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Edward Kennedy Hospitalized; China Aftershocks
Aired May 17, 2008 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again and welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good afternoon to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes, a busy afternoon it has been, concern over the health of one senior senator.
WHITFIELD: That's right. We continue to await word officially from Massachusetts General Hospital about the condition of Senator Ted Kennedy who was rushed to the hospital after spending some time this morning at Hyannis Port, the Kennedy compound and then taken immediately to Cape Cod Hospital after a 911 call. The family consulted with the doctors. Made that decision to send him on to the hospital and then from Cape Cod Hospital on to Massachusetts General Hospital for what we now are understanding to be a seizure, according to family members, that he underwent. Not the stroke-like symptoms. However, we heard from a doctor earlier who said you really can confuse the two. A stroke and a seizure sometimes can have very similar symptoms.
HOLMES: The way she talked about, again that was Dr. Wright, we heard from Emory, a neurologist, talked about the seizure, certainly something to be taken seriously but sometimes can turn out to be nothing. An easy recovery. A simple a quick recovery. Also she said even in the matter of an hour sometimes the person can return to normal. But also something that needs to be monitored try to find out the cause of that seizure. She says sometimes it drives doctors crazy because they can't figure out exactly what caused the seizure. But sometimes people go on, might not have a reoccurrence of these but something as simple as a switch in medication can cause a seizure. No indication if that's what happened with him or any switch of medication. But she was just saying how simple something is that can trigger a seizure.
We also have been hearing from several members as we're seeing right here, we've been talking about this moment this morning when Senator Ted Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama as you see here. This was earlier in the year. But this was a big moment, and Obama certainly has talked about his affinity for the senator. Called him earlier today, one of his favorite people. We are now getting word from Senator Barack Obama. We heard from him. We do have that sound, we are going to try to bring it to you as well. But our Dan Lothian who is outside the hospital where Senator Kennedy is being treated right now is joining us once again.
I guess as word kind of spread down there about his condition now being that he had a seizure and also any word if we're going to finally hear anymore from the hospital officials?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Again, it's cautiously optimistic. Still waiting to get that information from the hospital officially. We have been told, I know we've been talking about this now for a little while, that the hospital was going to be sending a spokesperson out in just a matter of minutes, and we keep bugging them to find out when that will happen. It's not much more than a matter of minutes. In fact, more than an hour since they told us that information and they have not come out here yet.
One bit of new information, though, Senator John Kerry, the junior senator from Massachusetts, who we had talked about 45 minutes or so ago, he came to the hospital we can only assume to visit Senator Kennedy. He just left the hospital about five minutes or so ago. We saw him again walk out of the hospital go into a blue van that he came in along with someone else. I'm not clear who that person was with. He did not come over to where we are, essentially made a right turn and then drove off. But we know that he did come here, went into the hospital and left, perhaps to be with the Kennedy family, we can only assume. And maybe that goes along with the cautiously optimistic news that we have been getting. He went in, got the news. It may be good news and then sent his regards and then moved on. We continue waiting here at the hospital for additional information that might come from inside, but that's the very latest here from the hospital. T.J.?
HOLMES: And Dan we know from your earlier reporting that several local stations are there, several members of the media have gathered outside the hospital. Also you said you've been talking to people who have just been passing by. Are people starting to gather, any crowds, are people just kind of stopping by and being curious? And after you tell them what's going on, I guess kind of what are you hearing from people there in Boston?
LOTHIAN: Indeed, we have a lot of cameras out here. Not only at this entrance but there's another side entrance to the hospital. A lot of cameras have also gathered. People coming through here and we haven't seen large crowds assembling. But you see more groups of people who will come through, they'll stop, they'll ask what's going on. When you tell them, then they'll say well that's sad, or they'll tell you stories about Senator Kennedy. Earlier I was talking to a gentleman about 74 years old, he told me that he knew Senator Kennedy, that he looked up to him and considers him an icon. So he feels very, very sad. Stood here for a little while just waiting to find out if he could get any additional news and then walked off. That's kind of what we're seeing, people walking up, asking what's going on, standing around to see if they can get any update at all, any new information, then moving on.
HOLMES: When you get new information, Dan, certainly you pass that on to us as soon as you can. Our Dan Lothian out there again at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital, where the senator is being treated and, again, where Dan has been waiting for some time now for word officially from the hospital spokespersons about the condition of the senator. Thank you, Dan.
WHITFIELD: And we have at least received a more recent statement from the family members of Ted Kennedy saying quote, it appears that Senator Kennedy experienced a seizure this morning. He is undergoing a battery of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure. Senator Kennedy is resting comfortably and it is unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours. However, it is our hope that somewhere within the next few minutes, if not hours, we actually will be hearing officially from Massachusetts General Hospital there about the condition of the senator. But the good thing I think we're kind of gleaning here from a number of sources close to the family, or family members, who are actually there at the hospital is that they are guardedly optimistic. A number of our correspondents and producers have talked to a number of family members. We know that Senator Kennedy is there at the hospital. His wife Vicki is there. You saw earlier, T.J., you underscored the image of Senator Kerry who came by to visit. There have been other family members and friends who have visited as well and we received a number of statements from whether it be those on the political trail or even family members. One of his nieces, Maria Shriver, first lady of California, her office issued a statement saying she continues to have her prayers and hold up the best hope for the family.
But again, this latest statement we got from the family really is post diagnosis of a seizure. That the senator underwent apparently early this morning after being rushed to the hospital after that 911 call in the 8:00 a.m. hour. Now we're about five hours outside of that, and still awaiting official word from Massachusetts General Hospital and the hope was that they will reveal why they are guardedly optimistic as well just as the family is. And there are, of course, live pictures outside the hospital.
HOLMES: We have been looking at that live picture for quite some time, including the microphones out there that we're waiting for some hospital officials to step up to. Again, this certainly has a political component to it this morning. And still, he's been in the senate a long time and is certainly a major player in the senate, and he has been playing a major role in this presidential campaign. Again, one of the big moments and really a moment that changed things for Barack Obama as our Bill Schneider was talking about earlier. It was the moment when Senator Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama. That is the moment when that really put a stamp of legitimacy if you will on the campaign of Barack Obama. It meant he had the backing of the democratic establishment and you can't get any more democratic establishment than Senator Ted Kennedy. So Barack Obama, we've heard a few comments from him today that we've had, seen some written statements talking about his affinity for the senator but we also have some tape now that we have talked to Barack Obama. Let's listen in now to what the Senator Obama had to say about his friend and his endorser, Senator Ted Kennedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So I'm going to be calling Vicki and -- but I don't know anything other than what's been reported.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, have you talked to anyone about it yet this morning? OBAMA: We're putting in a call to Vicki Kennedy, and we're going to try to find out as quickly as possible what's going on. Obviously, my thoughts and prayers are with Ted, who is one of my favorite people, and so hopefully he's going to be ok.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And, again, kind of a somber tone there. Again, that was earlier in the day. That was earlier when the reports were, again, as you heard Barack Obama say, all he knew was what was being reported. What was being reported at the time was that a source telling us and others that the Senator Ted Kennedy had been taken to the hospital after suffering what were described as stroke-like symptoms. We have since learned that it has been a seizure. So there was some better news to know that the diagnosis was of a seizure and not of a stroke. So we understand that he is resting now comfortably in the hospital there in Boston. Our Bill Schneider has been with us this morning from Boston helping us work through just what this senator means, Senator Ted Kennedy, means on the political landscape. Certainly a player still. You've heard Barack Obama, there Bill Schneider. Tell us just how crucial, important, Senator Ted Kennedy has been and might continue to be to the political fortunes of Barack Obama?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, certainly when he endorsed Obama in Washington a few months ago just before the Massachusetts primary that was an electrifying moment in the campaign. You could see it in the faces, in the voices of the Obama supporters who just ran out into the streets. It was almost like a street riot on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, because they were so thrilled and excited that Ted Kennedy had endorsed their candidate. It meant that he had, Obama had, the blessing of the democratic establishment. He had not won a lot of primaries. He had won a few. By then he crucially won Iowa. It wasn't for weeks that he started wracking up his big victories. So at that moment in the campaign, it really accelerated the momentum of Barack Obama. It was an embrace that really put him over. It had to be a serious disappointment for Senator Clinton who until then had been the candidate of the democratic establishment, a great disappointment for her, but that's when the Obama campaign really began to take off and it was, if you were there, it was one of the great moments in American political history. It was like the passing of the baton from the establishment figure to a whole new generation.
HOLMES: A whole new generation. And, Bill, as well, you tell people, because you know about the senate, you've been around for quite some time. This, no matter what -- this is one of their own. You know? This senate is an exclusive club, if you will, and no matter how partisan one may be, you are still a member of that senate, you're a member of an elite and exclusive club. So talk about just what other senators, certainly, are going to be -- we've seen several statements. But what they are going to be thinking, feeling, and their affections for this man at a time when he's certainly not at his best, having some medical issues but he's one of theirs. SCHNEIDER: There is a great, great, reserve of affection and respect for Senator Kennedy among his fellow senators. Republicans as well as democrats. He is famous for having good relations with a lot of republican senators, like Orrin Hatch, for instance, with whom he's worked very closely. He even worked with President Bush on the no child left behind education bill. Something that he is now, as like most democrats, openly critical of because it did not work out the way he expected. After losing the presidential race in 1980. He lost the primaries to Jimmy Carter, he decided to make his career in the United States senate. That he would be a leader of the senate and a leader of the Democratic Party from that particular position, because he wasn't apparently going to make it to the White House. So he invested his career, his skills, his resources into becoming a leader of the senate and because so many republicans were then elected to office in the year when he ran Ronald Reagan got elected in 1980, and re- elected, and George Bush after him, and now two terms for this President Bush. Throughout all those decades, Ted Kennedy has remained the voice of the Democratic Party from his place in the senate. He is respected, he is admired, even among those who openly differ with him and are critical of him. His legislative skills, his honesty, his intellect have all created a tremendous amount of respect for him among his fellow senators.
HOLMES: All right and a lot of that respect and a lot of that affection being poured out today. A lot of people concerned about his health. We have gotten some encouraging news, again, that he has had a seizure today, and that he is resting comfortably right now at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital. We will keep an eye -- we appreciate you, actually, Bill Schneider, for helping us wade through some of the political landscape here of Senator Ted Kennedy. Thank you so much.
WHITFIELD: National correspondent John King has worked in Washington for a long time. Whether it be on Capitol Hill or the White House. John King with us now on the phone. He's also from the Boston area, John, you can speak to so much about Senator Ted Kennedy from his iconic position there. Not just in Massachusetts but nationally, but today you've been able to talk with a number of people there at the hospital to kind of give us a flavor of what's been happening there since the senator has been admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital. Again, we continue to wait for an official statement from them, but the sources that you've been talking to have been able to describe everything from the folks who have come in to visit with the senator, including his wife there. Tell us what you know.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on the phone): Well, Fred, as we await official word from the hospital and from the family about the medical condition and any tests and whatever, those are critical details which we need to emphasize we still do not have. I can tell you that the mood has gone -- it's now guardedly optimistic and much more optimistic from what late this morning when I first got a tip about this story was intensive panic in the Kennedy family and in the political associates and family associates because they had zero information, except that he had been rushed to the hospital this morning. Here's a new statement we received from the family just a short time ago and it says this, "It appears that Senator Kennedy experienced a seizure this morning. He's undergoing a battery of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure. Senator Kennedy is resting comfortably and it's unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours." Now, that is a more optimistic statement that he is resting comfortably, but obviously not knowing anything more for 48 hours leaves many questions. Until we hear from the doctors or from somebody in the family directly about what exactly what happened with the seizure what were the symptoms of the seizure, what tests has he had, what have the doctors told him is fine and what are they still worried about, we have so many questions, and he is of course, a 76-year-old man who has had some health problems in the past. But I can tell you from talking to people, the Kennedy staff and family associates had what they call a fire drill.
This is sadly a family that has been through so many tragedies and so many political crisis and tests that the aides literally call it a fire drill, that word goes out quickly. And the most trusted aides and advisors either come to Boston if they're not there or come to the compound. Normally, in the history of the family, it is Ted Kennedy, the senator who has implemented the fire drill, if you will, when the family has a moment of tragedy or crisis. In this case it is his wife Vicki, who implemented it and asked for help from aides and associates. We are told Fred it is Vicki Kennedy who is at his side constantly at Massachusetts General Hospital and other family, friends and associates are either in the Boston area or a few from Washington I know have gone up to Boston to be there, but we are told that Vicki Kennedy is at his side, and their tone is much more optimistic now, although I would just say from a position of caution that we still have no information about this apparent seizure and about the medical tests, but they're tone has changed remarkably from say three or four hours ago when we were first pursuing this story.
WHITFIELD: John, based on what your initial conversation was like earlier this morning, when you were first told of the situation, that he was being rushed to the hospital because of at the time it was described as stroke-like symptoms, is it your understanding that it was only Vicki that happened to be with him at the time? Or were you given any information about what other family members may have been around or at that Kennedy compound this morning?
KING: We don't have that information. We do know that Vicki Kennedy was with him and that the first 911 call was a little after 8:00 this morning and then he went to Cape Cod Hospital first and then it was decided he would be brought to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, because it has far more superior technological and testing capabilities, and we're told that's why he was brought on to Boston. As to who was on the compound at the time, we don't know. I can tell you from history, it's early, spring right now, we're heading into Memorial Day weekend next weekend. In the summertime the family gathers there almost routinely. What Senator Kennedy loves most of all is the water, Fred. You know that he loves to sail, he loves to be around the ocean. He loves the salt air. Whenever he can, especially as the season begins to get a little bit warmer, although on Cape Cod right now I can tell you it's still pretty chilly, but he likes being around the water even when it's cold. He likes to sail. So whenever he can be, he goes up there for the retreat. It is the family tradition going back decades and decades and decades, and it is a place of legend, both local and national political legends and the senator loved it very much and his wife Vicki loved it very much, and it is a break for him. Because as everyone has been discussing all day he has been so active in this campaign year and he has had such vigor and excitement about the presidential campaign year, just to have him having a weekend retreat at Hyannis is expected given that it is the love of his life, but also it's strange in that he has been so aggressive and so busy out on the trail.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, you know it's interesting. You mentioned his passion for the campaign trail. His passion for the sea as well and earlier we spoke with a "Boston Globe" columnist who really kind of underscored the last time he saw Senator Kennedy and just recently he almost looked like he had new spring in his step, because he was so invigorated about being on the campaign trail or pushing for a candidate that he really believes in and is inspired by, and that he looked almost the picture of health, was the description from this columnist.
KING: He has had remarkable vigor, and he has been very busy on the campaign trail and as people have noted, Ted Barrett, our Capitol Hill producer, he was managing legislation on the floor today. I have not seen him personally in several months because I've been largely covering the republicans when I have been out on the road. When I did see him several months ago on Capitol Hill, he shuffles his feet because of severe back problems that he's always had but he was in high spirits and gave a great enthusiastic reading and was talking about how happy, how encouraged he was for the democrats in this election year. He loves it. This is his life. Politics has been his life and obviously politics is also, his life has been marked by many tragedies in politics but you sense a vigor and passion for it, whether it's legislation on the senate floor, or at the Obama campaign now and the democratic congressional campaigns as well. It's what makes him such a larger than life figure. Because many tire of Washington and many get cynical in Washington and Senator Kennedy, whether he was negotiating, he wins a lot of negotiations. He lose a few. He always had a great zeal for the game Fred, which is why republicans even who are fiercely critical of his policies in many cases, have such high respect and regard for him.
WHITFIELD: Chief national correspondent John King, thanks so much for your insight. We really appreciate it. Of course we're going to continue to watch the developments there involving Senator Kennedy. Awaiting the update from Massachusetts General Hospital and of course there's other news that we want to bring to you as well from the NEWSROOM right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITIFELD: New images right now we want to bring to you as we also continue to get information from the family members seeming to say that they are rather encouraged by news about Senator Ted Kennedy this morning. Here are images from yesterday, actually, of Senator Ted Kennedy doing this thing out and about. Here he's at a ribbon- cutting ceremony taking place in New Bedford, Massachusetts. There you see him shaking hands and there's the official ribbon cutting. Certainly looks fine. And then fast-forward to earlier this morning, 8:00 a.m. a 911 call being placed from Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, the Kennedy compound family estate there, that they had a medical emergency. He was then by the guidance of doctors having conversations with the family members, you're looking at images from yesterday, where he seems fine. This newer image coming out today from Cape Cod Times showing that he is being rushed to the hospital from Cape Cod Hospital and medevac'd to Massachusetts General Hospital. Why? Because the family initially said there were stroke- like symptoms. We have since learned within the past hour or so through a family statement that it appears as though he suffered a seizure. He continues to be hospitalized at Massachusetts General there. We're still awaiting official word from the hospital. We understand the spokespersons will be emerging from the hospital, addressing the cameras there. Live positions set up there right in downtown Boston to give us an update.
We've heard from a number of our correspondents who have various sources with family members and even people there at the hospital who have said that the family is guardedly optimistic. They are encouraged after learning of his condition as a result of a seizure and not stroke-like symptom. However, we still don't know exactly his condition. The family reiterating by sending out another statement this afternoon saying that it is still a 48-hour period in which they are continuing to watch, even though they are rather encouraged that he seems to be doing well. We even understand from one of our correspondents Ed Henry who spoke with source with the family earlier today, just two hours after that 911 call, and he actually placed a phone call himself calling some friends saying he's not going to be able to make it to that luncheon that he was scheduled to be at earlier today. So that's the latest that we have here with Senator Ted Kennedy. We continue to reach out to a number of people who know him. Who have watched his political career. Among them, political analyst and CNN political editor Mark Preston who's on the line with us now. Mark good to see you. This is an iconic figure. Not just for American politics but American history. He represents so much with the Kennedy family. To hear of this news earlier this morning, clearly it kind of made a lot of people put the brakes on, but folks are a little bit more -- more I guess encouraged now learning that perhaps his medical condition isn't as severe as earlier thought. What are your thoughts?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, no question about that. When you think of political powerhouses in American politics, three names, certainly in the 21st century come to mind. You have the Bushes, you have the Clintons and you have the Kennedy's. Arguably, the Kennedy's really helped lay that path. Things certainly seem to be moving in the right direction from what we're hearing from the family at this point. Ted Kennedy, you know, had aspirations at one point of running for the White House.
After that did not work in 1980, he really did focus his attention on the senate. He has become arguably the -- the powerhouse certainly in democratic politics, on Capitol Hill in democratic politics when he decided to endorse Barack Obama before Super Tuesday. That was an extremely big get. Some people thought that Ted Kennedy was passing the torch to Barack Obama. He saw a young Ted Kennedy who was willing to take on the special interests as we're hearing Barack Obama talked about to fight for the poor, to really support democratic causes. So we've seen Ted Kennedy do a lot for Barack Obama, campaign for Barack Obama.
I'm sure Hillary Clinton would have loved to have gotten that endorsement, but it did go to Barack Obama, and we're saying right now it looks like Ted Kennedy is moving in the right direction. We'll have to wait over the next 48 hours to see what happens, but things seem to be moving in the right direction.
WHITFIELD: All right. Those words from family members there. Meantime, his wife Vicki is at his side and according to our national correspondent John King earlier, she has been there every step of the way, from the moment of making that 911 call and there at his side in the hospital. Clearly, this has moved a lot of people. We've heard statements from those on the campaign trail. From Barack Obama to Senator Clinton as well as Senator John McCain, and we even saw Senator John Kerry, who made a visit there to the hospital. Tell me the importance that many other politicos seem to feel that Kennedy has, Senator Ted Kennedy has? Whether they are democrat or republican? They really do look to him as the senior. Not just the senior in the senate, but the senior in politics.
PRESTON: Yeah. No question. Ted Kennedy, I mean let's be straight, Ted Kennedy is a fierce partisan, he fights for his goals, he fights to win. As our John King just said a lot of battles he wins, some he loses, but he continues to fight on. Even though republicans don't like to go toe-to-toe with him, while they don't like his politics, they trust Ted Kennedy. That's why Ted Kennedy's been so successful on Capitol Hill. His word is gold. Whenever he tells an opponent this is what he's going to do that's what he does. He doesn't really play a whole lot of tricks. He's very straight- forward and really, trust is key on Capitol Hill. That's why Ted Kennedy has been so successful. Democrats look up to him. Certainly younger democratic senators who were just elected. Some of them might even just stop by the office just to say hello. Really try to get a little bit of that Kennedy magic rubbed off on them. They want to learn from the master, and Ted Kennedy has been the master of the senate certainly for the last 20 years.
WHITFIELD: All right. Mark Preston. We understand that you've got to break away, and we have some other breaking news as well. Thanks so much for your insight. I know we'll be touching base with you again. Of course, we're going to continue to follow the developments there involving Senator Kennedy. Again we await word from Massachusetts General Hospital on his condition. We've heard from the family members who say while they're guardedly optimistic, they still have a lot to determine over the next 48 hours. T.J. has some other news now for us.
HOLMES: Several other stories we are watching and don't worry, we are going to keep an eye on the situation there with Senator Ted Kennedy. We have several other stories, of course several big international stories also.
We're just getting word about a church shooting happening in southern California. We will bring that to you but first, aftershocks being felt in China.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, T.J., that's what it sounds like at this stage, what we're being told is that a road went out and a wall of water was heading down the river that caused some panic, there's even reports there may have been a stampede in the area. What's happened is that the landslides have created these two natural dams, they blocked the river, the last couple of days the water level has come up, so authorities are now considering controlled explosions to try and get the river flowing again, drain the water out, lower the levels and take some of the pressure off those natural dams which formed by those landslides caused by the quake. One area which could be affected by all of this is Beichuan County. Earlier I was there, the city home to more than 20,000 people and the destruction there really is just staggering.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE (voice-over): This is what's left after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake rumbles through a city of more than 20,000. When the side of the mountain came crashing down, a tidal wave of earth swept everything before it, the pile of wreckage is massive. Survivors make the slow and dangerous climb to the top. Once there, they call out the names of the missing hoping they'll answer back, but rarely do. This young man's mother has died. She was buried alive when the buildings collapsed. One of the highest peaks in the city of Beichuan is the top of all this dirt, concrete and steel.
(On camera): This pile of rubble is probably about five stories tall. It's even higher over there just beyond the destroyed cell phone tower and just over here is another building which appears to have completely toppled over at right angles.
(Voice-over): Cars and trucks were picked up and dumped on top. On the other side of this mountain city, giant boulders came crashing down, smashing buildings from their foundations, flattening cars and people. How close must this person have come to almost making it out alive, killed in the doorway of an apartment building?
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Now, the real problem right now though with this evacuation order in the worst-hit areas of the quake zone is that soldiers and rescue crews were also ordered to leave, they were told to evacuate, so right now, precious time is being lost. I'm still trying to find those who may be alive underneath the rubble. The numbers vary. It's hard to get a precise number, it's as low as 12,000, as high as 25,000 people. T.J.?
HOLMES: Certainly don't want to be losing any time right now, any time, every moment precious right now in the rescue efforts. John Vause for us again in Chengdu. Thank you so much. Alina?
CHO: T.J. we are watching this story very closely. Some breaking news just coming into our newsroom. About three hours west of New Orleans in Lafayette, Louisiana, six train cars derailed, apparently containing hydrochloric acid, two of those cars at this hour we are told are leaking. There's been an evacuation of a one- mile radius. We want to go straight to our CNN affiliate KLFY anchor Chuck Huebner who is in the newsroom but it's not far from where this derailment happened. Chuck what is the latest?
CHUCK HUEBNER, KLFY ANCHOR: All we can tell you at this point is that there is a one-mile evacuation zone around the spill site, it apparently took place at Ambassador Calfry at the railroad tracks. It involves several thousand people, it's a combination of residential and business areas inside that one-mile zone. Also nominally involves our television station. Police are telling us we may have to evacuate depending upon whether or not the spill worsens or the wind changes. Inside that zone there's also one nursing home that has already been evacuated. Of more concern though are two hospitals that are located currently just outside the spill zone but that could change as well.
CHO: Chuck, I want to ask you, where are those people heading right now? We're just getting the first pictures we should mention of this, just to get our viewers up to speed. Six train cars derailed, it looks like overnight in Lafayette, Louisiana. Just about three hours west of New Orleans there. Where are these people heading now that they have to evacuate this one-mile zone?
HUEBNER: We have evacuation zones that are set up outside the area. They're using Lafayette transit buses and Lafayette police are going door to door inside the zone to go ahead and tell people to evacuate to move outside. At present, they're being told to take enough clothing and medication and also to make provisions for any pets to be gone for upwards of 48 hours.
CHO: Have you talked to any local officials there? We're talking about hydrochloric acid, two of those cars reportedly leaking at this hour. Six cars derailed. Are there any concerns about a possible larger disaster, potentially an explosion?
HUEBNER: At this point, no. Obviously they're concerned about that possibility, and that's why they have the one-mile mandatory evacuation zone, but at this point, the primary concern is for the inhalation of any of the fumes from the acid. They're being very careful to tell people what the initial warning signs are, burning in the eyes, burning in the throat, and if the symptoms continue, nausea.
CHO: Chuck Huebner of our CNN affiliate KLFY, I know you'll be watching the story closely for us, keep us posted. Chuck, thank you. T.J.?
HOLMES: Alina, we will turn to another international story we are watching closely, a sad and tragic one and there's a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, a lot of despair right now about what's happening in Myanmar, that's where a lot of people still desperately need help. It's not yet been coming. It's been now two weeks since the cyclone devastated that country. The official death toll climbing now, approaching 78,000. Almost 56,000 reported missing. The military government there still blocking most foreign aid. The British government warns the natural disaster is turning into a man- made catastrophe. Alina? CHO: T.J. we want to get to our correspondent who is inside Myanmar on the phone from the capital there. We should mention that in order to protect our reporting team, there are many safety concerns, we're not going to disclose any names. Tell us the latest situation right now. There's so much concern about getting aid into the country, getting it to the people who need it most. What is the latest?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, Alina, you're absolutely right, the big problem remains getting it to the people. What we're hearing right now is that more and more aid flights are coming into Myanmar, four American aid flights came in her yesterday and nine more are scheduled for the rest of this weekend. But what we're hearing from the aid organizations here on the ground is massive frustration, they say the aid planes get unloaded at the airport and then basically they don't know where that aid is going to. The workers are not being allowed into those zones, most devastated by this cyclone Nargus more than two weeks ago. We of course were able to get into those areas where the cyclone ravaged the most, there's also flooding soon after the cyclone had gone through, we saw that not a lot of aid was getting especially into those remote villages, a lot of people there had lost their lives, a lot of them also had very little food left and a lot of the aid was not getting there. This is not only concerning what the aid organizations say, it's not only concerning getting rice, water and medication in there, also they're trying to bring equipment into that area. Those of course foremost are water purification plants that they have to provide people down there with clean drinking water and they say the big problem is getting the people to man those water purification plants down into that area. Of course the Myanmar government is still blocking that, and right now the western aid organizations tell us the situation has gotten so bad, that they're thinking of actually training Burmese to try and get those water purification plants into the area, but that of course could take another several weeks. Alina?
CHO: I have a question about some international aid, just at the ready trying to get in. I know there's a French navy ship with 1,500 tons of relief supplies ready to go in there to be distributed to the people. Are you hearing any movement on that aid getting into the country and getting to the people who need it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's still very difficult. I mean apparently the Myanmar government is still holding that ship up, not allowing it to come into its water, to come into its territory, there was talk for a while about them bringing that aid into Yangon and then having it distributed to those areas that need it most. But apparently now the government is also still blocking that as well. What they have done now though is they've taken some foreign diplomats on a tour of the devastated area today, what the foreign diplomats, what one source there told us when they got back, is they said they were amazed at the lack of coordination at the rebuilding effort. They say they saw the army almost pitching in not at all in those areas, and said they were kind of hopeful to see at least some of the Burmese aid organizations were getting through, but they do say there is almost no international aid coming into those areas and certainly not getting to those very rural areas so that is still a very, very difficult situation down there. Alina?
CHO: The rural areas are always going to be the toughest to get to. We should mention the death toll climbing officially to 78,000, unofficially could rise to 128,000. Nearly 2.5 million people at risk for disease and starvation. We want to thank our correspondent on the ground inside Myanmar. And again, just to mention, we are not disclosing his name for security reasons.
HOLMES: We know so many of you out there would like to help with these tragedies we're seeing in different parts of the world. At cnn.com, we have a special page on the devastation in Myanmar, complete with links to aid agencies offering help for that region. Your chance to impact your world.
CHO: Other headlines we're watching today, President Bush opens two days of talks with Mideast leaders at Sharm El-sheikh, Egypt.
HOLMES: But so far, he's not really getting the type of warm reception he got in Israel a few days ago. The President and Mrs. Bush arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt today. Mr. Bush met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek but neither spoke to reporters. Egypt's state run newspapers blasted President Bush for in their view tilting too far in Israel's favor in the Mideast conflict. Egypt is considered a key player and mediator in the long running Mideast feud.
CHO: Not far from where the president is right now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Baghdad. She met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki shortly after her arrival today. A U.S. embassy spokeswoman says Pelosi will also meet with other Iraqi officials and senior U.S. leaders during her stop.
HOLMES: Where was this program when I was in school? Hitting the books and getting paid for it.
CHO: It doesn't matter what your grades are, seems like a no brainer that a plan like that would help struggling high school students, at least some peple feel that way, there are others who disagree. We'll have an update and this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Screaming her son's name and said mom is coming for you. Excavator works his way through this pile of debris that is just devastating to look at.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Also a reporter's emotional account of horror and heartbreak, the desperate search for survivors of the China earthquake.
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CHO: Welcome back everybody. 15 minutes after the hour. You are looking at pictures from Lafayette, Louisiana, three hours west of New Orleans, where there's been a train derailment. Six cars containing hydrochloric acid derailed overnight. Two of those cars at this hour are leaking. There has been an evacuation of a one-mile radius. 3,500 residents involved. We want to get straight to Craig Stansbury, he is a lieutenant with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office. Good morning Craig, thank you for joining us. Tell us, obviously there's going to be some concerns about the toxic fumes in the area. What are you advising your residents to do there?
CRAIG STANSBURY, LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Some of the symptoms we've been advised of hydrochloric acid may be some irritation to the skin, the eyes, what we're advising any individual that may think they have been exposed would be to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Using water to flush out any infected area is an advisory but just seek medical attention as soon as you can.
CHO: But is there anything people can do if they're in the immediate area and they don't get feel those symptoms yet? Should they be wearing surgical masks?
STANSBURY: What we're advising is if you're maybe just outside that evacuation area is you can close windows, turn off air conditioning systems to try to prevent any type of contamination that way?
CHO: Let's talk a little bit about this evacuation, 3,500 residents as I just mentioned, I understand the immediate one mile radius does include a nursing home, how are you getting the people out of the area?
STANSBURY: It is a mandatory evacuation. There's been an order stating that it's going to be mandatory. The nursing homes already have plans in place for emergency evacuations and we are asking that they put those plans in motion and they have done so already. We also have transportation for anyone that may not have transportation. Our officers along with state police, combined effort, are actually going door to door to advise people about the evacuation.
CHO: I understand a shelter has been set up at a school and there are two hospitals in the area as well. So obviously a big concern there. But tell me, lieutenant, what is your most immediate concern at this point?
STANSBURY: The most important thing is we get the people evacuated out of the mile radius. That's the immediate concern. We're doing that right now with the manpower that we have available, actually going door to door. We're getting the information out throughout the media, letting anyone know within that mile radius to evacuate. We're advising them to plan for maybe a 48 hour evacuation to remember to take meds or any medical supplies needed, pets if you need to do that, because once you've been evacuated until the situation is an all-clear, you would not be allowed back in the area.
CHO: You can see just the cloud above the area there, the toxic fumes after this train derailment. Lieutenant Craig Stansbury, we thank you for joining us, we know it's a very busy time for you, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. STANSBURY: Thank you.
HOLMES: Dangerous time, we will continue to follow that story and continue to bring you updates as they happen there.
Meanwhile, we will turn back to some politics and the he said, he said that's going on right now. The battle over appeasement is getting louder.
CHO: It's far from over. John McCain and Barack Obama trading barbs and new emphasis for both candidates. We're live on the campaign trail.
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CHO: Welcome back. We are watching some breaking news out of Lafayette, Louisiana. That's about three hours west of New Orleans. Six car train derailment overnight. Really an incredible and dangerous situation. The six cars containing hydrochloric acid. At this hour we are told by the sheriff's office that two of those cars are leaking. There's a massive evacuation of the area under way. 3,500 residents, a one-mile radius that involves a nursing home and a makeshift shelter has been set up at a school. We are watching this story very closely, we'll have more as more details come in. T.J.?
HOLMES: More voters in two more states get ready to weigh in on the race to the White House. Kentucky and Oregon hold their primaries on Tuesday. For the candidates that means another nonstop day on the campaign trail. CNN's Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser joins us again from the CNN election express in Frankfort, Kentucky. I guess first just remind people that the democratic race is still going. We've got primaries still to get through.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: People have forgotten that in the last couple of days. But we do, we've got a primary here on Tuesday and in Oregon. You'll see Hillary Clinton all throughout Kentucky this weekend and Barack Obama is campaigning in Oregon, T.J. But all that's going on, it seems like we've almost gotten to the general election because of this firefight between John McCain and Barack Obama over appeasement over maybe negotiating with Iran and Hamas and that's really kind of stolen the spotlight over the last couple of days.
HOLMES: Is Hillary Clinton trying to get some of that spotlight back? Is she trying to interject herself into this debate which like you said seems like a general election debate now between Obama and McCain?
STEINHAUSER: It was interesting, right after George Bush said what he said in front of the Israeli parliament when he kind of in a veiled criticism said that, maybe directed at Barack Obama and the democrats saying those who talk with Iran, those who talk with Hamas criticizing that saying that it's almost like those who appeased Hitler before World War II. Hillary Clinton and just about every democrat in congress came to Barack Obama's defense and also criticized President Bush over this. It seemed like the party was almost coalescing around Barack Obama, but you're right, Hillary Clinton is out there, she's campaigning in Oregon yesterday, she was taking shots at George Bush not over that but over high gas prices and oil prices, she was criticizing George Bush for his trip to Saudi Arabia without getting many results there. So she's trying to get her voice out T.J. but it's kind of hard right now because Obama and McCain are really grabbing the spotlight.
HOLMES: Is it fair to say as well that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seem to be focusing on the states where they appear to be ahead and winning anyway. She's ahead in Kentucky in the polls, he's expected to win out in Oregon, so once again are we going to end up, wake up on Wednesday morning and still nothing is clear to us?
STEINHAUSER: Yeah you know what, you're absolutely right, the polls in this state do have Hillary Clinton up by double digits, all have her up by as much as 27 points. In Oregon, Obama seems to be the favorite there. He's up in double digits in the polls. We will have that split decision most likely on Tuesday with her winning big here in Kentucky, him winning big there in Oregon. The thing though is, that after these two states vote, we're down to three more primaries, that's all we have left. Puerto Rico on the first and then on the 3rd of June, we've got Montana and South Dakota. That's it, game over and by then, Barack Obama will be very, very close to those 2,026 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, it's a numbers game and it seems like the clock is winding out.
HOLMES: It's winding down. We will see what happens. Paul Steinhauser, thank you so much again from Kentucky.
CHO: We have some breaking news to report, some disturbing news, we're just getting word that Senator Ted Kennedy has been rushed to the hospital. Our John King joins us now on the phone with more on that. John, what do you know?
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not very much, unfortunately, but I was told by a prominent democratic source in Massachusetts that the 76-year-old Massachusetts senator was rushed from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis to Cape Cod Hospital early this morning. Our understanding from sources is that since then he either has been or is planned to be transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. We have very few details but the source who relayed this information to me, who is again, a very well informed prominent Massachusetts democratic source said concern was that the senator had symptoms of a stroke when he was rushed to the hospital early this morning from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis. Unfortunately, we have very few details, we have tried to call some of the senate staff and some Kennedy associates in Washington. We are trying to get information from the hospital and others in Massachusetts. Most of those we have been able to reach at this hour in Washington were unaware of this dramatic development, but again we do know he was rushed from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis early this morning to the Cape Cod hospital. I am told he either has been or is in the process of being transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Again this source saying the senator, who is 76 years old, the liberal lion of the senate, was apparently suffering symptoms of what appeared to be stroke-like symptoms. That's all we know at the moment.
CHO: John King, this story is breaking right now, we want you to stay with us, obviously the fact that he might be moving to Mass General in Boston from the Cape Cod Hospital is sign potentially that this could be very serious, John, stay with us, we're going to get to you right after the break. We'll be right back.
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CHO: Welcome back. We want to update you on the breaking news we have been following. 76-year-old Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy as John King has been reporting, a liberal lion in congress rushed to the hospital in Cape Cod this morning. John King joins us now by phone. John, what do you know?
KING: Alino, all we know is that Senator Kennedy was rushed from the Kennedy Compound, the famous Kennedy compound in Hyannis, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, early this morning, sometime in the 8:00 or 9:00 hour this morning we are told, rushed to the hospital. And our one source relaying this information to us is a closely informed prominent democratic source in Massachusetts said he had symptoms of a stroke. Now we want to be careful with that, we're told symptoms of a stroke. We do not have any information from the hospital just yet.
But Senator Kennedy was taken to Cape Cod Hospital we are told. The source says that he has been told that the senator either is being transferred or has been transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Although our Washington bureau just touched base with that hospital and they said they had no information and that Senator Kennedy at least was not on any public patient list. So we're trying to get more information from that hospital and from Cape Cod Hospital as well. But again, he's 76 years old. Senator Kennedy, the youngest of the three Kennedy brothers. Obviously prominently involved in democratic politics. His two older brothers assassinated. And at Cape Cod on the weekend as he often is, he spent the beginning of the spring up there, and he loves to go up and sail and be in the water. We're told he was rushed to the hospital this morning and unfortunately, we have very little information at the moment.
CHO: As you mentioned, a liberal lion of the senate, the most senior member of the senate, John, as you well know. As you also know, he recently endorsed Senator Barack Obama along with his niece Caroline Kennedy. Was he expected to get out on the campaign trail? I'm sure that the campaign, the Obama campaign will certainly be concerned and affected by this. But also, did you know of any health problems in recent years? I know you're a Boston native.
KING: Our Capitol Hill producer Ted Barrett just sent me an e- mail, he's helping our reporting this morning, just sent me an email about how Senator Kennedy was managing legislation on the floor of the senate just this past week. He has been very aggressive out on the campaign trail for Senator Obama. Not only in his own states, primary up in Massachusetts, but Senator Clinton actually won that primary, but Senator Kennedy was active there, he flew out to California after that, he's been very active during labor organizations in some of the other states. He has had a great mountainous step if you and a smile being active in this campaign, saying he greatly enjoys the energy and the inspiration of Barack Obama and that he has found a little spring in his step, if you will, being out during his campaign season. So certainly he has been an active campaigner and he is someone who is so closely identified Alina with the democratic party, but while he has been in the middle and at the head of so many partisan battles in Washington, he also has deep bipartisan respect in both parties for his work ethic, he is someone who worked tirelessly in the senate whether on the labor committee or on the judiciary committee. He has many friends even among his fierce political critic, a value Ted Kennedy's work in the senate.
CHO: A champion of health care and many other issues. Really one of six senators in U.S. to serve more than 40 years. John, I'm not sure if you're getting word of this. The Cape Cod Times is reporting that Ted Kennedy was put on a Medevac helicopter flight, on a stretcher, wheeled out around 10:15 a.m. eastern time. That would be a little more than an hour ago. I know your sources are reporting there have been no arrivals of yet at Mass General Hospital in Boston. But certainly a sign that if he is being transported it may be very serious, as you've been reporting, showing signs of a stroke, not a stroke, but showing signs of a stroke. We will continue to watch that story, I know John, you'll be working your sources very closely, we'll get back to you later.
KING: One quick thing if I can to make clear. If the Medevac left at that time as the newspaper's reporting, he would be in Mass General by now. But it would not be unusual if they had a prominent patient like Senator Kennedy and especially if he was receiving emergency trauma care or any emergency care, it would be some time before they would publicly acknowledge that. So that would not be inconsistent with him actually being at the hospital receiving treatment and the hospital staff of course may not even be aware that they have Senator Kennedy in their midst, but they obviously haven't been authorized to say he's there.
CHO: Most certainly they'll try to keep that quiet. As the news comes in we are learning Senator Ted Kennedy rushed to the hospital, we are following that story, John King is as well. And John, we'll get back to you later, John thank you. T.J.?
HOLMES: We are also following a fast moving story this morning. Developments in China where a very bad situation could possibly get worse. Tens of thousands of people who survived Monday's earthquake are fleeing their homes amid fears of a huge flood. The earthquake caused landslides that blocked a river in Beichuan County, creating two lakes that could burst over their banks. The mass evacuation is hindering efforts to rescue any remaining survivors from the rubble of Monday's earthquake. The latest official death toll in China, 28,881. Fears now that the final figure could hit as high as 50,000.
CHO: We have more on the relief effort there now. A U.S. air force cargo plane left Hawaii today, it's carrying food, tents and lanterns to central China. A second U.S. aid flight is coming in from Alaska, we're told. The Chinese-American community is helping with earthquake recovery efforts as well. There in San Francisco a banner there in the Chinatown appeals for donations, Chinese language newspapers are carrying similar appeals.
HOLMES: Well, every hour that passes reduces the likelihood of finding survivors in the rubble from China's earthquake, but despite the ever increasing odds, survivors are still being found. A German tourist was pulled out alive today. CNN's Kyung Lah reports on the race against time.
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KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A baby boy cradled in the arms of a nurse, his face bruised, but he's alive pulled from the debris after the earthquake, found in the arms of his dead grandmother. His parents, who thought he was gone, saw him on television, cradled in the nurse's arms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To the nurse who saved our baby, we thank you very much. It's you who saved our little baby's life.
LAH: That's the cry of a 5-year-old boy, rescuers pulled him free from what was his kindergarten in Beichuan, one eye swollen shut, the other can finally see the light after some 90 hours under the rubble. Across the earthquake zone, stories of survival. And moments of celebration. Families clinging to hope. But that is fading fast. Where one child is rescued, dozens of others lie in body bags on a basketball court. The government predicts the death toll could rise to 50,000. At the epicenter of the quake, soldiers buried 80 victims in the hope of avoiding the spread of disease. Chinese authorities rushed funeral workers to the area to cope with all of the bodies. China's president Hu Jintao offered comfort to victims telling them to hold on, tens of thousands are homeless and mourning lost loved ones, many are in need of medicine, food and supplies
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't have water, we have nothing, no water in the house.
LAH: Getting rescuers and supplies to Sichuan Province continues to be a struggle. Today, at least, there are still those few tales of survival. Two students pulled from the rubble of a school, but how many more of the living will be found. What happens to those left behind when there are no more miraculous stories of hope? Kyung Lah, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: We are also watching some breaking news that's just coming into our newsroom, liberal lion of the senate, 76-year-old Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy rushed to the hospital from the Kennedy compound in Hainesport, Massachusetts there on Cape Cod, apparently taken to a hospital in Cape Cod. We're getting word from local reports that he may have been medevaced to Mass General Hospital in Boston, which would suggest the situation is serious. Our John King is working his sources saying that he was showing symptoms of a stroke. We have all calls out to all of our sources, we're watching it very closely, we'll have much more on the other side of the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Hello everyone, welcome back. We are following two major developing stories here in the CNN NEWSROOM. You're looking at pictures of what we are following here on the left and on the right. The story on the right, we'll talk about here in just a second. Happening evacuations in Louisiana, but on the left, you're seeing a picture of Senator Ted Kennedy who has been rushed to the hospital we understand this morning. Sources are telling our John King, had to be rushed to the hospital with symptoms that were consistent with that of a stroke, stroke-like symptoms again is what we're being told, what our CNN's John King is being told about the condition. He was rushed this morning apparently from the Kennedy compound in Hainesport, Massachusetts. Rushed to the hospital. Some reports out there now that he has been moved to a hospital, Mass General in Boston. We have not confirmed that yet, but again sources, a major democratic source there in Massachusetts telling us that the 76-year-old senator, liberal lion as he is described by our John King, certainly synonymous with the democratic party, and certainly a liberal beacon in that senate. A second most senior member of the senate right now, has been there quite some time, some 40 years. The younger brother of John and Robert Kennedy. There he is, Senator Ted Kennedy, had to be rushed to the hospital we understand this morning. Waiting to get more information about exactly where he is, if he in fact he had to be transferred to Boston, to the larger hospital and also what exactly his condition is. We're trying to get more possibly from our Sanjay Gupta to describe what the symptoms would be, but to describe the stroke-like symptoms.
CHO: Safe to say that we have calls out to the best political team on television, all of our sources as well, including our own John King. Of course, important to point out if he was rushed by helicopter to Mass General Hospital in Boston that would be a sign that the situation is very serious. The other story we are watching very, very closely is happening in Lafayette, Louisiana, there you see the pictures full there, six train cars derailed overnight, containing hydrochloric acid. Two of those cars at this hour we are told by local authorities are leaking. There has been a mandatory evacuation of a one mile radius. 3,500 residents apparently affected by all of this. Toxic fumes in the area, we saw some daylight pictures earlier. Residents are being told to turn off air conditioners, keep their windows closed. If you do have to go out, of course, wear some sort of protection, some sort of surgical mask, but again, two fast-moving breaking news stories that we are watching very closely, one of a political nature, just incredible news, shocking news really that Senator Ted Kennedy has been rushed to the hospital. We will have much more on the other side of the break.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's what we call mother earth. In Argentina you'll find the town of Tilcara. It's a tourist area. I've made my whole life in Tilcara. There's no real environmental consciousness in Tilcara. We have a lot of issues to work on, water contamination. There's so much trash. Someone had to do something and I saw the opportunity. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Carmen Salva. I began an environmental group to clean up my town and surroundings, together with children, young people and parents. I've been a teacher for 20 years. I believe that change begins with the child. They will teach how to care for nature and everything that's around us. The name for our group is hope for life. When we go out to clean on Saturday, there's about 60 to 100 people. We separate the recyclables and when we return, we load the lamas with bags of trash. When the children leave the group, they are the ones who pass on the lessons they have learned. It's really fulfilling when we come back to town and they feel like, well, they feel like heroes.
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HOLMES: We want to continue to update you on a breaking story we are seeing this morning about Senior senator in the U.S. Senate, Ted Kennedy has been rushed to the hospital this morning according to our John King, a major democratic source there in the state of Massachusetts telling us that he has been rushed to the hospital with stroke-like symptoms this morning. Now we do have an update and confirmation at least from the hospital spokesperson there in Cape Cod.
CHO: We should mention that he was rushed to the hospital in Cape Cod from the very famous Kennedy compound in Hainesport, Massachusetts at about 9:00 a.m., he spent less than an hour in the emergency room we're told by the hospital spokesperson and then he was transported, airlifted by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital. He was showing according to our sources who tell John King that he was showing symptoms that are consistent with a stroke. 76 years old, liberal lion of the senate, second longest serving member of the U.S. senate, just a champion of health care and minimum wage and other social issues. Most recently was seen endorsing Senator Barack Obama along with his niece Caroline Kennedy. John King and the best political team on television, working their source very closely, we've got calls out to everybody as we watch this breaking news story.
HOLMES: Even though he is a 76 years old man, certainly not by any accounts a young man any more, but still out there, just as vibrant and energetic and robust as anybody out there, according to our John King was expected to have a full on and has been expected to be out there and campaigning for Barack Obama, certainly his work has not stopped in the senate. He is always a fiery senator who has always put his heart and soul into health care, children's issues, education, and has held a full schedule. Many of those folks in the senate as we know keep some long hours, he has shown no signs of slowing up any where in the past several years that we've been watching him. So certainly hope that he is all right. But stroke- like symptoms, certainly scary to hear that but that's the report we're getting. Stroke-like symptoms, no confirmation of any kind from anyone in his camp about what has exactly has happened to him. Certainly some concern here that he had to be rushed to the hospital.
CHO: That's right, and important to point out, if he was in fact airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital, just a wonderful well staffed hospital in Boston that it could be a sign that it is a serious situation. It also could be just a precaution, just remember we are talking about a very famous well-known U.S. senator, Ted Kennedy, known to every American, so potentially it could be just a precaution, certainly we all hope that is the case, but that story, we are watching very, very closely.
Another story T.J. we are watching very closely as you know is this train derailment on the right of your screen now. It's full, in Lafayette, Louisiana, three hours west of New Orleans. Six cars derailed overnight containing hydrochloric acid and two of those cars are leaking. There's been a mandatory evacuation of a one mile radius. 3,500 residents told to leave the area, that one mile radius by the way includes a nursing home. So a very touch and go situation there in Louisiana that we are following as well.
HOLMES: We will continue to keep an eye on both of these breaking stories this morning. Certainly the situation with Ted Kennedy and also this happening in Louisiana. A dangerous situation there. We will take a quick commercial break, continue to work our sources an these stories. We'll be right back.
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CHO: Welcome back. We are watching this breaking story very closely. 76-year-old Senator Ted Kennedy rushed to the hospital this morning. He was taken there by ambulance at 9:00 a.m. to Cape Cod Hospital from the very famous Kennedy compound in Hainesport, Massachusetts in Cape Cod. He has since been airlifted we're told to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Our Dan Lothian is on the phone right now, he is racing to Mass General. Dan, what do you know?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-of): The hospital won't really give us any information, they won't confirm or they won't deny that he's actually there, but our information is that indeed he has been airlifted to Mass General Hospital. We are on our way there, I would only assume that this situation continues to develop that hospital officials will be giving us more information. We've also reached out to our contacts with Kennedy's office here in Boston, we're still waiting to hear back information from them. All we know he was airlifted to Mass General Hospital. We are on our way there and hope to have more information in a bit.
HOLMES: Dan, you know the area. Do you know much about the hospital there in Cape Cod? Is it a hospital that is pretty well equipped to handle most basic things we assume. But is it ill equipped if things got a little more serious of a situation? Would this be something we could expect to see for them to transfer him to a larger hospital in the area like Mass General in Boston?
LOTHIAN: Exactly, that would be the routine that is a hospital that handles a lot of different kinds of emergencies that happen down in that area of New England in the cape area, but if something is serious, Mass General would be the place where you would transfer them to, any kind of serious accident victim, that kind of thing, they might be taken to the closest hospital initially. And then for further treatment would be taken to Mass General. That is the hospital that can pretty much handle anything, that's the big emergency hospital here in Boston. That would be routine that the hospital down there is taken there for initial testing and treatment and then transferred to Mass General.
CHO: Dan, I understand that Senator Kennedy despite being 76 years old, was handling a pretty busy schedule at the time, one thing we should point out is that Mass General, of course, one of the most famous hospitals in the country, would handle serious situations or very high-profile patients. At this hour, we're not sure exactly which it is. Hopefully the latter, but having said that, as you know, Dan, Senator Kennedy recently endorsed Barack Obama, there we see some video of him at the endorsement rally there. Was he expected to go out there on the trail and be with Senator Obama?
LOTHIAN: We did see that initially. He's not been out on the trail as much as perhaps we thought. Initially, he did show up at a number of events with Barack Obama and other Kennedy members as well. You are correct in that he has kept a very busy schedule. In fact, according to his website at least, he was at a ribbon cutting yesterday in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Despite his age, he's still carrying on, still doing various events for Barack Obama and also still carrying on the duties of his office as well. Not sitting around and resting a whole lot, staying very active.
HOLMES: All right, Dan Lothian there for us, trying to make his way to the hospital there in Boston, Mass General in Boston, where we understand Senator Ted Kennedy has been transferred this morning after showing what is described as symptoms of a stroke. We are waiting to get some official word about his condition. Meanwhile getting close to the top of the noon hour here, our Fredricka Whitfield will continue our coverage of these two major stories, again this one on Ted Kennedy and also the situation we're watching in Louisiana where there has been some kind of a toxic leak. People have to be evacuated. Hello to you. I guess we know what you're going to be talking about.
CHO: You have a busy day.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, good to see you all. It's been a very busy morning, we're just going to carry the baton into the day. Two top stories here, Senator Ted Kennedy and of course this train derailment. Let's begin with Ted Kennedy and we're talking about the senior democratic senator heading to the hospital after being transferred from Cape Cod's hospital while he had been spending the weekend in Hyannis, Massachusetts and then transferred to this Massachusetts' General Hospital there because of these symptoms that are stroke-like. Sources are saying that 76-year-old senator was showing these symptoms. They addressed them immediately.
He's a leading liberal voice for two generations. Kennedy is the only surviving brother of President John F. Kennedy and one of just six senators in U.S. history to serve more than 40 years. Plus he's the second longest serving senator in Washington right now. We'll keep you posted as more information comes in. In the meantime, Dana Bash is in Washington. She has covered Capitol Hill for a very long time. Has established a good working relationship with the senator. She joins us now. Dana, this really is very alarming news clearly.
