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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Veterans Honored on Memorial Day

Aired May 28, 2001 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight: America remembers those who gave their lives for their country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We can never measure the full value of what was gained in their sacrifice. We live it every day in the comforts of peace and the gifts of freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: President Bush makes room on the National Mall for a long-overdue but controversial World War II Memorial. And as tribute is paid to the unknown dead of America's wars, six more names are added to the somber list at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I'll discuss the horrors of that war, and all wars, with former senator and Medal of Honor winner, Bob Kerrey.

Also, as President Bush travels through Europe next month, he'll find he's got a tough act to follow. We'll have a report.

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting tonight from Washington.

As it does every Memorial Day, the nation today honored its war dead. But there was a difference this year. That's because President Bush today signed into law legislation that authorizes the construction of a new World War II memorial on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument right behind me.

CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett has our top story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It took five years to win World War II and eight years for America to decide how to pay homage to all who served.

BUSH: The generation of World War II defeated history's greatest tyranny, leaving graves and freedom from Europe to Asia. Our nation must always remember their heroism and humility and terrible suffering.

GARRETT: After intense debate and an overhaul of the original design, Congress moved last week to end all remaining challenges.

The seven-acre memorial will be carved deep into the Mall, resting between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Private donations will cover nearly all of the $160 million in costs. Construction is scheduled for July. And the dedication? Sometime in 2004.

Critics say the monument amounts to historical blasphemy, a monstrous celebration of war that will disturb sight lines between the monument to Washington, the hero of the 18th century, and the memorial to Lincoln, who saved the Union in the 19th century.

JUDY SCOTT FELDMAN, SAVE THE MALL: To put it here, where it would cut in half with a huge obstruction the great, open expanse of the Mall simply cannot stand, and we must attempt to do anything we can to protect it.

GARRETT: But proponents argue that the war defined America and the 20th century, and that no one figure -- not Roosevelt as president, not Eisenhower as supreme allied commander -- deserve a tribute as much as the soldiers who fought and died history's bloodiest war.

One of those veterans, the nation's 41st president, flew Navy torpedo bombers in the Pacific. He nearly died after being shot down in 1944. So for his son, the memorial is a deeply personal issue.

BUSH: It is my huge honor to set my name on this bill ordering construction of a monument that will stand for the ages. Not only will I sign the bill, I will make sure the monument gets built.

GARRETT (on camera): Sixteen million Americans fought in World War II: 3 million have died during debate over the memorial's construction. Another 1 million are expected to die before it's finished: a powerful reason, Mr. Bush believes, to build it as soon as possible.

Major Garrett, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The sacrifices of another generation were honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where six more names have been added to the black granite wall, which now lists 58,226 Americans who lost their lives in the Southeast Asia conflict.

Senator Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, spoke at today's dedication.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: We understand that war is not antiseptic. War is unfair, it's brutal. It's cruel, dirty. And only suffering in war -- no glory. And we were certainly reminded of that most recently in the Bob Kerrey incident.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Former Nebraska Senator, Congressman and Governor Bob Kerrey won the Medal of Honor and was seriously wounded as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam. Last month, he went public about a SEAL mission, which he said has haunted him for 32 years, a mission that resulted in the deaths of unarmed civilians.

I spoke with Bob Kerrey when he first made that revelation, and we recently spoke again to discuss war and remembrance for this Memorial Day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Senator Kerrey, thanks for joining us. A question about Memorial Day: Is this Memorial Day any different for you than previous Memorial Days given the revelations involving your experience in Vietnam you recently made?

BOB KERREY, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: Well, I hope not. I mean, I've -- for me, Memorial Day has been a time, or it has been since I came out of the service, to reflect and be quiet and remember Solano (ph) and Gore (ph) and Bomar (ph) and Collins (ph) and Vanoy (ph), who were killed in the war, that I knew, and my uncle and others who, you know, paid the ultimate price. It's a time to remember them, to honor them, and to remember they paid a terrible price for our freedom.

BLITZER: In the month or so since those revelations came out, what has happened? Has your life changed in any significant way?

KERREY: Well, I suppose it has. It's a little too early to know for certain. But like I said, even as I go into Memorial Day, I think it's very important for me to worry less about the impact upon myself and much more about what I can do to help the United States of America recognize, that when men and women put on the uniform of the United States of America, they're giving up their freedom, they're putting themselves at risk. They're doing all these things for us. They're trying to secure the blessings of liberty not just for ourselves but for posterity as well.

It's very important for all of us, not least on Memorial Day, to be so selfish that all we worry about is ourselves.

BLITZER: I know that in the aftermath of those disclosures, you did speak with five of the seven members of your squad. Gerhardt Klann, the individual who made some of the serious accusations, I take it you still haven't spoken with him, right?

KERREY: Well, I -- again, Wolf, I really don't want to dwell on that incident. I've talked about it. I've done it for a specific reason. And especially on Memorial Day, it's time for me to remember other people who paid a terrible price. And you know -- you know, for 364 days of the year, I guess I can be self-indulgent and selfish, but least one day of the year all of us as Americans need to look back and remember Solano (ph), and for me, Solano (ph), Gore (ph), Bomar (ph), Collins (ph), Vanoy (ph). These kids were in their 20s. They didn't get the last 30 years of freedom, the last 30 years to do all the things that I and you and others have had a chance to do. And so remembering that I think puts us in the right mood to understand what young men and women are doing today when they put on the uniform of the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard. They're giving up their freedoms and putting themselves at considerable risk for our freedoms and for the freedom of people who will follow us.

So it's very important for me not to worry about me at least on this one day.

BLITZER: Does the military , in your opinion, adequately prepare those young men and women for the potential of going in harm's way, as you of course were forced to do many years ago?

KERREY: Well, I don't know that -- I think the military makes a very good effort to do that. I think the harder question is whether or not we as civilians understand what everybody in the military has to do in order to prepare themselves.

No. 1, their rules are different. Their circumstances of their life are different. They get called up to leave their families for extended periods of time.

I watched and said goodbye to the Nebraska National Guard when they deployed for 270 days to Bosnia and was there when they came home. And if every American could see, you know, the homecoming and the tears, and men who came back, women who came back to greet a baby that had been born while they were gone. So it's -- there's a tremendous price that people that wear our uniform pay for all of us, and it's very important, I think, for us to remember that.

BLITZER: What advice do you have for those young men and women?

KERREY: That we care about you, to do the best you possibly can, and remember that the American citizens are behind you, that we're not going to forget, that we've got to pay you well, we've got to take care of you well because you're paying a price for our freedom. We've got to say that we appreciate and we're grateful for their service.

BLITZER: Senator, I have to ask you a question about your former job, politics here in Washington. As you know, the Democrats are about to become the majority in the Senate thanks to the Republican senator, the former Republican Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont. Any regrets about leaving the Senate on your part? You could have potentially been a committee chairman.

KERREY: Well, I'm a husband now and a soon-to-be father, and I'm very happy about that, and I love the New School University. And I like my new life in the private sector. And I love my friends in Washington. I think, on both sides of the aisle, they're doing all they can to serve their states to the best of their ability, and I miss them, but I don't regret leaving the Senate.

BLITZER: Is it your sense that what Jim Jeffords did -- he was he was a maverick Republican. Some people used to call you a maverick Democrat when you were representing Nebraska. What was your reaction when you heard that he was leaving the Republican Party?

KERREY: Well, it didn't entirely surprise me, because I knew that Vermont -- the Republican Party in Vermont had gotten more and more conservative, and that is the first thing you think about, is his does he feel at home when he goes home? And apparently the answer was no.

And, I think it was understandable, and almost inescapable that he make this choice, and was very brave and difficult thing for him to do.

BLITZER: Any recommendations to Tom Daschle, your friend, from South Dakota, the next majority leader in the Senate, who is going to have to deal with President Bush, as the majority leader in the Senate?

KERREY: Just call me if you want some sympathy, when a maverick won't do what you want them to do. I mean, he is a terrific human being. He demonstrated that you can be kind and strong simultaneously, he has got a good vision, especially for rural America, which I think is very important. He understands that the circle of opportunity has to continue to be pushed out, but that we've got to grow our economy, otherwise there is no circle to push out.

I think he is just an exceptionally good leader. He keeps his word, he does what he says he is going to do. And I think, both Republican Americans and Democratic Americans are going to like his leadership as majority leader.

BLITZER: We only have a few seconds left, Senator, but on this Memorial Day, as you look at what's happening in Washington, reflect on it, now you are an outsider, you are way outside the Beltway, you are up in New York City. What goes through your head as you look at some of the bickering, the back stabbing, the politics that we of course have all become accustomed to watching in Washington?

KERREY: Oh, I -- this is a great country, and, the debating and the arguing and all that sort of thing should not distract us from understanding that the United States of America, if we decide we want to do something good, we can do enormous good. And we not only have, we continue to do so at this moment.

So Americans need to begin and end each day by being grateful for being Americans, and grateful the United States of America not only has done but continues to do the good that it does in the world.

BLITZER: Good words for all of us to leave you with. Thanks for joining us on a special day, Senator, thank you. Good luck to you.

KERREY: You are welcome, Wolf, thanks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Massachusetts Congressman Joe Moakley, another veteran, and a veteran public servant, died today after a fight with leukemia. He lied about his age to join the Navy at age 15, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He entered the state legislature at age 25, served on the Boston City Council, and then in 1972, began the first of 15 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was the ranking Democrat on the powerful Rules Committee. Joe Moakley dead at 74.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

The Bush administration is prepared to offer Russia incentives from military aid to arms purchases, if Moscow will drop its opposition to a proposed U.S. missile defense system. President Bush is pushing ahead with plans to scrap the 1972 antiballistic missile treaty and build the sophisticated antimissile network, despite objections from the Russians, and from European allies. The subject is likely to be high on the agenda when Mr. Bush visits Europe next month.

When President Bush sets out on that first European trip, he'll be following in the footsteps of his still-popular predecessor. More now from CNN Senior International Correspondent Walter Rodgers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's come back. Back in Europe. Back out in the world outside the United States, perhaps so no one can accuse him of trying to upstage George W. Bush. In Ireland:

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome back.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. I am delighted to be back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you miss most about being president?

CLINTON: The job.

RODGERS: He also seems to miss being in command, giving orders.

CLINTON: We should take a picture in front of this portrait.

RODGERS: Quite a step down from commander in chief, to arranging a group photo. But whether a private visit to India last month or Poland, strolling through Warsaw, Bill Clinton remains indefatigable.

Even when pelted with an egg, he can't be stopped. Small wonder the Republicans hated him. He just keeps going.

ANNE WROE, JOURNALIST: When you have been president of the United States, you are so used to the adulation and the attention and you just can't lay it aside, especially Bill Clinton, because it's always important to him, I think, to be loved. RODGERS: That Clinton legacy also makes it more difficult for Bush to be liked in Europe.

(on camera): President Bush visits Europe next month, but the Europe he inherits in 2001 is much different from what Clinton inherited eight years ago. The differences are making it harder for President Bush to connect with Europe.

(voice-over): Europe has gelled now more independent, economically and politically. Analysts say the new administration has yet to learn that.

ROBERT LEONARDI, POLITICAL ANALYST: I think there was a true expectation on the part of the Bush advisers, who are now members of the cabinet, that they could set an agenda of their own, and therefore, not having to talk with others.

RODGERS: For Mr. Bush to be a credible player, internationally, he also has to overcome the prejudice among many Europeans that Americans are just plain dumb.

WROE: If you have a country like this with so much power in the world, so much influence, and not always a great deal of intelligence, you feel the Europeans are going to see this as a cowboy mentality.

Europeans never questioned the intelligence of Bill Clinton, and they learned to like and laugh with him. Mr. Bush's challenge will be to make Europe laugh with him, not at him.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: In other top stories, there are some signs of progress in U.S. efforts to stop the violence in the Middle East. As Palestinian and Israeli leaders met separately with U.S. envoy William Burns today, each side indicated it was prepared to sit down with the other in U.S.-hosted security talks. While no meeting has been set, the parties say the talks could begin as soon as tomorrow.

The United States and China have struck a deal to bring the Navy's crippled EP-3 spy plane back home. The agreement calls for dismantling the aircraft, loading the parts onto a transport plane, and flying it back to the U.S. The plane has been stuck on Hainan Island for nearly two months. CNN has learned the U.S. Navy resumed its surveillance flights near Hainan Island.

Instead of spending the holiday in the Caribbean, 2000 cruise ship passengers remain stuck in Miami. The Coast Guard refused to let the Norwegian cruise liner leave a week-long trip yesterday because its sprinkler system was not working. If repaired, the ship could still depart, perhaps later tonight.

In Florida, firefighters are struggling to gain ground on raging wildfires across the state. In central Florida, poor visibility from the smoke is blamed for accidents involving 20 vehicles on Interstate 4. One person was killed, and at least 10 others injured.

Just ahead on the "Leading Edge": forget Palm Pilots and briefcases. Next: a gift that can really pay off for your favorite graduate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Tonight on the "Leading Edge": It's graduation time across the country, and there's now a new and very practical idea in gift-giving for those college grads who face the high PRESS: ice tag of higher education.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Just as you seek out the bridal registry for the right gift for the bride-to-be, and the baby registry for expectant mothers, now a new registry to help find that perfect gift for your favorite graduate. Gradfree.com is an on-line registry for students and graduates who recruit friends and relatives to help pay off their college loans.

ADAM LLOYD, FOUNDER, GRADFREE.COM: The gift-giver gets to find a gift that's really meaningful, that has -- it acknowledges the commitment that the students made, the commitment they have made to their education, to their future and the financial obligation that comes along with that.

BLITZER: Founder Adam Lloyd has relied on technology for most of his life, since an accident in the eighth grade left him paralyzed. A recent graduate himself, Lloyd got the idea when friends couldn't afford to travel to a bachelor party, citing the burden of college loans.

How does it work? Students click on and register their loan information on the database. For their part, the gift-givers use the search engine to find the student. Credit card payment goes directly to the student's loan account.

LLOYD: If you get three day planners, it's completely redundant. You get three gifts of loan repayment, well, it's triple the benefit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And it's something university financial aid offices support, since many former students default on their loans. For a link to Adam's site, visit cnn.com/wolf.

Up next, I'll open our mailbag. Many of you are understandably interested in knowing when you're going to get those just-passed tax rebate checks. We'll provide details when we come back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Time now to open our mailbag. We received lots of reaction to the story we reported Friday night, that Congress had voted to give U.S. taxpayers rebate checks this year. That story led Arlene from New Port Richey, Florida to ask this question: "Will people who filed income tax but did not make enough money to pay taxes get a refund check?"

Arlene, a fellow viewer anticipated your question. Joe from St. Francisville, Louisiana, writes: "The way the tax cut is being reported, everyone in the U.S. will get a $300, $500 or $600 check. Tens of millions of people who pay little or no tax will be sorely disappointed when that does not happen. Report the real story."

Joe and Arlene, here's the real story: every taxpayer who earns more than $6,000 of taxable income will receive a check. Individuals will receive a $300 check. Single parents will receive $500, and married couples will receive $600. The checks are expected to begin arriving in your mailboxes later this summer. Hopefully that clears up some of the confusion.

Remember, I want to hear from you. Please e-mail me at wolf@cnn.com. And you can read my daily on-line column and sign up for my e-mail previewing our nightly programs by going to our WOLF BLITZER REPORTS Web site, cnn.com/wolf.

That's all the time we have for tonight. Thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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