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CNN Live At Daybreak
Laura Bush in Paris This Morning
Aired September 29, 2003 - 05:39 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the first lady now. Laura Bush is in Paris this morning. It's the first stop on a five day European trip designed, many say, to soften America's image.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien is traveling with the first lady and has more on her agenda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First Lady Laura Bush prefers to remain out of the political spotlight and on this trip she'll stick to her favorite subjects, literacy and education, both regarded as politically safe.
But the first lady also says she wants to let people around the world know what Americans are really like. In Paris, she'll address the U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, which the United States is rejoining after a 19 year absence. She'll also pay a social call on French President Jacques Chirac. His frosty relationship with her husband is well known. Mrs. Bush acknowledges that visiting Paris, the mecca of fashion, is a little intimidating.
Then it's on to Moscow for the National Book Festival, organized by Lyudmila Putin, wife of the Russian president. It's an event inspired by a book fair Mrs. Bush organized last year.
Administration officials say the first lady is one of the president's most valued political assets. She's quietly self-assured and describes herself as traditional, all likely valuable heading into an election year.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I appreciate what a fine job she's doing as the first lady. She's a pretty calm voice in a time, in turbulent times for our country and I'm lucky to be married to her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: And, Carol, first thing this morning that meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, who kissed the first lady's hand on the steps of the presidential palace. That was described as a courtesy call. But the U.S. ambassador to France, Howard Leach, said that the first lady is in that meeting, the most important emissary of her husband.
A busy day ahead for the first lady. She's only spending one full day in Paris before the trip continues into Russia. And, of course, the big question here, just what will the impact be of this trip? Obviously it's taking the first lady to two nations where there have been big diplomatic difficulties of late.
So it's not really clear just how far a goodwill gesture will go, although many say that it actually can't hurt.
We're going to be traveling with the first lady through Paris and Moscow this week -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, thanks so much, Soledad.
And, of course, Soledad will have much more on Mrs. Bush's trip in a live report from Paris on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 29, 2003 - 05:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the first lady now. Laura Bush is in Paris this morning. It's the first stop on a five day European trip designed, many say, to soften America's image.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien is traveling with the first lady and has more on her agenda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First Lady Laura Bush prefers to remain out of the political spotlight and on this trip she'll stick to her favorite subjects, literacy and education, both regarded as politically safe.
But the first lady also says she wants to let people around the world know what Americans are really like. In Paris, she'll address the U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, which the United States is rejoining after a 19 year absence. She'll also pay a social call on French President Jacques Chirac. His frosty relationship with her husband is well known. Mrs. Bush acknowledges that visiting Paris, the mecca of fashion, is a little intimidating.
Then it's on to Moscow for the National Book Festival, organized by Lyudmila Putin, wife of the Russian president. It's an event inspired by a book fair Mrs. Bush organized last year.
Administration officials say the first lady is one of the president's most valued political assets. She's quietly self-assured and describes herself as traditional, all likely valuable heading into an election year.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I appreciate what a fine job she's doing as the first lady. She's a pretty calm voice in a time, in turbulent times for our country and I'm lucky to be married to her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: And, Carol, first thing this morning that meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, who kissed the first lady's hand on the steps of the presidential palace. That was described as a courtesy call. But the U.S. ambassador to France, Howard Leach, said that the first lady is in that meeting, the most important emissary of her husband.
A busy day ahead for the first lady. She's only spending one full day in Paris before the trip continues into Russia. And, of course, the big question here, just what will the impact be of this trip? Obviously it's taking the first lady to two nations where there have been big diplomatic difficulties of late.
So it's not really clear just how far a goodwill gesture will go, although many say that it actually can't hurt.
We're going to be traveling with the first lady through Paris and Moscow this week -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, thanks so much, Soledad.
And, of course, Soledad will have much more on Mrs. Bush's trip in a live report from Paris on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
