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CNN Live At Daybreak
Losing Your Heart; Lincoln Fry Advertising Promotion for McDonald's; Kennedy Auction
Aired February 09, 2005 - 06:28 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Still to come on DAYBREAK, Baltimore's mayor isn't pulling any punches when it comes to President Bush's budget. Ooh, he's using the word "terrorist" to describe it. We'll tell you exactly what he had to say. There he is.
Also, would you like a pillow? Tough. We'll tell you how one major airline hopes to save a few bucks.
It is Wednesday, February 9. You are watching DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you. Welcome to the last half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News."
A powerful car bomb blast in Spain this morning. It went off near the Madrid Convention Center about three hours ago, wounding more than 40 people. Someone claiming to be with a Basque separatist group reportedly phoned in a warning just before the blast.
In Iraq, gunmen burst into the home of a TV reporter this morning, shooting him dead. It happened in the southern city of Basra. The reporter worked for an Arab-language network funded by the United States.
Condoleezza Rice is nearing the end of her first trip as secretary of state. She is now having an informal meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium.
And Chinese communities across the world are ringing in a new year. The year of the rooster began with travel and celebration. People are hoping the year of the rooster will be a time of peace and harmony.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Sometimes politicians can say the most misguided things. Take Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. He was at the National Press Club in Washington to talk about the president's budget plans. Listen to how he described them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: Back on September 11, terrorists attacked our metropolitan cores, two of America's great cities. They did that because they knew that that was where they could do the most damage and weaken us the most. Years later, we are given a budget proposal by our commander-in-chief, the president of the United States. And with a budget ax, he is attacking America's cities. He is attacking our metropolitan core.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The mayor later told "The Washington Post" he did not intend to compare the president's budget cuts to a terrorist attack.
Well, the mayor may be toning down his comments about 9/11, but a University of Colorado professor is not. Ward Churchill spoke to more than a thousand people at the school last night. He sparked controversy earlier with an essay in which he compared the World Trade Center workers to Nazis. Churchill says he was referring to people who take part in what he calls repressive U.S. policies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PROF. WARD CHURCHILL, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: I'm not backing up an inch. I owe no one an apology. And what I said was when you treat people this way, when you devalue, demean and degrade others to this point, that really inevitably what you're putting out will blow back on you. And that's what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The university had threatened to cancel Churchill's speech, but backed off after the professor filed a lawsuit. The school is now considering whether to fire Churchill.
A Purple Heart is one of the ultimate acknowledgements of sacrifice in American military service. It's given when a service member is injured directly or indirectly by an enemy attack. But now, military leaders are taking a second look at who really deserves the honor.
CNN's Ed Lavandera has one corporal's heartbreaking story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Marine Corporal Travis Eichelberger keeps his Purple Heart in the same box it came in, hidden away in his father's closet.
CPL. TRAVIS EICHELBERGER, MARINE CORPS: It's for safety. That's dad's idea actually.
LAVANDERA: In the first weeks of the Iraq war, the 21-year-old Marine was run over by a U.S. military tank while he was sleeping. He suffered major injuries to his pelvis and legs. His mother says his knees looked like pancakes. He was awarded the Purple Heart in a hospital bed.
EICHELBERGER: I did kind of feel, you know, like, you know, you felt good about yourself. Like, you know, people were going to recognize you more.
LAVANDERA: To receive a Purple Heart, a service member must be injured directly or indirectly by an enemy attack. The Marines Corps says that's why Eichelberger and 10 other Marines should not have received the Purple Heart. About two years after he was injured on the battlefield, Eichelberger was told the medal had been revoked.
EICHELBERGER: It kind of seems like I've told a lie almost. You know, I've put in job applications that says I am a Purple Heart recipient.
LAVANDERA: The Marine Corps is taking full responsibility for putting these young Marines in an awkward situation. A Marine spokesman says the medals had to be taken away to protect the honor and integrity of the award, and that the Marine Corps made a mistake in rushing to award these Marines before having all of the relevant facts.
After receiving the Purple Heart, Eichelberger returned to a hero's welcome in his small hometown of Atchison, Kansas, a parade in his honor.
EICHELBERGER: Thanks isn't enough. I can't say thanks to you guys enough.
LAVANDERA: He bought a new truck, complete with the Purple Heart license plate.
EICHELBERGER: So, I'm going to have to change that thing out.
LAVANDERA: Eichelberger says he was shocked to learn he didn't deserve the Purple Heart. Now, he worries about what others will think of his service in Iraq.
EICHELBERGER: And it's to the point now that if something does come out of all of this media coverage and they just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and let us keep it, then it's kind of like, oh, well, I'm just getting to keep it because we made, you know, a fuss about it. So, either way, it's tarnished it.
LAVANDERA: The Marines say they spent almost a year reinvestigating the cases of these 11 Marines. That's little solace to Corporal Eichelberger, who says he's the one who has to explain to his neighbors why his Purple Heart was taken away.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Atchison, Kansas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: You want to know more? CNN's Bill Hemmer will talk to that Purple Heart recipient coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning, Bill, and welcome back.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol. Yes, hey thank you for that, Carol. A fascinating story, too. We'll talk to that Marine, Corporal Travis Eichelberger. As you heard, he's from a small town in Missouri, a tight-knit community. How now is everyone reacting to his being honored and stripped of that award? And does he want an apology from the military? We'll talk to him this morning, and we'll get his thoughts today on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Carol, nice to see you as well and good morning to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Bill. We'll catch you in about, oh, 25 minutes.
The Army is getting a new look. That's supposed to help soldiers blend into more backgrounds. The new uniforms are designed to go with city, desert or even forest environments. Members of the Georgia Army National Guard will be the first to deploy overseas in these brand-new uniforms. And they're going to head to Iraq this spring. All Army soldiers are expected to have the updated uniforms by the year 2007.
A McDonald's marketing ploy that appears to have taken on a life of its own. Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, what's up with the French fry that's shaped like Abraham Lincoln?
Also ahead, Kennedy family items are going up for auction. Stay with us for a special preview of some of the big-ticket items up for sale.
Here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A beautiful shot of the Empire State Building this morning. Good morning to you.
Let's talk about advertising. It started with the buzz over that Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich. Remember that? Well, now food with a face has hit the big time as a marketing ploy. They call it the Lincoln fry. Remember this from the Super Bowl?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not everyday that you find a French fry that looks exactly like Abraham Lincoln.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I get a couple of those Abraham Lincoln fries?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We could give you some fries in the shape of a stick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're putting it out for auction on the Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's a live one! UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got a Japanese gentleman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have always been fascinated with your Mr. Lincoln.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Am I going to miss it? No. I have found a chicken select. I don't even have to tell you who it looks like, do I? Hello, Mr. Benjamin Franklin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This Lincoln fry idea includes a Web site, a real Web site and an online action for that handmade piece of potato.
McDonald's creative officer, Marlena Peleo-Lazar, joins us from Chicago to explain further.
Good morning, Marlena.
MARLENA PELEO-LAZAR, MCDONALD'S CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Good morning, from the land of Lincoln.
COSTELLO: Who came up with this ad campaign?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, it is DDB Chicago in partnership with their Internet part, which would be Travel DDB.
COSTELLO: So, there really is a Web site that goes along with it? And people really are logging on?
PELEO-LAZAR: Yes. As you said, it does seem to have a life of its own. Going into the Super Bowl, we had a blog, and then lincolnfry.com, and then the Lincoln fry Yahoo auction site.
COSTELLO: Well, how many hits have you had?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, we're thinking right now, as of yesterday afternoon, in total there has been over 400,000.
COSTELLO: Wow! And also this French fry that looks like Abraham Lincoln...
PELEO-LAZAR: Yes.
COSTELLO: ... is on an auction site. Have you had offers?
PELEO-LAZAR: Yes, we have. And as of last night, the current auction price is about $22,000.
COSTELLO: You've got to be kidding.
PELEO-LAZAR: No, no. And I think that everyone should know that the money is also being earmarked for Ronald McDonald's House Charities.
COSTELLO: Well, that is very nice. Do you know who is going to spend $22,000 on this French fry shaped like Abraham Lincoln?
PELEO-LAZAR: You know what? We don't. Right now, we think that the high bid is Golden Palace. But we've had a number of bids on it. So, we're hoping that we can, you know, continue on this good path.
COSTELLO: Of course, the reason you're doing this is to, like, advertise McDonald's. Is this what this is really doing? Or are people just having fun, and they're not going to go to McDonald's anyway?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, you know, I think that the thing about the brand is while we take our business very seriously, we are a brand that has fun. And this was always meant to be more than a commercial. It was meant to be a whole fun event that our consumers seemed to appreciate. So, we think that it might do just wonderful things for the brand as well.
COSTELLO: Oh, man. Might we see more of this from McDonald's then?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, you know, we're always looking for something that is surprising and delighting and unexpected for McDonald's. And this, we think, fit that category. So, we're always on the search.
COSTELLO: Well, it was a very enjoyable commercial.
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, thank you.
COSTELLO: Marlena Peleo-Lazar joining us from Chicago. Thank you for being on DAYBREAK this morning.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:42 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
A powerful car bomb has wounded more than 40 people in Spain. It went off near Madrid's main convention center. Someone claiming to be with a Basque separatist group reportedly phoned in a warning before the blast.
It took police several hours to regain control of a large prison in Lima, Peru. At least five inmates were killed when a riot broke out between prisoners in different wings of the penitentiary.
In money news, quick, check your pockets. Some of those Wisconsin commemorative quarters issued last year have two variations of a cornstalk on the back. Word is some of them are going for as much as $600 because of those imperfections.
In culture, the sweet smell of success. "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker has signed a deal to launch a line of perfume. The brand name and the scent are still in the works, though.
In sports, Boston College fell from the ranks of the undefeated with a 68-65 loss to Notre Dame. That leaves Illinois at 24-0 as the only undefeated team left in major college basketball.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Imagine how much space your cell phone takes up in your purse or your pocket. Now, imagine a baby girl just about that size. "AMERICAN MORNING's" Soledad O'Brien joins us now with more on that baby story.
Good morning.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.
In fact, she is the world's smallest baby ever to survive. As you mentioned, she was about the size of a cell phone when she was born. Look at how little she is. Well, now she's finally going home. We're going to talk to her very, very happy parents. We're going to show you how much the little girl has grown since she was born. Also, we'll talk to her doctor this morning about the challenges that still lie ahead.
And keep in mind, she's a twin. Her sister was just a little bit bigger when she was born. Now, both girls are home. We're going to talk with the parents about what it means to juggle twins, especially when they have some issues that they're dealing with.
That's ahead this morning, Carol, on "AMERICAN MORNING" in about 15 minutes. We'll see you then.
COSTELLO: We will. Thank you, Soledad.
Owning something that once belonged to John F. Kennedy or Jackie Onassis, it could happen for the right price. Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, we'll give you a preview of Kennedy family items that are set to auctioned off.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's time now for a little "Business Buzz." American Airlines is taking the pillows off its flights as a moneysaving measure.
Carrie Lee is live at the Nasdaq Marketsite for more on this pillow case.
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: There you go, Carol.
You know, the airline industry is fascinating. You think, how much money can they really save? Well, American estimates $375,000 a year in savings by removing pillows from domestic flights, not only removing them from coach, but also first-class tickets for domestic flights.
Now, you're still going to be able to get pillows on cross- country flights and trips to Hawaii and international flights. But American says, overall, replacing pillows when they become soiled is quite expensive. They've already started doing this. They're continuing to pull them. What American is trying to do is save money to stave off bankruptcy. They did avoid a bankruptcy reorganization filing in 2003. But the carrier has lost $761 million last year. So, just like Delta, they're really teetering on the brink.
The numbers are really fascinating, Carol. Every little move an airline makes can save a lot of money. So that's what American is trying to do.
Turning to futures, things are looking a bit flat for today's session. Techs are looking actually a little bit weak after a disappointing report from Cisco. Krispy Kreme Donuts is in focus today. The donut maker plans to cut 125 jobs, trying to save money, stave off a crash crunch. They could face that by the end of March if they're not careful.
And that's the latest from here. Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
It is just about 6:50 Eastern Time. Here's what will be making news later today.
A car bomb explodes in Spain. It happened just about three and a half hours ago. More than 40 people wounded. The blast happened near Madrid's Convention Center shortly after someone claiming to be with a Basque separatist group phoned in a warning to a newspaper.
Condoleezza Rice's trip to Europe continues. Today, she's meeting with leaders from NATO and the European Union.
And later today, lawyers who represent the media covering the Michael Jackson trial will go before a three-judge panel. They're asking that several documents in the case be released to the public.
Camelot is for sale again, at least part of it. Items owned by President Kennedy and Jackie Onassis are up for auction this morning month at Sotheby's. The last big Kennedy auction was in 1996 when items fetched more than $30 million.
Joining me now is David Redden, who is vice chair at Sotheby's.
Thank you for joining me, David.
DAVID REDDEN, VICE CHAIRMAN, SOTHEBY'S: Thank you.
COSTELLO: And some of the stuff is really -- actually, all of it is fascinating, to tell the truth. Shall we start with "The Breakwater," which is up for auction?
REDDEN: Yes, I mean, a marvelous painting. It's very touching. It's Kennedy in his boat, the Victura, painted by Ogden Pleissner, a gift from neighbors to Mrs. Kennedy after Kennedy's death.
COSTELLO: And what do you expect this to go for? REDDEN: About $8,000 to $12,000.
COSTELLO: OK, let's go to the next item. This is John F. Kennedy's sailing in Victura.
REDDEN: Yes. That's by Jamie Wyass (ph). And it's, really, again, a very evocative image of Kennedy in his favorite boat.
COSTELLO: Where did these paintings come from or these pictures?
REDDEN: They came from various houses that had been closed down, Hyannis Port primarily, but also places in Virginia, in New Jersey and, of course, Fifth Avenue in New York and Martha's Vineyard.
COSTELLO: OK, the next item up for auction, "Portrait of Captain Platt."
REDDEN: Oh, I mean, that actually figured iconically in a great photograph of Kennedy. It was taken for the cover of "TIME" magazine after he was elected. And he's seated there with the portrait behind his shoulder. It comes from Hyannis Port.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
REDDEN: About $8,000 to $12,000 also.
COSTELLO: OK, this is an aluminum-trimmed blue-acrylic tack trunk.
REDDEN: Oh, I think people are going to love this, because it has a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis monogram on it. It's quite beautiful. It's for horse tack, but also I have a feeling that someone is going to use it possibly as a coffee table.
COSTELLO: It is quite beautiful. What year was it made, do you know?
REDDEN: It would have been made perhaps in the late '80 or early '90s. It's fairly new. It's in very good condition.
COSTELLO: And what do you expect that to go for?
REDDEN: About $800 to $1,200.
COSTELLO: OK, horse blankets and coolers.
REDDEN: They are fabulous also, because they all have Mrs. Onassis' monogram on them, and they're $100 to $150 each. I mean, the sale is filled with very buyable materials.
COSTELLO: This is an awesome piece. Torso of a goddess.
REDDEN: Oh, that's actually quite -- it's a beautiful work of art in its own right, 11th century Comera (ph). It's the most expensive lot in the sale, by estimate $40,000 to $60,000.
COSTELLO: Wow! And where did Mrs. Kennedy -- Mrs. Onassis, I should say, keep this?
REDDEN: Well, this was in Fifth Avenue.
COSTELLO: Oh, OK, gotcha.
REDDEN: Yes, it's a not a country piece.
COSTELLO: This is another cool item, I think, just because, you know -- I don't know, JFK, Jr. and all. This is an original painted celluloid from "101 Dalmatians."
REDDEN: Absolutely. Given by Walt Disney himself to JFK, Jr. with an inscription to him back in the 1960s.
COSTELLO: Wow! What does the inscription say, do you know?
REDDEN: It says, "To John, Jr., all the best, Walt Disney."
COSTELLO: It's really cool.
REDDEN: It's a wonderful piece. It's a good sell, too.
COSTELLO: And you expect to get how much on that?
REDDEN: Well, I think it's going to bring a lot. But the estimate is about $3,000 to $4,000.
COSTELLO: Yes, you're right. It will probably bring much more. So, when exactly...
REDDEN: But people shouldn't be scared.
COSTELLO: I'm scared. When exactly will this auction take place?
REDDEN: Well, the exhibition opens today. So, this is the calm before the storm right now. And the auction takes place next week, starting on Tuesday.
COSTELLO: David Redden from Sotheby's joining DAYBREAK this morning. Thank you so much.
REDDEN: Thank you very much. Thank you.
COSTELLO: This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A live shot from our affiliate, WJW in Cleveland, Ohio. And I can see, Chad, it's a little foggy there this morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is, Carol. And it's 31 degrees with drizzle there. So, this song, "Earth move under my feet," that's just really be clear where you're stepping today, because your feet may be moving over the ice, to change the words there. (WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The reason we were playing the Carol King song, too, it's her birthday today, Chad.
MYERS: Oh, OK.
COSTELLO: I think she's 63 years old today in the year of the rooster.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: Did you know?
MYERS: I didn't know it was the year of the rooter. The year of the monkey is over.
COSTELLO: Did you hear the rooster telling you?
MYERS: What? Can we queue the rooters?
COSTELLO: We queued the roosters.
MYERS: The little baby roosters, the little kids?
COSTELLO: I love this.
MYERS: Oh, they are so adorable.
COSTELLO: It just looks so funny to me. It is the year of the rooster, the Chinese new year. And in case you're wondering, if you were born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, '69, '81, '93 or 2005, you were born in the year of the rooster. It means you're independent, confident, a little arrogant, and controlling.
MYERS: And don't do well with failure.
COSTELLO: No. You like to have things your own way.
MYERS: Have it your way, have it your way.
COSTELLO: We've already been there.
MYERS: I am a rabbit. And you are?
COSTELLO: Oh, I'm an ox.
MYERS: You are an ox.
COSTELLO: And you're a rabbit. Look at that rabbit, how cute it is. It's so wrong.
MYERS: Happy New Year.
COSTELLO: Yes, happy Chinese New Year to all of you roosters out there.
MYERS: See you tomorrow.
COSTELLO: That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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Aired February 9, 2005 - 06:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Still to come on DAYBREAK, Baltimore's mayor isn't pulling any punches when it comes to President Bush's budget. Ooh, he's using the word "terrorist" to describe it. We'll tell you exactly what he had to say. There he is.
Also, would you like a pillow? Tough. We'll tell you how one major airline hopes to save a few bucks.
It is Wednesday, February 9. You are watching DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you. Welcome to the last half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News."
A powerful car bomb blast in Spain this morning. It went off near the Madrid Convention Center about three hours ago, wounding more than 40 people. Someone claiming to be with a Basque separatist group reportedly phoned in a warning just before the blast.
In Iraq, gunmen burst into the home of a TV reporter this morning, shooting him dead. It happened in the southern city of Basra. The reporter worked for an Arab-language network funded by the United States.
Condoleezza Rice is nearing the end of her first trip as secretary of state. She is now having an informal meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium.
And Chinese communities across the world are ringing in a new year. The year of the rooster began with travel and celebration. People are hoping the year of the rooster will be a time of peace and harmony.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Sometimes politicians can say the most misguided things. Take Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. He was at the National Press Club in Washington to talk about the president's budget plans. Listen to how he described them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: Back on September 11, terrorists attacked our metropolitan cores, two of America's great cities. They did that because they knew that that was where they could do the most damage and weaken us the most. Years later, we are given a budget proposal by our commander-in-chief, the president of the United States. And with a budget ax, he is attacking America's cities. He is attacking our metropolitan core.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The mayor later told "The Washington Post" he did not intend to compare the president's budget cuts to a terrorist attack.
Well, the mayor may be toning down his comments about 9/11, but a University of Colorado professor is not. Ward Churchill spoke to more than a thousand people at the school last night. He sparked controversy earlier with an essay in which he compared the World Trade Center workers to Nazis. Churchill says he was referring to people who take part in what he calls repressive U.S. policies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PROF. WARD CHURCHILL, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: I'm not backing up an inch. I owe no one an apology. And what I said was when you treat people this way, when you devalue, demean and degrade others to this point, that really inevitably what you're putting out will blow back on you. And that's what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The university had threatened to cancel Churchill's speech, but backed off after the professor filed a lawsuit. The school is now considering whether to fire Churchill.
A Purple Heart is one of the ultimate acknowledgements of sacrifice in American military service. It's given when a service member is injured directly or indirectly by an enemy attack. But now, military leaders are taking a second look at who really deserves the honor.
CNN's Ed Lavandera has one corporal's heartbreaking story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Marine Corporal Travis Eichelberger keeps his Purple Heart in the same box it came in, hidden away in his father's closet.
CPL. TRAVIS EICHELBERGER, MARINE CORPS: It's for safety. That's dad's idea actually.
LAVANDERA: In the first weeks of the Iraq war, the 21-year-old Marine was run over by a U.S. military tank while he was sleeping. He suffered major injuries to his pelvis and legs. His mother says his knees looked like pancakes. He was awarded the Purple Heart in a hospital bed.
EICHELBERGER: I did kind of feel, you know, like, you know, you felt good about yourself. Like, you know, people were going to recognize you more.
LAVANDERA: To receive a Purple Heart, a service member must be injured directly or indirectly by an enemy attack. The Marines Corps says that's why Eichelberger and 10 other Marines should not have received the Purple Heart. About two years after he was injured on the battlefield, Eichelberger was told the medal had been revoked.
EICHELBERGER: It kind of seems like I've told a lie almost. You know, I've put in job applications that says I am a Purple Heart recipient.
LAVANDERA: The Marine Corps is taking full responsibility for putting these young Marines in an awkward situation. A Marine spokesman says the medals had to be taken away to protect the honor and integrity of the award, and that the Marine Corps made a mistake in rushing to award these Marines before having all of the relevant facts.
After receiving the Purple Heart, Eichelberger returned to a hero's welcome in his small hometown of Atchison, Kansas, a parade in his honor.
EICHELBERGER: Thanks isn't enough. I can't say thanks to you guys enough.
LAVANDERA: He bought a new truck, complete with the Purple Heart license plate.
EICHELBERGER: So, I'm going to have to change that thing out.
LAVANDERA: Eichelberger says he was shocked to learn he didn't deserve the Purple Heart. Now, he worries about what others will think of his service in Iraq.
EICHELBERGER: And it's to the point now that if something does come out of all of this media coverage and they just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and let us keep it, then it's kind of like, oh, well, I'm just getting to keep it because we made, you know, a fuss about it. So, either way, it's tarnished it.
LAVANDERA: The Marines say they spent almost a year reinvestigating the cases of these 11 Marines. That's little solace to Corporal Eichelberger, who says he's the one who has to explain to his neighbors why his Purple Heart was taken away.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Atchison, Kansas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: You want to know more? CNN's Bill Hemmer will talk to that Purple Heart recipient coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning, Bill, and welcome back.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol. Yes, hey thank you for that, Carol. A fascinating story, too. We'll talk to that Marine, Corporal Travis Eichelberger. As you heard, he's from a small town in Missouri, a tight-knit community. How now is everyone reacting to his being honored and stripped of that award? And does he want an apology from the military? We'll talk to him this morning, and we'll get his thoughts today on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Carol, nice to see you as well and good morning to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Bill. We'll catch you in about, oh, 25 minutes.
The Army is getting a new look. That's supposed to help soldiers blend into more backgrounds. The new uniforms are designed to go with city, desert or even forest environments. Members of the Georgia Army National Guard will be the first to deploy overseas in these brand-new uniforms. And they're going to head to Iraq this spring. All Army soldiers are expected to have the updated uniforms by the year 2007.
A McDonald's marketing ploy that appears to have taken on a life of its own. Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, what's up with the French fry that's shaped like Abraham Lincoln?
Also ahead, Kennedy family items are going up for auction. Stay with us for a special preview of some of the big-ticket items up for sale.
Here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A beautiful shot of the Empire State Building this morning. Good morning to you.
Let's talk about advertising. It started with the buzz over that Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich. Remember that? Well, now food with a face has hit the big time as a marketing ploy. They call it the Lincoln fry. Remember this from the Super Bowl?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not everyday that you find a French fry that looks exactly like Abraham Lincoln.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I get a couple of those Abraham Lincoln fries?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We could give you some fries in the shape of a stick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're putting it out for auction on the Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's a live one! UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got a Japanese gentleman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have always been fascinated with your Mr. Lincoln.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Am I going to miss it? No. I have found a chicken select. I don't even have to tell you who it looks like, do I? Hello, Mr. Benjamin Franklin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This Lincoln fry idea includes a Web site, a real Web site and an online action for that handmade piece of potato.
McDonald's creative officer, Marlena Peleo-Lazar, joins us from Chicago to explain further.
Good morning, Marlena.
MARLENA PELEO-LAZAR, MCDONALD'S CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Good morning, from the land of Lincoln.
COSTELLO: Who came up with this ad campaign?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, it is DDB Chicago in partnership with their Internet part, which would be Travel DDB.
COSTELLO: So, there really is a Web site that goes along with it? And people really are logging on?
PELEO-LAZAR: Yes. As you said, it does seem to have a life of its own. Going into the Super Bowl, we had a blog, and then lincolnfry.com, and then the Lincoln fry Yahoo auction site.
COSTELLO: Well, how many hits have you had?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, we're thinking right now, as of yesterday afternoon, in total there has been over 400,000.
COSTELLO: Wow! And also this French fry that looks like Abraham Lincoln...
PELEO-LAZAR: Yes.
COSTELLO: ... is on an auction site. Have you had offers?
PELEO-LAZAR: Yes, we have. And as of last night, the current auction price is about $22,000.
COSTELLO: You've got to be kidding.
PELEO-LAZAR: No, no. And I think that everyone should know that the money is also being earmarked for Ronald McDonald's House Charities.
COSTELLO: Well, that is very nice. Do you know who is going to spend $22,000 on this French fry shaped like Abraham Lincoln?
PELEO-LAZAR: You know what? We don't. Right now, we think that the high bid is Golden Palace. But we've had a number of bids on it. So, we're hoping that we can, you know, continue on this good path.
COSTELLO: Of course, the reason you're doing this is to, like, advertise McDonald's. Is this what this is really doing? Or are people just having fun, and they're not going to go to McDonald's anyway?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, you know, I think that the thing about the brand is while we take our business very seriously, we are a brand that has fun. And this was always meant to be more than a commercial. It was meant to be a whole fun event that our consumers seemed to appreciate. So, we think that it might do just wonderful things for the brand as well.
COSTELLO: Oh, man. Might we see more of this from McDonald's then?
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, you know, we're always looking for something that is surprising and delighting and unexpected for McDonald's. And this, we think, fit that category. So, we're always on the search.
COSTELLO: Well, it was a very enjoyable commercial.
PELEO-LAZAR: Well, thank you.
COSTELLO: Marlena Peleo-Lazar joining us from Chicago. Thank you for being on DAYBREAK this morning.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:42 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
A powerful car bomb has wounded more than 40 people in Spain. It went off near Madrid's main convention center. Someone claiming to be with a Basque separatist group reportedly phoned in a warning before the blast.
It took police several hours to regain control of a large prison in Lima, Peru. At least five inmates were killed when a riot broke out between prisoners in different wings of the penitentiary.
In money news, quick, check your pockets. Some of those Wisconsin commemorative quarters issued last year have two variations of a cornstalk on the back. Word is some of them are going for as much as $600 because of those imperfections.
In culture, the sweet smell of success. "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker has signed a deal to launch a line of perfume. The brand name and the scent are still in the works, though.
In sports, Boston College fell from the ranks of the undefeated with a 68-65 loss to Notre Dame. That leaves Illinois at 24-0 as the only undefeated team left in major college basketball.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Imagine how much space your cell phone takes up in your purse or your pocket. Now, imagine a baby girl just about that size. "AMERICAN MORNING's" Soledad O'Brien joins us now with more on that baby story.
Good morning.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.
In fact, she is the world's smallest baby ever to survive. As you mentioned, she was about the size of a cell phone when she was born. Look at how little she is. Well, now she's finally going home. We're going to talk to her very, very happy parents. We're going to show you how much the little girl has grown since she was born. Also, we'll talk to her doctor this morning about the challenges that still lie ahead.
And keep in mind, she's a twin. Her sister was just a little bit bigger when she was born. Now, both girls are home. We're going to talk with the parents about what it means to juggle twins, especially when they have some issues that they're dealing with.
That's ahead this morning, Carol, on "AMERICAN MORNING" in about 15 minutes. We'll see you then.
COSTELLO: We will. Thank you, Soledad.
Owning something that once belonged to John F. Kennedy or Jackie Onassis, it could happen for the right price. Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, we'll give you a preview of Kennedy family items that are set to auctioned off.
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COSTELLO: It's time now for a little "Business Buzz." American Airlines is taking the pillows off its flights as a moneysaving measure.
Carrie Lee is live at the Nasdaq Marketsite for more on this pillow case.
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: There you go, Carol.
You know, the airline industry is fascinating. You think, how much money can they really save? Well, American estimates $375,000 a year in savings by removing pillows from domestic flights, not only removing them from coach, but also first-class tickets for domestic flights.
Now, you're still going to be able to get pillows on cross- country flights and trips to Hawaii and international flights. But American says, overall, replacing pillows when they become soiled is quite expensive. They've already started doing this. They're continuing to pull them. What American is trying to do is save money to stave off bankruptcy. They did avoid a bankruptcy reorganization filing in 2003. But the carrier has lost $761 million last year. So, just like Delta, they're really teetering on the brink.
The numbers are really fascinating, Carol. Every little move an airline makes can save a lot of money. So that's what American is trying to do.
Turning to futures, things are looking a bit flat for today's session. Techs are looking actually a little bit weak after a disappointing report from Cisco. Krispy Kreme Donuts is in focus today. The donut maker plans to cut 125 jobs, trying to save money, stave off a crash crunch. They could face that by the end of March if they're not careful.
And that's the latest from here. Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
It is just about 6:50 Eastern Time. Here's what will be making news later today.
A car bomb explodes in Spain. It happened just about three and a half hours ago. More than 40 people wounded. The blast happened near Madrid's Convention Center shortly after someone claiming to be with a Basque separatist group phoned in a warning to a newspaper.
Condoleezza Rice's trip to Europe continues. Today, she's meeting with leaders from NATO and the European Union.
And later today, lawyers who represent the media covering the Michael Jackson trial will go before a three-judge panel. They're asking that several documents in the case be released to the public.
Camelot is for sale again, at least part of it. Items owned by President Kennedy and Jackie Onassis are up for auction this morning month at Sotheby's. The last big Kennedy auction was in 1996 when items fetched more than $30 million.
Joining me now is David Redden, who is vice chair at Sotheby's.
Thank you for joining me, David.
DAVID REDDEN, VICE CHAIRMAN, SOTHEBY'S: Thank you.
COSTELLO: And some of the stuff is really -- actually, all of it is fascinating, to tell the truth. Shall we start with "The Breakwater," which is up for auction?
REDDEN: Yes, I mean, a marvelous painting. It's very touching. It's Kennedy in his boat, the Victura, painted by Ogden Pleissner, a gift from neighbors to Mrs. Kennedy after Kennedy's death.
COSTELLO: And what do you expect this to go for? REDDEN: About $8,000 to $12,000.
COSTELLO: OK, let's go to the next item. This is John F. Kennedy's sailing in Victura.
REDDEN: Yes. That's by Jamie Wyass (ph). And it's, really, again, a very evocative image of Kennedy in his favorite boat.
COSTELLO: Where did these paintings come from or these pictures?
REDDEN: They came from various houses that had been closed down, Hyannis Port primarily, but also places in Virginia, in New Jersey and, of course, Fifth Avenue in New York and Martha's Vineyard.
COSTELLO: OK, the next item up for auction, "Portrait of Captain Platt."
REDDEN: Oh, I mean, that actually figured iconically in a great photograph of Kennedy. It was taken for the cover of "TIME" magazine after he was elected. And he's seated there with the portrait behind his shoulder. It comes from Hyannis Port.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
REDDEN: About $8,000 to $12,000 also.
COSTELLO: OK, this is an aluminum-trimmed blue-acrylic tack trunk.
REDDEN: Oh, I think people are going to love this, because it has a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis monogram on it. It's quite beautiful. It's for horse tack, but also I have a feeling that someone is going to use it possibly as a coffee table.
COSTELLO: It is quite beautiful. What year was it made, do you know?
REDDEN: It would have been made perhaps in the late '80 or early '90s. It's fairly new. It's in very good condition.
COSTELLO: And what do you expect that to go for?
REDDEN: About $800 to $1,200.
COSTELLO: OK, horse blankets and coolers.
REDDEN: They are fabulous also, because they all have Mrs. Onassis' monogram on them, and they're $100 to $150 each. I mean, the sale is filled with very buyable materials.
COSTELLO: This is an awesome piece. Torso of a goddess.
REDDEN: Oh, that's actually quite -- it's a beautiful work of art in its own right, 11th century Comera (ph). It's the most expensive lot in the sale, by estimate $40,000 to $60,000.
COSTELLO: Wow! And where did Mrs. Kennedy -- Mrs. Onassis, I should say, keep this?
REDDEN: Well, this was in Fifth Avenue.
COSTELLO: Oh, OK, gotcha.
REDDEN: Yes, it's a not a country piece.
COSTELLO: This is another cool item, I think, just because, you know -- I don't know, JFK, Jr. and all. This is an original painted celluloid from "101 Dalmatians."
REDDEN: Absolutely. Given by Walt Disney himself to JFK, Jr. with an inscription to him back in the 1960s.
COSTELLO: Wow! What does the inscription say, do you know?
REDDEN: It says, "To John, Jr., all the best, Walt Disney."
COSTELLO: It's really cool.
REDDEN: It's a wonderful piece. It's a good sell, too.
COSTELLO: And you expect to get how much on that?
REDDEN: Well, I think it's going to bring a lot. But the estimate is about $3,000 to $4,000.
COSTELLO: Yes, you're right. It will probably bring much more. So, when exactly...
REDDEN: But people shouldn't be scared.
COSTELLO: I'm scared. When exactly will this auction take place?
REDDEN: Well, the exhibition opens today. So, this is the calm before the storm right now. And the auction takes place next week, starting on Tuesday.
COSTELLO: David Redden from Sotheby's joining DAYBREAK this morning. Thank you so much.
REDDEN: Thank you very much. Thank you.
COSTELLO: This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday morning.
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COSTELLO: A live shot from our affiliate, WJW in Cleveland, Ohio. And I can see, Chad, it's a little foggy there this morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is, Carol. And it's 31 degrees with drizzle there. So, this song, "Earth move under my feet," that's just really be clear where you're stepping today, because your feet may be moving over the ice, to change the words there. (WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The reason we were playing the Carol King song, too, it's her birthday today, Chad.
MYERS: Oh, OK.
COSTELLO: I think she's 63 years old today in the year of the rooster.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: Did you know?
MYERS: I didn't know it was the year of the rooter. The year of the monkey is over.
COSTELLO: Did you hear the rooster telling you?
MYERS: What? Can we queue the rooters?
COSTELLO: We queued the roosters.
MYERS: The little baby roosters, the little kids?
COSTELLO: I love this.
MYERS: Oh, they are so adorable.
COSTELLO: It just looks so funny to me. It is the year of the rooster, the Chinese new year. And in case you're wondering, if you were born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, '69, '81, '93 or 2005, you were born in the year of the rooster. It means you're independent, confident, a little arrogant, and controlling.
MYERS: And don't do well with failure.
COSTELLO: No. You like to have things your own way.
MYERS: Have it your way, have it your way.
COSTELLO: We've already been there.
MYERS: I am a rabbit. And you are?
COSTELLO: Oh, I'm an ox.
MYERS: You are an ox.
COSTELLO: And you're a rabbit. Look at that rabbit, how cute it is. It's so wrong.
MYERS: Happy New Year.
COSTELLO: Yes, happy Chinese New Year to all of you roosters out there.
MYERS: See you tomorrow.
COSTELLO: That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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