palestinians in beirut which we were talking about earlier today without food being shot at. 150,000 soviet troops in afghanistan. wars on four continents. it's a difficult %q6/tujy a dangerous world, a world that is essentially unlike us in our belief in political and economic freedom. and as that shift is taking place, it seems to me that our margin for error has changed. when you have a big margin for error, you can afford to neglect things, be inattentive, then go in and make it right. if you have $5 and you lose $5, it's everything. i would suggest as we look out into the 1990s, our country, indeed, each of us, is going to be living in a different period, a new era when it will require new policies and a new type of

leadership at all levels of society. the goal will not be to get into a crisis and try to manage that crisis skillful, the goal has to be to make those changes, those calibrations early so that they can be modest rather than late violent and wrenching and damaging to human beings or too late. no one with any sense suggests that the goal was to get into a nuclear war and win it. the goal was to behave before the fact in a way that we can, in fact, contribute to peace and stability in the world. so, too, in the economic area. there is no -- the latest word is competitiveness. i read that every day now and i kind of smile to myself, because the implication is that american manufacturing is gone. indeed, january of this year was the all-time high in american manufacturing. we have some problems in this country, there is no question about it. but on the other hand, we do

have the weight, the capability, the people to do really what want over the coming period in terms of our economic circumstance. let me just offer a couple suggestions about the world and our economic situation and then a problem that i think is related, which is our character as a people, the goals we set for ourselves, the things we aspire to. because in a significant way, the goals we set and what we aspire to as a people determine the kind of people we will become. not because we always achieve them, but because they point a direction. first, with respect to the world, i would submit that we have no choice as a nation but to engage in the world. we can't think that we can go back and have those two big oceans be barriers. we are part of the world. there is speed of communications, of transportation, the range and reach of weapons mean that we do need to be engaged.

we need to engage in the battle of ideas on political and economic freedom. and we've got the most powerful idea. a little article in the "new york times" a couple months ago about no more than two inches long. it said that the united states government opened up 5,000 visa spots for the whole year of 1987, and that within 10 days there were çv2p1,330,000 human beings from 3,000 countries that applied to come to the united states. think what that says about our country. we are the symbol, the standard, the haven. bill bennett of education said, lift up the gate and see which way things are moving. there is a reason they move. let me talk about our competitive situation. where do we have $170 billion trade deficit? why are people moving into new

hampshire and out of some other states? why as head of gd serial do i want to put a plant in one state instead of another state? why as secretary of defense would i want to have a military base in one city instead of another city? and the answer to all those questions is the same. it's because people have choices and they make choices. and they seek something better. money does. money seeks a return. each of you know thatidu÷ in business. and you know that what you measure improves. and if you track something and focus on that, it gets better. states that decide they want to create an environment that's hospitable to enterprise, in fact, can attract things in. countries that tilt toward the freer systems, the political systems, the freer economic systems, in fact, are attracting people in. if we could look down from mars on this world, what we would see is that the systems that are highly centralized, statused,

regulated, communist systems, socialist systems tend not to be working for their people. and conversely those systems that tilt toward economic freedom are providing more for their people. i would add one other thing. i think that it sounds simple but people ask me how do the japanese and germans walk past americans' so many industrial sectors? the answer is simple. they did it because they wanted to. because it was important to their people's economic security and economic progress. so they tested their behavior as to whether it would contribute to their becoming more competitive. in the united states we didn't. we had the economy on the face of the earth. we didn't need to worry about those things, so we were neglectful, inattentive, and

went about our business. that's where the $170 billion trade deficit came from. now people are coming up with a lot of conclusions as to what we ought to do about it. some say protectionism. i think not. we've tried that in this world and there is no question but that it's kind of like when you take your youngster out to teach him how to ride a bike, and you run him down the middle of the street. you feel a little silly, you're holding onto the handlebars and the seat. you let go of the handlebars and seat, they may fall and skin their knee. but you also know if you don't let go of the seat, you're going to have a 35-year-old that can't ride a bike. you look all across this world at protected industries. they are weak, they are uncompetitive and they are in decline. now, by the same token, we do need to assure fair access to other markets. it's important. there are non-tariff barriers, there are unfair trade practices. and we need to organize the

government of the united states to do that, to show we're serious. in the current time we have responsibility and it doesn't look like we're serious about it. as a result, other countries go about their business, and the playing field is indeed not level. some are suggesting what we ought to have is a national industrial policy. well, i think not. the japanese have one and they've been wrong as often as they've been right in industrial sectors to favor or not favor. and i worry about government help. what you really need is less regulation rather than government help. government help is like getting in bed with a hippopotamus. you're comfortable for about nine minutes and then the thing roll over and crushes you. i would add one thing on our economic circumstance. there are a lot of people who i would call doomsayers.

they're saying things are really terrible. the fact of the matter is things are not really terrible in this country. we've got some problems, and there's no question but that a few countries in the world have demonstrated a greater willingness to focus on their ability to compete than we have. but we have something like 70% of the computers in the world in the united states of america, a country of 240 million people. we have the ability to compete. all we have to do is decide to do it. take the tax bill that just passed. the tax bill was tested against three things, revenue neutrality, simplicity and fairness. you heard that over and over again in the newspapers. what should it have been tested against? it should have been tested against what's it going to do for risk taking, for savings? what's it going to do to test the competitiveness in the united states of america, and it wasn't. had we tested that bill and our

other behavior, public and private, against that goal, there is no question but that we as a country can compete. i have a great deal of confidence in this system of ours. there is an assumption on a lot of prognosticators that there will be a shift in response, that things in place will tend to remain in place. but our whole history shows that's not true. our whole history shows there is a dynamic response, a cumulative response. and when things begin to not go well, the american people come together and begin to focus on the right things. the third thing i think is related and that's really our goals and hopes and aspirations for our country. the character of our country. you know, in a burst of enthusiasm in the 1960s, everyone believes in free speech, so everyone was speaking freely, and we began behaving as though every idea were as good as every other idea. every idea isn't as good as every other idea.

i can remember as head of the office of economic opportunity during the nixon administration, people would come running up to me and say, i've got an idea. it's bold, innovative and new. and i would kind of get excited. i would lean forward and want to hear about it. i saw more ideas that were bold, innovative, new and stupid than you can imagine. we need people in the country who have read the minutes of the last meeting. we need schools that produce people that are capable of doing the things that are necessary in our society. first, fulfilling their citizenship responsibilities. second, being able to provide for themselves and avoid this cycle of dependency which has increased in our country. and third, to open up a lifetime of learning, because, in fact, ours is a world where change is inevitable and we do all need to continue learning as we go through life. i would say in conclusion that

there is no need for america to be too weak to be safe. there is certainly no need for america to be too confused to be competitive. there is a wonderful story about a navy man. we've got a navy pilot here. we were sitting here telling old of the story about the man in the navy who wrkd horked his wa. he finally became a full captain, four stripes. the biggest you can be is captain of the ocean. he said, captain, there is a ship out ahead. the captain said, tell the ship to bear starboard. he said, bear starboard yourself. >> he was in a ship a football field long, thousands of sailors. bear starboard immediately. back came the message, bear starboard immediately yourself.

bear starboard immediately, i am a battleship. >> back came the signal, bear starboard immediately yourself. i am a lighthouse. [ laughter ] >> the lighthouse for the united states of america is political and economic freedom, and we need to understand it. and we need to value it. and we need to preserve it and we need to expand it. in our country and in our world. just a word on 1988. when i went home, i went into business. i stopped reading the "washington post" cold turkey and lived. can you believe it? seriously, i must say that i'm a different person having been in business for 10 years. you have a different perspective. you deal with different problems with different people. i thought about running for the

presidency in is t1977 and made judgment to go home and be away from government for a period. a lot of my friends ran who i served in congress and the cabinet, bush and dole and anderson and crane and connelly. i looked again at it in 1985 and it looked like it would be wide open in 1988. after spending a good teal deal time the last year and a half traveling around and meeting a lot of people, i kind of concluded that it is wide open, that there is a generational change taking place in our country in both parties. and that the people who have tended to dominate the scene will be off thezlyñp scene. i guess i've learned several facts about this. i think first is it is very difficult for a vice president to run for president. we've not elected a vice president president in 150 years in our country. second, that front runners tend

to not do too well. and third, that it's more of a marathon than a sprint. most candidates seem to defeat themselves rather than be defeated by somebody else. i know the other candidates and they're good men. they have strengths and weaknesses as i have strengths and weaknesses. and i would suspect that the test will be what the american people, in their insides, feel about our country, our country's circumstance in the world, and how the various candidates' backgrounds and hopes and aspirations for our country fit with those needs. my sense is that it's important to know how the economy and our country work as well as how washington works. my sense is that it's important to know how the executive branch of the federal government works as well as how the legislative branch works. and there is a difference between executive and legislative leadership. legislative leadership, almost

by our definition of a legislature, is to kind of take the in box and average it, and it ends up with the lowest common denominator. but executive leadership, as each of you and your companies know, requires planning ahead and a direction to point and hiring good people and arranging them and seeing that they work well in harness together. unless you're a mozart or an einstein, most of what all of us do in our lives that's worth anything, we do with other people. last, i think the current difficulties in washington suggest that the -- excuse me, mr. fritz newman here? you have a phone call. thank you. last, it seems to me the current problems in washington suggest that it's also important to know how the world works.

that a background in foreign policy and defense policy is important, that it does make a difference who is sitting across the table from gorbachev. and it makes a difference who is making the judgments that will affectus, our children, and our. grandchildren. last week i formed an exploratory committee for the presidency, and anticipating announcing for the presidency in late april or early march. i start behind. ly jimmy the gre at 51. i guess some of you are going out to las vegas so you can talk to him about that when you see him. on the other hand, i kind of like that position, given the history of presidential races. from time to time the voters of new hampshire have kind of taken joy in profiting the political experts and the odds makers

wrong. i was asked, why do you want to run for president? i guess the short answer is -- is that i, like each of you, want to try to help build a better country for our children and our grandchildren. thank you very much. >> c-span has your best access to congress in 2016. the house and senate will reconvene on january 4th to mark the second session of the 114th congress. on tuesday january 5th, the house is back from legislative work and first votes with paul ryan as speaker of the house. then on monday, january 11th, the senate returns at 2:00 p.m. eastern. be sure to follow c-span's capitol hill producer craig cap lynn on twitter for daily congressional updates. c-span, live coverage of congress on tv, on the radio, and online at c-span.org.

each week until the 2016 presidential election american history tv brings your archival coverage of past p t shul races. on road to the white house rewind we look back to the 1992 campaign of former u.s. senator paul tsongas, a day before he formally announced his candidacy, we join the photo shoot with "people" magazine as he swam laps. mr. tsongas had battled cancer about seven years earlier amend his health was an issue in the campaign. arkansas governor bill clinton would go on to win the '92 democratic presidential nomination with senator tsongas carrying seven states and finishing third.

>> one more stroke i could have

given you a bath. >> i want to get you doing that at the other end of the pool, too, without the goggles on. can we try that one more time? >> how much did you get? >> quite a bit. >> there's the picture which is nice except your hands are blocking the light on your face. it will still be a pretty nice picture. >> how long have you been swimming? >> i swam in college. and when i left college, that was the end. then about a year and a half ago the doctor said the radiation had affectedlungs so i had

to go something to exercise. so i went back to this and then i heard about the master swim competition. that would motivate me. nothing like embarrassment to get you going. so i swam last year and this year and last year competed9:v$h the swim team. >> how many laps do you swim on a given day? >> well, now that we're close to competition i swim about a mile a day. >> what do you think about when you're swimming, anything, getting to the other end? >> i think very deep thoughts like which lap is this? i just count laps and try -- if you think about anything, it's distracting so i just try to let my mind just float. >> feel good when it's all over? >> well, when i train by myself i really wasting my time. when i train with a team, it's a very different story. you cannot motivate yourself. you will not drive yourself as

fast as you will be driven. i know people figure that out about four centuries ago but after something like that, when you get a hard workout, it feels very good.. >> what about your children or your wife, do they spur you on to reach that extra lap? >> well, my daughter here swims for the team, so she's a good swimmer. when they came to see me at the first meet they were sure i was going to embarrass the hell out of them. i didn't win but i was at least in the thick of it, so they were enormously relieved. >> ready?>

>> paul tsongas, democratic presidential candidate, tomorrow you make it official. what are you thinking? >> what am i i thinking today? what am i thinking generically? well, today is just a day to relax and just sort of wander around, be in the house, get my thoughts together, get ready for tomorrow. >> how do you view this? is this the culmination of your career thus far in politics? >> well, you are talking to someone who had been pleased to be a congressman, so this is -- i consider the senate the dessert. i'm not sure what you would call on this the menu. it's not a culmination in the sense this is where ambition is taking me. it's more of a sense of i think i learned something hopefully along the way and i've written this paper and i have my ideas and the direction i think the country should go in. it's a culmination in the sense of this is what i think. take it to the country and let the country decide whether it's

something they want to embrace. so it's a bit different than the usual step by step ascension up the political ladder. >> can you take us through the thought process of what anyone thinks when they look at running for the presidency? >> well, i remember when i was ñ that i thought of running for president. and that's a different thought process. at that point it was can i win. so you look at, well, this is an election year and then four years later and then four years later. you look at everybody else in the senate and see what they're doing and calculate accordingly. that's americana ambition. this is different. this is a sense of i've been out here now in the private sector all these years. been out of washington. i see what's going on. concerned about this country's economy and the lugging that's going to result from the slide that we're in. and i want to somehow save that.

this began as a book, began to write it over thanksgiving and after i decided i don't want to run around the country again on another book tour. i did that in 1980. and then began to think about running. went to the doctor in january and said this is what up thinking of doing, test me. so not only for the cancer but also stress, that kind of thing. came back and said do whatever you want. you're fine. then a lot of family discussions, that kind of thing, to make sure that we all wanted to do this. and then looking at whether to get someone else to run on my ideas, whether to run just in new hampshire as symbolic candidate to get the message out. and finally to look at running through the entire country. the irony is what we ended up with was a decision to govern four states but when the story broke it broke as an all out run.

so it got away from us. so that is not where we are obviously that was the right decision. >> have you talked with former candidates to find out maybe some advice on what you can expect and look forward to? >> most of the people to run in the past, i've known in my prior lives. so i've had that relationship going back. but i did talk to m lloyd benson and al gore and michael dukakis and, in fact, i talked to gary hart and he and i served together. and we were recently close but not, you know, very close. he called me back, and my secretary said, gary hart is on the line. i was rupping o inrunning out t speech. i went back to the phone, i said, hi, gary, we both started laughing. the laughter rolled and rolled. not a word having been spoken between us. almost like a new brotherhood

now that you've been invited to. and after this rather ruckus laughter that had no basis to it, i said to him, why are we laughing? he said, it's life. so it's -- it's a unique yfqjt&% experience that others have been through and this is my turn. >> what do you think you'll be facing the next few months? >> for me it's really a campaign of a message. so i have to -- i mean, i'm a candidate in the usual kind of the message has to get out there. so much emphasis on getting opinion leaders in the united states, whether they're academics, political activists, opinion, those people who read the ideas, to have a sense of that, the sense of a direction, so in essence it's a campaign of people who believe not only in you, which is how we used to run campaigns, but not only you but the ideas that you represent so

there's a momentum beyond any one person the the country has a sense, yes, we're in trouble and this is where we have to go. so it's a different kind of campaign than the usual retail handshake i'm a good guy love me approach. it's an attempt to say, this is what i think the problems are, this is where i think we ought to go, decide whether you want to go there with me. so i never ran a campaign like that before. it's usually one-on-one kind of justing and macho combat. this has different dimension to it. >> have you been on the road already. what do you think about at the end of the day when you're sitting in the hotel room maybe right before getting ready to go to bed in iowa or other states? unlike other candidates i'm not going to run this campaign as an absentee father or husband. it's been something like almost eight weeks now, been away from my family three days.

either brought people with me or my family or i've been here. so i'm not going to be a seven days a week hotels, that kind of absence. what i think about is i miss obviously my family and it bothers me, but we all believe in this. but i'm not going to be -- i didn't cease being a father and decided to run. and i would hope that people would respect that. >> what effected growing up in this parts of massachusetts have in paul tsongas, how did it shape who you are? >> growing up here and i grew up here not in surroundings like this but in old mill city that was dying and you work and you work and you work and we all did. you didn't get anything. i mean, i'm not saying i had an unhappy childhood, but when you have a sense of economic decline, it is all consuming. i remember when i left high

school i said to myself, i'm never coming back. i want to go someplace that's on the ascending. and was away for ten years and came back to go into politics. there's no way when you live through a year recession like we're going through now, but year after year after year after year it does something to your psyche. not only people like me but anybody in that situation. and it's like people go through the depression. you never forget it. it's really a defining moment to use a bush expression in terms of who you are and where you come from. this idea of economic decline, et cetera, is not a piece of paper given to me by staffers. i lived through it. i know what it's about. i don't believe the american people are prepared for a reduced standard of living. i think the political consequences of that in terms of a demagogue coming along is very serious. and you have the administration judge who will never admit

there's a problem because he's been here this whole time and cannot say i've been in the white house and we kind of missed this problem. the country can't compete anymore. you can't say that. you turn to the democrats and the democrats have no economic policy, any economists finds credible. so i see that the road between those two and a lot of what you see in my ideas and in the paper i've written is the remembrance of those years growing up. >> your dad ran a dry-cleaning store? >> yes. >> what do you think he would think today? >> my father was such an avid republican. he would probably have to sit down dean si down and decide -- i know he would vote for me. the question is whether he would go over to the democratic primary to vote for me. he was a staunch nixon republican. when i got to the senate he said, this is wonderful if you would only run as a republican it would have been perfect. so i think he -- you're talking

about someone who is an immigrant, who came here and i remember when i got to the senate he said to me, when i was growing up here i thought a senator was a silver haired yankee and now it's my son who doesn't wear socks during the weekend. so i think he would be very proud, obviously. >> what about your wife? what does she think? >> i think both nikki and i have concerns about this. the other race where's ambition really dictated it was more of a sense of we want to be there so question we do this. we have a very good life. about lose that. and so it's not a question where winning would be a joy because it means giving up what we have now but i think she believes in what i believe in, that we have a responsibility to be out there to do this.

that responsibility goes to the children that we just can't sort of sit back here and make a lot of money, pretend there's nothing wrong. but in terms of what we think of normally candidate and the candidate's wifelvñ really bein totally excited about living in the white house because it's wanting it so you can make the changes. it's not wanting it because that would be a better life than what we have now. >> paul tsongas, thank you very much. good luck. >> thanks. >> road to the white house rewind continues with more from the 1992 campaign of democrat paul tsongas. the former u.s. senator officially announced his áq1991, in his hometown of lowell, massachusetts. he was the first one in his party to declare for the '92 race and called his campaign a journey of purpose. arkansas governor bill clinton would go on to win the 1992 democratic presidential nomination with senator tsongas

carrying seven states and finishing third. ♪2t!÷ good morning. >> good@.e morning. >> i accept the nomination. thank you.

today we plant the seeds of america's economic renaissance and the rain is going to make them grow. 200 years ago our founding fathers gave us a democracy. it was based on the simple yet noble idea that government derived its validity from the consent of the governed. that consent nub cmust be const renewed. it can only be renewed by a full and vigorous debate on the issues that confront our nation. today that surge of renewal that surgeoo&f for consent pro as the constitution provided. today the national debate will commence. it begins here in this city.

lowell is my home. it is where i drew my first breath. it is where i will always derive a sense of place and a sense of belonging. it is what i am. and you, my neighbors and my friends, are what i am as well. i am an american. i love this country. you are americans. you love this country. together we entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.

america is hope. america is compassion. it is excellence. it is valor. it is humanity. its values have drawn us here from every corner of the globe. these values are a manifest destiny. yet, the leadership in washington has squandered that promise. we were never meant to be the world's greatest debtor nation. we were never meant to have our ancestors patrimony sold to the highest bidder. we were never to rank ninth in the world of wages. we were never meant to have dysfunctional schooling, disploeding cities, racial inharmony, or environment at risk. america is more than this. we are more than this.

our destiny is greatness and we must return to its fulfillment.d -z of this washington avoidance. enough of this washington immediate o mediocrity. we must return to the forebearers by the greatness of our people. weapon need leadershwe need lea calls upon the best of us. we need leadership that pursues a higher vision. today that leadership is not in washington. that leadership is here and across america. it is in the hearts and minds

and souls of the american people. i want to deploy that leadership to meet the challenges that face us and to restore america's greatness. that is why today i declare my candidacy for president of the united states. are you ready?

let's go!s/c&ñ i'm getting wet. today i begin a journey of purpose and i ask you to come with me. on this journey we will reaffirm the values of our ancestors, hard work, determination, will, thrift, productivity, perseverance, and through that affirmation we will again be the greatest economic power on earth. on this journey we will rediscover the caring and

compassion for one another that has been dishonored by the reagan/bush years. and in that discovery we will look upon each other as brothers and sisters and as a community which nurtures its young, its ailing, and its less fortunate. and on this journey we will reach into the future and commit ourselves to thinking in generations. we arec/ç2 a continuum, just a reach back to our(9@x ancestors our fundamental values so we, as guardians of that legacy, must reach ahead to the children, to our children and their children. these are our children.

and these, h"hsñtoo, of course. and we do so with a sense of sacredness in that reaching. that sense of sacredness, that thinking in generations must begin with reverence for this earth. this land, this water, this air, this planet, this rain, this is our legacy to our young, yet the reagan/bush years have been a time of cynical avoidance of one environmental issue after another.conservation, global warming, and uncontrolled world population. journey with me to a true commitment to our environment.

journey with me to the serenity of leaving to our children a planet in equilibrium. thinking in generations also means enabling our young to have a decent standard of living. not the reagan/bush legacy to our children of an additional $3 that debt will forever burden and handicap them. george bush promised, readzqñs lips, no new taxes. it won an election, but what he really meant was, read my lips, add new debt. that is generationally immoral.

our children deserve better. on this journey of purpose i commit myself to making this country a striving, thriving, triumph competitor in the world marketplace. i commit myself to an america where our standard of living, our educational and health care systems and our industrial output are second to none in the world. i commit myself to economic security for this generation and their children. this obligation to our young is as old as civilization. in the apache tongue with world for grandfather and grandson is the same.

they understood linkage. they understood honor. they understood mutual obligation. in washington, there is no such wisdom. in washington it's all here and now. it's all polling data. the vision extends only to the next election. it is time to look to our children and feel our responsibility to them. that is my journey of purpose. i want to meet that responsibility so we can rest easy and our guardianship of this time and this place. from a viable economy to the full funding of headstart, from a clean environment, to true equality for women, from a strong military, to a commitment to racial brotherhood, from schools that are honored, to streets that are freed of

excessive violence. these are our responsibilities to our children. i will devote myself to the search for their fulfillment. finally, this journey of purpose must be a journey of choice. we must choose action. we must choose commitment. i offer a different path, harder but more hopeful, longer but more compellincompelling, steep more worthy. 7 1/2 years ago i began my own journey. for me and my family, it was a time of adversity, but during that adversity i discovered a deeper faith. borne out of that adversity was a commitment, devote myself to

those people andtis9v to those s that truly matter to me. today together with nikki and ashleigh and katina and molly, i pledge to fulfill that commitment. we all journey in this world. it is our calling. america is a sum of all the journeys as we search for our national identity and national community. come with me. we are a great nation. we are a great people.

may god give us the. strength to be worthy of this greatness. let's go get them!úóñrbzñ

this sunday night on q and a, two-time pulitzer prize winner cartoonist michael ramirez on satirical cartoons. >> i have this figure that's kind of a conglomeration of extremist israeli settlers and a palestinian figure who, if you notice, he's on a prayer rug but he has a his shoes on. so both these figures are sort of utilizing a false religion for a political purpose. so it just proves that once again i am an equal opportunity offender. >> sunday night at 8:00 eastern and pacific on c-span's q and a. >> this weekend on c-span's cities tour, along with our comcast cable partners we'll

explore the history and literary life of oakland, california. on book tv we'll visit marcus book, known as oldest independent black book store and talk with co-owner blanche richardson about the store's history and its importance to the community as source of information and a meeting place during the civil rights movement. >> the history of marcus book store is that it was started in 1960 by my parents, doctors ray and julian richardson. their purpose was to offer this resource to the community feeling that black people needed a place to go where they could learn about themselves from other black people mostly. so it was a service they were providing to the community but also to the community at large because the more other cultures know about black people the better it is for everybody as well.

>> on american history tv take a trip to oakland's chinatown neighborhood and learn about the history of the chinese in the east bay area. william g.wong, author of "yellow journalist" shares his experience as chinese-american glowing up in the chinatown neighborhood. >> in april of 1906 a huge earthquake on the san andreas fault destroyed records at san francisco city hall, birth and death records. here was an opportunity for chinese in the bay area shs san francisco and oakland, to say, hey, our birth records and death records, whether they were there in san francisco or not, are no longer existing. maybe we can come up with some ideas and some plans and some schemes to tell the government that we were born in san francisco. that began the entire paper sons

scheme that allowed chinese living in the united states to say that they were born here in the united states and that they had children in china and they would like to sponsor those children in china and family in china to come to the united states. so a number of chinese came during the post-1906 earthquake period including my father.pialv this weekend watch c-span's cities tour to oakland on c-spa c-span2's book tv and sunday afternoon at 2:00 on american ,d donald rumsfeld talks about his 1988 campaign. and later the 1992 campaign of paul songas. each week until the 2016 presidential election, american history tv brings you archival

coverage of past presidential races. on road to the white house rewind, we look into president george w. bush on his first trip to new hampshire after announcing his candidacy in june 1999. the texas governor went on to win the republican nomination and then defeated vice president al gore in the general election. the race was among the most highly contested in u.s. history and was not decided until five weeks after voters went to the polls. when the u.s. supreme courtjyh÷ stopped a florida recount, this ultimately awarded the state's electoral votes and the presidency to governor bush. >> good job. really good job.

>> it is going to be a great campaign. thanks. thanks for being here.?'ñññ [ inaudible ] >> i'm ready to go. i know that being a governor of texas isn't close to being president of the united states. it's a huge step. but let me tell you something. if texas were a country, it would be the 11th largest economy in the world. i've learned to lead. i have. i know where i want to lead america. i want to lead america to a better day. i know you can't lead by dividing. a lot of politics as people try to put people in groups and pit one group of people against

another. you can't achieve what's right for america by dividing people up into camps. i'm a uniter, not a divider. and i know people want to follow someone who sees a brighter day, a sunnier day for america, and i do. it's a huge honor to be with you here today. i'm excited to be involved on day one for what's going to be an incredible journey for laura and me. [ applause ] >> i'd be glad to answer any questions you got. [ inaudible ] >> i support it. >> first amendment and the freedom of speech! >> you're exercising it. [ applause ]

>> let somebody else have a chance. we're not exercising free speech anymore. i te i'll tell you a story about my mother. he brought up my mother. we went to -- right after i got elected, we went to fredricksburg, texas. i say "we." there was 30,000 people there. and it was a day to say thanks to the world war ii heroes, the men and women who served in the pacific theater. it was the 50th anniversary of the end of the pa thisk theater. my mother was there, my dad was there, i was there and laura was there, and i was asked to speak. i took it seriously because it was a chance to say thanks to the sons and daughters of my generation, to the moms and dads of my parents' generation for the incredible freedom we have. it's a great generation. it really was. [ applause ] >> i got up to speak and i said,

mr. president, welcome top0ñ fredricksburg. and there was a nice ripple of applause. and i said, mother -- and the place went wild. and i said, mother, it is clear that people still love you here, and so do i, but you're still telling me what to do. true story. and a guy in a big cowboy hat strode right out in the middle of fredricksburg, texas, cups his hands and screams, you better listen to her, too, boy! >> this is giant. this is an enormous thing. this is not like the beginning of the campaign. this is more like the final couple months of a presidential election where you have a republican and democratic nominee. we had 200 reporters in iowa. we have about 150 reporters with camera crews here in new hampshire. this isekbincredible. >> why is it happening? >> i think there is a lot of pent-up interest in the governor

because he didn't leave texas until the legislative session was over june 1st. and the other thing is obviously he's the frontrunner. what you see here on these stops is not only these people pauking to him, but also republican candidates, his opponents, and the democrats following him, dogging him all along the way. he's clearly the target to knock off. >> will it continue, this type of momentum, this type of tension? >> i think they're kidding about this. i think after the next couple days, the next couple weeks will probably drop off a bit. i doubt he'll have 200 reporters with him the next five months, but i bet you, if he's still where he is, it's going to be back up to this kind of speed. >> what have you learned? >> one of the things i was because i've watched him for five years. in this type of setting, would

he be more tentative? would he pull in and not be very open. he's very open, very loose. he still doesn't deliver the greatest speeches in front of giant groups like last night in front of iowa. you saw him today. he was very open, very engaging with the press, very open to these people.  to his strength. i had a question mark whether he was going to be able to project in that way, and he's doing it.x

>>é;xçw hi, i'd like to introdu myself. i'm george bush. this is my wife laura bush, and i'm looking for some lone star lemonade. >> you all have any? where is your money? >> it's in my pocket. i have to get the lemonade first. that's for my wife. we're buying some lone star lemonade. can i have for anybody else? senator, would you like some lone star lemonade? >> that's good. that's plenty. >> it's very good lemonade. thanks, y'all.

>> who made it? how much do you charge for your lone star lemonade? >> are you going to tell us? >> how much do you charge? >> 25 cents. >> would you take a dollar? >> thanks a lot. >> where is your mother and dad? there's your mom. hi, mom. >> hits9lñ there. how about this? en. >> these guys want to say hi, too. right here. >> do you want some lone star lemonade? >> yes.#z >> would you like to sign the sign? you'll have to take the plastic off. >> what's your name? erin? how do you spell it, erin? what's your name? >> sheila.

>> are you sisters? >> laura. >> that's my wife's name. >> my name is laura. are you sisters? >> you know something, i recommend lone star lemonade. it is really good. thanks a lot. good to see you all. this is what happens when you run into a guy like me. (r know. it's kind of hard to understand. this is a goodman right here. do you know him? >> can i take a picture of you with the girls with my own camera? >> yes. >> thank you. got to get the sign in. >> my husband won't believe this.

>> we're holding our lone star lemonade. >> we're out of here. enjoyed it. thanks. >> i think you have two more customers right here. $ñ having a great trip. it's been fantastic. it really has been. people are h8"cfriendly, the cr are huge. i'm really glad to be in new hampshire. i got a lot of work to do. >> what have you learned the last couple days? >> i learned people want their hand shaken. they look me in the eye and want me to talk from my heart. that's what i intend to do. it's a long road to the white house. good morning, everybody. everybody cheery?

i'm sure you are. >> he's coming back..ú8i >> stage greeting? the most important job you'll ever have. >> absolutely. >> my pleasure.9=3d÷

>> any sane employee will take a look at this and say, i don't think i'm coming to work today. i'm great. pardon me?sóm can you play like you're coming to work? welcome to work. good morning. good morning. good morning. >> nice to meet you. >> thank you. pleasure to meet you. thanks. nice to see you.

>> will you sign this? >> yes, ma'am. thanks. nice to meet you. good to see you, sir. good morning. good morning. good morning to you. hi there.?.f good morning. thanks. >> nice to meet you. i just wanted to know did you talk about the issues at all? >> you put him up to it, didn't you? good morning. thanks, i appreciate it. good to meet you. thanks. i can see exactly what she's

doing here.grmw what is your first name? >> tammy. >> t-a -- >> m-m-y. >> thanks. appreciate you asking. >> thank you.

>> please, let's have no early morning friction. although i do like your style. i do like your style. >> let me go this way so you can go that way. >> thanks. what's your first name? >>k0t >> thanks, amy. i appreciate you saying hello. hi there. >> this is paula.

>> your granddaughter's picture. >> hi, evvy, nice to meet you. thanks. nice to meet you. it is your turn. >> thank you very much. >> diane.

nice to see you again. >> mr. bush, would you like to try your hand inspecting a few pieces? >> sure. >> your dad didn't get to do this when he came back in 1980. >> actually, i signed court reform on y2k. the federal government ought to follow suit. >> we make real good product. >> it's just quality control. it's the final step. >> we make sure all the products meets the customer's specs, that the solder is good, the dimensions are right. >> how you doing?

>> thank you. >> it's nice to meet you. >> i like to remind people that the most important job title we'll ever have is not governor or boss or shift leader, it's being a good mom and dad. and i worry about america. i worry whether or not we'll be prosperous or not. we're prosperous now, but prosperity is not a given. so one of the things i'll do is i'll lay out a plan that i think will keep america prosperous. that will include tax rates,

that will include tort reform, that will include less owner regulation. i also worry, though, that as our economy changes, that as the whole nature of the job base shifts, that one of the dangers as we head into the 21st century is that some will be left behind. as the jobs as technology changes, the american dream won't be accessible at all. that's the main reason i'm running. i want to make sure we got the best education systems in the world. i trust the people of new hampshire to do the right things for your schools. but hopefully as future president one of my jobs is to set high standards and high hopes and high expectations and expect the best for every single child. blow the whistle on failure and praise success is what i do. the other thing i'd like to talk about is ushering in the responsibility era which stands in stark contrast to last year's which says if it feels good, do

it. if you've got a problem, blame somebody else for the problem. my hope is that we usher in an each and e of us are responsible for the decisions we make, that we're responsible for loving our children that we bring into this world, that we're responsible for helping a neighbor in need, and we're responsible for the communities in which we live. a government can pass laws that will usher in the responsibility. as an that say, hey, fellow, if you commit a crime, there will be bad consequences for bad behavior, because we know discipline and love go hand in hand. but cultures require more than just law. cultures change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time.f and one of my jobs is to say what i call the armies of compassion. church-going people, community people, people who work for

charities to love a neighbor like they love themselves. that's how you change a culture and that's how you usher in responsibility. that's why i'm running. i believe america needs to be prosperous to maintain the peace. i know america should not retreat within our borders. see, our most valued export, the most valuable product we send. there is incredible freedoms he enjoy here. i'm here to tell you, that's why i shake your hand and look you in the eye. not only do i care about your vote, i care about your family and your future. someone said, what if it doesn't work out? if it doesn't work out, that's

the way it's meant to be, and i'm going to take one of those hats and go fishing for the rest of my life. >> governor bush spent 90 plants at derry, new hampshire this past tuesday. on his way out, he spoke to several local reporters covering his visit. >> just to start off, your wife had said, you know, if things don't work out you'll still have a life down in texas. at first there had been reports of you being rather reluctant to run. why are you running? >> i'm running because i want america to be prosperous. prosperity is not given as we go into the 21st century. so i'll have a plan that will reduce regulation. i believe in tort reform. i believe in free trade, but i want to make sure tlas4=ñ nhña.

our thinner need to know the difference between right and wrong. in terms of the turning point that were reasoned at church, your emotions saying, hey, this is your time. do you feel like it's a calling for you? >> no,i don't. i feel like it's a cause. i reconciled in my mind that i may not win. if i don't, if that's the will of the people, i've got a life. i never dreamt about being president in the first place. if i do happen to win, i know how to do it. >> you always talked about your brother jeb focusing on that as his goal. how does he feel about you stealing the limelight? >> that's not how we live our family.

steali stealing. he's going to be the most avid. >> governor, you've had two days in new hampshire. how are you going to be able to top this? >> it's going to be kfvíçhard. i have a good message. i hope people see that. i know there is a lot of work to do and i'm going to do it right. >> there must have been a moment it crystallized. >> it did. it crystallized during christmas because i was expressing doubts, i was worried about my family. i love my daughters more than lot. i thought long and hard about

it, and i answered the family question, and then the question is, do i know what to do? i believe i'm prepared, i'm ready to leave. >> i know conservatives were wondering how much ronald reagan conservativism is running through those george bush veins? >> i appreciate it. i'm a different era from my dad and from president reagan. i'll be dealing with circumstances somewhat different, but i think if people analyze my record in the state of texas, they'll find it's a conservative record and i'm a compassionate fellow. bu bush? >> they both did a lot for

america. . >> thanks,ht= i appreciate it. a pleasure. >> how you doing, buddy. >> i'll see you. >> that's why the governorçát!p. [ inaudible ]

>> appreciate you all. thanks. thanks a lot. thank you. >> you're watching "road to the white house rewind," american past on presidential races. past on next we look at george w. bush on the campaign trail. in cane new hampshire in 1999, he takes questions from reporters and learns about the town's pumpkin festival. >> our daughter is i@ loves it. >> really, lubbock, texas. i know reese. nice to see you. >> ma'am? step back just a little. >> i appreciate it, thank. nice to see you. >> you have to win, george! >> republicans wish you the very best. >> that's why i can't be at thaq

debate tonight. >> where are you tonight? >> i think montpelier. >> what do you say about not debating? >> i love my wife. she's going to be notedj>o as a esteemed student at smu. there will be other debates. surely, though, people can understand a guy wants to be with his wife. you would like that, wouldn't you? >> thanks a lot. you've got my vote.

>> thank you. thanks for coming. thanks. >> the author of that is a convicted felon, according to the newspaper. >> really. >> yeah. i'd be careful. you should go get your money back. >> there is an article in the globe that some of your supporters suggested that you might not be spending enough time in new hampshire, though you're here today, or doing enough grassroots campaigning. can you respond to that? >> yes. i'm doing a lot of grassroots campaigning. in order to win the state of new hampshire, one has to grassroots campaign, and that's exactly what i've been doing.

we go, i've shaken hundreds of hands. i will continue to do so, and i intend to remain competitive as best i can in the state of new hampshire. i'm pleased with the progress we're making. we've got a great organization. mrs. dole recently got out and we signed up most of her team for the state of new hampshire, so we're making good progress. >> at least one of your former supporters has dropped his support to you going on to mccain claiming youurf' have no articulated well enough on specific issues. how do you respond to that? >> i can't get 100% of the vote. >> we're talking about only five visits compared to then6c6ñ oth >> do you know how many hands i've shaken? i'm going to be back a lot. i've got a campaign that's all across the country. i'm campaigning in iowa and i campaigned in south z california, new york. there is a lot of country to cover. but i think our strategy is going to work in the state of new hampshire. i understand new hampshire politics. and i understand people want their hands shook and people look me in the eye and ask for the vote and that's exactly what

they're doing. i think the bigger question is how many people are in the crowds and how many hands are getting shaken. >> do you think john mccain will come up in the poll? >> he's a fine man. he's a fine senator. we just have a fundamental disagreement. i think i ought to be the party's nominee. >> how about. [ inaudible ] ? >> i'm not paying much attention to the democrats. >> would you rather go against bradley or gore? >> i would rather win my party's nomination. >> what do you think about bill going down in the senate? >> a fundamental difference of opinion was some part of the bill and the senate. i believe we need to raise the individual limits and have instant disclosure. i'm one of the few candidates, i

think the only candidate thus far putting up to who is contributing to my campaign. i do believe we ought to not have corporate and/or labor union so long as the labor >> sea martin crest has suspended a book. what do you tvh >> the guy who wrote the book made it up, and the publisher figured it out. unfortunately, there are people in the political process who think it's okay to make things up and float it out to you. it's the publishing company that it's damaging to. most people rrnt going to buy all this garbage and rumors that float in the political process. and i hope you

yes, alfred? good to see you all. >> thanks. >> thank you. >> finally, huh? >> we're doing an interview this time of the year. >> how do you know? >> minimdy told me. >> mindy told you. sweet mindy. bruce, we'll see you. bruce. we'll see you around. you're going to a game? why? >> why? you really want to know why?

>> yeah. >> because somebody invited me and it's a big deal. you going to the game? >> no, i'm going to be fishing. >> is that part of your responsibility? keep a clear head. >> i'll go for you if anybody has any questions.xo;f >> michele. >> we're going to the pumpkin festival. >> thank you. >> is that a good likeness? what do you think? >> looks just like me.<

you're looking great. we're doing good. >> thank you very much. you have my vote. >> thank you, sir. where is the other 20? >> i have a great book. >> thank you. i appreciate that. >> three gold medals in the winter games this year.

i went up and did the golf this year. i did -- what do they call that when you have a partner? what do they call that? >> i'm holding the gold medal if that's all right. thank you, sir. >> we need a good man. >> john? >> i know your family very well. >> when they dedicated that portrait. >> yes, sir, that's exactly right. >> look out, i'm coming through. i'm going to show you how to cook a bird. loga -- hamburger.

you like it lean? >> yes. >> that doesn't have anything to do with whether it's cooked or rare. she doesn't know what she's i8qabout. >> we're over here, too. >> good. >> come on in. >> this is for your pancakes. i'm cooking cynthia a hamburger. john, you take it from here.nfáñ

>> say hello to your mother. >> thanks, i will. >> tell her we all love her. >> nice to see you. thanks. nice to meet you. >> nice to meet you again. >> thanks. nice to see you again. >> hey, governor? can i get your autograph? >> what's your name. >> alfonso? same as my dad. he's a democrat, i'm a

republican. >> what's the name of your school? >> dublin school. about 30 miles that way. >> great.  school is that? >> it's a boarding school. >> fabulous. where do you call home? >> new york. >> you're a long way from home. what city are you from? >> new haven. >> great. good to meet you. good luck to you. >> how you doing? >> doing well, thanks. surviving. nice to meet you. >> nice to meet you, sir. good luck to you. >> thanks a lot. i'm honored. 55th reunion. 55th reunion. >> see, i'm a southern guy.

i'm out here with a civilized civilization. i need to get up there sometime. >> you got to get up to that skiing, it's unbelievable. d >> is it safe for me to be in the middle of the road? >> no. >> my running mate! >> i like your costume, too. >> thank you. dressed up as a governor. >> good luck to you, sir. >> get in front, please.

>> this is good. >> thank you, sir. how are you? i'm going to say hello to you. >> thank you. >> don't lose your sense of humor, okay? >> it's my mother in me. i got to keep it, otherwise i'll go nuts. too late. sorry. >> real lit pumpkins, real carved pumpkins. tonight is a mini thing for the district and community. this is national attention. >> it's fabulous. over here. >> under the hoop. >> the scoreboard. she invented this whole event. >> hi, nancy.

>> this is karen wilson. one of our producers. >> nice to meet you. >> thanks for your hospitality. >> thank you for coming. enjoy. do you have a pumpkin? >> do we have a lighter or match? would you like to light that? >> bring that over here. >> oh, my gosh, i'll never forget. i thought you were from maine. >> here, guys.#o

>> be sure you get a look at the towers. >> i saw it walking in. it is spectacular. you'll have them at this end of the street and that end of the street. >> and we light them all. >> we'll be in east texas. is tomorrow night when you light it or sunday? >> tomorrow night. we're hoping to break a world record. we have 17,693 jack-o-lanterns last year. >> so you're hoping for 20,000? >> that's right. and that's one of them. >> thanks. >> congratulations. >> we're going to get you a t-shirt. >> logan?

do you mind holding the pumpkin? do i have a chance to say hello to you? >> yeah. >> that's what i'm going to do. >> i'm doing great. it's a beautiful day, too. >> i hope you do something for health care. >> i will. i've done a lot in texas. >> what would you implement for a program? >> that's a broad question. for who, the elderly? the unemployed? >> i guess i would have to ask about my set of circumstances. i'm self-employed, i spend a lot of money on hmo care for the family -- >> deductability for starters. that would help keep you employed. >> i looked into that, and the way they have them set up now -- to be free of reform so

you're able to invest. >> i have a nephew who is going to graduate from college in a couple years. great young man, but he was diagnosed withupg diabetes as a young xb"dñfoellow. i'm concerned with the circumstance he's in with a preexisting condition -- >> thatãlaw is already passed that a preexisting condition can't be counted. >> that's great. >> that happened before i came along. what is your business? >> i'm a lawyer. >> everybody needs a good lawyer. >> i agree. >> yes, you do. nice to meet you. >> good luck to you. >> i appreciate your questions. >> from california. >> i've been spending a lot of time in your state. i need to. good to meet you all. thanks. what grade are we in? >> sixth. >> let me ask you a question.

how many of you are going to go to college? >> me! >> me! >> me! >> how many of you read more than you watch tv? tell the truth. >> me! >> how many of you practice math more than watching tv? >> me. >> do you know bill hickey? >> that's my you thiuncle. >> yes, i do. hickey built the first house i ever purchased. give them all my love. >> i will. >> i'm not sure who looks scarier, me or her. >> i know. >> you know, huh? >> you look great. >> thank you. so do you.

manyn.1$ñ . >> am i signing this? >> you're signing this. >> we need a match. >> we can simulate a lighter. >> i heard you. >> no, no, no, no, no. >> okay. you listen to your math teacher.

>> we will, she's awesome. >> that's the worst-looking stuff i've ever seen. >> thank you!úz >> could have been the bush pumpkin. >> your name? >> joanna. >> mr. bush? mr. bush? enthusiasm as now with you here. never. and i've been in politics a long time. >> tell him thanks. >> oh,i4v my god.

>> i'm not signing your shirt until your mother says yes. no, she didn't say yes. >> thank you very much. >> need you to have a mentor. >> thank you.úqie

>> good luck. >> where is your mom. boy, your mom has a lot of children. you've got a lot of children. i'm blaming it on you.20év

>> that's great.è5éñ >> that will be the envy of everybody. >> it's intentional.r%4v >> thank you very much. >> thanks for having us. >> you're welcome. you're very welcome. >> we didn't qualify because we were ahead of the game. we made our movie theater over here to revitalize downtown. >> this is a great community. thanks for having me, too.

>> yeah, i know him well. yeah, he's a good man. >> he married your niece? >> yeah. >> good. he's a good fella. >> yeah, nice man.

on the next washington journal, look at the year ahead. we'll talk about the challenges and priorities for congress. in 2016, the november elections, domestic and international issues. you can join the conversation by phone, facebook or twitter. washington journal, live, every morning at 7:00 a.m. eastern on >> this new year's weekend, american history has three days of featured programming. beginning friday afternoon at 3:10 eastern, pam la smith hill,

discusses the life of laura engles wilder, comparing and contrasting the tv book show to the real life of laura engles. >> laura chose to write about people, places and memory that is were not only important to her personally, but that would resonate with adult readers in the early 1930s. so, as it was pointed out, pioneer girl indeed contains sta >> then, on saturday evening at y>ñ historian james watson compares the assassinations of abraham lincoln and john f. kennedy, high lighting the similarities and differences between both tragedies. and, at 10:00, the 1965 "meet the press" interview who authored a report on the contents of black poverty in the united states. >> i believe that -- i believe

that president johnson said in his university speech, you cannot keep a man in chains for three centuries and take the chains off of them and say okay, you're free to run the ranks of life with anybody else. people have to be given the opportunity to compete with effective resources. and i believe that we should make a special effort.zpmberet . a visit to pershing park to washington, d.c. to hear about proposed designs for a new national world war iu memorial for its up congresswomawomaning anniversar. for our complete holiday schedule, go to c-span.org. each week until to 2016 presidential election, american history tv brings you article kooifl coverage of past presidential races, next; on road to the white house rewind, we look back to the 20 campaign and democrat al gore in new havrp shir.

vice president gore went onto win the democratic nomination, but lost to texas governor george w. bush in the general election. the race was among the most highly contested in u.s. history and not decided until five weeks after voters went to the polls when the u.s. supreme court stopped a recount in florida. this ultimately awarded the state's electoral votes. this is about 90 minutes.

the first meeting on his schedule was a meeting to discuss long term health care r [ applause ]k.cx today, i'm announcing the older american's act with improvements recommended in that act. and it's been a great law. i'm sure it was begun by somebody who knows that this center is a part of the good things that have come from the older americans act.

citizens. my father who i lost inw,z decer was one of the authors of the first medicare bill back in '64. and then in '65, it became the law of the land and passed the senate and the house. security and medicare along with the older americans act. s÷ embody our nation's commitment. we slow down and lose the same strength and ability to take care of our selves. so, naturally, we have developed ways to express the compassion and love for those who brought us into the world and raised us and nurtured us.

and i do want to say in my opening comments here that president clinton and i are going to standby social security.

and as a representative democracy, we have the right to embody our values in efforts that can help families. and that's what i'm talking about here. that's what we're trying to do. the testimony from the stories that you have told here will, i promise you, make it easier to build a record that will eventually lead to passage to new families giving long term >> those of you who are giving so much of yourself and restate my determination to make sure that our country does more to honor and support your work. thank you very much for coming. thank you. >> that was part of an hour-long discussion vice president gore had with new hampshire residents

two weeks ago.

before leaving new hampshire's seacoast, vice president gore stopped by a f m former textile mill that's now

an o office building in dover. >> thank you all very much. a city with a rich history and a proud future, it is exemplified in this mill building. this/1&p is our past thanks to work of kim she woulding and everybody else in the city. we welcome you new businesses. it's a great place to live.çòñ we have the best education system and a business community. there should be no doubt that the vice president of the united states would feel warm and welcome i>ív> thank you very much.

thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. and congratulations. this is such an exciting day. i want to congratulate you on your wonderful leadership in helping bring this about. and for those who are new to it and for those who are visiting from elsewhere let me tell you that dover has great leadership from his mayornay and his sbietlement loan program made possible the parking space that opened the door to the expansion that brought jobs back downtown and contributed to this process of revitalizing thehearted of dover. this is a happy day in so many respecteds, that it's an occasion to recognize the role that willed leadership has played in this. also, tim sheldon, thank you for your wonderful work in bringing about this development.

others have contributed. i want to thank the leaders and companies of ncri and environmental and cc connection. i was over at the merimac headquarters. last year, you guys are growing and expanding and it's really great to see and to shield environmentals, you know, the ground field program that we're pushing hard is itself a part of our nation's effort to community and reclaim abandoned lots. now, they're great real estate opportunities and get more jobs sx we're so glad that you're a part of the success story. now, why did this happen