the wall. when we interviewed the kid from east berlin, i was amazed at his english-speaking ability because he had sped his critics and his whole life in east berlin. it was fascinating for us. on that level, it was probably the most historically profound thing recovered. >> lots of journalist will talk about their jobs and the benefits are that they are witnesses to history. certainly, we have had that benefit. joe talked about that instance and that is one of the most memorable. not one single moment comes up but a series of things where it felt real and it felt like we were part of something larger than just -- tv programs are largely a contrivance usually talk about things in a controlled manner. remember the d.c. sniper case?

that sent a chill through the whole community. schools were not allowed to come to the studio. all of us collectively was stopped so we had to take the program to schools to keep it on the air. moments like that, after 9/11. our fourth program after 9/11, alston's one is no -- our first program after 9/11, all the students want to know what they could do. if you remember, they mocked the president because at the time, and i'm sure he regrets it, president bush said that people should keep shopping and going to malls. the students were talking at. there great-grandparent's a group victory gardens during world war two and they were supposed to shop? >> another clip you will see letter, we covered the conventions every four years. those were very exciting and newsworthy and you get a sense

of who our next president might be prayed in 2004, when present and obama gave his speech -- when president obama davis beat, it had a profound effect on the city of boston. you had the idea that this guy would be president. my son predicted this in 2008. he got it right. >> the obama speech was memorable. we wanted to afterward and were dazzled by this man. ronald reagan pa's last speech to the republican party was very dramatic -- ronald reagan's last speech to the republican party was very dramatic. he gather delegates to speak. >> i will segue to our next clip close-up started at the end of the carter presidency but we have and as a former president.

let's take a look at that clip. >> i was just wondering -- people from all over the world have different cultures and value systems. i was interested in knowing if there is something that you found that everybody connects on because they are human. when you are dealing with somebody, is there something you can always relate with them about? >> yes, regardless of one's race or creed or political philosophy or religion, there are things that blind people together. i have always referred to the mothers in the middle east area. the israeli mothers, the palestinian mothers, the jordanian mothers, the syrian mothers, the lebanese mothers, the egyptian mothers, want to see their families raised in the spirit they want to see their sons get a good job and not go to war and get killed. they want to see their small children get health care. they want to be able to see their husbands produce apples or

oranges or run up pharmacy or practice medicine. they want to have his talents used properly. they want to lead a normal life. quite often, almost always, it is the leaders of a nation, the leaders of the population who are the obstacles to peace. the people want peace, human rights, freedom, democracy, and the alleviation of suffering. that is what binds them together. what divides them are problems between the leaders of those groups. >> former president jimmy carter talking on close up on c-span. we have had no trouble getting the top guests on this program, gear in and year out. what is it about this program that the a-listers say they want to come? >> i would like the court take credit -- i would like to take credit but is all about being an

opportunity to talk to students. we do it in a way that it is a real discussion. they appreciate that. it is not just five minutes or a sound bite. it is an hourlong program and you can have a thorough discussion. in some cases, they prescreen the questions but we never given to that. it was a candid discussion the president's all agree and we were very lucky. it was pretty incredible. >> jeanne kirkpatrick, former u.n. ambassador -- the answer to the question was you, you are the reason they would do it. jeane kirkpatrick had been ambassador to the united nations. president ronald reagan and president gorbachev were meeting in reykjavik, iceland. we got to kirkpatrick to come on to talk with social studies teachers. she did no other media during the summit.

she told us explicitly she did it because it was to help educators. when she was leaving the green room, a reporter from another news organization, and after to do this program and they asked her to do his and she said," no." >> week in and week out, there were some kids who would say where they were from and surprise you with what came next. they destroyed whatever stereotype you might have about regions of the country, about gender, about race, about in, or whatever. what did it feel like in the control room when those close-up moments came? >> it was probably more whooping and hollering then you would expect. the reaction the boiler room -- there was a lot of encouragement for that kind of stuff.

nobody but the crew appeared in their head said that there was a fair but of participatory cheering when a student would stand up and distinguish herself. >> it's good to know you're paying attention. [laughter] >> you can fill in late pauses on the set. >> we should have had a camera in there. if you are just joining us, you are watching close up at the newseum. we're talking about 30 years of close-up television on c-span. for more information, please visit our web site closeup.org or newseum.org. >> i am from kingwood, texas.

who is most memorable person you have met with through this program? >> frank had asked joe early about meeting a president. brian talked about this and when you need a president or head of state, i think of me kill gorbachev, it does not matter what your politics are or the issues of the day. there's something very, almost sacred, in american politics. this is the face of american democracy. it is very odd-inspiring. you have to get over that if you have asked questions and ask questions matter what your situation is, it is always very memorable >> >> when you meet them, you get an impression. i remember meeting bill clinton out in oklahoma at the five this

year anniversary of the oklahoma city bombing. there is a huge crowd out there. most of them were probably republican. he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands. when he was done, there were 80- year-old grandmother's to reach out and touch him and shake his hand. you get to understand that no matter what you think of him politically, the appeal of a really strong, charismatic leader. >> 6 use the term but it is the lesser known people, the non- famous people, the students like the one from east berlin. i will never forget that. sometimes it is those moments for it are a number one where joe, you and i were driving, what was the soprano -- supreme court act about drugs in school?

we visited the family that was involved in the supreme court case. it was a modest family in a small community. they opened their house to us. they realize the furniture. we were driving away and since we came from blue-collar families, it was very humbling. it is nice to have a job where people can open up to about these. they are the people who have done something, not us. those are moments. >> mary beth tinker -- tinker verses des moines banned -- are bad. she was on our show and with the panel together and during a panel discussion, she felt comfortable enough that she came out and introduced her girlfriend. it was a very powerful moment. a lot of experiences like that

that have happened over the year mean a lot. mary beth tinker was right up there at the top. >> it was a shameless plug for the students here. the tanker armband is in the first amendment now. >> phil donahue, we had phil donahue as our guest. usually in the greenroom, i would tell our guests about having a dialogue and answer -- and answer the questions. i told phil, i will not reach you on how to work an audience. i learned from watching you on television. that was a rare moment. he was a master. he produced a documentary. he came out and what he did with the audience -- i wish i could have taken notes. in the aftermath of 9/11, there was a close-up program called "running after danger."

you remember that program. tell us about this next clip. >> what we are about to see is an associated press photographer named richard drew telling the story of one of the most disturbing photographs published in the aftermath of 9/11. it is a photograph that, out of respect for people's sensitivity, a few newspapers publish any more. i will warn the audience that you are about to see it again. this is richard drew telling the story of his photograph from 9/11. >> this is disturbing subject matter. this is one of the most got reject a wrenching scenes was of that day. white cells with the says barry >>

>> this is a pastry chef at the windows of the world. this was his last day on the job. a reporter saw my photograph. he was going around and looking at all the posters that were put up afterwards for all the missing people. it collects to him that he had seen my photograph in ""the new york times." he thought this person resembled another person. he sought out the family and found out that his name was n orberto hernandez. it was his last day on the job. he was there early in the morning. >> what is going to your head when you see that? >> i get asked that a lot. you photographed the event when it is going on. i was talking with a police of a

cert preach -- i was talking with a police officer. they were pointing him out. they're pointing out," there's another one, there's another one." you do the job. you have to photograph it. >> it's like an auto this like you are on autopilot? >> exactly. >> does it ever go through your mind that if you should be photographed? >> you cannot edit as you should. you have to record the event we record witter -- whether it is tv or stills or the written word for it will record history every day. without us being there to record the history, it is like the tree falling in the forest. you have to be there to do it. you have to show it. >> we're talking about a very disturbing fatah from 9/11.

i want you to talk a little bit about the students who are a draw for their guests. we do not dilute the topics. we're talking about the issues facing the country. we're trying to help them develop critical that these guilford they get all lot. they do their job. they step up to the plate and interpret about working a student audience, talking about the most serious issues of our time. >> i used the word privileged and it is a privilege to work with young people. you mentioned guests who won a briefing before the program. some would assume that they would need to donna down for you. they ask about what level they should speak at. and we encourage the opposite. do not underestimate the students. the one thing i find out about student audiences in a political talk show context is, adults are way too familiar with all of

the subtext and the political leanings of guests or the history of it. students come out and make and the disarming. guests are caught off guard. they do not ask the question in a predictable way. is a pure question. the often that occur after. >> it is easy to get sucked into stereotypes. a close-up audience is pretty non-stereotypical for it -- non stereotypical. they could talk about how the country works. that is an interesting crowd. that has brought a lot to the table. >> we watched a generation of kids getting grossed in the presidential campaign, starting in the fall of 2007. with all of the internet tools and their social networking

platforms, we actually saw, just in what they brought to the table in the studio. >> absolutely. the last two years, when the presidential election was going on and the aftermath, it is incredible the amount students who have been involved in the issues and have volunteered for campaigns. they are really up on the election. it was phenomenal to say. hopefully, it will last beyond the obama administration. >> this is central to what close-up is about, getting people engaged and informed. you posted a program, frank, with ralph nader. there was something he said to a group of students that resonates with me. he talked about "you are used to the internet and social networking technologies and this is a great opportunity because the agents take your hat, you are -- your credit powers will never be higher than a will for

the next decade or so." he was saying not to waste it on what he termed internet narcissism. do something meaningful. i have been twittering during the program and missed some of the questions. [laughter] i will see messages about people talking about them drinking too much. mom, stop sending those messages. [laughter] and i ran, we see twitter being used to organize a protest that could lead to a revolution. that is the challenge for you. that is closeup's challenge. find out how to do something meaningful >> gues>> a student talked-about hearing about people bearing up until we get to the end. i have been struggling all of my life. he said he'd give up with not a question but they comment. he said struggle was what life

was all about. this was an 18-year-old kid. for the past 13 years, the close-up foundation and a newseum partner to create programming to guard the first amendment. our next clip highlights that permit it was 2005. we had a show called pierre "religion and the first amendment." >> it was another remarkable close-up thing. dean strossen was the chief of the aclu was with the chief of the aclj to talk about freedom of religion and freedom from religion in a first amendment context. take a look at that. >> go ahead, please. >> i am from michigan. i have a copy of the congressional record from wednesday, march 16.

i'm wondering what you guys think about the fact that we leave the house of representatives with a prayer that ended, most of all father, let us feel your love. in jesus' name, amen. should we do that in congress? we are saying that jesus' name is appropriate to lead our house? >> do you have a problem with that. >> i have a problem with that. but how many of you agree with joe and you have a problem? raise your hands if you don't. >> let me ask a follow-up question -- joe and everybody else -- which you have a problem if it just referred to our father and not to jesus? how many would have a problem with that? and, i would think that would be okay? why? for those of you go the other way, what is the distinction? why is our father of a and is

not ok? >> if somebody has an opinion, come to the microphone. >> from the aclu perspective, this is an issue where the supreme court has ruled a wrong way, this is the government- sponsorship or endorsement of a particular religious belief. most of you recognize that because jesus is significant with christianity. our father is something back of a particular religious police, namely monotheism. it is monotheism where people believe that the deity is a male father figure instead of a female. many devout religious people should not feel that they are not be equally represented >> >> some people said it would of

been okay if it was a reference to god. why is that? i think the answer is as, and i would be curious to see what the students say, part of the answer is that part of how america describes itself references to deity or got our in our founding doctrine. the declaration of independence >> i don't think that's true. america describes itself, our original model was "the floor of his own them --e pluribus unum" one image of many. >> the people come here feel free to express their beliefs in their colmes. >> they do. a very special thing about close-up is that this discussion

happened and these guys can sit down and have a collegial discussion about their differing viewpoints on religious freedom. the purpose of the show has never been to go to anyone into conversation or confrontation. it has been a way to explain and engage students in the way the country runs. >> it is a point that we make that when we tell people on light commercial television, we have not invited the two of you want to light the fuse and watch you wrestle. for the most part, that work. we had trouble with gun control. there is no compromise position there. by and large, people are -- >> there are two keys. we set up as a discussion with the students. that is not a debate. they are embarrassed a little . if there is a studio and they

have a house that is egging them on, and they have five minutes, they want fireworks because of the ratings. they will go at it if they are egg on. when you have an hour and a studio audience that is reacting and we are not encouraging them to interact, you get this agreement but you do not get the name calling and the immature stuff. they have to raise the level of the students. >> most talking points are not corrected for an hour. >> as host, most of our time has been encouraging the guests to interact with students. that is fun because the students make that possible with the question they bring to the microphone. that is in my experience. >> what you get in this case, it is a rare opportunity. these are people who are making similar cases before the supreme court. they are doing it for our

audience is a great opportunity. >> i found it interesting, year in and year out, it was difficult when we got the spokespeople for the dnc and the rnc. we thought they were young and could relate to the kids the they were not given the freedom by their bosses to go off-script current. >> it was all talking points. >> without commercial interruption. >> if you want to find a with the party are doing, you have to go to the source for a close-up has been doing television programs from the floor of the democratic and republican conventions since the rnc in texas and the dnc in 1984. tell us about this next clip. >> we do the show in the morning

from the floor. when you're at a convention, there are many things they are planning for that evening. you have to expect the unexpected. >> hello, i am diana. what are the major differences -- major leadership deborah as between senator obama and senator mccain? >> humane -- >> what a difference between them? >> 1 areas policy and the other area is what kind of leader do you think they would date. they would be as president. senator obama has a plan to have

universal health coverage. with senator mccain, it is interesting, he actually dismantle the current plan. if you get your health care now for your employer, his plan is to take that away. he wanted to give people money and you go out and get your health care on your honor. that is a risky thing to do. we don't like to deal with health insurance companies anyway. lis and gentlemen, terry mcauliffe. my former boss he is to be the chairman of the democratic party and chairman of hillary clinton's campaign. >> i love this woman. >> you finally recognize that.

>> we are married. "thank you, terry mcauliffe. [applause] >> there is not one government program that exists if it does not serve you. you serve the program -- the program serves you not you serve the program carried you have to be free to choose. let you take your money and put a bag private retirement account for it you want to stay and sells security, you can for it if you want to put your own money in your own job that you manage, you should be free to do that. it is not that difficult. and security you have will be what you determined. you take a top first 12% of what you are in and do that. -- you take the first 12% of what you earn and do that.

>> thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with us today. >> [laughter] >> that is not even do it justice. i was identified the way i could not hear a word. thank god for dick armey. >> it is mike was working. this is like doing the program from the sidelines while the super bowl is being played. >> while we were building the new newseum, we lost the use of the studio and we went out to merit field, virginia. -- merrifield, virginia. you would create the entire closeups that before the joke into warm up the audience for it the finished product was good. how do you do that? >>