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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Four Unidentified Bodies Found in Baghdad; Law Enforcement Officials Testify Before 9/11 Commission
Aired April 13, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Four unidentified bodies found on the outskirts of Baghdad. Could it be the missing Americans? We'll have the latest.
Law enforcement officials, past and present, parade before the 9/11 Commission. Has anyone fixed what they said went wrong?
Tonight, President Bush faces the nation, how tough will the questions be on Iraq, hostages and 9/11, extensive coverage ahead.
And the Justice Department war on porn, will the crackdown affect what you can see on TV and online? "Playboy's" Hugh Hefner weighs in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.
COOPER: Good evening, a big night ahead.
(BREAKING NEWS)
Several developing stories tonight -- breaking news, four unidentified bodies found in Iraq.
Jamie McIntyre is at the Pentagon with that and, in Baghdad with the latest on the violence, CNN's Jim Clancy.
In Washington tonight, CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has details on today's grilling by the 9/11 Commission. Also in Washington, Senior White House Correspondent John King with a preview of President Bush's news conference, just some 90 minutes away now.
We begin with the breaking news from the Pentagon, Jamie what's the latest on the bodies found?
(BREAKING NEWS)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, a grisly discovery, Anderson. The State Department says the mutilated bodies of four people were found west of Baghdad near an area where a U.S. fuel convoy was attacked on Friday. After that attack seven Americans were reported missing, including contractors working for Halliburton, a company that supplies fuel and other supplies to U.S. troops. A company spokeswoman says there has been no identification of those bodies. That is still underway.
However, Halliburton did release a statement saying: "While we are not yet certain of the identification of these brave individuals and no matter who they are, we at Halliburton are saddened to learn of these deaths and are working with authorities so the families can begin the grieving and healing process." The families were notified today of the discovery, even though no identification has been made.
Two U.S. soldiers are missing and also Thomas Hamill from Macon, Mississippi, an American contractor with Halliburton who was also abducted on Friday seen here in a car as he identifies himself and says his convoy was attacked.
The deadline for the demands for him have come and gone with no word of what happened to him and, as I said, two American soldiers also missing and unaccounted for after that incident -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Jamie McIntyre following the story from the Pentagon. We'll check in with you later.
Just a couple of hours ago, the wife of American hostage, the man you just saw Thomas Hamill pleaded for his release.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLIE HAMILL, WIFE OF HOSTAGE IN IRAQ: Hello. My name is Kellie Hamill. I would first like to say to my husband Tommy we love and miss you very much. We would also like to say to the persons who are holding him captive our hopes are that you will release him unharmed and as soon as possible.
Last, we would like to say to the persons of the community and all across America who have been praying for us, we thank you very much from the bottom of our heart.
We would also like to extend our love and prayers to all of KBR families and other people in our situation. Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Her husband, Hamill, is a truck driver who works for a Halliburton subsidiary in Iraq. He was captured during an ambush on a fuel convoy Friday near Baghdad.
In Iraq tonight more trouble for U.S. troops near Fallujah. Today, a chopper goes down after being hit by ground fire. With a look at the fragile situation throughout the country here's CNN's Jim Clancy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You didn't need a flashlight to see the state of Fallujah's nominal cease-fire. U.S. Marines fighting with the coalition insist they're only responding when they come under fire themselves and they have the casualties to prove they are coming under fire.
While negotiations proceed at a painful pace, Marines found stockpiles of arms and ammunition in searches of areas under their control. A coalition spokesman charges Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a wanted terrorist, may be among those inside the besieged city.
DAN SENOR, CPA SPOKESMAN: We believe that Fallujah right now is a hotbed for foreign fighters who are in Iraq in which we include Zarqawi.
CLANCY: A U.S. helicopter was shot down near the town Tuesday. Insurgents said the Sikorsky was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. One U.S. Marines who helped rescue the crew was killed by mortar fire nearby.
More than 40 hostages from a dozen nations continue to appear tired and shaken in videotapes warning coalition members to withdraw their troops. Four Italians were shown Tuesday. False reports that three Japanese civilians would be freed only added to the anguish of families.
Some, like this U.S. truck driver, have been threatened with death. France, the Czech Republic, Portugal and other nations called on their citizens to quit the country due to the hostage taking.
U.S. soldiers rested an aide to radical Shia leader Muqtada al- Sadr through a crowd of journalists and Iraqis as he was about to meet tribal leaders at a Baghdad hotel. Seven hours later he was declared not a threat to security, issued an apology, and released.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: But the coalition ratcheted up pressure on his boss, Muqtada al-Sadr, U.S. troops blocking the exits from the holy city of an-Najaf where Muqtada al-Sadr has sought sanctuary from an arrest warrant charging him with the murder of a cleric one year ago. Meantime, prominent religious leaders have intervened warning there can be no fighting in the holy city -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Jim Clancy, live in Baghdad, thanks Jim.
On Capitol Hill today the FBI takes the heat from the 9/11 Commission. The panel also heard from Attorney General Ashcroft who said the U.S. "blinded itself to our enemies before 9/11," more now from CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Amid accusations terrorism was not one of his priorities before the September 11 attacks Attorney General John Ashcroft forcefully rebutted his critics. Among them, then acting FBI Director Thomas Pickard who told the commission Ashcroft did not want to hear about terrorism.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I care greatly about the safety and security of the American people and was very interested in terrorism and specifically interrogated him about threats to the American people.
ARENA: Ashcroft blamed missed intelligence opportunities on a legal law that used to separate criminal investigators from intelligence agents.
ASHCROFT: Government erected this wall. Government buttressed this wall and before September 11 government was blinded by this wall.
ARENA: The commission members laid much of the blame on the FBI and its inability to adequately respond to the growing terror threat.
TOM KEAN (R), 9/11 COMMISSION CHAIRMAN: I read a staff statement as an indictment of the FBI for over a long period of time. You know and I read things like that 66 percent of your analysts weren't qualified, that you didn't have the translators necessary to do the job.
ARENA: Pickard, who was running the FBI at the time, admitted that he only found out after the September 11 attacks about vital intelligence, including the arrest of accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui and he could not explain why several key FBI field agents were not aware of increased terror chatter in the summer of 2001.
THOMAS J. PICKARD, FMR. FBI ACTING DIRECTOR: I don't understand why they didn't hear it. I spoke to each of them individually, as I said, and in addition I had the communications out to them. I don't know what more I could have done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Questions about whether the FBI is up to the job of collecting domestic intelligence persists. Commissioners are actively considering whether to endorse a separate agency to do the job. Wednesday, Director Robert Mueller and CIA Director George Tenet are expected to make the case against such a change -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Kelli Arena thanks from Washington.
President Bush is sure to get questions about the 9/11 Commission and Iraq when he holds a news conference in just about 80 minutes from now. Covering the president tonight Senior White House tonight Senior White House Correspondent John King. John what does the White House feel the president needs to do tonight in this press conference?
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Most of all, Anderson, address the precarious bloody situation in Iraq of the past week or so. The president will deliver not an opening statement tonight but more of a speech. Usually a president speaks for three to five minutes at the beginning of a news conference.
We are told President Bush will speak for as long as 18 minutes. His opening statement dedicated solely to Iraq. The challenge for the president to say that progress is being made despite the bloodshed but that is a significant challenge.
In two weeks we will mark the one year point from which the president made that dramatic speech on the aircraft carrier saying major combat operations are over, the death toll of course rising right now.
The generals are asking for more troops at precisely the moment the president had hoped to draw down the U.S. deployments in Iraq, not only to reduce that number but to reduce that number in advance of the presidential election. So, a major challenge for the president tonight in trying to convince the American people that he is on the right course in Iraq.
Just 78 days from now, the United States is supposed to hand over sovereignty in Iraq. There is still no firm plan on just who or how to hand that sovereignty over and the United Nations saying today that it cannot have a significant presence in Iraq until the security situation improves.
So, Anderson, Iraq is challenge number one but the president also expects tough questions on the 9/11 Commission, on whether his administration ignored the urgency of the terrorist threat in this country.
Two hundred and two days away from the presidential election. That's likely to come up at least once or twice as well -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, John King live at the White House thanks very much, John.
We're going to have extensive coverage of the president's press conference tonight all through the show and, of course, we'll carry that live at 8:30.
The president's press conference will be his 12th solo press conference, his third in prime time in the East Room. Here's a "Fast Fact" for you. President Bush has held the fewest number of solo press conferences of any president in modern history. As of mid- April, the fourth year in office, President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave 83 solo press conferences. President Clinton had given 40.
Right now, we're following a number of developing stories for you "Cross Country." Let's take a look.
Outside Seattle, ricin arrest, the FBI today arrested an autistic man for having the deadly toxin in his apartment. They were tipped off by a seed company that the man had ordered five pounds of castor seeds, a main ingredient for making ricin. Investigators don't think he planned to poison anyone.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, berserk in court, a probation violator stormed the judge after sentencing today, overturned a table and chased the judge into chambers before deputies shot the man in the back. The 24-year-old is in critical condition. He was facing a two to four year sentence.
Phoenix, Arizona now, Senator John McCain's wife suffers a stroke. Cindy McCain is hospitalized in stable condition. A small bleeding in her brain caused speech problems. The doctors say her prognosis is excellent.
Atlanta, Georgia, stockpiling flu shots, the CDC said today it plans its first ever flu shot stockpile setting aside about four million doses just for kids. The run on vaccines last winter caught suppliers off guard. The outbreak caused dozens of child flu deaths. That's a quick look at stories "Cross Country" for you tonight.
Well, with President Bush facing tough questions about Iraq and 9/11, do you wonder why is John Kerry kind of keeping quiet? Coming up, we'll look at the strategy of silence.
Plus, "Indecent Crackdown," it's not just the FCC. The Justice Department is going after the porn industry like no administration has in recent years. Will it affect what you can see and hear? We'll look at the crackdown and then talk with "Playboy's" Hugh Hefner.
Also tonight, as the 9/11 Commission continues its work we asked whatever happened to that commission on WMDs? How quickly we forget. We'll give you a status report.
Before all that, right now, let's take a look "Inside the box," at top stories on tonight's network newscasts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's going to happen now with our economy if he has any plans in motion to really get that boosted and pushing forward for the next years?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd have to ask when are the troops coming home?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to see questions directed to him that pertain to jobs creation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well those are some of the questions Americans would ask the president tonight in his prime-time news conference which takes place in just over an hour from now.
But while the president has been facing some heat, we've been noticing that Senator John Kerry seems to be staying rather silent on the president's troubles.
Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley looks into what the candidate is doing and why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It has the sound of a news vacuum.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People are beginning to understand that the American economy is not working for them. They're working for the economy.
CROWLEY: John Kerry involved this week in a series of campus rallies and high end fund-raisers rarely brings up Iraq. When asked he says the usual.
KERRY: I would go to the United Nations directly and challenge the world to become involved in something that the world actually has a legitimate interest in, the outcome of what happens in Iraq.
CROWLEY: Camp Kerry is not interested in making news right now, not concerned with pressing the president on Iraq. The course of events has provided all the news and pressure John Kerry could ask for.
Still, there are Democratic complaints which Republicans are happy to fuel that Kerry needs to lay out a specific plan for Iraq. Pushed on the subject, Kerry pushed back.
Specifics, stay with the mission, send more troops if needed, bring in the U.N., ask NATO to serve under U.S. command, now to put the shoe on another foot.
KERRY: We know we are committed to guaranteeing that there is not a failed state that contributes in worse ways to a war on terror but this president owes Americans a specific explanation of exactly how we are going to achieve that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: For the most part, Senator Kerry doesn't have to ask the president to speak. There will be plenty of reporters there tonight, of course, asking questions. The Kerry campaign is content to follow an age old rule of politics, when your opponent's campaign is in a jam stand back and watch -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Candy Crowley thanks for that.
We're tracking a number of developing stories around the globe right now. Let's take a look at the "Up Link."
Beijing, Cheney's Asian swing, the vice president pressing U.S. priorities during meetings today with Chinese leaders, high on the list jump-starting nuclear talks with North Korea, cooling tensions with Taiwan, and getting Beijing's backing for a U.N. role in Iraq.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, plea for federal troops, a bloody drug war in the city's largest slum, (unintelligible) prompts the state governor today to ask for the military's help. Ten people have died, several schools forced to shut down because of the fighting. Off the coast of Canada, open season on baby seals. Animal rights groups released this disturbing footage shot during this week's annual seal cull off Newfoundland. Hunters can kill up to 315,000 this year but watchdogs say the two-day slaughter is inhumane in their words.
Beijing again, a new plan for controlling HIV, free condoms, syringes and a drug substitute used to treat heroin addiction will soon be available at China's entertainment venues. Experts warn the number of cases could mushroom to ten million by 2010.
In London, England, the Concorde's final crawl really final, I know we said it before. It always seems like they're having the final crawl. This time they say it is.
Crowds gathered along the Thames to watch the last of seven supersonic jets make its way to a British flight museum. Two other retired Concordes are on display in the U.S., one in Seattle, the other in New York. Last time we say that, I promise. That's a look at tonight's "Up Link."
"Indecent Crackdown," our special series is next. Millions of dollars being spent to stop pornography, a moral crusade or political campaign, we'll look at what the Justice Department is doing. We'll also talk with "Playboy's" Hugh Hefner.
Also tonight, the president addresses the nation and the White House Press Corps under pressure. Will they ask the tough questions?
And a little bit later tonight, WMD, bad intel and violent war, whatever happened to that WMD commission? How quickly we forget, all that ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): Porn is big business in America. Each year sales from adult videos average $500 million to $1.8 billion. Porn on the Internet generates $1 billion, pay-per-view porn $150 million and adult magazines $1 billion.
Hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott also cash in. According to the "New York Times," these hotels earn up to $190 million a year from guests spending $10 or more to order in room porn.
Attorney General John Ashcroft has made his views about obscenity clear. In 2002, he said: "Obscenity invades our homes persistently through the mail, telephone, VCR, cable TV and now the Internet. This multimillion dollar industry has strewn its victims from coast to coast."
Before he was made the Justice Department's main porn prosecutor, Bruce Taylor told PBS that he believed: "Just about everything on the Internet and almost everything in the video stores and everything in the adult bookstores is still prosecutable, illegal obscenity." Right now the Justice Department may only be focusing on extreme porn. There's no telling where its investigators may crack down next.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, "Playboy" is one of the top selling soft porn magazines. The parent company Playboy Enterprises, Incorporated made about $350 million last year, according to Hoover's online, the business reporting service. "Playboy" is in the hardcore porn business as well. In 2001, the company bought two cable channels, which show hardcore pornography.
Will the crackdown extend to them? Earlier I spoke with "Playboy" founder Hugh Hefner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Hugh, are you concerned at all about the Justice Department's crackdown on pornography?
HUGH HEFNER, FOUNDER, PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES: Well, I think we live in kind of a foolish and at the same time frightening times. We're dealing with, you know, religious fanaticism overseas that is changing the very nature of the world and, at the same time, we're -- we're allowing a certain amount of religious fanaticism to do some kind of foolish things. I don't think our problems here are Janet Jackson's breasts or what some people call indecency.
COOPER: The pendulum seems to swing back and forth in terms of what people are willing to accept, what people get upset by. Do you think the pendulum is swinging too far in one direction right now?
HEFNER: It's unfortunately true that one of the two parties every time they get into power are put there in part by the religious right and that's part of what this is all about.
COOPER: Do you see this as a First Amendment issue at all?
HEFNER: Of course it's a First Amendment issue. The exception to the First Amendment historically has been things sexual and I think that's unfortunate because I think the real obscenities on this planet don't have much to do with sex.
COOPER: When you look at the adult industry, I mean it's an enormous business but it's a business which major corporations are involved with. Do you think the crackdown is going to extend to them?
HEFNER: No, no, I don't think so. I think that, as I say, in that sense the censors have lost the war. In other words, technology and sexuality has become mainstream and you really can't put the genie back in the bottle.
COOPER: What about, I mean obscenity, what's your definition of obscenity?
HEFNER: Racism, war, bigotry, but sex itself, no. What a sad and cold world this would be if we weren't sexual beings. I mean that's the heart of who we are.
COOPER: And yet there is a lot of stuff out there available, as you point out on the Internet and videos that is extraordinary extreme. I mean is all that OK in your opinion?
HEFNER: If we're dealing with adults, yes it's OK, but if we're talking about protecting children I think that's perfectly appropriate but I don't think that's what the controversy is all about.
In other words, the chilling effect of what's been going on now doesn't have much to do with hardcore pornography. It has to do with the FCC. It has to do with Howard Stern. It has to do with Janet Jackson's breasts. It has to do with what somebody is calling indecency.
COOPER: And you think it has to do with politics?
HEFNER: Without question. I mean the reality is one of the parties is in power in part because of the religious right and I don't think that any one group should be dictating, you know, the rights and free speech of the rest of us.
COOPER: And yet they say, you know, a lot of this stuff is degrading. It's degrading not only to the people involved but to society at large. It's bad for America.
HEFNER: That's a very un-American attitude. In other words, the whole premise of this society is, you know, freedom of choice and I think we should stop worrying about our neighbors.
COOPER: Hugh, it's always good to talk to you. I appreciate you being on the program.
HEFNER: It is my pleasure. Thank you. Have a good day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, today's "Buzz" question is this. With all the crackdowns on sex, showing it, talking about it, joking about it, which do you think is more indecent on television, graphic sex or graphic violence? What offends you more? Vote now, log onto cnn.com/360, results at the end of the program.
Also a news note before we leave the subject. Wal-Mart is now selling the world's first DVD player that can seamlessly skip over nudity, violence and swearing in movies.
It is manufactured by Thompson (ph), Incorporated under its RCA brand but the technology it uses is at the center of a lawsuit by the Director's Guild of America which says it's wrong for the software company to profit from making changes to movies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): President Bush faces the nation in just one hour. What questions will the commander-in-chief face? We'll have a preview.
And, if you missed today's tough testimony on 9/11, we'll bring you the highlights. I'll talk live with a commission member. 360 continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Right now, President Bush getting ready to address the nation and the world. We are less than an hour away from his press conference. You're looking at a live shot of the White House, where he is expected to take questions on Iraq, where tonight four unidentified bodies have been found. We're going to have complete coverage of that in just a moment.
But, first, let's look at the top stories tonight in "The Reset."
Baghdad, bodies found. State Department officials say the remains of those four people have been discovered on the outskirts of Iraq's capital. No word on their identities. But notification has gone out to relatives of workers for a Halliburton subsidiary that has seven contractors missing in Iraq. One of them, Thomas Hamill, is known to be a hostage.
Still in Washington, John Ashcroft on 9/11. The attorney general says the U.S. failed to detect the September 11 plot because the government had separated intelligence gathering from criminal investigations prior to the Bush administration. Ashcroft testified before the 9/11 Commission today.
New York, why are these people clapping? You might think a robust retail sales report would be welcome on Wall Street. Think again. Concerns that the news might prompt a hike in interest rates took a bite out of the stocks today. The Dow, Nasdaq and Standard & Poor's indexes all closed down sharply.
Washington, West Nile season starts. Federal officials report the first likely case of human West Nile infection in the U.S. this year. The patient is a 79-year-old man in Ohio. Last year, nearly 10,000 West Nile cases in the nation caused 262 deaths.
Denver, Colorado. Peter Coors running for the U.S. Senate. The conservative beer baron officially launched his campaign to replace retiring Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
And that is a quick look at stories in "The Reset" tonight.
In just under one hour, President Bush holds a rare prime-time news conference. Wolf Blitzer is going to be covering it live for CNN from Washington.
Wolf joins us now.
Wolf, a rare press conference certainly for this president. Why now? What's he trying to do tonight? WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: By all accounts, Anderson, many of his political advisers think the president has to go out effectively tonight and make the case why he decided to go to war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq one year ago.
He has to reassure a jittery American public that he's on top of his game right now, he knows what he's doing. This is an election year, obviously. This is a critical moment where he can effectively potentially make the case for his policies. Remember, also, that this is a moment when the president will have probably 16 to 18 minutes of free airtime before a potentially huge audience of Americans out there tonight to make his case. There's a tradeoff, Anderson, for that.
In order to get that free airtime to make that speech, the opening statement at the top of the news conference, he's going to have to subject himself to some potentially tough questions from White House reporters.
COOPER: And you think the focus of those questions is going to be firmly on Iraq, obviously, the 9/11 Commission also being in the news.
BLITZER: I think those will be the two big issues before the president. But if he takes questions for 45 minutes or even on hour, there are plenty of opportunities for the president to be asked a wide range of issues, including political questions.
This is a political year, obviously, economic issues, health- related issues. No doubt, though, most of the questions will on Iraq, will be on 9/11. The president will be asked those questions. To a certain degree, he has another advantage advantages in that he can decide when there will be a follow-up question. It's not normally the case that he will necessarily let a reporter ask a follow-up. So there are certain home court advantages he has in the East Room of the White House.
COOPER: All right, Wolf, your coverage begins in some 55 minutes. We'll be watching. Thanks very much, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you.
COOPER: A flashback now for you to President Bush's last prime- time news conference a little more than a year ago. March 6 was the date, 2003. He talked about Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He has weapons of mass destruction and he has used weapons of mass destruction in his neighborhood and on his own people. He's invaded countries in his neighborhood. He tortures his own people. He's a murderer. He has trained and financed al Qaeda-type organizations before, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. I take the threat seriously. And I'll deal with the threat. I hope it can be done peacefully.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: That was the last time the president held a news conference a little more than a year ago. And now, of course, Saddam Hussein in U.S. custody and President Bush has appointed a bipartisan commission to figure out why there were intelligence failures on Iraq's WMD capabilities. We're going to have an update on that investigation just ahead.
But, first, let's look at what happened today in front of the 9/11 Commission. An all-star lineup of present and former top law enforcement officials took turns in the hot seat today. It was a long day of testimony, much of it lacking the fireworks television so loves. Here's some of what was said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOUIS FREEH, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: September 11, had we had the right sources overseas or in the United States, could have been prevented. We did not have those sources. We did not have that telephone call. We didn't have that e-mail intercept that could have done the job.
THOMAS PICKARD, FORMER ACTING FBI DIRECTOR: As I recall, during the period January to September 2001, the FBI received over 1,000 threats. Many of these threats had great specificity and others were very general in nature. All were taken seriously, but the volume was daunting.
COFER BLACK, FORMER DIRECTOR, CIA COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER: I have heard some people say this country wasn't at war. I want to tell you, Mr. Chairman, the Counterterrorism Center was at war. We conducted ourselves at war. And that's the way it is.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Every tough tactic we have deployed since the attacks would have been deployed before the attacks. But the simple fact of September 11 is this. We did not know an attack was coming because, for nearly a decade, our government had blinded itself to its enemies.
Our agents were isolated by government imposed walls, handcuffed by government-imposed restrictions, and starved for basic information technology. The old national intelligence system in place on September 11 was destined to fail.
BLACK: We are profoundly sorry. We did all we could. We did our best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, just before we went on air I spoke with a member of the commission, former Navy Secretary John Lehman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Secretary Lehman, how will you and the other commission members go about reconciling this conflicting testimony between John Ashcroft and former acting Director of the FBI Thomas Pickard? JOHN LEHMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Well, I think that there's less conflict, really, than meets the eye. But we certainly...
COOPER: How so?
LEHMAN: Well, because the number of meetings, the recollection of people as to what was in meetings, did you talk about terrorism or just al Qaeda, these are, you know, they're really not central to what our mission is.
Much more central is what the testimony of both of those people gave us, which was really in some ways a confirmation -- well, in all ways, it was a confirmation of what we've already found out in private. We've pursued a policy of counterterrorism based on restrictions and a structure that was created in 1947 for a Cold War, for a focus on foreign states, and it's utterly unsuited for dealing with a current threat of a religious war, really.
COOPER: Well, you yourself have said in the past that the information that the FBI and the CIA have a problem communicating with each other has been known for a long time. I learned that back in poli-sci class back in college. And you I think yourself in the past have pointed out other commissions have tried to fix it. They haven't. Why do you think your commission, the work you're doing now, why do you think you're going to be able to fix it where others haven't?
LEHMAN: Well, because ours is the first commission after 9/11. And all the warnings prior, people and commissions for decades, fell on deaf ears, and the deaf ears were in Congress, because Congress just was not particularly concerned.
And Congress wanted a system where the FBI did not talk to intelligence. As we heard today, the FBI wasn't even allowed to do what you and I can do, which is to spend $40 and buy a report on anybody through ChoicePoint, all of the credit card information and so forth, that could have really helped in identifying those terrorists. They were not allowed to even ask for because of the prohibitions that Congress has put in. Clearly, this has to be changed.
COOPER: It was a fascinating and at times disturbing day of testimony.
Secretary Lehman, appreciate you joining us. Thank you.
LEHMAN: Pleasure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, with the 9/11 Commission in full swing, it made us wonder, whatever happened to another commission, the one named by the president to review apparent intelligence failures over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction? It was announced with some fanfare back in February. Since then, we haven't heard much about it. It just goes to show how quickly we forget.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): Remember, back in February, the president was facing a political and media firestorm over the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In response, he decided to form a commission.
BUSH: I'm putting together an independent, bipartisan commission to -- to analyze where we stand, what we can do better as we fight this -- fight this war against terror.
COOPER: Big names were appointed, leaders from both parties, among others, Senator John McCain, former Virginia Governor and Senator Charles Robb, and former federal Judge Lawrence Silberman.
The story was big for a couple of days. Then the commission, and the issue of WMD, seemed to disappear. What's happened since? Well, it turns out "The New York Times" talked to a spokesman who says the commission held a meeting on March 31. And members -- quote -- "came away with a very clear sense of direction" -- unquote, adding that the commission won't meet again until May, when the commission's executive director returns from Iraq, where he's a deputy to Paul Bremer.
Of course, none of this may matter very much. This presidential commission isn't scheduled to deliver a report until March 2005, long after the presidential election.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, the president's news conference begins in some 48 minutes now. What questions will he face? We'll take a closer look at that coming up.
Plus, "American Idol" fans, you're in limbo tonight. Ahead, how the presser is affecting tonight's prime-time TV lineup.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Bush, what steps need to be taken in order to transfer Iraq over to a coalition government by June 30?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When is he going to start controlling the borders?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would he have Condoleezza Rice answer the 9/11 panel questions, rather than take that responsibility himself?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Some of the questions our viewers said they'd like to ask the president tonight. We are about 45 minutes away or so from President Bush's first prime-time news conference in 13 months -- 45 -- I was right.
What should we expect from reporters tonight? Let's find out. Dana Milbank is a White House correspondent for "The Washington Post." And Phil Bronstein is editor of "The San Francisco Chronicle."
Thanks for being on the program, both of you.
Phil, let me start off with you.
If you were at the news conference tonight, what would you ask the president?
PHIL BRONSTEIN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE": Well, I think he's going to have a statement to begin with. And I'm sure the statement will put as positive a spin as he can put on the events in Iraq. But the reality is, those events are moving in the other direction.
You have defectors. His General Abizaid actually was quite candid the other day, yesterday, I think, when he talked about defections of Iraqi troops. This is going in the opposite direction of the exit strategy for the United States of America. At the same time, you know, you've got caskets coming back increasingly from Iraq of Americans.
COOPER: So your question would be, what, do you have an exit strategy?
BRONSTEIN: Yes. What is your exit strategy and how do you justify the exit strategy when all the facts on the ground are going in the other direction?
COOPER: Dana, I know you're working on your questions for "The Washington Post." I'm not going to put you on the spot or anything. But what goes into crafting a question? There's a whole process About who gets called on when and where.
DANA MILBANK, STAFF WRITER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": There sure is.
And we in the newspaper business have to wait until after the more prominent correspondents from places like CNN get to ask their questions. So we have to see what's still left over at the end. But it's pretty predictable. Actually, if I were there tonight, I'd want to know if the president's aware that he bumped "American Idol" and is he aware of what consequences this may have for his reelection?
COOPER: You're afraid it might affect his polls? I don't know. We'll see about that.
MILBANK: Seriously, 25 million viewers, that's half you need to get elected.
COOPER: Yes, but the quality of some of the "American Idol" not really up to snuff right now.
But let me get back to a serious topic.
Phil, does it seem like as reporters -- are you impressed by the level of questions that reporters ask at these events? Often, some of the questions seem like softballs. Or some talk about retaliation, even, sometimes if they ask too tough questions.
BRONSTEIN: Well, I think Dana would be able to address this better than I would. Clearly, I think the president always gets to pick on the people he wants to pick on. The strategy of any president or any politician is usually to answer the question you wish you were asked, not the one that you're actually asked.
I think another good question would be, why don't you follow not necessarily in the footsteps of Richard Clarke, but now that officials from your administration have indicated that, while they inherited the 9/11 problem, the lack of intelligence coordination, that it continued during your administration. You are the head of that administration. Would you like to apologize to the families of 9/11 for that lapse?
COOPER: Dana, what is your sense? Is the White House doing this press conference because they really want the president to address these questions or because they want that free airtime right off the bat, uninterrupted?
MILBANK: They're certainly doing this under a bit of duress. This is only the third prime-time news conference. The president loves to say how this is a time for the network correspondents to preen.
But they were under a great deal of pressure. A lot of Republican lawmakers calling them up and saying, you've really got to get out there in a prominent way to get ahead of the story. So it's very much a defensive maneuver that they're undertaking here. And there's quite a bit of risk if the president doesn't control this forum. He's going to have a very lengthy speech, maybe 15 to 18 minutes to start things off, which is unusual.
But it's hard to tell where the questions will go. And indeed, they gave us more than 24 hours notice this time, which means all of the reporters had plenty of time to think up a stump-the-president type of question that he might not be expecting.
COOPER: Well, we'll be watching. Dana Milbank and Phil Bronstein, appreciate you being on the program. Thank you very much.
The press conference starts in just some 42 minutes from now. The president is probably huddling with his advisers now, reviewing what to say, how to say it. The unscripted nature of the press conference has never been his favorite political forum, but it's less impromptu than you might think.
CNN's Bruce Morton explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush himself admits he doesn't like reporters, mostly doesn't read newspapers. He told Brit Hume last year: "The best way to get the news is from objective sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world."
President Bush isn't the only president to dislike the press. Richard Nixon, after losing the race for governor of California, famously told reporters:
RICHARD NIXON: You don't Nixon to kick around anymore.
MORTON: Of course he was wrong. All administrations try to stay on message and control what is written about them. John Kennedy did the first live presidential press conferences.
JOHN F. KENNEDY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Life is unfair.
MORTON: It was a good forum for a young, handsome president, though even Kennedy got angry enough once to cancel a newspaper subscription.
Prime-time presidential press conferences are rare. Still, it's a grand stage for a president. And this one comes at a time when Americans are worried about Iraq, a time when editorials have been calling on the president to level with the voters about what's going on. It looks hard, the president and all these newsies. But Steve Hess, a veteran of the Nixon White House, says presidents usually dominate.
STEVE HESS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: It's very easy to anticipate 95 percent of the questions that the reporters will ask. They start with an opening statement that they control. They know who to call on when they look out at the reporters. They end the conference where they want to end it. It is the president's press conference and he controls it. And yet we all think somehow that he is at the mercy of these nattering reporters.
BUSH: Thank you for your questions.
MORTON: Maybe. But that's why we watch.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: All the networks are carrying the press conference tonight, though they're not always happy about having to throw out their prime-time lineup. We'll look at that ahead.
And in "The Current," what may be the most important reporter question of the night for President Bush. Maybe.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: In "The Current," we always look at the lighter side of things. Tonight, politics.
The president's press conference is doing a number on TV schedules. For example, Fox is pushing back tonight's episode of "American Idol." That's the bad news. We do have some good news. Fox is pushing back tonight's episode of "American Idol." The "360" crew, they don't really like the show.
TV executives fear the president's press conference will not only cost them a bundle in advertising, but turn away millions of viewers or, in ABC's case, hundreds. I must stress that line was created by Gabe Falcon (ph) and producer Tommy Evans (ph). It does not accurately reflect the love I hold for ABC.
As we have talked about, it's a big night for reporters vying to ask the president the first question. We hope NBC's White House reporter will bow to synergy and ask the president a really tough question, Kwame or Bill?
Sony pictures has optioned Richard Clarke's best-selling book. One Hollywood producer says it will make a great movie. The book he says is amazing, exciting and powerful, though by the time Hollywood script doctors get their hands on it, Richard Clarke will be played by Frankie Muniz.
Tonight, all the major television networks are carrying the press conference live. It is expected to last more than an hour. That means the networks have to alter their schedules. On the face of it, it seems an easy decision. But for TV networks, it is not always as simple as it sounds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "AMERICAN IDOL")
SIMON COWELL, HOST: That was honestly the end of the road for you, I Think.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER (voice-over): Fox, for instance, has to bump its hugely popular "American Idol" episode with an estimated 25 million viewers from tonight to tomorrow. They've decided to do it this time, but that isn't always the case.
Back in February 1997, President Clinton was delivering his State of the Union address. But at the same time, the jury in the O.J. Simpson civil trial reached a verdict. The potential ratings on the O.J. Simpson verdict were huge. And the networks had to scramble, carrying the president's speech, but then breaking away to the court, where crowds and reporters were gathering.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: God bless you, and God bless America.
COOPER: Some even chose to show both, like ABC, which had Clinton on the top of the screen, followed by the latest on the Simpson trial on the bottom.
And in October OF 2002, when President Bush gave a speech detailing the threat he believed Iraq posed, ABC, NBC and CBS didn't air it live. The reason? According to the CBS spokeswoman, the White House didn't request the time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, President Bush speaking live in prime-time tonight just about 34 minutes away. And he better be ready to play ball with reporters. We'll take presidential news conferences to "The Nth Degree" just ahead.
And tomorrow, the Clinton memoir. Why is the Kerry campaign nervous? We'll look at that tomorrow.
And here's today's "Buzz." Which do you think is more indecent on television, graphic sex or graphic violence? Vote now, CNN.com/360, part of our series "Indecent Crackdown." Results at the end of the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Time now for the "Buzz."
We asked you, which do you think is more indecent on television, graphic sex or graphic violence? Part of our series. Here's what you have to say; 84 percent of you said graphic violence; 16 percent of you said graphic sex. We'll have more on our series "Indecent Crackdown" tomorrow.
Tonight, taking hardballs and softballs to "The Nth Degree."
It's been a long while since the last presidential news conference in prime time. So we thought some of you might like a refresher course in the fine points. This particular president bats righty, some would say ultra-righty, and does not like questions coming at him from the left. The strike zone is a rectangular area above the podium, but not too high. As a matter of protocol, reporters generally don't hurl questions directly at the president's head or too fast or too hard or with too much stuff on them, for fear they'll be shunned at future competitions.
On the other hand, they don't want to seem to be lobbing big fat balloons right over the plate either. For his part, the president doesn't want to bunt, doesn't want to be seen swinging wildly, and he doesn't want to get hit, because there's no base to run to.
In prime-time presidential news conference ball, the only thing to count are home runs and strikes.
I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 13, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Four unidentified bodies found on the outskirts of Baghdad. Could it be the missing Americans? We'll have the latest.
Law enforcement officials, past and present, parade before the 9/11 Commission. Has anyone fixed what they said went wrong?
Tonight, President Bush faces the nation, how tough will the questions be on Iraq, hostages and 9/11, extensive coverage ahead.
And the Justice Department war on porn, will the crackdown affect what you can see on TV and online? "Playboy's" Hugh Hefner weighs in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.
COOPER: Good evening, a big night ahead.
(BREAKING NEWS)
Several developing stories tonight -- breaking news, four unidentified bodies found in Iraq.
Jamie McIntyre is at the Pentagon with that and, in Baghdad with the latest on the violence, CNN's Jim Clancy.
In Washington tonight, CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has details on today's grilling by the 9/11 Commission. Also in Washington, Senior White House Correspondent John King with a preview of President Bush's news conference, just some 90 minutes away now.
We begin with the breaking news from the Pentagon, Jamie what's the latest on the bodies found?
(BREAKING NEWS)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, a grisly discovery, Anderson. The State Department says the mutilated bodies of four people were found west of Baghdad near an area where a U.S. fuel convoy was attacked on Friday. After that attack seven Americans were reported missing, including contractors working for Halliburton, a company that supplies fuel and other supplies to U.S. troops. A company spokeswoman says there has been no identification of those bodies. That is still underway.
However, Halliburton did release a statement saying: "While we are not yet certain of the identification of these brave individuals and no matter who they are, we at Halliburton are saddened to learn of these deaths and are working with authorities so the families can begin the grieving and healing process." The families were notified today of the discovery, even though no identification has been made.
Two U.S. soldiers are missing and also Thomas Hamill from Macon, Mississippi, an American contractor with Halliburton who was also abducted on Friday seen here in a car as he identifies himself and says his convoy was attacked.
The deadline for the demands for him have come and gone with no word of what happened to him and, as I said, two American soldiers also missing and unaccounted for after that incident -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Jamie McIntyre following the story from the Pentagon. We'll check in with you later.
Just a couple of hours ago, the wife of American hostage, the man you just saw Thomas Hamill pleaded for his release.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLIE HAMILL, WIFE OF HOSTAGE IN IRAQ: Hello. My name is Kellie Hamill. I would first like to say to my husband Tommy we love and miss you very much. We would also like to say to the persons who are holding him captive our hopes are that you will release him unharmed and as soon as possible.
Last, we would like to say to the persons of the community and all across America who have been praying for us, we thank you very much from the bottom of our heart.
We would also like to extend our love and prayers to all of KBR families and other people in our situation. Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Her husband, Hamill, is a truck driver who works for a Halliburton subsidiary in Iraq. He was captured during an ambush on a fuel convoy Friday near Baghdad.
In Iraq tonight more trouble for U.S. troops near Fallujah. Today, a chopper goes down after being hit by ground fire. With a look at the fragile situation throughout the country here's CNN's Jim Clancy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You didn't need a flashlight to see the state of Fallujah's nominal cease-fire. U.S. Marines fighting with the coalition insist they're only responding when they come under fire themselves and they have the casualties to prove they are coming under fire.
While negotiations proceed at a painful pace, Marines found stockpiles of arms and ammunition in searches of areas under their control. A coalition spokesman charges Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a wanted terrorist, may be among those inside the besieged city.
DAN SENOR, CPA SPOKESMAN: We believe that Fallujah right now is a hotbed for foreign fighters who are in Iraq in which we include Zarqawi.
CLANCY: A U.S. helicopter was shot down near the town Tuesday. Insurgents said the Sikorsky was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. One U.S. Marines who helped rescue the crew was killed by mortar fire nearby.
More than 40 hostages from a dozen nations continue to appear tired and shaken in videotapes warning coalition members to withdraw their troops. Four Italians were shown Tuesday. False reports that three Japanese civilians would be freed only added to the anguish of families.
Some, like this U.S. truck driver, have been threatened with death. France, the Czech Republic, Portugal and other nations called on their citizens to quit the country due to the hostage taking.
U.S. soldiers rested an aide to radical Shia leader Muqtada al- Sadr through a crowd of journalists and Iraqis as he was about to meet tribal leaders at a Baghdad hotel. Seven hours later he was declared not a threat to security, issued an apology, and released.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: But the coalition ratcheted up pressure on his boss, Muqtada al-Sadr, U.S. troops blocking the exits from the holy city of an-Najaf where Muqtada al-Sadr has sought sanctuary from an arrest warrant charging him with the murder of a cleric one year ago. Meantime, prominent religious leaders have intervened warning there can be no fighting in the holy city -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Jim Clancy, live in Baghdad, thanks Jim.
On Capitol Hill today the FBI takes the heat from the 9/11 Commission. The panel also heard from Attorney General Ashcroft who said the U.S. "blinded itself to our enemies before 9/11," more now from CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Amid accusations terrorism was not one of his priorities before the September 11 attacks Attorney General John Ashcroft forcefully rebutted his critics. Among them, then acting FBI Director Thomas Pickard who told the commission Ashcroft did not want to hear about terrorism.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I care greatly about the safety and security of the American people and was very interested in terrorism and specifically interrogated him about threats to the American people.
ARENA: Ashcroft blamed missed intelligence opportunities on a legal law that used to separate criminal investigators from intelligence agents.
ASHCROFT: Government erected this wall. Government buttressed this wall and before September 11 government was blinded by this wall.
ARENA: The commission members laid much of the blame on the FBI and its inability to adequately respond to the growing terror threat.
TOM KEAN (R), 9/11 COMMISSION CHAIRMAN: I read a staff statement as an indictment of the FBI for over a long period of time. You know and I read things like that 66 percent of your analysts weren't qualified, that you didn't have the translators necessary to do the job.
ARENA: Pickard, who was running the FBI at the time, admitted that he only found out after the September 11 attacks about vital intelligence, including the arrest of accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui and he could not explain why several key FBI field agents were not aware of increased terror chatter in the summer of 2001.
THOMAS J. PICKARD, FMR. FBI ACTING DIRECTOR: I don't understand why they didn't hear it. I spoke to each of them individually, as I said, and in addition I had the communications out to them. I don't know what more I could have done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Questions about whether the FBI is up to the job of collecting domestic intelligence persists. Commissioners are actively considering whether to endorse a separate agency to do the job. Wednesday, Director Robert Mueller and CIA Director George Tenet are expected to make the case against such a change -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Kelli Arena thanks from Washington.
President Bush is sure to get questions about the 9/11 Commission and Iraq when he holds a news conference in just about 80 minutes from now. Covering the president tonight Senior White House tonight Senior White House Correspondent John King. John what does the White House feel the president needs to do tonight in this press conference?
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Most of all, Anderson, address the precarious bloody situation in Iraq of the past week or so. The president will deliver not an opening statement tonight but more of a speech. Usually a president speaks for three to five minutes at the beginning of a news conference.
We are told President Bush will speak for as long as 18 minutes. His opening statement dedicated solely to Iraq. The challenge for the president to say that progress is being made despite the bloodshed but that is a significant challenge.
In two weeks we will mark the one year point from which the president made that dramatic speech on the aircraft carrier saying major combat operations are over, the death toll of course rising right now.
The generals are asking for more troops at precisely the moment the president had hoped to draw down the U.S. deployments in Iraq, not only to reduce that number but to reduce that number in advance of the presidential election. So, a major challenge for the president tonight in trying to convince the American people that he is on the right course in Iraq.
Just 78 days from now, the United States is supposed to hand over sovereignty in Iraq. There is still no firm plan on just who or how to hand that sovereignty over and the United Nations saying today that it cannot have a significant presence in Iraq until the security situation improves.
So, Anderson, Iraq is challenge number one but the president also expects tough questions on the 9/11 Commission, on whether his administration ignored the urgency of the terrorist threat in this country.
Two hundred and two days away from the presidential election. That's likely to come up at least once or twice as well -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, John King live at the White House thanks very much, John.
We're going to have extensive coverage of the president's press conference tonight all through the show and, of course, we'll carry that live at 8:30.
The president's press conference will be his 12th solo press conference, his third in prime time in the East Room. Here's a "Fast Fact" for you. President Bush has held the fewest number of solo press conferences of any president in modern history. As of mid- April, the fourth year in office, President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave 83 solo press conferences. President Clinton had given 40.
Right now, we're following a number of developing stories for you "Cross Country." Let's take a look.
Outside Seattle, ricin arrest, the FBI today arrested an autistic man for having the deadly toxin in his apartment. They were tipped off by a seed company that the man had ordered five pounds of castor seeds, a main ingredient for making ricin. Investigators don't think he planned to poison anyone.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, berserk in court, a probation violator stormed the judge after sentencing today, overturned a table and chased the judge into chambers before deputies shot the man in the back. The 24-year-old is in critical condition. He was facing a two to four year sentence.
Phoenix, Arizona now, Senator John McCain's wife suffers a stroke. Cindy McCain is hospitalized in stable condition. A small bleeding in her brain caused speech problems. The doctors say her prognosis is excellent.
Atlanta, Georgia, stockpiling flu shots, the CDC said today it plans its first ever flu shot stockpile setting aside about four million doses just for kids. The run on vaccines last winter caught suppliers off guard. The outbreak caused dozens of child flu deaths. That's a quick look at stories "Cross Country" for you tonight.
Well, with President Bush facing tough questions about Iraq and 9/11, do you wonder why is John Kerry kind of keeping quiet? Coming up, we'll look at the strategy of silence.
Plus, "Indecent Crackdown," it's not just the FCC. The Justice Department is going after the porn industry like no administration has in recent years. Will it affect what you can see and hear? We'll look at the crackdown and then talk with "Playboy's" Hugh Hefner.
Also tonight, as the 9/11 Commission continues its work we asked whatever happened to that commission on WMDs? How quickly we forget. We'll give you a status report.
Before all that, right now, let's take a look "Inside the box," at top stories on tonight's network newscasts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's going to happen now with our economy if he has any plans in motion to really get that boosted and pushing forward for the next years?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd have to ask when are the troops coming home?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to see questions directed to him that pertain to jobs creation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well those are some of the questions Americans would ask the president tonight in his prime-time news conference which takes place in just over an hour from now.
But while the president has been facing some heat, we've been noticing that Senator John Kerry seems to be staying rather silent on the president's troubles.
Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley looks into what the candidate is doing and why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It has the sound of a news vacuum.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People are beginning to understand that the American economy is not working for them. They're working for the economy.
CROWLEY: John Kerry involved this week in a series of campus rallies and high end fund-raisers rarely brings up Iraq. When asked he says the usual.
KERRY: I would go to the United Nations directly and challenge the world to become involved in something that the world actually has a legitimate interest in, the outcome of what happens in Iraq.
CROWLEY: Camp Kerry is not interested in making news right now, not concerned with pressing the president on Iraq. The course of events has provided all the news and pressure John Kerry could ask for.
Still, there are Democratic complaints which Republicans are happy to fuel that Kerry needs to lay out a specific plan for Iraq. Pushed on the subject, Kerry pushed back.
Specifics, stay with the mission, send more troops if needed, bring in the U.N., ask NATO to serve under U.S. command, now to put the shoe on another foot.
KERRY: We know we are committed to guaranteeing that there is not a failed state that contributes in worse ways to a war on terror but this president owes Americans a specific explanation of exactly how we are going to achieve that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: For the most part, Senator Kerry doesn't have to ask the president to speak. There will be plenty of reporters there tonight, of course, asking questions. The Kerry campaign is content to follow an age old rule of politics, when your opponent's campaign is in a jam stand back and watch -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Candy Crowley thanks for that.
We're tracking a number of developing stories around the globe right now. Let's take a look at the "Up Link."
Beijing, Cheney's Asian swing, the vice president pressing U.S. priorities during meetings today with Chinese leaders, high on the list jump-starting nuclear talks with North Korea, cooling tensions with Taiwan, and getting Beijing's backing for a U.N. role in Iraq.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, plea for federal troops, a bloody drug war in the city's largest slum, (unintelligible) prompts the state governor today to ask for the military's help. Ten people have died, several schools forced to shut down because of the fighting. Off the coast of Canada, open season on baby seals. Animal rights groups released this disturbing footage shot during this week's annual seal cull off Newfoundland. Hunters can kill up to 315,000 this year but watchdogs say the two-day slaughter is inhumane in their words.
Beijing again, a new plan for controlling HIV, free condoms, syringes and a drug substitute used to treat heroin addiction will soon be available at China's entertainment venues. Experts warn the number of cases could mushroom to ten million by 2010.
In London, England, the Concorde's final crawl really final, I know we said it before. It always seems like they're having the final crawl. This time they say it is.
Crowds gathered along the Thames to watch the last of seven supersonic jets make its way to a British flight museum. Two other retired Concordes are on display in the U.S., one in Seattle, the other in New York. Last time we say that, I promise. That's a look at tonight's "Up Link."
"Indecent Crackdown," our special series is next. Millions of dollars being spent to stop pornography, a moral crusade or political campaign, we'll look at what the Justice Department is doing. We'll also talk with "Playboy's" Hugh Hefner.
Also tonight, the president addresses the nation and the White House Press Corps under pressure. Will they ask the tough questions?
And a little bit later tonight, WMD, bad intel and violent war, whatever happened to that WMD commission? How quickly we forget, all that ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): Porn is big business in America. Each year sales from adult videos average $500 million to $1.8 billion. Porn on the Internet generates $1 billion, pay-per-view porn $150 million and adult magazines $1 billion.
Hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott also cash in. According to the "New York Times," these hotels earn up to $190 million a year from guests spending $10 or more to order in room porn.
Attorney General John Ashcroft has made his views about obscenity clear. In 2002, he said: "Obscenity invades our homes persistently through the mail, telephone, VCR, cable TV and now the Internet. This multimillion dollar industry has strewn its victims from coast to coast."
Before he was made the Justice Department's main porn prosecutor, Bruce Taylor told PBS that he believed: "Just about everything on the Internet and almost everything in the video stores and everything in the adult bookstores is still prosecutable, illegal obscenity." Right now the Justice Department may only be focusing on extreme porn. There's no telling where its investigators may crack down next.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, "Playboy" is one of the top selling soft porn magazines. The parent company Playboy Enterprises, Incorporated made about $350 million last year, according to Hoover's online, the business reporting service. "Playboy" is in the hardcore porn business as well. In 2001, the company bought two cable channels, which show hardcore pornography.
Will the crackdown extend to them? Earlier I spoke with "Playboy" founder Hugh Hefner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Hugh, are you concerned at all about the Justice Department's crackdown on pornography?
HUGH HEFNER, FOUNDER, PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES: Well, I think we live in kind of a foolish and at the same time frightening times. We're dealing with, you know, religious fanaticism overseas that is changing the very nature of the world and, at the same time, we're -- we're allowing a certain amount of religious fanaticism to do some kind of foolish things. I don't think our problems here are Janet Jackson's breasts or what some people call indecency.
COOPER: The pendulum seems to swing back and forth in terms of what people are willing to accept, what people get upset by. Do you think the pendulum is swinging too far in one direction right now?
HEFNER: It's unfortunately true that one of the two parties every time they get into power are put there in part by the religious right and that's part of what this is all about.
COOPER: Do you see this as a First Amendment issue at all?
HEFNER: Of course it's a First Amendment issue. The exception to the First Amendment historically has been things sexual and I think that's unfortunate because I think the real obscenities on this planet don't have much to do with sex.
COOPER: When you look at the adult industry, I mean it's an enormous business but it's a business which major corporations are involved with. Do you think the crackdown is going to extend to them?
HEFNER: No, no, I don't think so. I think that, as I say, in that sense the censors have lost the war. In other words, technology and sexuality has become mainstream and you really can't put the genie back in the bottle.
COOPER: What about, I mean obscenity, what's your definition of obscenity?
HEFNER: Racism, war, bigotry, but sex itself, no. What a sad and cold world this would be if we weren't sexual beings. I mean that's the heart of who we are.
COOPER: And yet there is a lot of stuff out there available, as you point out on the Internet and videos that is extraordinary extreme. I mean is all that OK in your opinion?
HEFNER: If we're dealing with adults, yes it's OK, but if we're talking about protecting children I think that's perfectly appropriate but I don't think that's what the controversy is all about.
In other words, the chilling effect of what's been going on now doesn't have much to do with hardcore pornography. It has to do with the FCC. It has to do with Howard Stern. It has to do with Janet Jackson's breasts. It has to do with what somebody is calling indecency.
COOPER: And you think it has to do with politics?
HEFNER: Without question. I mean the reality is one of the parties is in power in part because of the religious right and I don't think that any one group should be dictating, you know, the rights and free speech of the rest of us.
COOPER: And yet they say, you know, a lot of this stuff is degrading. It's degrading not only to the people involved but to society at large. It's bad for America.
HEFNER: That's a very un-American attitude. In other words, the whole premise of this society is, you know, freedom of choice and I think we should stop worrying about our neighbors.
COOPER: Hugh, it's always good to talk to you. I appreciate you being on the program.
HEFNER: It is my pleasure. Thank you. Have a good day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, today's "Buzz" question is this. With all the crackdowns on sex, showing it, talking about it, joking about it, which do you think is more indecent on television, graphic sex or graphic violence? What offends you more? Vote now, log onto cnn.com/360, results at the end of the program.
Also a news note before we leave the subject. Wal-Mart is now selling the world's first DVD player that can seamlessly skip over nudity, violence and swearing in movies.
It is manufactured by Thompson (ph), Incorporated under its RCA brand but the technology it uses is at the center of a lawsuit by the Director's Guild of America which says it's wrong for the software company to profit from making changes to movies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): President Bush faces the nation in just one hour. What questions will the commander-in-chief face? We'll have a preview.
And, if you missed today's tough testimony on 9/11, we'll bring you the highlights. I'll talk live with a commission member. 360 continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Right now, President Bush getting ready to address the nation and the world. We are less than an hour away from his press conference. You're looking at a live shot of the White House, where he is expected to take questions on Iraq, where tonight four unidentified bodies have been found. We're going to have complete coverage of that in just a moment.
But, first, let's look at the top stories tonight in "The Reset."
Baghdad, bodies found. State Department officials say the remains of those four people have been discovered on the outskirts of Iraq's capital. No word on their identities. But notification has gone out to relatives of workers for a Halliburton subsidiary that has seven contractors missing in Iraq. One of them, Thomas Hamill, is known to be a hostage.
Still in Washington, John Ashcroft on 9/11. The attorney general says the U.S. failed to detect the September 11 plot because the government had separated intelligence gathering from criminal investigations prior to the Bush administration. Ashcroft testified before the 9/11 Commission today.
New York, why are these people clapping? You might think a robust retail sales report would be welcome on Wall Street. Think again. Concerns that the news might prompt a hike in interest rates took a bite out of the stocks today. The Dow, Nasdaq and Standard & Poor's indexes all closed down sharply.
Washington, West Nile season starts. Federal officials report the first likely case of human West Nile infection in the U.S. this year. The patient is a 79-year-old man in Ohio. Last year, nearly 10,000 West Nile cases in the nation caused 262 deaths.
Denver, Colorado. Peter Coors running for the U.S. Senate. The conservative beer baron officially launched his campaign to replace retiring Republican Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
And that is a quick look at stories in "The Reset" tonight.
In just under one hour, President Bush holds a rare prime-time news conference. Wolf Blitzer is going to be covering it live for CNN from Washington.
Wolf joins us now.
Wolf, a rare press conference certainly for this president. Why now? What's he trying to do tonight? WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: By all accounts, Anderson, many of his political advisers think the president has to go out effectively tonight and make the case why he decided to go to war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq one year ago.
He has to reassure a jittery American public that he's on top of his game right now, he knows what he's doing. This is an election year, obviously. This is a critical moment where he can effectively potentially make the case for his policies. Remember, also, that this is a moment when the president will have probably 16 to 18 minutes of free airtime before a potentially huge audience of Americans out there tonight to make his case. There's a tradeoff, Anderson, for that.
In order to get that free airtime to make that speech, the opening statement at the top of the news conference, he's going to have to subject himself to some potentially tough questions from White House reporters.
COOPER: And you think the focus of those questions is going to be firmly on Iraq, obviously, the 9/11 Commission also being in the news.
BLITZER: I think those will be the two big issues before the president. But if he takes questions for 45 minutes or even on hour, there are plenty of opportunities for the president to be asked a wide range of issues, including political questions.
This is a political year, obviously, economic issues, health- related issues. No doubt, though, most of the questions will on Iraq, will be on 9/11. The president will be asked those questions. To a certain degree, he has another advantage advantages in that he can decide when there will be a follow-up question. It's not normally the case that he will necessarily let a reporter ask a follow-up. So there are certain home court advantages he has in the East Room of the White House.
COOPER: All right, Wolf, your coverage begins in some 55 minutes. We'll be watching. Thanks very much, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you.
COOPER: A flashback now for you to President Bush's last prime- time news conference a little more than a year ago. March 6 was the date, 2003. He talked about Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He has weapons of mass destruction and he has used weapons of mass destruction in his neighborhood and on his own people. He's invaded countries in his neighborhood. He tortures his own people. He's a murderer. He has trained and financed al Qaeda-type organizations before, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. I take the threat seriously. And I'll deal with the threat. I hope it can be done peacefully.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: That was the last time the president held a news conference a little more than a year ago. And now, of course, Saddam Hussein in U.S. custody and President Bush has appointed a bipartisan commission to figure out why there were intelligence failures on Iraq's WMD capabilities. We're going to have an update on that investigation just ahead.
But, first, let's look at what happened today in front of the 9/11 Commission. An all-star lineup of present and former top law enforcement officials took turns in the hot seat today. It was a long day of testimony, much of it lacking the fireworks television so loves. Here's some of what was said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOUIS FREEH, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: September 11, had we had the right sources overseas or in the United States, could have been prevented. We did not have those sources. We did not have that telephone call. We didn't have that e-mail intercept that could have done the job.
THOMAS PICKARD, FORMER ACTING FBI DIRECTOR: As I recall, during the period January to September 2001, the FBI received over 1,000 threats. Many of these threats had great specificity and others were very general in nature. All were taken seriously, but the volume was daunting.
COFER BLACK, FORMER DIRECTOR, CIA COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER: I have heard some people say this country wasn't at war. I want to tell you, Mr. Chairman, the Counterterrorism Center was at war. We conducted ourselves at war. And that's the way it is.
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Every tough tactic we have deployed since the attacks would have been deployed before the attacks. But the simple fact of September 11 is this. We did not know an attack was coming because, for nearly a decade, our government had blinded itself to its enemies.
Our agents were isolated by government imposed walls, handcuffed by government-imposed restrictions, and starved for basic information technology. The old national intelligence system in place on September 11 was destined to fail.
BLACK: We are profoundly sorry. We did all we could. We did our best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, just before we went on air I spoke with a member of the commission, former Navy Secretary John Lehman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Secretary Lehman, how will you and the other commission members go about reconciling this conflicting testimony between John Ashcroft and former acting Director of the FBI Thomas Pickard? JOHN LEHMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: Well, I think that there's less conflict, really, than meets the eye. But we certainly...
COOPER: How so?
LEHMAN: Well, because the number of meetings, the recollection of people as to what was in meetings, did you talk about terrorism or just al Qaeda, these are, you know, they're really not central to what our mission is.
Much more central is what the testimony of both of those people gave us, which was really in some ways a confirmation -- well, in all ways, it was a confirmation of what we've already found out in private. We've pursued a policy of counterterrorism based on restrictions and a structure that was created in 1947 for a Cold War, for a focus on foreign states, and it's utterly unsuited for dealing with a current threat of a religious war, really.
COOPER: Well, you yourself have said in the past that the information that the FBI and the CIA have a problem communicating with each other has been known for a long time. I learned that back in poli-sci class back in college. And you I think yourself in the past have pointed out other commissions have tried to fix it. They haven't. Why do you think your commission, the work you're doing now, why do you think you're going to be able to fix it where others haven't?
LEHMAN: Well, because ours is the first commission after 9/11. And all the warnings prior, people and commissions for decades, fell on deaf ears, and the deaf ears were in Congress, because Congress just was not particularly concerned.
And Congress wanted a system where the FBI did not talk to intelligence. As we heard today, the FBI wasn't even allowed to do what you and I can do, which is to spend $40 and buy a report on anybody through ChoicePoint, all of the credit card information and so forth, that could have really helped in identifying those terrorists. They were not allowed to even ask for because of the prohibitions that Congress has put in. Clearly, this has to be changed.
COOPER: It was a fascinating and at times disturbing day of testimony.
Secretary Lehman, appreciate you joining us. Thank you.
LEHMAN: Pleasure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, with the 9/11 Commission in full swing, it made us wonder, whatever happened to another commission, the one named by the president to review apparent intelligence failures over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction? It was announced with some fanfare back in February. Since then, we haven't heard much about it. It just goes to show how quickly we forget.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): Remember, back in February, the president was facing a political and media firestorm over the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In response, he decided to form a commission.
BUSH: I'm putting together an independent, bipartisan commission to -- to analyze where we stand, what we can do better as we fight this -- fight this war against terror.
COOPER: Big names were appointed, leaders from both parties, among others, Senator John McCain, former Virginia Governor and Senator Charles Robb, and former federal Judge Lawrence Silberman.
The story was big for a couple of days. Then the commission, and the issue of WMD, seemed to disappear. What's happened since? Well, it turns out "The New York Times" talked to a spokesman who says the commission held a meeting on March 31. And members -- quote -- "came away with a very clear sense of direction" -- unquote, adding that the commission won't meet again until May, when the commission's executive director returns from Iraq, where he's a deputy to Paul Bremer.
Of course, none of this may matter very much. This presidential commission isn't scheduled to deliver a report until March 2005, long after the presidential election.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, the president's news conference begins in some 48 minutes now. What questions will he face? We'll take a closer look at that coming up.
Plus, "American Idol" fans, you're in limbo tonight. Ahead, how the presser is affecting tonight's prime-time TV lineup.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Bush, what steps need to be taken in order to transfer Iraq over to a coalition government by June 30?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When is he going to start controlling the borders?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would he have Condoleezza Rice answer the 9/11 panel questions, rather than take that responsibility himself?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Some of the questions our viewers said they'd like to ask the president tonight. We are about 45 minutes away or so from President Bush's first prime-time news conference in 13 months -- 45 -- I was right.
What should we expect from reporters tonight? Let's find out. Dana Milbank is a White House correspondent for "The Washington Post." And Phil Bronstein is editor of "The San Francisco Chronicle."
Thanks for being on the program, both of you.
Phil, let me start off with you.
If you were at the news conference tonight, what would you ask the president?
PHIL BRONSTEIN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE": Well, I think he's going to have a statement to begin with. And I'm sure the statement will put as positive a spin as he can put on the events in Iraq. But the reality is, those events are moving in the other direction.
You have defectors. His General Abizaid actually was quite candid the other day, yesterday, I think, when he talked about defections of Iraqi troops. This is going in the opposite direction of the exit strategy for the United States of America. At the same time, you know, you've got caskets coming back increasingly from Iraq of Americans.
COOPER: So your question would be, what, do you have an exit strategy?
BRONSTEIN: Yes. What is your exit strategy and how do you justify the exit strategy when all the facts on the ground are going in the other direction?
COOPER: Dana, I know you're working on your questions for "The Washington Post." I'm not going to put you on the spot or anything. But what goes into crafting a question? There's a whole process About who gets called on when and where.
DANA MILBANK, STAFF WRITER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": There sure is.
And we in the newspaper business have to wait until after the more prominent correspondents from places like CNN get to ask their questions. So we have to see what's still left over at the end. But it's pretty predictable. Actually, if I were there tonight, I'd want to know if the president's aware that he bumped "American Idol" and is he aware of what consequences this may have for his reelection?
COOPER: You're afraid it might affect his polls? I don't know. We'll see about that.
MILBANK: Seriously, 25 million viewers, that's half you need to get elected.
COOPER: Yes, but the quality of some of the "American Idol" not really up to snuff right now.
But let me get back to a serious topic.
Phil, does it seem like as reporters -- are you impressed by the level of questions that reporters ask at these events? Often, some of the questions seem like softballs. Or some talk about retaliation, even, sometimes if they ask too tough questions.
BRONSTEIN: Well, I think Dana would be able to address this better than I would. Clearly, I think the president always gets to pick on the people he wants to pick on. The strategy of any president or any politician is usually to answer the question you wish you were asked, not the one that you're actually asked.
I think another good question would be, why don't you follow not necessarily in the footsteps of Richard Clarke, but now that officials from your administration have indicated that, while they inherited the 9/11 problem, the lack of intelligence coordination, that it continued during your administration. You are the head of that administration. Would you like to apologize to the families of 9/11 for that lapse?
COOPER: Dana, what is your sense? Is the White House doing this press conference because they really want the president to address these questions or because they want that free airtime right off the bat, uninterrupted?
MILBANK: They're certainly doing this under a bit of duress. This is only the third prime-time news conference. The president loves to say how this is a time for the network correspondents to preen.
But they were under a great deal of pressure. A lot of Republican lawmakers calling them up and saying, you've really got to get out there in a prominent way to get ahead of the story. So it's very much a defensive maneuver that they're undertaking here. And there's quite a bit of risk if the president doesn't control this forum. He's going to have a very lengthy speech, maybe 15 to 18 minutes to start things off, which is unusual.
But it's hard to tell where the questions will go. And indeed, they gave us more than 24 hours notice this time, which means all of the reporters had plenty of time to think up a stump-the-president type of question that he might not be expecting.
COOPER: Well, we'll be watching. Dana Milbank and Phil Bronstein, appreciate you being on the program. Thank you very much.
The press conference starts in just some 42 minutes from now. The president is probably huddling with his advisers now, reviewing what to say, how to say it. The unscripted nature of the press conference has never been his favorite political forum, but it's less impromptu than you might think.
CNN's Bruce Morton explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush himself admits he doesn't like reporters, mostly doesn't read newspapers. He told Brit Hume last year: "The best way to get the news is from objective sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world."
President Bush isn't the only president to dislike the press. Richard Nixon, after losing the race for governor of California, famously told reporters:
RICHARD NIXON: You don't Nixon to kick around anymore.
MORTON: Of course he was wrong. All administrations try to stay on message and control what is written about them. John Kennedy did the first live presidential press conferences.
JOHN F. KENNEDY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Life is unfair.
MORTON: It was a good forum for a young, handsome president, though even Kennedy got angry enough once to cancel a newspaper subscription.
Prime-time presidential press conferences are rare. Still, it's a grand stage for a president. And this one comes at a time when Americans are worried about Iraq, a time when editorials have been calling on the president to level with the voters about what's going on. It looks hard, the president and all these newsies. But Steve Hess, a veteran of the Nixon White House, says presidents usually dominate.
STEVE HESS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: It's very easy to anticipate 95 percent of the questions that the reporters will ask. They start with an opening statement that they control. They know who to call on when they look out at the reporters. They end the conference where they want to end it. It is the president's press conference and he controls it. And yet we all think somehow that he is at the mercy of these nattering reporters.
BUSH: Thank you for your questions.
MORTON: Maybe. But that's why we watch.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: All the networks are carrying the press conference tonight, though they're not always happy about having to throw out their prime-time lineup. We'll look at that ahead.
And in "The Current," what may be the most important reporter question of the night for President Bush. Maybe.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: In "The Current," we always look at the lighter side of things. Tonight, politics.
The president's press conference is doing a number on TV schedules. For example, Fox is pushing back tonight's episode of "American Idol." That's the bad news. We do have some good news. Fox is pushing back tonight's episode of "American Idol." The "360" crew, they don't really like the show.
TV executives fear the president's press conference will not only cost them a bundle in advertising, but turn away millions of viewers or, in ABC's case, hundreds. I must stress that line was created by Gabe Falcon (ph) and producer Tommy Evans (ph). It does not accurately reflect the love I hold for ABC.
As we have talked about, it's a big night for reporters vying to ask the president the first question. We hope NBC's White House reporter will bow to synergy and ask the president a really tough question, Kwame or Bill?
Sony pictures has optioned Richard Clarke's best-selling book. One Hollywood producer says it will make a great movie. The book he says is amazing, exciting and powerful, though by the time Hollywood script doctors get their hands on it, Richard Clarke will be played by Frankie Muniz.
Tonight, all the major television networks are carrying the press conference live. It is expected to last more than an hour. That means the networks have to alter their schedules. On the face of it, it seems an easy decision. But for TV networks, it is not always as simple as it sounds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "AMERICAN IDOL")
SIMON COWELL, HOST: That was honestly the end of the road for you, I Think.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER (voice-over): Fox, for instance, has to bump its hugely popular "American Idol" episode with an estimated 25 million viewers from tonight to tomorrow. They've decided to do it this time, but that isn't always the case.
Back in February 1997, President Clinton was delivering his State of the Union address. But at the same time, the jury in the O.J. Simpson civil trial reached a verdict. The potential ratings on the O.J. Simpson verdict were huge. And the networks had to scramble, carrying the president's speech, but then breaking away to the court, where crowds and reporters were gathering.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: God bless you, and God bless America.
COOPER: Some even chose to show both, like ABC, which had Clinton on the top of the screen, followed by the latest on the Simpson trial on the bottom.
And in October OF 2002, when President Bush gave a speech detailing the threat he believed Iraq posed, ABC, NBC and CBS didn't air it live. The reason? According to the CBS spokeswoman, the White House didn't request the time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, President Bush speaking live in prime-time tonight just about 34 minutes away. And he better be ready to play ball with reporters. We'll take presidential news conferences to "The Nth Degree" just ahead.
And tomorrow, the Clinton memoir. Why is the Kerry campaign nervous? We'll look at that tomorrow.
And here's today's "Buzz." Which do you think is more indecent on television, graphic sex or graphic violence? Vote now, CNN.com/360, part of our series "Indecent Crackdown." Results at the end of the show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Time now for the "Buzz."
We asked you, which do you think is more indecent on television, graphic sex or graphic violence? Part of our series. Here's what you have to say; 84 percent of you said graphic violence; 16 percent of you said graphic sex. We'll have more on our series "Indecent Crackdown" tomorrow.
Tonight, taking hardballs and softballs to "The Nth Degree."
It's been a long while since the last presidential news conference in prime time. So we thought some of you might like a refresher course in the fine points. This particular president bats righty, some would say ultra-righty, and does not like questions coming at him from the left. The strike zone is a rectangular area above the podium, but not too high. As a matter of protocol, reporters generally don't hurl questions directly at the president's head or too fast or too hard or with too much stuff on them, for fear they'll be shunned at future competitions.
On the other hand, they don't want to seem to be lobbing big fat balloons right over the plate either. For his part, the president doesn't want to bunt, doesn't want to be seen swinging wildly, and he doesn't want to get hit, because there's no base to run to.
In prime-time presidential news conference ball, the only thing to count are home runs and strikes.
I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
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