tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley.n me next time for a rare conversation with music legend bill withers. that is next time. we will see you then. >> there are so many things that walmart 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 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--

tavis: good evening from los angeles. i'm tavis smiley. despite president obama's vow to end the war in iraq, the u.s. continues there. joining me is thomas ricks, the author of the text about iraq, "fiasco," it is out in paper back with its follow-up, "the gamble." also tonight james horner. he is nominated for an oscar for his work on "avatar." he also worked on "titanic." he has the distition for working on the two top hollywood films in thisist. -- in history. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to 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 insurance working 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] >> thomas

tavis: good evening from los angeles. i'm tavis smiley. first up tonight a rare conversation with music legend bill withers. he penned some of the most enduring songs including "ain't no sunshine," "lean on me" and "just the two of us." a documentary called "still bill" explores the life of bill withers including his decision to step away from the music business. the film is open in select city across the country. also a few words tonight about the lunch counter sit-ins in greensboro 50 years ago. we're glad you could join us. bill withers and remembering the greensboro four coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to 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 insurance working to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ >> and

tavis: good evening, from los angeles, i'm tavis smiley. as the white house considers reversing course and moving the controversial terror trials out of the new york city, there is a renewed debate on how the u.s. should be dealing with suspected terrorists. first up font tonight, a conversation with one of the central figures in this debate, john yoo. the official justice department official and author of the bush era torture memos is out with a new book on the use of president power called "crisis and command." also tonight, actor ed o'neal stops by, the former star with "married... with children" is enjoying success in prime time on tv's number one new comedy, "modern family." we're glad youoined us, author john yao and actor ed o'neal coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to building stronger communities and relationships. because of your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smi

tavis: good evening from los angeles. i'm tavis smiley. over the next 40 years the population of the united states is expected to grow by 100 million. while many view that as cause for concern, a thought-provoking new book says the change will actually be beneficial. first up, a conversation about that with note the author and futurist joel kotkin. his book is called "the next hundred million." also the legendary producer and director garry marshall stops by, the director behind seminal shows such as "pretty woman" and "happy days" stops by. wire glad you've joined us. announcer: there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing like helping people live better but mostly we're looking forward to building stronger relationships because with your help the best is yet to cument >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. working to improve financial literacy and the empowerment that comes with it. >> nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. pbs station from view

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, a conversation with icon that singer, songwriter patti smith. in the 1970's, she won a lot of acclaim for her poetry and music, including her seminal 1975 album, "forces." she has just released a critically acclaimed memoir about her relationship with photographer robert mapplethorpe. tonight, she opens up about the relationship and the times that she helped define more than 40 years ago. it we're glad you joined us. our conversation with patti smith, coming up right now. >> there are so many things that walmart 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 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

tavis: to has been written about this. the country knows you were on the short list, the very short list, of possible running mates that and then-senator obama was looking at. he chose joe biden. does any of that factor into this decision that you were not the number two choice? >> none whatsoever. it was an honor to be included. i told my wife, i finished second in a contest where they don't give silver medals. that was a tremendous honor, to go through that can be thought of in that way by the president and his team. that has nothing to do with it. i have a good relationship, based upon mutual respect, with the president. i talked to him about this decision on a couple of occasions. i said to him, mr. president, if you had asked me to do almost anything else, i would have said yes. i love serving my country. i included in this particular capacity after 12 years, it was time to make a change. tavis: in indiana, i know this because i have talked to my family, who still lives in indiana, there is talk -- you are beloved in

tavis: did evening from los angeles, i am have a smiley. --tavis smiley. first of tonight is a conversation with one of the leading voices against the rise of big business. he is the author is"so damn much money." so, richard schif stockf by. starting tomorrow night, he will be in "past life." that is coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, but mostly, we are looking forward to building stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance problem supports smiley. and to improve literacy and economic power that comes wit it. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: he is a noted author that serves as a senior correspondent at the washington post. his most recent book is called "damn much money." joins us from washington. it is good to have you on this program. >> it is nice to be with you. tavis: there is so much i want to get to. but i came across a ground -- a graph that i want to put on the screen and

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. president obama this week unveiled his new jobs plan, but now the debate over the cost. first up tonight, reaction from a key republican on the senate and finance committee, john cornyn of texas. also, the unlikely race for best picture four oscars. "up" became only the second animated film in hollywood history to be nominated for that category. john cornyn and pete docter, coming up right now. >> there are so many things that walmart 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 to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment

>> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. chavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve -- tavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve stability. >> and by contributions to your pbs stations by viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> evan bayh recently announced his decision not to seek another term in the senate. he also served two terms as governor of indiana. he joins us tonight from capitol hill. it is always good to have you back on the program. >> good to be with you. tavis: for those who did not see the "the new york times" piece you wrote last sunday, which

is smiley. -- tavis smiley.

tavis: did evening from los angeles, i am have a smiley. --tavis smiley. first of tonight is a conversation with one of the leading voices against the rise of big business. he is the author is"so damn much money." so, richard schif stockf by. starting tomorrow night, he will be in "past life." that is coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, but mostly, we are looking forward to building stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance problem supports smiley.

tavis: good evening from los angeles. i'm tavis smiley. despite president obama's vow to end the war in iraq, the u.s. continues there. joining me is thomas ricks, the author of the text about iraq, "fiasco," it is out in paper back with its follow-up, "the gamble." also tonight james horner. he is nominated for an oscar for his work on "avatar." he also worked on "titanic." he has the distinction for working on the two top hollywood films in thisist. -- in history. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships because with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly

is smiley. -- tavis smiley. working 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. >> wyclef jean has returned from his hometown in hate following up on relief efforts there. he continues to raise money through his charitable organization he found back in 2005. yesterday here in los angeles he joined quincy jones and an all-star lineup to record "we are the world 25" proceeds from the song will go toward continuing relief efforts. wyclef it's always good to see you, man. >> good to see you, sir. >> are you holding on? >> we've holding on. >> i've been waiting to ask you at the grammy awards the other night, you spoke in english, spoke to the people in haiti in decree old. what did you say? >> the funny thing was there was something written for me on the teleprompter. so i prewarned them i don't think i'm going to say what's on the teleprompter. but basically in decree old i

ppus orsro tavi second, we welcome you as a representative of a country which traditionally has shown great international engagement, which has taken very seriously its internation reonsibiti. ju wt mti your ro iolme i ghisn, t fstorgn siyo made pme minisr, s t ahanist. i tnk you he bn tee tis t meante. sul a a sulcoen yo ptilayn your engent i hti tnkhi eagemenha ao owho mh uernay e aacdo os

up to meet these authorities the tavis war and said much better than i could, the other reasons the financial systems were freezing up. i knew with a certainty that business would turn down. it is uncertain if they can raise short-term funding most cfo will say i may not be able to have all of the money for the next 30 days what is a prudent company do? they start to cut back. they had not seen it in their district so i knew with a certainty it would get worse. i am not sure i knew it would be 10% unemployment but i knew it would be bad. i knew that if they did not do something and it collapsed, then businesses

be cut china is lit by the communist party but the tavis historical presence saying by the chairman now always the with republicans, they are more predictable. so the chinese felt they could deal more easily with president nixon and president reagan and bush etc. so in the u.s. election i was in china. number one, they wish the george w. bush could stay in office for a third term. if they couldn't have that they would prefer john mccain. if they could have him they would prefer hillary clinton because they knew her and was familiar, and then they were very uneasy about barack obama partly because he was democrat, partly because the racial attitudes and china are fairly openly anti-black and in a startling way so there was the center of america he liked and on white president. there was also among the elite level of the leadership to the u.s. in the sense that america was able to remake its politics the way it was difficult for other countries, that agree or disagree with politics of this administration or predecessor the fact of making such change

there was a scene and the book when ben bernanke and chris cox went up to meet these authorities the tavis war and said much better than i could, the other reasons the financial systems were freezing up. i knew with a certainty that business would turn down. it is uncertain if they can raise short-term funding most cfo will say i may not be able to have all of the money for the next 30 days what is a prudent company do? they start to cut back. they had not seen it in their district so i knew with a certainty it would get worse. i am not sure i knew it would be 10% unemployment but i knew it would be bad. i knew that if they did not do something and it collapsed, then businesses would not be able to pay for the inventories and pay suppliers and lead to the employees go to ripple through the economy and have armageddon. so when the economy did turn down, a terrible situation as congress saw it because they sought as the american people saw its. we said give us these authorities said if you doubt we will be will be in trouble. it will be bad. it is very hard to get credit for preventing a dis

ppus orsro tavi second, we welcome you as a representative of a country which traditionally has shownreat international engagement, which has taken very seriously its internation reonsibiti. ju wt mti your ro iolme i ghisn, t fstorgn siyo made pme minisr, s t ahanist. i tnk you he bn tee tis t meante. sul a a sulcoen yo ptilayn your engent i hti tnkhi eagemenha ao owho mh uernay e aacdo os mataanas wche he toullln t wld at lt t tea,e lceouof cours ath air ofhe8, g20, and a very important summit will take place under your chairmanship, hosted by canada, and we are now very much looking forward to what you have to tell us. prime minister, the floor is yours. [applause] >> thank you very much, professor. it is great to be here in davos and to have the opportunity to contribute on some of the vital issues confronting the world today. some of them are complex and they may at times seem abstract, but for ordinary men and women everywhere, the substance of what we talked about here trsl int sile realiti -- ae, food on the table, or a better life for our children. it is an important debate, o