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booktv interviewed former mtv dj kennedy about the "kennedy chronicles." it was recorded at planet hollywood casino in 2013. it's about twenty minutes. >> for those of a certain age,

on our screen now, is the familiar face. this is kennedy. >> hi. >> hello. mtv dj. kennedy, what is your history, first of all, what is your real full name? >> lisa kennedy montgomery. it was too long for the radio. when i started in los angeles? 1991, we started it to kennedy. i was the virgin kennedy. it was my name on-air. >> how did you get to mtv? >> my boss who was -- look at that! seen a lot of people have given me a hard time for "naked on a horse" i'm not naked on a horse. that's a donkey. back off people. it changes the context. my boss at the radio hired me as an intern dj went mtv to be the senior vice president of programming. >> andy. >> yes. exactly. and at the time, they were having a change in the --

they were changing the look of mtv, they wanted some new dj. i was mean to him. fortunately i was at the right place at the right time. he was adventure and got judy mcgraph to join off. >> how did that change your life? >> i moved to new york, and i didn't know what to to expect. i remember the night before i left for new york, i was shopping in a grocery store in l.a., and i was like am i going to be mobbed the next time i'm in a grocery store? i assumed it would be a light switch of the own and hordes of people would follow me screaming. that didn't happen. it took a long time to be recognized. and it was interesting and strange and kind of lonely. i was far away from my family. but at the same time i knew the great adventure had begun. i made a personal challenge to myself no matter what happened i was going maximize every moment and take advantage of every interview and experience. >> were you a conservative at that time? >> i was a self-identified

conservative that the time. i didn't know what a libertarian was. and in fact, it was one of my coworkers who introduced me to libertarianism. i had heard the term, and knew that it was something with a great mystique that was strange and little understood within politics. i wasn't sure that i was a libertarian. so i then applied as a conservative republican. >> were you out? >> i was not out at first. i was very careful not offend people because i went to a thirteen-trial week period. i didn't want to get fired. i didn't know how easily i could be dismissed. so one of the things i try to do is keep my politics to myself. but i also enjoyed a little political discourse now and again. if i heard someone talking to who sounded politically uninformed or underinformed. i like to jump in and correct course. >> why did you keep your politics private? >> i kept my politics private because mtv is known for being pretty -- you know, it was new york 1992,

a lot of our bosses were baby boomers. i came in the middle of the choose or lose company. the networking had a lot of access to bill clinton. i'm not saying they were pushing bill clinton. there were a lot of people excited about the idea of a clinton presidency. they didn't try to hide their politics, so at some point, i was outed eventually by "the washington post. >> and what happened then? were you allowed to talk politics on the air? >> i wasn't encouraged to talk about politics. i wasn't the host of a political show. i also was encouraged to talk about volleyball or, you know, auto repair. they wanted know talk about the music. but i did have a lot of interviews with musicians who considered themselves to be very political, and, you know, occasionally we would get in heated discussions including with tom from rage against the machine. he has an ideology which is very

confining, and in his world, if you don't agree with him, you are the enemy. there's very little room for actual free. i found that to be hypocritical. when i came across people like that, i would call it on them. tom and i got in to it on the air. with my lynn manson. and other artists. mostly trying to figure the limit of their freedom. you would assume the rock star live a free and easy lifestyle. their views are really confined. more confining than any other group of people i had come across at that point in my career. >> kennedy, how would you describe the political power of mtv during the '90s when were you on? >> i think it mtv was incredibly powerful. they realized they could tap to a generation of future voters. also, you know, this is a time when you're in your teebs and late teens and early 20s you are most passionate about thingses

in your life. they realize if you could turn that passion to politics, it would be a really incredible force. regardless if i agreed or disagreed with the politics of the people who served over me as my bosses. i liked the fact they wanted engage people. i liked the fact they wanted people to express and learn about their own political leanings and feelings. and every once awhile i jump in and get a little bloody and mix it up with them. i thought that was for the benefit of all. because when you challenge one another, when you really learn it is what you believe and why you believe it. it will make you a better person for it. not just politically but all around. >> you call the mtv chooser or loose campaign. choose clinton and get rid of bush. >> that's what it felt like. and a lot of people in the country felt that way. you have to realize 1992 it was still economically pretty depressed. and people much as they did in

2008 they wanted optimism. they wanted to turn the page. they wanted to see the country go in a different direction and here was someone who represented the ideology of most baby boomers. and since you have baby boomers running mtv, it just seemed very natural they would get most excited and caught up in the -- >> you write the entire time at mtv, i was drugged. alcohol and smoke free, a vegetarian, and virgin. is this -- was that rare? >> to have all of those things in the same person, yeah. i think that was pretty rare. rockers would call it straight edge. and, you know, there was an entire stream within the punk rock community that being in total control of your body is the wisest thing you can do. i if not have that sort of intention or follows if i or foresight. it just so happened that, you know, i had been sober.

i didn't find drugs and alcohol did anything for me. i worried for my job i would do something impulsive and stupid under the influence. i did enough crazy things without drugs i didn't need them. it was fun to be able to document things for my friends that got sloshed the night before the next morning and tell them what jerks they had been. >> you also talk about, as you say, the mounds of cocaine that were available. >> that's true. >> is that a joke. >> i joke there were plastic surgeons on call. we didn't have a breakfast buffet at mtv. it was basic cable. no one was going to foot the bill for mountains of cocaine. that was a joke. it was great you know what people might think would be the privilege and access for mtv. >> kennedy, what happened when bill clinton and al gore came to visit the mtv studio? >> i will never know what happened when al gore and bill clinton what happened at the studio. i wasn't allowed there.

literally they would find the farthest place for me to travel. they would put me in the car and take me there. it was with a work environment and camera. if i was at the disoob i would snuck on a train and gone back to the studio and see if i could cause a little trouble. they would find a remote shoot for me whenever someone in real power was visiting the studio. >> why? >> i think they were worried i would say something to them like rod stewart and not only embarrass the networking, but i could get in trouble with the government. >> you have a chapter in here, we'll show it to the audience. what is this chapter about? >> that what chapter is about the 1993 inauguration ball. the president has a -- and many of them were very nice. >> it's a play on words. >> right. go ahead and explain the chapter a little details. >> mtv was thrilled and giddy to

be able to finally throw -- the rock and roll. >> yeah. it was a rock and roll presidency. it was a rock and roll inauguration ball. this was the greatest i had ever seen. whether it was politicians, actors, musicians, in that moment the biggest people on earth were all at the mtv inauguration ball. and if you were a lobbyist, if you were a staffer, you would have punched a homeless person in the mouth in order get a ticket to that event. >> why were you allowed to go? >> i was allowed to go because i was a dj. i was one of the on-air people. bill and i were, you know, kind of the -- we were the people they barely let to the event, and i went in there with a great deal of sadness. because i felt that the country was swirling the to let of socialism and we were going down the tube. >> when bill clinton and al gore went on stage you write, that

the grand old party boys and i started chanting the "nixon now" we became nothing tal quick for the nixon presidency. we figured it couldn't get worse. there were a bunch of bumper stickers circulated in 1992. he's tan, reed -- rested and ready for now. we thought how ironic. >> why are you here at freedom fest, the libertarian grouping. >> i'm here at freedom fest as a very proud contributor to reason tv. i've been working with reason tv for a year and a half. and i love it. i love the pieces that i do with them. there's a ton of creativity. there's a solid message, and i don't think libertarians should allow anyone else to define them. being a libertarian means many things to many people. whatever it means, you should be the one to define that for yourself. freedom fest is great because it

brings so many type of people together who are questioning whether a is the function of gold. should we be on the gold ?arnd a lot of gold here. a lot of precious metal i like that. i'm wearing it right now. >> have your politics changed over the years. >> i would say my politics have not changed drastically, but how i feel about certain issues has certainly evolved. it was when i moved to seattle why left mtv that i really found and refined my voice as libertarian. when i was at mtv kurt loader said you're a libertarian and gave me "i am rand" and it just sort of sharpened my lens. i had the great fortunate of doing talk radio in seattle comp is a very political town. people think it's leftist but, you know, if you get outside seattle you find people that are more conservative, and people who don't know they're libertarian. that's when i started engaging in the discussion. and bringing people to the light; like, letting people read

for themselves their beliefs are really about limited government. letting people do what they do best on their own. people are the best barometer for their own choices and actions. i've always felt that way. but now i think i just refined how i feel more about particular issues. being in talk radio, writing, working for reason, it's all sort of helped that. >> what do you think about the current political situation in america? >> i think the current political situation in america is very interesting. it's ripe for a libertarian-leaning person or group of people to really show them how you do 2 when you lift government and people's lives can be better. now we're seeing in political so many ways government can actually be not only a destructive force but a terrifying force. if you stop and think about it, when conspiracy they are resists start sounding rash tell me, you know the government is in

trouble. >> you have another chapter in here "rudie can fail ." what is the chapter about? >> the chapter is about mayor giuliani in his own tenure in new york city in 1994 really trying to bring the video music awards to new york city. the last few years they had been in los angeles. i actually attended the last three where mtv was going to build the headquarter. they were going take it out of times square. the mayor said we'll rule -- roll out the red carpet. the mtv took on the change. they said we're going let some of the djs really be a part of the show. we're going let you guys present the awards, we'll let you walk the red carpet. we'll treat you like stars. it's a new era. i was so excited for it. it was my 22nd birthday. one of the first things i did on camera. i was with bill and the payor of motorcycles and -- new york city was excited for the moment.

weapon -- we were nervous. solicit calls for the viewers choice award. the biggest award of the night. we were going present it later on. as we're substantial doubting -- standing there rosanne, who was the host. i heard her making fun of me. she called me out as a republican and said that had seen me backstage doing something with my mouth to rush limbaugh. i had never met him. there was no way. and the crowds started booing. and it freaked me out. so when bill and the mayor and i came on they were booing very loudly. i thought to myself, i have to get them back. i have to do something. i'm standing here with the mayor. so i did that thing with my mouth on the microphone she said i did rush limbaugh and the crowd started laughing. i said it's great. it's fantastic. what didn't occur to my brain in that fifteen seconds this could have severe ramifications not only for me and my job but mtv

and their relationship with new york city. the president of mtv, tom the ceo the owner of viacom are watching this and going who is this kennedy? who is this person? why is she working? he literally wanted me fired. that second. didn't want to wait until the end of the show. the fact i kept my job for three more years is a miracle beyond my own limited understanding. >> what doe think of mtv's role in american society? has it been positive. >> i think by and large whenever i certainly think that our era at mtv was very positive. and that's one of the reasons i wrote the book. because every generation has their own era. you know, youth culture has the time in the sun. and mine happened to be in the '90s. it was so much fun and different. it's such a great contrast with the way media is now. and that is one of the reasons that, you know, so many people

come up to me being able to see music on of it. they thought there was an impurity an artistry you took for granted. women were portrayed differently. and i want to explore those things in a book that is fun read. you can take to the beach and, you know, you can have your policy books and have your serious biography. that's heavy reading for nighttime so you dream about smart things. when you're in the beach with the kids and live through it in a time that will always remain great for you. i want to take people back and experience that moment again. everyone knows the name. they remember the experience and the time. now they'll get in some insane detail. >> kennedy, what are you doing now? >> now i'm a correspondent for john on the stossel show on fox business networking. i'm a contributor for reason tv. and i do pieces in d.c. and new york and l.a. for reason. and i also host a morning show

on $98.7 in l.a. an alternative music show. and so i interview bands and i also get to the young upcoming bands and see how they fight to get attention and breakthrough in a crowded landscape which is still totally possible. at the same time i talk to at love established fans who have been around for twenty years. fans like lincoln park and no doubt and sound garden and talk to them and see from their point of view how it changed and they have to struggle to breakthrough. even though they have a catalog of hits spanning twenty years or more. >> do you think your politics have limited your opportunity in your chosen field. >> i think there is a limiting factor that. i can't be obsessed about it. i have to be true to what i believe. i have obviously grown up. i have a wonderful husband and two beautiful girls. >> who is your husband? >> david lee. a retired snow border.

he has a manufacturing plant, a factory in southern california. so he makes snow boards, and it's funny to hear my girls talk about their dad going to the factory people think it's kidding. it's not a farce. he's grinding boards every day. he's an amazing person. they are the center of my life. i want my girls to know you can be true to who you are. you can speak in your own voice and still have a good life. will people try to taint with you? >> they certainly will. they always will. you can't focus on that. >> do you get stopped in grocery stores today? >> i do. it's funny. i get stopped far variety reasons. a lot of people see me on stossel and, you know, they love john stossel. they love his message. he's a pure libertarian. he's a great person. he's a wonderful mentor. i get stopped for that a lot. that's an older crowd. college-aged students a lot of times see me on the reason video.

then there are people my age who remember me from mtv. those are the people i have lockest conversations with talking about good old days. i tell them i just wrote about it. it's pretty fun. >> are there conservatives in hollywood? >> there are definitely closet conservatives in hollywood. they actually have well-organized meetings. they get together and talk about ideas. sometimes they include libertarians. sometimes they get frustrated by libertarian and think libertarians are sellout people pleasers trying to make liberals happy. we know libertarians are politically the most consistent group around. >> we've been talking on booktv with kennedy. lisa kennedy montgomery. full name. "kennedy chronicles: the golden age of mtv through rose-colored glasses" here is the cover. this is booktv. they decided political debate is worthless. they're not going debate policy. they're not going to debate what is the best way to solve the

nation's problem. they're not going provide evidence. they're going label us morally deficient human beings. the editor of large bright -- breitbart.com. and in the month ahead, october 6th civil rights leader, congressman john lewis. november 3rd from blank and december 1st, feminism critic. and january 58th radio talk show host and judicial activist in-depth live the first sunday of every month at noon eastern on booktv on c-span2. booktv on location at book expo america, which is annual publishers trade show held in new york city. and we're talking with the publisher of chicago review press about some of their

upcoming titles. cynthia, what do you have coming out this year? >> the "last war lord." he was the afghan war lord who lead the u.s. special forces to topple the taliban. and on horseback and he's a very interesting character. he's been fighting the taliban for thirty years. our author bryan glen williams is a professor at dart mouth. and he lived with him and got to know his family. he had unique access. when the u.s. forces pull out of afghanistan, he's been fighting the taliban for all the years is likely to come back to the forefront and be a major player again. >> he's been an ally of u.s. while we've been in afghanistan. >> that's him there in the center. and he also believes in -- he's a unique character. he believes in the education of women in afghanistan. he's a bit of a -- he has some liberal tendencies.

he's very much against the taliban and the extremists. >> what was it like for professor williams to write this book? , i mean, how well did he get to flow him. >> he got to live with him and get to know, you know, some of his family and friends. i think it was a unique experience for him. and yeah kind of a unique view of the war. >> is there any chance that he'll be come together u.s. for the book tour? >> no. probably not. [laughter] be "redefining girly." there a lot of book on the subject. when they got halloween store looking for costume and can't find thingses that are appropriate for the young girls. what steps they can take. writing letters, finding the manager. what practical steps they can take. very practical. also gives parents to think

about starting very young at not the author has a blog a popular blog called pigtail paypal. it's about redefining girly and capturing hollywood gill. >> even more so now. you have the whole culture of, you know, the halloween costume is difficult for parents to find halloween costumes that are appropriate for young girls. they are all the short little french maid costume or tart let costumes. it goes throughout when you got toy store and any target or whatnot. you have the whole section which is the bar dolls and the building toys. it's getting more and more. >> what is the chicago review press. are you private? >> independently owned. been in publishing for forty

years. we are celebrating the 40th anniversary this years ago. >> not associated with the university or anything? >> no. the owner of the company was a grad student at the university of chicago. he worked for the poetry magazine there. the chicago revue. when he got wonderful thing he couldn't publish for the journal he wanted to do it on the own. he did get the permission to use the name. so we took the name from the chicago review. >> what is your background? >> i've been with the company for twenty five years. i started out in the accounting department here and worked my way up throughout the company. >> i want to ask you about another book you have. >> this is peter. he's one of our great author. he's a journalist. and he traveled to afghanistan and really met with people there. and really talked with them about the experiences have been with the u.s. occupation and the war going on and what their feelings are. he meets with the shop keepers and the different people there. >> cynthia, another book that caught our eye was entree --

"coi it's about financial education and starting young with your kids about understanding money and how to be responsible about your spending. and it's particularly interest in the african-american community. who tend spend money when they have on cars and fancy jewelry. it's kind of looking at your issue as a parent with money and how you spend money and how to have have better habit on your kids. >> one more i want to ask you about before we leave you. home front girl. >> it's a wonderful diary. it's a diary of a woman from chicago who she grew up in chicago. she went to the university of chicago, and during the war she was a teen she kept a journal. she was politically active as a teen and smart started at the university of chicago as a 16-year-old got in. and her daughter found her

journal much later in life. and published it. we published the journal as a teen during the wartime in chicago. really wonderful glimpse what it was like to be in america on the home front during the war. here are some of the latest headlines surrounding the publishing industry this past week. he spent 48 years in political journalism. he just completed work on the forthcoming novel. a short story for page three shortly before the death. he appeared on book of it to discuss his book forty years of covering politic. you can watch that program online at booktv.org. on wednesday amazon publishing announce a new biography series called icon will be available through the kindle device later this year. they said it's working to hire celebrated authors to write

about significant figures ranging from joseph stalin to edgar allen poe. the first publication "jesus" is set to be released in december of 2013 with the other nine titles being released bimonthly in 2014. the according to estimates release bit u.s. census bureau. bookstore sales dropped 9.5% in june. monthly bookstore sales had been running close to the sales of 2012 until the recent drop last month. the foreign representing app the, department of just is, and state and consumer classes will return to court on august 27th to discuss potential fenlt for for the judge is ready to issue an injunction against apple but concerned any injunction could inhibit innovation in the radically evolving e book market. stay up to date on breaking news about authors, and public by

liking us on facebook. follow us on twitter@booktv. or visit our website booktv.org and click on news about books. there will be other people that want to tell you what you're about and they don't have your best interest in mind. that's where a kind of survivalist manhood becomes insistent about what i am and being fixed to what i am. an open question is how much is that unique to prisons. is that how most americans are who are young strangely absolutist and pleurallist at the same time? my truth is the one true truth but i recognize your right to some wrong truth. i don't know the answer to that question. absolutely.