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American Morning
CIA Director George Tenet Announces He's Leaving His Position; Interview with Senator Richard Shelby
Aired June 04, 2004 - 07:10 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's move away from the pictures at Vatican City and say hello to you. Good morning everybody on this Friday morning.
Ten minutes past the hour of 7:00 here in New York and good morning Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, Bill.
HEMMER: A lot of news to talk about. You know the news broke right when we got off the air yesterday about George Tenet, that resignation.
For years critics have said the CIA would be better off without Tenet. Now the White House faces that difficult task of living up to expectations.
In a moment here we'll talk about the long road ahead. David Ensor, who knows this topic as well as anyone in Washington. He'll be along in a moment.
Also Senator Richard Shelby, Republican, and quite critical of George Tenet going back four, even five years ago. We'll talk to the senator in a moment about that.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, former president Clinton telling his life story, and there is a lot to tell. Nine hundred fifty-seven pages in his new book. We're going to get a report on his book tour, which is itself a political event.
HEMMER: When is Jack Cafferty going to write his own book? We all await it. Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: I have no intention of writing a book, or running for public office.
But I am going to tell you about a situation in the state of Arkansas. If you live in Arkansas and your child is fat, the school where your child attends is required to send home a note telling you your child is fat.
It's the only state in the Union so far that has this little mechanism in place. We're going to take a look at it in a few minutes. HEMMER: All right, Jack thanks for that. Almost 12 minutes now past the hour.
Let's start this morning in Washington. Buzzing again today after CIA Director George Tenet announced that he is leaving his position, resigning effective in mid-July.
Yesterday the embattled CIA chief said he will leave that post next month for personal reasons. Let's start with David Ensor, national security correspondent, live in D.C.
David, good morning to you.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Well, it wasn't so surprising, really, that George Tenet was -- is going to be leaving office.
He's been talking about doing that for over a year. But, the specific timing is a surprise to Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR: George Tenet says it was he who told the president that he wants to leave office in mid-July after seven years as director of Central Intelligence.
GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: While Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decision, it was a personal decision. And had only one basis in fact, the well being of my wonderful family. Nothing more, and nothing less.
ENSOR: Tenet is well liked on both sides of the political aisle, but the 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda came on his watch. By definition, an intelligence failure.
So is the case of the U.N. or going to war to stop Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, weapons that have yet to be found. It was, after all, Tenet quoted in Bob Woodward's book saying it was a slam-dunk case.
SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R) ALABAMA: The record was there that there have been more failures on his watch as director of CIA, massive failures of intelligence, than anybody I know.
BOB KERREY, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: I think he did a terrific job as DCI and I'm sad to see that so many people are sort of gunning for him, trying to run him out of that position.
TENET: We're not perfect, but one of our best-kept secrets is that we are very, very, very good.
ENSOR: There will be other departures. James Paddock (ph), the man in charge of spies at the CIA who made a rare public appearance before the 9/11 Commission in April is about to announce that he, too, will resign this summer. Officials insist it has nothing to do with Tenet's departure. Some are calling for the intelligence director's job to be redefined with more powers before a new director is selected.
REP. JANE HARMAN (D) INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: I think before we replace him we should replace his job.
ENSOR: Tenet says despite some disappointments, he's proud of his record. A senior intelligence official points to the quick war in Afghanistan, to Libya giving up weapons of mass destruction, to rolling up the nuclear black market of Pakistan, and to two-thirds of al Qaeda's leaders having been killed or captured, though Osama bin Laden is still out there.
Some are suggesting that Tenet may want to go before the 9/11 Commission report comes out this summer and reports from Hill committees on Iraq WMD that sources say are highly critical of the intelligence community and of Tenet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (on camera): But stressing the personal nature of his decision to go, a senior intelligence official told me that in August Tenet hopes to be looking at colleges with his high school senior son -- Bill.
HEMMER: David, recently Colin Powell said he wanted a full explanation as to why he was, in some words, the people in Washington deliberately misled about the possession of WMD in Iraq. How does that issue factor in to this resignation if at all, David?
ENSOR: Well, clearly that's very strong language, and that can't be pleasing to the director of central intelligence.
You know he's looking at a summer where there are going to be various reports coming out. The 9/11 Commission, a couple of Capitol Hill reports on this Iraq WMD issue. It's not going to be pleasant for Mr. Tenet or for the intelligence community.
At the same time, I gather that he felt that he'd done the work that he needed to do in terms of reporting to them, providing them with the information they needed.
He felt he'd come to closure on some of the intelligence efforts he was leading and he's not willing to discuss what they all are. And also, very frankly, he's tired; it's a backbreaking job and he really does want to spend more time with his family. So, one gets the impression that it's a mixed decision. Personal and professional.
HEMMER: David, thanks for that report. David Ensor in Washington. Let's stay in Washington.
Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, we just heard in David's story, a vocal critic for many years of George Tenet.
Senator Shelby chairman of the Intelligence Committee on September 11, 2001, two and a half years ago. Senator, welcome back. Good morning to you.
SHELBY: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Going back four or five years you were a critic of George Tenet. Why was he the target then for you?
SHELBY: Well, I personally -- I want to set the record straight. I personally like and respect George Tenet as a person, and I want to concede that he has done a lot of good things.
But the record speaks for itself. There have been more failures on the watch -- of intelligence failures on the watch of George Tenet that are inexplicable to me and to others.
I wish George Tenet well. I don't know what prompted the -- the abrupt leaving, but I believe that the doors were opened for the exit at the White House.
HEMMER: You call it abrupt. What explains the timing? Can you give us an understanding?
SHELBY: Well, I wish I knew the timing, but David Ensor referenced a few minutes ago some reports coming up that are going to be very critical of the intelligence community and probably George Tenet in the weeks or months to come.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Take the same question if I could, Senator that I asked David Ensor about Colin Powell. How does that issue factor into this decision we saw yesterday?
SHELBY: Well, I think that's -- as we know, those were very strong words that the Secretary of State used -- as far as the intelligence that he had. A lot of us have questioned the performance of the director George Tenet before.
But, the record speaks for itself, and I think we have to evaluate and history will evaluate the -- the tenure of George Tenet by what he did and what he failed to do.
HEMMER: One final question here. Your Republican colleagues oftentimes you disagree with him -- with them, rather -- regarding George Tenet. Chuck Hagel is on our show later today, still a strong supporter of George Tenet. Why do you part ways with your colleagues in the Senate? On the CIA Director?
SHELBY: Well, I had the opportunity to work closely with him for eight years when he was -- when he came -- when he was the deputy director, when he was director. I was chairman of the committee on intelligence and I can relate and anybody can relate. Massive failures of intelligence. Just too many too often.
HEMMER: Richard Shelby our guest from Washington. Thank you Senator.
SHELBY: Thank you.
HEMMER: Eighteen minutes now past the hour. We check on the other headlines. For that, across the room and to Heidi Collins. Good morning to you on a Friday.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It is a good morning, too.
All right, thanks guys. In Iraq this morning, word of American troops coming under fire in eastern Baghdad.
An explosion hit a U.S. military Humvee. Four soldiers were injured.
Meanwhile, militiamen are firing rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. troops in the holy city of Najaf. Renewed violence comes amid peace talks with radical cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr. At least six people were reportedly killed.
Police in China apparently trying to keep things quiet in Tiananmen Square. (AUDIO GAP) of a military assault there. There are reports more than a dozen people have been detained but it is not clear whether the incident had anything to do with the anniversary.
In 1989, the Chinese military used tanks and automatic weapons to end a lengthy pro-democracy protest. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed.
To California and the Scott Peterson trial: prosecutors laying out their case in Redwood City. Laci Peterson's stepsister, Amy Rocha, testified about the evening before Laci was reported missing.
Laci was there when Amy cut Scott's hair. It was the last time she would see her big sister alive. The defense will continue with its cross-examination when testimony resumes on Monday.
Concerns about drinking water this morning in California after a levy breaks in the farm fields near Stockton. It happened yesterday and is now estimated at about 300-feet long. Major flooding forced the evacuation of hundreds of people. Authorities are rushing to safeguard the water supply now, which could be effected.
Cities as far away as San Jose and Los Angeles get their drinking water from the Delta.
And a bit of a baseball scuffle last night in St. Louis. The Cardinals and the Pirates pretty much cleared the benches after a controversial pitch. Insults flew between Pirates catcher Jason Kendall and Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa.
That's when Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon stormed up from the dugout. He was held back by a couple of umpires as he rushed LaRussa. Both managers, as you might imagine, were ejected.
St. Louis won the game, though, 4-2. That is a four game sweep. Regardless of all the infighting.
HEMMER: Looked like a hockey game.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it does. Mature managers.
HEMMER: Yes. Calgary beat Tampa Bay last night, 3-2 now in the Stanley Cup. We do that for the guys here in the floor -- big hockey fans. Thank you, Heidi.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on this AMERICAN MORNING the season finale of HBO's "The Sopranos" airs on Sunday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But we're going to deal with this as a family, together, no matter how it effects anybody personal safety wise, financially wise, whatever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Want to know what Tony's talking about? Stick around. His wife Carmella -- well, actually Edie Falco is going to join us to talk about the season ender just ahead.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here former president Bill Clinton is on the road now. He's got some candid remarks about his new book. We'll hear what his lawyer has to say about it. Still to come this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back everybody. Turn to Jack now and the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill. State of Arkansas. The schools are telling parents if their kids are fat.
Perhaps they think the parents couldn't determine this on their own, say, by looking at the children.
Actually, there is a new state law in Arkansas that requires the schools to measure the kids height and weight and then calculate their body mass index. The results are disturbing. In Arkansas, 40 percent of the students are fatter than they should be.
The schools then send recommendations to the parents of fat kids, which include the following: meet with the pediatrician, healthier snacks, and limiting soda, restricting TV and computer time.
The question is this: are weight report cards a good idea? Perhaps along with, like, taking the soda and pizza out of the school lunch room, maybe having the kids do a P.E. class every day, where they run around the track and do some calisthenics, stuff that used to be part of the curriculum when this very old man was in school but in many places it has disappeared.
Now we have bureaucrats measuring body weight indexes or whatever the hell they call it and sending notes home. Dear Mrs. Smith, your kid is a bucket butt, please fix it. I mean, what is that?
HEMMER: I'm going to direct you to an elementary school principal in Lithonia, Georgia.
CAFFERTY: Please don't.
HEMMER: No, I'm going to find her name for you throughout the show. She has done amazing things in this school to get all the junk food out of there and get her kids healthier and its resulted actually in better grades.
I'll get it for you.
CAFFERTY: All right, put her on.
O'BRIEN: You're right, nobody runs around...
CAFFERTY: I hope we get it before ten because...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: All right, did you guys see this? A hydraulic (ph) -- spelling bee -- I know you were watching, Jack. The winner is an Indiana teen -- his name is David Ticmarsh. David won by correctly spelling this word autochthonous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID TICMARSH, SPELLING BEE CHAMPION: A, U, T, O, C, H, T, H, O, N, O, U, S -- autochthonous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are the champion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: My God, I was so anxious for him, all that heavy breathing.
HEMMER: What a word.
CAFFERTY: May I just ask one question? In my house, this thing has been on ESPN for the last couple of days. This is not a sport.
O'BRIEN: You don't think that's drama?
CAFFERTY: This is not a sport. ESPN is supposed to be a sports network.
O'BRIEN: He's breathing heavily... CAFFERTY: The spelling bee is not a sport. It should be on some other channel. I turn on ESPN, I want to see the French Open, I want to watch golf, I do not want to watch these children coming close to having -- apoplexy trying to spell I see Jesus or whatever it is. That was my question.
O'BRIEN: Well anyway; thank you for your input; we appreciate that.
David Ticmarsh, that little boy -- I guess he's not so little, he's going to join us live in our 9:00 hour this morning.
Plus, there was a scary moment a couple of rounds earlier when a young boy collapsed as he was spelling a word.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Stop.
CAFFERTY: What do you mean, don't laugh? That's funny. I mean, I hope he's all right.
O'BRIEN: His name is Akshay Buddiga, and he actually gets up there and finishes up and spells the word. Not only that but -- I mean -- this is not a competition?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AKSHAY BUDDIGA: A, L, O, P, E, C, O, I, D: alopecoid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: OK, he -- you don't think this is a sport? That kid passed out, rallies, and ends up coming in second and you don't give him credit? You don't want to see this on ESPN, Jack?
CAFFERTY: No, I don't.
O'BRIEN: All right.
CAFFERTY: That's correct; I don't.
O'BRIEN: Wow. Well, anyway. He obviously was fine after he passed out and he did well -- so congratulations to all the winners and we're going to talk to David, the big old champ.
HEMMER: Kind of feels like a Friday, doesn't it?
Get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING interesting and self-serving. Find out what the former president has to say about his own book.
Also Richard Crest (ph) takes us on a trip today to the toy store; shows us some favorites for the grown-ups today. Top of that list. In a moment still to come this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired June 4, 2004 - 07:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's move away from the pictures at Vatican City and say hello to you. Good morning everybody on this Friday morning.
Ten minutes past the hour of 7:00 here in New York and good morning Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, Bill.
HEMMER: A lot of news to talk about. You know the news broke right when we got off the air yesterday about George Tenet, that resignation.
For years critics have said the CIA would be better off without Tenet. Now the White House faces that difficult task of living up to expectations.
In a moment here we'll talk about the long road ahead. David Ensor, who knows this topic as well as anyone in Washington. He'll be along in a moment.
Also Senator Richard Shelby, Republican, and quite critical of George Tenet going back four, even five years ago. We'll talk to the senator in a moment about that.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, former president Clinton telling his life story, and there is a lot to tell. Nine hundred fifty-seven pages in his new book. We're going to get a report on his book tour, which is itself a political event.
HEMMER: When is Jack Cafferty going to write his own book? We all await it. Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: I have no intention of writing a book, or running for public office.
But I am going to tell you about a situation in the state of Arkansas. If you live in Arkansas and your child is fat, the school where your child attends is required to send home a note telling you your child is fat.
It's the only state in the Union so far that has this little mechanism in place. We're going to take a look at it in a few minutes. HEMMER: All right, Jack thanks for that. Almost 12 minutes now past the hour.
Let's start this morning in Washington. Buzzing again today after CIA Director George Tenet announced that he is leaving his position, resigning effective in mid-July.
Yesterday the embattled CIA chief said he will leave that post next month for personal reasons. Let's start with David Ensor, national security correspondent, live in D.C.
David, good morning to you.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Well, it wasn't so surprising, really, that George Tenet was -- is going to be leaving office.
He's been talking about doing that for over a year. But, the specific timing is a surprise to Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR: George Tenet says it was he who told the president that he wants to leave office in mid-July after seven years as director of Central Intelligence.
GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: While Washington and the media will put many different faces on the decision, it was a personal decision. And had only one basis in fact, the well being of my wonderful family. Nothing more, and nothing less.
ENSOR: Tenet is well liked on both sides of the political aisle, but the 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda came on his watch. By definition, an intelligence failure.
So is the case of the U.N. or going to war to stop Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, weapons that have yet to be found. It was, after all, Tenet quoted in Bob Woodward's book saying it was a slam-dunk case.
SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R) ALABAMA: The record was there that there have been more failures on his watch as director of CIA, massive failures of intelligence, than anybody I know.
BOB KERREY, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: I think he did a terrific job as DCI and I'm sad to see that so many people are sort of gunning for him, trying to run him out of that position.
TENET: We're not perfect, but one of our best-kept secrets is that we are very, very, very good.
ENSOR: There will be other departures. James Paddock (ph), the man in charge of spies at the CIA who made a rare public appearance before the 9/11 Commission in April is about to announce that he, too, will resign this summer. Officials insist it has nothing to do with Tenet's departure. Some are calling for the intelligence director's job to be redefined with more powers before a new director is selected.
REP. JANE HARMAN (D) INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: I think before we replace him we should replace his job.
ENSOR: Tenet says despite some disappointments, he's proud of his record. A senior intelligence official points to the quick war in Afghanistan, to Libya giving up weapons of mass destruction, to rolling up the nuclear black market of Pakistan, and to two-thirds of al Qaeda's leaders having been killed or captured, though Osama bin Laden is still out there.
Some are suggesting that Tenet may want to go before the 9/11 Commission report comes out this summer and reports from Hill committees on Iraq WMD that sources say are highly critical of the intelligence community and of Tenet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENSOR (on camera): But stressing the personal nature of his decision to go, a senior intelligence official told me that in August Tenet hopes to be looking at colleges with his high school senior son -- Bill.
HEMMER: David, recently Colin Powell said he wanted a full explanation as to why he was, in some words, the people in Washington deliberately misled about the possession of WMD in Iraq. How does that issue factor in to this resignation if at all, David?
ENSOR: Well, clearly that's very strong language, and that can't be pleasing to the director of central intelligence.
You know he's looking at a summer where there are going to be various reports coming out. The 9/11 Commission, a couple of Capitol Hill reports on this Iraq WMD issue. It's not going to be pleasant for Mr. Tenet or for the intelligence community.
At the same time, I gather that he felt that he'd done the work that he needed to do in terms of reporting to them, providing them with the information they needed.
He felt he'd come to closure on some of the intelligence efforts he was leading and he's not willing to discuss what they all are. And also, very frankly, he's tired; it's a backbreaking job and he really does want to spend more time with his family. So, one gets the impression that it's a mixed decision. Personal and professional.
HEMMER: David, thanks for that report. David Ensor in Washington. Let's stay in Washington.
Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, we just heard in David's story, a vocal critic for many years of George Tenet.
Senator Shelby chairman of the Intelligence Committee on September 11, 2001, two and a half years ago. Senator, welcome back. Good morning to you.
SHELBY: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Going back four or five years you were a critic of George Tenet. Why was he the target then for you?
SHELBY: Well, I personally -- I want to set the record straight. I personally like and respect George Tenet as a person, and I want to concede that he has done a lot of good things.
But the record speaks for itself. There have been more failures on the watch -- of intelligence failures on the watch of George Tenet that are inexplicable to me and to others.
I wish George Tenet well. I don't know what prompted the -- the abrupt leaving, but I believe that the doors were opened for the exit at the White House.
HEMMER: You call it abrupt. What explains the timing? Can you give us an understanding?
SHELBY: Well, I wish I knew the timing, but David Ensor referenced a few minutes ago some reports coming up that are going to be very critical of the intelligence community and probably George Tenet in the weeks or months to come.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Take the same question if I could, Senator that I asked David Ensor about Colin Powell. How does that issue factor into this decision we saw yesterday?
SHELBY: Well, I think that's -- as we know, those were very strong words that the Secretary of State used -- as far as the intelligence that he had. A lot of us have questioned the performance of the director George Tenet before.
But, the record speaks for itself, and I think we have to evaluate and history will evaluate the -- the tenure of George Tenet by what he did and what he failed to do.
HEMMER: One final question here. Your Republican colleagues oftentimes you disagree with him -- with them, rather -- regarding George Tenet. Chuck Hagel is on our show later today, still a strong supporter of George Tenet. Why do you part ways with your colleagues in the Senate? On the CIA Director?
SHELBY: Well, I had the opportunity to work closely with him for eight years when he was -- when he came -- when he was the deputy director, when he was director. I was chairman of the committee on intelligence and I can relate and anybody can relate. Massive failures of intelligence. Just too many too often.
HEMMER: Richard Shelby our guest from Washington. Thank you Senator.
SHELBY: Thank you.
HEMMER: Eighteen minutes now past the hour. We check on the other headlines. For that, across the room and to Heidi Collins. Good morning to you on a Friday.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It is a good morning, too.
All right, thanks guys. In Iraq this morning, word of American troops coming under fire in eastern Baghdad.
An explosion hit a U.S. military Humvee. Four soldiers were injured.
Meanwhile, militiamen are firing rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. troops in the holy city of Najaf. Renewed violence comes amid peace talks with radical cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr. At least six people were reportedly killed.
Police in China apparently trying to keep things quiet in Tiananmen Square. (AUDIO GAP) of a military assault there. There are reports more than a dozen people have been detained but it is not clear whether the incident had anything to do with the anniversary.
In 1989, the Chinese military used tanks and automatic weapons to end a lengthy pro-democracy protest. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed.
To California and the Scott Peterson trial: prosecutors laying out their case in Redwood City. Laci Peterson's stepsister, Amy Rocha, testified about the evening before Laci was reported missing.
Laci was there when Amy cut Scott's hair. It was the last time she would see her big sister alive. The defense will continue with its cross-examination when testimony resumes on Monday.
Concerns about drinking water this morning in California after a levy breaks in the farm fields near Stockton. It happened yesterday and is now estimated at about 300-feet long. Major flooding forced the evacuation of hundreds of people. Authorities are rushing to safeguard the water supply now, which could be effected.
Cities as far away as San Jose and Los Angeles get their drinking water from the Delta.
And a bit of a baseball scuffle last night in St. Louis. The Cardinals and the Pirates pretty much cleared the benches after a controversial pitch. Insults flew between Pirates catcher Jason Kendall and Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa.
That's when Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon stormed up from the dugout. He was held back by a couple of umpires as he rushed LaRussa. Both managers, as you might imagine, were ejected.
St. Louis won the game, though, 4-2. That is a four game sweep. Regardless of all the infighting.
HEMMER: Looked like a hockey game.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it does. Mature managers.
HEMMER: Yes. Calgary beat Tampa Bay last night, 3-2 now in the Stanley Cup. We do that for the guys here in the floor -- big hockey fans. Thank you, Heidi.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on this AMERICAN MORNING the season finale of HBO's "The Sopranos" airs on Sunday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But we're going to deal with this as a family, together, no matter how it effects anybody personal safety wise, financially wise, whatever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Want to know what Tony's talking about? Stick around. His wife Carmella -- well, actually Edie Falco is going to join us to talk about the season ender just ahead.
HEMMER: Also in a moment here former president Bill Clinton is on the road now. He's got some candid remarks about his new book. We'll hear what his lawyer has to say about it. Still to come this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back everybody. Turn to Jack now and the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Bill. State of Arkansas. The schools are telling parents if their kids are fat.
Perhaps they think the parents couldn't determine this on their own, say, by looking at the children.
Actually, there is a new state law in Arkansas that requires the schools to measure the kids height and weight and then calculate their body mass index. The results are disturbing. In Arkansas, 40 percent of the students are fatter than they should be.
The schools then send recommendations to the parents of fat kids, which include the following: meet with the pediatrician, healthier snacks, and limiting soda, restricting TV and computer time.
The question is this: are weight report cards a good idea? Perhaps along with, like, taking the soda and pizza out of the school lunch room, maybe having the kids do a P.E. class every day, where they run around the track and do some calisthenics, stuff that used to be part of the curriculum when this very old man was in school but in many places it has disappeared.
Now we have bureaucrats measuring body weight indexes or whatever the hell they call it and sending notes home. Dear Mrs. Smith, your kid is a bucket butt, please fix it. I mean, what is that?
HEMMER: I'm going to direct you to an elementary school principal in Lithonia, Georgia.
CAFFERTY: Please don't.
HEMMER: No, I'm going to find her name for you throughout the show. She has done amazing things in this school to get all the junk food out of there and get her kids healthier and its resulted actually in better grades.
I'll get it for you.
CAFFERTY: All right, put her on.
O'BRIEN: You're right, nobody runs around...
CAFFERTY: I hope we get it before ten because...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: All right, did you guys see this? A hydraulic (ph) -- spelling bee -- I know you were watching, Jack. The winner is an Indiana teen -- his name is David Ticmarsh. David won by correctly spelling this word autochthonous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID TICMARSH, SPELLING BEE CHAMPION: A, U, T, O, C, H, T, H, O, N, O, U, S -- autochthonous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are the champion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: My God, I was so anxious for him, all that heavy breathing.
HEMMER: What a word.
CAFFERTY: May I just ask one question? In my house, this thing has been on ESPN for the last couple of days. This is not a sport.
O'BRIEN: You don't think that's drama?
CAFFERTY: This is not a sport. ESPN is supposed to be a sports network.
O'BRIEN: He's breathing heavily... CAFFERTY: The spelling bee is not a sport. It should be on some other channel. I turn on ESPN, I want to see the French Open, I want to watch golf, I do not want to watch these children coming close to having -- apoplexy trying to spell I see Jesus or whatever it is. That was my question.
O'BRIEN: Well anyway; thank you for your input; we appreciate that.
David Ticmarsh, that little boy -- I guess he's not so little, he's going to join us live in our 9:00 hour this morning.
Plus, there was a scary moment a couple of rounds earlier when a young boy collapsed as he was spelling a word.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Stop.
CAFFERTY: What do you mean, don't laugh? That's funny. I mean, I hope he's all right.
O'BRIEN: His name is Akshay Buddiga, and he actually gets up there and finishes up and spells the word. Not only that but -- I mean -- this is not a competition?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AKSHAY BUDDIGA: A, L, O, P, E, C, O, I, D: alopecoid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: OK, he -- you don't think this is a sport? That kid passed out, rallies, and ends up coming in second and you don't give him credit? You don't want to see this on ESPN, Jack?
CAFFERTY: No, I don't.
O'BRIEN: All right.
CAFFERTY: That's correct; I don't.
O'BRIEN: Wow. Well, anyway. He obviously was fine after he passed out and he did well -- so congratulations to all the winners and we're going to talk to David, the big old champ.
HEMMER: Kind of feels like a Friday, doesn't it?
Get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING interesting and self-serving. Find out what the former president has to say about his own book.
Also Richard Crest (ph) takes us on a trip today to the toy store; shows us some favorites for the grown-ups today. Top of that list. In a moment still to come this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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