VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

HUELL HOWSER>> WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING PROGRAM.

THIS IS NOT ONLY A LOOK BACK, BUT A KIND OF AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS PARTICULAR STORY NOW, AND THIS IS A STORY THAT'S HAD MANY TWISTS AND TURNS OVER THE YEARS.

LET'S START OFF BY INTRODUCING ROMAN GENN.

ROMAN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

ROMAN GENN >> WELL, HUELL, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, YOU KNOW.

>> ROMAN AND I FIRST MET IN MOSCOW BACK IN-- >> 1990.

>> --1990.

I WAS IN MOSCOW WITH MY LITTLE HOME MOVIE VIDEO CAMERA-- >> YUP, YUP.

>> --SHOOTING A PROGRAM CALLED "HELLO MOSCOW."

AND ON A VERY COLD, SNOWY DAY IN MOSCOW, I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET, AND YOU HAD SOME OF YOUR ARTWORK, SOME OF YOUR CARTOONS DISPLAYED-- >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> UP ON THE-- >> YUP.

HUELL>> UP ON THE WALL.

ROMAN>> YUP.

WELL, WE'LL--ACTUALLY WERE JUST HANGING IT SO YOU CAUGHT US SOMETIME BEFORE WE SOLD EVERYTHING.

>> YES.

SO I SPOTTED THIS STUFF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU DIDN'T SPEAK ANY RUSSIAN, OF COURSE.

>> I SPOKE NO RUSSIAN, AND YOU SPOKE VERY LITTLE ENGLISH.

>> I DIDN'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH.

CAN I BUY THOSE TAPES FROM YOU AND DESTROY THEM?

>> HA HA HA!

NO.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ACTUALLY SHOW THOSE TAPES RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO FLASHBACK 7 YEARS AND SHOW THE SEGMENT OF OUR "HELLO MOSCOW" PROGRAM WHERE ACTUALLY ROMAN AND HIS MOTHER, LUDMILA GENN INVITED ME TO THEIR APARTMENT TO HAVE TEA AND TO SEE ROMAN'S LITTLE STUDIO IN HIS ROOM WHERE HE DID ALL OF HIS CARTOONS, ALL OF HIS ARTWORK.

SO LET'S FLASHBACK 7 YEARS TO ROMAN GENN IN MOSCOW IN 1990.

NOW I'M HERE WITH LUDMILA AND HER SON ROMA, AND WE ARE HAVING TEA, IS THAT CORRECT?

LUDMILA>> YEAH.

WE ARE HAVING TEA.

HUELL>> AND SOMETHING ELSE WHICH IS--YOU HAVE MADE FOR ME TODAY-- WOULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE HAVING, THIS--THIS-- >> ELOW IT'S OUR TRADITIONAL FAMILY CAKE.

IT WAS MADE--IT WAS MY MOTHER, SHE MADE UP THIS CAKE, OR SHE INVENTED THIS CAKE AS IT WAS HER INVENTION, HER OWN INVENTION.

HUELL>> WHAT IS IT MADE OF?

LUDMILA>> IT'S MADE OF FLOUR, EGGS, SUGAR, AND BUTTER, AND IT HAS GOT A PROPER NAME, AND IT'S PROPER NAME IS EEMEENEEMENE.

HUELL HOWSER >> IT WAS A DELICIOUS AFTERNOON FILLED WITH TEA AND CAKE AND HOSPITALITY.

I HAD MET LUDMILA AND HER SON ROMAN AT A SIDEWALK ART EXHIBIT WHERE HE WAS SELLING HIS ART.

INTERESTING ART, MAINLY CARTOONS WHICH WERE VERY POLITICAL AND RATHER BOLD, POKING FUN AT PAST AND PRESENT SOVIET LEADERS.

ANYWAY, WE STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION, AND THEY EXTENDED AN INVITATION FOR ME TO VISIT THEIR APARTMENT, WHICH, OF COURSE, I ACCEPTED.

THIS IS YOUR SON'S ROOM?

>> YEAH, AND IT'S AWFULLY MESSY.

[ LAUGHING ] >> AND I ALWAYS ASK HIM NOT TO TAKE DECENT PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

I PREFER TO--TO--TO HAVE ALL THE GUESTS IN MY ROOMS, BUT-- HUELL>> OH, BUT THIS IS WHERE HE WORKS.

ROMAN>> YEA.

IT'S MY WORKROOM.

HUELL>> THIS IS YOUR WORKROOM?

ROMAN>> YEAH.

IT'S MY WORK PLACE.

HUELL>> NOW, HERE IS A CARICATURE OF GORBACHEV.

LUDMILA>> YES.

HERE ARE THE CARICATURES, SOME DRAFTS--IS IT DRAFT--OF GORBACHEV, SKETCHES OF GORBACHEV.

HUELL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK GORBACHEV WOULD THINK OF THIS IF HE COULD SEE IT?

LUDMILA>> OH, WELL, I'M NOT SURE.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT SURE HE WOULD LIKE IT.

AND THIS IS THE PICTURE OF REAGAN.

HUELL>> YUP.

THAT'S RONNY ALL RIGHT!

IS IT EASY TO MAKE CARICATURES OF GORBACHEV?

IS HE EASY TO COPY?

[ SPEAKING RUSSIAN ] >> NO, NO.

BREZHNEV, YEAH.

STALIN, YEAH.

BUT GORBACHEV, NO.

HUELL>> WHY DO YOU LIKE TO DRAW CARTOONS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE?

WHY CARTOONS?

ROMAN>> IT'S--IT'S INTERESTING FOR ME, I LIKE TO DRAW CORMY SCOTT.

LUDMILA>> HE MADE CARTOONS OF HIS TEACHERS AT SCHOOL, AND HE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLES AT SCHOOL, AND I WAS-- >> BIG PROBLEM.

>> AND ALL HIS TEACHERS RANG ME UP.

HIS SCHOOL TEACHERS RANG ME UP AND TOLD ME THAT HE WAS SUCH AN AWFUL BOY BECAUSE HE MADE CARTOONS ON HIS TEACHERS.

HUELL>> AND NOW HE'S MAKING CARTOONS ON GORBACHEV.

>> YEAH.

AND NOW I'M TAKING TO MILITION--TO MILITIA OFFICE, AND THEY TELL ME THAT HE IS SUCH AN AWFUL BOY BECAUSE HE MAKES CARTOONS.

AND ALL HIS LIFE I AM HEARING--I HEAR THAT HE IS AN AWFUL BOY BECAUSE HE MAKES CARTOONS.

[ LAUGHING ] HUELL>> THAT WAS 1990?

ROMAN>> THAT WAS 1990.

>> THEN 2 YEARS LATER, LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER-- >> ABOUT YEAR AND A HALF, YEAH.

>> YOU--YOU AND YOUR MOTHER LUDMILA ACTUALLY CAME TO LOS ANGELES.

>> YEAH.

UH-HUH.

>> AND WE WERE THERE.

ROMAN>> TO RECORD IT.

HUELL>> TO RECORD IT.

AND SO NOW THE SECOND PART OF OUR UPDATE-- WE FLASHBACK TO 1992 WHEN LUDMILA AND HER SON-- ROMAM>> '91.

HUELL>> --'91.

LUDMILA AND ROMAN ACTUALLY SET FOOT ON AMERICAN SOIL FOR THE FIRST TIME OUT AT LAX.

SO LET'S FLASHBACK TO 1991.

[ CRYING ] LUDMILA>> OH, HUELL!

HUELL>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HERE!

>> YOU'RE HERE!

CROWD>> YOU'RE HERE!

[ APPLAUSE ] HUELL>> IT WAS A WONDERFUL NIGHT THIS PAST JUNE 5TH AS LUDMILA AND ROMAN GOT OFF A PLANE AT LAX TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE.

NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAD EVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE SOVIET UNION IN THEIR LIVES.

AND ALL THEY WERE ALLOWED TO BRING WITH THEM WAS STUFFED IN 4 SUITCASES, BUT THERE THEY WERE, AMERICAN FLAGS FLYING, BEING HUGGED AND KISSED AND EMBRACED BY MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY MINYAN TEMPLE BETH-AM WHO'D SPONSORED THEM TO COME TO AMERICA THROUGH THE JEWISH FEDERATION COUNCIL.

NOW, IF ALL THIS SOUNDS COMPLICATED, IT IS KINDA, BUT REALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE IN L.A., PEOPLE WHO'D NEVER EVEN MET LUDMILA AND ROMAN, BUT MANY OF WHOM HAD SEEN THEM ON "HELLO MOSCOW" MADE THE COMMITMENT TO HELP THIS WOMAN AND HER SON LIVE IN FREEDOM HERE IN AMERICA.

WERE YOU EXCITED?

>> YEAH.

YOU KIDDING?

YEAH, OF COURSE I WAS EXCITED.

>> NOW, DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO OR HOW--WHAT YOUR PLAN OF ACTION WAS AS FAR AS CONTINUING YOUR WORK WAS CONCERNED?

>> I WAS GOING TO SIT ON WELFARE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, YEAH.

>> SIT IN WELFARE.

[ LAUGHING ] NO, YOU WEREN'T!

AND WE'VE GOT THE PROOF OF THAT RIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW VISITING WITH ROMAN IN HIS NEW APARTMENT HERE IN SOUTH--SOUTH PASADENA.

AND WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> IN 5 YEARS YOU HAVE MADE A REMARKABLE NAME FOR YOURSELF.

>> OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY--I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT-- HERE, THIS IS THE WASHINGTON POST, JANUARY 19TH, 1997, COMMENTARY AND OPINION PAGE OF THE WASHINGTON POST, AND HERE IS ROMAN GENN'S CARTOON RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT.

>> WELL, THEY--SEE, THEY MADE ME TO DRAW A DRESS A LITTLE LONGER BECAUSE THEY SAID PAULA JONES LOOKED LIKE A PROSTITUTE.

>> OH, SO YOU--THIS IS PAULA JONES, AND YOU HAD HER SKIRT UP A LITTLE HIGHER?

>> NO, NO.

A LITTLE BIT DOWN BECAUSE THE EDITORS OBJECTED.

>> RIGHT.

ORIGINALLY YOU HAD IT UP HIGHER?

>> PAULA JONES COULD SUE, YOU KNOW, AND-- >> RIGHT.

>>WASHINGTON POST, OF COURSE, CANNOT DEAL WITH--THEY COULD DEAL WITH NIXON, BUT THEY CANNOT DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH PAULA JONES.

>> SO HERE HE IS CAUSING TROUBLE, I MEAN, LET'S--LET'S CUT RIGHT TO SOME OF THE TROUBLE HERE-- WHERE'S THE BARRON'S ARTICLE?

>> WHICH?

>> --THAT YOU HAVE.

LET'S TAKE THIS ONE OUT.

THIS IS--WELL, THIS ISN'T THE ONE THAT CAUSED YOU TROUBLE.

THIS IS THE ONE-- >> NO, NO.

>> THIS IS THE ONE THAT DIDN'T CAUSE HIM ANY TROUBLE.

>> THIS IS THE ONE THAT HAD NO PROBLEMS.

>> THE COVER OF--OF BARRON'S MAGAZINE, RIGHT HERE, ANOTHER NATIONAL PUBLICATION THAT YOU'RE DOING WORK FOR, BUT IT WAS THE NATIONAL REVIEW-- >> RIGHT HERE.

>> --THAT HAD KIND OF GOTTEN YOU IN SOME TROUBLE.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL CARTOON THAT YOU DREW.

HERE IT IS ON THE COVER OF THE NATIONAL REVIEW.

THAT'S THE MARCH 24TH ISSUE.

OBVIOUSLY AL GORE, PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON.

>> NO.

THIS IS PRESIDENT AND-- >>THIS IS PRESIDENT CLINTON, AND THIS IS BILL CLINTON?

>> MR. CLINTON.

>> ONCE AGAIN, HE'S CAUSING TROUBLE.

BUT HERE YOU'VE GOT IT LABELED THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATES?

>> YEAH.

>> OBVIOUSLY.

>> WELL, I DIDN'T--I DIDN'T HAVE IT LABELED.

I JUST HAD MINE ORDERS.

I WAS EINSOLDAT.

THE EDITORS MADE IT UP SO I JUST EXECUTED IT, BUT UM-- >> SO THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF-- THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DONATION-- >> YES, YES.

>> THE MONEY?

>> YES, YES.

>> AND ALL OF THAT?

YOU'VE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF--OF-- >> I HAVEN'T GOTTEN--THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH-- >> BUT, I MEAN, CARICATURES THAT--THAT THEY ARE OFFENDED BY, AND THIS, YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS THAT THIS-- THIS IS--THIS IS WHAT A CARTOONIST IS SUPPOSED TO DO, ISN'T IT?

I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES-- >> THEY THINK YOU ALSO GET PAID FOR THAT.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I PICKED UP THE L.A. TIMES AND GOTTEN MAD AT A CONRAD?

>> I'M GETTING MAD AT CONRAD.

I MEAN, HE'S GREAT FRIEND OF MINE, BUT I MEAN, I JUST DISAGREE WITH HIM.

>> BUT YOU'RE--YOU'RE--YOU'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE--THAT ARE MAKING-- THAT ARE--THEY'RE--THEY'RE SHARP-WITTED.

YOU'RE VERY--AH-- >> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> HERE HE IS.

>> IS TED KAZYNSKI?

YOU KNOW, THE UNABOMBER FROM HARVARD, WHICH WOULD NEVER PROBABLY AFFECT ME.

>> HERE IS?

>> THAT'S AL D'AMATO.

>> ALFONSE D'AMATO, SENATOR D'AMATO.

>> YEAH.INVESTIGATING WHITEWATER, AND-- >> HERE IS BOB DOLE.

>> YEAH.

GETTING HIT BY A SNOWBALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

>> HERE IS CHRIS DARDIN.

THAT'S CHRIS DARDIN.

>> NOW, THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE.

THIS IS WHAT--REAGAN?

>> SCHWARTZENEGGER.

>> SCHWARTZENEGGER, AND TEDDY ROOSEVELT WITH A STICK, TALKING SOFTLY, AND-- WHAT'S HIS NAME?

>> OH, HERE'S GEORGE BUSH BARELY VISIBLE BEHIND THE FLAG.

>> WITHOUT HIS PARACHUTE.

[ LAUGHING ] >> HERE IS PAT BUCHANNAN.

HUELL>> THAT IS--INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE NATIONAL REVIEW CUT IT, CUT HIS LEGS OUT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT MAKES HIM LOOK LIKE A NAZI.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> OH, DOING THE GOOSE STEP THERE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> SO YOU-YOU-YOU HAVE NO FAVORITES.

YOU'D JUST AS SOON-- >> NO.

I--PAT BUCHANNAN IS DEFINITELY AN OLD FAVORITE OF MINE.

>> BUT, I MEAN, POLITICALLY, YOU KNOCK THEM ALL.

>> I'M MORE LENIENT, I MEAN, I KNOCK LIBERALS MORE.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PICK THOSE REPUBLICANS OUT OF MY FILE.

>> THIS IS ALFONSE D'AMATO AGAIN, SENATOR D'AMATO.

>> NO.

I'M--I'M VERY RIGHT WING.

CUBANS ARE MORE LIBERAL THAN I AM SO-- >> HERE IS-- >> IT'S FARRAKHAN.

>> THIS FARRAKHAN WAS NOT PUBLISHED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT FARRAKHAN TO GET OFFENDED.

HE'S-- >> WHO WOULDN'T PUBLISH THIS?

>> LOS ANGELES TIMES.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> THIS WAS A LITTLE TOO HOT FOR THEM?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, OTHER PAPERS DID.

>> HERE'S JESSE HELMS.

>> YOU'VE GOT ALL THOSE-- IT'S LIKE-- >> WELL, GO ON, BRING SOME MORE OUT FOR ME.

>> OKAY.

HERE'S BILL CLINTON.

>> THIS IS BILL CLINTON WITH HIS FOREIGN POLICY VOODOO, YOU KNOW, FOREIGN POLICY.

>> YEAH.

>> PEACE SIGN HERE, A CHICKEN.

>> YEAH.

>> OH, BOY.

>> YEAH.

>> HERE'S YOUR COVER OF BARRON'S AGAIN.

>> AGAIN.

>> OH, LOOK.

HERE'S MADELINE ALBRIGHT, OUR SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> AS WINSTON CHURCHILL, EXCEPT, YOU KNOW-- >> THAT'S WHAT--WHERE YOU GOT THE BOW TIE AND THE CIGAR?

>> BUT WINSTON NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS JEWISH, OF COURSE.

[ LAUGHING ] >>AND GOOD OLD NEWT GINGRICH.

>> AND NEWT GINGRICH SORT OF CORNERED, YOU KNOW, BY HIS ENEMIES AND SORT OF , LIKE, SWEATING IT OUT.

>> LOOK.

I JUST SEE THIS ONE OVER HERE.

SOCIAL-- >> RIGHT.

>> SOCIAL INSECURITY?

>> WELL, IT'S AN UNFINISHED PIECE, SO-- >> YOU DON'T MIND IF WE SHOW IT, DO YOU?

>> CAN I SUE YOU FOR DAMAGES?

[ LAUGHING ] >> AND ACTUALLY, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS YOU'VE, I GUESS, SIGNED A DEAL WITH NATIONAL REVIEW, WHICH IS A CONSERVATIVE PUBLICATION.

>> WELL, RIGHT.

>> TO DO MOST OF THEIR-- HOLD THAT ONE UP FOR ME AND LET ME GRAB-- YOU'VE DONE A NUMBER-- >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> --OF COVERS.

THIS ONE CALLED INSIDE THE DONKEY.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

WHICH REPRESENTS MY VIEW OF THE LIBERALS.

>> HERE WE GO WITH BOB DOLE AND THE ELEPHANT ON THE ROPES.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

SOME PEOPLE GOT OFFENDED AT THAT.

THEY LOSE--LOST A COUPLE OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> THE NATIONAL REVIEW LOST SUBSCRIPTIONS BECAUSE THEY-- >> WELL, I MEAN, THEY--THEY-- >> --SHOWED BOB DOLE LOOKING LIKE THIS?

>> I HOPE THEY GAINED ON OTHER ISSUES SO THEY SOLD OUT OTHER MAGAZINES.

>> SO PEOPLE REALLY, UM, REACT?

>> YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LET THEM, SO-- >> IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO GET, TO ELICIT RESPONSES FROM PEOPLE?

>> WELL, I'M NOT TRYING TO ELICIT IT, BUT IF IT--IF IT IS ELICITED, I DON'T MIND IT BECAUSE, I MEAN, THAT MEANS I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M--I'M TRYING TO DO IT IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF--OF THE BUSINESS SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE CONRAD AND OLIPHANT AND HERBLOCK AND THOSE GUYS.

YOU KNOW, AND WHICH IS SAD BECAUSE THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST DON'T DO IT ANYMORE, SO-- HUELL>> THEY'RE TOO TAME?

ROMAN>> THEY'RE TOO TAME.

>> TOO AFRAID OF CONTROVERSY.

>> YOU KNOW CARTOONISTS BECOME YUPPIES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS WRONG, BASICALLY, WITH-WITH-WITH THIS BUSINESS.

SO I'M TRYING TO--NOT TO BE THIS WAY, AND I'M TRYING TO DO WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT, AND YEAH, TO PISS PEOPLE OFF.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW.

>> LET ME--LET ME PULL UP-- >> I DID IT BEFORE, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY-- >> WELL, HERE'S YOUR SHOT.

HERE'S A CARTOON, LOOK, OF NEWT, AGAIN, THE WASHINGTON POST COMMENTARY AND OPINION.

YOU'RE RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT.

>> RIGHT, WELL-- >> NOW, HOW HARD HAS THIS BEEN FOR YOU?

YOU ARRIVED IN AMERICA-- >> RIGHT.

>> --6 YEARS AGO, BARELY 6 YEARS AGO BARELY ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

>> I STILL-- >> AND NOW-- >> I STILL DON'T-- >> YOU SPEAK GREAT ENGLISH.

>> I JUST REPEAT WHAT YOU SAY.

>> NOW YOU'VE GOT YOUR CARTOONS-- >> HE COACHED ME.

>> --ON THE COVER, ON THE FRONT OF THE OPINION SECTION OF THE WASHINGTON POST.

THAT IS A RATHER REMARKABLE SUCCESS STORY.

HOW DID YOU DO THIS?

HOW DID YOU, SERIOUSLY NOW, BECAUSE I CAN SEE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND SOME KIND OF A CLEVER ANSWER.

>> I'M A NATURALLY GIFTED MAN, SO-- >> BUT, IT'S--IT'S, I MEAN, THAT'S--THAT'S A TERRIFIC SUCCESS STORY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SO-- >> HAS IT BEEN--WAS IT DIFFICULT?

>> ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE ME RAISE NOW?

>> WAS IT A STRUGGLE?

WAS IT-- >> WELL, I MEAN, CERTAIN THINGS ARE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CERTAIN DIFFERENCES.

I--I STILL WAS NOT ABLE TO OVERCOME SO I PERSONALLY THINK ETHNIC CARTOONS ARE FUNNY.

APPARENTLY, THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DON'T, SO THEY DON'T PUBLISH THEM.

SO LIKE, THINGS LIKE THIS, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT-- WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT, BUT YOU READ THE BOOKS, AND YOU KNOW, AND YOU READ THE PAPERS AND YOU WATCH TV AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A CERTAIN IDEA OF WHAT THINGS ARE, SO-- >> YOU GET A FEEL FOR WHAT-- >> RIGHT.

>> --AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN POLITIC-- >> WELL, YEAH.

>> --IS ALL ABOUT.

>> I MEAN, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND LIFE, IT WILL TAKE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF MY LIFE, IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, FIT IN.

SO ALTHOUGH I, YOU KNOW, I'M MUCH HAPPIER HERE SO THAN OBVIOUSLY I WAS IN RUSSIA.

BUT WHO WOULDN'T BE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO-- >> BUT YOU'VE BEEN BACK TO RUSSIA.

>> I HAVE--I HAVE, YEAH.

AND THE WASHINGTON POST SENT ME.

>> DON'T WE HAVE THAT SOMEWHERE?

YOU DID A WHOLE-- >> YEAH, RIGHT THERE.

>> OH, THIS IS--IS AN AMAZING PIECE THAT HE'S DONE.

ROMAN GENN'S RUSSIA SKETCHBOOK FOR THE WASHINGTON POST.

THIS WAS JULY--JUNE 1996.

YOU DID AN ENTIRE PAGE.

>> ENTIRE PAGE.

>> AN ENTIRE PAGE OF CARTOONS FROM YOUR TRIP BACK TO MOSCOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE DOING WORK NOW FOR THE WASHINGTON POST.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR NATIONAL REVIEW.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR BARRON'S.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOR OTHER PUBLICATIONS AND NEWSPAPERS.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> DO YOU ENJOY KNOCKING PEOPLE IN YOUR CARTOONS?

>> YES, YES.

THAT'S-- >> YOU DO?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, HUNTING SORT OF URGE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DO IT.

IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU NAIL SOMEBODY AND, LIKE CONRAD WAS ON NIXON'S ENEMIES LIST.

THAT WAS SUCCESS TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND IN CARTOONING-- >> SO CONRAD WAS ON NIXON'S ENEMIES LIST?

>> YEAH.

>> WHOSE ENEMIES LIST ARE YOU ON?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I--TO--PROBABLY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, CHINESE DONATORS OR SOMETHING.

DONATORS OR DONORS?

>> DONORS.

>> DONORS, WHATEVER, SO-- >> DO YOU PUT YOUR POLITICS INTO THE CARTOONS?

>> YEAH.

I DO.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> SO YOU'RE UNABASHEDLY PURSUING YOUR VIEWPOINT ON SOMETHING?

>> I TRY TO.

I MEAN, AS MUCH AS I CAN BECAUSE, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT CARTOONS ARE ALL ABOUT.

IT'S EXPRESSING, I MEAN , SOMETIMES YOU, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DO ILLUSTRATIONS, OR YOU HAVE TO TONE SOMETHING DOWN, BUT BASICALLY I TRY TO DO WHAT I BELIEVE, AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT?

THE HELL WITH THEM.

>> WHOSE THE MOST TOLERANT?

LIBERALS OR CONSERVATIVES IN YOUR VIEWPOINT, I MEAN, WHEN YOU DO A CARTOON, DO--DO YOU GET ADVERSE REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES?

>> WELL, I MOSTLY-- >> YOU MAKE THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS MAD.

>> I MOSTLY GET, LIKE, PROBLEM WITH LIBERALS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UPTIGHT, POLITICALLY CORRECT PEOPLE WHO JUST SIT AROUND WAITING TO GET, YOU KNOW, TICKED OFF AT SOMETHING.

SO BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT I GET PROBLEMS WITH, BUT THAT'S JUST--CONRAD GOT PROBLEMS WITH--WITH-- >> CONSERVATIVES?

>> RIGHT.

SO I MEAN, I DON'T THINK EITHER SIDE, YOU KNOW JOHN SUNUNU SUPPORTED CARTOONING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID THIS COVER FOR NATIONAL REVIEW, I MEAN, SUNUNU, YOU WOULD ASSUME, WOULD NOT SUPPORT CARTOONING WHATSOEVER.

SO I MEAN, IT'S ALL POLITICAL, I GUESS.

SO I MEAN, I ENJOY CONRAD'S DRAWINGS, IN EXAMPLE, HE AND OLIPHANT AND HERBLOCK AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE GUYS.

I MEAN CON--I MEAN, IMMENSELY, BUT THEY DO NOT REPRESENT MY POLITICAL VIEW, HOWEVER-- >> YOU RESPECT WHAT THEY DO?

>> I ADMIRE THEM, WHAT THEY DO FOR WHAT WHEY DO, AND I MEAN, I ADMIT THAT THEY REALLY NAILED THE ISSUES SO THAT'S WHAT CARTOONING IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WHEN I SEE, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS YUPPIE CARTOONISTS, YOU KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO NAME THE PUBLICATIONS AND NAMES, SO-- >> YOU SEE THE WHAT?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO NAME-- >> BUT, I MEAN, YOU SEE WHAT KIND OF CARTOONISTS?

>> YUPPIE-LIKE.

>> YUPPIE CARTOONISTS?

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THAT DO THE TOPIC HUMOR LIKE STAND-UP COMEDIANS, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE-- >> BLAND?

>> RIGHT.

SEMI-FUNNY KIND OF, LIKE TOPIC, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IN TODAY, SORT OF THAT KIND OF THING.

>> YOU WANT TO NAIL THEM?

>> YES.

THAT'S WHAT THE BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT, AND YOU KNOW, DON'T WE FORGET IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HISTORY SHALL NOT FORGIVE US FOR THAT.

>> NOW, YOU'RE--THE PEOPLE WILL BE ASKING ABOUT YOUR MOM TOO.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> YOUR MOM IS HERE.

SHE COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY.

SHE IS--SHE IS A TRANSLATOR FOR THE COURT SYSTEM.

>> BUT SHE IS ACTUALLY IN NASA RIGHT NOW, IN HOUSTON.

>> SHE IS AT NASA?

>> YEAH.

>> IN HOUSTON?

>> YEAH.

>> DOING WHAT?

TRANSLATING?

>> JUST--JUST BEGGING FOR MONEY.

>> NO.

I MEAN SHE'S-- >> YEAH, SHE'S TRANSLATING, YEAH.