Press conference ill hand said the president was trying to divide the American people this is a president who has openly violated the very value our country aspires to uphold equality under the law religious liberty equal protection and protection from persecution and to distract from that he's launching a plainly racist attack it's expected that figures released later on move show there were more than a 1000 deaths caused by drug abuse in Scotland last year there are estimated to be $60000.00 problem users in the country it already has the worst record for reported drug deaths in Europe Labour's announced this is a meeting of the Shadow Cabinet next weight will discuss the handling of anti Semitism within the party earlier a group of Labor peers called for claims made in a Panorama programme that senior officials had interfered in the party's disciplinary process is to be investigated a 6th man has been arrested after a car was driven into a group of people during a fight in London on Saturday nights several people were injured in the crash in Battersea around 11 pm 5 others were held at the scene on suspicion of a fry to since been released on bail now it's 50 years since the Apollo mission that strong and Buzz Aldrin to the surface of the moon lifted off along with Michael Collins the astronauts blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 1969 reaching their destination 4 days later David Woods wrote the Heinz owners workshop manual on the Saturn 5 moon rocket which powered the launch the big computing challenge when it comes to space flight is a boat in mathematics and equations and such like a not a something that even very small what we would call not very powerful computers are very good at and I would argue that the development of the computers on the polo and the Saturn 5 were part of the development that led to the computers that we have no days the government needs to take a step back from its role in Britain's railways according to the chair of an independent review into the network. Keith Williams is also expected to suggest a simpler and fairer ticketing system in a speech he's making in Bradford later let's get the sport now with Rob Schofield England Test captain Joe Root says the upcoming Ashes series is now even bigger after their World Cup win the 1st test with Australia at Boston takes place on the 1st of all just on Morgan's men have been meeting Prime Minister trees a May at 10 Downing Street every turn of signed midfielder Fabien Del from Manchester City on a 3 year deal does cost around $10000000.00 pounds how he had one year left on his contract at the atty had we understand Manchester United meanwhile are increasingly confident the goalkeeper David to Haye will sign a new contract when they return from their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia at the netball World Cup England looked good for a semifinal place after beating world number 2 side Jamaica 5648 South Africa are also unbeaten they soar off Scotland 6838 who like Northern Ireland now look unlikely to finish in the top 8 and going into the 1st rest day at the Tour de France defending champion gerund Thomas is up to 2nd their role by leader Julian allophonic place told the I.C.C. Cricket World Cup. It was the woman's I was Dawlish ing last hour of the cricket world cup final right now on B.B.C. Sound I don't understand what is a finals of produce things I was a great critic I just can't believe was after the last hour that I thought seen everything in cricket I never thought I'd see that the Cricket World Cup This super final hour available exclusively right now on B.B.C. Central it's. Been exactly 50 years since this happened. Buzz this is Houston have busy to have another 1160th 2nd 1st out of a dog or 3 on the sequence camera. As the for the latter the lamplit beds are only. Pressed into service about. Water 2 inches although the surface appears to be. Very very fine grained as you get close to it it's almost like a flower. Around as it is very fine. I. Haven't thought the Lamb out. As one false path from A. That was when Neil Armstrong became the 1st person to Stefan to the moon's surface and he was followed 20 minutes later by Buzz Aldrin the anniversary of that is on Sunday morning we'll be marking that on 5 Live of course but throughout the week Radio 5 Live will be marking the historic event that an estimated 600000000 people watched live on television back in the summer of 969600000000 miles sound like a lot but remember in 96 you 9 televisions are still some of a rarity in most of the World here on up and I will be talking to some of the men and women who played pivotal roles in that historic mission to the moon tonight tonight which would be the anniversary the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch itself let's go back to the autumn of 1962 when President John F. Kennedy gave his famous Rice University speech in his to in Texas that was a speech where he underlined the fact that America was going to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade at the time it seems Kennedy already had in mind one particular individual who he wanted to be involved in some way or another and that individual would undergo the most has or has it has a does and dangerous in greatest adventure on which man has every embarked M. a President Kennedy's administration and handpicked a young aeronautical engineer and test pilot from the U.S. Air Force named Edouard Jr to become the 1st African-American no astronaut I've the opportunity to speak said why junior just a couple days ago he's now a renowned sculptor with work that can be seen in national parks sports stadiums and galleries across America over the next hour you hear why. John F. Kennedy. To be part of the space mission you also find out why off to Kennedy's assassination 2 I was unable to fulfill the president's ambition said the 1st part of the interview I began by asking Ed about his foods at that time about space exploration. I didn't have any thoughts. Of space other than I thought there were a bunch of crazy guys that. And so I didn't have a lot interest other than you know looking up at the stars like and. I had to grieve that I was in the Air Force and very happy doing what I was doing I was like a captain in the Air Force. Knows very happy and I just got this letter. Asking me if I wanted to. To go to. To go to Test Pilot School with the track to becoming America's 1st Negro astronaut. And and and I mean really blew it off and thought it was a joke because I didn't understand why somebody would be writing me and I think the . Letter was at the direction of the president from the Pentagon and. Asking me if I would you know consider you know want to test pilot school. Again in hopes of becoming ready America's 1st like astronaut and so it was 1st nearest and then and I ready. I didn't do anything about it in the beginning I just . Since I thought it was dense a joke I didn't tell anybody about it for 4 days until then I started asking questions around to my to my superior officers and asking them whether they think of it and every single one of them told me that they thought it was crazy and . I was in operational. If I stayed where I was I was. Destined to become a general in the U.S. Air Force because of my I will pass track. And I was flying 5 airplanes and I was doing quite well thank you and so I investigated a little more than a little more and finally I talked to my mom. And she agrees we want to give it a try you know so I sent my the stuff they asked for us in the into the Pentagon. And and lo and behold 4 days later it was a bizarre. Because their force their X. And you know they quickly phone anything and within days after they received my my my credentials this image it was Air Force Base to the good. Test policy. Or. The speed at which they operated. And so I had to go down played on the test pilot school with an interview with you know people ran the school on air. And it snowballed from there was a I left ready there went back to my base. Station. Activity started. And I. Immediately made a permanent. Regular officer in the Air Force and all these procedural actions are taking place. At warp speed and it was like Whirlwind and I just. So surprised about how quickly everything took place this is 1961. That's correct November I got the letter November the 4th $161.00 yes. Let's November the 4th 19 I see why I'm 68 yes let's be hall of the president of the United States President John F. Kennedy. And you didn't believe it no no I mean it well at a White It will even. Read my summer the trike to you. I worked. On the wing staff and I was working on the wing step before and I was I was. I was working on the wings of the most junior officer on the wing. And we used to do kind of crazy things to our compatriots by formulating letters. To the Pentagon and hitting and we did then it will rush up in those days. But we would assign them to bases in Alaska Iceland and so and so they'd get all sick and go tell there was a big ship to Iceland and then about there 4 days later we spring it on him and. We got that going to Iceland. And that's kind of silly kind of stuff that those grown men with do occasionally and I thought sure it was it was one of those things that somebody had pulled on me because I was in this little miniature clothes that did crazy stuff like that at the time. And the yes for why we would do it probably because we could. Tell would be the answer to that. So we did the 4 days for them to spring the trap and there was no there was a trap to spring because nobody knew anything about it give us our asking around as a joke and the answer was no on the job it is no no anything about it so I was convinced that it was for real and. After that I said my credentials in. And of course she was No 5 strides to that President Kennedy had made a speech to Congress maybe 25th of that United C $61.00 in which he essentially. Kicks off the space race with the races All right so you would have known that was in the president's mind but the idea of a negro astronauts as they put it did did you question that it's because you were you were being identified him just as a member of the Air Force spot an African American did that play on your mind as to why did. Well. There is a back story and. Most people that interview me. At the time I didn't know about the back story. And it turned out. Decided to run for president he badly badly needed. And it turns out that he did because the only 110000 votes. So early in the game earlier in the game doing his campaign the he called. Friends of his in the new and I asked him you know what do I do to get the black vote and so. There was a very famous guy that he asked for and I I can't he he had asked for his votes and he's allowed give you my me and my wife's vote but I can't deliver the black vote but I can I can turn you on to somebody who can so he lined up a meeting with President Kennedy. Dr Martin Luther King. Roy Wilkins a fellow brand of Whitney Young these are all black leaders in the civil rights movement. And they all sit down in a room. Senator Kennedy asked them what can I do. For you to deliver the like the black vote to me and he's a Spurs and got up and said their piece and of course Dr King was over the combination the Royal can open up roads because he was a Union man I mean a firebrand and then Roy Wilkins was. You know he was just he was within the Malays but he was even many a writer but he was also really it will enable a C.P. Have after all those guys made their pitch. Whitney Young was president of the Urban League and in the Urban League generally you know by the Rivoli. You know they find jobs and progress for the black community that's the main thing is is to get blacks involved in business and. When it was worry more about CYA where was worth as much about science because there were no black in juniors we weren't graduating any black engine errors or black scientists because it was the procedure for all of the schools the colleges universities that could produce a black and astronaut period like MIT and University of Michigan or Purdue or the University of Colorado those are the schools that could produce astronauts. And as a result of that if a kid grève a black kid graduated from a black high school. And then an A average any apply for they get into one of those schools. They would dig the downgrade is. A great point ever to see automatically just because he graduated from a place school and so they were not accepting these bright black kids in this white collar period. So Whitney Young came up with the idea that OK Listen leave the white colleges alone and stop begging him to allow our students we have 4 military academies the ever scared me West Point Naval Academy and the Coast Guard . So what we would do is use those schools and he was well do I'll fill those academies up in these Congrats on the point. And so busy the question was was how how do you do that. And the answer was he told make me a black astronaut and give him to me and and so he said he think that will do it and he says yes because I'll fill the academies but I gotta have I got to have a. If you will simple terms like I have a sample. Of a guy's got these kind of credentials and if you make me a black astronaut he will have those kind of presents the engineering background and have a science background is got to be a pilot you know and then you have to be a test pilot and so all you need to do is in this get a test pilot school and then put them in a national program and that's how you do will the president got elected. And just forgot about it in you know and so when the young kept pestering the president when when we're going to do this. And. It turns out that President Paul does it take a little bit for the president to respond. But you have to understand. The president J.F.K. Was not a liberal OK He was more conservative than people think and he was of desperately afraid of black leadership especially that. Because he. Had aligned himself with Dr King he was a presidency would have gone down the tubes and as of volatile this whole thing was that. So the president turned over to Bobby Kennedy Turnage you know Antolin the go take care of this and Bobby Kennedy did take care of it so he made the phone calls and did all the stuff to make this whole thing happen and that's how this whole thing of started and you know your name came up your name came up on their radar. It was. More critical than the kind of crazy you know book because statistically you got to sit on a deal with statistics. Where would you find this guy. And when you when you when you look at the pool was 125 black pilots in the entire world at the time. Now any of those guys were Tuskegee Airmen they were left of like guys were Tuskegee Airman left over after World War 2 and they were all older or older. There was one like pilot in the Marines. And then there was one black pilot in the Navy and there were some black pilots that were flying in the Caribbean but they were civilian. Pilots. So now. You know and so since they weren't any blacks or hardly any black engineers. They had to come up with a set of credentials and they wanted somebody under 30 years old yet if 1500 hours of flying to. He had to have an engineering degree or a degree a natural science and the last thing if he was a military officer is less the ratings that you get every year had to be in the lead for the last 2 years have been rated outstanding and I was 27. 2200 hours of just flying. Aeronautical engineering degree and the last 4 of my reports were rated. So in essence my car fell out and that's how this whole thing to last you the all just choice. That sometime. In November 1961 you didn't know any of this back story. No to be chosen you didn't know any of the back story but there was one thing that you need is one thing that let's say that let's behalf of the president that we didn't mention that arguably motivated you as much as anything to pursue this offer which was you wanted to be on the cover of Ebony magazine. Well. Well that came up in a conversation some days after all of this after all this stuff had to happen because I had meant. To mentor to one of my in your office that I work for is a guy that was my direct boss OK. He thought it was time to talk me out of it. And I I made this silly. I just you know if I do this I can be on the cover of every bag. And yes Missy what the hell is evident even if. There was. A little no humor they get into the middle of the oversea just to make. The most successful black magazine ever arguably and just moving on what did you have to do so you decided to take up the offer and now. The 1st African American astronaut. What did you have to do what did you what was your job what was the training like would you go through. Well you know at the time. But it was the start of what is it had no idea they really had no idea what made an effort that would make the national. Army was experienced all the background all the parts and pieces put together his physiology psychology. Almost like says you know they had no idea what they're looking for it really didn't and then the river beginning and and they didn't know where the you know because of the capsule would be get a short guide the tall guy. You know what do you do and so the backdrop is that well why don't we find people that have had experience with daring to have been in a war or been in combat or battle tested in some kind of way and so as a result of that. And of course to be a pilot I mean that was a kind of a given and it was a you have to be a part of because you had to fly the ship like you fine airplane if you will even though they are all done with computers but Nancy you want to find a pilot no matter matter what all all these other factors were. And so they didn't know what the hell they were looking for. And so this was all you know this is all based on the very beginning and there was still searching for what they were looking for you know and when I joined you know when they started looking in me I was of. And then. By the time I went down there they the this was. A This is probably 4 years because the 1st group were designated in 5859. And so and so I'm going into the thing in the sixty's I see physically going in I got to know the case in the in 61 A would have been 62 right away because it was in November. And so you know. You know but by the time I went into the program. They had never and this is really early in the program when you when you when you look at this with you know the way the span of history and progress is concerned this is really rushing it but in the 20 years because they don't want to deal with a black astronaut nested they want to deal with the black as the Air Force didn't want to deal with this although they thought of absolutely crazy. Partially or soon the military and and. Would. The social engineering willing part of look at it so also by the time the story praising me. It was about 62 in the party mid 62 when we went to buy western not explaining which is where they make these determinations of your physiological makeup in your home hopefully your in was some window into your intellectual makeup and all this sort of thing and so they were really fascinated with you know is there a difference in the physicality I mean they have to consider all that sort of you know we. You know after we matriculate it it was all about flying you know. Going to class studying a barrister not IGS astronomy. Every possible things even remotely related to space so there was a lot of questions of right and then our flying had to do with doing short test missions remember that you know you will fly you know we do a test missile you go up and make the airplane do certain things and then you've got to come back and report it well that's what you'd be doing as a test particle as an astronaut is nothing but a glorified test pilot so now you've got to go through all of these short bits will be one part of the flight pattern of an airplane and go study that and airfoils and all the. Aerodynamics everything related to flying in space you study that go do it in there read a report on it and that's how it happened in the beginning OK And then as a as a training expanded. We would go up and go to Mark 2 in practice coming back into the atmosphere we are. I had to put a spacer on the high desert go out to Marc to paly airplane and we had to set the engine off at 60000 feet because above above there there's no not enough ice. You know to burn the fuel so as you got above that you would like a leaf up there so you set the airplane off and just drift back down into the atmosphere at 70000 feet you know 40000 sort of perhaps in the atmosphere is below 40000 feet so so once you get up there stark and you can see this blue Big Blue Ball the you know that there is in case with the atmosphere a little a beautiful blue as you get above it but it's black up there and then as you come back down into the atmosphere the start your engine back up and we're practicing coming back into the atmosphere and you know getting the engine started and hope an airplane the nose of the airplane is down rather than coming down backwards you know if you can imagine shooting an arrow with a Borneo straight up in the air. And when it can't go any further the feathers on the back of the bow an Air Force is the nose of the of the ball of the air we come down from the air to come down the same hopefully in an airplane you want to do the same thing you want to know the airplane the combat and you practice that and then the other aspect of the. Will was going to 35000 feet just sending the airplane off and keeping the speed up and going and getting into the pattern and landing it 350 miles an hour with the saddle which was invented will and then you know $300.00 or so miles an hour. And so that's those are the kind of things we did. You know a couple people got killed. And you know but they kept on. They kept doing it even though people get killed doing it. But but that was kind of changing our bow astronautics training we want to Brooks. Based Medicine and we spent months down there. Operating on dogs operating on animals gone. As almost a study of Gray's Anatomy finding out what the function is of every part of every organ in your body and then they punched holes in the. Exam in every orifice of your body and then they made a lot of new or. Maybe even let me just clarify as well when you were telling me about going into the atmosphere did you actually leave. In those aircraft. Well you know as a as much as a regular air breathing air airplane you do yeah you know where I mean we're getting up you know 7080000 feet. You know only a few airplanes are you know you know the you 2 is structured so that so it will get here it would get up to 80000 feet but. The way this is going then the reason I ask is because technically then if you've left the Semisphere you vented space and at that point you are in astronauts you've got your ass or no wings have you had that POA No no that's not you know that they had to change that. And the reason why it had changed because so many people reading around calling it was a lesson. You know. Even people there were the rhetoric on the sales astronaut and so they they decided actually I think they said after I left that you had to go 50 miles an hour to be declared an official action. Yeah it's a funny Levon blastoff 95 Live an awful night and that was an interview I did just Sunday evening and she with Dwight you can have the 2nd part of this fascinating interview Vedder Julia set out to the 95 news is port Let's go to the headlines 1st of all the as you know on a Cassaday Test captain. On digital B.B.C. Sounds strange but this is B.B.C. Radio 5 Live the 4 Democratic congresswoman told by President Trump to go back to their countries of origin have described his comments as a racist attempt to distract from his failing policies speaking at a news conference 2 of the women called for the president to be impeached Mr Trump has again accused them of hating America the figures out later are expected to show that more than a 1000 people died as a result of drugs in Scotland last year Scotland already has the worst record reported drug deaths in Europe but the latest numbers will show another steep rise the man tasked by the government to work out how to improve Britain's railways says a new largely independent body should be created to oversee the entire network Keith Williams is gee to publish his final recommendations they sought him in an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 point one is struck under the sea off the island of Bali there are no immediate reports of casualties that's the news Rob Schofield has the sports Test captain Joe Root says England are halfway to reaching the pinnacle of cricket the team have been meeting Prime Minister to resign may at Downing Street as they continue to celebrate their World Cup win 2 and a half weeks before the start of the ashes with Australia at Edgbaston Phil Tufnell and Michael Vaughan told 5 Live the red ball could now and should bring even more success this summer this England side use what they've used in the last 6 weeks and really get the test team play more consistently they've got all the ingredients to be an incredible create same across the 50 overs and see 20 other countries other countries are looking at us now yes the top of them born podcast and especially upbeat listen as you'd expect pass available on B.B.C. Sounds right now it's been a busy day for the home nations at the netball World Cup in Liverpool Lindsay Chapman watch the action Monday's big clash here at the netball World Cup So host think Lin take up world number twos Jimmy. It was a closely contested match England roses monies to draw route their lead in the 5th quarter and the crowds delight finished the game with a comfortable $56.00 to $45.00 when after losing to South Africa on Sunday to make his dreams of the 30 finals. Build an island lost out similarly by 4 goals and Scotland brought their fans but after a tight start South Africa took control and sort out the game $6638.00 South Africa at a T one format this tournament that wants to beat England on this day defending champion gerund Thomas has moved up to 2nd at the Tour de France a late split in the pellets and caught many of his rivals by surprise Thomas is one minute 12 seconds behind leader shooting out of Felipe going into the 1st rest day every good day I guess and. You know we had a go go. It wasn't ready right conditions and we're just always attentive and ready for anything and yeah very good but in the end it Belgian while van out took stage 10 Fabien Delf has joined Everton from Manchester City for an 10000000 pounds the midfielder has signed a 3 year deal elsewhere we understand Manchester United are increasingly confident the goalkeeper to have a day or will sign a new contract when they return from their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia for Moscow midfielder Aaron Ramsey says he's sure his new team mates at eventis will adapt nicely to manage reserves sorry's philosophy you've A is new number 8 says he's looking forward to working with a coach he's watched from across London last season from our sauces and he had a very good season which I got to 2 finals he won one of he finished in the top 4 so it was definitely a success for him that but you know hopefully he can bring his philosophy and start to this team when I'm playing good football that's the ideal situation and Mike Tyson is among those in the boxing world paying tribute to former world champion Pernelle Whittaker who has died aged 55 place in the states say the 984 Olympic gold medallist. List was hit by a vehicle on Sunday she latest from B.B.C. Sports 5000 used the fast March this is B.B.C. 5 Live. For the 2nd part of our interview with Jane is the man President Kennedy hand-picked to become the 1st African-American us you know so what happened after J.F.K. Was assassinated the Nazis $63.00 1st of all you know like you had a graduation test pilot school you know once you graduated and got diplomas and we went to 0 G. 20 is open to all the training that we had to go through with us tonight to really go to 0 the training and then we had to do a final which will be considered a thesis if you will I don't tell policy OK So I graduated from test pilot school I graduated 77717 students are in there. And sort of president had to make a decision as to and they were you really can choose about this. There were 2 astronaut programs OK there was NASA. Astronaut Program and because of me the president had to invent another astronaut. OK. And so the people on the other side of this don't know that. Yeah yeah yeah this thing. And so when the president went to Mass as. If they were allow me to be trained there. No no and no but HELL NO because it would set our program back. Number 2 our tax base of our tax base will go all hell if you bring a black guy in here now because they have spent all this money from $59.00 to $62.00 that this. 3 years of building up these 1st 7 the building up the reputation of these for 7 astronauts that these guys were super heroes you know. You know they can leave buildings with a single by in a single bound like Superman. And as a result of that these guys were the roads if you were to place a black or woman into the in the middle of this mix too soon these guys would be ordinary people again in the eyes of the world especially the taxpaying public. So the president went to NASA and said you know. You train this guy and then he says no because you will that you'll destroy our program you'll destroy our tax base and we'll never get another dime from the public if you put a black in this program now so the president had to invent another space program which is the military space program OK And so it was called the manned over the laboratory so that's so after I finished test pilot school. I was chosen to go into that of a man over laboratory program which was a military Qana point to the civilian astronaut program so I was declared a military astronaut. OK And so now the president was very much alive. When I was chosen for that any call my parents congratulated them and they made a public announcement and I went around the world they had a point 1st like Aktion and I will cover the magazines around the world and 5000 letters a day. Speeches and you won't believe all those. Went through during the period of time after he announced this. Now I am in the eyes of the. Black community who he was trying to appease. The. Black community now has. Had a black astronaut. And so that allowed me to run around the country talking the black schools and talking to all the social clubs. To let people know that there was a black ass and wondering around. And it was me. And so I went into the astronaut training program. Really yes clearly the president was your sponsor you know for whatever reason as. Has he was your spot right what happened to you when the president was assassinated in Dallas Texas November the 22nd 963. It was very it was very interesting transition because I was doing quite well thank you. I was in the program. And I had all the credentials and I was doing all of things I was supposed to do. I was a guy was getting a little bit of kickback or backlash from people in the Air Force who who were really kind of said because what the president did he went over everybody's head in that was he didn't go through the Joint Chiefs of Staff and go through all the parts and pieces to you know to select me what he did he move that out of their hands and see that this is in for you know from a military standpoint this all would have been handled to military personnel of to the Joint Chiefs of Staff getting all the OK getting all the stuff that they needed to make all the stuff happen and get the you know the military power structure support because this was a military operation and you got a mill you got a military astronaut program for christ sakes and it was obviously have to be run by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the military power structure you know you don't just go off and invent of a national program without all these people involved will affect a matter the president didn't do that when he did he went straight to the heart of the or the matter made his public announcement overriding all of these people so this guy was very upset you know but they had to live with it because he was the president of the United States and so now the president knew that I was going to get a lot of backlash so I had a handler that was in the West Wing of the White House. And nobody else in the in the program nobody knew this but me and the handler and black leaders knew that I will being personally handle of the West Wing in a way though so that anything that happened to me that wasn't favorable to me I was to report it to my handler and then we would go to the bank that I think it's all OK and then and so I'm in this crazy position of being this guy who has the kind of more power in a way than the military leaders there were above me and you know and that's not a comfortable place to be can imagine. You know and so everything was fine and so and I reported these incidences that was just one incident after another I mean the the others the other candidates were told not to talk to me not to not to socialize with me not to party with me to shun me and I would be so psychologically despondent that I would quit. You know and they had incident after incident where our the I was on the speaking tours and they did pay people to bust out of the crowd and just call me in that bill knocked me on my butt you know in front of mayors and governors them said near standing next to the governor and his wife was the glass is a pain in my and the reactions of the crowd and just knocks the hell out of me. You know saying that's what you get for missing with my wife and he's hollering that you know as it is really even though yes you had nothing to do with his wife. Yes I mean I'm in a town that I never been in are you kidding me. You know and but they were paid to do this it turns out OK And then there were other incidents where were they. They set me up you know give an example of will these occurs a little even Ohio and I was taking taking him in the limousine pick me up at the airport in my chapter on the way you know for the airport kept talking about how short do you have to be that short to be in as a guy you're really really short and so by the time we got into town as a as close to the mike of the sorts of on here that OK And but I didn't know why he was he was saying that when I went into the check into the hotel. I went we'll take you and you follow me we get in the elevator to go up to the penthouse and opinion how he got his great big huge gigantic for the band could with full of stirred credit every possible thing you can eat in 4 of the tallest was beautiful women white women ever seen in my life. And I'm in no disguise what. It would mean one thing. As it was what was going to do was going on is. You're kidding I said no not that we saw them is all you want to read in blah. Take your pick and I'm going over God you know. Turns out that. You know the one is with the women were paid $1500.00 whether a picture or not they were wired for sound to cry see it and then they they do this and they and they prepare this report to the president of the United States done. And they've got oh they have names of all these women all these old tale and all these encounters the purported encounters OK and they put it in a report and they take it to the president can it was still living at the time and then when instead we got a problem with your dress and he seems to be lusting after white women and the president when in a room with a quarter somebody in the rooms is all of us a lesson you have to weigh women so what the hell are you talking about you know get out of it with that. So you know but those That's the kind of crap that was going on. Here that was going on while the president your Protect was a law. How bad did things get when he was. Treated . That's a very good question and I'm going to best question as. You know the the issue was all the you know I call them the forces of darkness and there were guys in the bin the base of the Pentagon there they were thinking all this stuff. You know how you know how good how could I be embarrassed in the eyes of the world but they didn't want to they want to publicize you know so that they have a reason to throw me out. But we're really happened the day the president god kill. My life changed and my cover changed OK so that's what changed everything the day the president the Nov 22nd 163. Was literally the end of our project because I when we were in Seattle Washington want to have a full mission simulator repair where you get into a space suit a new plane in space and on the simulator and stuff and we were I was up there for that training we were in full blown astronaut training and we were up there and. Jensen within the class came in the president's been assassinated and everybody looked to me and I was just as on believe. And. They said to training down we all adjourn to the executive dining room and of course the talk was was going to happen to the White. You know you can hear I can hear my ears you know. You know so we got in an airplane everything down we got an airplane flew back to where we were you know were to lay a quarter and that was Friday Saturday was. You know gloomy day Sunday was to me I went to work Monday morning and there were orders in my box shipping me out of the country. And. This ship me to Germany and I was going to be the live the officer the American live the office of the German space program and that that that was their way of getting me out of the program out of everything and you know and. And so I got in an airplane I was surprised they even gave me an airplane to be taught again with you but without it but that afternoon I mean I call my contacts of course the president is dead. By my my my handler is you know cool and we can't do anything that we get away with. You know as it were I'm coming back here. I call with the come on back he was my side adviser a mentor so I flew in the Andrews and and so we went to the Pentagon and went to Bobby Kennedy's office and Bobby Kennedy killed those orders is gone but you not going anywhere you want back to finish the training and so. The next day I flew back to Edwards. Got there late Tuesday night went to work the next morning. Had another set of orders him about civil me the candle. And I was going to be Kony is going to be a little supply the Canadian. Is going to produce a minute. Or so anyway like you get when I'm going to get lost in another 3 years in the program that you didn't quit before 966 no no no right yeah because I was in a piece battle with the administration because I had already had already been Jekyl the graduated from the full program you know and I mean I had all my credentials to graduate I guess all those typical fulfill all the requirements to be an Air Force astronaut Yes And I think is a must to the Sigrid everybody there because they thought I was going to call. But I finished it I got my thesis you know the last thing you do you got an A on the head so I graduated now the question was Do you know what's going to happen to Dwight am I going to go to NASA and so. I was recommended to do this sounds bizarre to you but but but there were 26 people there were that were recommended for an as you know for the selection I was recommended number number 8 out of the $26.00 and NASA to 7 astronauts. So go figure. And NASA decided to pick 8. 100 according to the recommendations that were sent to them I don't know the list of recommendations together I have no idea. But there were 26 people recommend it to NASA for that selection and I was I was rated number 8 and I had to be somebody that you know care enough about. Some you know because people can do this I find out you know so you know secure name in there just in case can't. You know and you know find other people have Pardew that can. So I was rated number 8 and they picked only 7 doing that selection so I didn't make it when you look back when you look back on the trajectory of your experience. Nearly 60 years if you use down you go right from the president when you look back to your feelings what you food. Be. Proud. See motion to go through you know I you know I'm not a conversant never been bitter about anything what have been a bunch of people who were very thoughtful put this package together OK I didn't apply to be an astronaut and you know you know people as me that question they were disappointed well and the answer is No And the reason why we're in this point because there was numb apocalypse of the 1st. And you know the fact that I participated in it was a hell of an experiment part of a group of people of goodwill people who want some progress to have you know and I just happened to be a player in that in the play I mean that. In the documentary. I did give a do when you when you see successful missions like Apollo Apollo 11 landed on the moon and all the other. Space Mission do you never thing that. Well maybe that should have been me. Oh yeah of course like you have those fleeting thoughts but you know I'm one of these guys that you know I keep my plate for you know if I don't see something else I go for it and give it all and if I don't see something I can Wilton's than and be sorry for myself I have to think and so and that's what it is you know and but I use the experience which I did because it over my to politics national politics and international politics because in that process you know we were able to travel around the world which I never probably would have done you know and I got to see how people in power how they conduct their business how they make decisions was expedient was. The liars who were not were can you get away with you know one of the possibilities in the world of politics and what can be done we can't be done and so using that as a backdrop I found found out that there was a thing that I couldn't possibly do. You know outside of that arena. You know and and there were a couple times you know that I did apply for an ass about. A year about a year or so after I got out. I did apply because they were. It looked like they were approaching you know putting. A more liberal about you didn't have to be a pilot you could just be a national write in the back of. A space shuttle in Alaska sort of stuff you know maybe it was 2 years later than that. Because a lot of the companies were were they had been you know calling in and wanted me to come into the company and go into the astronaut program through their company OK. And I mean because you know there were you know there were civilian astronauts all the were military and so. Saw a result that had I I did have a mild interest about a couple 23 years later especially but I never was the space programs loss was the world sculpting again you become you become a very well respected recognized scope. Yeah. And that. And indeed you know they did the space agency did only you as well did it. Yeah I. Got more. From there you can't believe how many were mean every way possible. And they stepped up to the plate. And I've done art for now. Despite everything and you know I feel like I'm one of the crowd that is true you know Charlie Bolden you know became the heir and as the heir great prince you want to mark collect. Me in every way possible you know. And you know Rupert about all this. Is really one of my biggest supporters. And. Best at least it's the sound this is C.B.C. Radio 5 Live Through called Good morning this is a pull I don't find love and Dalton added by the main news on 5 Live critics of President say his latest tweet a racist and in support of England's cricketers continue their celebrations and Downing Street this is B.B.C. 5 with the B.B.C. It is over live his Giuliana the 4 democratic congress women told by President Trump to go back to their countries of origin have described his comments as a racist attempt to distract from his failing policies speaking at a news conference 2 of the women called for the president's impeachment he's a Washington correspondent David Willis He's also of course described people from Haiti and El Salvador and some African nations as coming from asshole countries I leave you to fill in the gaps there this is a president who has not been afraid in the past to weaponize the issue of race to appeal to his base if you like a President Trump of the ninety's. Tweets were racist next Labor says a meeting of the Shadow Cabinet next week will discuss the handling of anti Semitism within the party earlier a group of labor pigs called for claims made in a Panorama programme that senior officials had interfered in the party's disciplinary process is to be investigated new figures released later expected to show that more than a 1000 people died as a result of drugs in Scotland the country already has the worst record for reporting drug deaths in Europe but the latest figures will show another State Rice deal Richardson from turning point Scotland which provides support to druggies is says changes to the lower needed enabling some of the things at the moment we cannot do testing our own indeed treatment centers and the like would be sensible progressive measures that would enable us to have a more attractive approach to drug harms than we are commonly able to do under the current framework more help is now available for people to avoid and report online scams it's after Facebook settled out of court with a Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis when his image and name were used in fake adverts Mr Lewis dropped the case when the social media company agreed to pay $3000000.00 pounds towards a new Citizens Advice scheme the man tasked by the government to work out how to improve Britain's railways says a new largely independent body should be created to oversee the entire network Keith Williams is due to publish his final recommendations they saw Him Now today marks 50 years since the old Paulo 11 launch which carried Neil Armstrong Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins from Florida into orbits the flight took just over 11 minutes and for a role in this hour we'll be hearing from dogs who join Mogs tomb journalist and author who was watching the launch and wrote extensively about this praise from one of the many scientists whose admission.