. >> host: we have been talking with wade graham, american eades den, from minute kell to to central park. what our gardens tell us about who we are. this is booktv on location at pepperdine university. >> pepperdine's university's joel fox is next. he spoke about california politics and the politics behind his mystery novels. >> joel fox, you like to say you have a long rap sheet in california politic. >> guest: it is true. i go back to 1979, joining howard jarvis, the author of proposition 13 and the california tax row volt that swept the country. in fact in talking to marty anderson, who is economic adviser to ronald reagan, he said when proposition 13 passed it gave the reagan campaign some impetus to push forward with taxes as the lead issue. so i worked as howard's aide. was hired just after the campaign and traveled with mr. jarvis around the country. worked with him on a number of other issues issues and he passd awayin' 1986 and i took over as the president of his taxpayers' association. had that job for a decade. and involved in a lot of california ballot propositions along