will ask as many audience questions as time permits. i would now like to introduce to you our guest. a columnist for newsweek magazine. the washington bureau chief and president of the national journalism library and past president of the national press club. the washington bureau chief for "glamour" magazine. a reporter with the usa today and immediate past president of the national press club. the founder and executive director of "share our strength." andrew schneider, associate chair for kipling juror and the committee's chair. a producer with news that media. the president of the discovery channel. governor martin o'malley of

maryland, a guest speaker. [applause] you can tell the were in elections last week. [laughter] cnn's research director. the assignment editor for talk radio news service. and finally, an executive producer. thank you. [applause] our audience and they recognized today's guest. he is affectionately known as "the dude." the moniker has clung to jeff bridges since the start in "the big lebowski." he was named oscar winner this year. at the academy awards -- [applause]

bridges received the best actor award for portraying an alcoholic country singer. he is at the press club as his latest role as a national spokesman for the "no kids hungry" campaign. he is launching a nationwide initiative to stamp l under -- to step out under by 2015. he met with the visors of president obama earlier this year to spotlight what he calls a hidden epidemic. nearly 17 million american children every day do not have regular access to food. in 1983, he patted the end under network dedicated to feeding children worldwide. he juggled this with his acting career. the has appeared in films including "the fabulous baker

boys" and "fearless." he has also played a journalist. the plate a newspaper publisher that was on trial for murder. the author did not know that his nemesis was bob dylan. please welcome mr. jeff bridges. [applause] >> thank you. thank you so much. thank you. thank you you all so much.

volkswagen. i say that because melissa and challenged me. she promised she would buy me a cup of coffee. i've always get out of the way. [laughter] ha. well, i want to say thank you to all of the people here in this room and to are not in this room who have made this campaign a reality. i want to thank con agra foods, the food network, our friends in the culinary industry, all the nba players who are involved, and the teachers. i especially want to acknowledge governor martin o'malley.

[applause] the governor is the first to make this state a "no kid hungry" state. hopefully all the rest of the governor's -- all also like to acknowledge tony hall, a personal hero of mine. thank you. it is good to see you. [applause] it is an honor to be here today. i am here to kick off the "no kid hungry" campaign. i am the national spokesperson. but all i would begin by collecting you know a little bit of my background of the hunger issue. in 1983 i felt found an organization called the "and under network."

we are all about creating programs and events that make ending hunger a national priority. events like live aid. we were responsible for making all the facts and figures that were announced between the musical acts. we created the and under presidential wars. these are under the rose -- these are hunger heroes. the mayor forced to focus attention of positive action. something i am particularly proud of is that we produced a movie called "hidden in

america." it is about being a member of the working poor in this country -- putting food on the table and putting a roof over you and your kid's heads. my big brother, beau, starred in it. he was nominated for a screen actors guild award. the film was nominated for three emmys. we created the fast forward to rid hunger. we raised $3 million or local food banks. we have gotten into partnerships with a wonderful organization that is dealing with ending hunger. that is the "share our strength." it is a wonderful organization. they have come up with a

campaign to end childhood hunger in our country by 2015. i am so thrilled to be the national spokesperson for this campaign. according to the united states department of agriculture, currently we have 70 million of our children living in insecure homes. these are households where they are not certain if there will be enough food for them to leave healthy, active lives. that is one in four of our kids. we currently have 44 million who live in poverty. 15.5 million of those our kids. poverty is a very complex issue, but feeding a child is not. there is some good news in all the stark statistics. there are programs in place that

we know work. these are federally funded programs like the snap program, formally the food stamps. the wic program. after-school and summer programs. the problem is not having the right programs in place. the problem is that we are not reaching enough kids. there are 19 million kids who are eligible for school breakfast, free or reduced-price pressures. only half of those kids actually get those practices -- breakfasts'. they are looking toward the school to be their main source

of nutrition. only 15% of the kids who are eligible for that program are participating in it. we have to turn that around. that is the key to ending hunger in our country, making sure that families know how to access these programs, making sure our kids seven-up food to drive. our kids, they do not have been direct political representation. no child chooses to be hungry. no one gains when a child is hungry. when a child does not get enough nutritious food, they fall behind physically, academically, cognitively, socially, emotionally.

of course, they suffer, but right along with them, their family, their community,nd their country suffers. adults to experience hugger in their childhood, they do not have the same educational and technical skills so they create a work force that is not strong. ending childhood hunger, it definitely contributes significantly to solving many of america's problems. problems like health care, education, work force, competitiveness -- let me back up. in the movies you just say " take-two." [laughter]

it is not only about ending the terrible suffering that is going on with our kids, but ending hunger is important for our nation. you know? i just saw a report from the pentagon where only 25% of all citizens between the ages of 19 and 20 are fit to serve in the military. very patriotic -- it is very patriotic to end hunger do you not think? with the recent election, we found out that there are many issues that our country is in disagreement about. ending child couldn'thunger is not one of those. there is a lot of common ground. everyone wants art is to have a healthy start. no kid hungry -- we are not proposing new programs, but we

are proposing more effective use of those already in place. these programs are available, but there are barriers to them. blockages that we have to look at. things like transportation, for instance, might be a case of a child taking a bus to school and not getting there in time to take advantage of the meals that are available to them. or they may not have safe transportation to wear those meals are being held. shame, embarrassment is a huge factor in all this for a kid. oh yeah, that is johnny. he is a poor kid. he cannot afford food. he has to eat the free meal that

the school provides. the parental side of that, being a parent and being ashamed that he cannot provide for your child. it freezes your actions, you know? i might not be eligible because i am is working. there is too much red tape to figure out what to do. these are things that we have to look at and these are the reasons that childhoods hunger exists in our country. attention needs to be paid to

these programs. where are we going to find that attention? who is going to get that attention? well, we can do that. com on? we are the guys. this is our country. [applause] i am asked sometimes, "why are you doing this? what are you interested in that?" is scenes like the most natural thing in the world to me, really. i am so fortunate. i was very lucky. i had wonderful parents. they were fortunate enough to be able to provide for their kids. i am lucky to provide for my daughters.

i cannot imagining what it must be like to feel a failure and the depression that freezes you because you cannot afford to put food in front of your kids to eat. my profession involves getting into other people's issues and try to imagine what it must be like. but that, and to imagine what it must be like, not be able to provide for your kids -- you have to look inside to feel that. another reason i am doing what i am doing is that i have under. it is a different kind of hunger. it is the hunger to contribute

to create the kind of world i want to live then. i want my children to bring up their kids and their grandkids. this hunger to participate, we are all in this together. i find when i do participate, i feel connected and that connection feels really good. it feeds this hunger feeling i have. that is at some of the reasons why i am here. i would like to encourage all of you and anyone who is out there listening to our talk here today, to go to nokidhungry.org

and find out what you can personally do to end hunger in our country and take the pledge that you believe that no kid should go hungry in america. you add your voice to the group of people committed to end childhood hunger in our country. something else i would like to encourage congress to do -- there is a very important bill coming up in a couple of weeks. it is the child nutrition bill. this is so important that we pass this bill to end childhood hunger in our country. i want to invite the viewers out there to call their congressman and encourage them to pass this bill. it is most important. [applause]

i would like to share a quote with you. >> society that does not pay attention to its children is bound to be a society on a rapid down slide. you can only make your dreams come true through your children. thank you. [applause] >> we had many questions for the audience. our first question for the audience is, do you recall the

first time the issue of childhood hunger caught your attention? >> back in the early '80s, i was made aware of the enormity of the problem of world hunger. we have enough food to end world hunger. we had the money. we need help to end it. many countries had ended it. the missing ingredient was creating the political will. i of course governments are made up of individuals, so i looked inside myself. awarded to create that political will. -- i wanted to create that political will.

something that kind of works with my life. something i do i get a natural sort of way and will continue to do until the problem is ended. so i said i was an entertainer. maybe that could help. i created along with my partner the end hunger network. we did the kind of stuff we are doing right now that about 20 years ago, we shifted our purpose of from world hunger to hunger in our country. a lot of the programs were not being fully-funded. we thought it was important that

we shift our focus to hunger here in america. >> several questions along the lines of this one. what you suggest the average american due to reach the 2015 goal? >> kind of the path that i took. look into your life and figure out what you might do. if you are a teacher for instance, the campaign is something that falls right in line. if your students do not have enough calories to make their brain cells fire, but not be able to learn. the -- feed a kid is also an educational issue. there is always something you can do. that is the title of the

organization we are tied in with. "share the strength." >> what can president obama do? >> he has done a wonderful thing already. he has declared that we can end childhood hunger by 2015. that is enormous. that is like kennedy say we can put a man on the moon in 10 years. they were arguing about the right kind of fuel or the shape of the rocket. bring your disagreement so we can figure out the best way to do this. this is something we have to do together. i think what president obama and has done is a wonderful thing. now it is up to us to support that. >> earlier you mentioned the pentagon study about lacks the physical fitness. in that study a lot of the

concern was not childhood hunger, it was childhood obesity. it is a twin issue in the united states. how do you square the contrast between those two problems? is it not just a problem about what they eat? >> obesity and hunger are two sides of the same coin. it is interesting. i went to make directives goal while i was here in d.c. -- a charter school that was taking all of the federal money that is given to schools to provide food for their kids. normally the food is provided is not very nutritious. pizza and pizza pockets and those kinds of things. this particular school, they

took that money and hired a chef who goes out and shops. it turns out that it cost less for her to shop that way than use the food that the government has some kind of connection with we get these fast food stuffs. she encourages the kids to build a beautiful basketball garden. the use that garden for the salad bar. you are talking about obesity -- if you are a kid and you are having a pizza or pizza pocket or whatever trash cheap food, your palate is going to dig that stuff. that is the kind of food you get into the habit of 18. -- habit of 18.

-- habit of eating. obesity and hunger are very closely related. that is my thoughts on that. >> there are concerns about cutting cost in government. that causes programs to do more with less. it was st. that the transfer of the overall governmental perspective would be more pizza pockets and your salads rather than the other way around. how do you convince people from a policy standpoint that they can actually support this and it should be a government priority? >> for one thing it does not cost any more. at the school, they are buying more nutritious food for their students -- a cheaper price.

they think about it. they shot specifically for what the kids are meeting. you have to think long term on this deal. it is not only a hunger issue. it is an educational issue. it is an economic issue. but it is also a military issue. defense. it weakens us in so many areas. we have to address it, not only for the suffering kids, but for our nation's security. >> this is a question for the internet. where are the country's priorities when this steps are cut to hire back laid off teachers? why should children's beach racial and educational needs that to compete with government funds? >> that is a good question.

i am sheet debt over to my colleague. let me introduce the founder of a share our strength. [applause] >> of what to thank jeff personally for your incredible leadership on this. you are making a huge impact. [applause] we just had the opportunity to meet with the secretary of agriculture. we talked about all the cuts had been made to find teachers, there have been some cuts made in the future benefits to find the child a nutrition bill. both the secretary, president obama, and the congressional leadership has said that if the bill becomes law, they will make sure that these other offsetting cuts, which would detract from

future two-step benefits and other education programs, that those would be restored. we have tried to create a program that does not necessarily take from one program to give to another. so many kids are eligible for these programs that are not participating. jeff used the figure accurately -- there is $1 billion available to state governments to get kids enrolled in these programs. it is something that martin o'malley has made it happen in maryland. other states are looking to do it. it does not have to be playing one side of the other. [applause] >> while we are bringing the band onstage, we have a question for governor o'malley. if you could come on down. [laughter] we have a question for you, governor. leader of the first state to embrace this.

how are you going to make this campaign work in maryland to end childhood hunger by 2015? >> we partnered with share our strength. this is more a matter of organizing -- political organizing and addressing those, what you call them? gaps. you know where the families are most hungry. you cannot do this sort of thing where you wake up in 2015 and say this was the year we wanted to eradicate childhood hunger. you have to do x, not even annually. the government is great at doing things annually. you have to mention the out this in terms of additional kids enrolled in these programs every two weeks. if you do that, in my only be a

couple of hundreds every couple of weeks, but over time you look back over your shoulder and you'll see that you're making it move in the right direction. over the five years, you can say that we have state five times as many kids for breakfast. people work against deadlines. they like measurable results. everybody has that hunger. if you measure it openly and transparently and do it against the deadline is that people are used to working against, you can make a lot of progress. [applause] >> we have plenty of questions

about your film career. there are plenty of celebrities with many causes. there is a certain amount of attention that people can give. how do you set yourself apart from other celebrities with your calls? the film that people get celebrity fatigue when a hollywood actor tells them what they should do in the world? >> i do not know about that. i am just a guy out there trying to make the world -- i had a dream. i am out there tried to express that dream. like the other guy said, i am not the only one. i think we all can use our imagination and imagine how it could be better. i do not know about that thing

that celebrities are not supposed to do anything. i am not sure. i do not have a sound bite for that one. >> if you talked during her speech about getting into the shoes of your characters. what was the character's issues that was most difficult for you to put on. >> it is funny. one was -- did anybody see "the vanishing?" [laughter] i buried people alive. that was kind of challenging. [laughter] the opposite of that was "crazy horse." that was difficult because music is so dear to me. i was getting a chance to work with my dear friend t. bone

burnett. i was anxious. i did not want to drop the ball. it was such a great opportunity. it created a different kind of difficulty for me. >> what kind of resource did you do for "crazy heart." >> the boozing -- we had something called cents-a memory. it is a job same, i think i will get a little drop. it does not work because you get the rest of the day. what we did, when i first got the script i turned it down because there's no music attach to it. if this movie did not have good music, it will not be any good. when i found out that my dear

friends t. bone burnett was in charge of the music, i knew we were in good hands. we did not have any songs. the preparation for that was writing the songs and working with a wonderful band that t. bone put together. >> if had been known as a prolific actor in hollywood. you are we making a famous film. how does one prepared to beat -- to be in a remake of a film like "true grit?" >> when i got a call from the coen brothers to do "true

grit,"-- they are masters. let's hear it for the brothers. [applause] i said, why are you doing "true grit?" >> they asked if i had read the book. they said they are not representing the realm, but our records in the book. i said i would check it out. the book is very coenesque. it is a wonrful book. >> is there any film -- if there was any film that could be remade, what role would you play? >> that is interesting. what pops into my mind is "seahunt." [applause] alla probably played the role of producer. -- i would probably play the

role of producer. my father did such a wonderful job in "seahunt." scientists and oceanographers stalemate my dad was the recent date did that. i got involved in a wonderful organization called the pollution coalition that is try to get rid of single-use plastics. they say they are biodegradable, but a breakdown in and small little particles. microscopic organisms in the ocean eat them. it just puts our whole planet. i learned about these [unintelligible] they are like big whirlpools. they are packed with plastic.

i do not have the facts in my mind right now, but times and times. tens of millions -- i get that confused some time. our oceans are a big concern for me. i work on saving our oceans as well. >> how about roles you would like to play or participate in? >> hello do have to think about that? hose guys t one of the skie who says i have to play when again or something like that. i take it as it comes. i will produce a film like "

hidden in america." i produce that. that was very gratifying. i produced another film called "american heart." that is probably the only time i went out in an aggressive away to get a movie realised. but mainly just kind of feel the stuff that comes in. there is a lot of wonderful stuff that does come in. i am fortunate that way. >> there are a couple of people who have questions about your marriage. they are good questions. the but said you have one of hollywood's most admired marriages. are susan and your children involved in the fight against hunger? >> good question. was the first part again? [applause] >> jeff bridges -- tips on a happy marriage. >> falling madly in love helps.

it was love at first sight when i met my life -- when i met my wife. all tell a story. i have a picture in my pocket -- let me tell it a different way. i was in montana and shooting a movie. i saw this gorgeous girl. she was working there at his ranch making beds, serving food, and stuff. she had a broken nose and two black eyes. but i cannot take my eyes off of her. i kept looking over the pages of a magazine like dogs do. but by late got up the courage to ask her out. i said, "would you like to go out with mate?" she said, "a new."

it turns out that we were married. we have a couple of kids. i opened a letter from the makeup man from that particular movie. he says the was going through files and came across a photograph of me asking a local girl out. he had two photographs. one was a single shot of my wife. what are the odds of that? he captured a photograph of the first words i uttered to my wife. that is much prized possession and i keep it here. it is in my pocket. also, i would say it is like

the punch line of the joke, " howdy get to carnegie hall?" you practice. that is that you have a good match it -- that is that you have a good marriage. you practice. you pay attention. it is like childhood hunger. you pay attention to what is going on and you participate. when my wife and i have a problem and it comes up, we have been married 32 years. they come up. we had this technique we do sometimes when it gets kind of rough. we just sit opposite each other, quite close and look at each other. one person's task is to express their feelings. the other person is to receive -- listen, do not be digging.

when she feels it runs out, then i get. we get back and forth for a long as it takes. it may not solve the problem in that instance, but something is shifted out of that. it seems to be a good technique that helps our marriage. >> what is the greatest challenge you have had to face as a "famous person?" >>[laughter] >> it is a moving question. i am trying not to break down. it is right here.

give me one second and maybe i can get something else out. [applause] this is the most important thing right here. the movie, the reality of ending childhood hunger in this country is the most significant thing i have ever done. [applause] >> our next obvious question, did you have any film or documented the project plan that may be spotlighting the issue? >> i thought we would make a

documentary of the school that we might share with other schools. there are wonderful public schools that are doing this. they are looking towards making a documentary of that. and try to share our knowledge. the governor stepping up and being the first -- i am from california. i am hoping governor o'malley will help jerry brown get with the program, too, and make california a no kid hungry state. >> what are your plans for your new album? >> i get to work with my buddy,

t. bone burnett. tomorrow i will go to texas where i will receive an award. he was my music he wrote. he will be playing there a bit. did we are going to go back to los angeles. we will go into the recording studio with this incredible band we put together. as far as the songs go, we do not know what theyre going to be. we went to a bunch of my songs and a bunch of other songs. maybe some greg brown tense. that the do not know who greg brown is -- check them out. he is good.

>> one question you are much less likely to be asked what she leave washington, d.c., but it is pretty common to be asked when you are here. he had been an actor and you have been politically active. would you advise your children or grandchildren to get into movies or politics? [laughter] >> a couple of things come to mind. you ask the question before, where mike is involved in this issue. all of them are. they all participate in different ways. my eldest daughter, isabel, she joined may not too long ago on the first socially engaged buddhist symposium that a friend gave in massachusetts. it was a wonderful gathering. isabel is close to my side in

many projects. >> tomorrow is veterans day. we would like to hear about your experience in the coast guard. >> it was the coast guard reserve. seven years. i kind of -- i was proud to serve my country in that way. my brother was also in the coast guard. i remember doing -- i would go out and tend buoys for weeks at a time. it reminded me of a movie. you dress up and play a character. [laughter] i am an actor. i was raised as an actor. everything is a movie to me.

>> question once again about the film remakes. what young actor would you like to see in your role if "the big lebowski" is remade. >> it would be a new guy. what actor hal could play? -- what actor mel could play me? here is that guy in the movie with robert downey jr. with the long beard? there are so many great young actors out there now. >> there is and -- who is a young actor that is not being paid attention to now? >> this would be a good chance

to harold somebody and nobody is coming to mind. [laughter] i know a perfect one. jordan bridges, my nephew. [laughter] [applause] yes. jordan. [laughter] >> held's did your father influence your act -- how did your other employees or acting? >> unlike a lot of people who are actors, he really encouraged all of his kids to go into show business. he just loved it. my first movie -- i was six- month old. he was visiting a friend of his. he was making a movie. they needed a baby in a scene. my brother -- my mother said,

"take my baby." [laughter] i was a rather happy baby. in the same i was supposed to cry. my mother said, "just pinch him ." said they passed me. we cut several years later and i am making a movie. and jane was playing the mother to her original character's part. i said, "jane, i am emitting here. could you just give me a little patch?" >> my dad was very enthusiastic. he wanted all of his kids to go into acting.

i was in a lot of his early "seahunts." i remember him teaching me the basics. do not just wait for my mouth to stop. you have to hear what i am is saying and then respond. go and come back. i want you to do it completely different. things like that. he taught me all the basics. but the most important lesson, and this was really evident when i got to were with them in later movies -- whenever he came on the set, the joy he was experiencing was contagious. it would go through out the room. he loved what he was doing so much. i think that is kind of what i learned. his thoughtful approach. not only to his work, but to his life. he was a very joyous. a very joyous die.

-- a very joyous guy. >> how do you encourage other people who are well-known actors who may not be involved in hunger or other causes, how or why they should get involved so they could use their own platforms for social good? had you encourage other people? what do you tell them to encourage them to get involved the way you are getting involved? >> just do it. it is as simple as that. to say i want to do this. when you make that declaration to yourself, things are going to pop up. >> we are running low on time. there are a few airports that matters to take care of people we asked the last questions.

just applied for a minute. we appreciate that. we would like to remember our -- like to remind our members and guests. we have several speakers. sec important item of business, the presentation of the coveted national press club honor. >> that is beautiful. [applause] >> governor o'malley does not even have one of those. [laughter] we will get that taken care of. [laughter] we do have one final question. a lot of work seven spoken. you have quoted some favor a

speakers. -- iraq quoted something the speakers. there are worse to abide by. as many people will abide by your words, what are the words that the duke abides by it? >> connection. julie. these are worse popping up in my mind. participation. enjoying the fact that we are alive right now and we can participate in this world and make a beautiful place. [applause] >> thank you, jeff bridges.

we would also like to thank you all for coming here today. we like to thank the national press club staff including the chef. he brought as a wonderful meal today. [applause] the organizer, the library staff, the national journalism library, and the support that you, the audience, for supported the national press club today. for more information on joining the national press club and ordering a copy of today's program, visit our website at www.press.org. this meeting is adjourned. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010]

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