, you're no longer vernon jordan. you're someone taken, you're going to have to roll your thumb, have your photograph taken. that's what happened to professor gates. the element of class. i don't know it was there. i don't want to demonize the police officer. that's something we have to look at and further understand. >> there's two things i think i've been taking into account as to skip gates' reaction. number one, after you've shown a police officer your driver's license and your harvard identification, and if he doesn't get it, that's got to upset you. that's number one. number two, he had just flown to boston from china. he had to be very tired and not operating as he would have had he had some rest. but he was jet lagged and he was tired. so he shows his identification and doesn't get what he thought he was entitled to. and then -- >> in his mind, he's confident if he were white he would have gotten it. i'm sure he was sitting there saying if i were white and in my house, i would have gotten the benefit of the do

storm ♪ >> for more information on today's show, visit civil rights attorney and political advisor vernon jordan's next time. we'll see you then. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, look helping people live better but mostly we're looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships. because of your help the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports "tavis smiley" the tavis and nationwide insurance. working to improve financial literacy and the economicmic empowerment that comes with it. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you.

tavis:oin me next te for our part two cversation with civil rits attorney and political advir vernon jordanll see you then. >> thereare so many thin th wal-mart islooking foard to doing, look helping peop live better but mostly we're oking forward to communities and lationships. becae of your help the best is yet to coe. >> nationwidinsurance proudly supports "tavismiley" the tavis and nationwide insurce. workingto improve finacial >> and by ctributions to your pbsation from viewers like you. --tation from viewe like u. thank you.

. >> let me play a little bit of what vernon jordan had to say only an hour or so ago with carlos watsonnbc. as vernon was describing this, eugene and david, this is a case where you had a harvard scholar, one of the most famous african-americans, one of the most famous scholars in the country. and as mike barnicle, our friend from boston, was suggesting also earlier, there could have been a town gown issue as well. there has been historic tensions between the professoriate and the town of cambridge, but at the same time, you've got an instance where a police officer is called to a scene. certainly, by the time he got to the house and inside, he had to know that there was no real threat to his person. >> skip gates is this tall, he's, you know, he has a -- >> carries a cane, because he has a disability. 58 years old. he's really not a threat. >> and this is not an outlandish question to say, would this happen to a white person? probably no. one of the biggest questions is just that. >> if it were another famous harvard professor, larry summers, who can be famously arrogant, for example,

not only co-host but vernon jordan, a best selling author, sets on a number of boards.thank you. >> good to see you. got to ask you right away about president obama and the prime time press conference he had yesterday. what were your thoughts? you think he moves at all on the major health care battle? >> this was a negotiating speech with congress. it does not appease your colleagues and the media

a very powerful semin air, i this it's it was yesterday, general colin powell, jessie jackson, vernon jordan. it was a pan ip lee that was great. it was a -- i think the best thing was the dr. benjamin hooks who gave such an inspirational talk about where we have come as an association and where we need to go. the delegates were on their feet. it was such a jubilent event. and then to have it capped with the president last night, it was a magnificent convention. >> let me end by playing devil's advocate. there are some that say do we still need the naacp. >> we need the naacp more than ever. as long as there are health disparities, in come disparities and look at our education, and naacp will be a major rights organizations. and one of our signature issues has been voting, if there is nothing else but to make sure that people will vote and that that vote gets counted and is an essential part of what the naacp stands for and we'll continue to be on the forefront of that. >> and your advice is good, who would ever question dr. dorothy height. and hite. and i dare not say you. thank you for bei

>> learned vernon jordan's joining me today at 11:00. >> willie geist?yesterday. gidget, the taco bell dog, passed away at the age of 15. she's being remembered this morning by her trainer as the "consummate professional." >> right now the city of los angeles is not confirming or denying they'll pay expenses for this funeral as well. keep it on msnbc throughout the day. a retrospective on gidget later on this afternoon. we'll try to get the mayor of los angeles to confirm that. what did you learn today? >> the whole city of los angeles funeral thing -- >> you know what? the whole world doesn't revolve around you, courtney. >> oh, come on! >> what did you learn today? >> the whole world doesn't revolve around me. >> anything else? >> no. >> you've broken her. >> what did you learn, william? >> mika's writing a book. >> oh, gosh. well thank you. that is really generous. >> mike? >> i learned my favorite thing reading is going to be made even more affordable and more accessible. >> what did you learn, mika? >> we never cross-promote here on "morning joe." d