¡Colores!; 11; The Senator from New Mexico: Pete Domenici; Colores Dominici # 11 - Cochran Interview

We have to take the river up and go see Pawdekon, these little communities that live along the river. That sounds like fun. There are some offshore islands that are interesting too, that are part of the national seashore and are protected by the federal government, just a short boat ride off the coast at Gulf Port. We'll get you there in 20 minutes, 30 minutes, but there are other islands too, but that's fascinating. A visit to the Barrier Islands is something. They mentioned that they knew kayaks to us or something, so we just got caught where after I would have them that day, we couldn't go out. You'd have to be in pretty good shape to take a kayak, that far. I would. Don't do that. Not at our age, or you're not at my age anyway. Senator, could you lean, just kind of sit back a little bit. I'm as far back as I can get, I can lean back and be pompous, but I'm going to lean forward as if I'm in an intimate relationship with the question. That's the question. That's good to choose. All right.

Usually the sound people litter their most picky. I know you have a good ventilation because every office wearing you can actually pretty quiet in here. It is, isn't it? Remarkable. We're good to go. Okay. Thank you so much for participating in this center. I want to get a sense of the August nature of the Senate. So could you tell me how the Senate is unique as a legislative body? Well, I think one thing that makes it unique is the unlimited debate opportunity. A senator has on the floor of the Senate to discuss any issue, offer any amendment on any bill, or resolution coming before the body, and talk about it as long as he or she would like. Unless closure is in vote where a majority of the Senate, a supermajority, 60 senators would have to vote to shut off debate. But this gives senators an opportunity to be an influence in the

legislative process. Each of the 100 senators has a unique opportunity to do that. When one is first elected here, I mean just coming here, this is my first time to really see the inside. It's fairly overwhelming. It's so very impressive, a sense of history and whatnot. How did you feel when you first, I know you were a representative prior to that, but when you first come into the Senate, what's that experience like? I had the benefit of a good senator from my state who had become an institution here, John Stennis, to whom I looked for guidance and advice, and his was a career in the Senate you could imitate and be assured that you would have done a good job. He was so sincere and serious -minded about his role in the Senate, and quite intelligent, very active. He was chairman of the Armed Services Committee, then later became chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He was an inspiration to me, I have to admit. So, although the United States is right now constantly

changing and creating itself anew, there's some kind of value to this continuity that the Senate, can you tell me about that? Well, I think also that gives you a sense of responsibility, too, to discharge your duties in a way that will contribute to the betterment of the country and to the well -being of the American people. Is there a certain cordiality that's expected among the senators or kind of way that people work with each other? I think you necessarily come to know each senator on a pretty good personal basis because you do have a time as you sit on the floor or engage in debate, either in committee or on the floor. You get to know senators personally in the House when I was there, 435 members. I knew everyone by name during my first two years in the House, but in my second and third terms, I found that I knew fewer members of the House because you became busy on projects that were of interest to your state or your district, and you didn't have time to become personally acquainted with every member of the House. But in the Senate, it is different. You have

that opportunity if you want to take advantage of it, and it is something that you should do in my opinion. Now, how does one change one's perspective here in the private sector or in other disciplines? One is rewarded for being single -minded and getting things done, and you come to the Senate, you have to cooperate, find consent, if I take direction. How does one resolve the independence with the fact that you're going to work in a collegiate environment? I think the way the Senate works, it teaches you very quickly that you can't get anything done just by yourself. It may be a great idea or your amendment may have a great deal of merit, but unless you can get a majority of the Senate to go along with you, it won't get adopted by the Senate, it won't become law. So you have to develop relationships with each other and an understanding of how the body works, the parliamentary rules and respect them for continuing as long as they have. The rules of the Senate don't change just on the election of a new party or each new term of the Senate. Those

rules have been on the book since the beginning of the institution. Thomas Jefferson wrote most of them himself when he was presiding as Vice President. He would get bored and make some notes about what he thought would be the best way for the Senate to proceed, and so it became Jefferson's manual. And we still use that. Today, as the rules of the Senate, it just takes two -thirds of the Senate to change the rules. Now, there is a lesser number, but it's a supermajority, so they're not easily changed. Can you tell me anything about, or can you tell me about any legislation that you and the Senate are doing to work on, collaborating on? But I'll give us some insight into the character of Senator Managing. Well, I think one effort that we worked together on and it became law was the establishment of a program called Character Counts. And it seeks to emphasize the importance of individual good character in our society. We encourage schools to adopt

the principles of the program. There are certain pillars of good characters such as trustworthyness, respect, responsibility, caring, and citizenship that are taught as fundamental traits of the people of civilized societies. And it's important for us to recognize that. And it could be a common denominator for a great society in a wonderful country. And he's taken a very active role. He's been the leader in this effort. And already in our state, for example, we have towns, communities, schools that have adopted this program. And it was his leadership that attracted the support of some Democratic senators and a few Republican senators to join him in this effort. And we found that there's several issues that he's been quite visionary in his treatment. And one of them currently is, I guess you could say, a controversial issue, which is the direction on energy. And it's

time to, he's posing the question, isn't it time we rethink our position on nuclear energy? Can you tell me anything about what your take is on how he's taking the energy issue and bringing it to the fore again of America? It's very timely. And I think his leadership is very important. If we were to reach a point where we were independent in terms of our energy sources and our capability to provide for our own industrial growth, without being so dependent on foreign oil and other energy sources that are so expensive. Now, his notion is to explore all of the options that we have and identify those that we can use safely and efficiently and effectively in our society to help improve our economy and the quality of life here in America. And I think he's very persuasive. He's written a book that's becoming more and more read by people who are serious -minded about looking at the options we have and trying to take action before it's too late.

And finally, in terms of his legislation, you're on appropriations, he's in budget. Can you give me a sense of that? I mean, he was raised and his father was an immigrant in the United States, a wholesale food distributor. He was raised in that really entrepreneurial environment. And for him, it's just very practical. You balance the books, you have a successful business or it doesn't survive. What's it been like with him? And that's kind of like a not -winning, you make a lot of enemies and maybe not lots of friends when you're constantly watching the dollars. Can you give me a sense of what that process has been like with him for the last five terms here? He's been very quick to assume responsibility. When others might have turned away from it, but to take the tough jobs, being Chairman of the Budget Committee, being Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Energy's activities and the Corps of Engineers, these are controversial issues that are built into the bills that are passed every year to operate those departments of our government. But he's not shod away from taking a stand,

making the point that we've got to be careful not to overspend, not to waste money, but to invest it where it's needed the most. And he's been a very strong and compelling spokesman for thoughtful, conservative values that will help strengthen our country and ensure that we can continue to be a country that affords jobs for the people who live here and a good quality of life for all Americans. Can you have any anecdotes, funny stories or anything that you can think of that help would also reveal a part of Senator Mitchey's character as a man? Well, I admire him a lot for his athletic ability. I don't know how many people realize he was an outstanding baseball player when he was growing up and we have a congressional baseball game, an annual game. We found out when we were new to the Congress, he to the Senate and me to the House, that you didn't necessarily get called on to play in that game unless you develop some

seniority. That didn't make a lot of sense to either one of us. And so Pete went out for a few practices. It became obvious that he was a terrific pitcher. He was one of the best players, but the House had a person who had about 20 years seniority on him and he was called on to be the starting pitcher. It didn't take Pete to get enough of that baseball experience. And so we didn't see him out the next year to participate in that. But he had to learn, like we all have to learn, that this is an unusual institution here. He's learned to get along, to understand the peculiarities and the personalities of the people who are in important positions in this government and in the Congress. And he has been a true success story. He has made a difference. And from the very beginning, he was looked upon as a leader, someone with good sense, good judgment, good character. He's an inspiration to all of us.

How has the Senate changed since you were first came here? It has. And I think in large part because our proceedings are televised. When you're on the floor of the Senate, you know that you are being seen, observed by people all over the country. You become a little more self conscious. You may dress a little better even than you might have otherwise done. And I think people are better behaved here. I can remember stories when I first got here of people coming to the floor of the Senate and they'd had too much to drink or they were boisterous and talk too long. That very rarely happens. I don't recall seeing anything like that since our proceedings have been televised. So the modernization of the Senate has had its good aspects too. And Pete has learned to adjust with the times as well and has become one of the most effective senators who's ever served in the US Senate. When you develop that

kind of tenure, can you give us a sense of how a senator can affect good for the citizens of the United States, both for their home and for the nation at large when you have that kind of experience and reputation? First of all, I think it's necessary for the senator to really care about what he's doing. And Pete obviously cares about New Mexico and he cares about the country. He's dedicated, conscientious. He uses all of his energies and ability to try to do his job in a way that reflects credit on New Mexico and the people there and our government. I believe it was Tip O 'Neill, I'm embarrassed, I don't recall, but he said, all politics is local. Tell me what you feel about it. Yeah, I can understand that quite well. And he knows it too. We're always reminded of a special problem or a need in New Mexico and the appropriations committee that needs the attention of the Congress. Water rights, quality of water, things that are

important in New Mexico, the research activities that are undertaken there that are of national importance and consequence. It's instructive to watch Pete Domenici explain these things to the rest of the Senate in a way that's come and thoughtful, articulate and very persuasive. Now, finally, I was under the impression that when I'm kind of overwhelmed by how effective Senator Domenici is here when you really see it. I mean, I've been covering him for years, but this is my first time here. And I thought I was telling the guys, oh my God, when he leaves, we're, you know, such a vacuum. Yeah, Senator Stevens said, well, you know, there's a, there's a strange continuum here. It's not like New Mexico is going to fall off a cliff. What's your opinion on that? How do you weigh in on that? Well, I think his contributions are lasting in nature just because he leaves the Senate. Doesn't mean the laws all get undone that he passed or put on the books or the initiatives that he started in the appropriations committee will be forgotten or dropped. There are constituencies now

within the Senate who will support those initiatives for the foreseeable future. So I think his contributions have to be viewed in the long term is not like they're going to all evaporate the moment he retires. So if you have one word or one concept to define Senator Domenici, how would you, how would you do that? Well, he's been a conspicuous and lasting influence on the Senate and those of us who've served here. I think we're all better because of his service in the Senate and his example. And then lastly, as a, as a senator, as a public servant, what is it that drives you personally, presumably Senator Domenici, presumably everyone here? What is that, that, you know, we on the outside, we all, we watch you all, we elect you and we get involved to a greater or lesser degree, but you're in a really good place. What, what, what is the motivation for you? It's such a unique opportunity for service to your state and to your country. Very few people have this opportunity

and when you are in this arena, you want to do your best. You, you know you're being observed carefully. You're, every day under a microscope from the press and from your constituents, as you should be. And it, it may make you a little more self -conscious, but it also makes you aware of how important what you're doing is. And for the long term benefit and good of the country, for the benefit of your constituents back in your state, you don't want to let them down. All right, sir. Thank you very much. Thank you. You're really good. Thank you. Thank you

very much. Okay, guys, is that enough? Can I go now? Could you do a little more on the computer? Do you mind? Oh, no, I don't mind. All right.

Thank you, Senator. Thank you. What's next, Matt? Uh, capital building. Good. Okay.

Okay. Okay. See if that's what I think it is. President? That's the president. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you

very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very

much. Thank you very much. Thank you

very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.