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Congressman Watts Will Retire When Fourth Term Expires

Aired July 01, 2002 - 14:38   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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NARRATOR: Congressman J.C. Watts is the only African-American Republican in the House of Representatives. In his younger days, Watts was starting quarterback for the University of Oklahoma. But here's something you may not know: Watts was a registered Democrat before switching to the GOP.

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KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: After four terms, Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma is calling it quits. Watts, considered a rising star in the Republican Party, says he will not run for re-election. Watts dismissed reports of his dissatisfaction with the Bush administration. He says he's stepping down at the end of his term to spend more time with his family.

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REP. J.C. WATTS (R), OKLAHOMA: I've been in public service now for 12 years, four on a state level. Will be eight on a federal level after this term ends. And so my family has supported me for 12 years and I think it's time that I pay a little more attention to them and do a few more parent-teacher conferences and dance recitals and little league baseball games.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The Congressman says he has not talked to anyone about a job after he leaves Washington. Joining us now, CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider to talk a little more about this.

Hi, Bill.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi there, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, your first reaction?

SCHNEIDER: My first reaction is, you know, the man's got five kids and he needs to make some money. He says there's no job offer in the immediate horizon, but I think he has very high prospect.s And if he wants to continue his political career -- and he said this morning, yes, he might want to continue public service, there might be plenty of opportunities. Oklahoma is a very Republican state. And an African-American Republican is a rare commodity that's likely to receive a lot of attention, no matter what he chooses to do.

PHILLIPS: Now, he had the president of the United States, the vice president of the United States, even Rosa Parks, Bill, saying don't do this. What do you think finally just pushed him? I mean, the family thing is understandable, but do you think there's anything else behind this?

SCHNEIDER: Well, Washington is, as usual, awash in rumors that he was frustrated, that the leadership in the House was frustrated with him. Some of them anonymously in news stories said that they were tired of his pouting and wining. Apparently he was dissatisfied that he did not get onto a committee that would supervise the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security.

There was clear frustration at the cancellation of the crusader artillery gun, which would have been assembled in his congressional district. The Defense Department canceled the production of that weapon and he was known to be unhappy about that.

So, there were some sources of dissatisfaction. Whether that was what drove him over the edge and led him to decide not to run again, we just don't know that.

PHILLIPS: Well, Bill, let's talk about the diversity issue. He's the only African-American in the House. What kind of cultural impact do you think this will have?

SCHNEIDER: The only African-American Republican.

PHILLIPS: Republican, yes, thank you, Bill.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. Very, very important. And of course, he was showcased by the Republican Party because one of their purposes is to show that they're not just a party of white men. That they have appeal to women, that they have appeal to African-Americans, to Hispanics and to other minorities.

So it's rather a loss for the Republicans in the House and they're going to be looking for someone else -- possibly a woman, the name Deborah Price, representative, Republican from Ohio, has surfaced. She's sixth ranking in the leadership. They may be looking to showcase a woman in that position.

But it is pretty clear that there is a big market for diversity in the Republican Party.

PHILLIPS: What do you think is next for J.C. Watts? Do you think we'll see him pop up again somewhere?

SCHNEIDER: I think what may be next is to make some money. There are very serious restrictions on the amount of money you can make in the House of Representatives. And he is a very saleable commodity, whether he becomes a speaker for the Republican cause or for conservative causes, whether he's a business motivational speaker.

He was of course a pro football player as well as a championship high school football player. I think there's a big market for someone like this. And then, as I said, given there are likely to be opportunities to run for governor, to run for the Senate, possibly in the Bush administration they may find an opening. Because I think they in Washington, they would very much like to have another African- American Republican in their administration with a high public profile.

PHILLIPS: Bill Schneider, thank you so much.

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