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I know Cali cross like this is the Cali Crosley show. Today we meet PJ Hill. He'll walk from the statehouse to the White House to meet with President Obama. The hundreds of miles he tracked was no solitary affair. He'll collected notes from the folks he met along the way and delivered these handwritten messages. To the president. Last week. One person asked. Mr. President why did you take prayer out of our schools. Another Citizen writes Dear President Obama bring our nation back to peace. Bring our boys home. From Boston to the Bronx. The bill has curated a kind of reverse state of the Union Address presenting the president with the people's take on how America is doing. From there we raise a glass to Boston's African meeting house. It turns 200 in five years old this year. Up next from an unlikely road to the White House to the African meeting house. First the news. From NPR News in Washington I'm Lakshmi saying President Obama is

defending his health secretary's decision to block the FDA from making the morning after pill available to all ages without a prescription. She could not be confident that a 10 year old or an 11 year old going to a drugstore should be able alongside bubble gum or batteries be able to buy a medication that potentially if not used properly could end up having an adverse effect. But some doctors groups criticize the Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius decision saying it makes no medical sense. They say the Plan B morning after pill can help lower the pregnancy rate in the country. The pill can prevent pregnancy if taken soon after unprotected sex. Earlier President Obama criticized Senate Republicans for blocking the nomination of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The GOP argues the agency has too much authority and not enough

accountability and they have pledged to block any nominee until the bureau is restructured weekly jobless claims in the United States have dropped to a nine month low. NPR's David Mattingly says it's more evidence that the nation's jobs picture is improving claims for unemployment benefits dropped by 23000. The Labor Department says the seasonally adjusted number declined to three hundred eighty one thousand. That's the lowest mark since late February. Standard and Poor's economist Beth Ann Divino says that's a good number but you need to see it come down closer to 300 70000 to see something that's really a strong recovery but still heading down the good news. This comes a week after word that the nation's jobless rate dropped in November to 8.6 percent. Still economists point out some people have simply stopped looking for work and they're not counted in the declines. Dave Mattingly NPR News Washington.

An American protester briefly interrupted a high level session at the climate talks in Durban South Africa. NPR's Richard Harris has more. The college aged protester identified by a youth group as Abigail Bora stood up during the main meeting right before the United States representative was supposed to speak. You know that is the way I did. Things. And they did dictate the season. You must please him this is. A good saloon this is. Excellent seasons. She got a warm round of applause. Frustration is high because the current pledges aren't enough to stop continued climate change according to scientific analyses. But U.S. envoy Todd Stern said the U.S. isn't dragging its feet. It's still working to put into place a major agreement that was negotiated over the past two years. The voluntary It involves all the world's major emitters. Richard Harris NPR News Durban South Africa. At last check Dow is down 146 points. This is NPR. There are reports of shots fired at Virginia Tech the university's Web site is urging students to shelter in place. A Pakistani terror group is being blamed for

yesterday's attacks against Shiite Muslims that killed at least 55 people in Afghanistan. NPR's Corey Flintoff reports that the attacks could further damage relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on Pakistan to take action against Lashkar e Jhangvi. The outlawed terror group that claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group believes that Shiite Muslims are heretics and it has murdered many of them in Pakistan over the years. That kind of sectarian violence is relatively rare in neighboring Afghanistan and authorities think the attacks may be an attempt to stir up sectarian strife. Karzai didn't accuse Pakistan's government of involvement in yesterday's attacks but he did say he intends to discuss the matter with Pakistani officials. Corey Flintoff NPR News Islamabad. A 27 year old German man accused of being linked to an attempted terrorist attack has been arrested in western Germany. Authorities say the suspect known only as S.. That is provided wide ranging support to a group known as the

Dusseldorf cell which police say had planned to launch bomb attacks on German soil. Three of the group's main members were detained back in April. Mitt Romney is going on the offensive against rival Newt Gingrich who's closing in on the front runner for the GOP presidential nomination Romney's campaign is airing a TV ad that describes a candidate as steady and constant It seeks to paint Gingrich as just the opposite raising the former House speaker's multiple marriages and late conversion to Catholicism. This is NPR News. Support for NPR comes from the pajama Graham company offering the footie PJ's footed pajamas with a hood at pajama Graham dot com. Good afternoon I'm Kelly Crossley. Have you ever dreamed of having 15 minutes to tell the president what's on your mind. Well it's safe to say that none of us ordinary folk will actually end up in the Oval Office. Still one Lester Massachusetts

residents got that chance last week B.J. Hill was invited to the White House for a chat with President Barack Obama. He took with him the uncensored comments of hundreds of Americans he met while walking across the country. And he's here in the studio with me with his feet up to tell us about it. Joining me to talk about what is on the minds of the people across the country is B.J. Hill. He is the purposeful Walker and blogger behind walked to the White House. Hell thank you for joining us today. Thanks Kelly. It's a pleasure to be here. It's not every day that you get to meet and the Oscar nominated our producer said to you so well coming after your meeting with President I might take that as a high compliment thank you very much. So we're starting at the end of the book so to speak in that we know that you met with President Obama and that was exciting and I don't want to linger there because I want to really take people through the journey of how you got there. So let's just for this moment say was it exciting. Yes it was.

It was for you it was a project that was four years at least in the making and and the culmination really was getting to meet with the president in the oval office and hand him hand him these books that had collected from all over the country. So that was the. Yeah that was really the sort of the peak that was that was what it all came down to it was really kind of I want to I've never been to the Olympics but I want to say it was almost like being in the Olympics it was like you know training for four years and then getting up to that point and showing the world what you've got and winning because you can go to the Olympics and lose but you know we have got to get it right so let's start back at the beginning of your first journey you know the old saying is a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and that's exactly what happened to you in 2006. Why did you start walking. Sure at the time it was Fall 2006. And I had just broken up with my girlfriend. I had I had I was having difficulty finding finding employment. So when I was growing up I

was a I was a Boy Scout in Eagle Scout and so there was time that I would that I was thinking you know I just need to take some time for myself and get back to camping and to get back to hiking. So my plan was to. My plan was to walk across Massachusetts. You know I've you know grown up in Massachusetts lived here for more than 30 years and didn't really know a lot of parks. You know I knew Wister I knew Boston but that's pretty much it. So my plan was to start in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts near Williamstown and hike hike through western Mass into central mass into into Worcester. And at this point I got to say my if I take a second and say My thoughts are going up with the family of the Worcester fire department who lost one of their own in a horrible fire last night. So to continue on through a search and into down through Southeastern Mass into Cape Cod. So when I first started I had no political you know no political

reasons but this was October of 2006 and and a lot of people at the time you probably remember were talking about the big gubernatorial race between. It was a pretty vibrant four way race between Kerry Healey Deval Patrick Christy Mihos And in Grace Ross about three days into the walk. I was I was invited to attend a town hall meeting in a little tiny town up near the Vermont border named Charlemont. And at the meeting the state senator for the district was there Senator boastfully and I just had a sense I got a sense of frustration that the residents in the town. Didn't didn't think to believe that the lawmakers back in Beacon Hill really knew what was going on in their small community. That was you know two and a half hours away. So you know different needs different priorities. I felt they weren't being heard. Exactly yes.

And so later that night I was camping you know it was in my tent and I started to think that it had to be a way that I can emoluments what I was doing which was this walk across Massachusetts with what needed to be done which was to bring attention to the small communities through which I'd be passing. So the next day I found a notebook and started asking people who I met along the way. You could write one thing to the next governor what would you write. And by the time I'd finished on the tip of Cape Cod a month later I had hundreds of messages from all across the state. Of course the big topics at the time were you know tolls on the Mass Pike health care and in casinos. And the opportunity to meet with Governor Deval Patrick in his office shortly after he was inaugurated hand him the books now based on the success of that walk. I kind of wanted to extrapolate. Extrapolate it to Baker thank you. But before you leave that let me just go back and say all right now you didn't plan to do this kind of walk so then you go get a notebook.

OK that's fine. What's your approach you're just some guy walking up to people saying hey you want to write down something. Yeah. And actually what I found was that I'm not I'm not super outgoing you know I'm not I'm not a salesman. But what I found was that when I was walking I had a sign on my backpack that had at the time had my website walk walk across a mass dot com. So what I found is that people would actually approach me and say Hey so you're saying you know what you know what do you have to do which is walk across a mass thing. And that made my job 10 times easier because then I could say well you know this is what I'm doing. And by the way would you like to write something for the governor. And I found that most people you know were willing Not everyone of course but most people were saying yeah OK I'll take you know take a minute and write down a couple words. So did they really in writing it down did they think this will ever end up or was it more of a moment in time of just expressing whatever concern or frustration they may have had even if they thought of this guy. It's never going to happen but I'm going to write it anyway. Yeah you know that's a that's a very good question I'm not sure how many people how many people are

thinking yeah OK this guy's going to be with the president all right whatever. And I don't know how many people I'd like to think that people actually believe that you know someone that could do something like this could actually you know it could actually happen but it was interesting to see how people's reaction changed because I had three walk across America for example I had three books each about the size a little larger than a Bible like you would find in hotel. And so when one get filled up I would send the other one home so there were times like in California and Illinois when I sent this when they said are you talking about when you decided to walk across America. I'm still back at Massachusetts all right but some of the some of the lessons that I had to learn from Massachusetts you know were also the same as and when I when I walk across America but anyway. But you're right. When the when the notebook was completely empty like there are only operating like on page number two I'm sure they're like OK whatever. But you know after especially those big books you know when they're on when they see like hundreds of pages already fill

other people's comments you know encourage people to write. Well exactly yes. Yeah. You kept a blog while you were walking across Massachusetts and I thought this was great. Kind of last comment from it for people to hear this was you finally finished you're about to you're about to finish. This was October 28 2006 and you posted from the Cape Cod in Provincetown and you're right David and I are just about to cross the breakwater and walk the 2.5 miles to long point before I finish this walk I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way. My friends my family the folks who have taken me and given me food or just stopped to say hi for everyone it took a minute to write a message even after this smelly bearded vagrant approached them waving a pin a notebook and blathering about the government. This walk was dedicated to our elected leaders who run for office simply to serve others. It's also dedicated to my mother reader Hale who passed away last summer and this walk is for all the people of Massachusetts who braved stinging winters scorching summer rainy Springs and beautiful autumns and

cried when the Red Sox lose. I've been from great luck to long point and this walk is for all of those who call Massachusetts home to Miles to go. That was quite beautiful. And very expressive about that experience. So after this two miles to go you're finished and then you did sit down with the then elected governor Deval Patrick. We should note that when you were gathering the comments from Massachusetts people did know the governor would be so they could directed to him specifically they were just writing in general about what they wanted the new governor to do exactly the same again I know that we're not on the walk across America. Yes but this is the same thing when I started because I started in March of 2008 and well wait a minute. You just can't walk into the governor's office B.J. had to get in there. I mean you know I know it's all had to you having been to the White House but. You know I think a phone call I mean you know. It's a lot of clothes and walking for that case I have

to think then Senator Gus this from you know from from Worcester who really who really made it happen who really put the pieces in place for me. And the governor was interested in you know I mean why would he be. I'm curious about why the governor is like OK let me give this guy a few minutes right when I say to you you know at the time I came into his office I was introduced shook his hand we took a couple photos and. And then in the in the corner office there's this desk and there was a table on the other side of the room so we sat down at the table and we went over some of the you know we went over some of the messages you looked at you know some of the some of the places that I had walked through some of the places that I had been especially in Western Massachusetts. He had also been to you know on the campaign trail so you know we had a couple stories in common.

And some of the smaller towns and you know we talked about at the time we talked about high speed internet for Western Massachusetts. And you know because that was a big priority and met a lot of I mean a lot of people at craft fairs for example in these are you know these are Tetons glassblowers for example who you know they have studios they have their own workplace but it's so hard to say oh yeah you know when you only have like a dial up connection. So they're trying to like load up their pictures on the Internet is like you know that you know it's you know so you know it's the economy really runs especially in that part of the state the economy really runs on high speed Internet and that was one of the things that he you know that that was on his agenda for his you know for an inspiration to you know get those you know get those folks into you know the 21st century. So. Now you mentioned that some people wrote about casinos on that at the time and that wasn't on his agenda at the time it has since become and he's signed the law that's made it possible.

Can you recall what people were writing about this you know during that time. You know if I remember correctly I don't think I saw anyone. I don't think I remember anyone who was into a casino so they were really for. Yeah they were going to say no it wasn't a huge topic not everyone was talking about it but you know those. That was the that was an issue that came up across the state especially on Cape Cod because. Unfortunately as we know the economy you know when it's not tourist season the economy down there is really really needs a shot in the arm. So a lot of people down you know down in the Cape felt that you know perhaps building casino on or near the cape would really you know do you know do wonders for the bottom line. So how many notebooks Did you have at the end of the walk up for Massachusetts. That was that was one notebook that was a regular spiral bound notebook probably. It was like one size down from like the 8 1/2 by 11.

Love the specificity. Yes all right. But later you ended up with many more notebooks and we're going to talk about that. My guest is B.J. Hill he walked across the country collecting messages from the folks he encountered along the way. He ended up with thousands of handwritten notes which he hand-delivered to President Obama last week. In a few minutes we'll hear from Senator John Kerry on why he helped to arrange this meeting between the president and B.J. Hill. We're opening up the lines 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 8 9 7 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 What would you tell the president if you had a chance to hand deliver him a note. Do you think the president is listening. 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. You're listing the eighty nine point seven. WGBH Boston Public Radio. This program is on WGBH thanks to you. And white flower farm offering a

broad selection of potted Amaryllis and dozens of other live plant gifts shipped direct to your friends and loved ones located in Litchfield Connecticut since 1950. More information at white flower farm dot com. And Dedham savings striving to offer the bank products you need with the technology you expect for your personal and business banking. For more than one hundred eighty years Dedham savings your bank. You can learn more at Dedham savings dot com. Get. On the next. Now that Newt Gingrich is having an unexpected surge in the polls we talk with Karen Tumulty who's covered him for years. She's a national political correspondent for The Washington Post. We'll look at his political career and how he became a wealthy man after he left Congress by what she describes as playing the Washington system in an entrepreneurial way. Join us.

This afternoon to hear an eighty nine point seven WGBH. This season get the most out of your gift giving by placing a bit during the Third Annual WGBH holiday auction. Name your price on one of a kind getaways. Beautiful jewelry and other unique gifts. All while supporting public broadcasting at the same time this year's big ticket item is a fully loaded 2011 Saab 9 4 x premium SUV with cross wheel drives donated by your New England Saab dealer visit auctioned on WGBH dot org. Great question. That is a great question and that's a great question. It's a great question. Rick great question and feel hear unexpected questions and unexpected answers this afternoon. You're on eighty nine point seven. Welcome back to the Calla Crossley Show. If you're just joining us my guest is B.J. Hill. He's logged hundreds of miles crossing the country on foot collecting messages

from everyone he encountered. He started in 2006 walking across Massachusetts and then he walked across America. His intention was to give these notes to President Obama which he did last week. We're taking your calls at 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 9 seventy 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. What do you write to the president. Who is the next person you'd like to see be Jay collect notes 4 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. So B.J. you did your walk in 2006 you met Governor Patrick you delivered those notes and then you hung up your walking shoes so to speak for a while. What why did you decide to put him back on in 2008 and start walking across America. Well walking cross country has always been kind of a it was kind of kind of been a dream of mine ever since I was here to write a great book when I was say it. Probably in middle school I think it was called a walk across America by Peter Jenkins

and another called the walkers Journal by Robert Sweet cal. Those were books that I read when I was growing up and they always kind of stuck with me so. And in 2007 things were kind of coming together that it was more or less OK if I want to do this walk. You know I have experience doing the walk across Massachusetts. So I'm not going to get into a completely green. But if I want to do this walk I need to do it sometime soon before I get older before I settle down you know before I have a family to consider. So you know I started out you know I started sending us an e-mail started sending out some feelers. I started to think OK this worked Jill who used the e-mails of feelers to other people who had done the while. You know I just again I said Yeah exactly I did some more research you know so you know look at web pages of other people who you know who cross country on foot. What worked for them what didn't work. You know I thought about my own walk across Massachusetts and it's

a. The best that I can compare it to maybe is starting a small business you know starting or starting your own businesses and saying OK you have to think about everything from location to finances to transportation to what are the business cards going to look like you know. All those things are like running through your mind and it's a great feeling it really is I mean it's if you're great at multitasking you know this is you know you have all these different all these different factors going to you know to the success you know at the beginning that this time you want to collect notes for the president because before when you started it was more of a and then midway through you realize hey let me collect the notes from people and that's exactly that was exactly the reason I mean I could have started it for for any number of reasons or causes. I mean you know there's you know there are I've met cross-country walkers who are walking for you know walking to raise money for cancer for example cross-country walkers who are walking to raise awareness for veterans rights. In my case you know

I really enjoyed talking to people about politics. I really enjoyed what I did in 2006. I felt that it really can make a difference. So in 2008 especially in 2008 you know coming in with no incumbent the vice president wasn't running he was probably one of the most important unique presidential elections you know that we'll see in our lifetime so and so that was you know that was a cause from from day one so yeah. What was the tone of the notes you were capturing in 2008 in 2008 right now OK. Yes not now in 2008. Well I started in March before you know before people too knew to whom they were writing because at the time as of March 1st all the Republicans had dropped out except John McCain and Hillary Clinton was still in the race. So I got a handful of messages to people who were convinced that either Senator McCain or Senator Clinton was going to win so their messages started Dear Mrs. Clinton who are so glad that you won you know.

But the. The number one the number one theme or topic that I found as I watched as I walked from west from California east was the price of gas because that was the summer that gas prices were hitting where in some cases over $4 a. Over $4 a gallon. A couple of the other topics were the war on terror the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the environment education and you know and then there were some smaller you know I definitely remember there were some messages that were very location centric things like you know mining rights for example of course that was in Nevada. And but towards the end of the summer as I was coming through Alabama into Georgia it was almost as if someone had flicked a switch and that was

when gas prices returned to normal. Towards the end of August early September. And suddenly people start realizing that there was something going on with the economy. So the number of messages dealing with. You know unemployment dealing with a budget definitely shot up and that lasted from I would say probably September or October of 2008 right around the time of the bailouts I believe all the way up until January of 2009 when I finish in Boston. Now when I jump ahead but when I did this walk in 2000 in 2011 that's where people it's almost as if I it's almost as if I started again the very next day because people again were talking about that that was right on the top of people's minds. The economy the economy. Yeah exactly. And were people optimistic when you talked to in 2008 in 2008 they were definitely you know people were concerned but they were also optimistic I mean I'd like to think that you know I think that

you know in any presidential year people are going to be optimistic because you know either you have the choice to you know re-elect your you know your man or or elect the person that you that you you would prefer in office. So I think people were optimistic especially in the third book of messages and that was the book that that was messages between. You know I get a ration. I'm sorry election night and inauguration and I mean she's been pretty. Yeah yeah yeah. And especially because at that time people knew to whom exactly they were writing you know it was definitely you know you know President elect Barack Obama what part of the country where you endure and I was very I was in a very black part of Greensboro North Carolina. And so imagine those right through the neighborhood it was really neat to see some of the best to see what people had written during you know the the days leading up to the day of in the days after the election especially. So what was it like or did you think of yourself in that moment that

you were really a witness to history in some way in a different in a very different way than you would be having a dinner party with some friends and chatting about what they think and what I would tell the president this is quite different. Yeah that's right. And you know I I guess I think you can he's a witness to history that kind of gives me a little tingle on this mine. But you know I did make copies of the of the messages and you know before I handed them over to the president and. I mean in the moment did you understand that's what was happening. I don't know that it's not really when you're doing a walk like this. You kind of lose the bigger picture. You're just day to day you're really our day to day because instead of thinking oh man I'm Kevin you know I'm I'm catching the spirit of the nation it's more like you know we're going to eat tonight. I don't have a place like pitch my tent or going to you know my shoes have a hole in them you know things like that. So yes it really does put it into perspective.

So. Victoria welcher wrote this piece about when you finished your 2008 walk she said on Sunday after four 4200 miles seven pairs of shoes and enough encounters to fill three books full sail kept his travels by arriving back in Boston dropping to his knees so that he could kiss the snow covered ground at Copley Plaza with those final steps he'll officially brought his walk across America 2008 to a close. So at the end of that walk you had yet to meet the president. And did you the moment you say well that's just not going to happen you put it aside. How did it all come together. OK. So kind of kind of interesting. Through Senator John Kerry's office. I had tickets to the inauguration. I went down to the United Nation I was really hoping that I'd get a phone call or an email. So how come you got tickets to the inauguration. Senator John Kerry the short version is I'll try to make a short version in 2006 I walk across Massachusetts

in 2000. There was another person who was walking across Massachusetts for veterans rights. He was working with Senator John Kerry's office as we know Senator Kerry does a lot with Veterans Affairs and he had contacted me totally out of the blue said hey saw that you already did this. I just wanted to you know kind of pick your vines and cetera and I was like well coincidently I'm actually walking cross-country but hey you know if you need a place to stay you need you know media contacts let me know. I know some places that you know that you'll be walking through. He finished his he finished his walk on the steps of the state house at the end he said listen you know thanks for all the help. If there's any ever anything that you need let me know and so I said well actually I know that it's all the connections I want networking and I said you know actually you know I know that you said that you worked with Senator Kerry's office I was wondering if you might be able to share your contact. So he gave me the e-mail address of the person with the woman with whom he was working there. And that happened right yeah yeah. So.

I'm going to I want the details of how it finally finally came together maybe but we know that Senator Kerry had a big part of that and we recorded a conversation with Senator Kerry earlier this week and asked him why and of all the requests he gets. Did he agree to facilitate a meeting between you and President Obama. What about his quest to his gathering of these names resonated with your staff for that thought. Well I'll give him a shot to talk to sit down with the president. Well resonated with all of us because I think it really represents sort of the old messaging real people's real talk rather than some of the kind of crazy contrasts traveling reality show circus. Will we see a presidential race in politics today I think is this something very human and fundamental about it didn't appeal to me and appeals to me to this moment. I mean these are real voices from America speaking to the president through the remarkable commitment and journey of one person.

Are there any specific comments or questions that were in any of the books that you may remember you thought quite poignant pointed whatever. How would you care how you were. Well I think they were all I mean I think all of them are really very special about America. You know the last book actually was the one the president was sort of more interested in. And I think part of the reason for that is that it's kind of representative of what's going on right now at this moment. And of course B.J. you know went to a couple of Tea Party events and things so I think it's kind of a. Cross-section of of what America is thinking and where America's spirit is right. Well part of what America's thinking in the books that in the comments that he gather is just the level of frustration with elected representatives as you know I'm sure you know the figure that only 9 percent of people right now think Congress is doing a good job

and that's that suggests along with the folks who are in the Occupy camps that people are feeling that their voices are not heard. Certainly he's been able to take some of those voices so they can be seen and heard right to the White House but why does that persist I mean elected representative say we want to be in touch with you we're meeting with you but yet people are not feeling they're being heard. Well 9 percent is probably about 8 percent more than it ought to be in my judgment. You know I think that Congress is gridlocked because we have a group of people who. No this is going to sound like I'm pointing a finger at somebody but I am I guess in a very direct way. You know I just got off the super committee where we spent three months trying to deal with America's fiscal plight. We put a plan on the table that we thought was balanced that required sacrifice from everybody. It was fair it had a 4 trillion dollar solution attached to it with everybody being part of the solution. And it was refused again and again and

again because a small group of people here believes that the wealthiest people in America need to be protected and not pay additional revenue. That's just the bottom line. The bottom line is we are in ideological gridlock. The bottom line is a small extreme group of people has decided to stop everything and I mean stop everything. So I'm going to tell it like it is. So so many of the people and B.J. notes are saying they feel the system is broken as you've just expressed and they don't know what to do their frustration isn't broken and people are broken. This is the same Congress that worked with Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan. Same rules same Congress. Just different people with a different attitude. And the bottom line is you don't change the people. Change some of the people who won't work for compromise change the people who are doing this gridlock. I mean that's why we have elections. The system is not broken if you have an election now it's

harder nowadays because the amount of money in these elections that's broken. The Supreme Court unleashed a torrent of money that the American political system by by approving corporations to be treated like people with their rights under the First Amendment to be able to put unlimited amounts of money without even knowing who they are. I think that's one of the worst decisions in United States Court history and that is hurting the system frankly. So Senator Kerry is B.J. bumped into citizen Gary. What would you have written. I would have expressed a very fresh. Straight should I just express to you that we need people who are responsible and courageous who are prepared to put country ahead of party who are prepared to take a courageous vote and perhaps put their own political life at risk in doing so. That's what we need patriotism. Any comment for any future be J's out there.

Go for it. I think it's terrific. Only I hope they'll put some of that energy into electing the people who will make a difference. On a slightly different note but I've got to ask because it's out here. There it's one of your fellow congresspersons is talking about doing a Secret Santa to try to bring you guys all together in some kind of united way that we're doing. We're doing that next Monday. You're going to do it or you participate next Tuesday. Yes I am. I have a I am getting a present too. I think it's going to be surprised. I hate to tell you this but I don't think you're supposed to I don't like on the left. Just think you said it that's for sure. Thank you. You can tell us what you guys want to know. OK. Why do they even have the right. Well they don't really be a surprise. Senator Kerry thank you. Thank you so very much. Thank you. That was Massachusetts Senator John Kerry who facilitated the meeting with

B.J. Hill with President Obama last week. You're listening to eighty nine point seven WGBH an online at WGBH dot org. And if you're just tuning in my guest is B.J. Hill. He walked across the country collecting notes from everyone he encountered. He hand-delivered those messages to President Obama last week. So when you finally got the call that you were going to get the get the meeting with President Obama you went out and walked again because you want to have fresh material and you brought in some of the notes that you've scanned and they really run the gamut from people who are quite angry with him to those who are just acknowledging that here's one keep up the good work you're doing my prayers my prayers are with you and your family. I can't begin to imagine what a challenging job it is to lead the country. Keep walking working hard. Don't let us down. You know it's what do you do when you got in the room and he started to read these notes. What was his response.

Well. Senator Kerry said I mean he was looking through the through some of the first messages from 2008 but he was particularly particularly interested in the fourth book of messages. I got a couple as he was looking through them. He was kind of angled away from me so I don't know exactly which ones he was looking at. And you didn't answer. Well actually one that I know he did look at for certain because over the you know over the years this one was from 2008 and over the years I've gotten to know many of the messages pretty you know pretty well since I've had the book for so long and he flipped on one page and I notice that it was open and I said you know Mr. President you should read that one that's pretty strong that just the first sentence. And the very first sentence was. Dear Mr. President my father was just deported last week and it was from a young woman who attended Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City and her father had come from Nigeria in the 1990s. Started family here in America was working somehow in early

2008 ins or ice had caught up with him arrested him and sent him back to Africa where he had not been in over three decades. So you know naturally he was you know concerned. She was upset about that she was concerned for his safety. And you know for you know for her family and even about her own you know her own status. So you know she wrote about two pages on that and that was one that I know for sure that he would that he read the other ones however he was you know flipping through them he was kind of angled away from me. So I don't know exactly which ones he read but I got a couple out of him and even cracked a couple even cracked a smile a few times because some of the messages you know as you can see from from those are they're kind of quirky a little off the cuff you know kind of funny. And you know there's a lot of complimentary ones to Michelle Obama. Yeah that's right yeah yeah. Yeah. And but. But to answer your question in

2000 in this last walk I think just by flipping through I think you'll see that there is a lot of support for the people from the people who wrote for the president. There there is a streak of into Obama messages which can be traced probably to the Tea Party rally that I went to in Connecticut. But you know on the whole there is a lot of support for his re-election in 2012. Also some There is a sentiment that says get out of my country. And that was actually that actually was not from the Tea Party rally that was here on Route 9 here in Massachusetts. So but you know so there was a lot of support but there's also a lot of concern about you know with where the government's going. That said I also met a lot. But then again I mean I was walking this time only from from Boston to Washington D.C. passing through a lot of generally blue

states. My on my trip had a you know redone the entire walk in and you know start from California. You know if I had time for I could walk it in one month. Then I probably would have gotten a lot of different messages as they went through states that are normally red for example. But you know these states are pretty you know up here in the Northeast are pretty much it's kind of Obama territory so I wasn't really expecting too many anti-Obama messages to begin with. Maybe this is a question you could can't quite answer but we're all curious. Can you tell whether he was really absorbing the messages or was just there you were there and Senator Kerry is that you and you know he had to be nice. Yeah that's right. And honestly I really have no way to tell. I mean just like when I hear the messages over to you know over to Governor Patrick you know once they're in his hands they're out of my hand so. And you delivered the original books to President Obama. That's right. I'd like to think that you know at least there are a handsome like leather bound kind of gentle at least people keep them around for decoration. They've heard of you know sake but

you know I he before I left I you know I'm like well you know this president there's just two things that I might ask of you. One is actually spend time looking at these messages and he said and he said he would or he said I'm sorry they would or we would. That's what he said. Which I'm not sure if that meant he and his staff or he and his family or hopefully both. And the second I asked him was if you know for historical purposes if they were archived properly and he said he would have librarian come in and take a look at them and name what was best for them so probably they'll probably end up in the presidential library in wherever that will be where some future Doris Kearns Goodwin will discover them. Exactly yeah even a book. Yeah it's really neat you think I mean what if they really are a treasure of what people were thinking or people were thinking at the turn of the century. You know 200 300 years from now some historical some historians let them all across them.

Last question. As a result of this journey I do you feel a particular sense of Americanism yourself not you know from what you gather from others but just from your doing. Yes I think so yeah. I mean it is. Case in point I mean it's easy to brush off. I mean coming from I lived in Boston before I did this walk and I mean I have to admit for a Bostonian is anything like west of you know 495 might as well be a whole different universe out there you know. And but you know going cross-country now I really do you know you know I know families I know people and Utah in Alabama in Missouri I can pick up my phone and text someone and say hey what's the you know what's the what's the weather like in Illinois today. You know so I never I would never go to a like Redbud Illinois or Metropolis Illinois without this. You know before this walk in it really comes full circle back in the spring. The Red Cross I'm also a Red Cross volunteer. They contacted me they said hey you know we have these awful tornadoes in Alabama

which I don't even know about like and in turn I was watching the news or anything the tornadoes in Alabama you know would you be able to go and I said What part of Alabama and they're like well like Florence Gad Stan I'm like oh my god I walk through there like I know people that are like sign me up and went down there and you know spent two weeks helping me you know doing my small part to help the community get back on the Get back on its feet. There was a newspaper reporter who had covered me in 2008 real quick a newspaper reporter to cover me in 2008 and he came out to visit me again and for a story he said. You know what. You know what's new. You know what about those books and I said you know because this I'm going to you know me by the end of it by the end of the summer and I renewed and sent us an e-mail saying got a message you know you got the interview with President. All right. Well B.J. Hill American writ large Thank you. Thank you so much we've been talking to B.J. l about his meeting with President Obama last week to learn more about B.J. Hill's walk to the White House. Log on to walk to the White House dot WordPress dot com

from the White House we're off to the newly renovated African meeting house. You're listening to the Calla Crossley Show on WGBH Boston Public Radio. WGBH programs exist because of you. And celebrity series of Boston presented to cutting edge jazz groups on one stage the vigil Ayer trio and then the gala quartet Friday December 9th 8:00 p.m. at Berklee Performance Center. Tickets at Celebrity Series dot org. And 10000 villages now open in Boston's downtown crossing as well as Brookline Cambridge and Cranston. Ten thousand villages offers fairly traded handcrafted holiday home decor gifts and jewelry online at 10000 villages dot com. PR wise the world is people I begin my day by taking the brisk 40 minutes walk in

the desert which helps me knock everything into proportion. The world is different. When I come back home and switch on the radio and I hear politicians using words such as never for ever or for a tell me I know the stones up in the desert are loving it then. Join us on the world. Coming up at 3:00 here on eighty nine point seven WGBH. I'm Brian O'Donovan. The holidays can be quite a hectic time which is why it's important to set aside some time to enjoy the sounds and sights of the festive season with friends and family. That's what a Christmas Catholic social is all about. And after bringing the show to sold out audiences all across New England we're coming back home to Boston on December 16th for three days of shows at the cutter Majestic Theater. Tickets are still available but act fast they won't be for long. Secure seats at WGBH stop Hawke's Nash Katic. Brian O'Donovan Come join me every Saturday at 3:00 for the good old fashion section on a

Celtic So you're not on any 9.7. Welcome back to the Calla Crossley Show at two hundred and five years old. The African meeting house is the oldest black church in the country the Beacon Hill Landmark is reopening after a six year massive restoration effort. Joining us to talk about what this entailed is Beverly Morgan Welch executive director of the Museum of African-American history. Beverly welcome back. Thank you. Congratulations. Thanks so much. Gallant So the official dedication was this Tuesday December the 6th. Yes. How does it feel. Actually my cheeks are tired I mean when people say that you know someone said to me it looked like every cell of your body was smiling. So I'm a little tired but I'm very happy. Yeah absolutely. Well for those who don't know tell us briefly why this is such an important landmark not only to Boston but to the nation.

It really is America's meetinghouse. When you think about the history of black people in this country that most people don't know we don't know very much about slavery frankly it's a difficult subject and so it isn't taught much or perhaps very well because it is such a challenging story. There are other stories to tell as well about people who are self emancipated themselves or purchased their freedom by self liberating themselves as they like to call they wanted to be self posy best and being self possessed meant educating your children. Burying your dead recording their lives and organizing the community for its betterment and uplift and they did that on Beacon Hill beginning in the 770 they say started buying

property. They were while they lived on the North Slope. The cold slope the worst land possible. They determined to not only start the first black Masonic Order but then benevolent society by 1798 they'd started the African school and by 18 06 they'd built a meeting house and and the building can't be denied the building this this structure its features and its beauty. Just cry out for the story. I mean what's it doing here and what kind of a statement Were they making. Why does it feel so warm and loving in here. Why are the floors talking feels good to be there. Everybody says that and a lot of people don't know that master free black

craftsman built this. You know that's important to know. It's important to understand I mean we don't understand that Master Black craftsman enslaved and free built a lot of America. We only understand the cotton and we don't really understand and that was powering the economy. I don't understand that. So to know that iron workers and plasterers and Masons bricklayers and that they created this three story building with this incredible acoustics and the beauty of it all. Pews that curve in waves and you know just the the lovely color how you know how all of this planning all of you know a swatch of paint turns into a. Holy place of worship and a place for organizing and that others then see it and want to do the same

thing and the best part about the story is that it's an integrated story. This is not a story of a black community standing alone but a back humanity. Standing on its own alongside others. Who would you know honorably participate in the cause for the right as they would have so many voices of the abolitionist movement black and white in meeting their talking first opportunities for women black women particularly to speak to talk about the issues of the day. So to restore this took a lot. You closed it down in 2006. Lucky enough to get four million dollars worth of stimulus money. And we've seen on the web some of the with some of the effort that your construction crew had to go through to replenish what was there before not replace what replace what was there before with original materials. Right. I mean the good thing is that through archaeology and research and scholarship we were able to

reconstruct things or we we had cast iron post there you take one out you take it to a shop and you did so. They all match and those cast iron posts are all back as opposed to one of steel and one you know that everything is alike or you take the elements of lighting fixtures you figure out what it looked like and then you replicate them whereas other parts are those floors are 275 years old they're from Old West. Some of the wainscoting you'll see is doing and in you know carrying history. Yeah it is it's a it's the original coating. So you you feel that. So yes in that tiny space where you can barely get any equipment through less than a five foot binning you know working on a postage stamp. Johns you wait the architects and charm the design in construction. I cannot say

enough or thank them enough nor. I mean most importantly the National Park Service for their expertise for their support for their funds to put to the completion of the wars a people have to go down there and see it and you're encouraging him to do that. I wanted to in this conversation with also making the point that it was a sanctuary for slaves who were running to that house really to secure their freedom. And if you haven't been on the black heritage trail you must go said the park rangers can give you that sacred moment to talk about it. Running into the African meeting out. How powerful is just this the whole sort of spirituality around the place that you want people to see and in just a few last minutes here. I think that. It's not something I'm really capable of conveying almost. At the rededication ceremony I you know there were times I thought I

wasn't. I did not have my feet on the ground. You know I I I everybody was stirred people were just crying for two hours they were crying. I got thing barely get it together you know somebody else would get up and you know in our programming. The Rangers will tell you the stories on the black heritage trail and now they get to bring it into the African meeting house to complete the trail. So as they're telling the stories as they go from for instance a house that's the oldest home on Beacon Hill is the home of Colonel George Middleton. So you start with the revolution you know by the time you get to the African meeting house and you know you've got the fifty fourth marching out of Boston people are changed and we want to give this to everyone this is this is so worth it. The inspiration of it if you're going there because it was a church and because it was once a

synagogue then or because you want to hear this history. I gotta tell you I'm anxious to go back one day before everybody is in there and just sit for an hour or two. And I think begin to take it all in. It is it's a journey well worth the effort. It's I love that a leader Adam's song get here if you can get here if you can you. You owe it to yourself. It's it's an inspiring place to be. Well thank you very much Beverly Morgan welterweight tell us all about it. And congratulations. Thank you Cali. We've been talking about the newly renovated African meeting house. The public grand opening is tomorrow don't miss it as Beverly is said to see a video of the private rededication ceremony that happened earlier this week. Please visit WGBH as forum network at Forum hyphen network dot org. You can keep on top of the Kelly Crossley Show at WGBH dot org slash Calla Crossley follow us on Twitter

or become a fan of the Calla Crossley Show on Facebook today show was engineer by Alan Mathis produced by Chelsea Merz will Rose lip and Abbey Ruzicka the Calla Crossley Show is a production of WGBH Boston Public Radio.