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American Morning

Coast to Coast: Interview of Kansas City, Missouri, Harley Davidson Plant Workers on Our Times

Aired November 06, 2001 - 09:36   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Leon Harris been hopscotching across the country, checking with ordinary Americans during these troubled times, and this morning, we find him in Kansas City, Missouri, at a Harley Davidson plant. You're looking at a postcard there.

But where is Leon? Are you there?

LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're standing right here. We are not just in Kansas City and not just in the Harley Davidson plant; we are sitting here on the line of the heralded V-Rod line, his brand-new motorcycle that Harley Davidson is going to introduce to the public. This is the first time, I believe, it's been seen on national live television.

As you can see here, we've got guys working on the line and guys working in the testing room. They're revving the engines and raring to go, and we'll be talking with them and getting their thoughts on the climate right now, what happening in Afghanistan, with the economy, and whether or not they are going to be changing their lives because of the different airline security and anthrax threats. We'll be talk with these people here in just a moment, so don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: We are sitting here, kind of disrupting things, as they are assembling the new V-Rod. You're getting a great chance to look at this machine as they're putting it together. This may be it's been seen on live national television.

And one person who knows a lot about this is Brad Wilson (ph), who is the manufacturers engineer on this line, which means you're the man, right? You're the man here.

Let me ask you, we're talking about what's happening across the country. Let's talk about what's going on in Afghanistan? Are you satisfied with what you've seen so far? Do you think perhaps there should be bigger significant results of this bombing campaign that has been going on for weeks now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can only go by what I am seeing on the news, and I'm not sure if all the information that we're getting, I'm sure we have to keep some type of confidentiality to that. But I'm more concerned how long this war will go on. HARRIS: How long is too long?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think, possibly, six months to a year may be too long.

HARRIS: You think it should be wrapped up by then?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would hope so.

HARRIS: What about here at home? Are you concerned at all about the different threats that have been made on the American public as we've seen airline security concerns spread across the country and anthrax as well? Does that make you less safe, make you feel less safe?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel less safe, but I do appreciate the heightened level of security. It's not going to keep me from traveling. I'm still going to travel and try to keep my normal plans. But I'm still very cautious in everything I do.

HARRIS: We're going to hop over here and try not to kill ourselves as we run between these motorcycles and the different equipment in line.

Mike Williams (ph) is down, waiting on us now.

Mike, how about you? Are you going to be changing the way you live your life in light of these different threats that we've seen? You have had an anthrax threat here in Kansas City?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My life hasn't changed much with the anthrax threat. I live in a rural community. I have asked my children to stop picking up the mail out of the mailbox and let us do that.

HARRIS: Really?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's a concern. I absolutely don't want the children affected. I want my wife or I to inspect the mail as it comes in. Other than that, nothing else has changed.

HARRIS: So you are going to go on with your plans for your normal life? We've got Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up. You're going to go through with plans to travel, to spend money?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. I'll be on the road to St. Louis, Missouri, for the kids, for the holidays. I can't wait.

HARRIS: Travel safely. Thanks, Mike.

Let's run down here and talk to Debbie Gatson (ph), who is waiting for us here on the line.

Debbie, how about you? The threats that have been made on the public here, with the anthrax, with the airlines. Has this made you think twice about doing anything like traveling somewhere or going out and spending money or even opening your mail? At first, it was alarming to know that something or somebody would attempt to destroy life as I knew it. But I still do things as I normally do. But now I'm more aware of surrounding then what I used to be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a lot of fear around mere. People are very verbal about their feelings today, and the fear has set in that possibly something like this could happen to the United States.

HARRIS: How about the condition of the economy? The economy is not very strong, and in fact, the "recession" word has been used quite a bit lately. Does that make you think again about making some big purchases this year?

I would say that my spending may have been a little more conservative than what it has been. I am taking a trip that I planned long before 9/11. And I am more cautious about how I spend my money. So I would say it has had an effect on me.

HARRIS: Thanks a lot, Debbie.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

I'm just going to hop down here and see if we can catch up with Gina Alvarez (ph), who's been patiently waiting for us down here.

Gina, are you going to be making any big purchases this year? A lot of people are concerned about the economy because things are slowing down so dramatically. How about you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I am thinking about buying a new car. What's happened isn't stopping my everyday life. I am going to continue doing what I'm doing, and I'm not going to let it affect me.

HARRIS: So you are going to continue with plans to travel? You're not afraid to travel?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely not. I feel very confident that the measures are in place that need to be to take care of us, and I feel comfortable in saying that I think that everything will be fine.

HARRIS: Great.

Nice to know the horn works on this one.

Let's see if we can skip down here and check with Dianne Wilhelm (ph). By the way, we learned that Dianne has a little bit of a military background.

Let me ask you about the military campaign. Are you satisfied with what you have been seeing and hearing from the government in this campaign? Do you think it should be sped up, slowed down -- what do you think?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think they're doing the right thing. It's going to be a long-term campaign. It's not going to be cut and dry. I think the important thing is for the Americans to stand together and be patient and have some long-term resolve for success.

HARRIS: You are not concerned about the economy tanking right now? You are going to go ahead with big purchase plans you have?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I have a Dyna low-rider coming in this spring.

This has got to be the tiniest Dyna low-rider I'll ever see.

Thanks, Diane, we appreciate your time. Good luck to you.

As you can see here, President Bush has been putting out the message about people going on and continuing with their lives, and the people of Kansas City have gotten that message.

Also, we should mention that this new line of bikes that is being introduced in these uncertain economic times -- and Harley Davidson is very confident that it is not going to affect things. They figure if there is going to be a recovery in the economy, maybe Harley Davidson will lead the way. We'll be watching.

That's it from here in Kansas City. We'll be talk to you next from Denver. So have a good one. See you then.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Leon Harris, doing his easy rider act.

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