DAVID: SHE IS A RHODE ISLAND ICON.

ARLENE: TONIGHT, I AM ANNOUNCING THAT I AM GOING TO BE YOUR CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

DAVID: A VOICE OF CONSCIENCE IN RHODE ISLAND POLITICS.

ARLENE: THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE MITTS OF BIG BUSINESS.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET IS NO SHRINKING VIOLET.

BACK IN THE DAY, THEY CALLED HER ATTILA THE NUN.

AT AGE 78, SHE HAS NOT GIVEN UP THE FIGHT.

ARLENE: I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS THAT ARE STILL TILTING AT WINDMILLS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THERE IS A ROLE TO PLAY, TO TRY TO BRING US BACK TO OUR SENSIBILITIES -- IF NOT MORALLY, AT LEAST AS A NATION.

WE PURPORT TO HAVE THESE PRINCIPLES.

DAVID: SHE GOT THE FIGHTING SPIRIT AT AN EARLY AGE IN NEWPORT, NOT FAR FROM THE GILDED AGE MANSIONS, ON THE CAMPUS OF SALVE REGINA.

FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, IT WAS ORIGINALLY A WOMEN'S COLLEGE TO PROMOTE VIRTUE, PIETY, AND LEARNING.

HE WENT TO THE CONVENT IN 1960?

ARLENE: 1961.

DAVID: 18 YEARS OF AGE.

ARLENE: I THOUGHT I WOULD GET KICKED OUT, BECAUSE I WAS SORT OF WILD WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET DID NOT GET KICKED OUT.

SHE GRADUATED AND TOOK HER VOWS.

CATHOLIC NUNS ALL TAKE VOWS OF POVERTY, CHASTITY, AND OBEDIENCE.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY TAKE A FOURTH VOW -- SERVICE.

ARLENE: OF COURSE, THE ORDER TALKED ABOUT RESPONDING TO THE UNMET NEED, AND WHAT MADE SOMETHING UNMET WAS NOBODY HAD DONE IT YET.

IN MANY WAYS IT SOUNDS STUPID, BUT THE CONVENT TURNED ME FEMINIST, BECAUSE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE YOU -- YOU WERE ENCOURAGED TO TRY THINGS NO ONE HAD TRIED BEFORE.

DAVID: UNMET NEEDS IN THE 1960'S INCLUDED THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, FARM WORKERS RIGHTS, AND PROTESTING THE VIETNAM WAR.

IS IT TRUE YOU USED TO GO TO ANTIWAR RALLIES IN YOUR NUN'S HABIT?

ARLENE: I DID.

SOMETIMES I WOULD NOT HAVE ONE, BUT I WOULD BORROW IT FROM ANOTHER ORDER.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO SHOW THAT THE CHURCH WAS STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PROTESTERS, THE WAR PROTESTERS.

DAVID: THE HIPPIES.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO YOU?

WHAT DID THEY MAKE OF YOU?

ARLENE: FINE, I GUESS.

OCCASIONALLY I GOT DRAGGED INTO POLICE STATIONS WITH THEM.

IN RHODE ISLAND, PARTICULARLY PROVIDENCE, THE POLICE WERE MOSTLY CATHOLIC, SO I WAS SORT OF AN EMBARRASSMENT.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET WAS ONE OF THE FIRST NUNS TO MOVE FROM THE CONVENT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN THE OLD HARTFORD AVENUE HOUSING PROJECT.

MOST OF HER NEIGHBORS DID NOT TAKE VOWS OF POVERTY.

THEY WERE STUCK WITH IT ANYWAY.

ARLENE: A LOT OF POOR PEOPLE THERE.

AND THAT EXPERIENCE SHOWED ME THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS, VICTIMS, VICTIMS.

THE POLICY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS RE-VICTIMIZING THEM.

SEEING WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I SAID THIS IS AWFUL.

I PROBABLY HAVE TO BECOME A LAWYER.

DAVID: IT WAS AT THAT POINT YOU DECIDED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

ARLENE: I ASKED MY SUPERIORS, AND THEY SAID IF YOU GET IN, THAT'S FINE.

DAVID: SHE GOT HIM, WENT TO BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL, AND WHEN SHE GRADUATED, BECAME A 1-9 LEGAL AID SOCIETY.

-- A ONE-NUN LEGAL AID SOCIETY.

SHE SAW CORRUPTION WAS RAMPANT.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GIVING ME FOR A LONG TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

DAVID: RAYMOND WAS THE BOSS OF THE NEW ENGLAND MAFIA, HOLDING COURT OUT OF THE COIN-O-MAT ON FEDERAL HILL IN PROVIDENCE.

ARLENE: WHEN I RAN IN 1982, HE WAS OUTSIDE HIS SHOP, SMOKING HIS CIGARETTE, WHITE SOCKS ON.

I WAS WALKING BY, AND HE SAID, HI, SISTER.

I SAID, I'M NO SISTER TO YOU.

DAVID: BEDEVILED BY LEGAL PROBLEMS AND FAILING HEALTH, HIS REIGN AS NEW ENGLAND CRIME BOSS WAS ALREADY STARTING TO CRUMBLE.

>> A LARGE CROWD OF THE CURIOUS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE TO WATCH AS HE ARRIVED.

HE LOOKED TERRIBLE, EYES CLOSED, OXYGEN TUBES IN HIS NOSE, AND INTRAVENOUS MEDICATION BEING POURED INTO HIM AS HE WAS CARRIED UP THE STEPS OF THE BUILDING AND INTO COURT.

DAVID: THIS NEWS STORY SHOWS HIM ON A HOSPITAL GURNEY, FACING MURDER CHARGES.

>> JOHN CICILLINE SAID PATR IARCA PLEADS INNOCENT ON BOTH COUNTS.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET MADE HER FIRST BID FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

ARLENE: IT WAS AN UNLIKELY THING TO DO TO WORK FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I DID KNOW THAT.

DAVID: EVEN THOUGH SHE RAN AS A NOVELTY, RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES THAT MATTERED, SHE HAD A STRONG ENOUGH SHOWING TO ENCOURAGE HER TO RUN AGAIN.

WHEN YOU FINALLY WON, WERE YOU FACED WITH A CHOICE?

ARLENE: A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I WON, I GUESS THE POLLS WERE COMING OUT TO SHOW I COULD WIN.

THE BISHOP GAVE ME A CHOICE.

I COULD EITHER STAY A SISTER OF MERCY OR I COULD CONTINUE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

IT WAS TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE I HAD BEEN A NUN FOR 23 YEARS.

LOVED IT.

TO ME, IT WAS A CHOICE BETWEEN THE REALITY OF RESPONDING TO UNMET NEEDS, OR I COULD KEEP THE TITLE OF BEING A NUN BUT NOT KEEP THE COMMITMENT.

THAT IS HOW I DECIDED.

DAVID: IN 1984, THE YEAR SHE TOOK OFFICE -- >> FROM SOUTHEASTERN DOING LIND'S LEADING NEWS STATION -- NEW ENGLAND'S LEADING NEWS STATION -- >> THE KINGPIN OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN DOING LIND IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 76.

-- OF NEW ENGLAND IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 76.

ARLENE: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TO TELL PROSECUTORS THEY COULD NOT GO TO MOB RESTAURANTS.

THEY WOULD GO AFTER WORK AND HAVE A TAP FOR THEIR DRINKS OR MEALS PICKED UP.

I THREATENED AND SAID, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOB.

YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

HOW COULD THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE GOING AFTER THESE GUYS WHEN THEY ARE PAYING FOR YOUR DRINKS?

THAT LED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO WANT TO IMPEACH ME A MONTH OR SO AFTER I WAS IN OFFICE.

DAVID: THE PROBLEM WAS NOT JUST THE MAFIA, BUT THE CORRUPTION THEY SPAWNED, AS SHE LATER TOLD C-SPAN.

ARLENE: SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK MOB GUYS ARE "DEM, DESE, AND DOSE" GUYS.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT.

THEY PULLED SOME SCAMS ON WALL STREET THAT WOULD MAKE BERNIE MADE OFF LOOK LIKE A PIKER.

DAVID: HERE COMES SISTER ARLENE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, NO LONGER SISTER.

WERE YOU SCARED?

ARLENE: I DON'T GET SCARED.

I THINK THAT IS A SISTER OF MERCY THING.

DAVID: DO YOU THINK YOUR LIFE WAS REALLY IN DANGER?

ARLENE: I DON'T KNOW.

IT IS NOT ANYTHING I DWELL ON.

THEY TELL ME IT WAS.

I'M GOING TO LITIGATE AND GET YOU ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

DAVID: THAT IS INCREDIBLY BRAVE, STANDING UP TO THE MOB, THE DRUG CARTELS.

ARLENE: WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE JOB WAS, RIGHT?

YOU WANT TO DO A JOB, YOU SHOULD DO IT.

DAVID: SHE ALSO SOUNDED THE ALARM ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S BANKING SYSTEM, THEN ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT.

AND SHE FAMOUSLY REOPENED THE CLASS ON BULOW -- KLAUS VON BULOW CASE THAT INSPIRED THE MOVIE "REVERSAL OF FORTUNE."

>> WHY DID I STAY ALL DAY AT SUNNY'S SIDE WITHOUT CALLING A DOCTOR?

DAVID: SHE LOST THE CASE AND EVENTUALLY HER JOB AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND WENT ON TO WRITE BOOKS, AND MUSIC.

>> ♪ FAMILY VALUES KEEP YOU IN LINE ♪ DAVID: YOU WROTE A MUSICAL.

ARLENE: I SOUND LIKE I CAN'T KEEP A JOB.

[LAUGHTER] BUT YEAH.

DAVID: THINK OF IT THIS WAY.

IF THE MOB CAN BE FODDER FOR MUSICAL THEATER, THAT IS ONE SIGN IT IS NO LONGER AS SCARY AS IT ONCE WAS.

WHEN YOU STARTED TILTING AT THIS PARTICULAR WINDMILL, THE MAFIA IN RHODE ISLAND MUST HAVE SEEMED AN INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM.

LOOKING AROUND THE LANDSCAPE OF TODAY, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF INTERMINABLE PROBLEMS.

CLIMATE CHANGE, GUNS, RACISM.

HOW WOULD YOU APPLY THE LESSONS FROM THAT FIGHT TO THESE?

ARLENE: WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY, BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, PEOPLE DID HAVE A SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

THEY DID NOT BAPTIZE WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE.

THEY COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS EVIL AND THEY DID WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

THEY DID NOT CONDONE CORRUPTION.

THEY KNEW IT WAS WRONG WHEN PEOPLE WERE SELF-DEALING AS A POLITICIAN.

TODAY, ANYTHING GOES.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT ALL FACTS ARE CREATED EQUAL, SOMEHOW, INCLUDING MYTHS THAT EXIST.

SO I THINK IT IS INFINITELY MORE DIFFICULT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT EVEN AGREE ON BASIC FACTS.

DAVID: DOES THE LAW STILL WORK TO PROTECT THE LITTLE GUY?

ARLENE: THANK GOD THE LAW STILL EXISTS AND THERE IS AT LEAST A BEDROCK OF PRINCIPLES THAT ARE BASED ON WHAT SOCIETY SHOULD BE AND WHAT IS FAIR AND JUST.

I CREDIT MORE WITH AT LEAST BEING THE LAST BASTION OF HOPE TO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET JUSTICE.

DAVID: YOU HAVE FAITH?

ARLENE: I DO HAVE FAITH IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO FAR.

DAVID: THE FORMER NUN STILL HAS FAITH IN THE BIGGER SYSTEM AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH DISAPPOINT HER.

ARLENE: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH LOST ITS WAY BY DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE DURING THE SEX ABUSE ISSUES INVOLVING PRIESTS.

IT IS TERRIBLE.

IT HAS LOST ITS WAY.

IT HAS LOST MORAL AUTHORITY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

DAVID: WHAT WORRIES YOU MOST IN THE WORLD?

ARLENE: THE DIVISION.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE -- PEOPLE SOMETIMES SAY TO ME, WHAT IS YOUR NATIONALITY?

I SAY I'M IRISH, I'M FRENCH, I'M INDIAN, I'M ITALIAN.

I'M NOT REALLY ALL OF THAT NECESSARILY, BUT I'M THINKING THAT WAY, JUST LIKE I THINK THAT I'M BLACK AS WELL AS ASIAN, AND WHETHER I AM A CAUCASIAN OR NOT.

I'M HETEROSEXUAL, I'M GAY, I'M BI, I'M TRANSGENDER.

WHY ARE WE MAKING ALL THESE DISTINCTIONS?

IT IS CRAZY.

IF I HAD ANY WISH FOR THE WORLD, IT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD STOP DOING THIS.

WHO CARES?

WE ARE ALL EQUAL.

DAVID: THAT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IS AN ADMIRABLE VALUE.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT ENCOURAGES TRIBALISM, DOESN'T IT?

IT ENCOURAGES US VERSUS THEM.

THIS IS ABOUT ME.

THIS IS ABOUT YOU.

ARLENE: IT SHOULD NOT.

IT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL, LIKE WORKS OF ART, OR PEOPLE WHO DO TAPESTRIES, OR PEOPLE WHO MAKE CLOTHES FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES.

THERE SHOULD BE A WOW FACTOR TO IT.

LOOK AT THAT.

I'M SO DULL COMPARED TO THAT, YOU KNOW?

SO THANK YOU FOR COLORING UP MY WORLD KIND OF THING.

BUT WE DON'T DO IT.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR ALL THESE ANTAGONISMS, IT SEEMS TO ME.

DAVID: WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

ARLENE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

I WISH I HAD THIS BRAIN ENOUGH THAT I COULD FIGURE THAT OUT.

OTHER THAN TRYING TO PULL PEOPLE BACK TO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE -- IF YOU ARE A MINISTER, YOU ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO WHAT THE GOSPEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

DAVID: AT 78, ARLENE VIOLET IS NOT DONE TILTING AT WINDMILLS.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS NO PLANS TO RETIRE.

I THINK RHODE ISLAND IS BETTER OFF IF YOU DON'T.

[LAUGHTER] ARLENE: I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT.

[LAUGHTER]