♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE GO BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH LOUISVILLE'S FORMER MAYORS, TWO OF THE THREE LIVING FORMER MAYORS JOIN US TO EXPLAIN HOW OUR PAST CAN INFORM OUR FUTURE.

WE BEGIN WITH Dr. HARVEY SLOANE, WHO SERVED TWO TERMS AS LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR FROM 1973-77 AND ANOTHER TERM FROM 1982-1986.

THEY WERE SOME OF THE MOST VOLATILE TIMES IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY THAT INCLUDED THE 1974 TORNADO OUTBRAUCH OUTBREAK AND RACE RYE ON THES IN 1975.

HERE IS HOW Dr. SLOANE DESCRIBED HIS PRIORITIES IN A GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE IN 1983.

>> HARVEY SLOANE HAS NOT CHANGED.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE AS I HAVE BEEN THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT MY LIFE HAS BEEN ABOUT, HELPING OTHER PEOPLE, BEING A PROCESS IN EITHER THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

BUT LET'S UNDERSTAND TIMES DO CHANGE.

MY FIRST ADMINISTRATION IN LOUISVILLE WAS CONCERNING ITSELF ABOUT DELIVERY SYSTEMS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, REVITALIZATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

MY SECOND ADMINISTRATION IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VERY ECONOMIC CORE OF OUR CITY.

ARE WE GOING TO BE VIABLE?

AND THEREFORE I HAVE THROWN MY ENERGIES INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GETTING LABOR AND MANAGEMENT TO WORK TOGETHER, SEEING THAT THE BLOD WAY PLAN-- BROADWAY PLAN IS FINANCED ADEQUATELY, SEEING THAT THE GALLERIA COMES ON ON SCHEDULE, SAVING JOBS THROUGH STANDARD NEGOTIATIONS AND REALLY MAINTAINING THE TAX BASE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GOING TO DO THAT AS GOVERNOR.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ATTRACT JOBS TO KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE 200,000 KENTUCKIANS OUT OF WORK.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF DEPRESSION IN 1979.

WE HAVE IT TODAY.

AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

AND I HAVE SEEN AND MET AND HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE SUFFERING.

AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PREVENT THAT AND ALEVE YAT-- ALLEVIATE THAT AND THE DIRECTION OF MY ADMINISTRATION IS TO SEE THAT WE ATTRACT, FIRST OF ALL, OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE TO STAY HERE, SECOND OF ALL, ENCOURAGING THEM TO EXPAND AND THIRD OF ALL, ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S HOW MY EFFORTS ARE GOING TO GO IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> DURING THAT FIRST TERM AS MAYOR, YOU HAD A LOT GOING ON.

WE HAD THE TORNADO OUTBREAK IN LOUISVILLE, FACING A CITY SANITATION STRIKE AND THEN HAD TO IMPLEMENT THE FEDERAL ORDER TO DESEGREGATE LOUISVILLE SCHOOLS, THE CREATION OF BUSING.

SO LOOKING BACK NOW, WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF AND IT MAY NOT BE ANY OF THOSE THAT ALL.

>> ONE OF THE ONES THAT YEAR THAT WAS MOST PROUD OF WAS PASSING THE TAX FOR TARK.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE BUSING WAS COMING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND WE CONTINUE HAVE BUS SERVICE IF WE DIDN'T PASS THAT.

THE NEXT YEAR, AS YOU MENTIONED, WAS THE COURT ORDERED BUSING OF 22,000-- 22,600 STUDENTS.

IT WAS NOT JUST IN THE CITY, BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T INTEGRATE WITH 90% STUDENTS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE COUNTY, 90% CAW-- CAUCASIAN.

IT HAD TO BE CITY-COUNTY.

AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY, SEPTEMBER 4 OF 1975 ON THE BUS WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS GOING DOWN TO SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND WE WERE MET PARENTS WHO REALLY WERE TICKED OFF.

AND AS I GOT OFF, THEY SAID, LOOK, WE USED TO BE IN THE WEST END.

BUT OUR KIDS WEREN'T GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY NEEDED AND WE NEEDED SO WE BROUGHT THEM DOWN HERE IN SOUTHWEST.

AND NOW YOU ON BRINGING THEM BACK IN THIS BUSING.

THIS IS TYRANNY.

THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

WELL, YOU COULDN'T ARGUE ON THAT AT THAT TIME.

AND I JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEDERAL COURT ORDER.

WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT IT PEACEFULLY.

AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WORKING WITH US.

SO THERE WERE SOME REAL RUMBLES, PARTICULARLY IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN IN THE CITY, THE SATURDAY AFTER THE THURSDAY FRIDAY, WE GOT WORD THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DEMONSTRATION.

THE KU KLUX KLAN WAS COMING IN.

PEOPLE WERE ORGANIZING THROUGH THEIR CBs, CITIZEN BAND RADIOS.

AND I HAD CALLED THE GOVERNOR, JULIAN CARROLL, WHO WAS IN THE MIDST OF A CAMPAIGN.

AND I SAID GOVERNOR, WE REALLY NEED THE NATIONAL GUARD.

UNDERSTANDING HE IS IN A CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, AGAIN.

AND IT WASN'T THE MOST POPULAR THING TO DEAL WITH BUSING IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT ANYWAY, HE AGREED.

AND THEN THE SATURDAY MORNING, BECAUSE THERE WERE GOING TO BE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING IN, I DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T CONGREGATE WITH C.B.s FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMONSTRATION.

THEY COULDN'T COME DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE RIPPED UP DOWNTOWN, THE NEW MALL THAT WE HAD AND EVERYTHING.

AND WE HAD THE NATIONAL GUARD, THE STATE POLICE, AND THE CITY POLICE.

AND THEY DIDN'T COME IN.

AND WE KEPT THE PEACE.

>> 40 YEARS LATER, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT BUSING.

IT'S STILL A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE HERE.

WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT BRIDGING THAT NINTH STREET DIVIDE.

WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT CRIME IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO PERMEATE THE CITY 40 YEARS LATER?

IT'S THE SAME THINGS YOU WERE OR DEALING WITH WHEN YOU WERE HERE?

>> WELL, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY FACING THIS.

MANY, MANY OTHER CITIES.

IT IS A CONSTANT ETERNAL VIGILANCE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE TO PEOPLE, THE LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY, KEEPING CLOSE TIES WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.

THE POLICE, OBVIOUSLY, ARE A SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY IN THE ANALYSIS BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRETTY DEVASTATING.

AND THAT HAS TO BE WORKED OUT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE ON THE FORCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT BECOME A VERY ATTRACTIVE JOB FOR MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

AND WE JUST GOT TO KEEP WORKING ON IT.

>> WHEN YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN OUR CITY, WHICH YOU MENTIONED IN 2020, WHAT ARE-- WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AND COMING BACK AND SEEING SOME OF THESE PARTS OF DOWNTOWN STILL BOARDED UP.

WE ARE STILL KIND OF REELING FROM THAT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD?

>> YEAH, THAT WAS JUST A TRAGEDY OF MAJOR-- AND OBVIOUSLY IT HIT THE NATIONAL MEDIA.

SO THAT, WITH GEORGE FLOYD WAS ... AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY, COUNTY JUST HAS TO HAVE THEY TERM VIGILANCE OF RELATING TO PEOPLE, TO HAVE INTEGRITY IN THE POLICE FORCE SO THAT'S NOT AN IGNITION POINT.

YOU GOT TO BE VERY PROACTIVE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS.

AND MEET WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE ANGRY AND TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT ANGER.

AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL.

IT TAKES TIME.

BUT YOU CAN'T JUST SORT OF DRAW BACK AND NOT DO ANYTHING.

YOU GOT TO REACH OUT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THIS I WE DID IN BUSING.

>> AND MEET PEOPLE ON A HUMAN LEVEL.

YOU HAD A LEGACY OF THAT.

AND LAST QUESTION THOUGH.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR LEGACY WILL BE HERE IN LOUISVILLE?

>> WELL, I HOPE MY LEGACY IN NOT ONLY LOUISVILLE, BECAUSE AFTER I LOST TO MITCH, I WENT UP TO WASHINGTON AND BECAME THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH UNDER MAYOR MARION BARRY AND WASHINGTON DID NOT HAVE THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAD IN LOUISVILLE.

IT WAS CHAOTIC.

AND I WORKED THERE TWO YEARS.

AND THEN Mr. BARRY DID NOT WANT ME TO CONTINUE WAS WITH HIM.

AND FIRED ME.

AND I GOT A CALL FROM A PROFESSOR AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC THAT I HAD WORKED WITH.

HE SAID DO YOU WANT TO GO TO RUSSIA?

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I'VE BEEN FASCINATED WITH RUSSIA AND HISTORY.

I HAVE BEEN OVER THERE IN 1965.

SO I JOINED A GROUP THAT WAS IN COOPERATION WITH THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, THE LARGEST PHYSICIAN ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY ORGANIZATION, SECOND TO THE A.M.A.

AND I SPENT 12 YEARS IN RUSSIA, MAINLY IN SIBERIA AND THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST.

AND WE WORKED IN PRISONS AND THERE WAS ONE T.B.

PRISON, THE PRISONERS HAD NOTHING BUT T.B., AND I REMEMBER GOING IN AND IT WAS JUST THE SADDEST SIGHT TO SEE THESE YOUNG MEN IN BEDS, CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE DRUGS AT THAT TIME.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT.

SO I TOLD THE HEAD OF THE PRISON, I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

AND HE ASKED ME TO COME BACK A YEAR LATER AND THEY WERE IN SEPARATE BEDS AND THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN AND, YOU KNOW, THE PRISONERS WERE GETTING TREATMENT.

SO I LIKE TO THINK OF MY LIFE AS ONE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE IS, NOT ONLY TO ME, AND IT MADE MY-- I GOT MY JOY OUT OF THAT.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY AND I WOULD ADVOCATE EVERY YOUNG PERSON THINKS ABOUT A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THEY CAN DO PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE IDEA WOULD BE ONE YEAR THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE 18-30 COULD SERVE IN AMERICORPS OR PEACE PORPS OR SOME OF THESE OTHERS, AND REALLY LEARN WHAT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD IS ALL ABOUT.

AND IT OPENED MY WORLD, I KNOW.

AND IN APPALACHIA, I SAW RURAL POVERTY THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE CONCEIVED ABOUT.

THAT WAS MY TWO YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.

AND SO I HOPE PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER ME AS A PERSON IN PUBLIC SERVICE, DIDN'T DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.

BUT DID MY BEST AND I THIS I WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD RUN.

>> JERRY ABRAMSON SUCCEEDED HARVEY SLOANE AS LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR IN 1986 AND SERVED UNTIL 1999 AS THE ONLY THREE-TERM MAYOR OF THE OLD CITY OF LOUISVILLE.

HE TOOK OFFICE AGAIN IN 2003 AS THE FIRST MAYOR OF THE MERGED LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, WHERE HE HELD OFFICE THERE UNTIL 2011.

HE WENT ON TO BE ELECTED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AND APPOINTED AS THE DIRECTOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS IN THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE.

TODAY HE'S BACK IN LOUISVILLE AND HIS FOCUS NOW IS ON EDUCATION.

WELL, YOU MAY KNOW JERRY ABRAMSON AS MAYOR FOR LIFE, AS HE WAS CALLED BECAUSE OF AN UNPRECEDENTED TWO DECADES AS MAYOR.

AND THEN YOU LEFT POLITICS TO TURN YOUR FOCUS TO EDUCATION.

AND TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO NOW?

>> WELL, 21 YEARS AS MAYOR, THREE YEARS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE WORKING FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA IN THE WESTED WING, BEING HIS ASSISTANT FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REALLY GAVE ME ALL THAT I WANTED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

BUT THE ONE THING I REALLY WANTED TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN WAS EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE AND ENERGIZING YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, TO BE INVOLVED, TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC SERVICE, TO BE CIVIC LEADERS.

AND THAT GAVE ME, THIS GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO JUST THAT.

TEACHING AT SPAULDING UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO GOING UP TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY ONCE A SEMESTER AND SPENDING A DAY WITH THREE OR FOUR CLASSES AND LECTURING, GOING UP TO THE MARTIN SCHOOL AT U.K. AND DOING THE SAME THING, GOING TO HARVARD ONCE A SEMESTER TO THE KENNEDY SCHOOL AND LECTURING.

GOING TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY ONCE A YEAR TO THE INSTITUTE ON CITIES AND TALKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT MUNICIPALITIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING ENGAGED.

SO THAT KEEPS ME EXCITED AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

>> YEAH, SO Dr. SLOANE DESCRIBED SOME OF HIS TOUGHEST CHALLENGES AS MAYOR.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON ALL OF THAT TIME, WAS THERE ANY PARTICULAR CHALLENGES YOU FOUND THE HARDEST?

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK ME, AS I FINISHED MY TERM, THAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE WAS THAT PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE SAW THE GLASS HALF EMPTY.

AND I HAD TO CREATE AN ENERGY THAT CHANGED PEOPLE'S MINDS AND BAN TO SEE THAT WE COULD CHALLENGE ANY CITY, WE COULD COMPETE FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO, WHERE WAS THE PRESBYTERIAN USA ORGANIZATION GOING TO LOCATE AS THE NORTH AND SOUTH CONSOLIDATED, ATLANTA, NEW YORK, KANSAS CITY, WE WON.

WHERE WAS UPS GOING TO LOCATE?

THEY WERE LOOKING AT CITIES ALL THROUGHOUT THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

WE WON 26,000 JOBS AS OF TODAY.

380 BUSINESSES CAME HERE AS OF TODAY.

TOUGH TO RELOCATE PEOPLE AROUND THE AIRPORT, TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE AIRPORT FROM CROSS RUNWAYS TO PARALLEL RUNWAYS, ABOUT 4,000 PEOPLE HAD TO BE RELOCATED.

118 BUSINESSES, 11 CHURCH, IT WAS TOUGH.

THOSE WERE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON.

PEOPLE WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE WATERFRONT.

HARVEY HAD BEGUN THAT.

I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN AND HAVE THE CONTINUITY OF 21 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT THROUGH.

SO THOSE WERE THE THINGS THAT REALLY COME TO MIND.

>> WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND I KNOW THEY'RE SOME OF THE SAME THINGS YOU FACED WERE, THE BUSING SITUATION, VIOLENT CRIME, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT OUR CITY TODAY IS STILL DEALING WITH.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE OUR CITY STANDS NOW AND WOULD YOU HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE COME FURTHER BY NOW?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THAT EVERYTHING IS UP HERE.

I MEAN IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR HOME HOMETOWN, THEN YOU GET ENGAGED TO MAKE IT BETTER.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH DIFFICULTIES.

COVID WAS A REALLY TOUGH TIME.

THE BREONNA TAYLOR SITUATION WAS A REALLY TOUGH TIME.

THE WHOLE GUNS ISSUE HAS BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME IN CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

SO THOSE CONTINUE, BUT IT TAKES PEOPLE TO ENGAGE.

PEOPLE TO BE WILLING TO WORK ON CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, TOLL TOLSTOY ONCE SAID, EVERYBODY WANTS CHANGE BUT NOBODY WANTS TO CHANGE THEMSELVES.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE TO ENGAGE AND INVOLVE OURSELVES AND BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF PART OF THE PROBLEM.

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU LOOK BACKS ON, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THAT TIME SINCE, YOU STILL SAY YOUR FAVORITE PART WAS BEING MAYOR.

WHY IS THAT?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AT 5:30 AND GOING TO A 7 A.M. SENIOR STAFF IN THE ROOSEVELT ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE EVERY DAY FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS WAS REALLY ENERGIZING, AND VERY EXCITING.

BUT VERY, VERY INTENSE.

WHAT I ENJOYED THE MOST WAS THE LOCAL LEVEL, DOING THINGS AT-- FOR MY HOMETOWN, BEING HERE TO PLAN, TO DEVELOP, TO LISTEN, TO CREATE AND THEN TO IMPLEMENT.

AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, WHETHER IT WAS NEW LIBRARY BRANCHES, WHETHER IT WAS NEW PARKS, WHETHER IT WAS REHABBING HOMES, WHETHER IT WAS DEVELOPING MORE YOUTH PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT WAS CREATING OPERATION BRIGHT SIDE, TO BEAUTIFY OUR HOMETOWN, THOSE THINGS GAVE ME TREMENDOUS SATISFACTION, GAVE ME GREAT ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT AND AS I LOOK BACK, I THINK THE 21 YEARS AS MAYOR WAS PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING PART OF MY PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT BEING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THEN GOING ON TO WORK AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

I IMAGINE THOSE JOBS WERE A LOT DIFFERENT FROM BEING MAYOR.

>> IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

WHEN YOU ARE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, IF YOU KNOW THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION, YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS NO JOB INFORMATION OR DISCRIMINATION FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO YOU CAN STAY HOME.

JUST PICK UP A CHECK, I GUESS.

BUT WORKING WITH STEVE BESHEAR, HE ASKED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION.

AND I DO THAT, I LED A TAX REFORM MOVEMENT, BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION.

; TO CHANGE OUR TAX STRUCTURE.

VERY EXCITING, BUT ULTIMATELY DIDN'T ENERGIZE ME ENOUGH TO WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND SO I ANNOUNCED I WASN'T GOING TO RUN.

AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER I GET A CALL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

I WENT UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

I SAID, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME AS MAYOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE WHITE HOUSE NEVER ASKED US WHAT WE THOUGHT.

THEY NEVER LISTENED TO US.

THEY TOLD US WHAT THEY WANTED US TO KNOW.

AND I THEREFORE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE TIME OR THE ENERGY TO WANT TO DO THIS.

AND THEY PROMISED ME THAT, NO, IF THERE IS A DOMESTIC ISSUE, HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, WHATEVER, HOUSING, THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE WANT YOU IN THAT MEETING BECAUSE YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A MAYOR AND AS A STATE OFFICIAL.

SO THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I SAID TO MY WIFE, I SAID, YOU KNOW, IF IN FACT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE, I THINK I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD SOME VALUE.

AND BY GOLLY, I GET A CALL AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND I PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY HELLO AND THE OPERATOR SAID IS THIS JERRY ABRAMSON.

I SAID YES.

THEY SAID CAN YOU HOLD FOR THE PRESIDENT?

THE PRESIDENT OF WHAT?

THE ABOUT THE OF THE UNITED STATES.

-- THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WELL, OF COURSE.

BARACK OBAMA, WE NEED YOU FOR THE LAST QUARTER.

WOULD YOU COME UP HERE AND SPEND TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND WORK WITH ME ON CITIES AND COUNTIES AND STATES?

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

YOU SAY YES, SIR.

SO A WEEK LATER I RESIGNED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, TWO WEEKS LATER I HAD AN APARTMENT IN WASHINGTON, MY FAMILY STAYED HERE BECAUSE I GOT UP AT 5:30, WALKED TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A 7 A.M. SENIOR STAFF EVERY MORNING.

DIDN'T LEAVE THE WHITE HOUSE UNTIL 8, 8:30, SOMETIMES 9:00 AT NIGHT SIX DAYS A WEEK, GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING AND DID IT AGAIN.

IT WAS VERY EXCITING BUT VERY INTENSE AS SOON AS YOU WALKED INTO THE WEST WING.

>> YEAH, SO DO YOU EVER LOOK BACK AND HAVE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS STILL?

>> NO, I THINK I'VE DONE MY BIT.

I MEAN I WENT FROM PRESIDENT OF MY SON'S P.T.A.

TO THE WEST WING OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> YOU'VE DONE IT ALL.

>> I'VE DONE IT ALL.

RIGHT NOW MY ENJOYMENT IS WITH MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND TWO-YEAR-OLD GRANDCHILDREN.

SPENDING TOO I AM WITH MY WIFE.

AND ENERGIZING KIDS IN EDUCATION SETTINGS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE INVOLVED.

>> BUT IT HAS TO BE HARD FOR YOU TO SEE THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY THAT YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT AND ARE THERE ANY-- THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD PARTICULARLY DO DIFFERENT IF YOU WERE MORE INVOLVED?

>> IT IS SO EASY TO SECOND GUESS.

>> SURE.

>> THERE ARE TIMES WHERE MAYOR GREENBERG CALLED AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

AND I WOULD TELL HIM WHAT I THINK.

BUT I DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL PEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIFE AND TELL THEM WHAT I THINK.

I WAIT.

AND IF THEY WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY, IN A CONFIDENTIAL WAY, TO GIVE ADVICE.

I'M VERY HOPEFUL.

I'VE GOT A WHOLE NEW TEAM.

VERY FRESH GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY GOING ON AT CITY HALL METRO HALL.

SO I'M HOPEFUL.

>> HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN, THAT NETWORK OF REACHING OUT TO ASK YOU OR OTHER PAST MAYORS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.

SOME MAYORS-- FISHER CALLED ONCE IN A WHILE, NOT VERY OFTEN.

MAYOR GREENBERG CALLS ONCE IN A WHILE.

BUT I GET CALLS FROM MAYORS OF INDIANAPOLIS.

I GET CALLS OF FORMER MAYORS OR FORMER FRIENDS WHO ARE MAYORS IN KANSAS CITY.

WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN THIS THING CAME ABOUT?

AND THAT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY, WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, AND I LED THE MAYORS OF THIS COUNTRY ON SEVERAL NATIONAL ISSUES.

LIKE ASSAULT WEAPONS, WHICH WE GOT BANNED FOR 10 YEARS NATIONALLY.

BUT IT SUNSET AFTER 10 YEARS.

IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO STILL KEEP MY FINGERS IN THE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN CITIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE AT THIS MOMENT FOR OUR CITY?

>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT OUR CITIES LIKE A PATCHWORK QUILT.

AND IF THERE IS A CORNER OF THAT QUILT THAT IS FRAYING, THE WHOLE QUILT IS IN JEOPARDY.

AND SO THE HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE WILL ENGAGE IN SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT MAY NOT BE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR NEAR THEIR BUSINESS.

BUT ARE THE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED SO THE QUILT DOESN'T UNRAVEL.

AND SO THAT'S MY HOPE.

THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU NEED TO BE INVOLVED.

YOU NEED TO BE ENGAGED.

PROBLEMS AREN'T SOLVED WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO CHALLENGE THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT YOU TEACH THE STUDENTS YOU WORK WITH?

>> EVERY DAY.

LIKE A STUDENT YESTERDAY I GAVE A LECTURE UP AT U.K. AND THE YOUNG LADY I REALLY WANT TO HELP ON THESE MYRIAD OF PROBLEMS BUT THEY'RE OVERWHELMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

THE ANSWER WAS SHE WAS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND I SAID, YOU PUT A CARING ADULT, YOURSELF, IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD WHO IS HAVING DIFFICULTY AND YOU ASSIST THEM AND YOU TUTOR THEM AND YOU MENTOR THEM AND THEY WILL DO BETTER.

I'VE DONE IT EVERY SEMESTER WHEN I WAS MAYOR.

WOULD I TAKE A CHILD IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I WOULD WORK WITH HIM AND SOME OF THEM GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO COLLEGE.

SOME OF THEM WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT OUT TO MAKE BIG MONEY.

PLUMBING, CARPENTRY, ELECTRICIANS, BUT SO NO, I CAN'T SOLVE, NOR CAN SHE, ALL THE PROBLEMS DEALING WITH HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS.

BUT I CAN WORK WITH ONE YOUNG PERSON.

AND IF EACH OF US CARES ENOUGH TO GIVE THE TIME TO THAT ONE YOUNG PERSON, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

DON'TING OVERWHELMED BY-- I MEAN I'M ON THE BOARD OF DA IRTO CARE.

WE HAVE REAL DIFFICULTIES IN THIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO FOOD IN CERTAIN AREAS.

I'M ON THE BOARD OF DARE TO CARE.

IT'S A BIG PROBLEM, I'M NOT SOLVING IT ALL BUT I GO DOWN TO 28th AND VIRGINIA AND I WORK IN THE KITCHEN EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR THREE HOURS AND I SIT ON THE BOARD AND WE RAISE MONEY AND ATTRACT FOOD CONTRIBUTIONS CHT SO THAT WE CAN-- SO THAT WE CAN HELP.

ARE WE SOLVING ALL OF IT?

NO.

ARE WE MOVING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD?

YES, WE ARE.

WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

>> WELL, WE'VE DUG INTO THE ARCHIVES FOR THIS EPISODE, LINKED UP SOME OF OUR PAST PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THOSE SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS IN THE CITY DURING BOTH MAYORS TENURES.

YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEOS LINKED UP ON ket.org/INSIDE LOUISVILLE AND DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON GRAM.

INSTAGRAM, YOU CAN SHARE YOUR FAVORITE GUESTS IN AND OUT OF TOWN.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR "INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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