COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE'LL LOOK AT PROP 139, THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD EXPAND ABORTION ACCESS IN ARIZONA.. ALSO TONIGHT, DETAILS ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CLEAN ENERGY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES... AND, WE'LL SPEAK WITH BROADCASTING PIONEER, CONNIE CHUNG.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE SUSPECT IN YESTERDAY'S APPARENT ASSASINATION ATTEMPT ON DONALD TRUMP APPEARED IN COURT TODAY.

58-YEAR-OLD RYAN WESLEY ROUTH IS FACING TWO FEDERAL WEAPONS CHARGES.

CELLPHONE DATA INDICATES THAT ROUTH WAITED IN THE WOODS NEAR TRUMP'S FLORIDA GOLF COURSE FOR 12 HOURS BEFORE HE WAS SPOTTED BY A SECRET SERVICE AGENT, WHO NOTICED THE BARREL OF A RIFLE AND OPENED FIRE.

ROUTH LEFT THE SCENE IN AN SUV AND WAS STOPPED 45 MINUTES LATER.

TRUMP WAS ON THE GOLF COURSE A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT AND WAS NOT INJURED.

REACTION TO THIS SECOND ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON TRUMP IN JUST OVER TWO MONTHS INCLUDED PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLING FOR MORE SECRET SERVICE RESOURCES, AND A -- >> THANK GOD THE PRESIDENT IS OKAY.

ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- [ INAUDIBLE ] REACTION TO THE REACTION FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE SECRET SERVICE... >> THE SECRET SERVICE HAS PROTECTED METHODOLOGY AND THEY WORK AND THEY ARE SOUND.

WE SAW THAT YESTERDAY, THAT THE WAY WE ARE POSITIONED RIGHT NOW IN THIS DYNAMIC THREAT ENVIRONMENT IT HAS GIVEN ME GUIDANCE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR PROTECTIVE METHODOLOGY IS, WE NEED TO GET OUT OF A REACTIVE MODEL AND GET TO A READINESS MODEL.

THE SUSPECT'S MOTIVE IS AS YET UNCLEAR, THOUGH A ROMANIAN JOURNALIST, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY INTERVIEWED RYAN WESLEY ROUTH DESCRIBED HIM AS IDEALISTIC, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO UKRAINE.

>> HE SEEM TO ME TO BE LIKE AN IDEALISTIC PERSON WHO WANTED TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, AND THIS IS A GOOD CAUSE, OF COURSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES -- SOMETIMES WE CAN SEE THIS IN HISTORY IN MANY OTHER CASES -- SOMETIMES AN IDEALISTIC PERSON CAN BECOME A FANATIC, WILLING TO DO HORRIBLE THINGS FOR HIS CAUSE.

>> ROUTH IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AS A FELON AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH AN OBLITERATED SERIAL NUMBER.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT COULD BRING MORE SERIOUS CHARGES IN THE COMING WEEKS.

AND ONE MORE HEADLINE: GWEN WALZ WIFE OF DEMOCRATIC VICE- PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TIM WALZ MADE A CAMPAIGN STOP IN ARIZONA TODAY.

IT WAS WALZ'S FIRST ARIZONA TRIP OF THE CAMPAIGN SEASON, AND STARTED WITH A MEET-AND-GREET IN PHOENIX WITH THE ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

WALZ LATER CAMPAIGNED IN FLAGSTAFF, AND THEN SCHEDULED TO STOP IN KINGMAN, WHICH IS OF NOTE BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE AND PRO-TRUMP AREAS OF THE STATE.

PROPOSITION 139 IS A BALLOT MEASURE THAT CALLS FOR EXPANDING ABORTION RIGHTS TO POINT OF FETAL VIABILITY.

IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISH A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION IN ARIZONA.

WE SCHEDULED A DEBATE ON THE MEASURE FOR TONIGHT, BUT PROPONENTS OF PROP 139 DECLINED TO APPEAR.

AND SO, WE HEAR FROM THE OPPOSING SIDE.

CINDY DAHLGREN JOINS US NOW SHE'S FROM THE "IT GOES TOO FAR" CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROP 139.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS, TED.

>>> ESTABLISHING A CONSTITUTIONAL TRITE ABORTION.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, LET'S START WITH THE FACT THAT ABORTION IS LEGAL IN ARIZONA UP TO 15 WEEKS, AND THEN BEYOND THAT FOR ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

AND ALSO GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO SEEK ABORTIONS UNDER CURRENT LAW ARE ENSURED THAT THEY SEE A QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTOR, AND THEY HAVE COMMON SENSE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE TO PROTECT GIRLS AND WOMEN FROM THE COMPLICATIONS OF ABORTION LIKE HEMORRHAGING AND PERFORATED UTERUS, WHICH CAN BE DEADLY.

BUT PROP 139 MAKES THOSE COMMON SENSE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE ITSELF, IT SAYS THAT NO REGULATION CAN, QUOTE, INFRINGE ON A WOMAN'S DECISION TO GET AN ABORTION, INCLUDING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

>> WELL, SO THE 40-SOME-ODD STATE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE REGARDING ABORTION, ARE YOU SAYING THEY WOULD NOT STILL APPLY?

BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT THEY WOULD STILL APPLY.

>> NO.

THEY WILL NOT APPLY.

MOST OF THEM WILL NOT APPLY.

SOME OF THE CRITICAL ONES WILL NOT APPLY.

AND THAT INCLUDES, FIRST OF ALL, THE QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTOR.

UNDER THIS YOU'LL SEAL EVEN IN AN AMEND, IT DOESN'T USE THE TERM DOCTOR OR PHYSICIAN.

SO IT REMOVES THE REQUIRED MEDICAL DOCTOR.

WITH THE EXPERTISE TO DETECT AND THEN RESPOND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, THAT GOES AWAY.

AND ALSO THE CRITICAL REQUIREMENT FOR AN ULTRASOUND, IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE IF A WOMAN DOES NOT GET AN ULTRASOUND, AND SHE TAKES THE ABORTION PILL AND SHE HAS AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY, IT COULD BE FATAL.

IF SHE TAKES IT BEYOND THE POINT IN WHICH THE FDA APPROVED IT, IT COULD ALSO BE VERY SERIOUS, AND AFTER SHE TAKE THE ABORTION PILL, IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE AN ULTRASOUND TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS COMPLETE, AND WE ARE STILL -- AND IT STILL REMAINS IN HER UTERUS, IT COULD CAUSE VERY SERIOUS INFECTION.

AND THAT HAPPENS.

I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH A YOUNG WOMAN HERE, MACKENZIE, THAT THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ABORTION PILL WAS NOT COMPLETE AND SHE WAS HAVING PERSISTENT INFECTIONS, AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.

AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL SHE HAD THE ULTRASOUND.

>> SO THE ULTRASOUND, PARENTAL CONSENT IF UNDER 18, 24-HOUR WAIT AFTER ULTRA SOUND.

MANDATORY COUNSELING, YOU'RE SAYING ALL OF THOSE THINGS GO BY THE WAYSIDE IF THIS IS PASSED?

>> YES.

AND ALSO INFORMED CONSENT, WHICH IS ALSO CRITICAL.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN AND GIRLS GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE RISKS OF AN ABORTION AND WHAT TO EXPECT BEFORE THEY HAVE ONE, AND WE KNOW THIS, BECAUSE IN MICHIGAN, OHIO THEY PASSED SIMILAR ABORTION AMENDMENTS THERE IN THOSE STATES, AND THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOSING THESE SAFETY PRECAUTION.

IN BOTH STATES, WOMEN THERE LOST THE RIGHT TO SEE A QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTOR.

THEY LOST THE RIGHT TO AN ULTRASOUND TO PROTECT THEM.

THEY ALSO LOST THE RIGHT FOR INFORMED CONSENT, ALSO REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND THE LIST GOES ON.

>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU LOST THE RIGHT, YOU LOST THE REQUIREMENT, YOU LOST THE MANDATE TO DO THAT; YOU COULD STILL GET THESE THINGS DONE IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

>> WELL, UNDER PROP 139, AGAIN, THE WORD "DOCTOR" OR "PHYSICIAN" IS NOT IN THE AMENDMENT.

SO RIGHT NOW ANY WOMAN IN ARIZONA WHO SEEKS AN ABORTION IS GUARANTEED THAT THEY WILL SEE A QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTORS, AND THEY'LL ALSO GUARANTEED TO GET THAT ULTRASOUND TO PROTECT THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY CAN EITHER TAKE THE ABORTION PILL OR THEY CAN GET AN ABORTION, DEPENDING ON HOW FAR ALONG IN THAT PREGNANCY.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GIRLS AND WOMEN CAN COUNT ON TO PROTECT THEM, AND WERE ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE AFTER A WOMAN DIED, AFTER HAVING AN ABORTION, A BOTCHED ABORTION.

SHE BLED TO DEATH FROM A PREVIOUS RATED UTERUS, THEY WERE NOT WATCHING HER, AND SHE BLED TO DEATH.

SO SINCE THAT HAPPENED, THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO AVOID THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND NOW THEY'LL GO AWAY.

>> AND YET THE OTHER SIDE, I'M SURE, WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS STILL A DECISION THAT LEADS FROM TO BE LEFT UP TO THE WOMEN, TO THE FAMILY, TO THE MEDICAL PROVIDER AND THE -- WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.

THIS IS STILL THEIR DECISION, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION, AND THIS PROPOSITION 139 ALLOWS FOR THAT WOMAN, THAT FAMILY TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> WELL, WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW, WITH VERY A RIGHT NOW.

A WOMAN OR A GIRL CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AND GET AN ABORTION UP TO 15 WEEKS, THAT'S ALMOST FOUR MONTHS.

AND THEN BEYOND THAT OR ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE DOCTOR REQUIREMENT, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE, UNDER PROP 139, YOU LOSE THOSE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

YOU LOSE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL DOCTOR, AND WILL YOU GET EXPANDED ABORTION THAT'S ACTUALLY BEYOND VIOLATE.

IT'S THROUGH THE ENTIRE PREGNANCY FOR VIRTUALLY ANY REASON.

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S VIRTUALLY ANY REASON; IT HAS TO BE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PREGNANT PERSON, THE WOMAN.

THAT DISCOUNT LIKE IT'S ANY REASON.

I MEAN, FETAL VIABILITY I KNOW IS A BIG ARGUE POINT ON THIS.

BUT IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THAT YOU WILL HAVE A MEDICAL PROVIDER THERE, WHO IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT IF IT GOES PAST VIABILITY, THERE BETTER BE A PRETTY GOOD DOG GONED REASON FOR IT.

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENS THE EXEMPTION IS THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF THE WOMAN.

AND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT HER HEALTH IS AT RISK.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RULING BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, YOU WILL SEE JUST HOW BROAD THAT EXEMPTION IS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WOMAN'S HEALTH IS AT RISK.

IT COULD MEAN THAT SHE IS STRESSED OR EXPERIENCING ANXIETY.

THE SUPREME COURT SAID THAT IT COULD INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT GOES TO HER WELL-BEING.

THAT'S A VERY BROAD TERM.

AND THAT DECISION WAS MADE IN 1972.

AND IT HAS BEEN USED AS A RUBBER STAMP FOR THE PAST FIVE DECADES TO SIGN SIGN OFF ON A LATE-TERM ABORTION.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD IS PART OF THEIR RE-DEFINITION OF VIABILITY INCLUDES THE TERM DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR FACTS OF THE CASE, WHICH IS SO BROAD.

THERE'S NO LIMITATION THAT COULD STAND UP UNDER THAT.

>> WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE.

BUT, AGAIN, THE IDEA OF PUTTING THIS IMPORTANT FAMILY DECISION INTO THE HANDS OF A FAMILY, INTO THE HANDS OF A WOMAN, AS OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNMENT, AS OPPOSED TO FRANKLY YOU AND ME, WHO AREN'T IN THAT FAMILY AND DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, PROPONENT ALSO SAY, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ARGUING FOR HERE, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE ON.

AGAIN, YOUR RESPONSE.

>> MY RESPONSE IS THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE SCENARIOS, RIGHT, IF A WOMAN GETS A HYSTERECTOMY OR TUBAL LIGATION, THAT'S VERY PRIVATE.

BUT THOSE DOCTORS STILL FOLLOW COMMON SENSE LAWS THAT ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE A VERY HIGH STANDARD OF CARE AND TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN ARE THE PRIORITY, AND IT SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT WITH ABORTION, AND WE KNOW THAT WE NEED THESE LAWS IN PLACE BECAUSE LEFT UP TO THE INDUSTRY IT WON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE LOBBYING AGAINST THESE KINDS OF COMMON SENSE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

>>> AND QUICKLY, THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION.

AGAIN, THE IDEA THAT THIS RESTORES THE RIGHTS FROM ROE.

AND I HEAR SOME PROPONENTS SAYING THAT'S ALL IT DOES.

DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT GOES FAR BEYOND ROE, AND UNDER ROE V. WADE, STATES COULD ENACT LIMITATIONS, THEY COULD ENACT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, THEY CAN ENSURE THAT ONLY QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTORS SEE WOMEN, THEY CAN ENSURE THAT PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW IF THEIR MINOR DAUGHTER IS INVOLVED OR GETTING AN ABORTION, AND UNDER PROP 139, YOU CAN HAVE NONE OF THAT.

SO IT GOES FAR BEYOND ROE.

>> WE HAVE TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

AGAIN, WE CERTAINLY WISHED WE HAD PROPONENTS HERE FOR A DEBATED, BUT WE DIDN'T.

AND WE'RE GLAD YOU JOINED US.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THE BIDEN-ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED MORE THAN $7 BILLION IN FINANCING TO HELP BRING CLEAN ENERGY TO RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT INCLUDES RURAL AREAS OF ARIZONA.

FOR MORE ON THE PROGRAM, WE WELCOME SANDY BAHR, DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA CLUB GRAND CANYON CHAPTER.

GOOD TO SEE THE EMPOWERING ROLE OF AMERICA ACT.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> WELL, THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

THE EMPOWERING RURAL AMERICA, OR THE NEW ERA PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING FUNDING TO RURAL COOPERATIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY, THINGS LIKE SOLAR, BATTERY STORAGE, WIND TO HELP THEM MOVE TO CLEAN ENERGY AND REDUCE THEIR AIR POLLUTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS AND SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THIS VERY.

>> HOW MUCH DOES ARIZONA GET AND WHERE WILL THOSE RESOURCES BE USED?

>> WELL, THE ARIZONA ENERGY POWER COOPERATIVE GOT FUNDING FOR $730 -- 730 MEGAWATTS, ABOUT 400 -- FOR 730 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR JUST OVER 2900 MEGA WATT HOURS OF BATTERY STORAGE AND 70 MEGAWATTS OF WIND.

AND THEN THEY ARE ALSO DOING THINGS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SOME AGRO FOLK ALSO PAY, AS WELL, COMBINING SOLAR WITH AGRICULTURAL.

>> SO WIND POWER, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF MEGA WATTS HERE AND THERE, SOUNDS LIKE A LOT.

IS IT A LOT?

>> IT'S A LOT.

IT'S A LOT.

AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING, THEY HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED IT, BUT WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS THAT WE'LL -- IT MEANS THEY WILL CLOSE THE APACHE GENERATING STATION COAL PLANT.

THAT COAL PLANT IS ONE OF THE LAST COAL PLANTS IN ARIZONA THAT WITH A RETIREMENT DATE, IT DOES NOT HAVE A RETIREMENT DATE.

AND SO IT AND SALT RIVER PROJECTS DON'T HAVE RETIREMENT DATES.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WILL BE PART OF IT.

AND THEY SAY IT'S GOING TO REDUCE THEIR EMISSIONS BY ABOUT A MILLION TONS PER YEAR.

SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

>> I'M ALSO SEEING CREATING MAYBE AN ESTIMATED 630 SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM JOBS, TRUE?

>> MOST OF THOSE ARE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, BUT 30 WILL BE LONG-TERM JOBS.

THERE IS ALSO A PROGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AN APPRENTICE PROGRAM FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRIC WORKERS AND SO THERE ARE SOME UNION JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

SO IT'S REALLY A GREAT PROGRAM AND IT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN OUR RURAL CO-OPS SINCE FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WAS PRESENT.

SO SINCE THE 1930s.

>> IT'S A BIG DEAL, AND I KNOW THEY'RE LEVERAGING PRIVATE VESSELS, THAT ARE ALSO IN THERE, YOU CAN GET MORE FUNDING OUT OF THAT.

WHAT IS THE TIMETABLE FOR ALL THIS?

>> WELL, THEY ARE A FINALIST -- I MEAN, IT WILL TAKE A BIT TO GET THE MONEY OUT AND GET THINGS CONSTRUCTED BUT IT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS PART OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING THAT WAS PASSED TWO YEARS AGO.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING IT BENEFIT ALL OVER ARIZONA, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGER INVESTMENTS IN RURAL ARIZONA.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN SOME REALLY GOOD ONES FOR THE NAVAJO NATION REGARDING SOLAR AND.

>> AND RURAL AREAS, OBVIOUSLY, THE RESERVATIONS BIGGEST BUT WHAT ARE OTHER RURAL AREAS.

>> DOWN IN SOUTH ARIZONA.

UPCO HAS A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES THAT ARE PART OF IT.

FOR EXAMPLE, MOJAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE IS PART OF UPCO THERE IN MOHAVE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARIZONA.

AND THIS IS -- THE APACHE GENERATING STATION IS DOWN IN PIERCE ARIZONA, WHICH IS SOUTHEAST OF TUCSON.

AND RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE SOME SOLAR THERE, ABOUT 20 MEGAWATTS, I THINK, AND THEY HAVE GAS, AND THEY HAVE THIS OLD COAL UNIT THAT WE WANT TO SEE GO, BUT THIS IS BIG.

THIS SOLAR INVESTMENT, THEY CAN REALLY BE LEADERS ON CLEAN ENERGY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT SOUNDS GREAT, SANDY BAHR, THANKS FOR EXPLAINING IT TO US.

GOOD TO SEE YA.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, AS WELL.

CONNIE CHUNG IS A PIONEERING TV- NEWS ANCHOR AND JOURNALIST.

SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO CO-ANCHOR THE CBS EVENING NEWS, AND ONLY THE SECOND WOMAN TO ANCHOR ANY NETWORK EVENING TELEVISION BROADCAST.

SHE'LL BE APPEARING AT THE MESA ARTS CENTER THIS SATURDAY TO TALK ABOUT HER NEW BOOK.

THAT BOOK IS SET TO BE RELEASED TOMORROW.

IT'S TITLED, "CONNIE: MEMOIR."

EARLIER TODAY, WE SPOKE TO CONNIE CHUNG.

CONNIE CHUNG, WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU'RE INVITING ME.

>> WELL, THIS IS GREAT, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

IT'S ALWAYS I WOULD THINK FOR AN AUTHOR WHEN YOU GET THE BOOK, YOU PUT IN YOUR HAND, IT'S LIKE, THAT'S A DONE DEAL.

>> YES.

IT WAS INDEED BECAUSE IT WAS TORTURE LEADING UP TO IT.

I MEAN, FORGIVE ME FOR NOT KNOWING, BUT HAVE YOU WRITTEN A BOOK?

>> I HAVE NOT WRITTEN A BOOK.

I TRIED TO DO THAT KIND OF STUFF BUT I DON'T HAVE IT.

>> BUT I DIDN'T HAVE IT EITHER.

AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO AWFUL TO WRITE IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK -- I MEAN, I'VE NEVER THOUGHT THAT COULD I WRITE.

THE WORST THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT I PROVIDED MY FIRST DRAFT TO THE EDITOR, THE PUBLISHER'S EDITOR, AND SHE SAID, YOU'RE JUST GIVING ME FACTS.

AND IT'S A MEMOIR.

YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHAT YOUR FEELINGS WERE.

AND FACTS IS WHAT I'VE DONE ALL MY LIFE.

>> YES.

AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOU KIND OF ANSWERED THE FIRST QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK, WHICH IS WHAT'S IT LIKE TO WRITE A MEMOIR.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT'S IT LIKE DOING RESEARCH ON YOURSELF?

>> YEAH.

IT'S AWFUL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT I'M A RAT PACK, BUT I KEPT A LOT OF THINGS.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I AM SO OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE THAT I KEPT EVERY DATE BOOK THAT I HAD, YOU KNOW, SCRIBBLED IN WHATEVER I WAS GOING TO DO THAT DAY SINCE 1971.

>> WOW.

>> ISN'T THAT INSANE?

>> YES.

>> I HAD DIGITIZED TAPES OF STORIES THAT I HAD DONE.

I SAVED TAPES I DID DURING MY CBS DAYS... [ AUDIO CUTTING OUT ] AND I HAD A PHOTOGRAPH, A GAZILLION PHOTOGRAPHS.

SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER NOTHING, I'M 78, AND I LOST MY MEMORY ON I-95, I JUST -- THIS REALLY HELPED TO HAVE AN OLD -- THE OLD SCRIPTS OF WATERGATE, OF McGOUGH.

SO READING THOSE SCRIPTS BACK, COULD I JUST READ MY TELEVISION AND RADIO SCRIPTS.

>> WHEN YOU SAW YOUR SCRIPTS, WHEN YOU SAW YOURSELF, YOU HEARD YOURSELF, WAS THERE ANY REAPPRAISAL GOING ON?

DID YOU AT TIMES GO, WHO IS THAT PERSON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SELF CRITICAL.

I LOVE SELF FLATULATION AND LOOKED AT THAT AND THOUGHT, OH, MY GOD, YOU KNOW, I WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK THIS FOLLOW-UP OR THAT FOLLOW-UP, AND, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF I MAY, I WAS INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVE, AND I OUT THAT MYSELF, WHERE IS THAT?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

I MEAN, AT TIMES DID YOU NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE THAT PERSON?

>> YES.

BECAUSE NOW I'M A WIMP.

>> WELL, YOU CERTAINLY WEREN'T.

YOU WERE A TRAILBLAZER -- I MEAN, FIRST WOMAN TO COANCHOR CBS EVENING NEWS, FIRST ASIAN TO ANCHOR ANY NEWS PROGRAM IN THE U.S.

WHEN I SAY THAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I'M A LITTLE BIT -- MY HUSBAND HAS ALWAYS SAID TO ME, YOU'RE THE JACKIE ROBINSON OF NEWS.

AND AH, NOT ME.

NAH.

BUT THEN IF I MAY, WHEN THE -- WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS THIS SISTERHOOD OF IN WHICH BABY GIRLS WHO WERE ASIAN WERE ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER ME.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> I MEAN, IT WAS -- LIKE I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

IT ACTUALLY -- I SEE IT AS A LIVING LEGACY.

AND I REALLY CAN'T GET MY ARMS AROUND IT.

I'M STILL A LITTLE PROUD OF MYSELF.

>> YEAH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

THAT'S PROBABLY A LEGACY YOU NEVER PLANNED ON.

WELL, SOME OF YOUR SHOWS DID VERY WELL, SOME NOT SO MUCH, THEY GOT CANCELED.

BEING WITH THAT KIND OF UPS AND DOWNS AND IN AND OUTS, AND HOORAY AND LET'S GO GET A BEER, HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH ALL THAT?

>> I -- YOU KNOW WHAT?

I HAVE A SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND.

AND WHEN I WOULD COME HOME AND I WOULD SAY -- WEE SAY, DO I NEED TO REMOVE ALL THE SHARP OBJECTS FROM THE KITCHEN?

AND I'D SAY, YES.

I THINK SO.

AND HE HAS THIS MANTRA IN WHICH HE WOULD SAY.

DON'T TAKE WHOEVER SAID X, Y OR Z TO YOU SERIOUSLY.

DON'T TAKE THE CRITICS SERIOUSLY.

TAKE YOUR WORK SERIOUSLY, AND DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY.

AND I THOUGHT, ALL OF THAT WAS QUITE GOOD ADVICE.

>> YES.

THAT MAURY POACH 75 IS A PRETTY SHARP GUY.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING TO YOURSELF ALL HE KNOWS IS HOW TO DETERMINE THE PAPER TENT OF EVERY CHILD IN AMERICA.

THE PATERNITY IN OF EVERY CHILD IN AMERICA.

BUT HE'S A VORACIOUS READER AND HE'S A HISTORY BUFF AND A POLITICAL BUFF.

AND WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I NAVIGATE TELLING MY STORY, I SAID WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MEMOIR.

AND HE SAID KATHERINE GRAHAM.

WHICH WAS ACTUALLY A PULITZER PRIZE WINNER.

BUT SHE TOLD ABOUT THE TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP AND HOW SHE NAVIGATED THE WAR OF PRIMARILY MALE PUBLISHERS, AND SHE IS NEVER "WOE IS ME."

SHE WAS ALWAYS -- SHE'S JUST PLUNKING AWAY.

AND I FOUND THAT BY THE END, I WAS ROOTING FOR HER, AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT'S THE KIND OF TALENT THAT I WANT TO CREATE FOR MY BOOK.

>> WELL, COULD I TALK TO YOU ALL AFTERNOON HERE, WE'RE RECORDING THIS BEFORE THE SHOW.

BUT THE LAST QUESTION IS, A YOUNG CONNIE CHUNG FROM SILVER SPRINGS MARYLAND.

I'M NORTHERN VIRGINIA MYSELF.

>> I LOVE IT.

REMEMBER, I WAS BORN IN WASHINGTON.

>> YEAH.

SO WAS I.

>> WHAT HOSPITAL?

>> WAS IT THE OLD JEWISH TOWN HOSPITAL?

>> WELL, CONNIE, LOOK AT ME, IT'S THE OLD GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL.

OKAY.

>> YEAH, I COLOR MY HAIR.

I'M 78.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME HOW OLD YOU ARE.

>> OKAY, YES.

DO YOU HAVE TO GET GOING?

>> NO, NO.

LORI IS -- LORI, WILL YOU SAY HELLO?

SHE SAYS NO.

>> NO.

ALL RIGHT.

HE WAS BORN AT THE OLD GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN, HONEY?

>> I GOTTA TELL YOU, CONNIE, THAT GUY LOOKS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE MAURY PEAUVOICH HERE.

COME ON OVER AND SAY HELLO.

>> HI.

>> HI.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON SHOOTING YOUR AGE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE A GOLFER AND SHOT YOUR AGE.

>> I SHOOT MY AGE I'M DEPRESSED.

WOW, THAT'S NOT A GLIDER.

>> YEAH.

THAT BAD.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.

I MEAN, LOOK AT YOU GUYS.

YOU'RE HAPPY, YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, YOU GOT THIS NEW BOOK OUT.

>> WE'RE TOO OLD NOT TO BE HAPPY.

>> THERE YOU GO.

AND CONNIE, ESPECIALLY TO YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

AND THANKS FOR TAKING TIME FOR US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> ARE YOU KIDDING.

FOR A WASHITONIAN WHO'S BORN AT GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL?

>> THERE WE GO.

>> THERE BE AREN'T MANY NATIVES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CONNIE.

THANK YOU.

>> BYE.

>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND A REMINDER CONNIE CHUNG WILL BE HERE SATURDAY, SHE'LL BE AT THE MESA ARTS CENTER IN, ODDLY ENOUGH, MESA, FOR A 3:00 P.M.

APPEARANCE.

PARTICULARS ARE CHANGE HANDS.COM.

THERE'S THE BOOM, "CONNIE: A MEMOIR."

LOTS OF FUN.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.