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Gerald R. Ford 1913-2006; Bush Praises Ford; Hussein Letter On Internet; Happy Gift Returns

Aired December 27, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Gets ready for a blizzard sequel.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Saddam Hussein's execution could go forward at any time. Iraqis waiting and watching on this Wednesday, December 27. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Gerald Ford, as the sun has come up, the praise rained down this morning. Many Americans waking up to the news of the former president's death. He passed away last night at his California home. CNN Ted Rollins is in Rancho Mirage. That's the desert resort where Ford has spent the last 30 years in quite retirement.

Ted, good morning to you.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

And the sun has just come up here in the west within the last hour and we're seeing more activity on the street where the Fords live. It is being restricted as traffic, by law enforcement, more cars are coming in, undoubtedly family and friends and staff members. We are still waiting for final confirmation on what will happen in terms of the next few days. It is expected that the president will lie in repose here at Rancho Mirage and then will go to Washington, D.C. where he will also lie in repose. There will be a funeral there and then he will be off to Grand Rapids, Michigan, his hometown, where he eventually will be laid to rest.

He died at 6:45 last night in his home, according to his family, peacefully. And shortly after his death, the world was informed by his wife, Betty Ford. His wife of 38 years. The former first lady issued this statement. "My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, has passed away at 93 years of age. His life was filed with love of God, his family and his country."

Over the past few years, Gerald Ford's health has been deteriorating. He spent two stints in the hospital this year in January here in Rancho Mirage. He was in the hospital for pneumonia. And then in the fall, in August, he went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and had some heart treatments there.

And then he passed away, again, last night. He leaves behind four children, three sons and a daughter, Susan, seven grandchildren, four great grandkids, and a lot of people not only here in Rancho Mirage, but around the world, that he touched.

Heidi.

COLLINS: No question about that. CNN's Ted Rowlands.

Thank you, Ted.

SANCHEZ: The U.S. military is on this day also remembering its former president, its former commander in chief and doing it in, well, as a 21-gun salute. Take a listen.

That's going to be taking place every half hour. That's from Fort Myer, by the way, where that has taking place. We'll be following it. It's a first gun salute at Fort Myer. 8:30 this morning was the first one. Continues every half hour until retreat tonight, as it's called, and that will be at 5:00 p.m.

President Bush praising President Ford as a man of great integrity. The president visited Gerald Ford at his home last April and he spoke about Ford's death this morning from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. White House correspondent Elaine Quijano was there and she's joining us now live.

Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Rick.

Well, President Bush did have high praise for former President Gerald Ford. Speaking from his ranch in Crawford, President Bush did not mention Watergate by name, but instead noted that Gerald Ford took power at a time of great division and turmoil in the wake of that scandal. Now Mr. Bush expressed condolences to the Ford family and called Gerald Ford a great man.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For a nation that needed healing and for an office that needed a calm and steady hand, Gerald Ford came along when we need him most. During his time in office, the American people came to know President Ford as a man of complete integrity who led our country with common sense and kind instincts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: President Bush reflecting on the life and service of former President Gerald Ford.

Now the president learned of President Ford's death shortly before 11:00 p.m. last night. He was told by his chief of staff, Josh Bolton, who was not in Crawford, but actually had been in contact with the chief of staff for President Ford. About an hour later, after he learned of the president's passing, Mr. Bush then phoned Betty Ford and expressed his personal condolences.

And we should note, we're expecting an off-camera briefing by a spokesman later today, so we might learn more details about that phone call. Rick.

SANCHEZ: Few people in this White House were closer to the former president than our current vice president. That would be Dick Cheney. Former chief of staff, right? Is there a statement from him?

QUIJANO: There is a statement from him. We're not expecting anything on camera. His office saying this morning essentially not to expect one today. But what I can tell you certainly that there was a statement issued last night by Vice President Cheney who, as you note, had very close ties, certainly, to Gerald Ford, serving as his chief of staff.

The vice president in that statement saying that he was proud to have served as Gerald Ford's chief of staff. He said President Lord led an honorable life and said that in a troubled era, when America need strength, wisdom and good judgment, that those qualities came to America in the person of Gerald Ford. In that statement he went on to say that when Gerald Ford left office, he had restored public trust in the presidency.

Rick.

SANCHEZ: Elaine Quijano following things for us. We certainly appreciate it.

Heidi, over to you.

COLLINS: We have some more comments coming in now. We've been getting statements all morning long about the death of former President Gerald Ford. This coming to us now from President Bush, 41. He says this. "Barbara and I mourn the death of a true friend and send our family love and condolences to Betty and her wonderful family. Jerry Ford was, simply put, one of the most decent and capable men I ever met. During our time in Congress together, so many years ago, he epitomized leadership to me. Then as president, he led this nation so ably though the turbulent waters of Watergate and was both a vigilant and effective cold warrior. Most of all, I will remember him as a devoted family man and a man of honor who never stopped serving this country he loved so deeply. Jerry Ford was the kind of human being who made you proud to call him your friend and we will miss him very much."

And also we have another statement that has come in from former President Bill Clinton. It reads as follows. "Gerald Ford brought Americans together during a difficult chapter in our history with strength, integrity and humility. All Americans should be grateful for his life of service. He serves our nation well. To his great credit, he was the same hard-working, down-to-earth person the day he left the White House as he was when he first entered Congress almost 30 years earlier. Hillary and I were honored to know President Ford. We are saddened by his death and our prayers are also with Betty and the entire Ford family." Coming to us from former President Bill Clinton.

SANCHEZ: Denver, get ready. Another blizzard could be on its way. Like the city needs it, right? A week after the city got socked by a major snowstorm, forecasters are predicting another round of heavy snow in the Rockies. Parts of the region could get up to two feet this time. But as we see, that's just what Denver doesn't need right now as afore mentioned what could be a better explanation than showing you that picture? Some city streets are still a frozen mess.

The big chill also making its way across other parts of the united states. Snow fell in the North Carolina mountains overnight. Good news for the region's ski resorts. In fact, it's good news for skiers everywhere out west. Warm weather earlier this month really put a damper on business.

Same story in Vermont, by the way. Ski resort operators there now full of holiday cheer as the snow is finally coming down. Parts of Vermont got up to three inches in the last couple of days. So put on the boots and head up to Killington, folks.

Chad Myers standing by now at the Weather Center to let us know what's going on. Looks like a snowy trend anyway.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Details of an execution. The Iraqi government working it out now one day after Saddam Hussein's death sentence was upheld by an appellate court. And the clock is ticking. The court says Hussein must be hanged by January 27th. So that part is definite, but there is still plenty to be decided.

The Iraqi government is trying to figure out who will be invited to witness the execution. Even whether it will be broadcast on television. Security concerns could mean the hanging will not be televised or made public in anyway, but there are fears that a private execution might leave some people wondering if it happened at all.

Then there's this. Where and how will the former dictator be buried? According to Iraqi law, a relative has the right to witness Hussein's hanging and claim his body.

SANCHEZ: More remembrances pouring in this morning for former President Gerald Ford. We're going to talk with a colleague and a friend. Perhaps one of the most genuine politicians himself, a folksy guy, Senator Allen Simpson. He's going to be talking to us in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: And millions of fans around the world love his music. Now people are coming together to say good-bye to James Brown. The farewell tribute to legendary soul singer coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Want to get to this developing story now. We are hearing some comments out of Iraq as the Iraqi government is working to manage the details of the execution of Saddam Hussein. Carol Lin is standing by in the newsroom with more on this.

Good morning to you, Carol. CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

As we know, that execution, the hanging of Saddam Hussein, could happen any time before January 26th. But now we believe that we may have heard from the man himself through his defense attorneys. A letter by Saddam Hussein, according to his defense attorneys, posted on a Baathist website. And in this -- what appears to be about a two- page, single-spaced, type letter, at least in the translation here, it says that he says that he hereby sacrifices himself. That he believes it is up to God to decide if he wants Saddam Hussein to join what he calls the pius (ph) and martyrs in heaven or to postpone his death as he sees it.

But what's interesting here, Heidi, is that he also says that he hereby calls upon people, "not to hate or bear grudges because this will prevent you from being equitable and just. Do not hate the people of the nations that evaded us, he says. Differentiate between the decision makers in those counties and their average citizens. Forgive those who repent, be they in Iraq or outside."

A very different tone of voice if this is, in fact, written by Saddam Hussein. He says that he understood in this letter that he would be able to make his own personal statement to the court, but then he called it this kangaroo court proceeding. He names the judge there. He says he was not given a chance to say what he wanted to say after the court issued its guilty verdict and that he wanted this to be his last word to the public and Arab nations at large.

Interesting, interesting letter, Heidi, in that these may be -- if, in fact, it was written by Saddam Hussein and not by his attorneys, the last words that he says publicly before he is executed.

COLLINS: Well, we certainly knew we would hear something from him before that execution takes place.

Carol, we know that you'll stay on top of it for us as we try to figure out whether or not those words are actually from Saddam Hussein.

Carol Lin, thank you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERALD FORD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He asked me to come to the Oval Office and asked me to sit down. I had known Dick Nixon for 20 some years. We were good personal friends.

LARRY KING, "LARRY KING LIVE": In the house together, right?

FORD: That's right. And I supported him when he was up for election. He asked me to sit down and he said, Jerry, I'm going to resign tomorrow. And I want to you know that I have full confidence that you can carry on particularly the foreign policies that we have agreed on over the years and whatever domestic problems we have.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: What an important, what a historic conversation at that time between an outgoing President Nixon and Jerry Ford.

By the way, and it's important to note, that Gerald Ford said, on many occasions, that during that conversation there was no deal made, there was no promise of a pardon made by him to Richard Nixon. Joining us now, former Senator Alan Simpson, who remembers Gerald Ford as a colleague and as a friend. Senator Simpson is on the phone with us now from Cody, Wyoming.

Those of us who followed Alan Simpson's career know that he is, in particular, one of the most plain spoken, one of the most genuine politicians that there have been in a long time, which is interesting going into this conversation -- Senator, for joining us, we thank you -- because a lot of people say the same thing about Gerald Ford.

ALAN SIMPSON, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: Well, you're very cordial. He was a wonderful man. I met him here right in the street of Cody, Wyoming. He was a young congressman and he was campaigning for another congressman from Wyoming named Keith Thompson (ph), who rose like a meteor here. He was elected in '62, Keith, to the U.S. Senate and then died before he could take office. He died in December after being elected in November.

Jerry had come in '58 and '60 to Wyoming because Jerry's ties were deep in Rivert (ph), Wyoming, because of Lesley King. So he loved Wyoming. And then through the years you see I served with Dick Cheney, my old pal, for 10 years. And, of course, Dick had been his chief of staff. So Ford would come to Wyoming to campaign for Dick when Dick was running for the 10 years he did here. And I was always out there helping Dick because I was scared he'd run against me. Well, no I didn't.

Anyway, Jerry Ford became a lovely friend. And I think the thing that might be missed in all the clips is his wonderful sense of humor. And when he would throw that big marvelous head back and laugh. I mean, you were in the presence of a charming man. And through the years, I was privileged to carry on correspondence and phone calls. He later came aboard with the Republican Unity Coalition maybe five years ago. He didn't need any more boards or anything else, but he felt very deeply about doing that. And he called me on that. And several times.

But the greatest thing in my head is that when I was visiting a lecturer at Harvard, I converted (ph) him into coming to Harvard to speak and he sat in a room one morning with John Kenneth Galbraith and Archibald Cox and the three of them talked about the pardon. I wish I had recorded it. It was the most amazing thing. Joe Nye was there, the wonderful . . .

SANCHEZ: Well, share with us, Senator. Was there any news there?

SIMPSON: Only in the sense of three men who had been through the fires. You know, Galbraith said, he said, I'm not a Democrat, I'm a socialist. So he took his lumped. And then Arch Cox, of course, refusing to pull the hammer during Watergate and do what was being requested. And Jerry Ford then doing the pardon, having a cup of coffee for about an hour in this little study off of the Institute of Politics. It was just three genial giants of America, all with different philosophies, tremendously different philosophies. That was Jerry Ford. He could get along with anybody.

SANCHEZ: Yes, what was it about him? Does that make him different of politicians of our day? That perhaps he was a little more genuine and was more able to acquiesce?

SIMPSON: Yes. What he did was real. He loved Tip O'Neill. They played golf together. Had fun together. He was right there at the front row of his services. When Tip died, Jerry Ford never carried a grudge. He forgave. His ultimate forgiveness was the one he knew in his gut would likely prevent him from ever being, you know, elected president, which was the pardon of Richard Nixon.

SANCHEZ: Well, see, but that -- what you're saying right now is the explanation of somebody who was his own man. Not a man made by polls or pollsters or TV commercials. That he -- what are you saying, that his decision were gut decisions?

SIMPSON: Yes. One of his handlers during the great controversies was saying, why don't we wait for the next poll? He said, I'm not going to wait for the next poll. I know what I'm going to do and I'm going to do it because it's right, because this country is in turmoil. And he could tell that. And he knew that it was like he learned it on the playing fields of Michigan. You get your head ripped off and you get up off the dirt, rub a little dirt in it and move on.

He was a forgiver. He was a lover of men and women and he was. He showed that. But someone, I think it's in the AA creed, if you can't forgive a person, it's like letting them live in your head rent free. And Jerry Ford never let anybody live in his head rent free. He was a loving, dear man with a rich, rich sense of humor and himself.

SANCHEZ: We are so lucky to be able to have a conversation with someone like Alan Simpson.

We thank you, Senator, for taking time and sharing some of those interesting moments with us.

SIMPSON: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: We appreciate it.

SIMPSON: You betcha.

SANCHEZ: All right. Bye-bye.

Heidi.

COLLINS: A special edition of "Larry King Live" tonight on the life and career of Gerald Ford. Ford's chief of staff, Alexander Haig, will join Larry. That's coming your way at 9:00 Eastern.

Also want to point you towards the web and cnn.com/ford now has extensive coverage on the death of the former president. So look for that.

SANCHEZ: And we're going to be talking to Gerri Willis in just a little bit. She's going to be telling us about, well, you know those unwanted returns that we -- or I should -- the unwanted gifts that we sometimes try to return. How is that going?

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hey, Rick, good to see you.

Look, if you're itching to get rid of that fruit cake you got this year, you better hurry. We'll tell you how you can have many happy returns. That's next on "Top Tips."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Want to go ahead and check the big board now. You can see the Dow Jones Industrial average up about 66 points. Resting there at 12,473. We are hearing that the Nasdaq is up about eight points as well. Big business story today. Chief executive of Ford Motor Company met with the chairman of Toyota. Might, might be the first step in a potential partnership negotiation. Very interesting story there. We will stay on that and watch those numbers as the day goes on.

SANCHEZ: Well, the big feast reduced to leftovers, gift wrap in tatters. Yes, the holidays are over. But one chore remains, returning those unwanted gifts. If you have some unwanted gifts, that is. Now some tips on how to ensure happy returns this season. Joining us with her "Top Tips," CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis. She's joining us from New York.

And I guess the first part is, don't be a procrastinator, right? Get right to it?

WILLIS: That's right. You've got to get on it. And once that wrapping paper hits the floor, it's a race to beat store return deadlines. First you have to check the store's website for the return policy because they can vary widely. The store return clock might start ticking after December 25th, instead of on the date of purchase. And electronic items may have different return deadlines. For example, Circuit City's general return deadline is January 25th, but January 8th is the deadline for most computers. So it's tricky. You've got to read the fine print.

SANCHEZ: Well, here's one a lot of people may not know about. You have to be careful when it comes to returns to avoid or watch out for big brother because he's watching you, right?

WILLIS: This is really interesting. Look, a lot of retailers out there monitor how often and how much merchandise you return. To find out if you're being tracked, because you may be tracked, ask a sales person if the store uses a return authorization system. But here is another tipoff. If you're asked to show a driver's license or some other kind of identification when you take your stuff back, they may be using these policies. And if you're looking for stores with more liberal return policies, go to Costco, Kohls and Nordstrom, because they don't do this kind of thing.

SANCHEZ: Can you actually swap your card? Like if you get one from one company, can you exchange it for another?

WILLIS: Well, the stores won't refund a gift card. However, if you're thinking about swapping your card for another gift card, you can do it online, Rick. And here are the great places to go -- cardavenue.com, plasticjungle.com and swapagift.com. Now the downside is, there's usually a fee involved and the last thing you want to do, though, is let that card expire. Rick, did you know that analysts say $8 billion worth of gift cards will go unused this year?

SANCHEZ: Sure. I believe it. Yes, because you forget you have it. Do they all have different expiration dates?

WILLIS: Oh, yes. You betcha. There are all kinds of different expiration dates down there. Look, you've got to get those re-gifting guidelines. If you don't even want to bother with any returns, what you can do, Rick, is re-gift. Now I know a lot of people don't like this, but re-gifters are usually women between 35 and 54 years old, according to a recent survey. So if you want to share your horrible re-gifting story, hey, send us an e-mail. We want to hear about it. Regiftable.com is also a great website to go to if you want some advice on the right way to re-gift.

Now, Rick, are you pro or con on this whole thing?

SANCHEZ: On re-gifting?

WILLIS: Yes.

SANCHEZ: I think it's perfectly fine. What's the big deal as long as it's . . .

WILLIS: Some people don't like it. Some people are anti.

SANCHEZ: Well, as long as it's not something you've used or, you know, you can see the thread marks on it or something. But something like a card is fine, right?

WILLIS: It's the thought that counts, right?

SANCHEZ: Right.

COLLINS: There's no thought in that though. There's no thought.

WILLIS: Well, there can be thought, Heidi.

COLLINS: I guess.

SANCHEZ: I think it's fine, Gerri, thank you very much.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

COLLINS: We are covering the story of the death of America's 38th commander in chief, President Gerald Ford. He died last night in California at 93 years old. Gerald Ford holds a unique place in American history. Not just for how he got to the Oval Office, but also for what he did during his brief time as president.

CNN's Bruce Morton takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERALD FORD, FMR. PRES. OF THE UNITED STATES: I Gerald R. Ford...

BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was our first completely unelected president. Richard Nixon's first vice president, Spiro Agnew, resigned in disgrace, still taking payoffs for crimes he committed as governor of Maryland. He was allowed to plead no contest to one felony count and resign.

Nixon, using the new 25th Amendment to the Constitution, appointed House Republican leader Gerald Ford, a Congressman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a reputation for honesty and forthrightness. The Senate and House confirmed him as the new vice president, but then Nixon himself resigned, facing certain impeachment for his role in covering up of his campaign aide's burglary of Democratic headquarters, the Watergate scandal. Ford became president on August 9, 1974. A new day had dawned.

FORD: My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.

MORTON: And it was. The Constitution had worked, the nation bitterly divided over Watergate could take a deep breath. The new un- imperial president toasted his own English muffins in the morning, said un-imperial straightforward things.

FORD: I believe truth is the glue that holds government together.

MORTON: And he did one controversial thing to heal the wounds of Watergate.

FORD: I do grant a full, free and absolute pardon on to Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed.

MORTON: The pardon caused an uproar. Ford's press secretary resigned in protest, but Ford insisted then and years later, he had done what was best for the country, even though many thought it cost him the 1976 election.

FORD: It was the right decision then, and I'm even more convinced some 20 years later it was the right decision today.

MORTON: His presidency: Saigon fell to the communists, ending the Vietnam War, Cambodia gunboats captured an American merchant ship, the Mayaguez. he counter-attacked and got it back, his crew unharmed. And he survived two assassination attempts, both by women, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a Charles Manson disciple, and Sara Jane Moore.

In 1976, he beat off a primary challenge from Ronald Reagan, but he and Bob Dole lost a close general election to former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter and Senator Walter Mondale. Carter paid tribute to Ford on his inauguration day.

JIMMY CARTER, FMR. PRES. OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.

MORTON: Did the pardon cost him the election? He would have said that that didn't matter, that doing what was best for the country did.

Bruce Morton CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: We take you now to Fort Myer, Virginia, where we are watching today single shots here coming out of that tank, as you can see it, or the cannon, I should say. This is going on every half hour to remember former President Gerald Ford after his passing last night at his home in California.

Once again, we will be hearing these single-gun salutes every half hour to remember the 38th president, Gerald Ford. Gerald ford, the presidency and the person.

CNN's Jeff Greenfield will be joining us with a closer look, coming up right here in the NEWSROOM.

SANCHEZ: Also, just as Denver digs out, folks are gearing up for another blast of winter weather.

Are travelers ready for round two, a view from the airport in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Gerald Ford, a rich topic for historians and analysts. He was a polar opposite of his predecessor, and yet the specter of Richard Nixon cast long shadows over the Ford White House and Ford's failed 1976 campaign.

Let's talk to CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield. He's joining us from New York this morning.

Jeff, as we spoke to chief of staff, or former chief of staff Al Haig, we talked about the fact that President Ford was never elected as a vice president, never elected as the president, and I'm curious as to your opinion on whether or not that had anything to with the way he held those offices?

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: I think it did in two ways. I think he was very conscious of that, emphasizing one of his favorite lines, was I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln, and he was deliberately pitching himself as the anti-imperial president, which is in the nature of who he was, approachable, down-to-earth, kind of the guy next door in a way.

I also think it had a negative impact politically. The only people who ever voted for Gerry Ford were his constituents in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Most of the country didn't have any sense who he was before he was thrust into the vice presidency and presidency. And I do think that made him more vulnerable to a nearly successful challenge to his renomination in 1976 by Ronald Reagan.

So I do think that it was a hindrance. When you're trying to establish control over the government and you've never been elected to either office, it probably was a liability.

COLLINS: And how did the American people react back then? this man as you clearly point out, they didn't know very well.

GREENFIELD: This I do remember, that the initial reaction to Ford as president was enormously favorable, first because he wasn't Nixon. It had been a poisonous year and half in American politics.

COLLINS: He was a breath of fresh air.

GREENFIELD: Yes, and so people welcomed the idea of this regular guy who toasted his own English muffins as we saw in that Bruce Morton piece. But I do think when things began to get awry, the pardon being the most obvious political example, I think history will look kindly on it, but it was a politically devastating thing for Ford. They had no basis on which to say, oh, well, I know who he is, I guess I trust his judgment.

It should also be mentioned that the economy took some hits back in Ford's presidency. And for any incumbent president, that's always a problem.

COLLINS: Absolutely. And as you say, the pardoning of President Nixon, a difficult decision. Presidents don't always make the most popular decisions. At the time it was received how and then talk to us about how it is looked at as an historical moment.

GREENFIELD: Right. The fact that Gerry Ford was given the Profiles in Courage award by the Kennedy Library, which recognizes politically dangerous decisions that history looks kindly on, I think, tells you a lot.

At the moment, it seemed like some kind of sellout. Wait a minute. We've just been through Watergate and now this brand-new president is letting this guy off the hook. I think history said the worst thing we could have gone through as a country coming out of Watergate was an extended criminal trial of the former president.

That's something that happens, you should pardon the expression, banana republics, not the United States. So I think history says you know, that was a wise thing to do. It probably cost him the '76 election. COLLINS: All right. CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield this morning on the passing of President Gerald Ford. Jeff, thank you for that.

And you can get more on the life and legacy of former President Gerald Ford in a Special Report at CNN.com. See his life in pictures and watch what colleagues are saying about him. And you can interact as well -- tell us how you will remember the former president in the CNNi-report. Once again, this is CNN.com/ford.

SANCHEZ: It's a snowy one-two punch just as Denver tries to dig out from a crippling blizzard that stranded thousands of travelers, here comes another big storm. Is the airport ready? Well, looks like they certainly have enough gear for it, huh? CNN's Miles O'Brien takes us there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): It was built to handle the tough Rocky Mountain winter, but Denver International Airport did not pass this acid test. When last week's blizzard dumped two feet of snow on the city, DIA was MIA.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are getting cranky. We were stuck on the flight for eight hours. You know, it was not fun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm hoping you can get me to Jacksonville.

O'BRIEN: With snow drifts as high as 12 feet, airport managers had no choice. The airport was shut down. Sixteen hundred flights canceled on Thursday alone. It left some 4,700 air travelers stranded, 3,500 of them spent the night at the airport.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Obviously you wonder, are they doing everything they can.

O'BRIEN: Airport officials insist they were doing everything they could, literally moving mountains of snow.

CHUCK CANNON, SPOKESMAN, DENVER INTL. AIRPORT: We think we did a good job. As good as we could of in a blizzard that essentially paralyzed all of eastern Colorado. We think we handled it pretty well. But we'll look at everything and decide if there's something we should do -- change in the future.

O'BRIEN: Now, with another huge storm gathering and another holiday travel weekend ahead, is Denver's airport ready?

CANNON: The forecasts say anything from three inches to, that's best case, up to 20 inches, which is worst case. So you kind of have to deal with it as it comes, but you need to make sure everyone's prepared for the worst case and we'll try to deal with that.

Miles O'Brien, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE) (WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: It could be a key battleground in the fight against al Qaeda. Islamic militants in control of Somalia's capital. American forces working with the opposition. That story ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Second day in a row we're following this interesting development really. It could become another front in the war on terror.

Today in Somalia, Ethiopian troops have advanced on the capital city and they plan to surround Mogadishu until the Islamist forces in control there surrender.

How did it get to this point and what could it mean for U.S. forces in the war on terrorism? Our Barbara Starr has this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): October 3rd, 1993. Elite U.S. troops dropped by helicopter into the teeming streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, to search for a warlord. Two helicopters are shot down, a massive firefight erupts. By the next morning, 18 Americans are dead. Blackhawk Down becomes one of the darkest episodes for the U.S. military.

Now, Mogadishu is back in the headlines and worries that U.S. troops are again caught in what may be the next al Qaeda front. This week Ethiopia with its large Christian population launched an assault on the Islamic militia that now controls much of Somalia.

Hundreds have been killed and there may be thousands of new refugees. Somalia's Islamic Courts Union militia is calling for a new jihad. The U.S. says the Somalis are sheltering al Qaeda.

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, U.S. CENTRAL COMMANDER: Al Qaeda operatives that destroyed the American embassy in Nairobi and in Dar es Salaam are associated with the United Islamic Courts. There's no doubt about that.

STARR: U.S. military commanders are watching the situation closely. They have been training Ethiopian commandos in anti- terrorism tactics for months. There are 1,800 U.S. troops across the horn of Africa, mainly doing humanitarian relief work. Their security was just stepped up.

REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD HUNT, CMDR. JOINT TASK FORCE HORN OF AFRICA: One of our concerns is that some of the extremists will use that as an opportunity to develop further capability to expand their operations.

STARR: Even a brief helicopter trip to Somalia's northern border region now requires heavily armed U.S. troops. This rugged terrain just one reminder of how readily al Qaeda could move through this no man's land making this the next front in the war on terror. (END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Barbara Starr joins us now live. She has been following the story, has actually been there and can give us some perspective. And I guess the question that most people would want answered is, in the past we've seen U.S. forces go from advisers to actual engagement. At this point obviously there is no engagement. Do we see the possibility of U.S. forces with boots on the ground there?

STARR: Well, You know, Rick, there are these 1,800 troops there in the horn of Africa. They are mainly doing humanitarian relief work, but what we also saw on our trip there a couple of weeks ago is they are training African military forces, Ethiopia commandos especially, that are friendly to U.S. interests. You see some of that video right here. These are U.S. troops in the field with Ethiopian troops.

But they're not planning to go onto combat, but this war is becoming very unpredictable, and U.S. commanders tell us they are watching it day by day. They are ready to lend a hand to refugees that may start flowing through the region, but they want to stay out of the combat. They want basically, at this point, for the two sides to separate and some measure of stability to come back to the Horn of Africa -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: One key question maybe just to put it all together for us before we let you go -- is there any question that these people in and around Mogadishu are disciples of Al Qaeda, or at least Islamic fundamentalists?

STARR: From the viewpoint of people like General Abizaid, who you heard in that piece, and the U.S. intelligence community, there is no doubt in their mind the Islamic militia that now rules much of Somalia is harboring Al Qaeda militants and people that have been responsible for attacks against the U.S. They say they have very firm evidence of that.

But complicating it, Somalia, you know, has been such a lawless place that the people of Somalia have somewhat welcomed the militia, because even though they are very strict fundamentalists, they have brought some measure of stability to the streets of Mogadishu and to Somalia. So it's a complex situation, but the U.S. military's position is they have to give up those Al Qaeda militants.

SANCHEZ: Always good to be able to talk to somebody with such direct experience on a story. Barbara Starr from the Pentagon, we thank you.

STARR: Thank you.

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SANCHEZ: More than a president. Gerald Ford was a hometown hero. A look at his life and the places he once called home. That's next.

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