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American Morning
Countdown to President-elect Obama's Inauguration; The Historical Significance of the Inauguration of the First Black President
Aired January 19, 2009 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Two hours down and still two to go. We're here live at the Mall in D.C. We're waiting a lot of events that are taking place this morning as well. And, of course, counting down to the moments tomorrow when Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, absolutely. History is going to be made and the significance of that is not lost on anyone. A pointed echo of the man whose life we honor today. Dr. Martin Luther King who declared his dream more than four decades ago at the Lincoln Memorial. And just about everywhere you go and everyone you talk to here in Washington, D.C. is thinking about that day back in 1963 when the area in front of the Lincoln Memorial, along the reflecting pool which is jammed with people listening to Dr. King's speech.
CHETRY: That's right. And so today, Martin Luther King's birthday, national holiday. And beautiful shot this morning. There you go. The Washington Monument as well. This entire area will be packed probably with millions to come out just one day and five hours away, the inauguration of Barack Obama.
Well, as important and historic as tomorrow's inauguration is the Obama team is also focused on Wednesday, the day after. The day it will begin trying to make good on many promises and also temper expectations, no doubt.
Our Suzanne Malveaux is live for us, smartly and wisely inside our D.C. bureau this morning with more on that.
And you know, I was thinking that to myself as well. What happens Wednesday? There's certainly so much excitement, and Barack Obama is going to be riding a wave of enthusiasm, really record approval ratings from the general public, but what happens Wednesday when we do come back to reality a little?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Sure. Kiran, I do feel a little guilty about being inside and you're outside. But yes, I mean, the concert we saw yesterday at Lincoln Memorial, a lot of fun, a lot of excitement, but clearly aides that I speak with say that they know from day one they're going to have to deal with some very serious issues, two wars, an economy in crisis.
So, what you're going to see, Barack Obama meeting with his top military staff as well as his economic team the day after his inauguration to deal with some of those things. But first, it's all about the pomp and circumstance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Countdown to the presidency, the kickoff, a big concert on the National Mall.
BONO, MUSICIAN, U2 (singing): In the name of love.
MALVEAUX: A who's who of performers. Bono, Beyonce, "The Boss" and Stevie Wonder, just some of the artists who brought Barack Obama and his family to their feet. The free concert attracted tens of thousands to the base of the Lincoln Memorial. The theme, "We are one" reflected in Obama's remarks to the shivering crowd.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because there is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.
MALVEAUX: Faced with the daunting challenges that await him, two wars and an economic crisis, he pleaded for Americans' patience.
OBAMA: I won't pretend that meeting any one of these challenges will be easy. It will take more than a month or a year. It will likely take many. Along the way there will be setbacks and false starts and days that test our resolve as a nation.
MALVEAUX: But Obama also stressed he still believed in his campaign slogan that turned into a movement, his hope for change.
OBAMA: Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure. That it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time.
MALVEAUX: The weekend was laden with symbolism. With the nod to Abraham Lincoln, Obama retraced his journey to the capital with a whistle stop tour from Philadelphia to D.C.'s Union Station, drawing crowds everywhere along the way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's going to be a great president.
MALVEAUX: Anticipating Martin Luther King Day, Obama stood where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech and paid him homage.
OBAMA: Directly in front of us is a pool that still reflects the dream of a King. And the glory of a people who marched and bled so that their children might be judged by their character's content.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Kiran, yesterday it was interesting to see the crowds, you know, tens of thousands of people who are all just like packed at the Lincoln Memorial, really amazing energy and excitement.
Also got a chance, I was pretty close up in front to see some of the cabinet secretaries, who have been nominated. Some of those in the hot seat, Tim Geithner of treasury, Eric Holder, the attorney general. We will see if that actually goes through, but they were just hanging out, you know, with their kids, taking pictures, having a good time. But I talked to several aides who say, look, they know, they understand, this is a moment of celebration. It's a moment of excitement, but just hours away they're going to be dealing with some very serious issues -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Certainly no doubt. You know, I remember actually the situation was reversed, Suzanne. You were outside. John and I were inside nice and warm. You unfortunately, though, were in Honolulu outside.
MALVEAUX: Oh, no.
CHETRY: We still don't feel so bad for you.
MALVEAUX: But you know --
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: But while you were there, you did get a chance to talk to the Obama family and you did a great reveal, and we got to see a little bit more about Barack Obama as a person. I can't imagine the nerves that would be going through my system if I was getting prepared to give this type of speech and Barack Obama, of course, known for being cool as a cucumber.
But there was a funny aside where -- and he told CNN that his daughter Malia as they were standing outside of the Lincoln Memorial said the first African-American president, huh, this speech better be good. So a lot of expectations even from his own family.
MALVEAUX: Yes. And you know, one of the things he has a ritual before he does this big moments, this big speeches, where he will actually let go of that BlackBerry that we've heard so much that he's attached to, and just for a couple of hours really be very reflective, be very quiet to prepare for that moment. So obviously, he is preparing for the moment.
A lot of celebration now, but you're going to see as it gets closer and closer to the inauguration speech where he is going to be practicing, and he's really kind of just get into that zen. It's something that he does as well before basketball games. And so it's something that we're going to see in the next couple of days before he finally delivers that address. And it's going to be about inspiration, about people trying to appeal to their better angels and sacrifice for the country, Kiran.
CHETRY: Absolutely. All right, Suzanne Malveaux, thank you.
ROBERTS: This is going to be the basketball game of his life.
CHETRY: Certainly will.
(LAUGHTER) ROBERTS: Well, let's turn to our political panel now. With us here in Washington, Democratic strategist and CNN contributor Robert Zimmerman -- he's back -- Republican analyst and CNN contributor Leslie Sanchez here with us as well. In our Washington bureau, Democrat strategist Lisa Caputo. Good morning to you, Lisa. And in New York, Republican strategist Ed Rollins.
Ed, let's look back on your history a bit and then look ahead to tomorrow. You, of course, worked for the man known as the great communicator, Ronald Reagan. What are you expecting out of Obama's inaugural address tomorrow because he, in terms of public speaking, is being very much compared to Ronald Reagan in his ability to connect with people.
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think you know, you see now the pomp and circumstance, the military, everything coming around, he looks like a commander in chief and the great rhetoric that he has I think is going to inspire this country just as Reagan's did. Reagan, people forget, sort of came in at a troubled time also and the country clearly wanted the presidency to work again. I think after eight years of Bush, people are looking for an uplifting speech and someone who can basically go tackle the problems and I think it's -- I'm very hopeful.
CHETRY: And, Lisa, let's get with you as well. Along those same lines, this honeymoon period that we talk about where people are willing to sit back, show a little bit of patience as Barack Obama sort of lays out the best way forward for to us get out of some of the messes that we're in. How long does that honeymoon period last and what are people looking for in terms of signs?
LISA CAPUTO, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I don't think he's going to have much of a honeymoon at all. In fact, just talking some of his aides and friends of the president-elect, they tell me that he's going to go straight into work right away right after the inauguration as is most of the staff, if not all the staff. So no one is banking on a honeymoon by any stretch. And I think what you're going to see him say tomorrow is to talk about unification, to talk about the responsibility every American has to step up and to unite. And I think that he knows firsthand, he's got to tackle the problems.
I was talking last night to one of the campaign folks who actually is not going inside, who is telling me he does have this way about him where in the campaign when he started the campaign, he said you know what? We're going to approach this with all we can, but we're also going to have a "what the heck attitude." We just can't get ourselves excited. And I think he's trying to approach this inaugural that way but also the crises, he is unflappable, and I think that is really to his benefit.
ROBERTS: And, Leslie Sanchez, what do you think is the appropriate way for Republicans to respond to this administration, at least in the opening days and weeks. You know, David Frum wrote a piece the other day in the week in which he said that they need to be the opposition but they shouldn't be unduly harsh. The suggestion was they shouldn't be unduly harsh on the president-elect unless, of course, there is something that they really do take issue with, that there should be cooperation here.
LESLIE SANCHEZ, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think there's a lot of lessons from 2008 and one is that Republicans need to earn the trust of the American people. We need to have solutions and ideas that show that we are not going to be obstructionist but really presentable government. They were moving into a new time of a lot of more government intervention, and there are so many concerns that I think American voters have. Republicans have a seat at the table, but it's us in the spirit of working together to keep this economy strong and moving and I think that's what people are fundamentally looking for from both parties.
CHETRY: And, Robert, as we get ready to get ready to listen to this speech, I mean, you noted it earlier when we spoke about the feeling, the optimism that exists even here in D.C. and in other places about what -- about better days ahead.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: We know it follows up on Ed and Lisa's point they both made. This is really -- this inauguration has come to represent a celebration of democracy and a yearning in America to believe in ourselves again, to believe, to regain confidence in our government, in our business community, in our institutions.
And I think the president-elect, and I can tell you from my conversations with this team, they are very conscious of the fact that they have to manage expectations. But the polling we're seeing shows, "The New York Times"/CBS poll that the country is prepared to give this president patience and prepared to be patient with the president. And they know change is not going to come overnight but there is that sense of belief and we're seeing already a real change and approach to government and a change in the relationship between the president and our people.
CHETRY: All right. So Wednesday morning, we're not politics as usual, hopefully.
ZIMMERMAN: Wednesday morning, it's a brand-new day in politics.
CHETRY: Yes.
ROBERTS: We'll see how long it lasts. All right. Stick around with us, folks, because we'll get back to you in a little while, right?
CHETRY: Yes. Thanks so much, guys. We're going to take a quick break, and we'll be back with our panel in a few minutes.
ROBERTS: First, though, let's take a look at Barack Obama's parade route for tomorrow. He's going to start just a short distance away from Capitol Hill going up Pennsylvania Avenue, crossing over to the White House. Stars on the map show where CNN will have reporters and cameras along the way. We're going to bring you every moment from every angle from start to finish.
CHETRY: And the best political team on wheels from the inauguration, all the traffic. We hit the streets to take the pulse of the taxi cab pundits. They probably have a lot of to talk about. They have been picking up people from places all around the world. Everyone wants to be here for a front row seat at history.
We'll check in with Zain Verjee in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Hey, welcome back to a special edition of the Most News in the Morning as we count down to Barack Obama's inauguration. Look at that. The sun is starting to come up behind the Capitol building there toward the east, and the Capitol building lit up for these inaugural celebrations, in ways that it is only every four years. And it's the beautiful scene that we've got down here on a very chilly mall, the National Mall, where there could be as many as two million people here tomorrow to watch the inauguration of our 44th president.
And we're back again with our political panel. Leslie Sanchez is here, along with Robert Zimmerman. Democrat strategist Lisa Caputo is in our Washington bureau, Ed Rollins in New York.
And, Ed, lets go back to you again. What do you expect and what do other Republicans expect will be the media coverage of the first 100 days of President-elect Barack Obama because the first 100 days, always very important? Do you expect that it's going to be a love fest, as some critics have suggested the coverage has been up to now? Or do you think that the media will be appropriately, shall we say, skeptical and will be ready to hold his feet to the fire?
ROLLINS: The media is always skeptical, but I think we're all in a love fest, even those of us that are die-hard Republicans. We have to be very proud of what this country did and very proud of this young family who now has an enormous task ahead of them. And I think at this point in time, those first 100 days are critical because we have to jump-start this administration with so many problems ahead. And I think that we all ought to step back and watch it and pray for them and hope that they can do as effective a job as possible.
ROBERTS: Interesting.
CHETRY: And you know along those lines, Lisa, there are many hints about what some of those priorities will be, closing Guantanamo Bay, one thing that Barack Obama talked about, getting a handle on the foreclosure crisis or the financial crisis, but also other questions of what -- how do they prioritize, how do they decide? And this is, of course, not forgetting the fact that we're fighting two wars.
CAPUTO: Right. I think you raise the task at hand beautifully. I think what you're going to see him do is what he's been doing already with the focus on the national economic issues. They've made no bones about it. I think that's why Tim Geithner will go through and get confirmed because as we say up on Wall Street, you know, he's too big to fail. The country can't afford to not have this nomination go through. And so he'll tackle the economy first but really he's got a parallel path to these world situations of two wars. I think that's also why you see his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, being so accessible to members of Congress giving out his personal cell phone number to make sure members know that he's so accessible because they want to forge ahead with their agenda but work collaboratively with Congress. That's why you saw Larry Summers spending two hours on the Hill last Sunday with members of Congress to work on the stimulus package. So, I think the economy really is going to be priority one because it affects our global issues, certainly, and your foreign policy is intricately attached to your domestic economic agenda.
ROBERTS: And, Leslie Sanchez, pick up on what Ed Rollins was saying when we look at what Lisa was talking about, the problems facing this president. Remember, in 1993 when Bill Clinton came in, the Republican opposition immediately dove on him and then they gained back the House and the Senate and control of Congress in 1994. Do you see perhaps a greater spirit of cooperation in Barack Obama's first 100 days than Bill Clinton?
SANCHEZ: You know, there's distinct difference. A lot of that has to do with Barack Obama was seen as somebody who is an extreme liberal, but then in style and in substance, he proved to be somebody who wanted to reach across the aisle and build a bipartisan spirit. And I think of his first appointments you look at them and they're very balanced in terms of national security, his economic team. A lot of conservatives will tell you, you know, we're pleasantly surprised he didn't pull the left (ph).
Bill Clinton did exactly the opposite. There were a lot of growing pains he pulled with a lot of nominations to his cabinet that were just bizarre, quite frankly, and gave conservatives and Republicans a lot of ammunition by which to shoot him with. In this case, I think the spirit of building an effort together is there, is very real, is very strong. We need to succeed. Most importantly, we have to get this economy going.
CHETRY: You know, it is always in our times of crisis when we do see the best of America. I mean, we remember the days and months and year after 9/11 when there was that spirit and you know, sometimes people will argue that things happen that aren't in the best interest of the country and other times people say, you know, we come together. I mean, you have a Congress that gets criticized for not doing enough work. So when we talk about this stimulus plan, how likely is it that we're going to see the wheels turning quickly and actually have some elements of that happening sooner rather than later?
ZIMMERMAN: Well, it's going to take a bit of time for that stimulus plan to be implemented. One, of course, of great concern is the first phase of that stimulus plan was not implemented effectively, neither the Democratic Congress wrote legislation that was strict enough nor did the administration implemented effectively enough. But I think we're seeing a changing environment now both with the role between the executive and the legislative branch in the next phase of the stimulus program and more than that, you're seeing a different frame of mind in the country. And I think that's what's so telling. Two million people are gathering on the mall tomorrow not because they want to be able to necessarily be up close and see the inauguration, they want to share the experience together. They can all watch it much better on CNN without question, but they want to be part of that community, spirit of community. We saw it yesterday as well at the inaugural celebration.
We have a nation that is demanding solutions, demanding answers from its government. And they're not going to tolerate an obstructionist Congress. They're going to want a cooperative Congress with this president.
CHETRY: All right. Robert Zimmerman as well as Leslie Sanchez, thanks for being out here with us. And we thank Lisa Caputo and Ed Rollins as well for being with us at Time Warner Center this morning.
Still ahead, why Barack Obama's inauguration is moving so many as we talked about. The huge historical significance of the swearing in of our nation's first black president.
And once Barack Obama becomes president, what kind of honeymoon will he have with Republicans? We're going to speak with former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney about that.
Right now, we're 19 minutes past 7:00 here in D.C.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: And there's a shot of the west front of the Capitol. That's where the inauguration will take place tomorrow 12:00 noon. The ceremony actually begins at 11:30 but according to the Constitution, the 44th president of the United States officially takes power at 12:00 noon on the 20th of January.
Well, you can hear it in their voices and you can see it in their faces. You cannot underestimate the significance of Barack Obama's inauguration to so many, many people.
Joining me now from New York with more on this is Danyel Smith, the editor in chief of "Vibe" magazine.
Danyel, good to see you this morning. Thanks for being with us. Let me ask you where your thoughts are running, where your feelings are this morning with just about a little more than 24 hours to go until Barack Obama is inaugurated.
DANYEL SMITH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "VIBE": I think they're definitely -- I mean, for myself, personally, there's definitely a huge feeling of excitement, of hope, of the challenges ahead. The concert yesterday was just a great start to all of the festivities.
ROBERTS: What was it about the concert that you thought was so moving?
SMITH: The thing that was so moving about that concert was the fact that it was so inclusive. It was amazing to me to see such an integrated group of people. I mean yes, they're celebrities, but to see Tom Hanks, Rosario Dawson, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah, Jack Black, it was, you know, it finally answers the question, can we all just get along? I think we absolutely can. It's amazing.
ROBERTS: Yes. You know, I was down there and everybody was getting along. But when you take a look at that scene, we had that beautiful aerial picture there of the mall along the reflecting pool, so many people I talked to yesterday couldn't help but think of that day back in 1963 when, you know, after the march on Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave that incredibly moving and historic speech. Did you get any of that sense of history watching this yesterday?
SMITH: I have to admit, as much as I, you know, I don't remember those days, that was an age (ph) before my time, but as much as I respect those days, I have to say that for me, it was really all about the right now and all about the future. It's all I could think about is how inclusive and integrated and amazing just to see the Obamas and the Bidens sitting there together almost like they're a family together. You know, them and their kids, I mean, it was just -- it was really amazing.
ROBERTS: You know, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll that was released just this morning found that 69 percent of African Americans believe that yes, Dr. King's dream has been realized. A fewer number of white Americans believe that. What do you think? Has Dr. King's dream been realized now with the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president?
SMITH: Dr. Martin Luther King had a big dream. I think that as every year goes by, we do see more of his dream coming true. On the day that his dream is actually completely and totally, completely true, I don't know if I'll be here to see that, but I know it's going to be a beautiful day. It's going to be a more amazing day than even yesterday and tomorrow.
ROBERTS: Well, you know, if it's any inspiration, I talked to an 80-year-old woman from Canada yesterday who've come down who said that she never thought that she would ever see an African-American elected president. She lived to see that, so maybe you will live to see Dr. King's dream for the country.
SMITH: I hope so. I hope so.
ROBERTS: Danyel Smith, it's good --
SMITH: Thank you.
ROBERTS: It's good to see you this morning. Thanks for coming in.
SMITH: Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.
CHETRY: Well, Barack Obama plans to hit the ground running as president, but how much support can he expect to get from Republicans? We're going to ask former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney about some of the challenges that the incoming President Obama will face.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Gorgeous shot. Welcome back to a special edition of AMERICAN MORNING. We're on the eve of history today. Barack Obama's inauguration now less than 24 hours away and the excitement is certainly building here in Washington.
Millions are expected to be on hand for the landmark event. And while we're sitting here shivering, the die-hard joggers of D.C. are gathered around us, using this opportunity no matter what the weather is like to get their exercise in. So hats off to them.
ROBERTS: Yes. There's still a lot of lunatics in Washington, no question about that. The shot that we showed you, by the way, the Capitol building looking down Pennsylvania Avenue, that's the parade route for tomorrow. We'll have full coverage of all of that for you, by the way.
Tomorrow, we're going to witness the biggest inauguration that the city has ever seen just in terms of the number of people who are going to be here. But before Barack Obama becomes the first African- American president, everybody is here to pay tribute to Martin Luther King on this day named for him. It's the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Well, hundreds of thousands of people packed the mall here yesterday afternoon for the "We Are One" concert. Then the headliner himself took to the stage and with an A-list of performers like will.i.am, Herbie Hancock and Sheryl Crow, this really was the place to be. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL.I.AM, MUSICIAN, BLACK EYED PEAS: Overseas, we try to stop terrorism but we still got terrorists here living in the USA. Education and we got that racial hate. But if you only got love for your own race then you only leave space to discriminate. And to discriminate only generates hate. And when you hate you're bound to get irate. Yes, this is what you demonstrate. And that's exactly how anger works and operates. Then you got to have love and set it straight. Take control of your mind -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, the president-elect certainly enjoying the sounds of Will.i.am. A really (inaudible) actually. He's taking the opportunity to take a little snooze but it certainly brought the house down with all the songs they were singing there. Hundreds of thousands of people turning out for that free concert.
ROBERTS: Yes. Will.i.am and Sheryl Crow really rocked the house yesterday. Well, Barack Obama says that he plans to hit the ground running just as soon as he takes office. So how are conservatives preparing to work with the new democratic president? Let's find out. Joining us now from the West Newton, Massachusetts is former GOP presidential candidate, the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. Mr. Romney, it's good to see you this morning. Thanks for being with us.
MITT ROMNEY, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks, John. Good to be with you.
ROBERTS: So a new ABC News-"Washington Post" poll seems to think that most people believe that Barack Obama will reach out across the aisle, found 89 percent say that he's showing a lot of bipartisanship. Are you optimistic that he's going to work with republicans, particularly in his first 100 days as he starts to get some of that legislation off the ground?
ROMNEY: You know, I am. I think he's been already reaching out. He's asked for the input of republicans with regards to the stimulus plan. I think he's very much following the speeches he used to give during the campaign that he would reach across the aisle and a lot of people wondering what kind of Barack Obama we were going to see as president, would he be the extremely liberal guy who had been the senator from Illinois or would he instead be more pragmatic. And I think he's showing a pragmatic bent and at a time like this with so many challenges, that's the direction that we would like to see.
ROBERTS: So do you think that in some of these declarations by conservatives like Fred Thompson who called him the most liberal nominee ever to run for president were a little premature?
ROMNEY: No, I think he was very liberal. I think his record was an extremely liberal, but Charles Krauthammer, who I remember I think from the evening of Barack Obama's election, said you know, we don't know which Barack Obama we're going to get. Is he going to be the most liberal president we've ever seen and given his record, that's what you think you're going to find? Or would the rhetoric of the general election where he became far more moderate would that rhetoric turn into the reality?
And I think what you're finding here is that he is making an attempt to reach across the aisle. And perhaps it's the fact that there's such a crisis in this country today, our economy in trouble, we continue to face threats around the world. Iran is trying to develop nuclear weaponry, North Korea has it. Pakistan is in real disarray right now. With the kinds of challenges we face, you know, you put politics aside and you put philosophical differences aside and you try and figure out exactly what's right for America.
ROBERTS: You mentioned the stimulus package just a moment ago, let me come back to that if I could. What are your views of the stimulus package? What do you like? And what don't you like?
ROMNEY: Well, first of all, you have to recognize that the only way this economy is going to get going again is by having the private sector become more active and thriving again. And so government can do a lot of harm but government can also do some good to help get that economy going. Barack Obama has asked for input from republicans, and we've come become and said, look, there's too much spending in your stimulus plan and just writing checks to individuals and businesses is nice but that's not going to get the economy going.
And the right we to get the economy going is to create incentives for businesses to expand and to create jobs. And that typically means lowering taxes for individuals, lowering taxes for businesses. And it certainly means don't raise taxes.
Nancy Pelosi, over the weekend, indicated she wants to repeal the Bush tax cuts. That's the wrong thing to do at the wrong time.
ROBERTS: Yes. It seems that the president-elect wants to wait for them to expire in 2010. So that would be sort of softening his position on that. We'll see which way it goes. Governor Romney, it's good to talk to you this morning. Thanks for joining us today. Appreciate it.
ROMNEY: Thanks, John.
CHETRY: So we're talking about Barack Obama and we've been talking about Barack Obama all morning, what about his wife Michelle Obama? What advice would you give to her? Two women from upstate New York took that one step further, they actually gathered and put words of wisdom into a book. We're going to hear from African-American women especially want to tell the new first lady.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Well -- where are we here? We're not exactly sure where we are.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: We're at the point where you finish putting your foot warmers in.
ROBERTS: Can I tell you this? It is so cold here. Replacing the foot warmers again.
CHETRY: I know. I have these things. You know, they used to use hot potatoes back in the day to keep you warm. Nowadays they have these funky little warmers, which I have strategically placed around my entire body. Hi, Lola. You're here with us too.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm here. I'm cold but I'm here.
CHETRY: She's going to give us a preview in a couple of seconds actually of all the parties, a lot of partying going on to celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration the past few days here.
ROBERTS: First of all, you might remember that funny version on "Saturday Night Live." Ashford & Simpson singing the real verse of their tribute to Barack Obama, "Solid as Barack" on "Larry King Live" last night. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHFORD & SIMPSON, MUSICIANS (singing): Solid, as Barack. The future looks hot hot hot hot hot. Solid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Hollywood showing its solidarity with Barack Obama, a slew of A-listers are also here in town to see Barack Obama make history and to party on the Potomac and our Lola Ogunnaike is getting a taste of the inaugural after hours. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OGUNNAIKE: This week, D.C. is not only the nation's capital, it's the party capital. Our first stop, the Latino inaugural gala.
WILMER VALDERAMMA, ACTOR: I got to the best of New York is here, the best of L.A. is here and you know the elite of D.C. and L.A. is here. It's a really different type of vibe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Si, se puede.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we can.
MARC ANTHONY, SINGER: Washington hasn't had a bigger rock star at the helm. You know, and I think --
JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER: And Barack is definitely it. He is the biggest star here --
ANTHONY: On the planet.
LOPEZ: Here. Even though it's chock-full of a lot of celebrities and we've seen them, but we're just glad to be here, we're excited for the future.
OGUNNAIKE: I better not see you over there by the bar, Megan.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I already went over there by the bar.
OGUNNAIKE: All right. Getting on the train. Only way to travel. Has D.C. ever seen this many celebrities?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, everybody is here. Every single celebrity you can think of is here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God bless America.
OGUNNAIKE: So how are you feeling this evening?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel good. It's exciting. It's history, I brought my son, my mother, my father, we're going to experience history. I'm excited.
OGUNNAIKE: So is Chris Tucker going to be chilling up in the Lincoln bedroom?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well I think he wants one to be secretary of comedy. OGUNNAIKE: Do you have any idea who Michelle is going to wear?
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, DESIGNER: I have no idea. But she is going to wear for sure is her confidence, her intelligence and her beauty.
OGUNNAIKE: Good answer.
FURSTENBERG: Thank you.
OGUINNAIKE: Behind the glitz and the glamour is for me trudging to the next party, because there are no cabs, and the train can't drop you off anywhere near anything, so here I am walking. How do I get to the next party, please? Somebody?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: We're certainly glad you found your way here. You walked right past the site where we are last night.
OGUNNAIKE: I sure did. I was walking all over town. Let me tell you, the energy was so amazing. Everyone was hugging and dancing. Lots of drinks, out there. People were dressed to the nines, too. I saw so many beautiful gowns and the men looked so nice in their dapper tuxes.
CHETRY: How about it? In fact, somebody had one too many drinks, they would have thought that was Abe Lincoln. That man, that impersonator looked exactly like him. But Diane von Furstenberg one of the many designers that put a sketch out there for Michelle Obama but still no hint at all about what she's going to be wearing.
OGUINNAKE: I tried. I tried to work on Diane. She wasn't giving it up. She didn't' tell me anything. So I don't know if she even knows. Still asking. Still asking. We'll know soon though. It won't be a secret for much longer.
ROBERTS: I saw the bag she designed though for you know the Barack Obama memorabilia, you know, the collectible items. And it's very nice.
OGUNNAIKE: Yes. We love her wrap dresses. So if she can get the dresses right, she can get the bags right, she looked glamorous. She was having a great time last night. Many more parties coming up. So I'll be back with even more.
ROBERTS: Yes. As you said before, that was just the appetizer. Main course coming up.
OGUNNAIKE: That was just the appetizer.
ROBERTS: This morning, we are shifting gears and taking the pulse of Washington from those who spend their days driving around the city. Hear what our taxi cab pundits have to say about the inauguration. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Well, no one knows the road to the White House better than the D.C. cabbies. So our own Zain Verjee took to the streets once again to take the pulse of the taxi cab pundits. And she is here with us this morning to tell us what these pundits are saying. Good morning.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. Good morning, Kiran. Well, there's a real buzz in Washington, D.C. as you know, as well as if you get in the back of a taxi cab. They are moving full speed ahead toward inauguration day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Taxi, taxi. Time to check back with our United Nations of political pundits.
JAMEEL KATAM: My name is Jameel Katam (ph). I'm from Iran.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from Nigeria.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was raised in New York City, born in Jacksonville, Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from Nigos in Nigeria. That's in west Africa.
VERJEE (voice-over): From the U.S. Capitol to where the president takes the oath of office, to where he'll watch the parade to the White House gate, Washington is getting ready.
Just about the only person that's not going to have to worry about the traffic and the crowds will be the new president. D.C. cabbies, though, tell us then it's going to be an mess.
KATAM (ph): Looking out to downtown here it's going to be a big event.
VERJEE: Will you be driving your cab?
KATAM (ph): On that day, no. I will stay home and watch everything on TV, probably.
VERJEE: So Inauguration Day is not good for business?
KATAM (ph): Not any good business because all these roads are going to be blobbed (ph).
VERJEE: What does it tell the rest of the world about America?
KATAM (ph): Well, I tell the rest of the world that America is a land of opportunity, that anything is possible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a beautiful situation. Every four years or eight years.
VERJEE: The drivers are tuning in and counting the days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have two wars up front.
VERJEE: The economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The economy is shot. But people feel hope, you know, from all sides. The black, white, green, yellow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen presidents come and presidents go, this is my fourth inauguration.
VERJEE: But seeing the new president on the street is still special.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was Obama. I said whoa! Now that was exciting.
VERJEE: Thank you. Bye.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Also exciting, the cabbies tell us that they know that the eyes of the entire world are on them and they want to make this good.
ROBERTS: You know, you have great conversations with D.C. cab drivers.
VERJEE: You really do. They're amazing.
ROBERTS: They're so plugged in.
VERJEE: They are. They're the most plugged cabbies in the country. They're always listening to the radio, reading the paper. One of the them said to me, in fact, that the message that this really sends to the world is one of peaceful transition because you know in so many countries around the world, you have violence around elections.
ROBERTS: Yes.
VERJEE: And this is a -- you know, a real sign of the values of the United States.
CHETRY: Absolutely. When Zain and I were riding the plane down together, we were talking about inaugural trivia. Because it was interesting when you do some reading about the history. So we have one for John, the longest inaugural speech in history.
ROBERTS: Easy, 1841, William Henry Harrison who rode to the inauguration on a horse in the rain, started to get a chill and then spoke for more than an hour and 45 minutes. I think an hour and 45 minutes. More than 8,000 words. He caught pneumonia, died a month later.
VERJEE: What about the shortest? ROBERTS: So, you see what we have to look forward to around here tomorrow.
CHETRY: The shortest one, and maybe the writer, George Washington. Second inaugural, I think it was two minutes long. 122 words. He figured he covered it all the first time.
ROBERTS: And a few words with big deal.
CHETRY: Exactly.
ROBERTS: Zain, thanks.
VERJEE: Thanks, guys.
CHETRY: And we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to talk more about that moment when Barack Obama is sworn in tomorrow, when he first puts his hand on the Bible. We're going to show you how with the help of your cell phone and CNN you can capture that image from all angles forever.
Also New York Governor David Paterson is here. We're going to talk to him live about the special significance of tomorrow's passing of the presidential torch. Also today, Martin Luther King Day. Inauguration Day tomorrow. Service and then celebration. Right now, it's 48 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Michelle Obama moves into the White House tomorrow. Two Buffalo University professors want the new first lady to know just how much support she has. Barbara Seals Nevergold and Peggy Brooks- Bertram, compiled and edited "Go, Tell Michelle: African-American Women Write to the First Lady." It's a collection of letters and poems from women in the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean and beyond.
Barbara Seals Nevergold and Peggy Brooks-Bertram join me now from Buffalo, New York.
Thanks to both of you for being with us this morning. I had a chance to page through some of it and take a look at some of those poems. Really some wonderful and unique sentiment expressed by so many people that wrote into you guys. Where did you get the idea, first of all, Barbara, to put this book together?
BARBARA SEALS NEVERGOLD, EDITOR, "GO, TELL MICHELLE": Well, good morning, Kiran. We're so pleased to be here. And the idea came really -- I think the idea was growing over the whole course of the election and the fact that there were a couple of instances where Michelle Obama really had some very negative press, particularly the "New Yorker Magazine," really made us angry.
They portrayed her as a terrorist, and we know that that's not her style. And so a week after the election, I said to my colleague, Peggy, Peggy, let's write a letter to Michelle Obama showing her our love and support and let's have other women join us. CHETRY: Yes. It was very interesting that you got so much, so many responses. And Peggy, tell us about what kind of advice and guidance that many of the women who sent in their letters and poems gave to Michelle. What themes emerged?
PEGGY BROOKS-BERTRAM, EDITOR, "GO, TELL MICHELLE": I think the fact that there were multiple themes. There were themes of prayers to Michelle and the children and the entire family. There was a theme of the African ancestry where women writers were reminding her of the great significant history of Africa, not only in antiquity, but through our life here in the United States. There were things of women offering their support, letting her know that, as African- American women, that we got your back, Michelle. So there were multiple things.
CHETRY: And it's also interesting. Barbara, you wrote a letter to Michelle talking about what women like your grandmother and your mother have worked to support their families and that the country is really going with Michelle as she enters the White House. Tell us more about that.
NEVERGOLD: Well, exactly. We know that Michelle's mother, both her mother and her father are very important to her and that had great significance and influence on her life. So the fact she has taken her mother with her to the White House is something African-American women were so thrilled about, so pleased that, again, here's a tradition of the inter-generational support that we can expect from our mothers and our great grandmothers. And so many women wrote about that and how important it was that Michelle has established for herself priorities being mom and chief.
CHETRY: That's right. And, you know, everyone is lucky in that situation. I know they have been added a feeling of comfort, knowing that she will be there as well for their daughters when they have to travel. Well I know you two were hoping that you were able to get a copy of the book to Michelle by tomorrow. I'm not sure if that has happened yet but hopefully she'll have a chance to look at this because is there a lot of love and a lot of support in those words that so many women wrote. I want to thank you both of you for being with us.
Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold and Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram. Thanks.
NEVERGOLD: Thank you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Countdown to history.
OBAMA: Thank you, America.
ROBERTS: As the nation remembers the good doctor.
REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: Now is the time.
ROBERTS: Barack Obama looks back on his road to the White House.
OBAMA: There's a pool that still reflects the dream of a king.
ROBERTS: And get ready to write a new chapter in America's story.
OBAMA: There is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.
ROBERTS: This morning, a new generation. People of every creed and color start a new journey to their nation's capital to take a snapshot in their minds for future generations.
When Hillary Clinton becomes part of Team Obama, will Caroline Kennedy really get her Senate seat? We're asking New York's governor live. You're watching the Most News in the Morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Welcome to Washington and welcome to this celebration of American renewal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Millions of people in one place to watch one man's moment in history. Barack Obama will raise his right hand, but put his left on the Bible and recite the oath of office. And you, our viewers, can help us capture that moment. Our chief national correspondent, John King, explains how.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, we want to use some revolutionary technology to capture the moment when Barack Obama takes office in an extraordinary way but to do so, we need our viewers help. We need the help of hundreds, even thousands of those who are here in Washington for the moment.
To show you just what I mean and why we need your help when Barack Obama puts his hand on the Bible and raises his hand to take the oath, I want to take you on a tour of a very familiar site here in Washington, the Lincoln Memorial. Here is the 16th president of the United States. It is a majestic site here in Washington. And when we tap this and bring out the picture, you see this here. You think maybe that is a tourist who just took an excellent snapshot.
But see we can pull it out and come from another angle here. We can see it from the side. We can move it back this way over here. We can come up to the top and read the words inscribed above the former president's head. This is a breath-taking memorial. Remember, Barack Obama went here just the other night with his wife Michelle and their two daughters. And he said one of the places they wanted to see was over here.
This is Lincoln's second inaugural address. It is inscribed in the walls of this breath-taking memorial. Barack Obama's daughter, Malia, told him dad, as the first African-American president, yours better be good.
Now why are we doing this. We are taking you around this monument. This was not done with a video camera. This was done with more than a hundred photographs. You see them all here together in a collage. And what happens with this Microsoft Photosynth technology is that it puts them altogether, find the common points of reference. Like this column here, like the base of the pedestal here. You can start with just one snapshot here.
And as you build out, as the others come in, you get more of them and it assembled more of a picture. More of them, more of a picture. It comes out even further and it gets multi-dimensional so that you can turn and look from every perspective inside the memorial. And that is the help we need at the moment when Barack Obama is taking the oath of office.
Take this picture, no matter where you are. Close up, front, way off to the back, off to the left, off to the right. Take it and send it to us at the themoment@cnn.com. We will put the collage together just like here at the Lincoln Memorial and we will be able to within moments of that key moment show you something, show you the perspective from everywhere. But we need your help. John and Kiran?
ROBERTS: John King for us this morning. And if you're going to be there for the inauguration and want to help us capture Obama's moment in history, just go to CNN.com/themoment and find out exactly how. We really love you to help us out here.
CHETRY: Well, the anticipation is mounting this morning in just three - well, one day, three hours and I'm not exactly sure of the minutes right now. Let me look at the wall. There we go!
ROBERTS: Zero, zero.
CHETRY: One day --
ROBERTS: Look at that --
CHETRY: Four hours and 00 minutes and 25 seconds. We will be making history here. The nation's first black president will take the oath of office.
