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American Morning

Coretta Scott King Has Died; Wheels Up for ABC News Anchor Bob Woodruff and His Cameraman

Aired January 31, 2006 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
I'm Miles O'Brien.

Just in to CNN this morning, Coretta Scott King has died. The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pioneer in her own right in the civil rights movement. We'll have much more on this breaking story in just a bit.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Soledad O'Brien.

Wheels up for ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt. Just minutes ago, the seriously injured pair took off for the long trip home. We're live in Germany with the very latest.

M. O'BRIEN: And President Bush tries to get back on message with the State of the Union tonight. We'll talk to the Senate majority and minority leaders ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

S. O'BRIEN: Some sad news to share with you this morning.

Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. is dead. Her former personal assistant and a P.R. relations firm representing the family say that Coretta King died last night in California. She was 78 years old. For years, it was Coretta Scott King that kept the flame of her husband's mission alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

S. O'BRIEN (voice-over): She became known to the world as a woman of courage and conviction. But as a girl from rural Alabama, Coretta Scott King probably never dreamed of the historic events that awaited her life.

She studied music at Antioch College in Ohio. In 1951, she received a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. While there, she met and married Martin Luther King, Jr. who was studying theology at Boston University.

In 1954, Dr. King began his career as a pastor and his civil rights work in Montgomery, Alabama. Mrs. King worked closely with her husband behind-the-scenes, while raising their four children.

In December, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: And we feel, also, that one of the great glories of American democracy is that we have the right to protest.

S. O'BRIEN: It set off the 381-day Montgomery bus boycott.

UNIDENTIFIED AFRICAN-AMERICANS: We shall overcome.

S. O'BRIEN: The civil rights movement had begun. It was a dangerous time for the King family.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He was beaten and stabbed and jailed, and came close to losing his wife and baby daughter when their house was bombed.

S. O'BRIEN: In 1960, the Kings moved to Atlanta, where King was jailed until Mrs. King appealed to then presidential candidate John F. Kennedy to intervene.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know of the times that Coretta got up early in the morning to go out and help women organize as hospital employees.

S. O'BRIEN: Coretta King balanced mothering with movement work, organizing sit-ins at segregated restaurants and marches. She also performed in freedom concerts, singing and reading poetry, to raise money for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

M.L. KING: Now is the time.

S. O'BRIEN: She was present at many of the major events in the civil rights movement, like the Washington Mall march, where her husband gave his "I Have A Dream" speech.

In 1968, an assn's bullet shattered her world, killing Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis. His death sparked outraged and riots. Coretta moved from the role of wife to that of caretaker of her husband's legacy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At the same time she was raising four children, encouraging and teaching us by example to be the very best that we could be.

S. O'BRIEN: She created a living memorial dedicated to advancing King's dream. Mrs. King remained a dynamic figure for civil rights. She joined the battle to end apartheid in South Africa.

But life in the endless spotlight proved to be grueling. There was a bitter public fight between the King family and the National Park Service over preserving King's birthplace and his tomb, and the controversial absolution by her youngest son, Dexter King, of James Earl Ray, the man who confessed and then recanted, to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

DEXTER KING: I believe, and as I've said, my family believes that he is innocent. S. O'BRIEN: Like others who've survived racism, intolerance and great loss, Mrs. King lived life with a special kind of grace. She challenged future generations to dream of more.

C.S. KING: We must make our hearts instruments of peace and non- violence because when the heart is right, the mind and the body will follow.

S. O'BRIEN: A civil rights icon herself, she ranks among the most influential African-Americans of all time.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: Again, Coretta Scott King the widow of civil rights leader and Nobel Peace laureate Martin Luther King, Jr. dead at the age of 78.

M. O'BRIEN: Homeward bound -- those injured ABC newsmen are winging their way to the Bethesda Naval Hospital as we speak. A plane carrying ABC anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt departed Ramstein Air Base in Germany about 30 minutes ago.

CNN's Chris Burns is at Ramstein right now -- Chris, what do we know about their condition?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Miles.

They are still listed in stable but serious condition. And for that reason, they're traveling with a couple of what they call C. CAT teams. These are critical care air transportable teams with a physician, with a nurse, with a respiratory technician. It's basically a flying ICU unit, and it's quite impressive how much of the -- part of the hospital was brought with them, basically, on the plane -- there are two of them -- because they're among five others who are in intensive care who are being flown back to Andrews Air Force Base and on to further hospitalization.

They're among 30 injured soldiers and others on that plane, half of them walking but half of them on stretchers.

Just another day here at Ramstein.

Back to you -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, that is a reminder of how, frankly, how common that scene is.

Give us a sense, Chris, of why the transfer and why the transfer now.

Is there certain care that they can only get at Bethesda?

BURNS: Well, Bethesda is the hospital of presidents. So obviously they're going to get perhaps even more critical care than they will here. But this is also, at Landstuhl, which is right nearby, is well known as the one that processes -- has processed -- thousands of soldiers coming through, injured from Afghanistan, from Iraq and other places, former hostages. So it is also known for its expertise.

But obviously going back to Bethesda they might get the absolute tops in care. And that's what they want to get.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chris Burns, at Ramstein Air Base.

BURNS: Thank you, Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Proof that journalist Jill Carroll is still alive, but it's not easy to watch. A new tape played on Al Jazeera yesterday. You can see her crying, as you can see, apparently crying. The date burned in as January 28th. That's beneath the banner you see there. But we can't verify when it was shot, of course.

No sound played on Al Jazeera, where it first aired. But the network says she is pleading for all female Iraqi prisoners to be released. Now, that has been the kidnappers' demand so far. Nothing you can see on the tape, however, can be verified.

Let's check the headlines now with Carol Costello in the newsroom -- Carol, good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Miles.

Good morning to all of you.

President Bush trying to reach out to Americans tonight. The president getting ready to deliver his State of the Union address, with much to prove to the American public. The White House says the speech will have an upbeat tone and will focus on issues like health care, education and energy. You can bet Iraq will also be mentioned.

The president's speech set to take place at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

CNN will, of course, have live coverage, beginning at 7:00 tonight in the "SITUATION ROOM."

Judge Samuel Alito could become Justice Alito before the day is done. The full Senate is set to take a final v. It could take place as early as three hours from now. A majority of lawmakers support Alito's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. He could be sworn in before tonight's State of the Union address.

Iran lashing out at news that it could face possible economic sanctions over its nuclear program. The U.N. Security Council agreeing to look into the situation. China and Russia, which both sit on the Security Council, agreed to the review, but are also sending diplomats to Iran, hoping to defuse the situation. They're urging Iran to cooperate with the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency.

In Houston, Texas, opening statements set to begin this morning in the Enron fraud case. Jury selection -- get this -- it took only one day. Twelve jurors and four alternates are seated. And guess what? They're mostly women. Court resumes in less than the widow of hours.

Alan Greenspan could boost interest rates one last time. It could be his swan song. The Fed chair steps down today after nearly two decades with the Reserve. Before he goes, he'll meet with the committee that sets interest rates. And that's expected to be in just about an hour. Greenspan is expected to be replaced by Ben Bernanke.

And we're eagerly awaiting the Oscar nominations, as I'm sure you are. We should hear the announcement in just about a half hour. Reese Witherspoon is among the contenders for best actress. She's been earning praise for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in "Walk The Line." And Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" leads the pack for best film.

The official announcement coming at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Of course, we will bring you those announcements live.

Back to you -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much.

I'm just on the edge of my seat at the thought. Oh, boy. Who is going to be?

Chad -- I know you're going to be all excited about it, as well.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

MYERS: The only time I get to see a movie is when I'm stuck on an airplane going somewhere, actually. So they -- when you a 14- month-old, now a 15-month-old, you don't get to too many movies.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: That's what we like to hear, Chad.

Thank you.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, we're going to talk to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. The midterm elections could be tough on fellow Republicans. We're going to ask him how the president is going to be able to give them a boost in tonight's State of the Union address.

M. O'BRIEN: Plus, are you wondering how those "New You" folks are doing? I have been. It's time for their checkup. They're four weeks into the program.

S. O'BRIEN: Ooh, get the measuring tape out.

M. O'BRIEN: Ouch. Ouch. She's looking good. Any signs of a let down? Any relapses? Any -- I'm sure there's quite a story to tell. We'll bring you up to date in just a little bit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Tonight's State of the Union address will be President Bush's chance to get back on message. It'll also set the agenda for the next chapter of his presidency.

Joining us this morning from Washington, D.C. is Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Senator, nice to see you.

Good morning.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Good to be with you, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: We've gotten word from the White House that the president is going to be upbeat.

What do you think he needs to say and he needs to talk about to resonate with voters tonight?

FRIST: You know, that's exactly what he will do. He'll be speaking directly to individuals. I did have the chance to sit down with him in the last several days. And he will be optimistic, upbeat, energetic, dynamic. And the message will center very much around securing America's future, talking about securing America's freedom. And that reflect on fighting this war, winning this war on terror, focusing on the security of our borders, securing America's health. And as a physician, I'm very glad that that's being elevated on the agenda to make health care more available and affordable, and securing America's prosperity, to make sure that people all across this country have access and can get good paying jobs, coming back to freedom, opportunity, that thematic of securing America's freedom and future.

S. O'BRIEN: Isn't it going to be problematic for the president to say as -- and I'm quoting you now -- you know, winning with war on terror when, in reality, we have this brand new videotape from Ayman el-Zawahiri. We have an anchorman injured in Iraq. We have a journalist, a young woman, who's been kidnapped and is seen sobbing on national television, taken from the Arab media, as well?

Is the public going to buy we're winning the war, it's going well, there's progress, when there's so much evidence to the contrary?

FRIST: You know, I think we do need put it in perspective. I'm sure the president will do that tonight. The fact that we had, over the last year, three elections with turnout greater than in the United States of America, in our own elections, people expressing their wishes. The turnout of women in terms of participation in their government is going to be higher than the participation in our government. Nobody would have thought that a year ago. The infrastructure that's being built in terms of hospitals, in terms of schools, the progress in terms of civil society. We don't see that very much on television, unfortunately. But, indeed, yes, it's going to be a challenge, a long-term challenge. And the president will lead. The importance of the war on terror around the world affects the safety of our families right here in Nashville, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. around the country. And that's the connection that he'll make tonight.

S. O'BRIEN: Midterm elections are ahead. The president's got some bad, frankly, poll numbers, declining poll numbers.

How much of a liability is that for Republicans?

FRIST: Well, midterm elections are always tough. It is very important that the president thematically shows where we're going in terms of the vision and an agenda. And then I and my colleagues in the legislative body need to be able to follow and deliver meaningful solutions to the real challenges of the American people.

And with that, and with a fundamentally strong economy, with progress on the war on terror, I'm confident that we will be able to do very well, maintain the major and maybe even grow the majority, in these midterm elections.

S. O'BRIEN: There's a poll out, a CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll. And I'll just read it to you briefly. It says people are more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who -- the question was "supports Bush." Forty percent went with that option. "Opposes Bush," 51 percent. I mean that is, potentially, it could be a huge obstacle for some of your Republican colleagues facing reelection.

FRIST: Soledad, really, polls, at this point, people aren't going to focus on very much. But what they are going to focus on is good policy and a good agenda that does offer meaningful solutions to make our country safer, to make our families safer in a more prosperous country, in a healthier country, all of which we're going to hear about tonight.

Ultimately, good policy makes good politics, and that will be translated eventually in the elections. And those elections -- that election is really the only poll data that really matters.

But that good policy will make good politics.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, we'll all be listening tonight.

Senator Bill Frist, always nice to see you.

Thanks for talking with us.

FRIST: Good to be with you, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Coming up in our next half hour, we're going to talk to the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, of Nevada. CNN's prime time coverage of the State of the Union address begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern with a special edition in the "SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn, followed by our live coverage of the president's speech at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Then Anderson Cooper brings you immediate reaction and Larry King hosts an hour of insight and analysis, live at midnight.

And a reminder, I'll be in Washington, D.C. tomorrow for a special split edition of AMERICAN MORNING. We're going to have a complete look at the president's address, the reaction, as well. And we begin at 6:00 a.m. Eastern -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Every morning.

We hope to see you then.

Coming up, more on this morning's breaking news, the widow of Martin Luther King, Jr. Coretta Scott King has died in California. We'll talk to the Reverend Al Sharpton and get his reaction to the news next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: As we've been telling you this morning, about five- and-a-half months after she suffered a stroke and a heart attack, Coretta Scott King, the civil rights leader and the widow of the Martin Luther King, Jr. has passed away in California.

Joining us on the line right now to talk a little bit about this and her place in history, in the history of the civil rights movement, is civil rights activist, the Reverend Al Sharpton, on the line with us from New York this morning.

Reverend Sharpton, what are your thoughts this morning on hearing of the passing of Mrs. King?

REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Well, certainly I'm saddened by it. But I am also one that remembers she was a great woman. I got to know her and I got to really feel the gentle, yet strong nature of this woman.

I was too young to know her husband well. I met him several times in my pre-teen years. But I got to know her in working with her son and her other children down through the years, and working with Reverend Jesse Jackson.

And she was a woman that had impeccable dignity and grace. But behind that exterior was a strong woman with an uncompromising resolve for human rights and civil rights and world peace. And in her most private moments, you would always be stunned at how she would not waiver from dealing with the firm commitment to non-violent social change.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, the term that's coming to my mind right now is steel magnolia kind of thing. You know, grace and dignity, but just a very strong person at her core. SHARPTON: No question about it. You must remember, Miles, when they bombed Dr. King's house, that was Coretta King's home. She was the one that would pick up the pieces and keep the children going. And when he was assassinated, she helped to keep the movement going, led the fight for a federal holiday for him, took all the smear campaigns and never responded.

I mean you probably could not see a more clear definition of grace under fire and persistence with dignity than Coretta Scott King.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, I never got a sense of any bitterness there. And certainly she was entitled to bitterness.

SHARPTON: Well, you know, one of the personal memories I will always have is in the early part of this century, around 2000, 2001. We had a huge march against racial profiling that Martin Luther King III and I co-chaired. And she came and spoke; in fact, introduced us.

And I remember many of us were bitter with some police killings and there was a lot of outrage. And she would admonish us in private. Wait a minute. Don't become bitter. Don't become like the people you are fighting. You cannot lead this fight if you have any kind of animosity in your heart. She would always admonish us that Dr. King and her taught that one of the ways you bring about change is you must change yourself so that you are prepared to lead people in the direction they should go.

If your emotions are as bad as those you're fighting, even if your cause is just, you disqualify yourself from being effective.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, that is such a key lesson, isn't it? And without her there to remind you and others of it, what happens next? Who...

SHARPTON: I don't know...

M. O'BRIEN: Who fills that role, you know?

SHARPTON: I think that we've got to remember what she taught us, as she made the world remember what Dr. King taught us. I think we've got to continue that struggle. She never stopped struggling. She never stopped fighting. And I think when we see the Coretta Scott Kings and the Rosa Parks and the Dr. Kings pass on physically, it's our job to not only remind the world of what they did, but how they did it and what they stood for. Otherwise, we'll make a mockery of their memory.

I think all of us ought to remember the grace of Mrs. King as well as the social justice agenda. Otherwise, I think she would be ashamed of us, and I certainly don't want to be one that she would be ashamed of.

M. O'BRIEN: The Reverend Al Sharpton.

Good words on this morning.

Coretta Scott King dead at the age of 78.

Back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail.

Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING Quick News at cnn.com/am.

They are up early in Beverly Hills. The stars having to rearrange their Pilates classes today, right? When's the massage? When's the hot yoga? Oh, got to pencil in the nominations, right?

And we're going to be, of course, giving it to you live.

It's only 5:26 in the a.m. out there, so -- but, you know, it's worth getting up for.

S. O'BRIEN: But they'll be announcing momentarily, really. We're going to hear from Mira Sorvino. I think she's one of the announcers this morning. Get a look at just the categories, the break downs, the big winners and any snubs, we'll talk about this morning, as well.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes. There's that, too.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.

S. O'BRIEN: Good morning.

Welcome back, everybody.

Lots to talk about, including this sad news to bring you this morning.

Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. died last night in California. Flags have now been lowered to half staff in Atlanta. The former U.N. ambassador, Andrew Young, a very close friend of the King family, says that Coretta Scott King died in her sleep.

Mrs. King had a stroke and a mild heart attack last August. She'd been getting rehabilitation treatment in California.

Her last public appearance was in Atlanta on January 14th at a dinner marking Martin Luther King Day.

Mrs. King founded the King Center for Non-Violent Social Change in Atlanta.

She was 78 years old. That story and other stories making news this morning.

Let's get right to Carol for an update -- Carol, good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning, Soledad.

And good morning to all of you.

ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and photographer Doug Vogt are heading back to the United States. They were transported by stretchers. Actually, they were transported by plane from Ramstein Air Base in Germany. This all went down about two hours ago. They're now heading to the Brain Injury Center at Bethesda Naval Medical Center outside of Washington. It's one of the top medical facilities in the country.

Police say a former employee opened fire at a postal facility near the University of California Santa Barbara. The shooter, a woman, then committed suicide, but not before she killed six people and wounded another. So far police are not saying what prompted the shootings.

In Houston, Texas, they sat a jury with lightning speed. Yes, opening statements set to begin this morning in the Enron fraud case.

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