2022. Weekends on cspan two are an intellectual feast. Every, saturday American History tv documents america story. And on sundays, book tv brings you the latest in nonfiction books and. Authors funding for cspan two comes from leads Television Company and. More including rico. Mid, coalong with these television companies, support cspan 2 is a public service. We will today and present today dear friend and one of the great leaders of our country. It is currently the third democratic suburbs in. This has been in the Congress Since 1993. And has had a record in achievement, Rating Congress most leading member of the congress. Since about 20 years ago. Working to develop the idea of an International African museum. Congressman was as busy as anybody in the congress. If you went to his office on capitol hill, command central station, people came in. Planned congressman, presentation with. Him and went to ask the congressman if he considered being chair of the board of International African american he was so busy i was timid to ask. , dont let me ask emily. Emily, who is a congressman deeres wife. Great respect for his life, because he was using this in washington and about two weeks later he came back and he said, you know . Emily said, yes and i will. Jim havent never reached a meeting of the board of International African american unity. No meeting in charleston. Not only did he not miss them, but he was prepared. He ran everything that he had been disseminating to board members, he is a historian. He taught history. And he brought an intellectual heft to the shaping of the museum. So the Museum Wonderland are construction now, less than two years from now, would not have happened every board as i mentioned. And then i realized he could help us schedule money, an entrance to step aside and continue to advise us, advisers and support us. I had known the congressman since maybe 1970. And congressman, one thing that i have is that congress ran for representatives since 1970, the americans are elected to that was a representative since reconstruction. Congressman graham was narrowly defeated. And in, fact we all had to bench that night. Well be breaking that bear the vote to be counted lights. We found that german not been elected. The congressman were great. So many people were one and something was done wrong. The way that they use their handle back, for us they fervently announce something i will never forget. We memories about, that congressman. Something to share. Thank you very much mister man. Im still recording it. Please i am doing that. He expresses it well. But, thank you so much for telling that story. Because there is a little more to that story then to form up our relationship. During that campaign, you are running for reelection. And of course, during that time, there was a ticket. Which would be designated as of the delegation. And, by another African American, or running together. It was not pale battle. And you felt that you would be reelected. And that we could be elected. And to help with that, i never forget that you gave up. All the media, we were divided up. You decided, the purpose that i need a and you gave us all of your media time. And what you do at the time. You might not leave the ticket. Its more beneficial to the state, into the top candidate, for the two of us to get elected. Part of what led me to be able to accept that very disappointing defeat was the experience the way you were able to sacrifice your first place for herbert and me. So, thank you so much for that choice. When you ask that tremendous effort, i do go to harm. My dear wife of 58 years. Because i did not want to tickle another responsibility and i had to assume at some point i taking on too much. And so she would not hesitate and tell me what to fill. And that exists. And i want to find a relationship that you had, as well. You admired and respected. A great deal. And i really really hope that what you are doing and what we Work Together to do will hurt member crowd. So, thank you so much for having me. Thank you, and i love emily too. She was a most wonderful person. She was one of those people if you are in your company she just load. Her goodness and her quality, was really so inspirational. Congressman, when you talk history and seeing a gram we have in the late 60s, i guess. Well where the history buffs like . What did they teach . Why did you have with material . Issued about african American History . Not much. In a came teaching in 1962. Its been three years there teaching history. But what i did when i was teaching from the newspapers, and then from the textbook. Most of my fellow teachers thought that was going to be fired. I did not see the folk ways at the time. But i never got fired. In fact, i had our time keeping people out of my classrooms. Because i felt that history ought to be a part of a living person. And to bring the students into the history, to think for example, i was teaching at the time. We had the different prices. When the russians have those missiles. Almost damning from a classroom. Why do we say for . Students when all of this they russians ringing, to cuba not far from charleston where they live. So what i did was pick up the newspaper, i hear whats happening there. In 2020, to the chapter on cuba, lets talk about the background for that. That is a way i talk. It was a pretty good success. I still move on to the next steps, videos of those students. Until the day. The second thing that i could get. When i was a student, history teacher will tell us we got a ten question test here. What is the day that this happened . What is the date that discovered america . Whats the date of this that in the other . I hated that. So when i started teaching, my first day in the classroom or tell my students, i want people right now. I want two days. Full seven or 68 people. Going to tens expects. Now, those are the only two years i want you to remember. We got the roman empire vying for seventh century. Crossing in opening up the new world, ten 66. That, to me, where the two big names to remember. We talked about issues, and how those issues related to their everyday lives. Congressman, he provide a great leadership to people. Theres no gas from the estates, a student real distinguished leaders. Were all quite back to big class. The impact that you have is absolutely enormous. Thank you. James ghastly, grew up there. , apparent then apartment. Speed it was james gas and was named ambassador to iceland. And i need you to be when you are out of sessions at the time. I came back into washington, and i never shall forget when he stepped up to the podium after being sworn in. He pointed over to me. I notice when i got there, there was a little mark on the floor. What you took me to. And thats why spoon. He pointed to me and he said to the whole crowd, i wish you could be in classes, because he open up the road to me. Two americas shows. And that did everything for me. And as i was walking down making insurance, it was ongoing service. I moved over to my, right stood in there. It was james godson. And i knew that he was dead when i was doing a service. But he told, me literally, that he would never have missed that. Because he was in a little group. Used to be a medium. Apartment within the permit down the street just a few blocks from there. And he and raft allison my brother, they were all coming to our house. And we would have these sessions. And i were just talking about the world at large. There was much more could be much more to their lives when Charleston East side with city around blew up. So that was to me the background, to this great vision that you had, and still hold on to, within the national African American museum. The charleston museum, or the African American museum. And, natural African American museum. They have talked about how charleston in that community fits into because theyre now trying to teach. Round. Aj hansen and so many others. By the, way rough is not retired. From big time attorney on wall street. He used to be the general counsel for american express. That is what came out of those classes, every else going to talk about, but thats not what were here to talk about. One of the things we will get to it here quickly but congressman, when you lost the election in 1970, the newly elected governor john west, fellow students, simple saw jim klebans character. And the way that he was raised, and was appointed to congressman plaid man, who would be the first director over South CarolinaHuman Affairs and then they, governor, west really went around the state. Making, ties connecting business interests and other interests together. And they moved forward racially together. Absolutely absolutely. Reflected upon my statement. I did not say. Earlier when i was asked what happened, in that election, it looks like i didnt get enough votes. And when i was pressed, it looks like i didnt get enough votes. And that was to headline on that thursday morning. Get the, message have the election. He had just been elected governor. And was nothing but a button around that time. We and he not only spoke with them, he called him. And i called him. And he asked me to meet him on monday, which i did. And he offered me a position on his and i said to him at the time, first of all i was like, no i cant do that. Im a little bit to then he said to me, if i had good i get more than you are. Then that started the relationship. It was a guess that he had a governor. And john was she called me and she said john was would be so proud of this. I want you to have his best. He gave me the desk he had as governor. I sit behind that desk right now, every time i go to my office. I would hope that would be some type of lesson to some of your students. My dad used to say all the time, you will never see everything that is on your mind. I dont know it is on my mind on that morning after the 1970 election. But it certainly and i talk about the results. And the difference. Difference, heres a line. I want to go to taking that call from john west, certainly would be sitting here now, if the democrats in the United States house i agree with that, congressman. When i raise that question with students, because it is such a harder life lesson and i except with grace, and build to the future, that is one many great lessons with jim klopp has given us. Not only legislative leadership. For those of a human being is someone he inspired those kids, teaching those grounds. Spurs members of congress right now, he woke up to jim 11 because of his character. His intellect. His determination. Clearly amazing congressman changing subjects. It would seem to me that more recently, unfortunate efforts to make it less easy for people to vote. More cumbersome. It needs to be. A bit reminiscent of what happened after reconstruction. A different form, in the way. But it seems to me it is very unfortunate to live in our country that there and the efforts we should be we should make it easier, less cumbersome, for an american citizen to vote. Rather than have all these obstacles in their way. What your thoughts on that congressman . You are right about that. I really believe that we have to be very very careful. In this great country that we have. I have said over and over again, this is a great country. Does not have to be made great. Our challenge is making this accessible and affordable for all of its citizens. And finding and which that greatness is made would probably be the unfit id right to the battle. And we have grown, weve seen a more perfect union. By opening up that balance. That is what the 1964 Civil Rights Act was all about. Thats where the 1965 Voting Rights act was all about. In pursuit of perfection, by making the franchise, the battle, more accessible. To all of its citizens. And for us to get to the point. Of backtracking. And, then most important thing, about the democracy, would be to destroy and take us off that pursuit. And i, think they will destroy this fragile democracy. And there we have. We have ben on the hill for a long time. People that look to this country, for example for a long time. I dont know anybody would turn the clock back members of the perfection. I would take away the right to vote, as some jurisdictions seem to be pursuing. Lets get back in pursuit of perfection. Thank, you congressman. And then we probably have some questions. Do we have questions yet . Open it up. Just as a reminder, for any of the students. Really any of our guests. If you want to put questions into the chat i will do my best to relay these to congress. I wanted to take us back, just for a minute, congressman, to the 1960s. I think about the work that i did around the orange berg massacre, especially around the charleston hospital strike. And think about that period as a time of such great upheaval. The assassination of dr. And bobby kennedy. And im wondering if you might draw some parallels or make some comparisons to our contemporary politics . And to what are the comparisons between today and 1968, if those are appropriate . I was 1962 at the time. I started teaching. Learn from john leslie 1970. One in 1960, eight i was in charleston at the time. New courage, the father was 68 and i became director. For farmworkers and thats where i really was at the time of the massacre. At the time, many of the students were leaving who were from charleston. In a way. So what was going on, then, i was very much in evolved. How to vote. He and i stayed and then i became sort of like in 1969, we also had congress a few people fail to remember that they were leaving the hospital strike, striking into some strains were recent, they asked me to get involved in workers. Negotiate and then do that. So we had two things going on simultaneously, we met every evening to keep things on board. The long communication stayed open. And thats why im a little bit concerned today. About putting off discussions. You have to find ways to keep your communication going. And if you stop talking you are never going to get this wave off of the issue. What was going on back then . A lot of what we see today. Its very reminiscent of that. And i do believe that we overcame, back then, people with open minds. People with broad shoulders. Stepped up to get us back on track and back ready to go. In the 1970 election after was started. Here is joe rally running for reelection. Saying im giving up on media. Its more important. For these two people, following the legislature, to reintegrate. By the way, herb and feel than one. I would be the first African American was serving the governor there. So i both came up. I was seeing young people all the time. Right these experiences you, had it may look like that obstacle is as but it will be a steppingstone if you respond appropriately. As to able. One of our wonderful librarians has a question for you. Ruby murray asked, if you might say a little bit about the political damage that the slogan defund the police did two candidates in the recent elections. And do you have any suggestions for a better framework for the urgent need for Police Reform moving forward . Yes i do. Ive been writing about it in talking about it. Reimagining. Policing. I think that you know, if you are a lawyer, and you are policed by the bar association, we two lawyers South Carolina saw the headlines about who were disbarred. You so the same thing has to take place with police. It is an honorable procession. My cousin will for it was almost, for 40, years a police officer. I spoke at his home going service. I thought he was an honorable person, and an honorable profession. So we cannot allow one bad apple to ruin the entire batch. And that is what will happen if you dont extricate, get that bad apple out of there. Thats what we have to do. This whole notion that we seem to have, that once you step on a gun or pain on a badge, with all of the sudden you are saying and you cannot be able to tell, them that is into policing. We have police. Its an honorable profession to be it. And i support that. But we should not go so far as to do to the poorests current state of affairs, whose black lives matter, what happened was back in the 1960s. With john we are demonstrating became known as a student we were snug was taken by a group of people. Turn, david byrne. That, on the cut what we were doing, undermined the efforts. And i saw that, along with john just a few months before he passed away. The two of us are in the back of the house chamber, and we said the we didnt speak. Out we didnt stand back and allow to cool the black lives matter movement. We did the Student Movement that we were part of back in the 60s. The students to notice. I keep talking about the Student Movement. You will never make all of the civil rights movement. It is always been a civil rights movement. What was going on back in the 1960s . Students, students the naacp was formed in 1909. Just a few months before he passed away the two of us sat in the back of the so there has always been a civil rights movement. The democracy erection of 1822. These things were always taking place. I try to put things in the proper perspective. I want to say to your students, lets keep things in the proper perspective. One of them is, he policing in a proper perspective. Lets remember throwing out the band policeman is not to destroy the profession. Good student and but the president of the campus chapter of the young democrats, active in the young democrats, stay wild, tyler metzl would like to ask you, given the events of the Previous Year what are the prospect that america can build a Stronger Foundation in the area of social equality . I think the prospects are great, that it can be done. My dad used to Say Something to me all the time that i think about a lot these days. Welfare is where there is a will there is a way. We have to develop well and i think enough people have developed a will to do what is necessary. It is so easy to walk away from it. It is easy to pretend that theres nothing going on. The hard part is working together putting aside individual differences. The mayor and i talked about my late wife today. [inaudible] we had to make some adjustments. Everything was different. We had to learn. We have different backgrounds. We have to learn how to be with each other. You have an atmosphere solving problems i would say, a subject for great. Keep people very personal [inaudible] as ive been standing here, i literally keep getting goose bumps. I mean it. Just so thrilling to see this fine wise man, representing our country in congress. Representing us in South Carolina. The justice, the knowledge, the experience. We often read about things in life. It is so important that we rejoice when we see someone like jim clyburn, who has essentially devoted his life to this cause. Honesty, and justice, and integrity and service. For everyone who tuned in today certainly students, i am honored to teach here the congressman, thank you so much for being with us. The marvelous example that you give all of us of public service, decency, and what it means to be a citizen of our country. Thank, you sir. Thank you so much for having me. I would like to add to this, if theres nothing in store already, please do me a big favor, read Martin Luther kings letter to the next to the bible, that is one of the most time of documents i have a read. I will call your attention to one little section in that book. King wrote in that book that we, are going to be made to repent, and this generation. Not just for the needs of others but for the good people, when we see injustice, we must break our silence. We have to do this to preserve this country. We are an example for the world. We cannot allow any misfits to destroy the mantra that we have developed over the years. Being the shining light on the hill. Thank you so much, mister mayor. Allow me to be here with you today. I know that im not disrespecting you and i call you that. If i could just add one thing for the students, dr. Kings letters from a birmingham jail. He wasnt given any paper to write on in jail. He wrote that most amazing lander in the margins and the edges of the newspapers. The message was so powerful, knowledge of what that courageous, industry is mandated to make sure that the truth got out. Truly wonderful. Thank you so much, congressman riley. Thank you all for being here today. If youre enjoying American History tv than sign up for our news that are using the qr code on the screen lectures in history, the presidency, and more. Sign up for the American History tv newsletter today and be sure to watch American History tv every saturday, or every time online at cspan. Org slash history. 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