIDE EVEN IF HE CAN AFFORD THE $20 OR SO MILLION BUCKS IN STARTUP CASH. HERE'S THE ADVICE FROM RON KAYE, A LONG-TIME L.A. NEWSMAN AND NOW MANAGING EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.

RON KAYE>> WELL, IT WOULD BE HISTORIC IF SOMEBODY STARTED OUT IN A CITY, MAYBE METROPOLITAN AREA, AND STARTED A NEWSPAPER IN THIS ERA AND MADE A GO OF IT FINANCIALLY. I DON'T THINK IT'S HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE. PEOPLE HAVE TRIED IN ALL KINDS OF PLACES.

JIM HILL>> NATIONWIDE, THE TREND IS FEWER NEWSPAPERS, NOT MORE, AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR FIFTY YEARS.

RON KAYE>> THE HERALD EXAMINER WAS THE LAST FULL CITY OF LOS ANGELES NEWSPAPER AND IT WAS LOSING A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS UNTIL THE HEARST CORPORATION FINALLY PULLED THE PLUG.

JIM HILL>> HERE AT THE 108-YEAR-OLD DAILY BREEZE IN TORRANCE, THEY KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT COMPETING WITH THE LIKES OF THE L.A. TIMES.

ART WIBLE>> MR. RIORDAN WILL ENTER THAT WHOLE GAME. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ADD ANOTHER PRODUCT, TO TAKE SOMEBODY'S ADVERTISING AWAY. USUALLY, YOU DON'T BUILD NEW ADVERTISING. YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

JIM HILL>> THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LIKELY BE THE L.A. TIMES. RIORDAN DOESN'T HIDE HIS DISLIKE OF THE GIANT PAPER. IT'S PART OF HIS MOTIVATION TO START A NEW ONE.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> I THINK THAT THEY HAVE REPORTERS WHO ARE VERY, VERY LIBERAL AND THAT THE EDITORS DON'T SHOW ANY LEADERSHIP TO GET THEM TO WRITE THE STORIES AS THE FACTS ARE.

JIM HILL>> THE TIMES DIDN'T WANT TO INTERVIEW FOR THIS STORY, RELYING INSTEAD ON A STATEMENT FROM ITS PUBLISHER, WHO SAID, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS OPERATED IN A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WE THINK COMPETITION MAKES US BETTER." BUT EVEN SKEPTICS GIVE THE FORMER MAYOR CREDIT AS A SHARP BUSINESSMAN WITH HIS OWN HISTORY AS AN EFFECTIVE RISK-TAKER AND DEAL-MAKER.

OVER THE COURSE OF 35 YEARS, RIORDAN BUILT A FORTUNE PICKING WINNERS AS A VENTURE CAPITALIST. SINCE THEN, HE'S PULLED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT OF HIS DEEP POCKETS TO FUND HIS OWN VENTURES IN POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS.

>> "YOU'RE NOW OFFICIAL, MR. MAYOR."

JIM HILL>> RIORDAN POURED MILLIONS INTO HIS TWO CAMPAIGNS FOR L.A. MAYOR. HE WON BOTH TIMES AND SERVED WITHOUT PAY, SUPPORTED INSTEAD BY HIS OWN WEALTH. HE SPENT AN ESTIMATED $50 MILLION DOLLARS HELPING EDUCATION, DONATING COMPUTERS FOR CLASSROOMS.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> "THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR."

JIM HILL>> BUT RIORDAN STUMBLED BADLY LAST YEAR IN A BID FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. HE BLEW A SOLID LEAD IN THE POLLS AND WOUND UP LOSING TO GOP RIVAL, BILL SIMON, IN THE PRIMARY.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> I NEVER LOOK BACK AT MY FAILURES AND I CAN TELL YOU, IF WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER AND IF EVERYTHING IS RIGHT, WE WILL PUT OUT AN OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER WHERE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WILL BE FORGOTTEN, WHERE PEOPLE WILL SEE STORIES THE WAY THEY HAPPEN, NOT WITH THE AGENDA, NOT WITH THE PREJUDICE OF THE WRITER.

JIM HILL>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF NUTS AND BOLTS TO BE SCREWED TOGETHER. WILL IT BE A DAILY? FIVE DAYS A WEEK? OR A WEEKLY? WHAT IS THE TARGET READERSHIP? WILL IT ATTRACT ADVERTISERS IN THE CURRENT SOFT AD MARKET? CAN IT BE UP AND RUNNING IN TIME TO COVER THE CRUCIAL NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ON VALLEY SECESSION AND GOVERNOR?

RICHARD RIORDAN>> THERE'S A LOT OF PLUSES AND A LOT OF MINUSES, BUT I THINK, AS PEOPLE KNOW ME WELL, I'M GOING TO KNOW ALL OF THE PLUSES AND MINUSES BEFORE I MAKE MY DECISION AND OPEN THE DOORS.

JIM HILL>> AND, OF COURSE, THE WILD CARD IS RIORDAN HIMSELF, AN UNDENIABLE FORCE IN L.A.'S CIVIC AFFAIRS, A GUY WHO CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

RON KAYE>> I WOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, HIS TOUGHNESS AND HIS FOLLOW-THROUGH --

ART WIBLE>> -- BUT I THINK HE'S GOT A REALLY TOUGH ROW TO HOE.

JIM HILL>> JIM HILL FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS SOMEONE WHO'S CLEARLY GOT A THOUGHT OR TWO ABOUT RIORDAN'S NEW ENTERPRISE, OUR COMMENTATOR AND LOS ANGELES TIMES COLUMNIST, PATT MORRISON. DO YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS AT THE TIMES FEEL THREATENED?

PATT MORRISON>> NO, NO. I THINK OF DICK RIORDAN AS A FRIEND, TOO. DICK RIORDAN IS ALWAYS ON A MISSION TO RESCUE SOMETHING. HE WANTED TO RESCUE KIDS FROM ILLITERACY AND FORMED HIS FOUNDATION. HE WANTED TO RESCUE L.A. FROM THE DOLDRUMS AND RAN FOR MAYOR. NOW HE WANTS TO RESCUE LOS ANGELES FROM THE L.A. TIMES AND HE'S GOING TO PUT OUT HIS OWN NEWSPAPER.

VAL>> NOW HE'S BEEN WARNED THAT ONE OF THE MISTAKES HE CAN MAKE IS TO BECOME EDITORIALLY -- IF HE DOES GO ON WITH THE PAPER -- TO BECOME TOO EDITORIALLY CONTROLLING, AND YET IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S ONLY DOING IT BECAUSE --

PATT MORRISON>> -- WELL, YOU DON'T WANT A NEWSPAPER TO HAVE A SINGLE VOICE. THAT'S THE CRITICISM HE'S MADE OF THE L.A. TIMES, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS TRUE, BUT IF IT IS DICK RIORDAN'S VOICE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IN THE CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK HE'S TRYING TO GET. BUT COMPETITION IS GOOD INSOFAR AS EVERY NEW NEWSPAPER MEANS YOU'VE GOT AN ECHO CHAMBER. YOU'VE GOT ONE STORY THAT'S TALKED ABOUT MORE, THAT'S WRITTEN ABOUT MORE, THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC MORE. THAT DOESN'T OFTEN HAPPEN WITH TELEVISION IN THIS TOWN, AS YOU KNOW.

JESS>> NOW THAT THE TIMES IS OWNED BY TRIBUNE COMPANY, IS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE HE WANTS TO CALL HIS PAPER THE LOS ANGELES TRIBUNE?

PATT MORRISON>> WELL, I THINK THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF GIGGING THERE TOO (LAUGHTER), BUT CERTAINLY THE IDEA OF HAVING THE PAPER OWNED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AN ANGELENO, A CORPORATION THAT'S NOT A LOS ANGELES CORPORATION, REALLY GOT UNDER HIS SKIN TOO.

VAL>> HE WAS ALSO TALKING ABOUT AIMING HIS NEWSPAPER AT THE WEST SIDE, THE MORE, YOU KNOW, AFFLUENT DEMOGRAPHIC. YET OTHER PEOPLE SAID, WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO HARD-HITTING JOURNALISM, HE KNOWS SO MANY PEOPLE AND HE'S SUCH A SHAKER AND MOVER, HE'S GOING TO OFFEND A LOT OF HIS OWN FRIENDS.

PATT MORRISON>> WELL, THAT'S THE RISK HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IF HE RUNS THE KIND OF NEWSPAPER THAT HE WANTS TO RUN. YOU HAVE ADVANTAGE IN THE WEST SIDE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ADVERTISERS WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY AND YOUR FIFTY CENT NEWSPAPER MAY COST EIGHTY OR NINETY CENTS TO PRODUCE. THAT'S A STANDARD IN JOURNALISM. SO HE'S GOT TO MAKE IT UP WITH ADVERTISING. THAT, TOO, IS WHERE YOU'VE GOT THE CELEBRITY NEWS. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THE POLITICAL AND THE MONEYED NEWS, THE PRO LITERATI AS WELL AS THE LITERATI, AS I LIKE TO SAY. SO IT MAY BE VERY RICH STOMPING GROUNDS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CIRCULATION IS GOING TO BE WHAT HE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE IT TO BE.

JESS>> BUT POLITICIANS ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE WEST SIDE LIBERALS, AND HE'S GOING TO PRODUCE A NEWSPAPER THAT'S GOING TO BE ANTI-LIBERAL?

PATT MORRISON>> HE WANTS A NEWSPAPER THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PICKING UP AND TALKING ABOUT. WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT GOSSIP COLUMNS, WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT INSIDER BUZZ, WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HAVING MOVIE PEOPLE WRITE FOR FREE OR FOR VERY LITTLE TO SEE THEIR NAMES IN PRINT. IT MAY BE TO THAT EXTENT KIND OF A VANITY EXERCISE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF MONEY BEHIND HIM BESIDES HIS OWN. HE MAY BE GOING TO SOMEBODY LIKE RUPERT MURDOCH WHO KNOWS HOW TO PUT OUT A NEWSPAPER OR TWO AND WHO ALSO HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO SHOW FOR IT AND MAY HELP DICK RIORDAN OUT.

VAL>> BUT HE DID SAY THAT HE WAS GOING TO OFFER QUALITY GOSSIP. I LOVE THAT. (LAUGHTER) ISN'T THAT A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS? AND HE WOULD OFFER MOVIE REVIEWS THAT DIDN'T GIVE AWAY THE PLOT. (LAUGHTER)

PATT MORRISON>> WELL, I'M SURE THAT HE HAS, AS MANY OF US HAVE, READ MOVIE REVIEWS THAT GIVE AWAY THE PLOT, AND WE JUST HATE THAT. WE JUST HATE THAT. SO THIS MAY BE A LITTLE PERSONAL EXERCISE ON HIS PART AS WELL.

JESS>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE RATHER LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

PATT MORRISON>> I AM. I THINK COMPETITION, AS MY PUBLISHER SAID, IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS AND I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE HIM AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE L.A. PRESS CLUB, AS THE PRESIDENT OF SAME.

JESS>> YOU ARE INDEED THE PRESIDENT OF THE L.A. PRESS CLUB, THE GREATER LOS ANGELES PRESS CLUB.

PATT MORRISON>> THANK YOU. LET'S HOPE SO.

VAL>> HE MIGHT OFFER YOU A JOB, PATT. BE CAREFUL THERE. (LAUGHTER)

PATT MORRISON>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

JESS>> THANKS, PATT.

PATT MORRISON>> THANKS.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A VATICAN CORRESPONDENT TALKS ABOUT THE SEX SCANDAL THAT IS STILL ROCKING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. DID THE RECENT CONFERENCE OF CARDINALS REALLY ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING AND WILL THE CHURCH TRULY ENFORCE A NO-TOLERANCE POLICY ON SEXUAL ABUSES BY THE CLERGY? CRISIS AND CATHOLICISM. ONE EXPERT'S ANALYSIS OF WHAT LIES AHEAD. THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> NGUYEN CAO KY WAS A YOUNG SOUTH VIETNAMESE FIGHTER PILOT WITH A LAVENDER SCARF AND A REPUTATION WITH THE LADIES. THEN IN 1965, HE BECAME VIETNAM'S PRIME MINISTER, A POST HE HELD DURING THE TUMULTUOUS WAR YEARS. IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT, AS SAIGON WAS FALLING TO THE COMMUNISTS, NGUYEN CAO KY HAD TO FLEE FOR HIS LIFE TO THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> NOW HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OFFERS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON WHY SOUTH VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES LOST THE WAR. THE BOOK IS CALLED "BUDDHA'S CHILD". NGUYEN CAO KY, WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> WHY DID SOUTH VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES LOSE THE WAR?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> WELL, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FIGHT THE RIGHT WAY. WE NEVER GO FOR OFFENSIVE. WE ALWAYS IN THE DEFENSIVE. SO AT THE END, IF YOU GIVE ME MIKE TYSON AND MUHAMMAD ALI WITH TWO HANDS TIED BEHIND MY BACK AND GIVE ME TEN YEARS, I WILL NOT WIN OUT.

JESS>> YOU HAD YOUR HANDS TIED, THEN?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> YEAH.

VAL>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE. I ASSUME THAT YOU PUSHED AGAINST THIS? THAT YOU TRIED TO CONVINCE YOUR AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS TO BE MORE OFFENSE? WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> YES. IN MANY OCCASION, YOU KNOW, I DISCUSSED PERSONAL WITH PRESIDENT JOHNSON. I ALWAYS ASKED HIM LET ME GO TO NORTH. BECAUSE WITH ALL THE MILITARY POWER THAT AMERICA HAVE IN THAT AREA AT THAT TIME, I TOLD MR. JOHNSON WE SHOULD USE THAT MILITARY POWER IN A VERY CONVENTIONAL WAR. IN OTHER WORDS, GO AFTER OFFENSIVE. BUT MANY OF THEM, INCLUDING MCNAMARA AND SECRETARY DEAN RUSS, THEY SAID TO ME THAT THEY ARE VERY AFRAID IF WE GO NORTH. THEN THE CHINESE, YOU KNOW, WILL COME SOUTH AND THEN A SECOND KOREAN WAR.

BUT AT THE END, I SAID TO THEM, OKAY, NOW IF AMERICAN SOLDIERS CANNOT GO NORTH, THEN YOU STAY AND TAKE CARE OF THE SOUTH AND LET ME. I WILL RESIGN AS PRIME MINISTER AND THEN I WILL LEAD ALL THE VIETNAMESE TROOPS TO GO NORTH. NOW IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE CANNOT WIN, BUT AT LEAST WITH OUR PRESENCE IN THE NORTH, IT WILL FORCE NORTH VIETNAMESE TO BRING BACK SOME OF THEIR TROOPS IN THE SOUTH TOO BACK TO THE NORTH.

JESS>> WITH YOUR PROPOSAL TO SEND VIETNAMESE TROOPS INTO THE NORTH AND LET THE UNITED STATES TROOPS STAY IN SAIGON AND PROTECT THE SOUTH, THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT MANY AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT YOU LET THE UNITED STATES FIGHT YOUR WAR FOR YOU.

NGUYEN CAO KY>> YEAH, I HEARD ABOUT THAT MANY TIMES. YOU KNOW, IN ANY ORGANIZATION AND ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES DURING WAR, THERE ARE DESERTERS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO HEROES. NOW IF YOU TOOK ME AS AN EXAMPLE, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VIETNAMESE ARMED FORCES, CAN YOU TELL ME THAT I AM A COWARD? NO. AND I'M SURE THAT A THOUSAND MORE OF MY COMRADE IN ARMS WITHIN THE VIETNAMESE NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE WERE VERY BRAVE SOLDIERS. BUT YOU ONLY KNOW IF YOU ARE A TRUE SOLDIER IN A DEFENSIVE POSITION. THE MORALE IS ALWAYS LOW, BUT IF YOU SEND THE TROOPS IN OFFENSIVE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE COWARD BECOME HERO.

VAL>> YOU TALK ABOUT A VERY FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH IN YOUR BOOK. IT'S THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE POLICE OFFICER HOLDING A GUN AND EXECUTING A SUSPECTED VIETCONG. THIS IS A PICTURE THAT IS BURNED INTO THE MEMORY OF ALMOST EVERY AMERICAN, BUT YOU TELL US THE STORY BEHIND IT. YES? IS THAT RIGHT?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND EVEN THE GENTLEMAN WHO TOOK THE PICTURES, LATER WHEN HE KNEW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, HE CAME OUT AND SAID HE WAS WRONG.

VAL>> SO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? ARE YOU SAYING IT WAS A JUSTIFIED EXECUTION?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> NOT REALLY. TO BE FRANK, RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT, I CALLED UPON GENERAL WAN BECAUSE HE'S A GOOD FRIEND FROM THE AIR FORCE --

JESS>> -- YOU DESCRIBED HIM AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S FEW HONEST COPS.

NGUYEN CAO KY>> HE'S VERY HONEST, I CAN ASSURE YOU. AFTER THE FALL, HE COME HERE VERY POOR AND EVERYONE KNOW IT. HE OPENED A VERY SMALL RESTAURANT AND HIS WIFE COOK AND HE SERVE. HE REALLY HONEST. HE COME VERY POOR.

VAL>> SPEAKING OF, I GUESS CORRUPTION WAS REPLETE IN VIETNAMESE SOCIETY.

NGUYEN CAO KY>> IN FACT, EVEN IN MY BOOK, I ADMIT THAT THERE ARE LOT OF CORRUPTION AMONG THE OFFICERS, BUT, YOU KNOW --

VAL>> -- BUT HOW MUCH DID THAT AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE WAR? DID THE CORRUPTION REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEFEAT?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> IT'S ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU CAN SAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOW MORALE, YES, BUT IT'S NOT THE MAIN FACTOR. I THINK IT'S A MILITARY WAR, MY PERSONAL OPINION. IF YOU DON'T GO TO THE EFFORT OF OFFENSIVE, USING ALL THE MEN YOU HAVE, IT'S LIKE LATER. I THINK THAT THE LESSON AMERICAN LEARNED FROM THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THAT LATER WHEN THEY HAVE TO FIGHT SADDAM HUSSEIN AND RECENTLY IN AFGHANISTAN. WHEN YOU SHOW THAT YOU USE ALL THE MILITARY POWER YOU HAVE, IT CAN GET VERY QUICK RESULTS.

JESS>> LET'S FAST-FORWARD TO TODAY AND YOUR VIEW OF VIETNAM TODAY AND HOW YOUR FRIENDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE MANY VIETNAMESE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FEEL ABOUT VIETNAM TODAY?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> YOU KNOW, TODAY -- NOT TODAY, BUT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS -- EVERY YEAR THERE WERE 100,000 VIETNAMESE OVERSEAS THAT WENT HOME TO SEE THE COUNTRY, THE FAMILY, AND MANY ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH VIETNAM.

JESS>> IN SPITE OF COMMUNISM?

NGUYEN CAO KY>> THEY ARE NO LONGER COMMUNIST. YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY THINK IT SEEMS THE COLLAPSE OF RUSSIA, THE EASTERN EUROPE, YOU SEE THE CHANGE IN CHINA FIRST AND VIETNAM TODAY. IF YOU GO TO VIETNAM AND CHINA AND YOU VISIT THE FIVE-STAR HOTEL AND NIGHTCLUB AND YOU SEE HOW THE HIGH OFFICIAL GETTING MONEY AND SPEND MONEY, I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE MORE CAPITALIST THAN ME AND YOU. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) NGUYEN CAO KY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. IF YOU'D LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT GENERAL KY'S STORY, THE TITLE OF HIS BOOK, AGAIN, IS "BUDDHA'S CHILD".

VAL>> AND WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER SPECIAL COMING UP NEXT WEEK, PART THREE OF OUR ONGOING "ETHICS PROJECT". THIS TIME WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYDAY ETHICAL DILEMMAS. FOR EXAMPLE, A COLLEGE STUDENT UNDER PRESSURE TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. CAN HE RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO COPY MATERIAL FROM THE INTERNET?

>> STUFF THAT I COULD TAKE, BORROW -- I GUESS BOTH -- STEAL, I GUESS IT TURNED OUT TO BE, AND USING MY OWN PAPER, WHICH I DID.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE INCENTIVE TO DO IT, BUT THE RISK IS JUST WAY TOO GREAT.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

VAL>> IT IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN TEENAGERS ARE GETTING READY FOR PROMS, THEN GRADUATION AND, SOON AFTER, MANY OF THEM WILL BE TURNING EIGHTEEN. SUDDENLY THEY ARE ALL GROWN UP.

JESS>> THEY ARE STILL MINORS, BUT IN SOME INSTANCES, THEY ARE ADULTS IN THE EYES OF THE LAW AND THAT'S WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GET INTO REAL TROUBLE. JOINING US NOW IS SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, KEVIN ROSS. WITH HIM IS KAREN NOBUMOTO, THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WHAT'S THE GREATEST RISK FOR A YOUNGSTER TURNING EIGHTEEN AND SUDDENLY BEING CONFRONTED WITH ADULTHOOD?

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> ONE OF THE BIGGER ONES, I WOULD SAY, WOULD BE THE CREDIT ISSUES. THEY'RE BEING OFFERED SEVERAL CREDIT CARDS, THEY'RE OFFERED CONTRACTS THAT THEY CAN NOW ENGAGE IN AND THEY MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN VERY QUICK ORDER OUT OF CONTROL AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF DEBT THEY GET INTO.

VAL>> NOW WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN, HAVE CREDIT CARDS. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CREDIT CARD DEBT WHEN YOU'RE SEVENTEEN AND CREDIT CARD DEBT WHEN YOU'RE EIGHTEEN?

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> WELL, YOUR FAMILY IS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE.

KEVIN ROSS>> THE LIABILITY ISSUE.

VAL>> I SEE.

KEVIN ROSS>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS, BEFORE YOU TURN EIGHTEEN, TECHNICALLY IF YOU TRY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT, IT'S NOT ENFORCEABLE. CONTRACTS ARE ONLY ENFORCEABLE WHEN SOMEONE TURNS EIGHTEEN. SO THE LIABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES IF SOMEONE TRIES TO FORGE A CHECK OR A NUMBER OF THINGS, IT ALL COMES ON THAT EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD.

VAL>> SO IT'S NOT JUST CREDIT CARDS, BUT LEASING AN APARTMENT? THAT'S A CONTRACT. ANY KIND OF CONTRACT.

KEVIN ROSS>> MARRIAGE.

VAL>> MARRIAGE IS A CONTRACT.

KEVIN ROSS>> MARRIAGE IS A CONTRACT. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLDS CAN ENTER INTO A MARRIAGE AGREEMENT. THEY CAN ALSO ENTER INTO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE DIVORCE ASPECT OF THE CONTRACT WHICH WILL SUBJECT THEM TO GOING INTO COURTS AND SO FORTH.

JESS>> NO PARENTAL APPROVAL REQUIRED?

KEVIN ROSS>> NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER ONE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MOST YOUNG PEOPLE MIGHT NOT THINK ABOUT. IT DEALS WITH SEXUAL MATERIAL. BASICALLY, YOU'RE TELLING THEM TO BEWARE OF DOWNLOADING SEXUAL MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY THE MATERIAL THAT DEALS WITH TEENS. EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT.

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND KAREN WOULD KNOW MORE BECAUSE SHE'S A PROSECUTOR WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. OFTENTIMES IN OUR GENERATION IF THERE MAY HAVE BEEN IMAGES OR PHOTOS OF PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW, WHETHER THEY HAD CLOTHES ON OR NOT, IT MAY HAVE JUST BEEN GIVEN FROM ONE PERSON TO THE NEXT, BUT IN THIS INTERNET AGE, IF SOMEONE, SAY, THEY DECIDE TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES OF SOMEONE THEY KNOW, EITHER PARTIALLY CLOTHED OR MAYBE THEY'RE IN SOME SORT OF SEXUAL SITUATION AND THEY DOWNLOAD THAT, THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE A CRIME THAT THEY COULD BE CHARGED WITH. KAREN WOULD MAYBE KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THEM, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE EIGHTEEN, THEY MAY BE DEALING WITH YOUNG WOMEN THAT ARE UNDER EIGHTEEN. SO NOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH CRIMINAL LAWS --

JESS>> -- STATUTORY RAPE.

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> STATUTORY RAPE, RIGHT. SO THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE OBLIGATIONS THAT OCCUR WHEN THEY BECOME EIGHTEEN.

VAL>> LET'S SAY SOME PICTURES WERE CIRCULATING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND IT DEALT WITH SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLDS. SUDDENLY I'M EIGHTEEN, I DOWNLOAD IT, IT'S NOW A CRIME? WHAT I DID A WEEK AGO WAS NOT, BUT NOW I'M EIGHTEEN AND I DOWNLOAD SEXUAL MATERIAL THAT DEALS WITH TEENAGERS OR JUVENILES?

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> WELL, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY WOULD BE A CRIME, IRRESPECTIVE.

VAL>> WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY?

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> UNDER A CERTAIN AGE, SO FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLDS, ABSOLUTELY. SO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY WOULD BE A CRIME, BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ONCE YOU'RE EIGHTEEN. YOU WOULD BE IN THE CRIMINAL ADULT JUSTICE SYSTEM.

JESS>> THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE TOO, IS IT NOT?

KEVIN ROSS>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT THAT WE GIVE TO JUVENILES WHERE THE FOCUS IS TRYING TO REHABILITATE THEM, WHEREAS WITH ADULTS, WE ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO PUNISH THEM. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, FOR INSTANCE, MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FELONY AND A MISDEMEANOR. JESS, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

JESS>> ONE'S BAD AND THE OTHER'S NOT SO BAD. (LAUGHTER)

KEVIN ROSS>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE. FELONIES ARE CASES WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT UP TO A YEAR OR MORE IN STATE PRISON VERSUS MISDEMEANORS THAT ARE PUNISHED IN COUNTY JAIL. SO WHEN YOU TURN EIGHTEEN, WHATEVER THE PUNISHMENTS THAT WERE IN EFFECT BEFORE, NOW THESE PUNISHMENTS OF JAIL VERSUS PRISON KICK IN.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT, ONCE YOU TURN EIGHTEEN, YOU CAN RUN OFF WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND AND GET MARRIED AND YOU CAN ALSO GET DIVORCED WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS' CONSENT.

KEVIN ROSS>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> AND YOU ALSO GET TO VOTE

KEVIN ROSS>> AND JURY DUTY AS WELL. YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU TURN EIGHTEEN, YOU CAN GET THAT SUMMONS AND YOU MUST SERVE. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD JURORS, SOME COLLEGE STUDENTS, NOT ANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS YET, BUT IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW YOU CROSS THAT BARRIER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KAREN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THE STATE BAR HAS PROVIDED THIS GUIDE FOR PARENTS AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN REALLY TALK ABOUT THAT.

VAL>> WE'LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLDS COVET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND YET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE IS IN GREATER JEOPARDY ONCE THEY'RE EIGHTEEN BECAUSE IT CAN BE SUSPENDED, WHAT IS IT, IF THEY'RE FOUND GUILTY OF VANDALISM --

KEVIN ROSS>> -- IF THEY'RE CONVICTED OF VANDALISM, GRAFFITI, POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, THEIR LICENSE COULD BE SUSPENDED FOR ONE YEAR.

JESS>> BUT IF THEY'RE UNDER EIGHTEEN, THEY COULDN'T BE?

KEVIN ROSS>> WELL, THE WAY IT WORKS IS, AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE OFTENTIMES YOU NEED TO BE AT LEAST SIXTEEN TO EVEN HAVE A LICENSE, SO ANYONE UNDER SIXTEEN IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE AN ISSUE. BUT FOR THOSE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLDS, IT COULD ALSO BE THOSE SAME TYPES OF PUNISHMENT. BUT YOU CAN BE EIGHTEEN AND OVER AND STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF COMMITTING THOSE TYPES OF OFFENSES.

VAL>> AND, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE PUNISHMENT FOR ANY CRIME WOULD BE TOUGHER IF YOU'RE EIGHTEEN OR OLDER.

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> WELL, THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT, WHEN YOU'RE SIXTEEN OR SEVENTEEN, YOUR PARENTS COULD ALSO HAVE A FORM OF LIABILITY FOR YOUR BEHAVIOR. SO THE PARENTS ARE RELEASED, BUT THE LIABILITY TO YOU HAS INCREASED.

JESS>> SO YOU'RE EIGHTEEN AND YOU'RE AN ADULT AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE THINGS, YOU STILL CAN'T HAVE A GLASS OF WINE OR BUY A BEER. (LAUGHTER)

KEVIN ROSS>> YOU GOT TO WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE 21, YOU GOT TO WAIT.

KAREN NOBUMOTO>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE PAMPHLET DEFINITELY GOES INTO THE RESPONSIBILITY WITH REGARDS TO ALCOHOL AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU DEAL WITH DRUGS.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE KEVIN ROSS AND KAREN NOBUMOTO OF THE CALIFORNIA BAR ASSOCIATION. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

JESS>> AND YOU CAN GET A FREE COPY OF THE BOOKLET "WHEN YOU BECOME EIGHTEEN" THROUGH THE WEBSITE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION. THAT'S WWW.CALBAR.ORG. IT CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FACING YOUNG ADULTS.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S RIGHT HERE. IT'S REALLY GREAT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. REMEMBER, TRANSCRIPTS ON OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> FOR ALL OF US, THANKS FOR JOINING US. GOOD EVENING.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS 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.

AND 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.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.