Hello everyone Alright How's Everyone's Day going so far awesome, great alright we're here to talk about civility with two terrific outstanding public servants But just as importantly two really good friends and we wanna make this little personal But I'm gonna start with some facts So when we talk about civility we're obviously here at this conference you know between the political panel you saw with with Matthew Doud, Donna Brazil and our friend Harold Ford Michael Porter and Catherine Gale If you haven't if you didn't stay for that session, please please please do go To the Live stream or and downloaded afterwards, if it is incredibly meaty and this session, another session we're talking about civility in in public policy and public discourse. But here's some other civility facts Harvard Business School poll 48 percent of workers have received. I've been on the receiving end of uncivil behavior and have intentionally decreased their efforts on the job because of uncivil behavior at work 70 Percent of those workers said that their commitment to their Organization declined as a result of the uncivil behavior in the office place in schools a the Cyber Bullying Cyber Bullying Research Center found that 34 percent of all students have experienced some form of cyber bullying and bullying in the last month and psychology today reported that 45 percent of people in the country have either Blocked or unfollowed someone online because of uncivil comments so this issue of civility is not just a political issue. It is a societal issue and we need to do something about it and we're here with two champions of of civility So between the three of us, we have probably more years in Washington DC than we probably want to from young compared to you Yo yo I'm gonna. Let you Work that one out he's a few months older than I so you both you both got to washing before I did and I got in Washington I got to Washington 86 You know working in the Senate Fred. You got there and you start working for a congressional staff about 77 Debbie That's About the same time you went to go work for General Motors and you guys have been in and out of Washington ever since so 86 was an interesting year Not just not not because this is the year I started there But it was the year of tax reform The Tax Reform Act Six which was Bob Packwood Bob Dole, Dan Ross 10. Cow Bill Bradley You know this historic reform of tax very bipartisan Then within 18 months we had irancontra. We had the Bork hearings so go back to your first days in Washington and tell us what was the environment like when you got there? Just just go back in time for a minute you want to go first 00 for me, I went 77. I was a congressional staffer and I did constituent service. But where I really got my legislative experience was working for President Reagan and he really set the tone for me with a lot of different people. My my immediate boss was Ken Duberstein, who ended up in President against chief of staff and for Reagan for the President you know Republican President Democratic Congress He got a lot of things On including the 86 tax Reform Bill which Congress passed before I was elected but he had wonderful relationships and at the end of the day he won 49 States when he ran for reelection. So for Republican winning New York and California and every place else, except for Minnesota pretty pretty good mandate of getting things done. And so that experience for me then elected was in serving in the minority I never thought we'd be in the majority and so I You wanna get things done. You need to work with the Democrats and I have kept that attitude whether I've been in the majority or the minority and as its bounceback. I've That's been my ammo and I learned it really from President Reagan and John Dingle who is my chairman as I served on the Energy and Commerce Committee and I became his chairman a few years later survived before we move to Debbie talk just a little bit about the relationship between Ronald Reagan and Tip O 'neal fierce competitors but They were they I have a picture That's hanging in my office now I'm sitting behind the President and he sitting next to tip O 'neal and It's in the Cabinet room and they are both laughing in Bob Doll is there and a few others and they had a great personal relationship. he would come tip. O 'neil will come and they have drinks up on the roof of the White House and it was belting they. Hey, yeah, That's right. I mean they you know they they Both during nine to five as well as after five and Reagan had a great sense of humor. I mean he loved to tell jokes and actually your boss when you work there was Bush 41 as vice President. But I mean he was pretty good too Yeah, he had a very good relations at a ranking system for jokes Yeah, he did it. Yeah and he would you know for he would come up to the Hill and go to the gym like once a week he'd play paddle ball up in the in the House Jim. He had also very good relations with both sides of the aisle I thought it was Was always one of my favorites Debbie Go back to your early days at General Motors What was it like in Washington So nobody tell me you're gonna keep putting these pictures of bingo up so I'm trying not to cry up here gang when I worked for Bob some of you know that some of you don't that I was a Republican before Mary Jennings and I worked for Bob Griffin who was a senator from Michigan who taught me a lot that it was during the I was an intern in College but he was very good to me and it was during the Nixon impeachment and he talked Me some foundations. I never thought that I would have that I have now. So I met this man name John Dingle. One ultimately became a Democrat but I was Milliken Republican. I was a Dingle Democrat and people talk to each other They worked with each other you respected each other and I John Dingle from the day I met him taught me that you work from the Center you find how to I know we're both kid you should not have had the issues here we can kill the picture. No That's okay cuz. We both because John Dingle taught both of us a lot and he loved this institution relationships matter and people got to know each other You know one of the problems I Can't Do this tiny commencement speech? I give I tell the kids to get to know each other pick up the phone I'm so sick of kids texting and for more than one reason but they don't get to know each other relationships matter and in those days people Didn't go home now nowadays You've got to go home if you're not home every weekend. I'm helpful I'm the one that disorganized But I am the one that coordinates the members get into the plane. I'm revealing a delta don't shut the door. We have our own little table in the Delta room where we sit Waiting for our flight when It's delayed I know there is no answer. They don't It's not delayed very often. But when it is I our bigger problem is they said it. They are a big sponsor. Fred I know I know they're on a bigger time is I really do wanna do on time delay and one day they shut the door and left Dan Kill the loaded share boost us on one side of world idea they're so tiny I beat you there. I think it was on the plane but I was told I got on but we race out you don't get to know each other under those circumstances It's very hard to demonize somebody if you know and now there's not time Those relationships people we and look I'm as guilty as anybody. I'm home. I Can't Wait to get out of the city but you get in on Mondays. You have votes at 630 you their Tuesdays and Wednesdays literally 10 to 15 things cram into those evenings and then were racing for the but I 45 flight That's no that Thursday flight. I know well. You've been honor with Yeah now so but That's one of the problems is not the only problem it is You know you know in the 80 's when I was there as you know as a really junior staffer, I mean you We would you know we work with Democrats and Republicans during the day but more importantly we go drinking with each other at night I mean adding tens did you go to Danny Not that you know No but I mean I actually actually was kelly's Irish time was our was our ahead. The Senate side is a set aside. We Didn't go to the House side That's That's Dangerous territory But you know the socialization was great. I mean you know my my first boss Bob Packwood You know would you do the same thing? He'd be go out Be drinking with Chris Dodd or you know Senator Kennedy. you know A Dan Moynihan Patrick Money hand right I mean he was you know they. They were all friends It's. Even you know You're talking about paddle ball John Dingle played panel with George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld every day and those two men stayed friends until you know sort of eloquent to see the day right now to each other in George Bush. Right before he died, he talked about the two of them looking at life in the rear view mirror and how and The last 24 hours of John's Life Bill Clinton called. But George Bush was one of the last people that undergo talk to They were friends real friends young dirt So who your first political inspirations? What prompted you both to go into public service and politics Well? It's a little bit of a flip for me because I'd never met led legislator. I've never had you know? I I visit now a school every week in my district because in to make up for all legislators who never came and so good things. you know. I've got a lot of former staff that Legislators and they do what I do but I've never been to Washington before I met this young guy After graduating from the University of Michigan he was honest and smart and hardworking. His name was David Stockman and I managed a couple counties forum and we won my dad said. Why are you working for a guy is running against an incumbent he's, not gonna win? So you graduated from a great school and you know It's over and we won and I'd never been to Washington before and That's when you know that my job is In essence and had a constituent service and then had a chance later on when he went to the White House to join them. And then people asked me to run and I said no Amy and I are happily married. We got two black labs talked about pets behind two black labs and no answers. No one called me back and ended up running and ended up lane Debbie. What about you so my I actually got involved in politics because I was 16 years old. Had my first job and got my first paycheck I want to know where And I was I was like taxation without representation and it's. True I organized citizens United United for the voted 18, and I literally got the 18 year old vote passed in Michigan and I met Spence, Abraham John Engler We were all young okay. We were in young Republicans together but it But Jerry Ford honestly in the Ford family remained friends He stays once you around me rocket Well, me other pictures of that those have been destroyed but but I and I'm very honored I was just elected to the jury for been on the Ford School Board at Michigan but was just elected to the library and I think Jerry Ford stood for civility respect for working with each other and quite frankly, It's, one of the biggest honors I've had to be able to serve on that how degree Gerald Ford was my political hero too. That's the boost this. The reason I got involved in politics so You know so clearly, the environment today is different than it was when we all started in Washington What were some of the Seminole either events people or forces that have kind of driven us to where we are today I'm not looking at me you know It's hot I take it It is as bad as It's ever been today. I was saying I and neither side at this point in my my my my believe his quite figured this out. This Congress hasn't figured this out you got a demo Critic House in a Republican Senate and really, very little is of substantive legislation is moving forward which is really tragic, particularly as we get into a very big political year next year with all these different candidates that are out there and you know maybe It's because the you know one when Nancy Pelosi was first Speaker she had an 86 vote margin and things you know she was the ruler of the rules That's for sure I mean a lot of things changed then it was banner and others and you know the margin got smaller and actually now the margin is even smaller now with Pelosi now and It is you know It's It's It's just different I mean and you're not finding people and We've got little stick that we're working on called problem solvers. But there doesn't seem to be a lot of folks that are interested in bipartisan working Even though we make the difference of of getting things done and we're you know, we're gonna have a busy summer That's for sure, but it is it is really bad right now. I'd say Well you know I actually wrote my thesis on this subject in the 90 S So and if you talk to Orient We have seen times like this before in our country's history I think one of the things That's different is social media We did not have social media which is contributed significantly You know the sad thing about social media It was those it started. It founded it to connect us to keep us connected and it's driving us more further apart in the news, the the hatred. The What we know what you see on our Facebook page. What everybody's Facebook page you were talking about this statistic We are in a prosperous we have to get this figured out because I believe the American people elected us to get things done I've predicted to many people that Donald Trump could be President Republicans and Democrats alike thought I was crazy two years ago but and I may still be crazy but I was right but it I believe they elected him because they were tired of partisan victory and they wanted to see people get things done and I still think that We've got a responsibility to deliver for the people and I think people in Michigan want to see us fix the damn road they wanna their Description drug prices are escalating and sky high. They want trade deals that are gonna level. The plain field We've got people worried about their pensions and I think all of us, Republicans or Democrats are gonna be judged on whether we deliver an issues that managed managed matter to working men and women in case in point, our delegation had a big press conference on my porch the this morning taking on the Asian carp. You think that that would be a hundred percent issue We know the impact of that we Negative comments, I mean like I'm Social Media. It's, just It's, just amazing, how nasty some people are pro Asian carp lobby, or yeah right. They probably have a pack. I don't know if car pack Yeah, so the The presentation by Michael Porter and Catherine Gale earlier today you know Catherine made the observation that you know our political system isn't necessarily broken it's actually design. It's actually operating kind of as you know the political class has has as intended to be and she said it much more eloquently than that So when we think about big issues That that should get done or could get done that have majority support in the American population But Can't get through Congress. I mean my last assignment in in Washington working for President Bush was was Tarp You know and the auto bailout and you know you know. Thank God for Nancy Pelosi as we call it Auto Rescue plan Yeah, the bail out Thank you for us That's True I I I. I. There was another Republican who got in trouble for that Yeah for that language But you know you know you know the Republicans There are obviously Tarp went down the first time and then we have to go back and it was really Nancy Pelosi working with Hank Paulson, and you know to get the Democratic caucus that really got us through that that that that terrible time I see the same thing with Obamacare right I mean you know, instead of you know he called that the affordable care, the Affordable Care Act Alright thank you everyone. I'm Outta here We wanna we want, Barack, Obama said, was okay to call it Obamacare. So okay. The Affordable Care Act, Miss Dingle. Think as watch Fox Yeah, I'm gonna get to Fox News See you in just a minute here But you know instead of you know instead of tweaking that fixing that you know making some improvements for that. You know we have this kind of you know in my opinion, silly conversation about repeal and replace. But we Didn't have anything to repeal it and replace it with what are some of the issues that if if Just open to a vote you know in the House and the Senate that would pass. But It's. Just the politics are getting in the way so a big one immigration Yeah it is such a broken system today and we all know about it is a crisis on the border. It's got a lot worse but you talk to any employer larger small You talk to your farmers You talked to the dreamer kids who have been here for 20 years Maybe they're married now and they they are living. You know maybe someone's gonna knock on my door and through no fault of their own out and they came at age three or four from wherever I mean this is if we could have a free standing vote we could we could get this thing done House and Senate Republicans and Democrats Debbie Well I I agree on that I think if we could just have a simple preexisting condition vote yeah that you know somebody nobody can be denied insurance because of preexisting condition that the enact gets totally convoluted. And I also believe that the American people want common sense gun legislation. They don't wanna take guns away from people, but they want to keep them out of the hands of those situation So you two are doing much more than just talking about civility bipartisanship compromise You two are the leaders in Washington about coming up a solutions So tell us all about the problem. Solvers caucus and the civility and respect caucus Well problem solvers is a relatively new caucus Debbie, and I were actually elected by there's about 50 members, its equal number of Republicans and Democrats who were elected by our subset to be vice chairs of that, It's, led by Democrat coach Air Josh Kramer from New Jersey and Tom Reed, Republican, from Corning, New York And it, we meet weekly for an hour Sometimes we have Cabinet members come in. Remember the leadership on either side of the aisle and what we did was really dramatic in it One of the frustrations that We've had is just what you said you know if you had a bill and just allowed free amendments that were Germaine. Could you get this up We actually worse Successful Debbie was in helping to change the rules of the House that allow more bipartisanship and so what did we do and we would have done this? Had Republicans kept the majority and the Democrats by slipping it Did this as well. But members of the problem caucus threatened Speaker Pelosi by not we're not gonna vote for you say I don't quite tell destroy its way we're not gonna Vote for you we're gonna. Do the same thing with us? Was it gonna be Kevin Mccarthy we're not gonna vote for you unless the rules change cuz we gotta make this place work we're here because we wanna make the place work and the rules are Designed to be against it, so you know he said. You know if you have a bipartisan amendment, guess what It's now gonna come to the House floor We have to prove it because we have to Co sponsor the Bills but we're gonna change the world one of the things that I know John Bainer is gonna be here tomorrow right Kasich John Kasich is here tomorrow along report I know Kasich is a good guy too. But there was a rule before. Yeah we have an argument every year whether you know It's anyway we their The rule before that one member could offer a motion to vacate the speakership and it was simple majority vote and they threaten John with that and as a consequence he's you know he he left early and we changed that rule as well. So not one group anymore can threaten to take down the Speaker and particularly when you have close control. But I'll tell you changing the rules of the House and as Pelosi realized she would not be elected. There will be chaos but she To those rules changes and we now are a more powerful role because by working in a bipartisan way we can get some things done and That's we're gonna show that I hope when we take up immigration in the next couple of weeks right That's. Awesome Debbie talk about the work that you and Fred due together traveling together. I mean you guys are really an incredible model of friendship and bipartisanship talk about that longstanding relationship between the two of you We are good friends spend my friend for A long time now we probably talk almost every day in you know we just talk about everything we talk about what's coming up what's gonna happen. The Republican side what's gonna happen on the Democratic side of telling this crazy some days I'm crazy some days but we also do not wrong. Just crazy we're careful. 10. Every yeah, we never well. Maybe we do But We've traveled to each other's districts. We work when we have issues that we care deeply about like Fred was The catalyst and really got one of the most major pieces of health care legislation through in the last several decades in the 20 first Century cures Bill I traveled with him to help show people by partisan support we it. We we've traveled the country. We talked with him. That's learn traveling together going to each other's districts, which I think is is far too unusual. What do you guys learn by doing that about you know Other points of view other districts. I mean what is what does it teach you You learn a lot about the the individual. You know what but you know what we did in 20 first century cures. We went all We did all over the country and what we did was. We listen We listen to universities and I take both Michigan State and in Michigan and the new President Michigan State. I met this morning and he actually when he was at Sooni a direct result of 20 first century cures. This was legislation to expedite the approval of drugs and devices included 45 billion dollars more in health research and we've seen Great advances since President Obama signed it into law and but by listening to people and you know Debbie had a a wonderful comfort sit Michigan Dearborn where she organized people to come in veterans and Tammy car and others You know we saw that firsthand the ravages of diseases and what can we do to try to solve this diseases and she would Debbie was a member of the Committee She was instrumental in getting other Democrats to support it at the end of the day was 390220 Fix passed in the House nine today We will have a rare example of bipartisan success. It was the 20 first century yeah and impacts every person on Earth really is and great great But but we did this in Texas. We did a vitamin the Indiana we did Penn State. We went you know West Coast and you got to know members and people can see who you really were and how you try to drive that process and both leaderships I did Center staff here at Great Lakes You know every year the zero The Great Lakes Initiative money in every year, Republicans and Democrats from every great leg steak come together and restore that money or increase it Sue Wax is another You know those are Michigan but people do come together and It's It's important You know what I was thinking that you were asking about traveling I ended up having to text chain this weekend they're about 20 member women members that well we might have been a little upset about Saudi Arabia but if for some reason One of the members sent their top their male, their top five, and then the next the 20 of us ended up exchanging what we all do. Regular. We do male reports every week. What are we hearing from people on in Boston? They were hearing more about animals and anything in Washington State. They were hearing about impeachment I was hearing about guns, but the diversity of the top five from California to New York was fascinating we're actually gonna start sharing that more so people can see that there are different interests you know and That's, one of our you know kind of operating ethos around here is that We have a nation of 330 million people each with 330 million different strong opinions and unless we won learn the art relearn the art of being able to disagree without being disagreeable without finding compromise You know we're never going to we're never gonna proceed. I mean you know so many of our boat votes on big important legislation are completely partisan right I mean the Affordable Care Act was essentially an entirely Democratic bill. The this last tax bill was pretty much an entirely Republican Bill You know That's, not a recipe for longstanding You know progress Nah I agree It's. Not so just a quick comment we're getting ready to wrap up here we have presidential candidates. Obviously, the President is running for reelection that will essentially only do interviews on Fox We've got many of the Democratic presidential candidates What is it a hundred and 24 now spending fat just 12 Just 25 now? It's Debbie and I both knew that number Easier to talk about who's, not running for President on the Democratic side but you and I aren't Yeah then we'll Do wanna make an announcement tomorrow Okay but that there will be you know only do M C if you are talking to presidential candidate both sides what would your advice be to immersion about showing up on media platforms that aren't their core base I've already been very clear I've already told the Bbc that I think they're wrong I'm coach Chair of the D Democratic Policy Communications Committee and have been encouraging people to do Fox. I have done Fox It's 2000 I Don't think you ride off a whole group of viewers and I think It's important to talk to everybody and you listen to everybody So I do all three Fred You know for any of the candidates they got really cut through the clutter you see that in a congressional race, you see that certainly in the presidential race and I've been to you know I went to New Hampshire back in 90 s for President Bush 41 and for for others and man if you don't know to go in the kitchen door versus the front door, you can I mean but in Today's world was so many candidate you gotta be everywhere and social media is a big one too. But you gotta you gotta Do all the networks you gotta figure out a way to do mall into ignore EM Ignores a segment that you're not gonna win if you don't appeal to someone in that segment to get their heart stream well on behalf All of us I wanna thank both of you for your incredible years in public service. All the work that you continue to do your incredible example of bipartisanship and friendship and thank you for being friends to me and the chamber we so appreciate everything friend Debbie. But before we leave I just have one small gift for Debbie Okay clearly, I think I'm stronger than I really so we just wow. This is We just wanted to give you this It's. The Detroit recover I'll help you carry it out ladies and gentlemen Debbie Dingle Fred Upton Ladies and gentlemen please Welcome chairman and chief executive officer of Dennis Www. Archer Psc and Chairman Americas of Dickinson Wright Fellow C. Dennis W Archer Senior The city of Detroit our region our state in America recently lost an outstanding America here's. What the family wanted known in part on the celebration of the life of the Honorable Damon J Keith In the program book handed out as huge funeral Just Keith was appointed in 1967 the US District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan by President Linden B Johnson On this court, he ruled on numerous cases proving his dedication to equity equality Civil rights of All Americans and in the case of Davis versus the school district of the city of Pontiac 1970 he ruled that the city must integrate public schools Pontiac public schools to busting it was the first case that extended the federal court ordered integration into a northern city In another case. In 1971 just Keith ruled against the federal executive branches right to wire tap citizens without a court order the Supreme Unanimously affirmed his ruling and this monumental case became known as the Keith case Then he served as chief judge from 1975 to 1977 becoming the first African American chief judge of that court Two years later President Jimmy Carter appointed Judge Keith to the US Court of Appeals for the sixth Circuit where he continued to rule on cases about integration public housing affirmative action unlaw Deportation voting rights and much more in 1985 Chief Justice Warren Burger appointed Judge Keith as chairman of the bicentennial of the Constitution Committee for the Sixth Circuit in 1987 Chief Judge Chief Justice William Renquist appointed him to serve as the National Chairman of the Judicial Conference Committee of the Bicentennial of the Constitution and in 19. 90 President George H W Bush appointed Judge Keith to the Commission on the bicentennial of the US Constitution Bill of Rights Plex bearing his name are in federal court houses in government buildings, all across the United States and in Guam including the third Good Marshall Federal Judicial Building and they J Edgar Hoover, building headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation he received More than 40 honorary degrees, including one from Harvard just Keith, was a recipient of countless awards and distinctions, including the Spring arm Medal from the in Double, a C P associations highest honor the Detroit Urban League Distinguished Warrior Award and the Edward J David Distinguished Service to Justice Award the highest award that can be bestowed on a member of the Federal Judiciary University honored its alumnus by establishing the Damon J Keith Center for Civil Rights and the Damon J Keith Collection of African American Legal History Here's. This snippet of what others have, said Wednesday University President M Roy Wilson We are all morning, a loss of this outstanding civil rights, Pioneer federal judge and friend of Wayne State University at my swearing in In ceremony, Judge Key said for Wayne State to be great it has to be good Since then I've used those words as my guiding light in the leadership of Wayne State doctor William Ecard observed Damon Jake He's touched many lives in this city state country in world But he changed my life for the best just because just Keith has passed. Doesn't mean his life's work has passed for those of us who are still here We need to make sure that the legacy of the honorable Judge Damon Jerome Keith will live on and on forever on Monday, April 20 Ninth Mitch album columnist for the Detroit Free Press Road in Park He never spoke more passionately about any subject than when he was talking about his wife Her maiden name was Rachel Bloom a brilliant doctor They were married for more than 50 years and he acted like a smitten teenager The entire time he could still remember what meal he was telling her about the last night of her life and the colleagues From his chambers with the news of her death not once in the many times, he talked to me about Rachel Did he not tear up have to damn as e year-old with a tissue demon, keep new love and he gave it right to the end He survived by three daughters two granddaughters of which he was imminently proud But this extended family was much larger than that He was like a boulder thrown into still waters The ripples of his existence went along ways and the amount of people who will pay tribute in the coming days may stun you Stacey Abrams made the following observation Judge Damon Keith, one of the nation's longest serving federal judges was a true champion for civil rights His efforts to make equal Justice under law a reality changed the legal landscape of our nation forever