john saw that he was ready to back out of it altogether because he thought it was a disrespect to peter norman and the people of san jose got in touch with peter and peter said do you know what? i am by not being there because that was a privilege for me to stand there with john and tommy and not many other people can stand there as well that statute. emerson that now because it's a beautiful story and says so much about peter's character but i heard today there is now such a thing as occupy san jose today and where do you think people gather? [laughter] that statue and where do you think they do their general assemblies from? that silver medal stand so that is peter's legacy. [applause] >> it wasn't that simple about peter norman. when i called to ask about the statue, the first thing i said was i don't want no bronze statue with turquoise pigeon running down the side. they said no john this will be a unique statue like something you have never seen before. i said okay. now i got wind that they were building the statute but then when called and said man they are just building u.n. tommy so i

we got that call peter norman. he picks up the phone, what do you blamemy americans want now? i said, hey, peter, it's carlos. hey, how you doing! i'm kind of disenchanted. what's the matter? i understand you don't want to have your statue built here. no, john, who told you that? he said, let me tell you something, john, i love you until the sun go and come back, and i'm going to still have love for you. he said, man, only reason why i don't want my statue is there because i didn't do what you and tommie did, i supported it. i thought it was only appropriate that i would leave my space blank so that anybody that come from anywhere on planet earth that could understand what you guys was all about and want to lend support, they can stand right there where i stood and take a picture with you guys. now, let me tell you something, tommie smith, i love him. tommie would have never did that. [laughter] okay? ever would he have done that. so i, i'm telling you that i have the utmost respect, admiration and love for peter long after i leave this world, man, because he's a true man. >> h

next week i will be interviewing the ambassador and afterwards we will have jessye norman, million, petersellars and miniatures. the following week, i can hear that, like that. the following week, dalia mckeithen and just before thanksgiving. follow right after thanksgiving is mostly if steve. join our e-mail list and find out more and stay on top of what we are doing next season. the spring season will open up with all the first phone conversation -- oliver stone in conversation. once again it is a pleasure to think of id

next week i will be interviewing number note eco as part of the rolex weekend and jesse norman, peter sellars, and many others. the following week -- i like that -- the following week diane keaton and just before thanksgiving, joan libya. after thanksgiving it with josh ritter and steve burn. join our e-mail list and find out more and be on top of what we are doing next season, the spring season will open with cornerstone in conversation. tom brokaw will happily sign books after our conversation. once again it is a pleasure to thank our independent bookseller 192 books. [applause] the first ten people who sign up after our event tonight and become friends of the new york public library, all of you are already friend of the new york public library but support us even more if you know what i mean will get tom brokaw's new book for free. you all know who tom brokaw is. for the last few years i have asked the various guests i invite for a biography of themselves written by themselves in seven words. if you really want to be modern, which tom brokaw and i will talk about, a tweet of sorts.