1 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: It's been more than twenty years now since I left 2 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: the White House, but one question I still got to 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: ask all the time is what was the best part 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: of living in the White House. Well, most importantly, living 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: in the White House means the American people have given 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 1: you the honor of serving our country and the best 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: self in the world. But there are also a lot 8 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: of other great parts about it. You walk around through history, 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: which you see in paintings and sculpture, in the old 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: clocks everywhere. You get the chance to work in the 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: Oval office, which even on the cloudy iss Ranius days, 12 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: is full of light. There's a good bowling alley in 13 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: the basement, a nice swimming pool outside, and maybe above 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: all else, there's a wonderful movie theater. Our family really 15 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: loved watching movies in the White House Theater, whether alone 16 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: or with guests at special occasions. With the course of 17 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: my presidency, we screened dozens and dozens of movies, both 18 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: keeping up with new releases and rewatching old favorites. Since 19 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: we could watch any movie from the comfort of our home, 20 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: you may wonder why in May Hillary and I chose 21 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: instead to go out to the theater to see one 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: the premiere of Me Familiar, the story of a Mexican 23 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: American family in East Los Angeles. The answer is simple, 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: that had a great cast and a great story, and 25 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 1: we wanted to give our support publicly to a movie 26 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: that was helping to show what our American family really 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: looks like. So why am I telling you this? Because 28 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: representation in film and television, on stage, and in other 29 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: media really matters. People deserve to feel that their lives 30 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: and stories are important and worthy of being told, and 31 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: it's equally crucial that we tear down stereotypes so that 32 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: people have all about grounds believe they can achieve whatever 33 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: role they want to play, whether on screen or in 34 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: real life. There's no one who has worked harder to 35 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: make that a reality than my guest today, Jimmy Smith's Jimmy, 36 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: who also happens to be one of the stars of 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: Me Familia, has spent more than thirty years creating some 38 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: of the most memorable characters we've seen, from lawyers to 39 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: police officers, from taxi dispatchers to the President of the 40 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: United States. He's not only entertained us, but he's helped 41 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: to change the face of movies, television, and the stage 42 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: and As a co founder of the National Hispanic Foundation 43 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: for the Arts, he's worked heartlessly to improve representation and 44 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: given hundreds of promising young Latino students the opportunity to 45 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: pursue their dreams in the arts through scholarships. You know 46 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: him from L. A. Law, N Y P. D, Blue, Dexter, 47 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: The West Wing, Sons of Anarchy, Star Wars, and much more. 48 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: And next month you will know him as Kevin and 49 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: the film adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda's Wonderful in the Heights. Jimmy, 50 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: thanks so much for being here. Indeed, my honor, Mr President, 51 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: thank you, thanks for the appreciate it. Most of us 52 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: got to know you when you broke through is Victor C. 53 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: Fluentez on L. A. Law. And since then we watch 54 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: you bring an incredible range of characters to life, tell 55 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: us about life and influences. Before most of us got 56 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: to know you on screen, at what point did you 57 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: decide you wanted to pursue acting? Not an easy path regardless, 58 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: and especially because, as you said, you didn't see many 59 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: examples of letting know actors to follow. I think the 60 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: fact that we moved around a lot of the family 61 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 1: in New York mostly but for a time. We lived 62 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: in Puerto Rico as well, and I think having to 63 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: adapt to new environments because it's I come from a 64 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: working class family, uh, and sometimes things times were good 65 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: and sometimes times were not great. So we lived in 66 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: all types of neighborhoods, sometimes with other extended family members. Um. 67 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: And because of that, I think as a as a 68 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: young person, I was always trying to fit into a 69 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: new environment or having to speak another language that I 70 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: wasn't as familiar with, and and I think that was 71 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: where the seeds were planted. Uh. I love doing impersonations 72 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: when I was young for my dad's poker buddies, Nikita 73 00:04:53,640 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: Khrushchev banging banging his his shoe at a table, or 74 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: Ed Sullivan introducing uh the Beatles and then putting on 75 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: Mom's wagon. So that it was those little things that 76 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: is that trying to fit in. That's that's what I 77 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: keep seeing when I look back. And then in terms 78 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: of the education process, you know, every and every immigrant 79 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: family wants their their child, their children to do better. 80 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: And education was a big thing for my family, and 81 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: it started in junior high school. With regards to theater. 82 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: I went to junior high school in Brooklyn called George 83 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: Gershwin Junior High School, So you know from the name 84 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: that there was a musical theater bent and there was 85 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: a couple of music teachers there that did school plays 86 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: and we went through the cannon of Rogerson Hammerstein over 87 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: and over again. And uh so that's where it started. 88 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: In high school, there was another it was al is A. 89 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: There was always an educational person along the way that 90 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: gave me a little pushed to the next level. There 91 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: was a high school teacher that was taught drama in 92 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: English literature and he took us to go see Broadway plays. 93 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: So it was in the seventies. It was an exposure 94 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: to to seeing Shakespeare and Shaw and and there was 95 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: always times where there were people that I could see 96 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: seeing it is permission to aspire in a way, you know, 97 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: in terms of representation. So to see somebody like James 98 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: Earl Jones and Raoul Julia in the theater really impressed me. 99 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: And because I saw the commonalities and uh and I 100 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: wasn't a great student Mr President in school, but uh 101 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 1: I found that when I could put my energies towards 102 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: researching a role that I was doing, I would I 103 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: could spend hours in the library trying to find out 104 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: why eighteenth century cups were made the way they were. 105 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: You know, I could. So it was my handle that 106 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: I found that I found something that I h I 107 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: thought that I was good at that that I loved, 108 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: that there was a love there and so I was 109 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: able to apply those things that I got from those 110 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: teachers and and feel good. So that's where that's where 111 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: the bug the bug was hit. And then in school, 112 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: in high school, it was about going to you know, 113 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: being going to going to college. And then a professor 114 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: there who was was a professional actor, and one of 115 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: our professors said, you know, you probably could go to 116 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: l a and be the crook of the week on 117 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: some TV show, but you've shown interest in the classics, 118 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: and I think you should think about graduate school and 119 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: trying to amass more tools in your toolbox because what 120 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: we do as a craft. So that's applied to a 121 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: number of graduate schools and got accepted Cornell University, who 122 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: had at that time had a very small, almost monastic 123 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: type of program. The education process has been the key 124 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: for me, Mr President, and it's one of the reasons, 125 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, you mentioned the Hispanic Foundation for the arts 126 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:47,559 Speaker 1: that tried to kind of pass that along my my 127 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: my mother, with her religious background, always said, you know, 128 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: look look over your shoulder at for the person who's 129 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: right behind you and try to give a helping hand. 130 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: So every he chooses their path in our business, there's 131 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: no right way of the different paths that you wind 132 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: up wind up choosing. And for me, the educational process 133 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:13,479 Speaker 1: has been, uh the key in a lot of respects 134 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: to uh to literature too, doing what I love and 135 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: and to having that you know, that toolbox. And then 136 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: there's there's preparation and then there's you know, opportunity and 137 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: a little bit of luck. And uh so coming coming 138 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: back to New York, there was it just started in 139 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: terms of what working off Broadway and and doing doing 140 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: stuff here and there, and then you know, working on 141 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: working on television. How many years were you in Puerto 142 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: Rico too, Well, we uh, you know, there was always 143 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: the the Christmas, the summers. But when I had to 144 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: go to school, when I was scared, that was two. 145 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: It was like during the wonder years that you know, 146 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: nine to eleven. And did you did you have to 147 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: improve your Spanish when you went down there to communicate? Oh? Oh, 148 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: it's it was like, uh, into the frying pan. And 149 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: and culture for me, like really American culture, just the 150 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: immigration process was reversed, so culture just ceased in a way. 151 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: There was no more Ed Sullivan and the Beatles. And 152 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: it wasn't as uh, it wasn't the primary focus I was. 153 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: I was immersed in, you know, different types of music 154 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: and things that I knew, but on a daily basis, 155 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: the politics of the island, all of the all of 156 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: those things, um and and now you know, looking back, 157 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: it was a very traumatic time for me because again 158 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: trying to fit in and being called a Yankee as 159 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: a kid in during those years when I was going 160 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: to school, You're Yankee? What do you mean? I mean cheap? 161 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: But but it is the it's the formation of everything 162 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: that I am as an adult to night. My feelings 163 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: about culture and music and all and what I do 164 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: in terms of my roles are influenced by by that time. 165 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: And do you still go back every now and then? Absolutely? Absolutely, 166 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: And and I just want to thank you for what 167 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:33,839 Speaker 1: you know. September September twenty two, thousand seventeen was the 168 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: day that we all remember on the island in terms 169 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: of Hurricane Carocine Maria and what happened, and in terms 170 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: of like what my mother said looking over his shoulder 171 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: and trying to give a helping hand, thank you very 172 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: much with the with c g I and what your 173 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: initiative has done to help. Well, that was interesting. I've 174 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: always loved going down there. I love the feeling of it. 175 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: I like the culture, and we were trying to help 176 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: and still are trying to help working down there in 177 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: the aftermath of all these storms, which are have become 178 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: more numerous and more intense. No one in Puerto Rico 179 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: doubts that the climate is changing. But I remember walking 180 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: down the streets of after I had done my day's work. 181 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: But we just took a walk down through the old 182 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: part of San Juan, and I looked up and there 183 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: was a group of electrical workers, not just from New York, 184 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: but people who had worked in my little town, Chaffaqua, 185 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: and they were saying, you know, we we have trees 186 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: knocked down in winter storms and all that, and wires 187 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: getting messed up. So I'd actually run into these guys 188 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: as a citizen, not because I was president, just walking 189 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: the streets after a winter storm, and there they were 190 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: trying to help Puerto Rico, and I think that we 191 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: forget that there. Puerto Rico has a lot of it's 192 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: citizens in American now doing well and making a difference 193 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 1: end and it'll be interesting to see what happens in 194 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: the years ahead. Economically, it's because it's always been a 195 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: kind of bell Weather, I think for financial status with 196 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: regards to the country. And we talked about infrastructure, that 197 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: the infrastructure there really needs a lot of help. There's 198 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: still you know, two thousand seventeen, there's still thousand blue 199 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: tarps still from Maria. And so thank you for doing 200 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: your part. Well, we have the aft, keep it going. 201 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. Let's talk a little about In 202 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: the Heights. Why do you want to be a part 203 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: of this and how much the growing up in New 204 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: York City give you a feel for in the Heights? 205 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: And hen did you see it when it was on Broadway? 206 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: I saw it before I was on Broadway. I saw 207 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: it off Broadway. I was. I have a friend of 208 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: a friend who worked at a place called the that's 209 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: no longer there. It's called the Drama Bookstore. I remember. 210 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: If you go, you can go get any play and 211 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: it's a place that that a young Lynn Manuel Miranda 212 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: used to go and and replays, and they did a 213 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: reading him and his Wellesley and crew did a reading 214 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: of that played down in the basement. They have a 215 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: little time theater there, and my friend who I went 216 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: to college with had emailed me and said, you know, 217 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: there's some kids down there that are really They were 218 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: really they really got it there the next wave and 219 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: I got to see that that particular production in the 220 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: off Broadway iteration, and I was just amazed that there 221 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: was such positivity there about that story and and so 222 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: current but at the same time giving kind of like 223 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: a history of a neighborhood through a very specific lens, 224 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: but following the tropes of a Broadway musical, giving joy 225 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: at the same time, you know, and very impressed with Lynn. 226 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: The themes in the story are just something that speaks 227 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: to me. And although through a very specific lens there 228 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: they speak of the because of specific lends with regards 229 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: to the community that you're seeing, but it speaks of 230 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: what America is about, family, community, where is home, all 231 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: those things that we just talked about before. And the 232 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: director of the piece, John Chow, who directed Crazy Rich Asians, 233 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: I think it's the perfect director for this because he 234 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: you know, he embodies the same types of sentiment from 235 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: another perspective maybe, but the same senses of community and 236 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: all of those things. And and I'm just I'm I'm 237 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: proud of what what Lynn did with the play, how 238 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: he was able to open it up with Chiara who 239 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: this who's the screenwriter? And then and then what John 240 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: has done with these in terms of the cinematic contribution, 241 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: all of these flourishes that are in the film towards 242 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: old Hollywood that audiences I think we'll connect with in 243 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: the In the movie, you play the father of one 244 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: of those young people that you've tried to help along. 245 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: Leslie Gryce is a very gifted young Dominican. Was that 246 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: fun for you? Super talented? Leslie is musically and just 247 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: gave herself, opened herself in terms of um being on 248 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: a big movie set, being one of the leads in 249 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: in this film, And it was fun for me because 250 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 1: we were able to in terms of our scenes, we 251 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: were able to connect on that father and daughter level. 252 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: And uh and and just watch her work was incredible, 253 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: as is all of the principles in in the film. 254 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 1: I guess I should say I don't want to give 255 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: any of the movie away, but I guess, you know, 256 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: I should say that In the Heights is somewhat different 257 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: from the Broadway version because it was updated to take 258 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: into account, you know, development since the play was first performed. 259 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: And in this movie, your daughter, uh has gone to 260 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: Stanford a long way away, and then it is having 261 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,360 Speaker 1: reservations about it. I won't say any more about that, 262 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 1: but since my daughter to Stanford and I think to 263 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: get as far away from Washing do see as she could, 264 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: much to her mother's this naight, uh, but it was 265 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 1: a great move for it, and it was uh uh. 266 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: We're all doing that all the time. We're all simultaneously 267 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: trying to come home and go away, you know, keep going. 268 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,719 Speaker 1: But she that that particular character, she she she finds 269 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: her way, she finds a purpose. And one of the 270 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: things you're you're alluding to is this this brushstroke in 271 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: terms of opening the film up dealing with the Dreamers situation, 272 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: and she, uh, she finds new purpose in in that. Yeah. 273 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: I think the Dreamers clearly have a lot of support 274 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: in America, and I keep hoping that that can be 275 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: the beginning of a sensible emmigrant ration reform. Having these 276 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: wars over immigration is a big mistake. This country needs 277 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: it's immigrants, and uh, I notice the other day the 278 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: great economist Paul Krugman, who writes in The New York Times, 279 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: says that he believes that and I agree with him 280 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 1: on this, that we were right to be spending a 281 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 1: lot of money now from the government coffers to try 282 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 1: to get the economy going again and get back to 283 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: the jobs we lost at least, you know, in the 284 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: in the COVID recession, which was steep and deep and quick. 285 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: But he said, the truth is that we could be 286 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: into a long, long period of economic slow down just 287 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: because the populations aren't growing. Every country in the world, 288 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: without regard to their religion, or their culture or their politics, 289 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: every country, once they start to grow and they put 290 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: girls in school and give women access to the workplace 291 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: in the education, the birth rate inevitably drops, and a 292 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: couple of years ago America's birth rate dropped below replacement 293 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: level for the native born. Our only way to continue 294 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: to grow is to have a responsible immigration policy and 295 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: say America is an idea, not an ethnic group, and 296 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: you can come here if you believe in the rule 297 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: of law and the freedom of all people to live 298 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: and work together and grow together and learn from each other. 299 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: And it is maybe the single biggest thing we face. 300 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: Our ability to continue to bill shared prosperity, our ability 301 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 1: to get together and handle climate change, our ability to, 302 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: you know, once again, find a way to counter rising 303 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:12,880 Speaker 1: violence in our cities without having police practices that wind 304 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:17,439 Speaker 1: up with unarmed people wanted for minor offenses being shot. 305 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 1: You don't. That's all these things that we're dealing with 306 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: at root work better if you have a democracy based 307 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 1: on certain behavioral instincts. I might learn suffering from this person. 308 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. Let me ask you something about 309 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: this we were talking about a little before we started 310 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: the program. But you have played this incredible range of characters, 311 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: including I noted when I was doing some research for 312 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: this that you actually were in at least two productions 313 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: of Shakespeare in the Park, something we do in the summertime, 314 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 1: and in Central Park showing Shakespeare's place. You did l 315 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: A Law, then you did in Y p D. Blue, 316 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 1: and you got nominated I think totally eleven times for 317 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: Emmys and both of them. How hard did you have 318 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,360 Speaker 1: to work as an actor and how conscious were you 319 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 1: that I need to present this person whole, warts and all, 320 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: but still whole, basically good or strong or struggling. But 321 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: if it's a dark character, they're not all dark. If 322 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: it's a light character, it's not all light. It's how 323 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,679 Speaker 1: how much were you aware of that and all of 324 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: your roles that you had to present not a cartoon 325 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: but a person. I've been very lucky, Mr President, in 326 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: terms of the people that I've worked with that it 327 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: was on the page, so that helps. Sometimes it's not 328 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,959 Speaker 1: there on the page, but it's your responsibility as an 329 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: actor to flesh out a backstory for a particular character. 330 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: I was talking about the tools in the toolbox because 331 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: it's a it's a craft. So as part of the job, 332 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: you try to do as much research as you can, 333 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: time permitting, and keep that ongoing, talking to people who 334 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: are in the profession, different perspectives, um and and then 335 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: trying to flush out with the writers. Hopefully in television 336 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: it's a it's a more fluid process because it can change. 337 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: You have much more time, so the canvas can open 338 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 1: up a bit more. But certainly in the work gun 339 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 1: NYPD Blue, the writer had a kind of schematic that 340 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: all of these characters had a something dark and somber 341 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: about them, as positive as they could be, but there 342 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: was something also that informed them character wise that the 343 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: audience could engage with. So they would want to see 344 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: how because they knew they understood what the character schematic 345 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: was of sip Witz, the sipo Wits character, the Simone character, 346 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:22,959 Speaker 1: the somberness that he might have exhibited that they knew. 347 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: They you would have the framework of an ongoing series 348 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 1: proceed in terms of procedural, but you had character points 349 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: that the audience could kind of grasp onto. So what 350 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: you're talking about in terms of flushing out of particular character, 351 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 1: that's part of what the process is to try to 352 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: make him, him or her three dimensional. Well, let's talk 353 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: about one character that I'm curious about. I was a 354 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: big fan of the West Wing and uh do like 355 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: actually came and spend some time at the White House, 356 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: and several the others folks did too, And I thought 357 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: it had a better chance to succeed because it was 358 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: an ensemble story. That is, you can make something interesting 359 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: happens every week in the White House to somebody who 360 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: works there, who has an important job so it was real. 361 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: The West Wing was this flowing, amazing group of characters, 362 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: and in the fullness of time you emerge as Matt 363 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: Santos and you become president. So there you are our 364 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: first Latino president. What kind of reaction did you get? 365 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: How how did you feel about playing the character? He's 366 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: a politician, he's not a you know, an angel, but 367 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:55,400 Speaker 1: a compelling person. And the fact that this person from 368 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: a different type of heritage that you might expect what 369 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 1: would be some of the dynamics that would be involved 370 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: in that campaign process. He happened to be from from Texas, 371 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: that that character, and so that came into play. And 372 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: the whole dynamic of how you feel like do you 373 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 1: feel like you're being handled as a candidate with the 374 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: people that surround you. Um, that was a that was 375 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: a dynamic that we explored and the campaign process it was. 376 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: It was fascinating for me to be able to deal with. 377 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,880 Speaker 1: There were times when I thought about you, sir, from 378 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 1: the time that we spent in terms of how someone 379 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: in the in this particular process communicates directly with people. 380 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: You talk about this in your podcast. Everybody has a story, 381 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: but when you have the ability to kind of make 382 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 1: the person that you're talking to engage with them in 383 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:12,359 Speaker 1: the sense that tell me your story because it helps. 384 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: That's something that's a quality in terms of a successful 385 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: candidate that I that I absorbed just from watching you, sir, 386 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 1: uh and then talking to all the politicians also as well. 387 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: I guess I should tell our listeners that Jimmy was 388 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: good enough to campaign with me in Texas. Uh. And 389 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: and I had a different reaction. I was watching you 390 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: and I thought, God, I'm glad I'm not running against 391 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 1: that guy. Yeah, you were good. You had a unnatural 392 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: feel and it was obvious to me you cared about 393 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: the people we were down there talking to. So but 394 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 1: I think that that was an important stay up in television. 395 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: We did a debate episode that remains to me one 396 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: of the highlights of you know, I can kind of 397 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,440 Speaker 1: in my hand, but we had we had a live 398 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 1: debate that we did. It was like doing a play 399 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: that Lawrence O'Donnell was the right around that particular episode 400 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: and Allen and all Allda and I it was you 401 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: still had the machinations of what was going on behind 402 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: the scenes with all of the you know, the handlers 403 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: and the staff, but it was basically what the candidates 404 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 1: perspectives were. You know, I think those I think those 405 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: debates are important, and interestingly enough, they still make a difference. 406 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: And uh, at least through there was so much polarization 407 00:28:56,760 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: in twenty there was more. But still the debates matter 408 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: because it's one of the few times you get to 409 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: actually see this person instead of see what their enemies, 410 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: that their promoters are saying about them. And so the 411 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:18,719 Speaker 1: people who can still be reached by argument and feel 412 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: I think are affected by them. And anyway, you did 413 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: a great job. You were You were good in the movie, 414 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: and you were better on the ground in Texas. It 415 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: may not movie in the TV show. Um tell me 416 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: what happened with a Blessed City law? I liked it, Hillary, 417 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: and I liked it, Thank you. I always dreamed of 418 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: being in law practice with her, and my daughter never 419 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: wanted to be a lawyer. She got into public health 420 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: and loved it and stayed and I'm very proud of her. 421 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: But uh, I love the feel of it. I had 422 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: a great You know, they all don't they all don't hit. 423 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: You can't hit them all out of the park. But 424 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,400 Speaker 1: we had a great time doing it. I loved, loved 425 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: working in Memphis. We we didn't we did. It was 426 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 1: it was something about trying to find out the show 427 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: was trying to find its momentum. We did an episode 428 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: called Fire in a Crowded Theater, which is about the 429 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: First Amendment, and I thought, this is it. We're the 430 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: local locomotion is moving. And then you know, the numbers 431 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: weren't great. We're what they expected, so we didn't make it. 432 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 1: But I had a great time working on it. Let 433 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: me ask you one question that I think it is 434 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: related to this, because I want to end on stuff 435 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: that you do. You said that your mother inspired you 436 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: to do this work you do, including trying to get 437 00:30:53,480 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: young people into acting. But we we talked all the 438 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: time about the disparities and American life, and there are 439 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: the obvious ones in terms of UH income and wealth 440 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: formation and access to healthcare and how people are treated 441 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: in law enforcement and all of that, but you've really 442 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 1: focused on the fact that only about four and a 443 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: half or cent of the roles UH on television and 444 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: in the movies are filled by Latinos, even though of 445 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: the population is Latino in America and twenty three per 446 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 1: cent of the movie going public is within which I 447 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: think is greatly over index in terms of going in 448 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: the movies, especially that first weekend that that that those 449 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 1: important couple of first weekends. Yeah, so just before we go, 450 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 1: tell people what you're trying to do to close that 451 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: gap and what else you think should be done. Well, 452 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: it's it's all representation. And again I'll go back to 453 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 1: if you see it, you can believe, you can aspire 454 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: to to you know, to to do it yourself. And 455 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 1: as I said, Mr President, that the education process for 456 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 1: me has been everything in terms of allowing me to continue. 457 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: And I just wanted to pass that on in in 458 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 1: the small niche of the arts UM because confirmation from 459 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 1: the outside sometimes when you walk into a room and 460 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: if you have a degree from ny U or Yale 461 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 1: or University of Texas, the drama school earth it. It helps, 462 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: It talks, it bespeaks to the fact that you you 463 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: can show versatility and and uh and you have tools 464 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: in the in the toolbox there. So what do you 465 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: want to do with the ust of your wife? Oh? 466 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 1: I love doing what I do, UM, but there is 467 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: a need to continue to tell our stories. And so 468 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: it's it's about finding ways in terms of pro produce 469 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 1: oial thing um to finding those seeds to let the 470 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:22,600 Speaker 1: those trees grow. Yeah, I think that's an important thing 471 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: to say. You have to learn both how to accept 472 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: with grace what you're not doing anymore and how to 473 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:36,600 Speaker 1: accept with vigor what you can still do. And one 474 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 1: of the great things about being in in your line 475 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 1: of work is that you may age out of certain roles, 476 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 1: but you don't have to age out of the work. 477 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: And I think that's really important. I certainly hope so. Yeah, 478 00:33:55,680 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 1: me too, But I think I really believe that you can. 479 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: You should be so proud of this amazing career you've 480 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: had and all the roles you've played. And I'm only 481 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 1: sorry I didn't get to see you in one of 482 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: the Shakespeare place but I have. I'm thrilled about in 483 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 1: the Heights, and I do want the American people to 484 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:23,799 Speaker 1: know the people are listening to this, that you have 485 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:27,720 Speaker 1: done your best to pass along your gifts through the 486 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: Hispanic Federation of trying to educate more young people and 487 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: and to teach them and everybody else that if you 488 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 1: want to be really good at something, you got to 489 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: put in the time and not look for the shortcuts. Absolutely. 490 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 1: You got to put the work in and you have 491 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:55,239 Speaker 1: done it to great effect and we're very grateful to you. 492 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,399 Speaker 1: Thank you, and I thank you. Thank you for your 493 00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 1: time today and good luck with Premier. It's going to 494 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: be a great I appreciate that. I appreciate that. Thank 495 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 1: you for the allowing us to have a real conversation. God, 496 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:16,400 Speaker 1: bless you. I love it. Thank you, bless you. On 497 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: our season finale, I wanted to take a moment to 498 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:20,600 Speaker 1: thank you for joining me on Why Am I telling 499 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: you this? For conversations with some of the most fascinating 500 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:28,279 Speaker 1: people I know, sharing stories about experiences and events that 501 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:33,360 Speaker 1: connect us and shape our world. This podcast benefits the 502 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: work of the Clinton Foundation. I started the Foundation with 503 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,760 Speaker 1: the belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. Everyone 504 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,799 Speaker 1: has a responsibility to act, and we all do better 505 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: and when we work together. In the twenty years since 506 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:50,000 Speaker 1: the Foundation first opened its doors in Harlem, we brought 507 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: together people from across traditional divides to address some of 508 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 1: the most complex and pressing challenges of our time. Our 509 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: goal is to create a culture of stability, always putting 510 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 1: people first. You can learn more at Clinton Foundation dot org. 511 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:11,439 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to joining you soon on our next 512 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,759 Speaker 1: season of Why Am I Telling You This? Why Am 513 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,320 Speaker 1: I Telling You This? Is a presentation of My Heart Radio, 514 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: the Clinton Foundation and at Will Media. Our executive producers 515 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: are Craig Manassian from the Clinton Foundation and Will Manati 516 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 1: from at Will Media. Our production team for the Clinton 517 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: Foundation includes Tom Galton, Sarah Harrowitz, and aunt Hele Arena, 518 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: with support from Corey Gantley, Omarfa Rule, Francesca Ernest Cohn, 519 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:40,839 Speaker 1: Liz Raftree, and Tyler Scott. Our production team for at 520 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 1: Will Media includes Jamison, cat Sufis and Mitch Bluestein, with 521 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: mixing by Jake Young, production coordination by LaTavia Young, and 522 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:55,240 Speaker 1: original music by Wat White. Special thanks to John Sykes, 523 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 1: Teine let Ilinois, John Davidson, Oscar flora Is, Bob Barnett, 524 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: Michael O'Connor, Kevin and Therm, and all our dedicated staff 525 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:05,759 Speaker 1: and partners at the Clinton Foundation. If you have an 526 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 1: idea of suggestion for the show, we'd love to hear 527 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:11,840 Speaker 1: from you, so please visit Clinton Foundation dot org slash 528 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 1: podcast to share your thoughts with us. If you like 529 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:19,280 Speaker 1: the show, tell someone else about it. You can subscribe 530 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,400 Speaker 1: to Why Am I telling you this on the I 531 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. 532 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: By listening to this podcast, you're helping support the work 533 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:31,400 Speaker 1: of the Clinton Foundation, So thank you.