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New Day

Interview with Widow of Slain Police Officer; David Letterman Highlights. Aired 8:30-9:00a ET.

Aired May 19, 2015 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] CUOMO: Country lined in the streets in solidarity. His plain strengths in the days after her husband's murder, Liu's widow spoke out about the tragedy.

PEI XIA CHEN, WIFE OF SLAIN NYPD OFFICER WENJIAN LIU: This is a difficult time for both of our families. But we will stand together and get through this together.

CUOMO: Sanny and Frank I are already talking here as you see, Pei Xia goes by Sanny and she is with Frank, he is Stephen Siller of Tunnel to Towers Foundation and started after the 9/11 terror attacks to respond and honor the first responders and their families. And we were just talking Sanny, you were saying, when you first heard about Tunnel for Towers, you couldn't believe that they actually existed. What do they do for families like yours?

CHEN: They come to house and they say we are here to help you, we are here for you and we are family. And we will go through this together, and you know, Tunnel Towers it's great, an amazing foundation. They are there, and you know, I just want to thank everyone who contributes to this foundation. They put everybody together, unite everybody together.

CUOMO: They put everything together that you need, because people forget, and you hear about the story Frank and you see who's lost and everybody says, "Oh, that's terrible" and then the families are often left to fend for themselves. What does the foundation do?

FRANK SILLER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO STEHPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: Well, you know, after 9/11, so many people came together for 9/11 families and it made a huge difference in our lives and help lift us and we saw the difference that we can make as a foundation in other peoples' lives.

You know, we started building especially damages homes for the catastrophically injured service members coming home from the war, because they've given so much for the country and when they come back losing three or four limbs, we felt that it's our responsibility as a foundation to build those houses. We know what it's like to handle over a house or some of the mortgage free and then when we saw what happened to Detective Rafael Ramos, we know it's the right thing to do to bring people together because that's what we do, we bring people together who raised the money. And when they heard the story in 10 days, we raised the money to

pay off the mortgage and they have some leftover to remodeling the house, which we are doing right now. But you are right, when the dust settles, usually everybody goes home and these families are left to their grieving and they get on with life without their loved ones, and we want to make sure that you know, we are still going to there for them long afterwards, and so is America because every time you bring it up like today, it's important that we never forget.

CUOMO: Well, it is important. The issues are out there in the news, I know it's hard for you to watch because you lost somebody, and really what's being caught up in the anger in this country, and I know it's maybe five months for the rest of us but for you it's like yesterday Sanny, you still have your ring on, and I know you think of your husband every day. How are you doing?

CHEN: It is hard. It is not easy to go through this, but I got all the support from all over the country, and the police department and everybody.

CUOMO: You still wear his shield around his neck?

CHEN: Yes, he is in my heart. I will wear it every day.

CUOMO: How much did your husband love being a cop? We know that he got awards for never being sick, never being missing a day, never being late, but what drove his love of being a police officer?

CHEN: After 9/11 in 2001, you know, he said I am going to be there and save lives and I am not afraid of any dangers, and I am going to be there to help someone. I'm going to be - I want to be there to protect the people, and they need help.

CUOMO: So after 9/11, interesting time, and obviously with the foundation, that's what drove him to be a police officer. How did he enjoy the job?

CHEN: He - rahe - sorry.

CUOMO: No, no, you are doing great.

CHEN: He was proud of himself to be a cop, I am here to help people and this is what I do, and I am proud of myself. Our family is extremely proud of what he did as a U.S. police.

CUOMO: When you lost your husband, you learned that you were part of a family that maybe you did not know you had before. Cops are very close, but in a time of need, what do you know now about the people you have who believe you are their family?

CHEN: I have been with them for months. They are amazing people. You know, I didn't know them, we didn't have such a close relationship with each other, and they really help us go through this, you know, I really don't know, without them how I am going to make it, but they are here to offer me. CUOMO: You see what is happening in the news and you see the

conflict between people, especially in poor communities and what they think about the police, and what do you want people to know about why you think people do the job of being a police officer?

[08:35:00] CHEN: The police officer, they are protectors, and they are on the street to protect you. When you see emergency or any dangers happen to you, the first thing you think is a police officer, because they are lifesavers and they are there to help you, so we should trust in law enforcement. We should respect them.

CUOMO: Did your husband talk to you about what it was like on the job, or did he keep that away from you?

CHEN: Usually he keep that away because he doesn't want me to worry about it. He spoke about the good stuff about police officer.

CUOMO: Is there a little bit of you that still can't believe that he is gone?

CHEN: No, it's like a nightmare.

CUOMO: Just a nightmare?

CHEN: A nightmare, yes.

CUOMO: But you are staying strong. I know this was hard for you to come here, but I know the message matters, and Frank, I know it's important for you to expand what is going on with the foundation because we do lose officers and they are in harm's way, and a lot of them have wind up having emotional problems also from the job and the families pay all those prices, so what is the future in terms of addressing the need?

SILLER: Well, just know that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation will be there when situations like this arise. These police officers go out every day and protect us and they should be honored and respected every single day. And America should stand up and take notice of what we do, because we have the lives we have because of the police officers and firefighters and our military to go out there. And when something bad happens to them we have to come together as a nation, and a sick person did this but America is great, and they will always come to the aid of these families, and that's what we have to remember.

CUOMO: And we have information about the site, about the foundation on our site. We thank you for being here, Frank and Sanny it's really - for you, you show an incredible strength. I don't know that I could do it. But thank you for getting the message out there that you are fighting the fight and a lot of other families are in the same position as you. Frank, thanks for what you do.

SILLER: Thank you.

CUOMO: We appreciate it. We will take a quick break. Stay with us. [08:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: All right, here we go. There are five things for you on New Day. At number one, police are on high alert in Texas amid word that members of two biker gangs may be ready to target each other again following that big shoot-out Sunday in Waco.

Federal investigators have ruled out the possibility that gunfire played a role in last week's deadly Amtrak derailment. They still do not know what damaged the front of the train.

Some 3,000 militiamen in Iraq are bracing battle to try to retake Ramadi, but ISIS is trying to tighten its grip on the key city after seizing it over the weekend.

Some new clues this morning as mysterious text and voice mails surfaced linked to that deadly fire in Washington, D.C. mansion, this is authorities furiously hunt for the killer who may have had ties with that family.

The state department won't be ready until January to release tens of thousands Hillary Clinton's e-mail from her time as Secretary of State. Clinton used to have a private email server drawn criticism and suspicion.

For more on the five things to know, be sure to visit newday@cnn.com for the latest. Chris.

CUOMO: All right. It's time for impact your world. At only age 11, Shawn Blanchard was a drug dealer, we'll now, he is a University of Michigan grad and Detroit City official who is giving others something he never had, a role model.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing makes Shawn Blanchard smile more, than being a mentor.

SHAWN BLANCHARD, DETROIT CITY OFFICIAL: As I was growing up, I mean, I didn't have a lot of professionals around. My older brother was considered one of Detroit's most notorious drug lords, I mean, I was my role model. He actually showed me how to cut crack, how to sale. When you're a kid and you don't really have your parents around you take whatever attention you can get.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was when tragedy hit home, that Shawn knew he had to change.

BLANCHARD: One of my brothers have actually died in a drug transaction. Surely after one my brother was shot but then he actually went to prison, and like he was going to aim if you will, so I had to make a choice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He graduated from the University of Michigan and became a respected high school math teacher.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they are making a difference, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now works as Detroit's director of youth services.

BLANCHARD: When people see me today, they kind of think I am prim and proper, and never endured anything in life, and never judge a book by its cover.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A message he hopes to share as a mentor. With big brothers, big sisters of Detroit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our relationship it means everything. He helped me build my future.

CAMEROTA: Wow, what a great story.

PEREIRA: I love that.

CAMEROTA: That was terrific. Meanwhile, he has been making us laugh as decades as host of a late show, but on Wednesday, David Letterman will sign off. So we look back at the highlights. Next.

CUOMO: With Jake Tapper.

[08:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Letterman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 1982 Dave landed late night airing at 12:30 A.M., right after his hero, Johnny Carson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like what you have done with the wreck room. Very nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A dream job and in a time slot so late. He could do anything he wanted on air.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right over there is the "Today Show." This primetime show was my idea and I am not wearing any pants.

PEREIRA: And he is not wearing a pants. Let's look at tonight's CNN's special report David Letterman says good night, hosted by the one and only, CNN Anchor, Jake Tapper, and he takes a look back at Letterman's decade long career on TV before he signs off for the very last time tomorrow night as host of the late show. The one and only Jake Tapper joins us now with his exclusives.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi guys.

CAMEROTA: Hi, pleasure to have you.

PEREIRA: This is such a moment. When I think about that, 33 years, 1982, I mean who knew? Who knew that it would have lasted so long and he would have done so perfectly well?

TAPPER: And for those of us and I know there's a big club of us around the country who in junior high or high school would stay up late secretly to watch the show 12:30 to 1:30, and to be part of the secret club of iconic class, it's so strange and disconcerting to see the - him he is now at this wise old man of late night as opposed to this young puck. It's so strange.

PEREIRA: Isn't that crazy.

CAMEROTA: And was that his magic that he seemed more irreverent than the rest of the pack? I mean, what made him special?

TAPPER: Well, I don't think he just seemed more irreverent. I think he was legitimately more irreverent in the clip we just showed. He was legitimately annoying Bryant Gumbel in the today's show. He would - when he brought the fruit basket to GE. He bought NBC that was a real confrontation with guards.

[08:50:00] He really when he made fun of the NBC executives, Warren Littlefield and others he really actually upset them and hurt them and hurt his own chances of getting "The Tonight Show." So it wasn't even just fake irreverence.

PEREIRA: He sure will.

TAPPER: It was legitimately irreverence.

CUOMO: Yes, it's very unusual on television. It was real what he was doing. He also was an innovator. I mean, the list of all of the different sketches and the strange human tricks, I mean, he created a lot of things are now mainstays in the genre, true?

TAPPER: Yes, that's right. And also just the idea of showing the scenes, showing the backstage and showing the guys holding the cue cards. It's all common now, people who were - who did watch Letterman in the '80s, whether they are young or they had jobs, don't realize how much everything we see on late night television and daytime talk as well. How much of that was started by Letterman and his team, Merrill Markoe, Ron Garney, Steve O'Donnel and the other.

PEREIRA: And you talk about that. And you pave the way for the guy that we see now and people that you know, are around now that weren't round back in those days don't understand how much of an influence, and each of these artist, if you call him that this guy, Kimmel and Conan, they all talk about how much he impacted their lives as comedians.

TAPPER: We interviewed Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O'Brien for the special edition of Paul Shaffer and a bunch of others. Conan O'Brien was one of the people in high school who would watched Letterman's morning show which was the show that existed before late night with David Letterman. He remembers his sister calling him into the room and this changed his life. Jimmy Kimmel says he knows more about Letterman Show in the '80s that he remembers about his own life. He was such a fan boy. He was one of the geeks that have like a Letterman jacket made up. A Letterman license played. Letterman cake. It's almost as if a generation of Letterman babies now hosting their own show.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Absolutely, that is geeky. And I just - because you brought up Paul Shaffer I do want to talk about at the moment. That you interviewed Paul. TAPPER: Yes.

CAMEROTA: And you found out the moment that he found out that David Letterman was retiring. So let's watch this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 2013, David Letterman became the longest running late-night host in showbiz history.

DAVE LETTERMAN, TELEVISION HOST: My name is Dave Letterman, the one fixed point in the ever changing late-night sky.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then last April, Letterman made a shocking reveal about a phone call he had with CBS, Les Moonves.

LETTERMAN: When I said, Leslie, it's been great. You've been great. The network was great.

There was no indication until we were in the wings, and he said come with me, and he took me in a little alcohol, and he told me, I am retiring.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?

LETTERMAN: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You actually did this?

LETTERMAN: Yes, I did.

PEREIRA: He gets choked up a little bit there, you can tell.

TAPPER: Yes. Well, and he is also - he let himself reveal his emotions a lot more in the last ten or so years after his heart problems and heart surgery and then his son, 9/11, a big moment in his life, and he is definitely let himself show more of himself.

CUOMO: Controversy also. I mean, he didn't just survived the vagaries of entertainment. He has survived real controversy. I mean, he gave one of the best apologies I think we've seen in terms of openness of disclosure and all of that. How does that figured out?

CAMEROTA: The sex scandal.

TAPPER: The sex scandal. Somebody came with him to try to extort money from him but if you don't give me a million or $2 million, I'm going to reveal to the world that you are sleeping this member of your staff, and instead of paying the money Letterman went right to the cops and they got the guy and then Letterman went on television and confess not only that he was sleeping with this one - with this one staffer, and he had a long-time girlfriend who he married, but that he had slept with a number of female staffers.

CAMEROTA: I think he survived that.

TAPPER: I think he survived that for a number of reasons. One of which is it didn't necessarily conflict with any persona like he wasn't some moralists telling people but also I think we found out about it from him. And he came out, he disclosed it. He admitted not only the one affair but the three had been others, and he was contrite and said that he has got a lot of work to do at home when it comes to making his wife Regina, you know, feel comfortable in the relationship. He said it was the lowest point of his life, but ultimately, I think, as you say, it's a textbook case, when you learn something like this, you come out and you admit it, you apologize, and you don't make excuses and let the chips fall where they may. I think if he had not done that, he might not have survived.

PEREIRA: All right. So big good-byes this week, your special tonight. What about this Colbert, 15 seconds. Big expectation fan boy? Because you are a bit of a fan boy.

TAPPER: I am a fan of his. When he first got the Colbert report, my reaction, because I was actually with him that night and he got up the phone and he said, I just signed this deal. My reaction was, Oh, my God, are you going to be able to do this character for a whole half hour. Now, everybody is wondering well, can he be himself for a full hour, and yes, he can, and he is a very charming guy. I'm certainly not going to second guess him again. He has already proven me wrong.

PEREIRA: I like that. Well, can't wait to see your special report that airs tonight David Letterman Says Good Night at 9:00 P.M. eastern right here on CNN. And of course, you have lots of things to say, jump on Twitter and on Facebook to let us know your thoughts about David Letterman retiring after all these year.

[08:55:00] CAMEROTA: Yes, it's on his terms.

CUOMO: It's a good stuff. But you know, it's good that he has had his career and he is going on.

PEREIRA: Retiring, right?

CUOMO: Yes, that's right. And we have more good stuff for you coming right up.

TAPPER: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: In turbulent times, we need the stuff that is good. And today, we have an extraordinary image of New Zealand. Par Man Sikh, student in South Oakland also an observant, Sikh hence what you see on his head. His religion strictly prohibits removing that turban except in limited circumstances and certainly only in private. However, Par Man heard tires screeching outside his house, a little boy down in the street. He did not think twice.

HARMAN SINGH: All the bleeding. his blood is on the road. And I just start unrolling the turban and putting it on the back of the neck. My heart says, I have to help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you a hero? SINGH: No, I'm not a hero.

CUOMO: He is wrong. Again, that little boy was hit by a car, that little boy. Doctor say, he's going to be fine. Thanks in large part to Harman using direct pressure with the turban to stop the bleeding.

CAMEROTA: Beautiful.

PEREIRA: That's a great story. I love it.

CUOMO: I love it for two reasons. One is the obvious and two also to remember that your faith...