market when it a security that exposed them to the housing market, and that is what they got. >> the hearing with goldman sachs when nearly 11 hours. see the key comments on the d.c.'s ban a video library. we have every program since 19 -- on the c-span video library. we have every program since 1987 online. >> next, the first african- american to serve in the fourth circuit court of appeals. he talks about diversity in the the judiciary. . .

>> there is that room over there in the back if you need to have a conversation or something. and a reminder to put phones on vibrate or turn them off and all of that. and i think we are just about ready to go. so i would ask people -- oh, and i would encourage people phof te up to those stanchions there or that blue tape over here. you will be fine just as long

you are not right in the shot. but it is nice actually to have people sort of around so that it looks like a live event. so i would like to start things off by asking juan ortega to come and start us off. >> good evening. i am juan and the chair of the minorities in the court committee. on behalf of our committee, it's my pleasure and honor to welcome you to tonight's reception, the important of a diverse judiciary. i would like to extend a special welcome to the students here tonight through the pipeline legal outreach. given their track record, i will

confident that these students will attend a session as attorneys and judges themselves. [applause] >> our committee decided to host tonight's reception to celebrate diversity that exists amongst the state and federal judges of new york city. and to continue diversity. our committee strongly believes that the unique life experiences and perspectives that diverse judges bring to the bench, promote for respect of the rule of law and the public's confidence of our judicial system. in addition we believe that having diverse judges not only increases the likelihood that courts will decide cases correctly, but in a just manner. as i was told that there are

occasions where it shows diversity but would lack justice. now i would like to welcome you to tonight's reception and turn the podium over to patricia hines with remarks on behalf of the association. >> thank you juan. actually i think these guys look like lawyers already. i think we have advance you right away. thank you all for coming tonight. this is a fabulous occasion for us here at the city bar. the issues that this committee deals with or so important to us and really are the core of who we are. i am so honored to have judge gregory here and judge gregory

honors us being here. we have wonderful 4%ñ of the bench, we have second circuit and appellate judges, it's a great tribute and turn-out. i want to thank everyone for being here, because you make it important. and it is important. and we have keep underscoring that importance. so we can keep making progress in this very important area. now this committee on the minorities in the court was formed in 1992. and it was just one indication of the work that we are doing at this association to promote diversity. not only on the bench, but at the bar as well. we have 126 law firms and corporate law departments that have signed our diversity

principles. and have been reporting their diversity activities and statistics to us. because we each year publish a benchmarking survey. and that's a way of trying to show are we making progress. and actually when you get these numbers out there and publish them. it makes a difference. people get to see, yes, there has been progress. or no there hasn't. and we really need to push harder. we continue to work not only at the entry level but at all level in the profession so we can be inclusive and more and more members of minorities can aspire to the bench and actually get to the bench. and i have to say, that here in new york, i am so proud because we do have a wonderful representative bench in new york. more can be done.

but we have made great strides. and looking around the room tonight, we can see that the progress has been made. and that, however, we also understand there is more work to be done. while our focus is on promoting here tonight, and celebrating diversity at the judiciary, we continue to open opportunities to those traditionally underrepresented groups. to find their way in the legal profession. the association is one of the many organizations that is doing a look-back in the pipeline. and reaching out to inner city high school kids to show them that legal career is a possibility. and that assisting and we also assist college and law students pursuing careers.

we have a wonderful program at the city bar, the program for high school students who work with legal employers and participate in a program to train them for the work environment. and expose them to college guidance and law school experience. it really is trying to show them that it is possible, it is possible. and they come with such enthusiasm and the families. there is no better feeling than to participate in one of these programs or to see the kind of enthusiasm that these students have. and that the legal community has in embracing them. and we are so glad to be partnering with this and mentoring the students. and we hold programs where hundreds of high schools meet to discuss constitutional issues.

that's so important to make young students think about what the issues are. what the rights are. what they should be focusing on. we set up mentoring programs linking high school, college and law students. and first year law students can apply for a fellowship program for summer associations in law departments. all programs are designed to promote aspiration. to level the playing field for students of color or disadvantaged backgrounds for dreaming of a legal career. not only do we want them to start to dream of a legal career. because many of these students don't think about a legal career. we want them to say, i can do it. and you can, of course you can. and we hope that our efforts will help to increase the number of lawyers of color and to

ensure the necessary progress in achieving disverity in the profession and on the bench. th pulling this together and for giving us this great speaker, judge gregory. and hosting this reception. so i will now turn the podium back towpp juan. [applause] >> i have the distinct honor to introduce our keynote speaker, judge roger gregory for the u.s. court of appeals for the fourth circuit. for of all appellate courts the fourth circuit has the most african-americans but never a judge until judge gregory was

nominated in 2000. and today they have three african-american judges and a latino pending before the senate. when he nominated judge gregory, president clinton said, quote, it's unconsciousable that the 40 circuit never had an african-american judge. for we know this sharpens our vision and makes us a stronger nation. having the honor of working for judge gregory, i know that he has lived up to these words every single day. the experiences he brought to the bench allowed him to a strong impact on the fourth circuit jurisprudence. and in addition judge gregory has undeniable had an impact on

the fourth circuits culture. prior to judge gregory's arrival, the fourth district sung "dixie." a popular song in the civil war. needless to say this tradition was discontinued upon his arrival. moreover judge gregory has provided a way for the african-american community to view the fourth circuit. taking the pride in the nomination of judge gregory, i believe that they no longer see the fourth circuit as an institution that doesn't provide them the rights. and it's my honor to bring to you judge gregory, who is a role model and dear friend. [applause]

>> thank you, mr. ortega. for those kind words and he doesn't work for me anymore and he's still saying those things. yes, i don't have jurisdiction in the second circuit. but you must be prolific and going to be in our five states. thank you very much for inviting me to this auspicious occasion. it's just amazing, to see this little boy from virginia to be here and standing on concrete that was poured for giants. i say that because those of you who are civil war buffs, you know that in st. petersburg there was the longest scene in history warfare, it took 300 days for petersburg to fall and when it fell, the confederacy fell aweek later. and after that back drop was a

boy that loved history. and i had wonderful parents and the first in my immediate family to graduate from high school. let alone to go to college and law school. i tell people that i am one of the people that god has to let you know that he's still in the miracle business. and a wonderful opportunity to brush along your hedges this afternoon. this is a wonderful occasion because we are celebrating judges. and judges in my mind have a heavy responsibility. imagine people coming before you with incredible impact to your lives. and in the fourth circuit we have quite a few capital cases. and i remember handling a case where i was on emotion watch. and this person filed an appeal to the appellate court. and i

was there to make sure with the panel if at the last moment before execution in virginia he chose to file an appeal in the fourth circuit and be there to decide. and i never forget that the execution was set for 9:30 and judge you need to be in touch from the time you leave the court to execution. and i watched the clock from 8:30 to 9, and 9:13 and to 9:30 and then the order of execution was carried out that night. and a staggering thing to know took place that you are given that responsibility to understand and apply the law. not to make any personal decisions as justice frankfort

said, that an opinion should not be an expression of will but the reason to apply justice. and that's what you do everyday. and what a wonderful place that that the men and women, the fedderus papers in 78, that the judge be opposed to men, and at that time they couldn't fathom that a woman or person of color or anyone else would have the opportunity to be qualified or the right to each sit. but he said that should be reposed to men who have the knowledge and integrity to conduct the administration of justice with utility and

dignity. and that's what you do with utility and dignity. your knowledge in working hard everyday. now i am not unmindful of the fact that there are some people that think there may be some danger and fear in promoting a diverse bench. that somehow we are furthering some idea of making racial or ethnic considerations dominant consideration if you will, an administration of justice. we know that's not true. chief justice roberts said in 2008 at the national symposium, he said that we are the only ones that take an oath that includes being impartial. the other branches don't. they swear to uphold and defend the constitution but not to do

so impartially. as a matter of fact they are appointed and elected to do anything but be impartial. but this has to be an actual controversy with real parties that will go before the court and in our jurisdiction. and i tell you have been a diverse bench does not weaken the imparity of the oath of impartial. nor does it lessen the strengths of passivity. but it gives a great and forth idea of the wonderful progress we have made and that this office, this utility, this integrity, this knowledge might be spread about the population and it reflects who we are. a nation that cares about laws. and furthermore the very people

on the should eers that we stan on, these people insisted on the rule of law. those litigants and lawyers stood before the law so that no one can stand above the law. and we owe them a great and mighty debt. now i have to take a personal privilege here. i know that there are wonderful luminaries of the judiciary and the bar. but judge curse who is standing there. i told her this today, but in law school at the university of michigan, she was an icon. the record she left and the trail she blazed in michigan for a law student in 1975-78, just incredible. this is a wonderful night, not

her direct student but a student that was inspired by you. and i want to say thank you very much judge. [applause] >> it takes an oath to put us where we are. and juan talked about the court. when president clinton recessed appointed me. i didn't know what a recess appointment was. so i did a little research. why are you laughing. i found out that the first recess appointment was president george washington. and he recessed a man appointed john rutledge, it didn't go well. he had opposed the j-treaty and they roughed him up and not

heard much after that. so my research wasn't go well. the people out there in the research project in terms of the pipeline, know this, don't ever stop reading at the first chapter. you have to read on and get through the book. because when i represent reading i found that he wjohn marshal w recessed appointed and just b n brenon was recessed appointed. i was in good company. one of my cousins heard my senate hearing and the question

to me was, well, judge gregory when you follow the principle of starruous and that's the biggest law there is and i knew this wouldn't be fair and they asked him all of those foreign words. so even when it's misunderstood it's nice to have people that know about the nuances and the experiences of people. and it's so wonderful and just refreshing to have that. and talking about those shoulders, it reminds me of a story that harwood therman, my favorite theologian. in the 1920's in georgia, he couldn't get work, no one would hire a negro lawyer. it was a death nail, to bring a

negro lawyer in, it was not. so his mother did hand laundry and he kept aclimbing. the life was not a crystal stair for him. what he would do is this, every day sit in the courthouse and listen to trials. and every time a negro was being tried, his silent presence, i love that silent presence, sitting in silence increased chances of justice being done immeasurably. because they did not want to sit there and knowing this michigan trained lawyer and been at the bar and better trained, and they had to be careful not to

mistreat and butcher the law. what a wonderful spirit. and i think of him as a person that the stinch of injustice and that was stronger. i love that. that's the kind of shoulders we stand on. those who on those days where hope unborn had died. and the idea of the notion that you might stand and plea your case with your client. judge perry, if you go through co co col columb columbia, south carolina. he was a judge when he practiced law he had to sit in the balcony

and wait for them to call, and that day they were naming the courthouse for him. he's on the district of south carolina. these are the people that never gave up on the faith and rule of law. and every time we make the bench and court more diverse, we increase the chances that voices can be heard, increased the idea that people believe they can be a part of it. that little boys and little girls may say one day i can sit there too. because the court i sit in. you realize the court billing, if you are in richmond come down, and i mean this. i would love to give you a personal tour. and the building was built in

1858, and if you know just a modicum, you know that when the federal government built that building it was confiscated by the confederacy, and jefferson davis, his office was in the building where i sit. can you imagine that, who would have thunk it. and i sit out and look on the fourth floor and the capitol that jefferson designed. and looking on those monuments and things. even though at the time it may have been unfathomable. i thank god for our framers that gave us the framework of a justice. so road map, even though they were not walking that road or living all the freedom and equality. but they gave us a road map that

one day we might find our way. and you stand in that road. but i say don't stand, walk into that road and into your season of faith and encourage. and don't let anyone tell you this is not for you. all of those wonderful words and those words of equality, they were meant for you not to horde but to give it away the he who kisses joy as it flies lives in eternity. and that's what we want lawyers and judges to live in eternity of sunrise. because it's too big. it's too important. too many people depend on it.f2ñ it was said that american judges seem to only intervene in public affairs by chance. but the chance occurs daily. [laughter]

and every time the impact is there, and it's amazing what you do. what i love about being a judge, your color doesn't mean that you can't be a judge, it's the nuances and what you bring and what everyone brings. but i was talking to this audience and a little girl, i told her i had asthma growing up. and my mother used to, i would get my lungs, bronchial tubes would close and she had to bring me out to breathe. and i grew out of asthma. but a seven-year-old ran up to me, with her inhaler, judge gregory, i have asthma too. that was a symbol, you know kids

can be cruel of the thing that she probably couldn't go to recess sometimes. but sheww had the courage when e knew that a judge had the same thing she had and he outgrew it. it gave her courage. and that's what we do everyday. people watch you and they believe they can do it. and every time they can do, we are all the richer. and all these things happen. and i am going to end up but i tell you that life has many turns. and you want to know in terms of diversity and the meaning of terms of what we need to do. i found that in a difficult way. my wife had a brain tumor. and had the worse type, the worse one, the monster. and her team of doctors were all around the world, afghanistan,

china, just name it. and i thought, people talk about diversity and not understanding how rich that is and wonderful. my wife died in june, and they say, well, it had a bad result. but it didn't, it's not about the victory but the struggle. and every time you keep going, it's the struggle to justice. yeah, it's difficult but it's the struggle. it doesn't matter what the result is, the fact that you stand there everyday. i told you those people that are our forebearers, they stood there with disrespect and sometimes disregarded but they stood there so one day no one would stand above the law. and i remember, when my wife had chemotherapy, she had a star. and talked about as professor

barry said, the faith at the body of the well. she had to start chemotherapy on monday and i there was on saturday to get the medication. and i mentioned she was glad to see a lady, and i she was talking and i gave my wife the prescription. and she said, your insurance won't cover it. unlike many of the americans that don't have coverage, we do have insurance. well, there must be a mistake. but if the computer says no, the answer is no. you don't get that on the way home, no matter what the human result, when a computer says no, it's no. the lady was nice and i looked at her and there is a resolve while she was telling me my wife couldn't have it. and i said, what can i do, my wife has to start chemotherapy.

and she said, you can give me $4,000 in cash now. and i said what? but while she was telling me, the dumb waiter came and the medicine my wife needed was next to her. and i thought, here is the glass, you can see what she needed. and that's how sometimes justice is. people can see what they need but they can't get through the glass to get to it. on monday we got it altogether and she got her medicine. but i think about the people that can't get it straight on monday. and there are still some people who can't get it straight on monday. and it's difficult and they depend on judges and all the people that stand like hamilton said in dignity and utility and administer justice. and i love the faces and color and all stripes that people

might know they are a part of this wonderful fabric that we call the american experience. and i say god bless the judiciary and god bless you and keep that force and love and fervor. thank you. [applause] >> i think that we agreed to take a few questions, if any. and if any difficult ones, my former law clerks are here on stand by. any one with a question? are there any?

comments? questions? all right, well, if not. good. >> i was wondering if you could share some challenges that practitioners may have to becoming judges. and if you have identified those challenges what are some recommendations that you would suggest for overcoming them? >> good question, some people say that federal judges are lawyers that knew senators. but no, i had no idea they would be a judge and really had no interest. i loved practicing law. and i say, what you love doing, do it well. and not only work hard for your clients and be committed to it. but also give your time to the

bar. this wonderful bar in new york city, and share your time. and be recognized by your colleagues. i always say it's one thing torlawyer, but are you a lawyer to a lawyer. and that was my goal. to be a lawyer to a lawyer. and in the way when you walked into the court and other lawyers said wow, win or lose, someone was represented well today. and i think if you keep your eyes on that prize, then that's the better mousetrap type theory. you build a better mousetrap and have that reputation. but the challenge is there. i was in a private practice and a managing partner, and you have to keep the lights on. but you also have to give back. and i think giving back to the community, to your bar and

always keeping sight. for me no one was more important than my clients. do it ethically and with the greatest fervor and without fear or favor. and that's a challenge. in china i think the same character for crisis is the same one for opportunity. so from that crisis and those challenges find your opportunity. express yourself and go for it. go for it. yes, ma'am. >> (inaudible) when you are a teenager and there were different struggles in your life. what did you do to still motivate yourself? >> well, that's a good question. what did i do to motivate myself. mine is a little different, i don't have time to tell the whole story.

but i was adopted and i didn't grow up knowing a lot about being adopted. but from a different perspective, my parents were great loving parents. and i had for example now some scars on my shoulder from burns that god has taken away the memory. i don't remember it. that was before i was adopted. and my legs were rickity and i had asthma. my parents took me, who would take a boy with asthma with scars and rickity legs. but they said, i will take him. and those things were surmountable. but i always felt blessed that i had an opportunity to have

parents who adopted me by choice. and took me, and max lucado says that as god takes you as he found you but never leaves you as he found you. and i look at that as i an obligation and as my parents loved me, i had to give back. no matter the circumstances. so i kind of cried through it. like everyone else i have a rubber on the end of my pencil too. but for the grace of god, it's faith and abiding. when you feel down, remember that it too will pass and you will reach your dreams. so just hang in there. yes, sir. >> (inaudible)

>> you can't avoid it. >> at what point did you decide to be a lawyer rather than a musician and why? >> oh, good question. well, i decided i wanted to be a lawyer my junior year of college. and i was undergrad, i went to virginia state university, a small historic black college and i had a professor named wilder, and he was a senator. and i would watch him giving an exam, he was a practicing lawyer and a state senator. and i would see these court dates,nbeh i was galvanized. that was so cool. i didn't grow up knowing lawyers. so it was exposure to undergraduate. and virginia state was a

wonderful alma mater, and then 10 years later we became law partners. and talk about a young person, hang in there. i was inspired by an undergraduate professor and just started in public service. yes, ma'am. you have to come up here. >> what memories do you have of the death sentence case? >> well, you know, as i said justice frankfurter said that things must be not the expression of mere will but the effort of reason to discover justice. so emotion would not be the word. because i think that all of us, it's a sad occasion for everyone. it's not politics but to get to the point of a human life and to

consider to execute him. and that's a personal reflection. but i think as difficult as all the cases are. there are some that i have written some dissent and i have tried to get the court to hear in bank. but i couldn't call emotion, that's what the court does. and i have wonderful colleagues on the court, the first african-american, the reception and treatment. wonderful colleagues helped me through the transition. so i can't think of any in terms of emotional. like all cases they are difficult. you work real hard on them. and at the end of the day you respect your colleagues for their views. and you believe as well that you know the law. but after that you have to leave it there because that's what justice is about. you grapple with the reasoning. you give your opinion. and then you say no further and

you move on. another question? well, you have been a wonderful audience. thank you very much, i appreciate it and congratulations to all the honorees and to the particular to the lawyers-to-be. i look forward to seeing you eight or nine years from now. and when you pass and come to the court, i put them in the high chair in the bench, and it's hard to get them out. and when they see themselves, what they might be able to do. they love it. so keep that focus. thank you. [applause] >> what i think is vital now is that the americans agree to talk

to the pakistan. >> ahmed rashid writes about the taliban and now with the addition of his book, he looks to what is next. >> on sunday, "indepth," three time presidential candidate, pat buchanan on ideology and today's climate. three hours with pat buchanan, sunday, live on c spachlt-2. >> in the address, president obama talks about wall street, and followed by the republican address by peter hook of michigan and comments on job creation efforts and the economy. this is 10 minutes.

>> for the past few weeks to hold wall street responsible, we come face-to-face in the power of interest of the workings of our democracy. this isn't a surprise. we come to expect that an army of lobbyists will come to capitol hill. that's why i ran for president, because i believe that the ordinary americans are drowned out by the clamor of those in washington. that's since the day i took office, i have taken steps to reform the situation. and supreme court has overturned the decades of law and the decision gives corporations and other special interests the power to spend unlimitless

amounts of money, to effect elections throughout our country. this will multiply their decision making over our government. the members will know when pressured by lobbyist, and if they dare to oppose them, they can face an onslaught on the next election. at the time when the american people are overpowered by the forces, this is a new powerful weapon. it's this vast power that lead a great republican president, teddy roosevelt, to tackle this issue a century ago. he warned of the dangers in our system and called it a

corruption of the corporation, and every one is entitled to a justice, but not one is entitled to a voice on congress or on the bench. in the wake of the supreme court ruling, we face a similar challenge. and that's why it's important for congress to consider other special interests from gaining more clout in washington. and all reforms are designed to bring new transparency on campaign spending. sunlight is the best disinfectant. campaign activities would have to show who their fund suggest. and when the corporate take to the air waves, those who are running the ad, will have to appear in the advertise and

claim. this means that citizens can provide in the ads and we know how important this is. we have seen commercial that is ma make accusations and designed to persuade minds. everyone american has a voice in america, and it's right to know when citizens for a greater future are funded by corporations with a weaker oversight. in addition these would affect the supreme court ruling, under the bill that congress is considering that we will be sure that international will are affected. and we will keep large contractors who receive taxpa r

taxpayers funds to not affect the use of tax dollars. we expect that these proposed changes will be met with heavy interest from the supporters in congress. of both parties, what is at stake is no less than the integrity of the democracy. this is not a democratic issue or republican issue, it's an issue of whether we have a government that works for ordinary americans. a government by and for the people. that's why these reforms are so important and why i will fight to see them passed in law. >> hello, today president obama will deliver the address to the university of michigan, my alm t

mat mater, and we welcome president obama to our home. and we welcome the president to show first hand the pain plight of the people of michigan. the democrats have run congress since 2007. and yet when the residents of michigan and across america ask themselves if they are better off now than four years ago. the answer is no. the problem is worse. many graduates that president obama will address, will learn first-hand how hard to find a job. and the unemployment is highest than 15 years. america is asking where are the jobs? washington's answer, trust us. in michigan and washington

spra sprawling companies and for us to lead to a better future. but democrats in washington has chosen to go along with their partisan big government agenda. we saw it in cap and trade and health care and now seeing in the bill that president obama and democrats are trying to rush through congress. the american people have spoken, they told us no more bailouts and never again. we have heard you and that's why republicans are working in this legislation to protect taxpayers to bailout wall street banks yet

again. we have seen this play book before, it's how a trillion dollar government health care take over that america opposed was the law of the land. in the obama legislation said that national health care costs will increase $311 billion over the next 10 years. a month ago they said it would lower cost. today they admit that it will increase cost. why didn't the american people get the truth before it was passed? need another example, remember the promise of jobs and keep unemployment under 8%. and our country has lost many jobs and the unemployment is more. the one thing that the american people wanted out of the stimulus was jobs, it didn't

happen. and the one thing that american people was lower costs. it didn't happen. in the bailouts it doesn't kill jobs and address the root prfbt crisis. but do you think that we can trust washington to deliver? the house passed a bill that makes the permanent, and the senate bill hurts jobs and gives too many high-risk loans to people that couldn't afford it. the government is standing with the people of michigan to end the bailout and to end wasting washington spending. we are standing for real solutions. today's graduates at the university of michigan are looking for the economic freedom and opportunity for every previous generation. let's give it to them. thanks for listening. >> c-span our public affairs

content is available on television, radio and online. and you can connect with us on twitter, facebook and youtube and sign up for e-mails at c-span.org. >> coming up our live coverage of the president's white house dinner, and attending with 3000 celebrities and dignitiaries. and next we speak to a washington reporter about the dinner and the association that hosts it. >> as we know that as we see dinners these days, almost everyone gets invited to this event. but could you take us back to a time when not everyone got to go? >> certainly, it's a dinner that always despite people thinking that the hollywood influence is

new. it started with a big hollywood influence. not everyone that went was just white house corspendents. but in the early days, in the 194 1940s, the entertainment was provided by the networks in conjunction with the studios. you had frank sinatra, jimmy durante, and ethel merman and ba barbra streisand, and it's been an important dinner but what people call as the washington prom. and everyone wants the tickets. >> the entertainment as you described, what is different than now? >> going to a single comedian didn't start until treagan

presidency, and you had olympia brass band and other orkeft -- orchestras and richard pryor. and in 1969 they sounded out the white house what does president nixon like. and they ended up with disney land's golden horse shoe review in 1969. sure wish i could have been there for that. >> the president is expected to make remarks tonight, president obama. as a historical note, and if i

recall and correct me if i am wrong. one time president kennedy said he wasn't going to that. >> that was an important moment and one person that was responsible was helen thomas. a lot of people are legends because they are around for a long time. helen did things that moved along history. in 1961 in john f.kennedy's first year, the women was a part of association but not allowed to go to the dinner. and helen went to the press secretary and protested it. and insisted that the message be taken to the president.

and he did, and the president said tell them, great it's their policy. but they won't have me there next year. and since nothing was more important to the association than having the president of the united states there. the stag policy ended and thanks to helen women were allowed as full participants to the dinner. and appropriately helen in 1975 was the first ever woman president of the association. >> have cameras always been a part of this event? >> no, they had not been allowed in until the year i was vice president of the association. and carl loops for the "dallas morning news," and i pushed to allow them in. and the opposition really came from the broadcast networks.

who didn't want to have to work. and complained quite bitterly. and there is room for cameras in there and i remember walking into the ball room and showing them, we can put the camera in the back and it won't interfere with anyone. and it's become very popular since then. >> as far as the event itself, we think of the dinner as one night. but those in washington and those who follow things closely. it's turned into a several day affair. how did that happen? >> it happened in recent years, you started with vanity fair having a dinner afterwards. and then john mclaughlin started doing a brunch 3;k then one the day before.

it was that organizations realized that everybody was in town that week. and it just sort of happened and developed that way. so you are right, it's something you have events almost every night beforehand. >> as a long time watcher of these affairs and what going on in new orleans, what is the presence of the president to address that and keep to the light-hearted of the event? >> there is a long history if the event is traumatic, bypassing the humor and skipping it. president clinton after the oklahoma city bombing comes to mind. presidents have to do what is right. i do not think this is quite the