tavis: tone of political discourse. also, nichelle nichols became one of the first african-american actresss with her role on "star trek." we're glad you joined us, u.s. congressman debbie wassermann schultz and nichelle nichols right now.

>> nationwide insurance supports tavis smile loy with every question and every answer. nationwide is proud to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one nation at a time. >> and from contributions from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ [captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> due to the news coming out of arizona, we juggled our program tonight with watchdog elizabeth warren will air tomorrow night. tonight, we continue to cover the aftermath of the deadly

rampage in arizona over the weekend with debbie wassermann schultz. she's one of gabriel gifford rece closest friends. sorry to have you on under these conditions and circumstances. a delight to have you on as well. >> thanks, tavis, it is good to be with you but not under these circumstances. tavis: we hear your friend is breathing on her own now? >> she is. i was able to speak with her, her husband mark yesterday. you know, it was grease -- great to hear the strength in his voice and the optimism he has. anyone that knows gaby that if there's someone that could survive an injury like this one, it is gaby gifford. she has the heart of a lion. we're hopeful she's going to make quick progress -- quick progress, even under the circumstances. >> with a heart of a lion, we're

told she's going to have a good recovery, or full recovery. is that what you're hearing or do you know? >> it is way too early to tell the recovery, but i know that, there's clearly you know, impact on her brain. they don't know which parts of her brain and they really won't know for some time. she's thought out of the woods yet, in terms of -- she's still in the window of time in which they're watching for swelling and, you know, making sure that there's not any more damage as a result of the potential swelling. so, you know, everybody day -- every day that goes by is -- is -- is another good day without -- getting more and more out of danger. tavis: there's conversations that kicked up in this country as a result of this horrific shooting just days ago. let me start with the -- the conversation about civility. you know, again, you know the

conversation well. your thoughts on whether or not civility is -- is the conversation we ought to be having. is it connected to this or the lack of civility? what is your impression? >> whether it is connected to this incident or tragedy is beside the point because this is an opportunity for -- for elected leaders, for the members of congress on both sides of the aisle to lead by example. i have talked to colleagues on both sides of the aisle, appeared on colleagues on both sides of the aisle and really been heartened to -- to see that there's agreement that we need to dial it back. that we need to strike a better tone of civility. we need to set an example again for the world about the kind of democracy that we have the potential to be and the way we practice it. >> why does it talk something

like this for otherwise educated and intelligent and upstanding members of our country to get the fact they need to dial it back? does it take this to understand that? >> i wish it didn't. you have the -- the media frenzy that exists, the 24 hours news psych -- cycle, the competition for ratings and the shock jobs that seem to feel the further they push the envelope the more likely they are to get the attention that they're craving. so i mean, we have to -- as elected leaders i think lead by example and -- look, i'm not suggesting that on the right or the left that we advocate or views and principles any less vigorously, but words matter. the words we choose matter. the notion that we're brought up with sticks and stones can break your bones. your mom says don't worry about what people say, words can't

hurt you. that's not true. words can hurt you. words can cause -- we don't know what -- what sets someone off like this guy that has -- that is fragile and -- and mentally unstable. we don't know what is going to push someone over the edge. there's a way to disagree vigorously without treating our opponents like the enemy and we should do battle in the arena of ideas and in the arena that is the house chamber or whatever arena we're in. then we need to leave that battle in the arena and be human beings. and remember that we are americans, all on the same team first. that's how i think we should conduct ourselves. >> since you mention the house chamber, let me stay with that for a moment. clearly no one was shot or lost his or her life in the process, but it is harder to find a greater moment of civility in

the house when he stood up and said you lie for the nation and the world to hear, if there were ever a moment of incivility in the politician, it was that. the president accepted the apology quickly and whatever reasons, i'm not casting aspergs, just calling the facts, the president at that moment is my point chose not to use that as a teachable moment to talk to us about incivility. we know now he's on the way to arizona to speak and to console the victims and their families, et cetera. so should the president now take this opportunity, he hasn't said fig as yet about civility? should he talk about that now? >> yes. in short. i mean, we have had -- you know without singling individuals out, but we had presidents in the recent past miss opportunities to bring the nation together and to -- who have not taken advantage of the

turning point that an incident like this is. we really are tavis, at a turning point. right now. this is an opportunity that -- that gaby gifford, as well as i know her and as -- strongly as i know she feels about the importance of moderation and civility and -- measuring our words carefully and pot whipping people up in a frenzy, all of the while, advocating our view vigorously, i know gaby will want the president and will want us to use in at some point to bring the nation together and to -- to again be the example of the kind of democracy that the founding fathers envisioned and take the violent language, the violent symbolism and rhetoric out of our discourse. tavis: speaking of founding fathers, they gave us a right to bear arms. the arizonaians love that. the numbers are out. everybody talking about it. the monday following this

shooting, gun sales in arizona up 660% from a year ago. is that the answer? >> i personally don't -- personally don't think arming ourselves is the answer. as gaby's friends, she's a gun owner. she supports the second amendment and the right to bear arms. this is certainly not -- for the -- not -- the response to this should not be arming ourselves to the teeth. the response should be for us to find a way to make our -- make our democracy better, to figure out how to disagree without turning our opponents into the enemy. maybe if we do that in congress and lead by example that way, then maybe we will be able to push those outside the political process who are -- who are the

mouthpieces and who have the megaphones to take a page from our book. >> here's the extra question. having said all you said which i agree with, i want to ask whether or not you're hopeful about this. i been to -- at this long enough and you been at it long enough to know, these moments cocome and go, and as my grandmother used to say, when all has been said and done, more often more has been said than done. is this a moment we look back and say -- realize, that when we had the moment to engage this conversation in real discourse about this issue, we moved right on past it. here again the ball gets dropped. >> well i hope not. i no e i know i personally will take ownership of one thing that i think is helpful for us to move the ball down the field and that is that i really believe that the republicans and the democrats in congress need to have a -- an event, a conference

or convention where we come together, the republicans have a retreat and the democrats have ours next week. following that i think we need to come together and not -- i'm not suggesting that that we find common ground. that would be nice. i'm suggesting we try to work together on ways in which we could work together better. and -- treat each other like we -- we would want others to treat us and how we can utilize the golden rule better. i know there are members on both sides of the aisle, i have spoken to them, support the idea and the concept and at least, i can be responsible for my own actions. i'm going to try to help make that happen. >> the nation is watching. we'll see how you and your colleagues behave in the coming months and years or misbehave. hopefully the former and not the latter. these are difficult times and s

for you to come on the program. thank you for your time and sharing your insights. we wish the best and send our prayers to your friend. >> tavis, thanks. thanks for shining a light on this. >> glad to have you on as always. >> up next, groundbreaking actress, former "star trek" star, nichelle nichols. stay with us. tavis: nichelle nichols made hixry -- history back in 1966 when she became the first african-american woman with her role on "star trek." it was a great breaking moment coming up on pioneering moments in television. it airs on most pbs stations january 18th. here now seen from pioneers of television. >> the pioneers of science fiction television didn't just invent a genre. they taught us something about ourselves. they gave us a great ride.

how wonderful. three years. 40 years ago, they still talk about the character. my god. >> i said, fascinating. that was where we found the spark for the character. >> have these plastic rocks. that was fun to me. i was a kid. >> i never had a bad day going to work on that show. >> he wanted to speak from a voice of men and women as equals. >> i thought we had exceptionally good stuff on. and in the few years it has practicesed since twilight zone was on, there appeared to be a new generation and new body of marvelous science fiction. >> nichelle nichols an honor to be in your presence. >> good to be with you as well. >> it has been a while. >> it has. tavis: here we are good en. >> lucky me. tavis: lucky me.

tf you're as busy as you were then. >> more so if thatst possible. tavis: yeah. it is not just being busy. it is not just that you're a part of the wonderful pbs specialer, the series, the pioneers of television, we'll come back but you're being honored. one of my favorite places in the country. new york city, they got an honor for you. what is that about? >> they're doing the pioneers of television and this sunday is devoted to legendry women of television. and i'm with the -- with the wonderful group of ladies, linda evans, my girlfriend stephanie powers. angie dickinson and myself. tavis: wow. can i go with you. >> yes, please. tavis: do you need a date this sunday? >> yes. tavis: that's a crew. >> yes. tavis: i assume if you're willing to accept the honor like

you receiving this sunday, you're okay with the pioneering status. >> yes. you go in hoping you get to i think ma your mark and then you stay in long enough to -- to be called a pioneer. i lived a life. i had a wonderful life. and it abet over yet. tavis: i'm going to ask you in a second about your conversation with my hero whose birthday we celebrate from a few days from now and how dr. king talked you into staying on "star trek." we'll come back in second. how about that for a tease? but tell me the story about how you got on there in the first place. >> well, when i -- when i tell this story, i have to say i think this is the way it went. i know that i was not in town. i'm -- i was businessly going from, from -- from canada to -- you know, montreal to paris to

england. so i got a call. tavis: that's why i love you. so modest and humble. she said she was busy moving around the world, doing what? >> well i grew up in musical theater. tavis: that's right. >> there i was a singer. tavis: traveling and playing with people like -- >> well, i think you're talking about earlier than that is -- as a kid, i was discovered by the great duke ellington. tavis: got to pull it out. >> a musical i was doing in my hometown of chicago at t great sherman house. he came as a guest of -- to see me and to see the show, say -- staying at the hotel, the sherman house and he asked to meet me. and i was like 14 or 15 and -- when they brought the note to our suite, my mother said, well you tell mr. ellington that my

daughter can't come down to meet him unless the -- unless his mother comes down and the rest of the company comes down. tavis: your mother a wise woman. >> he thought halves so -- he was so impressed by that. the band singer got sick and he called me into his dressing room. i had no idea. he said sing something for me. the next thing i know i'm replacing her and doing my dance routine. tavis: with duke. >> with the great duke ellington. it was like, i didn't tour with him as a singer, but it was that last -- that last -- three, four year -- three, four performances. tavis: on your resume. >> then lionel acten. 0 tavis: i want to get that out there.

line hampton. then -- >> it is "star trek" that interrupted my career you see. tavis: i like that. you travel around. you get a phone call from the "star trek" people. pick up the story. >> my -- my -- my agent calls me and says, come home, they're doing "star trek." i said i'm not coming home. i'm loving this. and -- and my career is moving and people are taking me seriously as a singer. they think i have a great voice. and he said, you get on a plane, i'll put a first class ticket on there, you get your little brown butt back here. if you don't get the role, you could be back in a week. i thought that was an offer i couldn't refuse. i came -- auditioned and the rest is history. tf history. quhaffs it like on "star trek" during the early days. this is segregation in america

now. >> in the words of dr. martin lute err king, he said you cannot leave the show, you have the first nonstereo typical role on television and you -- the manner in which you created your character, with dignity and beauty and intelligence, you -- you are a -- an image that are people -- not our -- not just our children but people that don't look like us. they see us for the first time as we should be seen, this is what we're mamping for. tavis: two questions. how does it feel to know that dr. king is a fan of your work watching you every week and number two, obviously, if king is encouraging you that way, you have to stay with the show, even though you thought about leaving at some point. >> he said this is the only show that my wife coretta and i will

allow our children to stay up late and watch. years later his little children are now -- who were then grown, two were guests in my home here and told me the story. so i said, i met your father, your father and told him the story, just told you. and he -- and they said, yes, that's true, that's true. because daddy came home and said, he met nichelle nichols and he said you mean lieutenant and he said yes. they said daddy, daddy. i was in his -- i was in hiss ster i thinks. -- hiss sterks. and as far as i was concerned that was my leader. tavis: what move me now, as i listen to you tell the story, those that are trek trekies, we

know what it means, you connect the meaning of this to king, it fits beautifully. >> ohuru is swa hilly for freedom. and gene, i was reading that book, that marvelous treatise on africa when i came for the interview. the role of a communications officer was -- was was not even written. so they -- they had a three-pain -- they told me to read from this part where kirk and spark and bones, would i read the role of spock. i looked at it and said, i hadn't even been given the site, i thought, yeah. i said tell me about the character.

they said no nonsense. not a sense of humor. a brilliant mind and y don'ted that for uhura, what became uhura. they were very happy with it, asked me to wait. gene asked me to go to lunch. he wanted to talk about the character. by the way, you have the role. and -- tavis: gene roddenberry. >> the great bird of the gal laxy. tavis: that's right. >> he said, you know, nichelle, ask you to talk to you about this -- because i really am impressed with this word 0 hur are you. he said -- hurrah. he said i like to do something with your character. i blythely said, why don't you do an aliteration on the word and soften it to uhura. put an a on it. and make it uhura. and he stopped and he said,

that's your character, that's your name, that's where you come from, the united states of africa and you have created her, you are fourth in command, communications officer of starship speaker price. tavis: that's it, good night. i'm literally out of time. how do you close the show? or cleast close the conversation. -- or at least close the conversation. you can't close the show better than that. it is a fascinating story. i knew you would love this. the king -- the freedom -- the freedom -- it is just a wonderful career. >> that man called me three times before he went to do the -- do the -- the speech on the mountain -- i been to the mountaintop. tavis: he called you three times to make sure you made a decision. >> he would be at the airport and he would take the time to call, this is dr. king, i just wanted to make sure that you -- i wanted to tell you how important it is and how much i

am pleased. you know. and it was so -- i was so moved by that. it affected me for the rest of my life. you know. yeah. had -- i just want -- i just want -- i thank you. it would be no more than a minute or minute and a half and call his flight. >> you get a minute from king, that's more than 1,000 hours. it is quite, quite a life. quite a legacy. i -- obviously she's still going strong. if you going -- in new york and blessed enough to get a chance to see this great freedom fighter, honored don't, this sunday, good for you. -- >> 16th. a wonderful thing. i'm going to do "the view" after that on the 17th. tavis: you should. >> more again. >> i got a jam-packed -- three days. tavis: this is why you can't

slow down. nichelle nichols on "star trek" as you know, all of you trekies. >> i got to get back here because i'm executive producer and -- and one of the leads starring roles on a new movie called omaha street. really excited about that. tavis: better pace yourself. >> i do. tavis: good to see you. >> so long as it is fast paced. love you. tavis: love you back. thanks for tuning in. until next time, keep the faith. >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs -- at pbs.org. >> join me next time with watchdog elizabeth warren. and javier bardem. that's next time.

nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley with every question and every answer. nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one nation at a -- at a time. and from contributions from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ >> be