E-mail a friendFebruary 28, 2007
House Government Reform Committee Chair Rep. Henry Waxman discusses the reconstruction of Iraq. Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith shares the backstory of his silent gesture of protest at the '68 Games.
Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith is the only man in track and field history to hold 11 world records simultaneously. He won the 200m gold in the '68 Olympic Games in world record time and, on the victory stand, raised a black-gloved fist to draw attention to racism in the U.S. As a result, Smith was expelled from the Olympic team. He's been an educator and track and field coach for 40 years and was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in '78. Smith tells his story in the book, Silent Gesture.
Rep. Henry Waxman
Rep. Henry Waxman
Rep. Henry Waxman has represented California since ‘75. In January, he became chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has oversight of various functions, including energy policy, consumer protection and interstate and foreign commerce. A longtime champion of environmental and public health protection, Waxman introduced the first bill in Congress (in '92) to stabilize the climate. Prior to his election to Congress, the Los Angeles native served three terms in the California State Assembly.