1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,279 Speaker 1: I'm JAPISPINNI glrad you with us in this third in 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:06,320 hour of today's program. We've been trying to squeeze an 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,560 eighty pounds show into a forty pound bag. 4 00:00:08,599 --> 00:00:10,359 Speaker 2: We're getting it in there. 5 00:00:11,519 --> 00:00:13,679 Speaker 1: Let's see we can squeeze in two more conversations in 6 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,039 this hour. On the backside of this hour, actor and 7 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,280 musician Michael v. Epps aka Mikey talks about the end 8 00:00:20,359 --> 00:00:23,359 of the highly acclaimed series The Shy where he played 9 00:00:23,519 --> 00:00:26,239 Jake Taylor. So we'll talk to Michael Vipps about the 10 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,280 shot speaking of Curtis Mayfield in the city of Chicago. 11 00:00:29,399 --> 00:00:31,879 A nice little I like that. That was nice, Miles, 12 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,640 very nice. So we'll talk about that on the backside 13 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,600 of there. In a moment, we'll be joined by Lynn Sweet, 14 00:00:37,759 --> 00:00:41,759 former Washington d c Bual chief and now special correspondent 15 00:00:41,799 --> 00:00:45,600 for the Chicago Sun Times. Let her explain how her 16 00:00:45,679 --> 00:00:49,280 lighthearted search for President Obama's tan suit as we opened 17 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,960 a serious debate about the consequential effect of that twenty 18 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,200 fourteen press comments where he donned that haberdasury and was 19 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,000 talking about foreign policy in how all of the impacts 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,079 his foreign policy legacy all these years later amazing what 21 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:04,760 a suit can do. 22 00:01:05,599 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: If you saw many of you did. 23 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: You watched the opening of the Obama I guess it's 24 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,319 not a library Presidential Center. 25 00:01:11,359 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 2: I guess they call it. 26 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: If you saw the opening of that carried by sea, 27 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:20,680 spanning other networks, then you saw the jokes being made 28 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:21,519 about the tan suit. 29 00:01:21,519 --> 00:01:22,879 Speaker 2: There are a number of people who showed up. 30 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: David Letterman, and I think David Letterman and Stephen Colbert 31 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,680 and the MC of the program, Obama's longtime friend all 32 00:01:30,719 --> 00:01:33,560 had on tan suits. And so the tan suit jokes 33 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,680 were in full force on the day of the opening 34 00:01:36,719 --> 00:01:39,400 of the Presidental Center. So we have still not moved 35 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,760 past the jokes and the commentary about the tan suit 36 00:01:42,439 --> 00:01:46,560 back in twenty fourteens. We'll let Lyn explain how she 37 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,920 got what her on rant was to the tan suit, 38 00:01:51,439 --> 00:01:53,599 and again a discussion about his foreign policy. Before I 39 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,560 do any of that, here's a funny clip from Larry 40 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,560 David show. It's called Life Larry in the Pursuit of Unhappiness. 41 00:02:00,719 --> 00:02:03,920 Little Larry David skate here about the tan suit all 42 00:02:03,959 --> 00:02:08,879 these years later. Take a listen, Hey, you know what, 43 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:11,039 I got an idea that just might interest you. 44 00:02:11,319 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 2: What's your idea. 45 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: I think you should wear the tan suit to the 46 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:16,639 press conference. 47 00:02:16,319 --> 00:02:17,319 Speaker 2: For this press conference. 48 00:02:17,439 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 3: Yes, why well, first of all, it's a gorgeous. 49 00:02:20,599 --> 00:02:22,719 Speaker 2: Suit, and that's why I'm taking to turn. There's a 50 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,479 daytime event. It's outdoors a little more casual, and this 51 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,960 is casual Friday. Hi, Brian, the Boss wants to try 52 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,080 on the Tan suit. I do love this suit. It's 53 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,120 perfect casual and it's in the briefing room. Is that 54 00:02:34,159 --> 00:02:38,639 the east room? Thank you? Oh it is a great suit. 55 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,240 Oh boy, oh boy, I think this is the move. 56 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,439 I'm gonna try that. See how it looks. Oh, let's 57 00:02:43,479 --> 00:02:46,680 foldle you down. You'll thank me. 58 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: All these years later, still jokes, including Obama himself leaning 59 00:02:52,879 --> 00:02:56,039 in on the Tan suit line. 60 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 2: Sweet could do your voice? How are you today, Tavis? 61 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,759 Speaker 3: It's an honor to be with you today. Thanks for 62 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,159 having me, my pleasure. 63 00:03:03,159 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: I've got two minutes right now to sort of set 64 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:06,919 this up, two or three minutes when we come forward. 65 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:08,479 We'll spend the rest of the half hour sort of 66 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,560 unpacking it. But tell me about, as I said, your 67 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,560 lighthearted search for this Tan suit and how that has 68 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,680 led to yet another serious conversation a consequential conversation about 69 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:20,080 his foreign policy. 70 00:03:20,879 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 3: And we could all have both in one You know, 71 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,759 we could all do a few things at one time, lighthearted, serious, 72 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,680 in a nutshell. When I went to a press preview 73 00:03:30,719 --> 00:03:33,360 on the Obama Center opening, the question came up from 74 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,680 a reporter to one of the executives, what do you 75 00:03:35,719 --> 00:03:38,800 wish was here that you don't have? And Michael strattonan 76 00:03:38,919 --> 00:03:42,080 has said the Tan suit. And then Valerie Jarrett, the 77 00:03:42,319 --> 00:03:46,199 CEO of the Obama Foundation, shocked us when she said 78 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,039 Obama gave it away when he was cleaning out his closet. 79 00:03:50,719 --> 00:03:53,439 That was my starting point for this project. 80 00:03:54,919 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: Tell me a bit more about the project. 81 00:03:57,879 --> 00:04:01,479 Speaker 3: So I'm supposed to find the Tan suit. Now, as 82 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,759 I say, to quote myself, I could find you a 83 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,439 needle in a haystack tablet, but I don't even know 84 00:04:06,479 --> 00:04:09,240 where the haystack is on this one. I've been in 85 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,719 the business one hundred years. Here, Yeah, I could find stuff, 86 00:04:12,719 --> 00:04:15,120 but give me a clue here. It's like you know 87 00:04:15,159 --> 00:04:17,680 which grain of sand on the beach are we're talking about. 88 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,439 But I also understood that sometimes in a project, the 89 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,120 journey is the destination. The anniversary of the Tan suit 90 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:30,040 press conferences next week August twenty eight. And it's not 91 00:04:30,199 --> 00:04:34,399 just me thinking there's interest in the suit. Martin Nesbud, 92 00:04:34,439 --> 00:04:38,360 who you mentioned, even Colbert, who actually asked Obama when 93 00:04:38,399 --> 00:04:41,199 he was at the museum before a show ended, wears 94 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,240 the tanned suit and then lo and behold the Larry 95 00:04:45,319 --> 00:04:48,879 David spoof with Obama happy to play himself in that 96 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,079 tan suit. And so everyone understands, I'm looking for the 97 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,439 real Tan suit, the Tan suit, and that HBO show 98 00:04:57,759 --> 00:04:59,879 is a replica. 99 00:05:00,319 --> 00:05:02,399 Speaker 1: So I love that Lynn Sweet is in a search 100 00:05:02,439 --> 00:05:04,800 to find the real Tan suit. I'm just laughing at 101 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,360 the fact that the anniversary of the Tan suit is 102 00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:11,120 August twenty eighth. You know what else happened on August 103 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,439 twenty eighth, Think about it, Think about it, think about it. 104 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,759 We'll talk about that though at that part when we 105 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:17,639 come forward. But of all the things that happened on 106 00:05:17,639 --> 00:05:21,600 August twenty eighth in this country historic date, August twenty eight, 107 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:24,680 we're still talking about the tan suit that he wore 108 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,839 on August twenty eighth. That's how we do it here 109 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,399 on Tavis Smile does Indeed, with Lynn Sweet, former a 110 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,800 DC Real chief now I'm a special corresponding for Chicago 111 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,560 Sun Times. She's been on a project. She is trying 112 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,120 to find that tan suit that Barack Obama wore back 113 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,600 in twenty fourteen at a press conference when the Obama 114 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,240 Center opened. There were all kind of jokes about the 115 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:46,759 tan suit. We just played a clip for you in 116 00:05:46,759 --> 00:05:49,720 case you tuned in you missed it. Obama played himself 117 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,279 in a clip a spoof on Larry David's show Life 118 00:05:53,399 --> 00:05:56,240 Larry in the Pursuit of Unhappiness, Obama shows up playing 119 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,040 himself in a joke about the tan suit. You heard 120 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,079 Lynn Sweet say that next week, August twenty eighth is 121 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:06,600 the anniversary of Obama wearing the tan suit in twenty fourteen. 122 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,879 But the minute she said that, you know, being a 123 00:06:09,959 --> 00:06:12,720 history buff, my mind went to that same date. Here's 124 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,639 what else happened on August twenty eighth, and I'll get 125 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:18,879 back to Lynn. In nineteen fifty five, they killed Emmitt 126 00:06:18,959 --> 00:06:20,759 Till on August twenty. 127 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:21,639 Speaker 3: Eighth, Oh my god. 128 00:06:21,959 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: In nineteen sixty three, the March on Washington. I have 129 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:26,079 a dream. 130 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: The speech from Doctor King happens on August twenty eight. 131 00:06:30,439 --> 00:06:33,000 On August twenty eight, two thousand and eight. 132 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 2: I was there. 133 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: Barack Obama accepts the nomination for President of the United 134 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,879 States at the Democratic Convention in Denver. That was August 135 00:06:40,879 --> 00:06:43,360 twenty eight, two thousand and eight. Then he wears the 136 00:06:43,399 --> 00:06:48,199 Tan suit on August twenty eight, twenty fourteen. Before I 137 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:49,800 go any further, Lynn, what do you make of that 138 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:51,160 history on August twenty eighth? 139 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:56,079 Speaker 3: Oh whoa, thank you for reminding me, because I'm going 140 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,800 to do another I have some other stories to do 141 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,879 and I will that will run on the twenty seventh 142 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,240 or twenty eight. And Tavis, I am grateful that you 143 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,800 told me that, and certainly, being a Chicago reporter, I 144 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,920 well know the story of Emmett Till. Oh yeah, and 145 00:07:14,199 --> 00:07:18,040 the great effort now to keep Emmett Till's story alive 146 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,959 with the establishment of a National Historic Park in the 147 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,800 city and other ways of making his history a living 148 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,240 a living history for the people who are alive now. 149 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:32,720 So no, but thank you. I was there too in 150 00:07:32,759 --> 00:07:34,040 Denver in two thousand and eight. 151 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, A lot happened on that date, August twenty eighth, 152 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,519 and so when LeAnn reminded me that next week is 153 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:42,720 the anniversary of the Tan suit. 154 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: My mind immediately went to all. 155 00:07:43,839 --> 00:07:46,319 Speaker 1: The historic things that happened on that particular date. So 156 00:07:46,759 --> 00:07:48,519 there's that take it and run with it as you will. 157 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:50,439 So let me get back to your search for the 158 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,560 Tan suit. So when Valuidjera says the President gave the 159 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,560 suit away, I assume we believe that Validera was being 160 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,480 truthful about that. So what does your search take you? Like, 161 00:07:59,519 --> 00:08:01,759 where do you begin trying to locate the Tan suit. 162 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:03,199 Speaker 2: So so. 163 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 3: Now it turns out, by the way, that in June third, 164 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,639 when she briefed reporters, she knew that the replica suit 165 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,199 existed for the show because they taped that HBO show 166 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,480 in December. But if they had the original suit, and 167 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:20,720 I'm going to be talking to people from the show 168 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:25,360 hopefully tomorrow, and if he had the original suit in 169 00:08:25,399 --> 00:08:28,959 the closet, they wouldn't have had a costume designer recreate 170 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:34,480 one for the show. So I have also learned that 171 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:38,120 he gives away suits he cleans out of closet. Now, 172 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:43,159 maybe this is a Tan suit. One Obama World insider, 173 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,639 and this is a hypothesis, thought he threw it away 174 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,200 because he didn't want to wear it again. Because if 175 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,799 everyone's just going to make a fuss about it, like, oh, 176 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,919 he wore it again today when he gave a speech 177 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:59,679 about whatever you know, just do it. But here's what 178 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,399 I do know about the suit. I may not find it, 179 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,000 but when I don't know how a story ends, I 180 00:09:07,039 --> 00:09:09,840 think it is my responsibility to tell you how his 181 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,080 story starts. So when I poked around, here's how the 182 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:18,840 story starts. Who made the suit a foundational question. And 183 00:09:18,919 --> 00:09:21,480 it turns out that the man who made the suit 184 00:09:21,519 --> 00:09:25,080 his name is Martin Greenfield. He died in twenty twenty four, 185 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:31,320 famous Taylor in Brooklyn. Martin Greenfield sewed his first stitches 186 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:37,320 as a prisoner in Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp. He 187 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,360 was wearing the shirt of an SS soldier. Now he 188 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,279 learned to become how to really become a tailor when 189 00:09:44,279 --> 00:09:47,120 he got to the United States. But this is a 190 00:09:47,159 --> 00:09:51,519 story of a man who survived Aschwitz and Brukenwald, the 191 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:55,639 worst of the Holocaust, that horror, came to the United 192 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,879 States and made suits not only for Obama but other presidents. 193 00:10:00,039 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: M that's a great backstory, and that's why that's why 194 00:10:03,279 --> 00:10:06,440 you are an award winning columnist and writer. Now specially 195 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,879 correspondent for The Sun Times. Linn knows how to tell 196 00:10:08,919 --> 00:10:10,879 the story. And if you don't know how he ens, well, 197 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,159 if you can't find the suit, give me the backstory. 198 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,320 The backstory for me is this audience nose is always 199 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:16,960 the most fascinating part of any story. 200 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: Anyway, I love the backstory. Lind's I'm glad you. 201 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:20,279 Speaker 3: Here's another bed. 202 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:21,399 Speaker 2: Give it to me, Give it to me. 203 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 3: I'm gonna tell you everything about that suit. By the way, 204 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,879 listeners out there, if you're a forty long and about 205 00:10:28,879 --> 00:10:35,039 thirty three waists and you're wearing a suit that has uh, 206 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,840 the lining is made of a fabric called Bamberg bamburger 207 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,639 it is. It is made out of a bamboo. It 208 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:48,120 is better than silk. So if you picked it up anywhere, 209 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:54,720 then I will, okay, then I will have to tell you, 210 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,120 you know, call me and maybe we could get something. Uh, 211 00:10:58,399 --> 00:11:01,399 you know, we could get we could get something done. 212 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:06,440 But that is just another backstory to know about this. 213 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,759 Speaker 1: So I can see because of the all of the 214 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:11,919 drama that surrounded his wearing that suit, and we'll get 215 00:11:11,919 --> 00:11:14,039 back to the actual press conference that day and what 216 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,080 he was talking about it and why in fact, there 217 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,240 are consequential conversations to be had about that press commerce 218 00:11:20,279 --> 00:11:22,759 as it relates to his foreign policy legacy. 219 00:11:22,759 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 2: That's what Lim was saying. Hearder, we can have some 220 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:24,799 fun with this. 221 00:11:24,879 --> 00:11:26,519 Speaker 1: But there's a serious dollog to be had about the 222 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:29,080 way his foreign policy has been critiqued born of that 223 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,799 press commerce that day where the world was clearly getting darker. 224 00:11:32,279 --> 00:11:34,840 But we didn't talk about the press commiss We talked 225 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:36,399 about the suit. So we'll come back at that in 226 00:11:36,399 --> 00:11:39,279 a moment, I promise. But I can see the president 227 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,200 perhaps giving the suit away again. He does giveaway suits. 228 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:43,919 After a while, I do the same thing, so I 229 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,519 can see him giving the suit away. I can see 230 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,240 him either actually maybe back up. He gives suits away, 231 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,879 as do I. I can see him burning the suit, 232 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,120 getting rid of the suit because of all the hype 233 00:11:54,159 --> 00:11:57,320 about it. But I can't imagine him giving that suit away, 234 00:11:58,039 --> 00:12:03,159 particularly if if the person who has the suit knows 235 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,440 what it is. Now, when suits are custom made, I 236 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,840 know lous something something about this. Typically on the inside 237 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,879 of the suit there is stitched the name of the owner. 238 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,399 So wherever that suit is, I got money, that says 239 00:12:16,399 --> 00:12:19,279 somewhere on the inside of that lining there is the 240 00:12:19,399 --> 00:12:22,240 name stitched Barack Obama present, Barack Obama. 241 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:23,279 Speaker 3: Tell you about that? 242 00:12:24,279 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: What do you know? What do you know? 243 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,879 Speaker 3: His name was there in the pocket. But it was good. 244 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,000 But believe me, can you imagine if you go to 245 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,440 some you know, secondhand, closed place and you see Barack 246 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,320 Obama's name in a suit, and so you know, I'm 247 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,840 just gonna get it altered. But here's the thing. I'm 248 00:12:43,879 --> 00:12:46,559 told that when he gave away suits, his staff at 249 00:12:46,639 --> 00:12:49,320 the White House or the or the either the ballet 250 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,559 or the house staff that worked with him, they knew 251 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:55,799 enough to cut the name out. This is without the 252 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:00,240 famous suit. And when I talked to Jay, you know 253 00:13:00,519 --> 00:13:02,840 who is the son of Martin Greenfield who made the suit, 254 00:13:03,159 --> 00:13:04,799 who was actually the guy who went to the White 255 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,039 House to measure him. Uh, there there was a way 256 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,440 in the pocket. I think it looked like something that 257 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:15,039 you could kind of rip out with that ripping flat pocket. 258 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:20,120 Any event, even if they no matter where his name was, 259 00:13:20,519 --> 00:13:22,360 his people knew to look for it and get rid 260 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:23,720 of it. They're giving it away. 261 00:13:23,759 --> 00:13:26,639 Speaker 1: There goes that I'm figuring somebody's wearing that suit with 262 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:27,840 his name on the inside. 263 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 2: But I take your point. That's why lean again is 264 00:13:29,879 --> 00:13:30,679 doing the reporting on this. 265 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 3: I'm just look in the pocket. If anyone is listening, though, 266 00:13:34,039 --> 00:13:36,240 look in the pocket and see if it looks like 267 00:13:36,279 --> 00:13:38,399 a little label might have been ripped off of it. 268 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,799 See now, maybe the label Greenfield is still there. And 269 00:13:44,879 --> 00:13:47,600 if there's really great hand stitching and you got it 270 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,440 around the Washington area, call tabs, call me. We have 271 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,559 a special email, you know, email me at tan suit 272 00:13:55,759 --> 00:13:59,000 one word at sometimes dot com. Even if you have 273 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,080 some ideas what this suit means to you, what it 274 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,120 meant in twenty fourteen, what it means now. Also you 275 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,519 could read the stories and stuff that's coming up at 276 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:14,240 sometimes dot com slash tan suit. Let me repeat that, 277 00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:19,720 may I sometimes dot com slash tan suit. 278 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: What would it mean for you? I mean, I'm thinking 279 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,240 of all the brilliant stuff Leanne. I've read your stuff 280 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,600 for years. I'm thinking of all the brilliant stuff you've written. 281 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,519 What would it mean for you to actually find to 282 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,679 track this suit down at this point in your career? 283 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 3: Well, okay, and everyone who's listening, what Tavi is talking 284 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,720 about is that I've been in this business one hundred 285 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:42,000 and fifty years and I've done all kinds of stuff. 286 00:14:42,159 --> 00:14:46,559 You know, my main work has always been connecting events 287 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,639 to Chicago. But I you know, I've gotten around. If 288 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,000 I found this thing, I would I would have to 289 00:14:53,039 --> 00:14:57,279 put it in a separate bucket of professional achievement. Maybe 290 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:02,720 not because of it, just it is the ultimate scavenger hunt. 291 00:15:02,799 --> 00:15:06,120 And it is a challenge that I don't take lightly 292 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,519 because you know, my boss tell me to find it, 293 00:15:09,279 --> 00:15:12,879 so I have to look. I make you laugh, my 294 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,320 day is made. But as I say in my column, 295 00:15:16,399 --> 00:15:20,000 which I hope people read it sometimes dot com slasht 296 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,519 hand suit, I can't say yet I haven't found it 297 00:15:23,559 --> 00:15:26,240 because I haven't looked hard enough. And one of the 298 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:29,440 reasons I'm very grateful to be on this show is 299 00:15:29,679 --> 00:15:32,519 I have to get the word out. Maybe somebody knows 300 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,240 somebody who's something or whatever or worked in the second 301 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,080 handst in Washington, and they say, you know, we got 302 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,720 these elegant suits that were forty long and thirty three ways. 303 00:15:41,799 --> 00:15:44,200 I always wondered where they came from. Well, give me 304 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,120 a call, maybe we could figure this out. 305 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I got just about five minutes left here. Let 306 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,279 me let me pivot now. Now we talked about the 307 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:55,000 suit and your search for it, this ultimate scavenger hunt. 308 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,399 Speaker 2: I love that man, But here's the real backstory. 309 00:15:59,039 --> 00:16:02,519 Speaker 1: He wore this tank I remember it well as does 310 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,799 Lynn during a press conference about war. So part part 311 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:08,600 of the critique was it was the wrong color, but 312 00:16:08,639 --> 00:16:09,879 also the wrong color. 313 00:16:09,639 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 2: For that occasion. War is a serious issue. 314 00:16:12,279 --> 00:16:15,039 Speaker 1: You got this light, you know, bright summer suit on, 315 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,320 but you're out doing a press commerce about war. 316 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: He was. 317 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: You know, it was clear that the country was getting 318 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:26,039 to be an even scarier place. One could even argue 319 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,960 that his press commerce was foreshadowing the world getting more 320 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,080 dangerous in advance of Donald Trump coming in and again 321 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,759 just doing all sorts of nonsense. But none of that 322 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,960 got talked about then, and frankly, it hasn't even talked 323 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,519 about in retrospect because the focus is on the suit. 324 00:16:42,559 --> 00:16:44,559 And I'm not suggesting that we can't talk about the 325 00:16:44,559 --> 00:16:45,480 suit and have some fun. 326 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:45,759 Speaker 2: With the suit. 327 00:16:46,159 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: But but but talk to me about the consequential effect 328 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,200 of that press conference as it relates to his foreign 329 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:53,159 policy legacy. 330 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 3: Well, just talk about traumatic for shuttering. He talked about Ukraine, yep, 331 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,720 touch about Iraq, talked about isis you know, trying to 332 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,920 even back then in twenty fourteen, there were issues with 333 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:12,759 Ukraine and Russian aggression. Now, so what happened in Ukraine 334 00:17:14,039 --> 00:17:17,519 wasn't a surprise, but it also shows if we're kind 335 00:17:17,519 --> 00:17:20,519 of looking at the arc of history here, it's an arc. 336 00:17:21,319 --> 00:17:25,400 So the president also, as far as I know in 337 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,920 my reporting and I'm triple checking, this came to work 338 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,960 that day in the tan suit, and the press conference 339 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,160 was planned at the last minute, and it was in 340 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,920 the briefing. It wasn't one of the real big ones 341 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,240 in the East Room, it wasn't in prime time. And 342 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,759 I hope to be talking to the former White House 343 00:17:43,799 --> 00:17:47,400 Press secretary at the time and nailing this detail down. 344 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,799 But they just decided to do it the last minute. 345 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:56,079 And probably I'm guessing no one thought to say, President Obama, 346 00:17:56,319 --> 00:17:57,920 you ought not to wear a tan suit to a 347 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,640 press conference. I also, who would have to say that 348 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,640 to him except for a Larry David type of character 349 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,039 in a comedy. 350 00:18:05,079 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: Maybe Michelle. Michelle is no shrinking violet. She ain't no snowflake. 351 00:18:11,599 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 3: Now. Oh and by the way, the connection to Martin 352 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:19,000 Greenfield was made through one of Michelle Obama's fashion advisers. 353 00:18:19,079 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: Oh, got it, got it, got it. So now you 354 00:18:21,319 --> 00:18:22,759 got me thinking. This is why I love talking to 355 00:18:22,839 --> 00:18:26,240 Lynn Suite. She always makes me guess my brain working here. 356 00:18:26,799 --> 00:18:29,240 So now that we know that the press comference was 357 00:18:29,279 --> 00:18:32,519 not pre planned, that it came up, Yes, it came 358 00:18:32,599 --> 00:18:35,240 up in the during the day, he's already in the 359 00:18:35,279 --> 00:18:38,480 Oval office wearing the tanned suit. Nobody says changed clothes. 360 00:18:38,559 --> 00:18:41,960 He doesn't think the change clothes. It is a nice suit. 361 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:43,880 It's tailored for the president. So it's wrong with the 362 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,359 suit itself. It's just the people thought the color was wrong, 363 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:48,799 the choice was wrong. But if he's already in the 364 00:18:48,839 --> 00:18:51,680 office wearing the suit, and then the press commerce gets called, 365 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,319 he walks to the White House briefing room and does 366 00:18:53,319 --> 00:18:55,599 what he does, and now you got an international crisis 367 00:18:55,599 --> 00:18:57,960 because of the president woor a tan suit. I wonder 368 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,000 if in retrospect, and I would love to ask him, 369 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,640 I wonder if in retrospect he wishes he had changed 370 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:04,839 suits before he. 371 00:19:04,839 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 2: Went into the briefing room. He just lives upstairs. 372 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 1: It's just about getting on the elevator, going upstairs to 373 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,640 the to the private quarters, changing suits, coming back down. 374 00:19:13,839 --> 00:19:15,440 We would never have this story and I wouldn't have 375 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,279 had this half hour of fun talking to you. But 376 00:19:17,319 --> 00:19:20,359 I wondered then if he could have done all over again, 377 00:19:20,599 --> 00:19:22,079 if he might have gone and changed that suit. 378 00:19:23,759 --> 00:19:27,559 Speaker 3: I am glad you asked that question, because when I 379 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,279 talked to the former White House secretary, press secretary and 380 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,319 another deputy press secretary, I'm going to pose it to them. Here. 381 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,680 Here is my guess that Obama is all about no 382 00:19:38,799 --> 00:19:41,200 drama and no fuss. And if he thought what he 383 00:19:41,319 --> 00:19:44,640 was wearing would detract, yeah, and the way it did, 384 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:49,920 he I'm guessing go upstairs and change calls. He had 385 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:55,960 many from my reporting, blue and charcoal gray suits. He 386 00:19:56,039 --> 00:19:58,039 even had I think, like a gun plaid or so 387 00:19:58,079 --> 00:20:01,039 it's some kind of plaid one. So I mean, just 388 00:20:01,079 --> 00:20:04,759 think if you're making a public appearance at the last 389 00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:09,440 minute and you were kind of a casual jacket and 390 00:20:09,519 --> 00:20:12,079 you realize people are going to talk about that I 391 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,839 showed up wearing a baseball jacket to give a serious speech, 392 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,839 you would probably go put on a suit coat, wouldn't you. 393 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:19,519 That's what people do. 394 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,039 Speaker 2: I think about it all the time. I think about 395 00:20:21,079 --> 00:20:21,480 all the time. 396 00:20:21,559 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: I had to go to an event yesterday and I 397 00:20:25,279 --> 00:20:27,680 looked down at the shoes I was wearing. They're comfortable shoes. 398 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,079 I like them, but the shoes didn't fit where I 399 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,160 was headed. So I literally changed my shoes. Just yesterday. 400 00:20:33,319 --> 00:20:35,359 My outfit was fine, but I and I'm not a 401 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,960 woman octually I changed my shoes because I'm like, you know, 402 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:38,720 I can't walking. 403 00:20:38,519 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 2: In with these shoes on. 404 00:20:39,279 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: So no, these things do occur to us, but he 405 00:20:41,519 --> 00:20:43,559 is the president of the United States. Was a lots 406 00:20:43,599 --> 00:20:45,359 on his plate, a lots on his mind, and we 407 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,440 can give him a pass, I guess for not thinking 408 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:48,400 about it in that moment. 409 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 2: Nobody around him thought about it. 410 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: But obviously I can tell you in retrospect to your 411 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,960 brilliant point about him being no drama Obama, if he 412 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:56,680 had known all this was going to be another side 413 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,000 of wearing that suit. I got money that says he 414 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,200 would have changed clothes. I digress for now. Lynn sweet 415 00:21:02,319 --> 00:21:04,640 is in search of the tan suit. She told you 416 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,000 how to get in touch of there at the suntimes. 417 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,960 If you know anything about it, anybody might have it. 418 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,839 We're trying to find the tan suit that Obama wore 419 00:21:11,559 --> 00:21:14,720 on twenty fourteen August twenty eight that anniversary is next week, 420 00:21:14,759 --> 00:21:17,039 but so much other stuff happened on that date. But 421 00:21:17,079 --> 00:21:19,680 I'm delighted to have Lynn Sweet back on this program 422 00:21:19,759 --> 00:21:21,720 one more again. Lynn, thanks for your insights. We'll do 423 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:22,079 it again. 424 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,319 Speaker 3: Hey, thanks for having me much appreciate it. 425 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,839 Speaker 2: My pleasure more tavished by when we come forward.