How this is shaped regionally , obviously, shaped the plain tribe that was involved and nature of warfare and weather and how they interact but its a great book and you know when youre in it, that hes a guy pulled into the character of kuster and pulled into the character of, you know, crazy horse and you know and understands he was so good. But i can pick out a bunch of other books and tell you but id pick this one too. You know, and wouldnt even be necessarily a history book. But again wonderful first man of rome series. That book on politics and intrigue and roman war it is better than any history written at the time and theres wonderful, wonderful histories. But boy, what a tremendous historical l novel, and you learn a lot from it. Congressman tom cole thank you. Thank you enjoyed it. Cspan created by americas Cable Television company and brought to you as a Public Service by your cable or satellite provider. Afterwards is next, california senator Barbara Boxer discusses her book the art of tough which looks at her life and career in politics. Shes interviewed by senator amy of minnesota. Barbara boxer what an honor it is to be here with you one of my mentors in the senate as someone who came into the senate when had there was barely a woman to be seen. And you were there and this book that you written the art of tough really tells your story of how you got there. And barbara levy at the time leavey. Born on november 11th, 1940, from a family of jewish refugees in your own words growing up in the pervasive shadow of the holocaust somehow ends up going from that, a little place in brooklyn to the United States senate maybe moved to california in between. [laughter] and you did it all with such grace but also with that art of the tough. So do you want to talk about what that was like growing up with your stories of your family and how you ever decided to take this journey. Well senator and my colleague amy, you said it was an honor to interview me. Im so excited that you agreed to do this. Because it says a lot about our relationship, the warmth that we share and im so thrilled and as you know, im going to get to your question in just a second. [laughter] but the fact is the warm thrips developed between women senator and frankly a lot of men barbara calls gal head mean so much to me and people say why are you disgusted with place not at all. But after 40 years there are people like you who can carry the banner. So we have colleague from new york who ranks forward to the book, we have you interviewing me pip couldnt be more thrilled. But getting to the issue of how did i get tough what was my life like when i was a child which you know, in this memoir when i sat down to write it took six years to put it together. Written a book a lot of effort. When i first thought about it, i thought it was going to be my dad who had, you know, all of the influence on who had i am as a person because my dad was my idle. He was the young etion of nine brothers and sisters. The only one born in america. Family born in russia. None of them even graduatessed from high school. Theres my dad, hes born in 1908, and after he marries my mom, he guess to city college of new york at night at night thats great, becomes cpa and then after im born, in 1950 goes to law school at night. Gets his degree, so im thinking, you know, clearly it was my dad. But when i sat down to think about the lessons, you know, how are you they come from my mother, and in the beginning she didnt graduate from high school. She did not. Always was such a burden on her. Felt so sad about it. At one point she even tried to get her g. E. D. I dont know exactly what happened but my mother was so smart, and the kind of smart she had was smart from the heart and the soul. And you know, when in the beginning of the book i lay out o the rules of the art. How can you do it . And one of the things is always doing the right thing. Even when everything is going against you. You and i know what its like experiences together whether its on Human Trafficking which you took the leadership on or toxic chemical reform they took the leadership on. We know what its like to people look at you and think why are you crossing these problems . Sort of tough if you know what to write, you better dot right thing, and i also learned never act out of anger you can feel anger but dont it act when youre angry. These are things that came you tell a funny story how once angry and playgrounds stand a bully with a led pencil and then next day you walk by his apartment an see a dark, dark cloth in front of the house and you think youve killed him. J absolutely. Turns outs to be the grandfather but im sure thats wifn those memories you dont forget. Its a memory that i didnt forget because alber was kind of my nemesis and he because im little you know im still little. Five feet. Three 53 maybe with my high heels i get thats what im thinking. Im so not. So he was little. So i was the perfect target. He would insult me and chase me and thats what they usedded to in those days maybe they still do in school. But i dont know one day i had had it. No one was around. I took out my number two pencil as a i say in my book and him in the art where you get a vaccination, and he is stunned and i am stunned at what i did. And so youre exactly right in retelling the story. We thought keep it a secret and he doesnt come to school and a cloth over his home on a vacant lot and i live in inner city and i really did think i killed him. So i took it to my mother, i said mom, i think i killed albert she said barbara sue what she called me when she was mad and she said what did you do . I cant believe you would ever do that, and you cant do that, and i dont think you killed him. Lets me call principal and she finds out his grandpa died i was so relieved i hugged him when he came back but it taught me an amazing lesson and she said you never use violence. You have to persuade, you have to defuse and, of course, i never did use violence. I tried to defuse a lot of situations sometimes i won, sometimes i didnt. As a young girl when you think about when girls were organizing a lot of things use led effort to get a new carpet in the apartment lobby. I love that story. You when you were my one of the favorite letters ten years old and your mother is in the hospital with some illness an youre not allowed to visit you want to read the letter that you wrote back then your first organizing effort . Right there that was preagdz. And i found this after my mother died of my dad died in their little fuel box. I wrote to the doctor because the rules that were couldnt visit their parents then. So dear doc im mrs. Leaveys daughter and love to see my mother very much. I didnt see my mother when she left only a little while about five minutes before i went to school. I have no sickness. Only a little belly ache now and then. I wont make a lot of noise. I miss my mother very much. So why cant i see her . Thanks for reading this letter. Sincerely yours Barbara Leavey so then i had a feeling it wouldnt work so i wrote a backup to my mother, dear mom how mean can a person be if they doapght let me in, they really are mean. I would be so happy if i see you. I get tearyeyed in school im in the mexican group. A study group on mexican culture in art. In fact, im the chairman. Love and many kisses to you. So i get so choked up these things because you know their memories that you and i have of our families so deep inside us you know. Exactly. I mean, but this whole idea that will any kid that can make it in america which we still believe today no matter where you came from i think thats a big part of your story but different your story than people we see in the senate is that you were a girl, and so here you are you go to brook lienal Brooklyn College an following in your tads foot steps you want to be a stockbroker because your dad instilled this in you and interviewing you around for jobs and it wasnt easy for a girl to get that job. Well they used to have a program at the wall street firm. And they they recalled because e who were selling the securities who were the stocks broarks call customers men amy. That was the name customers men. So i want them to be customers man. So i was ready it was an assistant. Long story wont go into it too much. But assistant to a woman who wrote a letter and so smart but she never signed signed it elizh Ellsworth Cook and signed it e. E. Cook to disguise the fact and i said why dont you sign . She said no one will buy it. Because it was sold. And she never became a partner for many years, and it was she was kind of in disguise it was unreal, and so i thought im going to take a different path. Im going to work for her. Get a salary because she was in law schooled at the time and i s only one working so i made 90 a week or something but i had to make more because at least live a decent life. So i studied for the exam because i couldnt get into the program. If you got into the customers man program you got trained, you got like, you know, studying for exam. I on my own i pass the test i was so excited i took it to elizabeth. And she said, well, you know, i dont know. Youll have to go to the big block. At this very old line firm and i did, he said sorry women dont do that. Shocking thing about that not only that he said it like it was you know, a fact of life. But that i took it, you know, now i just said oh, okay. But i did quit i said then i quit. And i went to another firm where they allowed me quietly to have a little business on the side where i was assistant to one of the Vice President s, did his work and i had a little side business. So i was able l to make 250 a week, amy just great for us. I think why so many times in plucks some of the some of us who came in on your shoulder on your five foot shoulders and barbara as well. We talk the fact that when you came in, it was so much harder and for young people to read your story and whawns you went through that that whe most women were expected to have a few jobs and that was secretary a teacher, nurse good job. But that was it. And , in fact, you kind of went over meeting with stew. 54 years. But you say one of my favorite quotes from the book, you say i often joke that sue married debby ren renoldss and woke with gold in my ear. Remember when we met girls, young women didnt have the kind of opportunities that we now have today and daughters have today. I know you have a great one. Hope shes watching. And so we had to settle for a lot less. So when sue met me, i pursuing y dream of being economics major he knew that Political Science and he saw some signs in those years when you had got together for a little party. The men would be here talking about issues of the day. And the woman so not to be perceived as uppity here talking about, you know seriously food and more appropriate things for women. Thats the truth and, of course, i would do my thing with with the women and then id go over to the men tack to them too. Which was kiered considered a bit odd but i did it and he knew clues that i wouldnt long stay a cheerleader that i was from Brooklyn College head of the boosters from high school. But lets be clear. You know when he met me i was a kid, i was 18, and you know going to senate you might as well said lying to the moon by yourself with your arms waving that was where it was. And then you make this decision which was, of course, monumental and history of america, you decide to move to california. How did that come about . My sister and family moved there and i wanted to visit, and so sue such a good student as he is he made a review at fordham and i went with my parents and we drove out to california. I get to california. My eyes open up, my mouth drops, i said ive never seen anything as beautiful as this. Because, you know, i joke i grew up in brooklyn which is by the way the coolest place to live now. Then it wasnt considered. But you know, i talk about how only that you have a movie called a book called a tree grows in brooklyn but grown and beautiful place and now you have more beautiful places Prospect Park and Botanical Garden but it was a city. But i came to california where environment is kind of history there. First thing you learn about california if you pick up a herself book is the beauty and the various ecology from the north of the state to the south. Whether its the forest or president s marsh land or the desert or the ocean. And, of course, we the richest farmland it is exquisite so i said i guess about 21ish or 2ish i said i want to move here and sue graduate of law school, that was wild and i said to him. Can we move . And he said why . And i said you see. Its gorgeous and a u youll love it. I cant describe it well have so much more freedom to be outside and outdoors. He said okay. But i have to get a job in advance. So he did two years in advance. We came out to california because of the beauty thats what i wanted to tell you and, of course, adversity of the state the excitement and hollywood. Silicon valley, and you know, everything about it. Its so incredible. Right. And then youre pregnant. J right. And doug your first doug is born two months early, and sue is still in law school. Right. Going to fact that they wont let him come out for the birth because of the exam. But it is a danger back then 50 50 chance of survival there you have on your own family there. But no insurance. With about that you somewhat interested in getting involved in government and politics. Well it got me interested in understanding what it means to be uninsured and frightened to death. And, of course, that feeling you never forget it. You never forget it. And i was uninsured because i thought nothing was going to go wrong. Happy go lucky everything will go great which we think when were young were not vulnerable but great immortal. All of a sudden we had agreed toughs move so i said honey ill go get us a place to live. You are finish your exam and the first day i get here doug wanted to see california thats how he was about it. I arrived may 20th hes born may 21st, 1965, and i was staying at my sisters place. All of a sudden the water breaks, and i had not even met my doctor amy. And im lining up in the clinic in mount sinai hospital i never forgot them. Took you in. Charity because i had nothing and they said you know, its going to cost 1,000. Amy you can imagine what it is for a premier they said we dont know how long hell have to stay at least a month if he survives. So im thinking this is the end of us every which way, of course, all we cared about with doug. So they said 50 50 chance and they said every day it will go up 10 . We played and out there as fast as they would let him. And that was the most wonderful gift to us and i hate to tell you how old he is now he take care of me. [inaudible] own family. Seconds job she was preemie but wasnt as preemie i had insurance that was different. But wases that a lesson that how scary it is to be in a situation where you really dont have anything. Leading support for the affable care acts and Womens Health care so most struck me during that time so youre traditional time and just as you grew up in is the shadow of the holocaust. You are now in california in Northern California in the shadow of vietnam war and not that involved in politics but learned the art and title of your book but you start getting involved in organizing taking those early lessons from organizing from karpght lobby in the apartment and taking them out, of course, to something much bigger of the vietnam war leading to ultimate decision to run for county supervisor. Yeah, youre right to point out the vietnam war because its this chore of going into politics. By that time i had two little kids as you know as a mom yourself you start to think differently. You start to think longterm. You start to wonder what kind of world will my daughter, son face and all of these issues came to the floor aired the time that vietnam war. The environmental movement, womens moment. Vietnam war. But especially the vietnam war because it was the first war they said came into your living room and you saw it. So i was part of the Antiwar Movement stew was, and we used to take the kids and march in the raids all of the rest of it. And it became a real activist. A real activist. And when a seat opened up at election where the county supervisor opened up in maroon county, california, a nice place north of San Francisco the issues were all of the issues even stopping at war. What could we do locally to do it web and the environment and womens rights. So, of course, everybody came stew and they said stew would you run are . [laughter] and i said why dont you do it pays 11,000 a year. Where dont you do it . So i ran. So it was so crazy. I came out on top a Nonpartisan Office so i came out on top. Other two republican. But you didnt run as a democrat or republican. So the about before we had to vote and i came out on top, there was a incumbent, myself and physician who was running. The antichoice issue it was working, but this candidate name was bill filanti i was excited because my campaign was going strong, come over and talk to him and let him in the door. He looks across at me as close as we are he said ive been giving this a lot of thought this election and i thought he would say because he said he started off and said you know my wife is a physician, and its been hard for her and so and so. He said so this is what i want to say. To you right now you should drop out. I said well bill ideal would i ever do that . Because youre bad for women. I said where did you get that from . He said you know the o presser has to free the oppressed i remember him saying that so whites have to free blacks from safety thats the first that i thing that came to my mind and you fight against race schism. Every hair about wect went straight up and i employ the art of the tough which is when somebody has gone over the rind thats it. So i looked at him i said this meeting is over. And as i say in the book stew and i got up. He got up and i shot the door and then i said, we actually slammed the door. What happened was he got revenge because he was so mad at me. He was the third in the kill out last and he endorsed the other guy. So if i lost that buy a small vote. Humbling, though, it was a good experience. But stories of how sexism when youre running women at door. I love the women how can you do this with four kids you said no i have two. But rumors so strong that here you are, youre leaving your kids at home what was story about dishes . So many great storieses in this book. The art of the book what it was luke to be a woman and you have to have a sense of humor about it. Because if not it was a small election. I think like you needed about 20,000 votes to win. So knock knock, whos there Barbara Boxer first thing that would happen somebody would say i didnt think you would be so small. You know, what do they expect . They expected a beg person because men are so they go. I didnt expect you to be so short is what they say yep i am. And then this one woman she said i could never vote for you you have four kids youre abandoning i said excuse me i have two kids she said no you dont. She gets into an argument with me. I said lady if youve given birth i did it twice and i walked away. What do you do . Then another meeting things going greets an i was telling group about how we had to preserve voirmt and everyone was nodding and it was wonderful. In a suburban, very suburban part of my district and i thought im making it. Im hitting it and a hands goes up in the back and this woman says how do you have time to do your dishes even then i was taken aback for goodness sax i just said i use paper plates which was stupid. Because this was an Environmental Group so you couldnt win. Eights it was a joke i use paper plates it was a joke. [laughter] so harsh questions like this these days but not many of 24e78. You came through a hard time. And i lost that race. They werent ready for me and the only reason i stayed after that stayed in politics and pairm reporter. I had a great i loved whats i was doing and i did a little radio show. So reason i stuck with it is i read an article in the magazines and article i write about it in the book and article said women take things too personally men one time, two, three, four times. And women if they lose the first time they think oh, they hate me. You know, becausewere just a little mother sensitive and i thought you know what this is a horrible experience. But i wont take it seriously been ahead of my time and had hard races. Gay marriage ahead of your time claimant change. And continued but you cannot so you have to say to yourself. You know, people to vote for you because youre innocent for one of the right reasons most popular. Changes to you for a minute. One of the most popular politicians in the state or country seriously and reason is even when people disagree they know youre in it for the right reason to truly get things done and trying to find a sweet spot with legislation. Youre working hard had. You have a sense of humor, and youre not afraid and thats why people will vote for you from the other party when they never vote for a democrat. And this is what ive tried to show if in my ten or injury. Because believe it or not about 15 to 17 of the republicans never would have won. My races and if you ask them, theyll say, well i dont agree with her sometimes. But from shoulder and in it for the right reason. Fast forward an get to back to first race but your book or talk to you is a fact called art of the tough. All right. Thats right. So that part of the reason, one of the things i know is that you do stand your ground on many, many issues and everyone knows that part of you but i dont know if everyone knows about the time you try to find common grouped. You did it on the transportation bill recently with Mitch Mcconnell and before that youve worked with senator ann huff on transportation bill and really got a longterm bill done for the country that water bill and number of things where youve been able to do that by taking in thes and republicans out together for dinner. Part of this is you start to learn people you work with and you do that with burton brothers and they were mentors to you and, in fact, because you proven yourself and through the art of the tough, when congressman burton called you suddenly out of the u blue said hes going into rehab and he wanted you to run for his seat you must have been floored. How did you react and what do you do from there . This was in the 80s. Aids was beginning and john burton one of my mentors and i worked for him when he was in congress and he helped me my whole career but when he went to congress and i went got elected to board of supervisors we didnt talk very often and he called mess and said hes addicted to drug and alcohol, and hes checking into a Rehab Facility in arizona. And what i consider running for his seat oh, my god. My kids in High School Just a little too young to be a perfect tile. You know, but i took it up with them and they said mom. You know, these opportunities dont come along very often. So i went for it. And i got there. I got there to the house. Gheed. No i got to the house, served in the house for ten years. From a safe district and reason for shaling out which we can get into. People havent focus on women mentors had of course you had and barbara mccullsky and i love nancy plosi but male mentors look at the story of really the person who cause you in trouble, horrible time in his life but he pix a woman to run for his seat. He calls you and asks you to run. Well, he did, and he knew that my politics was progressive. He knew i was kind of fearless and he u knew that he he had taught me to be fearless and he wanted me there. But what was funny was his brother who was the real if i could say king maker, but not queen biggest call because john will say i wish you could run and phil so powerful in california at the time. And so calls off and he hi, phil how are you . He said fine. And then he says i think you ought to run for johns seat. I thought im so honored well dont get so honored i was really for art running not you. But he said no. So talk about coming don that but still he puts up with it because he he wasnt sure at all that i could do ten he said i am a worried about money. Most identify raised is 40 ,000 and i have to raise 250,000 for the congressional bid what had it would cost now and he said well i dont you to worry about it because thats what im gong to do and family decideses were going for it then phil challenged in a very serious way by milton popular state senator and still cant do one thing for me buzz hes preserving and protecting which i totally got and there i have so, i mean, talk about that by far. Able to win that seat. But it was hard. Not all. Most of my races have been hard until you get to the house of representatives not that many women there back then. Its an exciting time, and you start working on a number of issues some of which landed in your lap like aids research. Other wins i would say pursue like one of the things i didnt know about you was that you were one of the first people taking on excessive class with government contracting, and you know this you have this 7,600 coffee pot. Right. Coffee pot, with some of the military contracting there was a bracket that was thousand dollars and you wore a similar cheap one as a necklace for creativity. Hundreds of thousands this bracket should have been 75 centss theres a bracket. Just stuck it on and screwed it and this issue came to me from the terrific staff of which you know, you really dont give enough thanks so let me say to everybody if you dont reason yourself, you help somebody else. Its worth it and so with deficit you know this is a scandal theres a group called project on military procurement reform and i thought ive come there wanting to work, you know, in his i had a expectation. There were people already there. You know, how issues are taken. So in the house of particulars 435 you have to find a niche so aids found me because of my tragic situation in my district. This one was brought to me by this group and my staff who said no one is really talking about this. But theyre talking about missiles and people cant picture what a missile should cost or carrier cost get into the billions you but how about a 600 toilet seat which is worth Pentagon Spending for one reason amy. They wrnght contracting out to small business. They were saying to lockheed you do the thing and thafsz the reason. So we where a bill. And its the law, and it saved billions of dollars work with with Chuck Grassley on those. Thats great so youre doing well. I can tell you one great story that is hilarious which i do tell you was proud of my work on military procurement reform so i have a town hall meeting and ill never forget this outdoors in marin county and i tell the story of procurement reform. Can you imagine a 600 toilet seat. What had is it made of gold . I said does anybody have questions . And a woman raises her hand this was the rich part of my district she said do you know where i can get one of those . [laughter] okay. By the way reason they have endorsed your book because i think people forget about the humorous things that happen in politics with all of this negativity and i think its important buzz you want young women and men to run for office and thats a cool part of your book. Fng by the way amy you have a great sense of humor and you get s thats why youre effective. Do i needs someone with a sense of humor or a person who wants the right liberty like i do an fact is thats part of the art that is tough to have a sense of humor or sing or have something. It make you enabled you to survive. One of the things in or why book is you talk about it how the women didnt have a gem or there was a big deal that was so unfair to try to get women to have access to a gym as well and you tip bone may have been leader at this time. He was speak or. And you take this on and you in your way you have a beautiful singing voice and documented many of your copings songs in this book asking for girls you dont have to run for office again. This is the answer so i will sing one verse and read the rest. Okay. Remember it from memory to set stage of what happened was here i came from california where exercise ethic was really important, and i get here and ai found out there was a gym for women. It was if the size of this table, and you couldnt do anything there. And all i had a bunch of hair driers. Dont ask me why, you know, and i called a i had a staffer who said i want to lead the women members in exercises. And so my colleague then in the house you know how funny she is, and Gerald Ferraro who was about to make history and barbara a few others. Olympia snowe right there. Story of barbara and did exercise it in the gym. We have this wonderful meeting in this tiny little gym where trust me, seven of us in the room and you couldnt spread your arms out because hair drier in the way. So who was leading us raise your hands in the air. Up raisier hands to the side everyone kind of does it, and now put your hands on your hip and barbara yells out if i could find my hips i wouldnt be here so things got desperate we went to a spew went to the men in charming and said can we use this gym . Absolutely not. Well its not fair. Nope. Cannot. Can we expand the womens regime . You cannot. It was just a horrible experience. So i used the art of the tough, i said okay, im going to use any sense of humor. I went to two colleagues marci captor and mary from ohio, and i said can you guys carry a tune . Oh, yeah we can kier a tune and i wrote this song and it was suggested by my colleagues that i sing it to the leadership of the democratic caucus. Oh, my god we walk in there, we had a guitarist accompanying us so it went like this concern exercise glamourize whereby where to go will you advise. Cant everybody use your gym . And then it went on equal rights. Well wear tight lets avoid those fights. Cant everybody use your gym and end it with were not trim, were not slem. Cant we make it hers and him and cant everybody use your gym. Were only asking and we end the big finish we get in the gym. Its the only time i have to admit to you because youre my besty that i have a change policy with my lyrics. But we did it. But i think its an example of using taking and this is not just with a gym but youre taking hogs gym youre taking on an issue happening all over america whether people can use luck or o room for High School Girls to be able to have access to sports so once again take the art to something much more serious which is my favorite photo in this bock and that is the picture of you leading and a, of course, Patricia Schroder involved but u youre first one, of course, leading women up stairs and running for senate i think from open up in california and hearing whats going on. All of the hill starts coming up about Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas and you house women decide that hearing needs to be open again and theres this photo of you leading the women up the stairs of the senate. When you i look at that photo i see a toightness. I see a focus. A determination photo just captured the moment and as photos do you think back to iconic photographs but for me this was a symbol of equality saying look you have a professor who is intelligent. Hes u flawless, in her herself, and she is saying that, in fact, sexually harassed by the nominee. To the Supreme Court, and the guys in the senate and let me be clear there wasnt one woman on Judiciary Committees and you serve on it. You know. Two of us now. Ridiculous. They wouldnt open up the hearing. They would not. Now, the reasons for it i explain in the book. I dont to go into that. So im just going to talk about what it felt like for us. Demanding a meeting with George Mitchell, and we said one way to get meeting you have to back over there. And so path pat idea this was running from colorado. One fabulous leader she was we walk over seven of us and rest of the women staying in the house and doing one minute on the floor to talk about it and were walking over there, and we get up to the top of the steps and knock on door because all of its its lunchtime and you know, when we have those lunches conference lunches were in there. It is all the democratic senators. All men except for barb actually she wasnt there then. I dont think i dont think she was yeah she was there. Only one okay in the democracy caucus knocked on the door. They peek out a woman, hi, hi we say were seven women from the house. Democratic women, we want to come in and speak with the senators. And at the minimum with mitchell, oh, no he said. I said why . He says we dont let strangerses in the senate. Now i wrote another book called strangers in the senate a long time ago because that they said what are you talking about . Were nots strangers. Were women in the house between us we have over 100 years well over 100 years of experience. We just want to tack to the senators about reopening it well dont take offense she said. Thats just term of art. Anyone who is not a senator is called a stranger. Well i never hard of that. Be it as a may thats what she said. So i reach to the back of my lined and i employed affect how are we going to go to moting sow i sped you know, become to that but if if we were to turn become and walk down stashes now, theres a bank of cameras down there and that we werent able to see anybody. Just a minute and she goes back. Okay go to the side room and George Mitchell will meet request you and we told him you have to open up hearings and they did but reopened hearings were disastrous and i wont go into it a movie made by hbo about it. But i want to say here une convicted ofically to you and anyone within sounds of our voices here that without anita hill courage i never ever would have gotten to the senate. In california they were two seats open. Diane was way ahead because she was much more known and she had run for governor. For mayor so it was a tougher run for me because then really the state was more popular. Now its thank you. But it was quite purple reddish. So i was, you know anita hill hearing, it put attention on fact that there were no women. What i love about the story is that diane who was in a stronger position to run both seasons these guys are, you know, thank you whereby why are you both running this impossible. Cant have two jewish running time at the same time and famous line 2 may be good for the content of milk. But its not enough to have 2 of the senate. Women node more only two women in the senate at this time . And then i get the question are you sures you think two jewish women you start no state had ever had two women number one, and never even before a jewish senator as far as i know. But i have to go back but i dont think. I cant right off top my head leave it so they said how do you ever expect two jewish women to win and we say you never raise issue about two protestant men elected and why is this an issue . Senate could use a good dose of chink chicken soup and message was so powerful given the juxtaposition of anita hill, not getting justice in many womens eyes okay. No women on Judiciary Committee and then lookedded senate 98. Me. So we got elected. Path and we tripled our numbers 26 and call the year of the woman i dont know what they were so excited about. Going to six. But then it started to grow and now were up to 20 of the senate and hopefully after this election will be far more. Sk i remember barbara say you at the time giving up talk about the art of the tough you have a safe house feed for uncertain election and she said go for it and she told you ea. Women may looking out their window for prince charming im loor for more senates. But what else did she say . She says its not about and not about gender. Its the about agenda that is she say its not about macrocommitments but macaroni and cheese she has a way it be. And having mentors was good but that house sinking scadgesz and you have nothing to do with it and dont want to get into the whole thing but investigation that has their money there so they were trying to use that against you. Big time and at one point i dont know if i want to keep running and do came to the family story. Ill tell quickly the house bank scandal, the naked brief this is what it was. The house bank wasnt really a bank. It didnt operate like a bank in other words when you put your check in it, mine was automatic. It took them days before they credit it. I didnt know that. They never told us so i write a rent check pay for mothers whatever i was doing and then two week later everything fine but never told you about it. So is when scandal hit they said oh, all of these people bounce checks well it was so em brszing and they put the if i fbi on the case oh, my god you have to meet with the fbi and the fbi i thought to myself why are they here with me when they could be going after criminals but bottom line i was cleared completely but even though i was cleared comeel they were running to a horrible ad and bouncing all over the screen it was just saying show me your which checkk so that infuriated the press and meet me amy at the airport. With cameras Barbara Boxer wont shows us her check book thats right, and anyway. It was a totally etotal nightmare soy grew up. Sick of this. I dont need this and go back toking be reporter and have a tv show. I built it up and called home to sue and i said this is it. I wont do this senate race are and i thought hed be happy because he has two minds as most spouses are but we miss you and spot you. So instead of saying oh im happy but he said lets talk about it when you get home. I said theres nothing to talk about. And on o the way home i stop off at a party thech watching 0 minute and showed me in a happier moment u now sue upstairs watching baseball game and two kids now adults waiting for me they were working, and they said mom. You cant drop out this is so soupy i hate to tell it sound lightning it is made up. Why not . Im so sick of this, i mean, i have of to some dignity and they said were going to read you a book that you always read us oh, the places you go. A dr. Seuss thing and this keact be happening two adults reading youre up, down, and because and tears are coming into my eyes an my daughter said you cant do this many and she look thed at me you know nicole she said mom, she said what does that message be to all of the women who are counting on you theyre counting on you and just walk away so art of tough left me for a moment and my kids i guess they have it. They gave it back to me and i win race by a lot a proirm and i have a tough race per general, and pull itoff but a moment im so glad i wrote about it. But it was powerment p become and say dont succumb to that. Talk about some of the battles in senate that youve had. Nobody went to police your fellow rt surface and you had to deal with the packing case. Youve taken on Climate Change and just youve been support front of many battles. Senate amazing when i got there because i told i told my constituents i said, theres good news and bad news about the senate had. I said the bad news is jesse helms always you know a negative force for my point of view. He can shut the senate down. The good news is so can i. So when i got there i realizedded i had the power to utilize this ability to shut this senate down, to make a compromise. I could do it that even just as a freshman but heres what happened. When i came in as freshman senator oh i was going to be quiet and born the ropes like hill reis did when she came in and then hit with 9 11 and boy does chef after eight monthses, bombing so boom so with me im there truly amy quiet you cant imagine me that way because you dont know me never seen it myself. Im quiet but im looking, watching, and then just after i win my race and remember i win it mostly because of the anita hill believe me. What happened . Right before im swrorn in a story that Robert Packwood had apparently and according to 25 women, engaijtd in whats had the word with i can say Sexual Misconduct lets go there. And i thought oh, i cant believe it a colleague engaging this kind of behavior. Make a long story short and a not my business but Ethics Committee i wasnt on it then. Mitch mcconnell was it then without going into detail which your listeners will have to learn in my book. Artsy. And without this thing it was unreal and me when i tell you this one of the only people in the senate pushing to air this dirty laundry and if it was true get him out of the senate and i came to grips with Mitch Mcconnell who was very senior powerful remember the Ethics Committee soon to be chair of the Ethics Committee and bob they attack me as biggest partisan they did everything to stop me. They got rid of packward because we push for series. So point behind the story i never expected that would happen and then we have a horrible earthquake in california. So the point im making in this book is when you get explanation when youre in politics you never know what issues will be on your plate. Yeah. Exactly. And you threw it all you also went through bens work with many president s helped them, bill clinton, barack obama, al gore at their side youre helping hillary clinton. And i sure am. I love this story of you going down during recount horrendous time to florida and taking on the issue. It was just one thing after another. But probably best one was when you are running against Carly Fiorina at this point im in the senate i know you on the committee request you on the environment. I see what youre up against, take on Climate Change and youre running, and i thought now that weve seen Carly Fiorina and another light run for president you kind of put her away in that. One would have but moment talking about your hair and reaction were back to beginning of your run because once again people are into issues that men wouldnt have to deal with. So interesting and glad you brought it up simply because its another major lesson to people watching this. That no matter what field theyre in i dont care what it is or if theyre raising their families, things happen that you dont expect that change the course of your human event. Lets put it that way. I was running in 2010 arena considered a top pier she was a top pier candidate. She had millions of roam she had gotten when she got her golden parachute and has millions of dollars to throw into the race which she did throw in, and the race neck and neck mainly because were in the deepest recession to the great depression. We were trying to help the president with surplus bills with i remember standing on the floor just looking ats at us losing tens of thousands of jobs a month and wound up using a million jobs an california was a mess. The real estate situation hit us. We were struggling. We were families were distraught. And im reasoning for reelection, and fiorina is blaming everything for me even when it rains in those years we didnt have a draught shes blamering on me, and its tight. And im saying we dont want to reck her buzz she took this job overseas and saying barbara is responsible for recession. Barbara boxer is getting scared about Climate Change no Climate Change and this is so flash afford shes on i think it was cnn as a matter of fact. And micked up like we are and everything. She sang as being recorded she did you want realize it instead of talking to staff on how to prep for her family book me latest issue and theres been a change and this she say to her staff have you seen Barbara Boxers hair and they said no. What about it . It is so yesterday and she starts laughing. And truth is about my hair, it does have a life of its own and i have my bad hair days, however, i thought at that moment everybody does. So you know what is she doing what hes saying this it is insult to everybody xepght if youre wealthy enough to have hairdresser follows uhuh you around every day. Because she ends up people understood wirp in hoard time and understand where you there including stood up against iraq war so many times that you were alone or maybe had a few people that you were willing to take those great stands, and what i love about the art is that it talks about that through the lens of issues through lens of history. But republicans who voted for you others understood that you were tough and stand up for them. A remarkable thing and i did beat her by a million votes but there was again, some of these things that happen that shine a light on who the person is and imgoing to say when donald trump for example said he was xoited when the Housing Market crashed because he thought i can make a lot of money. How u do you make America Great when inier business life, thats how your mind works . I know a lot of businesspeople they may say ill buy something but they dont think that way that theyre processing with somebodys misery so now they put in that word it proves that im tough but truly there are things that map in a campaign that show show who the person really is inside. One may not be enough so when people saw her caring about her when cameras were off and they put it together with the fact when she was ceo she shipped tins of thousands of jobs overseas and bs you know what, not a good person with a minute left with incredible career youve had and you witness the art of the tough so that people understand, and you can pass it on to others