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U.S. Embassy Officially Reopens in Cuba; Jeb Bush Addressing Iowa Voters. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired August 14, 2015 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:00] JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: After all, we are neighbors, and neighbors will always have much to discuss in such areas of civil aviation, migration policy, disaster preparedness, protecting marine environment, global climate change and other tougher and more complex issues.

Having normal relations makes it easier for us to talk and talk can deepen understanding even when we know full well we will not see eye to eye on everything. We are all aware that notwithstanding President Obama's new policy, the overall U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba remains in place and can only be lifted by congressional action, a step that we strongly favor.

(APPLAUSE)

For now -- for now the president has taken steps to ease restrictions on redentences (ph) on exports and imports to help Cuban private entrepreneurs, on telecommunications, on family travel, but we want to go further. The goal of all of these changes is to help Cubans connect to the world and to improve their lives, and just as we are doing our part, we urge the Cuban government to make it less difficult for their citizens to start businesses to engage in trade, access information online.

The embargo has always been something of a two-way street. Both sides need to remove restrictions that have been holding Cubans back.

Before closing, I want to sincerely thank leaders throughout the Americas who have long urged the United States and Cuba to restore normal ties. I thank the holy father, Pop Francis, and the Vatican for supporting the start of a new chapter in relations between our countries. And I think it is not accidental that the holy father will come here and then to Washington, the United States at this moment.

I applaud President Obama and President Castro both for having the courage to bring us together in the face of considerable opposition. I am grateful to Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson and her team, to our counterparts in the Cuban foreign ministry, to our chief of mission, Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis and his extraordinary staff, for all of the hard work that has led up to this day.

And I just say to our wonderful embassy staff, if you think you've been busy these past months, hold on to your seatbelts. (LAUGHTER)

But above all -- above all, I want to pay tribute to the people of Cuba and to the Cuban American community in the United States. Jose Marti was said that everything that divides men is a sin against humanity. Clearly, the events of the past, the harsh words, the provocative and retaliatory actions, the human tragedies, all have been a source of deep division that has diminished our common humanity.

There have been too many days of sacrifice and sorrow, too many decades of suspicion and fear. That is why I am heartened by the many on both sides of the straights, who whether because of ties or a simple desire to replace anger with something more productive, have endorsed this search for a better path.

We have begun to move down that path without any illusions about how difficult it may be, but we are each confident in our intentions, confident in the contacts that we have made and pleased with the friendships that we have begun to forge.

And we are certain that the time is now to reach out to one another as two people who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors, time to unfurl our flags, raise them up, and let the world know that we wish each other well.

(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

[10:34:56] It is with that healing mission in mind that I turn now to Larry Morris, Jim Tracy, and Mike East. Fifty-four years ago, you gentlemen promised to return to Havana and hoist the flag over the United States embassy that you lowered on that January day long ago. Today, I invite you, on behalf of President Obama and the American people to fulfill that pledge by presenting the stars and stripes to be raised by members of our current military detachment.

Larry, Jim, and Mike this is your cue to deliver on words that would make any diplomat proud, just as they would any member of the United States Marine Corps. Promise made, promise kept.

Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

[10:39:00] JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: You've been witnessing a real moment in history here with Secretary of State John Kerry presiding over the ceremony re-raising the American flag at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba. For the first time this flag has flown here since January 1961.

I'm Jack Tapper live in Cuba. We just heard the secretary deliver an impassioned speech. Talking about his hopes for what this means beyond the symbolism, recognizing the three U.S. Marines who were here in January, 1961 and the promise that they made that they would come back to put the flag back up. A promise that they made to Cubans who were pleading with them not to leave.

With me now, CNN's Elise Labott, Patrick Oppmann closer to the crowd. Elise -- your thoughts as you were watching this. Obviously Secretary of State John Kerry very proud of this moment. Hopeful that this gamble will pay off, hopeful that recognizing Cuba diplomatically will ultimately mean something good for the people of Cuba. But that is by no means guaranteed.

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And he's saying there's going to -- it's a long road. There's going to be a lot of hiccups along the way. But you can't, you know, downplay the history of today. Yes, it's a long road ahead but what the U.S. is hoping that after 50 years of acrimony, these two countries that are 90 miles apart, have been enemies, the hope is the more the U.S. engages, the more the U.S. can make small and increasingly more gestures to the Cuban people -- that engagement will help.

That Cubans will get to know Americans better. That Americans will get to see Cubans beyond the kind of caricature of Cuban cigars and mojitos. And these two people that share so much can finally get to know each other better and hopefully become friends and allies over the years.

TAPPER: This is a day of clear history and also a day with much criticism coming not just from Republicans but also from dissidents and human rights activists here and also Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Patrick Oppmann closer to the crowd there. A very moving moment when the three U.S. Marines who had been here in January 1961 to take that flag down presented the flag to be raised again.

All right. I think we're having problems with Patrick's mike right now. On this historic day with the flag flying at the U.S. Embassy for the first time since 1961. I'm going to bid you farewell. Watch "THE LEAD" at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

We'll have much more on this historic event coming up after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:46:03] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello.

I want to take you right back out to the Iowa state fair. There you see candidate Jeb Bush. He's on a literal soap box. He's talking about several things, about his standings in the poll, about Cuba, about the Iran nuclear deal. He also has talked about ISIS. I want to play a bit for you of what he had to say. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today the FBI director says the thing that keeps him up at night are home grown terrorists. They're inspired by ISIS. We should be taking out ISIS. We should have a strategy to deal with ISIS rather than admit that we don't have one.

Each and every day that they exist they gain more power. They recruit more people. The next president of the United States, if I'm president, we will have a strategy on day one to take out this grave threat to our national security and to the world. I promise you that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. He says we will have a strategy on day one but not right now. Sara Murray and David Chalian standing by in Des Moines to talk more about what Jeb Bush is saying to the crowd. Good morning.

So I'll start with you, David. Actually, I got notes for when Jeb Bush was walking through the crowd and as he was talking to voters -- he was quite effective, right?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, listen, Jeb Bush -- it is a comfortable atmosphere for him to talk to voters. This is actually I think where Jeb Bush is best on the trail, when he's sort of able to sort of tell his story small group by small group. Much better than we saw him on the debate stage perhaps last week.

But listen, when he got up there on the "Des Moines Register" soap box, Carol, and you just played a little bit of it -- he gave a red meat speech to this crowd. He just did. He wanted to make sure to do a complete take down of the failures -- of what he sees as the failures of Barack Obama's leadership.

I think he said no more "dog ate my homework" excuses. We need real leadership. That's exactly what this kind of Republican caucus going crowd here in Iowa wants to hear from Jeb Bush.

COSTELLO: But Sara I think the man they really want to hear from is Donald Trump because what Donald Trump has a lot more support in the polls today than Jeb Bush has. Jeb Bush only comes in at what -- 5 percent in Iowa?

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, so Jeb Bush sort of dismissed his standing in the polls this morning saying polls are kind of irrelevant at this point. It's still very early. But look it was a pretty big mob scene following Jeb around between the reporters and the supporters.

And we're expecting it to be even crazier when Trump gets here on Saturday. Like you said he is the top of the polls here in Iowa. Plus it's a Saturday. There's more people with free time, more people, you know, got time to come out to the fair. And Trump is going to be giving away those free helicopter rides after all nearby. Not within the fairgrounds because they put kibosh on that.

So I think you can expect quite a spectacle tomorrow from Donald Trump. COSTELLO: Oh my goodness. Ok, so while we're talking about

Donald Trump, I have to bring up former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. He was on "NEW DAY" this morning. And he talked about how we would just love to be considered as Donald Trump's running mate. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE VENTURA, FORMER GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA: I think Donald Trump is wonderful that he's shaking the system to its core. Could you imagine the Republican Party with the candidacy of Trump and Ventura, the ultimate Independent joining forces? I mean that would be very, very interesting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: David -- that would be interesting, right?

CHALIAN: To say the very least -- Carol. It would be fascinating. Listen, that Jesse Ventura win, when he won the governorship in Minnesota, that was a big shock and surprise. And I think not completely unfamiliar to what Donald Trump is tapping into right now -- that outsider status.

We see it on the Democratic side a little bit with Bernie Sanders as well. So I do think that the one thing that a Trump-Ventura ticket would have is like no relationship with the establishment, which is what some voters are very excited about right now.

COSTELLO: I'm loving those old picture we're putting out.

Sara, Jesse Ventura also spoke glowingly of Bernie Sanders. So it was equal opportunity love fest.

[10:50:04] MURRAY: Who knows? Maybe it will be a Bernie Sanders/Jesse Ventura ticket. Who can say? I mean as David points out the one thing these guys all have in common -- they're not the establishment candidate. And the polls are showing that's what voters want right now. That's what they are into at this moment.

COSTELLO: That's what they're into at this moment. But everyone says their bubble is soon to burst, David, but it doesn't seem to be bursting any time soon.

CHALIAN: No, I don't think it's going to burst any time soon -- Carol. I think that Donald Trump is here to stay for a while. And I think that we see no matter what comes his way in terms of media criticism or a criticism from his opponent or the Republican establishment, it doesn't stick because he has identified this group of supporters that are with him and love to see him under attack like that. It rallies them to his cause.

Now, listen, we've got a long way to go here. Here at the Iowa state fair, Carol, they have a little stand with popcorn kernels for people to put their kernels in and reflect who they would vote for if the caucuses were held today. Jeb Bush cast his kernel for himself today. Donald Trump's jar is quite full and reflects what we're seeing in the polls right.

COSTELLO: All right. Well, let's just talk a little bit more about Jeb Bush because he said something yesterday that caused critics to pause. He said that it was actually a good thing to have invaded Iraq and overthrow Saddam Hussein. Is that the message voters want to hear -- Sara?

MURRAY: Well, I think that the message is different when it comes out of the lips of a guy named Bush versus President Obama who has also said that it was the right thing to overthrow Saddam Hussein. The problem, of course, for Jeb Bush is George W. Bush and how is he going to be different from his brother.

That's what a lot of voters want to know. And I think people have not been very impressed by the way he's navigated these questions. I think they want him to be able to answer more directly how his policies would be different.

That's a very difficult issue for Jeb Bush because he does love his family. It's awkward to throw your brother under the bus, to throw your dad under the bus. And he doesn't really want to do that. But, you know, it's something that he's going to need to work out. It's not a question that's going to be going away.

COSTELLO: All right. Sara Murray, David Chalian -- thanks to both of you. I appreciate it.

And you don't want to miss the second Republican debate on September 16th on CNN. That will take place at the Ronald Reagan Library in California. CNN will also host the first of the six Democratic debates October 13th live from Nevada.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:56:53] COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 56 minutes past. The state of emergency has been lifted in St. Louis county following unrest in and around the city of Ferguson. It was declared after violence broke out on the one year anniversary of the shooting of Michael Brown.

An affair in the White House confirmed although it happened nearly 100 years ago. DNA tests finally proved Warren Harding did indeed father a love child during his time as commander-in-chief. His mistress came forward with the claim in 1927 writing a book about the affair including their steamy meetings in a West Wing closet. Few believed her story until now.

CNN talked with Harding's great grandniece who ordered that DNA test.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABIGAIL HARDING, WARREN HARDING'S GREAT NIECE: We wanted to know what the truth was. We always grew up believing that it was not true, that Warren C. Harding was sterile. And the more we thought about it, we said we have the technology, let's find out. And even more important, I think that everybody deserves to know who they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Fascinating, right.

Finally this hour, from his hair to his candor to his signature scowl, Donald Trump is an easy target for impersonators.

Jeanne Moos has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everybody's doing Donald. Not that Donald. That Donald.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was fantastic. The ratings were huge.

MOOS: And we're not just talking professional comedians like Kyle Donegan (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gandhi.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Loser.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mother Teresa?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Idiot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jesus Christ.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hippy loser.

MOOS: Non-comedians likewise can't resist doing Trump.

MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS HOST: Rosie's a loser. She's been a loser for a long time.

MOOS: Even presidential candidate Rand Paul made a lame effort at imitation.

SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I must be smart. I'm rich.

MOOS: While actor Bryan Cranston barely bothered with the voice.

BRYAN CRANSTON, ACTOR: I actually like his candor. You're an idiot. I'm a winner, you're a loser.

MOOS: One of the most memorable Trump impressions actually helped fuel the Rosie-Donald feud.

ROSIE O'DONNELL, TV HOST: There he is, hair looping, going everywhere. Everyone deserves a second chance.

MOOS: Impersonators have even posted how-to videos.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You always see those bottom teeth, those bottom front teeth. He's always --

MOOS: Some limit themselves to the Donald's face.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Max. Make your Donald Trump face.

MOOS: The Donald doesn't seem to mind being imitated. He's even mentioned a couple of impersonators he finds funny.

For instance, Darrell Hammond (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll tell you who would be a loser on any team. That sasquatch Rosie O'Donnell.

MOOS: Trump also likes Frank (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm so excited. I think my hair just moved, really.

MOOS: While Conan shows impersonator John D. Dominico. To do the voice-over on a bit featuring the Donald Trump ovulation kit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're a loser. Your eggs are losers.

MOOS: But this baby's a winner.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show us.

MOOS: After being egged onto give Donald Trump whip.

[11:00:02] Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We live in a great country, don't we? Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"AT THIS HOUR" with Berman and Bolduan starts now.