The senate is out for a brief july 4th recess at 10 am eastern, vote in the afternoon on judicial nomination on immigration bills. Mitch mcconnell hopes to bring up a bill to combat the zika virus which was blocked by the senator earlier in the week. Coverage of the senate when it returns on cspan2. You are watching booktv on cspan2 with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. Booktv,television for serious readers. Cspan, created by americas Cable Television companies and brought you as a Public Service by your cable or satellite provider. Afterwards is next. Barbara boxer discusses her book the art of tough fearlessly facing politics and life which looks at her life and career in politics. She is interviewed by senator Amy Klobuchar from minnesota. Host barbara boxer, what an honor to be with you, one of my mentors in the senate, someone who came into the senate when there was barely a woman to be seen, you were there and this book you have written, the art of tough fearlessly facing politics and life, really told the story of how you got there. Barbara leavy of the times, born on november 11, 1940, from a family of jewish refugees, in your own words, growing up in the pervasive shadow of the holocaust somehow ends up going from that little place in brooklyn to the United States senate, maybe moved to california in between. You did it all with such grace but also with that part of tough. What was that like growing up with your family and how you decided to take this journey . Guest senator barbara boxer, my colleague, you said it was an honor to interview me. I am so excited that you agreed to do this because it says a lot about our relationship and i am so thrilled, i will get to your question in a second, but the fact is the one relationship that developed, women senators and a lot of men, means so much to me. You know i am not running again and people say why, are you disgusted with the place . Not at all. I just feel after 40 years, people like you can carry the banner. Our colleagues in new york, we have you interviewing me. I couldnt be more thrilled. To the issue of how did i get tough . What was my life like when i was a child . In this memoir, when i sat down to write, so long ago, three years to put it together, a lot of effort, when i first thought about it, i thought it will be my dad who had all the influence on who i am as a person. My dad was my idol, the youngest of tween 9 brothers and sisters. None of them graduated from high school. My dad was born in 1908 and after he married my mom he goes to city college of new york at night. At night. That is great to get his cpa. After i am born in 1950 he goes to law school at night, gets his degree. I am thinking clearly it was my dad. I sat down to think about the lesson. We all come from my mother. He didnt graduate from high school. Did not. It was such a burden on her. She felt so sad about it. At one point she tried to get i dont know what happened, but i will say this. The kind of smart she had, smart from the heart and soul. In the beginning of the book i lay out the rules, how can you do it . One of the things, always doing the right thing even when everything is going against you. You and i know it, we have had experience whether it is on human trafficking, toxic chemicals that i took the leadership on. We know what it is like if people look at you and say why are you causing these problems . If you know it is right you better do the right thing and i learned never act out of anger. You can feel the anger but dont act on anger. You tell a funny story how you were a little angry, and watching you the next day walk by his apartment, and seeing a dark cloth across the house and you think you killed him. Turned out to be the grandfather. I am sure it is one of those memories you dont forget. Guest it is a memory i dont forget. Albert was my nemesis. I am still little, 5 foot 3. Maybe with my high heels. Host that is what i am thinking. Guest i was the perfect target. He would insult me and chase me. That is what we did in those days. May be they still do in school. One day i had had it. No one was around. I took out my number 2 pencil and stabbed him in the arm. He is stunned and i am stunned at what i did. Exactly right in telling the story, we thought we would keep it our little secret. But he didnt come to school for the next three days. There is a great spot over his home which i passed by every day, on a vacant lot on the way home. I lived in the innercity and i really did think i killed him. I took it to my mother who i took everything to. I think i killed albert. She called me barbara sue, what did you do . I told her i cant believe you would ever do that. I dont think you killed him. Let me call the principal. He found out his grandpa died. I was so relieved i hugged him when he came back but it taught me an amazing lesson and she said never use violence. You have to persuade. I never did after that use violence. I tried to defuse a lot of situations. Sometimes i won. As a young girl you think about this at a time when girls are organizing a lot of things you led the effort to get a new carpet in the apartment lobby. One of my favorite letters. My mother was in the hospital with some illness and you are not allowed to visit and the first organizing effort there is pretty good. My mother died and my dad died. And i am the daughter and would love to see my mother very much. And five minutes before i went to school, no sickness, a little bellyache now and then, i wont make a lot of noise, i miss my mother very much so why cant i see her . Thanks for reading this letter. Sincerely yours, barbara leavy. I had a feeling it wouldnt work. I wrote back to my mother, dear mom, how mean can a person be . If they dont let me in, they really arent mean. I will be so happy. In school, i am in the mexican group, study group on mexican culture and art. In fact i am the chairman. I got so choked up. Because memories you and i have of our families, so deep inside. Host this whole idea that anyone can make it in america which we still believe today, no matter where you came from is a big part of your story but one thing that is different about your story and people we see in the senate is you are a girl. Here you are, you go to brooklyn college, following in your dads footsteps, get a degree and want to become a stockbroker, you start interviewing around for jobs and it wasnt easy back then to get that job. Guest in those days you could have a program in the wall street firm and the people who were selling the security, stockbrokers, customers, that was the name, customers men. I wanted to be a customers man. I was ready to do it. When i got my first job, it is a long story, wont go through too much but assistant to a woman who wrote in the Municipal Bond newsletters was so smart but never signed it by her name. She cited ee cook. I said why dont you sign . No one will buy it because it was sold. She never became a partner for many years and she was in disguise. It was unreal. I thought i am going to take a different path. Im going to work for her, get a salary, i was the only one working, i paid 90 and said i have to make more to live a decent life so i studied, couldnt get into the program. If you got into the customers program you got trained, it was like studying for an exam. I did it on my own and passed. I was so excited i took it to elizabeth and she said i dont know. Sorry, women dont the shocking thing was not only that he just said it as a fact of life, i took it i said marco, okay. I did quit. I went to another firm where they allowed me quietly to have a little business on the side where i was kind of the assistant to the Vice President , had a little Side Business so i was able to make 250 a week. Host sometimes in politics some of us who came in on your shoulders, your 5 foot shoulders, Barbara Mikulski says it was so much harder when you came in. For a young person to read your story and understand what you went through, when most women were expected to have a job, that was a teacher, nurse, that was it. Your husband who you have been married to in my mind forever. You say this is one of my favorite quotes in the book, i often joke that sue married Debbie Reynolds and woke up with sonja soto mayor. Guest when we met, girls, young women didnt have the opportunities we now have today and that our daughters have today. We had to settle for a lot less. When sue met me i was pursuing my dream as an economics major. He saw signs in those years, you get together for little parties, they would be talking about issues of the day and the women so as not to be perceived as too uppity would be talking about, seriously, more appropriate things for women. I would do my thing with the women and go to the men, talk to them too which was considered a bit odd, but i did it, so he knew some things i wouldnt stay a cheerleader that i was. But lets be clear. When he met me, i was a kid. I was 18. Going to the senate you might as well say flying to the moon by yourself with your arms waving. Host the decision was monumental in your career, the history of america, you decide to move to california. How did that come about . Guest my sister and her family moved there. So such a good student, made the law review and went with my parents and drove to california. I got to california, my eyes open up, i had never seen anything as beautiful as this. I grew up in brooklyn which by the way, the coolest place to live. I talk about a movie, a book call the tree grows in brooklyn. Some beautiful places in Prospect Park and botanical gardens, when i came kind of history there. First thing you learn about california, the various ecology from north of the state to south. The ocean, we have the richest farmland so exquisite but i was 21 or so, and i said to him he saidwhat . I said you see it is gorgeous and you will love it. So much more freedom to be outside and outdoors. I have to get a job, so he did. He got a job two years in advance. Came to california, doing what i wanted to tell you. And the excitement in silicon valley. Everything about it was so incredible. Doug, your first child, is born two months ago. And he has an exam. Of 50 50 chance of survival. Guest no insurance. Host that got you somewhat interested in getting involved in politics. Guest understanding what it means, that never forget it, you never forget it. Nothing is going to go wrong. Everything is going to go great. And we had agreed to move. I said i will go get us a place to live and in california, i was good about it. And on may 21, 1965. All of a sudden the water breaks and i had not met my doctor and in the clinic in mount sinai hospital, so wonderful to me i have never forgotten them. I had nothing. They said you know, it is going to cost 1000 a day. You can imagine what it is, we dont know how long they have to stay. I am thinking this is the end, all we cared about was dust. Every day it goes up 10 . And that is the most wonderful, and take care of me and has his own second job. And wasnt had insurance. And that was a lesson how you dont have anything. And womens healthcare. Very traditional in the shadow of the holocaust. And in northern california, in the shadow of the vietnam war. And you learn the heart, and the carpet lobby in the apartment. And taking them out, the ultimate decision becoming supervisor. And going into politics. By that time i had two little kids. You start to think differently, start to think longterm. What kind of world, as the sun going to face . All these issues before the vietnam war, the womens movement, it was the first war that came into the living room. And part of the antiwar movement, and parade and all the rest of it. I became a real activist. When a seat opened up, in california, the issues, all the issues, and the environment and womens rights. They said i said why dont you do it . Why dont you do it . It was so crazy. A nonpartisan office, dont run as a democrat or republican. When i came out on top, the incumbent, was running. The issue they tried to use, the antichoice issue. And i was kind of excited. My campaign was going strong, going in the door, he looks as close as we are and i have been giving this a lot of thought. And it has been hard for her. I want to see you right now. You should drop out. You are going to be bad for women. You know the oppressor has to free the oppressed. I remember or only white have to free, and against racism. And employed the art of the top issues, when someone has gone over the line, this meeting is over. Soon i got up and he got up and shut the door, and i said actually slammed the door, he got revenge because he was so mad at me he was third, came out last. And by a small vote. When you were running, how can you do this with four kids . I have two kids. The rumors were so strong, here you are, leaving kids at home. What was your story about the dishes . Great stories in this book. The book goes into what it was like to be a woman, if not, you would cry yourself to sleep. I would knock on the door because i went doortodoor. It was a small election, you need a 20,000 votes to win. First thing that happened to someone opened the door, i didnt think you would be so small. What did they expect . They expected a big person because men i didnt expect you to be so short. I am. And this one woman, i could never vote for you. You have four kids you are abandoning. I said i have two kids. She said no you dont she got into an argument. You never forget giving birth, i did it twice and i walked away. What are you going to do . I was at another meeting, things were going great and i was telling the group i had to preserve the environment, everyone nodding and wonderful, very suburban part of my district. I thought i am making it, i am hitting it. A hand goes up in the back and this woman says how do you have time to do your dishes . Even then i was taken aback. Hat i just said i use paper plates, which was stupid because this was an environmental group, so you couldnt win. I thought it was a joke. I use paper plates. It was so hard. Host the questions you were getting very few these days but not many of them. Very hard. Guest i lost that race. They werent ready for me. The only reason i stayed after that i had a great i did a little radio. I stuck with it because i read an article in this magazine. The article, i write about it, the article says women take things personally. Men one time, two times, three times, four times, women if they lose the first time they think they hate me because we are a little more sensitive and i thought this is a horrible experience. But i am not going to take it personally. There i was out on a lot of issues that were a little ahead of my time. You married ahead of your time. Guest it continues, you have to say to your self get people to vote for you because they know you are innocent, you are one of the most populous, one of the most popular politicians in the country. The reason is even when people disagree, you are in it for the right reasons, you are trying truly to find a sweet spot with legislation, working hard with a sense of humor and you are not afraid. People will vote for you from the other party when they never vote for a democrat. This is what i try to show because believe it or not, 16 to 17 of the republicans, i would never would have won my races and if you ask them, they will say i dont agree with her sometimes but she tells me where she is coming from and is in it for the right reasons. Host we will get back to that but for me one of the things people might not know until reading your book or talk to you, it is called the art of tough fearlessly facing politics and life. Part of the reason, one thing i know is you stand your ground on many issues and everyone knows that but i dont know if everyone knows about the times you try to find Common Ground like on the transportation bill recently with mitch mcconnell. You worked with senator in half on the transportation bill, you got the water bill and a number of things you were able to do by taking a bunch of democrats and republicans out together for dinner. Part of it, we get back to your running and say you start to learn the people you work with and you did that. Mentors to you, because you had proven your self through the art of tough fearlessly facing politics and life, when congressman burton said he was going into rehab and wanted you to run for his seat you must have been floored. How did you react . Guest this was in the 80s. Age was beginning to do something. John burton, one of my mentors, i worked for him in congress and he helps me my whole career, went to congress and i went to the board of supervisors, out of the blue he called me, addicted to drugs and alcohol, checking into a Rehab Facility in arizona and running for a seat, oh my god, my kids were in high school, a little too young. But i took it up with them and said mom, these opportunities dont come along very often so i went for it and i got there. I got there. I got to the house, served in the house for ten years. Could have stayed there but they were pushing me out. Host people often focus on women mentors which of course you had both, Barbara Mikulski, you had these women colleagues that were incredible. And i love when you tell the story about nancy pelosi and Diane Feinstein in your book, but you also had male mentors that helps you. Look at the stories of really the person that calls you whos in trouble, horrible time in his life, that he picks a woman to run for his seat. Guest well, he did and he knew that my politics were progressive. He knew he knew i was kind of fearless. Immediate top me to be fearless and he wanted me there. But what was funny was his brother was the real kingmaker, his brother then called which was the biggest call because john said i hope you will run. I was shaking because philip was so powerful in california at thp time. I said hi, phil, how are you . Sas he said i think you ought to run for john c. Im so honored. He said dont you so honored. Talk about coming down. Steel to put up with it because he wasnt sure at all that i could do it. And he pledged, i set a just a little worried about the money. Most libraries so far is 40,000 had to raise 250,000 for the congressional bid, what it would cost now, and he said i dont want you to worry about it because that im going to do. Im on cloud nine and then we decide were going to go for it. Been phil its challenge in a very serious way by a state senator and phil can do one thing because he is busy preserving and protecting which i totally got. And there i am, talk about baptism by fire. We were able to win that seat but it was hard. Most of the races have been hard. Host so you get to the house of representatives, not that many women back then. Its an exciting time and you start working on an number of issues, some of which landed in your lap like aids research. Other shoe pursue at one of the things i didnt know about you was your one of the first people taking on excessive cost with government contracting. Unit is