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CNN Saturday Morning News

Laura Bush Host Thrid Annual Book Festival

Aired October 04, 2003 - 09:38   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.


KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: There are many tales of mystery and intrigue inside Washington. Today, some of those stories will be revealed. First Lady Laura Bush hosts the third annual Book Festival, which includes more than 80 authors.
For the latest, Kathleen Koch joins us live from Washington. Kathleen, good day, huh?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's going to be a great day. A little bit brisk, a little bit windy and chilly out here on the National Mall. But they are expecting a record 70,000 book lovers to turn out for the third annual event.

As you said, they are going to have more than 80 authors here of every genre. They're going to be not only reading from their books, but they're going to be talking with audiences about the creative process that they went through in writing them, also signing the books.

Now, many of them got together at the White House early this morning for a thank-you breakfast with the first lady, Laura Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Books and reading bring out the excitement in all of us. This commonality connects us one to another, and so do the stories from a good book. Our history as a people and a nation is a great story, pieced together like a quilt, bit by bit, generation by generation. By reading together and sharing stories, we become part of the fabric of the American community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The first lady, herself once, of course, a teacher and librarian, got together with the Library of Congress soon after President Bush took office, and came up with this idea. This is very similar to a project that she launched back in Texas when President Bush was governor there.

Now, the event runs from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. As I said, lots and lots of authors present. They've also launched two different tents that they didn't have last year. There will be a poetry tent and then a home and garden tent, that along with the fiction and the mystery and the biography and the history tents. So there's really a little bit of something for everyone today, Kelli.

ARENA: All right, Kathleen, thanks very much. Have fun.

Well, as the first lady's busy celebrating books, could the president be busy as well putting out poetry? Well, when Mrs. Bush arrived back at the White House after a trip abroad, she says President Bush showered her with a poetic serenade. His choice of words? "Roses are red, violets are blue. Oh, my lump in the bed, how I've missed you."

Well, Mrs. Bush says the president went on with a comment on Mrs. Bush's meeting with the French president. "Roses are redder, bluer am I, seeing you kissed by that charming French guy."

No word on whether the president will be putting his poems into print.

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 4, 2003 - 09:38   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: There are many tales of mystery and intrigue inside Washington. Today, some of those stories will be revealed. First Lady Laura Bush hosts the third annual Book Festival, which includes more than 80 authors.
For the latest, Kathleen Koch joins us live from Washington. Kathleen, good day, huh?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's going to be a great day. A little bit brisk, a little bit windy and chilly out here on the National Mall. But they are expecting a record 70,000 book lovers to turn out for the third annual event.

As you said, they are going to have more than 80 authors here of every genre. They're going to be not only reading from their books, but they're going to be talking with audiences about the creative process that they went through in writing them, also signing the books.

Now, many of them got together at the White House early this morning for a thank-you breakfast with the first lady, Laura Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Books and reading bring out the excitement in all of us. This commonality connects us one to another, and so do the stories from a good book. Our history as a people and a nation is a great story, pieced together like a quilt, bit by bit, generation by generation. By reading together and sharing stories, we become part of the fabric of the American community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The first lady, herself once, of course, a teacher and librarian, got together with the Library of Congress soon after President Bush took office, and came up with this idea. This is very similar to a project that she launched back in Texas when President Bush was governor there.

Now, the event runs from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. As I said, lots and lots of authors present. They've also launched two different tents that they didn't have last year. There will be a poetry tent and then a home and garden tent, that along with the fiction and the mystery and the biography and the history tents. So there's really a little bit of something for everyone today, Kelli.

ARENA: All right, Kathleen, thanks very much. Have fun.

Well, as the first lady's busy celebrating books, could the president be busy as well putting out poetry? Well, when Mrs. Bush arrived back at the White House after a trip abroad, she says President Bush showered her with a poetic serenade. His choice of words? "Roses are red, violets are blue. Oh, my lump in the bed, how I've missed you."

Well, Mrs. Bush says the president went on with a comment on Mrs. Bush's meeting with the French president. "Roses are redder, bluer am I, seeing you kissed by that charming French guy."

No word on whether the president will be putting his poems into print.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com