suggestions are generally pretty good. i love entertainment weekly, the magazine, and in the back they have a number of good books. one of my favorite books, a book called beautiful ruins from jess walters. i've realize in entertainment weekly, so i look to that. >> find out what other members of congress are reading by visiting booktv.org and searching what are you reading at the top of the page. .. april ryan, she is the author of the presidency in "black and white" "at mama's knee" and "under fire", reporting from the front line of the trump white house. >> for many years civil rights leaders have called the white

house police fatality and police profiling. >> april, mr. president, two questions, one energy and outside of the economy. >> thank you, mr. president, last question i guess. [laughter] >> mr. president i need to find out from you. >> april ryan, how did the self-described working-class black girl from baltimore get to ask for u.s. questions and get called out by everyone of them. >> i thought this was your life almost, a young april with bill clinton in 23 years later it makes you wonder, how do they

get there, i was doing a lot of work, selling my seed when the harvest came up, i was out there working with american radio network recognized my work, they said look we may have a position open and i said okay and i thought it was for d.c. bureau chief, they never told me it was the white house, mind you i had done local and washington and i anchored the weekends at w cop but never in my wildest dream what i imagine that i would be questioning for american presidents and they called me by name, at least three. [laughter] but i didat the work and i stard out local. i came about 36 miles away south

inside let's try this. actually i do not want to stay when i first got here but i thought it would only stay for two or three years, i been here for 23 and i started out being a reporter and i realize coming in what power was washington power was having a president call your name. and the people who kept telling me that i needed to have a president call me by name with the widow of jack brown, she said how do get him to call you by name. my cousin who is married to former congressman ed town, i did not understand the concept, after while and after it started happening and i understood the concept of being a reporter where the president will call on by name, not just call them but by name, and made a difference.

people will take note of you. in this was before 9/11, i time where we were into a president more so than we werepr now. i'll never forget one time he was walking around and walking to the hallways and he saw me came to the press area and he talked and everyone gives salutations, i said call me and call me by name, i'll never forget then press secretary mike mccurry telling me, i think he's asking me why you're so hard on the issue of calling you by na name. and i said that's my name and when he calls on me i want him to call me by name. in the first time he did not call me by name at the second time it changed. it was asathdn press conference. >> january 10, 1977 he walked

into the white house and you recount in the presidency in "black and white" that you are ready to leave after about three days. why? >> it is a very different animal. in breeze and has a heartbeat to it it's a whole different scenario there, it's a hurry up and wait, it's a push for information, it's more than a desire it's in need to get information and push information to the public be american or be the world, from the highest office in the land where i everything comes to war and peace and everything in between. it is a different type of beat, you hurry and wait and wait for

that one person and you feed on every word they say and it never seen anything like it and never will again. the hill is a different beat, you run around looking for all types of congressional leaders, senators, speakers or congresspeople, but at the white house it's about the principle, the one person in filtering out from there, most important the one person. one thing i will say, it was daunting, overwhelming, i was green, the one thing i will say, the president, i had to view him in the white house, this wonderful historic place at city hall for me too take it in in chunks. it was the most interesting place that i had ever seen.

january 13 was actually my start and we have been talking about generally 13 was a day when i said okay, we are in here, everything was ready to go and we starteded moving. >> do you have an office at the mowhite house? >> if that's what you calle? it. in my first book people could not believe it is a small phone booth, many of the young people don't understand what a phone booth is and we have to look at it as a phone booth in london. it's a size of a phone book may be to put together, claustrophobic modified. that's what i call home at 1500 pennsylvania avenue. >> back to the presidency in "black and white", you write my appearance in the briefing room was a red flag for some folks?

what do you mean? back in 1997 it was graceful on the table, there were not a block or not above the fold in the newspaper, what the problem was in talking to bill clinton and all the presidents that interviewed for this book, race has always been on the table. but the problem is, it does not always get asked about by the reporters. we are talking about china. it does not lead until it bleeds. i found in the white house, race was always dealt with at a crescendo moment and it was trayvon martin or something like that, i was asking issues of race beyond the christiane

moment, issue here with an agenda, no, i was covering stories about america at the highest category that is undeserved and underreported on. so that's how i came to the white house people. had o'leary i and when they realized that some of these questions were real, this is not missed, this is not conjecture, this is real it is so interesting now looking back 23 years later my friend joy read said april ryan has made a race issue and popular. it's unfortunate that that's the case, black america, brown america is the heart of america, why should there not be

questions especially at the highest numbers of in on most every category. >> what is a you are in,. >> american radio network, we have been there for over 43 years. i've been there 23 of the 40 years. we primarily serve urban america with news and information particular about them and and we are black media, black media is undergoing changes like everyone else. and i say when a mainstream media has a cold world life-support for that is the truth. as you have seen many times a ople going to the internet and trying to find out they will go to the internet before they come to us, we have an audience that

is true and realizes that when others will not tell her story or ask about it, we will andsk that's what we do. >> it was december 2, 2009 read the obama administration i have to go back. [laughter] >> and read about this in your book, here's an exchange you had with press secretaryur robert. >> what your concern and the white house that she came out, somebody might've called her the belle of the ball overshadowing the first lady. >> i have never heard that. >> is been going around washington.of >> again -- >> high-ranking people. >> that's not affectation or living in life. >> are you done speaking so i can. >> oh yes sir. >> i have not heard the criticism, i am not read any of that criticism, the president, first lady in the entire white house staff are grateful for the job she does and thinks she has

done a terrific and wonderful job pulling up a lot of big and important events at the white house. >> that the president and a by r or did the president? the social secretary -- >> was yet the dinner? april, down, take a deep breath. this happens when my son does the same thing. >> don't play with me i am being serious. >> i am giving you a serious answer, was she at the dinner he yes, she's a socialou secretary. i'm going to get back to your topics of 98000 men women in afghanistan. >> april ryan you are visibly uncomfortable watching that. >> most definitely.

those moments and i guess i'll see a lot of those moments will make me cringe, this is my life petepeter. i'm going to say this to you, we had the first black president become president, history was made but there was also at that time a number of death threats from this president. and we all remember the story and if we don't, let's bring our viewers and listeners up to onspeed on this so there was ste dinner with the leader of india and he had had death threats as well in an assassination attempt just happened on him and we were talking about the state dinner and it was the first state dinner i believe in the social secretary at the time had not

hefollowed protocol followed prr to other administrations. mind you, i had been at the white house for two of ministrations prior to this. i had even been guest, presidents were inviting the press to come in for dinners. so i made the protocol. what happened, the layer of protocol had been removed were the press office would be there in the secret service would be there to watch. in the meantime, as the protocol had been change, there was a reality show going on at the same time, housewives of washington, d.c. and i believe they were on the show and they thought it was cute for thewe reality show to

crash the state dinner. not only do they crash the state dinner but they got close to the president, vice president, pictures of it. in my concern was not the tv show, not the theatrics of it, my concern as a reporter i am hearing from sources who are very close to the situation versus outside of the white house who were close to the situation versus other administrations saying they should have never happened because of the historic nature of the president and the death threats. so what robert gibbs was trying to do was show his loyalty to the press secretary who ultimately left. >> desiree rogers who ultimately left the terms of that leaving, you could take it for what you want, it was not sense for what i understand and robert gibbs

was trying to be loyal to her at the time. let's fast-forward from that room about a year or two later after i wrote my first book. mind you that was tense, robert and i never really got over that at that time. but after i wrote my first book i saw him at a major tv network in the green room andm i let hm see it any read word for word and he apologized to me and robert gibbs told me himself, he said april, i had to make you her.crazy to support and i said, the social secretary says you didn't do her any favors, i've seen her since then and she still angry with me. i saw her once in new jersey, that the hotbed for me i guess. i saw her new jersey and i said roger gibbs was trying to be loyal to you, she said he was not be loyal to me and when robert apologized i said desiree

said you are not be loyal and he said let me tell you something, she rolled up under the bus and stay there. the protocol was not followed, she was a social secretary who told me different than the other social secretaries nina part off the event, she was not watching the event, she had her own table and her own gas. the issue was the breach of security and the compromising of humans who are historic figures who had death threats. and that's the whole issue. robert was trying to be loyal of the social secretary in the circle but the circle was broken and she left the terms of the leader, let them talk about that. but the issue was about historic nature of this president, the first walk president getting death threats and people off the streets being able to come in and get right there to him.

so that's all that was. since then i received an apology from robert gibbs and i talked to mitch rogers, she gave me her account of the event, it was ugly but at the end of the day, even that ethan, he apologized and it was ugly but because of that and because robert gibbs told me, i understood what the game was and how the game is played and even though that was ugly, it showed me without me knowing what was to come the game board. >> when he said april, calm down, what was your immediate thought? >> he was making aim personal. and he was waving his hands. and this is real not to wait this off because it's a real

situation. and my thought was don't wave me off, let's go down the line of questioning. answer the question. and he made a personal because he did not want to breach the loyalty. but at b that moment i was angr. and i will never forget, i was not angry until after it happened. i felt something, when you're in the midst of as a reporter here still try to get the answer to the question. but at the end of the press conference, every press briefing everyone leaves and i state that seat for a while i was angry, i'll never forget bill came out and he said april ryan, he wants to talk to his office and i said for what, i wasas very upset ani sat there for a minute insane for what he because he acted like a fool and i had some real questions that needed real answers. so i go up to the press office and he proceeded to tell me that i made a mockery of the process

and i insulted the first lady, i said how did i insult the first lady, he brought everything from the kitchen sink to this conversation. but at the end of the day we agreed to disagree and he wanted an apology but he never apologized to meet until after he left the white house. until after he saw what was in the book and told me what was the deal. and i knew what the m deal was t until he told me what the deal was it was confirmed and i heard from him and ms. rogers and others but at the end of the day it was an ugly moment but it taught me something, it taught me a lesson and showed me the game, the game of politics. >> one of the chapters in your most recent book "under fire" is entitled becoming a story. have you become the story in some cases? >> oh my god too much so.

and i don't like being the story, i'm the journalist who is still wide-eyed about helping people, i'm the journalist who lookswi at politics and also los at humanity. it is about people, people who have adduce easement in their spirit who are still hurting and in need of help and now insteade relaying that now i'm the story, i've written books to talk about people and intertwined my story in. it. but if you read my books, the first two is mostly about others because i want to tell other people story, i don't want to talk about me because that's about the true reporter, the story not about me, you whisper in the background. but the unfortunate thing with the climate and i guess because i am that kid from baltimore who has tried to overcome odds because being from baltimore and i think about something the

pastor walter scott thomas, elijah cummings pastor said baltimore has an automatic word in their life story, failure. they are from baltimore, the automatic failure, to overcome it's about survival and baltimore. i am surviving and i am here and i'm trying not to be the story. so now i am trying to survive in washington and trying to survive in life and because of the twist and turns that i have taken recently, i am now the story. and being the story sometimes saves my life. if i don't tell the story, people would believe the negative and false narrative. and you have to tell it so people can see the truth and have receipts as young people

say. >> if you read your books and tell me if i'm mistaken, if you read your books in order beginning with the presidency and "black and white", "at mama's knee" and "under fire", your personal opinion is coming out more and more in your books. >> right, in the first book we talk about the presidency in "black and white" and my close view of four presidents and we talk about the issue of reparation. in slavery apology, that was the beginning of my time in washington and it's still 23 years later we hear presidential candidates talking about it. in the second book being a mother. and race and having it hit home in your backyard, it's one thing, it's crazy you're watching the news, i'll never forget my youngest daughter when isis was rampant and they said

mommy are they here, and i said no, you're fine but when the freddie great issue happening baltimore, i had to talk to them about that into mere rice and i've asked presidents and people who dealha with this about these issues in the last book read him of the press and what i've gone through to make sure you undersd the mayor to in the smear that has been placed, i am not that person that you hear from on high that i am. >> we are going to go through all of those in the next hour and half. >> i know we are. >> welcome to book tv in depth with author and white house correspondent april ryan for the next hour and a half or so we will be taking your calls, getting reviews, there several ways for you to get through,

first of all on the phonede lin, (202)748-8200, if you live in the east and central time zone and have a question or comment for april ryan (202)748-8201 and those of you in the mountain and pacific time zone, you can also text message to thiszo number (202)748-8903. if you are going to text make sure you get the number correct, we also have social media sites and we will scroll through those, facebook, twitter that you can also make abo comment o, we will get to as many of those as possible. april ryan as she said has been at the white house as a white house correspondent, longtime, the only black female with a permanent pass at wh the white house. >> covering black issues gotta add that. >> she is the author of three books begetting with the presidency in "black and white" which came out in 2015 followed by "at mama's knee" and "under fire" came out in 2017 mostly

about her time in the trump administration covering the trump administration and we will talk about all three of those. april ryan, again becoming part of the story but unintentionally let's go to october 6, 2003. just a little bit of video. >> the president has agreed to take a couple of questions and so have i. we will start with the american side and alternate back and forth. >> you're welcome to call on sunday from your pressroom mr. president. >> april you're not in this press corps you're trying to play like that. [laughter] >> what was that about. the worst thing you can do is be on c-span. you know the receipt you back up. i said in my book and talk about that. that was the most awkward moment and first of all, george w.

bush, i believe i had a decent work relationship with him but a also personally. and i was able towa talk to him about matters of race. and because we had enough of a working relationship i stood out like a sore thumb on the other side of the african press. so that was a press conference. >> did you put yourself -- >> i did not. his press office did in hopes i would get. so they made a mistake and i'll never forget, did you really, it was off, they made a mistake and the president noticed it. he noticed there mistake, his people were trying to give him something and he's like what's going on. i remember mark smith and the associated press saying what are you doing over there.

and i said they put me over here. yes the last known slave in my family joseph brown, and i had no problem being considered african but i'm african-american and i was in the african pressss corps. so there was a question ultimately because he cannot help himself. president george w bush could not help himself at the time. >> what's it like to be called up by the president at a press conference like that. >> you have to go with it. it can be ugly, you make a scene, mr. president, your people did this or do you just go with it and make light and move forward. again, you're trying to fade in the background, heidi fade in the background when you stick out like a sore thumb. because the white president of the united states notices the african-american reporter from the u.s. press corps is in the a african press corps, what you do, you stand up and say -- you

have to figure out your battles, pick your battle and learn how to fight another day, if i make a scene i'm thrown out and i cannot question necessary for focertain community. >> has been different covering this president than the other three. >> i wanted to ask you what'd you think but yes of course, you can see it. you have tape of it. most definitely. has it been different, one he's a different type of president, he's a different person, as he said he's not the traditional president proved he is not in any way shape or form. he is a ruthless businessman who has become president of the united states and he does not like questions that challenge him our questions that may not put him in a good light. and as you have seen i asked

press secretary obama or whomever the question is on the table or the issue that's on the table whether good, bad or indifferent in this president has taken it to heart andy's been very upset with me andd called me out and call me names publicly. and i have never had that happen before. i've been chastised by robert gibbs in public behind the scenes, i've had talks with many press secretaries from josh earnest, mike mccurry to ari to dana, quietly, there's always some kind of retaliation. if they are not happy with the question but this is beyond the payoff. >> for bray 16tfebruary 16, 201. >> i have great people lined up to help with inner city. >> when you say that under

cities are you going to include the cdc in your conversations with your urban agenda, your inner city agenda. >> am i going to include who. >> the congressional black caucus. >> i would, do you want to set up the meeting? >> no, no. >> are they friends of yours set up the meeting. >> set up a meeting, i would love to meet with the black caucus, i think it's great, the congressional black caucus. i think it's great. i thought i had a meeting with congressman cummings and he was all excited and then he said i can't move it might be bad for me politically, i cannot have that meeting. >> april ryan, you talk about that incident "under fire". >> i sure do. i want to hit the congressman cummings piece first because the other stuff is a lot. the congressman cummings piece, late congressman elijah cummings and i were very good friends.

we came from the same place, baltimore, the city that we love. and congressman cummings called me right away right after inauguration saying hey, president trump once to meet with me. he met with him at the inauguration luncheon on the hill and he said they wanted to talk about prescription drugg pricing. the problem is the new administration cannot figure out how to make it happen. with a lot of twists and turns and bumps and bruises along the way and he was not hiding. they just did not know how to make it happen properly. so right after that they figured it out, they had a meeting and talked about prescription drug prices, when i go into the meeting late congressman cummings at the time detail the conversation inmm the meeting ad there was even a misquoteer from the president about something that congressman cummings said.

now getting back to friends of mine for full disclosure, and this may have been the misinterpretation of the president, i am related to a former congressman, ed townes from new york, congressman townes and i, it's so crazy, he's mike cousin on my mother side. i would call him to confirm things and he's like how did you get that, boy you're good. and heho was sho shot. i was giving him confirm information. so people may have told him, i met the president then donald trump through ed town and trump tower many years ago -- not a

clinton fundraiser but a fundraiser for my cousin ed townes. and by him being my cousin i said i would like to see what happened at these fundraisers. and i never contributed to any politician into this day no one knows if i'm a democrat or republican or independent. i was there and i met donald trump and he did not find me one bit interesting he just moved on. to bill clinton at the time. and he monopolized bill clinton time so much that the guest at the fundraiser were very upset because they wanted to talk to bill clinton and take pictures with bill clinton. so that maybe where he's getting out from but also he had a certain person in his ear at the time berating me giving me a false narrative about me, very good friend of his at the time who is now left the building if you will say.

just a few weeks prior to that there was a big altercation with that person between the oval office in the press office the press office spilled out into the hallway near the oval office and it was ugly. said that i felt that was more of a continuation of look at it as a racial flight at the time, i looked at it more sinister. i do see the racial slide but there's so much that goes into all of this. >> let's hear from some of our collars and will continue to go through your book burning in new york, you are first up with april ryan go ahead. >> thank you. ms. ryan. >> good afternoon. >> good afternoon. i follow presidential news conferences or press conferences, i am 78 so i have seen quite a few. >> issue havyes you have.

>> very often in fact most of the time the president has the conference on the white house as he's in transit or sometimes the helicopter is behind and spinning as rotors and i find it extremely difficult, a to hear the question that the reporter asks and it would really be helpful if there was a mechanism for that question to be made clear. >> all right bernie thank you very much let's hear from april ryan. i love his question, he's echoing exactly what were thinking. i'm praying the president is watching this. and you never know, he might ch. it is exasperating for you, it's worse for us. we are trying to get the sound as the helicopter is motoring and powered up to whisk him off to andrews air force base.

itit is also, we have to move te mike, he moves around in just friday when he had the press conference or thursday, i missing my days when he had the press conference in the briefing room, we said mr. president, please come back because we had people raising their hands and called on anding you can hear, he was standing still and it was a a civilized back-and-forth. >> you got called onto. >> yeah i got called on, he typically cannot ignore me for whatever reason he feels drawn to me in the last conference he kept looking and pointing to other people but i'm smack dab in the middle, you cannot miss me. so he saw me and i'm gladd d hd because i have questions like anyone else bad or indifferent, we are with you and i . we will start having press conferences on a regular as well in the

building, not outside and not only that but press conferences and briefings in the briefing room with the press secretary, it's been over 300 some odd days and we have not had a press secretary give us a a press briefing, there's too much on the table, not to be asking questions of the press secretary about what is going on in the white house and around the world what this president and white house is doing and saying. >> from the presidencybl and "black and white", your colleague mike mccurry, your contact mike mccurry, he is the man credited with opening up the white house briefings daily. he has since regretted his decision due to too much posturing for the cameras on both sides. >> he change that now, he sentta letter in many press secretary's feel the need that there needs to be one from the press secretary number one again, stakes are so high, just a few weeks ago there was a potential

dealing with issues of w north korea, we have the taliban, an agreement with the taliban. you have coronavirus, you have so much and were not having a press briefing daily, if we hear from the president daily, that is one thing but the briefingro and questions, and for not hearing from the press secretary there is a silent and is not for us, it's about the american people, if the american people are not given the information, they have no clue what is goingp on and it's bigger than just a tweet, tweet is to say whatt you feel at the moment, not an explanation and then you don't have the press asking or challenging mr. president so-and-so said this or this will happen historically. you need the press there to ask questions and flush issues out, if not in my opinion for me. i'm speaking for me, this is not a match, this is about humanity

and about giving people information that they need and we see this back-and-forth on the coronavirus issue alone, this is life and death, everything comes to the white house from wanted peace and everything in between in life and death is written and spoken in the building. >> next call is michael and penn filled new york. >> hello, i don't mean this to be mean-spirited but april from the unfortunate that happened in ferguson when the black gentleman got killed by the police,he her and many other blk journalist, democrat were saying how this happened with racism and started -- >> i said happy because of racism, when did i say that. >> you and others. >> do you have video that i said that or where did i say that?

>> all the time i see these things. >> i would love for you to send that. what i said, let me say this before you go further, i have said and i will say this to anyone, from the time blacks have been brought to this nation over 400 years ago there has been policing issues with the black community. from slavery on to today, it has not changed. if you want to say to racism, fine, there is issues between the community and police and the issue is the black. community support good policing, they want to weed out the bladder policing, that racism, i'm sorry. >> in your third book "under fire" you say that people have called you a race baiter. >> they call me a whole bunch of stuff, it is not true. >> john, brooklyn, new york. >> i would like to say i

appreciate the opportunity to speak to mr. ryan but i would like to point out a journalistic fraud and cloud she is given the invaluable access she enjoys -- >> i am not a fraud and clown. >> if i continue ms. ryan, i don't want to interrupt you, no less an important media analyst then joe concha of the hill and he's one of the very few pointed out that when you asked the question that was irrelevant to the 21st century about slavery at the white house was still in favor of the slavery or against slavery, i see that being an issue especiallyof now. but you askeded that question ad he pointed out that you only do this to attract attention to yourself. >> that's his opinion. >> it's not true knowledge. >> listen to me for one second, that's a reporter or commentator's opinion, i get it.

but let me say this, let's put in context. the only reason why i asked the issue about slavery because then chief of staff brought upon the issue, there was a question about if we would deal with the compromise about slavery and the compromise of the civil war. and if there was a compromise done, the compromise basically would have keptug certain states able to keep slaves. but that's only reason why. and then you had your administration officials including the president who did not say anything or supported general kelly, that's only reason why i brought that up because it's still an issue and you havean the cdc and people on capitol hill who are dealing with the issue and reparations trying to come up with answers to reparations. that issue is still -- i'm not

looking for attention but the problem is certain parts of withca do not want to deal issues that some people are still trying to heal over, the issue of race touches everything, the issue of slavery is still on this nation. do you realize there is a disparity in the numbers of negative in the community that we have not healed from an slavery is still very evident, there is a gap in this nation between "black and white", how did many whites in this nation receive their wealth, through slavery, it is a painful painful reminder about history, it is a scar, a scab, it's one thingar i will not apologize for asking, does this administration support the issue of slavery, because the compromise that general kelly was talking about would've allowed certain states to keep slaves. if i justt want attention, that is their opinion. that's a real issue.

if you don't want to believe me, do not believe me but why don't you go to your history book and look. i am not talking, people don't want to do under deal with the issue of slavery because of the pain or they don't want to give up money, people don't want to deal with race because are too afraid to do with the truth of the pain of the past as it still evident today through that. i'm sorry you feel that i'm a clown in a fraud because i as a black woman and trying to navigate out of the pain of the past. and we are still dealing with her. thank you for your question but i don't accept your personal attacks. >> from "underwi fire", for me t was not a surprise that donald trump immediately followed barack obama as president. >> it was not. there is a part of this nation that still feels they have not received -- and they don't want certain people to getti it.

i'm not saying this about race but then there is another part of this nation whomever wanted him there, i will never forget a conversation that i had with susan rice before barack obama when he was president elect and susan i have known each otheram for over 20 years, she's a national security advisor and a former pastor, i'll never forget the conversation on the phone when i had foye with her and shd we still have people here in this nation whoth don't want to see him become president and i said really, because i thought the kumbaya moment had happened, i was there the night he was elected president at the white house. when everybody was in grant park, i saw the spontaneous crowd come to the white house and explode before the young people and they were singing and chanting in the bushes were heill up because we saw the

lights on and they were singing bush goodbye. they were ints euphoria. people turned to corner and they receive their post-racial and outpost obama and what does it look like, it looks like this and youpo had people on capitol hill, mitch mcconnell said he would do everything he can to get them out ofsa there. you had rush limbaugh saying he hopes he feels. why? in this president his politics were built on authors him and people gravitated to it. yet organizations, the tea party really rose up when barack obama became president. but when you see this, we saw what happened in the 60s, we saw the overcoming, we saw the march in washington, we sell the civil rights act, we sell the voting rights act and we had a little bit of a lot but there were still issues in the today

the way they're fighting over boating in the browning of owamerica, why would we not be surprised that donald trump was president right after the first black president. >> president clinton, bush and obama, do you think your personal relationships with private interviews with each of iethose three and have you had that with president trump. >> i have had interviews with all of them and i have a decent relationship. >> i see president clinton quite a bit and i have not seen president obama in george w bush send me messages through people every now and again. and i've had interviews with him except for after george w. bush. in the first ladies have been very kind to me. this president, i'm looking for an interview, i would love to interview him and i think you should interview me because i'm a white house correspondent, to because he is the president of all america and their certain

questions all america want answered. and i sat down with george w. bush on several occasions i sat down withth bill clinton, all of them have said that i am fair but tough. i am not in anybody's corner voting fair but tough and i don't have a personal relationship with this president, we recognize each other, that's for sure i don't have a personal relationship with him. >> iranian in new york, you are on with april ryan on book tv. >> hi aprilil it's knee from new york, i watched the press conferences and following your work and read your books, i would like for you to answer and think about what has been your greatest challenge as a journalist considering what's

happening to the first amendment and freedom of the press and what's the greatest challenge moving forward. >> the greatest challenge, thank you for that, the greatest challenge moving forward is the ground that we have lost i don't believe we will get a back meaning i don't think we will have press conferences the way they used to be because the next press secretary in the next president are watching with this administration is doing and/or getting away with. in the american public, i'm surprised the american public has not jumped up and been very upset because it is not about us, the narrative is we want to be pundits and were doing all this to be pundits on a tv network, on the press secretary that said that sarah huckabee sanders, she is now a pundit on fox news, that's a double negative now. anyway, the bottom line, i believe were going to go forwa

forward, i believe were seeing the evolution of things changing and i don't know where it'll land when it relates to the press but we will continue to do our job but you may not be in the transparent mode of seeing the press briefing on television even if they have presse press t think they will air them, sometimes we havet briefing in the briefing room but they're not televised. my biggest challenge is a threat for my life, because i asked questions, and i have people who feel that they believe the narrative, i'm a clown, a fraud, which i'm not. some of these people just recognize that i was there but as peter has shown i have it t-shirt i worn and washed again, i've been here 23 years. i am not going anywhere. my biggest challenge is to protect myself and those who are concerning me, my family. and also to beat down the

beative narrative into down those who think that i am a liar because i am not. that is my biggest challenge, i'm going to continue to do what i do because i have too many people who rely on me and to be people who know when i say something is a truth, if i was line you would not be able to put the video of everything that i'm talking about. and people don't want to believe issues of race, they find it hard to believe that we are still in a racial climate rightu now. we are in a hot racial climate c right now. were not saying lynching right now but we are being bullied, you cannot book, what is that, that psych 1960s, were considered about the right to vote now. but we had the voting rights act, now or not voting -- were voting without the full protection of the voting rights act, there's so much on the table that people find it hard

to swallow and when i reported, they get upset about it. and i don't understand why. and i don't understand why. >> my guess is the supporters of president trumplo. would say hes more available to you guys than any other president, any other day, going to the helicopters or whatever but he has been accessible to you. >> he's been accessible but he picks and chooses who he wants to be accessible to. when you're outside you can leave fast versus being inside. i asking the questions of those who are there. and not being able to leave easily. you can always lead, you can pick and choose who you want, it's not all about who's friendly it's about the questions of all america,e not about writing the commentary, it's about all america, it's about the truth and transparency and for the american public. >> barbara is in san diego, go

ahead with your question for april ryan. >> hi barbara. >> hi. i've been a longtime observer of the o c-span show and this is my first time. >> thank you for calling in. >> i was moved by ms. ryan and i feel that that the press has made this president such a scapegoat of hatred and they are so irresponsible in the way they speak to him. >> i call him mr. president, you will always see me call him mr. president. i don't't disrespect -- i respet the office of the president. >> icu full of hatred and icu on

the view in that group is really hateful and you get this president a worldview that he is a clown, he's an idiot he's a moron and i watch with him in singapore and he asked the most -- >> barbara i think we got the point, thank you for calling. >> thank you for>> calling in. >> i'm going to tell you something, call me crazy or stupid, it is what it is. i respect him as president of the united states. even as he has called me a loser and they want to take my credentials, mr. president, he is the president of the united states no matter the electoral

college or the population, he is the president of the united states and i am going to respect him. but when it comes to the personal i will deal with outside but when it comes to inside and when you asked me a question, i have been there for 23 years, i know what people do or have done, i know what policies look like, i talked to sources who have been there and done that and washed thedo teacher. many of these supporters who believe i'm a hater of president trump, they don't realize that some of my best sources are republicans who are in the inner circle. not leakers but whistleblowers. people who talk to me about things when they're in the room when it happens. i'm not just hearing from democrats and i also know my history and talk to people who was there in the room when it happened and what happened. i talked to a lot of people. when i come up and say something

which many reporters will do, they will research it and that's why they challenge him sometimes the way theyal do. it is not because we hate him, it's because we see a flaw in something or something is not right or told the wrong way. and we ask questions, i don't get up your calling him names, i respectfully, you can never say i called him a name when i raised my hand, mr. president because he is the president of the united states and there are people who speak to me that say you still call him mr. president yes because i respect the office. why would you even say mr. president. >> because he is the president of the united states, thank you barbara for your call. >> april ryan, let's go back to the red flag in your book. the presidency in "black and white", you been a red flag for people, do you think it's black woman and

sometimes this is put on you such as barbara's opinion? >> the assumption is because i am black and i am a woman and i'm a democrat, i love barack obama and i just hate the president, not thepr truth. we have not gotten to the place where we can look at each other and say without labels and tags, i have friends who are republicans, high-ranking republicans that would be surprised who have gone to the mat for me and these people think of a democrat or republican or whatever because they know me and they know my heart. so i iat do believe that there n automatic assumption and i doca believe because the president says so, some people believe. but it does not always mean it's true. >> as a member of the specialty media as you call it, you write

in your book. >> explain specialty media so people understand. >> all that you explain. >> it means when you're outside of the realm of abc, nbc, cbs, and the baxter child of media and radio and refocusing on urban america. that's what amines. that's means the reporters can get mean losing to the president only when itt affects them directly, and cannot get intimidating dealing with cbs see, cnn any of them. >> there has been -- there's a new crop of people who have common in the press corps is so different, you now have conservative media, liberal

media, mainstream media, black media, when i started no one knew anyone's policies, we just asked questions, there there's those in favor and i am so sick of it, i just want to cut down the middle, that's the way it was, just the truth and nothing but the truth. if specialty media once the truth about everything but particularly as it relates to minority america. . . . said, - - works to listen to your question on coronavirus that you asked the president. then i listened to your report. >> you did? >> i did. >> on twitter. >> did you like it? >> i have no opinions about anything as you know. >>. [laughter] >> i report.t there are some twitter comments on the feed. it was straight down the middle thank you. it was straight down the metal and that's what you'll find in

my report it was about coronavirus you are not going to hear what i think the president -- inat my reporting i he said andat idat i will tell you what somebody else if i know it's solid, i will just leave it there. but i try to give all sides of the story. and people want to call me a racist, but if you say watchan me on cnn, if you ask me a question i am going to tell you. my job as a white house correspondent is to do the job to give you all sides of the story. you even heard the reports with doctor sanjay group.com if you heard that as well. and the president was talking about the flu and this is nothing but the flu, but coronavirus, that could be deadly it actually is deadlier than the flu if you look at the numbers if it spreads the way they think it could. i want to give as much information as possible to the american public i was there we had a ebola and when we had other diseases it's important

to that the american public knows without giving my opinion. >> who was mary. >> my mommy, my late mother she is such a -- i miss her to this day and my dad passed little while ago. robert senior, they are in heaven now. he won what was your mom's role in your life? >> guest: she was my everything, she exposed me to the world, she and my father are the reason why i survived. as i say them baltimore, there's automatic failure. you are not supposed to get out. i got out because of them. they gave me all they had. myda dad never attended

college. my mother received her bachelor's degree when i was 11th or 12th grade. she worked on a college campus but she exposed me to the world. and to everyone. she always said i can be into anything i want to be as long as i work hard and get a good education. she told me, she said i always knew you'd be in washington, but i never figured you be at the white house. yeah. >> host: did she ever visio the white house? >> guest: yes she did we've got a couple pictures at the christmas parties and the little events we used to have at the white house. >> host: you write about her in at mom's knee, mothers in race in black-and-white, another mother you talk about we are going to show some video when you talk about this. but a woman named toya graham. this is from april 2015, and this is just be roll so you can go ahead and tells what's going on here who this woman

is. >> guest: that buck was actually written for this woman. the unfortunate thing, because ofun her life and after the story got out people were taking advantage a of her i didn't interview with her but she chose not to go on the record. some people view that is corporal punishment. i know exactly she's going, and diamond mall, i grew up around that mall i used to take piano lessons on the side streets. but therere is something inmates about a mother, she doesn't have to see the whole face. but she picked up that little boy and she said, not you, no you won't. she tried to keep her children live. i can't get into the interview because i wasn't allowed to, but her story is everyone's story. i am divorced mother and you try to protect your children, especially when you cannot

pull up from the depths of hurt and pain. some of us have been afforded an opportunity to get out, others are still climbing. i will never forget that day, i was leaving the white house. it was thehe day of freddy gray's funeral not far from diamond mall. i think of new shiloh baptist church and the fight broke out. people were calling me at the white house, you need to come home, you need to come home. my children were about 13 miles up the road, at their little school, they are ebola boarding school they attend. all i could think about was getting home to them. i got on the road and listening to what was going on of the radio, i thought it was armageddon and the world was coming to an end. and i got them home.

and then i saw that story and i understood, my heart just broke. i understood. people look at it as corporal punishment. but from where i come from she was saving that boy's life and he is still on the straight and narrow. and she was at the hairdresser. [laughter] she got up and went and got her baby. she got up and all she saw was his eyes and his head and she knows him. you see the level of respect he had for her. he kept going, that's love. and when you are a black mother or brown mother, any mother, is in the depths of despair you will do anything for your child. that was survival.d that wasn't corporal punishment, that was survival. >> host: in your book at mom's knee. so many black mothers had to network and conspire and networked together to strategize for the children's future. >> guest: yeah, it takes a itvillage. my late mother used to always

tell me we had bridal showers and baby showers because you don't have enough money we all come together and make sure you make it. there are so many children who were raised by aunties or grandparents, it takes a village. you conspire you never know, that child could be the next what? the next barack obama, the nextxt michele obama, the next bill clinton, the next doddle john trump, the next george w. bush, the next martin luther king, could be the next mohamed ali, who knows. to be the next charles drew, if you don't who that is look him up google him. to be the next. to be the next. >> host: what is the writing process like for you?

>> guest: it is hell on wheels. the first book took me 17 years. i'm glad it took 17 years. the subsequent books were six months each. and it almost killed me. i pulled myself away from everything. when you write, you lose yourself in your book. and i've got children, so being a mommy, taking them to school and writing. the process this phone, i put word on my phone. you could be on the plane, train, automobile is your typing and you can bring it over. when you think of something you write api sentence, you are always thinking of it and i am consumed by it. i needed a break. [laughter] three books in five years is a lot.t. >> host: betsy from michigan, good afternoon. >> caller: hi there how are you today? >> guest: i'm fine.

>> caller: i have seen you on many a c-span program with your books and i have always admired your strength andve perseverance. and today. you said something that made me call. you used the phrase a disease of spirit. you are talking about being concerned of issues that cause people deceive of spirit. and i thought to myself, i think that probably describes very well who you are and i admire that, and i wanted to say it on live television so people who don't have any idea who you are, might get a glimpse. i just wanted to say thank you and i will hear your response evenif if it is just thank you. >> guest: thank you, betsy that touched my heart, thank you so much. humanity is really big for me. twenty-three years and you cannot sit in that unique perch on reporting on the

world and not see people. this is about people, it's not about politics for me anymore, it's about people. people like sabrina fulton people like. guttenberg who lost his daughter in parkland. it's theik people, i think what we have forgotten, is no matter who we are, which side of the equation whereon, democrat, republican, independent, we are people nonetheless. and i think we have forgotten that we are people. that we are people who are still forming a more perfect union. and i've watched people feel helpless when they don't realize they have power. and that power again goes back to that blueprints on the 50s and 60s. people don't realize they have

the power and they forgotten about we the people. we are still forming a more owperfect union. we are going through growing pains. i watch people, i report on people who are trying to figure the way out and call on the highest office in the land for help. i see a lot of dis- ease. i am now, policy is policy. but it's about people. and i report at woodlot at times reactionary and it's the. >> host: so if you were to recommend one of your books to betsy, which one would be? >> guest: okay, given her comments about hearts, "at mama's knee". if you want to know about people trying to figure this out and raised in the white

house, i would do the first book. if you want to know my struggles in trying to survive in efforts with freedom of the press which i do believe in, i would believe in the fourth state i would recommend "under fire". >> host: li is in new orleans, go ahead leave. >> guest: highly, that's my daughter's favorite place. >> caller: that's a good thing tell her to come back and visit whenever she can. ms. april, you are doing a fantastic job. keep on doing what you are doing. and what you've got to really understand, there's a lot of people in this country, probably over 50% that are still fighting the civil war. >> guest: you are speaking to that other caller from earlier. [laughter] >> caller: yes i know a lot of them. i know a lot of them. what ia wanted to say, couple of questions. at the time barack obama was president, i heard several

times that there was anywhere from two to $3 trillion of investment money sitting offshore, waiting to be spent which was not spent. as far as putting it into the economy. secondly, what you got to understand is trump basically takes the vitriol of race and hatred and a lot of different things and he's going through, all parts of the country listening to talk radio and that's basically what he is using to jen up his supporters. and he knows this. what i'm asking is, how could possibly, we as normal americans, do things to keep from falling into that

category? >> guest: all right lee thank you for the question. one, when i it comes to drum, when it comes to president trump, and the vitriol, the people i'd charged with every moment this. use critical thinking. i don't care d who you support, but use critical thinking. we arere at a time when facts are not always the truth now. i implore people to use critical thinking. and when it comes to the economy, let's talk about the economy. when barack obama came into the white house, we were in a recession. i will never forget before barack obama came into the white house, i asked george w. bush if we were in a recession. and i remember, it was in the rose garden and i talked to congressman james clyburn at the time and i asked about the recession. george bush was saying no it's not a recession. and we were tumbling into recession of the time.

it's a full-blown recession of barack obama. unemployment numbers are very hi, black unemployment was cut in half thehi time. he created a situation, a good situation for this president y go into. now, i don't know about the money that was offshore. but whatever he did work to help stimulate the economy. he helped the auto industry, he plugged the money in here and there. but i will tell you is, this president, he owns this economy now. but, he did not have what barack obama walked into. barack obama walked into a full-blown recession. people were saying we are walking into a depression. thego bottom line is this president owns this economy now, but there is a problem. we see the stock market look unfavorable for a while.

this president has the coronavirus, and that is going to makee. an impact with us, with the economy and particularly globally as many countries have been unstable financially. so we've got to wait and see the impacted now. but as it relates to the economy, this is a wait-and-see now. we have an added strain with the coronavirus, but barack obama did help this president with a great economy for him to sustain. >> host: this is a text message we received. hello april, thank you c-span for featuring april. are you receiving more threats? can you share a recent one with us? how do you feel about tom joyner's retirement? and thatfe is from angelia and mobile, alabama. >> guest: i miss tom joyner. how do i feel about the retirement? i grew up on tom joyner, and tom afforded me the opportunity to use my voice on his show.

and i will forever be thankful. i believe there is still room for tom joyner. i lovee ricky happy, and i love steve harvey. but i still believe there is room for tom joyner and there will always be room for tom joyner. but was in them. question? >> host: you know it they took it down when he i can find it again can you share a recent threat with us? >> guest: for security purposes i do not like going into it. they come, and i will say they come in social media, they come. they come via mail, wherever they come they come. but the bottom line is, a lot of times when people give death threats, they are trying to scare you. so you just never know you have to be vigilant. it is unfortunate that me, as a member of the press in this

country, and the united states of america, and 2020 has to have death threats or has death threats and has to have a bodyguard to make sure i am okay and my interests aremy okay.fo thank you for asking and that's as far as i'm going to go. thank you for my safety and security. >> host: bringing that up, there is an incident in new jersey recently. we will show some b b roll, maybe you could tell us what was happening. and it'sas coming up. you can tells what happened here? speak to new jersey i believe that was august in new jersey. so it made news. what i will say is there was a negative narrative created about what happened. i had not said anything.

at the behest of my attorney. >> host: what are we saying here? it's not on your screen sorry about that. >> guest: what you are seeing is the young lady in the sequence is an organizer. i was in the ballroom, i can see it now i was in a ballroom of happened. it's the event organizer and my then bodyguard doing something that i did not recommend. at issue, no reporter should ever have death threats. no reporter should ever have to have a bodyguard. the situation had escalated. i was onha the stage. we were just asking what's what. everyone wants to know who's there. what's going on? they just would make sure me getting death threats they just wanted to know.

i am on stage, i guess they were working something out, i don't know. my then bodyguard comes to me and says miss ryan, please stop talking. so, because i had not said anything about the incident, the negative narrativeve was created that i ordered a hit. i am not that person. it was ugly and unfortunate. my then bodyguard was fired. and he has since apologized to me for the incident. what i will say is, there were no charges. of me at the scene, i have never been subpoenaed, neither has my bodyguard. all of this, a lot of this was negative stories and there was negative smear of me, it is not true. but i handled it, with my

security guard. >> host: 's susan, from redding california. >> guest: thank you for taking my call appreciate it. speaking of journalism, i think you have such a wonderful career. i thank you for doing what you do because we need journalists in this country really, really bad. it's a very honorable job. i two quick questions. what do you think, is it from her what has brought this on with the journalism journalism we have failed to see the importance of journalism? another quick question you bring up slavery. i wanted to ask about economic slavery. we keep hearing the economy in this country so great, but i feel like the media is not talking about half of the

economy -- how can it be so great if people are getting minimum wage, slave wages, we are coming right out of the '80s people are holding three jobs to make ends meet. she went right thank you ma'am. >> guest: art susan she asked me one question about journalism and why it's perceived as negative and on economic slavery. economic slavery, there's still a large portion of americans unemployed, or underemployed. meaning they need to have two or three jobs to make a salary. and there is still poverty in this nation. the economic slavery is real. women now, as the head of the household, and a lot of instances and communities were rising in numbers as head of the household are feeling the brunt of that. the problem is we are not seeing the numbers going into

education, and getting the kinds of jobs that each community particularly calls for. that is one issue. but at the same time, that's economic slavery. the wealth gap, when he comes the black committee versus the white community, at the black on employment rate is so great, black economy is great. no it's not. they're still a wealth gap. there's still a great disparity between blacks and whites with income. it is going to take centuries for blacks to make up the loss. not only that, with the women versus men. so how does thatt happen? policy. i talked to the kellogg foundation, they are talking about one thing that will spur a change. i talked to them last week they said tax incentives. i am like how could a 3300-dollar tax incentive help somebody put a child and

daycare when daycare for two months is maybe $3300. they said it ultimately trickles down. they did the math. but the issue is there needs to be in my opinion, after working through this some kind of stimulus and ways to get people into fields that are producing, get them educated for fields that are producing financially to help change situations. but you are always going to have people involved in the gaps. but was the other one? i did a can of slavery journalism. john mccain talked about this before he died. the issue of a free press and when the press wase oppressed. that leads to disinformation, he also said it leads into a dictatorship. the question is, why is there such a hatred for the press

right now? n' opinion, but i will tell you is yes, the press can make mistakes. we are human. yes, the press can also clean it up. but i also believe some people don't realize, there is a line between fact and opinion. i think it's obscure. and i people don't realize they may be listening to opinion versus fact intake that as the news. but there's also this component that we need to see. we have a president who does not trust or like the press. because he feels there negative story. he has a large following that believes him. when you have that following and when the pressg goes to a rally, and you know there are people who want to do things and say things to the press. it doesn't make it easy for us. now i am hearing, the press

has people around them to help support them. i can't go to a rally. i would love to cover trump rally, i can't do it. i just cannot. i have to be careful where i go, for my safety because of a negative narrative, a false narrative, fake news about me fake, fake news about me. but i encourage people, once again, going back to thei issue of criticall thinking. i would encourage you to find the reporters that you trust and that you believe in that gives you just straight news. not opinion, and then build the other pieces in. find the news and then build the other pieces in. find the news. and then build the other pieces in. because we are at a time where information is critical and we are not getting the necessary information. we are getting a lot of opinion but not the critical information. >> host: text for you, because inthere are so many different

types of media now, compared to when you started in the business. how much of a problem has washington media pool become in trying to do your job and doing it professionally? if you could also define what thet pool is, and the expanse of media different types of media. >> guest: so when i started, i have been the business for 30 years. but when i started 30 years ago, we had -- i was in school actually when we started 30 years ago. i was hearing the term information superhighway. i was like what in the world is that? my late teacher, doctor window and hubert madoff were telling me the information superhighway is coming. i'm like what highway is this? the information for the highways now the internet. to the internet has been a blessing and a curse for

media. what it has done is it has challenged t us to now get in that platform. if you're ready you also have to be visual so you can be on the internet as well as audio, and pictures. and with that, the pool when i started 23 years ago, was basically wire, tv, prints, magazines and then radio. the master child radio. but now has been expanded to blogger, commentator. when we talk about the pool, the pool is a small group of people. one representative of each of the wire, tv, newspaper, magazines, radio, blogs, commentators and i'll even of commentators are real but some of those people are going our commentators. so it's a group of people who go into either the overall intent oval office, the

iroosevelt room, the cabinet room, or wherever the president is traveling to represent the organization that are looking for information. they feed us the information because we all can't get in all the small places. so it has changed. but we still try c to keep it backs only when we give these pool reports. because some people want to add color and commentary and sowe are very critical. we need the facts. we are still a group looking for facts for the most part, the traditional group of people and organizations they are still looking for facts. they are not looking for, oh, i think he's great or i hate him. they are looking for facts and we can disseminated to the people. so it's change, it's change. i think it will be continued to change it will be an evolution paired i don't think were finished yet. >> host: have youye served on past?ol the >> guest: i was in the pool a couple weeks ago. i'm in every 11 days. for radio it's 11 to 12 days. for other media is large because they have more people

in the pool. >> host: and your responsibility? >> be sound say what's what, what's happening in the room, who's in the's room. >> host: do you enjoy? >> no. [laughter] has it become a chore and his sense? >> guest: it's become a big chore and i've never said this publicly, it's become a big chore because i don't want to there and be glared at her talk down to. that'st all. i don't like those moments they make me cringe. i don't like them. that's the thing people want to believe oh, i live for that no i don't. i really don't. but i'm going to tell you what happens if it happens. b1 another text message jen message for april ryan what book do you recommend for black women to understand the game board? >> guest: i need to write a book goes to the economics of it all. the game board. we have been out of the room,

and not at the table for so long, and now in 2020 it's time for us to have a seat at the table. watch how they play the game and know the game ourselves. >> host: you played for toy three years prayed. >> guest: i know the game now, and i know when to pick my fights and when to get in when to stay out. i think of shelly chisholm the first black woman to run for president. she said if you don't have a seat at the table bring a folding chair. so now zero she was before, look, she was before carol moseley. but when you have that seat at the table learn the game so you can come back and teach others. that may be another book. that may be another book. that may be another book. >> host: are you working on a forthright now? >> guest: yes. yes. >> host: does a flow from these three? >> guest: no. yes and no. i need some and that's mindless. i am burned out, i have ptsd

from all this. i am serious about that. i always have to look over my shoulder, yeah i've had to move, just to keep safe. keep my children safe. people don't want to believe this, but it is the truth. my neighbors will tell you, they are on edge too sometimes. i need something -- i need things that are mindless. i am writing about, working with a dear friend victoria nchristopher murray on something. there is always that other book, you know everybody's can read a book about trauma. but mine will always be different. no one has that unique perch that i have. as a unique situation that i have. if i write something, it's got to be something that is going to give people an understanding, and it's going to be there for history for people to see because i am not elective and write my narrative. >> host: reminder if you can't get there on the phone lines you make a

comet there several social media sites we will scroll through those addresses hear from k in elk grove california. >> guest: hi april i appreciate your really do. >> guest: thank you. >> caller: april, i'm a political news junkie and i kid you not i woke up this morning and wondered what april ryan is up to and here you are. [laughter] >> guest: i've been doing a couple things have been around. >> host: k did you really wonder that? >> caller: i swear, i woke up and i was getting out of bed i did not realize you asked that question yesterday in the press conference because i could not see it. >> guest: is friday. >> caller: oh friday, april, i was wondering how are the challenges challenges of racism, sexism and misogyny change for you personally during your career as a black female, white house press correspondent or how they change? >> guest: thank you ma'am.

>> guest: thank you i'm still around i'm on cnn i'm there. >> host: how often are you on cnn. >> guest: right now not as much as i was, that is a blessing right now for me. [laughter] so i can breathe. i am still around and i'm still reporting. and i love cnn. see what are you employed? >> guest: oh yes, i am contracted. cnn and american radio network have been great through all of this process. they have been with me, i don't want to get into details, butnt they have been with me all the way. i so appreciate them. now, as it relates to sexism, racism, misogyny, all the -isms in this business, washington is a white male dominated town. i am a black woman, then i am asking about issues a lot of people don't want to talk about. it is tough. you know what, i've been here

long enough and i know who to ask a question to help me with somebody or i will know who will help me. and i know who won't. after a while, you feel the vibes, you know the rhythms of the town. i know the rhythms of this town, even the new crop of people that have come, i still know the rhythm. i know where to go, where not to go, who to go with, who not to go with. and there is still definite -isms all over the place. you just half to know who works for you. you have to know yourself, because if you don't know yourself in this business, you will definitely go up in a corner and ball up andp cry. if you know who you are and you know how to get it, and you know the game, and the table, you comply. no mother whether you like me orat not, i'm a player and i'm

going to play. i play for keeps in a play to win. >> host: arnold is in arlington texas. >> guest: thank you c-span for taking my call. hi april, harry doing? >> guest: i'm fine how you doing? >> caller: i'm good, i am an amateur author and i have a book coming out this summer and i specifically mentioned you by name as well as allison dunnigan. that's why appreciate the collar for mission get in before me who said people don't know who you are. the job that you have is a difficult job. i want to let you know that a lot of the american people, especially the african-american community love and respect what you do. >> guest: thank you that touch my heart. and you are right allison dunnigan, ethel payne, harry -- the late gwen ifill. there are so many others who have paved the way for me at

the white house. they encountered racism harry was over 70 years ago. they were talking about no you cannot come to the press conference. if you step on one of our shoes, the white reporters, there will be a riot. come on. >> host: the first african-american white house correspondent. correct? >> guest: yes. >> host: during npr? >> guest: yes, the problem is he never had his press credential. he received it at the 100th anniversary for the white house correspondent association. i was on the board at thatrd time. that they -- the challenges that they had. they don't fall short on me. i take it with a badge of honor to be in that sacred state. i believe the white house is a sacred state. and i believe that voting is

sacred. i respectd it. i respect the part in history that i play, because i am in history now. c-span is rolling all the tapes for my novice time to now. i'm a part of history and i respect that. i take it seriously. people don't -- they do not offend me when they call me a clown or fraud. more power to you but this clown and fraud as part of history. in asking question for the underserved community. >> host: we have one more piece of video we want to show. this is from january 12, 2018. switch okay go ahead. [inaudible] mr. president we respond to me? i'm talking to you mr. president are you a racist? >> host: what's going on?

>> guest: that one still brings tears to myat eyes. >> host: we heard a voice at the end say mr. president are you a racist? >> guest: that was me. times ihim three believe. you know what, that has been how many years and i still have not come to terms with that question. >> host: over to now. be to i have not come to terms with that question. i do not regret asking. the reason i have not come to terms with that question is because in 2020 right now, and in 2018, no matter who the president is, we've had advanced supposedly as a community. i don't think any reporter should ever have to ask that question of a sitting u.s. president. dan rather said to me, the great dan rather, he said oh boy, when he said he heard that question he said oh boy that was a a good question. but i knew she was going to

get it. but let's talk about the lead up in the day that happened. that was the king holiday weekend. and if it weren't for doctor king, i would not be in that white house. if it weren't for doctor king peter, you and i would not be sitting here right now. and that is sacred to me. for that we were hearing as whole nations, allegedly coming from the mouthro of the president of norway, before that we had charlottesville. intertwined in that we had this conversation from the chief of staff on issues of a compromise about slavery. and then also, fredricka wilson was there to. congresswoman fredricka wilson with david johnson was killed in africa. she was charged with

eavesdropping when that master sergeant put the phone call in for everyone to hear, she happened to be in the car. they drugged her name through the mud. in the background, all of my sources, black leaders democrats, he is a racist, he's a racist, he's a racist. you had hispanic and black leaders very upset about the whole nation. that was my pool day, i had not determined to ask that question until i came out of myes mouth. i was fighting with myself. doctor king means the world to me.. this is a historic moment because he was allotting the money for the king center and that area. and designating certain areas.

and i said oh my god, it tore me up so much so, that i left the white house and i just fell into the arms of cbs cameramen from baltimore. my family is close to his family. and i fell into his arms and i just sobbed on pennsylvania avenue. i could not believe it. i reached out to mlk three, martin luther king the third, and said i am sorry. he said for what? if you notice on the back of "under fire", he wrote a blurb for the book. it still weighs on me. but i am sure it weighed on him because he did not answer there, but three days later he did. because that was -- that

question made a lotst of news it was making a lot of news. months later, i was asked if you are white nationals because he kept saying he is a nationalist. he kept saying he is a nationalist. the only reason why i asked those questions is because the atmosphere and the words bag to the question. and it still bothers me today, because words matter. that means something to me. do i regret asking? no. doesn't bother bother me so? yes. if someone wants to play this back and change my words, no. i don't regret asking the question. it wasn't me april saying mr. president are your racist? the atmosphere, what was said, things that led up to that. so yeah. >> host: text message why do

not democrats look at all the miserable cities that have held in democratic majority for 50 years as does her baltimore. >> guest: her baltimore? >> has the worst problems of crime, race et cetera. >> guest: democrats that's one that's an automatic assumption that i'm a democrat. that's exactly what i'm talking about earlier. her baltimore. baltimore, chicago, khalil and baltimore's cleve in baltimore's new orleansns baltimore is every urban city and community in rural america. so i'm so glad that person texted that. her baltimore. yeah, i grew up in baltimore, i have a love for baltimore. let me break this down. when any american or any city isy hurting, why do you point fingers like there instead of pointing finger saying there's a problem let's help. i don't understand the disconnect. when katrina happens, george

w. bush was having rights in brownie when in and messed up. there were still efforts to help not point fingers. look at those people sitting on the rooftops. katrina lingered into the obama administration, the obama administration had two cities that they put in special protective, i don't know, that special efforts for them. detroit in new orleans. they were trying to help the cities. and then they ultimately worked up to the point where they didn't have to keep them in the special status. why place fingers at us city that's hurting. i don't know, i don't know about the corruption or whatever it maybe there was corruption. but instead of pointing fingers, if you are leaving people, that is part, of america. this is where i hurt. because i know people like victor blackwell of cnn. to see him cry, that hurt me.

when you are from the same neighborhood, or the same community, that has automatic failure why don't you help? why don't you help? why don't you help? and that's all it's doing its humanity. it's not politics it's humanity. i hope i answered your question her baltimore is our baltimore. her lumberton north carolina is everyone's north carolina. her detroit is everyone's detroit. we have to stop saying i like, i, you, you, you, it's we. >> host: next call for april ryan a book tv is norm in gallup washington to get the name of your city right? >> caller: peter i'm giving you and a it's obviously an indian name, spokane, seattle, tacoma, those are all indian atnays. >> guest: native american nays. subic yeah yeah love this part is called god's country by the

way. >> guest: i have been to seattle, my daughters have two it's beautiful. very expensive but beautiful. >> guest: it's the san francisco northwest. i was going to ask the question about why, inn your opinion in the 21st century are there so much nationalism and authoritarianism sweeping the globe, not just here, but i thought more about religion, i just want to get your take on it. there is real contrast in russia, vladimir putin's russia jehovah witnesses are being banned and abused over there. in this country if got the right wing evangelicals who are some of trump's supporters. despite the fact that he says and does his track record is not really behaving in a christian way. i wanted to get your take on that. religion andet politics. >> host: norm, thank you so

much for calling in. the questions were about nationalism spread around the world and religion and politics. >> guest: let me talk about nationalism. my book, all of my books deal with race. i have talked to a lot of people to include governor doug wilder, the first black governor of virginia, a very wise man. democrat, but a very wise man. i have republicans in my book, donate peter? i have republicans in there too. but doug wilder, for this point i'm going to go there and get a start from that point. he says, when people's money i just can adjust synopsis. when people's money happens to be funny, that's when race comes into play. when people feel they are not getting their fair shake, they get upset. they wait a minute, i don't want this to happen. that's a beginner backs up against the wall. i'm going to take it a little further.

when we feel disenfranchised will we feel we are not touched by politics, there are still people to this day that feel that way. even during the obama years they felt that we are even during the bush years, every president. you are not when jamila touch everyone. people feel left out, because our backs are against the wall and they're going to lash tout. it's o a very simple answer for very complex issue. but racism isn't ignorance, and when i say ignorant i mean it's not unknowing and non- understanding. and a nonbelievera or pushback from the truth. and you do not have to believe me, just google it if you want, look at the statistics. a statistic doesn't lie, if you look at the correct organization. that is what i believe. i believe that is where i we still have that. there are groups of people who feel they have been left out.

and other people are getting anden when other people are saying we been left out they say no no no you need to look it up. it's very simple for a complex issue. now going to the issue of religion.ss it is so interesting now, i've seen ministers get very upset with people who espouse religion -- mike that's a word we use a lot in my family. and say, you know, the call on this god that is for love of everyone and help. but yet they are espousing the things that are happening and supporting the ugly issues. there is a big problem in this country right now with religion and politics. love thy neighbor as thyself is not necessarily the bedrock that a lot of these ministers are standing on. i don't want to call out nays,

i talked to many ministers and there certain ministers that used to work with who are now under thisll administration i just don't want to call out nays. there's a big problem here at the end of the day we have to judge ourselves. and look at, is it about i am joining this for power i'm joining this for helping my neighbor. again, it's not about politics it's aboutag humanity. after 23 years and this unique perch, i am only speaking for myself. it's about humanity in my opinion. some people walk over it humanity for the proximity to the president or a cabinet person or even for money. i hope i answered your question. thank you, from seattle. i can't say. she went in your book "at mama's knee", you talk about being raised in the church. enter own faith as well.

>> guest: yes i call on the name of jesus christ. my relationship to god it's very personal. it is so coincidental, some of my best friends are preachers. i am always around ministers. >> host: what kind of work did your dad do? >> guest: my dad was a self-made man. i don't even know if he was self-made. standing on the shoulders of greatness of so many people who knocked on doors for us. he was a man that did not have a college education, he went into the military, he was in the army. he left, married my mom. he was a bus driver for a while. he said no, i don't want to do this, i want to own my own business. he wound up owning his own trucking company that worked the port of baltimore. he and my brother work together. that is what set us. he was a man who came home every night and he paid the

bills and made sure we were okay. he would go out in the cold, like many americans do. i remember seeing his hands chapter in the cold. my mother would always go to sears and roebuck, leaves have a sears and roebuck catalog and by his winter jackets, and i remember her putting this salve on his hands that were chap from the weather. he was a great provider. he died, and when he died he had dementia. but he was salience enough at some point, before he died he was concerned about the death threats i had. he said what's the fbi saying? with the fbi saying? i hope they are my angels watching over me protecting me now. my dad was aov tough man, he was very outspoken. i think i got my courage from him. my mother was the giver i think i have her heart and i have his strength. >> host: and your brother??

- my brothers very laid back like my mother. he is tall he is my mother's child. i am my dad's child. i look like my dad, i am short. my brother has a good heart, he loves hard. he is my heart. all we have is each other now. we've got our kids and each other. i would do anything for him. we are our parents legacy, i am proud of him and i want so much for him. >> host: margaret from fayetteville arkansas you are on book tv with april ryan. >> guest: i love arkansas. >> caller: hi april. >> guest: hi. >> caller: i want you to know i really admire your gracious manner with your critics. i think you are exactly right when you tell us all to study more our history.

c-span has had some great historians on. a lot of black historians like annette gordon reed and mel painter and gerald horne from the university of houston, i believe. a lott of us, americans, have been taught a rather comic book story book version of history and we would enjoy and we would benefit by going deeper into history and c-span does help with that. >> guest: margaret, i'm going to let you go at that point. we appreciate your calling in. let's hear from rico who is calling from west bloomfield, michigan. >> caller: hi i have a question about news coverage, but i just want to go over

about your adventureju new jersey when the reporter got thrownwn out. he said, you made after was when i speak there is no news coverage. he said someone else was recording the event. now the question i have is, what is your opinion of networks that interrupt the president while he is speaking or in a news conference and they say, we will let you know if he says something important. >> host: alright rico, thank you. we have two issues on the table. >> guest: rico i will not go any further. i spoke on cnn and i just spoken here. everything i said before and today, i have already addressed that. i was interviewed by brian stetler. a great interview.

he went in and asked those questions. go back to that interview and you will see what i said about that. and i'm not going any further, i gave you something today and i'm not going to relitigate this issue. and there was no litigation actually but i'm not going to go back at the advice of my attorneys. you have everything that i saidyo before, and i have addressed issue before with brian stetler. gratefully we have the internet that you can pull the interview up. and two, when it comes to people saying who covered if something is important. i get why they say that. because what if you are, right now you are in the midst of the coronavirus and then you fhave the results from the primary. you have to pick and choose. it's unfortunate that we can't always do a split screen. but you've got to pick and choose print if it's a rally where he is talking the same thing, fine.

you don't want to be redundant. you want people to get something new. that's what news is something new something to advance the story. i get that. i'm not going to be in the newsroom or the news person's head, the newsroom to figure out why they are saying this, but in my opinion, i -- if it's new if it advance of the story i'll cover it. i listen to a lot of tape of rallies and if they same the same thing i am not going to say the same thingng over again. if there's something new added, i will give it to you. so i get why they said that. i don't think it's meant to be critical or mean. if you want to watch it, c-span ensures covering it. the issue is, we have to pick and choose. there is so much more on the table we cannot have continuous coverage of nancy pelosi continues coverage of mitch mcconnell, continuous coverage of donald john trump.

you have to pick and choose when the stories advance on the something new. >> host: every time we have an author on in-depth we ask him or her what he or she is reading. april ryan is reading two books currently conversations in black on power politics and leadership with several prominent authors, and you and ambassador, susan rice's new book which has been coverede on book tv, tough love. >> caller: both of them having to be my friends. ed, i'm so proud of him for his book. he did something like i did. it's hard as a news person to put yourself out there. he interviewed some major people, he got there take on different things. and it was interesting to really hear some of the takes. i'm not going to tell you everything i want you to go by his book.

and on susan rice, i'm not going to i'm not giving any spoiler alerts i'm going to let youil read, but i love the fact i've known her for 20 some odd years there areor some stories i did not know. read those books. : : those book. >> a series of conversations on race in america with different authors. she has done this for a couple years. they have all been covered by book tv. booktv.org. type in april ryan. you will see a lot of these conversations she has had around the washington area. the presidency and black-and-white, "at mama's knee" and "under fire." thank you for spending two hours on book tv.