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American Morning
X-Mas at Camp Striker, Iraq; Chavez Oil Heating Bronx Residents for Free; Pope Talks Green
Aired December 25, 2007 - 05:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Midnight Mass. Celebrating Christmas around the world. Live as Pope Benedict gives his traditional greeting from St. Peter's Square.
Holiday wind warning. A historic church in Hollywood burned to the ground. Thousands left without power on Christmas morning.
Plus, Christmas in Iraq. Worlds apart, soldiers trying to connect with loved ones back home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She told me she was eating Chex Mix, and that mom was making pumpkin loaves.
ROBERTS: We're live from Camp Striker on this special holiday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: All over the world for you this morning, a lot happening today. And merry Christmas to all of you. It's Tuesday, December the 25th, I'm John Roberts.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Alina Cho. Merry Christmas. Kiran Chetry has the morning off. And we've got a lot to get to this morning.
ROBERTS: Merry Christmas to you as well. New this morning, a holiday tradition going on right now in Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI is delivering his Christmas address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. Earlier this morning, the pope held the traditional midnight Mass, and during it, he touched on environmental issues. As you're looking at a live picture there of St. Peter's Square, especially set up for the Urbi et Orbi Blessing.
He made an appeal for Christians around the world to protect the Earth from what he calls reckless exploitation at last night's midnight Mass. And there were calls for peace in the holy land, meanwhile. And they're coming from the first Palestinian to hold the Catholic Church's top position there. At midnight Mass in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah gave a politically charged address, calling for an independent Palestinian state.
Tourism officials expect about 20,000 visitors to Bethlehem today, reenergized there today after the Annapolis peace conference with people saying it looks like things could get better there, and they're prepared to go this year, which is terrific news.
CHO: That is. Tourism is up in that area. And a holiday greeting to the troops from the commander-in-chief himself. President Bush made Christmas Eve calls to 10 U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world. The White House says he thanked them for their sacrifice and wished them a happy holiday even though they'll be far away from their families and friends. The president, by the way, made the calls from Camp David, where he's spending Christmas today.
It's the fifth Christmas that U.S. troops will be in Iraq. Special meals and care packages are giving them a taste of home as they celebrate with their military family. Santa was there too. The New Year will bring new hope, with December on pace to be the safest month for them since the war began. Alphonso Van Marsh, embedded with the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne, he is live for us at Camp Striker in Iraq.
So merry Christmas, Alphonso. And how will the troops be spending Christmas today?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very, very well. It is an AMERICAN MORNING here at the U.S. Army Camp Striker outside of Baghdad. We're are in the DFAC (ph), the dining facilities, in fact, one of the biggest U.S. military dining facilities in the entire country. At any period, there are some 1,800 people here getting that special Christmas meal.
There is ham, turkey, sweet potato pie, all the fixings on order, a morale booster for those U.S. service members trying to cope with being away from home during the holidays.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING "O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM")
VAN MARSH (voice-over): This isn't Bethlehem, it's Baghdad, where these carolers are active duty soldiers separated from their l loved ones at Christmas.
SOLDIERS (singing): We won't go until we get some, so bring it right here.
VAN MARSH: Crime scene investigator Jim Yinglin (ph) is using a Web cam to see what his daughter and family are up to at home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was telling me she was eating Chex Mix and that mom was making pumpkin loaves.
VAN MARSH: Army Specialist Justin Valieres (ph) shows me pictures of his new daughter e-mailed from his wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just some of her first moments when she was born in the hospital laying there. VAN MARSH: Amaya (ph) is 2 weeks old. She has never met her father, but Valieres is beholden, not bitter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is probably like my best gift that I get for Christmas is just the anticipation, waiting, knowing that she was born and I can't see her. I mean, the picture was just -- it's hard to explain.
SANTA CLAUS: Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas.
VAN MARSH: Meanwhile, Santa is doing his part to spread the Christmas cheer, visiting soldiers at bases around Baghdad.
SANTA: I just want to see the troops, hand out some candy canes, and make them smile.
VAN MARSH: Santa, who really is an Army Major with Rakasan (ph) 3rd Brigade, has the beard and the stuffed belly. He's also carrying a pistol. This is Christmas in the war zone. Here Santa travels by Black Hawk helicopter instead of reindeer and sleigh.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAN MARSH: And we are back here live at Camp Striker. Joining me, one of the troops here. Where are you from and what's your rank?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rhode Island. I'm a specialist. Specialist Sanchez (ph).
VAN MARSH: And you have got a chance to say hi to your family. What would you tell them today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That I love them, and I'll be home soon enough.
VAN MARSH: Great. Now you see, we've got all of the fixings down here. I'm looking at some sweet potato pie, looking at mashed potatoes, some turkey, some ham. What are you going with today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prime rib, smashed potatoes, and corn on the cob.
VAN MARSH: Helps making -- being away from home a little bit easier.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bit, yes.
VAN MARSH: Great, great, well, merry Christmas to you. Thanks for joining us on CNN.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.
VAN MARSH: And that's the way it goes here. A lot of these troops away from their family, away from home on Christmas Day. Here at the DFAC, one of the largest in the country, people doing what they can to make the holidays just go by a little bit easier. Back to you. CHO: Alphonso Van Marsh, seems to me that those troops are making the best of it. We thank you for joining us live from Baghdad -- John.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much. Eating in those DFACs is actually pretty good, have to tell you.
Five minutes after the hour now. The death toll from a winter storm in the Plains and Upper Midwest has now climbed to 22. One of the latest victims was a Michigan woman who died when her truck rolled into a watery ditch. And at least eight people were killed on icy roads in Minnesota. However, calmer weather yesterday helped crews clean off the streets. Officials say that that should make the holiday drive a little easier trying to get from here to there.
And it's a white Christmas in Utah. Maybe a little too white in some areas. Forecasters say a winter storm could dump eight inches of snow in the valleys near Salt Lake City and up to 18 inches across the Wasatch Range. Now before you start thinking powder day, the storm will also bring with it some fierce winds. Gusts could reach 75 miles an hour on the mountain peaks.
And wild weather has left parts of Los Angeles in the dark. The Santa Ana winds return with a vengeance, tearing down power lines, blowing out several transformers, cutting power to about 10,000 homes and businesses. The National Weather Service says winds topped 94 miles an hour in the San Fernando Valley. Forecasters are warning that conditions are ideal for another outbreak of brush fires.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHO: Also new this morning, a deadly suicide car bombing in a residential area of Iraq. It happened in the northern city of Baiji. At least 23 people are dead, 80 more wounded. At least three of those killed were children. Authorities say a driver detonated a bomb in a vehicle right next to a truck that was loaded with cooking gas cylinders. It happened just outside a complex belonging to a state- run oil company.
Authorities in Turkey say they foiled a bomb attack. Police in Istanbul found plastic bags stuffed with more than seven pounds of explosives near a ticket stand. One witness says a man with a black backpack was taken into custody. Police arrested a second man in another part of the city and say they found more explosives in his house. Officials did not say whether the men belonged to a particular group. Turkey has been rocked by several bombings in recent weeks -- John.
ROBERTS: A search going on right now, Alina, for 14 men missing at sea. They went down with a freighter that sank before dawn off of South Korea's southern coast, about 280 miles south of Seoul. Maritime police say the 13,000-ton ship vanished in rough waters after it sent out a distress signal. It was carrying 2,000 tons of nitric acid to Taiwan. Crews did rescue one sailor who was taken to the hospital. The missing include 12 Koreans and two sailors from Myanmar. NASA's journey to the moon will make a detour through New Orleans. The space agency has awarded more contracts and high-paying jobs at an assembly facility in the eastern part of the city. It was the site where the space shuttle's external fuel tanks were built. Now workers will build the new Orion crew module as well as the upper stage of the new rocket that will send astronauts back to the lunar surface.
CHO: Well, it looks like Santa brought retailers just what they wanted for Christmas. The last-minute holiday shopping helped salvage the season for many retailers. That is good news. According to one industry analyst, sales from this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were up nearly 19 percent over last year. I was actually at one of the shops in New York yesterday, and it was still pretty crowded. Shoppers who put off their lists until the last minute were happy to do their part.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, and all of a sudden, I woke up, and I thought, oh my goodness, it is almost Christmas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: And if you need another present or two, guess what? There are still a couple of stores that are open this morning, Christmas Day, John, like FAO Schwarz in Manhattan.
"Quick Hits" now. A multibillion dollar deal involving Merrill Lynch. It announced that Singapore's state-owned investment company will buy more than $4 billion in Merrill Lynch stock. A U.S. advisory firm will also invest more than $1 billion. That injection of cash could help Merrill rebound from the recent credit crisis.
Republican presidential candidate and former prostate cancer patient Rudy Giuliani announced he's cancer-free. He read Christmas stories to kids yesterday in Harlem. Giuliani is still being pressed, however, about that severe headache that forced him into the hospital last week. His campaign says tests showed nothing alarming, but have yet to discuss exactly what tests were given or what doctors were trying to rule out. Dana Bash, by the way, is on the campaign trail. She'll have more on Giuliani's announcement plus the other presidential candidates making headlines, coming up.
And a heated debate. Meet the struggling mom caught between a political fight and providing for her kids. The controversy over free home heating oil from Hugo Chavez coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
But first, a holiday Christmas greeting from some of our men and women serving overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Greetings and merry Christmas from Kabul, Afghanistan, from Chicago to Philadelphia to New York to Hawaii to South Carolina. We want to wish our loved ones a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
SOLDIERS: Merry Christmas!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Some incredible video in your "Quick Hits" now. Take a look at that. A fire destroyed a landmark Hollywood church. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. Officials say the flames broke out last night in the Little Country Church of Hollywood. That wooden two- story church was gutted. It had been built back in 1934 out of an old barn and was home to religious radio broadcasts. It was declared a landmark in 1992. No word yet on the cause.
And a holiday nightmare for at least 16 people in the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. That's north of Boston. A three-alarm fire there ripped through a triple-decker home, gutting most of it. Started yesterday afternoon and quickly spread, leaving the families who live there homeless this Christmas. No word yet on what may have caused that fire.
ROBERTS: The presidential candidates are off for Christmas, but they get right back into the thick of things tomorrow. Both Iowa and New Hampshire, very tight races for the Republicans, and time running short now. CNN's Dana Bash is covering the Republicans. She's live in Des Moines, Iowa, for us this morning.
I woke up this morning wondering, Dana, with two holidays right in the middle of this final push to caucus day on January 3rd, how much attention will Iowans be paying to the race, and can it change all that much in the next few days, or have they pretty much made up their minds? What do you think?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, when you look at Republican voters, first of all, look at the polls and talk to them, it really is pretty clear that many of them have not made up their minds. How the holidays are going to affect whether or not Republican voters make up their minds late or really how they affect this at all, that is such an unknown here because this is the first time that has happened, this has been so close.
But I can tell you that, again, if you look at the polls, it says about six in 10 Republicans are undecided. And just talking to Republicans at these events, I can tell you why. It's very interesting. It's quite different from the Democratic side. On the Democratic side, you see that perhaps people are undecided because they can't decide between candidates that they like very much.
On the Republican side, it seems to be the opposite. Mike Huckabee, he's somebody who a lot of Republican voters like on social issues, but they're not that thrilled about him when it comes to foreign policy, when it comes to his experience. Mitt Romney, they're not thrilled about him on social issues, but they do like the way he handled things when he was in the private sector.
So there's sort of a sense of dissatisfaction on the Republican side. And Iowans really do -- I mean,, it's almost cliche at this point. They take pride in this and they also take pride in deciding late. And there is no question about it, that that is going to be the case this year.
ROBERTS: Latest American Research Group poll shows things tightening up a little bit between Huckabee and Romney. When it comes right down to it, who is in a better position to win in the caucuses?
BASH: That is the other thing that's going to be fascinating to watch, because this year, I think more than years' past, you have such a difference in the two campaigns, just in terms of their readiness. Mitt Romney, you talk to anybody, even the Huckabee campaign, and they will admit they have the best organization hands down. Mitt Romney got in here months and months and months ago. He got the most experienced hands on deck. He has poured a lot of money in. And they have a really sophisticated ground operation.
On the other side, you have Huckabee. They really are still sort of working on a shoestring here. They have a very, very small operation downtown here in Des Moines and around the state, and they are really relying on something that is different, relying on passion, relying on people who are coming out and hearing about him for the first time.
Whether or not that is going to sort of rule the day versus a campaign like Mitt Romney, which has the ability to get the vans, to make the phone calls, to have all the bar codes, know exactly who's where, that's going to be fascinating to see. And because, you're right, it looks like it's tightening up, perhaps, perhaps at the end of the day organization will really, really matter here. It always does, but even more so this year.
ROBERTS: Another big issue out there as we go forward to the Super Tuesday states is Rudy Giuliani's health. When we get you back a little bit later on this morning, Dana, let's talk more about that. But for now, Dana, thanks.
And the Democrats are learning just how unpredictable Iowa can be. Several polls say it's a three-way race among Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards. But there is one new poll just out that has Hillary Clinton jumping out to a double-digit lead over Obama and, in fact, has Obama in third place now. CNN's Jessica Yellin is also in Des Moines.
We're talking about another American Research Group poll here, Jessica, same organization that polled the Republicans. It has got Hillary up with the double-digit lead. What happened?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, you know, it's two possible explanations. One is that Hillary Clinton's latest message is clicking, that -- this was taken over December 20th to 23rd. And that's when she came out with this new message, two new themes in Iowa, one was "get to know me, the real Hillary," this is "The Hillary I Know."
She brought out real people who say that she has made a difference in their lives. So that could have fought that whole image of Hillary Clinton as an opportunist, somebody who's cold and negative.
And then at the same time, Clinton started taking on Obama more directly and also taking on some of John Edwards' poverty message. So it's possible that her themes, her closing argument is clicking. It also could be a sign that it's just impossible to poll Iowa. And it is notoriously difficult because it's hard to measure how many people actually will go out and caucus.
Also, as you well know, people haven't really decided. And so they're constantly going back and forth. I mean, 50 percent of the caucus-goers on the Democratic side say they could still change their mind before caucus day.
And then finally make the point that, in Iowa, of all places, it really matters not just how many individual supporters you have, but how geographically widespread they are because you need support from precincts that are rural as well as urban to get the threshold number to win in this state.
The bottom line is, none of these polls really tells us where anyone's support is. So we might not even know how true these polls are until caucus night.
ROBERTS: Yes. You know, just in the space of four days, there was an amazing change just looking at the poll here. Hillary Clinton went from 29 percent to 34 percent. Obama down from 25 down to 19, behind John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are really relying on first-time caucus-goers to get out there. What is the likelihood that that will happen?
YELLIN: Well, you know, it depends on the weather, for one thing. If people who are not inclined to vote get a bad stormy night here, they say they're all worried that they won't go out. The other question is, which first-time caucus-goers? The argument for Obama is that his caucus-goers are college age, so they'll be more enthusiastic. The argument for Hillary Clinton is that her caucus- goers, her first-timers are older women, and they're all over the state. So she has more widespread support. Who really knows?
ROBERTS: Yes, well, you know, if Obama's supporters are college- age, and they're on winter break, you've got to wonder if they're going to show up. Jessica Yellin for us this morning in Des Moines. Thanks, Jessica. We'll check back in with you a little bit later on -- Alina.
CHO: All right. Thanks, John. A lot ahead on this Christmas morning, including this. Families caught in the middle of a heated political fight. The burning controversy over home heating oil and the man helping to give it away. That's coming up.
But before we go to break, we want to take you live to the Vatican where the pope is delivering his annual Christmas message. The pope talked about what he called the grim sound of arms in the world's conflict zones, including Iraq, Lebanon, and the holy land in his midnight Mass. He talked about protecting the environment, a modern day message from the pope. We'll have much more on the other side of the break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. He has called President Bush the devil, but to some struggling families, Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, looks like an angel this holiday. His gift of free heating oil has many ready to put politics aside.
CNN's Jason Carroll talked to a mom caught in the middle of a political war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lenice Footman freely admits she hates talking politics, especially during the holidays. But this stay-at-home mom received a holiday present from someone politically and vehemently at odds with President Bush.
LENICE FOOTMAN, BRONX RESIDENT: I just felt like that was between him and Bush. I just looked what this man did for us, to help us as America.
CARROLL: The man she's grateful to, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the same man who called President Bush...
HUGO CHAVEZ, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT: ... el diablo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The devil.
CARROLL: Chavez's contentious relationship with President Bush hasn't stopped him from donating oil to thousands of families here in the United States to help heat homes. President Bush says it's just a political ploy, but Chavez says he's out to help poor families, like Footman's.
FOOTMAN: Who has to be cold? And there are plenty of people outside right now, apartments that are now a part of this program.
CARROLL: Footman's Bronx public housing building was chosen to receive Chavez's gift by Citizens Energy, an American-based nonprofit providing poor families low-cost home heating oil. Joseph Kennedy founded it almost 30 years ago.
JOSEPH KENNEDY, CITIZENS ENERGY: The only country that has ever offered us actually discounted oil was the Venezuelans, through Citgo Petroleum.
CARROLL (on camera): Critics ask, should Citizens Energy buy just because Chavez offers? They say it's not just because he insulted President Bush, they say it's also because Chavez has a very poor human rights record.
An Internet movement to boycott Venezuelan-owned Citgo oil is under way. New York's City Housing Department had no comment on the program.
FOOTMAN: This is one of the hotels.
CARROLL: Last year, Chavez sponsored a free trip to Venezuela for Footman. All the poverty she saw in made her wonder something about Chavez.
FOOTMAN: Is there ever going to be a time when he will do for the people of Venezuela what he has done for us?
CARROLL: In the meantime, Footman is thankful her family holiday will be a warm one.
Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: And that brings us to our Quick Vote question on this Christmas morning. Should Americans accept free home heating oil from Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president? Log on to cnn.com/am and vote yes or no.
ROBERTS: It's a real dilemma because there are so many people who are in such great need, and yet the politics between the two countries might dictate...
(CROSSTALK)
CHO: Well, it certainly helped this one woman.
ROBERTS: Yes, absolutely. It would be interesting to see the results of that Quick Vote, cnn.com/am. Log on, click on your answer, and we'll bring you the results a little bit later on this hour.
Well, these kids are always going to get gypped on presents, it is your "Hot Shot" now. Babies born on Christmas Eve, all small enough, take a look at this, to fit into Christmas stockings. They even got little caps too. The big guy even took time out of his busy schedule for the special deliveries. It was in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The moms and dads say they couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift. If you've got a "Hot Shot," send it to us. The address is amhotshots@cnn.com. Be sure to include your name, where you're from, a little bit about the picture or video, and please make sure that the image is yours and not someone else's.
Well, this year's biggest party is less than a week away. And if you have memories, pictures, or even videos of your favorite New Year's Eve celebration, we'd like to see them too. Go to cnn.com/iparty and send them to us.
CHO: And if that man there looks familiar, that's Anderson Cooper. Remember, you can watch CNN's New Year's Eve special and ring in the New Year next Monday night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern time with our very own Anderson Cooper and Kiran Chetry, who I understand will be Times Square, right?
ROBERTS: She will be.
CHO: Right in the middle of it.
ROBERTS: And so it seems to me is what they're going to do is compile these videos that people send in and share them as part of the New Year's Eve celebration, which will be interesting.
CHO: That will be great. So please send them.
ROBERTS: Or any video of you from a New Year's Eve party.
CHO: Not that I want to share publicly.
(LAUGHTER)
CHO: I'll keep those at home privately. All right.
Well, it was the video of the day yesterday, and this morning we have an update. Remember this? What's happening this morning to the man who's accused of driving a van into a studio during a live TV broadcast? It happened in Chicago, remember? We're going to tell you about that story coming up.
And stepping down and moving on. Jay-Z says he's handing off the reins of one of hip-hop's most legendary labels. Why? And what's next? The details.
Plus, the day's other top stories when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: You're looking live there at the Vatican where Pope Benedict is delivering his Christmas message. It's being broadcast around the world, as many of you know, in more than 50 different languages. The pope this morning lamented the "grim sound of arms in the world's conflict zones." He talked about Iraq, Lebanon, and the holy land in his Christmas message. Earlier in his midnight Mass, he actually called for the protection of the environment, so a modern day pope.
Again, looking live there at the Vatican, thousands of people, it seems to me, gathered in St. Peter's Square. Just an extraordinary sight. And, again, broadcast around the world, including right here on CNN.
ROBERTS: It is an amazing scene there every Christmas Day as the pope delivers his message to the world. And the way that they have it all set up there and the number of people that come in and all the way down the road in front of the St. Peter's Basilica there. Look at the number of people crowded in on this Christmas morning.
Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. It is December 25th, Christmas Day. I'm John Roberts. And Alina in for Kiran this morning.
CHO: And that's right. Good morning, everybody, and merry Christmas. We're so glad you're spending your morning with us.
ROBERTS: Well, Iran may be planning to build 19 more nuclear power plants. That word coming today from an Iranian parliament member. Iran has announced the one plant that is under construction will be finished by March. Russia is building it. That's the plant at Bushehr under the eye of international regulators.
The U.S. and Iran are planning a new round of talks on security in Iraq. Iran insists the talks be held between ambassadors, not at a lower level. U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker says that's fine with him. The last talk meeting between U.S. and Iranian ambassadors back in May broke a 27-year long diplomatic freeze. U.S. officials say there are signs that Iran is using its influence with Shiites in Iraq to lower the violence and stop the flow of illegal weapons into that country.
CHO: A multi-million dollar settlement for the family of a woman who died in a tunnel collapse at Boston's Big Dig. It happened back in 2006. The car the woman and her husband were riding in was crushed when part of the tunnel's ceiling caved in. The husband escaped with only minor injuries. The accident was blamed on fast-drying epoxy that was used to secure the ceiling, but it wasn't strong enough. The company that makes it has agreed to pay the victim's family $6 million.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two people were injured, Michelle (ph), and the weather made the rescue work all that much more...
(CAR CRASH)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Remember this story? We couldn't get enough of it yesterday. An update on that story. The driver of the van, by the way, that slammed into Chicago's WLS-TV studios will appear in court today, 25-year-old Gerald Richardson is his name. He is charged with felony damage to property. He was also ticketed for reckless driving and no proof of insurance. Now station officials say the crash may have actually been deliberate. No word on why that may have happened. Witness say he made several U-turns before gunning the van into the window of the street-level studio.
And the music world this morning remembers the life of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. The legendary musician died Sunday of kidney failure at his home near Toronto. He was 82 years old. Peterson's career spanned seven decades. He played alongside other jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie. Peterson's big break came back in 1949, when he was a surprise guest at Carnegie Hall.
ROBERTS: I interviewed him many times over the years.
CHO: Did you really?
ROBERTS: Yes. Sad to see him pass, but what a terrific life he led.
CHO: Yes.
ROBERTS: Thirty-five minutes after the hour. The roads are expected to be much better this morning in the Upper Midwest following a deadly winter storm there over the weekend. Icy conditions are being blamed for at least 22 traffic deaths in the area. But clear skies yesterday helped crews get the roadways clear.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHO: Paranoid or patriot. A startling newly declassified report proves that J. Edgar Hoover was ready to begin arresting American citizens whom he considered threats to national security. We'll have the details of this secret plan next.
And the Michael Moore movie "Sicko" brought more national attention to the state of health care in this country. What can Americans expect in the New Year? We're going to hear from chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta coming up.
But first, a holiday greeting from some of the men and women serving overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, I'm Staff Sergeant Len Martin (ph) stationed at LSA Anaconda. I'd like to give a shout out to my family in Monticello, Arkansas. Happy holidays. I miss you, and I love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back, everybody. Let's take a look at how some folks around the world are celebrating the holiday. Are you opening presents with your Santa hat on this morning? British tourists Louise Norton (ph) and Roz Taylor (ph) have theirs, as you can see, back there. The two are celebrating Christmas at Sydney, Australia's, Bondi Beach this morning, where it is summer. And this I-report captured a surfing Santa in Redondo Beach, California, if you take a look there. The Santa is a familiar sight among surfers. The kids were a little freaked out at seeing jolly old St. Nick apparently all wet and everything, but they sang Christmas carols with him as he got out of the ocean. Having fun there.
And they're celebrating Christmas in Iraq. I-Reporter Shasta Shang (ph) sent us this picture there which she received from her cousin, reservist Craig Garcia (ph). He is a soldier on the far left of the tank there. His unit decorated it with "merry Christmas" signs. Garcia is on his second deployment. He was injured by a roadside bomb on his first tour and signed up again after he healed -- John.
ROBERTS: It's 42 minutes after the hour. Did the FBI have a secret plan in place to begin rounding up American citizens that it considered a threat? A newly declassified report reveals that J. Edgar Hoover sent a proposal to President Harry Truman's office back in 1950 that called for mass arrests. With the Korean War having just started, Hoover wanted to be able to detain Americans under the banner of national security. He spent years compiling at least 12,000 names.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONALD KESSLER, AUTHOR, "THE TERRORIST WATCH": Hoover kept these index cards where he would keep records on what people said, anything critical about the government, if they were pacifists, if they knew someone who might be a communist.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The declassified report says that Hoover planned to suspend habeas corpus, which is the right to seek relief from illegal detention. Truman though never signed off on the plan.
Rudy Giuliani's health tops the "Political Ticker" this morning. The Republican presidential candidate and former prostate cancer patient announced yesterday that he is cancer free. He made the announcement after reading Christmas stories to kids in Harlem. Giuliani, though, is still being pressed about the severe headache that forced him into a hospital in St. Louis last week. His campaign says tests showed nothing alarming, but they have yet to discuss what tests were given or what doctors were trying to rule out. Whatever it was, though, they thought it was serious enough that they needed to turn his plane back to St. Louis.
Most of the presidential candidates are taking Christmas Day off from being in Iowa. Chris Dodd isn't, though. He's staying in Iowa, where he's actually renting a home there. The Democrat and his wife spent part of Christmas Eve packing up items that will be sent to troops from Iowa serving overseas. No official campaign events for Dodd today though. He is taking his campaign staffers skating. And you can find out all the day's political news around the clock at cnn.com/ticker.
Well, having trouble choosing your horse in the 2008 presidential race? Now there is a new Web tool that can help you decide. It's the candidate match game on usatoday.com. It only takes a few minutes. There's 11 questions on key issues like war in Iraq, immigration, tax, and health care reform. You can weigh the issues based on what you care about most. It will also give you the top three candidates based on your answers, and what you can also do too -- because all of your candidates come up on a little bar graph at the bottom of the screen. This is what I found was fascinating, if you go to the little sections on the bar graph, it will tell you what the candidate's...
CHO: It's like a pop-up.
ROBERTS: Yes, it will tell you what the candidate's positions on each one of the questions were.
CHO: Yes, it's like brief position papers and it pops right up. It's really interesting. I know you...
ROBERTS: It's a lot of fun. CHO: I know, I took the quiz, you took the quiz, our results, which we won't reveal, were a bit surprising, right?
ROBERTS: Somewhat bizarre, yes.
CHO: It's interesting. You know, both a Republican and a Democrat in my top three. Not going to reveal which ones.
ROBERTS: Same with me, yes.
CHO: Yes, really interesting stuff.
All right. Well, it is Christmas Day. We don't want you to miss our special Christmas Day programming here on CNN. They didn't ask for the recognition, but they deserved it. Well, we went all out. If you missed even a second of CNN's all-star salute to ordinary people doing extraordinary things, see it again today. We're calling them "CNN Heroes." First at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, then again at 5:00. And from your front door to more than 13 countries around the world, this CNN documentary chronicles the threats to the world's environment and what you can do to change it. Calling it "Planet in Peril." Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Jeff Corwin bring you up close and personal to a crisis in real time. Part one of "Planet in Peril" airs tonight at 8:00 Eastern with part two immediately after, only on CNN.
Health care in the United States, where is it headed in 2008? Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us in a couple of minutes to talk about what we can expect.
And a hip-hop legend says he is stepping down as the president of an equally legendary hip-hop label. The big question is, why? The stories ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back on this Christmas morning. Jay-Z says he's stepping down as president of Def Jam Records. The legendary hip-hop artist has been at the helm of the pioneering label for the past three years. Jay, who real name, by the way, is Shawn Carter, says he'll leave at the end of his contract on December 31st. Apparently, they could not agree on money. Jay-Z says it's time to take on new challenges. He'll continue to release music through the label.
ROBERTS: It was one of our top medical stories in 2007. And national polls show it is the top domestic issue after the economy, health care coverage in America. It's also going to be a key issue on the campaign trail coming up in the New Year. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta is looking at the state of health care in America.
And what kind of state is it in, Sanjay?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's not in a very good state, John. I think just about everyone agrees on that point. People talk about the uninsured and the insured problem, it's sort of a binary issue for a lot of people. Obviously it's much more complicated than that. Nearly 50 million people without health care insurance, over 8 million of those are children, over 8 million of those people are between the ages of 18 and 24.
But also, more than 9 million of them make more than $75,000 a year. So people sometimes electing not to get health care insurance. As you mentioned, just about every candidate has some sort of health care plan.
On the Democratic side, it focuses more on trying to get some sort of universal health care coverage at high cost, $100 billion a year plans have been proposed. On the Republican side, you have different sort of plans. For example, Rudy Giuliani really wants to take away the relationship between employers and insurance. John McCain wants to encourage more health care for veterans. So you are hearing a lot of people talk about it.
But to your point, John, the number of Americans who rate this as one of the most significant domestic issues is at an all-time high. About 62 percent of people say that this is one of the -- needs major reform. That's something that needs to happen. And we haven't had major reform in this country, I'll add, John, really since 1965, when Medicare and Medicaid were created.
John, for us, in 2007 we tried to focus on the stories, the stories of people who are most affected by this. I talked to Mark Windsor (ph), for example, a man who had a very curable form of cancer, but because he didn't have insurance, could not get the care that he needs, and now he's living in a very debilitative state, still alive but barely functional as a result of just not having access to that treatment.
I also talked to a family named the Ziegel (ph) family out of Las Vegas. Working people, they have nice homes, nice cars. They had insurance. And then one of their twin daughters got sick. She had a congenital heart defect. All of a sudden they found themselves in more than $1 million worth of debt. This family is going to declare bankruptcy at the beginning of 2008 and have to sell a lot their -- sell their home and a lot of their goods to be able to pay some of those medical bills.
That's what's happening now, John. We've got a special coming out at the end of January looking at this very issue.
ROBERTS: Looking forward to it. And, Sanjay, perhaps with all of this focus on health care in the election campaign, relief may be on the way for some people. Sanjay Gupta for us this morning in Atlanta. Sanjay, thanks.
GUPTA: Thanks, John.
CHO: Well, a controversy over home heating oil is heating up this holiday. Families like this one in New York are starting to get shipments of free oil sponsored by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Now the plan is backed by Joseph Kennedy's nonprofit group called Citizens Energy. Calls for boycotts have been springing up online to fight the plan. That brings us to this morning's Quick Vote question. Take a look there. Should Americans accept free heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez? Cast your vote today at cnn.com/am. Well, the queen gave her first televised Christmas broadcast 50 years ago. Today technology is coming into play. You can find her holiday greeting on the Internet. A royal embrace of tech. We'll have it for you in the next hour.
And Santa can't do it all by himself. Up next, one of our CNN photojournalists takes you to a post office in Massachusetts where their mission on Christmas is helping out the big guy. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's just about four minutes before the top of the hour now. Four minutes before 7:00 in the Eastern time zone. And you can imagine the kids are starting to get restless.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: ... get the presents.
CHO: And they want to open those presents on this Christmas morning.
ROBERTS: Absolutely. Remember what it was like?
CHO: I sure do. I always unfortunately knew what I was getting because I was a peeker. I know.
ROBERTS: The surprise is the best part.
CHO: Don't do that, kids. Don't do it at home.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: Well, this Christmas, some very talented CNN photojournalists from around the country got together to create a series of holiday stories for us that we want to bring you.
CHO: That is right. One of those photojournalists and a friend of mine, Bob Crowley (ph), brings us the story of a small town post office in Massachusetts and the vital role it plays in helping out Santa.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The snowfall just really makes it seem like Christmas. The town, South Walpole (ph), is quaint and cozy and it's a place where everybody knows your name.
Stamps this morning, Bill, what would you like?
This is a pretty busy little office. I have been with the post office for -- March will be 24 years and I love it.
Confirmed delivery. December is a hectic month for the post office. Lots of Christmas cards, lots of packages, we have lots of letters we get to Santa.
Letter for Santa. (INAUDIBLE)
Who is that going to? Who is that going to?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Santa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most of the local post offices respond to Santa letters.
These are the letters to Santa, and Santa's helper has to answer some of the letters. There are some fun ones.
"Dear Santa, are the reindeers ready for the big night?"
Over the course of the month I will probably get three dozen or so.
"How is Mrs. Claus doing?"
She has got quite a list...
... Webkinz...
... Adidas sneakers...
... perfume...
... coloring books...
... Nintendo games...
... new Webkinz...
A lot of Webkinz these days.
"Santa, I've been medium this year. That means that I've been good and bad, but mostly good."
I guess we've all been medium good at one time.
Sometimes I just get some great effort, some drawings and photos. Brings joy to me as well.
We have a letter that we send. It says: "Dear friend, thank you so much for writing to me way up here in the North Pole. My letter carrier just delivered your letter to our North Pole post office."
I think the kids really enjoy getting a response back from Santa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That would be great if we could get a response from Santa, wouldn't it be wonderful? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seeing the letters brings you back to some of the simple memories of the holidays, and it brings you joy and makes you smile to see the letters from the kids.
All part of the small town community post office.
Thank you very much. Have a great day. Merry Christmas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: And even snow. That from CNN photojournalist Bob Crowley. You can see all of the special holiday stories shot by our own CNN photojournalists on our Web page at cnn.com/living.
A lot ahead on this Christmas morning. The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice-over): Christmas at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the birth of the baby Jesus in St. Peter's Square.
Shopping surge. Did a last-minute rush save the season for retailers?
Plus, all quiet on the campaign front. A rare down day in Iowa before the mad rush to the finish. We're live on the campaign trail on this special edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: And good morning to you. Thanks very much for being with us. Merry Christmas. It's December the 25th. I'm John Roberts.
CHO: As you open up your presents, we're glad you're spending part of your day with us. Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho. Kiran Chetry has the morning off.
ROBERTS: Good to have you with us this morning.
Topping the news this Christmas morning, thoughts for thousands of American heroes who are thousands of miles away from their families. President Bush made Christmas Eve calls to 10 U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world.
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