tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, four years after the devastation of hurricane katrina, we focus on the continuing recovery efforts in an orleans. at first, a conversation with douglas brinkley. his latest book, "the wilderness warrior," looks at teddy roosevelt. also tonight, a tribute to the people of new orleans from josh

charles. it is simple as helping rebuild the city. -- his single effort is helping rebuild the city. we are glad that you joined us. it our book at new orleans four years after katrina coming out. -- our look at orleans four years after katrina coming up. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better. but mostly, we're helping build stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports "tavis smiley." tavis and nationwide, working together to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television]

tavis: douglas brinkley is a noted historian and best-selling author whose look at a hurricane katrina is called "the great deluge." his next book is called "the wilderness warrior." he joins us tonight from houston. nice to have you on the program. >> always great to be on your show, tavis. tavis: let me start by asking you about ted kennedy. you are a historian of note and there have already been a number of books written about his life and legacy, and god knows how many more will be written about him. your thoughts on the legacy of ted kennedy? >> this past year, he has done an oral history project at the university of virginia, working on his own memoir which is supposed to come out in october. this is the legislative giant. people talk a lot about john

kennedy, is eclipsed life, and robert kennedy, is eclipsed life. teddy kennedy has been pushing for universal health care since almost day one in the senate in 1962. he had the full wind at his back pushing for voting rights, civil rights. he is an unambiguous liberal icon, an american icon an international icon, who even went to south africa and spent time with bishop tutu in the release he did days of apartheid and came back and announced the apartheid regime there. everything teddy kennedy did their that the stamp of caring about people and he is one of our great political figures. tavis: you know that we have these at inflow conversations about liberalism, the "l" word, and for the balance of his career he never shied away from the word.

what do you make of that? >> that is right, and he was important for the democratic party. bill clinton said he was a new democrat, people played with the word progressive. he was a proud liberal. he thought it was part of the tradition of theodore roosevelt 's new nationalism and fdr's new deal and lyndon johnson and great society. he was a proud liberal. now liberal is back in vogue. barack obama has really learned a lot from ted kennedy. president obama it is sort of my age. john f. kennedy, we were children when we had the cuban missile crisis, but ted kennedy was out there fighting my whole teenaged years and into my 20's and 30's and 40's. the great act of heroism when he endorsed barack obama made such a big difference, basically taking the baton of camelot and handing it to barack obama, doing it in conjunction with

caroline kennedy. dramatic moment. i know that president obama will sorely missed ted kennedy, not because he was just a health care warrior, but he always gave the senator and now president obama unvarnished advice. since chappaquiddick, he was not trying to run for president, he was tried to help the american people in many ways as act of redemption for his ethical lapses in life. he worked triple hard to try to make up for a, and the net effect is stunning. bill after bill, law after law, ted kennedy stamp is on it. tavis: to your point about ethical lapses, it seems to me that he was trying to balance his personal failings, shortcomings -- and we all have them -- it seems to me that he and the public space was trying to balance his personal feelings and shortcomings with his

professional work. how you think history will regard how he navigated that? >> it is a great lesson for all of u that when we do something and we feel down and defeated, we reach out and help others. much has been made about having to absorb the assassination of both his brothers, but i think when he was in that plane crashed and broke his back and had been hospitalized, realizing what people that's been their lives in wheel chairs have to deal with, he started fighting a great deal for disabled people at that point and became a great champion of this. his whole life is a rollercoaster ride, but at the end is just one great american story because he accomplished more than 10 u.s. senators combined did. tavis: it has been four years since hurricane katrina. ted kennedy spent the balance of his life working for those who are disenfranchised,

dispossessed. yet here we are four years after katrina and one could argue that the city is not rebounding. the pace is really slow. what do you make of that? >> i have been very disappointed at what has happened in the flooded neighborhoods, the neighborhoods like the lower ninth ward and new orleans east. yet, the port business is back, tourism is hanging in there in the french quarter at, up town doing well. the outlying areas, not enough has been done. people have short memories, and the more we talk about katrina and the need for proper federal attention, it is necessary. there was a story not very long ago that ran in the usa today about the reports coming out saying that the pumping systems are not properly built. it's still seems to me that it is a city that america has forgotten. the same is true of other

communities in louisiana, too. meanwhile, the wetlands keep disappearing. the famous statement about losing land it every day and the gulf of mexico is getting closer to new orleans. it is still a troubled region that needs a lot of federal help. tavis: some people say the city has been forgotten. one of the things ted kennedy tried to do was remind us so we would not forget those who are left out, which raises the question, who now, with all due respect to others, who is fighting for in new orleans? who was that voice on the federal level that has the clout and power and stature to make something happen? >> we do not have a voice down there. it is interesting, i had breakfast with rubin bridges, out early 1960's was in new orleans, and she famously integrated federal marshals in school, people through tomatoes at her. norman rockwell did a famous

painting about her. that school is now boarded up. there are some signs that the school is doing better, but by and large, people's feeling in it or lanes is there is too much damage to deal with and neighborhoods are running away, and history i think will show it is one of the tragic resort -- results of recent american history. i do not know how we get the momentum with the deficit and iraq and afghanistan and health care debate. it is hard to focus with such a full agenda, but we cannot forget about new orleans. we have to keep reminding people. tavis: your new book, new york times best-seller list, "the wilderness warrior," strange question, but since we were talking about new orleans and the environment and concerns, what is happening now in that city, juxtapose for me roosevelt's legacy and the drama

we still see happening every day and north lanes? >> -- in new orleans. >> roosevelt was very worried. in the state of louisiana, he created this barrier island, protection island. it was for birds, but it was also to protect the city of new orleans. it is big legacy that i write about is trying to champion green space in the united states, making sure that people do not live in toxic conditions, keeping the river is clean and making sure we have fish in the streams and federal wildlife preserves. today, we have over 100 national wildlife preserves in the united states, and that is the theodore roosevelt's big legacy. he began with birds, but started rehabilitating everything from buffalo to its dock. tavis: we will talk to ken burns about his wonderful series on

national parks. i am told that you are one of the people that has put in the president's year that he mailed to visit the national parks and we will talk about the time cannot be much better that he visit the national parks this summer. what part of theodore roosevelt's commitment, his legacy do you think that president obama all to build upon? >> thank you for asking. i think there are a couple more national parks that need to be created, and war, alaska, big sur, but the problem shifted. when roosevelt left 100 years ago, he called for global conservation courts because migratory boards. migratory birds do not know borders. neither do rivers. we have not had that kind of global conservation corps. the obama administration is willing to talk about climate conservation and really focus on

global standards. china is polluting big-time right now. how can we stop that from happening or curtail at some time -- curtail it somehow? the obama administration is starting to already do this, they are creating wildlife corridors, how to more properly used land, redefining some areas as wilderness. i think you will find a progressive and energetic conservation agenda, but the obama administration will have it and a year or two. another focuses on health care and is hard to get the parks in there. with the documentary coming out and hopefully my book is helpful and it reminds people we have a great park system, forest, monuments, scenic wonders, but we have to fight to continue to protect them, and that was r.r.'s legacy. -- t.r.'s legacy. folks like lyndon johnson and kennedy also fought hard. the hope is that the obama

administration will do that, and so far it looks good and looks encouraging. tavis: finally, i know they have talked about this is somewhat, but when you refer to the theodore roosevelt crusade for america, a great phrase, what you mean by that? >> he believed that if we did forest like a lot of europe, we would be in terrible trouble -- if we deforest it like a lot of europe, that we would be in terrible trouble. he put vast millions upon llions of acreage of land, safe places, ranging from the grand canyon which was voted to be mined for zinc and asbestos, and save crater lake and many places in california. i could go on all day. he give us a great dip -- great gift. the crusade was a darwinian crusade in this sense. the origin of species pot roosevelt and his mind that we had to take care of lesser

creatures, and he believed that to lose an animal is like losing a masterpiece of old. least have a billion passenger pigeons -- we used to have a billion passenger pigeons fly around. there's not a single one left. roosevelt, who was a hunter, part of the paradox, which also a great conservationist and what like protectionist. they're still a lot that we could do. we' looking at species of banishing regularly all of the planet. tavis: his name is douglas brinkley. perennial new york times best selling author. the new one is called "the wilderness warrior." douglas, nice to have you want. thank you for joining us. >> thank you so much, tavis. tavis: my pleasure. up next, musician josh charles and his tribute to the people of new orleans. stay with us. one week before hurricane

katrina, musician josh charles move to ignore lanes with plans to record an album there. like so many, the storm forever changed his life. his most recent project is a single devoted to the people of the big easy called "healing time." all proceeds go toward the continuing reconstruction in the city. in just a moment, he will perform for us. at first, have you on the program. >> thank you. tavis: i asked whether you were still living in the city, and you said i tried. what did you mean by that? >> i attempted to move to north lanes august 25, 2005, -- i attempted to move to new orleans august 25, 2005, and my goal is to attempt to move back there sometime soon, but i feel like i am wondering nomad, trying to bring attention and awareness to them. itavis: what you make of being n

love with the city and culture in the music, going there for days and the storm runs you out? >> a sign perhaps. it is such an incredible place, and arriving there in the density of the summer, it has its own atmosphere and 5. i think when i got the last bus out of houston and we were driving away, a lot of us wondered if we would ever see it again. there was such tension that we would never see your veins, that it would be sunk in 20 feet of water, and it came close. tavis: what do you make of the slow pace of recovery? it is no longer a wasteland, but people would argue that the recovery is still slow. >> obviously, there is a lot of blame that went on with the previous administration.

i think the problem is when things happen, there is a lot of attention right away, and then it fades away. then it becomes like you are not hearing about it, you assume it is all right. when people heard about my project, people would say, new orleans? that is four years ago. half the population is still missing. all you have to do is go there and realize it. i think people are just not thinking about it because there are so many problems in the world and in the country today. what really disturbs me is that new orleans is a treasure. it is the cultural birthplace of rock-and-roll, jazz, blues, food, culture. this should be preserved like a museum. that is the part that really bothers me, that people are not paying attention to this treasure. tavis: how does a project like this. through the noise? -- how does it break through this noise? it really is not noise, it is

silence. how'd you get people to move beyond what might be described as new orleans katrina fatigue? >> one of the things, i wrote this song called healing time after walking around areas of new orleans and seeing the devastation and thinking, how much healing time will it take to fix this. we released the sonto benefit the city. i think a lot of times people think we cannot give any more money or give this and that. we put the sought out for ninety nine cents. that means $1, if 1 million people downloading, that will go to the rebuilding. it has to be done through private donations to rebuild the city. everybody i have talked to so far really thinks the city needs to be rebuilt and want to help, but they do not know how. i said this is a great opportunity. even the ninety nine cents will make a difference.

tavis: how was it going? >> we are doing well. this is the anniversary month, two weeks away from the anniversary, so it is finally coming back into people's minds that, wait a minute, we live in the united states, this is happening in our country. there are a lot of problems happening, but this is a city that people go to and never forget when they go there. you go there and it has that something special. i think it comes into people's minds that we need to do something again, and this is why we're out here pushing hard. our goal is to have 1 million downloads, $1 million through the sale of "healing time," and i'm donating all the money to the preservation resource center, which has rebuilt 200 green homes. they're rebuilding homes and architectural integrity for the city. tavis: you reference the

previous administration. what is your sense of the new administration and what they should be doing? >> hopefully, it will pay attention to it. i know that what i have read and heard is that new orleans is on the agenda, but even health care in the economy, where is the priority? even with stealing time, i wrote it for new orleans personally, but i think everybody needs healing time in this country could sure use it. the economy and everything is going on in this country. the song is beyond uniquely new orleans, but i am donating the money to the city. tavis: tell me a little bit by the lyrics. >> the second verse of the song has the lyric, "when you have lost all your possessions and all your left it with is the memories and house you have grown up and is washed away," metaphorically the house could be anything. in new orleans, the house is

literally somebody's house. all you need is healing time to get through the pain and sorrow, there will be a better tomorrow. i wrote the song in the sense that it starts off somber, and it comes to the point where there is dealing with in the song. that was my goal, to create some sense of a serious nature, but also feeling good. even my bass player on the record called me up and said, i just got into a fight with my girlfriend, but song on, and i feel better, i had some "healing time." tavis: up next, josh charles and his trip to the people of new orleans with some lyrics that may even work for you. is-few here. >> think. -- nice to have you here. >> thank you. tavis: here comes josh. here is just trawls perform his acclaimed single for the city of -- here is josh charles performing his claim single for

the city of new orleans, "healing time." ♪ you cannot see your way through it will not stop to believe. you cannot catch your breath your heart is like a drum and the world around you is a blur

all you need is healing time to make it through the pain and sorrow there will be a better tomorrow when you have lost all your possessions and all you are left with our memories and the house where you grew up has been washed away all you need is healing time to make it through

and the pain and sorrow there will be a better tomorrow the future is tomorrow yesterday is gone the battle rages on the battle rages on all you need is healing time all you need is healing time ♪ ♪ all you need is healing time

all you need is healing time all you need is healing time all you need is healing time all you need is healing time to make to make it on through ♪ [applause] >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley on pbs.org. tavis: hi, i am tavis smiley. next time, an investigation into cia torture impacting intelligence gathering. that is next time. we will see you then. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better. but mostly, we're helping build

stronger communities and relationships. because with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports "tavis smiley." tavis and nationwide, working together to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--