>> IT'S THE TEST NO ONE WANTS TO FAIL.
GOING PACK TO CAMPUS IN THE FALL ‐‐ THERE'S MUCH TO
CONSIDER.
AS YOU'LL HEAR TONIGHT, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND
EDUCATORS ARE ALL FEELING THE BURDEN.
>> ONE WEIGHT COMES TRULY FROM UNCERTAINTY.
HUMAN BEINGS LOATHE IT.
WE WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING NOT TO HAVE IT, AND WE ARE CALLED TO
TOLERATE UNCERTAINTY AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
>> IN 1921, THE GLENWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, WAS AMONG THE WEALTHIEST BLACK
COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA, BUT IT WAS DESTROYED IN A RACE MASSACRE
HATE RAINED DOWN ON CHURCHES AND HOMES FROM ABOVE.
>> THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY AIRPLANES WERE USED TO
TERRORIZE AMERICANS. IT WAS NOT AT 9/11.
IT WAS NOT PEARL HARBOR. IT WAS RIGHT HERE.
>> THE MERIT SYSTEM PROTECTION
ORDER, WHY SHOULD AMERICANS KNOW OR CARE WHAT THAT IS?
>> THIS AGENCY IS THERE TO PROTECT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FROM
BAD SUPERVISORS AND POOR PERFORMERS.
ALL OU NEED IS ONE BAD EMPLOYEE, ONE BAD SUPERVISOR FOR
THINGS TO GO AMUCK IN ANY FEDERAL AGENCY.
AND IF YOU'RE GETTING YOUR BENEFITS, YOUR SERVICES,
WHATEVER THEY LET'S SAY IT'S DRUGS, MEDICINE, YOU'RE
GOING TO WANT THIS AGENCY TO BE THERE.
>> I'M LESLEY STAHL.
>> I'M BILL WHITAKER.
>> I'M JOHN DICKERSON.
>> I'M NORAH O'DONNELL.
>> I'M SCOTT PELLEY.
THOSE STORIES, TONIGHT, ON "60 MINUTES."
>> Dickerson: THIS FALL, COLLEGE WILL START WITH A TEST.
CAN AMERICA'S UNIVERSITIES REOPEN DURING THE GREATEST
PANDEMIC IN 100 YEARS?
SOME UNIVERSITIES ARE REMAINING ONLINE.
OTHERS ARE STILL UNSURE.
BUT A GROWING NUMBER ARE PREPARING FOR PERHAPS THE
LARGEST COORDINATED RETURN INSTITUTIONS HAVE MADE SINCE THE
VIRUS HIT.
IN MANY WAYS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE THE PERFECT
PLACES FOR AN AMERICAN REAWAKENING.
SCIENTISTS CAN TRACK AND TRACE, BEHAVIORAL EXPERTS CAN MAKE THE
PITCH AND PHILOSOPHERS CAN EXPLAIN THE BALANCE BETWEEN
COLLECTIVE GOOD AND THE INDIVIDUAL.
BUT, WE GO TO COLLEGE TO BE SOCIAL, WITH NO DISTANCE.
COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP BY STAYING
APART.
IF THEY DO, THEY MAY LEAD THE WAY NOT JUST FOR THE NEXT
SEMESTER, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND ITS FUTURE.
IN 1795, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL BECAME
THE FIRST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN AMERICA TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO
STUDENTS.
BUT SINCE THIS PAST MARCH, THOSE DOORS HAVE BEEN SHUT.
IN AUGUST, THE SILENCE ON CAMPUS WILL BE LIFTED.
THOUGH THE PANDEMIC PERSISTS, THE UNIVERSITY WAS AMONG THE
FIRST SCHOOLS TO ANNOUNCE A PLAN TO BRING ITS 40,000 STUDENTS,
FACULTY AND STAFF BACK TO CAMPUS FOR IN‐PERSON CLASSES.
KEVIN GUSKIEWICZ IS U. N. C.'S CHANCELLOR.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM STUDENTS ABOUT COMING BACK IN
THE FALL?
>> Kevin Guskiewicz: THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COME BACK, KNOWING THOUGH THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME
CAROLINA.
>> Dickerson: IS IT WORTH THE RISK THEN, TO BRING EVERYBODY
BACK, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME CAROLINA?
>> Guskiewicz: WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING STUDENTS, FACULTY,
STAFF BACK ONTO A CAMPUS WHERE WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT.
THERE CERTAINLY IS SOME RISK, BUT WE BELIEVE WE'RE PUTTING IN
PLACE THE RIGHT MEASURES TO MITIGATE THAT RISK.
>> Dickerson: THOSE MEASURES INCLUDE STARTING THE FALL
SEMESTER EARLY.
IN SEVEN WEEKS, STUDENTS WILL BEGIN THE FAMILIAR RITUAL OF
MOVING INTO DORMS. UDENTS WILL FINAL EXAMS WILL END JUST BEFORE
THANKSGIVING, AND THEN STUDENTS WILL BE SENT HOME THROUGH AT
LEAST THE NEW YEAR.
>> Guskiewicz: WE'RE TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE POTENTIAL
SECOND WAVE OF THE VIRUS, WHICH THE EXPERTS THINK THAT IF WE'RE
GOING TO SEE THAT, IT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN LATE NOVEMBER,
DECEMBER.
>> Dickerson: TO REDUCE DENSITY, LECTURE CLASSES WILL BE
DOWNSIZED.
DISINFECTING IS HAPPENING IN THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES, THE
DORMITORIES AND CLASSROOMS.
TO HELP DESIGN ITS REOPENING, THE SCHOOL TURNED TO DR. MYRON
COHEN, THE DIRECTOR OF U. N. C.'S INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
HOW IMPORTANT ARE MASKS?
>> Dr. Myron Cohen: MASKS, MASKS AND MORE MASKS.
YOU‐‐ YOU CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MASKS.
>> Dickerson: WHAT IS THE MASK RULE?
>> Cohen: WE REQUIRE THAT THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM WILL
WEAR A MASK, THAT THE PROFESSOR WILL BE SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM
THE STUDENTS, AND THE PROFESSOR WILL WEAR A MASK.
SO WE INTEND OUR CLASSROOMS TO BE 100% MASKED.
>> Dickerson: HOW DO YOU TEACH A CLASS WITH A MASK ON?
>> Cohen: WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THAT OUT PRETTY QUICKLY.
BUT, I THINK, I CAN PUT MY MASK ON AND WE CAN CONTINUE THE
INTERVIEW.
AND WE CAN SEE HOW IT GOES.
IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
>> Dickerson: WHAT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE IS PREVENTING
STUDENTS FROM GATHERING IN DORMS.
COLLEGE‐AGE KIDS ARE WIRED TO SOCIALIZE.
THEY MARK THE TIME BY THE BIG CELEBRATIONS, LIKE THIS
ONE AFTER NORTH CAROLINA'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN
BASKETBALL THREE YEARS AGO.
HOW LEAKY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, IS...
>> Cohen: IT'S A GOOD WORD.
>> Dickerson: ...THE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT?
HOW MANY THREATS TO YOUR SYSTEM ARE THERE?
>> Cohen: OH, IT'S‐‐ IT'S COMPLETELY LEAKY.
THE STUDENTS CAN GO ANYWHERE THEY'D LIKE TO GO.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, THE LEAKINESS MATTERS LESS UNDER
TWO CONDITIONS.
WE REDUCE THE DENSITY.
THAT IS, WE DO NOT ALLOW LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE CONGREGATING
AND MASKS.
>> Dickerson: I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE DIFFICULT COHORT THAN
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO TELL, "DON'T CONGREGATE."
ISN'T THE WHOLE REASON THEY'RE BEING BROUGHT BACK HERE, TO
CONGREGATE?
>> Cohen: WELL, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE.
>> Dickerson: BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE ONE KEG PARTY AWAY
FROM A BAD PROBLEM.
>> Cohen: THE ENTIRE CAMPUS WILL BE TRYING TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS
WHERE PEOPLE ARE INCREDIBLY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.
HUMANS ARE SMART, OKAY?
THESE STUDENTS ARE SMART.
>> Dickerson: REEVES MOSELEY, A RISING SENIOR FROM TEXAS, IS
U.N.C.'S STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT.
>> Reeves Moseley: WE HAVE TO GROW UP A LITTLE FASTER THAN WE
WOULD OTHERWISE AND BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS A NEW COMMUNITY
STANDARD THAT WE HAVE TO SET.
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED, BUT WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE SOCIAL
PRESSURE FOR STUDENTS TO WEAR MASKS, TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.
>> Dickerson: THE UNIVERSITY ACKNOWLEDGES THERE WILL BE
CASES.
THE CHALLENGE WILL BE CATCHING THEM BEFORE A LARGER SPREAD
OCCURS.
TWO DORMITORIES WILL BE SET ASIDE TO QUARANTINE STUDENTS.
>> Guskiewicz: WE'LL LOOK FOR CLUSTERS.
IF THERE WAS A CLUSTER OF POSITIVE CASES THAT THAT WOULD
POTENTIALLY CREATE AN OFF RAMP FOR US AND WE COULD PIVOT BACK
TO AN REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
>> Dickerson: MANY SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE STILL
WORKING ON THEIR SPECIFIC PLANS FOR THE FALL.
THAT MUST NOW INCLUDE HOW TO HANDLE ALMOST CERTAIN PROTESTS
AGAINST RACISM.
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH COURSES WILL BE TAUGHT PRIMARILY
ONLINE IN THE FALL.
FOR U. N. C.'S REEVES MOSELEY, REMOTE LEARNING THIS SPRING LED
TO A SENSE OF ISOLATION AND A LOSS OF COMMUNITY.
IF THEY HAD SAID, "YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ONLINE LEARNING
FOR ONE MORE SEMESTER," HOW MANY OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS WOULD
HAVE SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT?"
OR THEIR PARENTS WOULD HAVE SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR
THAT?" >> Moseley: A LOT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PAYING THESE TUITION DOLLARS, AND IF YOU'RE
HAVING AN ONLINE INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE, THAT'S NOWHERE LIKE
THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE YOU'D BE HAVING OTHERWISE.
>> Dickerson: FOR U. N. C.'S CHANCELLOR KEVIN GUSKIEWICZ,
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON TO REOPEN.
AND I JUST WONDER IF IT WOULD'VE BEEN FINANCIALLY INFEASIBLE TO
NOT REOPEN?
>> Guskiewicz: WE WOULD'VE BEEN CHALLENGED FINANCIALLY TO NOT
REOPEN.
WE‐‐ WE KNOW THAT MANY STUDENTS WOULD'VE PERHAPS TAKEN A GAP
YEAR, OR TO DEFER THEIR ENROLLMENT.
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR DECISIONS ARE BASED ON CREATING
THAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS, WHERE WE KNOW THEY CAN
THRIVE AND BUILDING IN ALL OF THESE MEASURES FOR SAFETY.
>> Dickerson: COLLEGE IN THE FALL IS A TIME OF RENEWAL.
A RETURN TO FIELDS OF POSSIBILITY, A PLACE WHERE YOUR
ROUTE TO THE FUTURE IS VISIBLE.
AT WILLIAM & MARY IN VIRGINIA, THE SCHOOL YEAR IS LAUNCHED WITH
A TRADITIONAL RAUCOUS WELCOME OF NEW STUDENTS.
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN THE
UNIVERSITY'S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT, KATHERINE ROWE.
HAVE YOU ALREADY STARTED WRITING THE SPEECH FOR WHEN THEY RETURN?
>> Katherine Rowe: OH, I'M THINKING ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
I MISS THEM SO MUCH.
>> Dickerson: WE SPOKE TO PRESIDENT ROWE IN THE OLDEST
BUILDING ON ANY AMERICAN CAMPUS.
AT THE 327‐YEAR‐OLD SCHOOL THAT EDUCATED THREE U. S. PRESIDENTS,
ROWE AND HER HUSBAND ARE NOW THE ONLY PEOPLE LIVING ON CAMPUS.
SHE WALKS DAILY PAST THE EMPTY HALLS AND DORMS, BURDENED BY
WHAT'S AHEAD.
WHAT CAUSES THE MOST WEIGHT TO THAT BURDEN?
>> Rowe: ONE WEIGHT COMES FROM, SHEERLY FROM UNCERTAINTY.
HUMAN BEINGS LOATHE IT.
WE WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING NOT TO HAVE IT.
AND WE ARE CALLED TO TOLERATE UNCERTAINTY AT A REALLY HIGH
LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
>> Dickerson: AFTER A MARATHON OF ZOOM CALLS, WILLIAM & MARY
ANNOUNCED FRIDAY IT TOO WILL RETURN EARLY TO IN‐PERSON
CLASSES.
BUT STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO FINISH THE SCHOOL
YEAR THROUGH NEXT SUMMER.
>> Rowe: IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT WE'VE SURVIVED ENORMOUS
SHOCKS IN THE PAST AND TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK TO PERSEVERE.
THAT'S INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING.
( BELLS CHIMING ) >> Dickerson: TWICE BEFORE IN
ITS LONG HISTORY, WILLIAM & MARY SHUT DOWN: DURING THE CIVIL WAR,
AND DURING A LATE 19th‐CENTURY FINANCIAL CRISIS.
THIS PANDEMIC AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT MAY PRESENT THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES TO THE SCHOOL IN OVER A CENTURY.
HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU THINK WON'T BE ABLE TO COME HERE
BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVASTATION?
>> Rowe: I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT IS MOST
CONCERNING, AND THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY OUT OF
WORK, SOME OF THEM WILL BE PARENTS OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> Dickerson: SOME PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT A LOST GENERATION.
>> Rowe: WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THIS COHORT OF
STUDENTS DOESN'T LOSE SPEED, DOESN'T LOSE MOMENTUM IN THEIR
COLLEGE EDUCATIONS.
>> Dickerson: WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE STUDENTS LOST THAT SPEED?
>> Rowe: IT'S REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE ACCEPTING THAT AS A
POSSIBLE PATH FORWARD.
WE CAN'T.
SO HOWEVER WE HAVE A YEAR NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE A YEAR.
HOWEVER THEY LEARN, WE WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO LEARN.
>> Dickerson: THREE QUARTERS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTEND PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS, WHICH ARE RELIANT ON STATE FUNDING.
>> John King: WHAT'S COMING IS THAT STATES ARE SEEING HUGE
DROPS IN REVENUE THAT WILL TRANSLATE INTO A BIG HIT TO
PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND IF WE SEE HUGE CUTS TO PUBLIC HIGHER ED, THAT'LL MEAN
LESS FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS.
>> Dickerson: JOHN KING SERVED AS THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION IN
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND IS NOW THE C. E. O. AND PRESIDENT OF
THE EDUCATION TRUST, A NON‐ PROFIT THAT WORKS WITH
UNDERSERVED STUDENTS HE WORRIES WILL BE HURT THE MOST.
BUDGET CUTS COULD CRIPPLE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THOSE IN THE
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM, KNOWN AS C. U. N. Y.
>> King: I THINK A LOT ABOUT C. U. N. Y. PARTLY BECAUSE IT'S
SUCH A POWERFUL ENGINE OF SOCIAL MOBILITY TODAY AND HAS BEEN FOR
GENERATIONS, GENERATIONS OF LOW‐ INCOME FOLKS, GENERATIONS OF
IMIGRANTS WHO THROUGH C. U. N. Y.
HAVE GOTTEN ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN DREAM.
>> Dickerson: THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE NEXT SEMESTER OF
COLLEGE?
THIS IS ABOUT THE NEXT PHASE IN THE ECONOMY?
>> King: ABSOLUTELY.
WE‐‐ AS WE'VE MOVED TOWARDS AN INFORMATION ECONOMY, THE FUTURE
JOBS THAT WILL PROVIDE A GOOD FAMILY‐SUSTAINING WAGE ARE JOBS
THAT REQUIRE COLLEGE DEGREES.
WE KNOW THAT EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE ADDS A MILLION DOLLARS IN
LIFETIME EARNINGS.
>> Dickerson: AND IF THREE QUARTERS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE
GOING TO STATE INSTITUTIONS AND THOSE ARE FEELING PARTICULAR
PRESSURE, THIS ECONOMIC CHALLENGE FOR COLLEGES
EXACERBATES THE EXISTING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN THE
AMERICAN WORKFORCE?
>> King: IF WE MAKE CUTS TO HIGHER EDUCATION NOW, IF WE
UNDERMINE PUBLIC HIGHER ED AS A DRIVER OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
WE WILL HURT THE ECONOMY FIVE, TEN, 15 YEARS OUT.
>> Dickerson: THE INCOMING FRESHMEN THIS FALL, THE HIGH
SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020, WERE DENIED THE PLEASURE OF BREAKING
THE TAPE AT THE END OF A LONG MARATHON.
LAWN SIGNS REPLACED GRADUATION DAY.
THERE WERE A FEW INNOVATIVE CEREMONIES.
CLOVER HIGH IN SOUTH CAROLINA RENTED OUT HOUND'S DRIVE‐IN
THEATER TO HAND OUT DIPLOMAS TO DEPARTING SENIORS, SOME OF WHOM
WILL BE ENTERING AN UNCERTAIN COLLEGIATE LANDSCAPE.
AND THE STRUGGLE EXTENDS TO THOSE ALREADY IN COLLEGE, WHO
ARE LABORING TO PAY TUITION AND ARE WEIGHED DOWN BY DEBT, LIKE
20‐YEAR‐OLD KATHERINE TREJO OF ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
THE DAUGHTER OF A SINGLE MOM FROM BOLIVIA, KATHERINE WAS
SUPPOSED TO GRADUATE FROM GEORGE MASON NEXT YEAR.
SHE IS THE FIRST PERSON IN HER FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE.
WAS IT ALWAYS THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU WOULD GO TO COLLEGE?
>> Katherine Trejo: YES.
MY MOM WANTS, WANTED ME TO BEGIN READING LAW BOOKS WHEN I WAS IN
FOURTH GRADE.
OBVIOUSLY, I...
>> Dickerson: FOURTH GRADE?
>> Trejo: YES.
SHE WANTED, SHE'S BEEN PUSHING ME TO BE A LAWYER SINCE I WAS IN
THE FOURTH GRADE.
>> Dickerson: BUT KATHERINE LOST HER TWO JOBS THIS SPRING THAT
HELPED HER FINANCE HER TUITION AND SUPPORT HER FAMILY.
SHE HAS NO HEALTH INSURANCE, AND HAS $11,000 IN STUDENT DEBT.
SO RIGHT NOW, YOU WON'T BE GOING BACK IN THE FALL?
>> Trejo: AS IT STANDS, NO.
>> Dickerson: SO WITH EVERYTHING YOU'RE FACING, COVID STILL GOING
ON, THE ECONOMY HAS HIT YOUR FAMILY REALLY HARD, THAT DREAM
THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, DO
YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S SLIPPING AWAY?
>> Trejo: YEAH.
I WORRY ABOUT IT EVERY DAY.
JUST, SOMETIMES I GET REALLY OVERWHELMED, AND I DO FEEL LIKE
THE DREAM IS SLIPPING AWAY.
>> Dickerson: WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T GRADUATE FROM
COLLEGE?
>> Trejo: THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.
IT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.
I VALUE EDUCATION A LOT, AND WHETHER IT'LL TAKE ME FIVE YEARS
OR ANOTHER TEN YEARS TO GET IT, BUT IT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION TO
NOT GO BACK.
>> Dickerson: THAT IS THE KIND OF DETERMINATION THAT SPURS
UNIVERSITIES TO REOPEN.
AND WHEN THE COVID‐19 CHALLENGE IS OVER, SCHOOLS WILL RETURN TO
THE PREVIOUS TEST THEY FACED: FINDING A WAY TO MAKE EDUCATION
AVAILABLE TO ENOUGH STUDENTS SO THAT AMERICA CAN STILL BE CALLED
THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.
>> HOW THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
CAROLINA IS PREPARING FOR FALL SPORTS AT 60MINUTESOVERTIME.COM.
SPONSORED BY COROGARD.
>> Pelley: THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, IN THE HANDS OF
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE, CAME ON MEMORIAL DAY.
99 YEARS BEFORE, THAT SAME WEEK, BLACK AMERICANS SUFFERED A
MASSACRE.
IN THE DAYS AFTER WORLD WAR I, A NEIGHBORHOOD IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA,
CALLED GREENWOOD WAS AMONG THE WEALTHIEST BLACK COMMUNITIES.
OIL MADE GREENWOOD RICH, BUT JEALOUSY MADE IT SUFFER.
IN 1921, A WHITE MOB, WITH INCENDIARY RAGE, BURNED
GREENWOOD TO ASH.
EVEN MEMORIES WERE MURDERED WHEN THE DEAD WERE DROPPED INTO
UNMARKED GRAVES.
LAST DECEMBER, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE FOUND TULSA
PREPARING TO EMBRACE A RECKONING, WITH A PLAN TO EXHUME
THE TRUTH AND RAISE THE DEAD.
>> John Franklin: THE COMMUNITY THAT IS GREENWOOD HAS THRIVING
BUSINESSES, PROFESSIONAL OFFICES, DOCTORS, LAWYERS,
DENTISTS.
>> Pelley: JOHN W. FRANKLIN SPEAKS OF GREENWOOD IN THE
PRESENT TENSE.
>> Franklin: GREENWOOD IS THE NEXUS OF THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY.
>> Pelley: PERHAPS BECAUSE HE STUDIED GREENWOOD IN 32 YEARS AS
A HISTORIAN AT THE SMITHSONIAN, OR LIKELY BECAUSE GREENWOOD IS
PERSONAL.
>> Franklin: AND MY GRANDFATHER MOVES HERE FROM RENTIESVILLE IN
FEBRUARY 1921.
AND HE'S THE FIRST PERSON IN THE FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
BUCK COLBERT FRANKLIN.
>> Pelley: BUCK COLBERT FRANKLIN WAS A LAWYER WHO CHASED HIS
DREAM TO A PROMISED LAND.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON NAMED GREENWOOD "“NEGRO WALL STREET."”
BECAUSE THE DISTRICT WAS LINED WITH BLACK‐OWNED SHOPS,
RESTAURANTS, TWO NEWSPAPERS, A 54‐ROOM GRAND HOTEL, A HOSPITAL
AND THE DREAMLAND THEATER WHICH WOULD SOON BOAST AIR
CONDITIONING.
BUT ON THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, 1921, BUCK FRANKLIN AWOKE
TO FEARFUL NEWS.
>> Franklin: HE HEARS THAT THERE'S TO BE POSSIBLY A
LYNCHING.
THERE'S THIS BLACK MAN WHO'S BEEN CAUGHT WITH THIS WHITE
WOMAN IN THE ELEVATOR.
AND THE NEWSPAPERS ARE SAYING, READ ALL ABOUT IT.
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT.
>> Pelley: TULSA'S WHITE NEWSPAPERS TOLD OF A BLACK
TEENAGER WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED A WHITE FEMALE ELEVATOR
OPERATOR.
AT THE JAIL, A LYNCH MOB DEMANDED THE PRISONER.
BLACK VETERANS OF WORLD WAR I ARRIVED TO SHIELD THE DEFENDANT
FOR HIS DAY IN COURT.
A SHOT WAS FIRED.
AND, IN A RUNNING GUN BATTLE, THE MOB CHASED THE BLACK VETS TO
GREENWOOD.
ONE OF THE MOMENTS DURING THE RIOT THAT YOUR GRANDFATHER WROTE
ABOUT WAS THIS.
"ON THEY RUSHED, WHOOPING TO THE TOPS OF THEIR VOICES, FIRING
THEIR GUNS EVERY STEP THEY TOOK."
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO READ THOSE WORDS TODAY?
>> Franklin: HE TOO WAS TRAUMATIZED BY SEEING PEOPLE
BEING SHOT IN FRONT OF HIS EYES.
HE DESCRIBES A WOMAN WHO'S TRYING TO FIND HER CHILD WHO'S
RUN IN FRONT OF HER, AND SHE'S UNAFRAID OF THE BULLETS RAINING
DOWN, BECAUSE HER CONCERN IS TO FIND HER CHILD.
>> Pelley: WHAT BEGAN AS AN ATTEMPTED LYNCHING AT THE JAIL
ERUPTED INTO A MASSACRE.
FROM A HIGH GRAIN ELEVATOR, A MACHINE GUN LAID FIRE ON
GREENWOOD AVENUE.
>> Franklin: WHERE'S THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?
WHERE'S THE POLICE WHEN WE NEED THEM?
WE'RE PART OF A CITY.
THIS IS NOT SOME SMALL TOWN.
THIS IS A CITY OF WEALTH AND ORDER, AND GOVERNANCE.
IT IS NOW BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A MOB.
>> Pelley: THE POLICE JOINED THE MOB.
NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS PRESSED THE ATTACK AGAINST WHAT ONE
GUARD OFFICER CALLED "“THE ENEMY."
QUOTES FROM EYEWITNESSES INCLUD"“ OLD WOMEN AND MEN, CHILDREN
WERE RUNNING AND SCREAMING EVERY WHERE."
A DEPUTY SHERIFF REPORTED A BLACK MAN DRAGGED BEHIND A CAR,"“
HIS HEAD WAS BEING BASHED IN, THE DEPUTY SAID, BOUNCING ON THE
STEEL RAILS AND BRICKS."
BUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT MAY HAVE FRIGHTENED BUCK FRANKLIN EVEN
MORE.
>> Franklin: AND HE HEARS PLANES CIRCLING AND SEES ROOFS OF
BUILDINGS CATCHING FIRE.
AND THESE ARE FROM TURPENTINE BALLS, BURNING TURPENTINE BALLS
DROPPED FROM PLANES.
>> Robert Turner: THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT
AIRPLANES WERE USED TO TERRORIZE AMERICA WAS NOT IN 9/11, WAS NOT
AT PEARL HARBOR.
IT WAS RIGHT HERE IN THE GREENWOOD DISTRICT.
>> Pelley: REVEREND ROBERT TURNER'S VERNON A.M.E. CHURCH
WAS AMONG AT LEAST FIVE CHURCHES BURNED, ALONG WITH 1,200 HOMES.
A PHOTO WAS CRUDELY AND IMPERFECTLY HAND‐LETTERED AT THE
TIME, "“RUNNING THE NEGRO OUT OF TULSA."”
>> Turner: 36‐ODD SQUARE BLOCKS, CITY BLOCKS, WERE DESTROYED.
AND BEFORE THEY DESTROYED IT, THEY LOOTED.
THEY TOOK NICE FURNITURE, MONEY.
>> Pelley: WHEN THE BLACK HOSPITAL BURNED, WHITE HOSPITALS
REFUSED TO TAKE GREENWOOD'S WOUNDED.
THOSE WHO BLED TO DEATH INCLUDED GREENWOOD'S MOST PROMINENT
SURGEON.
ULTIMATELY, ONE HOSPITAL DID MAKE SPACE IN ITS BASEMENT FOR
BLACK CASUALTIES.
THE NUMBER OF DEAD IS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 150 AND 300.
SURVIVORS INCLUDED 10,000 NOW‐ HOMELESS AFRICAN AMERICANS.
6,000 OF THEM WERE HERDED INTO INTERNMENT CAMPS, AND THEN
RELEASED WEEKS LATER.
>> Turner: I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DID IT.
BUT THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY AFTER THE MASSACRE, THEY CAME AND
WORSHIPPED IN OUR BASEMENT.
AND THAT'S THE SAME BASEMENT THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
>> Pelley: THE DEATH OF A BLACK MAN AT THE HANDS OF POLICE IS,
TODAY, SHOUTED INTO THE NATIONAL MEMORY.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
BUT IN 1921, IT REMAINED POSSIBLE TO ERASE A GENOCIDE.
>> Wright: I GREW UP ATTENDING SEGREGATED TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NEVER IN ANY OF THE SCHOOLS WAS ANYTHING EVER SAID ABOUT IT.
>> Pelley: THE CONGREGATION OF VERNON A.M.E. CHURCH IS
TWO GENERATIONS BEYOND 1921, BUT THEY TOO WERE VICTIMIZED.
THIS WAS NOT TAUGHT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
>> Wright: NO.
>> Pelley: YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS IN CLASS?
>> Wright: YOU NEVER HEARD A WORD ABOUT IT.
>> Damario Solomon‐Simmons: WHEN I WENT TO O. U. IN 1998, I WAS
SITTING IN A CLASS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND THE PROFESSOR WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS PLACE WHERE BLACK
PEOPLE HAD BUSINESSES AND HAD MONEY AND HAD DOCTORS AND
LAWYERS.
AND HE SAID IT WAS IN TULSA.
AND I RAISED MY HAND, I SAID, "NO, I'M FROM TULSA.
THAT'S NOT ACCURATE."
AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS MASSACRE RIOT.
I SAID, "MAN, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
I SAID, "I WENT TO SCHOOL IN GREENWOOD.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS EVER."
>> Pelley: HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED, TRIED, FOR WHAT
HAPPENED IN GREENWOOD?
>> Franklin: NO ONE.
>> Pelley: 200 OR 300 PEOPLE MURDERED, AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY
BURNED TO THE GROUND, AND THE POLICE WERE UNABLE TO FIND A
SINGLE PERSON.
>> Franklin: IT'S A REAL TRAGEDY.
ALL THE THOUSANDS OF CLAIMS THAT WERE FILED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS,
NOT A ONE‐‐ NOT A ONE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID THEIR CLAIM.
AND OUR CHURCH WAS INCLUDED.
>> Pelley: NO INSURANCE HONORED FOR BLACK TULSANS, NO ARRESTS
MADE, NO COMPLETE COUNT OF THE DEAD.
THE SALVATION ARMY RECORDED ONLY THAT IT FED 37 GRAVE DIGGERS.
THE NAMELESS WERE BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES WHILE THEIR
FAMILIES WERE LOCKED DOWN IN THE INTERNMENT CAMPS.
I WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY DOUBTS IN THIS ROOM ABOUT WHETHER THERE
ARE MASS GRAVES IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.
NO DOUBTS?
>> MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
>> Pelley: ORAL HISTORIES, PASSED DOWN GENERATIONS, POINTED
TO AT LEAST FOUR SITES OF POSSIBLE MASS GRAVES.
>> Bynum: AS A MAYOR, I VIEW IT AS A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.
>> Pelley: G. T. BYNUM IS TULSA'S REPUBLICAN MAYOR.
IN 2018, HE ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION OF ALL REMAINING
EVIDENCE.
>> Bynum: WHAT YOU HAVE IS A CASE OF LAW AND CIVIL ORDER
BEING OVERRUN BY PEOPLE WHO WERE FILLED WITH HATRED.
WE BELIEVE AT THE END OF THIS ROAD WE'RE WALKING DOWN RIGHT
NOW IS ONE OF THE SITES WHERE WE FOUND AN ANOMALY.
>> Pelley: "“ANOMALIES"” OF DISTURBED EARTH SHOWED UP IN THE
STUDIES OF SCOTT HAMMERSTEDT.
THAT'S NOT A MOWER.
IT'S GROUND‐PENETRATING RADAR.
>> Hammerstedt: AND RIGHT HERE IS THE ANOMALY.
>> Pelley: HE'S A SENIOR RESEARCHER AT THE OKLAHOMA
ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
THE ANOMALIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT ARE THOSE?
>> Hammerstedt: IT'S JUST CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SURROUNDING
SOIL THAT'S UNDISTURBED AND THEN THIS SOIL THAT HAS BEEN
DISTURBED.
>> Pelley: SO WE'RE NOT SEEING, IN THESE IMAGES, HUMAN REMAINS?
>> Hammerstedt: NO, NO.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT LIKE C.S.I.
YOU DON'T SEE INDIVIDUAL SKELETONS.
YOU JUST SEE DISTURBANCES AND CONTRASTS, WHICH IS WHY YOU
CAN'T REALLY SAY NECESSARILY THAT FOR SURE IT'S A COMMON
GRAVE.
BUT IT'S VERY CONSISTENT WITH ONE.
>> Bynum: OF COURSE THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF THINGS IT COULD BE.
THAT'S ALWAYS THE THING I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF.
>> Pelley: AND THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT?
>> Bynum: THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO DIG.
>> Phoebe Stubblefield: BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UNDERNEATH.
>> Pelley: A TEN‐DAY TEST EXCAVATION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN
IN JULY, LED BY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST
PHOEBE STUBBLEFIELD.
SHE'LL INVESTIGATE CAUSE OF DEATH, BUT IT'S COMPLICATED,
BECAUSE OF THE SPANISH FLU PANDEMIC FROM THE SAME PERIOD.
SO, JUST BECAUSE YOU FIND A BURIAL SITE, IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT'S FROM THE MASSACRE.
>> Stubblefield: CORRECT.
AND SO, I'M INTERESTED IN MARKERS, LIKE SIGNS OF VIOLENCE
OR ANY KIND OF BALLISTIC INJURIES OR CHOP INJURIES.
>> Pelley: CAN YOU RETRIEVE D. N. A.?
>> Stubblefield: IF IT'S A GOOD PRESERVATION STATE, THERE'S A
HIGH PROBABILITY.
>> Pelley: WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, IN YOUR OPINION, TO ACTUALLY
IDENTIFY SOME OF THESE PEOPLE?
>> Stubblefield: WE COULD TRY FOR GENEALOGICAL MATCHES.
SO, IF WE HAD PEOPLE NOW WHO SAY, "OH, I'M MISSING A RELATIVE
FROM THAT TIME PERIOD, HERE'S MY D. N. A.," THEN WE CAN MAKE
MATCHES THROUGH SIMILAR MARKERS AND DO THE GENEALOGICAL MATCHES.
>> Pelley: THERE'S A LONG LEGACY FROM 1921.
TULSA IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
>> Bynum: YES.
>> Pelley: THE NORTH PART OF TULSA IS BLACK, THE SOUTH PART
IS WHITE, AND THE TWAIN DON'T MEET VERY MUCH.
>> Bynum: RIGHT, BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF RACIAL DISPARITY THAT
EXISTS IN OUR CITY.
A KID THAT'S GROWING UP IN THE PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN
PART OF OUR CITY IS EXPECTED TO LIVE 11 YEARS LESS THAN A KID
THAT'S GROWING UP IN A WHITER PART OF THE CITY.
AND BY THE WAY, TULSA'S NOT UNIQUE IN THAT REGARD.
YOU SEE DISPARITIES LIKE THAT IN MAJOR CITIES ALL AROUND AMERICA.
>> Pelley: THE TEST EXCAVATION IS EXPECTED TO DISCOVER WHETHER
THERE ARE HUMAN REMAINS.
NEXT STEPS WOULD INCLUDE RECOVERY AND THE QUESTION OF HOW
TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE WAITED NEARLY 100 YEARS FOR JUSTICE.
>> Franklin: HOW DO YOU COMMEMORATE AN EVENT THAT GIVES
DIGNITY AND HONOR TO THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN LOST?
>> Pelley: WE HAVE TAKEN IN RECENT DECADES IN OUR MEMORIALS
TO ETCH THE NAMES OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WAS LOST.
THE 9/11 MEMORIAL, THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE HERE.
WE DON'T KNOW THE NAMES.
>> Franklin: WE DON'T KNOW THE NAMES.
AND‐‐ YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME KIND OF‐‐ YOU KNOW‐‐ WE
HAVE THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER.
SO, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF LOST SOULS,
LOST IN ANONYMITY.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE PLANNED.
>> O'Donnell: THIS IS A STORY
ABOUT A SMALL FEDERAL AGENCY MOST AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF, CALLED THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD.
IT'S MEANT TO GIVE TWO MILLION FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE WORKERS,
INCLUDING WHISTLEBLOWERS, A PLACE TO APPEAL, SHOULD THEY BE
DISCIPLINED, DEMOTED OR FIRED.
IT'S NOT THAT THE BOARD IS WORKING POORLY, BUT THAT THE
BOARD IS NOT WORKING AT ALL.
SINCE 2017, IT HAS LACKED ENOUGH MEMBERS TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON ANY
APPEALS, AND FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, THE BOARD HAS HAD NO ONE
ON IT, LEAVING THREE EMPTY CHAIRS AND A BACKLOG OF CASES
THAT'S NOW IN THE THOUSANDS.
HALF A MILE NORTH OF THE WHITE HOUSE, STANDS THE UNMARKED
HEADQUARTERS OF THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, OR
M.S.P.B.
WE GOT PERMISSION TO VISIT IN EARLY FEBRUARY, BEFORE COVID‐19
MADE WORKING FROM HOME THE NORM.
ABOUT 100 STAFFERS WERE THERE, ANALYZING PETITIONS FROM BOTH
FEDERAL WORKERS AND AGENCIES ABOUT EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES.
CASES THAT WOULD USUALLY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE BOARD FOR A
FINAL RULING WERE INSTEAD GOING INTO STORAGE, BECAUSE THE
CHAIRMAN'S SPACIOUS OFFICE SUITE, AS WELL AS THE VICE‐
CHAIRMAN'S, AND ANOTHER FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL MEMBER OF THE
BOARD, WERE ALL EMPTY.
AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> TODAY WE'RE ALSO CONSIDERING THREE CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT
TO THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD.
>> O'Donnell: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOMINATED PEOPLE TO FILL ALL
THREE OPEN POSITIONS, BUT THE NOMINATIONS HAVE LANGUISHED IN
THE SENATE, AWAITING CONFIRMATION.
>> Jim Eisenmann: WITHOUT A BOARD, WITHOUT AT LEAST TWO
BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE LOST.
>> O'Donnell: FROM 2010 TO 2018, JIM EISENMANN WORKED FOR THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, AS GENERAL COUNSEL AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.
THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD‐‐ WHY SHOULD AMERICANS
KNOW OR CARE WHAT THAT IS?
>> Eisenmann: THIS AGENCY IS THERE TO HELP AND PROTECT
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FROM BOTH BAD SUPERVISORS AND POOR PERFORMERS,
AND ALL YOU NEED IS ONE BAD EMPLOYEE, ONE BAD SUPERVISOR,
FOR THINGS TO GO AMUCK IN ANY FEDERAL AGENCY.
AND IF YOU'RE GETTING YOUR BENEFITS, YOUR SERVICES,
WHATEVER THEY ARE, SAFE DRUGS AND MEDICINE, YOU'RE GOING TO
WANT THIS AGENCY TO BE THERE TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE THE FEDERAL
MERIT SYSTEMS.
>> O'Donnell: WHAT ARE THESE MERIT SYSTEMS' PRINCIPLES?
>> Eisenmann: THAT PEOPLE WILL BE HIRED BASED ON MERIT, THAT
THEY WILL NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, THAT DECISIONS WILL BE
BASED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE RATHER THAN SOMEONE'S PERSONAL
FEELING ABOUT THEM.
>> O'Donnell: AND HAS THE BOARD EVER HAD SO MANY VACANCIES FOR
SO LONG?
>> Eisenmann: NEVER.
>> O'Donnell: IN A DIVIDED CAPITAL, THE BOARD STANDS APART
IN THAT, BY LAW, IT IS BIPARTISAN.
ONLY TWO OF THREE MEMBERS CAN BE FROM THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED 42 YEARS AGO, BUT ITS ROOTS GO BACK TO THE
19th CENTURY AND REPUBLICAN TEDDY ROOSEVELT, WHO, BEFORE
BECOMING PRESIDENT, CHAMPIONED THE CREATION OF THE U. S. CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION, THE PRECURSOR TO TODAY'S BOARD.
>> Debra Roth: THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, MADE A
DECISION 140 YEARS AGO THAT THEY WANT THEIR GOVERNMENT RUN BY
QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
AND THEY WANT IT RUN EFFICIENTLY.
>> O'Donnell: FOR 30 YEARS, ATTORNEY DEBRA ROTH HAS
REPRESENTED BOTH FEDERAL AGENCIES AND EMPLOYEES IN FRONT
OF THE BOARD.
SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THE BREAKDOWN AT M. S. P. B. MEANS FOR
THE AVERAGE CITIZEN.
>> Roth: M. S. P. B. IS THE ONE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S
PLAYING BY THE RULES ON THE INSIDE.
>> O'Donnell: SO IN EFFECT, WITH NO BOARD, IS THERE MORE WASTE,
FRAUD, AND ABUSE THAT'S GOING ON IN GOVERNMENT?
>> Roth: PROBABLY.
IT IS THE INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE REST OF
GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NOT LIKE EVERY CASE ENDS UP AT M. S. P. B.
SO FOR STATISTICS, YOU CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE OVER TWO MILLION
PEOPLE ARE PART OF THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE IN THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH.
ABOUT EVERY YEAR, ABOUT 80,000 OF THEM QUIT.
ANOTHER 12,000 ARE GETTING FIRED FOR CAUSE.
AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO END
UP, POSSIBLY, A PORTION OF THEM, FILING AN APPEAL AT M. S. P. B.
>> O'Donnell: BEFORE A CASE GETS TO THE BOARD, IT GOES TO AN
M.S.P.B. ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, WHO ISSUES AN INITIAL DECISION.
ONLY ABOUT 800 DECISIONS A YEAR THEN GET APPEALED TO THE BOARD.
THESE DAYS, WITH NO ONE TO RULE ON THEM, THE CARDBOARD BOXES
HOLDING SOME OF THE NEARLY 2,900 CASES IN THE BACKLOG ARE STACKED
IN MULTIPLE OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY.
>> Eisenmann: AND EACH OF THOSE CASES IS AN INDIVIDUAL WAITING
FOR JUSTICE, AND AN AGENCY WAITING FOR CERTAINTY AS TO
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT EMPLOYEE.
IS THAT EMPLOYEE GOING BACK TO WORK OR ARE THEY NOT?
>> O'Donnell: TRADITIONALLY, THE BOARD GETS INVOLVED IN OTHER
CASES AT THE REQUEST OF THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL, A
FEDERAL WATCHDOG THAT'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT WHISTLEBLOWERS, LIKE
RICK BRIGHT.
BRIGHT WAS THE FIRST FEDERAL OFFICIAL TO PUBLICLY PROCLAIM
THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC WAS
DISORGANIZED, AND SO SLOW THAT IT COST LIVES.
>> Rick Bright: IF WE FAIL TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE NOW BASED
ON SCIENCE, I FEAR THE PANDEMIC WILL GET WORSE AND BE PROLONGED.
>> O'Donnell: BEFORE HE TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS,
BRIGHT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE SPECIAL COUNSEL ALLEGING HIS
BOSSES AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEMOTED HIM FOR
SOUNDING THE ALARM.
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE"“ FOUND A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD
OF WRONGDOING"” AND ASKED H. H. S.
SECRETARY ALEX AZAR TO GIVE HIM HIS OLD JOB BACK WHILE IT
INVESTIGATED.
IN APRIL, BRIGHT SAT DOWN WITH "60 MINUTES."
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD
COULD REINSTATE YOU AT YOUR JOB, PENDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO
YOUR COMPLAINT.
HAD YOU EVER HEARD OF THE M. S. P. B. BEFORE YOUR COMPLAINT?
>> Rick Bright: NO.
HONESTLY, I HADN'T.
I‐‐ I'VE LEARNED, THOUGH, SINCE MY COMPLAINT, THAT‐‐ THAT
M.S.P.B., THAT MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, IS FULL OF
EMPTY CHAIRS.
>> O'Donnell: RICK BRIGHT'S CASE MAY BE THE MOST HIGH‐PROFILE
IMPACTED BY THE THREE EMPTY CHAIRS, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY
ONE TO INVOLVE A WHISTLEBLOWER.
AFTER FILING A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST, WE
LEARNED ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE CASES IN THE BACKLOG INCLUDE
WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS.
THE BACKLOG STRETCHES ACROSS 55 FEDERAL AGENCIES, BUT THE
MOST WHISTLEBLOWER CASES FROM ONE AGENCY, 197, ARE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OR V. A.
ONE OF THEM BELONGS TO CHRIS MARCUS.
>> Chris Marcus: I PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO THE V. A. BECAUSE I
KNEW WE COULD FIX IT.
>> O'Donnell: AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY IN
1992, MARCUS SERVED FOR 20 YEARS.
IN 2008, HE HELPED RUN THE U. S.
MILITARY'S BUSIEST COMBAT TRAUMA HOSPITAL DURING THE SURGE IN THE
IRAQ WAR.
AFTER RETIRING AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL, MARCUS WAS HIRED BY THE
V.A. AND EVENTUALLY PUT IN CHARGE OF THREE OUTPATIENT
CLINICS SERVING APPROXIMATELY 80,000 VETERANS IN TENNESSEE.
HE SAYS MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF VIOLATED BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
GUIDELINES AND MISHANDLED PATIENTS' MEDICAL FILES, BUT THE
WORST PROBLEM HE DESCRIBED WAS DOCTORS WHO SHOWED UP LATE AND
SOMETIMES DISAPPEARED, LEAVING ELDERLY VETERANS WAITING FOR
HOURS.
>> Marcus: IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR STAFF TO SHOW UP FOR WORK ON
TIME, THEN THAT'S A PROBLEM.
THAT'S ONE OF THE ACCUSATIONS I HAD AGAINST ME, WAS THAT I WOULD
WALK AROUND THE HALLS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE COMING INTO WORK
LATE.
LIKE, I'M GUILTY.
YES, I DID.
>> O'Donnell: WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> Marcus: A COWORKER AND I, WE WOULD CONSTANTLY ELEVATING THAT
TO THE‐‐ TO THE APPROPRIATE LEADERSHIP, SAYING, "WE HAVE GOT
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROVIDERS."
AND‐‐ AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.
>> O'Donnell: WHEN THE V. A.
FIRED YOU, WHAT WAS THEIR JUSTIFICATION?
>> Marcus: THAT I CREATED A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT.
>> O'Donnell: THE UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WERE ACCUSED
OF BY THE V. A., IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO IT?
>> Marcus: NO.
( SIGHS ) AND, THEY GAVE ME A STACK OF
PAPERWORK ABOUT THIS THICK, THAT WAS THE EVIDENCE FILE USED
AGAINST ME.
AND I'M JUST THINKING, "OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT DID I DO?"
I MEAN, I REALLY‐‐ RACKING MY BRAIN, "WHAT ON EARTH DID I DO?"
>> O'Donnell: AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE RULED THIS PAST DECEMBER
THAT THE ONLY THING CHRIS MARCUS DID WAS HIS JOB.
THE JUDGE WROTE IN HIS DECISION, THE V. A.'S ALLEGATION MARCUS HAD
BEEN UNPROFESSIONAL "“LACKED ANY FACTUAL BASIS,"” AND THAT A V. A.
EXECUTIVE, "“HAD A MOTIVE TO RETALIATE AGAINST"” HIM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE JUDGE ADDED MARCUS WAS "“AN EMPLOYEE
THAT THE V. A. SHOULD BE SEEKING TO RETAIN AND PROMOTE INSTEAD OF
REMOVING."” >> Marcus: HE'S ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
I‐‐ I‐‐ I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO FIND ANYTHING IN THAT EVIDENCE
PACKAGE THAT'S ACTUALLY EVIDENCE OF ANY CONDUCT UNBECOMING OR
UNPROFESSIONALISM.
IT'S JUST NOT THERE.
>> O'Donnell: THE JUDGE ORDERED THE V. A. TO REINSTATE LIEUTENANT
COLONEL MARCUS AND GIVE HIM BACK PAY AND INTEREST, WHICH AT THE
TIME WAS UPWARDS OF $50,000.
THE V. A. REFUSED, AND APPEALED TO THE BOARD.
BUT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS ON IT, THE CASE, AND MARCUS' LIFE,
ENTERED A STATE OF LIMBO.
>> Marcus: EVEN IF YOU WIN, YOU LOSE.
>> O'Donnell: DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A WHISTLEBLOWER?
>> Marcus: I'D NEVER THOUGHT OF ME AS BEING A WHISTLEBLOWER.
I GUESS I AM, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IDENTIFYING THESE THINGS FOR
YEARS AND MY LEADERSHIP RETALIATED AGAINST ME FOR THAT.
>> O'Donnell: IN EARLY APRIL, FIVE MONTHS AFTER CHRIS MARCUS'
CASE JOINED THE BACKLOG, WE ASKED THE V. A. ABOUT HIM.
THE V. A. DECLINED TO COMMENT SPECIFICALLY, BUT TWO WEEKS
LATER, OFFERED HIM A SETTLEMENT THAT INCLUDED NEARLY A YEAR'S
WORTH OF BACK PAY, PLUS INTEREST, DAMAGES, LEGAL FEES,
AND A NEW JOB THAT ALLOWS HIM TO WORK FROM HOME, THAT HE STARTED
LAST MONTH.
ATTORNEY DEBRA ROTH DOES NOT REPRESENT CHRIS MARCUS, BUT SAYS
JUSTICE FOR OTHERS CAUGHT IN THE BACKLOG WILL BE HARDER TO COME
BY.
AN APPEALS PROCESS THAT USED TO TAKE MONTHS WILL NOW TAKE YEARS.
SHE SAYS TYPICALLY, ABOUT 15% OF THOSE WHO APPEAL TO THE BOARD
END UP GETTING THEIR JOBS BACK.
>> Roth: AND THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET THEIR JOB BACK, THE CLOCK
IS RUNNING, BECAUSE THE BOARD WILL DETERMINE THAT THEY WERE
FIRED IMPROPERLY, ILLEGALLY, AND THE‐‐ THE REMEDY WILL BE THAT
THEY WILL GET A RETROACTIVE HIRING AND THEIR BACK PAY.
>> O'Donnell: THERE ARE GOVERNMENT WORKERS RIGHT NOW
SITTING AT HOME, NOT WORKING, WHO WILL EVENTUALLY GET BACK
PAY?
>> Roth: UH‐HUH.
A LOT OF IT.
AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE.
>> Eisenmann: FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT GOES
BY WITHOUT A DECISION, THAT'S JUST MORE AND MORE BACK PAY FOR
THE INDIVIDUAL, IF THEY'RE BEING REINSTATED.
THAT'S MORE ATTORNEY FEES.
THAT'S MORE INTEREST.
THAT'S‐‐ JUST MORE MONEY, GENERALLY.
>> O'Donnell: FORMER M. S. P. B.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM EISENMANN TOLD US THE PROSPECTIVE NEW
BOARD MEMBERS FACE A DAUNTING TASK, DIGGING OUT FROM THE
NEARLY 2,900 CASES PILED UP IN THEIR OFFICE.
>> Eisenmann: IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE THREE TO FOUR YEARS JUST
FOR THOSE CASES TO BE DECIDED BY ANY BOARD.
IF YOU HAD BOARD MEMBERS START TODAY.
>> O'Donnell: THAT'S JUSTICE DELAYED.
>> Eisenmann: AND DENIED.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> O'Donnell: WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO THE REASON WE EVER HEARD
ABOUT THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD IN THE FIRST
PLACE‐‐ NOT A SINGLE BOARD MEMBER HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE
SENATE IN OVER EIGHT YEARS, SINCE APRIL 2012.
"60 MINUTES" HAS LEARNED ONLY ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S NOMINEES
FACES SERIOUS OPPOSITION FROM SENATORS IN BOTH PARTIES.
BUT IF TWO OF THE OTHER NOMINEES WERE CONFIRMED, THE BOARD COULD
QUICKLY GET BACK TO WORK.
WE WANTED TO ASK THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE SENATE,
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL, WHY THAT HASN'T
HAPPENED YET.
AFTER HIS OFFICE IGNORED SEVERAL OF OUR INQUIRIES, WE WENT TO THE
CAPITOL TO ASK HIM DIRECTLY.
THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR FEDERAL WORKERS, ESPECIALLY
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
SO WE WANTED TO KNOW, WHY HAS THE SENATE NOT CONFIRMED ANY OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S THREE NOMINEES TO THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION
BOARD?
>> Mitch McConnell: WELL IF THEY'RE OUT ON THE CALENDAR,
YOU'D HAVE TO ASK SENATOR SCHUMER.
>> O'Donnell: WE CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF SENATE MINORITY LEADER
CHUCK SCHUMER, WHOSE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, "“SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER McCONNELL HAS FULL CONTROL OVER WHICH NOMINEES ARE
VOTED ON AND WHICH ONES AREN'T."” HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?
HOW DOES SUCH AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT AGENCY REMAIN SHUT
DOWN FOR SO LONG?
>> Eisenmann: NEGLIGENCE, IF NOT AN INTENTIONAL FAILURE TO DO A
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.
>> Dickerson: TONIGHT MARKS THE OPENING OF A NEW ERA IN STORY
TELLING FOR "60 MINUTES."
WE ARE LAUNCHING AN INNOVATIVE WAY FOR OUR ONE‐OF‐A‐KIND
REPORTING TO REACH A NEW AND EXPANDED AUDIENCE, ON THE MOBILE
APP QUIBI.
WE'VE NAMED IT "“60 IN 6,"” AND EACH WEEK, "“60 IN 6"” WILL REPORT
AN ORIGINAL STORY, IN A SHORTER, APPROXIMATELY SIX‐MINUTE FORM,
PRODUCED SPECIFICALLY FOR VIEWERS WATCHING ON MOBILE
DEVICES.
WE'VE RECRUITED A DEDICATED STAFF OF CORRESPONDENTS,
PRODUCERS AND EDITORS FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CBS NEWS WHO
ARE WORKING TO GUARANTEE TRUE "60 MINUTES" REPORTING AND HIGH
STANDARDS TO THE STORIES IN OUR NEW, MOBILE HOME.
THIS WEEK, WE KICK OFF WITH PULITZER PRIZE‐WINNING
CORRESPONDENT WESLEY LOWERY REPORTING FROM MINNEAPOLIS, WITH
A VIEW FROM THAT CITY YOU HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, INCLUDING
AN INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER, PHILONISE.
>> Wesley Lowery: DO YOU SEE YOUR BROTHER AND HIS STORY AS
PART OF A BIGGER, BROADER MOVEMENT?
>> Philonise Floyd: YES, SIR.
PEOPLE WHO KNEW MY BROTHER, THEY ALWAYS SAY THE SAME THING.
FLOYD, HE DIED FOR A REASON.
I THINK THIS IS THE BIGGEST CIVIL RIGHT MOVEMENT EVER.
PEOPLE TIRED, MAN.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE ON THIS EARTH AND HAVE PEACE.
THAT'S ALL I WANT IS PEACE.
>> Dickerson: I'M JOHN DICKERSON.
"60 MINUTES PRESENTS" IS NEXT, AND WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH
ANOTHER EDITION OF "60 MINUTES."
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH
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