♪♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER P. AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- ♪♪ >>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF FRESH STARTS?

CITY HALL.

A NEW MAYOR, AN OVERWHELMINGLY NEW CITY COUNCIL, THE MOST DIVERT IN HISTORY, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO HOLD THE SPEAKER POSITION.

REPUBLICAN LEADER STATEN ISLAND JOE MORELLI JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW JOB, INCLUDING THE RECENT SURGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, THANK YOU RAFAEL.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS IN THE LAST ELECTION THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS NEEDILY DOUBLED ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

NOT SO GOOD NEWS YOU HAVE JUST FIVE MEMBERS IN A 51-MEMBER BODY.

AS THE NEW MINORITY LEADER, HOW WILL YOU BE LEADING THAT CLOUT?

>> LET'S START HERE.

THIS IS GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT NEW YORK CITY WE THINK OF IT AS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, BUT WE SHOULD BE THINKING OF IT AS A SMALL COUNTRY.

WE HAVE THE SAME POPULATION OF A COUNTRY LIKES SWITZERLAND, IT'S IN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST TO NOT HAVE ONE-PEAT RULE OF TOEN A VIBRANT OPPOSITION, TO HAVE A VIBRANT DEBATE ON POLICY AND THOUGHT, AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN ONE VOICE CHIMING IN.

WE DO HAVE THE MOST MEMBERS WE'VE HAD IN ABOUT TWO DECADES, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS, WE STILT ONLY MAKE UP ABOUT 10% OF THE COUNCIL ITSELF, BUT THE REALITY IS MOST OF THE MINDS ON COUNSEL INVOLVES MODERATES VERSUS PROGRESSIVES.

WE ARE CERTAINLY PART OF THAT MODERATE LOT.

SOME CALL US THE COMMON SENSE CAUCUS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ISSUES, YOU SEE A GENERAL BREAKDOWN OF MEMBERS ON, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, BUT IN TERMS OF MODERATE SORT OF THE FAR LEFT.

>> YOU HAVE A NEW CAUCUS CALLED THE COMMON SENSE CAUCUS, WHICH SOME WAG MIGHT SAY IT'S THE SMALLEST IN THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT I WON'T SAY THAT, BECAUSE I RESPECT ALL YOU GUYS.

I THINK YOU CHAIR IT WITH, HAVE ROBERT HOLDEN FROM QUEENS?

>> YEAH.

>> WHO IS IN THAT CAUCUS AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH IT?

>> CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW WE'RE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS.

WE THINK MAYBE AT LEAST 10, MAYBE 11, MAYBE 12.

IT'S A BLOC OF VOTES, 20% OF THE COUNCIL IN THIS CASE, BUT A BLOC THAT WANTS THE CITY TO RETURN TO FOCUS ON REGULAR QUALITY OF LIFE PROBLEMS, FOCUSED ON THE PICKED UP, WHETHER OUR CITIES ARE PAVED, WHETHER THE LITTER IS GETTING REMOVED, WHETHER THE GRASS IS CUT IN THE PARKS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT FALL WITHIN THE WHEELHOUSE OF CITY GOVERNMENT THAT TEND TO PLAY SECOND FIDDLE ESSENTIALLY WHEN YOU TALK TO SOME OF OUR NEW MEMBERS AND OTHER MEMBERS WHO WANT TO MAKE THE CITY COUNCIL A PLACE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PROGRESSIVE BONA FIDES.

>> LATE LAST YEAR YOU WROTE AN OP-ED PIECE FOR "NEW YORK POST" BLASTING A VOTE, TO ALLOW NEARLY 800,000 NON-AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO ARE DOCUMENTED, TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

THE VOTE PASSED.

CAN YOU SUMMARIZE FOR US THE ARGUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE AGAINST THAT MEASURE?

>> WELL, SURE.

FIRST OF ALL, WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE ITSELF, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE POLICY, THE APPROPRIATE VENUE FOR HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT WE DID IN THE CITY COUNCIL IS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED BY THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND STATE ELECTION LAW.

THE STATE CONSTITUTION CITES THAT EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND STATE ELECTION LAW CITES THAT ONLY PEOPLE CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES CAN VOTE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PAINT THIS AS A VAGUENESS IN STATE LAW, BUT IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR, SO CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT MAYOR de BLASIO HAD THE SAME OPINION AS GEE BORELI AS DID MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND IS THE CORPORATION COUNCIL BEFORE.

WHY IT SHOULD MAKE NEW YORKERS AFRAID IS THAT IF THE CITY COUNCIL IS WILLING TO JUST GO AROUND AND DIRECTLY VIOLATE STATE LAW ON THIS MATTER, THEN THEY COULD VIOLATE STATE LAW IN ANY MATTER?

UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, WE IN THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STATUTE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

WE SIMPLY DISREGARDED IT IN THIS REGARD, AND I THINK WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN STATE SUPREME COURT, AND I THINK WE MIGHT EVEN BY SUCCESSFUL AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS LEVEL.

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW STATE LAW AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION AS WELL.

CLEARLY NOW WE HAVE A CONFLICT, AND CLEARLY A IN ALL CASES, STATE STATUTE AND STATE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW TAKE PRECEDENT OVER OUR CITY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

>> THE SUPPORTERS, OF COURSE, ARGUE THAT THESE DOCUMENTED LEGAL NON-CITIZENS PAY TAXES, THEY USE THE SAME SERVICES, YOU KNOW, THEY SUFFERING THE SAME CONSEQUENCE FROM BAD POLITICAL LEADERS' DECISIONS, SO THEY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS.

REGARDLESS OF THAT, YOU KNOW, 2020 WAS SURPRISINGLY A GOOD YEAR FOR ELECTION FOR REPUBLICANS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION GOT MORE HISPANIC VOTES, AND A LOT OF PUNDITS ARE SAYING THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS TRACKING LIKE THE MORE TRADITIONAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, FROM LIBERAL TO CONSERVATIVE, FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT BY FIGHTING THIS SO HARD, AS YOU ARE, THAT YOU MAY LOSE A LOT OF THE HISPANICS THAT ARE THE LION'S SHARE OF THOSE 800,000 VOTES WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEXT ELECTION OR ONE AFTER THAT?

>> I'M NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNED.

IF WE DILUTE SOME OF THE ARGUMENT YOU MADE, NUMBER ONE THESE ARE FOREIGN CITIZENS.

THEY ARE HERE LEGALLY, AS A RESULT OF THAT, THEY'RE ON WHICH IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THAT I NATIVE COUNTRY OR THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY A RESIDENT.

THEY'RE NOT NON-CITIZENS WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO VOTE ANYWHERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN VOTING OUT IS A CITIZEN OF LONDON -- WHICH TO ME IS KIND OF STRANGE.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE UNITED STATES HAS NEVER USED TAX PAYING AS A STANDARD FOR VOTING.

IN FACT, I THINK MOST OF US WOULD AGREE THAT'S PROBABLY A BAD STANDARD TO HAVE.

IF YOU USE TAX PAYING AS THE NEW STANDARD, WHY AREN'T, YOU KNOW, STOKE BROKERS WHO LIVE IN GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, WEE DON'T THEY VOTE IN CITY ELECTIONS?

WHY DO WE NOT ALLOW TEACHERS, FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, WHO LIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND MIGHT COMMUTE TO MANHATTAN TO VOTE, RESIDENCY IS REQUIRED.

BUT THE SAME STATUTE, 2-105 -- 5-102, EXCUSE ME, THE SAME STATUTE THAT REQUIRES A 30-DAYS RESIDENCY FOR CITIZENS ALSO REQUIRES CITIZENSHIP.

THE ARGUMENT IS LESS ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.

EVEN TOURISTS HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.

THEY PAY HOSPITALITY TAX, AND OF COURSE FOR SUFFRAGE PURPOSES, THE STANDARD IS PROBABLY NOT A DIRECTION THAT DEMOCRATS WANT TO GO.

>> SO LET'S TURN TO THE ISSUE IN THE HEADLINES.

THAT'S BEEN THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME AND DISORDER THAT'S PLAGUED NEW YORK CITY, AS IT HAS MANY CITIES IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, A REALITY MADE MORE PALPABLE BY THE KILLINGS OF CRYSTAL BRYAN- -- AND MICHELLE GOH IN A TIMES SQUARE SUBWAY STATION, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

MOST AGREE THAT MAYOR ADAMS WAS ELECTED CHIEFLY BECAUSE OF HIS PROMISE TO FIGHT CRIME AND TO REVERSE THE TREND.

DO YOU THINK -- DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT HE CAN DO THAT?

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS HE NEEDS TO DO FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW TO DO THAT REVERSAL?

>> I DO TAKE THE MAYOR AT HIS WORD.

I AM OPTIMISTIC WITH MAYOR ADAMS, HIS CRUSADE TO SAVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN NEW YORK.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW HE GOT ELECTED.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW YORKERS THAT WANT A PROACTIVE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW YORKERS THAT WANT A RESPONSIBLE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT DOESN'T HARASS OR ASSAULT THE PUBLIC.

FOR ERIC ADAMS' BENEFIT, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS FIT BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

I THINK HE SPOKE TO THEM.

TOO OBVIOUS IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES, YOU ONLY HEARD ONE SIDE OF THAT EQUATION, NOT THE OTHER.

I THINK THE VOTERS RETURNED THE FAVOR BY ELECTING HIM MAYOR.

THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN IF ERIC ADAMS WANTS A MORE PROACTIVE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK HE'S DONE THAT WITH AN ANTICRIME IS, IF WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ALVIN GREG, WHO ARE JUST NOT GOING TO PROSECUTOR PEOPLE FOR SOME SERIOUS CRIME, OR WE HAVE THEM MATERIALLY ALTERING DOCUMENTS TO BE THE CHARGING DOCUMENTS, IN THE CASE OF A TJMAXX A FEW WEEKS AGO, IF WE STILL HAVE LAWS THIGH BAIL REFORM, THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE PERENNIALLY CHARGED ON OF AND RELEASE ODD THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE -- THERE'S A MYTH THAT PEOPLE ARE ON RIGHTERS ISLAND FOR MARIJUANA OR LOW-LEVEL CRIME.

IT'S JUST NOT TRUE, AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST.

WHEN WE HAVE D.A.s LIKE ALVIN GREGG, I THINK THAT UNDERMINES A LOT OF THE REASON WHY NEW YORKERS ELECTED MAYOR ADAMS.

>> IS THE DARR HAS BEEN A STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR FOR YEARS.

HE ACTUALLY CAMPAIGNED ON THE ISSUES THAT HE OUTLINED IN HIS DAY ONE MEMO, WHERE HE ENUMERATED THE CHANGES THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE.

HE SAYS THAT HE'S BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD IN A LOT OF WAYS FROM THAT MEMO.

HIS BASIC ARGUMENT IS THE ARGUMENT OF SOME CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATES, IS THAT YOU CANNOT INCARCERATE US OUT OF CRIME AND OUT OF THIS CRIME SURGE.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU CREATE ALL KINDS OF DISLOCATION BY THIS MASSIVE INCARCERATION, DISLOCATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL THAT ARE IRREVERSIBLE THAT LEAD TO MORE CRIME AND HAPPEN MOSTLY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> WE'VE ALWAYS HAD PROGRESSIVE D.A.s IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE FIVE BOROUGHS THAT WANTED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD D.A.s WHO WANT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SENTENCED TO JAIL.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE IN THAT.

WHEN THEY LOOKS AT THE FACTS, CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE RAP SHEET OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THIS D.A.

HAS DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AS A BLANKET.

WE'RE GOING TO PROACTIVELY TELL OR ADAs TO NOT PROSECUTOR SOME CRIME.

THE ONE INCIDENT JANUARY 5th -- ROBBED THE STORE, USED SOME TYPE OF SHEARS OR SCISSORS TO THREATEN THE STAFF.

WELL AN ADA ACTING OF GREGG'S POLICY FOR MATERIALLY ALTERING THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND ASKING A POLICE OFFICERS TO SIGN A DOCUMENT.

WHAT IF THAT WAS DONE IN THE OPPOSITE.

WHAT IF AN ADA CHANGED THE CHARGING DOCUMENTS TO ADD AN ELEMENT THAT WASN'T THERE.

THAT WOULD BE CHARGED FOR PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

THIS IS THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENING IN REVERSE.

THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD DRAW A LINE.

WE WANT PROSECUTORS TO LOOK AT THE FACT, LOOK AT THE CASES, AND ACT WITH REASONABLENESS.

WE DON'T WANT BLANKET GET OUT OF JAIL CARDS.

>> TO BE FAIR, THAT'S ONE CASE, BUT WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS QUICKLY.

MOST POLITICAL EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING A GOOD MIDTERM ELECTION FOR REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HOW WILL REPUBLICANS DO IN NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY AT THE MIDTERM AND BEYOND?

>> I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME SURPRISES.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE IN NASSAU AND SUV FOX COUNTY AND LOWER HUDSON VALLEY.

IF WE COULD PICK UP THOSE AREAS, I THEY WE HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AND CERTAINLY SENATE SEATS.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M SURE WE'LL BE TALKING IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANKS.

>>> SO WHAT MAKES A LEADER?

AND ARE LEADERS BORN?

PULITZER PRIZEWINNING DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN THAT IS SPEND THE PAST DECADES WRITING IN-DEPTH BIOGRA BIOGRAPHIES.

IN HER LATEST BOOK SHE DRAWS UPON FOUR PAST PRESIDENTS, AND EXAMINES WHAT MADE EACH THE RIGHT LEADER FOR HIS TIME.

WHAT TODAY IS ASPIRING AND ESTABLISHED LEADERS CAN LEARN FROM THEM.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME A GOOD FRIEND FROM A LONG TIME AGO, DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN HERE AT "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THE LENS OF LEADERSHIP, DID YOU FIND SIMILARITIES AMONG THEM THAT MAYBE HADN'T BEEN REVEALED BEFORE?

>> I THINK IT'S TRUE, THEY CAME FROM ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, TWO VERY PRIVILEGED, THE RADIOS -- ROOSEVELTS.

THEY HAD DIFFERENT TEMPERAMENTS, AND SOMETIMES THE TEMPERAMENT FITS THE TIME, BUT THERE'S A FAMILY RESEMBLANCE DID YOU HUMILITY.

IT'S THE ABILITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ERRORS.

>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU SAY HUMILITY AS OPPOSE TO DO HUMBLENESS.

MAYBE LINCOLN YOU MIGHT, BUT THE OTHER THREE, THAT'S NOT THE FIRST WORD THAT POPS INTO YOUR MIND.

>> IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE MEEK OR HUMBLE.

IT JUST MEANS YOU ACCEPT THAT HUMANS HAVE LIMITATIONS AND YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOURSELF WHEN YOU MAKE MISTAKES.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT, WHEN HE FIRST GOT INTO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, YOU NEVER THINK OF HIM AS HUMBLE.

THEY SAID HE WANTED TO BE THE BABY AT THE BAPTISM, AND THE BRIDE AT THE WEDDING AND CORPSE AT THE FOUNDATION RULE.

HE REALIZES LATER HE HAD A SWELLED HEAD.

HE WAS SO GLAD TO BE THERE, HE'S POUNDING HIS FISTS.

HE BECOMES FAMOUS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.

HE SAID, I REALIZE I HAD TO CHANGE MY WAY, I WAS NOT ALLOWING MYSELF TO GET ANY COMPROMISE OR COLLABORATION.

SO THAT'S THE ABILITY TO LEARN, TO GROWN IN OFFICE.

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY HUMILITY.

>> WE OFTEN HEAR FOLKS TALKING ABOUT OUR TIMES AS BEING TURBULENT.

BUT TALK ABOUT THE TURBULENCE THAT SURROUNDED THESE FOUR FIGURES AND WHAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY FIRST WALKED IN.

>> THINK ABOUT LINCOLN COMING INTO OFFICE.

HE LATER SAID IF HE HAD KNOWN THE TURMOIL HE WOULD FACE, THE SOUTH WALL STREET ALREADY SECEDING, WAR WAS BEGIN TO GO RAMP UP, HE SAID HE COULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT HE COULD HAVE LIVED THROUGH IT.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT, TOO, COMING IN AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF McKINLEY, THERE WAS A REAL MOOD OF REBELLION BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR, THE WORKING CLASS IS FEELING LIAR THEY'RE GETTING A FAIR SHAKE, AND THEY'RE NOT.

HE HAS TO DEAL WITH THE TENSION.

THERE'S BOMBS IN THE STREETS A NATIONWIDE STRIKE GOING ON, AND FDR AT THE HEIGHT OF THE DEPRESSION WHEN HE WAS AFRAID THE WHOLE HOUSE OF CARDS MIGHT COLLAPSE BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE.

AND LBJ HAS THE ASSASSINATION, AND EVERYBODY IS OBSESSED WITH THE KILLING OF JFK, AND THEN OSWALD, AND THE FEELING HE'S NOT WORTHY OF BEING A SUCCESSOR.

CIVIL RIGHTS HAD HEATED UP.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT IN THE TIME WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

BUT THEY WERE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE TIME AND THE CITIZENS WERE ACTIVE, WHICH MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH GREAT STORIES HERE, SO MANY THAT MAKE YOU FEEL THAT YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH IT IN SOME WAYS.

I WAS FASCINATED WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT WHO EACH OF THEIR HEROES WERE.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> IT CAME AT THE END.

THERE'S A FAMILY TREE THAT COVERING, LBJ'S HERE ROA WAS FDR.

4th CALLED HIM HIS POLITICAL DADDY.

HE MET HIM WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, AND ELEANOR ROOSEVELT SAID IT WAS THE BEST PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY THAT HE WAS IN.

AND HE MODELED HIS EARLY LIFE AS A YOUNG NEW DEALER.

FDR'S HERO WAS TEDDY.

THEY'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US?

HE SAYS I KNOW WHAT I LIKE, I LIKE THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

I WOULD LOVE TO BECOME GOVERNOR, AND THEN WHO KNOWS, THE PRESIDENCY.

POLIO CUT THAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WHICH HE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S HERO IS LINCOLN.

WHEN HE WAS FACING A STRIKE, HE REED ALL NINE VOLUMES.

THERE WAS A RIGHT, LEFT, MIDDLE, AND I CAN DO THE SAME THING.

HE LEARNED FROM HIM.

HIS HERO WAS -- LINCOLN'S HERO WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON.

IT'S AMAZING TO THINK YOU GO FROM LBJ TO FDR, AND SO ON, THAT'S THE HISTORY OF OUR COMPANY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR OF THEM, THEY'RE SUCH VERY DIFFERENT MEN.

EVEN THE ROOSEVELTS, SAME EXTENDED FAMILY, SAME LIVES OF PRIVILEGE, BUT STILL SO TERRIBLY DIFFERENT.

DID YOU FIND A SINGLE, CONSISTENT STRAND OR A LEADERSHIP TRAIT THAT IDENTIFIED EACH OF THEM.

>> I THINK I WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE WAS EMPATHY.

IT'S EITHER BORN IN YOU, WHICH MEANS SUDDEN UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S POINTS OF VIEW, YOU CAN HAVE A FEELING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S WAYS OF LIFE.

LINCOLN FELT THAT AS A YOUNG KID.

HE WOULD WATCH YOUNG KIDS PUTTING HOT COALS ON TURTLES NOSE IT WAS INDUCING PAIN, AND L 3W689 J, WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG PERSON AND TAUGHT, AND HE FELT THE PAIN ON THE KIDS' FACES, AND DID EVERYTHING HE COULD THE YEAR HE WAS TEACHING.

BOTH ROOSEVELTS HAD TO DEVELOP EMPATHY.

THAT'S WHEN POLITICS CAN BE THE MOST BROADENING THEM.

TEDDY SAID WHEN I WENT INTO POLITICS THE FIRST TIME, IT WASN'T -- BUT THEN HE SAW DECREPT TENMENTS AND SAW DECREPIT FACTORIES, AND THEN TEDDY WHEN HE GOT POLIO, HE UNDERSTOOD PEOPLE -- HOW DO YOU COUNTRY, AND HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR REGION, CLASS OR RACE?

AND THEN THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THAT EMPATHY IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE TIME AND PERSUADE PEOPLE TO MOBILIZE THEM TO ACTION I THINK WOULD BE THE OTHER SIDE.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TURMOIL WE'RE EXPERIENCING TODAY.

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, SOCIETALLY, CULTURALLY, WHICH OF THE FOUR THAT YOU CHRONICLE HERE, WHICH OF THE FOUR DO YOU THINK WOULD BE BEST SUITED TO BE A LEADER TODAY?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE TEDDY ROOSEVELT.

I MEAN, THE REASON BEING HIS TIME WAS SIMILAR TO OURS.

HE ALWAYS WARNED THE ROCK OF DEMOCRACY WOULD FOUNDER IF PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OR RACES OR RELIGIONS BEGAN TO THINK OF THEMSELVES AS THE OTHER.

THAT'S THE DIVISION THAT I THINK UNDERLAYING MUCH OF THE POLITICAL TURMOIL, THE LARGER DIVISION THAT'S THERE, AND HE KNEW HOW TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS.

HE WITH THE SHORT PHRASES THAT HE COULD SPEAK SOFTLY -- >> CAN YOU IMAGINE TEDDY ROOSEVELT TWEETING?

>> ABSOLUTELY, BUT I THINK HE WOULD ONLY IF HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

HE EVEN WITH THE SLOGAN, GOOD TO THE LAST DROP, BUT HE OFFERED FOR A SQUARE DEAL.

SO THERE'S PEOPLE ON THE LEFT, PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT.

HE SAID I WANT A DEAL FOR THE CAPITALISTS AND THE WAGEWORKER, A DEAL FOR THE RICH AND THE POOR.

IF IRE A RICH PERSON, THAT'S FINE AS LONG AS YOU DEAL FAIRLY.

IF YOU'RE A UNION GUY, I'LL BE FORYOU UNLESS YOU DEAL UNFAIRLY.

HE STOOD IN THE CENTER.

HE HAD A SELF-DEPRECATING SENSE OF HUMOR.

A FAMOUS JOURNALIST WROTE A REVIEW OF HIS MEMOIR AND SO PLACED HIMSELF 2349 CENTER, HE SHOULD HAVE CALLED IT ALONE IN CUBA.

HE WRITES A HER TO THE INFORM YOU THAT MY WIFE AND INTIMATE FRIENDS ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR RUE VIE, AND NOW I WANT TO SEE YOU.

HE WAS ABLE TO BE FRIENDS OF JOURNALISTS.

HE KNEW THEY WOULD CRITICIZE HIM, AND THEY WOULD CRITICIZE HIM.

THE MUCKRAKERS WHO BECOME THE GOLDEN AGE OF JOURNALISM.

I THINK HE UNDERSTOOD -- IN TODAY'S WORLD YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEWHAT THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, AT LEAST AT THE MOMENT, AND HE COULD DEFINITELY BE.

HE WAS THE MOST COLORFUL PRESIDENT UP TO THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> LAST QUESTION.

IN TRYING TO LEARNS THE LESSONS OF HISTORY.

WE'RE TOLD IF WE DON'T LEARN HISTORY'S LESSONS, WE'RE BOUND TO REPEAT THEM.

THE NOTION WHEN FAULKNER SAID THE PAST ISN'T EVEN PASSED.

DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT OUR LEADERS OF TODAY DON'T GRASP THAT?

DON'T GRASP THE NEED TO LEARN FROM THESE MEN AND THEIR TURMOIL AND THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS?

DON'T GRASP THE NEED TO LEARN SO THAT THEY CAN LEAD BETTER?

>> YEAH, I WORRY THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

EVEN FORGETS ONLY OUR LEADERS.

HISTORY COURSES ARE BEING NARROWED IN A LOT OF COLLEGES BECAUSE OF STEM STUFF.

WHAT YOU GET FROM HISTORY, AS A HUMAN BEING, NOT SIMPLY AS A LEADER, YOU SEE HOW OTHER PEOPLE DEALT WITH TROUBLES, AND HOW THEY CAME THROUGH ADVERSITIES, AND WHAT THEIR STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES WERE.

CITY WOULD HOPE THAT STUDYING LEADERSHIP WILL HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR DAILY LIVES.

YOU LEARN FROM YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, SO LEARN FROM WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN.

THEY KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF LEADERSHIP, AND SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES YOU CAN FOLLOW.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT LINCOLN WRITING A HOT LETTER, AND THEN PUTTING IT ASIDE UNTIL HE COOLED DOWN PSYCHOLOGICALLY, HOW HELPFUL THAT WOULD BE TO KIDS WRITING E-MAILS TOO QUICKLY.

AND BROADER THAN THAT, YOU UNDERSTAND THEIR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH A TEAM, HOW THEY CAN SHARE CREDIT AND SHOULDER THE BLAME.

THESE ARE HUMAN QUALITIES THAT MAGNIFIED WHEN YOU BIM A LEADER, I JUST GOT TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD LOVE HISTORY.

IT TEACHES YOU ABOUT HUMAN NATURE.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT SAID IF YOU WANT TO BE A LEADER, YOU HAVE TO READ BOOKS.

YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT HUMAN NATURE.

>> NO MATTER WHAT YOU WANT TO BE, YOU HAVE TO READ THERE BOOK MERE.

AS ALWAYS, YOU TAKE US ON A FABULOUS AND VERY SPECIAL JOURNEY INTO THE BACKGROUNDS.

YOU COME AWAY WITH, I'M SAYING GOOD-BYE TO SOME FRIENDS.

I'M NOT THAT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

YOU AND I COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT THIS.

IT'S ALWAYS SO NICE TO CONNECT.

>> I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> AGAIN JUST ANOTHER FABULOUS WORK.

DORIS, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪