[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> IF THAT IS WHERE THE PARTY IS THE PARTY IS IN TROUBLE.

>> ADAM KINZINGER RESPONDS TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ATTACK AND TALKING ABOUT HIS PLAN TO QUOTE SAVE THE G.O.P.

>> WE ARE FURTHER EASING COVID-19 REGULATIONS ON CHICAGO BUSINESSES.

>> INDOOR DINING EXPANDS, LIQUOR STORES CAN SELL LATER AND FITNESS CLASSES CAN ALLOW MORE PARTICIPANTS.

WE HAVE DETAILS.

>> DAVID... >> GEOFFREY?

>> AND A FAMILIAR FACE TO MANY CHICAGOANS Dr. LESTER FISHER ON HIS TIME AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO AND CELEBRATING HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

TOP STORIES...

THE VACCINATION EFFORT IS EXPANDING IN CHICAGO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS ILLINOIS RESIDENTS 65 AND OLDER CAN START REGISTERING THIS THURSDAY TO GET VACCINATED AT THE NEW MASS VACCINATION SITE AT THE UNITED CENTER.

THE UC PLANS TO BEGIN VACCINATIONS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY AND IT'S EXPECTED TO ADMINISTER 6,000 VACCINATIONS PER DAY.

WE HAVE INFORMATION HOW TO REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND TODAY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE ENOUGH VACCINATION SUPPLY FOR ALL ADULTS BY MAY.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAYS PEOPLE WILL FACE DELAYS GETTING SHOTS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

>> STILL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE FOR EVERYBODY WHO WANTS IT.

BUT EVERYDAY, THAT CALCULUS IS IMPROVING AND UNDERSCORING THE UNITED CENTER AS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN TERM OF OUR ABILITY TO GET VACCINES FIRST TO SENIORS.

>> THE LATEST ON CHANGES TO INDOOR DINING CAPACITY IN CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS.

AND OFFICIALS REPORT 1500 NEW CONFIRMED CASES AND 47 DEATHS THAT BRINGS THE CASE TOTAL TO 1.19 MILLION CASES AND 25083 DEATHS.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 2.8%.

AND COULD IMPROVING NUMBERS MEAN FANS IN THE STANDS THIS SPRING AND SUMMER?

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT BELIEVES THERE WILL BE A POINT DURING THE BASEBALL SEASON WHERE FANS WILL BE WELCOMED BACK TO WRIGLEY AND GUARANTEED RATE FIELD FOR GAMES BUT JUST WHEN AND HOW MANY IS NOT YET KNOWN.

>> ILLINOIS U.S.

SENATOR GRILLED THE HEAD OF THE F.B.I.

IN A HEARING ON THE JANUARY 6 CAPITOL RIOTS.

DURBIN LED THE HEARING WHERE F.B.I.

DIRECTOR WHERE CHRISTOPHER WRAY TESTIFIED ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAPITOL INSURRECTION ATTEMPT.

WRAY SAYS VIOLENT DOMESTIC TERRORISM IS ME TAFT SIZING AND NOT GOING AWAY SOON.

DURBIN ASKED WRAY ABOUT CLAIMS THAT SOME OF THE RIOTERS WERE ANTI-FASCIST ACTIVISTS PRETENDING TO BE TRUMP SUPPERS.

>> BASED ON YOUR INVESTIGATION SO FAR DO YOU HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE CAPITOL ATTACK WAS MADE BY ANTI-TRUMP PEOPLE.

>> ADAM KINZINGER HAS BECOME ONE OF THE NATIONAL FACES TO THE G.O.P.

RESISTANCE TO DONALD TRUMP HE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE TRUMP TOOK AIM AT DURING THE CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE.

>> INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ME AND THE VOTERS OF OUR MOVEMENT, TOP ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON SHOULD BE SPENDING THEIR ENERGY IN OPPOSING BIDEN-PELOSI-SCHUMER AND THE DEMOCRATS.

THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE GRANDSTANDERS LIKE MITT ROMNEY, LITTLE BEN SASS, RICHARD BURR, ADAM KINZINGER... GET RID OF THEM ALL.

>> AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE IS CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER A REPUBLICAN FROM SHANAHAN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU SAID YOU ARE FINE BEING ON TRUMP'S ENEMY'S LIST.

I'M CURIOUS HOW THIS IMPACTS YOUR DAY-TO-DAY INTERACTIONS WITH CONSTITUENTS OR THE MAIL THAT YOU RECEIVE?

>> YES, I MEAN IT CAN GO BOTH WAYS.

THE CALLS AND OUTREACH TO THE OFFICE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF TAKING THE PARTY AND TRYING TO TAKE THE COUNTRY IN A NEW DIRECTION AND OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT IT AND I EXPECTED NO DIFFERENT.

MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ADVOCATE AS HARD AS I CAN FOR THE BENEFITS OF MY DISTRICT AND AS A REPUBLICAN AND AMERICAN SWORN AN OATH TO ADVOCATE AND PUSH FOR POLICIES THAT ARE HELPFUL AND NOW A TONE THAT IS HELPFUL.

BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING WE ARE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW THAT IF THIS KIND OF WAY OF RELATING TO EACH OTHER CONTINUES, DEMOCRACY IS GOING TO BE IN REAL DANGER.

>> WHAT KIND OF DANGER DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY IS IN?

AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE HOW FOLKS ARE RELATING?

>> A DEMOCRACY OR REPUBLIC EXISTS ON THE ABILITY TO KNOW THAT YOUR VOTE IS BEING TALLIED AND KNOW THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR CASE AND ADVOCATE IT IN DEBATES.

AND CONSPIRACIES ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THAT.

WHEN HAVE THINGS LIKE QANON WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT SAYING THE ELECTION WAS STOP EN AND 74 MILLION PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED WHEN THEY WERE OUT VOTED AND SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL IT'S THE KIND OF THINGS THAT BREAKS DOWN POLITICAL INTERACTION AND POLITICS WAS CREATED TO PREVENT VIOLENCE.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS A REPUBLICAN I'M FIGHTING TO RESTORE THE OPTIMISTIC VIEW FOR THE COUNTRY AND ADVOCATE FOR TREATING EACH OTHER LIKE ADULTS AGAIN AND WORKING TOGETHER ON POLICY WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE >> AND THE LIE ABOUT THE STOLEN ELECTION PERSISTS IT WAS A BIG PART OF THE C PAC CONFERENCE DONALD TRUMP MENTIONED IT AGAIN AND A FEW COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE SAYING JANUARY 6 WAS AN UNDERCOVER JOB THERE ARE FAR LEFT ACTIVISTS THAT WERE MASQUERADING AS TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN THOSE RIOTS WHEN THERE IS NOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE THAT IS TRUE.

IS THERE A COORDINATED MESSAGE TO OBSCURE WHAT HAPPENED ON THE 6TH?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF SO MUCH COORDINATED BOY IF I SAY THAT I CAN AVOID THE PAIN OF A BASE THAT IS UPSET.

AND THAT HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE AVOIDED TELLING THE TRUTH.

AND INSTEAD WE'VE PEDDLED IN FEAR AND DIVISION AND CONSPIRACY AND PUSHED OFF OR SAID WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID TO GET THE APPLAUSE LIKE YOU SAW AT C PAC.

IT IS A MATTER OF TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THE FACTS ARE.

AND YOU HAVE TO REPEAT IT OFTEN BECAUSE THE LIES ARE REPEATED JUST AS OFTEN AND SOMETIMES EASIER TO BELIEVE.

>> CERTAINLY THERE IS A BIG ECOSYSTEM REPEATING SOME OF THE LIES.

YOU WERE CENSURED FOR YOUR PUBLIC STANCE ON DONALD TRUMP WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT ACTIVITY?

>> WELL, I DON'T REPRESENT CHICAGO.

I REPRESENT AREAS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AND MANY OF THE COUNTIES THAT SENSE SEWERED ME ARE NOT -- CENSURED ME.

THEY SHOULD BE SPENDING THEIR TIME FIGURING OUT HOW TO BRING PEOPLE IN THAT FOR INSTANCE THAT I WON IN MY DISTRICT I GOT 65% OF THE VOTE AND DONALD TRUMP GOT 56.

SO I GOT PEOPLE'S VOTES THAT VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN.

THAT IS THE FORMULA WE NEED GOING FORWARD AS A PARTY A REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ILLINOIS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PUTTING OUT A TEST AND FIGURING OUT [INAUDIBLE] AND MY CONSCIOUS.

I UNDERSTAND BUT THAT IS MORE ABOUT YOU THAN IT DOES ABOUT ME.

>> SOME OF THE VOTES I ASSUME YOU DID NOT GET WERE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WROTE THAT LETTER TO YOU SAYING YOU JOINED THE DEVIL'S ARMY.

HAVE YOU TRIED REASONING WITH ANY OF THEM SINCE THAT LETTER BECAME PUBLIC?

>> NO.

YOU KNOW, SHE SENT THAT LETTER SO FAR AND WIDE A REPORTER WAS EASILY FOUND AND I'M GLAD IT CAME OUT.

IT SHOWS THE DIFFICULTY AND THE DIVISION GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY.

I DON'T HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST THEM.

THEY PROBABLY TRULY BELIEVE IT.

BUT I HAVE NO DESIRE TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND WHAT THAT DID WAS DOUBLE DOWN MY DESIRE AND EFFORT TO SAY LOOK WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER WAY.

WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER.

WE CAN DISAGREE BUT WE HAVE TO TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE ADULTS AND THAT IS WHY I STARTED THE COUNTRY FIRST MOVEMENT.

>> RIGHT, THE COUNTRY FIRST MOVEMENT WHICH YOU PUT OUT AN ADVERTISEMENT ON THE WEB OR A VIDEO WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF THIS INITIATIVE?

IS IT TO PUT OUT COMMERCIALS?

IS IT TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES?

AND HAVE YOU HAD INTERESTED FUNDERS TO THIS POINT?

>> YES.

SO IT'S ALL THE ABOVE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW DO WE RESTORE THE VALUES G.O.P.?

HOW DO WE BRING PEOPLE IN THAT HAF LEFT OR MAYBE NEVER VOTED REPUBLICAN AND IT'S GETTING OUT THE INFORMATION AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE VISION OF THE PARTY CAN BE OF SUPPORTING CANDIDATES THAT PUT COUNTRY FIRST BEFORE A PERSON AND THE OUTREACH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

WE PUT OUT THE FIRST VIDEO AND WITHIN 24 HOURS WE HAD 20,000 E-MAILS ADDRESSES.

AND THE FINANCIAL OUTPOURING WE HAVE NOT RELEASED NUMBERS YET HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

THERE'S AN UNTAPPED MARKET NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT THAT FEEL UNREPRESENTED OR ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE THIS PARTY WITH A GREAT HISTORY IS GOING.

>> THERE WERE HIGH LEVEL REPUBLICANS THAT SEEMED TO BE BREAKING AWAY FROM DONALD TRUMP LIKE MITCH McCONNELL, NIKKI HALEY AND KEVIN McCARTHY TO HAVE FOLDED BACK A LITTLE BIT.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE DIRECTION YOUR PARTY IS GOING?

>> I AM.

AND PART OF THAT IS AFTER JANUARY 6 I THOUGHT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY OK THAT HAPPENED.

DONALD TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT BUT HERE IS THE VISION GOING FORWARD.

AND HERE IS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

AND HERE'S HOW WE GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO THE KID IN THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE CITY.

INSTEAD I SAW WITH THE INTENSE TO WIN THE MAJORITY WAS TO GO BACK TO DONALD TRUMP AND GET DONORS AND PART OF THE REASON WHY I MADE THE DECISION I HAVE A DESIRE TO LAUNCH A MOVEMENT THAT IS SO BIG BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS TO SAVE THE ALTERNATIVE.

IF IT'S JUST DONALD TRUMP SPEAKING YOU CANNOT EXPECT THE GRASSROOTS TO HAVE AN ORGANIC AWAKENING.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN UBIQUITOUS ON NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND THE ATLANTIC AND THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF OUR POLITICAL MEDIA CONSUMPTION IS BIRFURCATED WHO IS WATCHING WHAT.

DO YOU NEED TO GO ON PLACES LIKE FOX NEWS TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO ATTRACT?

>> TOTALLY.

I'VE BEEN ON THE VIEW.

THAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO GO TO BRING BACK THE SUBURBAN WOMEN WE'VE LOST AND PLACES LIKE FOX NEWS, SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE ME ON BECAUSE IT IS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT IS COUNTER TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING.

BUT I'VE NOTICED TOO, EVEN IF YOU ARE DOING MEDIA THAT MAY BE THE BASE IS NOT TOTALLY WATCHING THEY WILL GET THE MESSAGE.

AND LOOK, THE REPUBLICAN BASE CHANGES.

IT CHANGES.

WE'VE LOST VOTERS AND WE'VE GAINED VOTERS.

THERE IS A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT FEEL UNREPRESENTED THEY ARE NOT REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW THEY ARE NOT DEMOCRATS.

AND THEY WOULD BE ONBOARD WITH AN OPTIMISTIC VISION OF THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.

>> AND A LOT CAN CHANGE.

WE ARE ONE MONTH INTO A NEW ADMINISTRATION WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR.

DOWN TO THE COVID ISSUE YOU VOTED AGAINST THE RELIEF BILL IN THE HOUSE.

HOW COME?

>> MY HOPE IS THAT THAT COMES BACK FROM SENATE BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND WE CAN GET TO A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

I WANTED TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE IS FIRST OFF THERE WAS NO OUTREACH BIMY DEMOCRAT OR THE WHITE HOUSE TO SOMEBODY LIKE ME.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO GET YOUR SUPPORT?

THERE WAS A BIG CHECK WRITTEN TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHOUT A FORMULA IN PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT AND WHAT DO THEY NEED?

THERE'S MONEY FOR SCHOOLS AND MOST DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHEN WE LOOK AT SPENDING $1.9 TRILLION ADDED TO THE DEBT WE HAVE TO SPEND IT WISELY AND IT'S THE TIME TO BE GENEROUS.

I THOUGHT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WENT FORWARD TOO FAST WITH TOO MUCH AND DID NOT PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT.

>> CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU BET.

>> AND UP NEXT RESTAURANT CAPACITY IS ON THE RISE SO STAY WITH US.

>> EFFECTIVE TODAY RESTAURANTS IN CHICAGO CAN ALLOW INDOOR DINING AT THE LESSER OF 50% CAPACITY OR 50 CUSTOMERS.

AND THE CITY'S ALLOWING RESTAURANTS, BARS AND LIQUOR STORES TO STAY OPEN LATER AS WELL AS INCREASING CAPACITY FOR INDOOR FITNESS CLASSES.

>> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS GREAT NEWS AND TO BE HONEST I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT WE WOULD BE HERE SO SOON.

BUT I THINK THAT THE WEARING OF THE MASKS CERTAINLY ALL THESE MEASURES TO VACCINATE OUR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND TARGETING OUR AREAS OF NEED HAVE REALLY HELPED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION INCLUDING OUR BUSINESSES.

>> JOINING US IS WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE.

SO WHAT WERE THE METRICS THE CITY HAD TO REACH TO ACHIEVE THIS EXPANDED INDOOR DINING?

>> WELL, THE ONE THAT WAS HOLDING THE CITY BACK WAS THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE.

NOW, THE MAYOR AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO LET 14-DAYS PASS WHICH IS THE INCUBATION PERIOD FOR A TYPICAL CASE OF COVID-19 PASS BEFORE THEY ALLOWED RESTAURANTS AND BARS TO INCREASE FROM 40% TO 50% CAPACITY.

NOW, WE PASSED THAT MARK THIS WEEKEND AND TODAY THEY TURNED THAT DIMMER SWITCH UP A LITTLE BIT.

MOSTLY BECAUSE THAT TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS NOW 2.9% WHICH IS AN ALL-TIME LOW.

THERE'S ALSO ALL TIME LOWS IN HOSPITALIZATIONS, INTENSIVE CARE UNITS AS WELL AS EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS WITH SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.

SO Dr. ALLISON ARWADY SAID EVERYTHING IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THEY FELT THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE STEP TO TAKE.

>> CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.

WHAT ABOUT COOK COUNTY?

SUBURBAN RESTAURANTS ALSO EXPANDING CAPACITY?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE CITY AND THE COUNTY PARTNERED TOGETHER SO THAT THEY WOULD MOVE IN ONE STEP.

SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A SITUATION LIKE SAY IN EDITION PARK WHERE RESTAURANTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE BORDER OF CHICAGO WOULD BE UNDER DIFFERENT RULES AND RESTAURANTS IN PARK RIDGE STEPS AWAY WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT RULES.

SO THEY TRIED TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT SO THAT ANY POSSIBLE SURGE COULD NOT FIND ITS WAY IN AND SO FAR IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED.

>> I KNOW THAT AREA IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

QUICKLY, OTHER RESTRICTIONS LOOSENED TODAY?

>> FITNESS CLASSES WILL INCREASE TO 20 PEOPLE PER CLASS.

AND BARS CAN NOW SERVE UNTIL 1:00 A.M. AND YOU CAN HEAD TO THE LIQUOR STORE UNTIL 11:00 P.M. THOSE SALES HAD BEEN STOPPED AT 9:00 P.M.

SO YOU CAN RUN OUT FOR A NIGHTCAP LATER THAN YOU HAD BEEN ABLE TO.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ARE ADDRESSING THAT TO ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ THE STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE AND A LINCOLN PARK ZOO LEGEND.

PHIL?

>> THANKS.

Dr. LESTER FISHER HAS LED A REMARKABLE LIFE TO PUT IT MILDLY.

FROM TAKING CARE OF GENERAL PATTON'S BULLDOG DURING HIS SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II TO A FOUR-DECADE ASSOCIATION WITH THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO.

HE STARTED OUT AS A PART-TIME VETOIAN HIRED BY HAROLD PERKINS WHEN HE LEFT IN 1962 FISHER BECAME THE ZOO'S DIRECTOR AND WENT ON TO BECOME A FAMILIAR FACE TO CHICAGOANS WITH THE ARK IN THE PARK SEGMENTS AND FISHER TRANSFORMED NOT JUST LINCOLN PARK ZOO BUT THE NOTION OF WHAT A ZOO COULD BE.

LAST WEEK FISHER TURNED 100 AND HE JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HIS LIFE AND CAREER.

Dr. LESTER FISHER WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT TAKING CARE OF GENERAL PATTON'S BULLDOG.

HOW DID THAT COME TO BE?

>> IT CAME TO BE BECAUSE MY BOSS WHEN I WENT TO ENGLAND, MY BOSS WAS IN YOU MIGHT SAY A FRIEND OF THE GENERAL'S.

THEY HAD BEEN IN THE CAVALRY IN KANSAS TOGETHER AND SO WHEN PATTON GOT A PUPPY WHEN HE WAS IN ENGLAND BEFORE HE CROSSED THE CONTINENT AND THE DOG THE COLONEL WOULD CALL ME AND SAY I WILL BE GONE A FEW DAYS AND WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF WILLIE?

AND MY ANSWER WAS YES, SIR.

I ENJOYED THE RESPONSIBILITY BUT IT PREYED ON ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THAT DOG DURING MY WATCH, THE GENERAL IS GOING TO GET RID OF ME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WARNED ME ABOUT THE GERMAN ARMY AND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT WILLIE.

>> WELL, LET'S FAST FORWARD TO YOUR TIME AT THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO.

YOU DEVELOPED A STRONG RELATIONSHIP AND AFFECTION FOR BUSHMAN THE GORILLA.

REMIND US WHO BUSHMAN WAS?

>> BUSHMAN WAS ONE OF TWO BIG GORILLAS IN AMERICA IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS ONE AT RINGLING BROTHERS AND BUSHMAN CAME TO CHICAGO AS THE YOUNG OLD YOUNGSTER AND GREW UP TO BE AN INCREDIBLE 550 POUND BEAUTIFUL MUSCLED GORILLA.

AND PEOPLE IN THE CITY WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO COME AND WATCH AND SEE HIM AND IT WAS JUST AN IMMENSE EXPERIENCE TO BE CLOSE TO AN ANIMAL OF THAT SIZE AND SCOPE.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU WOULD EVEN DREAM OF BUSHMAN?

WHAT MADE HIM SO SPECIAL TO YOU?

>> YES, I WOULD.

BECAUSE THE DREAMS WERE THE WORRISOME PART WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF BUSHMAN GETS SICK?

HOW AM I GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HIM?

WHAT IF EVER I'M COMING TO THE OLD MONKEY HOUSE AT NIGHT, 2:00 A.M., AND WHAT IF BUSHMAN IS STANDING OUT THERE WAITING TO SEE ME?

SO THOSE WERE THE SORT OF DREAMS I HAD.

AND FORTUNATELY, I NEVER HAD TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

EXCEPT ONE TIME THE KEEPER GOOFED AND DIDN'T SECURE BUSHMAN'S CAGE PROPERLY DURING THE DAY NOT AT NIGHT.

AND WORD CAME TO MY OFFICE BUSHMAN'S OUT.

AND THAT WAS A VERY DRAMATIC MOMENT TO ME AND WE FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD BEEN PLAYED WITH THROUGH THE BACK AREAS BY THE KEEPERS WITH SOME SNAKES.

SO I SAID GO TO THE REPTILE HOUSE AND GET GARDINER SNAKES AND WE SHOWED THEM TO BUSHMAN UNDER THE DOORWAY AND LO AND BEHOLD HE WALKED BACK INTO HIS CAGE AND WE SECURED IT AND ALL WAS WELL.

I WAS LUCKY.

>> YOU WERE LUCKY THEN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT GORILLAS ESCAPED FROM THEIR EN CLOSURES FOUR TIMES.

IN 1985 WHEN I WAS A REPORTER AT CHANNEL 2, I COVERED THE ESCAPE OF A GORILLA NAMED OTTO.

HOW WAS IT THAT GORILLAS WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR EN CLOSURES?

>> OTTO WAS AN INTERESTING ANIMAL BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE FRIENDS OF OTTO KEARNER THE THEN GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS.

SO THAT IS WHY I NAMED THAT PARTICULAR YOUNGSTER AT THAT TIME OTTO AND HE GOT OUT NOT FROM THE INSIDE BUILDING AREA.

HE WAS IN AN OUTSIDE YARD AND HE SCALED THE WALL SOMEHOW.

AND THEY HAVE PICTURES OF ME RUNNING TOWARD HIM OUTSIDE THERE AND HIM RUNNING TOWARD ME.

AND WE HAD KIND OF A STANDOFF AND AGAIN, BY SHEAR GOOD LUCK WE HAD THE CAPTURE GUPS WHERE YOU COULD DART AN ANIMAL WITH AN AN THESE PARTICULAR AND WE SHOT OTTO WITH THAT AND PUT HIM BACK IN THE CAGE.

>> YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL REENVISIONING WHAT A ZOO COULD BE YOU THOUGHT OF THE EN CLOSURES AS JAIL CELLS BUT YOU TRANSFORMED IT INTO MORE OF AN OPEN AREA MORE NATURALISTIC.

DID YOU HAVE AN A-HA MOMENT WHEN YOU DECIDED THINGS HAVE GOT TO CHANGE?

>> MY A-HA MOMENT WAS THE DAY I SAT IN MY OFFICE AND THOUGHT A LITTLE ABOUT T YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE ZOOS OF 50 AND 100 YEARS AGO WERE VERY SPARSE AND THE REASON WAS HYGIENIC.

IT WAS EASE TO HOSE THE CAGE OUT SO THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE CAGE EXPECT A SHELF FOR THE ANIMAL TO SIT ON AND PEOPLE TO COME AND LOOK WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO.

IT STRUCK ME THIS WAS NOT THE BEST THING TO DO WITH THE ANIMALS.

AND SO WE DECIDED THAT ONE OF OUR EARLY GOALS WOULD BE TO MAKE LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL FOR THE ANIMAL AND WE DECIDED TO HAVE LESS KINDS OF ANIMALS, LESS SPECIES AND WE WOULD GIVE FEWER ANIMALS MORE SPACE.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF A GOAL AND WE WORKED TOWARD THAT.

>> YOU BECAME A REGULAR ON TV ON WGN-TV.

AND LET'S LOOK AT A CLIP.

>> DAVID BROUGHT GEOFFREY.

>> GEOFFREY.

>> THIS IS GEOFFREY?

>> YES, THIS IS GEOFFREY.

>> FULL OF ANIMALS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

GEOFFREY.

>> WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL A HANDSOME ONE LIKE THIS.

>> CHARLIE.

>> HE IS A SWEET ANIMAL AND OF COURSE HE IS ONE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] NOT VENOMOUS HE IS A JOY BECAUSE HE HELPS GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY AREA TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH SNAKES.

>> AND AS YOU LOOK BACK AT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND LOOK BACK AT OUR LIFE I'M SURE PEOPLE ASKED YOU HAVING TURNED 100 IS THERE A SECRET TO LONGEVITY?

>> WELL, THE ONLY SECRET AND IT'S NO REAL SECRET IS JUST GOOD GENES.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS LIVED TO BE IN THEIR 80s AND 90s.

AND SOME GOOD NUTRITION AND A LOT OF GOOD SUPPORT FROM MY PARENTS FROM FRIENDS, FROM CAREGIVERS, FROM DOCTORS, I THINK IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT MIX OF THAT AND A LITTLE LUCK THROWN IN, YOU TOO, MAY BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DID.

REACH A HUNDRED.

>> YOU'VE HAD MORE THAN A LITTLE LUCK AND A REMARKABLE CAREER THANK YOU FOR SHARING SOME OF YOUR MEMORIES WITH US.

Dr. FISHER ALL THE BEST TO YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, PHIL, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> AND THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO IS REOPENING TO VISITORS FRIDAY.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.

AND PARIS IS BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP IN A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU RISE UP SONGS OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. HOW WILL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE?

AND MEET A CHICAGOAN WHO PLUNGED INTO LAKE MICHIGAN FOR MORE THAN 260 CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

FOR US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.

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