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American Morning
George W. Bush: The Road Ahead
Aired January 20, 2005 - 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. Boy, that's a beautiful shot. And that actually is our view this morning as we sit on a little podium perched sort of level with the Capitol building. Look how pretty that looks with the flag. Of course they are in the middle of last-minute cleaning up, setting up and checking the audio as we hear every so often.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The clock is ticking down. 9:30 here in Washington. Welcome back to our special inauguration coverage here in D.C. Events unfolding on a pretty tight schedule right now. President Bush and the extended family attending a service at now St. John's Church, right near the White House. Then in about 30 minutes from now, the ceremonies here at the Capitol are scheduled to begin.
O'BRIEN: The president will take the oath of office at noon Eastern Time. His inaugural address said to focus on a theme of spreading freedom throughout the world. The speech is expected to last between 20 and 30 minutes. It is meant to inspire, we are told, not focus on policy initiatives. Those, we are told, will be spelled out in a State of the Union speech, which of course is on February 2nd. At high noon today, the oath of office for a second time, we should point out.
Senior analyst Jeff Greenfield has some thoughts on what we are likely to hear from the president.
Hey, Jeff, good morning to you.
Give us a sense of how the second time around differs from first time around.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: Sure. The most obvious is we know the president, any second-term president, and after four years in office, you don't have a second chance to make a first impression. So that while inaugurals, as you just indicated, aren't the place for policy statements, we're get that in this State of the Union, we can expect in the second term more of a road map and less of a broad statement of unifying themes, I think, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Jeff, is there any correlation between what somebody says in their inauguration speech and then what actually happens later on in their term?
GREENFIELD: Not usually. You know, you go back to Franklin Roosevelt's second term speech, and he was praised for not bringing up his fight with the U.S. Supreme Court that was knocking down his New Deal legislation. A few weeks later, he launched an attempt to pack the Supreme Court that became the most controversial issue of his second term.
You also are not going to find if you go back and look at, say, Lyndon Johnson's speech after he got elected to a full term, or Richard Nixon's second speech, any indication of the huge pitched political battles to come. But the difference here, I think, is that while you are not going to, for instance, hear a specific plan on Social Security, you are very likely to hear talk about an ownership society. We already know that while you're not going to hear foreign policy pronouncements, you'll hear the theme that he hit repeatedly in the campaign, that the spread of democracy and freedom is the surest way to protect America's safety.
And I point one more thing out, to me, one of the most significant images you're going to see today is when Chief Justice William Rehnquist appears to administer the oath to George W. Bush. He's been gravely ill. This may well be one of the last public appearances of Rehnquist. And should he leave the court, it means that the president's second term will begin with a battle over a Supreme Court nomination. We have to go back 180 years to find this long a period without a supreme court vacancy. It's now been 11 years, and that's going to be, I will tell you -- and I hate predictions -- as contentious a battle as any the president will face in his second term. So that part of the inaugural may be more significant than the speech.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I think that that's a fair prediction to make.
Quick question for you, Jeff, just curious to know, have you seen a change in President Bush just in the time since the election has passed? Some people say he seems to come across as more confident. I know he doesn't like the word validation, but that sort of springs to mind. Have you seen that?
GREENFIELD: I think what you can really point to is that the circumstances have changed so dramatically. The landscape that the president confronted four years ago and now, it is a different planet. Invulnerable America now the victim of an attack, post Cold War to a shooting war in Iraq that shows no sign of any kind of quick conclusion. Massive surplus to these massive deficits -- his opponents say he caused that.
So the gravity of what he faces is greater, and you're hearing from all of his aides -- some of this may be self-serving, some of it may be real -- that in fact, he's kind of much more comfortable with the mantle of power, that he knows what he wants to do, that it's his administration now. You remember four years ago, he was surrounded by people like Dick Cheney and Colin Powell to tell the country, look, he may be a Texas governor, but he's got people who will help him on foreign policy. You don't hear any of that now. It's his own administration. So the contrast between four years ago and today is about as dramatic as you could imagine, I think.
O'BRIEN: Jeff Greenfield. As always, thanks, Jeff, and we will be hearing from you throughout the morning and afternoon as well. Appreciate it -- Bill. HEMMER: Soledad, starting to see a lot of people start to gather now here at the west front of the Capitol building. Security is tight. The lines are slow. It is chilly out here, too, and they're going to have a wait of more than two hours before they see the president here.
What do average Americans want to see from President Bush in the next four years? Kelly Wallace looking at this all week. It's our series called "What's In It For Me?" And today the issue is (INAUDIBLE).
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, as you and Soledad have been talking throughout the morning, Social Security reform really the president's top domestic goal for his second term. And as we found out when we sat down with one spirited family, there is a great deal of debate about the extent of the problem and what should be done about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice over): Three generations of a New York City family who say they're not supporters of President Bush but do share some of his concerns about Social Security. Thirty-seven-year-old Dawn Reisch (ph) says she's not counting on getting anything.
(on camera): Does that bother you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it bothers me a lot. They take a lot out of my paycheck for it.
WALLACE (voice over): Dawn's (ph) mother, 63-year-old Ilana Reisch (ph), a psychologist, says it's not herself she's worried about.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I'm worried about it for future generations, because I know a lot of people -- I have a good profession. So, I've always put money aside for my old age. But there are many people who can't do that.
WALLACE: Ilana's (ph) mother and Dawn's (ph) grandmother, 89- year-old Mefa Rogoff, a retired occupational therapist, agrees.
MEFA ROGOFF, 89 YEARS OLD: I'm worried about it for my granddaughter, for my great grandson who's only a year old. No, it is a problem. It really is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There aren't as many in my generation working as there are Baby Boomers that are retiring. So, mathematically, there can't be enough money unless it comes from someplace else.
WALLACE: And so, we asked them about the president's idea, allowing younger workers the option of investing some of their Social Security in the stock market. No way, says Mefa.
ROGOFF: Well, it's like teaching young people how to gamble. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And government-approved mutual funds that have a broad base doesn't seem like it would be a gamble. It seems like it would possibly provide the system with more money.
WALLACE (on camera): You both obviously disagree on this and...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've been arguing all weekend.
WALLACE (voice over): Dawn (ph) sides with her grandmother on this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't enjoy the thought of investing my money.
WALLACE (on camera): Why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's too risky.
WALLACE: Too worried you're going to lose?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
WALLACE (voice over): And sharp differences also on whether the president and lawmakers can agree on a solution.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the older generations that are in politics are not going to give it as much thought as maybe my generation that comes into politics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think politicians are always looking to the younger vote and trying to get voters in your generation. And so, they would want to make a proposal that you would agree with so that you'd vote for whoever it was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's one thing, making the proposal. It's quite another to actually implement it and get it moving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And they say they will be watching to see what happens between the president and the Congress during this second term -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly. Part five tomorrow, what's in it for me? Kelly will focus on immigration issues on Friday morning. Thanks again -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Social Security is in crisis. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business." He's got a little bit more on this debate. Hey, Andy, good morning again.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Soledad. I hope you're staying warm down there.
Yes, in fact the debate over Social Security is heated, and it's also confusing. O'BRIEN: Hey, Andy, I'm going to interrupt you there for a second. Yes, let me interrupt you, because I just want to show folks this picture. It looks like the service is over. We are seeing the president and the first lady making their way out of St. John's Episcopal Church. They will be heading back into their cars, then back to the White House, where they'll remain for about an hour and 20 minutes or so before they make their way here to where we are on Capitol Hill.
Let's check in once again before we get back to Andy with Judy Woodruff who's standing by right there at St. John's.
Hey, Judy.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Soledad.
You do see President Bush, and first lady Laura Bush and their daughters, Jenna and Barbara, getting into the limousine. This service is shorter than what had been advertised. It was to have been an hour. But it appears to have wrapped up after 35 minutes.
And, Soledad, we can tell you a little bit about what the president heard inside. The Reverend Luis Leon (ph) who is the pastor there -- I don't know if you see him standing in the door there -- appealed to President Bush, among other things, to help Americans live without fear. And there was a more direct political reference. We're told that he said -- an appeal to the president, he said to help Americans be a good people, a better people beyond red states and blue states. So a bit of a muted appeal to unity, if you will.
Now, you're looking at the limousine that is going to take the president, the first lady and their daughters back to the White House. That's a very short drive, just a matter of a couple of minutes. And from there, they will spend about 40 minutes -- well, now it's actually going to be about an hour before they head to the Capitol and to the services that will lead up to taking the oath of office at 12:00 noon straight up.
The one thing that's been added to the schedule, Soledad and Bill, is this coffee the president is going to have with the leadership of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats. So I guess the message they heard here at the church will have a little application -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: How is that being interpreted, Judy? I'm curious to know. I mean, this is a president that has indicated that he wants to reach out to the other side. He wants to change the tone, I think is the words that we've been using this morning. So how is that addition to the schedule being interpreted? Or am I reading too much into it?
WOODRUFF: Soledad, I'm having a hard time hearing you because of the motorcycles. You can imagine how long the motorcade is behind the president. A lot of police. But if you're asking about the appeal across party lines, I think, you know, the attitude of most people I talked to in this town is let's see what happens. You know, it's one thing to talk about it, it's another thing to actually do it. Democrats will say to you, you know, we've heard this before. They raise their eyebrows, there's some skepticism. So I think, you know, the view is we'll see what comes.
We're looking now at the former President Bush, the first President Bush, over to the side. Barbara Bush and vice president and Mrs. Cheney, they're coming out of St. John's Episcopal. As we were saying earlier, this is the church the president has attended on occasion over the last four years. He's gotten to be good friends with the minister, the Reverend Luis Leon, a Cuban immigrant, someone who came to the United States as a young man from Cuba.
And right now you see the vice president and Mrs. Cheney getting into their car. And they will be followed very quickly by other members of the Bush family and by a number of Bush friends, extended family from all over the country.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Judy, the events really, I think, get going, so to speak, after this traditional service that we've seen here at the Capitol. I hope you can hear me. Because, of course, they're playing music loudly behind me. They are in the midst of setting up for the noon celebrations. So, of course, it's a little chaotic back here.
WOODRUFF: I can hear you.
O'BRIEN: Oh, good. I'm curious to know what they do in that hour, hour and 15 minutes back at the White House. What historically happens in that time? And we should point out, they are running very much before or right on schedule.
WOODRUFF: Well my -- you know, I'm only assuming here. But they will gather family together and prepare. You know, when it's a change of administration, Soledad, this is actually a very interesting moment. Because this would be the time when the outgoing president would sit down, as Bill Clinton did four years ago, with George W. Bush. They would have tea or coffee together and have a real conversation. This is the transition that takes place, you know, whenever there's a turnover.
But you don't have that in 2005. You have George W. Bush, you know, he's been re-elected. There's no one to turn the reins of power over to. My assumption is he's sitting with family, he's sitting with staff and he's probably pulling himself together, if you will, to get ready for the big moment at 12:00.
O'BRIEN: We'd like to interrupt you there for a second. We're seeing the president and his daughter Barbara Bush making their way out of the town car that has dropped them off at the White House. As you mentioned, really, a very short ride just around town. And there, of course, is the first lady being escorted in by her husband. Daughter Jenna also coming in as well. I'm sure, as you mentioned, we're going to see the rest of the family members, who are a little more slowly making their way out of the church and then back to the White House for that gathering that will happen. Give them a little time before they have to make their way here to the Capitol and start the celebrations here.
Secretary Rumsfeld, you're looking at him as well. He has made his way out of the church. And you know, we've talked a little bit, Judy, and maybe you can address this, about logistics. Part of the reason that I would imagine that people are coming out of this church slowly and making their way into their cars slowly is because of course the logistics and the security around this must be incredible. If it's anything like it is here at the Capitol.
WOODRUFF: Oh, Soledad. You can't imagine. I mean, we've been through one checkpoint. We will go through another one to make our way over to Lafayette park. I'm going to be spending much of this day at the platform that the news organizations have built across the street facing the president's reviewing stand.
But you can imagine, the security is just enormous around here. In fact, I'll tell you, just very quickly, when we got here and did our first hello to you and Bill, I guess it was at 8:00 Eastern time, a couple of us wanted to run into the Hay Adams Hotel (ph), which is behind us, to grab a cup of coffee. And the security people said, no, if you go into that hotel, even if you're in there for two minutes to get a cup of coffee and come back, you're going to have to go through security again. So it's very tight.
HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) history on this day and it is truly historical in the security sense. When you look at history for inaugurations, many people think about 1861 and Abraham Lincoln when they had sharp shooters around Pennsylvania Avenue. And for that time in American history, that was substantial. Well, this is the first inauguration to take place since the events of September 11, three and a half years ago. And this city is locked up like a drum.
Throughout the week, you can read the "Washington Post" and the articles will suggest all the people living or working around the city, they're advised to stay away -- not just today, but even yesterday. 100 square blocks have been shut down, inaccessible to people moving around the city. That's how tight things have become in our nation's Capitol here now in January 2005.
O'BRIEN: We talked about that security as well yesterday a little bit with some security experts who talked about the concerns, obviously not only for the president and the first lady and the family, but also the people who come to watch the event and...
HEMMER: Oh, certainly.
O'BRIEN: And then certainly all the other famous Washington monuments that also need to be protected. It does not come cheap, though. As you well know, they're talking about $10 million, maybe more, to pay for all the security, bringing the price tag here between $30 million to $40 million for the inauguration itself and then an additional $10 million for the security -- so $50 million, maybe, at the end of the day.
HEMMER: As you mentioned, the security that the people come to participate and to watch today, behind us here in the west front of the Capitol building, we can already see hundreds of people now going through their own security check. And they are backed up by the hundreds already as they try to make their way in here.
There are chairs scattered throughout the area here on the west front of the Capitol. They're going to have a cold, chilly wait because the wind's picking up. But this is what they have come to see. They've come to see history, history in the making for the second inauguration for the 43rd president of the United States.
O'BRIEN: We've got much more on this, of course, not only on AMERICAN MORNING but also throughout the day today. Our special coverage continues. We're back in just a moment. A short break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Here is a shot from a little bit earlier this morning. That's President Bush and the first lady and daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush behind him. As they depart St. John's Episcopal Church just a few moments ago, they jump into their car and headed to the motorcade and back to the White House where they'll spend the next hour or so, probably as Judy Woodruff points out, with a little family time. Past presidents have reflected on their tenure, if they were departing the White House of course. President Bush is being inaugurated into a second term, and so he -- maybe it's a completely different story as they spend their next hour. But they have to make their way here to the Capitol, and really kick off all the events that begin this massive celebration today.
HEMMER: George Bush will place his hand on a Bible, the same Bible that he was sworn in back in 2001, the same Bible used by his father, Bush No. 41 in 1989. "George Washington's Bible," printed in 1767.
I want to bring Allan Lichtman back in here. Allan, good morning again to you.
Curious to get your take on the theme that is coming out Judy Woodruff's report about this bipartisan luncheon at the White House later today, and whether or not that is words or whether or not that is true actions now as we embark on a second term?
All right. I'm having a hard time hearing you, Allan. I apologize about that. Why don't we try and fix that, and once we get that worked out, we'll bring back in Allan Lichtman, who's here in D.C. with us as well.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a moment to show folks this shot of the Capitol, because we truly have -- not to brag, but we got up there with the best seats in the house. We have a bird's eye view of what's going to happen really, just a couple of hours from now, where of course we're almost level with the podium. You can hear -- the music you hear behind me is the choirs that are rehearsing and doing sound checks. They have been doing all morning. Down below, folks have already really started to line up. Keep in mind, it is chilly out here. It's actually gotten significantly colder in the last hour or so, and they've already lined up, and they've got a two-hour wait before things get under way, so I hope they're all very appropriately dressed. They're starting to take their seats already.
And so as President Bush wraps things up at the White House this morning, there before he makes his way to the Capitol, they're also wrapping up the preparations and getting ready to kick things off here right on the Capitol.
HEMMER; For so many years they held this on the other side of the Capitol building, on the east side. We're to be west side now. In January of 1981, Ronald Reagan changed that. He had an idea to take advantage of the great National Mall looking out to the Washington Monument, Lincoln behind that. And also it was a sort of symbolism he used to look back to the American West and his home back in California. He changed it in January of 1981, and now this is the sixth inauguration that will be held on this very spot.
O'BRIEN: It is truly a beautiful, beautiful scene. It is, obviously, an event that is absolutely steeped in history. You talked a little bit about the Bible that President Bush will be using this morning, the same Bible, of course, that his father used as well, that he used for his previous inauguration. Everything that is done is recorded in reference to what previous presidents have done.
HEMMER: I mentioned Ronald Reagan. It was only seven short months ago when his body lie in state in the Rotunda here of the Capitol behind us.
I want to get back to Allan Lichtman.
Allan, can you hear me now? Good morning.
ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: I hear you fine.
HEMMER: Listen, I don't know if you heard the question earlier, but this talk that is now emanating out of the White House about this bipartisan meeting that will take place after the swearing-in, after the parade later today, what do you make of this, Allan?
LICTHMAN: It's the new George W. Bush. He understands a president pretty much has a free hand in foreign policy. Congress can't check him easily. But domestic matters are another question entirely. You've got to deal with the bulky Congress, and you need at least 60 votes in the Senate. He's got a huge domestic agenda. There's a mini revolt within his own party. All of a sudden, George Bush needs Democrats. Why not bring them in right now at this celebratory moment?
HEMMER: Well, You mention head has Congress on his side. Republicans lead the Senate, 55-44. They lead the house 232-201. Allan, we have about 15 seconds left. What are your expectations for this speech at noon Eastern?
LICTHMAN: This speech is going to be George Bush's thematic speech, his speech for the ages, where he puts his policies in the context of the grand worldwide movement towards liberty and freedom and against the forces of evil and darkness.
HEMMER: Right on time. You should work in TV, Allan.
LICTHMAN: Why not?
HEMMER: Hey, thanks, presidential historian Allan Lichtman. We'll talk to you again soon. Thanks.
O'BRIEN: I got to tell you, Bill, I can not think of a more beautiful way to toss to break than with the chorus us behind us singing.
All right, a short break. We're back in just a moment everyone. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired January 20, 2005 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. Boy, that's a beautiful shot. And that actually is our view this morning as we sit on a little podium perched sort of level with the Capitol building. Look how pretty that looks with the flag. Of course they are in the middle of last-minute cleaning up, setting up and checking the audio as we hear every so often.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The clock is ticking down. 9:30 here in Washington. Welcome back to our special inauguration coverage here in D.C. Events unfolding on a pretty tight schedule right now. President Bush and the extended family attending a service at now St. John's Church, right near the White House. Then in about 30 minutes from now, the ceremonies here at the Capitol are scheduled to begin.
O'BRIEN: The president will take the oath of office at noon Eastern Time. His inaugural address said to focus on a theme of spreading freedom throughout the world. The speech is expected to last between 20 and 30 minutes. It is meant to inspire, we are told, not focus on policy initiatives. Those, we are told, will be spelled out in a State of the Union speech, which of course is on February 2nd. At high noon today, the oath of office for a second time, we should point out.
Senior analyst Jeff Greenfield has some thoughts on what we are likely to hear from the president.
Hey, Jeff, good morning to you.
Give us a sense of how the second time around differs from first time around.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: Sure. The most obvious is we know the president, any second-term president, and after four years in office, you don't have a second chance to make a first impression. So that while inaugurals, as you just indicated, aren't the place for policy statements, we're get that in this State of the Union, we can expect in the second term more of a road map and less of a broad statement of unifying themes, I think, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Jeff, is there any correlation between what somebody says in their inauguration speech and then what actually happens later on in their term?
GREENFIELD: Not usually. You know, you go back to Franklin Roosevelt's second term speech, and he was praised for not bringing up his fight with the U.S. Supreme Court that was knocking down his New Deal legislation. A few weeks later, he launched an attempt to pack the Supreme Court that became the most controversial issue of his second term.
You also are not going to find if you go back and look at, say, Lyndon Johnson's speech after he got elected to a full term, or Richard Nixon's second speech, any indication of the huge pitched political battles to come. But the difference here, I think, is that while you are not going to, for instance, hear a specific plan on Social Security, you are very likely to hear talk about an ownership society. We already know that while you're not going to hear foreign policy pronouncements, you'll hear the theme that he hit repeatedly in the campaign, that the spread of democracy and freedom is the surest way to protect America's safety.
And I point one more thing out, to me, one of the most significant images you're going to see today is when Chief Justice William Rehnquist appears to administer the oath to George W. Bush. He's been gravely ill. This may well be one of the last public appearances of Rehnquist. And should he leave the court, it means that the president's second term will begin with a battle over a Supreme Court nomination. We have to go back 180 years to find this long a period without a supreme court vacancy. It's now been 11 years, and that's going to be, I will tell you -- and I hate predictions -- as contentious a battle as any the president will face in his second term. So that part of the inaugural may be more significant than the speech.
O'BRIEN: Yes, I think that that's a fair prediction to make.
Quick question for you, Jeff, just curious to know, have you seen a change in President Bush just in the time since the election has passed? Some people say he seems to come across as more confident. I know he doesn't like the word validation, but that sort of springs to mind. Have you seen that?
GREENFIELD: I think what you can really point to is that the circumstances have changed so dramatically. The landscape that the president confronted four years ago and now, it is a different planet. Invulnerable America now the victim of an attack, post Cold War to a shooting war in Iraq that shows no sign of any kind of quick conclusion. Massive surplus to these massive deficits -- his opponents say he caused that.
So the gravity of what he faces is greater, and you're hearing from all of his aides -- some of this may be self-serving, some of it may be real -- that in fact, he's kind of much more comfortable with the mantle of power, that he knows what he wants to do, that it's his administration now. You remember four years ago, he was surrounded by people like Dick Cheney and Colin Powell to tell the country, look, he may be a Texas governor, but he's got people who will help him on foreign policy. You don't hear any of that now. It's his own administration. So the contrast between four years ago and today is about as dramatic as you could imagine, I think.
O'BRIEN: Jeff Greenfield. As always, thanks, Jeff, and we will be hearing from you throughout the morning and afternoon as well. Appreciate it -- Bill. HEMMER: Soledad, starting to see a lot of people start to gather now here at the west front of the Capitol building. Security is tight. The lines are slow. It is chilly out here, too, and they're going to have a wait of more than two hours before they see the president here.
What do average Americans want to see from President Bush in the next four years? Kelly Wallace looking at this all week. It's our series called "What's In It For Me?" And today the issue is (INAUDIBLE).
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, as you and Soledad have been talking throughout the morning, Social Security reform really the president's top domestic goal for his second term. And as we found out when we sat down with one spirited family, there is a great deal of debate about the extent of the problem and what should be done about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice over): Three generations of a New York City family who say they're not supporters of President Bush but do share some of his concerns about Social Security. Thirty-seven-year-old Dawn Reisch (ph) says she's not counting on getting anything.
(on camera): Does that bother you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it bothers me a lot. They take a lot out of my paycheck for it.
WALLACE (voice over): Dawn's (ph) mother, 63-year-old Ilana Reisch (ph), a psychologist, says it's not herself she's worried about.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I'm worried about it for future generations, because I know a lot of people -- I have a good profession. So, I've always put money aside for my old age. But there are many people who can't do that.
WALLACE: Ilana's (ph) mother and Dawn's (ph) grandmother, 89- year-old Mefa Rogoff, a retired occupational therapist, agrees.
MEFA ROGOFF, 89 YEARS OLD: I'm worried about it for my granddaughter, for my great grandson who's only a year old. No, it is a problem. It really is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There aren't as many in my generation working as there are Baby Boomers that are retiring. So, mathematically, there can't be enough money unless it comes from someplace else.
WALLACE: And so, we asked them about the president's idea, allowing younger workers the option of investing some of their Social Security in the stock market. No way, says Mefa.
ROGOFF: Well, it's like teaching young people how to gamble. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And government-approved mutual funds that have a broad base doesn't seem like it would be a gamble. It seems like it would possibly provide the system with more money.
WALLACE (on camera): You both obviously disagree on this and...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've been arguing all weekend.
WALLACE (voice over): Dawn (ph) sides with her grandmother on this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't enjoy the thought of investing my money.
WALLACE (on camera): Why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's too risky.
WALLACE: Too worried you're going to lose?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
WALLACE (voice over): And sharp differences also on whether the president and lawmakers can agree on a solution.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the older generations that are in politics are not going to give it as much thought as maybe my generation that comes into politics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think politicians are always looking to the younger vote and trying to get voters in your generation. And so, they would want to make a proposal that you would agree with so that you'd vote for whoever it was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's one thing, making the proposal. It's quite another to actually implement it and get it moving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And they say they will be watching to see what happens between the president and the Congress during this second term -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly. Part five tomorrow, what's in it for me? Kelly will focus on immigration issues on Friday morning. Thanks again -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Social Security is in crisis. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business." He's got a little bit more on this debate. Hey, Andy, good morning again.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Soledad. I hope you're staying warm down there.
Yes, in fact the debate over Social Security is heated, and it's also confusing. O'BRIEN: Hey, Andy, I'm going to interrupt you there for a second. Yes, let me interrupt you, because I just want to show folks this picture. It looks like the service is over. We are seeing the president and the first lady making their way out of St. John's Episcopal Church. They will be heading back into their cars, then back to the White House, where they'll remain for about an hour and 20 minutes or so before they make their way here to where we are on Capitol Hill.
Let's check in once again before we get back to Andy with Judy Woodruff who's standing by right there at St. John's.
Hey, Judy.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Soledad.
You do see President Bush, and first lady Laura Bush and their daughters, Jenna and Barbara, getting into the limousine. This service is shorter than what had been advertised. It was to have been an hour. But it appears to have wrapped up after 35 minutes.
And, Soledad, we can tell you a little bit about what the president heard inside. The Reverend Luis Leon (ph) who is the pastor there -- I don't know if you see him standing in the door there -- appealed to President Bush, among other things, to help Americans live without fear. And there was a more direct political reference. We're told that he said -- an appeal to the president, he said to help Americans be a good people, a better people beyond red states and blue states. So a bit of a muted appeal to unity, if you will.
Now, you're looking at the limousine that is going to take the president, the first lady and their daughters back to the White House. That's a very short drive, just a matter of a couple of minutes. And from there, they will spend about 40 minutes -- well, now it's actually going to be about an hour before they head to the Capitol and to the services that will lead up to taking the oath of office at 12:00 noon straight up.
The one thing that's been added to the schedule, Soledad and Bill, is this coffee the president is going to have with the leadership of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats. So I guess the message they heard here at the church will have a little application -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: How is that being interpreted, Judy? I'm curious to know. I mean, this is a president that has indicated that he wants to reach out to the other side. He wants to change the tone, I think is the words that we've been using this morning. So how is that addition to the schedule being interpreted? Or am I reading too much into it?
WOODRUFF: Soledad, I'm having a hard time hearing you because of the motorcycles. You can imagine how long the motorcade is behind the president. A lot of police. But if you're asking about the appeal across party lines, I think, you know, the attitude of most people I talked to in this town is let's see what happens. You know, it's one thing to talk about it, it's another thing to actually do it. Democrats will say to you, you know, we've heard this before. They raise their eyebrows, there's some skepticism. So I think, you know, the view is we'll see what comes.
We're looking now at the former President Bush, the first President Bush, over to the side. Barbara Bush and vice president and Mrs. Cheney, they're coming out of St. John's Episcopal. As we were saying earlier, this is the church the president has attended on occasion over the last four years. He's gotten to be good friends with the minister, the Reverend Luis Leon, a Cuban immigrant, someone who came to the United States as a young man from Cuba.
And right now you see the vice president and Mrs. Cheney getting into their car. And they will be followed very quickly by other members of the Bush family and by a number of Bush friends, extended family from all over the country.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Judy, the events really, I think, get going, so to speak, after this traditional service that we've seen here at the Capitol. I hope you can hear me. Because, of course, they're playing music loudly behind me. They are in the midst of setting up for the noon celebrations. So, of course, it's a little chaotic back here.
WOODRUFF: I can hear you.
O'BRIEN: Oh, good. I'm curious to know what they do in that hour, hour and 15 minutes back at the White House. What historically happens in that time? And we should point out, they are running very much before or right on schedule.
WOODRUFF: Well my -- you know, I'm only assuming here. But they will gather family together and prepare. You know, when it's a change of administration, Soledad, this is actually a very interesting moment. Because this would be the time when the outgoing president would sit down, as Bill Clinton did four years ago, with George W. Bush. They would have tea or coffee together and have a real conversation. This is the transition that takes place, you know, whenever there's a turnover.
But you don't have that in 2005. You have George W. Bush, you know, he's been re-elected. There's no one to turn the reins of power over to. My assumption is he's sitting with family, he's sitting with staff and he's probably pulling himself together, if you will, to get ready for the big moment at 12:00.
O'BRIEN: We'd like to interrupt you there for a second. We're seeing the president and his daughter Barbara Bush making their way out of the town car that has dropped them off at the White House. As you mentioned, really, a very short ride just around town. And there, of course, is the first lady being escorted in by her husband. Daughter Jenna also coming in as well. I'm sure, as you mentioned, we're going to see the rest of the family members, who are a little more slowly making their way out of the church and then back to the White House for that gathering that will happen. Give them a little time before they have to make their way here to the Capitol and start the celebrations here.
Secretary Rumsfeld, you're looking at him as well. He has made his way out of the church. And you know, we've talked a little bit, Judy, and maybe you can address this, about logistics. Part of the reason that I would imagine that people are coming out of this church slowly and making their way into their cars slowly is because of course the logistics and the security around this must be incredible. If it's anything like it is here at the Capitol.
WOODRUFF: Oh, Soledad. You can't imagine. I mean, we've been through one checkpoint. We will go through another one to make our way over to Lafayette park. I'm going to be spending much of this day at the platform that the news organizations have built across the street facing the president's reviewing stand.
But you can imagine, the security is just enormous around here. In fact, I'll tell you, just very quickly, when we got here and did our first hello to you and Bill, I guess it was at 8:00 Eastern time, a couple of us wanted to run into the Hay Adams Hotel (ph), which is behind us, to grab a cup of coffee. And the security people said, no, if you go into that hotel, even if you're in there for two minutes to get a cup of coffee and come back, you're going to have to go through security again. So it's very tight.
HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) history on this day and it is truly historical in the security sense. When you look at history for inaugurations, many people think about 1861 and Abraham Lincoln when they had sharp shooters around Pennsylvania Avenue. And for that time in American history, that was substantial. Well, this is the first inauguration to take place since the events of September 11, three and a half years ago. And this city is locked up like a drum.
Throughout the week, you can read the "Washington Post" and the articles will suggest all the people living or working around the city, they're advised to stay away -- not just today, but even yesterday. 100 square blocks have been shut down, inaccessible to people moving around the city. That's how tight things have become in our nation's Capitol here now in January 2005.
O'BRIEN: We talked about that security as well yesterday a little bit with some security experts who talked about the concerns, obviously not only for the president and the first lady and the family, but also the people who come to watch the event and...
HEMMER: Oh, certainly.
O'BRIEN: And then certainly all the other famous Washington monuments that also need to be protected. It does not come cheap, though. As you well know, they're talking about $10 million, maybe more, to pay for all the security, bringing the price tag here between $30 million to $40 million for the inauguration itself and then an additional $10 million for the security -- so $50 million, maybe, at the end of the day.
HEMMER: As you mentioned, the security that the people come to participate and to watch today, behind us here in the west front of the Capitol building, we can already see hundreds of people now going through their own security check. And they are backed up by the hundreds already as they try to make their way in here.
There are chairs scattered throughout the area here on the west front of the Capitol. They're going to have a cold, chilly wait because the wind's picking up. But this is what they have come to see. They've come to see history, history in the making for the second inauguration for the 43rd president of the United States.
O'BRIEN: We've got much more on this, of course, not only on AMERICAN MORNING but also throughout the day today. Our special coverage continues. We're back in just a moment. A short break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Here is a shot from a little bit earlier this morning. That's President Bush and the first lady and daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush behind him. As they depart St. John's Episcopal Church just a few moments ago, they jump into their car and headed to the motorcade and back to the White House where they'll spend the next hour or so, probably as Judy Woodruff points out, with a little family time. Past presidents have reflected on their tenure, if they were departing the White House of course. President Bush is being inaugurated into a second term, and so he -- maybe it's a completely different story as they spend their next hour. But they have to make their way here to the Capitol, and really kick off all the events that begin this massive celebration today.
HEMMER: George Bush will place his hand on a Bible, the same Bible that he was sworn in back in 2001, the same Bible used by his father, Bush No. 41 in 1989. "George Washington's Bible," printed in 1767.
I want to bring Allan Lichtman back in here. Allan, good morning again to you.
Curious to get your take on the theme that is coming out Judy Woodruff's report about this bipartisan luncheon at the White House later today, and whether or not that is words or whether or not that is true actions now as we embark on a second term?
All right. I'm having a hard time hearing you, Allan. I apologize about that. Why don't we try and fix that, and once we get that worked out, we'll bring back in Allan Lichtman, who's here in D.C. with us as well.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a moment to show folks this shot of the Capitol, because we truly have -- not to brag, but we got up there with the best seats in the house. We have a bird's eye view of what's going to happen really, just a couple of hours from now, where of course we're almost level with the podium. You can hear -- the music you hear behind me is the choirs that are rehearsing and doing sound checks. They have been doing all morning. Down below, folks have already really started to line up. Keep in mind, it is chilly out here. It's actually gotten significantly colder in the last hour or so, and they've already lined up, and they've got a two-hour wait before things get under way, so I hope they're all very appropriately dressed. They're starting to take their seats already.
And so as President Bush wraps things up at the White House this morning, there before he makes his way to the Capitol, they're also wrapping up the preparations and getting ready to kick things off here right on the Capitol.
HEMMER; For so many years they held this on the other side of the Capitol building, on the east side. We're to be west side now. In January of 1981, Ronald Reagan changed that. He had an idea to take advantage of the great National Mall looking out to the Washington Monument, Lincoln behind that. And also it was a sort of symbolism he used to look back to the American West and his home back in California. He changed it in January of 1981, and now this is the sixth inauguration that will be held on this very spot.
O'BRIEN: It is truly a beautiful, beautiful scene. It is, obviously, an event that is absolutely steeped in history. You talked a little bit about the Bible that President Bush will be using this morning, the same Bible, of course, that his father used as well, that he used for his previous inauguration. Everything that is done is recorded in reference to what previous presidents have done.
HEMMER: I mentioned Ronald Reagan. It was only seven short months ago when his body lie in state in the Rotunda here of the Capitol behind us.
I want to get back to Allan Lichtman.
Allan, can you hear me now? Good morning.
ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: I hear you fine.
HEMMER: Listen, I don't know if you heard the question earlier, but this talk that is now emanating out of the White House about this bipartisan meeting that will take place after the swearing-in, after the parade later today, what do you make of this, Allan?
LICTHMAN: It's the new George W. Bush. He understands a president pretty much has a free hand in foreign policy. Congress can't check him easily. But domestic matters are another question entirely. You've got to deal with the bulky Congress, and you need at least 60 votes in the Senate. He's got a huge domestic agenda. There's a mini revolt within his own party. All of a sudden, George Bush needs Democrats. Why not bring them in right now at this celebratory moment?
HEMMER: Well, You mention head has Congress on his side. Republicans lead the Senate, 55-44. They lead the house 232-201. Allan, we have about 15 seconds left. What are your expectations for this speech at noon Eastern?
LICTHMAN: This speech is going to be George Bush's thematic speech, his speech for the ages, where he puts his policies in the context of the grand worldwide movement towards liberty and freedom and against the forces of evil and darkness.
HEMMER: Right on time. You should work in TV, Allan.
LICTHMAN: Why not?
HEMMER: Hey, thanks, presidential historian Allan Lichtman. We'll talk to you again soon. Thanks.
O'BRIEN: I got to tell you, Bill, I can not think of a more beautiful way to toss to break than with the chorus us behind us singing.
All right, a short break. We're back in just a moment everyone. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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