>> host: m. khan let me tell you to start of what an honor this is to sit down face to face with you, someone who has meant so much for so many people in this country and outside of this country. thank you very much for all you have done and what your family has done in the service of all three of persons as well. when i read the book that you wrote, "an american family" what i found it was about was not necessarily a dark time in your life but more about a mile inland for your son, an american hero, you as a student of law and as immigrants and what provided that light and begin and that torture and foundation was the united states its people, culture and constitution. and when you see that right away when you open the book because when i opened the book i saw this on the cover you see some writing and the highlighting and the notes and it looked like one of my books. but what i realize this is a copy of your constitution and your notes. so to start off why did you feel necessary to have this the first thing they see when they open your book. >> guest: thank you i.m. in a lot of sitting before you and i would like to start by telling you that what your family and you and your families service has given us i have watched the honorable leon panetta for many years as his ethical and strong leadership in all phases of his life in washington and away from washington and here i am sitting in front of you what an honor it is. what an honor it is. i'm delightful and glad and move to a person that i have admired of ethical leadership and i am sitting with you. i am humbled. >> host: the constitution has meant . >> guest: it has meant so much to me and coming from that background with no civil liberties existed twice under martial law having live without any liberties to stop all the newspapers. this is a common trait among those mentalities to draw that conclusion is one they don't like free press because that criticizes them. second is a rule of law they do not like judges that gives a perspective to have any civil liberties as we speak for the rival thai you what a moment it was of citizenship it means so very much with those dignity is enshrined in to the constitution so that is what keeps me going and keep us going and continuing to move forward. >> host: in the book you say the constitution is rather try to understand its but you marvel at a few of the amendments but a couple that stood out and number one is amendment 14, a civil rights and you go one to use the analogy about your time in the department of motor vehicles. explained that. >> i was told i should hurry a band go get my a driver's license. this is n houston texas i get in line to coincide everybody comes in n taking a number and sitting down. this quality of treatment under the rule of law. every ready is treated equally and i see that with my own eyes how everybody is treated equally. and out you go. i came from a background to the minister or the governor you go from the back door then sometimes things are done to have that concept that rule of law means that is displaying the rule of law for this blessed country. making a strong is so important at this time with the equality of dignity and the due process and we are served by a being fully aware that we can risk to lose all of this that these rights are unalienable then to make that self executory whenever the rights are violated the go to the court so it is with that watching rule of law. >> host: i was honored to watch the is the second inauguration of obama although our rights are self evident they are not self executing. n you point out congress shall make no law. >> i am a student of constitutions the first course that i took of independence compared to the steady and we tell that story and no other constitution in the world and where these dignities enshrined in the constitution in the fabric congress shall make no law. of the nation is forefathers emphasis on human dignity is as i call them freedom of press freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. these are the golden nugget's that no other constitution that is authorized to do this national assembly can do this. to make these laws so sacred they sell what i read in the book when did you first meet the constitution of the united states?. >> as a second year law student i am the beneficiary this is why i am so passionate of these values is listed and documents missing is 19,722nd year law student with the constitution of ussr and in the constitution of the germany and magna part of so i got the material and i brought them from bookstores to my dormitory room and i am standing and my eyes go to the very first page the very first line of the declaration of independence and i was taken aback. the emphasis is given when they decide i have nothing to gain from these people anymore some struggle some are begging your protest nobody declares independence so the four fathers of this blessed nation 15 grievances are lifted. >> one more time so i stood there and i read that as a powerful understanding and english was not my strong suit and the more that i read that why did the rest of the world? 1972 the declaration of independence drafted by a thomas jefferson why did we have to wait? 1774 drafting of the independence to be discussed in the nation as the rest of the world waited so long? to not have that caliber to think maybe i could go see this nation. coming from this background with this great nation to read your founding documents i ask every american so that so aware of where we are coming from. >> you always have that incentive growing up in pakistan. and that'' that motivated you to study more. >> than to say that to me that a person is not complete unless his education and to continue that education. like learning more and i tell my children always that is the excuse not to continue to move forward to complete your education glad to have that instruction. >> he studied the constitution in pakistan but then you could learn about american culture in dubai. explain that. >> guest: were to have a proper place to rest so i could get accumulated. and through america and the suitcase was maya palo. so i go to work and this executive from the oil company greets me and i tell the whole story in the book so he takes me to his room and says all of these files we need to put them together this is an american oil company insomniacs fats are coming in and giving me instructions and to start organizing in the office and he looks at me within five minutes and city were tired. where have you been staying? i was embarrassed to tell him i rented a room for a couple of days and staying there. he continues to look at me and said okay. he picks up the phone and makes a phone call-in and then a lady walks and about 15 minutes and presents herself. i am facing the graciousness of america it is so deeply engraved on my heart and in my soul every time i think of america claman barris to take into the room where i am staying and i am so embarrassed to show them that the company had rented several apartments to accommodate those x cats. so we get to the building and i walked in and i have not seen such a space towels and plates and spoon and forks there was a bread-and-butter in gm and i cannot believe this was happening this was my first interaction with america they said you are tired rest today and we will start tomorrow i close the door in the left when i was so humble and grateful even today i begin to lose my composure when i think of their generosity and kindness. they didn't care or zero me anything and for to me that is what america was is and shall remain generous, ain't good hearted helping of the others that has made me such a grateful citizen of this nation. >> host: they give you the job and your house and a car even his office at 1.but he also gave you something else that is interesting but your appreciation for certain types of music. >> correct. [laughter] this is the first time working in dubai as the building superintendent for the immigration office i get in his car and that begins to make sense to me and i said don't turn it off let me listen i had fallen in love with that it is just amazing how like could relate i could hear country music. >> that generosity from the laws and constitution helps with a decision or a conflict between your wife and you where you go next to study have been accepted to harvard you wanted to go to america but your wife thought you were going to england so what was the result?. >> so everyone went to the masters homeland so that you can pursue which you wish to pursue that was the trend to study abroad but deep down this declaration of independence i wanted to be there to see how these people that made that so special and exceptional to the world not depending on their military might of might and all of that they were mighty to depend on those ideas of human dignity soter deep down in my subconscious wastes that i got about reading these documents that if i could afford a half ago to the united states would it is a better market if you study in england then you could do so much better mood is that is what most lawyers did to have a better future but so i come to united states but she agreed she had my support from those first days since i met her. >> so that reminded me a lot of my family that my grandfather who came here in 1921 by himself on a ship and then to read the ledger of that ship passat and first-class there were 100 in second class there were 200 he was in steerage with 1800 others but then it says money on hand, $5 and occupation and listed him as a peasant. we were always told that my father made it a point to ask my grandfather why did you leave the known and take the huge risk not knowing anybody? never having been to america? his answer was very consistent to give his children and grandchildren a better life that is where i come to learn that is the american dream them of how you talk about that silver since the night suitcase and you had $200 know where to live you did not know anybody why did you take that risk?. >> so i briefly digress even when i read the declaration of independence that speaks the volume of the spirit of immigration why they wanted immigration because they contribute and was limiting the immigration so my fascination was that i want to come to this nation have this great nation has come together i did not come here to see tall buildings for everything they have or will have it is based on these principles the nation has come together as a beacon of hope for the rest of the world that is what america has meant to us there is the better future not only for the immigrants it is with the hope that i came and immigrants come to the plans of this is a tribute to the spirit of immigration sometimes they say in conversation but this is the spirit of the immigration to make your life better the wouldn't want to have that spirit?. >> i admire that you said you were not satisfied just putting your family on here?. >> with my grandfather is teaching a life is not complete the mission or furthering an education is instruction that that is no excuse not to proceed you must find ways to continue to move forward in the back of my mind i must complete my education of resources so that you can do to jobs and steady and move forward into of a better chance of moving forward. >> that is when you came to houston assimilating into the culture that if day bus shows up on time and houses have been address you by a cowboy hat but one thing with money taken out of your paycheck and paying taxes. why is that?. >> i asked my american friends to pause for a moment this is a time for the nation to reflect why this is necessary for us to have full faith and credit in our system of government and rule of law with the other system of government and that system with ordinary citizens paid the tax but here everybody pays the tax that is how we have the services of the fire department and the judicial system and it is obligatory to contribute to that and i've learned that this is the reason we have addresses back there the money allocated with the pocket of the mayor so the reason that these services exist we must pay tax so all of this continues to exist if you say friends criticize me that there is so much room to make it better but this is the best place and then go live elsewhere for six months then you will come back and kissed the ground my god we have the best place we can make a better. so much more needs to be done with those minorities and the civil liberties to live in a blessed society which is the best in the world. >> can somebody spoke just as you did someone you were willing to on a hot day you dressed up in a suit to go see him speak and who was that?. >> it was ronald reagan i just could not imagine to watch or listen and to be elected because that privileges deserved that only very few from where i had come. so why put on my suit and my tie and i listened to him and his vision and today i cite that paragraph in the book when i heard his last speech then i was not a citizen i became a citizen after words but where he says the american nation this shining city on the hill and the city has walls i don't know what he said in a speech that that city has walls and that wall has doors anyone with the courage in the ability to contribute can walk through those doors and that is what we need today. we remain a beacon of hope with the rest of the world. one looks up to the leadership of america and it saddens me to see that table after table of the leadership we are moving away leaving someone else to decide we're not at the table anymore and with so many places throughout the world but yet the world continues to look up to the united states for the leadership because of its founding documents and how we have lived up until now i received a 26 page letter after speaking at the convention from a retired army nurse who said m. khan serving in the second world war then she instructed us to continue to speak more people have spoken prior to the second world war we could have avoided all of those atrocities against mankind especially our jewish brothers and sisters all that could have been avoided continue to speak and for that reason these values that have made america a beacon of hope for the rest of the world and it is up to us that are blessed with these dignities that are enshrined in these documents to remain in protection of these values so rest of mankind looks up to west for world leadership and not talking about economic might but human dignity san values. >> not just people outside the united states but inside that need to hear this as well because unfortunately over the past year or years we have heard a lot of rhetoric and speech against those values that you speak of in my district on the central coast of california we have a number of immigrants who have come to contribute to the economy and the culture on the central coast we have a number of dreamers and the area with a junior college there in salinas california that has 900 dreamers but yet at this point there is a lot of inkstand anxiety and uncertainty. what would uc -- say to the dreamers that provide them with reassurance that you being here is what this country is about?. >> i refer back to our founding documents missing is a momentary. this will pass. have a and trust. i know it is difficult and know it is impossible to maintain your dignity and faith in the core values of this nation. but that the time has chosen us to face the difficulty and after the difficulty, which is momentary we will see america comes back to its fundamental basic principles where those to contribute to this nation are given a number this is where the sadness comes from by the decisions of the executive orders or laws passed to discourage the settlement of immigrants that our peaceful and a law abiding citizens of this country but there is no immigration policy there a lot of laws but you say what his policy? so how many people are retiring? five for 20 years from now? replaces them? they will not be actively earning replaces them? that is one issue that isn't the policy why is implementation but that is the answer to your question that is important we have approximately 7 million unemployed americans we have 6.2 million technology jobs that are not felt that makes me sad i barrault this from my neighbors to the north and canada they do not call them immigrants or aliens or undocumented to call them the new canadians. if it says you are a new canadian you were in the process of course there has to be laws and security concerns that is all absolutely necessary but this policy is what is needed and the encouragement for the people of the executive order with the immigrant communities it is momentary it doesn't last very long so continue to build your career and contribute to the well-being of this country and a historian of the safety and security of this country so it is mitt bass spirit from los angeles to texas to iowa and to annapolis and yes there is a strong sense a stronger belief that we must accommodate as i always read in the conversation the declaration there is the grievance complaining about not allowing enough immigration so without proper immigration there will not prosper they listed that grievance this is number seven part of the declaration of independence and it says he, meaning that king using that purpose of obstructing the of was of naturalization for others to encourage their migration. and to contribute to the well-being of the nation that values of the immigration in the basic dna of the nation all those that are there those that are momentarily to be considered a nuisance to be a problem so you are aware. >> throughout history we always have the anti-immigrant sentiment unfortunately against the germans germans or italians or mexicans it is there unfortunately so i do agree that we do need that immigration policy but our government dealt with the immigration policy was 1986 with president ronald reagan so you are seeing on the central coast industries are hurt to have rows and rows of crops and that is the policy putting forward and i agree. >> when you were sworn in you passed the test nine years to get your citizenship the test was past nine years before that? you have been in america you felt the american in every way. did raising your hand raising began taking the oath make a difference?. >> yes house and the mental and emotional i was when i told the -- took the oath of citizenship to take that oath i paused for a section -- a second is for what was about to happen all of those dignities that i am not entitled to with no right to protest right to religion i am n of that i took the oath and given a green piece of paper that says so now taking that both and as my creator to become an american citizen going to that process i had those dignity's so i got my certificate and waved the flag and i came out and walk to my car and nothing has changed but inside me everything has changed. having nothing to having everything. it is the human dignity's i challenge all of america to reconsider and what is standing for in writing an article and that college has a policy for the people to read articles the title was democracy requires vigilance and sacrifice. so all-american ed needs to be vigilant with that system of government with that with the soviet union they have that pride in their heart. so we can get even with america as they touch the integrity and though warning system so i a trust the declaration of the experts yes there was involvement and through the illegal means to dishonor that integrity. and we just remain vigilant as these values are protected so i walked in without anything. >> and that participation in aspect and that proposition with the military and then with the grandfather stream you have to get back to that community and that seems that you and your son when he told to read university of virginia how you respond? and that we wanted him to continue his undergrad studies he wanted to go to law school but then to fall back to come back to that discipline. it is so convincing to us with the cadets he finds himself in his element of honor with the hard work that is amazingly exceptional among the cadets of the rotc program and wishes to join them. so he promised he would continue his education after he completes his commitment he was so influenced with public service and thomas jefferson especially about public service giving to the nation giving some much to every citizen. and was joining for honorable purposes. >> to seem he was the model soldier. to be very neat and tidy and then was deployed to a rack 2004 the yet this was a warrior openly against outage reconcile?. >> it is in day private sentiment and that will not serve our nation well. that is the separate debate and to speak about this that's that is in that part of the world for centuries and his answer was this that i am an officer to take the oath to defend the constitution and i will remain faithful to my oath. and those decisions that are made in washington i perform my duty of protections to make sure those were under my responsibility are safe and i will be doing that. i don't think that way. so that was sufficient for us that he is being faithful so we yielded but we were concerned. >> he is intered at the arlington national ceremony but it was your speech of the democratic national convention in 2016 that you asked whether or not a candidate trump had never been to arlington cemetery. why did you ask that?. >> it is absolutely necessary for the commander-in-chief to face the tombstones of arlington so often we stand there 21 years old. so to defend our liberty and the constitution of public democracy that know commander is complete with that price of liberty to make sure our values and democracy protecting us from those who do not wish us well so the price of liberty in arlington cemetery. >> reason it took my two daughters there and you could see the names from all different backgrounds but also certain quotations on the headstones. if not me, then who? also going to do jfk grave i saw his quotation in the history of mankind the sitter granted the opportunity to defend freedom we do not shrink from that responsibility we welcome it. being that you lost a son in a war comedy still welcome the united states responsibility to defend freedom?. >> of course. of course. we constantly write to the members of rotc and of those of the armed forces to come pay a visit and that is where offer them a the copy of the constitution and the reason for that is exactly that sentiment whenever we are invited to any event where our men and women are present in uniform she always says we gave one son but we got thousands who are serving all of them are our sons and daughters with our liberty and democracy must be defended and those who so willingly and briefly -- bravely to defend our way of life and values and democracy with extreme difficult times it is because of them your free otherwise the minister of terrorism would be at our doors of not because of their sacrifices with the most difficult circumstances to challenge the menace that faces humanity they are keeping a safe at home with every moment of our liberty to their sacrifice and service men and women in arms services and law enforcement we pay tribute to them in is because of them that we are safe. >> host: great. thank you very much for this opportunity has been an honor to be able to sit down with you and not just hear your thoughts but to feel your emotions behind each and every word is to speak and that is why there are so many people throughout this country and this world that not only respect you but value who you are with your family has been through and what you will continue to say to motivate those to continue to live up to the values of this country. >> guest: congressmen i must end by a conversation to pay tribute to your service and continued leadership in congress we need leaders like you. the heritage to have brought with you is the backbone of our strength. we have seen honorable leon panetta and i repeat myself that what he brought to washington is that the core of our strength so thank you for your leadership and families leadership we are grateful. >> host: thank you . . [silence] good evening, thank you all for being here welcome to the oldest independent bookstore in los angeles. we're

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