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American Morning
Kerry & Bush Campaign in Battleground States Today; Ebert & Roeper Discuss Political Films; "Extra Effort" -- Chicago's Free Street Theatre
Aired October 22, 2004 - 09:30 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: Welcome back, everyone, and good morning. I know now what I'm getting Soledad and Heidi for Christmas this year.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, because you didn't get us anything last year, Bill, but...
HEMMER: Cheap guy. I'll give you a CD of all these great tunes we've been hearing throughout the week here.
O'BRIEN: That would be nice.
HEMMER: You'd like that.
O'BRIEN: Oh, I take that back. You're so sweet.
HEMMER: Yeah, whatever.
O'BRIEN: I'm getting all teary.
HEMMER: Save it.
Healthcare. Healthcare is the main point of discussion and contention, too, on the trail as candidates round out their campaign week. Looking at how the issue plays for each of them. And the role of Christopher Reeve's widow in this final push -- she was on the trail yesterday with John Kerry.
O'BRIEN: So, 11 days from now you can vote for your favorite candidate, but we're voting for the best movie about a candidate right now. Toure is going to talk with Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper about the all-time best political films -- coming up in just a few moments.
HEMMER: Good deal.
Heidi Collins back with us here with the headlines here. Good morning.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You're going to make me, like, work now, because I have to think about something to get for you.
O'BRIEN: No, he didn't get us anything last year. Don't worry about it.
COLLINS: That's true. All right, new tradition I guess. Now in the news this morning -- U.S. strikes are pounding insurgent targets in the Iraqi city of Falluja. Military sources say American troops destroyed two buildings last night, housing ammunition and equipment. There are no reports of casualties at this time.
A new ruling this morning in connection with the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison. A judge has ordered specialist Charles Graner Jr. to stand trial for his role in the prisoner abuse scandal. Graner is also charged with adultery involving Reservist Lynndie England. She gave birth to their child earlier this month. Graner will stand trial January 7th.
Secretary of State Colin Powell leaving for Japan this morning. He's trying to convince officials there that the U.S. is committed to six nation talks with North Korea to discuss its nuclear program. Powell will also travel to China and North Korea.
And a changing of the guard will take place in less than two hours in space. The Expedition 9 crew members will relinquish control of the International Space Station to their replacements. Tomorrow, they'll be Earthbound after a six-month stint circling the planet. And what an appropriate story to do this morning as we sit out front the Adler Planetarium.
Got a chance to look around inside...
HEMMER: A little bit, yes.
COLLINS: It's beautiful, isn't it?
HEMMER: Yeah, really nice.
COLLINS: A little boy would go nuts.
O'BRIEN: I was thinking that the kids -- it's another place where you think, boy, if you travel, the kids would be great.
COLLINS: And he's been really good. So, thank you, Robbie. Mommy's going to the gift store.
O'BRIEN: Oh, so sweet.
HEMMER: For you later. Thank you, Heidi.
Eleven days on the calendar now -- 11 days until election 2004. All eyes on about 10 battleground states that certainly will have a big role in determining who wins the White House this time.
Senator Kerry visits three of those states today. And Kelly Wallace starts us now with the Kerry campaign on the road in Milwaukee. Kelly, good morning there.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, first stop here in Milwaukee at the University of Wisconsin. You can see a big crowd here gathered to see Senator Kerry. They will get a surprise guest -- Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg will be on hand. Senator Kerry focusing on issues affecting working women. This is no accident. Both campaigns very aware of what we are seeing in some polls, and that is six of the 10 voters still undecided are women.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): That is why, before a crowd of thousands in Minneapolis last night, a fired up John Kerry had this message.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need a little less talk about family values, a little more valuing of families.
WALLACE: Why he was introduced by Dana Reeve, Christopher Reeve's widow, and why one of the most vocal of the September 11 widows stumped for him in Iowa and now appears in one of his television ads.
KRISTEN BREITWEISER, 9/11 WIDOW: I want to look in my daughter's eyes and know that she is save.
WALLACE: According to the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, Senator Kerry has a lead of just six points over President Bush with women voters. A danger sign for the senator, since Democrats traditionally do better with women.
In 2000, Al Gore had an 11-point advantage with women voters according to exit polls. George W. Bush had the exact same advantage with men.
Senator Kerry trying to make inroads, especially with married suburban women concerned about security, who have been giving higher marks to President Bush.
KERRY: I want a world as you do, where no American mother should ever have to lie awake at night worrying about what tomorrow will bring.
WALLACE: Despite the outreach, there are those unknowns. Such as whether these comments by Teresa Heinz Kerry, for which she later apologized, will anger stay at home moms.
TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: I don't know Laura -- but she seems to be calm, and she seems to be -- she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job, I mean, since she's been grown up.
WALLACE: Mrs. Bush, during her first-ever solo bus trip, said she was not offended.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: It didn't hurt my feelings. It was perfectly all right. She apologized.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (on camera): And Laura Bush also happens to be in the Milwaukee area today, part of the Bush/Cheney campaign to try and win this state, which Al Gore narrowly won four years ago.
Bill, from here, Senator Kerry heads to Nevada and Colorado, two states George W. Bush won four years ago -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Kelly. Winding down -- less than two weeks. Kelly Wallace this morning. Thanks for that -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: President Bush is on his way to the battleground state of Pennsylvania. He departed Andrews Air Force base just moments ago. This will be the president's 41st visit to Pennsylvania since he took office.
Yesterday, the president mocked Senator John Kerry's hunting trip in Ohio, saying Kerry will vote against gun owners' rights. He also touted his healthcare reform package as the one for America.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Here America faces a clear choice. When it comes to healthcare, Senator Kerry's prescription is bigger government with higher costs. My reforms will lower costs and give more control and choices to the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Following the visit to Pennsylvania, the president heads to Ohio and Florida, where he's also going to spend Saturday -- Bill?
HEMMER: The world series is set now, and we are seeing red. The Red Sox face another of their longtime demons -- there are many on that list, by the way, for Boston. The St. Louis Cardinals beat Houston last night. They also beat Roger Clemens in that game seven to win the National League pennant. And like the Boston/New York matchup, that series came down to a seventh and deciding final game.
No wasting time, meanwhile, at Fenway in Boston. The grounds crew, as of yesterday, put down the World Series logo on the field in preparation. Game one Saturday night in Boston. We all probably know it by now: The Red Sox have not won the series since 1918. They face the Cardinals again -- 1946, 1967, both time losers, both seven-game series. So, we will see what is in store this year tomorrow night.
Check of the weather. Here's Orelon Sidney out at the CNN Center. Baseball in Boston Saturday. Good or bad weatherwise, Orelon?
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: All right, Orelon, thanks. We are a little cloudy here in Chicago.
O'BRIEN: Yes, which is too bad.
HEMMER: She says it's going to burn off, though. We're going to get a nice day a little later today. O'BRIEN: She promises. Yeah. because this is an amazing, amazing shot. I mean, yesterday when it was clear, it was really beautiful. It's still beautiful, but it's a little foggy.
Still to come this morning, if you want a productive workplace, turn up the thermostat. We'll explain when Andy minds your business in just a little bit.
HEMMER: Also, what do Chicago film critics Ebert and Roeper say is the best political movie of all time. We'll have an answer there.
First, our final fun fact here: Which of the following is one of the toppings on our authentic Chicago-style hot dog -- sauerkraut, ketchup, sport peppers, or chili? It's breakfast time on AMERICAN MORNING, live in Chicago, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
If you're just waking up, here's the answer to our last Chicago fun fact: Which topping is authentic? It's "C"; it's the sport peppers. An authentic Chicago-styled hot dog is steamed with 100 percent beef hot dog, topped with yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, a dash of celery salt, served in a poppy seed bun, nothing more and nothing less.
Toure sat down with two of America's leading film critics, who happen to be based here in Chicago. He asked Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper about some memorable cinematic moments when it comes to politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOURE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're in a political year. What are some of the great, quintessential, political films that you think about?
RICHARD ROEPER, FILM CRITIC: I think maybe my favorite political movie of all time is "The Candidate," the Robert Redford movie where he played Bill McKay, the son of a political legend who is put up to run for a Senate seat in California, mainly because he's really good looking and articulate, and this is a movie that's about 30 years ahead of its time. I mean, it rings true today. And Redford is working actually on a sequel, on a follow-up to the candidate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: Think of it, the biggest, the most powerful country cannot keep its full job force working.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER EBERT, FILM CRITIC: Robert Altman made a great series for television called "Tanner 88," where he actually fielded a candidate, and many people came in to the storefront offices they used as sets, and (INAUDIBLE) sign up and vote.
You voted for him.
(CROSSTALK)
EBERT: Could have been a good guy, yes, so that was a good political movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Michigan is a strong one for me, you know that, Jack.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I'll tell you, it made me glad to be a Democrat. I wouldn't want to be up against you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: "The Manchurian Candidate" is one of the great political films of all time. It's been made twice now. For those of you who weren't around to experience the first "Manchurian Candidate," what made that so great?
EBERT: That movie is still great, and it's better than the remake, and always will be.
I think that it was fascinating because we were interested in the idea that somebody could be programmed to behave later in this insidious way. And it came out just at the time of the Kennedy assassination. It came out a little before the Kennedy assassination, and many people then immediately made all kinds of assumptions what happened to Lee Harvey Oswald when he was in Russia and so forth, but it was just well made. It was well acted.
ROEPER: Angela Lansbury was so great in the original.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE HARVEY, ACTOR: What is it, mother?
ANGELA LANSBURY, ACTRESS: What sort of a greeting is that at 3:30 in the morning?
HARVEY: It's a quarter to 3:00 -- and what do you want?
LANSBURY: I want to talk to you, Raymond.
HARVEY: About what?
LANSBURY: I want to talk to you about that communist tart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: What about "Primary Colors?"
EBERT: I mean, good movie, good performance by John Travolta. I liked it. I felt that it really had a feeling for the Clinton-like character, and kind of showed how he operated, how he...
ROEPER: I think it's an underrated film. I mean, it did OK at the box office and got generally decent reviews. But I think it's a great film, and all the performances there, including Kathy Bates as that political operative -- talk about somebody who says exactly what they mean.
But I think Travolta really did capture everything that's charismatic, and hopeful and uplifting about Clinton, and everything about him that drove people nuts, and sometimes had people just so disappointed in him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN TRAVOLTA, ACTOR: I'm going to do something really outrageous -- I'm going to tell the truth.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: Now you guys both gave two thumbs up for "Fahrenheit 9/11." Is that just because of your political leanings, or is that on the merits of the film?
EBERT: Well, first of all, I don't believe that it's fair to the viewer to claim to be objective and to not have an opinion, if have you an opinion. My opinion is that I'm going to vote for John Kerry for president.
TOURE: OK.
TOURE: But on the other hand, I thought "Fahrenheit 9/11" was a good movie. I would like people to believe had it been a bad movie, I would have said so. I think that it's a very entertaining movie, a very funny movie, and that's really Michael Moore's strength, not his logic, but his common man's humorous touch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you.
Now watch this drive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: Can "Fahrenheit" win best picture? EBERT: If it's nominated, but I think it won't be nominated.
ROEPER: As a piece of filmmaking, it's very good, but I don't think it's not one of the five best movies I've seen. And we still have a lot more movies coming out.
EBERT: Hollywood is not -- they have millions and millions of dollars committed to feature films that they want to get nominations for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: This is an impressive crowd, the haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite; I call you my base.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: That was Toure reporting for us. Still to come, from the mean streets to the free street theater. Some students here in Chicago learn life lessons onstage from a teacher who goes and makes the extra effort.
Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We're back. What a shot, huh? Looks like from the Brooklyn Promenade looking across the East River at New York. But we're in Chicago and that's Lake Michigan, and we're winding up a week of a lot of fun here.
Andy Serwer "Minding Your Business." The subjects for today's lesson, boys and girls, are as follows: productivity, stocks, and socks -- Andrew?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, that's it.
Let's talk about the markets, though, first of all -- the stock part of the equation.
CAFFERTY: All right.
SERWER: We're going to dip back to New York City and get a look at the big board and see how that's trading this morning. We're up 15 points on the Dow. Nasdaq down a little bit.
Check this out, Jack, Google up $21 this morning...
CAFFERTY: That's crazy.
SERWER: ... to $170. Prudential Securities coming out with a call saying this stock is worth $200. Does this remind you of the tech bubble? Yes, it does. Henry Blodgett saying Amazon is worth $400. CAFFERTY: I remember.
SERWER: Yeah, I mean...
CAFFERTY: Qualcomm was going to be a $1,000 stock.
SERWER: That's right. And we are in a planetarium, so I should point out gravity still counts, people. Just remember that with this stock.
OK, a new study from Cornell University says if your boss is turning down the thermostat, your productivity is going to go down, as well. Seventy-four percent increase in typos when you lower the thermostat to 68 degrees. A 46 percent decrease in output. And you may remember earlier this week a couple of our anchors were out there in the cold, freezing. Wondering how productive they were. Look at that. Wow!
CAFFERTY: Yeah, that a rough morning. That was over at Loyola, Chicago.
SERWER: Yeah.
CAFFERTY: Tough then.
SERWER: They were cold. Look at that. I don't know how productive they were that morning. But you know, I'm nice and toasty warm here this morning in Adler Planetarium. And the reason why I'm so warm, Jack -- these socks. They gave me these nifty galactic socks. They've got all the planets on here, Jack. They've got Venus, they got Pluto, Earth, Sun. They've got this one here, Mercury. And then, they've got this one, Uranus. Uranus is...
CAFFERTY: Those are very nice, Andy.
SERWER: Aren't these great -- I can hitchhike home. What do you think?
CAFFERTY: Ain't nobody going to pick you up...
SERWER: You want to borrow my socks later?
CAFFERTY: No, I don't.
All right. Let's go to the Question of the Day. "Desperate Housewives" and how it's this colossal hit, despite the fact that some advertisers upset over the racy content. Chicago paper called the show "lawn tarts."
Question of the Day: Is "Desperate Housewives" suitable for primetime network television?"
Lisa in Stillwater, New Jersey writes: "It's about time. 'Desperate Housewives,' the 30 to 50 year old's answer to Sunday night TV. Put the kids to bed, get a glass of wine, and enjoy. It's my week's only guilty pleasure that I'm willing to admit to." Joanne writes from South Hill, Virginia: "'Desperate Housewives' is a spoof, and as so, bears no more resemblance to real life than the presidential debates."
And Juan in Oxford, Connecticut: "Bet they'd stop complaining if one of the wives said to her gardener, 'Hey, if you want to play with something big, plump, and fresh, grab the Tyson Chicken Breast on the counter while I clear off the table."
SERWER: Wow. Juan's -- Juan's got it down.
CAFFERTY: That's all we have from the Windy City for this trip. Back to you guys.
O'BRIEN: But ending on a very good note, Jack.
CAFFERTY: That's pretty funny, actually.
O'BRIEN: It's pretty funny. Yes, it is. All right, thanks, Jack.
Well, the subject of this week's "Extra Effort" segment is right here in Chicago. He is the driving force behind the Free Street Theatre. Here's CNN's Keith Oppenheim.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Walk into Ron Bieganski's class...
RON BIEGANSKI, FREE STREET THEATRE: Hey, hey, hey -- in groups of three, guys. Let's go.
OPPENHEIM: ... and you see a director telling his young actors to be real...
BIEGANSKI: You want it now, guys -- not tomorrow, not in two minutes -- now!
OPPENHEIM: ... and to trust their instincts.
BIEGANSKI: Getting rid of the hesitation means you're in the moment.
OPPENHEIM: This "in the moment" process is also used for writing.
BIEGANSKI: After four months, we'll come back to that writing...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... a revolution? No. A dissolution? Hell and rapture, unable to control the mess. No one cares.
BIEGANSKI: ... and start pooling it all together and go oh, my God, these three things together make an extraordinary monologue.
OPPENHEIM: That method has led Bieganski and his students far, to 45 theater festivals across Europe during the last 10 years.
ANDREA LONG, STUDENT/DIRECTOR: He's just a wonderful person who has just helped me find so much direction in my life.
OPPENHEIM: Andrea Long says Bieganski helped her evolve from student to director, and that his program has opened her to new worlds.
LONG: Never in my lifetime did I think I was going to tour with people from Thailand, Africa, and India.
BIEGANSKI: The more powerful emotions, the more release.
OPPENHEIM: Ron Bieganski believes it doesn't matter if his students choose acting for a profession.
BIEGANSKI: Figuring out what it takes to be an inspired human being, that's what they learn here.
OPPENHEIM: He hopes his commitment to teens who otherwise might not have these chances has an impact.
BIEGANSKI: Dedicated our lives to this. And we're doing extraordinary work, and we're not leaving -- I'm not going away because I get offered a higher paying job and a bigger place, as nuts as that sounds.
OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Information on how to get involved in upcoming performances and workshops can all be found on the Web at freestreet.org.
And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Just a few moments left. We've had a great week. Some highlights from the week in Chicago now as we look back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
All right. Good morning, everyone. We are in Chicago starting today all week, and New York City was just not big enough.
CAFFERTY: I was just told that in January we're going to do a week of shows in Fairbanks, Alaska. And next summer, we'll be in the Mojave Desert in July.
COLLINS: Hey, you know, Chicago is windy, but it's never been this windy.
CAFFERTY: The wind can't bother my hair because there isn't any.
I want the name of the guy who thought this up, because when we get back to New York I'm going to find you and kill you.
COLLINS: If you start blowing away, I'll grab you, not to worry.
O'BRIEN: Good morning, everybody. Welcome to Chicago, where we've been spending the week.
HEMMER: Certainly have. Seeing a lot of this town.
CAFFERTY: Andy and I are downstairs on the concourse, tracks six, eight, 10, and 12. If this doesn't go well, I'm on a train to Sheboygan by 8:30.
HEMMER: There's a reason why they call it the Great Hall, and we now know based on our experience here today.
O'BRIEN: Twenty thousand people a day come through here.
HEMMER: Look at that skylight up there.
O'BRIEN: Pretty amazing.
HEMMER: Isn't that wonderful?
O'BRIEN: Let's head down to Bill, who's with Sue.
HEMMER: Right over here, as a matter of fact. You know, for 67 million years young, she looks pretty good, don't you think?
CAFFERTY: Come on down and we'll buy you a steak dinner.
SERWER: Yeah.
CAFFERTY: No.
SERWER: On you?
CAFFERTY: No, no. All right...
HEMMER: Food comes in every conversation we've had this week, does it not?
O'BRIEN: We've sort of eaten our way through Chicago. Maybe I'll just take a day off.
COLLINS: How about these people behind us, huh? Good morning!
O'BRIEN: Mrs. Dawicki (ph) uses AMERICAN MORNING to teach current events to her eighth and sixth grade classes. You brought your entire class with you this morning. It's nice to have you guys. Thank you for coming and visiting with us.
HEMMER: Soledad, thanks for that. Back out here with Jack and his bomber jacket today. Good morning. Looking pretty stylish.
CAFFERTY: Well, you know, it works against the Chicago breezes.
HEMMER: That it does.
O'BRIEN: I'm sorry, you were saying you were wrong?
HEMMER: Ah, watch it.
It's been a great week.
O'BRIEN: It has been a fantastic week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
A look back at our week here in Chicago. Big thank you to the folks, the students from Ace Technical High School. They've been observing us all morning. Also, many other big thank yous...
HEMMER: Yeah, yeah. Want to give a high five to Molly. She works the planetarium...
O'BRIEN: ... has been joining us. Thank you.
HEMMER: High fives to out boss Wil Surratt for his work this week. And a wonderful crew here in Chicago all week long. Thanks very, very much.
We've got to go. Here's Daryn and Rick Sanchez at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
O'BRIEN: Hey, guys.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks guys, appreciate it.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Safe travels back to New York City.
HEMMER: You got it.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: We've got a lot of news we're going to be covering on this day. As a matter of fact, there may be a development coming out of that Margaret Hassan story. We're going to get the very latest on that.
KAGAN: Yeah, a very disturbing development.
Right now, let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
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 22, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone, and good morning. I know now what I'm getting Soledad and Heidi for Christmas this year.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, because you didn't get us anything last year, Bill, but...
HEMMER: Cheap guy. I'll give you a CD of all these great tunes we've been hearing throughout the week here.
O'BRIEN: That would be nice.
HEMMER: You'd like that.
O'BRIEN: Oh, I take that back. You're so sweet.
HEMMER: Yeah, whatever.
O'BRIEN: I'm getting all teary.
HEMMER: Save it.
Healthcare. Healthcare is the main point of discussion and contention, too, on the trail as candidates round out their campaign week. Looking at how the issue plays for each of them. And the role of Christopher Reeve's widow in this final push -- she was on the trail yesterday with John Kerry.
O'BRIEN: So, 11 days from now you can vote for your favorite candidate, but we're voting for the best movie about a candidate right now. Toure is going to talk with Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper about the all-time best political films -- coming up in just a few moments.
HEMMER: Good deal.
Heidi Collins back with us here with the headlines here. Good morning.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You're going to make me, like, work now, because I have to think about something to get for you.
O'BRIEN: No, he didn't get us anything last year. Don't worry about it.
COLLINS: That's true. All right, new tradition I guess. Now in the news this morning -- U.S. strikes are pounding insurgent targets in the Iraqi city of Falluja. Military sources say American troops destroyed two buildings last night, housing ammunition and equipment. There are no reports of casualties at this time.
A new ruling this morning in connection with the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison. A judge has ordered specialist Charles Graner Jr. to stand trial for his role in the prisoner abuse scandal. Graner is also charged with adultery involving Reservist Lynndie England. She gave birth to their child earlier this month. Graner will stand trial January 7th.
Secretary of State Colin Powell leaving for Japan this morning. He's trying to convince officials there that the U.S. is committed to six nation talks with North Korea to discuss its nuclear program. Powell will also travel to China and North Korea.
And a changing of the guard will take place in less than two hours in space. The Expedition 9 crew members will relinquish control of the International Space Station to their replacements. Tomorrow, they'll be Earthbound after a six-month stint circling the planet. And what an appropriate story to do this morning as we sit out front the Adler Planetarium.
Got a chance to look around inside...
HEMMER: A little bit, yes.
COLLINS: It's beautiful, isn't it?
HEMMER: Yeah, really nice.
COLLINS: A little boy would go nuts.
O'BRIEN: I was thinking that the kids -- it's another place where you think, boy, if you travel, the kids would be great.
COLLINS: And he's been really good. So, thank you, Robbie. Mommy's going to the gift store.
O'BRIEN: Oh, so sweet.
HEMMER: For you later. Thank you, Heidi.
Eleven days on the calendar now -- 11 days until election 2004. All eyes on about 10 battleground states that certainly will have a big role in determining who wins the White House this time.
Senator Kerry visits three of those states today. And Kelly Wallace starts us now with the Kerry campaign on the road in Milwaukee. Kelly, good morning there.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, first stop here in Milwaukee at the University of Wisconsin. You can see a big crowd here gathered to see Senator Kerry. They will get a surprise guest -- Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg will be on hand. Senator Kerry focusing on issues affecting working women. This is no accident. Both campaigns very aware of what we are seeing in some polls, and that is six of the 10 voters still undecided are women.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): That is why, before a crowd of thousands in Minneapolis last night, a fired up John Kerry had this message.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need a little less talk about family values, a little more valuing of families.
WALLACE: Why he was introduced by Dana Reeve, Christopher Reeve's widow, and why one of the most vocal of the September 11 widows stumped for him in Iowa and now appears in one of his television ads.
KRISTEN BREITWEISER, 9/11 WIDOW: I want to look in my daughter's eyes and know that she is save.
WALLACE: According to the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, Senator Kerry has a lead of just six points over President Bush with women voters. A danger sign for the senator, since Democrats traditionally do better with women.
In 2000, Al Gore had an 11-point advantage with women voters according to exit polls. George W. Bush had the exact same advantage with men.
Senator Kerry trying to make inroads, especially with married suburban women concerned about security, who have been giving higher marks to President Bush.
KERRY: I want a world as you do, where no American mother should ever have to lie awake at night worrying about what tomorrow will bring.
WALLACE: Despite the outreach, there are those unknowns. Such as whether these comments by Teresa Heinz Kerry, for which she later apologized, will anger stay at home moms.
TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: I don't know Laura -- but she seems to be calm, and she seems to be -- she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job, I mean, since she's been grown up.
WALLACE: Mrs. Bush, during her first-ever solo bus trip, said she was not offended.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: It didn't hurt my feelings. It was perfectly all right. She apologized.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (on camera): And Laura Bush also happens to be in the Milwaukee area today, part of the Bush/Cheney campaign to try and win this state, which Al Gore narrowly won four years ago.
Bill, from here, Senator Kerry heads to Nevada and Colorado, two states George W. Bush won four years ago -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Kelly. Winding down -- less than two weeks. Kelly Wallace this morning. Thanks for that -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: President Bush is on his way to the battleground state of Pennsylvania. He departed Andrews Air Force base just moments ago. This will be the president's 41st visit to Pennsylvania since he took office.
Yesterday, the president mocked Senator John Kerry's hunting trip in Ohio, saying Kerry will vote against gun owners' rights. He also touted his healthcare reform package as the one for America.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Here America faces a clear choice. When it comes to healthcare, Senator Kerry's prescription is bigger government with higher costs. My reforms will lower costs and give more control and choices to the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Following the visit to Pennsylvania, the president heads to Ohio and Florida, where he's also going to spend Saturday -- Bill?
HEMMER: The world series is set now, and we are seeing red. The Red Sox face another of their longtime demons -- there are many on that list, by the way, for Boston. The St. Louis Cardinals beat Houston last night. They also beat Roger Clemens in that game seven to win the National League pennant. And like the Boston/New York matchup, that series came down to a seventh and deciding final game.
No wasting time, meanwhile, at Fenway in Boston. The grounds crew, as of yesterday, put down the World Series logo on the field in preparation. Game one Saturday night in Boston. We all probably know it by now: The Red Sox have not won the series since 1918. They face the Cardinals again -- 1946, 1967, both time losers, both seven-game series. So, we will see what is in store this year tomorrow night.
Check of the weather. Here's Orelon Sidney out at the CNN Center. Baseball in Boston Saturday. Good or bad weatherwise, Orelon?
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: All right, Orelon, thanks. We are a little cloudy here in Chicago.
O'BRIEN: Yes, which is too bad.
HEMMER: She says it's going to burn off, though. We're going to get a nice day a little later today. O'BRIEN: She promises. Yeah. because this is an amazing, amazing shot. I mean, yesterday when it was clear, it was really beautiful. It's still beautiful, but it's a little foggy.
Still to come this morning, if you want a productive workplace, turn up the thermostat. We'll explain when Andy minds your business in just a little bit.
HEMMER: Also, what do Chicago film critics Ebert and Roeper say is the best political movie of all time. We'll have an answer there.
First, our final fun fact here: Which of the following is one of the toppings on our authentic Chicago-style hot dog -- sauerkraut, ketchup, sport peppers, or chili? It's breakfast time on AMERICAN MORNING, live in Chicago, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
If you're just waking up, here's the answer to our last Chicago fun fact: Which topping is authentic? It's "C"; it's the sport peppers. An authentic Chicago-styled hot dog is steamed with 100 percent beef hot dog, topped with yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, a dash of celery salt, served in a poppy seed bun, nothing more and nothing less.
Toure sat down with two of America's leading film critics, who happen to be based here in Chicago. He asked Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper about some memorable cinematic moments when it comes to politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOURE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're in a political year. What are some of the great, quintessential, political films that you think about?
RICHARD ROEPER, FILM CRITIC: I think maybe my favorite political movie of all time is "The Candidate," the Robert Redford movie where he played Bill McKay, the son of a political legend who is put up to run for a Senate seat in California, mainly because he's really good looking and articulate, and this is a movie that's about 30 years ahead of its time. I mean, it rings true today. And Redford is working actually on a sequel, on a follow-up to the candidate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: Think of it, the biggest, the most powerful country cannot keep its full job force working.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER EBERT, FILM CRITIC: Robert Altman made a great series for television called "Tanner 88," where he actually fielded a candidate, and many people came in to the storefront offices they used as sets, and (INAUDIBLE) sign up and vote.
You voted for him.
(CROSSTALK)
EBERT: Could have been a good guy, yes, so that was a good political movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Michigan is a strong one for me, you know that, Jack.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I'll tell you, it made me glad to be a Democrat. I wouldn't want to be up against you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: "The Manchurian Candidate" is one of the great political films of all time. It's been made twice now. For those of you who weren't around to experience the first "Manchurian Candidate," what made that so great?
EBERT: That movie is still great, and it's better than the remake, and always will be.
I think that it was fascinating because we were interested in the idea that somebody could be programmed to behave later in this insidious way. And it came out just at the time of the Kennedy assassination. It came out a little before the Kennedy assassination, and many people then immediately made all kinds of assumptions what happened to Lee Harvey Oswald when he was in Russia and so forth, but it was just well made. It was well acted.
ROEPER: Angela Lansbury was so great in the original.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE HARVEY, ACTOR: What is it, mother?
ANGELA LANSBURY, ACTRESS: What sort of a greeting is that at 3:30 in the morning?
HARVEY: It's a quarter to 3:00 -- and what do you want?
LANSBURY: I want to talk to you, Raymond.
HARVEY: About what?
LANSBURY: I want to talk to you about that communist tart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: What about "Primary Colors?"
EBERT: I mean, good movie, good performance by John Travolta. I liked it. I felt that it really had a feeling for the Clinton-like character, and kind of showed how he operated, how he...
ROEPER: I think it's an underrated film. I mean, it did OK at the box office and got generally decent reviews. But I think it's a great film, and all the performances there, including Kathy Bates as that political operative -- talk about somebody who says exactly what they mean.
But I think Travolta really did capture everything that's charismatic, and hopeful and uplifting about Clinton, and everything about him that drove people nuts, and sometimes had people just so disappointed in him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN TRAVOLTA, ACTOR: I'm going to do something really outrageous -- I'm going to tell the truth.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: Now you guys both gave two thumbs up for "Fahrenheit 9/11." Is that just because of your political leanings, or is that on the merits of the film?
EBERT: Well, first of all, I don't believe that it's fair to the viewer to claim to be objective and to not have an opinion, if have you an opinion. My opinion is that I'm going to vote for John Kerry for president.
TOURE: OK.
TOURE: But on the other hand, I thought "Fahrenheit 9/11" was a good movie. I would like people to believe had it been a bad movie, I would have said so. I think that it's a very entertaining movie, a very funny movie, and that's really Michael Moore's strength, not his logic, but his common man's humorous touch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you.
Now watch this drive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TOURE: Can "Fahrenheit" win best picture? EBERT: If it's nominated, but I think it won't be nominated.
ROEPER: As a piece of filmmaking, it's very good, but I don't think it's not one of the five best movies I've seen. And we still have a lot more movies coming out.
EBERT: Hollywood is not -- they have millions and millions of dollars committed to feature films that they want to get nominations for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: This is an impressive crowd, the haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite; I call you my base.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: That was Toure reporting for us. Still to come, from the mean streets to the free street theater. Some students here in Chicago learn life lessons onstage from a teacher who goes and makes the extra effort.
Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We're back. What a shot, huh? Looks like from the Brooklyn Promenade looking across the East River at New York. But we're in Chicago and that's Lake Michigan, and we're winding up a week of a lot of fun here.
Andy Serwer "Minding Your Business." The subjects for today's lesson, boys and girls, are as follows: productivity, stocks, and socks -- Andrew?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, that's it.
Let's talk about the markets, though, first of all -- the stock part of the equation.
CAFFERTY: All right.
SERWER: We're going to dip back to New York City and get a look at the big board and see how that's trading this morning. We're up 15 points on the Dow. Nasdaq down a little bit.
Check this out, Jack, Google up $21 this morning...
CAFFERTY: That's crazy.
SERWER: ... to $170. Prudential Securities coming out with a call saying this stock is worth $200. Does this remind you of the tech bubble? Yes, it does. Henry Blodgett saying Amazon is worth $400. CAFFERTY: I remember.
SERWER: Yeah, I mean...
CAFFERTY: Qualcomm was going to be a $1,000 stock.
SERWER: That's right. And we are in a planetarium, so I should point out gravity still counts, people. Just remember that with this stock.
OK, a new study from Cornell University says if your boss is turning down the thermostat, your productivity is going to go down, as well. Seventy-four percent increase in typos when you lower the thermostat to 68 degrees. A 46 percent decrease in output. And you may remember earlier this week a couple of our anchors were out there in the cold, freezing. Wondering how productive they were. Look at that. Wow!
CAFFERTY: Yeah, that a rough morning. That was over at Loyola, Chicago.
SERWER: Yeah.
CAFFERTY: Tough then.
SERWER: They were cold. Look at that. I don't know how productive they were that morning. But you know, I'm nice and toasty warm here this morning in Adler Planetarium. And the reason why I'm so warm, Jack -- these socks. They gave me these nifty galactic socks. They've got all the planets on here, Jack. They've got Venus, they got Pluto, Earth, Sun. They've got this one here, Mercury. And then, they've got this one, Uranus. Uranus is...
CAFFERTY: Those are very nice, Andy.
SERWER: Aren't these great -- I can hitchhike home. What do you think?
CAFFERTY: Ain't nobody going to pick you up...
SERWER: You want to borrow my socks later?
CAFFERTY: No, I don't.
All right. Let's go to the Question of the Day. "Desperate Housewives" and how it's this colossal hit, despite the fact that some advertisers upset over the racy content. Chicago paper called the show "lawn tarts."
Question of the Day: Is "Desperate Housewives" suitable for primetime network television?"
Lisa in Stillwater, New Jersey writes: "It's about time. 'Desperate Housewives,' the 30 to 50 year old's answer to Sunday night TV. Put the kids to bed, get a glass of wine, and enjoy. It's my week's only guilty pleasure that I'm willing to admit to." Joanne writes from South Hill, Virginia: "'Desperate Housewives' is a spoof, and as so, bears no more resemblance to real life than the presidential debates."
And Juan in Oxford, Connecticut: "Bet they'd stop complaining if one of the wives said to her gardener, 'Hey, if you want to play with something big, plump, and fresh, grab the Tyson Chicken Breast on the counter while I clear off the table."
SERWER: Wow. Juan's -- Juan's got it down.
CAFFERTY: That's all we have from the Windy City for this trip. Back to you guys.
O'BRIEN: But ending on a very good note, Jack.
CAFFERTY: That's pretty funny, actually.
O'BRIEN: It's pretty funny. Yes, it is. All right, thanks, Jack.
Well, the subject of this week's "Extra Effort" segment is right here in Chicago. He is the driving force behind the Free Street Theatre. Here's CNN's Keith Oppenheim.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Walk into Ron Bieganski's class...
RON BIEGANSKI, FREE STREET THEATRE: Hey, hey, hey -- in groups of three, guys. Let's go.
OPPENHEIM: ... and you see a director telling his young actors to be real...
BIEGANSKI: You want it now, guys -- not tomorrow, not in two minutes -- now!
OPPENHEIM: ... and to trust their instincts.
BIEGANSKI: Getting rid of the hesitation means you're in the moment.
OPPENHEIM: This "in the moment" process is also used for writing.
BIEGANSKI: After four months, we'll come back to that writing...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... a revolution? No. A dissolution? Hell and rapture, unable to control the mess. No one cares.
BIEGANSKI: ... and start pooling it all together and go oh, my God, these three things together make an extraordinary monologue.
OPPENHEIM: That method has led Bieganski and his students far, to 45 theater festivals across Europe during the last 10 years.
ANDREA LONG, STUDENT/DIRECTOR: He's just a wonderful person who has just helped me find so much direction in my life.
OPPENHEIM: Andrea Long says Bieganski helped her evolve from student to director, and that his program has opened her to new worlds.
LONG: Never in my lifetime did I think I was going to tour with people from Thailand, Africa, and India.
BIEGANSKI: The more powerful emotions, the more release.
OPPENHEIM: Ron Bieganski believes it doesn't matter if his students choose acting for a profession.
BIEGANSKI: Figuring out what it takes to be an inspired human being, that's what they learn here.
OPPENHEIM: He hopes his commitment to teens who otherwise might not have these chances has an impact.
BIEGANSKI: Dedicated our lives to this. And we're doing extraordinary work, and we're not leaving -- I'm not going away because I get offered a higher paying job and a bigger place, as nuts as that sounds.
OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Information on how to get involved in upcoming performances and workshops can all be found on the Web at freestreet.org.
And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Just a few moments left. We've had a great week. Some highlights from the week in Chicago now as we look back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
All right. Good morning, everyone. We are in Chicago starting today all week, and New York City was just not big enough.
CAFFERTY: I was just told that in January we're going to do a week of shows in Fairbanks, Alaska. And next summer, we'll be in the Mojave Desert in July.
COLLINS: Hey, you know, Chicago is windy, but it's never been this windy.
CAFFERTY: The wind can't bother my hair because there isn't any.
I want the name of the guy who thought this up, because when we get back to New York I'm going to find you and kill you.
COLLINS: If you start blowing away, I'll grab you, not to worry.
O'BRIEN: Good morning, everybody. Welcome to Chicago, where we've been spending the week.
HEMMER: Certainly have. Seeing a lot of this town.
CAFFERTY: Andy and I are downstairs on the concourse, tracks six, eight, 10, and 12. If this doesn't go well, I'm on a train to Sheboygan by 8:30.
HEMMER: There's a reason why they call it the Great Hall, and we now know based on our experience here today.
O'BRIEN: Twenty thousand people a day come through here.
HEMMER: Look at that skylight up there.
O'BRIEN: Pretty amazing.
HEMMER: Isn't that wonderful?
O'BRIEN: Let's head down to Bill, who's with Sue.
HEMMER: Right over here, as a matter of fact. You know, for 67 million years young, she looks pretty good, don't you think?
CAFFERTY: Come on down and we'll buy you a steak dinner.
SERWER: Yeah.
CAFFERTY: No.
SERWER: On you?
CAFFERTY: No, no. All right...
HEMMER: Food comes in every conversation we've had this week, does it not?
O'BRIEN: We've sort of eaten our way through Chicago. Maybe I'll just take a day off.
COLLINS: How about these people behind us, huh? Good morning!
O'BRIEN: Mrs. Dawicki (ph) uses AMERICAN MORNING to teach current events to her eighth and sixth grade classes. You brought your entire class with you this morning. It's nice to have you guys. Thank you for coming and visiting with us.
HEMMER: Soledad, thanks for that. Back out here with Jack and his bomber jacket today. Good morning. Looking pretty stylish.
CAFFERTY: Well, you know, it works against the Chicago breezes.
HEMMER: That it does.
O'BRIEN: I'm sorry, you were saying you were wrong?
HEMMER: Ah, watch it.
It's been a great week.
O'BRIEN: It has been a fantastic week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
A look back at our week here in Chicago. Big thank you to the folks, the students from Ace Technical High School. They've been observing us all morning. Also, many other big thank yous...
HEMMER: Yeah, yeah. Want to give a high five to Molly. She works the planetarium...
O'BRIEN: ... has been joining us. Thank you.
HEMMER: High fives to out boss Wil Surratt for his work this week. And a wonderful crew here in Chicago all week long. Thanks very, very much.
We've got to go. Here's Daryn and Rick Sanchez at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
O'BRIEN: Hey, guys.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks guys, appreciate it.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Safe travels back to New York City.
HEMMER: You got it.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: We've got a lot of news we're going to be covering on this day. As a matter of fact, there may be a development coming out of that Margaret Hassan story. We're going to get the very latest on that.
KAGAN: Yeah, a very disturbing development.
Right now, let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
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