Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Obama in Afghanistan; U.S.-Iranian Nuclear Talks

Aired July 19, 2008 - 16:00   ET

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


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHRO: Next in the NEWSROOM. The world spotlight focuses on Barack Obama as he lands in Afghanistan. Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I close the door and I would say to people, you can't go in there they're having a private conversation. Not knowing, of course, they were romancing one another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, we know him as a world leader today meet the romantic side of Nelson Mandela.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We stopped paused and thought about what are the things that could really make a difference in the world. Plus a family sells their house to raise money for charity.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And I'm meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. Meet Cristobal, the latest tropical storm. Find out what king of impact that could have on your weekend and what else may be lurking in the tropics, coming up.

WHITFIELD: Hello again, everyone. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. Big news out of Switzerland as it pertains to Iran. For the first time the U.S. and Iran have shared a table for nuclear talks. Our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour reports from Geneva.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): In a major policy reversal, the Bush administration sent a top official to nuclear talks with Iran. In a historic Geneva state room, U.S. undersecretary of state Williams Burns faced the head of Iran's supreme national security council Saeed Jalili.

Surrounded by European, Russian, and Chinese officials, Burns came not to negotiate, but to hear Iran's response to their joint plan to break the nuclear deadlock, and to demonstrate U.S. commitment first hand. Before the meeting there was files and handshakes, but no comments from Jalili or EU foreign policy chief Javier Solano. Their bottom lines may, in fact, be very different. But the U.S., EU, Russia, and China, Iran must accept their formula for a six-week freeze on any additional uranium enrichment in return for a six-week increase on any additional sanctions. Iranian sources tell us they want to feel out the atmosphere and see whether America's unprecedented presence means an end to what they call the climate of threat and disrespect.

AMANPOUR (on-screen): Even before the talks began in the building behind me, Iranian officials told CNN they stick by their right to continue their nuclear program but at the same they're focusing on long term developments, such as the political and economic package under offer as well as eventual diplomatic links with the United States.

AMANPOUR (voice-over): After a working lunch, Solana and Jalili rejoined their diplomatic colleagues and continue talking. Secluded again behind these windows. After a couple of hours, they face the press. For the six world powers Iran's response again fell short. It was neither a yes nor a no.

JAVIER SOLANA, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: We try to look for a perfect to characterize, let me put it that way. It's constructive but we just didn't get the answer that we're looking for.

AMANPOUR: Iran said it was still trying to explore long-term proposals.

SAEED HALILI, IRAN CHIEF NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR (through translator): When it comes to the package which we submitted some time ago, is it was a strategic one than a tactical one.

Therefore, this approach will b a long-term approach rather than serving our immediate interests.

AMANPOUR: European officials say Iran did not engage on their freeze- for-freeze proposal but they will give a Tehran a couple more weeks for a final answer. If the answer is still inconclusive, Europe, the U.S., and their partners here say their message is clear. There will be no more meetings or talks about talks. And Iran could slide back under a cycle of sanctions and isolation. Christiane Amanpour, CNN at the Geneva talks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And after those talks the U.S. state Department Ambassador Burns expressed how serious the U.S. is that Iran suspend uranium enrichment before Washington could be involved in any negotiation. A State Department spokesman said "we hope the Iranian people understand that their leaders need to make a choice between cooperation, which would benefit all, and confrontation, which can only lead to further isolation."

Now another big story overseas. Senator Barack Obama on the ground in Afghanistan this hour. Hoping to boost his foreign policy credentials. CNN's Reza Sayah have the latest from the Afghan capital.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): For the first time ever, a U.S. presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama comes to Afghanistan. The senator arrived late Saturday morning Kabul time along with a congressional delegation after a brief visit to Bagram air base just north of Kabul. It was off to Jalalabad air base in eastern Afghanistan. That is where the congressional delegation sat down and met with U.S. troops from their states, and Senator Barack Obama met with the provincial governor of Nangarhar province. His first meeting this weekend with an Afghan official.

Senator Obama's visit is shrouded in secrecy because of security concerns but on Saturday we did observe in the skies of Kabul, two Chernov helicopters escorted by two Black hawk choppers and two Apache choppers. A clear indication that a VIP was in town. Senator Obama with plans to stay until Sunday according to a U.S. government official in Kabul. Also planning to visit Afghan President Hamed Karzai on Sunday.

On recent weeks, Senator Obama describing Afghanistan as a central front in the war on terror. Many analysts agree he could ill afford not to visit Afghanistan right before the elections. And many say this was crucial in changing the perception back in the states that Barack Obama is weak on national security, weak on foreign policy. Reza Sayah, CNN, Kabul.

WHITFIELD: And don't expect Senator John McCain to be impressed by Obama's trip. As he'll tell you, he's been there done that in Afghanistan. He visited there two years ago but McCain's Afghan policy could be called a work in progress as well. CNN's Jonathan Mann explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John McCain was in Afghanistan before Barack Obama. Back in 2006, five years before the fall of the Taliban regime, U.S. and NATO forces were facing a determined insurgency. Back then McCain said Afghanistan needed more troops, though not necessarily American ones. He calls for more NATO forces. Now as the Taliban gain in strength, U.S. casualty climbs, and Obama calls for bigger U.S. troop presence, McCain is highlighting his own new proposals, calling for more troops with specific numbers. Up to 15,000.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our coders on the ground in Afghanistan say that they need at least three additional brigades. Thanks to the success of the surge, these forces are becoming available and our commanders in Afghanistan must get them.

MANN: But the McCain campaign says NATO troops should still be among those reinforcements. McCain is also calling for other new commitments to the county. A bigger Afghan army doubled in size to about 160,000. More outside aid to fund it. And more nonmilitary aid as well as. A White House 'czar' in the Afghanistan war and a special envoy to focus on U.S. diplomacy in the region.

MCCAIN: I know how to win wars. If I'm elected president I'll turn around the warn in Afghanistan, just as we have turned around the war in Iraq with a comprehensive strategy for victory. I know how to do that.

MANN: John McCain has been a supporter of the Bush's administration's surge in Iraq and he says it is working. He would apply its lessons to Afghanistan. Obama says Iraq has been a dangerous distraction from Afghanistan, but McCain disagrees and is convinced the U.S can prevail in both places. Jonathan Mann, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And more now on Senator Obama's international tour. As we said earlier he is in Afghanistan right now. He's expected to talk with Hamid Karzai tomorrow. But the first stop on the Obama tour was earlier today in Kuwait City. Here's video of that stop provided by the U.S. Department of Defense. Senator Obama joined on his fact- finding mission by fellow senators republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Here's what Senator Obama told the U.S. troops stationed in Kuwait.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm just very proud of the extraordinary work that the troops are doing here in Kuwait. You're providing all the logistical support that's need for folks in the battlefield. And without you, this effort would not be successful. So, thank you to everybody for your extraordinary success. We're very, very grateful to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Senator Obama has support for his proposed 16-month timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq but only from Iraq's prime minister. But Nuri Al-Maliki told German news magazine "Spiegel," "whoever is thinking about the shorter term is closer to reality. Artificially extending the stay of U.S. troops would cause problems."

So guess who gave the heads up to American media outlets on Al Maliki's agreement with Obama? The White House Press Office. White House press staffers they inadvertently sent the updated Reuter's report to the press. And checking cnn.com's political ticker. There has been a major staff change in John McCain's campaign. Former republican Senator Phil Gramm has stepped down as campaign co-chair. Gramm citing his controversial comments about the economy. Last week he questioned the severity of America's economic troubles calling the U.S. a nation of whiners. Gramm says his comments have become a distraction and he will support McCain from the sidelines from now on.

Senator McCain is taking to the airwaves. Telling jokes and, of course, blasting his democratic opponent. Last night he yakked it up with comedian Conan O'Brien and his campaign released his first negative TV ad against Senator Barack Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan. He hasn't been to Iraq in years. He voted against funding our troops. Positions that helped him win his nomination. Now Obama is changing to help himself become president. John McCain has always supported our troops - (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The spot will air on cable nationally and on other channels in 11 battleground states.

And now the money race. Senator McCain took in more than $21 million in June. His best fund raising month ever. But it's less than half of the $52 million Senator Obama raised just last month alone. And of course, you can check the ticker for the very latest campaign news. Just log on to cnnpolitics.com. Your source for all things political. All right. Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras in the weather center because there's a new tropical storm out there. And it's named Cristobal. Get used to it. Jacqui. I like saying it.

JERAS: You like saying that. Don't you. Kind of a fun one.

WHITFIELD: Let's just hope it's not fierce.

JERAS: It's not. So you can have fun with the name. Go right ahead.

WHITFIELD: That's what figured. Cristobal.

JERAS: We tend to get worse thunderstorms during severe weather season than what Cristobal ultimately is going to end up doing. But there are dangers with it, so you do need to take it seriously. We're going to see some heavy downpours. Some strong winds gusty winds on occasion. And in addition to that, you know, just kind of be aware that if you're thinking about heading to the beach, if you're not seeing the showers and thunderstorms there, rip currents are going to be an issue. There you can see the wet weather. The spin and rotation from Cristobal bringing some showers on and off into the Charleston area up towards Myrtle Beach through Wilmington and really up to the border here. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the coastal areas so be aware of that as there could be a little bit of strengthening in the upcoming days.

Now this is a computer model forecast that we have for you. And what you see all these white arrows, those are the wind vectors and the different colors that you see here correspond to the strength of the wind. So the brighter the color when we start to see some of these golds, the oranges and some of the reds, those are the stronger winds. And notice how they all stay off shore. So the right front quadrant of the tropical system always has the worst conditions. So you're going to be seeing wind gusts maybe 20 or 30 miles per hour. Storm is moving up to the northeast. Right now, we don't anticipate it to be making landfall but watch it closely especially through the outer banks. We also have an area of disturbed weather in the central Caribbean.

The computer models are picking this thing up into our next tropical system. And this could be a real dozy for the Gulf of Mexico as we head to the middle to latter part of the upcoming week. A gorgeous shot to show you. Let's end it on a good note at least with a pretty picture for you in Philadelphia. Shall we? Take a look at this photo, a live shot that we have here from WPVI-TV. Excessive heat warnings in effect here for you. It's a Global Amusement Festival that you're looking at. A tense landing there. A little bit on the windy side which might help cool you off when it's feeling like about 100.

WHITFIELD: That is nice and inviting. I've never been there. I want to. All right, even if it is hot, steamy hot, at least it's on the water. All right. Thanks a lot, Jacqui.

JERAS: Sure.

WHITFIELD: All right. This is pretty disturbing. A woman shows up at a hospital with a newborn that's not hers, but it's what police found at her home, which is most disturbing of all.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK. So if you're going to make a TV movie about John McCain, who would be in it? Conan O'Brien has a few casting ideas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN": Florida Governor Charlie Crist will be played, of course, by Bob Barker. We're happy about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK. So who would play the lead role?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Yellow tape. Plenty of police, and homicide with a weird twist. We begin our trek "Across America" in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, where detectives found a body inside this fly-infested apartment. The woman who lives there, well she's in custody after showing up at a hospital with a newborn who was not hers. She later told police that she bought the child. Neighbors say the woman had apparently been faking a pregnancy for months.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did she do this? Why? Why did she do that? Why? I know it was her baby. Why did you do that? Why? Why did she do that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She would never like let you touch her stomach but pregnant women do things like that. They are happy because they're pregnant. But she would never do none of that. She wouldn't let me do it all. She just kept a distance from me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, things got a little interesting on board an American flight from Boston to L.A., a team of pro soccer players became impromptu air marshals after a passenger decided to fly in the bus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went over to the guy and I said you're going to get your clothes back on. I probably said a few choice words on it but go back into the bathroom and get your clothes on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well, the guy actually did, but then he tried to open an exit door, so the pilots made an emergency landing in Oklahoma City, and then he was taken into custody.

And in New York. Things Shea, a song. What?

OK. I'm sorry, I have no idea what I just meant. But I do know and recognize this man, as do you. Billy Joel helping a sold out crowd say goodbye to Shea Stadium, that is. You guys are killing me. The Mets ballpark is being torn down at the end of the baseball season and last night's concert was the final show that will never be played there again. Paul McCartney was one of the all-star guests. He and the Beatles performed at Shea, Shea that is in 1965. The first rock concert held at a major U.S. sports stadium. All right there we go.

All right. Well, some gun rights advocates called it a great day. Many others say it completely missed the mark. Starting Thursday D.C. residents could apply for a handgun permit with some pretty big caveat. Our Kate Bolduan explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the first time in 32 years, D.C. residents can now keep a gun in their home for self- defense. Last month the Supreme Court struck down D.C.'s strict handgun ban, forcing the city to pass emergency legislation to comply with the ruling.

MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: District residents will be able to register certain handguns.

BOLDUAN: The new law requires all handguns to be kept only in the home, unloaded and disassembled or secured with a trigger lock, or in a safe. D.C.'s acting attorney general Peter Nickles helped craft the legislation.

PETER NICKLES, ACTING D.C. ATTORNEY GENERAL: You can load it to be prepared to use in self defense if - and this is the key language - if you believe there's a reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm.

BOLDUAN: D.C. firearms instructor James Wiggins is forced to train students outside the district. He says the new rules are still too restrictive.

JAMES WIGGINS, FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR: Is the district is saying that burglar is going to call you ahead of time to let you know he's coming so you can have it immediately available for self-defense. That's not what's going to happen. That's not really available when someone is kicking down your door. BOLDUAN: The National Rifle Association agrees arguing the city is trying to skirt the Supreme Court ruling, in part because only revolvers are allowed, not semi-automatic handguns.

STEPHEN HALBROOK, NRA OUTSIDE COUNSEL: D.C.'s reaction is to basically continue the ban as to about three-quarters of the kind handguns that exist in this country.

BOLDUAN: Another criticism. The lengthy process to register the gun. The process includes a written test, a background check, fingerprinting, and a ballistics test before taking the weapon home.

HALBROOK: It's an owner's process and it dissuades law-abiding people from wanting to live in D.C. or from registering firearms.

BOLDUAN: City officials say it's a delicate balance, protecting residents and not violating their right to protect themselves.

NICKLES: People get hurt when they have handguns in the home. And those hand guns make their way from the home to the street.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN (on-camera): Cities across the country are watching D.C. very closely to see how these new gun regulations play out and how the courts react. Remember, this all came about when a D.C. resident sued the city over the gun ban. And D.C.'s attorney general says he fully expects these new regulations to be challenged in court as well. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Yes. something says we're still at the tip of the iceberg on that one. All right. Thanks so much, Kate. Appreciate it.

Well, there's often that one moment in time when people realize they might have a weight problem.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORETTA COLLINS, LOST WEIGHT: got tired of my breasts getting there first.

WHITFIELD: And she's got a sense of humor about it. A rude awakening sparks a life change.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Just in case you need it, here's another argument for staying fit. Not only do you look and feel better, but doctors say maintaining your ideal body weight can improve your overall health. CNN's Judy Fortin has today's health for her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDY FORTIN (voice-over): Loretta Collins laugh now about being overweight.

LORETTA COLLINS, LOST WEIGHT: I got tired of my breasts getting there first.

FORTIN: Collins started putting on the pounds when she was in college. When she got married her wedding dress was a size 20.

COLLINS: Our wedding pictures are just horrible. And I look like the marshmallow man.

FORTIN: According to the American Heart Association, 69 million American women are overweight. Almost half of them, nearly 37 million, are considered obese.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Any questions or concerns you have that we haven't addressed today?

FORTIN: Experts say that women are often so busy taking care of others, they don't take care of themselves.

DR. SUJATHA REDDY, GYNECOLOGIST: There's nothing more important than your health. If you're not healthy, who's going to take care of your family?

FORTIN: Experts say that women who gain more than 45 pounds over the age of 18 are twice as likely to develop breast cancer after menopause than women who gained no additional weight. Obese women have almost four times the risk of developing osteoarthritis. And overweight women who are pregnant can experience problems like hypertension, diabetes, urinary infection and toxemia.

As for Loretta Collins, there was no magic pill. She worked with a nutritionist and got active. She feels great. How much weight has she lost?

COLLINS: About 80 pounds. Or a fifth grader.

FORTIN: Judy Fortin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, for centuries men only need apply. Now a new fight to ordain women priests is heating up.

And would you sell your house for charity? We'll tell you about one family who did just that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Three Roman Catholics say they're willing to face excommunication from the church tomorrow in order to serve God. WCVB's Pam Cross has the story of these women from Boston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAM CROSS, WCVB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They look more like the neighbor down the street than the rebels they are. On Sunday, she will become a deacon. They will be ordained priest. This bishop will leave the service. All Catholics, their movement rejects church teaching that women can't be priests.

GABRIELLA VALARDI WARD, WILL BECOME PRIEST: I remember when I was 5, I said to my sister, I wanted to be a priest when I grew up. And my sister ha, you can't, you're a girl.

GLORIA CARPENETO, WILL BECOME A PRIEST: For many of us, we have been functioning as priests for years and years. We've been ministers. We've served people the people of God. So I don't think it's a gender issue in reality. It's not a gender issue.

CROSS: Replace the men with women and it will look something like this. The Catholic Church has said strongly women cannot be ordained. The archdiocese in a statement said these women "are by their own actions separating themselves from the church."

One poll shows 64 percent of Catholics don't object to female priests. Their bishops say ordination is just the start.

BISHOP DANA REYNOLDS, WILL LEAD ORDINATION: Ministries and the work that follows ordination and what these women are doing in their lives and how they're serving the people of God.

MARY ANN SCHOETTLY, WILL BECOME DEACON: We thought that the ordination of women was on the horizon.

CORSS: Jean Marie Marchant finally stopped waiting and was ordained two years ago. She presides at services at Weston and is one of 60 female priests in North America and will advise those to be ordained.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As long as the church doesn't recognize the equality, full equality of women, then the full equality women on the earth is not recognized.

CROSS: On Sunday, they expect this sanctuary to be filled with families, friends, supporters, those who disagree with the church. They believe the time for change has come. In Boston, I'm Pam Cross, News Center Five.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And now more of my conversation with an American original, Judith Jamison. She's artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has helped introduce generations of Americans to dance. And earlier in her career, Jamison was a principle dancer at Ailey and helped set the bar for American dance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: I'm feeling this presence from you of just this great spiritual centered core that you have. You came in here bubbly, smiling and we see it transferred as you choreograph the dance theater. What's your secret?

JAMISON: My secret is I'm surrounded by people who've love me, and that I love them. I love dancers. I love anybody that's interested in dancers and in conveying the truth about what this life can be. The light in our eyes is there. It's right there. We see it in children. And we want to make sure that children understand they continue to have that. That's why we have the programs that we have, the Ailey camps. We even have our Ailey camp in Atlanta, our second camp in Atlanta. We have nine of them across the country.

But the light in my life is the light that I see in you when the curtain comes up and an Ailey performance with 30 of the most glorious dancers. I see what happens to an audience that doesn't necessarily -- not necessarily they've been in the theater before. Certainly not when the house lights come up. You see people looking at each other going, oh, I know you I know you. I know you, you were at the opera. Or you went to the hockey game the other day. Or what are you doing here?

They all have the same expression on their faces, joy. They have been uplifted. They've been entertained. They've been educated and they've been taken to a higher place. That gives me joy.

WHITFIELD: And inspired. I know that's what the way I feel when I leave, just feeling this, oh, my god. What a beautiful, you know, what a beautiful performance this was, an experience. And for young people, you know, it's so important for a lot of young people to see this and see what these beautiful bodies can do in a positive way.

JAMSION: Oh, yeah. Beautiful bodies and minds. The body isn't going to work without the mind, you know. That's why we have revelations curriculum that we have in school systems where we relate dance to science, to math, to academics.

So that you can see, there's more to dance than just steps. And with the Ailey Company, of course there's more than that because we dance from the heart and the soul and the depths of spirits so you understand your life within. Alvin Gaines (ph) got to us. We thank him so much for his 50 years, 50 years. So we hope to have 50 more. And that's why I look toward a glorious future.

WHITFIELD: Judith Jamison, thank you so much for your time. And thanks for this beautiful journey. I feel like I did when I left the theater after seeing my first Alvin Ailey performance. You've done that in person as well. We don't shake hands. I told you earlier. Thank you so much, appreciate it.

JAMISON: Delightful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: I'm telling you, she is so exuberant. Her energy is just contagious. She's in Atlanta even though Alvin Ailey of course based in New York. In Atlanta because during the National Black Arts Festival, they're honoring Alvin Ailey celebrating 50 years and honoring her as the artistic director now for nearly 20, pretty extraordinary.

All right, Nelson Mandela extraordinary as well on a whole other level. Life behind bars and eventual freedom have all become pretty legendary, that part of his story. Well his private life has been very guarded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I would close the door and I would say to people, you can't go in there. They're having a private conversation. Not knowing of course that they were romancing one another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh boy, is that TMI? Do we really need to know all this? Today, the romantic side of this very private world leader.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: South Africa, well it's throwing a grand birthday for its former president, Nelson Mandela. Today hundreds of guests stood and cheered as a formal celebration of his 90th birthday. The Nobel Peace Prize winner spent 27 years in a South African jail for his anti- apartheid activism. Well he was freed back in 1990 and became president of South Africa four years later. And there was a big birthday party in London and now in South Africa, but he deserves it at 90.

So Mandela's grandchildren, well they sang happy birthday at a private gathering on Friday, the actual day that he turned 90. Friday also marked the 10th anniversary of Mandela's marriage to his third wife. CNN's Robyn Curnow has more on the Nobel Prize winner's life and loves.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NELSON MANDELA, FORMER PRESIDENT, SOUTH AFRICA: My wife and I.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nelson Mandela married his third wife Graca Machel on his 80th birthday after a love affair that brought out the romantic side of the president, says Rory Steyn, Mandela's former bodyguard.

RORY STEYN, MANDELA'S FORMER BODYGUARD: And I remember when he was courting Mrs. Machel. He would go and buy her the roses and the chocolates and the jewelry himself. Now, do you know what that meant for us when Nelson Mandela wants into center city to go to the local chocolate factory? To go and by the chocolate. We would always try every trick and say, give us the money, we'll go and do the shopping and he'd say, no, I want to choose it myself. And then we would go in there and cause absolute mayhem. I mean, the shopping center immediately comes to a standstill.

CURNOW: Mandela's personal assistant Zelda La Grange says he felt like the president's chaperone when he was secretly dating the widow of Mozambique's first president Samora Machel.

ZELDA LA GRANGE, MANDELA'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT: I lived in France and I knew she was the late Samora Machel's wife. But I didn't know why she was there, or what she was doing with Mandela. And I was very protective of him. And I thought, I wonder if I should allow her to sit with alone, you know?

But I was very respectful, and I closed the door. And I would say to people, you can't go in there. They're having a private conversation, not knowing, of course, that, you know, they were romancing one another. And then you know, in time, you could see - every time he sees Mrs. Machel, his face lights up. So it didn't take us long to figure that out. And then she became part of our lives.

CURNOW: Happy days after Mandela's divorce from anti-apartheid icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Mandela and Winnie's relationship had weathered the indignities of apartheid, 27 years of imprisonment, the euphoria of his release and even Winnie's trial and conviction for kidnapping and alleged apartheid enforcement. Mandela has admitted that the breakdown of his marriage to Winnie was one of the loneliest times in his life, says Mandela's old friend Ahmed Kathrada.

AHMED KATHRADA, MANDELA'S OLD FRIEND: The split with Winnie was traumatic, very, very traumatic. Again, he's not a person who shows his feelings, his emotions. It's very hard to get him with emotions. It's virtually impossible.

CURNOW: It was Mandela's single minded dedication to the anti- apartheid struggle that contributed to the failure of his first marriage to Evelyn Mase. She was a devoted Jehovah's witness and didn't believe politics should come before God, say their granddaughters.

TUKWINI MANDELA, GRANDDAUGHTER: Every time my grandfather left to go somewhere, a little piece of her died because my grandfather was her first love. You know, this was a man that she wanted to be married to forever, but unfortunately it didn't happen.

CURNOW: Do you think history has forgotten her?

T. MANDELA: I don't particularly care that history has forgotten her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I don think she cares as well.

T. MANDELA: And I don't think she cares either. I think what my grandmother wanted - she didn't want recognition from the world. She wanted recognition from my grandfather for what she did, because my grandfather went to jail, and she was left to raise his children and grandchildren on her own. So I don't necessarily think that my grandmother wanted accolades from everybody else. She wanted recognition from my grandfather.

CURNOW: And did he ever give it to her?

T. MANDELA: He didn't give it to her directly.

CURNOW: The private life of one of the world's most public men, a man who has loved and lost, and loved again. Robyn Curnow, CNN, Johannesburg, South Africa.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: OK, let's talk golf, shall we? After three rounds, Aussie Greg Norman is leading the British Open. The shark is swinging for a chance to become golf's oldest major championship winner. The fourth and final round tees tee off, that should say, off tomorrow in Southbourne, England. Are you a big golfer Rick Sanchez, oh my gosh, I know the answer to that, what are we talking about? Rick, you, a big golfer.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I love golf.

WHITFIELD: You're always golfing in the morning before you come in.

SANCHEZ: He just married - oh my god, viewers, help us out, CNN.com. He just married one of the greatest tennis players in the world, Chris Evert.

WHITFIELD: He did? I did not know that.

SANCHEZ: Those two are married. One of the greatest golfers in the world with one of the greatest tennis players in the world.

WHITFIELD: These great athletes coming together.

SANCHEZ: Things you find out when you hang out with me.

WHITFIELD: You, it's all about you. Tell me what's happening, you, in the NEWSROOM later.

SANCHEZ: OK, here's what we've been looking into. I personally have found this to be a fascinating story. The developments that have been going on in Ft. Bragg. First, there's a woman who comes back. She comes back, she's been in the military. She ends up apparently being murdered. Now there's a second case of another woman who comes back. She ends up with her apartment being burned. And she's murdered apparently as well. There's suspicions about their military/husbands in these cases. So we started checking around and asking questions and we've sent our crews to Ft. Bragg to find out if there's any particular trend going on there. One of the things we found out is there's a history in these communities with military type of violent episodes as well.

WHITFIELD: Really? Plural. And we're not just talking about Ft. Bragg.

SANCHEZ: The famous MacDonald case of the doctor who was convicted of killing his family, for example, which made headlines for years and years and he still says he didn't do it, by the way.

WHITFIELD: And you wonder then, what is it about Ft. Bragg, in particular? I mean, this is a premier, pretty big deal military base. Para troopers, special ops trained there.

SANCHEZ: Exactly. So the question is this. How do you train someone to kill? And then say, OK, we're done with you. Go back and just be a family man. Love your wife. Love your kids. It's not to say that they can't do it, but it begs the question as to what pressures are applied on them to have to deal with that kind of situation and whether that leads to these situations.

WHITFIELD: And something tells me even these questions making the military circles very nervous about these kinds of questions being asked. Why can't it be that this is an anomaly? Why is it that it has to pose a question? Does it have something to do with their training?

SANCHEZ: And that's all we do. We go there because we're asking the questions that a lot of people are asking. And that's all we attempt to do with this. And you'll see some of that tonight right here at 10:00, a special report we prepared for except. Except it's not at 10:00, it's at 11:30.

WHITFIELD: We're continuing to confuse you. OK, 11:30, mark the calendar, mark the TiVo. We're set.

SANCHEZ: Program note.

WHITFIELD: Rick, always good to see you. It's been awhile since we've had a chance to talk on set.

SANCHEZ: Love you.

WHITFIELD: Love you back. All right, thanks, Rick. We'll be tuning in, 11:30. All right, well to give can be very noble, a hugely noble thing. I know give a lot, right?

SANCHEZ: I do, I do.

WHITFIELD: You give a lot of yourself. But what about giving your house for charity?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We stopped and paused and thought about what are the things that could really make a difference in the world?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Overseas and making a mark. Senator Obama goes to Afghanistan. Senator McCain goes on late night. The likely GOP presidential nominee, well he hasn't picked a running mate yet, and that gave Conan O'Brien some material to work with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONAN O'BRIEN, LATE NIGHT HOST: I don't know if you know this, but NBC is desperate for programming, has put a made for TV movie in the works about Senator McCain's choice of a vice president. I don't know if you've seen the casting yet, but I'd like to share it with you right now.

First of all, Senator McCain himself will be played by Tim Conway, very excited about that. Florida Governor Charlie Crist will be played of course by Bob Barker. We're happy about that. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will be played by Kumar from "Harold & Kumar." I'm sure you know that movie well.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee will be played by Gomer Pyle. Former head of eBay and national co-chair of your campaign Meg Whitman will be played by Tom Petty.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Meg will not be pleased.

O'BRIEN: No, no, no, you're free to leave at any time.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will be played by any local weather man. We're excited about that. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman will be played by a basset hound. And of course Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be played by Snoop Dogg.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, now you guys are going to make me talk after this? That's so unfair. All right. Well lots of people say that they want to help end world hunger. But how far would you take it? Would you give up your home? CNN's Rusty Dornin introduces us to a family who really impacted the world by putting their mansion on the market to feed other people.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When 15-year-old Hannah Salwen brought friends to her home in Atlanta, they would often be stunned.

HANNAH SALWEN, HANNAH'S LUNCHBOW: They would walk into the house and say, wow. You live here?

DORNIN: For nine years, the Salwen family lived in this 1912 mansion. Five bedrooms, eight fireplaces, a kitchen to die for, and even an elevator in her bedroom. But then one day the teen saw a Mercedes stopped on the street next to a homeless man. And I said to my dad, well if that guy didn't have such a nice car, then that guy over there could have a meal.

DORNIN: And so began the amazing tale of what the family calls Hannah's lunchbox.

KEVIN SALWEN, HANNAH'S LUNCHBOX: We stopped and paused and thought about what are the things that could really make a difference in the world?

DORNIN: Her brother Joseph explains their dream on a YouTube video made for a contest.

JOSEPH SALWEN, HANNAH'S LUNCHBOX: We dream of selling the house, moving in to one half its size and donating one half of the sales price to the needy people of Africa. DORNIN: And move they did into a house less than half the size of their 6,500 square foot mansion, which is still for sale. Next, they had to decide who would get half the proceeds from the house sale, $800,000.

H. SALWEN: We kind of decided in the group that we were most interested in hunger.

DORNIN: After nearly a year of research, they decided to pick The Hunger Project. Charity officials say the money will be used to help these villagers in Ghana grow food, build schools and clinics, touching the lives of nearly 20,000 people. While this house was a dream of a lifetime for Joan Salwen.

JOAN SALWEN, HANNAH'S LUNCHBOX: Hard to give up, hard to give up.

DORNIN: It was her idea to sell.

J. SALWEN: It was just kind of a m challenge. It's a test almost to see how committed are we? How serious are these kids about what we should do? And they all nodded and there we were.

DORNIN: It's a tough market sell any house, let alone a nearly $1.8 million one. It's been on the market for more than a year.

K. SALWEN: Roughly six or seven hours a day.

H. SALWEN: That's it?

DORNIN: This week, the Salwens will leave for Ghana. A family of four, ready give away half of their American dream to help transform the lives of tens of thousands of others. Rusty Dornin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow that family has really set the bar high. Well if you would like to make the difference in the lives of others or perhaps you'd like to read about those who do, point your browser to CNN.com/Impact. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll be back here tomorrow.

Rick Sanchez is up next chomping at the bit with lots more stories in the NEWSROOM, including the story of how a dark knight means bright days at the box office. And there's already Oscar buzz about the late Heath Ledger's turn as The Joker.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)