but, if you can maintain your independence and you can support indispensable you and desire freedom, then you can also fight and battle at home. about which i think we have been substantially successful. >> thank you. >> you are watching american history tv, all weekend, every weekend. >> former u.s. senate baker died on thursday at the age of 88. in this 2007 interview, he reflected on his political career as part of an oral history project conducted by the robert j dole institute of politics at the university of kansas.

mr. baker talked about the dynamics of the senate, the relationship chewing former senator bob dole and president nixon, and is on roll on the senate watergate committee and as president reagan's chief of staff. this is just under an hour. >> you are in the senate and the house? let's know, that was my father. >> the senate that you came into, how does that compare to the senate today? >> i was avoided answering that question has i try not to second-guess those who followed me. in all fairness, you do not know the senate unless you're there.

you could lose the touch. it would appear that from outside, things are tougher now than they were and more personal, and more confrontational. but i cannot say that because i'm not there. >> described the senate that you walked into. >> the senate that i walked into in 1967 was still a senate populated by large measure by the grand girls of dukes. -- grand dukes.and those that have gone and made such a name for themselves, fulbright. i approached the matter as the youngest member at that time and the second most junior person in the senate. mark hatfield was number 100.

i was 99 and the reason was mark stayed back for two days to continue to complete his service. i jumped him. day, we referred to each other as 99 and 100. these people had been there long. and in looking back on it, honestly, i must tell you, that has a retarding effect on the new senator's ability to jump into the mainstream. i think that is probably less so now than it was then. that was pretty reverential. i don't remember. if i made my maiden speech on the floor. that is what they are destined to do. i went there fully prepared, extensively prepared, carefully not so on the

floor. except one democrat and my father and law, who is a republican leader. he was there, out of curiosity. i spoke for 40 minutes. said, dirksen came over and sat down beside me and his careful deliberative way. future, youhe should guard against speaking more clearly than you think. that was my introduction into the senate. that was the hazing. >> bob dole comes in later. younger members look out for the still younger members? >> not really.

>> dole was not outside of the fold. we all knew who he was. many were surprised that he was elected. i was pleased that he was elected, got acquainted with him first off and then we established it early and a pretty warm friendship. but, no, the older members. more like a sophomore, freshman relationship than anything else. as you recall, sophomores were full of themselves. is essentially a homogenous group and notwithstanding seniority or age or rest each, it wasn't very long before everyone is swimming in the same straight.

they developed it early. they developed an early understanding that we are part of this group. we are part of the senate and that is something very special. think, until i i left, actually. i am not sure now. once again, i'm not there. >> you are saying that this was a real kind of institutional loyalty to the senate. recognition, it is not a family relationship. the commonality of interest and whatnot. little of this protecting your younger brother. >> the republican caucus was very different. andarly in 1967 until mike 69, you had a significant number of moderate and liberal senators. >> that's right.

>> how did that work question mark >> at work for a well. it never dawned on me that it would not be that way. and when i got there, i was not there wasto find that a significant number of liberal senators. an even greater number of moderates and the other side of the road senators. i would say that when i went there, the two, that is the liberal and the senators, the republican senators, were probably in the majority. but, that gradually eroded and began to go away in the space of the next elections. by the time i left, moderate republicans were almost a vanishing breed. not going to stay. that will not be the way it is. if the two-party system survives, as i think it will, you will see a resurgence of this complex of different points of view. and i think that is good.

arrives, does he have rough edges? that he was very much a man of his place, of his culture, of western kansas, very conservative, house voting record. how does that over time involved in the senate. >> well, you make an interesting point. when dole arrived, he had a reputation. be verytation was to tough, very republican. i guess very conservative i don't recall that was one of the hallmarks of his early career in the senate. and that began to wane. he began to establish friendships and relationships in the senate and all of those things, that previous image by hiso be subsumed

newer relationships with members, he fit in. he did not have any trouble fitting into that group. easily andit very very effectively. at some point in this interview, i want to tell you a true story about the republicans regaining control of the senate. and that was in 1980. and i was minority leader about to be majority leader and we were all full of enthusiasm. as the resultsht came in, i called bob, who was in kansas, i don't remember where in kansas but he was and i said, bob, just think, we have the majority. you are going to be chairman of the finance committee. dole said for a minute, who is going to tell russell? told were days when nobody

russell. he went right in to the role of chairman of one of the prime committees of the senate, so with ease, doing it so effectively. >> that just raises questions. i have heard him talk about. this is governed by press release. and then all of a sudden, realized that it was possible. >> that's right. him, also for someone like the opportunity to disprove the doubters and prove what they're capable of doing. >> it is really a remarkable transformation and republicans have big problem with that in the senate because they haven't been in the majority since 1954 or 56. there was not a single person in the republican caucus in the senate who had ever been a committee chair at bedtime except tom thurman -- tom .hurman

there was a high level of cooperation. thatthe sudden realization only are we in the majority but we are responsible for the agenda, the timing. what thefocus on senate will be concerned about. just as important, what they won't, and that is a big deal. afterr a while, clearly, a matter of weeks, it is clear that the republican senate, the majority in the senate had if not equal role of the president, evil to be president but a significant role in setting the national agenda. at a time when we .irst gained the majority

82, that i think that things were different. we thought of ourselves as equal partners. deals anderted those we would visit with the president, the leadership would. the viceuld invite president to policy lunches on tuesday. and maybe assist them. who seem to me that there was a cooperation between the branches at the two times. they had a sobering effect on the republicans because they suddenly realized that this is our game. we get to run the show and we have to decide what to do or what not to do and we are going

to be responsible for it. suggest is seem to that kind of relationship could only have worked because you had a president that was willing to buy into that. >> that's true. maybe it would not have worked if it wasn't for ronald reagan. >> what was it about reagan? >> i don't know. except he never look down on the congress. he never ignored the senate. he was always willing and then seemed to be anxious to see what they had to say. and it was a remarkable relationship. leadership.blican dole was chairman of the finance committee involved in these things. ted stevens, me, dole, one or two other. and we would talk frankly about

the agenda and i also seem to recall that the candor between the congressional types of the white house were remarkable. i wonder if that is still so. reagan's that personality made that possible. agreed on thehey regional tax cuts, budget cuts. that was viewed by bob dole. notou are kindly person for recalling amendment to the white house the president outlined his i unwiselyudget, went outside and was asked about it and i said to the press, well, he hear it, we understand it, we will support it but it is a riverboat gamble. the truth of the matter is that it was a riverboat gamble and

the truth is that it worked. it is to the top of the list of things i should've never said. dole agreed with you. >> i know that he agreed with me. as a matter fact, we talked about it. in all fairness, i have to say that a good part about valuation was based on what dole and i had talked about. he was an important influential person not only in the senate but to me. because there is one other thing you should know and i don't know whether this happens or not but i had a meeting on the committee chairmen and the leadership office of the which i preside. the chairman of the standing committees came. and then we invited one fresh man to each meeting. who, hopefully just sat there. that was a next-door nearly important thing to me because those opportunities for

chairman to say what they had on their plate, what they wanted to do and to have more time on the senate schedule. that is where i got insights in what was going on and what might go on and that is where i first came to have such a high regard for bob old possibility. -- bob dole's ability. lucid andtation was prompt. and it worked out well. >> what qualities made dole a successful chairman of the finance? >> i don't know. i was not a member of financing sector. but, it is undeniably so that the personality has a lot to do with the success or failure of a senator and certainly committee chairman. and dole from the very beginning was highly successful chairman. not only in administering the staff and providing for the

housekeeping details in the committee and also in terms of deciding on the agenda of the senate. but, the people respected his point of view. not everybody agreed with his point of view but they respected it and i continue to. the 81 tax cuts, the budget cuts were, not that they were easy, but relatively easy. i imagine easy to pass then subsequent tax increase. how did that happen? how did the white house feel about taking a step back? >> by that time, a little of the luster had gone out of the new republican leadership in the

majority of the senate and they were flexing their muscles here and there and the white house is a little less reluctant to have an issue and that is a long way of saying that the potential for controversy between white house and the senate was greater. disagreeillingness to with the president or the ministration was a little greater. not aen so, it was hostile relationship. the white house and the residents and the senate and our descendents would , even withse matters great enthusiasm sometimes. helped to reduce the prospects of great controversy within the

customs. >> one of the things we are trying to get at on one level is what is it that dole did behind the scenes that made him dole. i have never really seen it spelled out. beyond that, there is this whole question about what are the tools at the disposal of the majority leader to get the desired results? >> the majority leader is not a it isory position, certainly not a constitutional position. by the device created andte itself to bring order dispatch to the operations. it had to be. and i'm told that early on before the majority leader was so designated that the chairman of the finance committee or the chair of the appropriations committee, but in any event, by

now, the majority leader, takingcan or democrat is the special opportunities and responsibilities, but, the power of the majority leader is actually only two things. tradition, the president that in the case that more than one senator is seeking recognition on the floor, the chair is obligated to first recognize the leader. it does not sound like much but it is a lot. it means that you get a chance to speak first, it means you have a chance that everything else fails, you will adjourn or if you have a quorum call, you will try to reason with them. that is a powerful thing. the other is purely by example. i guess it goes back to the human condition that everybody has to lead, has to have a leader someplace. and even though it is not

statutory or constitutional, that role follows the majority leader. and to the degree, the minority leader. i was the minority leader the same length of time i was majority leader. as minor league the leader, there was a special opportunity like mikehe aisle mansfield or later to mike byrd, i know what you're doing and i understand it. i understand it but that will not work. at least 39 votes. that you could stop it. both leaders have an important role. recognizing the importance of both of these. when i was first elected majority leader, i first went on the floor that day, the first thing i did was go over to bob

byrd. i said, i will never know the rules of the senate way you do , i i will make you a deal will never surprise you if you won't surprise me. he thought about it and said, let me think about it. he came back later that afternoon and said, ok, and we never did. i think that tradition has carried on. i think that dole adopted that point of view as well and it is even if i didn, first advocated. the system itself and the rules of the southerners as such that there is plenty of room for disagreement, plenty of room for controversy and to do so within the framework of the organization about speaking out. i think that dole learned some things from watching how you operated.

i'm wondering, did you learn from watching him? >> i'm sure i did. reallya great man, he really was. i'm sure i did, but i would be hard put. the one thing i would say is that i have a grant -- a great admiration for him. betweenationship though father-in-law and son-in-law was perpetually very delicate. , i don't know, i've not run the records, i believe i may be the only person in the senate that dirksen never asked to vote one way or the other. think that was in recognition of the sensitivity of that relationship. we discussed it freely. i sought his advice, which he gave freely. that he never tried to convince me. i don't think it was rebelling

on my part, but it was the and it works very well. >> how does this contrast. >> all of the things about johnson were true. but it is interesting to me that dirksen and johnson were not only a minority leader but they were very close friends. and i think that that facilitated the operation of the senate. the fact that they would talk freely and i'm sure agree and disagree freely. but what did i learn from dirksen? i will choose the one thing to tell you. i remember i was grumpy about some foreign policy, i've forgotten what it was.

and i also number i was with a very senior democrat. we were traveling in the middle east. we were last in egypt. and we got on the plane. i approached the plane. the press was out there. i made some smart remark about some item of administration policy and we got on the plane and he said, howard, i've discovered over the years that if i say -- safe microsystem of the administration until i get home, both i and the country are better off. i always remember that. i always followed that. andsen in the same vein

die. he says the president is arriving at andrews and i would like you to go and greet him. i said, really? i don't want to do that. he said, well you should. well, i did. the president is the embodiment of our national sovereignty, he is returning from overseas and expressd be there to our support. not of his issues necessarily worse positions, but of his role dirksendent or his would say, as chief magistrate. >> let me ask you something. the whole relationship between dole, which is really pivotal and which mystifies a lot of people, given the way that dole was treated.

if yet, i am often wondering there wasn't an element in the background of calm. that dole and nixon saw this was not ad that natural but who through sheer work and effort forced himself .o be what he wasn't obviously, economically overcame great odds. whether there was some kind of identification, cultural identification that he had with nixon? >> i'm sure he did. i've never discussed that with dole but as you bring it up, i agree with every word you just said. hadstly, dole and nixon that and other things in common. both ended nixon's case great patriots. guess iell you that i

am thought of as being issue mental because of the role on the senate. the truth of the matter is that i continue to have admiration for nixon as president. ways, he was a great senator, even moderate president. error ande one fatal there's this theory that he did not do a thing about that before it occurred. a few found out about it hours after it occurred. he was in california. the fatal error was that he came back instead of liquidating a problem, lining up those folks and firing on live television. he decided to contain it. i think in most cases, it proved to be fatal. know if nixon ever

thought those thoughts. it was a great loss. it was a great, to the country am a we lost a great talent and nixon. but it was the right result because he made a fatal political mistake. unfolded, did you ,ave a sense of astonishment that these revelations kept coming? >> daily. and dole and i talked about that. he was closer to nixon than i ever was. and i can remember the conversations between us about that. and the amazement of the things that came in. >> i believe it. i know i was. just one after the other.

never ended. it was a terrible time. are a psalmist there was a taping system? >> actually, i wasn't. i think every president before him had had some sort of taping system. kennedy did, johnson did, franklin, roosevelt. i wasn't outraged at that. no. but it proved to be the ultimate downfall. that interested to see now ronald reagan's diaries would be released. but, i am astonished that ronald reagan cap that diary daily. i saw those. he never let me read them except for one case. they were written in longhand in leather bound books. they were not loose leaf. a were leather bound books.

and there were rows and rows and dozens of them. someday, they will all be published and it must be the most important and throw and contemporaneous record of the president that ever existed. that he was notion lazy or undisciplined because clearly he was the opposite. >> he was the most disciplined person i ever knew. up every morning at 9:00 on the button. in the oval office. the chief of staff, i used to meet with them at 9:00. when he finished, he expected me to have a funny little story. that was his stock in trade.

i treasure that. dole also has that same talent. he can put things in perspective. effectively, most philosophers can do it with serious dissertation. >> do think that is a real weapon in making the senate work? >> a tool. as valuable, extraordinary. sometimes, dole had been criticized for a rate here like wait, i don't think it was a rapier like wit. a quick mind was able to put things in perspective. not everybody appreciated. if you think back on it, most of these were right on the mark. he still has that sense of humor. it sounds like a cliché, but i think it is true. he really never forgot where he came from.

.e is still at heart there is an element of the populace in dole. there's a real disdain for pomposity and self-assurance. and the notion of the loafers, .he lobbyists the relationship, of course, you were faking about reagan in 88 yourself. obviously, you put those plans on the shelf to become the chief of staff. then you have this very unusual situation where the vice president is clearly running and you are senate leader is running. how did the president handle -- somewhat awkward >> my recollection is that he didn't handle it at all. he just let the chips fall where they would. he showed no preference, he

the priority between them. i admire that. it was a delicate situation, unusual one. didn't think he ever anything about it. certainly, he never talked to me about it. with old.relationship had a great relationship. but i do remember the first time that dole came to the leadership meeting before started. he asked about dole. i don't remember what he said. but, he was curious about dole. as i recall, he is only one that he asked about. >> that is doubly interesting because the story was that one of the reasons that dole wound up being on the ticket was, the people on board had been led to reagan -- t he had

i don't know if that was in fact true or not. we reach the age where most happened.e never they are most often true than not. that ite heard it said is more fun to be minority than majority leader. >> don't you believe it. i've been both. leader is better. minority leader is challenging. dole'shave fit better because he was able to crystallize an issue formulate the issue.

but i must tell you, majority the second best job in washington. reaganthat to ronald once and he said no, howard, it is the second best in washington. sured, mr. president, i'm that is true in historical around. but look i have a nice car, i have an secrete, i don't have service and i still have a life. he thought for a minute and maybe so. want to get back into the term, which was revolutionary period in this country. it was almost a u-turn in a lot policy.in the

dole is a good soldier, very effective soldier but he couldn't agree asked toything he was implement, did he? budgeds are almost spiritual i assume that is what he went through. right.'s true. sure that is the first thing you said is dole is a good soldier and that is an important part of the conversation because he was. i cannot tell you where he acted own instincts, which i'm sure there were. when i was leader, i never went to bob dole and ask him to do

something that he did not want to do. he had a heavy understanding of clearle and a understanding of the relationship between the senate and the president. not confuse the two. he knew of the separation of the special responsibilities the each had. he had studied at he did, and perhaps studded the relationships in the past and how perfect they were. determined to create a new relationship that would best serve the country, i think he in large measure. he served as a model to all of us. served a model to me. >> how so? a willingness to talk to the white house without feeling you are in a subordinate role. dole was dole and nobody doubted

that. implication is that by the dole who is operating in 1981, 1982, 1983 is different senator ofeshman 1970. >> he was different, absolutely different. that is what happens to all members of the senate. you are different after a month or a year or your first term as understand the relationships and responsibilities. longeru are no overwhelmed by our own importance. senator of new hampshire. my first day of the senate and i was going into wassenate chamber and he there to greet me as were others. can you smelld,

the marble? so.tor, i don't think i don't think marble has a smell it says once you you will be ruined for life. i thought about that a lot. i don't think i ever smelled dolee and certainly, bob never smelled marble. like torvatives don't hear the word grow. he grew in office, which means moved well. can you explain what real growth does tend to some?y >> i cannot. of theis in the eye beholder. i don't think you grow to the right. in my own case, forgive me for own experience but i think i grew to the left, by design but by force of

circumstances. canal was a good example in my life, career. out in the mai mainstreams. andmore i was advised on it studied it, the more i was convinced i was wrong and i support it and i did. for those who care to see, i scars on th on my head shoulders. think i grew to -- >> that is what i mean. assumed to beys kind of a co-op thing by the left. ed -- what does that say about where the party last 25 years? >> well, i don't know.

permanent. party is i think it is not about to collapse. center of gravity change.ft and it must endure. thisu both came into position. geraldrikes me, like ford, as a midwest conservative and conservatives in many ways are grounded in economics. he had a healthy scepticism about what government could do, particularly overnight to bring millennium.l at the same time, a leave me a little bit tear yum but the government should of the board room, out of the bedroom. that is not for the public discourse. clearly, in your political

career, that line has been crossed and conservativism was redefined. how uncomfortable, if at all, was that process of having the social issues increasingly come conservativism? >> it is important to me and i'm bob dole. to the party has moved. moved.ntry has we owe a responsibility to and notnd that necessarily to agree to it but understand it. my dad was opposed to any sort of federal aid federal education. article of faith if you're in the house or senate, you better get our share. a big share. has changed. change once again, is one of the

vibrant economy and a vibrant democracy. it will continue to change. i don't know how it is going to change. it may go forward or backwards sideways but change is not a my view at least. view, atvitable, in my least. themselves,parties i hear, especially young people republicans are conservative and democrats are liberal. they are neither in my view. gravity willof vary. change.ings will but the great center still runs don't think it is a mathematical center. i think bob dole understood this more than anybody. it is not a mathematical center

a consensus few that certain things are at the center of our political system. that is what should drive our determination. >> i think you and jesse holmes, it was a vote and i think it was of those post-1981 tax. jesse storell you a if you want to hear it. i think it is the one you are about. i guess in february of 1981, the serious challenge i had as the new majority leader, the republican leader of california. the first challenge i had was when we had to vote on a debt assume thatse and

would all go. began to count heads, i think howard green came to me i don't think you are going to win this. i got the freshman senators the conference table and we talked and carried on. did not convince anybody. we were going to lose the thing. left my office and went up to the floor and vote. i said jesse, i have a big problem. i don't think i'm going to get new freshman senators to vote for this increase. voted, he said, howard can i talk to them? you can talkurse, to them. they were all gathered there and he said garage, i understand you you're going to vote for the limit increase. ofsaid i understand and many you ran against it.

for a debtever voted limit increase. he said i'm going to do it and you.e and i got all but one. was repeated. heads, you're earlier effect did senior have, at that had an affect on street. >> i remember asking george mitchell if he could describe, is, whatever qualities dole had that made him succeed in the leadership position. he said it was a combination of thing, almost a sixth sense, but

what combination of personalities and legislatives change. what mix would work? that you canething quantity fie. is not something you can learn in a textbook. personality arrangement. you sense these things rather and understand them. you sort of guess and if you right, you win. >> a psychological gift? based on how you evaluate this person's basic views and beliefs. that is a quality of leadership it inthink dole had spades. >> that suggests that you get to colleagues?your >> you have to know them but it that.e than it is hard for me to tell you

this. think about in some strange way, you have to understand. be able to anticipate what they are going to say on a particular issue. referral for to this circumstance but that is i think. >> that is not something you can teach. canhat is not something you immule crate. ambitious and sometimes crittized for being overambitious. beforetold a story about talks -- before the government shutdown. >> the first government shutdown.

>> yeah, bill clinton called him said tell me something about dole. we'ree a leg up when negotiating. he went on about what a great guy dole is but he is the most impatient man on the planet. a time where he is so desperate to get out that he whatever you want. an exaggeration but it is a fascinating thing. i saw andence that what you are talking about extraordinary amount of patience. wait all night if that is what it takes to bring these things together. a tool.ience is mine. in arbitrary.itrarir

grounded in deep conviction in a variety of issues. a lot to disband views butis point of he is a tough adversary. he wasurprised that successor.my >> tell me about that process. decide that you were not going to run? >> when did i decide? >> right. decided two years before. >> what led you to it? >> why? >> yeah. >> i guess i always thought that job.ess was not a lifetime really the most immediate thing had terminal cancer and her. to take care of so i left. i had no regrets about that and

will be grateful for the 18 years on the senate but i had no leaving.y in question of my successor came to be very interesting. i thought, i think most people stevens, who was m thought he win. i don't think anyone thought bob majorityd be elected leader. >> can i ask why? know why but that is what i think. vote. remember, i did not i wasn't going to be back but i was there. i remember when i was at the and thus responsible for the election.

i remember when they announced only one or two leaned over to ted ballotsd said burn the so nobody would ask for a recount. icongratulated him then and congratulate him now. he served with distinction. the key job persuasion? combination of things. it is part of it but not the only part of it. it is too complex. just persuasion. >> you're part traffic cop. >> you are. has great power. when somebody walks, especially the younger members want to get on the agenda and get a point across, the majority leader has unchallenged

that.ity to deal with i cannot remember a single time leader thatajority i set a schedule and anyone it.essfully challenged that is a powerful thing. that may be persuasion, that may be intimidation but it is powerful. say, majority leader is ill defined, it is not constitutional, it is the second washington. >> when dole was running for president, 1988, and later in 1996 and leaving for the senate, themnk it was harder for to go than for you to go. >> i think so, probably. for advice?k >> did he ask me for advice? >> yeah. >> no, everyone has to make that

decision. it is a personal decision. advised me and i would not have advised dole had he asked. a big do you think, question, but say 10, 20 years generation from whom name in a history book. how do you think dole should be remembered? dole -- i think that is a good question and i've not becauset that, i want to write a history book thing to a natural think about. i think dole will be remembered he shed credit on those who survived the war and those who went on to be a service of the country. is no small achievement. that is something to be for.bered memoriale passed the

the other day, he will not be just remembered for the stones be pillars but he will of thered as a legacy tradition. and the generation that fought came back and continued their service to the country in a variety of ways, including in the senate and bob that.s a good example of >> you're watching american history tv all weekend, every weekend on c-span 3. the conversation like us history.ok at c-span showman on the coke brothers. >> this is this lawsuit that the coket between brothers, charles and david on

one side, bill and fredrick and other shareholders on the other side. cul culminates in a board room and some of the company shareholders were trying to the board ande of that this would have disposed theyes as the chairman and would have taken a greater role in the direction of the company. is tossed out of the company. a few years later -- >> by his brother. >> by his brothers and there is the bookc moment in where the board has to sit down faith.ide bill's 8:00 eastern on tonight's q&a. >> we believe all men are created equal yet, many are denied equal treatment.

have certainl men rights, yet, many americans do not enjoy those rights. all men are entitled of liberty,ings theseany are deprived of blessings. not because of their own failures but because of the color of their skin. embeddedns are deeply in history and tradition and the nature of man. can understand without rank happened.how this all but it cannot continue. our constitution, the foundation republic forbids it. the principles of our freedom, it.id

it.ality, forbids the law i will sign tonight forbids it. >> this weekend, the 50th 964 civily of the rights act with the president johnson's address to the nation. reporters whoom covered the debate in congress herald's tribune on 3.pan >> on may 13, 1939, the trans-atlantic liner st. louis departed germany bound for cuba with 938 passengers, almost all of whom were jews fleeing the third reich. they were refused entry into cuba, then later refused entry into the united states. they sailed so close to miami that they could see the city lights. up next, scott miller talks about his book, "refuge denied: the st. louis passengers and the holocaust." mr. miller details the fate of

the passengers after they return to europe and he's joined by other scholars and a survivor of the holocaust who was a passenger on the trip, to talk about the refugees and the policies of countries involved. the jewish museum of florida at florida international university hosted this event. along with the latin american jewry initiative, the cuban research institute, the latin american and caribbean center, and the jewish studies initiative. this is 90 minutes. >> can you hear me? great. first of all, i want to thank the jewish museum of florida for hosting this venue, and for inviting me. i'm here today to talk about an unsolved mystery that hovered over america for over 60 years. that is, whatever became of the passengers who sailed on the 1939 ill fated voyage of the st. louis?