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American Morning
Lothian Explains Democratic National Convention Security; Franken Examines Charges Against Berger
Aired July 21, 2004 - 08:00 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Boston police planning a no nonsense approach to security during the Democratic Convention. Are they going too far?
Former National Security Advisor Samuel Berger answers accusations he knowingly stole classified documents.
And a battle over a massive 9/11 monument intended for one of the most visible shorelines in the world. The fate of The Tear Drop, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm Heidi Collins in for Soledad, who is resting as her due date gets closer and closer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Closer and closer.
Good morning to you.
I'm Bill Hemmer.
Some of the other headlines this hour: Massive security planned for Boston and New York City. Police trying to get ready for any possibility of a terrorist risk. In a minute, we'll get into the specific areas of concern with Miami's police chief. Find out what causes the most problems for law enforcement.
COLLINS: Also, have you ever heard of July doctors? Sanjay will be with us a little bit later and looking at the myths about doctors in their first month of work and whether this month is a bad time to go to the hospital.
HEMMER: We'll get to that, as well.
Also, Jack Cafferty with us.
In the interests of full disclosure...
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, yes...
HEMMER: We spoke last hour.
CAFFERTY: Well, I, you know, it's a minor thing. It's not a big deal.
HEMMER: A minor thing?
CAFFERTY: Yes. I mean, you know...
COLLINS: Just a little geography.
CAFFERTY: Barcelona is a part of Europe.
HEMMER: That's right.
CAFFERTY: It's in Spain, and it's part of Europe.
HEMMER: That's right.
CAFFERTY: But it's not...
HEMMER: And they had the Summer Games in '92.
CAFFERTY: Don't beat yourself up over this.
HEMMER: All right, baby, you've got it.
CAFFERTY: It's a three-hour show. The little...
HEMMER: What's happening?
CAFFERTY: Little errors creep in.
HEMMER: Mea culpa.
CAFFERTY: It's Wednesday. I, of course, never make any over here.
Wednesday, things people say that got our attention, including advice the first lady gave to her daughters about being on the campaign trail. Here's a hint: It did not suggest sticking out their tongues to the media.
Look at this. It's a picture in all the papers this morning. You know, the politicians fly in, we want my family kept out of the spotlight, we want my children protected from the media. Then they put them in a public place and they do dumb things like stick their tongue out in the backseat of a presidential limousine.
And we'll tell you which senator is a, quote, "pooper picker- upper," which is good to know, because those guys down there spread enough of that stuff around, it's good to know that somebody's going around picking some of it up.
Barcelona.
HEMMER: Done.
CAFFERTY: Go ahead.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
When Democratic delegates meet next week in Boston, on Monday, in fact, to nominate eventually the presidential ticket, they will do so under unprecedented security for such an event. Unprecedented and unwelcome to many.
In Boston, our bureau chief Dan Lothian has this story today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): It's a massive security blanket covering Boston during the Democratic National Convention. In the harbor, armed Coast Guard units and new Boston Police speedboats.
KATHLEEN O'TOOLE, BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: Capable of heading off threatening vessels at speeds up to 70 miles an hour.
LOTHIAN: Across town for the first time at least 75 high-tech cameras wired into a temporary surveillance network. Manhole covers have been sealed. Garbage cans and newspaper stands, potential hiding places for bombs, have been removed.
THOMAS MENINO (D), MAYOR OF BOSTON: The people of Boston can feel assured knowing that our city is more secure than ever.
LOTHIAN: But that tight security grip troubles some residents, who worry too much of a good thing may cross the line.
PROTESTERS (singing): We are no more safe than in the streets of Boston.
LOTHIAN: These protesters recently took to the streets calling the city's plans to conduct random person bag checks on the train system during the DNC week unconstitutional.
CAROL ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACLU: It is going to violate the fundamental right to privacy while potentially bringing the entire system to a standstill.
LOTHIAN: Civil rights advocates are poised to file lawsuits to challenge searches and halt them once they begin.
URSZULA MASNY-LATOS, NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD: If we allow these searches to happen, what will be our next step? Are we going to allow searches of all cars? Are we going to allow searches of everyone who enters a mall? Where are we going to stop with this?
LOTHIAN (on camera): The ACLU is also concerned about all the surveillance cameras which will be keeping a close eye on activity across the city, raising questions about oversight and safeguards, fearful that they could be used for the wrong reasons.
(voice-over): But law enforcement officials say they're just targeting criminals, not snooping on the general public, and that all the security measures, while inconvenient, are necessary. O'TOOLE: This is a different world today. It's is post-9/11 world. We have to err on the side of caution.
LOTHIAN: Some residents are understanding.
RICHARD GROSSACK, BOSTON COMMUTER: You have to be somewhat sympathetic, no matter how much of a civil liberties person you are.
LOTHIAN: The law enforcement challenge, working to keep Boston safe and free.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: In a moment, we'll take you to Miami, Florida. The police chief there, John Timoney, is our guest in a moment here. He headed up security for the Democrats during the 1992 convention. Stay tuned for more then -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Sandy Berger says he made an honest mistake when he removed top secret documents while reviewing materials for the 9/11 Commission. The former national security advisor has stepped down as an unpaid foreign policy advisor to presidential campaign John Kerry.
Bob Franken is live in Washington now with the latest on this -- Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
And yes, he no longer is what had been described as the informal advisor to the Kerry campaign. He has formally stepped aside. This, of course, in the wake of the revelations that he's being investigated for mishandling of classified material, alleged mishandling. He admits that he took material from the National Archives during research for the 9/11 Commission.
Now, Sandy Berger has never been shy about appearing in public, but when he finally came out to address the cameras yesterday, this had to not be one of his favorite times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMUEL BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: Everything that I have done all along in this process has been for the purpose of aiding and supporting the work of the 9/11 Commission. And any suggestion to the contrary is simply absolutely wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Well, this is certainly a political issue and the Republicans are jumping all over this, saying that this could have been an effort to thwart the 9/11 Commission, and pointing out that Sandy Berger is not exactly a novice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: I deal with classified documents every single day. We know better, and Sandy Berger knew better. And for gosh sakes, Senator Kerry knows better than to utilize those documents in any way. And we think it needs to be called into question as to whether or not they have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And as the he said/she said battle goes on, the Kerry campaign responded to that, saying, "This appears to be a partisan attempt to divert attention away from the 9/11 Commission report."
By the way, the 9/11 Commission, which releases its report tomorrow, says that all of this is not having any effect whatsoever on the effectiveness of their efforts. Could it be that this is an election year, Heidi?
COLLINS: Well, Bob, a question for you about this. I haven't heard a whole lot from Democrats on this. Wondering if you have, if they are concerned at all that Sandy Berger has admitted to taking those documents, not so much for the political ramifications, but are they upset that those documents were taken out of that screening room in the first place?
FRANKEN: Quite frankly, in private, a lot of them are really startled. Again, Sandy Berger is not exactly new to this game. The Democrats, during the previous administration, had some experience with this when the former CIA director, Deutch, and the former deputy defense secretary almost had to plead guilty -- he was working a plea arrangement about the mishandling of classified documents. Only a last minute pardon by his boss, President Clinton, allowed him to go free.
So, this is not exactly a new issue, and people are scratching their heads about this.
COLLINS: All right, Bob Franken, thanks so much for that this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: About eight minutes past the hour now.
The CNN Center and Fredricka Whitfield watching the latest news for us there. And some tough news, too, out of Saudi Arabia -- good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed, we do.
In Saudi Arabia, officials there have told the U.S. Embassy that the head of slain U.S. hostage Paul Johnson has been found in Riyadh. Johnson was abducted by al Qaeda militants June 12. He had been living in Saudi Arabia for over a decade.
Also in Riyadh, the leader of an al Qaeda cell may have been killed last night. Saudi forces say they killed at least two al Qaeda members during a raid of a suspected militant safe house yesterday. The Saudi ministry says Awfi's wife and three of their children were detained.
In Baghdad, with another roadside bombing, military sources say a U.S. soldier was killed today when insurgents destroyed a Bradley fighting vehicle. The American is in the 903rd -- is, rather, the 903rd soldier to die in Iraq since the war there began. Six other troops were wounded in today's attack.
A new wildfire is raging in northern Los Angeles County. The blaze, sparked yesterday, destroyed a bridge and at least one home. Gusting winds have spread the flames across more than 5,000 acres. Dozens of homes have been evacuated. No reports of any injuries.
And finally, Shaquille O'Neal says he may have up to another decade left in the NBA. Shaq joined the top brass from the Miami Heat yesterday for an introductory news conference. He told reporters that he plays his best ball at 345 pounds and referred to himself as "the millennium Goliath." I think he's got that right -- Bill and Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Fred, no kidding on that.
Thanks so much.
We want to move on now. The prosecution in Scott Peterson's murder trial is giving jurors a window into the Peterson home. They're trying to show he was anything but a grieving husband after his pregnant wife Laci vanished.
KFBK radio reporter Chris Filippi joining us now from the courthouse in Redwood City, California.
Chris, good morning to you.
CHRIS FILIPPI, KFBK RADIO REPORTER: Good morning.
COLLINS: As we've just said, the prosecution is really trying to paint Scott Peterson as a man who just wanted to be free. In fact, he changed his son's nursery into an office about three months after the two of them disappeared.
Tell us a little bit about that testimony. How did it go in the courtroom?
FILIPPI: Yes, these are some really important photos that the prosecution showed to the jury. You'll recall in an interview that Peterson did in January of 2003 with a reporter that he said it was too difficult for him to go inside his unborn son's nursery. He just couldn't bring himself to do it.
Well, the prosecution showed photos of that nursery taken just a couple of months after Laci was reported missing. It clearly shows that this nursery that was once pristine and the future nursery for Conner Peterson had, in fact, been turned into a storage room. You can see all sorts of chairs. You can see some bed furnishings in there. It was a completely different picture.
And really the goal is to try and paint Peterson as someone who could really not care less about his pregnant wife being missing.
COLLINS: Well, how did the jury react, though, to that testimony?
FILIPPI: I didn't see an overly -- an overwhelming reaction from the jury. Certainly they paid attention to this. But this is not the first time that they've seen photos like this. It was brought up in opening statements. So, you know, this is not a total surprise to them.
What will be important is when they see the media interviews -- and that'll probably be in a week or two -- where they see Scott Peterson actually saying to a reporter that he could not bring himself to go into that nursery. That's when it's going to stand out to them as another lie.
COLLINS: All right.
Circumstantial evidence, we've been talking about it for a very long time in this case. It still seems to be kind of the crux of it all.
Any surprises in the upcoming days that you foresee?
FILIPPI: It's really hard to say. The defense has mounted a very aggressive counterattack, trying to raise a lot of questions, and I think successfully so, about some of the physical evidence in this case. We heard about these mysterious blood stains that were in Scott Peterson's truck. As it turns out, most of them don't even come from blood.
We heard a lot about the cement residue in this case. The defense was able to prove that a pitcher found next to that cement residue was, in fact, not used to mix these cement anchors that Peterson allegedly used to weigh his wife's body down to the bottom of San Francisco Bay.
It's really difficult to tell precisely where the prosecution is going to go from here and certainly plenty of opening questions about when Amber Frey is actually going to be called to the witness stand.
COLLINS: Yes, questions on that, as well as another story that broke yesterday. Court TV is saying that there was actually another woman that Scott Peterson had an affair with, her name Janet. The last name, of course, is not going to be revealed.
Can you tell us anything about her or how this might play?
FILIPPI: I think what's interesting is she came out of the woodwork fairly early, but there weren't really a lot of reports about her background or how she exactly fit into Scott Peterson's life. That is starting to come to light right now. Janet was apparently someone that Scott Peterson dated while they were both students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
It's unclear exactly if it's going to be the prosecution or the defense that calls her on the stand. Both could benefit from her testimony. The prosecution might call Janet just to show that Scott Peterson was a cad, he was cheating from an early point in his marriage and, in fact, lied to this woman much like he lied to Amber Frey, about whether he was married or not.
But the defense could get some mileage out of her testimony by saying look, Peterson clearly cheated before, yet in this private -- this previous circumstance, he didn't kill his wife over it. So why now is Amber Frey a motive for murder?
COLLINS: All right, KFBK's Chris Filippi.
Thanks so much this morning, from Redwood City.
HEMMER: About 13 minutes past the hour.
Back to politics in a moment here. In an about face, Ralph Nader says he will now accept thousands of signatures from Republicans in the State of Michigan, if that's the only way, he says, he can get on that ballot.
But does the Nader candidacy really help Republicans?
Bill Schneider examines that for us this morning.
Here's Bill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Michigan Republicans have submitted 43,000 signatures on a petition to get Ralph Nader's name on the ballot. It's a gesture of pure civic mindedness, they say, with a straight face.
GREG MCNEILLY, MICHIGAN GOP EXEC. DIRECTOR: We think it's important for minority voices to be heard and for voters to have an option and a choice.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, right, say Democrats. They know full well that Nader cost Al Gore the election last time. They suspect Republicans are helping Nader so he can do it again. Oh, my, Republicans say. We never thought of that.
MCNEILLY: Nobody knows how Nader's presence on the ballot will impact the election. If it helps Bush, that obviously pleases us.
SCHNEIDER: He's right. You can't be sure what Nader's name on the ballot will do. Nader says he's aiming for discontented Republicans.
RALPH NADER (I), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, we're trying to get conservative and Republican votes who are fed up with Bush. Why? Because they don't like his huge deficits, the betrayal of conservative principles.
SCHNEIDER: Could that happen? Right now, it's not clear what effect Nader might have. The latest national CNN-"USA Today" Gallup poll shows Kerry leading Bush by four points if Nader's name is not on the ballot, and by five points if Nader's name is included. Nader could end up hurting Bush if Democrats close ranks around Kerry to prevent a repeat of 2000.
Or, if some Republicans get fed up with Bush, like they did with his father in 1992. A lot of Republicans blame Ross Perot for the first President Bush's defeat.
The word to Republicans helping Nader is -- beware of what you ask for. You just might get it. The law of unintended consequences could turn around and bite you.
That's "Raw Politics."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Bill, thanks for that.
A programming note: Later tonight, Senator John Edwards, the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, appears live on "LARRY KING" with his wife Elizabeth, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast. And we, AMERICAN MORNING, will be in Boston come Monday morning.
Miami Police Chief John Timoney has handled security at several conventions. He also helped train Boston police for the event that starts on Monday.
Chief Timoney back with us live in Miami, Florida.
Chief, welcome back and good morning to you.
JOHN TIMONEY, MIAMI CHIEF OF POLICE: Good morning, Bill.
How are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine. Thanks for your time today.
Is Boston ready?
TIMONEY: Oh, I believe so. They've been training for well over a year. Kathy O'Toole is an experienced professional. And then, you've got help like never before from the federal authorities -- the Secret Service, FBI and a whole host of federal agencies.
The one fly in the ointment -- I was looking at the papers today -- this, the problem between the police union and the mayor has really gotten ugly and personal. This is a huge distraction for the regular police force coming up.
HEMMER: We talked to the mayor yesterday about it. He says that matter is going to be done with before this thing starts.
Do you not believe that to be the case? TIMONEY: According to today's "New York Times," Tom Nee, who's the head of the police union, says it's going to be more vociferous and uglier. But we'll see.
HEMMER: If that's the case, how does that change your approach to security, then, if that's the case?
TIMONEY: Well, what it is, it really is a distraction, number one, because you've got to dedicate a certain amount of police officers who normally would be focused in on protesters and possibly terrorist activity handling off duty police officers. That's number one.
Number two, some of those off duty police officers, when they go back on duty, may be involved in the convention. And instead of working 12 hours, they're now awake 18 and 20 hours a day. And that becomes a bit of a problem over a four or five day period.
HEMMER: Yes, let me bring to your attention here in New York City, on Monday evening, about 8:00, there was a backpack that exploded in a subway station right around Times Square.
TIMONEY: Right.
HEMMER: Initially, it was thought to be fireworks. Now police believe it's a pipe bomb.
TIMONEY: Yes.
HEMMER: No arrests, no suspects.
TIMONEY: Right.
HEMMER: What does that do to the heightened concern when Republicans are here in a month?
TIMONEY: Well, it clearly unnerved people on the subway system all along Times Square. But it looks like that there may be more to this pipe bomb than meets the eye. And clearly the officer who discovered the pipe bomb and was allegedly injured has now come under suspicion, according to today's papers.
So, who knows what that means?
The bottom line is it really did unnerve people. It caused them to evacuate the subway system. And if, in fact, you do have a real explosion come September or late August, that has the potential for real damage.
HEMMER: Chief, in your experience, how often do terrorists test the system?
TIMONEY: That's hard to tell. But we do know for a fact on intercepts that certainly in New York, on at least two or three occasions, they have gone to the Brooklyn Bridge, to the New York City Subway system and tested it and then reported back to their handlers that it was too hot, that there was too much of a visible uniformed presence.
And so, we know for a fact that they do dry runs. We know for a fact that the 9/11 hijackers did dry runs. And so that's to be expected.
HEMMER: John Timoney is the police chief in Miami. Thanks for talking with us. We'll be watching quite closely come Monday morning.
TIMONEY: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you.
Again, we'll have coverage from the DNC. Beginning on Monday morning I'll be in Boston, 7:00 a.m. Eastern time, our coverage start. We'll take you right through the week there in Boston -- Heidi.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Still to come this morning: It's a tribute to the memory of those lost on 9/11. So, why is a Russian artist having such a hard time finding somebody to take it? We'll have a look at that.
HEMMER: Also in a moment, more on the case of Sandy Berger. We'll talk about what kind of fallout there might be in a political sense. Kamber and May with us on a Wednesday.
COLLINS: And they're not exactly Doogie Howser, but some doctors coming to a hospital near you are a little green. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us whether that's something to worry about, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
Back with Jack and "The File."
CAFFERTY: Thank you, sir.
Wednesday, the day we look at some things that people said over the last week that got our attention, beginning with this: "I could do it. I'm a really good camper. I can sleep on the ground." Martha Stewart, after being sentenced to prison, when Barbara Walters asked her if she could cope with prison life.
All right, well, they get better, several of these.
The next one is, "It's like finding the end of the rainbow in Australia," Fraser Claughton of England. He was vacationing in Melbourne, Australia. He bought a locked suitcase for 37 bucks. When he got it back to the hotel and opened it, he found it contained some lost Beatles memorabilia valued at a million dollars. Now that's a vacation.
"The male had nacho cheese in his hair, on his face and on his shoulders." Scott Spicer of the Maryville, Tennessee, Police Department on Michael Monn, who was arrested while celebrating his 23rd birthday. Police found Monn drunk, naked and covered with nacho cheese from the swimming pool snack bar. This would be what town -- Maryville, Tennessee, they had that story.
"Stand up straight and keep your hair out of your eyes," First Lady Laura Bush on the advice she gave her twin daughters about campaigning for their father. And she presumably also said, "Don't do this." That's a picture in all the newspapers in the country this morning of one of the first family progeny sticking her tongue out in the back seat of the presidential limousine.
And finally, you've got to like a senator who is a pooper picker- upper -- Maryland resident Connie Thompson on seeing Senator Edward Kennedy cleaning up after his dog near the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.
HEMMER: The question: Is who was on the receiving end of that tongue from Jenna?
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Well, that's a personal question. I mean I'm not going to...
HEMMER: Well, I mean, since you asked.
CAFFERTY: I'm not going near that.
HEMMER: Well, there's a window separating them, but...
CAFFERTY: I mean look at that.
COLLINS: Just arbitrary press?
CAFFERTY: I mean that's, you know...
COLLINS: Or?
CAFFERTY: You know, it's like there's -- that picture will haunt her when she's -- when she's in the home 50 years from now sitting on the front porch in a rocker with a shawl over her shoulders eating butter mints and knitting socks for her grandkids, somebody will say, "Hey, remember this!" I mean it's just one of those things you don't do, because it'll follow you for the end -- until the end of your days.
HEMMER: It's your...
COLLINS: You sound like you have experience.
CAFFERTY: I've got a reservation in one of those places in about two years, what, are you kidding me?
HEMMER: Enjoy your butter mints, grandma.
CAFFERTY: That's it. HEMMER: We will see, though. Maybe there's some videotape that broadens out the scene a little bit and we'll see.
CAFFERTY: Barcelona is in Europe. Did you know that?
HEMMER: Yes, as a matter of fact.
CAFFERTY: There you go.
HEMMER: Correct.
CAFFERTY: That's correct.
COLLINS: I'm already tearing up, and it's only 8:30.
CAFFERTY: Yes, it's pretty sad, isn't it? That's -- I cry a lot, too.
COLLINS: All right, thanks, Jack.
Still to come this morning: Sandy Berger says it was an accident when he took classified documents in the 9/11 investigation, and he's stepped down from the Kerry campaign because of it. Will there be more fallout? We'll take a look.
Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 21, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Boston police planning a no nonsense approach to security during the Democratic Convention. Are they going too far?
Former National Security Advisor Samuel Berger answers accusations he knowingly stole classified documents.
And a battle over a massive 9/11 monument intended for one of the most visible shorelines in the world. The fate of The Tear Drop, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm Heidi Collins in for Soledad, who is resting as her due date gets closer and closer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Closer and closer.
Good morning to you.
I'm Bill Hemmer.
Some of the other headlines this hour: Massive security planned for Boston and New York City. Police trying to get ready for any possibility of a terrorist risk. In a minute, we'll get into the specific areas of concern with Miami's police chief. Find out what causes the most problems for law enforcement.
COLLINS: Also, have you ever heard of July doctors? Sanjay will be with us a little bit later and looking at the myths about doctors in their first month of work and whether this month is a bad time to go to the hospital.
HEMMER: We'll get to that, as well.
Also, Jack Cafferty with us.
In the interests of full disclosure...
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, yes...
HEMMER: We spoke last hour.
CAFFERTY: Well, I, you know, it's a minor thing. It's not a big deal.
HEMMER: A minor thing?
CAFFERTY: Yes. I mean, you know...
COLLINS: Just a little geography.
CAFFERTY: Barcelona is a part of Europe.
HEMMER: That's right.
CAFFERTY: It's in Spain, and it's part of Europe.
HEMMER: That's right.
CAFFERTY: But it's not...
HEMMER: And they had the Summer Games in '92.
CAFFERTY: Don't beat yourself up over this.
HEMMER: All right, baby, you've got it.
CAFFERTY: It's a three-hour show. The little...
HEMMER: What's happening?
CAFFERTY: Little errors creep in.
HEMMER: Mea culpa.
CAFFERTY: It's Wednesday. I, of course, never make any over here.
Wednesday, things people say that got our attention, including advice the first lady gave to her daughters about being on the campaign trail. Here's a hint: It did not suggest sticking out their tongues to the media.
Look at this. It's a picture in all the papers this morning. You know, the politicians fly in, we want my family kept out of the spotlight, we want my children protected from the media. Then they put them in a public place and they do dumb things like stick their tongue out in the backseat of a presidential limousine.
And we'll tell you which senator is a, quote, "pooper picker- upper," which is good to know, because those guys down there spread enough of that stuff around, it's good to know that somebody's going around picking some of it up.
Barcelona.
HEMMER: Done.
CAFFERTY: Go ahead.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
When Democratic delegates meet next week in Boston, on Monday, in fact, to nominate eventually the presidential ticket, they will do so under unprecedented security for such an event. Unprecedented and unwelcome to many.
In Boston, our bureau chief Dan Lothian has this story today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): It's a massive security blanket covering Boston during the Democratic National Convention. In the harbor, armed Coast Guard units and new Boston Police speedboats.
KATHLEEN O'TOOLE, BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: Capable of heading off threatening vessels at speeds up to 70 miles an hour.
LOTHIAN: Across town for the first time at least 75 high-tech cameras wired into a temporary surveillance network. Manhole covers have been sealed. Garbage cans and newspaper stands, potential hiding places for bombs, have been removed.
THOMAS MENINO (D), MAYOR OF BOSTON: The people of Boston can feel assured knowing that our city is more secure than ever.
LOTHIAN: But that tight security grip troubles some residents, who worry too much of a good thing may cross the line.
PROTESTERS (singing): We are no more safe than in the streets of Boston.
LOTHIAN: These protesters recently took to the streets calling the city's plans to conduct random person bag checks on the train system during the DNC week unconstitutional.
CAROL ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACLU: It is going to violate the fundamental right to privacy while potentially bringing the entire system to a standstill.
LOTHIAN: Civil rights advocates are poised to file lawsuits to challenge searches and halt them once they begin.
URSZULA MASNY-LATOS, NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD: If we allow these searches to happen, what will be our next step? Are we going to allow searches of all cars? Are we going to allow searches of everyone who enters a mall? Where are we going to stop with this?
LOTHIAN (on camera): The ACLU is also concerned about all the surveillance cameras which will be keeping a close eye on activity across the city, raising questions about oversight and safeguards, fearful that they could be used for the wrong reasons.
(voice-over): But law enforcement officials say they're just targeting criminals, not snooping on the general public, and that all the security measures, while inconvenient, are necessary. O'TOOLE: This is a different world today. It's is post-9/11 world. We have to err on the side of caution.
LOTHIAN: Some residents are understanding.
RICHARD GROSSACK, BOSTON COMMUTER: You have to be somewhat sympathetic, no matter how much of a civil liberties person you are.
LOTHIAN: The law enforcement challenge, working to keep Boston safe and free.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: In a moment, we'll take you to Miami, Florida. The police chief there, John Timoney, is our guest in a moment here. He headed up security for the Democrats during the 1992 convention. Stay tuned for more then -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Sandy Berger says he made an honest mistake when he removed top secret documents while reviewing materials for the 9/11 Commission. The former national security advisor has stepped down as an unpaid foreign policy advisor to presidential campaign John Kerry.
Bob Franken is live in Washington now with the latest on this -- Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
And yes, he no longer is what had been described as the informal advisor to the Kerry campaign. He has formally stepped aside. This, of course, in the wake of the revelations that he's being investigated for mishandling of classified material, alleged mishandling. He admits that he took material from the National Archives during research for the 9/11 Commission.
Now, Sandy Berger has never been shy about appearing in public, but when he finally came out to address the cameras yesterday, this had to not be one of his favorite times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMUEL BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: Everything that I have done all along in this process has been for the purpose of aiding and supporting the work of the 9/11 Commission. And any suggestion to the contrary is simply absolutely wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Well, this is certainly a political issue and the Republicans are jumping all over this, saying that this could have been an effort to thwart the 9/11 Commission, and pointing out that Sandy Berger is not exactly a novice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: I deal with classified documents every single day. We know better, and Sandy Berger knew better. And for gosh sakes, Senator Kerry knows better than to utilize those documents in any way. And we think it needs to be called into question as to whether or not they have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And as the he said/she said battle goes on, the Kerry campaign responded to that, saying, "This appears to be a partisan attempt to divert attention away from the 9/11 Commission report."
By the way, the 9/11 Commission, which releases its report tomorrow, says that all of this is not having any effect whatsoever on the effectiveness of their efforts. Could it be that this is an election year, Heidi?
COLLINS: Well, Bob, a question for you about this. I haven't heard a whole lot from Democrats on this. Wondering if you have, if they are concerned at all that Sandy Berger has admitted to taking those documents, not so much for the political ramifications, but are they upset that those documents were taken out of that screening room in the first place?
FRANKEN: Quite frankly, in private, a lot of them are really startled. Again, Sandy Berger is not exactly new to this game. The Democrats, during the previous administration, had some experience with this when the former CIA director, Deutch, and the former deputy defense secretary almost had to plead guilty -- he was working a plea arrangement about the mishandling of classified documents. Only a last minute pardon by his boss, President Clinton, allowed him to go free.
So, this is not exactly a new issue, and people are scratching their heads about this.
COLLINS: All right, Bob Franken, thanks so much for that this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: About eight minutes past the hour now.
The CNN Center and Fredricka Whitfield watching the latest news for us there. And some tough news, too, out of Saudi Arabia -- good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed, we do.
In Saudi Arabia, officials there have told the U.S. Embassy that the head of slain U.S. hostage Paul Johnson has been found in Riyadh. Johnson was abducted by al Qaeda militants June 12. He had been living in Saudi Arabia for over a decade.
Also in Riyadh, the leader of an al Qaeda cell may have been killed last night. Saudi forces say they killed at least two al Qaeda members during a raid of a suspected militant safe house yesterday. The Saudi ministry says Awfi's wife and three of their children were detained.
In Baghdad, with another roadside bombing, military sources say a U.S. soldier was killed today when insurgents destroyed a Bradley fighting vehicle. The American is in the 903rd -- is, rather, the 903rd soldier to die in Iraq since the war there began. Six other troops were wounded in today's attack.
A new wildfire is raging in northern Los Angeles County. The blaze, sparked yesterday, destroyed a bridge and at least one home. Gusting winds have spread the flames across more than 5,000 acres. Dozens of homes have been evacuated. No reports of any injuries.
And finally, Shaquille O'Neal says he may have up to another decade left in the NBA. Shaq joined the top brass from the Miami Heat yesterday for an introductory news conference. He told reporters that he plays his best ball at 345 pounds and referred to himself as "the millennium Goliath." I think he's got that right -- Bill and Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Fred, no kidding on that.
Thanks so much.
We want to move on now. The prosecution in Scott Peterson's murder trial is giving jurors a window into the Peterson home. They're trying to show he was anything but a grieving husband after his pregnant wife Laci vanished.
KFBK radio reporter Chris Filippi joining us now from the courthouse in Redwood City, California.
Chris, good morning to you.
CHRIS FILIPPI, KFBK RADIO REPORTER: Good morning.
COLLINS: As we've just said, the prosecution is really trying to paint Scott Peterson as a man who just wanted to be free. In fact, he changed his son's nursery into an office about three months after the two of them disappeared.
Tell us a little bit about that testimony. How did it go in the courtroom?
FILIPPI: Yes, these are some really important photos that the prosecution showed to the jury. You'll recall in an interview that Peterson did in January of 2003 with a reporter that he said it was too difficult for him to go inside his unborn son's nursery. He just couldn't bring himself to do it.
Well, the prosecution showed photos of that nursery taken just a couple of months after Laci was reported missing. It clearly shows that this nursery that was once pristine and the future nursery for Conner Peterson had, in fact, been turned into a storage room. You can see all sorts of chairs. You can see some bed furnishings in there. It was a completely different picture.
And really the goal is to try and paint Peterson as someone who could really not care less about his pregnant wife being missing.
COLLINS: Well, how did the jury react, though, to that testimony?
FILIPPI: I didn't see an overly -- an overwhelming reaction from the jury. Certainly they paid attention to this. But this is not the first time that they've seen photos like this. It was brought up in opening statements. So, you know, this is not a total surprise to them.
What will be important is when they see the media interviews -- and that'll probably be in a week or two -- where they see Scott Peterson actually saying to a reporter that he could not bring himself to go into that nursery. That's when it's going to stand out to them as another lie.
COLLINS: All right.
Circumstantial evidence, we've been talking about it for a very long time in this case. It still seems to be kind of the crux of it all.
Any surprises in the upcoming days that you foresee?
FILIPPI: It's really hard to say. The defense has mounted a very aggressive counterattack, trying to raise a lot of questions, and I think successfully so, about some of the physical evidence in this case. We heard about these mysterious blood stains that were in Scott Peterson's truck. As it turns out, most of them don't even come from blood.
We heard a lot about the cement residue in this case. The defense was able to prove that a pitcher found next to that cement residue was, in fact, not used to mix these cement anchors that Peterson allegedly used to weigh his wife's body down to the bottom of San Francisco Bay.
It's really difficult to tell precisely where the prosecution is going to go from here and certainly plenty of opening questions about when Amber Frey is actually going to be called to the witness stand.
COLLINS: Yes, questions on that, as well as another story that broke yesterday. Court TV is saying that there was actually another woman that Scott Peterson had an affair with, her name Janet. The last name, of course, is not going to be revealed.
Can you tell us anything about her or how this might play?
FILIPPI: I think what's interesting is she came out of the woodwork fairly early, but there weren't really a lot of reports about her background or how she exactly fit into Scott Peterson's life. That is starting to come to light right now. Janet was apparently someone that Scott Peterson dated while they were both students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
It's unclear exactly if it's going to be the prosecution or the defense that calls her on the stand. Both could benefit from her testimony. The prosecution might call Janet just to show that Scott Peterson was a cad, he was cheating from an early point in his marriage and, in fact, lied to this woman much like he lied to Amber Frey, about whether he was married or not.
But the defense could get some mileage out of her testimony by saying look, Peterson clearly cheated before, yet in this private -- this previous circumstance, he didn't kill his wife over it. So why now is Amber Frey a motive for murder?
COLLINS: All right, KFBK's Chris Filippi.
Thanks so much this morning, from Redwood City.
HEMMER: About 13 minutes past the hour.
Back to politics in a moment here. In an about face, Ralph Nader says he will now accept thousands of signatures from Republicans in the State of Michigan, if that's the only way, he says, he can get on that ballot.
But does the Nader candidacy really help Republicans?
Bill Schneider examines that for us this morning.
Here's Bill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Michigan Republicans have submitted 43,000 signatures on a petition to get Ralph Nader's name on the ballot. It's a gesture of pure civic mindedness, they say, with a straight face.
GREG MCNEILLY, MICHIGAN GOP EXEC. DIRECTOR: We think it's important for minority voices to be heard and for voters to have an option and a choice.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, right, say Democrats. They know full well that Nader cost Al Gore the election last time. They suspect Republicans are helping Nader so he can do it again. Oh, my, Republicans say. We never thought of that.
MCNEILLY: Nobody knows how Nader's presence on the ballot will impact the election. If it helps Bush, that obviously pleases us.
SCHNEIDER: He's right. You can't be sure what Nader's name on the ballot will do. Nader says he's aiming for discontented Republicans.
RALPH NADER (I), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, we're trying to get conservative and Republican votes who are fed up with Bush. Why? Because they don't like his huge deficits, the betrayal of conservative principles.
SCHNEIDER: Could that happen? Right now, it's not clear what effect Nader might have. The latest national CNN-"USA Today" Gallup poll shows Kerry leading Bush by four points if Nader's name is not on the ballot, and by five points if Nader's name is included. Nader could end up hurting Bush if Democrats close ranks around Kerry to prevent a repeat of 2000.
Or, if some Republicans get fed up with Bush, like they did with his father in 1992. A lot of Republicans blame Ross Perot for the first President Bush's defeat.
The word to Republicans helping Nader is -- beware of what you ask for. You just might get it. The law of unintended consequences could turn around and bite you.
That's "Raw Politics."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Bill, thanks for that.
A programming note: Later tonight, Senator John Edwards, the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, appears live on "LARRY KING" with his wife Elizabeth, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast. And we, AMERICAN MORNING, will be in Boston come Monday morning.
Miami Police Chief John Timoney has handled security at several conventions. He also helped train Boston police for the event that starts on Monday.
Chief Timoney back with us live in Miami, Florida.
Chief, welcome back and good morning to you.
JOHN TIMONEY, MIAMI CHIEF OF POLICE: Good morning, Bill.
How are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine. Thanks for your time today.
Is Boston ready?
TIMONEY: Oh, I believe so. They've been training for well over a year. Kathy O'Toole is an experienced professional. And then, you've got help like never before from the federal authorities -- the Secret Service, FBI and a whole host of federal agencies.
The one fly in the ointment -- I was looking at the papers today -- this, the problem between the police union and the mayor has really gotten ugly and personal. This is a huge distraction for the regular police force coming up.
HEMMER: We talked to the mayor yesterday about it. He says that matter is going to be done with before this thing starts.
Do you not believe that to be the case? TIMONEY: According to today's "New York Times," Tom Nee, who's the head of the police union, says it's going to be more vociferous and uglier. But we'll see.
HEMMER: If that's the case, how does that change your approach to security, then, if that's the case?
TIMONEY: Well, what it is, it really is a distraction, number one, because you've got to dedicate a certain amount of police officers who normally would be focused in on protesters and possibly terrorist activity handling off duty police officers. That's number one.
Number two, some of those off duty police officers, when they go back on duty, may be involved in the convention. And instead of working 12 hours, they're now awake 18 and 20 hours a day. And that becomes a bit of a problem over a four or five day period.
HEMMER: Yes, let me bring to your attention here in New York City, on Monday evening, about 8:00, there was a backpack that exploded in a subway station right around Times Square.
TIMONEY: Right.
HEMMER: Initially, it was thought to be fireworks. Now police believe it's a pipe bomb.
TIMONEY: Yes.
HEMMER: No arrests, no suspects.
TIMONEY: Right.
HEMMER: What does that do to the heightened concern when Republicans are here in a month?
TIMONEY: Well, it clearly unnerved people on the subway system all along Times Square. But it looks like that there may be more to this pipe bomb than meets the eye. And clearly the officer who discovered the pipe bomb and was allegedly injured has now come under suspicion, according to today's papers.
So, who knows what that means?
The bottom line is it really did unnerve people. It caused them to evacuate the subway system. And if, in fact, you do have a real explosion come September or late August, that has the potential for real damage.
HEMMER: Chief, in your experience, how often do terrorists test the system?
TIMONEY: That's hard to tell. But we do know for a fact on intercepts that certainly in New York, on at least two or three occasions, they have gone to the Brooklyn Bridge, to the New York City Subway system and tested it and then reported back to their handlers that it was too hot, that there was too much of a visible uniformed presence.
And so, we know for a fact that they do dry runs. We know for a fact that the 9/11 hijackers did dry runs. And so that's to be expected.
HEMMER: John Timoney is the police chief in Miami. Thanks for talking with us. We'll be watching quite closely come Monday morning.
TIMONEY: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you.
Again, we'll have coverage from the DNC. Beginning on Monday morning I'll be in Boston, 7:00 a.m. Eastern time, our coverage start. We'll take you right through the week there in Boston -- Heidi.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Still to come this morning: It's a tribute to the memory of those lost on 9/11. So, why is a Russian artist having such a hard time finding somebody to take it? We'll have a look at that.
HEMMER: Also in a moment, more on the case of Sandy Berger. We'll talk about what kind of fallout there might be in a political sense. Kamber and May with us on a Wednesday.
COLLINS: And they're not exactly Doogie Howser, but some doctors coming to a hospital near you are a little green. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us whether that's something to worry about, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
Back with Jack and "The File."
CAFFERTY: Thank you, sir.
Wednesday, the day we look at some things that people said over the last week that got our attention, beginning with this: "I could do it. I'm a really good camper. I can sleep on the ground." Martha Stewart, after being sentenced to prison, when Barbara Walters asked her if she could cope with prison life.
All right, well, they get better, several of these.
The next one is, "It's like finding the end of the rainbow in Australia," Fraser Claughton of England. He was vacationing in Melbourne, Australia. He bought a locked suitcase for 37 bucks. When he got it back to the hotel and opened it, he found it contained some lost Beatles memorabilia valued at a million dollars. Now that's a vacation.
"The male had nacho cheese in his hair, on his face and on his shoulders." Scott Spicer of the Maryville, Tennessee, Police Department on Michael Monn, who was arrested while celebrating his 23rd birthday. Police found Monn drunk, naked and covered with nacho cheese from the swimming pool snack bar. This would be what town -- Maryville, Tennessee, they had that story.
"Stand up straight and keep your hair out of your eyes," First Lady Laura Bush on the advice she gave her twin daughters about campaigning for their father. And she presumably also said, "Don't do this." That's a picture in all the newspapers in the country this morning of one of the first family progeny sticking her tongue out in the back seat of the presidential limousine.
And finally, you've got to like a senator who is a pooper picker- upper -- Maryland resident Connie Thompson on seeing Senator Edward Kennedy cleaning up after his dog near the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.
HEMMER: The question: Is who was on the receiving end of that tongue from Jenna?
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Well, that's a personal question. I mean I'm not going to...
HEMMER: Well, I mean, since you asked.
CAFFERTY: I'm not going near that.
HEMMER: Well, there's a window separating them, but...
CAFFERTY: I mean look at that.
COLLINS: Just arbitrary press?
CAFFERTY: I mean that's, you know...
COLLINS: Or?
CAFFERTY: You know, it's like there's -- that picture will haunt her when she's -- when she's in the home 50 years from now sitting on the front porch in a rocker with a shawl over her shoulders eating butter mints and knitting socks for her grandkids, somebody will say, "Hey, remember this!" I mean it's just one of those things you don't do, because it'll follow you for the end -- until the end of your days.
HEMMER: It's your...
COLLINS: You sound like you have experience.
CAFFERTY: I've got a reservation in one of those places in about two years, what, are you kidding me?
HEMMER: Enjoy your butter mints, grandma.
CAFFERTY: That's it. HEMMER: We will see, though. Maybe there's some videotape that broadens out the scene a little bit and we'll see.
CAFFERTY: Barcelona is in Europe. Did you know that?
HEMMER: Yes, as a matter of fact.
CAFFERTY: There you go.
HEMMER: Correct.
CAFFERTY: That's correct.
COLLINS: I'm already tearing up, and it's only 8:30.
CAFFERTY: Yes, it's pretty sad, isn't it? That's -- I cry a lot, too.
COLLINS: All right, thanks, Jack.
Still to come this morning: Sandy Berger says it was an accident when he took classified documents in the 9/11 investigation, and he's stepped down from the Kerry campaign because of it. Will there be more fallout? We'll take a look.
Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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