11/13/02

LC021113

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> THEY COME FROM A SECRET TRAINING CAMP SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES AND THEY HAVE BUT ONE MISSION: TO STOP THE SUICIDE BOMBERS IN ISRAEL.

MIKE HERSTIK>> THEY HAVEN’T EVER COME UP WITH ANYTHING BETTER. THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY OUT THERE, BUT NOTHING IS ABLE TO DETECT EXPLOSIVES WITH THE SENSITIVITY OF A DOG’S NOSE.

VAL>> ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA IS PLANNING A POLITICAL COMEBACK, BUT HIS RUN FOR THE SEAT ON THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL HAS SPARKED A POLITICAL WAR. VILLARAIGOSA HAS BECOME THE TARGET OF WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A MAJOR SMEAR. TONIGHT HE TELLS US HOW HE PLANS TO FIGHT BACK.

JESS>> AND THEN A LOOK AT SOME REMARKABLE PHOTOS OF AMERICA’S FIRST FAMILIES. VETERAN PHOTOGRAPHER, DIANA WALKER, HAS SPENT THE PAST TWO DECADES CAPTURING THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MOMENTS OF FIVE AMERICAN PRESIDENTS. TONIGHT SHE’LL SHARE SOME OF THE STUNNING IMAGES SHE NEVER DREAMED SHE’D GET ON FILM.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT 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. TONIGHT THE STORY OF HOW MAN’S BEST FRIEND IS BECOMING A FOUR-LEGGED FOOT SOLDIER IN THE WAR ON TERROR. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS TRAINED AT A TOP SECRET CAMP IN LOS ANGELES AND THEN SHIPPED TO ISRAEL.

VAL>> WE CAN’T TELL YOU MUCH ABOUT THE TRAINING CAMP ITSELF. IT’S SO SECRET THAT EVEN WE HAVEN’T SEEN IT. BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE END RESULT, DOGS THAT MAY GIVE ISRAEL A WAY TO STOP SUICIDE BOMBERS. TONIGHT GAY YEE TELLS US ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND THE LOS ANGELES ECONOMIST WHO STARTED THIS SPECIAL MISSION.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> GLEN YAGO IS A JEWISH-AMERICAN WHO’S SEEN THE VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND WITNESSED THE TERROR COME HOME.

GLEN YAGO>> I’VE BEEN OVER TEACHING IN ISRAEL. I’D WITNESSED A NUMBER OF SUICIDE BOMBING ATTACKS. I HAD, YOU KNOW, SPENT SIX HOURS TRYING TO FIND MY SON ON SEPTEMBER 11. THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO KILL CIVILIANS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, THAT’S WHAT TERRORISM IS.

GAY YEE>> HOW DOES ONE FIGHT SOMEONE WILLING TO STRAP ON EXPLOSIVES TO KILL HIMSELF AND TAKE OTHERS WITH HIM? YAGO, WHO’S AN ECONOMIST WITH THE MILKEN INSTITUTE, IS A TRAINED PROBLEM-SOLVER. TO HIM, THE SOLUTION TO THE FREQUENT BOMBINGS WAS FAIRLY OBVIOUS. ISRAEL SHOULD BRING IN SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS TO SNIFF OUT EXPLOSIVES AND STOP AT LEAST SOME OF THE SUICIDE BOMBERS BEFORE PEOPLE GOT HURT.

GLEN YAGO>> THIS IDEA OF GOING TOWARDS HUMAN SACRIFICE IN TERROR IS A TABOO THAT IS ALIGNED THAT, AS A SPECIES, WE CANNOT CROSS.

GAY YEE>> USING BOMB DOGS TO SNIFF OUT TERRORISM. IT ALL SEEMS SO SIMPLE THAT YAGO WONDERED WHY ISRAEL HADN’T THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE. WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT ISRAEL HAD. THERE JUST WEREN’T ENOUGH DOGS. SO YAGO CAME UP WITH ANOTHER SOLUTION. HE STARTED A BOMB DETECTION SCHOOL FOR DOGS SOLELY AIMED AT HELPING ISRAEL AND HE CALLED IT “PUPS FOR PEACE”.

NITRO IS A STAR PUPIL, AS WE SAW DURING THIS DEMONSTRATION AT A PRIVATE HOME IN BEL AIR. FOR SECURITY REASONS, THE SCHOOL ITSELF OPERATES IN SECRET AT AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION SOMEWHERE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LOS ANGELES. YAGO KNOWS THAT, WITHOUT THE SECRECY, THESE DOGS COULD EASILY BECOME TARGETS.

MIKE HERSTIK>> THEIR JOB IS VERY SIMPLE. THEY SEEK OUT EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS USUALLY IN THE FORM OF A BOMB. THEY DETECT IT, THEY INDICATE IT TO THEIR HANDLERS. THEY HAVEN’T EVER COME UP WITH ANYTHING BETTER. THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY OUT THERE, BUT NOTHING IS ABLE TO DETECT EXPLOSIVES WITH THE SENSITIVITY OF A DOG’S NOSE.

GAY YEE>> MIKE HERSTIK IS AN EXPERT WHO’S TRAINED BOMB DOGS FOR THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MIKE HERSTIK>> THE REASON THEY ARE SUCH A TREMENDOUS DETERRENT TO THE TERRORISTS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO EXCELLENT AT THEIR JOB AND THE PRESENCE OF THESE DOGS IS ENOUGH TO REDIRECT THE PLANS OF A WOULD-BE TERRORIST.

GAY YEE>> HERSTIK TOOK A PAY CUT TO WORK AT “PUPS FOR PEACE”. HIS MOTHER AND FATHER WERE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND HE SAYS HE ALWAYS FELT INDEBTED TO ISRAEL FOR GIVING HIS FAMILY A SECOND CHANCE.

MIKE HERSTIK>> IT’S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING, BUT THE FACT THAT I WAS BORN IN ISRAEL, THERE WAS A CERTAIN SPIRITUAL CONNECTION. I HAPPENED TO LEAVE THERE WHEN I WAS THREE AND A HALF AND I FEEL LIKE THINGS HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE.

GAY YEE>> AND IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT HERSTIK ALSO FEELS A STRONG, ALMOST SPIRITUAL, BOND WITH NITRO.

MIKE HERSTIK>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A DOG THAT YOU BET YOUR LIFE ON? WE’RE A TEAM.

MIKE HERSTIK>> “SINCE ONE IDEA LED TO ANOTHER AND WE SAID WHY AREN’T THERE DOGS IN ISRAEL? SO WE....”

GAY YEE>> YAGO’S GOAL IS TO TRAIN A THOUSAND DOGS SUCH AS NITRO TO WORK IN ISRAEL TO PROTECT SCHOOLS, BUSES, TRAIN STATIONS, ANY PLACE YOU’D FIND THE PUBLIC, BUT IT ISN’T CHEAP. EVERY TRAINED DOG ENDS UP COSTING AROUND $10,000. YAGO IS COUNTING ON STRONG SUPPORT FROM OTHER JEWISH-AMERICANS WHO SHARE HIS CONCERNS.

GLEN YAGO>> IT’S A GLOBAL PROBLEM. IT’S NOT JUST AN AMERICAN PROBLEM. IT’S NOT JUST A JEWISH PROBLEM. IT’S NOT JUST A MIDDLE EASTERN PROBLEM. BUT IT’S A PROBLEM OF TRYING TO GET A DISCOURSE GOING ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD WHERE THERE ARE GRIEVANCES WHERE PEOPLE DON’T TARGET CIVILIANS AS THE STRATEGY.

GAY YEE>> ISRAEL’S PROBLEMS ONCE SEEMED FAR AWAY, BUT SINCE 9/11, YAGO BELIEVES AMERICA HAS GOTTEN A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE, A WORLD WHERE TERRORISM IS AN EVERYDAY THREAT FOR ALL OF US.

GLEN YAGO>> YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO GO VISIT THE MIDDLE EAST. THE MIDDLE EAST HAS A WAY OF COMING AND VISITING US AND IT CERTAINLY DID ON SEPTEMBER 11.

GAY YEE>> AND WHILE A PERMANENT SOLUTION REMAINS ELUSIVE, YAGO SAYS HE’S ENCOURAGED BY A HANDFUL OF LOYAL CANINES WHO SEEM TO HAVE A NOSE FOR PEACE.

JESS>> GAY YEE JOINS US NOW. WHY THE SUPER SECRECY ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE TRAINING OF THESE DOGS?

GAY YEE>> WELL, NUMBER ONE, THEY DON’T WANT THEIR SECRETS LET OUT ON HOW THEY TRAIN THE DOGS BECAUSE IT COULD ULTIMATELY BE USED AGAINST THEM. THE OTHER THING THAT YAGO MENTIONED WAS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE MAY WELL BE ACTIVE CELLS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY DON’T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE PROJECT.

VAL>> OKAY, SO TELL ME HOW THIS WORKS. YOU’RE SAYING THAT THE TRAINER AND THE DOG WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE TO STAY TOGETHER BACK IN ISRAEL?

GAY YEE>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THEY HAVE TRAINED THEIR FIRST GROUP. THEY HAD THEIR GRADUATION ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THERE WERE A LITTLE OVER A DOZEN ISRAELI SOLDIERS THAT WERE TRAINED HERE.

VAL>> WHICH THEY BRING FROM ISRAEL?

GAY YEE>> THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE AND ALSO THEY TRAINED ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO DOGS. THEY WERE TRAINED TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WORK AS A TEAM AND THEN THEY WILL BE SENT BACK TO ISRAEL.

VAL>> TOGETHER, AND WORK TOGETHER THERE.

GAY YEE>> ULTIMATELY, THEY WANT TRAINING CAMPS OVER THERE AS WELL.

JESS>> IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE’VE SEEN WITH BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS BEING USED FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES?

GAY YEE>> IT’S INTERESTING. IT’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT STYLE. NOW THESE DOGS -- THEY HAVE PREFERABLE BREEDS. THEY LIKE THE LABRADOR RETRIEVERS, SHEPHERDS, BUT --

JESS>> -- AND MOST OF THEM FROM EUROPE?

GAY YEE>> FROM EUROPE. THEY’RE WORKING DOGS. THEY’RE NOT SO MUCH SHOW DOGS. THESE ARE WORKING DOGS WHO ARE USED TO ALWAYS BEING ACTIVE AND WANTING TO HAVE THAT RETRIEVAL INSTINCT. THEY LOOK FOR A PERSONALITY PROFILE AND THAT IS A PLAYFULNESS AND A DESIRE TO RETRIEVE AND THAT’S WHAT WE SAW.

VAL>> REAL QUICKLY, NOW. IF A SUICIDE BOMBER IS WEARING EXPLOSIVES AND THE DOG COMES UP TO THEM, THEY COULD STILL PULL THE FUSE.

GAY YEE>> THAT’S A POSSIBILITY. ORDINARILY, WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR IS TO SCOPE OUT, SAY, LIKE A BUS AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THAT EXPLOSIVE IS LOCATED.

VAL>> THAT’S REALLY INTERESTING. THANK YOU, GAY.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, VICTIMS OF AMERICA’S LAST WAR WITH IRAQ. WHY ARE SO MANY U.S. SOLDIERS FROM DESERT STORM STILL SUFFERING FROM MYSTERIOUS ILLNESSES? DID SADDAM HIT THEM WITH BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL WEAPONS? AND WHAT WILL AMERICAN FORCES FACE IN SOME FUTURE CONFLICT? CASUALTIES OF THE GULF WAR. THAT’S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE WAS PRETTY NASTY, BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE PURE VENOM THAT’S ERUPTING IN EAST LOS ANGELES WHERE A FORMER CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR IS NOW RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL. ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA HAS BEEN CALLED A WOMANIZER AND WORSE BY HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES. THEY’VE EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO IDENTIFY HIS ALLEGED MISTRESS. IT ALL BEGAN AFTER VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL CHALLENGE THE LATINO INCUMBENT FOR THE DISTRICT FOURTEEN COUNCIL SEAT.

VAL>> WELL, VILLARAIGOSA HAS FILED COMPLAINTS WITH BOTH CITY AND COUNTY AUTHORITIES AND TONIGHT HE’S HERE TO TELL US HOW HE PLANS TO FIGHT BACK. ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT BACK?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, I RAN THE FIRST TIME IN 1994. I RAN A CLEAN CAMPAIGN. I RAN ON THE ISSUES. I WAS ATTACKED IN THE FINAL WEEKS AND I WON BY NEARLY TWENTY POINTS. I RAN IN THE MAYOR’S RACE AND I RAN A CLEAN CAMPAIGN THAT INSPIRED PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY. I WAS ATTACKED. I CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN MYSELF WITH DIGNITY. I’M GOING TO MAINTAIN MYSELF WITH DIGNITY IN THIS RACE. I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES. I’M NOT RUNNING AGAINST A CANDIDATE. I’M RUNNING TO REPRESENT A PART OF THE CITY THAT I WAS BORN IN, THAT I WAS RAISED IN. I’VE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY MY WHOLE LIFE. MY GRANDPA GOT HERE IN 1903 AND WE’VE LIVED THERE AND HAVE RAISED OUR FAMILIES THERE.

JESS>> YOU PROBABLY THOUGHT, OR I ASSUME YOU THOUGHT, THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEHIND YOU ONCE YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT YOU HAD HAD TWO CHILDREN PRIOR TO YOUR MARRIAGE AND THAT YOU’D HAD AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR. WHAT FURTHER CAN THEY GET ON YOU?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEN THE TWO ADS, ONE THAT TRIES TO INCITE RACIAL FEARS AND POLARIZE OUR CITY --

JESS>> -- IT’S ABOUT YOU’RE NOT QUITE LATINO.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> RIGHT. I HAVE WHITE ADVISERS, ACCORDING TO THIS MAILER. IT’S THE WORST KIND OF CAMPAIGNING. IT’S THE KIND OF CAMPAIGNING THAT MOST OF US BELIEVE IS FROM ANOTHER ERA. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WANT US TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES. I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WANT US TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER FOR THIS DISTRICT. THE SECOND MAILER ENGAGES IN PRIVATE MATTERS THAT ARE BETWEEN MY WIFE AND MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. THEY’RE VERY OFFENSIVE. BOTH THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AND LA OPINION HAVE EDITORIALIZED VERY STRONGLY AGAINST THEM. MOST OF THE POLITICAL PUNDITS SAY THAT THESE KINDS OF ADS HAVE NO PLACE IN POLITICS. I AM NOT GOING TO ENGAGE IN THIS KIND OF GUTTER POLITICS. I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES.

VAL>> WELL, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SOURCE OF THESE PERSONAL ATTACKS. THESE ARE THE MAILERS THAT HAVE GONE OUT IN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT. THEY’VE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT VILLARAIGOSA’S MARRIAGE AND ABOUT HIS LATINO ROOTS, AS WE MENTIONED. THE INCUMBENT COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE DISTRICT, NICK PACHECO, SAYS HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAILERS, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THEY’RE COMING FROM ONE OF PACHECO’S SUPPORTERS, RICARDO TORRES. TORRES ADMITS THAT HE WROTE THE MAILERS AND HE SAYS HE PLANS TO SEND OUT MORE.

RICARDO TORRES>> YOU KNOW, IT’S REALLY TO LET ANTONIO KNOW THAT HE NEEDS TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION TO START HARMING YOUNG LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS IN LOS ANGELES.

NICK PACHECO>> EVERYONE KNOWS ME WELL ENOUGH NOW THAT, IF I WANT TO HIT HARD, I COME RIGHT AT YOU. I’M RIGHT AT YOUR FACE. I’M NOT SOMEONE THAT’S GOING TO HIDE BEHIND ANYTHING.

JESS>> AND INDEED HE DOES CALL -- "I FEEL RICARDO IS BEING AN IDIOT AND I'M VERY UPSET."

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE CITY ETHICS COMMISSION WHO WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ANY COMPLICITY OR COORDINATION BETWEEN MR. PACHECO AND MR. TORRES. WE KNOW THAT MR. PACHECO AND MR. TORRES ARE LONG-TIME FRIENDS. THEY BOTH WENT TO LAW SCHOOL TOGETHER. WE KNOW IT WAS MR. PACHECO'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER THAT INFORMED THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT IT WAS NOT MR. PACHECO, BUT MR. TORRES, THAT INITIATED THESE CAMPAIGN MAILERS. AND WE KNOW THAT MR. PACHECO HAS SPENT $140,000, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF WHAT YOU CAN SPEND IN A CITY RACE. WHAT HAS HE SPENT IT ON? I CAN'T MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. IT WILL BE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE CITY ETHICS COMMISSION.

VAL>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT, IF THEY DO PROVE A CONNECTION BETWEEN MR. TORRES' SMEAR FLYERS AND NICK PACHECO, THAT MR. PACHECO MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING ILLEGAL?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> THE LAW STATES THAT A MAILER MUST HAVE A DISCLAIMER. WHO SENT IT? WHO PAID FOR IT? THE LAW ALSO SAYS THAT, IF YOU'RE SETTING UP AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE, YOU HAVE TO REPORT WHO CONTRIBUTED TO IT. FINALLY, THE LAW SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T COORDINATE BETWEEN A CAMPAIGN AND THE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF COORDINATION THERE IS HERE. I DO KNOW, AS I SAID, THAT MR. PACHECO HAS SPENT $140,000. I HAVEN'T SEEN A MAILER YET SENT BY HIM. I KNOW THAT THESE MAILERS ARE BEING SENT BY MR. TORRES, OR AT LEAST HE CLAIMS AUTHORSHIP AND COMPLICITY HERE, AND I'M ASKING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. BY THE WAY, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT BACK, IF YOU WILL. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD ENGAGE IN THE GUTTER. I WILL NOT COUNTENANCE MY FAMILY BEING BROUGHT INTO THIS RACE AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT RACE SHOULD BE AN ISSUE.

JESS>> TO WHAT EXTENT HAS HE BROUGHT YOUR FAMILY INTO THIS?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, HE'S TALKED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER IN A WAY THAT I, FRANKLY, FIND OFFENSIVE. MY DAUGHTER OWNS HER OWN HOME. SHE'S A GREAT MOTHER. SHE'S A WONDERFUL CITIZEN. SHE'S GOING TO COLLEGE. I'M VERY PROUD OF HER AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHE SHOULD BE FODDER IN THIS RACE. I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE --

VAL>> -- HE REFERS TO HER AS A TEENAGE MOTHER, CORRECT?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> YES, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. THE LA OPINION WROTE AN EDITORIAL AGAINST THESE SMEAR TACTICS. SO DID THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. LA OPINION SAID WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN FORTY-ONE MURDERS IN BOYLE HEIGHTS. IN THE SAME PART OF EAST LOS ANGELES, HALF THE MURDERS. THERE ARE SERVICES THAT AREN'T BEING PROVIDED IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD IN THE COMMUNITY. WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT WE PLAN TO DO TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES AND BETTER REPRESENTATION FOR THAT DISTRICT. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL FOCUS ON, FRANKLY.

VAL>> BUT WHAT DID MAKE YOU DECIDE TO RUN IN THIS PARTICULAR RACE AGAINST A FELLOW LATINO POLITICIAN? I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID TO PEOPLE THAT WANTED ME TO RUN FOR THE STATE SENATE AND THE CONGRESS AND STATE CONTROLLER THAT, WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR, I WASN'T LOOKING FOR A JOB. I WANTED TO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY, MY CITY, AT CITY HALL. I WANT TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY I WAS RAISED IN IN CITY HALL. I THINK THAT WHERE THE ACTION IS AND WHERE YOU CAN DO THE MOST FOR PEOPLE IS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I'M PREPARED TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN THE FOURTEENTH COUNCIL DISTRICT AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.

I'M NOT RUNNING AGAINST NICK PACHECO PER SE. I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I THINK I CAN BE A MORE EFFECTIVE LEADER FOR THAT COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK RACE IS AN ISSUE. I DON'T THINK THAT A LATINO OR AN ANGLO HAS, YOU KNOW, A MONOPOLY ON THAT POSITION. I THINK THE VOTERS OF THIS DISTRICT ARE DIVERSE. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT CAN BRING US TOGETHER. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT US AND SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO DELIVER THE SERVICES TO THIS COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY THAT BADLY NEEDS THOSE SERVICES.

JESS>> THE ELECTION IS NOT UNTIL MARCH AND SOME WOULD SAY, WELL, THIS WILL BE FORGOTTEN BY MARCH. BUT IN TRUTH, RESEARCH INDICATES THAT PEOPLE DO REMEMBER THE NASTINESS OF THE CAMPAIGN WHEN THEY GO INTO THE ELECTION.

VAL>> YEAH, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT WORKS?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE THAT HOPE TRUMPS FEAR, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT MUDSLINGING WORKS. I'M HOPING THAT, IN THIS CASE, WHAT PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF POLITICAL PUNDITS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT, THE L.A. TIMES, LA OPINION, HAVE DENOUNCED THESE SMEAR TACTICS. THEY'VE CALLED THEM WHAT THEY ARE --

JESS>> -- AS HAS NICK PACHECO.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> AS HAS MR. PACHECO. BUT AS I SAID, IT WILL BE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS ANY COMPLICITY BY MR. PACHECO IN THESE ACTS.

VAL>> ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THIS STORY.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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4401 SUNSET BLVD.
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JESS>> BILL CLINTON ONCE CALLED THE WHITE HOUSE THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM. THAT'S HOW CAPTIVE AMERICAN PRESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SOMETIMES FEEL THERE AND, IN THAT KIND OF AN ENVIRONMENT, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THERE AREN'T MANY UNGUARDED MOMENTS. BUT PRESIDENTS ARE JUST PEOPLE, AND A VETERAN PHOTOGRAPHER HAS SPENT THE PAST TWENTY YEARS CAPTURING THEIR HUMAN SIDE. DIANA WALKER HAS HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO HISTORY AND HER REMARKABLE PHOTOS GIVE US A RARE GLIMPSE AT OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVES WHEN THEY'RE LETTING THEIR GUARD DOWN JUST A BIT.

VAL>> SHE HAS GATHERED SOME OF HER BEST IMAGES FOR A NEW BOOK. IT IS CALLED "PUBLIC AND PRIVATE: TWENTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHING THE PRESIDENCY". WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE DIANA WALKER WITH US TONIGHT. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

DIANA WALKER>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

JESS>> MS. WALKER, HOW MUCH ACCESS DID YOU HAVE TO THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THESE FIVE PRESIDENTS YOU'VE COVERED?

DIANA WALKER>> WELL, NOT THAT MUCH. MOST OF MY TIME WAS SPENT WITH THE REGULAR PRESS CORPS OUT IN FRONT COVERING THE NEWS, DOCUMENTING WHAT THE PRESIDENT DOES. BUT EVERY SO OFTEN, I WOULD ASK THE TIME MAGAZINE TO BE BEHIND THE SCENES, SO THE BOOK HAS THE PUBLIC PICTURES AND IT HAS THE PRIVATE PICTURES.

JESS>> AND THE PRIVATE PICTURES ARE VERY INTERESTING (LAUGHTER).

DIANA WALKER>> (LAUGHTER) OH, DID YOU LIKE THEM?

VAL>> AND WE HAVE SO MANY TO LOOK AT, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THEM RIGHT AWAY. THE FIRST ONE HERE IS GERALD FORD AND BOB DOLE.

DIANA WALKER>> OH, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I WAS EVER IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND THEY WERE JUST SORT OF YUKKING IT UP, HAVING A GREAT TIME.

VAL>> WHAT YEAR IS THIS?

DIANA WALKER>> IN 1976 WHEN HE CHOSE DOLE TO RUN WITH HIM FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

VAL>> AND WHY WERE YOU CHOSEN TO DO THE GET-BEHIND?

JESS>> JIMMY CARTER.

VAL>> WAS IT THE TIME MAGAZINE?

DIANA WALKER>> YES, THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL. THIS IS -- I CAUGHT THIS BY CHANCE WALKING THROUGH THE ROSE GARDEN. PRESIDENT CARTER WAS IN CONSULTATION WITH HIS SECRETARY OF STATE, CY VANCE.

VAL>> THE NEXT ONE IS ROSALYN CARTER WITH ROSA PARKS.

DIANA WALKER>> OH, AND LOOK WHO'S WITH THEM. GOVERNOR CLINTON, WHO I NEVER --

JESS>> -- LOOK AT THAT HAIRSTYLE.

DIANA WALKER>> AND HIS CLOTHES. I NEVER KNEW I'D EVER SEEN HIM BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT AND THIS WAS 1979 IN PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

VAL>> WHAT WAS ROSALYN CARTER LIKE?

DIANA WALKER>> OH, SHE WAS TERRIFIC. SHE REPRESENTED THE COUNTRY WONDERFULLY AS FIRST LADY.

JESS>> AND THERE WERE A FEW STORIES GOING AROUND IN THE WHITE HOUSE. RONALD REAGAN WAS A GREAT STORYTELLER, BUT THIS ONE MUST HAVE REALLY BROKEN UP THE --

DIANA WALKER>> -- DO YOU KNOW, I HAVE ASKED EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THAT PICTURE WHAT THE JOKE WAS AND NO ONE WILL TELL ME.

JESS>> THEY WON'T TELL YOU.

DIANA WALKER>> THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE FLAVOR OF WHAT THE STORY MUST HAVE BEEN (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) IT WAS ALL MEN TOO. IT MAKES YOU WONDER. THE NEXT ONE IS PRESIDENT REAGAN AND NANCY.

DIANA WALKER>> YES, WELL, THIS IS BEHIND THE SCENES AND SHE WAS TALKING TO THE PRESIDENT JUST PRIOR TO THEIR FIRST MEETING WITH THE GORBACHEVS WHO'D COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

VAL>> WOW, LOOK AT THAT. THEY LOOK SO SERIOUS THERE. THE NEXT ONE HERE IS NANCY IN THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

DIANA WALKER>> NOW I WANT YOU BOTH TO WONDER HOW I GOT UP THERE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) YOU'RE RIGHT. WHERE ARE YOU IN THIS?

JESS>> SOMEONE WAS STANDING ON THE LADY'S NOSE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> OR A BLIMP OR SOMETHING.

DIANA WALKER>> THE PRESS CORPS WENT UP IN A HELICOPTER. THAT WAS PRETTY FAR TO GO FOR A PHOTO OP, DON'T YOU THINK? YOU DIDN'T WANT TO MISS WHEN YOU GOT UP THERE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NOW WHEN YOU WERE TAKING THESE PHOTOS, DID YOU TRY TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL? DID YOU INTERACT WITH THEM OR DID YOU KEEP YOUR DISTANCE?

DIANA WALKER>> VAL, WHEN WE'RE OUT IN FRONT IN THE PRESS CORPS, THERE IS A DISTANCE. THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND THE FIRST FAMILY, IF YOU WILL. BUT WHEN I WENT BEHIND THE SCENES, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THEM, BUT I ALWAYS TRIED TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL AND, IN FACT, NEVER ENGAGE WITH THEM BECAUSE THE WHOLE IDEA WAS TO SEE HOW THEY RELATED TO OTHER PEOPLE, NOT ME. THIS WASN'T ABOUT ME AND THEM. IT WAS ABOUT THEM AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM.

JESS>> YOU WERE NEVER PERCEIVED AS A PARTISAN?

DIANA WALKER>> NO, NO.

JESS>> TIME MAGAZINE DIDN'T HARM YOUR REPUTATION (LAUGHTER).

DIANA WALKER>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT BOTH WAYS.

VAL>> IT DEPENDED ON WHO THE PRESIDENT WAS (LAUGHTER).

DIANA WALKER>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> THIS NEXT SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS, THE FIRST ONE IS PRESIDENT BUSH, THE FIRST, AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

DIANA WALKER>> YES, I WAS BEHIND THE SCENES WITH HIM DURING THE WHOLE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN HOUSTON, WHICH WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. BUT THIS IS WHEN HE CAME OUT IN THE PUBLIC ONTO THE STAGE TO MAKE HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF THE NOMINATION.

VAL>> NOW SOME ARE IN BLACK AND WHITE, SOME ARE IN COLOR.

DIANA WALKER>> YES. THE BLACK AND WHITE ONES ARE MOSTLY THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICTURES AND THE COLOR ONES ARE TAKEN WITH THE REST OF THE PRESS CORPS OUTSIDE.

JESS>> DID ANY OF THEM HAVE A CHANCE TO EDIT ANY OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS YOU TOOK OF THEM?

DIANA WALKER>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. WHEN YOU'RE THERE AS A JOURNALIST, YOU'RE A JOURNALIST AND THE PICTURES BELONG TO YOUR NEWS ORGANIZATION.

VAL>> SO THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHEN YOU TOOK A PICTURE AND THEY SAID, OH, COULD YOU MAYBE GIVE US THE NEGATIVE TO THAT ONE? NOTHING LIKE THAT?

DIANA WALKER>> HONESTLY, ONCE OR TWICE IT HAPPENED THAT ON THEIR DESKS WAS SOMETHING SENSITIVE AND THEY REALIZED IT AFTERWARDS AND ASKED US PLEASE NOT TO RUN THAT PICTURE AND THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

JESS>> AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

DIANA WALKER>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY, THAT'S THAT.

VAL>> THE NEXT ONE HERE IS BARBARA BUSH WITH A BASKET OF PUPPIES?

DIANA WALKER>> YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THESE PUPPIES. IN THIS PICTURE, YOU NOTICE MRS. BUSH'S SHOES. WHEN I SHOWED HER THIS PICTURE, SHE SAID TO ME -- AND IT'S IN THE BOOK -- SHE SAID, "SURELY, DIANA, IF I'D KNOWN YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE MY PICTURE, I WOULD HAVE CHANGED MY SHOES." (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> BUT YOU MADE NO EFFORT TO CROP THAT PICTURE SO YOU COULD SHOW THE SHOES (LAUGHTER).

DIANA WALKER>> OH, NO. IN THE REAL PICTURE, YOU SEE MORE OF THE SHOES THAN YOU DO THERE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THE NEXT ONE HERE IS BRENT SCOWCROFT.

DIANA WALKER>> YES, HE WAS THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. PRESIDENT BUSH HAD BEEN KIDDING HIM ABOUT HIS SNOOZING IN THE CABINET MEETINGS, SO HE HAD SOMEONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE MAKE SOME GLASSES FOR --

JESS>> -- EYES WIDE OPEN (LAUGHTER).

DIANA WALKER>> (LAUGHTER) HIS EYES WERE WIDE OPEN.

JESS>> SO HE COULD SNOOZE BEHIND THESE GLASSES.

DIANA WALKER>> EXACTLY. HE COULD SNOOZE IN CABINET MEETINGS.

VAL>> NOW WE MOVE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON.

DIANA WALKER>> YOU KNOW, THIS PICTURE IS EVIDENCE TO ME THAT BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICTURES ARE IMPORTANT AND TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE PRESIDENT. NO, DON'T LAUGH. THIS WAS A MOMENT WHEN -- HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS GONE OUT TO MAKE A SPEECH AND HERE HE WAS ABOUT TO GO OUT TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AND HE STOPS JUST BEFORE HE WALKS ONSTAGE AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH. I THOUGHT, WOW, EVEN SOMEONE AS POLISHED AND AS PROFESSIONAL A POLITICIAN, IF YOU WILL, STILL NEEDS TO DO WHAT YOU AND I WOULD DO AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

JESS>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE HE WAS JUST LEAVING A MCDONALDS (LAUGHTER), WHICH HE WAS KNOWN TO DO.

DIANA WALKER>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, YES, HE WAS.

VAL>> THIS IS A CUTE ONE. HILLARY AND CHELSEA?

DIANA WALKER>> THIS WAS THE MORNING OF THE INAUGURAL PARADE IN 1996. WHEN I SHOWED THIS TO SENATOR CLINTON FOR THE BOOK, SHE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, "OH, YES, CHELSEA'S SHOWING ME HER OUTFIT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO WEAR TO THE INAUGURATION AND I THOUGHT THE OUTFIT WAS FINE IF SHE KEPT HER COAT ON." OF COURSE, SHE DIDN'T. THE SKIRT, YOU REMEMBER, WAS VERY, VERY SHORT (LAUGHTER). IT WAS A MOTHER-DAUGHTER THING.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN JUST TELL THE MOTHER'S POSITION. THE MOTHER'S POSITION IS VERY DISAPPROVING.

DIANA WALKER>> IT'S A VERY MOTHER-DAUGHTER THING, YES.

VAL>> THE NEXT ONE HERE IS --

JESS>> -- ELTON JOHN, AND WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE WITH HIM? (LAUGHTER).

DIANA WALKER>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, THAT'S ELTON JOHN WHO HAD COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO PERFORM FOR A STATE DINNER. AND THAT'S JEFFREY KATZENBERG. ELTON JOHN WAS GETTING AFTER HIM FOR SOMETHING FUNNY. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TAKE PICTURES, YOU DON'T REALLY LISTEN. YOU CAN'T HEAR. BUT HE HID BEHIND THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO'D COME BY BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF WHATEVER ELTON JOHN WAS SAYING TO HIM. IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE FUNNY LIGHT MOMENTS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

JESS>> PHOTOS DO REVEAL A LOT.

DIANA WALKER>> THEY DO.

JESS>> WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIANA WALKER. THE PHOTOS YOU JUST SAW AND MANY MORE ARE IN HER NEW BOOK "PUBLIC AND PRIVATE: TWENTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHING THE PRESIDENCY".

VAL>> THAT IS JUST FABULOUS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DIANA WALKER>> THANK YOU.

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JESS>> THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND GOODNIGHT FROM ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES.

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