Jack King and Patrick Leahy

Jack (J) and Patrick (P) introduce themselves and read each other’s bios.

P shares his life story. He says he was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and got his degree in architecture. P shares that he tried to run for city council last year and lost by a couple hundred votes but says it’s probably for the best. P adds that he enjoys sailing and racing boats on the weekend.

J shares his life story. He grew up in Panama City, Florida and got a degree in business administration and accounting. He says he’s lived in Tennessee, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now Bakersfield, California. J says he grew up in a Democratic household. He shares that he's been married more than once but has been with his current wife for thirty-five years.

P talks about his wife as one of the kindest people in his life. P says his wife is thoughtful and a good listener.

J also talks about his wife as one of the kindest people in his life. J says his wife introduced him to classical music.

P talks about a Christian church his daughter introduced him to where her father-in-law was a pastor. P says he was a part of many groups in the church and read the Bible in its entirety. He says when it comes to social issues he likes to think about what helps the common good the most.

J thinks back to grammar school and says his school had students from every strata. He says it was the first time he realized that there were people with less resources and opportunities than him and also people with more resources and opportunities than him. J says Panama City in the fifties and sixties was a very segregated city and that always bothered him. J says he grew up in the South but later moving to San Fransisco and then to Chicago gave him an idea of the prejudice that shows up everywhere.

J and P share why they wanted to participate in ht interview.

P says more about Dr. Vargas at the University of Nebraska medical center and how he saved his father’s life.

P talks sailing and reading.

J says more about his experience living in Panama City. He explains how there used to be miles of untouched beachfront but now the beachfront is crowded with resorts.

J says of all the places he’s lived, he really enjoyed living in Chicago in the 1970s. J talks about living in San Francisco in the late 60s. He says it was hard to beat.

J and P talk about their favorite music.

J says if he could go back and change anything in this world, he would change how congressional and senatorial campaigns are financed.

J describes the political makeup of California and the different regions in the state.

P and J discuss the covid protocols where they live. J says healthcare is also an important issue for him.

J asks P when was the last time he wrote a personal letter. P says it’s been a long time. J says it’s been a year since he wrote his last handwritten letter.