to the late president nelson ofdela, the former president south africa. ♪ >> i have learned that you can do anything you want to. they asked me if i thought the first lady ought to get paid. i said, i have to do what the first lady is supposed to do. it is such a rate soapbox -- a great soapbox. it's such a great opportunity. i would advise any first lady to do what she wants to do. another thing is you are going to be criticized no matter what you do.

criticized foren what i did, and i got a lot of , but you learn to live with it. i never let it influence me. >> rosalynn carter in a recent interview in atlanta. she was her husband's political partner from their first campaign. she attended cabinet meetings and championed women's rights and health issues and even testified before congress. inir partnership continued the post-white house years. the evening and welcome to c-span series on first ladies. by looking at the lives of living first ladies. first tworoduce our guests. they will be in the studio to

tell you about her biography. is a is a pheasant -- he presidential scholar. on the historyes of the south. i want to talk about the themes. she was gracious enough to grant us an interview. we will post it online so you can hear all she had to say. i want to pick up on things i have learned that she referenced. the carter's first visit to the white house was after he had been elected and the inauguration. we have heard travel was ethical, but it is unusual in the modern age. what skills did she bring to this job? >> in some ways the transition to the governor's mansion in big.ta was

she did get the chance to take on issues and do the kinds of things first ladies do at the white house, albeit at a smaller level. they were washington outsiders coming to a town where they had not spent much time, but also they had that as governor, which she used as a foundation for what she expected to do as first lady. firsthad many books on ladies. he says, under rosalynn carter the office of first lady completed its metamorphosis into a vital white house organ. previous first ladies had done campaigning, but none had preceded with the professionalism as rosalynn carter and her staff. positiontime east wing

grew by almost 30%, but she used the staff differently to expand on traditional and entertainment functions. , almostshe grew up during her entire childhood the first lady of the united states was eleanor roosevelt, so one would inc. that is -- would think that is different. ,he testified before congress and she wanted to be a serious player on the issues. she wanted the president to take her seriously. they communicated back and forth very candidly. she was not afraid to criticize him, at least in private. it was a strong modern era of first ladies getting involved in issues where you can make a difference. >> let me ask another theme in the series, and that has been

the role of women in society. we have learned so often first lady is a linchpin for changes in the country. in 1970 six, particularly southern women and how accepting the public was. lady atecame the first a time of great change in women's roles. that made her job challenging, but it also gave her some wonderful opportunities, which she worked hard to seize. it was a lot harder for her to learn how to be the first lady in the governor's mansion because she had to train to work in various capacities in the governor's mansion, and when she got to the white house everyone knew what to do and that was easier. she came into the white house at the moment when women's roles are really changing greatly

across the country. i think people were surprised she was such an outspoken person coming from the south, and she tackled issues. i think she really made a mark. >> those of you remember the big question was jimmy who. we are going to show you a bit of the campaign ad they put together. >> in the final days a group of georgia supporters often referred to as the peanut brigade flew into new hampshire. snow on the ground like this we would the paralyzed for weeks. we couldn't get outside. >> her schedule was grueling, almost as tough as her husband, get through it all she remained a gracious campaigner. >> everybody know every in you

we werei just tell them born and raised in georgia. it has a population of 683, and everyone has always known everything i did. believe he can restore honesty, integrity, openness, confidence in government we need. i think he would be a great resident. hill, what was happening in the country in 1976 that these outsiders from georgia appealed to the public? >> i think a lot of things are intersecting in interesting ways to help carter and first lady in their rise in politics. on the first -- on the one hand you have the failures of the mcgovern campaign. they want a campaign who is not

going to be able to be representing a liberal or left part of the party. carter with his southern roots, his small-town background, they think he is going to appeal to somebody who wouldn't vote for mcgovern or might be alienated by that part of the democratic hardy. also, he is an interesting candidate because he is from the out inand he is speaking support of integration and the gains of the civil rights movement, and that also really helps create momentum he had them. he is seen as a candidate who can bridge a lot of divides and draw in a lot of people. >> that video represents the peanut or gay. >> are the peanut brigade? it is the carter's from georgia who went to other states to campaign. it was impressive when they went into the snowbound streets of

new hampshire. , when you are going to a voter and saying, i am asking you to vote for someone i personally know, that carries a lot of weight. people would wear gold pendant , and i thinkt pens the idea of running as an outsider might have worked in 1976 in a way that might not have worked in other years. it was the right campaign for the right time. >> it became the standard way in which candidates would run after that. it is very interesting that running from an outsider, what else could carter do, being from as anl town, then run outsider from washington? it became a model for campaigns. you see many politicians running as outsiders. george bush thomas the second bush --ush -- george

the second george bush ran as an dashder going after their off his experience in texas. >> the carter family, mrs. , the son, the mother-in- law, all involved in making it a family affair. peoplentil this point wouldn't figure out you have to get outside of washington. one of my favorite stories from mrs. carter, she and a friend would go around and spend 75 days in florida, and they would and look for town an antenna because they figured it was a radio station, and they would say, would you like to interview us? a would ring questions they want a low-budgets campaign, but in that year with thatce laws of that kind

was the way to do it. a different way of campaigning than we see now -- staying with areas people in the small towns a visited. >> they will do that in iowa and new hampshire, but after that it gets hard to do. aboute a little bit learning the mechanics of political science. they had only a little experience. biography, their systematic approach to learning mechanics is interesting. about is theyking wouldn't tell them to the same audiences. she took memory classes so they would be able to remember faces and names. talk about their approach to politics. >> both of the carter's really believed in doing their homework.

theould read the book on 1972 campaign to find out what went right, what went wrong, and she would take meticulous notes, and when they ran for reelection in 1979, she pulled out all these notes from the 1976 campaign. she had the names of everybody. theystarted out knowing didn't know how to do this, but and did their homework, they would come home on sunday so they were always on the same page. they would come back and compare notes on sunday. then they would head back with a very powerful combination. i cannot believe the work schedule she had during that campaign. youess growing up on a farm learn how to put in long days, but she was willing to make that

ismitment. >> what is great your involvement. we welcome that as well. you can send us a tweet @firstladies. people are posting questions. we will get to as many of those as we can. if you areo call. mountain pacific or even further west, we welcome the conversation. this viewer asks, where was she educated? we are going to visit the town of clayton, georgia. how big is it? that's when she was there it was dirt roads. now the roads are paved, but it doesn't look much different today than it did then.

ended upsurprised they there because when they were younger the goal was to get out of the town. >> that's check out this video. >> not much has changed since the president and mrs. carter grew up here. if we were to take away this a dirt road ine front of it, it would look very similar to a photograph of planes, circa 1925. mom andd here with her dad, brothers, and sister. one of her favorite memories is when her dad would come home from work, go into the kitchen, give her a 800, swing her around, and give her a kiss. rosalynn carter lost her mother at a young age. plaained nurse here in

ins. on the night of his passing they actually took rosalynn carter to be with jimmy carter's sister ruth. this is jimmy out here with president carter's sister ruth. a room jimmy carter's room in gloria. out to see her friend ruth, this is where they play hang out together, games and do homework and enjoy company.er's surely when miss rosalynn was ut visiting president carter's sister she would have seen a young jimmy carter. >> this is where rosalynn smith and jimmy carter would have attended first through 11th grade. >> her first memory of going to school here is she made straight a's at first quarter. she went home and she showed her

smith and her mom, a's and the straight they were so proud of her her for her her a dollar accomplishments. later on a local businessman had the student who had the best grade point average year.ghout the whoever had that grade point average he would give them $5. 1920s and 30s that was quite a bit of money. 7th grade year, miss rosalynn won that $5 from a businessman. one of the activities that rosalynn carter would have been engaged in was basketball. so excited when she made srars varsity basketball team. we have a picture of her uniform at the accomplishment time. this is the united methodist

hurch and right here where president carter asked miss rosalynn on a date for the first time. here where they got married. it's a special place for and mrs. carter. >> there's a look at some of the life in plains, georgia. i'll let someone on twitter ask meet? did they >> as the park ranger said, they probably saw each other from a distance because she was a friend of the sister but they pay attention to her. but as he got older and it was would travel around the world and join the navy, she him and the cus on first date they had when she was 17 and sewas about 20, he went mother he was is going to mary rosalynn after the first date. convince m a while to

marry her. event they hadn't run into each other. they were three years apart which may have been the reason. >> she married him at 19? >> yes >> was she ever able to finish college? an associates has degree from georgia southwestern. that school is important. her mother went to that school today the school has a care giving program named after her that school.ive in >> could someone ask the second were f regina's question, they both of the same religion 1 as a launching point to talk politics and their phre and th

political rise. >> they were always church-goers. his and her faith were important hen they were campaigning for the presidency. hat was again an interesting moment just like women's rights christians more theological christians were fear ing the public's coming out of the self-imposed taking up ad really public life and carter really spoke to them. a lot of them that would later rite hemselves as the new or the christian rite, many of those people voted for carter -- some of of them voted in time they national campaign. at the lly put that campaign.their >> she became a navy wife and about the birth of their son.

> he was very active in the submarine program. helped develop things for the navy. sea at lot. there were two sons born while navy. in the jack was born in portsdz smith born in hawaii and jeff was born in connecticut. she had a lot of jobs rape sons because jimmy was not around a lot of the time nd she would run the family finances which a task she took on at the farm as well. was busy but also enjoyed the opportunity to travel to all these great places and i think enjoyed living in hawaii, for instance. it was a special experience for them. accepted arter was into the nuclear submarine worked with the father of the nuclear submarine

program. he leads it. why? >> i think the main reason is dies earlier than expected. passed away inl, 1953, and billy was too young to farm.ver the so, it was kind of, i guess, a question that the farm might be if he didn't mily go back. hen he went back he found out his father had been more active in the community helping poor people and giving loans to needed help and he never realized that as a child more thought i could do good back here. the thing is he didn't consult question ynn on that and she actually refused to talk on the trip and he said after that, he learned his lesson and he would never make a major decision without consulting with her. >> here she found herself back after seeing the world. but they put themselves

into the peanut farm business and used it as a way to grow and get around the state. that segway into their life in politics >> they started off getting politics.in local it jimmy carter became involved there in chool board plains and used that as a jumping off point to the georgia state legislature. and from there, eventually he for hed two campaigns governor. the first wasn't successful and the second was. hey really used their sort of rootedness in plains and i think their experience of the broader coming together helped them to get into national politic. >> let's invite our callers into discussion beginning with steve watching us in fort meyers florida. hi, you're on. caller: good evening. i was fortunate to meet president and misses carter when meyers, to for tt florida in 1994.

president carter with a medal and this was to pass the s work alaska lands act which actually 104 million acres of wilderness. carter had misses any effect on his environmental policies because i know she to put forth ed some information to president carter on some of his policy. know how much of his environmental policies she might information about and to at least make him form a policy. >> was she a person concerned environmental issues? >> they're both outdoor people love to fly fish, for instance. always had this personal interest in rivers.

he was involved in environment in many ways. fact they're both serious birders. hey go actual around the world looking for species they haven't notebook e and have a of different things they've seen. the carter presidency has been ranked by historians for the environment i dy roosevelt and nixon, is right up behind them in most of the environmental both of them have a great respect fortunate and outdoors. watching from greenville, indiana. you're on. caller: hi, how are you? >> very well. what's your question. caller: what was the reaction of carter and first lady he lost the election to ronald reagan in 1980? >> okay. thank you. story fast forwarding our but what was the reaction when they lost the '80 campaign?

mean, they were devastated. you know, i don't really know to that.dd do you want to take that up? devastated. y >> the election was not close, so, until the last week or the polls showed it was an open race. realized before election it was coming, and it hard. she is very candid if you read her memoirs she doesn't try to about p how she feels things and she said everybody's pretended like they weren't sure was. i so, you know, obviously for what you put in to run for the office and put in to do when you get tough a verdict like that from the to rs, but they've come peace with it and been able to make a great use of the rest of life. >> it was a fragile victory in '76 when he won.

victory.small so i think it was in some ways a surprise victory. before we leave there, someone wants to know what major accomplishments did they make for the state of georgia that replicated by other states. what can you point to? was a majora, there reorganization of the functions of state government so there fewer agencies. he was the first 1 to set up a bureau to attract films to come to georgia which was big. active in international promotion of business and trade and the environment which we already mentioned. he only served one term as governor because at that time notgeorgia constitution did for a nybody to run second term. that's why he only served the one term and of course reason he going to retire from

politics or run for president. of the things that is interesting about his governship particularly as liberal on issues of racial the legacy of the civil rights movement that had rocked the south in the leading up to and even when he was first running for first campaign. that lly didn't run liberal on these issues. he became governor perhaps in part because he did georgia wheren in white voters were not going to upport those views he made a tactical turn and nurtured the career of a young andy young at really began to really moderate what had been traditional white southern views before that. race have a question about about the first lady. what g up in the south

views did rosalynn have on equal rights and human rights? was very impressed by lillian carter. i don't think we mentioned lillian carter yet. she was a major force through the whole town of plains because she was a nurse. prevailing attitude as african-americans had to come through the back door and the schools were separate, as far as she was concerned equal and she had to carry out her nursing responsibilities that way. saw that and one named lynn's sisters was after miss lillian so there was a respect for her. ven at this time, although the prevailing culture was of segregated society, i think both with a basic p sense of fairness that said this ought to bey things and of course as they travelled

broadened world they their perspectives. >> neither of them were amongst white southerners that stood kind of t the segregationist's way of life. they may have had their personal they were quiet about those views and i think that's hat is interesting about his governship. that's when you see that kind of change. distinguish e to between joining the civil rights movement but also supported -- his father supported the sale to land to african-americans. of the major forms of discrimination that was pursued. sold some of his land to african-americans and school ter ran for the board and state senate, one of the issues was the closing of segregation.ver carter was very strong about not shutting the schools. plains, those were

preside /* the kind of issues. >> he was endorsing george he was running for president. i think it's complicated but in the end they make the journey. me that's what is interesting to watch the change over time. >> michael in mississippi. air next.the caller: good evening. wo months ago marked the carter's involvement in the 30th nniversary of the habitat for humanity. i was wanted to know how did hey become involved in the organization initially? >> well, habitat, as you may know, was founded in georgia and t's only seven miles from plains. the people who founded habitat and friends of the carters the carters really liked the idea. agreed to in the early years was that their name

could be used for the andnization for fundraising they like that and then spent one week a year working habitat projects. are not photo opes. they go out and they're quite tools.th they go back with habitat and spend 51 weeks a year working at the center but they ave -- made a major contribution to habitat. >> before we get into the white have to add one more person to the story and that's he birth of amy carter born in 1967 so the carters arrived at the white house with a young daughter and sons off doing their lives.with was cast nauguration as the people's inaugural. became video of what iconic of the time which is the first lady getting out of the limousine and walking

pennsylvania avenue. how important symbolism was that? >> i think that was important in different ways. i mean, in part they were sort of prompted to do it at least as story. the you can jump in if you want to, interested in physical fitness issues and urged them to think about it, it became really a symbol of his desire to -- their desire to with people and not kind of hemselves as elites above the people and be in touch with ordinary americans. played out in terms of the inauguration. peopleve she spoke about along the way just weeping as they walked by and shook hands people.e to it clearly was meaningful to people who were there. bit of symbolism he wore the same gown for the balls as she did in georgia.

what is she trying to say? decided they impeer yell s presidency. the secret prise service was only allowed this because it was kept secret. they nteresting because disagreed about certain aspects. he didn't want "hail to the chief" played at all and she did that too r much. played ght it should be more. e was adamant about reducing about the imperial nation of the presidency. with presidenton and misses ford, we saw that clip. were devastated by their loss. was a ks, there friendship after each was in office. and betty ford have

friendship? >> absolutely. when president reagan was not go to the ld funeral, because of his condition vice president bush couldn't go. sew sent three presidents nixon, carter. same thing happened with the first ladies. miss ford to speak so there's a very close bond family.the maybe part of it they both went through the trauma of failing to reelected. >> the white house was a busy spot because two of the sons and children moved in. >> part of the time >> and amy was there and then also got introduced to miss lillian and president billy. s brother >> miss lillian was the celebrity. national emocratic convention was held in the ummer 1976, most of the

delegates already met the carter family because miss lillian because she stayed home to take amy.of she was the carter family member already met. the big thing at the convention lillian carter. > it was exciting to be in elementary school at this time. i grew up in georgia. for amy to grow up in the white exciting if you were a kid. she seemed right there in the events and i the remember thinking about that a that was really exciting. >> how did she protect young amy from the press and that sort of thing? we have a photo. you can see how young she is. parenting?y approach >> well, i think that felt that all their kids should be able to a private life if they wanted to and amy certainly did.

know, if you're a kid in the first family you've got secret it's hard tection so to blend in, even if you'd like to. but i think the press in general respected that and he'll child shouldn't be exposed to the kind of press that their parents get. out well. worked it was very hard to move to washington and then have to to back. >> we have one photograph we'll put on screen that shocked most of us. carter going to school. we'll put it on the screen here see.u can [laughter] >> the reporters on this little character with her snoopy bag to school. they made the decision to public even though she would be more exposed to this sort of thing. >> yes. the other thing i should say, carters were relatively young occupants of the white then amy was very much

the young daughter, so it's a unusual for -- it's not for e but unusual for a daughter o have that young. >> she was 8, 9? >> something like that >> the decision for public really a decision that many people commented on politicized.e but it was in many ways an example to the nation and in rebuke of a lot of white southerners who were sending their kids to segregated schools. >> before we leave, i want to talk about billy carter because politicalnally became issue for the president in what ways? he didn't seem to understand how new sort of media coverage was not necessarily going to always be friend. >> would you like to add to that? >> i got in trouble a lot. billy he was with equivalent to amy. he was the last child so there's

separation between the two brothers. billy became an issue in 1980 issues related to libya. there were all sorts of charges tions and no were ever filed or anything like hat, but it did create some distractions at crucial points 1980. campaign in to e also chose commercialize the connection. remember billy beer. did that strain the relationship with his older brother the president? i don't think so. billy was a popular figure around plains. had a good sense of humor and smart, smart guy. of course he originally was going to take over the farm and farm and then never did assume that position, so that had to be hard, although he did a lot of timesit when they were off campaigning.

steven in lieu kentucky. aller: first of all, this lady was special to me. because i was born the first week he was in the white house. week i was born they had the national women's conference in houston, texas. andes carter and betty ford all those women con sraoefed. i think it was the first time government ever sponsored an event like this for women in particular. time if i'm an only not mistaken. i know that in particular on issues carter was the first u.s. president at that appoint more women to office than any other person at that time. things i wanted to add. the arts. this administration was very performance rts in

at the white house started in 1979 on pbs. hosted the first national 1980. festival in is also as far as her image concerned, i've done some research on first ladies and i lady is sort of interesting because i think out of all the recent first ladies like she's not as well-known. i think the reason is because so ahead of her time and approach ted in her and she didn't stick to one issue and the press was upset with her because of that. cut you off. thank you. obviously studied and knows a this white house. what would you like to say to her? >> you've highlighted a really historical moment and that is national women's conference was a historical event. of that e first event kind that was put on by the

of rnment with the support the president and it was a real moment of the kind of of broaderng or sort acceptance of the goals of the women's movement and it was really an amazing event. it's indicative of those kinds did.ings that rosalynn i mean, she really did refuse to tick to one event and championed women's rights and ampaigned for the e.r. a. and kept up with mental health which she worked on back in georgia. indicative of her in many ways creating a role. first lady >> while she pursued her own causes she stayed involved in issues and as we said attended cabinet meetings. we have clips where both president and first lady talk bout her participation in the cabinet meetings. > rose and i arranged to have one official lunch together in the oval office every week.

the thingsstpone all that could be that were official in nature that dealt with the of the united states of america or international affairs or health or welfare or transportation and we iscuss those things in our official meeting in the oval office once a week. learned, for instance, rose was still a little frustrated in knowing enough on and she as going was never hesitant to let me -- when she was frustrated and she hasn't changed -- then i there would be nothing wrong with rose attending the meetings. so i invited her to attend the cabinet meetings. back of the room in an unobtrusive way. knew she was there except me. i was constantly aware that my me. was watching >> a lot of people don't know

by cleveland and he's cabinet member. he was with veteran affairs. next to next to him the door and i went every time the cabinet met because it was -- i thought it was know what or me to was going on and why the decisions were made and so forth. could explain to people in the country as i toured around. a photograph of the carters conferring. were a time of many challenges internationally ndom mescalely as we have done in many programs. we have a list of the major that to show you during time period to demonstrate what the president was working on. issues g some of these such as the panama canal treaty. he energy crisis and those of you around remember the long gas lines people suffered through, wasation was high and there a recession going on, mortgages

digits and double the panama canal treaty and cab accords and negotiation of issuessile treaty and big that framed the latter half of iranian house was crisis. was involved in mental health and >> i think the pivotal point for he was running for governor of georgia and so many of the people that came up to campaign trail with things they wanted her to work on mentioned problems they had family andr particularly at stigma attached healthis health issues. of it.s the beginning and she had a strong mental georgia andam in then at the white house. >> we will take a call and then

learn more about the announcement of the mental health commission. barbara is watching us is nashville. air.re on the caller: in 1976 we were invited to the white house. my husband was in the music business and we got invited to come to the white house and then after that the ladies got to go justhe congress, which you mentioned they were discussing it panama canal treaty and was a great event. it was so -- it was just so wonderful being at the and meeting, it was a governors' meeting as well. then we had done campaigning carter through some of the towns in alabama tammy wynette. it was a wonderful event and we president carter and mrs. carter. they were so gracious.

>> thanks very much. interest inhat her the arts was much broader than just music. did they in fact reach out to well?onstituency as >> what was interesting during the campaign, the expansion of the media during this time, a lot of the musicians from the endorsed carter's campaign. peak.rn rock was at its cap corn records was headquartered in macon and musicians like the allman brothers band were headquartered in georgia. a lot became supporters of courter and helped spread the campaign.s a broad interest in the arts. musictened to classical but they both also had an interest in more sort of vernacular southern music as well. >> the people who keep these statistics say that first lady carter had three

dozen specific interviews with organizations and 22 press conferences during their term in office. instancese one of the when she talked to reporters after the president signed the executive order establishing the mental health commission. >> as you probably know, for the a little and a half, more i have campaigned all over the country. my biographical schedule had a little paragraph that said i was mental health. everywhere i went if people had a good program they wanted me to see it. a chance to see things happening all over this country that are good. happening some things that i thought needed help. i hope for this establishment of that wemission i know can give some of that help. greate a chance to do things in our country. i thought until today that i was chairperson.he little --a [ laughter ] fromgot a little note

somebody that says -- according to the office of the legal council of the department of justice and so forth prohibits from appointing a close relative such as a wife to a civilian position. it may be unpaid as well as paid. the 20 members of the commission in factg the chair will be serving in civilian positions. no problem with your being honoraryd as chairperson. so -- [ laughter ] will be very active honorary chairperson. have -- to -- we will we have office space in the executive office building which is close. hours ae spending many week there and traveling and involved in the fact finding process traveling over the hearings in the next six months. i intend to be active. >> i'm watching that and it sing

for hillarye clinton being involved in the their whiteuring house years. evolution of the role of first lady but runs into legal limitations. >> it is a challenge. it is really a challenge. think particularly challenging during these years rosalynn trying to the roles. she not only has to negotiate the difficulties of being the lady in the media all the time but also really a time when women themselves are very much about what the proper role for women in society is and arguing about it. not just a time of feminism, it is the rise of right conservative women's backlash against feminism and critique of it. i think rosalynn has a difficult job there. >> you could see in that clip to lete wasn't going that legal opinion hold her back. so she was able to do it.

had a great impact. reducingo committed to stigma from mental illness, medicalit treated as a condition. and in her own sweet way she was running that commission. issues really are still very much with us. i mean in recent healthcare reform is just winning some of the goals that she was working on back in the 1970's. signature piece of legislation that made its way through the congress. didyou talk about what that and what the legislative trajectory was? health commission issued reports in 1977 and 1978 fairly late in0, the carter presidency they passed the mental health bill basically requiring that mental illnesses be treated illnesses. interestingly enough, just in the last few weeks, that has rules ofnto the final act andrdable care

sebelius announced that with mrs. carter at the carter center. frustrated that more has not happened at a faster pace. again, i think she had been ahead of her time by a lot of the issues and now some are fruition. >> we have a photograph of mrs. carter testifying before a subcommittee on mental health issues and we will take you to her talking in the interview inn this atlanta just recently about her disappointment about the legislation and what happened to it after it passed. let's listen in. the got upset with president because they covered health work the first few meetings i had. and then they never showed up any more. and one of the things i wanted to do is bring attention to the how terrible it was and what few services there

were. and thinking just getting it out in the public, that is what i georgia, developed a good program in georgia, by the way. come and sot didn't one day i was walking in the in the white house and met this woman who was one of the and i said you ever covers my meetings and she said ms. carter just not a sexy issue. like.at i didn't but i never did get very much coverage for it. but we toured the country and was needed and developed legislation and passed systems act ofth 1980. passed through congress one he says,ore jimmy, as

was involuntarily retired from the incomingse and president put it on the shelf and never implemented it. it was one of the greatest disappointments of my life. >> that is rosalynn carter talking about her frustration with the implementation of one issues.ajor cease was a big -- she was a big champion for the equal rights amendment to the constitution. talk more about the backlash the moral majority as it was beginning to grow as well women's rights. >> when the carters took office, you know, there were only four still needed to ratify e.r.a. and rosalynn got out campaigned and it really looked like it would make it, but again, to return us to women's conference in houston that was really a moment the organization of the e.r.a. really became a kind of public as well.

and conservative women across had organized to get themselves elegged as delegates conference and really began fighting back against what they saw as changes that they were not welcoming and really began toc to systematicay e.r.a. to be stopped. difficultind of a time there, you know, in many ways if you said that a woman town in georgia somebody like rosalynn carter with her background would be a champion of e.r.a. and it wouldn't pass you would have been surprised by that. think she really gave it her all. she also said that was a very disappointing loss for her as well, that that was not ratified. but the conservative women got really organized around the and began to fight back. >> i want to talk to you about whiche of the white house we have learned through the course of this series is a serious political business at how presidents

choose to bring people into the house. during the cart carter years, the numbers are impressive of officialvited to events at the white house. by 1978, grown to 40,000. in 1979, 5,000 and in 190, the year, 100,000 official guests at events in the white house. how did they approach entertaining there? >> they seriously a lot of these have a serious purpose because if it as state dinner you have the head of a foreign country and if they weren vited to a invited to a state dinner it probably has some attached tourpose it. they serve very fine american products, fine wines and you the protocol worked out. a lot of it is to say thank you for people that helped you in campaign. and then, of course, in the election year, making sure you are touching all of the bases. pretty great events at the white house in 1980. callers mentioned the poetry conference which they had

january, i believe. and then they had all of the jazz greats came in for a lawn concert with u.b. blake and that event.ther stunning as much as she was the modern first lady in adopting the big issues like mental health and also knew that she didn't give up the other part of it to make sure all of this smoothly. as grace mentioned, she had a very professional staff there to work with her. a big asset. >> and for the record, the hardr white house was no liquor white house. >> i think that was more of a budgetary thing than it was aesthetics. they figured they could get better wines and better food if didn't serve hard liquor. but, yeah, that was one way of it.g they had to do this on a small budget. youyou know, the fact that are doing more events doesn't mean you have more money to do

them. to be cost conscious about it. >> also i think it was part of were from. their kind of background. many people in the south, small town south, white and black, who are people are faith do not drink. it was also part of who they were and they brought that with to the white house. and i think that was, you know, cultural issue and also again a kind of class choice. be an eliteoing to atmosphere. we are going to have more of the people's white house and that what they saw as something that they wanted to promote. >> in the next clip, mrs. carter talks about the media's reaction to this people's white house and saw as southern -- media.uthern bias in the >> there is a bias against southerners. there was. out loudould say that when we were there because i

didn't want other people to and i didn't want to think it. you had to keep proving yourself over and over. matter what you did. you had great successes and then again.prove yourself and i think it was, you know, i wasn't supposed to be sophisticated enough or something. but who wants to be sophisticated? is a little bit of bias about the south. i remember after jimmy was was a whole page cartoon in the washington post jimmy's carter family, mother and me and there were strawcks and we had on hats and there was straw between our teeth. and then i went from that to being steel magnolia. and but i thought that was pretty good because steel is is southern.nolia then i was fuzzy for awhile. and then i was most powerful. i had a full range of images.

>> was she correct? was there an anti-southern bias media while they were in the white house? >> i think she was correct. most people that are not from a kind of opinion of who white southerners were that was shaped by the media's coverage of civil rights unrest and protests and violence. many people had those kinds of assumptions that were not from the south. should clarify and i don't know what she meant when she whites against southerners. certainly more of a bias against african american southerners and national media environment. a period when rural white southerners were all over popular white culture. andy griffith show ,""

petticoat junction ," making of it and so that is part as well. >> on this concept of acceptance image, she wrote image did become an annoyance that wouldn't go away. if i were working and accomplishing something worth while images besides the re of press, we should ask you to talk about carters' acceptance by the washington the establishment. he georgians come to town, campaigning against the political establishment. how the the establishment react? >> i think, one, i would say lady o president or first as ever been totally satisfied the how they were cover in press or accepted in washington. ook at president ford who is a

picture of someone who tripped over himself all the time when intercollegiate athlete. they tried to work around the ashington press corps to some extent. they could go directly to the local press at the state and ocal level and not do so much with washington. president carter sold off the sequoya which was a great boat they would take people they were trying to influence in the congress and other people nice boat trip down the pato mack river. o they didn't do some of the traditional things that had been expected, again, related to the getting away from the imperial presidency. rough e was some relations there. hamilton

>> one of their sons joined the church first them en they followed there. >> today they attend the church n plains which welcomes visitors on sunday and president carter still teaches a sunday that the ss there public is welcome to attend.

>> if you go to plains and go to church, you could have a lesson by the former president. work as first lady and that's representing officially the united states overseas. 1977, she was asked to represent the -- the president country in a trip to amaica, costa rica, ecuador, perdue, brazil, colombia, venezuela. on her return to the united to reporters oke with president carter looking on. clip next. t >> bring you greetings from caribbean.ca and the [ speaking spanish ] i've done this for two weeks and resist.'t but seriously, it was a good trip. in venezuela, president perez said to me that immy's pan american day speech and my visit to latin america in opened new paths

inter-american relations, instead of the paternalism characterized the past. ready and eager to develop balanced relationships. i found goodwill and friendship everywhere i went. the caribbean n and latin america and every head of state i spoke with without with me on the importance of cooperating and the issuesclosely on that concern you, jimmy, and concern us all. rights, nuclear onproliferation, economic development, arms control. i think we've made progress in all of these areas. glad to be back home. i'm glad to be with amy and with jamie. convey all of this information i have to jimmy. in fact, i look forward to with him on asely

regular basis. the outset of that clip, she spoke spanish. story about her spanish lessons? >> she started learning spanish n the governor's mansion in georgia. she and jimmy took a trip to latin america to promote relationships with georgia, with various countries in latin america. and they began to study spanish. she apparently stuck with it. they would read the bible with each other at the end of the day. they would take turns sometimes reading bible verses to each other in spanish. then, of course, the mportant role as the hostess for the camp david summit between antagonistic parties as trying to reach an agreement. what role did she play during that. clip, llowing the last what was the public acceptance of the countries as the first ady coming to represent the u.s.?

>> first on latin america, i think that trip was somewhat in this tood both country and abroad. that was a very substantive trip carter is sident trying to send message, this is a new day for human rights. because you're an ally doesn't mean you can lock up political prisoners. you can't deliver it, so to have her deliver it, it was more effective. david, the feeling -- president carter got the cia to profileshese very fine of the participants. tick.e knew what made him and so he felt like they would all perform a lot better if wives were there. couldn't come. but she was in frequent contact anwar sidot. there had a very specific purpose that they were talking about things that would ffect their grandchildren and their families and having the

spouses there would be a positive. out to be it turned that way. >> connie is watching us in walnut creek, california. hello, connie. connie, are you there? >> yes, mrs. carter had strong the passage of the equal rights amendment. 'm wondering since that time what her view of the progress that women have made in politics society.y in and have she ever made a comment about whether a woman or should president of the united states? >> thanks so much. thinks it's e overdo. theirrters have withdrawn memberships from the churches that don't allow women to be deacons. resident carter is going to be about the rights of women around the world. o they're still working on

these issues. they're proud. arter has appointed a lot of women to the judiciary. ginsberg was appointed by president carter and elevated to president court by clinton. she recognizes there was made.ss days in iran. our interview. >> i look back at the memories just waiting for the press onference in iran to say what happened that day. because we had no idea what was going on. what e only way we knew was going on was when they would come out and announce it. it was just -- so we were thinking about -- we met with families all along what

jimmy was doing with the presidency. it was awful, it was awful. i would go out and campaign. erly early when goes out, he's surrounded. people to close to get close to conversations, normal what they think about the dreams, what they thought about what i was doing, jimmy was doing, anything that help them. i had learned that early in his presidency. and i would go out and everybody would say, tell the president to do something. and tell them to -- he's got to do something. i would come home and say, i come home and say.

to do? you want me mind the harbors? . he didn't know what to do. i wanted it over. very night, a new tv program started. nobody got over it at all, or could get over it. it. think about every day, every night. it was awful. >> grace hale, earlier you on the role of the television media and shaping images of the presidency. a situation where every night what became was america held hostage counting down the days. what's the role of the media in the country on this situation in iran. >> we tend to think of our own the media's uniquely

interactive and everywhere and pervasive. was a real , there kind of advance in the '70s and the coverage that the media do and their access to footage and how quickly they could get things on the air. leaps forward were made. and you really saw that around not ranian hostage crisis, only because it's being reported and as you said the show that ould become "nightline" was on the air every night talking about the crisis. but in the way, the iranians use the media to heir own advantage to pub publicize what was going on in their end and some ways insert in the media conversation that maybe in an earlier era, the u.s. would be dominate. that's part of the story as well. > jay thinks it's ironic, sad, i don't know what the discussion is. today another event that c-span televised, one of many happening the last few weeks discussing he possible accord with the

iranians with the nuclear proliferation. talking about the relationships with the country. library and rter center had many discussions about the middle east. years ensuing, has the president and those who worked n his cabinet looked back and said we should have done something differently here? >> well, in iran specifically, i think president carter felt vindicated because the hostages got out alive. was a choice between using military force, which would have been more popular with the mrs. carter's comments suggested, but high likelihood would lot of hostages have been killed or used punishing economic sanctions and eventually all get out alive. we're replaying that same kind of debate today. obviously with camp david, camp david was a -- was an early step. carter ink president would have liked more time to expand to deal with the other the arabs and

israel, but he didn't have time to do that. so i think that he would have more time to work on that issue. ut i think he turned out -- iran, as the hostages looked back on it over the years, they feel that probably the approach took was the best one for protecting their safety. >> david is in chicago. you're on the air. >> hi, david. >> hi, good evening. a general question about the relationship between the reagans and the carters. nd specifically, if i remember hearing president carter once state that president and mrs. cartersever invited the back for state dinner in eight years, or they weren't even unveiling k for the of the official white house portraits. is that true? >> i don't know. that.tle surprised by reagan came down to the carter library and gave a gracious speech. extent, you know, ex-presidents do -- and reagan met with

carter before he send him off to represent the united states at the sidot funeral. there wasn't a lot hoff contact, there was some. >> talked about the 1980 campaign. what were some of the issues in iranian hostage crisis that were framing the debate. going rter talked about out to campaigning. what was she facing with the public? things one of the main she was facing was a pretty fractured democratic party. within the ivisions party, kind of traditional base labor movement that the carters had never been particularly strong on that superconnected with the large union movement. the liberal wing of the party, represented by ted kennedy, not particularly hap n -- happy with the carters. in some ways, they were the threaded through

all of the factions of the economic party. decline of the 1970s would be one thing she was facing on the campaign trail. time in interesting our national life. the economy didn't necessarily but for or everybody, industrial workers, working class americans, it was a time., really tough so that's something she would have faced. >> where did the carters go after losing the white house? >> they moved back to plains to sort of plan the rest of their life. to be outpretty young of the white house. carter e back to the center. they were able to launch a new career working on the same issues. a very ontinue to have big impact, both in this country around the world. they were very much partners in this. >> yes.

>> how does she think the years after the white house had been framed and what they'd like to for.membered remember as of right now, jimmy carter is the longest serving history.ent in a lot of years since they left the white house they stayed involved in issues. watch. >> i hope my legacy continues first lady.n just because it's always been an of my life, waging peace, fighting disease, building hope. i have contributed something into mental health issues and helped to improve a the lives of people living with mental illnesses. hope -- i have had opportunities for so long now. to africa or some of countries where we go to a ica two or three times

year. things those villages, have come to fruition like we've been working on for all those eradicated most them. o to a village, it's a celebration. i mean, one of the good things we t the carter center is don't give money to the government. help peoplele in to in that country how to do something. nd we were with the people in the villages. and helped the public there too we work with them. and they do the work. and ust to go to a village , if you can get the chief to approve, that's what you have to do. hear about it from another country, they're so happy you're there. to see -- to go back when it's gone from a village or gone, and the hope gives

to them most of the time it's first thing they've ever seen that was successful. and it's just so wonderful, just to see the hope of it. is something good happening. emotional. n to get >> will you comment more about the approach to the postwhite ency, the house years? >> these are epic stories when you look at them closely. the carters started working in he 1980s, there were 3 1/2 million cases around the globe. this is a deep debilitating disease. the body rows within and people can't go to school or work in the fields. number i st official saw was 542 cases and i think it's actually a little bit lower than that. it's just now in four countries, ethiopia, li, chad, and sudan. this is a remarkable achievement. this is going to be the second after smallpox to be

liminated from the face of the earth. she didn't mention election monitoring, but they've now elections, i believe, in 37 countries. and many of those countries more than once. countries like indonesia, liberia, they helped sort of they've gone s through several election cycles. and then liberia is a perfect example. they not only moved to democracy elected the first president in an african country, but they had no mental health care. cadre of nurses they developed over several cycles of that, most of the now covered with basic professional help. when you start -- i'm just scratching the surface, when you to see all of it going around the world because they can open the door as and ex-first lady,

it's still going on, it hasn't stopped. nepal nt carter is in last week for the elections there. >> he is now 9 years old? >> correct. the first lady is 86, i believe. >> yes. elizabethtown, north carolina. hi, lauren, you are on. hello, good evening. i wanted to know the relationship that ms. carter had ford?the late betty >> well, they became very good friends. era they worked on the together as we mentioned. communicated a lot -- worked on projects together. earlier, mrs.oned carter gave a nice eulogy. the carter ily and family became good friends. for bette ford because for had taken a step forward for first ladies as well. made it a that little easier for later first ladies to speak out to say what thought.

> and the -- the carters have concentrated on humanitarian issues globally. i'm wondering about the relationship with the democratic party after leaving the white in the ter trouncing 1980 election. how welcome were they by the national party. what was their role? well, you know, immediately after that kind of defeat, those aren't the kind of people you're send out on the campaign trail or raising money. party democratic wasn't -- wasn't super embracing of the carters after that defeat. came around that it in time. i mean, the whole democratic '80s ended up across the more moderate direction and moving away from the more liberal wing. that's represented in the presidency of bill clinton. and so, in some ways, again, the carters were just a little bit maybe ahead of their time. he democratic party seems to

have come around to a lot of the issues that maybe some democrats about thrilled with him at the time. ashtontics on twitter asked does roslyn carter feel he deserves the accomplishments for snt. >> no. ever, i any first lady might add? >> i think if you look at what carter did, take for a canal treaty, instance, that was something that was not at all popular at the time. has opened up a whole range in latin ments america. and mrs. carter would caution him, be careful politically here you do want because to get a second term. away for the't run second term. so they moved ahead and had a long list of accomplishments. they did so and again i think ifce mentioned this earlier,

you're doing the this with high interest rates, you talk to iran but the hostages, other thing that happened with iran was the cutoff from the middle east which raises oil prices and races inflation and interest rates. was this double whammy. not only did we have the ostages in captivity, but we had this inflair nation economy which no president wants to have election year. >> and the severest downturn in the economy since the depression history. so in the time after world war ii -- 2008. il >> yes, yes, i meant before recent times. wantsid welsh on facebook to know where are the carter children now. what are they doing? did any pursue politics? >> well, jack, the oldest son, did run for the u.s. senate as democratic nominee in nevada a couple of cycles ago. and he lives in nevada. his son, who is the oldest arter grandchild, jason, is running for governor in the

state of georgia. he's currently a state senator. chip lives in the atlanta area, amy both live in the atlanta area. so three of them are sort of close to home. jack's out in nevada. >> and could you also comment about the grandson who made news the last presidential campaign by unearthing the omney video that changed the direction of that campaign? >> this is a child who was in parade.ugural but he feels in his mother's womb. he is chip's son and he -- he's of the internet and uncovered candidate romney's speech about the 47%. so he got in the news as a family. the carter >> do we know hisf grandparents' reaction as a result of that campaign? i think they were pleased.

>> one more video, six minutes left in the program. plains and the carter's life there after the white house. watch. after the white house, mrs. interest.ok great one of her projects was to help the plains refurbish inn and antique mall. each room in the inn is decade in o a president and mrs. carter's life from 1920 to 1980. mrs. carter's editions to the downtown plains rose lynn carter butterfly garden. she established the garden to awareness to conserving butterflies, the habitats, and nature.love of baptist church where president carter and mrs. carter town.d when they're in this is where he still teaches rosalynn hool and ms.

is a deacon here in the church. is -- plains is home. everybody has some place they call home. plains, he carter, georgia is home. they could have travelled anywhere after the white house. and pretty much settled anywhere. but they wanted to come home. nd i think that speaks volumes of the way they think about plains. they love it here. >> the person who is our interpreter there is national parks service. could you talk about the preservation of plains by the federal government through the what al parks service and one would find if they visit there? >> yes, the national parks runs the historic site. it's got several parts to it. carter boyhood home which is kind of a working farm now, it's apparently a large farm. and you could walk through the house there and have his old highn than school or their whole high school has become kind of a

museum. you can walk through there. the home they live in now is being deeded to the national park service. it's well worth a trip to south georgia. you can go through warm springs an learn about fdr. enyou get there, you can ttend sunday school, stay in the plains inn, and visit the historic sites. beaten path. the it's not close to an interstate. but people who are presidential history junkies, it's a trip well worth making. chosen he carters have the plains rather up than the carter center for the final burial place. two presidents i'm aware went post world war ii back to their own hometowns. he trumans went back to inagains and the carters went back to the plains. >> keith, in illinois. you're on. caller: i've seen news coverage of when the carters intertangled clintons with the

habitat for humanity. and i'm just curious, do they anything -- do they do with the obamas? >> do the carters do anything obamas? had some sure, they interaction. we had pictures of them earlier together at the white house. president carter sort of drum beat his own and, you know, he has views that are very strong about the middle other things. and the ex-presidents still hang out. there's a book called the club that came out a year or two ago which gives you lot of behind-the-scenes look at how the presidents interact. there are a lot of facets to it. work together.e sometimes they don't. redena e close out here, crump kee wants to know, do they still take on new causes. this basic set of causes in which they travel extensively. they're going to the poorest

countries of the world. malis make d the india and other countries look very wealthy. so they still do travel a lot. but they focus on the causes hey have to produce the result that they're trying to achieve. so mental health, election monitoring. peace negotiations, river blindness. they'vee sets of things been working on for a long time. and they're achieving a lot of success. close out here, gary robinson wants to know, what's as perception of the carters time has passed since their presidency, and will it improve overtime. as an historian, can you anticipate the future? greatest strength as historians but it's been a successful postpresidency. many ways they reinvented hat job and it doesn't look like they'll stop here in the later years. >> as historian looking back on the white house.

the perception of that change in the ensuing decades? >> i think perhaps the jury is still out. mean, it's not seen as the most successful presidency of war era, but at the same time, trying to change some of event up ions events, promote what he was promoting. independence, the spread of democracy. that's still the issue today. the first lady? >> top five, top ten. eleanor roosevelt is at the top. below that, there's some fluctuation. think in his case, he's not rated as highly as she is. on the other hand, he was rated of the top three presidents in history on the environment. there's a libertarian book out ranks them in the top ten that is interesting coming from that source. so i think the jury is still out. papers are still being declassified. people are being the broader

perspective. hopefully people keep having these discussions. >> how much of her papers did public?erve for the >> she's got a lot. he took extensive notes and diaries. there's a lot of private comments in there and in general, those are still haven't been available to historians. o she's a great documenter, she's a good historian herself. the memoir, "the white house i always something recommend to people. you can still get copies. >> in fact, i have one here. from plains. it is one of five books that rs. carter has authored or co-authored in her years since the white house. and i it for our time want to say thank you for their the nuing help to produce series and we'll have a list of many of the others who made this possible. our two guests for their information and your audience on with the tonight. >> thanks for having me.

another. series, first ladies, returns in the new year with the five most recent first ladies nancy reagan, monday night, january 13, live 9:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. on the next three weeks, encore first ladies.of next week, edith roosevelt to grace coolidge. white house historical associations, the c-span is offering a special edition of ladies of the united states of america. it has biographies of each first available for $12.95 plus shipping at c-span.org/products. website has more about the first lady at c-span.org/first including a special white "welcome to the

house." it chronicles life inside the executive mansion under each of ladies.t political onstant in life, congress in 1901, 2% of members came from working class backgrounds, got into politics and eventually wound up in congress. flash forward to the average day. 2% average congressman spent of their year doing manual labor jobs, service industry jobs. this is one thing that hasn't changed, you know? aspects oh it nt was political access. broadcast television, cable news. politics, the n decline of unions. happening, this is one of the constants of that, working class people are not getting elected office. ical

>> does it matter there's a socioeconomic disparity between elected officials and the officials they represent? a white collar government sunday night at 9:00 afterwards. in january, in depth, radio talk takes st mark levine questions for three hours. all part of book tv weekends on c-span 2. on-line for september's book book club, we want to know what your notable books were. to booktv.org and click on chatroom.to enter the >> in a few moments, leaders of the house and senate armed announce a mittees deal on the defense programs bill. of the f hour, members brissish house of commons offer tributes to the late nelson the former president of south africa. we the specialn,

rosalynnies program on carter. members of the house committee agreement on the defense program bill. they spoke with reporters for about a half hour. patience?you for your is this on? can you hear me? buck mckeon, the chairman of the house armed services ommittee, and i'm joined by chairman levin from michigan, the chairman of the senate armed committee and ranking member from oklahoma, the senate member of the committee. adam smith, the ranking member f the house is held up and not able to -- he's coming from

washington and is not able to be with us. a statement.e we have circulated that here today. announce that working together, members of the house and senate armed services have reached an agreement on our national for se authorization act fiscal year 2014. some of you, i know, have wouldn't be at we able to finish our work this year and we would pass a slimmed with only the essential authorities. say that -- i don't want to say we proved you rong, but that's basically what's happened. e are offering a full comprehensive bill. the bill out of committee in may with a vote of 50-92. in june on the 115-108.th

we know that the senate ran out finish their ly ill on the floor, but they did on agreement for 25 for republicans and 25 minutes for out. before the time ran we met last monday. we were able to go through 87 amendments. 79 of which have been debated are included in the bill as if they were passed on the senate floor. we worked across party lines. we've come up with some very this bill hings in and it's important for them to move forward. i'm going to hit on a couple of them. overseas sensitive military perations act that was worked mack tho chairman

thornberry and ranking member adam smith. opportunity, the the ability to oversee our orces overseas under whatever jurisdiction they might be operating. sexual assault, that was probably one of the biggest addressed this year. it.h bodies addressed ike turner and nicky tsongas head up the sexual assault caucus. they did tremendous work on it wilson, the chairman f our personnel subcommittee, and -- and susan davis, the ranking member. hearings and us really worked hard on this issue nd came up with some very good changes. grandfather of a young beautiful grand daughter, i am very pleased with the were able to ey sexual to work on

assault prosecution and prevention. that's a cornerstone of our bill. gitmo has been an issue that's been with us for a long time. e, again, found common ground on the detainees where they will be able to be brought into this country. some of the certification former ents for transfers have been replaced and negotiated. we had time for a more full debate on this. but we're here at this point are.ng we are where we and we ran out of time and it's time -- we owe the men and women in uniform and our national security to finish up this bill. it to plan is to bring the floor this week, get it to the past. like to turn it to chairman levin, ranking member inhoff to how to proceed from

here. thank you. much, chairman mckeon. thanks to adam smith, the member in the house, jim inhoff, the ranking member, of course, in the senate armed work es committee for the they've done to bring us to this point. chairman mckeon has described the point that we're at. the bill pe is that will be a new bill which will incorporate disagreement, we'll the house floor this week before they leave. it can then come to the senate. that's the first important step, of course, after they get to the committee. then if that succeeds and it comes to the senate, we will be will have a and we chance to take up a bill. we canis is the only way pass a bill this year. it's not the first time that something like this has happened. twice in the last five years we've been in the position where we were -- where we had to pass

bill that had not been fully amended or completed on the senate floor. we added huge numbers of amendments in the committee. there were a number of debated on the senate floor. a number of amendments offered to be cleared on the senate be cleared.ould not two amendments in particular, in area of sexual assault. senator gillibrand and haskell's debate ts we wanted to and get voted on. owever, as chairman mckeon has mentioned, the bill we will be offering has the combination of senate provisions on sexual assault, as well as the house provisions on sexual assault. these are extremely important provisions. and they include -- rather than e going through them, i think

you all have a list of provisions i'll be happy to answer questions that are in this bill on sexual assault. end the -- the sexual e numbers of misconduct that still occurs. here's what this bill does. this is why it. thato critically important we pass this bill. it extends the department's combat pay in y hardship duty pay for our troops in combat. guantanamo, the bill asically takes half of what we did in the senate and passes it. give flexibility to the president, to transfer guantanamo to third countries. it maintains the prohibition on detainees here for trial and detention. kind of compromise it for that way.

and it was half of the detainees be transferred from the third world countries from which they come half of the that remain in guantanamo because of the prohibition on transferring them the united states from the detention and the trial. we also made a major change of of the ucmj, the so-called article 32 process, we grand jury a process which has the purpose of determining whether there's robable cause rather than a discovery proceeding. which, for instance, in cases, the lt subject to cross-examination. the change we make in article 32 is not limited to sexual assault case. in general to the preliminary procedure that now takes place in the military. are critical land

withdrawal provisions. three -- three of them had to be extended or else the land withdraws would have ended, terminated, and that would have left our military without proper training facilities. a new land withdraw that will enable the marine corps to area, 29 training pounds. e provide funding authority on the destruction syrian chemical and for the pile forces to secure that country's border. as many of you know, this bill on the senate floor for about a week. enator inhoff and i had the amendments debated and voted on. we didn't have a great deal of success in that regard. get consent to limit consideration to defense-related to doents, we were unable so. we tried to get consent to vote on the two sexual assault mentioned, the i

haskellnd amendment and amendment, we couldn't get to a vote.go we adopted 40 cleared amendments package, a manager's we could not get consent. we tried to address additional 6 amendments to have them debated. 13 on each side. we were unable to do that. the reality is that the house of representatives is going to adjourn on friday. there is no way to get a defense ill passed this year, except the way we are proposing. way we can bring up or bring back the bill on the senate floor, consider a bill, go to s conference with the house, and have a conference report written conference report adapted by the house of representatives before friday.

circumstances, the only way to pass a defense bill is by reaching an agreement which we house counterparts with the bill that has a chance past without amendment on both houses. the best hope we have. again, it happened a couple of times before. it's not the way we desired to legislate. have much more in the week to offer amendments if we could. world we live in. the world we now live in has our troops in harm's way. families that need our support. has all of the other provisions in this bill that are critical to our security. has a number of authorities that will expire. a letter we're handing out by general dempsey, by the way, to our leaders today, i think copies are available for of of you which lists all

the aspiring authorities, combat pay, for instance, is just one of the authorities. them on this 30 of list. this don't pass a bill year. that's what the hopes are. i want to thank my colleagues senator it over to inhoff. >> yeah, thank you. >> i agree with both speakers that this is not the way we like to do it. we got to the point a week ago was the only way we could do it. couple of things from the press perspective is to consider we t of all, we did -- ctually considered 87 amendments that have been brought up. we passed 79 of them, that's hard to do. do on the floor. nonetheless, we have something in this bill that is really significant. we have to consider and you have to consider as member ohsf the media that the choices are you want to have an bill

that we're doing it here, or ways thatf the normal takes place. that's not possible any longer. ause this on the senate floor few minutes ago in -- in december. that's where we are right now. we're going into -- the house is at 11:00.o out i understand, about, on friday. nd so we -- there is not the time to go through a process where you're going to have amendments in these considerations. that's behind us. so what hasn't been said is well, you runing, into january. first of all, it's never gone last 52 ary in the years. the only two times it has gone as the chairman said or as buck, i guess, said, is when the president vetoed it. we had to go back in and get it done. that was done not in months or afterwards, that was in hours afterwards. we overran the veto. done. to be

it's always historically been done in december or long before now. keep in mind, we passed our bill months ago. we should bring this up. criticized the leadership in the senate for not awe allowing us to bring it up. if you look to see what's january, that's significant too. we come back in in the sixth. the enerally it takes average time over the last ten years to consider one of these bills is ten years. well, i'm sorry, is ten days, the cr hat time, we had on the 15th. i can tell you right now. this, t have to tell you we're going to spend all of our time on the c.r., after that, we have the debt limit. not going to be done unless it's done this way. to critical people have understand that. secondly, a lot of people have said, well, we have historically been a i believe to go into january. that's not true. that another chart here shows we haven't gone to january. i would only say this. there are two categories of

problems we had there. one, things are going to expire december 31 of this year, and secondly, what is going to xpire is that as the time matures, as to what's going to come up right now, we're talking pay.t hazard those of us who have been in the military, we know that there's process in olved making a career decision as to whether or not you're going to reenlist. well, reenlistment bonuses would stop on december 31. there any 't be longer. impact aid, now you folks are as we are when you go to areas where they're taking away the taxes from our system. impact aid is absolutely necessary. that will stop on december 31. the things that won't stop right then, but will be a major i'll mention two. to questions.pond any major projects under construction will have to stop work.

example on the floor that contains -- the bill contains 136 million to continue replacement of the center of u.s. stradcome in the air force base nebraska. if this is not authorized, the work will have to stop. halfway ave to stop through. you take this, if we're not able to pass the bill, it will have to stop. 4,300 both g about of theers out of work. wasting not be millions, but billions of dollars if we don't do this. lot a good bill, contains a of provisions. both of the previous speakers -- speakers have articulated and a bill -- the only way we're going have a bill is to go ahead and do it this way. and i commend the -- the -- talking about the big four. we're the ones that we can go to

today who spent a lot of time going over all of this. we have a good product. we're going to try to do our passed.get it >> similar problems that you had you're trying to, you know, manage the bill when you were here last time. so you've got roughly, i don't know how many senators to convince now that this is a good idea before. >> it's 51. >> well, yeah, you need 51. are some who -- it only takes one to sort of tie your whole show up. wondering, what are the problems that you see? who are the people that you need to reach out to? who need to be sold on this idea? they're faced k with something different now than they were before. how e they were faced with we're going to pass this bill. will i have the opportunity to bring up amendments? the amendments were not germane, as you know. it didn't relate at all to defense. i think these individuals

are now looking at is it's no i get a e choice of do process where my amendments are going to be considered, or do i not. it's do i want a bill or do i not? nd i think they're going to do the responsibility thing and come to the conclusion that aving a bill far outweighs for all of the reasons we've articulated, not having a bill. now.hoices are limited there's only one. >> there's also -- let me just dd this -- there are many amendments that have been filed in the senate. which at least have been cleared and indeed there's a similar ckage of amount which was cleared as reached agreement on the language in those amendments and providing that we find something in either the senate passed bill in the house passed he bill to which the amendments could relate.r

we could then and did, wherever we possibly could, add the amendments tohose the -- to this free-standing ill, which is going to be introduced. so many of the people on a bipartisan basis. senators, democrats nd republicans, who had filed amendments will find that we did a reasonably good job of addressing the issues that they to address in those amendments in this free-standing bill. of t's not as though none the filed amendments were addressed in this bill. many of them are address in this bill. >> you know, it's also a fact, i not a personhere's in the house of representatives senate that . hasn't at one time or another been upset with process. point.past that at this the process -- we still have disagreements over process. but we now have a bill. and now do you want the bill or not? when we consider our

national defense, when we consider our men and women in the overlying principal yes?t the bill passed, >> are you filing the bill today? to leader u talked cantor about taking up the bill for a vote? hat is the vote in the house and when will we file it? >> when are we filing a bill? >> over the next couple of days. of days.xt couple i talked to both speaker boehner today and leader candor and explained to them exactly where are. theywere not -- apparently didn't know we would have the bill finalized. we're here to announcer we have we're ready to move forward. >> as you guys try to work out he defense bill, simultaneously, there's these thoughts going on, of course, we times all of the many about the defense sequester. regardless of what's going on in this bill, what are you hearing they try to, you

know, get some sort of an agreement here. 'm told in the past half-hour, there's no i agreement yet as it sequestration. >> i think you know, we've been fairly busy. we're the armed services committee. they're the budget committee. they're doing their work as we're doing ours. we're both successful this week. >> and keep in mind, this is authorization. preparation. >> is that the best -- is that the -- is that the elephant in room here? people are all looking back. the piece of legislation now to the defense. and they can't do something about the level in 2015, 2014. >> like i said, i hope they're successful. they're successful, yes. she's ant that at least got a vote to take sexual assault cases out of the demand, out of the authority. why did you decide against her is your message to

--ator gillibrand on this >> you've got it wrong. we didn't decide against her. there was an effort made in the to bring her bill and senator mccaskill's bill, both amendments at that time, up for a vote. there was objection to it. ncluding either of those in free standing bill. i think all of us wanted to have regardless ndments, of whether you support one or the other or both, but there's an objection. we tried it. debated for i think a day and a half in the senate. so it's in no one's interest resolved.not be they both have filed now.-standing bills and they both have filed them in ways that either of those or both of those bills, hopefully, be brought up for a vote as he free standing bill if senator reid, the majority leader is able to find the time to do that. talked to him i

about it. e all want votes on those two matters, not just senator gillibrand's but on that issue as well. of people are familiar with the long-running debate about military sexual assault efforts that senator gillibrand tried to undertake. can you explain the agreement you do have in this bill, soldiers who or have a complaint on the current adjudicated -- [ inaudible question ] many of the ad provisions. were you here before? >> i was. > do you want me to repeat them? >> i don't want you to reneement. works mentioned how it with the respect to -- >> article 32 is a separate amendment. that's a boxer amendment that no objected to, unlike the gillibrand and mccaskill to.dments, no one objected

we tried to get that language adopted on 32. incorporate that because no one objected. the subject was address in both bills in terms of sexual assault, even though the article 32 language is not limited to it's limited for he use of procedure for discovery now that creates unfair problems for people who visits or the complainants, so we were able to get an agreement that we should address that. could not get agreement that we would address either the illibrand or mccaskill agreements. however, they are free standing bills. so lked to senator reid and has senator gillibrand and mccaskill. ll of us want votes on these matters. even though in these bills there's major improvements in the area of sexual assault. for instance, i'll give you some of them again. retaliation s that is a crime. the threat of retaliation has been one of the reasons why