10/31/02

LC021031

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> IN THE RACE FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR, BILL SIMON IS THE ONLY MILLIONAIRE, SO WHY DOES GRAY DAVIS HAVE ALL THE MONEY?

BILL SIMON>> KEEP THE CHECKS COMING.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> ALMOST DAILY, SIMON ATTACKS GOVERNOR DAVIS FOR WHAT SIMON CALLS THE GOVERNOR’S UNETHICAL FUNDRAISING, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT MOST ALL POLITICIANS RAISE MONEY, INCLUDING SIMON.

BILL SIMON>> WE JUST GOT TO KEEP RAISING MONEY, HONESTLY. THAT’S OUR CHALLENGE. WE GOT TO KEEP RAISING MONEY.

VAL>> FINALLY, AN ATTACK AD WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR, BUT CRUZ BUSTAMANTE ISN’T LAUGHING.

NARRATOR>> “LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CRUZ BUSTAMANTE. PAPERS CALL HIM SLOW, WEAK AND TIMID. SO WHEN GRAY DAVIS TOOK CALIFORNIA DOWN THE WRONG ROAD, BUSTAMANTE WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE....”

VAL>> CUTE, BUT IS IT ACCURATE? TONIGHT “REALITY CHECK” SHINES ITS LIGHT ON THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

JESS>> PATT MORRISON FEELS YOUR PAIN, BUT SHE’S STILL HOPING CALIFORNIA VOTERS WILL GO TO THE POLLS NEXT TUESDAY.

PATT MORRISON>> YES, YES, IT’S NO FUN. IT’S LIKE CLEANING EAR WAX OR EATING ROOT VEGETABLES, BUT IT COULD TURN OUT TO BE GOOD FOR YOU IN THE LONG RUN, SO WHY NOT? -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND TONIGHT WE’LL TAKE A TRIP TO THE JUNGLE AS WE HEAD TO A NATIONAL PARK IN TANZANIA, AFRICA. THAT’S WHERE JANE GOODALL HAS SPENT FORTY YEARS STUDYING CHIMPANZEES. NOW A NEW IMAX FILM HAS CAPTURED THE CULTURE OF GOODALL’S PRIMATES AND TONIGHT WE’LL GET A SNEAK PREVIEW.

JESS>> IT’S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S 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. CALIFORNIA POLITICS IS A FULL CONTACT SPORT. BILL SIMON HAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HARD WAY. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, SIMON HAS GOTTEN POUNDED BY THE GRAY DAVIS CAMP, BUT OF GREATER CONCERN TO MANY REPUBLICANS ARE THE NUMEROUS INJURIES THAT SIMON HAS INFLICTED UPON HIMSELF.

VAL>> CHALK IT UP TO BEING A POLITICAL NOVICE, BUT HAVE WE REALLY GOTTEN A TRUE PICTURE OF BILL SIMON? TONIGHT RANDY SHANDOBIL TRIES TO FILL IN THE BLANKS ABOUT A MILLIONAIRE WHO TRADED THE COMFORTS OF HOME FOR THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> DOES BILL SIMON KNOW SOMETHING THE REST OF US DON’T KNOW? THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS? OR HAS HE JUST LED A CHARMED LIFE? SIMON IS ALMOST ALWAYS POLITE AND ALWAYS SMILING WHEN HE MEETS STUDENTS AT A SCHOOL IN A ROUGH SECTION OF WATTS.

[FILM CLIP]

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> HE’S IN HAPPY AWE WHEN GREETED BY A THRONG OF CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN ORANGE COUNTY.

[FILM CLIP]

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> HE’S EVEN SMILING AS WE DRIVE PAST A GROUP OF ANTI-SIMON DEMONSTRATORS, DEMONSTRATORS WEARING SIMON FACE MASKS DRESSED AS JAILBIRDS BECAUSE GRAY DAVIS HAS ACCUSED SIMON OF FRAUDULENT BUSINESS PRACTICES.

BILL SIMON>> THERE’S ONE SIGN THAT’S KIND OF FUNNY, ACTUALLY.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE?

BILL SIMON>> “SIMON IS A FRAUD”. SEE THAT PICTURE OF ME? (LAUGHTER)

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> (LAUGHTER) SO IT DOESN’T FAZE YOU AT ALL?

BILL SIMON>> STICKS AND STONES.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE JOKINGLY CALLED SIMON THE LAST BOY SCOUT AND, INDEED, HE WAS BORN INTO A NORMAN ROCKWELL TYPE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD.

[FILM CLIP]

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SIMON’S WIFE, CINDY, PUT HIS CHILDHOOD PHOTOS TO MUSIC FOR HIS FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR. THE YOUNG TENNIS WHIZ, HIS VERY WEALTHY AND POWERFUL FATHER, WILLIAM SIMON, SR., REVEALING PHOTOS SET TO REVEALING LYRICS.

[FILM CLIP]

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> IN THE LATE SIXTIES, WHEN MOST OF HIS TEENAGE PEERS WERE REBELLING, SIMON WAS CONFORMING, SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF HIS CONSERVATIVE FATHER WHO SERVED AS A HIGH-RANKING CABINET MEMBER FOR PRESIDENTS NIXON AND FORD. HERE IS A YOUNG BILL SIMON AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

BILL SIMON>> HUGO PICKED UP THE CANDLESTICKS AND TOOK THEM TO HIS AUNT.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> AFTER READING WITH SOME THIRD GRADERS, ONE OF THEM ASKED SIMON A QUESTION THAT, IN ITS OWN WAY, GETS TO ONE OF SIMON’S WEAKNESSES, HIS RESUME.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO IN COLLEGE? HOW DID YOU GET A JOB?

BILL SIMON>> WELL, I STUDIED HISTORY AND, WHEN I GOT OUT OF COLLEGE, I WORKED IN A BANK.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> BUT HE HAS NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER, HAS NEVER HELD ANY OFFICE, HAS EVEN FORGOTTEN TO VOTE NUMEROUS TIMES. BEING ACCUSED OF HAVING A LIGHT RESUME, BEING ACCUSED OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH EXPERIENCE FOR THE JOB, IS NOTHING NEW FOR BILL SIMON. IT’S AN ISSUE HE’S HAD TO DEAL WITH MUCH OF HIS ADULT LIFE. RESENTFUL WHISPERS ABOUT SIMON’S LIFE OF PRIVILEGE. DID HE QUALIFY FOR THAT JOB IN NEW YORK AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR UNDER RUDY GIULIANI, OR DID HIS FATHER HELP HIM?

BILL SIMON>> BEING AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, DAD WAS NEVER A LAWYER.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> BUT DID YOU SENSE THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT?

BILL SIMON>> OCCASIONALLY, SURE. OCCASIONALLY.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> AND THEN THERE’S THE FAMILY INVESTMENT FIRM. EVEN ITS NAME INVITES QUESTIONS. WILLIAM SIMON AND SONS. BUT FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO’VE WORKED WITH SIMON INSIST HE HAS EARNED HIS STRIPES, WORKS HARD, KNOWS HIS STUFF. THE DAY WE TRAVELED WITH SIMON, WALL TO WALL CAMPAIGN STOPS. NO BREAKS FOR REAL FOOD.

BILL SIMON>> A CHEESEBURGER IS A WONDERFUL THING (LAUGHTER).

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SO SIMON HAD HIS DRIVER PULL OVER FOR FAST FOOD.

BILL SIMON>> I’D LOVE A COUPLE OF CHEESEBURGERS.

>> OKAY. FOR HERE OR TO GO?

BILL SIMON>> I’D LIKE IT TO GO. IS THAT OKAY?

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> BACK IN HIS SUV, NO TIME TO WASTE. IN BETWEEN BITES, SIMON CALLS CONSERVATIVE RADIO TALK SHOWS.

BILL SIMON>> YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GAY IN OUR CAMPAIGN.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> IT DOESN’T GO WELL. THE CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST IS OUTRAGED, EVEN THOUGH MANY IN CALIFORNIA COMPLAIN THAT SIMON ISN’T GAY-FRIENDLY ENOUGH.

BILL SIMON>> THAT’S OKAY. ANYTIME, ANYTIME. TAKE CARE. THANK YOU, INGA. SHE WAS DISTURBED.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> THAT YOU HAVE GAY PEOPLE WORKING FOR YOU?

BILL SIMON>> SHE WAS DISTURBED.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? WHAT DO YOU DO?

BILL SIMON>> I TELL THEM THAT I’M NOT DISTURBED AND I HAVE GAY PEOPLE IN MY CAMPAIGN AND THERE WILL BE GAY PEOPLE IN MY ADMINISTRATION IF THEY’RE COMPETENT AND IF THEY’RE QUALIFIED, PERIOD.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> THE IRONIES OF POLITICS.

BILL SIMON>> KEEP THE CHECKS COMING.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> ALMOST DAILY, SIMON ATTACKS GOVERNOR DAVIS FOR WHAT SIMON CALLS THE GOVERNOR’S UNETHICAL FUNDRAISING, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT MOST ALL POLITICIANS RAISE MONEY, INCLUDING SIMON.

BILL SIMON>> WE JUST GOT TO KEEP RAISING MONEY, HONESTLY. THAT’S OUR CHALLENGE. WE GOT TO KEEP RAISING MONEY. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY LIKELY, YOU KNOW, VICTIMS?

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SIMON IS VERY RELIGIOUS AND VERY GENEROUS WITH HIS MONEY, GIVING MILLIONS TO CHARITY AND GIVING TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. ALONG WITH TWO OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE HIGH POLITICAL AMBITIONS, THE SIMONS HELPED RESTORE THIS CHURCH IN SANTA MONICA.

CINDY SIMON>> HE HAS A BIG HEART. HE HAS A REALLY BIG HEART.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SIMON’S WIFE, CINDY, MARVELS AT HIS CONSTANT OPTIMISM.

CINDY SIMON>> HE JUMPS OUT OF BED WITH ENTHUSIASM EVERY MORNING.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> EVEN ON SUNDAYS AT HIS POSH PACIFIC PALISADES HOME, SIMON SOMETIMES WAKES UP BEFORE DAWN, DRIVES TO STARBUCKS, BUYS LATTES AND DELIVERS THEM TO NEIGHBORS.

CINDY SIMON>> EVERY MORNING ON THE WEEKENDS, THEY’D OPEN THEIR DOOR TO GET THE NEWSPAPER AND THERE WOULD BE A LATTE. IT’S A SILLY THING, BUT IT REALLY SHOWS YOU....

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SHOWS YOU, SAYS CINDY, SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MAN WHO WANTS TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR, SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FATHER OF FOUR WHO LIVES IN THIS HOUSE THAT THE SIMONS CALL HAPPYHILL.

JESS>> SIMON’S ADVISORS REPORTEDLY HAVE URGED HIM TO GO NEGATIVE IN THESE FINAL DAYS OF THE RACE AND TO RAISE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE ABOUT GRAY DAVIS’S FUNDRAISING. BUT THE LAST TIME SIMON TRIED THAT, IT BACKFIRED BADLY AND THE CANDIDATE SEEMS UNWILLING TO TRY THE SAME STRATEGY AGAIN.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE DREAMED OF GETTING EVEN. WE’LL TALK TO A FEW WHO BATTLED GRAY DAVIS AND LOST.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> WELL, I KEPT TRYING IN MY OWN MIND TO FIGURE OUT HOW AM I GOING TO GET REVENGE EVENTUALLY (LAUGHTER).

>> WELL, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET REVENGE? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

RICHARD RIORDAN>> WELL, I WAS JUST IN SICILY ON VACATION.

JESS>> CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO AVOID A SHUTOUT NEXT TUESDAY. THEY HOLD ONLY ONE STATEWIDE OFFICE, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THE REPUBLICANS COULD EASILY LOSE THAT ONE SINCE THE INCUMBENT ISN’T A CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION.

VAL>> ONE REPUBLICAN IS HOPING FOR AN UPSET IN THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND BRUCE MCPHERSON IS TRYING TO DEPICT THE DEMOCRAT, CRUZ BUSTAMANTE, AS GRAY DAVIS’S LACKEY. TONIGHT OUR POLITICAL AD WATCHER, CINNY KENNARD, PUTS THE COMMERCIAL TO A “REALITY CHECK”.

NARRATOR>> “LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CRUZ BUSTAMANTE. PAPERS CALL HIM SLOW, WEAK AND TIMID....”

CINNY KENNARD>> IN THIS AD CALLED “BOBBLE-HEAD”, REPUBLICAN BRUCE MCPHERSON LINKS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CRUZ BUSTAMANTE, DIRECTLY TO GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS.

NARRATOR>> “SO WHEN GRAY DAVIS TOOK CALIFORNIA DOWN THE WRONG ROAD, BUSTAMANTE WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE, THEN NEVER SAID A WORD, NOT EVEN WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY WRONG.”

CINNY KENNARD>> TRUE. BUSTAMANTE HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR LACK OF SWIFT ACTION ON THE ENERGY CRISIS, BUT HE’S HAD SEVERAL VERY PUBLIC FEUDS WITH GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS. FOR EXAMPLE, BUSTAMANTE FAVORS GIVING DRIVER’S LICENSES TO UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS WHILE DAVIS REFUSED TO SIGN THE BILL. BUSTAMANTE REJECTS PROPOSITION 187 OUTRIGHT WHILE DAVIS PROPOSED COURT MEDIATION ON THE MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE OUTLAWED GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT DISPUTE GOT SO BAD THAT DAVIS REPORTEDLY TOOK AWAY BUSTAMANTE’S PARKING SPACES AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

BRUCE MCPHERSON>> “AS PART OF OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, CALIFORNIA’S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED, BUT IT ONLY WORKS IF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SPEAKS UP WHEN THE GOVERNOR IS WRONG.”

CINNY KENNARD>> MCPHERSON HAS PLEDGED TO SPEAK OUT. THE TROUBLE IS, HE OFTEN AGREES WITH THE DEMOCRATS. MCPHERSON OPPOSES PROP 187, FAVORS ABORTION RIGHTS AND HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE FROM ONE OF THE STATE’S MOST LIBERAL AREAS.

BRUCE MCPHERSON>> “I WON’T STAY SILENT. I’LL SPEAK UP FOR CALIFORNIA.”

NARRATOR>> “BRUCE MCPHERSON. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR BALANCE.”

CINNY KENNARD>> BALANCE IS ACTUALLY WHAT CALIFORNIA VOTERS HAVE WANTED IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

JESS>> CINNY KENNARD JOINS US NOW AND ALSO HERE IS BOB STERN WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES. IS THERE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A DEMOCRATIC SWEEP?

BOB STERN>> THERE’S A VERY STRONG LIKELIHOOD, JESS, THAT THERE WILL BE A DEMOCRATIC SWEEP. CALIFORNIANS, IF THEY DO THAT, WILL HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT’S ALL DEMOCRATIC BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO CHANCE THERE. ALL STATEWIDE OFFICES, TWO UNITED STATES SENATORS, WE’RE BECOMING A ONE-PARTY STATE IF THAT HAPPENS.

VAL>> BUT, CINNY, YOU SAID THAT WE LACK BALANCE, MEANING BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS?

CINNY KENNARD>> IN FACT, IT HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY. CALIFORNIANS TEND TO VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE SOMETIMES AND, OF COURSE, AS FAR BACK AS 1979, I THINK WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THAT SORT OF SHOWS THAT THERE’S BEEN AN HISTORICAL PATTERN HERE. IF YOU LOOK AT WHEN JERRY BROWN WAS GOVERNOR, HE HAD A REPUBLICAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. THE SAME THING WITH DEUKMEJIAN IN BOTH TERMS, PETE WILSON AND, OF COURSE, GOVERNOR DAVIS WAS PETE WILSON’S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA AND A REPUBLICAN.

VAL>> BUT DAVIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT WE’VE HAD BOTH A DEMOCRATIC LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR.

CINNY KENNARD>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY, WHICH, OF COURSE, PUNCTUATES WHAT BOB JUST SAID ABOUT A SWEEP IN THE STATE.

BOB STERN>> I WAS IN SACRAMENTO AT THE TIME WHEN MIKE CURB WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR JERRY BROWN --

JESS>> -- AND REBELLED (LAUGHTER).

BOB STERN>> HE HAD ALL SORTS OF MISCHIEF AND THERE WERE RACES TO GET BACK BECAUSE, ONCE THE GOVERNOR LEAVES THE STATE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BECOMES GOVERNOR.

JESS>> AND JERRY BROWN WAS LEAVING THE STATE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

BOB STERN>> HE CERTAINLY WAS, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SHENANIGANS GOING ON. OTHER THAN THAT, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER.

VAL>> SO THEY JUST WAIT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LEAVE THE STATE AND DO SOME HAVOC (LAUGHTER).

BOB STERN>> AND WHY WE ELECT A SEPARATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM A GOVERNOR IS BEYOND ME. YOU KNOW, WE DON’T DO THAT WITH PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

VAL>> NO, THEY RUN TOGETHER ON THE SAME TICKET.

BOB STERN>> THEY RUN TOGETHER. WE SHOULD REALLY DO THAT. WE SHOULD PROBABLY ELIMINATE MOST OF THESE STATEWIDE OFFICES THAT WE VOTE FOR ANYWAY. I HAVE FIFTY-THREE DECISIONS TO MAKE THIS TIME. THAT’S TOO MANY DECISIONS TO MAKE. ONE YEAR, I HAD A HUNDRED DECISIONS TO MAKE. CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS? AND WE WONDER WHY THEY DON’T VOTE. IT’S BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY DECISIONS TO MAKE.

VAL>> CINNY, I CAN’T HELP BUT GET A KICK OUT OF THAT COMMERCIAL. IT REALLY IS FUNNY, THIS BOBBLE-HEAD IDEA.

CINNY KENNARD>> AND IT’S CLEVER. IT’S BEEN USED A BIT MORE THIS YEAR --

VAL>> -- ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

CINNY KENNARD>> IT’S KIND OF THE AD OF THE SEASON.

JESS>> WELL, THIS IS NOT AN ORIGINAL THEN?

CINNY KENNARD>> NO, NO. IN FACT, MR. MCPHERSON CANNOT CLAIM EXCLUSIVITY ON THAT COMMERCIAL. IN FACT, I’M TOLD HILLARY CLINTON IS A BOBBING HEAD IN AN AD USED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

VAL>> SO IT’S OBVIOUSLY BEEN PROVEN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE AND PEOPLE ARE GRABBING IT WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

CINNY KENNARD>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

VAL>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IS THAT, YES, IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SWEEP AND YOU’RE SAYING THAT THIS WOULD SIGNAL A SERIOUS SHIFT WITHIN A FAIRLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, LIKE JUST A DECADE. IS THAT RIGHT?

BOB STERN>> THAT’S RIGHT. I MEAN, GOING WAY BACK, WE’VE ALWAYS HAD ONE MEMBER OF ANOTHER PARTY AS PART OF THE STATEWIDE TEAM. WHEN WE HAD REPUBLICANS, WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEY GENERAL. THIS WILL BE VERY UNUSUAL IF WE HAVE A COMPLETE SWEEP. I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THAT WE’VE HAD A COMPLETE SWEEP OF ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER. IT PROBABLY GOES BACK TO THE EARL WARREN DAYS AND THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME.

JESS>> WELL, EVERYONE HAS CONCEDED THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE REGISTRATION EDGE, THAT’S FOR SURE. BUT YOU THINK WE REALLY COULD BECOME THEN A ONE-PARTY STATE?

BOB STERN>> I’M BEING A LITTLE FACETIOUS. REMEMBER, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE RUNNING FOUR YEARS FROM NOW AND HE MAY SAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IF HE RUNS.

CINNY KENNARD>> THERE’S ANOTHER KEY TOO HERE, I THINK, AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATIC SWEEP. WHAT COULD ACCELERATE THAT POSSIBILITY IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUCH AN AMBITIOUS GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT PLANNED FOR TUESDAY. I’M TOLD THAT THE PARTY ITSELF IS SPENDING FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ON A GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT. THEN, OF COURSE, THERE’S THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN’S ANOTHER FOUR MILLION FOR GETTING OUT THE VOTE. SO YOU’VE GOT A HUGE GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT UNDERWAY BY BOTH THE STATE PARTY AS WELL AS THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN. I’M NOT SURE THE REPUBLICANS CAN MATCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON TUESDAY.

JESS>> THERE’S STILL SOME DISPUTE OVER THE POLLS TOO. SOME SAY IT REALLY IS MUCH CLOSER THAN EVEN THE TEN PERCENT THAT IS BEING TOUTED.

BOB STERN>> WE REALLY WON’T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW WHO’S GOING TO BE VOTING. WE DON’T KNOW WHETHER THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE ENTHUSIASTIC ENOUGH TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR SIMON. ACTUALLY, WE KNOW THAT BOTH PARTIES ARE NOT VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR NOMINEES. SO IT’S REALLY UP IN THE AIR, DEPENDING ON WHO GETS OUT TO VOTE.

JESS>> AND NO REALLY EXCITING RACES DOWN-BALLOT?

CINNY KENNARD>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROPOSITIONS THAT WE’VE TALKED ABOUT, THE SCHWARZENEGGER PROPOSITION WHICH IS PROP 49. I DON’T KNOW WHETHER THAT’S GOING TO GET PEOPLE OUT TO THE POLLS. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONGRESSIONAL RACES, THE CONDIT RACE, OF COURSE, UP TO THE NORTH AND THERE’S ONE IN SANTA BARBARA THAT SEEMED TO BE SHAPING UP, BUT --

VAL>> -- NOTHING REALLY GALVANIZING LIKE 187 OR --

CINNY KENNARD>> -- NO, I THINK NOT THIS TIME AROUND.

VAL>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION THAT WE DID WANT TO PUT A BUSTAMANTE AD TO THE TEST, BUT THEY DIDN’T GIVE US THEIR AD.

CINNY KENNARD>> THAT’S RIGHT, THAT’S RIGHT. WE TRIED FOR WEEKS, WE TRIED FOR WEEKS, YES.

VAL>> WE TRIED. WE TRIED TO BE FAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CINNY KENNARD, AND BOB STERN OF THE CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

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JESS>> CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER TONIGHT FOR PATT MORRISON. SHE HAS RECEIVED THE FIRST EVER NONFICTION BOOK AWARD FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION. THAT WAS FOR “REO L.A.: TALES FROM THE LOS ANGELES RIVER”. PATT HAS ALSO FIGURED OUT WHY SO MANY CALIFORNIA VOTERS STAY AT HOME ON ELECTION DAY AND THAT IS TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> I KNOW. IT’S A DISPIRITING SEASON, THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN YOUR GOVERNMENT ASKS YOU TO ASK NOT WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR IT. YOU THINK I’M TALKING ABOUT APRIL 15, THE INCOME TAX FILING DEADLINE. I’M TALKING ABOUT TUESDAY, ELECTION DAY. I CAN’T RECALL AN ELECTION MORNING WHEN I’VE BOUNDED OUT OF BED LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO MY POLLING PLACE AND VOTING FOR SOMEONE.

I DON’T REMEMBER MY GRANDPARENTS’ POLITICS, BUT I WISH I COULD ASK THEM WHAT IT WAS LIKE VOTING FOR SOMEONE THEY REALLY ADMIRED LIKE FDR, OR AGAINST SOMEONE THEY REALLY DESPISED LIKE FDR. HE INSPIRED BOTH SETS OF PASSIONS PROBABLY BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY STOOD FOR SOMETHING AND DID SOMETHING, UNLIKE MANY PRESENT-DAY POLITICIANS WHO PLAY IT SAFE BY DOING NOTHING. AND IT’S HARD NOT TO FEEL THAT, BY VOTING, YOU MAKE YOURSELF A CONSPIRATOR AFTER THE FACT FOR THE WAY POLITICS IS PLAYED. AS THAT BUMPER STICKER SAYS, “DON’T VOTE. IT JUST ENCOURAGES THEM.”

A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THEIR CHOICES ARE RATHER LIKE THIS NOT-SO-FUNNY JOKE IRAQI BALLOT SOMEONE E-MAILED ME. AND THEN THERE ARE ALL THOSE BALLOT MEASURES. SOME ARE HEARTFELT LIKE SANTA MONICA’S “JJ”, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SO-CALLED LIVING WAGE FOR WORKERS IN THE CITY’S GOLD COAST LUXURY HOTEL STRIP, ANOTHER OF THOSE MEASURES THAT PITS COST AGAINST CONSCIENCE. AND SOME ARE SIMPLY CRASS LIKE PROPOSITION 51, A PAY-FOR-PLAY GRAB-IT TAX MONEY PURPORTEDLY FOR TRANSPORTATION, BUT PRETTY MUCH OF, BY AND FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS WHO’LL GET THE DOUGH.

BUT WHETHER YOU VOTE OR NOT, 120 PEOPLE IN A BOARDROOM FULL OF STATE OFFICIALS WILL SIT IN SACRAMENTO AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR LIFE. WHETHER YOU VOTE OR NOT, 535 PEOPLE WILL SIT ON CAPITOL HILL AND DECIDE ABOUT WAR AND HEALTHCARE AND FEDERAL JUDGES. SO YOU CAN PLAY THE GAME AND TAKE A CHANCE ON LOSING OR NOT PLAY AT ALL AND LOSE FOR SURE. SINCE 1875, WE’VE BEEN VOTING ON THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, A DATE FIXED BY AGRICULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS CONSIDERATIONS. LATE ENOUGH TO MISS THE HARVEST, EARLY ENOUGH TO MISS THE SNOWFALL AND SAFELY PAST ALL SAINTS DAY. NOW SOME COUNTRIES MAKE A HOLIDAY OUT OF ELECTION DAY. IMAGINE THAT. A FEW MINUTES TO VOTE AND ALL DAY TO REPENT.

VAL>> WELL, THEY SHARE NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF OUR DNA, SO CHANCES ARE, HUMANS COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM CHIMPANZEES.

JESS>> LEGENDARY RESEARCHER, JANE GOODALL, HAS SPENT FORTY YEARS DOCUMENTING AND ANALYZING THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF CHIMPS. HER GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH HAS SHOWN US HOW WILD CHIMPANZEES REALLY ARE A LOT LIKE US. SHE STARTED HER RESEARCH IN 1960 IN AFRICA’S GOMBE NATIONAL PARK IN TANZANIA. BACK THEN, MORE THAN A MILLION CHIMPANZEES MADE THEIR HOME THERE. TODAY THOSE NUMBERS HAVE FALLEN BY NEARLY NINETY PERCENT.

VAL>> WELL, NOW A NEW IMAX FILM CAPTURES THE DRAMA OF THAT STORY. IT IS CALLED “JANE GOODALL’S WILD CHIMPANZEES” AND JOINING US NOW IS CHUCK KOPCZAK FROM THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER WHERE THE FILM IS BEING SHOWN. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> THE FILM IS NOW OPEN. HOW IS IT BEING RECEIVED?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> OH, IT’S BEING RECEIVED VERY WONDERFULLY. LOTS OF FAMILIES HAVE COME TO SEE IT AND IT’S GOTTEN UNIVERSAL APPEAL, IT SEEMS.

JESS>> IT’S ENTERTAINING, CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO EDUCATIONAL?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> YES, VERY MUCH SO. IT DETAILS THE HISTORY OF JANE’S RESEARCH IN GOMBE NATIONAL FOREST FROM THE TIME SHE WAS TWENTY-SIX TO THE PRESENT DAY.

VAL>> NOW SHE SPENT FORTY YEARS THERE AND SHE -- IT WASN’T STEADY. SHE WOULD GO AND COME BACK, GO AND COME BACK, RIGHT?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> RIGHT. THE RESERVE ITSELF IS ACTUALLY QUITE PRIMITIVE IN TERMS OF THE AMENITIES.

VAL>> AND SHE WOULD GET TO KNOW THESE CHIMPANZEES VERY PERSONALLY. I IMAGINE SHE HAD NAMES FOR THEM, SHE COULD IDENTIFY THEM INDIVIDUALLY?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. HER WORK BASICALLY, AS SHE MENTIONS IN THE FILM, SHE GAVE NAMES TO THE CHIMPS AS HER WAY OF IDENTIFYING THEM, ALTHOUGH CLASSIC RESEARCH WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED DOING THAT ACTUALLY.

VAL>> THIS FOOTAGE IS AMAZING. THIS ALMOST LOOKS LIKE OUT OF A MOVIE, LIKE A MOVIE SET. LOOK AT THAT.

JESS>> AND WHEN SHE WOULD LEAVE AND THEN COME BACK, THE CHIMPS REMEMBERED HER?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> YES. CHIMPS ARE VERY SOCIAL ANIMALS AND FORM VERY STRONG FAMILY BONDS. UNDOUBTEDLY, HER PRESENCE BECAME PART OF THAT SOCIAL GROUP.

JESS>> SHE COULD IDENTIFY EACH OF THEM, DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIOR OR MARKINGS?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> PRIMARILY MARKINGS, BUT ALSO BEHAVIOR. I MEAN, JUST LIKE HUMAN BEINGS, THEY HAVE VERY DISTINCTIVE PATTERNS OF HOW THEY REACT TO THINGS AND HOW THEY GET ALONG IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST STUNNING THINGS SHE DISCOVERED? I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS A REAL BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE AND USE TOOLS.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> RIGHT, EXACTLY. UP UNTIL THAT TIME, HUMAN BEINGS HAD BEEN CONSIDERED AS THE ONLY CREATURES THAT MADE AND USED TOOLS. SHE FOUND, THROUGH THEIR ABILITY TO USE STICKS TO GET TERMITES OUT OF THEIR MOUNDS, THAT IN FACT CHIMPANZEES ALSO MAKE TOOLS.

JESS>> AND YOUR FILM DOCUMENTS THAT, DOES IT NOT?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> YES. IT DOES IT VERY CLEARLY. YOU CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY HOW THEY CAN USE TOOLS AND, APPARENTLY, PASS THAT LEARNING ON TO THEIR CHILDREN MUCH IN THE WAY THAT WE PASS CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE ON TO OUR CHILDREN.

VAL>> HOW ABOUT LANGUAGE? DO THEY HAVE SOUND LANGUAGE?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THEY DO NOT COMMUNICATE, CERTAINLY, BY SPEAKING THE WAY WE DO. THEY’RE NOT CAPABLE OF THAT. BUT THEY DO, AS THE FILM DOCUMENTS, HAVE BASICALLY A WHOLE RANGE OF VOCALIZATIONS THAT THEY USE TO COMMUNICATE THEIR EMOTIONS AND THEIR FEELINGS.

JESS>> THE SHOCKING FIGURE THAT WE HAD EARLY ON WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THERE HAVING BEEN A MILLION CHIMPANZEES WHEN SHE FIRST BEGAN HER RESEARCH AND THEIR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY NINETY PERCENT. HABITAT DESTRUCTION?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> PRIMARILY HABITAT LOSS AS THE BURGEONING HUMAN POPULATION IN AFRICA HAS ENCROACHED FURTHER INTO THE RAINFOREST. THOSE ARE AREAS THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO THE CHIMPS.

JESS>> AND POACHERS?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> POACHERS. UNFORTUNATELY, IN AFRICA THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE BUSHMEAT CRISIS IN WHICH THE HUMAN POPULATION IS GOING OUT INTO THE JUNGLES AND CAPTURING THE ANIMALS FOR FOOD. IT’S SOMETHING, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

JESS>> AND BREEDING PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTRY?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THE ZOOS IN THIS COUNTRY, ALL PART OF A GROUP CALLED THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS, ARE VERY STRONGLY COMMITTED TO THE CONSERVATION OF CHIMPANZEES AND ALL KINDS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF BREEDING PROGRAMS IN ZOOS.

VAL>> NOW, OF COURSE, THE OTHER FAMOUS PRIMATE RESEARCHER WAS DIAN FOSSEY AND SHE WAS, THEY BELIEVE, KILLED.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> RIGHT.

VAL>> HAS JANE GOODALL HAD ANY KIND OF CLOSE CALLS POLITICALLY OR ANYTHING THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THAT?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> NOT THAT I’M AWARE OF.

VAL>> SHE’S BEEN ABLE TO DO HER RESEARCH FULLY UNENCUMBERED WITHOUT --

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> -- YES, WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE KIND THAT DIAN FOSSEY ENCOUNTERED.

JESS>> SHE HAD AN EARLY LIFE ALSO WITH THE LEAKEYS TOO, WHO HAVE WELL-ESTABLISHED REPUTATIONS IN AFRICA.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THAT’S RIGHT. LOUIS LEAKEY ACTUALLY WAS THE PERSON. SHE ORIGINALLY WENT TO WORK FOR HIM IN OLDUVAI GORGE, STUDYING PALEONTOLOGY AND THEN ENDED THAT HE WAS THE ONE THAT SENT HER TO GOMBE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND BASICALLY STARTED HER ON THE PATH THAT SHE’S PURSUED SINCE.

JESS>> THEY ARE IRRESISTIBLE ANIMALS.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> YES, THEY DEFINITELY ARE.

VAL>> AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN IMAX FILM, THE QUALITY OF THIS IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE THE NEGATIVES THAT THEY USE ARE HUGE AND THE RESOLUTION IS HUGE.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THAT’S RIGHT.

VAL>> IS THIS LIKE THE FIRST TIME THAT HER WORK HAS BEEN PUT IN -- NO, THERE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTARIES BEFORE.

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DOCUMENTARIES OF HER WORK, BUT THIS CERTAINLY IS THE FIRST TIME AN IMAX FILM HAS DOCUMENTED IT. HAVING SEEN THE FILM, YOU REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE RIGHT THERE AND VERY MUCH A PART OF THE SCENE. IT’S VERY INCREDIBLE.

JESS>> THE CHIMPS HAVE BEGUN TO ACCEPT SOME HUMAN PRESENCE, PARTICULARLY HERS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CAMERAS AND CAMERA CREWS?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> RIGHT. THE IMAX CAMERA IS KNOWN APPARENTLY WELL WITHIN THE INDUSTRY THAT IT IS AN EXTREMELY NOISY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. IT TOOK THEM SOME TIME OF BEING THERE, SETTING UP, GETTING THE CHIMPS USED TO HAVING THE CAMERA THERE, BUT THEN ALSO WHEN THE CAMERA WAS ROLLING, BEING USED TO THE SOUND THAT IT MADE. THROUGH TIME, IT WORKED OUT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE SHOTS THAT THEY NEEDED.

JESS>> HOW LONG WAS THIS IN PRODUCTION?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THIS WAS IN PRODUCTION OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT FIVE YEARS. THE ORIGINAL IDEA WAS PROPOSED FOR FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION IN 1996.

VAL>> I LOVE THAT SHOT (LAUGHTER).

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THAT’S A WONDERFUL, VERY APPEALING SHOT.

VAL>> IT LOOKS LIKE OUR NEWS DIRECTOR (LAUGHTER). WELL, THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR. SO IT’S FORTY-TWO MINUTES?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> THAT’S RIGHT, FORTY-TWO MINUTES LONG.

VAL>> AND AT THE END OF IT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT CHIMPANZEES ANYWAY, BUT WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS?

CHUCK KOPCZAK>> OH, THE RANGE OF EMOTIONS THAT THEY SHOW, THE RANGE OF SIMILARITIES. YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING THAT WE SHARE NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF OUR DNA WITH THEM. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF, I WOULD SAY, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS THAT I THINK YOU DO SEE IN THE FILM.

JESS>> THAT’S FASCINATING. OUR THANKS TO DR. CHUCK KOPCZAK OF THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILM, “JANE GOODALL’S WILD CHIMPANZEES”, YOU CAN LOG ONTO THE SCIENCE CENTER’S WEBSITE OR CALL THEM AT THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

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