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CNN Live At Daybreak
Laura Bush in Moscow
Aired October 01, 2003 - 06:07 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: Now to Moscow, where "Hop on Pop" was introduced to Russian children, or as you would say in Russian, "Prigmi na Pupa (ph)." I probably pronounced that wrong, but it was a big hit anyway.
Seriously, the first lady is still in Moscow, where she's pushing books over TV.
Our Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty joins us live with details on the first lady's activities.
And I know you speak fluent Russian, and I probably did mess that up, "Hop on Pop" in Russian.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Not bad, Carol. Not bad.
COSTELLO: Yes, I appreciate that.
DOUGHERTY: Excellent, excellent.
Well, the two first ladies, as we know, are both very interested in books, libraries, children, et cetera. So, that's what draws them together.
And the event that they had this morning really was very cute. They had about 30 young kids, 9-year-olds, gathered around in a circle and listening to three American authors, and those are R.L. Stine, who wrote "Goosebumps," Peter Loranges (ph), who's from "The Baby-Sitters Club," and then also Mark Brown, the author of "The Aardvark."
These little kids listening and apparently understanding the jokes. Some of them did speak English, and a lot of interplay with the two ladies.
Mrs. Bush also gave three books to the exhibit that Mrs. Putin has organized for this book fest: "Little Women," "Amazing Grace" and "Little House in the Big Woods."
Then, Mrs. Bush went on to an exhibit, which is organized by the Library of Congress, about Russia and the United States and interactions between those two countries.
Now, today her schedule will be interviews. She'll be talking to the U.S. networks, including, of course, CNN and our own Soledad O'Brien. And then, this evening to the Bolshoi Theater for some culture. "Don Quixote" is what they're going to be seeing tonight. Thursday, by the way, a little coffee before they depart. She's going to be sitting down and having coffee with Cherie Blair, the wife of, of course, the British prime minister -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. So, just how close are the Bushes and the Putins? Because I remember back when President Bush said he looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes and saw a clear soul or something. I can't remember exactly what he said. But are they really close, really?
DOUGHERTY: Yes. Well, you know, you have to say that on the scale, you know, of presidents to presidents, they seem to be pretty close. At least, you know, the other day we did have an interview with Mr. Putin, and he said that they do get along very well, and that has actually helped them in some serious issues, like the war on terror and the orientation of Russia more and more toward the West. It does make a difference.
Mr. Putin says they don't agree about everything when it gets into the realm of business and high politics. But on these personal issues -- you know, children and culture and not watching too much TV and language -- both of the first ladies really do agree that it's very, very important, and sometimes you really have to say the culture has a stronger influence than politics.
COSTELLO: All right, Jill Dougherty reporting live from Moscow, many thanks to you.
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 October 1, 2003 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Moscow, where "Hop on Pop" was introduced to Russian children, or as you would say in Russian, "Prigmi na Pupa (ph)." I probably pronounced that wrong, but it was a big hit anyway.
Seriously, the first lady is still in Moscow, where she's pushing books over TV.
Our Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty joins us live with details on the first lady's activities.
And I know you speak fluent Russian, and I probably did mess that up, "Hop on Pop" in Russian.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Not bad, Carol. Not bad.
COSTELLO: Yes, I appreciate that.
DOUGHERTY: Excellent, excellent.
Well, the two first ladies, as we know, are both very interested in books, libraries, children, et cetera. So, that's what draws them together.
And the event that they had this morning really was very cute. They had about 30 young kids, 9-year-olds, gathered around in a circle and listening to three American authors, and those are R.L. Stine, who wrote "Goosebumps," Peter Loranges (ph), who's from "The Baby-Sitters Club," and then also Mark Brown, the author of "The Aardvark."
These little kids listening and apparently understanding the jokes. Some of them did speak English, and a lot of interplay with the two ladies.
Mrs. Bush also gave three books to the exhibit that Mrs. Putin has organized for this book fest: "Little Women," "Amazing Grace" and "Little House in the Big Woods."
Then, Mrs. Bush went on to an exhibit, which is organized by the Library of Congress, about Russia and the United States and interactions between those two countries.
Now, today her schedule will be interviews. She'll be talking to the U.S. networks, including, of course, CNN and our own Soledad O'Brien. And then, this evening to the Bolshoi Theater for some culture. "Don Quixote" is what they're going to be seeing tonight. Thursday, by the way, a little coffee before they depart. She's going to be sitting down and having coffee with Cherie Blair, the wife of, of course, the British prime minister -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. So, just how close are the Bushes and the Putins? Because I remember back when President Bush said he looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes and saw a clear soul or something. I can't remember exactly what he said. But are they really close, really?
DOUGHERTY: Yes. Well, you know, you have to say that on the scale, you know, of presidents to presidents, they seem to be pretty close. At least, you know, the other day we did have an interview with Mr. Putin, and he said that they do get along very well, and that has actually helped them in some serious issues, like the war on terror and the orientation of Russia more and more toward the West. It does make a difference.
Mr. Putin says they don't agree about everything when it gets into the realm of business and high politics. But on these personal issues -- you know, children and culture and not watching too much TV and language -- both of the first ladies really do agree that it's very, very important, and sometimes you really have to say the culture has a stronger influence than politics.
COSTELLO: All right, Jill Dougherty reporting live from Moscow, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
