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Interfaith Memorial Service Coverage in Dallas. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired July 12, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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

(SINGING)

Glory glory hallelujah, Glory glory hallelujah,Glory glory hallelujah, His truth is marching on. Glory glory hallelujah, Glory glory hallelujah,Glory glory hallelujah, His truth is marching on. Glory glory hallelujah, Glory glory hallelujah,Glory glory hallelujah, His truth is marching on.

(APPLAUSE)

[15:30:44] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: The President and First Lady, and the former President and the former First Lady walking off the stage at this beautiful, beautiful interfaith tribute to five fallen Dallas police officers at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. It was truly a remarkable moment in American history right there. The President clearly speaking from his heart for about 40 minutes, saying a lot, a lot about what has happened in our country over the past few days. A lot to assess.

Nia-Malika Henderson and many others are here with us. This was a speech that the President carefully prepared. He insisted we must reject such despair. We are not as divided as we may seem, and he then went on to chronicle many of the problems, the racial problems that still exist in the United States of America.

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST, CNN: This was a balancing act and it was such a tricky balancing act because he was walking along this enduring fault line of race and racism. He talked about institutional racism at great length here. And this was of course tricky, because you have police officers here.

He's obviously here because of this tragic event of these five officers who were shot and killed by a man filled with racial hatred. But there the President was, talking about Black Lives Matter, talking about the pain of the families of the victims who were killed by police officers in Baton Rouge and in Minnesota. He said we have to recognize their pain. We have to recognize the cries and the complaints of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the pain that's here in Dallas.

He used Dallas as well as an example, right, of what the police officers and police departments across the country can do in lessening the tensions between African-American communities and police departments. It was a tricky speech. It was definitely deliberate. It was also a challenge I think to Americans.

He said, he was quoting a police chief here, he said that often we as a nation ask police officers to do too much, while we as a country and as leaders and as legislatures under invest in some of these communities. I think some people won't like this speech. I think others will definitely think it was a deliberate drawing speech, drawing on scripture, right? The sort of backdrop of Stevie Wonder and gospel music and the spirit of the black church in many ways.

BLITZER: He said race relations have improved dramatically in my lifetime. He said look what I've experienced in my own lifetime, but he also underscored some of the serious problems that exist to this day.

UNKNOWN MALE: No, you can't improve on Nia-Malika's brilliant analysis here. And what Nia-Malika said is so important because it was a balancing act. He had to acknowledge the epic tide of grief that had all but obscured any sign post of democracy in African-American culture and he had to embrace the old landmarks of a tradition passed on from one generation to another with the police.

So he had to unite both a washing away and a surging forward and to also bring healing to the nation. And he was greatly and courageously articulating to that audience which is "not his audience" to tell them that they must be held accountable when it comes to this notion. He not only brilliantly deployed a notion of structural racism, he said to them, you know it. Don't go act like you don't. You know. And by saying that, by personalizing that, he was calling upon them to be honest in their own souls and to recognize it.

If blackness was a divisive and killing force, blackness was a healing and redemptive force. The songs that were quoted, the ministers who spoke, the Chief of Police, and the President showed the redemptive character of blackness. And let me say this as well. When people often say, well, the police protected the very people who were running away from injury, and as a result, ironically enough, protected the protesters, that is a return of a favor black America did long ago, when it went to foreign territories in Europe and fought for democracy it could not enjoy here. So in that sense, the police are reflecting the prior example of generosity of spirit that black America has shown at its best.

UNKNOWN MALE: And I thought former President George W. Bush delivered a very powerful, moving address as well. You could see how moved he was with Laura Bush there at his side. Art Roderick, you spent your career in law enforcement, former US Marshal. You are now our CNN law enforcement analyst. How will the law enforcement community react to what we heard from the President?

ART RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I'm sure they have the same reactions I do. Five pieces of my heart are gone and I don't know how much I have left. I've been in law enforcement almost 40 years now. And I've been to too many of these funerals. Twenty-four years ago I buried my partner, US Marshal Bill Degan. He was shot and killed. I was with him. And I wish I had Chief Brown with me at the time to go and talk to his family, his wife, his 13 and 17-year-old son, his mom and dad and his sisters at that time. Chief Brown gave a great speech. President Obama, this is the America I know, was spot on.

BLITZER: That was his theme, This is the America I Know. He said that several times. Don Lemon, I'm anxious to get your reaction to what we just heard.

DON LEMON, CNN JOURNALIST: As someone who is not in Washington, DC, and who's not part of the political class, it is hard for me to go back and even as an anchor and talk about these things in ways that we have normally talked about them. Because the President asked for something very specifically. He said he wants Americans to have a new heart. He said I will give you a new heart. And so every time we want to retreat to talking points or to left and to right, I think that inhibits a conversation, and I think that was a very clear message, not only of this president but of the of the former president and for every single person who spoke on that stage.

I think it is up to people like us, each of us who has his platform, or the Wolf Blitzers of the world, the Michael Eric Dysons of the world, the Art Rodericks of the world, the Nia-Malika Hendersons of the world, or the Jake Tappers of the world, or the Rachel Maddows of the world, of everyone. The gatekeepers of the conversation, to be adamant about people who have the privilege to come on national television and to hold these conversation and to get the attention of the American people to hold them to task, not to come on to give political talking points and not to come on to espouse their own ideologies.

I think that is very important from this moment on that we keep things honest and that we have new and open hearts and we stop structuring conversations and allowing people to come on and do those things. That's just me saying that. That's what I got from the President of the United States. I think it's going to be very difficult to do that, but I think it's the only way for us to that, so that Americans in their own homes, in their places where they operate, at their dinner tables, at their places of work, at the malls, at the restaurant can begin to have these difficult conversations and not to judge each other and rely on the old ways of doing things. That's what I got from the President.

BLITZER: You could tell, Don, the President, he thought long and hard about every sentence he delivered. It all came from his own heart, his own experience. He wrote those words, we're told, because it was a powerful moment, a personal moment in his life.

LEMON: Yes, he did, it was a very difficult rope. He walked fine line of the rhetorical tightrope that we talked about. He really did. He did a good job of it, because he dealt with all of it. He dealt with excessive force with police officers, racial bias. He said listen, we're all guilty of it. He said none of us is entirely innocent. No institution is entirely immune. And that's where he said you know it. Everybody knows that.

He says even Black Lives Matter, they should not be undercounted, and can you imagine having the experience that many black people have and then you say these protestors are just rabble-rousers? That's insulting. It's also insulting to police officers for members of Black Lives Matter not to realize police are in a very dangerous neighborhoods and they know the circumstances of that. So we have to become honest in our conversations.

We cannot be worried about someone saying well white people think this, and black people think this, and republicans think this, and democrats think that. Who really gives a damn about that? We are all Americans who must live in this world together, in this America together. We have to go to the same restaurants, the same malls, we ride the same trains, we work in the same places. Where else are we going to go?

And if we can't do that as Americans, as the greatest country on earth, there have been many nations that have fallen because of political rhetoric. Because they have not listened to each other, because they turned a blind or deaf ear to each other. WE cannot do that. This is a crucial moment in time. This is, you can't turn back at this point and go back to the old way because nothing else will get solved. This should be a moment where we make things better, we make things different, and I think each of us should make a commitment to do that.

BLITZER: Douglas Brinkley is our CNN Presidential historian. Doug, you watched this from your unique historical perspective. Your thoughts?

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY: This will be known as the "This is the America I Know" speech. I heard echoes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. It was elegantly written. It pulled on scripture at the right times. But he tried to turn Dallas into a positive, meaning the people of Dallas. The citizens, police Chief David Brown, Mayor Mike Rawlings. I think he wanted us to say that's the American spirit what we've seen in Dallas, not one or two fools and idiots, evil makers that are going to try to ruin or derail American democracy.

I also, Wolf, had to think back to when Ronald Reagan did a speech on the "Challenger" and you did Bill Clinton who did the empty chair speech in Oklahoma City. There were powerful memories of that. I think this speech is of that high caliber, and it will be remembered of all of the ones that Obama's done along with Charleston as being the most poignant.

BLITZER: In addition to saying this is the America I know, he kept saying I see what's possible. We are one American family. Joshua Dubois, the president's former faith advisor in the white house, did anything you heard from the president surprise you? Because you know him well.

JOSHUA DUBOIS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE FAITH ADVISOR: The first thing, Wolf, I thought it was a deeply humble speech. I thought it was striking to me that the President was acknowledging, listen, I don't even know if my words are going to have an impact and change things, but I'm going to do my best, and I'll be in the arena and fight for our democracy. I'm going to fight for this union, and I need you all to fight alongside me. So I thought there was a humility there.

I also thought it was really interesting that he sort of redrew the lines of our democracy a little bit. He put protesters and police that are protecting protesters on one side. One group is fighting racial bias and injustice, the other group is fighting to make sure that voices can be heard. On the other side are those who would do violence, who would divide us, either violence against black men who are unarmed or violence against police officers. So he was saying let's join the side of those who are working to perfect our union. So I thought it was remarkable the way he sort of redrew the boundaries of debate.

I thought it was a very spiritual speech as well from Romans 5 to Ezekiel and all the way through really evoking scripture in this deeply poignant moment. It was a deeply honest and humble speech, ultimately, and I think one of the most powerful I've heard the president give.

BLITZER: I would agree. I think I have heard many of those. I think I have heard all 11 of the speeches he has delivered, and this is number 11. When he's gone to a community that's suffered unimaginable loss and he's tried to be the comforter, as they say, comforter in chief. Scripture plays an important role in his life. Take us a little bit behind the scenes because you know him very well.

DUBOIS: Yes I was able to communicate a bit with him and the team before the to evoke something that would convey that this life that we're in is a process and it's a process that will have deeply brutal, painful moments, but we're being perfected. There is hope around the corner. That's why he put in Romans 5. Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. Letting the folks, both who were mourning and also the entire country know that we're in the middle of a process here. In some ways these are the labor pains of a country that's still really fully being born. So he wanted to convey that there was hope around the corner. So I think that's, he draws on scripture for hope, and I thought he tried to deploy scripture to give people a sense of hope throughout this speech.

BLITZER: What did you think of former President George W. Bush's address, Joshua?

DUBOIS: It was remarkable. I obviously have all sorts of policy differences with President Bush. But we were reminded of the best qualities of that man. I thought it was a nuanced speech. I thought he really focused on that comforter in chief moment, speaking directly to those families and letting them know that he is a part of their family both there in Dallas, in Texas, and the broader American family. I was very impressed with President Bush's words. He has a quiet way about him but it is a quiet fire. It really has an impact when he speaks.

BLITZER: Certainly does. Let's not forget the five police officers who were honored at this interfaith memorial service. Honored by a Christian minister, an imam and a rabbi. Let's take a closer look at each one. Brent Thompson, 42 years old. A Dallas area rapid transit police officer. He was the first officer to die in that agency's line of duty. Nearly seven year veteran of the transit force. Got married only two weeks or so ago. His widow, a fellow transit officer, only 43 years old.

Patrick Zamarippa, 32 years old. A US Navy veteran, he was deployed to the Persian Gulf, served in Bahrain as part of the Iraq war effort. He was the father of two children. Greatly loved by his family.

Michael Krol, 40 years old. He worked earlier at the County Sheriff's office in Michigan from 2003 to 2007. His lifelong dream was always to be a police officer.

Lorne Ahrens, 48 years old, served in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for more than 10 years from 1991 to 2002. Left that department as a law enforcement technician on January 23, 2002, officially began his service with the Dallas Police Department two days later. Lorne Aherns.

And Michael Smith, 55 years old, a devoted family man to his wife Heidi, two daughters who are 14 and 9 years old. He joined the police department in Dallas back in 1989.

Let's remember all of them for their heroic effort in protecting all of us and all the police officers who are on the line of duty and risk their lives for us every day. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're back now live on CNN after that memorial service in Dallas, Texas, with the former president and the President of the United States, a very moving service, speeches given by all.

I want to bring in my panel now. CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali is here. Also CNN political commentator Angela Rye, who is former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Gregory Thomas, the president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Also in a meeting yesterday at the White House with the President.

We will discuss it, but I want you to listen to the President who talked about he wasn't even sure if his own words were adequate. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not naive. I have spoken at too many memorials during the course of this presidency. I have hugged too many families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence. I have seen how a spirit of unity born of tragedy can gradually dissipate. I've seen how inadequate words can be in bringing about lasting change. I have seen how inadequate my own words have been.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: You know, Gregory, it's easier said than done when having these conversations, the President giving those words, but to actually put it into practical use, into daily use in our lives, it's going to be challenging for Americans. But the President said he believes we can all do it. Considering how this country was started and where we've come in this country, we can all do it. Did you talk about that in that meeting. How to have these conversations and put what he says into practice?

GREGORY THOMAS, PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES: We did. And I actually heard his speech today and I was saying two words came to mind. He is thoughtfully consistent. Thoughtfully consistent. When he walked into the room yesterday, to give some context here, we were seated there with the Vice President, and I had no idea he was coming in. The door opened up, he walked in, shook everybody's hand and sat down and said let's get together and have a conversation about what's going on right now in the country, and he was very concerned about the tone and tenor being set by some people, saying he was going to talk police and wanted to make sure we had this thing settled and a way to move forward because he was consistently concerned about America's future. He thought we could do better than this.

LEMON: How do we do this? And not politically. I know you are political and so I know that, but how do we have these conversations where we can actually listen to each other? Because that's where it's going to come from. You know, I have you on the show, you disagree with people vehemently sometimes. Sometimes you and I disagree vehemently. But we are friends, we love each other. But how do we do that and not go back to the old way?

ANGELA RYE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well that actually would go back to what you said before break and you were referencing what the president talked about with the renewed heart and an open heart. And that has to be it. Before I'm a political animal, I'm a human being with a heart with emotion, Twitter trolls get to me just as much as they get to anybody else sometimes.

And I think the reality of it is the President asked the question early on in the speech, he rhetorically how do our different experiences shape us? And is that a conversation we're willing to drop our defenses and really have to understand that my experience is not wrong, it's just my experience, and it may be different from yours or yours. And until we can really have that conversation without any defenses, we're going to keep coming back to the same point.

LEMON: The only person sitting here not of color, it should not matter, and your perspective is welcome here. Do you think that we can get to a point where we do that in this country?

TIM NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well my professional training doesn't put me in a position to answer that question any better anyone else. I'm a natural born optimist. I'm a historian, I'm a teacher. You don't go into the teaching business if you're not slightly idealistic, right? So when I think about the progress that we've made in our country, I know that we have moments that we fall back and we lose that progress, but then we just generally tend to catch up.

We're in a moment if I may say this, where it looks like we've fallen behind. Some of the gain we made seem to be evaporating. And I've been thinking lately about 1968 which was another period marked by political violence. And after Martin Luther King's death, Robert Kennedy was in Indianapolis, and he said, he quoted and said the tears of sadness fall on a rock and one hopes you will gain wisdom through the awful grace of God. And what I think we all hope is that we gain wisdom through these tragedies to do better.

And the President's discussion about the America I know is one that learns and gets better. And President Bush's discussion about one country and one destiny was a reminder that our future is one that is together. But it's in moments like these that each and every citizen has a responsibility of being better. So I'm an optimist, and I think it will happen. But these are one of those moments that we are going to be sorely tested.

LEMON: I think you put it very well. You are an optimist. The President wants to know how to come to a consensus about this. You said that you are a human being first, and then we go into whatever we are, a journalist, political animal, consultant, whatever. So I think that's important, but I think we do need to keep a perspective on this, especially when you look at the number of lives that we've lost. Not only over the past couple of weeks but that we've lost over the last month. If you include Orlando, and then if you look at the number of times that this president has spoken out about this, at least 11 times.

And that means it's not just numbers. That means dozens of families who have lost loved ones, and dozens of people who have grieved over the last eight years, just the last eight years that this man has been President of the United States. So I hope you took his speech to heart, and I hope that everyone is asking for a new heart and we try to figure out how to do things differently in a better way. At the end of the day, the one thing that we all have in common whether we're black, Asian, Jewish, white, Muslim, is that one word: Americans. We're all Americans. I'm Don Lemon. Our special coverage continues in a moment with Jake Tapper.