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Article IndexNJNR: Is there anything in your new book that you didn't cover and later wished that you did?
JV: The only thing I wish I also covered was the murder of John Lennon. I mean he was under heavy surveillance by the CIA – couldn't that have saved his life?
NJNR: I guess, unless they were in on it.
JV: Exactly (laughing).
NJNR: It must be hard to be protected if they are in on it (laughing).
JV: Well you said that not me (both laughing).
NJNR: Yeah, well, just speculation.
JV: Sure, but its a very educated speculation when you look at the facts.
NJNR: I read somewhere that you were a gang member earlier in life as part of the Mongols?
JV: No, I was not!
NJNR: Was that a rumor?
JV: No, it's true but we are not a gang ... we are a motorcycle club. It says MC on my colors.
NJNR: I apologize Governor, that's how I read it somewhere. I guess you can't believe everything you read.
JV: That was way back after I just got out of the Navy and I was rebelling after doing two tours in Southeast Asia. I was riding Harleys and became interested. I can honestly say that I am a full patch member of the Mongols and I don't hide it. I ran into a Mongol in L.A. and told him I was riding again but haven't paid my dues in a long time. And when I ride I wear my colors, does the club have any problem with that? He looked at me and said you're a Mongol - you wear your colors anywhere you want. Then I asked him, how would it be if I came back out here and came to a Mongol party. He said you would be treated like a god! While I was the Governor I received a letter from them that said in our wildest dreams we never thought that a Mongol could become a governor. You know how the Mongols started don't ya? The Hells Angels wouldn't let the Mexicans in so they started their own club. I could ride through East L.A. and never be bothered.
NJNR: So then after that you became a pro wrestler? Why did you decide to do that?
JV: I couldn't sing or dance (laughing). I enjoyed theater in college and sports, too. So this allowed me to have both together.
NJNR: Would you ever consider putting any of your feather boas up for a charity auction?
JV: I already auctioned all of them off over the years. I don't have any left. They didn't cost much and I bought most of them in N.Y. I mean, what am I gonna do wear one to church? (laughing)
NJNR: So you met the Dali Lama and asked him if he had ever seen the movie "Caddieshack." Why?
JV: Yeah, what was I going to do, ask him the meaning of life? I mean how many times do you think he's been asked that? (laughing) I wanted to ask him something original and he's a great guy with a great sense of humor and I found that out after talking to him for 45 minutes. It actually made Newsweek magazine!" (Laughing)
NJNR: Do you have any advice for a 60-year-old former pro wrestler that has decided to get back in the ring? I think you know who I mean (laughing).
JV: Um ... I think it's insane ... ah, advice? I have no advice ... when I retired I'm probably the only one who actually did when he said he would and never went back again. To me you have to look at it in reality, it's a young man's game. Father Time catches up to every athlete – Micheal Jordan, Muhammed Ali – and when your time is up ... move on, move on, it's time. And for a guy to crawl back in the ring at that age I think it's really pretty pathetic.
NJNR: I guess my last question would be ... with all the things you have done in your lifetime, what would you want your legacy to be? What would you want on your tombstone?
JV: If I tell you, you're going to laugh. I want my tombstone to read: Here lies Jesse Ventura. He never owned a cell phone (laughing). It's now my life's mission to never own one.
