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- This is One-On-One.

- I'm an equal American just like you are.

- The way we change Presidents in this country is by voting.

- A quartet is already a jawn, it’s just The New Jawn.

- January 6th was not some sort of violent, crazy outlier.

- I don't care how good you are or how good you think you are, there is always something to learn.

- I mean what other country sends comedians over to embedded military to make them feel better.

- People call me 'cause they feel nobody's paying attention.

_ It’s not all about memorizing and getting information, it’s what you do with that information.

- (slowly) Start talking right now.

- That's a good question, high five.

(upbeat music) - Welcome to "Remember Them."

I'm Steve Adubato with my colleague Jacqui Tricarico.

Jacqui in this episode, Here we go, we're gonna remember three very prominent public officials in the state of New Jersey, Congressman Bill Pascrell.

We talked to Brendan Gill, who is an Essex County Commissioner who worked for Congressman Pascrell, who was a member of Congress for many, many years.

Very important person on the second half we talk about United States Senator Frank Lautenberg and Justice James Coleman, who was the first African American to serve on the state Supreme Court.

So we honor, recognize, and remember three very important public figures in this state.

Your turn, Jacqui, what'd you pick up in that?

- Yeah, Steve, and on the back end you get to talk with Rick Thigpen from PSEG Foundation about Senator Lautenberg.

And I know you have a personal connection to him.

You've touched upon this story a little bit in your conversation with Rick but I thought it'd be interesting to learn more about your direct connection to him as well.

- It's not very complicated.

As a very young man in the mid eighties I wanted to run for the state legislature.

I was only outta graduate school for a couple of years had literally no chance to win in this legislative seat which was held by someone in the other party for years.

And I went to Frank Lautenberg who was a newly minted United States senator who happened to live in Montclair in this beautiful home.

And I thought, if I can ever get Senator Lautenberg to hold a fundraiser for me, could raise a few dollars and get some credibility.

I was shocked when he said, "Yes."

And that was the first fundraiser that was held when I ran for the state legislature.

And it was, Frank Lautenberg was a big part of my life and a big, it's not just me, 'cause Rick Thigpen talks about how he was a mentor to him, he helped an awful lot of people and he made such a difference in the United States Senate and also the other conversation with Rick about former chief, excuse me, former Superior Court Justice Coleman, who was also a member of the Supreme Court, I mean the first, first African American in so many ways.

Rick talks about the importance of Justice Coleman and the impact that he had on the state.

It's important stuff, Jacqui.

- Three really inspirational stories.

Three important figures in New Jersey history that we need to remember because of the really important things that they did here in our state.

- Let's get to it, let's remember three very important public officials in the state of New Jersey and the nation.

(bright upbeat music) - We're talking leadership with a guy who knows a little bit about it.

He's been a mayor, he's been a member of the legislature in New Jersey, and now United States congressman for just a few years, United States Congressman Bill Pascrell.

Most important leadership lesson you've learned so far is?

- Make friends before you need them.

- [Steve] What does that mean?

- It means that don't begin to make friends when you get into a jam or a crisis, there's a difficult problem, 'cause you'll find it more difficult.

You make friends before.

You reach out, be sincere about that.

And then when you need these people, they'll at least listen to you if they're your real friends.

- [Steve] Is that especially true in Congress?

- Absolutely true.

- We remember the honorable Congressman Bill Pascrell with someone who knew him very well.

Brendan W. Gill is a commissioner in Essex County and worked with and for the Congressman.

Good to see you, Brendan.

- Good to see you, Steve.

Thank you for having me.

- It's our honor to remember and recognize Congressman Pascrell.

What made him so special?

- I think the first thing that made him so special, Steve, was his ability to connect with people.

It's a very generic phrase, but more so than anyone than I've ever worked with in public life, and I've had the honor to work with quite a few elected officials, he had just an uncanny ability to make people that he dealt with feel like they were being heard, to relate to them, not because of the title that he held.

He held many titles in his career.

He was a mayor, a state assembly person, a long-time member of our congressional delegation, but he just had this amazing ability when he spoke to someone, when he was in a setting of retail politics, to really make you feel that what you cared about, what you were talking about at that time, and it was sincere when I say this; it just who he was; he loved to be around people; that you were being heard.

And I think a lot of that came from, you know, his own personal life experience.

It's been talked a lot about.

I mean, he, born and raised in the city of Paterson, made his home there throughout his entire career, was probably one of the few members of Congress when he served that when he went home to his district was returning both to the place of his birth but also to an inner city, place that looked a lot different than many of the other districts that his colleagues in the House represented.

- The kinds of issues that the congressman cared deeply about impacted, excuse me, people that were economically disadvantaged, disproportionately in urban communities.

Where do you think that passion for leading those fights in Congress, in the state legislature, and as mayor, in Paterson, came from?

- I think, you know, his story... You know, his love for Paterson's well known.

I mean, he loved that city, one of the most diverse cities here in our state, and I think that's what formed, excuse me, that passion, you know, to represent the place that he came from, the place of his birth, where his family was from, a city with a long history of being an entry point to various...

Even to this day, right, it's the most diverse city actually in the state of New Jersey, home to over 120-plus different ethnic and racial groups, still an entry point for large immigrant communities that come into our state.

That's what he was about, you know, he was...

He had a lotta great sayings and phrases, and I worked for him.

Like, 'cause he was my first person, I had no experience in politics when he hired- - Yeah, Bren, talk about that, when you walked into it.

What year was it that you walked into his office?

- 1996, I'm a fresh college graduate, trying to make my way and, you know, find a place in public service.

Knew that I had a passion also to serve and really had no... Was trying to get a job actually on Capitol Hill and was just kinda knocking on doors and doing everything I could, you know, to try to find an opportunity.

And someone recommended to me that I call his office.

He was the Mayor of Paterson at the time.

I cold-called his office, and he made an appointment to see me.

I have no idea why.

- You're 21 years old.

You're a kid.

- 21 years old, kid, you know, again no experience at all, no one in my family involved in that way.

He made an appointment to see me.

I went to go see him for this appointment with my...

I called it, like, my binder full of all my ideas of how we were gonna solve all the world's problems, and I was gonna tell him, you know, "This is the way it should be."

And he listened, you know, and again did the same thing, made me feel heard, made me feel that this was, and it was, a substantive conversation.

But then he also said Steve, "Listen, I think that's great, but here's what I'd like you to do.

We have some organizers that are registering people to vote down at a Foodtown on Chamberlain Avenue this weekend.

And you wanna show up there 8:30 Saturday morning to participate in that activity and meet some of these other people.

And then come back, and let's talk."

And what I didn't realize at the time... You know, I kinda walked out a little bit, ah... "Okay, I gotta go do some voter registration.

That's fine."

You know, there's nothing wrong with that, but what I didn't realize at the time was what he was really doing was kind of showing me that, like, "listen, you wanna do these things here, this is great, but like, this also starts on the ground.

This starts, like... What is your ability to be in the community that you wanna serve?

And what is your"... You know, he was kinda giving me a test, too, to see, like, what was I willing to do, what kind of work was I put in in order to do this other work.

- How did that change your view... 'Cause, again, to be clear, Commissioner Gill is not from Paterson.

He is a... Yeah, you're from Montclair, New Jersey.

- That's right.

- So it's only...

It may be a town over, but let's just say the communities are quite different in a lotta ways.

How did that impact you, not just as a person but, ultimately, as someone who chose a public life?

- Yeah, no, it's a great question, Steve, because it really only a few towns over but, you know, very different experiences.

Montclair is a diverse community, but it's not a Paterson, you know, New Jersey, in terms of all those varying groups.

I had not even spent a lotta time in Paterson, quite frankly, so even though that geo... You know, unfortunately, in New Jersey, this exists a lot.

The geographic boundary is very small, but the boundary of the worlds and the worlds that we're living in, is very, very large.

So although it's only a three-or-four-mile drive you know, from Market Street in Paterson to Montclair, that's a long, long four miles in terms of what that actually means in your life experience.

So for me, it showed me...

It exposed me, right, to what was going on kind of right in my own backyard and, in time, made me realize that "hey, I don't have to work in Washington, DC, or on Capitol Hill to, maybe, make the difference that I was hoping to make to improve the quality of life for the community that I lived in."

- Brendan, lemme ask you this.

If Bill Pascrell, if Congressman Pascrell, were alive...

He was one of the first and one of the most consistent critics of Donald Trump, President Trump.

What do you think Congressman Pascrell, if he were alive today... Why are you laughing?

- 'Cause he was a fighter.

I can only imagine what he- - Okay, what do you think...

While there are a whole bunch of Democrats who can't figure out what they wanna say and where they wanna be, where do you think he would be?

- I think he would be a fierce, fierce critic, you know, first and foremost.

I think that he would've immediately confronted the president on a series of decisions that have happened in the first few weeks of this administration, and he would've done it, I believe, in the type of language and plain language that people could relate to.

So it's not...

He would not be making esoteric arguments.

And I'm not...

This is not being critical of any of the messaging that's coming outta the Democratic Party right now.

I wanna be clear on that, but I think, you know, he would...

He had an amazing and uncanny ability to say, "Listen, if we were standing up to Donald Trump because we were saying that Donald Trump is a existential threat to our democracy," he would make you understand what that actually meant, you know, in real terms.

Like, what does that mean for you and your day-to-day life?

He would be all over Donald Trump right now in a way that only Bill could do, but again, he would also know how to do it where he had a lot... You know, the congressman had a lotta support even from constituencies that I see now that do support President Trump.

- That's right.

- So he also would have the ability to be able to walk into other rooms, and he loved to be able to do that.

That's the other thing.

He did not shy away from a debate, the fight, bringing those issues, like, to wherever- - He enjoyed it, didn't he, Brendan?

- He loved it.

No, he loved.

And then sometimes, I felt like if he wasn't, you know, mixing it up with somebody he wasn't truly happy, right?

So the fact that there was a fight to be had, I think, you know, kept him going.

And just one final point on that, Steve, is also I think the reason people related to him, to go back to your very first question, is, you know, he would be in these places whether he held these titles or not.

He'd always say- - That's right.

- "Titles come go," you know, "You gotta earn your spurs.

There's no Republican or Democrat way to clean the street," meaning that, like, he was a member of his city, of his community, first and foremost.

But whether he was a congressman or not, you'd probably see him at the same place, grabbing a bite to eat; the same bar, maybe having a drink with a friend; you know, at another event.

Like, he'd be at all those things whether he was in politics or not.

I think people recognized that because it was true, and that's what just made him a memorable, memorable person.

- Well said, Brendan.

Hey, Brendan, thank you for helping us remember the honorable congressman, mayor, state legislator, and someone who loved Paterson, loved New Jersey, and loved this country deeply, Bill Pascrell.

Thank you, Brendan.

Appreciate it.

- Thank you, Steve.

- You got it.

This is "Remember Them."

Also, on "One-on-One".

We remember some awfully special people.

Right after this, we remember United States Senator Frank Lautenberg and Justice Coleman, right after this.

- [Narrator] To watch more One on One with Steve Adubato find us online and follow us on Social media.

- We're now joined by our good friend, Rick Thigpen, who is Senior Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at PSEG Foundation, one of our longtime underwriters.

And, Rick, I'll just say this, I've said it before, there would not be a "Remember Them" if it were not for Rick Thigpen's inspiration and coaching and saying, "Hey..." And, by the way, he's also a trustee of the NJ PBS public television, New Jersey.

Rick said, "We need to remember and recognize people who have made a difference, who may not longer be with us on this Earth," and let's talk about one of those folks.

United States Senator Frank Lautenberg should be remembered because, Rick?

- Well, Frank...

I'm sorry, Steve, I wanna add, not just remember them, but also remember them because they come from so many different backgrounds, that excellence comes from so many different places.

So Senator Frank Lautenberg, I have a personal experience with him which I wanna share, but Frank Lautenberg turned out to be the longest serving Senator in the history of our Great State, the last World War II veteran to serve in the United States Senate.

And for Rick Thigpen, a regular guy who looked out for me, who I met when I was much younger when he was first running for office, who made a difference in my life, and I'm eternally grateful for what Frank Lautenberg did for me.

- You know, it's interesting, I don't think I've said this before, but back in the mid '80s when I was a kid running for the legislature, the first fundraiser that was had was had at Frank Lautenberg's home in Montclair.

And I had no chance to win, but he was there, he was supportive of a lot of folks.

As a United States Senator, he fought on certain issues, why was he so caught up with raising the drinking age to 21, also smoking on commercial flights, like no more of that, and drunk driving issues?

Why was he so concerned about safety, people's safety and health?

- Well, Steve, I wanna be careful not to be the expert on all of Frank Lautenberg's life, but I do know, for instance, on smoking in airplanes, he worked very closely with the then Assembly Democratic Leader, Willie Brown, on legislation to make- - That's right.

The Great Willie Brown from Newark.

- The Great, (chuckles) yes.

And Frank was a great proponent of safety and wanting to make sure...

It's hard to imagine today that people used to smoke on airplanes, and that Frank Lautenberg is the reason that that is no longer possible.

A really helpful public safety measure, but, if I may, I wanna take you back to the very beginning of Frank Lautenberg's political career.

When he arrived on the scene, he was the early prototype of a self-funded campaign, a wealthy businessman from a company named ADP, a Paterson native, who had never been in politics before.

And as it turned out, Frank was well known as a philanthropist, primarily in the Jewish community, but he'd made quite a name for himself on giving to charitable causes, to using his success to help other people.

I worked for another candidate during that 1982 campaign, if you remember, that was the campaign to fill the seat by Senator Harrison Williams, who got caught up- - That's right.

- In ABSCAM and had to leave.

Tom Kean put Nicholas Brady in that Senate seat.

And it was an open seat, 'cause Nicholas Brady didn't run, and Frank Lautenberg ultimately ran against Millicent Fenwick in the general election.

I worked for one of his other opponents named Howard Rosen.

And so, I met Frank working for his opponent as my first job out of college, as an advance man for Howard Rosen, and I developed a friendship with him.

Frank was known for being a very poor public speaker at the beginning, very hesitant, no one could have ever predicted he would serve so long in the United States Senate, but a man from the very beginning who made a name for himself with philanthropy, with caring for other people.

And Frank Lautenberg and Howard Rosen, the candidate I worked for, were a real introduction to me into New Jersey's Jewish community.

Frank himself is a child of Polish and Russian immigrants who arrived in this country before World War I, or around the time of World War I.

But working for Howard Rosen and meeting Frank Lautenberg, I met many people from the Jewish community, and it was a lesson in geography and a lesson in history about many of the harrowing stories of escape that people told that come from places like Georgia, and Kazakhstan, places that not a lot of people know, but it took incredible courage to escape.

So I met Frank Lautenberg as a caring and decent man who made a name being charitable.

And I said the magic words to Frank Lautenberg one day that really changed my life and made him a solid friend of mine.

I wanted to attend Columbia Business... Law School, excuse me.

And Frank Lautenberg was one of the people who helped me achieve that goal one day, so I'm eternally grateful for Frank.

I'm just one little example, Frank cared about people, and that's why he cared about safety.

He took the time to help a young man who he did not need to help, and he made a huge difference in my life, it's changed everything for me.

And that's the Frank Lautenberg that I've always known.

I enjoyed him as a public servant, he was never a great public speaker, but he got better, but he was always a kind man, and he made a difference in New Jersey politics.

And, remember, he came back to save the day for the Democratic Party.

- He served twice.

- Yes, he did.

- He served, left, and came back.

- He retired and regretted it.

Bob Torricelli was running for re-election, had significant troubles, and had to withdraw from the race, and Frank Lautenberg arrived to save the day in the race.

- that's right.

- And I think he served two more terms.

So, together, he is now the longest serving Senator that New Jersey's ever had.

But a man who cared.

- He cared deeply.

Rick, let's do this, there's so much more to talk about what Senator Lautenberg... By the way, research Senator Lautenberg to find out more about his legislative accomplishments, his accomplishments in Congress made a difference.

Can we switch to Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court, James H. Coleman Jr.

Whom and why does he matter so much in this state and nation's history, please.

- So another great new Jerseyan who comes from a very different background than Frank Lautenberg.

He was the son of a sharecropper, the grandson of a slave, who, like the Lautenberg family, sought to escape oppression, in this case, it was the Jim Crow laws of Virginia, and came to New Jersey in search of a brighter future.

He's a Howard University Law School grad, he rose to become the first African American Workers' Compensation Judge in New Jersey, appointed by Governor Cahill, Republican from Camden County to the Court, elevated to the appellate court, and became their first African American appellate court judge who became presiding judge by Chief Justice Robert Wilentz, Democrat, if I'm not mistaken, from Middlesex County.

- That's right.

- Then the first African American appointed to the New Jersey State Supreme Court by Governor Whitman, a Republican from Somerset County.

she also appointed the former Essex County Prosecutor, Herb Tate, to be the first and only African American to serve on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and made him President.

So we should also tip our hats to Governor Whitman for making a difference in the State of New Jersey in a positive way.

- That’s right.

- Justice James Coleman.

who was humble, was of awesome intelligence, made such a huge difference in the state, spoke the words of justice and equity, words that are under assault today, was famous for writing over 2000 opinions, about 400 published.

One of his most famous opinions that was often cited was about the standards that a judge should consider for summary judgment motions, and he was a force in the State Supreme Court and a force in the law in New Jersey.

Chief Justice Wilentz's already known for being one of the most progressive judges, and Justice Coleman is just a little piece of that history of a court that made a difference in the lives of New Jerseyans.

When he passed, I believe it was 2024, he was honored and revered by many.

- That's right.

- I had a chance to know as a younger man, he knew my father well, he was a humble man with incredible intellect, his work ethic was well known as being punishing for those around him.

And it's just another reminder that people can come from very humble and very challenging backgrounds no matter where they are in the world and come and make a difference to us all, and we should never forget that that excellence comes from so many different types of people.

Justice Coleman and Frank Lautenberg are two excellent examples of that in the history of our Great State of New Jersey.

And he is also a published author, by the way.

- Absolutely.

People, again, should research Justice James Coleman.

Real quick on that- The role of the judiciary in these critical times in our nation where there's some confusion about separation of powers, loaded question, I know, what do you think Justice James H. Coleman Jr. would say and do?

- Well, he was very much about the rule of law and that our constitution was an important document that must be observed and respected, that the state constitution was similarly important and must be respected.

I think if we follow the rule of law, if we abide by those rights given to us all by our constitution, we are already on a much better path than on the path of "If you have the power, you can do it.

"And if nobody has the power to stop you, you can do it."

That is not the standard of success for us going forward, I think, the standard is following our constitution and working together to bring it to life, and to make life better for all of us.

And he was certainly a proponent of those words that are now under assault of equity and justice.

And, for that, he should always be remembered from his humble beginnings to a man who stood not just to make money for himself, but to make life better for other people.

That's true for him, and it was true for Frank Lautenberg as he started this conversation with.

And we should be proud of both of them and proud of their backgrounds.

- Rick, thank you for sharing those thoughts about Justice James H. Coleman Jr. and United States Senator Frank Lautenberg Jr. As always, Rick, we learn from your insight, wisdom, and the fact that you love history of this state and nation.

Thank you Rick.

- Thank you, Steve.

- On behalf of Jacqui Tricarico, the team at "Remember Them" and "One on One," thank you so much as we remember Senator Lautenberg and Justice James Coleman.

See you next time.

- [Narrator] One-On-One with Steve Adubato is a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

Funding has been provided by The New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

New Jersey’s Clean Energy program.

The Turrell Fund, a foundation serving children.

Newark Board of Education.

Johnson & Johnson.

United Airlines.

Atlantic Health System.

And by Rowan University.

Promotional support provided by The New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

And by BestofNJ.com.

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