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AMERICAN MORNING
Inauguration Day; White House Dynasties; The Loyal Opposition
Aired January 20, 2005 - 9:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Let's begin, once again. Good morning and welcome from Washington, D.C. Of course we are amid our special coverage of the inauguration this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And it is a beautiful winter morning here in the nation's capital, but chilly. But we expect that in January.
Here's what will happen today...
President Bush raising his hand, taking the oath of office at noon Eastern Time, spelled out by the Constitution. Chief Justice William Rehnquist will swear in the president at that point.
O'BRIEN: After the ceremony, the president following the traditional parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. At least 100,000 people are expected to watch. That is, we're told, a conservative estimate.
Visitors to the capital attending events across the city today. You can be sure that all the monuments and the historic buildings will be very, very crowded. Very secure as well. Obviously security's been beefed up.
CNN spread out to bring you the special coverage this morning. Judy Woodruff, we just heard from her a moment ago. Anderson Cooper, Bob Franken, Suzanne Malveaux, Kelly Wallace, as well, all with us this morning.
HEMMER: Also, guests this hour include the minority leader in the Senate, Harry Reid. You heard Judy Woodruff mention this bipartisan meeting at the White House later. We'll talk to him about that.
Also, our political analyst, Jeff Greenfield, stops by in a few moments as well. And David Frum, a former speechwriter, gives us a sense about what we can expect about the speech that goes off. Again, about noon Eastern Time.
O'BRIEN: And as we...
HEMMER: Three hours...
O'BRIEN: Yes. The countdown continues, as we like to say, as we just saw just moments ago the first lady and the president arriving at St. John's Episcopal Church, where the service is just under way. They pulled up. A massive car bringing them in. Even though it is, as Bill pointed out, it's a very close stone's throw away from the White House, but this is the beginning of a day that is absolutely steeped in tradition.
Today, the audience this morning, not only first lady and the president, but, of course, the extended family members, the Bush family members, and close friends as well, will be attending this service. Some people have called the Bushes a political dynasty. It's a title that the family actually does not particularly embrace or like. Let's take a look at their history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, George Herbert Walker Bush, do solemnly swear...
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, George Walker Bush, do solemnly swear...
O'BRIEN (voice-over): By the end of the day, the Bush family will have achieved something no other political family has ever done.
WAYNE SLATER, DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Bush family is the only family to have two presidents, two governors of the major states, to have a U.S. senator, and to have a son, George W., who is in his second term.
O'BRIEN: That hasn't been accomplished by the Kennedys, the Roosevelts, or even the Adamses, who had a one-term father and a one- term son in the White House. But a dynasty?
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Do you ever think of your family in the terms of dynasty?
BARBARA BUSH, FMR. FIRST LADY: No, I do not. We are far from perfect. And no.
SLATER: The Bushes hate the word "dynasty." They think that it suggests a form of entitlement.
O'BRIEN: Entitled or not, George W.'s pedigree certainly paved his political path.
BARBARA KELLERMAN, JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT: The father was something of a genteel northeastern internationalist. This is much more the cowboy, much more driven, it would seem. And possibly determined to avenge the political failure. That is, the defeat of his father at the polls.
O'BRIEN: Just this week, the president was asked whether his re- election was some sort of vindication for him or his family.
G. W. BUSH: I really don't view this in personal terms, John. I view it as a celebratory moment for America. O'BRIEN: He may be focused on this inauguration, but some are already looking ahead to the next, assuming another Bush may already be considering a bid for the White House.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I'm not running for president in 2008.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Might you change your mind between now...
J. BUSH: No. God.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why not?
J. BUSH: Why am I not believable on this subject? It's just driving me nuts.
O'BRIEN: Even if we take Jeb at his word, he's not the last of the Bushes.
KELLERMAN: Jeb has a son, George P. Bush, who is very good looking and very personable. And most observers agree that he is slowly starting to pave the way for his own entry into politics.
O'BRIEN: George Prescott Bush is only 28, just married, and has recently begun working as a lawyer. But if history and pedigree mean anything, we may someday see him in a new role. Just give him a few years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: So how is the loyal opposition holding up as the president signs on for another term with the GOP firmly in the driver's seat? Democrat Harry Reid is the Senate minority leader joining us this morning.
Nice to see you, sir. Thanks for coming out to talk to us.
SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: Thank you very much.
O'BRIEN: What would you like to hear the president say this morning in his inauguration speech?
REID: Well, I thought about that a little bit. I think what I'd like the president to say is what he said to me the day after the election.
He called me, I was in Las Vegas. And he recognized that I was going to be the new leader. And we had a very pleasant conversation. And he said that he wanted to work with us to accomplish things for the country.
And I think that's what I want him to say today to the American people. If he said today to the American people in the same tone he talked to me the day after the election, I think the American people would feel real -- very reassured. O'BRIEN: He's got a very aggressive agenda for his second term, which includes Social Security reform, tax reform. To what degree do you think that those issues, as huge as they are, are going to be a slam dunk in a Republican-controlled Congress?
REID: Well, I think it's important that the president feel that he has the confidence in the American people to do some things that he thinks important. But he's going to have to work with us.
And what gets in the way of an American dictator -- and I know the president doesn't want to be that -- is that funny little thing we call the Constitution. And the Senate is set up so that the minority has tremendous power. We want to work with the president. I told him that. And I'm confident that we can work together on lots of different issues.
O'BRIEN: Earlier we heard Trent Lott say that when someone extends their hand -- I think he's talking about the president and the Republicans extending their hands -- there's got to be someone on the other side who accepts the hand that's been extended. The president has been hinting at what you hinted at as well, a new tone. Do you think that there's going to be a new tone? And do you think that there's going to be a willingness to accept on face value a new tone from the president?
REID: Well, I think we were all excited four years ago when the president said he would be a uniter, not a divider. It didn't work out that way. This time he doesn't have to run for re-election. And I hope he follows through on that theme, a uniter, not a divider.
This city needs some unification. We've been divided far too long.
O'BRIEN: There's a new poll out, 49 percent say that they think that the president will be a uniter. Forty-nine percent also say that they think he's going to be a divider. So I guess we'll have to just wait and see on that one.
A word this morning about what some Senate Democrats may be doing, which is to delay the confirmation of Condi Rice. And everyone -- there's not one person I think who would say she's not eventually going to be confirmed. Doesn't that kind of work against the whole idea of someone extending the hand and someone accepting the hand?
REID: Well, not really. The Republicans have a lot -- a lot of things they want to do. There are parties all over.
We had a number of senators that wanted to speak on the confirmation of the secretary of state. That's totally appropriate. We're ready to move forward on that today, but not unanimously, and not without any debate.
So we'll -- we'll do it. We'll probably finish it next Tuesday or Wednesday. We're -- this is not a stall.
O'BRIEN: It isn't a stall? I mean, it's being, by some, positioned as a delay tactic.
REID: Well, I think that's a foolishness (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 85 or 90 votes of the Senate votes next week. I don't think that's a delay.
We have a secretary of state, Colin Powell. He'll have to serve for four or five more days. I don't think that's much of a delay.
O'BRIEN: What do you think should be the top thing on the president's agenda? Is it -- is it Iraq, is it Social Security, is it tax reform?
REID: There's no one thing. We have a lot of problems in the country today. I think it's important to note that for first time in the history of the country, that Medicaid costs (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Medicaid is a serious (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as well.
We have a problem with public education, a serious problem. Health care, 45 million people with no health insurance. We have lots of things we need to deal with, and, of course, the situation in Iraq. But there isn't any one thing.
O'BRIEN: Senator Harry Reid, nice to have you talking with us this morning. We certainly appreciate it.
I know we're having audio difficulties because the wind is kind of blowing through, and the band is playing behind us. And then there are people occasionally who get on the PA system behind us. But, of course, the building of the stage is a work in progress. The building for the noon hour.
REID: That's holding up until I get out of here.
O'BRIEN: You know what? I'd like it to hold up until I get out of here as well. Thank you very much, Senator. Nice to see you, as always -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad.
In 1909, William Howard Taft, they had to cancel the parade and inauguration because a blizzard rolled through this town. In 1985, it was two below. That's the lowest recorded temperature for the inauguration ceremonies.
Downright balmy compared to those two dates in our nation's history. Here's Chad Myers watching the rest of the weather forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Back to Heidi Collins now, looking at the other headlines back in New York City.
Heidi, good morning there.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you once again, Bill.
"Now in the News" this morning, secretary of state nominee Condoleezza Rice is expected to be confirmed. It's just not clear when. Republicans had hoped to confirm Rice this afternoon after President Bush's inauguration ceremony, but some Democrats are expected to try to prolong the debate until next week. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Rice's nomination yesterday in a 16-2 vote.
New details this morning about plans to disrupt the Iraqi elections. A top Iraqi police official says intelligence sources estimate 250 suicide attackers are preparing to strike ahead of the January 30 vote. The announcement comes one day after a wave of suicide bombings killed at least 25 people. The official telling CNN the information came to light during recent interrogations of detained insurgents.
In Chicago, a search resuming this morning for a man missing after a barge exploded. Authorities say the man was apparently working on the vessel when it burst into flames in a canal on the city's southwest side. The barge was carrying petroleum byproduct.
And a not so pleasant sight in some California beaches. Hundreds of giant squid are watching ashore in Orange County. Officials are warning not to touch the creatures because they might contain bacteria. So for all those folks rushing out there and just trying to touch them, they say look out.
Back now to you.
O'BRIEN: Wow.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi.
O'BRIEN: That's amazing.
HEMMER: We are counting down to the president's inauguration less than three hours to go right now. By the way, we have an awesome seat here, Heidi. I mean, the podium is literally right behind us. So we'll be here. Get you live also here to Capitol Hill, back here in a moment as preparations continue.
O'BRIEN: Also, what can we expect from the president's address today? The opinion of his former speechwriter might actually surprise you. That's ahead.
HEMMER: And three generations of one family trying to tackle Social Security. What do they want to see in a second Bush term? Our series "What's In It For Me" continues as well, live in our nation's capital, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: ... church right now for an Inauguration Day prayer service. Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for us with more this morning.
Hey, Suzanne. Good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
President Bush, we're told, has a glow about him. That is what his chief of staff, Andy Card, told me this morning when I spoke with him. Obviously the president very much looking forward to this day.
We saw the president, the first lady, the vice president, Lynne Cheney, as well as members of the cabinet, extended family, all enter the church, St. John's Episcopal Church. It's really just a block away from the White House, across from Lafayette Park. That is where the president's pastor will be delivering the homily. Also, interestingly enough, the wife of chief of staff Andy Card, Kathleen Card, who is a reverend, will be doing a special reading for the president.
Now, this is just the beginning of the day. And, of course, we got a certain sense, a bit of a taste of what we expect President Bush to say after the -- he takes the oath of office for his inaugural address. From yesterday, he is going to be reaching out, reaching out to allies, reaching out to even adversaries, saying now is the time to bring forward democracy, diplomacy, to bring forward freedom.
Now, earlier today, President Bush very much spent the day like he usually does, woke up about 5:30, we're told, in the office, Oval Office at about 7:00, had his briefings from FBI and CIA. Did something unique, however. That is, he opened the bible, the family bible to the passage that will be opened while he takes his oath of office. Very much reflective of the morning ahead of him.
People also predicting or wondering whether or not the president will shed some tears today. We saw him actually crying. It was yesterday, when he was speaking to his family earlier before the troops. It was about four years ago the president's father shed some tears.
Both of them, of course, joking a little bit about how emotional that the family -- the men in the family are about all of this. But the president's very much looking forward to delivering that speech. We're told about 17 minutes in length. Twenty-one drafts that the president, very eager, very anxious to move forward and address the nation -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And one has to imagine that 21 drafts, so maybe they're even working on it as the minutes tick by for that speech. Suzanne Malveaux for us this morning. Suzanne, thank you -- Bill.
HEMMER: And coming up right after the swearing in at noon Eastern, President Bush delivers a second inaugural address. And for a preview of what we may expect then, David Frum is with me, the author of "The Right Man: An Inside Account of the Bush White House." He's also a former speechwriter for the president.
David, good morning to you.
DAVID FRUM, FMR. BUSH SPEECHWRITER: Thank you.
HEMMER: We have two excerpts that we want to share with our viewers. I want to get your reaction to the prose that we find in this.
And quoting now, "We are led by events and common sense to one conclusion: the survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world."
That theme says what to you, David?
FRUM: Well, that theme says that the president is going to recommit the most controversial ideas of his first inauguration -- his first administration. Especially his great speech on Palestinian democracy.
The power of words like that, though, depends on how much they're backed by actions. These are ideas that are the common patrimony of all Americans. All Americans (UNINTELLIGIBLE) believe this. They don't always (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Well, here's another idea, another quote here. "America has need of idealism and courage because we have essential work at home. The unfinished work (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and the promise of liberty."
Do you read Iraq into a statement like that?
FRUM: Well, you know, I -- the great presidential speeches -- and there are few of them, because inaugurals are difficult to do -- are very specific. They're very clear. There's no mistake.
Roosevelt's first inaugural, no mistaking what he meant. He said Congress is going to pass emergency legislation, and if they don't I'm going to do it by executive order. Ronald Reagan's first, again, a very clear message. The power of this speech will depend on, is it -- are these general statements, or are they clear and specific commitments?
HEMMER: What do you make of what Suzanne Malveaux was just reporting, 21 drafts?
FRUM: Well, you can take -- remember, every time the president sees it, that's a different draft. So if somebody puts in a sentence and the president says, "I don't like that," and you strike the sentence, that's draft 11. And then if he changes his mind and wants it put back in, that's draft 12.
I think the real control in a thing like this is not how many drafts, but how many writers. The smaller the number of people involved, the more focused the process and the better the speech. And that's important not just as a matter of prose, because a focused speech tells you there's going to be a focused administration. If you have a process that leads to a kind of diffused speech, that's a warning of a less focused administration.
HEMMER: More cooks in the kitchen is a bad thing, you're saying?
FRUM: It's a bad thing because it shows you're not able to focus on the job, whether the job is a speech or whether the job is a war.
HEMMER: Over an eight-year period now -- starting a second term today -- if you look at the first speech from January 2001, then examine this one today in January of 2005. If you take them in the total sum of an eight-year term at the White House, how critical is today at 12:00 noon Eastern?
FRUM: I think -- my theory with George Bush is that he's doing his administration backwards. This is the first term.
HEMMER: How so?
FRUM: Well, normally a president comes into office with a big gust of wind behind him, a big -- a powerful mandate, he's a fresh face. He's able to impose his will on the capital. That wasn't true in the first administration.
The whole thing was like playing poker with a pair of fours. It was all a bluff. He had that terrible mandate. He had Congress evenly divided.
This is the administration where he's going to have political power and a real honeymoon for the first 24 months or so. And I think a lot of the most important things he does are going to happen this time, not last time.
HEMMER: David, thanks for coming by.
FRUM: Thank you.
HEMMER: Always good to talk you down in Washington. David Frum, former speechwriter.
FRUM: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Enjoy -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Let's show aw picture of St. John's Episcopal Church. Inside that church, this beautiful church, is where the president and the first lady and their extended family and close family, as well, and some friends are attending services this morning.
That's going to continue for probably another half an hour or so. And then, of course, we're going to continue to watch this, as we're expecting the president and his family to head out and head back to the White House for a little while before really all the ceremony of the inauguration gets under way.
This, attending this church, a huge tradition among presidents. Also, a tradition full of pomp and circumstance is the inaugural parade. A preview of that parade is just ahead this morning.
Well, speaking of parades, here's a little trivia for you. The parade for President Ronald Reagan's second inaugural was canceled. And the swearing-in ceremony had to be held indoors. Why? The answer and more of our coverage of the 55th presidential inauguration when we return.
Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Before the break, we asked you the question about President Reagan's second swearing-in ceremony. Why was it held indoors? Why was the parade canceled?
Well, here's the answer. It was just too darn cold. The temperature outside at noon was just seven degrees. And given this time of year, of course, weather is usually a factor on Inauguration Day.
Harry Truman reportedly joked in his reply to the official invitation to his second inauguration, "Weather permitting, I hope to be present."
HEMMER: Back to Jack now and the "Question of the Day" in New York City.
Hey, Jack. Good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How you guys doing? It looks -- it looks a little breezy down there.
HEMMER: Oh, slightly.
O'BRIEN: Not so bad. Not so bad.
HEMMER: Twenty-five here, which is a bit of a heat wave in New York after the last couple of days.
A lot on the president's plate for the second term. He wants to change Social Security and rewrite the tax code, change the immigration laws, and impose limits on medical malpractice suits, and cut the deficit, and win the war in Iraq. I mean, there is a ton of stuff he'd like to get done. We're asking this morning what you think the most important priority for his second term should be.
Maureen in Nashua, New Hampshire, writes: "As W. rolls down Pennsylvania Avenue in this frigid weather, he should ask himself what the mood of his onlookers would be if sources for fuel were scarce and the people were without heat. Alternative energy sources should be at the top of his list of concerns."
Ralph in Greensboro, North Carolina, "Immigration reform. While we worry about other countries' security, we're losing our own security to a flood of illegals."
John in Kingston writes: "President Bush should use his second term to repair the damage he did during his first term."
And Ron in Yardville, New Jersey, "The most important thing on the agenda should be the people of the United States. We need to get a handle on our homeless, poverty and medical issues before we attempt to cure the world."
We'll go back now to Washington, D.C. We'll read one more batch of these hopefully before 10:00 this morning.
HEMMER: Stay warm, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Yes, we're thinking of you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: I am warm.
HEMMER: That you are.
O'BRIEN: Yes we know. We've heard.
HEMMER: See you in a bit.
O'BRIEN: Well, as you well know, President Bush has been through this before. But CNN's Jeff Greenfield says there are some distinct differences between first inaugural and the second one. He's going to join us just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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