When we come back, we will turn our attention to u. S. Foreign policy. A veteran of the state department will be joining us. James dobbins is out with a new book on his five decades on the frontlines of american diplomacy. Alexandra pelosi will be joining us on her new film. She will be joining us from new york. Is thee of the show words that built america premiering on hbo july 4. Today, we traveled to portland, oregon. At 2 00 eastern, we will show you the citys wellknown Japanese Garden to learn about its connection to world war ii. Here is an excerpt. [video clip] in the late 1950s, there were still a lot of antijapan sentiment in oregon and across the united states. Japan was our mortal enemy in world war ii. What people remember about japan is pearl harbor. If we were going to become allies and friends, there had to be healing that would happen. The entire garden was built around this concept of these this concept of peace, of understanding each other better as people. The better
Gorbachev was a very different soviet leader than president putin as a russian leader, one dedicated to reforms, democratizing the soviet union, removing forces of soviet foreign policy. I believe the praise for gorbachev was fully deserved. I think today any praise for putin is probably not deserved. Host in researching this book, what did you learn about yourself . Guest that is a good question. I learned i had a pretty good memory, although i did have to rely on wikipedia and google to make sure i got my anecdotes in the right order. You remember things but you dont maneuver quite what year it was. Dont remember quite what year it was. Lanes a trip down memory and it was satisfying to dredge up these anecdotes and stories and conclusions. Certainly, looking back, felt it was five decades well spent. Host a quick call from james from denton, texas. You get the last word with james dobbins. Good morning. Caller good morning. Mr. Dobbins, i think you are correct america was looking for
Statement as a catalyst for change. Because with that, you can combine two forces and make what is essentially the butterfly effect, a small Statement Like that can be a big change. Host thank you. Alexandra pelosi . Guest wow. That is deep. I think it is a beautiful, beautiful call to action. And, i am going to choose to just suck it in and say, happy fourth of july to you. I think i cannot over share my feelings about what is going on in the Political Climate because i think it will undermine my ambassador of hope that i am hoping i can bring people together and try and say that on this fourth of july, will all of the americans. Its hard to say that, women do not get anything in the founding documents. They gotten nothing. Got something but i will not politicize these documents. I will say as a woman, sometimes it is hard to feel like youre getting your voice heard in this american Political Climate. That is not what we are here to talk about. We are saying, proud to be american. Hos
Officers to Communications Technicians to officer carrying the nuclear football. Time, those people are spending money, meals at the resort, parking at the resort, golf carts to follow the president around at the resort. Maybe even rooms at the resort. Because the president refused to the vest himself of his business interests, that money is left to be held at his property of the first place. And thats how like a conflict of interest. This is not just a hypothetical. Meetings party been held that maralago. Since february, i have been tried to figure out whether department of defense dollars are finding their way to the president s pocket through government expenditures at trump properties. I asked secretary mattis and deford earlier this month. Although we have not been provided definitive answers, pentagon officials have not ruled out that the president is profiting on taxpayer funds. This amendment would prohibit the department of defense from paying expenses at property owned or ope
Joining us from new york is Alexandra Pelosi, she is the director and producer of the new hbo film premiering on july 4. Thank you for being with us on cspan. Guest thank you for having me. Host what is the premise behind the film and what did you learn putting it together . Guest started this the day after the election. The idea was, going into the election, i knew that no matter who won, half of the country would be disappointed. Plugin was what i could do to bring everybody together the idea was what can i do to bring everybody together. Hbot down with my boss at and we thought of ideas to make all democrats and republicans come together. We thought the founding documents were the one thing we could get everybody to read. President ough all the askedcretaries and everybody to read the passage from the constitution so we could have one thing we could show on july 4 that there is some connective tissue that keeps this country together. Democracy is a fragile thing. That 240 years late