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U.N. Security Council Meets in Africa to Seal Sudan Peace Accord; Clinton Library to Open Shortly
Aired November 18, 2004 - 10:28 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up now on the next half hour, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening right "Now in the News."
This is this developing story that we've been telling you about. Less than an hour ago the Federal Agriculture Department announced that it is investigating what might become a second case of mad cow disease in the United States. They've released very few details up to now. But what they say is that they've done a test, albeit inconclusive up to now. The result requires further screening, they say, which could still take several days. Officials stress in this case that the animal in question never entered the food chain. Once again, that the animal in question never entered the food chain. Certainly we'll continue to follow up on the story throughout this day and throughout this newscast.
Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton is the guest of honor this morning as 30,000 invited guests helped dedicate the opening of his presidential library. President George W. Bush is to speak. Also in attendance in Little Rock, former Presidents George Bush and James Carter. The ceremony is scheduled to get under way 90 minutes from now and we'll have it for you.
Now in the Middle East, Egypt has issued an angry protest over Israel's killing of three policemen. It happened this morning at the border separating Egypt from Gaza. Israel has apologized, saying its tank crew had mistaken the Egyptians for Palestinian militants planting explosives.
Scott Peterson's defense attorney is seeking a change of venue and jury for the sentencing of the convicted murderer. Mark Geragos says that a new jury should decide whether Peterson should die for killing his wife and their unborn son. The penalty phase is to begin Monday.
There are new unemployment numbers out this morning. The Labor Department says the number of new claims dipped slightly last week. That decline comes on the heels of an increase the week before. The expansion of the job market raises hopes the nation's economic recovery is, in fact, gaining momentum.
WHITFIELD: The United Nations Security Council is in Kenya for a rare meeting outside its New York headquarters. The 15 member panel is in that East African country because of the tragedy in Sudan and because of pressure from the U.S. ambassador. CNN's Charlayne Hunter- Gault has more.
CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty- one years of civil war. Nearly 2 million people dead from a conflict between Sudan's Arab north and its Christian and traditionalist south. It brings the United Nations Security Council to Africa, only one of the rare times the council will meet outside its New York home.
The mission was organized by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Danforth, this month's council president. The hope is to seal a peace agreement signed earlier this year, calling for north- south power sharing, and a new constitution. But it remains a paper peace.
JEMERA RONE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: And we very much want a peace agreement for the south, because they've been at war, and the people of the south have been suffering for 21 years now. And that's enough.
HUNTER-GAULT: The Security Council will hear representatives from all sides. But few believe it will produce peace. Millions of African villagers have been driven from their homes in Sudan's Darfur region, by government-backed militias. The U.S. calls it genocide while the U.N. continues investigating whether the widespread killing, rape and pillaging of Africans is, indeed, that.
Earlier the U.N. called Darfur one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. There are divisions on the 15-member council. Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria object to strong language in a draft declaration condemning the atrocities in Darfur.
Earlier the four abstained on a council resolution threatening an oil embargo if the Sudanese government failed to rein in the militias and hold them accountable for human rights atrocities.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTER-GAULT: There was a lot of discussion about those atrocities here today, but the Security Council president, John Danforth, ended the meeting today on an optimistic note. He announced that the belligerents in the north and the sound would be signing a memorandum of understanding on Friday, committing themselves to concluding a peace deal by the end of this year.
WHITFIELD: And Charlayne, one complaint that has come from the U.N., and even come from Secretary of State Colin Powell when he visited, was the restraints placed on access to the refugee camps, and to the victims. Any progress being made during these meetings that there will be more access, and a truer account of what really is going on in these refugee camps?
HUNTER-GAULT: Well, as you know, the United Nations has a team on the ground in Darfur as we speak, investigating to their satisfaction whether or not there is a genocide, which is what the United States has called what's going on in Darfur.
We asked various participants yesterday what is going to happen between now and December with the refugees, and Ambassador Danforth said that every effort would be made to get in there, and to help them. But right now, as Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, it's a very dangerous place for those trying to offer humanitarian assistance.
WHITFIELD: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, thanks very much for that video phone report coming from Nairobi, Kenya, where the U.N. is meeting on special sessions, meeting about the Sudan - Rick.
SANCHEZ: They were on opposite sides of the run-up to the Iraq war, but today British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac showed a unified front. The leaders beginning a two- day summit in London. They say that they want a peaceful and stable Iraq. Mr. Chirac also talked of collaboration, cooperation and a common vision over European defense policies.
Secretary of State Colin Powell, for his part, says he has seen intelligence suggesting that Iran is trying to adapt missiles to carry nuclear weapons. Mr. Powell says Iran is working hard to both make weapons and refit missiles and that should be a concern to the entire world.
Powell's comments came as he traveled to the APEC summit in Santiago, Chile. The members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation are talking about scrapping trade barriers and fighting terrorism. Now, in bilateral talks at the summit the U.S. and Australia finalized a deal designed to generate billions of dollars in new trade, as well.
WHITFIELD: A glitter-filled A-list is gathering in Little Rock, Arkansas, this morning for the opening of the Clinton presidential center. The entertainment is set to begin next hour. Among the 30,000 or so guests, President Bush, former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, plus a heavy sprinkling of Hollywood and rock stars and international dignitaries.
Last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE" Senator Hillary Clinton talked about what we can expect to see.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST: Everything's covered, the impeachment is covered, Lewinsky is covered?
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Everything, everything.
KING: You get a full history of Clinton, warts and all?
CLINTON: Yes, yes. I like to think all of the good progress that was made in those eight years, what he really stood for, the peace and the prosperity, you know, putting people first, you know, whatever one wants to say about my husband, everybody knows that he really deeply cared about the American people, and he did try to do what he could to improve their, you know, chances in life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And Mrs. Clinton will introduce her husband at today's ceremony.
Well, the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library is a big day for the city of Little Rock. The city's mayor, Jim Dailey joins us to talk more about that.
Good to see you, Mayor.
MAYOR JIM DAILEY, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: Thank you, Fredricka. It's a great honor for me to be here standing this morning in front of this beautiful, beautiful library, this gift from President Clinton. And thank you for being part of it.
WHITFIELD: Well, thanks for allowing us to be there. Well, give me a sense as to how this library is going to impact Little Rock past today.
DAILEY: Well, actually, I mean, up to this point we've already seen about $1 billion worth of redevelopment in our downtown, and when you look at past today, there's probably another half a billion dollars worth of redevelopment either in process or on the drawing board. And that doesn't even mention the significance of this as President Clinton's policy center that will be bringing people here from all over the world. That will really elevate this community in ways like we have not seen in the past. And he is certainly the individual we have to thank for that.
WHITFIELD: And this has been in the works for eight years. Former President Clinton was, in fact, in part sort of an architect of this entire project. Is this the kind of image that Arkansas really needs at this juncture?
You know, I think that what this does, because of President Clinton's history and interest in education, his interest in the environment, global warming, as an example, his interest in building bridges, the issues of racism and world peace, I think that bringing those kind of leaders and seminars and policy development here, education, is going to be something that will help us as a state, as well as a community to develop for the future in this 21st Century.
So I'm very optimistic about it and very thankful. And already we see the energy that's occurring that we say is largely as a result of this library and President Clinton's involvement.
WHITFIELD: We've just had a small peek at some of the images that are inside among those 80 million pieces of memorabilia that are inside. From the glasses that he wore on the Arsenio Hall show to the saxophone. And apparently right there, even one of his black limos that was used during his presidency.
DAILEY: It's right there.
WHITFIELD: And there we go with the Oval Office right there. Give me a sense as to what you found to be so remarkable as you got a sneak peek of this display.
DAILEY: Well, I'll tell you what, I mean, it's all remarkable. But what I saw last night that was so magnificent is the interactive aspect of this. Someone can go in. My wife and I did this last night. We spent one night in the Lincoln Bedroom. So I wife remembered the date. We went in to that day on the calendar and just punched up on the screen and we were able to see what activities were going on.
We were reminded of what he was doing before he came to visit with us that night and talked a little bit about the design of his library. So it's a very interactive display, in addition to all the things that people can see as they walk through, and revisit history.
WHITFIELD: And this glass building, Senator Clinton said, this transparency, she believes, kind of symbolizes what she hopes to be the access that biographers, historians or students or ordinary people alike will have to the legacy of the former president.
DAILEY: Well, we're optimistic, certainly along that line. And we sit right here on the Arkansas River, adjacent to an old bridge that will become a pedestrian bridge as part of a 14-mile bicycle and walking loop in our downtown area. And once again, big things are happening. Even on a little rainy day, the sun is shining for the future here.
WHITFIELD: Oh, very good. All right. Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey, thanks so much for being with us. And of course, we'll be...
DAILEY: Thank you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, enjoy the day. CNN here will be showing you coverage of the Clinton library dedication throughout the day, and officially gets under way less than 30 minutes from now.
SANCHEZ: Yes. As a matter of fact, Paul Begala is going to be joining us in just a little bit. He's going to be sharing some of his experiences. He would have been with us sooner but apparently the security guards didn't let him through. I think they thought he was Tucker Carlson.
WHITFIELD: Did not know who he is. Well, they worked it out. So we will be joined by him soon.
Plus it may have looked like a scene from the movie "Speed." But it was real life. Still to come, a bold move by a passenger helps to save dozens of others.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD:: This is a special group. The Hot Springs, Arkansas, high school band performs next hour at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library. The band won an audition to play today, and it's actually the third time they've performed for former President Bill Clinton. The former president has a soft spot for them. So he happened to play saxophone in the same band some 40 years ago.
Well, our man has finally arrived. CNN "CROSSFIRE" co-host Paul Begala got to know Bill Clinton, you might say, as a consultant on Mr. Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. That campaign was documented in the film "The War Room." After Mr. Clinton's election, Begala joined the White House team as counselor to the president, helping to find and defend the administration's agenda. Paul Begala is in Little Rock today for the dedication of the Clinton library, and he joins us now. Hi, Paul. How are you?
PAUL BEGALA, "CROSSFIRE" CO-HOST: Rick, I'm great. How are you? I'm sorry you couldn't be here with us.
SANCHEZ: Well, it's too bad, because I would like to be there. It sounds like everybody else is going to be there of import. Something else of import I want to show you. Have you got a monitor there?
BEGALA: I don't.
SANCHEZ: Well, then I'll tell you what it is. Let's go ahead and put that picture of up those sunglasses, because Paul Begala is going to give us the story behind the story of the sunglasses that Mr. Clinton wore on "The Arsenio Hall Show" that became so famous at the time. And it turns out that these weren't Mr. Clinton's sunglasses, right?
BEGALA: No, they were mine. I'm sort of retro, old school. I love those Ray Ban wayfarers that the Blues Brothers used to wear. So I would wear them on the campaign trail. And as the governor was going out to do "The Arsenio Hall Show" and play the saxophone, I stuck the sunglasses on him. He sort of shrugged, kind of looked at Carville, looked at me, what do you think. I said, oh, go for it governor. And he did. And I wore them for most of the rest of the campaign. Toward the end of the campaign my wife said, you know, you should put them in a box somewhere and one day give them to the Clinton Presidential Library, and I laughed. But I did, I threw them in a shoebox and they sat there for 12 years, and about two weeks ago, I found them and shipped them down there.
SANCHEZ: It's amazing how something from a dollar store can end up in a museum like that.
BEGALA: Who'd have thought. But you know, I sort of share a similar -- I guess, you know, it's not politically correct anymore to say white trash roots, but those are my people, and I love those sunglasses, and I'm just thrilled that the governor wore them on TV, and now the president has them in his library.
SANCHEZ: Characterize Bill Clinton's success for us. What is that thing that he had that put him over the top that, for example, Senator Kerry may not have had?
BEGALA: I think most importantly this exuberant optimism. I mean, I don't want to criticize Senator Kerry. But the people who win the presidency are invariably optimists. Our current president is an optimist. Certainly Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton in my lifetime were the two sunniest, most optimistic, most all-American politicians we've ever had, very different worldviews for the two of them. But I think what made Bill Clinton exceptional and what made him successful endless belief in this country, endless optimism, and he really meant it when he said, I still believe in a place called hope. That's how he views our country.
SANCHEZ: Didn't he have a humanity that -- or the ability to share or show that humanity that perhaps Senator Kerry didn't have?
BEGALA: Yes, he has an empathy that no other politician I've ever seen has. He really, because he's lived such an extraordinary life, you know, of course was raised by a single mother, his father died even before he was born and was quite poor as a child, and I think he's just got an ability to connect with people. And that's unique. That empathy that he has, the ability to sort of walk a mile in your shoes. It's a wonderful gift in a politician, and it allows him, I think -- he always used to say to me, here's how I crush my enemies, I make them my friends. And that's a wonderful gift.
SANCHEZ: Here's one that may have made sense when it happened, but you look at it now in hindsight and you go, huh? you were introduced to Bill Clinton and worked for him as a result of your association and friendship with Zell Miller.
BEGALA: Oh, Zell Miller has been an important part of my life. We have sort of parted company politically, but personally I love the guy. He was Bill Clinton's, one of his very best friends when the governor of Arkansas was thinking about running. He talked to the governor of Georgia then. Zell talked him into running. Told him he'd move the primary date to get Clinton elected. And then sort of a passing thought, he said, these two boys who ran my campaign, Bill, James Carville and Paul Begala, you should talk to them. Clinton said, I've never heard of them. And Zell, well, they're pretty good guys, you ought to at least talk to him. And that's how we were introduced to him. And you know, It was love at first sight, politically speaking, so I owe to Zell an enormous debt of gratitude. If it hadn't been for Zell Miller, I never would have worked for Bill Clinton.
SANCHEZ: That's so amazing. We've to go, because my producer's saying we're out of time. We could go on forever about this. But if you could, just wrap up in 30 seconds or less, what is Bill Clinton's legacy going to be? And I know people argue about this on subways and all over America all the time. What's Paul Begala's take?
BEGALA: Well, I think, first off, it's that boundless faith in America. He is the embodiment of the American Dream. He has lived the American Dream. I think his presidency was all about extending the American Dream of opportunity to more and more Americans.
SANCHEZ: But what will historians say? Will they say he was a great president, a good president, a fair president, a bad president? What will they say?
BEGALA: Oh, I think if they judge him by what he promised to do and what he accomplished, he was an astounding success. He promised to only cut the deficit by half. He eliminated it entirely. He promised to create eight million jobs, he created 23 million. Welfare at its lowest levels, crime at its lowest levels, and the highest surplus ever, the greatest job creation ever. I mean, the substantive agenda is there for the historians to pore over.
I'm just more interested, really, in the emotional success that he had, in other words, the spirit that he captured. He was my party's Ronald Reagan, or he was the successor to FDR, as somebody with this boundless, endless faith in our country and this great love for America, and that's more what I'm focused on today.
SANCHEZ: Paul Begala, always a pleasure talking to you, my friend.
BEGALA: Thanks, Rick. Good to see you again.
SANCHEZ: All right, I appreciate it.
Well, again, stay with CNN for our coverage on the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library, it's beginning again, officially at 11:00 a.m. We'll have an awful lot of music when it starts.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY, I'm Rick Sanchez. The parents of two Marines are fighting to get their youngest son out of Iraq. The oldest was severely wounded in Falluja and is undergoing treatment at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Doug Buchanan, affiliate station WUSA, has been talking to the family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DOUG BUCHANAN,WUSA REPORTER (voice-over): Being a Marine just seems to run in the Johnston family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had three generations now of Marines in our family.
BUCHANAN: And it was as a Marine fighting for his country that cost 24-year-old Brian Johnston his right arm and leg in the battle for Falluja on November 9th.
VERA HERON, MOTHER OF MARINES: I just broke down. I just couldn't believe it.
BUCHANAN: And it's in Falluja where Brian's younger brother is also fighting the insurgents in the 20-year-old's second tour in Iraq.
HERON: They are our only two children. We only have the two boys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If anything happens to Kevin, I don't know how we can take it.
BUCHANAN: Now as these parents keep a close eye on their severely wounded son at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, they're also desperately trying to get Kevin out of harm's way.
: We've already given enough. We do not want to go through this again ever again. We want Kevin out of there and we want him out of there now.
BUCHANAN: And so they've called on their Congressman from Connecticut in their effort to get Kevin off the battlefield and to Bethesda so he can visit his injured older brother.
REP. JOHN LARSON (D), CONNECTICUT: They're hoping that they're going to be able to get an emergency leave, which is kind of extraordinary.
BUCHANAN: Extraordinary, because military members may request a transfer out of a hostile area if a relative is killed in that same area. But in this case, Brian Johnston is alive and is expected to survive.
: To hell with the damn rules and regulations, I want my son home. And I want him home now.
BUCHANAN: And it was here just a couple of day ago where Brian Johnston last opened his eyes. There at his bedside was his mother. Just as he began shouting the names of the Marines in his platoon. His mother says her oldest son still thinks he's fighting in Iraq.
At the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Doug Buchanan, 9 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And in just a couple of minutes we're going to take you to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the ceremonies for President William Jefferson Clinton. You know, these are some of the live pictures now. Think of the people who are going to be there. Former President -- present President Bush, former President Bush, former President Carter and an awful lot of famous people.
WHITFIELD: Yes. A whole lot of dignitaries, in fact, you're looking and listening to the musical prelude right now. That's going to continue almost for a whole 'nother hour. Just a musical prelude of various bands, et cetera, before they actually get the dedication ceremony under way. And it will be Senator Hillary Clinton who will actually introduce the former president once the ceremony gets under way.
SANCHEZ: Appropriate enough. We'll have it for you. Stay with us, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired November 18, 2004 - 10:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up now on the next half hour, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening right "Now in the News."
This is this developing story that we've been telling you about. Less than an hour ago the Federal Agriculture Department announced that it is investigating what might become a second case of mad cow disease in the United States. They've released very few details up to now. But what they say is that they've done a test, albeit inconclusive up to now. The result requires further screening, they say, which could still take several days. Officials stress in this case that the animal in question never entered the food chain. Once again, that the animal in question never entered the food chain. Certainly we'll continue to follow up on the story throughout this day and throughout this newscast.
Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton is the guest of honor this morning as 30,000 invited guests helped dedicate the opening of his presidential library. President George W. Bush is to speak. Also in attendance in Little Rock, former Presidents George Bush and James Carter. The ceremony is scheduled to get under way 90 minutes from now and we'll have it for you.
Now in the Middle East, Egypt has issued an angry protest over Israel's killing of three policemen. It happened this morning at the border separating Egypt from Gaza. Israel has apologized, saying its tank crew had mistaken the Egyptians for Palestinian militants planting explosives.
Scott Peterson's defense attorney is seeking a change of venue and jury for the sentencing of the convicted murderer. Mark Geragos says that a new jury should decide whether Peterson should die for killing his wife and their unborn son. The penalty phase is to begin Monday.
There are new unemployment numbers out this morning. The Labor Department says the number of new claims dipped slightly last week. That decline comes on the heels of an increase the week before. The expansion of the job market raises hopes the nation's economic recovery is, in fact, gaining momentum.
WHITFIELD: The United Nations Security Council is in Kenya for a rare meeting outside its New York headquarters. The 15 member panel is in that East African country because of the tragedy in Sudan and because of pressure from the U.S. ambassador. CNN's Charlayne Hunter- Gault has more.
CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty- one years of civil war. Nearly 2 million people dead from a conflict between Sudan's Arab north and its Christian and traditionalist south. It brings the United Nations Security Council to Africa, only one of the rare times the council will meet outside its New York home.
The mission was organized by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Danforth, this month's council president. The hope is to seal a peace agreement signed earlier this year, calling for north- south power sharing, and a new constitution. But it remains a paper peace.
JEMERA RONE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: And we very much want a peace agreement for the south, because they've been at war, and the people of the south have been suffering for 21 years now. And that's enough.
HUNTER-GAULT: The Security Council will hear representatives from all sides. But few believe it will produce peace. Millions of African villagers have been driven from their homes in Sudan's Darfur region, by government-backed militias. The U.S. calls it genocide while the U.N. continues investigating whether the widespread killing, rape and pillaging of Africans is, indeed, that.
Earlier the U.N. called Darfur one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. There are divisions on the 15-member council. Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria object to strong language in a draft declaration condemning the atrocities in Darfur.
Earlier the four abstained on a council resolution threatening an oil embargo if the Sudanese government failed to rein in the militias and hold them accountable for human rights atrocities.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTER-GAULT: There was a lot of discussion about those atrocities here today, but the Security Council president, John Danforth, ended the meeting today on an optimistic note. He announced that the belligerents in the north and the sound would be signing a memorandum of understanding on Friday, committing themselves to concluding a peace deal by the end of this year.
WHITFIELD: And Charlayne, one complaint that has come from the U.N., and even come from Secretary of State Colin Powell when he visited, was the restraints placed on access to the refugee camps, and to the victims. Any progress being made during these meetings that there will be more access, and a truer account of what really is going on in these refugee camps?
HUNTER-GAULT: Well, as you know, the United Nations has a team on the ground in Darfur as we speak, investigating to their satisfaction whether or not there is a genocide, which is what the United States has called what's going on in Darfur.
We asked various participants yesterday what is going to happen between now and December with the refugees, and Ambassador Danforth said that every effort would be made to get in there, and to help them. But right now, as Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, it's a very dangerous place for those trying to offer humanitarian assistance.
WHITFIELD: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, thanks very much for that video phone report coming from Nairobi, Kenya, where the U.N. is meeting on special sessions, meeting about the Sudan - Rick.
SANCHEZ: They were on opposite sides of the run-up to the Iraq war, but today British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac showed a unified front. The leaders beginning a two- day summit in London. They say that they want a peaceful and stable Iraq. Mr. Chirac also talked of collaboration, cooperation and a common vision over European defense policies.
Secretary of State Colin Powell, for his part, says he has seen intelligence suggesting that Iran is trying to adapt missiles to carry nuclear weapons. Mr. Powell says Iran is working hard to both make weapons and refit missiles and that should be a concern to the entire world.
Powell's comments came as he traveled to the APEC summit in Santiago, Chile. The members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation are talking about scrapping trade barriers and fighting terrorism. Now, in bilateral talks at the summit the U.S. and Australia finalized a deal designed to generate billions of dollars in new trade, as well.
WHITFIELD: A glitter-filled A-list is gathering in Little Rock, Arkansas, this morning for the opening of the Clinton presidential center. The entertainment is set to begin next hour. Among the 30,000 or so guests, President Bush, former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, plus a heavy sprinkling of Hollywood and rock stars and international dignitaries.
Last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE" Senator Hillary Clinton talked about what we can expect to see.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST: Everything's covered, the impeachment is covered, Lewinsky is covered?
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Everything, everything.
KING: You get a full history of Clinton, warts and all?
CLINTON: Yes, yes. I like to think all of the good progress that was made in those eight years, what he really stood for, the peace and the prosperity, you know, putting people first, you know, whatever one wants to say about my husband, everybody knows that he really deeply cared about the American people, and he did try to do what he could to improve their, you know, chances in life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And Mrs. Clinton will introduce her husband at today's ceremony.
Well, the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library is a big day for the city of Little Rock. The city's mayor, Jim Dailey joins us to talk more about that.
Good to see you, Mayor.
MAYOR JIM DAILEY, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: Thank you, Fredricka. It's a great honor for me to be here standing this morning in front of this beautiful, beautiful library, this gift from President Clinton. And thank you for being part of it.
WHITFIELD: Well, thanks for allowing us to be there. Well, give me a sense as to how this library is going to impact Little Rock past today.
DAILEY: Well, actually, I mean, up to this point we've already seen about $1 billion worth of redevelopment in our downtown, and when you look at past today, there's probably another half a billion dollars worth of redevelopment either in process or on the drawing board. And that doesn't even mention the significance of this as President Clinton's policy center that will be bringing people here from all over the world. That will really elevate this community in ways like we have not seen in the past. And he is certainly the individual we have to thank for that.
WHITFIELD: And this has been in the works for eight years. Former President Clinton was, in fact, in part sort of an architect of this entire project. Is this the kind of image that Arkansas really needs at this juncture?
You know, I think that what this does, because of President Clinton's history and interest in education, his interest in the environment, global warming, as an example, his interest in building bridges, the issues of racism and world peace, I think that bringing those kind of leaders and seminars and policy development here, education, is going to be something that will help us as a state, as well as a community to develop for the future in this 21st Century.
So I'm very optimistic about it and very thankful. And already we see the energy that's occurring that we say is largely as a result of this library and President Clinton's involvement.
WHITFIELD: We've just had a small peek at some of the images that are inside among those 80 million pieces of memorabilia that are inside. From the glasses that he wore on the Arsenio Hall show to the saxophone. And apparently right there, even one of his black limos that was used during his presidency.
DAILEY: It's right there.
WHITFIELD: And there we go with the Oval Office right there. Give me a sense as to what you found to be so remarkable as you got a sneak peek of this display.
DAILEY: Well, I'll tell you what, I mean, it's all remarkable. But what I saw last night that was so magnificent is the interactive aspect of this. Someone can go in. My wife and I did this last night. We spent one night in the Lincoln Bedroom. So I wife remembered the date. We went in to that day on the calendar and just punched up on the screen and we were able to see what activities were going on.
We were reminded of what he was doing before he came to visit with us that night and talked a little bit about the design of his library. So it's a very interactive display, in addition to all the things that people can see as they walk through, and revisit history.
WHITFIELD: And this glass building, Senator Clinton said, this transparency, she believes, kind of symbolizes what she hopes to be the access that biographers, historians or students or ordinary people alike will have to the legacy of the former president.
DAILEY: Well, we're optimistic, certainly along that line. And we sit right here on the Arkansas River, adjacent to an old bridge that will become a pedestrian bridge as part of a 14-mile bicycle and walking loop in our downtown area. And once again, big things are happening. Even on a little rainy day, the sun is shining for the future here.
WHITFIELD: Oh, very good. All right. Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey, thanks so much for being with us. And of course, we'll be...
DAILEY: Thank you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, enjoy the day. CNN here will be showing you coverage of the Clinton library dedication throughout the day, and officially gets under way less than 30 minutes from now.
SANCHEZ: Yes. As a matter of fact, Paul Begala is going to be joining us in just a little bit. He's going to be sharing some of his experiences. He would have been with us sooner but apparently the security guards didn't let him through. I think they thought he was Tucker Carlson.
WHITFIELD: Did not know who he is. Well, they worked it out. So we will be joined by him soon.
Plus it may have looked like a scene from the movie "Speed." But it was real life. Still to come, a bold move by a passenger helps to save dozens of others.
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WHITFIELD:: This is a special group. The Hot Springs, Arkansas, high school band performs next hour at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library. The band won an audition to play today, and it's actually the third time they've performed for former President Bill Clinton. The former president has a soft spot for them. So he happened to play saxophone in the same band some 40 years ago.
Well, our man has finally arrived. CNN "CROSSFIRE" co-host Paul Begala got to know Bill Clinton, you might say, as a consultant on Mr. Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. That campaign was documented in the film "The War Room." After Mr. Clinton's election, Begala joined the White House team as counselor to the president, helping to find and defend the administration's agenda. Paul Begala is in Little Rock today for the dedication of the Clinton library, and he joins us now. Hi, Paul. How are you?
PAUL BEGALA, "CROSSFIRE" CO-HOST: Rick, I'm great. How are you? I'm sorry you couldn't be here with us.
SANCHEZ: Well, it's too bad, because I would like to be there. It sounds like everybody else is going to be there of import. Something else of import I want to show you. Have you got a monitor there?
BEGALA: I don't.
SANCHEZ: Well, then I'll tell you what it is. Let's go ahead and put that picture of up those sunglasses, because Paul Begala is going to give us the story behind the story of the sunglasses that Mr. Clinton wore on "The Arsenio Hall Show" that became so famous at the time. And it turns out that these weren't Mr. Clinton's sunglasses, right?
BEGALA: No, they were mine. I'm sort of retro, old school. I love those Ray Ban wayfarers that the Blues Brothers used to wear. So I would wear them on the campaign trail. And as the governor was going out to do "The Arsenio Hall Show" and play the saxophone, I stuck the sunglasses on him. He sort of shrugged, kind of looked at Carville, looked at me, what do you think. I said, oh, go for it governor. And he did. And I wore them for most of the rest of the campaign. Toward the end of the campaign my wife said, you know, you should put them in a box somewhere and one day give them to the Clinton Presidential Library, and I laughed. But I did, I threw them in a shoebox and they sat there for 12 years, and about two weeks ago, I found them and shipped them down there.
SANCHEZ: It's amazing how something from a dollar store can end up in a museum like that.
BEGALA: Who'd have thought. But you know, I sort of share a similar -- I guess, you know, it's not politically correct anymore to say white trash roots, but those are my people, and I love those sunglasses, and I'm just thrilled that the governor wore them on TV, and now the president has them in his library.
SANCHEZ: Characterize Bill Clinton's success for us. What is that thing that he had that put him over the top that, for example, Senator Kerry may not have had?
BEGALA: I think most importantly this exuberant optimism. I mean, I don't want to criticize Senator Kerry. But the people who win the presidency are invariably optimists. Our current president is an optimist. Certainly Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton in my lifetime were the two sunniest, most optimistic, most all-American politicians we've ever had, very different worldviews for the two of them. But I think what made Bill Clinton exceptional and what made him successful endless belief in this country, endless optimism, and he really meant it when he said, I still believe in a place called hope. That's how he views our country.
SANCHEZ: Didn't he have a humanity that -- or the ability to share or show that humanity that perhaps Senator Kerry didn't have?
BEGALA: Yes, he has an empathy that no other politician I've ever seen has. He really, because he's lived such an extraordinary life, you know, of course was raised by a single mother, his father died even before he was born and was quite poor as a child, and I think he's just got an ability to connect with people. And that's unique. That empathy that he has, the ability to sort of walk a mile in your shoes. It's a wonderful gift in a politician, and it allows him, I think -- he always used to say to me, here's how I crush my enemies, I make them my friends. And that's a wonderful gift.
SANCHEZ: Here's one that may have made sense when it happened, but you look at it now in hindsight and you go, huh? you were introduced to Bill Clinton and worked for him as a result of your association and friendship with Zell Miller.
BEGALA: Oh, Zell Miller has been an important part of my life. We have sort of parted company politically, but personally I love the guy. He was Bill Clinton's, one of his very best friends when the governor of Arkansas was thinking about running. He talked to the governor of Georgia then. Zell talked him into running. Told him he'd move the primary date to get Clinton elected. And then sort of a passing thought, he said, these two boys who ran my campaign, Bill, James Carville and Paul Begala, you should talk to them. Clinton said, I've never heard of them. And Zell, well, they're pretty good guys, you ought to at least talk to him. And that's how we were introduced to him. And you know, It was love at first sight, politically speaking, so I owe to Zell an enormous debt of gratitude. If it hadn't been for Zell Miller, I never would have worked for Bill Clinton.
SANCHEZ: That's so amazing. We've to go, because my producer's saying we're out of time. We could go on forever about this. But if you could, just wrap up in 30 seconds or less, what is Bill Clinton's legacy going to be? And I know people argue about this on subways and all over America all the time. What's Paul Begala's take?
BEGALA: Well, I think, first off, it's that boundless faith in America. He is the embodiment of the American Dream. He has lived the American Dream. I think his presidency was all about extending the American Dream of opportunity to more and more Americans.
SANCHEZ: But what will historians say? Will they say he was a great president, a good president, a fair president, a bad president? What will they say?
BEGALA: Oh, I think if they judge him by what he promised to do and what he accomplished, he was an astounding success. He promised to only cut the deficit by half. He eliminated it entirely. He promised to create eight million jobs, he created 23 million. Welfare at its lowest levels, crime at its lowest levels, and the highest surplus ever, the greatest job creation ever. I mean, the substantive agenda is there for the historians to pore over.
I'm just more interested, really, in the emotional success that he had, in other words, the spirit that he captured. He was my party's Ronald Reagan, or he was the successor to FDR, as somebody with this boundless, endless faith in our country and this great love for America, and that's more what I'm focused on today.
SANCHEZ: Paul Begala, always a pleasure talking to you, my friend.
BEGALA: Thanks, Rick. Good to see you again.
SANCHEZ: All right, I appreciate it.
Well, again, stay with CNN for our coverage on the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library, it's beginning again, officially at 11:00 a.m. We'll have an awful lot of music when it starts.
Stay with us.
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SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY, I'm Rick Sanchez. The parents of two Marines are fighting to get their youngest son out of Iraq. The oldest was severely wounded in Falluja and is undergoing treatment at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Doug Buchanan, affiliate station WUSA, has been talking to the family.
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DOUG BUCHANAN,WUSA REPORTER (voice-over): Being a Marine just seems to run in the Johnston family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had three generations now of Marines in our family.
BUCHANAN: And it was as a Marine fighting for his country that cost 24-year-old Brian Johnston his right arm and leg in the battle for Falluja on November 9th.
VERA HERON, MOTHER OF MARINES: I just broke down. I just couldn't believe it.
BUCHANAN: And it's in Falluja where Brian's younger brother is also fighting the insurgents in the 20-year-old's second tour in Iraq.
HERON: They are our only two children. We only have the two boys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If anything happens to Kevin, I don't know how we can take it.
BUCHANAN: Now as these parents keep a close eye on their severely wounded son at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, they're also desperately trying to get Kevin out of harm's way.
: We've already given enough. We do not want to go through this again ever again. We want Kevin out of there and we want him out of there now.
BUCHANAN: And so they've called on their Congressman from Connecticut in their effort to get Kevin off the battlefield and to Bethesda so he can visit his injured older brother.
REP. JOHN LARSON (D), CONNECTICUT: They're hoping that they're going to be able to get an emergency leave, which is kind of extraordinary.
BUCHANAN: Extraordinary, because military members may request a transfer out of a hostile area if a relative is killed in that same area. But in this case, Brian Johnston is alive and is expected to survive.
: To hell with the damn rules and regulations, I want my son home. And I want him home now.
BUCHANAN: And it was here just a couple of day ago where Brian Johnston last opened his eyes. There at his bedside was his mother. Just as he began shouting the names of the Marines in his platoon. His mother says her oldest son still thinks he's fighting in Iraq.
At the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Doug Buchanan, 9 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And in just a couple of minutes we're going to take you to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the ceremonies for President William Jefferson Clinton. You know, these are some of the live pictures now. Think of the people who are going to be there. Former President -- present President Bush, former President Bush, former President Carter and an awful lot of famous people.
WHITFIELD: Yes. A whole lot of dignitaries, in fact, you're looking and listening to the musical prelude right now. That's going to continue almost for a whole 'nother hour. Just a musical prelude of various bands, et cetera, before they actually get the dedication ceremony under way. And it will be Senator Hillary Clinton who will actually introduce the former president once the ceremony gets under way.
SANCHEZ: Appropriate enough. We'll have it for you. Stay with us, we'll be right back.
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