[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> WHEN IT COMESW TO THE SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIGH.

BUT SENATOR WHITEHOUSE INSISTS SHALL INTERESTS ARE TRYING TO BUY INTEREST.

>> THE COURT IS CONTROLLED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.

NOWHERE ELSE DO YOU SEE A TURNSTILE SUPREME COURT BUT THAT IS THE WAY IT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.

♪ MICHELLE: WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

PAMELA: TONIGHT, WE BEGIN WITH A TWO PART INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR SHELDON WHITEHOUSE.

SOME PEOPLE SAY WASHINGTON IS A SWAMP, HE CALLS IT A TSUNAMI OF SLIME.

BECAUSE OF WHITE HOUSE -- OF HIS OUTRAGEOUS DARK MONEY, ANONYMOUS SPENDING THAT BOOSTS SPECIAL INTEREST.

DARK MONEY SPENDING TOPPED $1 BILLION IN THE 2020 ELECTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

DAVID WRIGHT SAT DOWN WITH THE SENATOR IN MAY TO DISCUSS THE STATE OF CORRUPTION IN POLITICS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE BIGGEST TOPICS IN POLITICS TODAY FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO TIME CHANGE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NEWEST ADMINISTRATION.

>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN FINISHING HIS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE -- PRES.

BIDEN: AMERICA IS ON THE MOVE AGAIN.

>> SENATOR SHELDON WHITEHOUSE SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC.

HOW IS HE DOING SO FAR?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I THINK HE IS DOING REALLY WELL.

HE HAD A LATE START, HE HAD THE PANDEMIC RAGING AND THERE WERE THE ELECTION DISPUTES AND THEN JANUARY 6 HAPPENED AND CONGRESS GOT DISRUPTED.

[YELLING] THAT IS A HELL OF A WAY TO START.

HE HAS BEEN CRANKING OUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS, HE HAS GOOD NOMINEES AND HE IS GOING TO PASS TWO OF THE BIGGEST PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO HELP THE AMERICAN PUBLIC PASSED SINCE THE NEW DEAL.

PRES.

BIDEN: HUNDRED DAYS AGO, AMERICA'S HOUSE WAS ON FIRE AND WE HAD TO ACT.

>> BIDEN HAS TRIED TO EMPATHIZE UNITY AND BIPARTISANSHIP.

PRES.

BIDEN: IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY PLAN, LET'S PASS WHAT WE ALL AGREE ON.

>> SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE URGED A MORE BOLD AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.

WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON THAT?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO BOTH.

WE WILL BE A BETTER COUNTRY INCIDENT IF WE DO THINGS IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION.

IF YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO A BIPARTISAN PATH AND DON'T KEEP THE BIPARTISAN OPTION OPEN, THAT BECOMES QUICKSAND.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT.

SENATOR MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS HAS PROPOSED ADDING FOUR ADDITIONAL JUSTICES TO THE COURT.

>> WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT IS BROKEN.

IT IS OUT OF BALANCE.

IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT THAT?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I AM GLAD HE DID THAT.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND WE NEED TO WORK HARD TO MAKE OUR CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS TO WHY THAT IS NECESSARY.

>> I AM HERE TODAY NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE, I AM TERRIFIED.

I AM HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS MY CIVIC DUTY TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE BRETT KAVANAUGH AND I WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I BELIEVE DR. FORD.

>> SENATOR WHITEHOUSE HAS SHOWN SHARP ELBOWS.

>> I BELIEVE BRETT KAVANAUGH DODGED AND ASSEMBLED, RANTED AND RAVED, FILIBUSTERED, AND PREVARICATE IT.

>> ESPECIALLY AT THE RULING OF JUDGE KAVANAUGH.

>> I DO NOT FIND INCREDIBLE.

>> YOU QUESTION HIM ABOUT HIS YEARBOOK -- QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT HIS YEARBOOK.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: YES, WHAT IS THE WORD ROUGH MEAN IN THAT?

>> THAT PROBABLY REFERS TO THROWING UP.

I AM NOT YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH.

LAST TIME YOU ASKED ME ABOUT HAVING CATCH UP ON SPAGHETTI.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: DID IT REFER TO ARE HALL?

>> I LIKE BEER, I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU LIKE BEER, SENATOR?

>> DO YOU LIKE BEER?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: OF COURSE I LIKE BEER.

[LAUGHTER] THE YEARBOOK WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU ARE DOING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND YOU HAVE AN ALLEGATION LIKE THIS, THE FIRST THINK YOU'D WANT TO DO IS GO TEST CONTEMPORANEOUS STATEMENTS OF THE ALLEGED ASSAILANT AS TO WHAT WENT ON.

THE CLOSEST THING WE HAD TO STATEMENTS CONTEMPORANEOUS TO THAT TIME PERIOD BY THE ALLEGED ASSAILANT WERE THE THINGS HE WROTE AND OTHERS WROTE IN THE YEARBOOK.

>> THE DOUBLE TRIANGLE -- THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE?

>> A DRINKING GAME.

THREE GLASSES AND A TRIANGLE.

>> SENATOR WHITEHOUSE IS CONVINCED KAVANAUGH PERJURED HIMSELF SEVERAL TIMES.

>> WITH NO INVESTIGATION, WE CANNOT TELL.

>> INSISTS THE FBI UNDER PRESSURE FROM TRUMP NEVER REALLY INVESTIGATED THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS MADE BY DR. FORD.

IT IS WRITTEN A LETTER TO BIDEN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMANDING ANSWERS.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: THEY NEVER LOOKED AT THE TIPS THAT CAME IN THROUGH THE TIP LINE.

THAT IS A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

IT IS BENEATH THE FBI.

>> THE VENEER OF AN INVESTIGATION BUT THE LEADS WERE NOT FOLLOWED UP?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: THEY WERE BARELY LOOKED AT AS BEST I CAN TELL.

>> WHAT IS?

?

THE ENDGAME DO YOU WANT TO SEE KAVANAUGH REMOVED FROM THE COURT?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WAS DONE DURING HIS CONFIRMATION.

HE IS ON THE COURT NOW SO THE ONLY WAY OFF IS IMPEACHMENT WHICH TAKES 67 VOTES WHICH SEEMS IMPROBABLE.

KNOWING THE FACTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICAL PRESSURE THAT WENT TO STUFFING THAT INDIVIDUAL ON THE COURT DESPITE HIS TROUBLES AND DISABILITIES IS A STRONG SIGNAL TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MORE GOING ON IN THIS JUDICIAL SELECTION BUSINESS THAN JUST PICKING QUALIFIED PEOPLE.

>> IF YOU HAVE THE VOTES, WOULD YOU PUSH TO IMPEACH HIM?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I WOULD.

>> BEFORE SEEKING OFFICE, HE CUT HIS CHOPS AS A PROSECUTOR.

AS U.S. ATTORNEY FOR RHODE ISLAND APPOINTED BY CLINTON, HE LAUNCHED THE PROBE THAT RESULTED IN THE CONVICTION OF FORMER PROVIDENCE MAYOR BUDDY CIANCI.

HE LET OTHER HIGH-PROFILE INVESTIGATIONS INTO ORGANIZED CRIME.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: IT WAS PRETTY LIVELY FOR A WHILE.

>> ARE RHODE ISLAND'S MOB DAYS BEHIND IT?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: YEAH.

THING OF THE PAST.

>> YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THE CORRUPTION OF MONEY IN POLITICS.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: OH YEAH.

>> NOW SENATOR WHITEHOUSE ARGUES THAT CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT IN WASHINGTON.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: BECAUSE YOU'RE A HUGE SPECIAL INTEREST AND WANT THINGS YOUR WAY.

>> MUCH OF IT IS UNTRACEABLE BECAUSE OF DARK MONEY, THE TRUE SOURCE OF FUNDS OBSCURED BEHIND SHELL COMPANIES.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: LIKE RUSSIAN NESTING DOLLS WHERE YOU SET UP A SHELL CORPORATION AND ONLY THE LAWYER KNOWS WHO IS BEHIND IT.

THEN IT GOES TO A 501(C) FOUR THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO REPORT TO ITS DONORS.

ANYBODY LOOKING FOR TRIPLE PROTECTION IS UP TO NO GOOD I AM PREPARED TO POSIT.

>> HE SAYS HE IS ESPECIALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF DARK MONEY ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I DON'T GET IT.

I DON'T SEE HOW IT IS THAT PEOPLE IN THIS BODY CAN SAY IT IS OKAY TO HAVE A HUGE SPECIAL INTEREST THAT WILL SPEND $17 MILLION AT A LICK, $10 MILLION AT A LICK SECRETLY CONTROLLED WHO GETS TO BE PICKED TO BE ON THE SUPREME COURT.

>> HE SAYS DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, DARK MONEY SOUGHT TO INFLUENCE NOT ONLY THE SELECTION OF JUDGES, BUT ALSO THE CASES PENDING BEFORE THE COURT.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: THAT TURNSTILE OF THE COURT IS CONTROLLED BY A PRIVTE ORGANIZATION.

NOWHERE IN THE WORLD DO YOU SEE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION CONTROLLING THE TURNSTILE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT IS THE WAY IT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.

NOW YOU HAVE A FLOTILLA OF MAYBE 50 FRONT GROUPS THAT ARE FUNDED BY DARK MONEY AND THEY PITCH THE JUDGES IN UNISON AND IN TREATED HARMONY -- AND IN ORCHESTRATED HARMONY ON WHAT THE DARK MONEY FOLKS WANT THE COURT TO DO.

THAT IS A TERRIBLE COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

EVERYBODY IS IN ON THE JOKE ACCEPT THE PUBLIC.

JUDGE BARRETT, YOU CAN TAKE A BIT OF A BREATHER ON YOUR RETURN TO THE COMMITTEE.

>> DURING THE MOST RECENT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION, SENATOR WHITEHOUSE TOOK HIS FIRST FULL ROUND OF QUESTION TIME AT ALL BUT IGNORED JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT.

INSTEAD, HE OFFERED AN IN-DEPTH TUTORIAL ABOUT DARK MONEY IN THE COURT.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: WITH THE SAME FUNDERS SELECTING JUDGES, FUNDING CAMPAIGNS FOR THE JUDGES AND SHOWING UP IN COURT IN THESE FLOTILLA'S TO TELL THE JUDGES WHAT TO DO.

MICHELLE: >> -- >> WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: DISCLOSURE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WEAPON.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMERICAN POPULATION, YOU CAN TAKE EVERYBODY FROM A BERNIE BROKE TO A T PARTY -- A TEA PARTYER AND THEY WILL AGREE THAT DRUG MONEY HAS NO ROLE IN POLITICS.

>> JIM JORDAN GIVE YOU SOME FLACK.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: HE TRIED.

>> THE SENATOR WILL NOT TAKE QUESTIONS.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: NO.

>> THE SENATOR DECLINED TO ANSWER JORDAN'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER HE ACCEPTS DARK MONEY HIMSELF.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: NO.

I AM A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

THE MONEY I GET FROM MY POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS COMES FROM FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

EVERY DOLLAR IS DISCLOSED.

IT IS REALLY A COMPLETE NONISSUE.

THEIR OBJECTION IS WHEN I GO AFTER THIS AS AGGRESSIVELY AS I DO, I TARGET THE REPUBLICAN DARK MONEY.

THEY WILL POINT OUT THERE IS DARK MONEY THAT SUPPORTS REPUBLICAN -- SUPPORTS DEMOCRATS AS WELL.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, JOIN ME IN GETTING RID OF ALL OF IT.

>> IF THE PROCESS IS SO FLAWED, IF WE APPOINT FOUR MORE JUDGES, ISN'T THAT JUST STACKING THE COURT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: YOU COULD SAY THAT.

THERE WOULD -- IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WERE A MORE BALANCED WAY TO TAKE THE COURT OUT OF THAT ROUTINE.

THERE ARE PROPOSALS TO THAT EFFECT.

>> YOU WOULD SUPPORT TERM LIMITS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I WANT TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS OUT BEFORE I DECIDE WHAT THE PACKAGE OF DAY.

THE STUFF I'VE CHAMPIONED SO FAR IS THAT THE JUDGES SHOULD BE UNDER ANY ETHICS CODE, THEY SHOULD DISCLOSE GIFTS AND TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY THE SAME WAY WE DO IN CONGRESS AND EVEN CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS JUDGES DO.

PEOPLE WHO WRITE BRIEFS SHOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHO IS REALLY BEHIND THEM.

ALSO, WE SHOULD TREAT THE MANIPULATION OF THE SELECTION PROCESS OF JUDGES LIKE YOU WOULD A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN SO DONATIONS INTO THAT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED.

>> HOW OPTIMISTIC SHOULD WE BE THAT WE SHOULD SEE REAL CHANGE ON THAT ISSUE?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I THINK QUITE.

IF I DID NOT HAVE HOPE, I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME GOING TO WORK.

I DO HAVE HOPE.

PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

THEY ARE RIGHT TO BE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN LISTENED TO.

CONGRESS LISTENS TO BIG SPECIAL INTERESTS.

MICHELLE: SINCE OUR INTERVIEW, THE FBI REVEALED IT RECEIVED 4500 TIPS ABOUT BRETT KAVANAUGH AND REFERRED SOME TO WHITEHOUSE LAWYERS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE WHITE HOUSE OR FBI INVESTIGATED THE TIPS.

IN JULY, THE SUPREME COURT MADE MONEY, RULING 6-3 THAT TWO CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST GROUPS -- ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE DONATIONS TO CALIFORNIA.

NEXT UP, PART TWO OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR WHITEHOUSE CONTINUES WITH ANOTHER ONE OF HIS SIGNATURE ISSUES, CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.

>> EVERY WEEK LIKE CLOCKWORK.

>> I AM HERE FOR THE 43RD TIME NOW TO SAY IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP.

>> FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS NOW, SENATOR WHITEHOUSE HAS SOUNDED THE ALARM.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: AS YOU KNOW, I COME WEEKLY TO THE SENATE WHENEVER WE ARE IN SESSION TO GIVE MY TIME TO WAKE UP SPEECH.

>> TIME TO WAKE UP ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON EVERYTHING FROM SPORTS -- SEN. WHITEHOUSE: SKI TRIPS IN VERMONT, ICE HOCKEY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, FISHING TRIPS OFF THE COAST OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> TO NATIONAL SECURITY.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: I AM HERE FOR TO DISCUSS THE SECURITY RISKS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE PRESENTS TO OUR NATION.

>> THE SENATOR HAS BEEN A BIT OF A BROKEN RECORD.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: -- WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR RHODE ISLAND?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: THE FIRST IS OUR MAP.

WE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT MAP.

A LOT MORE WATER, A LOT MORE ISLANDS.

THINGS THAT ARE MAINLAND BECOME ISLANDS.

>>'S COMMITMENT TO SOLVING THE CRISIS HITS CLOSE TO HOME.

HE SAYS MUCH OF HIS THINKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BEEN SHAPED BY HIS WIFE WHO IS A MARINE BIOLOGIST.

TELL ME ABOUT HER WORK.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: WE ARE TERRESTRIAL CREATURES AND WE THINK OF THE EARTH AS A TERRESTRIAL PLACE BUT MOST IS COVERED IN OCEAN.

OCEANS HAVE TAKEN UP 90% OF THE HEAT WE HAVE ADDED FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD BE WAY PAST DISASTER.

THERE TAKING UP 30% OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE WE HAVE ADDED.

CHEMICALLY, IT MAKES THEM ACID.

WE ARE HEADED FOR AN OCEAN CALAMITY AND SANDRA HAS THAT CLEARLY IN HER MIND.

THERE IS ANY ARTICLE IN THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL ABOUT THE WINTER FLOUNDER REALLY BEING NO LONGER AROUND IN MANGA SURVEY -- IN DEBATE.

SHE WROTE HER DISSERTATION ON THE FLOUNDER IN OUR BAY AND IT IS ALREADY GONE IN LESS THAN A LIFETIME.

IT HAS BEEN HARD FOR THE FISHING INDUSTRY BECAUSE SO MUCH OF WHAT IS TO BE OUR CATCH HAS MOVED AWAY AS THE WATERS HAVE WARMED.

YOU GO DOWN TO RESTAURANTS IN RHODE ISLAND RIGHT NOW AND ORDER A LOBSTER, IT HAS COME FROM MAINE.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING.

ANGUS KING HAS A MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE THE CENTER OF HARVEST IS FOR MAINE AND IT IS MARCHING UP THE COAST OF MAINE.

SOON IT WILL BE IN THE MARITIMES.

>> THIS YEAR, THE WEEK PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, SENATOR WHITEHOUSE WAS OPTIMISTIC.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: THE CONDITIONS ARE AT LAST IN PLACE FOR A REAL SOLUTION.

>> HE FINALLY ENDED THE TIME TO MAKE UP FRANCHIS.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: INSTEAD OF URGING IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP, I CLOSE THIS -- I CLOSE THIS LONG-RUN BY SAYING NOW IT IS TIME TO GET TO WORK.

>> IS 279TH SPEECH -- HIS 279TH SPEECH ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: FAREWELL.

>> A MIKE TROUT MOMENT HE NOW ADMITS MAY HAVE BEEN PREMATURE.

IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOING ENOUGH?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: NOBODY IS DOING ENOUGH RIGHT NOW AND TIME IS REALLY SHORT.

WE REALLY HAVE TO PUT THE PRESSURE, PARTICULARLY WHILE WE HAVE HOUSE AND SENATE AND WHITEHOUSE, SO THAT THE HANDS OF THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ARE LESS ABLE TO DEPLOY AND INTERFERE AND OBSTRUCT WITH WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> YOU HAVE THE DARK MONEY AFFECTING THE SUPREME COURT AND AFFECTING THIS?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: YOU HAVE DARK MONEY AFFECTING THE SUPREME COURT, DARK MONEY AFFECTING COMIC CHANGE, DARK MONEY ROLLING OUT VOTER SUPPRESSION.

IF PEOPLE THINK CLIMATE CHANGE IS A PARTISAN ISSUE, THEY ARE WRONG.

IT IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE THE FIRST THREE YEARS I WAS IN SENATE.

IT BECAME PARTS OF THE DAY CITIZENS UNITED WAS DECIDED AND THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY GOT THAT NEW CLUB TO BATTER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY INTO CONFORMITY.

>> YOU SAY SOME OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT THEY ARE AFRAID TO.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY WILL END THEIR CAREERS.

YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER THE DARK MONEY.

>> HE ADMITS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

>> YOU HAVE THE CLASSIC RESUME FOR A UNITED STATES SENATOR.

THE MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS, ETC.. [LAUGHTER] TELL US SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE ABOUT YOU.

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: FIRST, I GREW UP IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE SO I HAD A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND THAN MOST KIDS.

I WENT OFF TO BOARDING SCHOOL WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

>> WERE YOU BULLIED?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: OF COURSE.

I WAS A SMALL KID.

TO THIS DAY I AM STILL AT HEART A VERY SHY PERSON.

I'VE CRANKED UP GETTING -- I CRANK UP GETTING OVER THAT EVERY DAY BECAUSE I DEEPLY BELIEVE IN DOING WHAT I HAVE GOT THE ABILITY TO DO.

>> YOU GET OVER IT HOW?

IS THERE A SONG YOU LISTEN TO?

A MANTRA YOU REPEAT TO YOURSEL?

SEN. WHITEHOUSE: [LAUGHTER] ACTUALLY, ON MY BUREAU IN MY BEDROOM THERE IS A LITTLE TINY MODEL OF THE BRITISH WRITER -- BRITISH FIGHTER PLANE, THE SPITFIRE.

THOSE BOYS AGAINST IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.

THEY WOULD GET UP EVERY MORNING AND GO TO THE FIGHTER SQUADRON AND CLIMB IN THOSE PLANES AND FLY INTO THE SKY AGAINST AN IMPLACABLE ENEMY OUT TO KILL THEM AND THEY DID IT.

INDEED, THEY EVEN TOOK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CHEER OUT OF DOING IT.

IF A 22-YEAR-OLD BRITISH BOY CAN DO THAT WITH LIFE AND LIMB AT RISK, I BOUGHT -- I OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND RAISE HELL AS A 65-YEAR-OLD GROWN MAN.

THE ARTICLES OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH OF AN AIRCRAFT BULLET.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO DAVID WRIGHT FOR THOSE REPORTS.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HISTORIC -- HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXPLAINS HOW THE OCEAN STATE GOT ITS FIRST GAY PRIDE PARADE.

>> 1976 WAS AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL YEAR AND ON JUNE 26 OF THAT YEAR, RHODE ISLAND CELEBRATED ITS FIRST GAY PRIDE PARADE.

HOSTED IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE, IT WAS A PARADE WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BUT ALSO BROUGHT POLITICS TO BEFORE.

THE BICENTENNIAL IS A VERY BIG DEAL IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

WE FORM A BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION EARLY ON AND THEY ARE INVITING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN WAYS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR THEM AND IMBUE THE SPIRIT OF 1776.

A GROUP ENTITLED TOWARD A GAYER BICENTENNIAL PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL.

THE COMMISSION SAID IT WAS REJECTED BECAUSE IT DID NOT MAKE IT CLEAR CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO AND 1776 AND THE SPIRIT OF THE BICENTENNIAL.

>> THEY CAN BE GAY, I HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT THEIR HABITS.

WE DENIED ENDORSEMENT BECAUSE THEIR ACTIVITIES DO NOT RELATE TO THE BICENTENNIAL.

>> THEY SAID IN THEIR ACTIONS THAT GAYPEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED.

GAY PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

COLONIAL LAW INDICATES THERE WAS HOMOSEXUALITY.

IT IS OUR EVOLUTION, OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR BICENTENNIAL.

>> THE FIRST GAY PRIDE PARADE IN AMERICA HAPPENED IN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO IN 1970.

THIS WAS A MOVEMENT GROWING.

THERE HAD BEEN NO PARADE IN RHODE ISLAND.

AT THIS POINT, THE LEGALITY BEGAN BEING QUESTIONED.

ON THE COMMISSION SIDE AND ON THE POLICE SIDE, THEY ARE SAYING HOMOSEXUALITY IS ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND SO WE CANNOT ENDORSE SOMETHING THAT MAY BE TACITLY ENDORSING ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

THE ACLU AND JUDGE 15 SAYS NOT SO FAST, THIS IS -- AND JUDGE PETINE SAYS THIS IS NOT ABOUT FREE SPEECH, THIS IS ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND YOU CANNOT BLOCK THIS FOR HAPPENING.

THE JUDGE TELLS THE POLICE THEY MUST GIVE A PERMIT, ALLOW THIS PARADE TO HAPPEN, AND THEY MUST PROTECT THOSE IN THE PARADE FROM OUTSIDE AGITATION.

>> THE PURPOSE OF OUR PARADE IS TO STAND ON THE STREETS AND CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR COUNTRY AS GAY PEOPLE.

>> ONE OF THE HEADLINES OF THE TIME, THE DAY AFTER THE GAY PRIDE PARADE IN 1976 SAID THE FIRST HOMOSEXUAL PRIDE PARADE WAS TOLERATED IN PROVIDENCE.

IT WAS A STATE -- A STEP TOWARDS REPEALING THE UNJUST LAWS THAT CAP THE GAY COMMUNITY FROM HAVING FULL CIVIL-RIGHTS IN RHODE ISLAND.

IT WOULD NOT BE UNTIL 1998 THOSE LAWS WERE REPEALED AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL 10 YEARS AGO GAY MARRIAGE WAS ALLOWED AND CELEBRATED IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> OUR THANKS TO THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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