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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Father Pleads for Peterson's Life; Conspiracy Theories; "Jeopardy" King Dethroned
Aired December 01, 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening from New York. I'm Anderson Cooper.
Scott Peterson's father, face to face with the jury that will decide his son's fate.
360 starts now.
Life or death, Scott Peterson's dad pleads with the jury to spare his son. Tonight, what he said, and how the jury reacted.
President Bush says, Thanks, Canada, for your 9/11 help. But was his northern swing a success? Or did it just reopen old wounds?
Allegations of a plot to poison the presidential contender in Ukraine. What caused this man's face to go from this to this?
Men have the pill, but will women get the patch? The hormone replacer may help women get back their lost libidos. But is it safe?
The crash of TWA flight 800. They say the plane malfunctioned, but some still believe a missile brought it down. Tonight, the conspiracy theory that continues nearly 10 years after the crash.
And, say it ain't so. All-time "Jeopardy" king Ken Jennings gets it wrong. Tonight we go 360 with the Trump of trivia.
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.
COOPER: And a good evening to you.
"Penalty phase" is the bland legal term used to describe what's happening right now in a courtroom in Redwood City, California. Six men, six women are going to have to decide if Scott Peterson should spend the rest of his life in prison, or die.
Now, the penalty, in other words, will be either his freedom or his life.
Ted Rowlands is covering the case right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scott Peterson's father testified that he loves his son very much, and that he is frightened and saddened by the, quote, "jeopardy" he's in, facing the death penalty.
Lee Peterson was the first of what is expected to be a week-long case from Scott Peterson's defense team. Lee Peterson told jurors that Scott, his youngest child, started out as a perfect baby, and throughout his life, never caused any trouble. He talked about his son's charity work and going to church.
The elder Peterson was on the stand for almost three hours. When asked about the possibility of the death penalty for his son, Lee Peterson said, quote, "I don't want to entertain that thought. I just can't imagine anything worse."
While heartfelt, some legal analysts questioned the effectiveness of Lee Peterson's testimony.
CHUCK SMITH, LEGAL ANALYST: Scott was the perfect baby. He was the perfect grade-schooler. He was the perfect high school student, the perfect college student, and the perfect adult. I don't think the jury is going to accept that picture that Lee Peterson has portrayed.
ROWLANDS: Earlier, the opening statement for the defense was handled by attorney Pat Harris instead of Mark Geragos. Harris told jurors he disagreed with their guilty verdict against Peterson but, quote, "respected the decision."
Harris then turned to the death penalty, saying, quote, "This is a very strong individual decision, something you will live with for the rest of your life."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Geragos is still involved in the case. Geragos handled the final questioning today of the final witness, Susan Caudillo (ph), Scott Peterson's sister.
At the end of the day, the judge told the jury that they should expect to get this case next Monday, Anderson.
COOPER: Thanks very much for that. Appreciate it.
Last night, I wondered aloud how many of the jurors have already made up their minds about Scott Peterson's fate. Well, our crack research team of unpaid, overworked interns found this fast fact. Let's take a look.
A Northeastern University study says that about half of all jurors in death penalty cases actually make up their minds about punishment during the guilt phase of the trial. We shall see.
Amber Frey's attorney was in the courtroom today, as she was yesterday, when Laci Peterson's mom was on the stand. Gloria Allred joins us now.
Gloria, obviously a very different mood inside the courtroom today. What, how, what did you see? What did you hear? GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY FOR AMBER FREY: Yes, it was a different mood, because lee Peterson, Scott's father, was testifying. But it was eerie at the same time. It was like watching a eulogy for someone who was still living.
And Lee Peterson was talking about how Scott, growing up, always had a smile on his face, Anderson. But every time he said "a smile on his face," I kept thinking of Laci with her beautiful smile, and how her parents will never see that smile again, except in photographs.
And so it was chilling. I mean, he, yes, Lee Peterson said that basically he didn't want to think about the death penalty, but the end of the day, Susan Caudillo, who is Scott's sister, testified that if Scott got the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the death penalty, that she thought it would kill her parents, Jackie and Lee.
Again, when she said that, it made me think of Sharon Rocha. I mean, her daughter, her grandson are killed, are murdered, because of Scott Peterson's actions, and yet she's going to have to find the strength and courage to go on. Wouldn't Lee and Jackie need to also find that strength and courage to go on?
COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
ALLRED: And how different is it when their son, if he gets the death penalty, is getting it, because he's had a trial, and because of his own actions?
COOPER: Well, Gloria, obviously you're very involved in this case in a very different way than the jury. As you watched the jury listen to Scott Peterson's father on the stand, what was their reaction? What do you think their, the impact of the testimony was?
ALLRED: Well, Anderson, I didn't see anybody taking any notes. They were listening very carefully, and they were listening respectfully. But it's going on and on. And I'm not sure what impact it's really making.
COOPER: Do you think they've already made up their minds?
ALLRED: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I think they'll wait until they're in the jury room. I, that's what they're supposed to do. I mean, this is all about mitigating circumstances. And Pat Harris said this morning, he's not trying to say that Scott Peterson is Jonas Salk, but what he's trying to do is to show mitigating circumstances, show that he's, you know, that his life should be saved, I guess because he's good.
But the fact that he, you know, worked hard to play golf in college, you know, I'm not sure that that's going to be enough of a circumstance to save his life.
COOPER: Now, is Mark Geragos still leading this defense?
ALLRED: Well, I'm sure he's still lead counsel, but certainly, it was Pat Harris who gave the opening statement, which I thought was a good opening statement for Scott Peterson, at least as good as it could be, given the facts. And then at the, towards the end of the afternoon, after Pat Harris had examined Lee Peterson and some other witnesses, then Mark Geragos suddenly stood up, and he examined Susan Caudillo, Scott's sister.
COOPER: All right, Gloria Allred, appreciate you joining us tonight. Thanks very much, Gloria.
ALLRED: OK, thank you.
COOPER: Word today the U.S. will be sending 1,500 more troops to Iraq. Now, this is to prepare for elections, which are still scheduled for the end of January. That means there will be about 150,000 American troops there for the elections.
President Bush wrapped up his two-day visit to Canada with a visit to the eastern maritime city of Halifax. And that was a town that took in a good many Americans in those very dark days after 9/11.
CNN's senior White House correspondent John King has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a stop with two goals, say thank you for Canada's help on the defining day of his first term, and sound a conciliatory note looking ahead to the next four years.
BUSH: A new term in office is an important opportunity to reach out to our friends.
KING: A more diplomatic tone, but not necessarily a new course. To Canada and other Iraq war critics, this message from the president. If they want him to give the United Nations and other organizations more say, then they must demand that multilateral diplomacy means results, not just meetings.
BUSH: The objective of the U.N. and other institutions must be collective security, not endless debate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home Bush. Go home Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go home Bush. Go home Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home Bush. Go home Bush.
KING: More demonstrations underscored Mr. Bush's delicate challenge. He wants to put the bitterness of Iraq and other debates in the past, while firmly defending his decisions.
Better personal relations are key, and Mr. Bush has taken a liking to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.
BUSH: Two prosperous, independent nations joined together by the return of NHL hockey.
KING: Mr. Martin was quick to echo Mr. Bush's friendly tone.
PAUL MARTIN, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: We're in a war against terrorism, and we are in it together, Americans and Canadians.
KING: Key European first-term Bush critics also welcome the president's talk of a fresh start.
JEAN-DAVID LEVITTE, FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: I can tell you that that's exactly the mood in Europe. So let's shake hands, and let's work together to build a better future for our people.
KING: Iraq aside, many Canadians feel slighted by Mr. Bush. In trying to make amends, Mr. Bush praised Canadian military help in Afghanistan, reconstruction aid in Iraq, and the remarkable outpouring of kindness to some 33,000 Americans stranded here when U.S. airspace closed after the 9/11 attacks.
BUSH: Beyond the words of politicians and the natural disagreements that nations will have, our two peoples are one family and always will be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Now, conciliatory talk is one thing, better relations quite another. The true test will come, Anderson, in the debates, some ongoing, some just ahead, on Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and other global challenges, Anderson.
COOPER: John King, thanks, from Halifax tonight.
There are signs that the presidential election crisis in the Ukraine may be getting a bit closer to a resolution.
Now, the two rivals met face to face today, and reached a compromise agreement. Both sides say they will work to unify the country, and the opposition has agreed to stop blockading government buildings. They will now wait for the country's supreme court to rule in the election dispute. The parliament there also passed a no- confidence vote against the government of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.
In Ukraine, what happens, though, in front of the cameras is often very different than what happens off-camera.
Now, there have been serious allegations of poisoning, attempted murder. Take a look at what's happened to the face of the opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) before and after. Until recently, he was known for his very youthful appearance. The question is, what caused his face to change so drastically? Yushchenko blames the government.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He had movie-star looks, experience in leadership as Ukraine's prime minister. But, according to the pollsters, he lacked the support of enough ordinary Ukrainians to win the presidency.
Then this September, after complaining of food poisoning, he was admitted to a hospital in Kiev, then an Austrian clinic. When he emerged, his face had changed dramatically. His small lines had turned into deep pockmarks, and with them, the contours of Ukraine's political landscape.
Yushka told his supporters the government was trying to poison him.
VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE (through translator): I want to express a special message to the authorities. You will not poison us.
CHILCOTE: Ukraine's top prosecutor investigated. His conclusion, Yushchenko was suffering from herpes.
The same Kremlin spin doctors who crafted President Putin's image in Russia were in Ukraine at the time, to support the pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovich.
"The election took on a folklorish, mythic nature," Glev (ph) Pavlovsky says. "It was a lie Yushchenko's staff told to hide the fact that their candidate was ill late in the campaign."
Whether the allegations are fairy tales or not, Yushchenko, the politician, became more attractive. Some Yushchenko watchers say he even ditched the makeup he was using to cover up his new face.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Strange case.
A number of quick items we've been following today cross-country right now.
In New York, Sheryl Crow's alleged stalker is free. This man, a jury has acquitted (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Ambrose Kappos (ph) of stalking the singer. Kappos was accused of pursuing Crow for a little more than a year, until he was arrested at one of his concerts last year. He says he's simply a lovestruck fan who feels an unexplained closeness to her. Too much information, that.
Providence, Rhode Island, now, a reporter's alleged source 'fesses up. According to court papers, a defense attorney has admitted to giving reporter Jim Turacani (ph) videotape that showed corruption in the city government. Now, Turacani is facing jail time for refusing to name his source.
And on NBC, Tom Brokaw has signed off. Just minutes ago, Brokaw ended a 21-year reign behind the network's anchor desk. We're not allowed to show you the sign-off, because the show still has to air on the West Coast, so we're improvising a little bit. This is video of Brokaw last night. Trust me, he looked pretty much the same tonight, except he was wearing a purple tie with a matching little thing in his pocket, and a kind of a pink shirt and a dark suit.
We also have these pictures from earlier in the day, when Brokaw drank some bubbly with his co-workers. Now, this, of course, violates the number one newsroom rule, never let them see you drink. Especially not at work.
Seriously, though, congratulations, Mr. Brokaw. Takes a lot of strength to be a network anchor, and even more strength to step down at the top of your game.
That's a look at stories cross-country tonight.
360 next, botox and botulism. Four people made seriously ill by the cosmetic injection. Is a tainted batch to blame?
Plus, roll over, Viagra. There's a new female sex patch. The question is, does it work, and is it safe? We'll take a closer look.
Also tonight, our special series, Conspiracy Theories. You know, they continue to swirl around the crash of TWA flight 800. Tonight, we have an exclusive interview with a TWA pilot who often flew the plane that crashed. He says he doesn't believe the official explanation.
First, let's take a look at your picks, the most popular stories right now on CNN.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, you may not know this, but that wrinkle-free wonder drug, botox, is actually derivative of the potentially fatal bacteria that causes botulism. That explains why tonight health officials are looking into whether a couple of boxes -- botox patients could have been poisoned by the toxin.
CNN's Brian Todd reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, two, three.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For millions of Americans each year, it's the treatment of choice for getting rid of wrinkles and furrows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you okay?
TODD: Now, health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN they're investigating whether four people hospitalized in those two states may have gotten botulism from botox injections. Two of them, now identified as Eric Kaplan and his wife, Bonnie, are in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at this hospital in Palm Beach County, Florida.
DR. CHARLES SCHALLOP, NEUROLOGIST, PALM BEACH GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER: This is very serious. These are two young, healthy individuals who are now critically ill.
TODD: Officials at the Florida hospital say Kaplan and his wife do have botulism, and that both recently received botox injections.
But state health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN only that they're looking into those possibilities. Florida officials say they're investigating whether all four patients were injected at the same time, at the same clinic in Fort Lauderdale.
The "Miami Herald" and two other publications report that one of the two unidentified patients who got those injections is a doctor. CNN has learned that doctor had his license suspended last year, and was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, in January of 2003 on 10 counts of illegal possession and trafficking of painkillers.
As for the overall safety of botox, two prominent doctors who administer the drug tell CNN it contains minuscule and very diluted doses of the botulinum toxin.
Dr. Tina Allster does thousands of botox treatments a year.
DR. TINA ALLSTER, DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGEON: Well, botox is extraordinarily safe. There've literally been millions of people treated with botox for cosmetic purposes over the past decade. We know that there's never been a case of botulism as a result of botox injections.
TODD: Officials at Allergan, the company that manufactures botox, tells CNN they sent two vials of botox this year to the Fort Lauderdale clinic where the four patients are believed to have gotten the injections. But Allergan officials say they've conducted an extensive review of those batches, and have found no safety problems. Allergan is cooperating with the Florida-New Jersey investigation.
(on camera): The botox label warns that people with preexisting conditions, like neuromuscular disorders, could risk making those conditions worse with botox. Doctors gave us a separate warning, that there are counterfeit drugs and other knockoffs of botox being used, which contain more concentrated amounts of the botulinum toxin.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, gunfire erupted outside Haiti's presidential palace today during U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit. Let's take a look in the uplink.
In Port-au-Prince, shortly after Powell arrived at the palace, security officers say that gunshots were fired from a passing car, and U.N. forces returned fire. Now, no one was hurt. State Department official says it's believed the gunshots came from supporters of ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristede.
Jerusalem now, political crisis. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has fired ministers from the Shinui (ph), or change party, after they voted against his budget. The move leaves Sharon's coalition with only 40 seats in the 120-member parliament. He now has to put together a new coalition to avoid attempts to bring down his government.
We take you now to the northern Philippines. Deadly floods and landslides. Take a look at this. Unbelievable images. A week after heavy rains, up to 600 people are feared dead. More trouble is on the way. A typhoon is now expected to hit in the next 48 hours. It's got at least 100-mile-an-hour winds.
That is a quick look at tonight's uplink.
Coming up next on 360, a female sex patch is getting an awful lot of attention. In a moment, Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates whether it is safe and effective.
Also ahead, what caused the crash of TWA flight 800? It has been eight years, but conspiracy theories are still flying. We have an exclusive interview tonight with a pilot who often flew the plane that went down. He says he doesn't buy the official explanation. It's part of our special series on conspiracy theories.
And a little later, Pentagon psy-ops and the press. Did the military lie to the U.S. media to find out how Iraqi insurgents would react? And is that fair game during times of war? What do you think?
We're covering all the angles tonight. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: The notion that a patch might be able to do for women what Viagra has done for men has raised a lot of hopes among -- well, actually both women and among men as well. Tomorrow, a federal advisory panel considers if this patch should be approved by the FDA.
Now, of course there are going to be a lot of questions. The two biggest ones, does it work, and is it safe?
CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may be set to join the current arsenal of sexual dysfunction creams, pills, and gels, the first female Viagra, a little patch called Intrinsa that's already sparking a big debate.
DR. SHALENDER BHASIN, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST: There is a huge amount of interest, but clearly there is a lot more hype than there is science in the field.
GUPTA: But Intrinsa's makers believe it is science, and that the patch, fueled by testosterone, could help millions of women suffering from something called hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
DR. LAURA BERMAN, SEX THERAPIST: Forty-three percent of American women have some kind of sexual function complaint, and the most common of those complaints is low desire.
GUPTA: The culprit for that low desire, many doctors say, is low testosterone, and that one solution is Intrinsa. In studies by the company that makes Intrinsa, it bolstered women's sexual activity and sexual appetite by about a third. But that's only in a group of post- menopausal women, whose ovaries had been removed.
There's also a price to pay for generating too much testosterone in women -- things like weight gain, acne, unwieldy hair growth, and more serious potential side effects, like high cholesterol and liver damage.
And then that question has not been answered about its usefulness for the rest of the female population.
BHASIN: Women who present with sexual dysfunction can have sexual dysfunction from multiple causes. Many of these women have a number of marital conflicts. Some of these women have previous history of sexual abuse. Giving testosterone to every woman who presents with sexual dysfunction would be clearly inappropriate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: If approved, Anderson, this would be the first FDA- approved drug for female sexual dysfunction. Testosterone has been used off-label for quite some time. But, you know, the question is really this, Anderson. Is it a quality-of-life drug, or is it a drug for a real medical problem? That's what the FDA's going to hash out tomorrow, Anderson.
COOPER: All right. We'll try to see how quickly they get results on that.
Also, we'll be watching your special tonight, 11:00, on marking down World AIDS Day. Sanjay Gupta, thanks.
GUPTA: Thank you.
COOPER: What really brought down (audio interrupt)...
The crash of TWA flight 800. They say the plane malfunctioned. But some still believe a missile brought it down. Tonight, the conspiracy theory that continues nearly 10 years after the crash.
Is lying now part of the Pentagon's strategy? New disclosures. How the military may use psy-ops and the press to trick the enemy.
And say it ain't so. All-time "Jeopardy" king Ken Jennings gets it wrong. Tonight we go 360 with the Trump of trivia.
360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: All this week we're taking a close look at conspiracy theories, stories which may be out of the headlines but on the Internet and elsewhere are still at the center of controversy. Tonight, TWA flight 800. Eight years ago, after the plane blew up in mid-air off the coast of Long Island, New York, killing all 230 people aboard, the questions still linger. The government says it was an accident, probably caused by a spark in the center fuel tank. But to this day there are many who believe otherwise, including a former TWA pilot who tonight in an exclusive interview talks for the first time about what he thinks really happened to flight 800. CNN's Gary Tuchman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terrell Stacey was a pilot for TWA, occasionally flying the very same Boeing 747 that exploded in mid-air on July 17, 1996. TWA flight 800's fate was probably the result of an explosion in the center wing fuel tank, says the National Transportation Safety Board. But Captain Stacey doesn't buy it.
TERRELL STACEY, FORMER TWA PILOT: I certainly do not believe it was the center wing tank.
TUCHMAN: Stacey was one of TWA's representatives in the NTSB investigation.
STACEY: The FBI and NTSB are political animals. They will do whatever it takes to cover their political rear ends.
TUCHMAN: More than eight years after this tragedy, many still believe a real cause is being covered up.
MIKE WIRE, TWA FLIGHT 800 EYEWITNESS: I think it was a missile that went up.
TUCHMAN: Mike Wire was interviewed by the FBI after he said he saw a flame-like object streak up in the sky and strike the plane. Sixteen months after the disaster the government produced this video explaining its findings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So the flare-like object he saw almost certainly was flight 800 just after it exploded. Not a missile.
TUCHMAN: But the 747 was said to be flying at 13,000 feet. Witness Mike Wire says he saw the streak at...
WIRE: 45 feet.
TUCHMAN: There have been books and documentaries about an alleged conspiracy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All leads pointed in one direction. But for reasons still uncertain, no one in official Washington wanted to go there. TUCHMAN: The late Pierre Salinger made a claim the U.S. Navy accidentally shot down the plane.
PIERRE SALINGER, FMR. JOURNALIST: Did it show the missile reaching the plane? Yes, it did.
TUCHMAN: The man who led the NTSB investigation says the facts do not support what the skeptics say.
ROBERT FRANCIS, FMR. NTSB VICE CHAIRMAN: A missile doesn't hit an airplane and you recover 98 percent of the airplane and still not see a single scratch or indication on the airplane that a missile hit it.
TUCHMAN: But the NTSB and the FBI do say the investigation can be reopened at any time if there is new evidence. Gary Tuchman, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, we wanted to make sure we cover all the angles on this story. So tonight joining me from Washington is Jim Hall, the former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board at the time of the TWA disaster. Thanks for joining us, Jim. And from Agoura Hills, California, investigative journalist Peter Lance, author of the book "Cover Up: What The Government is Still Hiding About The War on Terror."
Jim, I want to start with the missile conspiracy theory. Some witnesses claim they saw streaks of light rising from the surface to the sky. We just saw that in the piece. How do you explain that?
JIM HALL, FMR. NTSB CHAIRMAN: Well, I think the explanation obviously was what came out in the work of the CIA and the NTSB in terms of the streak being the fuel from the airplane that had exploded in mid-air as it streaked higher in the air after the explosion.
COOPER: And Peter, you also -- you believe there was a conspiracy there, but you don't think it was a missile. You believe a terrorist bomb in the fuel tank caused the explosion. What proof do you have of that?
PETER LANCE, AUTHOR, "COVER UP": Well, we have new evidence and evidence I think that merits reopening this case, and I'm sure Mr. Hall has never seen this, that Ramzi Yousef (ph), the original World Trade Center bomber who with his uncle Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the architect of 9/11, while awaiting trial in New York passed information to an FBI informant, and this information in the form of FBI 302 memos is on my website, Peterlance.com, said we want to put a bomb on the plane to get a mistrial. He was about to be tried, Anderson, for what was called...
COOPER: Where do you come up with this?
LANCE: I got it from a forensic investigator, Angela Clemente (ph), who got it from the actual FBI informant, who's now serving time in federal prison. And these are actual FBI 302s in which Yousef says...
COOPER: Have you told the FBI about this?
LANCE: Have I told them? I interviewed James Calstrom (ph) for the book. But here's the thing. Not only do we have evidence of a bomb on board in the area of the center fuel tank. It mirrors forensically the precise bomb that Yousef set off in...
COOPER: Wait a minute. You say you have evidence of a bomb on board. And Jim, let me bring you in here. Trace amounts of explosives residue were found on I think three pieces of the wreckage, and I think in issuing the final crash report NTSB concluded, I want to get this right, quote, "we don't know exactly how the explosive residue got there but we do know from the physical evidence that the residues were not the result of the detonation of a bomb." Jim, how comfortable are you with that?
LANCE: Anderson, one of the main reasons that this was the longest investigation in NTSB history, took almost five years, and was the most expensive investigation, was we went over every possibility that there had been any type of bomb, missile, et cetera, that caused this particular accident. The reason that the FBI got involved so actively at the beginning of this investigation was because Ramzi Yousef was in prison for trying to blow up ten planes in the Pacific and this had occurred also at the time right near the Atlanta Olympics.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: In the airport the other day I was told I had bomb residue on a bag of mine which was probably from the time I was in Iraq. So you can have bomb residue and it not really mean anything.
LANCE: Well, no, Anderson frankly, the bomb that Yousef set on an identical 747 as a test bomb in The Philippines that he was about to be tried for involved nitroglycerin. He also passed notes to this informant saying RDX was an alternative. Both RDX and nitroglycerin were found in the area of the center wing fuel tank. And the only explanation of the FBI and the NTSB was that a bomb-sniffing dog test was conducted five weeks earlier in St. Louis and that somehow the officer had spilled the explosive test aids. Well, I got to that officer. He did the test on a different plane. And I would ask Mr. Hall right now, were you aware that the FBI had 302 memos in which Ramzi Yousef was predicting he was going to put a bomb on board a plane?
COOPER: I've got to let you answer and then we've got to go.
HALL: I am not aware of what the FBI did during their investigation. But I assure you that the people in official Washington are honorable men and women that serve our country well.
COOPER: Jim Hall, appreciate you joining us. Peter Lance as well. Thank you very much.
Our special series conspiracy theories, truth or paranoia, continues tomorrow. Questions on the origin of HIV. There are a lot of people out there saying the U.S. government was behind it. We're going to take a look at the facts. And Friday, the conspiracy of the year. Was this month's presidential election stolen? a lot of controversy about this. A lot of interest. We'll take a look at what we know.
360 next. Psy-ops and the war in Iraq. Fascinating story. Misleading information given to the media to see how insurgents will react. Is it the right move to make or a bad strategic move long- term? We'll take a look.
Plus, much lighter subject, the "Jeopardy" king dethroned. Ken Jennings and I reminisce about our winning days. That's right. He joins us a little bit later on. In a moment he'll -- Ken will actually give you today's 360 challenge. We'll test you, how closely you follow the news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: A startling article in today's "Los Angeles Times" caught our attention. It suggests that the U.S. military is using the press to deceive those they're fighting against. No doubt many of you may think it's a great idea, others may not. The "Times" says it's part of a broad Bush administration information war to help fight terrorists. In its article the "Times" used a very specific event which happened on this network and others. Now, take a look at what happened. Here's what first Lieutenant Lyle Gilbert told CNN and others the night we first reported the Falluja offensive in October.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. LYLE GILBERT, U.S. ARMY: The troops crossed the line of departure. We had artillery fire, prep fire going out. Aircraft had been moving through the area all day. Helicopters providing transport. It's been a pretty uncomfortable time. We had two battalions out there on maneuver right now, dealing with the anti- Iraqi forces, and achieving the mission of restoring security and stability to this area. A few minutes ago...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, soon after that statement reporters were actually able to find out the offensive wasn't happening, in fact didn't happen for another three weeks. Now, the "L.A. Times" says the announcement you just saw was part of a psychological operation or psy-op. It says the Pentagon used the media to trick insurgents to see how they'd react to an offensive. Of course, it raises a lot of questions about the military's about the military's use of the media. And tonight we look at all sides.
Joining me from Ann Arbor, Michigan is Charles Krohn from the University of Michigan. He's a former army public affairs officer.
And in Washington retired army colonel Robert Maginnis. Gentlemen, we appreciate both of you being on the program. Charles, let start off with you. If the military is allowed to use public affairs to blur the truth, to lie, then how do we know, how do Americans know when they're being honest or when they're being lied to?
CHARLES KROHN, FMR. ARMY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFC: Well, the answer -- that's a very good question. And the answer is you wouldn't. But I don't think this is the story in the "L.A. Times" today fairly represented what happened. At least there are others investigating it. And I can tell you from my own personal experience, I cannot think of any situation where I would lie to the media with the exception of one possible situation.
COOPER: Well, Lieutenant Colonel Maginnis, I mean, if the information given by public affairs is misleading, but provides U.S. forces an advantage to, you know, to save troops' lives, isn't that what's most important to war time? And plenty of people would argue that.
LT. COL. ROBERT MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, not necessarily, Anderson. What we need to make sure we're doing is use the right tools. Strategic communication, you know, some would argue is broken in that we have a lot of the world that hates us today and even we have problems communicating messages to Iraqis. However, public affairs by statute is supposed to be communicating in a passive way to the American public what the facts are and not giving it a spin or a propaganda turn.
We're not trying to plant ideas in the American public. We are trying to through broadcast and other media trying to communicate something we want the foreign public where we're trying to produce an idea or a set of ideas, and we're trying to persuade them to discard one idea and embrace our idea. So just like we went after the Soviet Union and used a host of spins on what the truth really was, we helped turn them. And that's very different than what we want to do with our own public.
COOPER: Well, Charles, you think there's a prominent role for propaganda through public affairs in war time.
Can you explain when you think it's justified?
KROHN: Well, I can -- I think that it's justified in war time all the time, as Colonel Maginnis said, regarding foreign audiences. We now know this is a battle of hearts and minds. And we haven't really engaged in this basically since the war began. Our focus has been on informing the American public of the war that's going on. In the meantime, the terrorists and fundamentalists have been unchallenged in trying to win the hearts and minds of the uncommitted. And there were many, many Iraqis who were favorably disposed to us when we first arrived and unseated Saddam, but we never really got around to explaining to them why we invaded their country and unseated their government.
COOPER: We're going to be...
KROHN: I don't think there's any room for psychological operations with the American public. COOPER: We're going to have to let it go tonight. We're going to continue to look at this, though. It's an interesting subject. We want to revisit it. Charles Krohn, appreciate you joining us. And Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis as well, thank you very much.
Coming up next on 360, he's the longest-running "Jeopardy" champion in history. If you said what is Ken Jennings, you'd probably be correct there. His remarkable run coming to an end. The "Jeopardy" king stops by to talk about his amazing trivial pursuit. Lots of trivia. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEX TREBEK, JEOPARDY: The category is business and industry, and here is the clue, ladies and gentlemen. Most of this firm's 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year.
What is H&R block? You're right. Your wager -- 4,401, taking you up to 14,401. You have a $1 lead over Ken Jennings right now. And his final response was -- Fed Ex. His wager was...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: For a man who will owe a fortune in taxes, maybe Ken Jennings should have known better about accountants. After 74 wins, $2 1/2 million, and 2,600 correct responses, his reign as Jeopardy's king of kings is over.
In the end, the guy who knew everything about anything couldn't remember H&R Block, who turning his defeat into publicity victory is offering Jennings free tax services for life. So what is next for Ken? Besides a book deal, biography special and trivia game, he is just hoping to get back to a normal life, sort of. I spoke to my fellow Jeopardy champ a bit earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: We are so not worthy to even be in your presence, but we do appreciate you being here. That moment when you realized, when you got that final Jeopardy question, what was that moment like when you realized uh-oh, I don't know this?
KEN JENNINGS, JEOPARDY CHAMPION: The question came up, and I could immediately hear Nancy next to me start writing her answer. You know, you can hear the little pen clicking on the tablet. And I thought, oh, my gosh, she knows this. And I had no idea.
And at that point I sort of realized that that's the ball game. And there was sort of a little twinge of disappointment because you play to win, you know, you don't like to lose even if you...
COOPER: Already won.
JENNINGS: It was just a twinge? That was it after all these... JENNINGS: Well, I mean, 74 wins, you've got to be ready to lose sometime. I felt like my number had been up long ago and I didn't know how long...
COOPER: Have there been other moments in the past where you were like I don't know the answer and then all of a sudden it just -- you were able to get it?
JENNINGS: Looking back, there was maybe a dozen games that hinged on just one question. You know, if one question goes the other way, that's it for me. You know. And so many of those made me think one of these nights it's going to be over. I was sort of prepared for it.
COOPER: And when contestants met you, when they realized they were playing against you when they first showed up, they must have just been terrified.
JENNINGS: It was sort of a weird thing where many contestants just sort of took themselves out of the game the second they saw me, I guess I'm not going to win. And Nancy was just optimistic throughout. I think that was sort of...
COOPER: Did you use that as a tactic? I mean to sort of, you know...
JENNINGS: I didn't try to do any psych-out stuff. I sort of tries to be as nice as possible just because I knew I was going to be the most hated person in the room anyway. Try to hold the door open for people and get them their juice.
COOPER: You answered 2,600 questions correctly, which is an amazing record. We put together some of the best. Let's show that.
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is All About Eve?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: Who is Barry Goldwater?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is The Hotel california?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is cubism?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is global warming
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What's a black hole.
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What's a busy body?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What's Deally Plaza?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is moo?
TREBEK: Moo. Correct.
COOPER: It's amazing.
Now, have you always been -- I mean, you watched Jeopardy from the time you were a little kid, right?
JENNINGS: Yes, ever since it came back on the air in '84. I was in 4th grade, and I just came home every day after school, I loved the show.
COOPER: You know, I'm a Jeopardy champion. You know that don't you.
JENNINGS: I watched your show. You were a pretty great Jeopardy player, Anderson.
COOPER: It was celebrity Jeopardy, so you know, it's like the dumbed down version.
JENNINGS: It's sort of sad. We like never get to play. It's like two different Jeopardy worlds.
COOPER: You know what, when you're ready for me, I'm ready to take you on.
JENNINGS: I'll be training like Rocky.
COOPER: I actually -- I don't like to brag about my time at Jeopardy, although I do carry photographs of my time.
This is me actually -- I won very -- a lot early on, and then this is me and Alex Trebek and Maria Bartiromo and Kwasi Mfume. And this is us too. I carry these with me wherever I go.
JENNINGS: Wherever you go. You took those two to school if I recall.
COOPER: I did.
See, the sad thing is they didn't really prepare, whereas I'm such a loser I prepared, and I read on all the Web sites about buzzer theory. Tell people who don't know the theory of the buzzer. JENNINGS; The buzzer you hold is pretty tricky, because you can't just ring in whenever you know it, you've got to wait for Trebek to finish reading the question and then some guy has to flip a switch, which takes a second, you know. And once that happens you can ring in. But if you buzz in too early you're locked out for a few seconds, if you're too late...
COOPER: You get locked out for an eternity in Jeopardy.
JENNINGS: It's enough to let whoever beat you.
And so, there's some very narrow sweet spot. And if you can find a rhythm you're great.
COOPER: It's a Zen thing I found, because it's all about Trebek's voice. You kind of listen for it, as soon as he stops, you wait a beat and go.
JENNINGS: Yeah, that's right. If you're thinking about it too much you're going to psych yourself out and you're going to like lose it. But if you get into some Zen rhythm and sort of like space out.
COOPER: It's totally true, though, it's pathetic. And what was so sad about the time I did it, because really this interview's all about me, I actually felt so bad for the two people I was playing with that in the first commercial break I told them about the buzzer thing. I was like feel the rhythm. And they looked at me like I was just completely insane. Or they thought I was trying to trick them.
JENNINGS: You tried. You tried.
COOPER: I tried to be openhearted.
So where do you go from here? What are you going to do?
JENNINGS: I think there's been some cool opportunities and offers that might come out of this.
COOPER: Like commercials. You're going to become an action film star, aren't you?
JENNINGS: Can't you see that? I think that's how the progression goes. Game show to action film star.
COOPER: Hey, you're a better role model than a lot of people out there.
JENNINGS: I think it's more like a book deal, a trivia board game, speaking tours at college campuses.
COOPER: Really it's an honor to meet you. And if you want any of the photographs of me on Jeopardy I'll give them to you later.
JENNINGS: Yes, if you have copies, that would be great.
COOPER: Thanks very much. JENNINGS: Thanks, Anderson.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: He's a little downcast. Soon as he gets his spirits back up, gets his confidence, I'm going to take him on one on one.
360 next, something I'm sure Ken Jennings will get a kick out of, the top ten list is out of the most popular words of the year. We'll take the winnings words to the Nth Degree.
Also the 360 Challenge. here's another look at tonight's questions. Do you know the news? Log on to CNN.com/360. Click on the answer link to play.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Here are the answers to the 360 challenge. The Pentagon is planning to send 1,500 more troops to Iraq from which U.S. base? Fort Bragg. Federal investigators concluded the crash of TWA flight 800 was caused by an explosion in its what? Center fuel tank is the answer. And what hormone is used in the female sex patch to boost a woman's sex drive? Testosterone.
First person to answer all three correctly will be sent a 360 Shirt. Tune in tomorrow, find out if you're the one. Last night's winner -- Alex Herman of Houston, Texas.
Another 360 challenge, another chance to win tomorrow.
Tonight, word up to the Nth Degree. And the results are in. Drum roll, please.
OK. Well, according to the online dictionary folk at Merriam- Webster, the most looked-up word of the year was -- drum roll, please. Thank you. Blog. You know, blog, as in web log, those burgeoning computerized scrapbooks posted for all the world to see by just about anyone who cares to do that on any subject whatsoever.
It's a new concept, and so it makes sense that a lot of people had to look the word up. But do you know what the second most looked- up word of the year was? Incumbent. No, we're not kidding. Incumbent.
Evidently, in an election year yet there were a whole lot of people walking around just pretending to know the meaning of the word incumbent. Yes, yes, the guy is certainly incumbent all right, no question about that, God bless him. Then when no one was looking off they'd steal to the dictionary to find out what this danged incumbent thing actually was.
But here's the best part. In 10th place on the list of most often looked-up words is defenestration. Defenestration, the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. My fellow Americans, what the heck are you reading that repeatedly sends you to the dictionary to look that word up? Makes you want to blog. 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 December 1, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening from New York. I'm Anderson Cooper.
Scott Peterson's father, face to face with the jury that will decide his son's fate.
360 starts now.
Life or death, Scott Peterson's dad pleads with the jury to spare his son. Tonight, what he said, and how the jury reacted.
President Bush says, Thanks, Canada, for your 9/11 help. But was his northern swing a success? Or did it just reopen old wounds?
Allegations of a plot to poison the presidential contender in Ukraine. What caused this man's face to go from this to this?
Men have the pill, but will women get the patch? The hormone replacer may help women get back their lost libidos. But is it safe?
The crash of TWA flight 800. They say the plane malfunctioned, but some still believe a missile brought it down. Tonight, the conspiracy theory that continues nearly 10 years after the crash.
And, say it ain't so. All-time "Jeopardy" king Ken Jennings gets it wrong. Tonight we go 360 with the Trump of trivia.
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.
COOPER: And a good evening to you.
"Penalty phase" is the bland legal term used to describe what's happening right now in a courtroom in Redwood City, California. Six men, six women are going to have to decide if Scott Peterson should spend the rest of his life in prison, or die.
Now, the penalty, in other words, will be either his freedom or his life.
Ted Rowlands is covering the case right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scott Peterson's father testified that he loves his son very much, and that he is frightened and saddened by the, quote, "jeopardy" he's in, facing the death penalty.
Lee Peterson was the first of what is expected to be a week-long case from Scott Peterson's defense team. Lee Peterson told jurors that Scott, his youngest child, started out as a perfect baby, and throughout his life, never caused any trouble. He talked about his son's charity work and going to church.
The elder Peterson was on the stand for almost three hours. When asked about the possibility of the death penalty for his son, Lee Peterson said, quote, "I don't want to entertain that thought. I just can't imagine anything worse."
While heartfelt, some legal analysts questioned the effectiveness of Lee Peterson's testimony.
CHUCK SMITH, LEGAL ANALYST: Scott was the perfect baby. He was the perfect grade-schooler. He was the perfect high school student, the perfect college student, and the perfect adult. I don't think the jury is going to accept that picture that Lee Peterson has portrayed.
ROWLANDS: Earlier, the opening statement for the defense was handled by attorney Pat Harris instead of Mark Geragos. Harris told jurors he disagreed with their guilty verdict against Peterson but, quote, "respected the decision."
Harris then turned to the death penalty, saying, quote, "This is a very strong individual decision, something you will live with for the rest of your life."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Geragos is still involved in the case. Geragos handled the final questioning today of the final witness, Susan Caudillo (ph), Scott Peterson's sister.
At the end of the day, the judge told the jury that they should expect to get this case next Monday, Anderson.
COOPER: Thanks very much for that. Appreciate it.
Last night, I wondered aloud how many of the jurors have already made up their minds about Scott Peterson's fate. Well, our crack research team of unpaid, overworked interns found this fast fact. Let's take a look.
A Northeastern University study says that about half of all jurors in death penalty cases actually make up their minds about punishment during the guilt phase of the trial. We shall see.
Amber Frey's attorney was in the courtroom today, as she was yesterday, when Laci Peterson's mom was on the stand. Gloria Allred joins us now.
Gloria, obviously a very different mood inside the courtroom today. What, how, what did you see? What did you hear? GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY FOR AMBER FREY: Yes, it was a different mood, because lee Peterson, Scott's father, was testifying. But it was eerie at the same time. It was like watching a eulogy for someone who was still living.
And Lee Peterson was talking about how Scott, growing up, always had a smile on his face, Anderson. But every time he said "a smile on his face," I kept thinking of Laci with her beautiful smile, and how her parents will never see that smile again, except in photographs.
And so it was chilling. I mean, he, yes, Lee Peterson said that basically he didn't want to think about the death penalty, but the end of the day, Susan Caudillo, who is Scott's sister, testified that if Scott got the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the death penalty, that she thought it would kill her parents, Jackie and Lee.
Again, when she said that, it made me think of Sharon Rocha. I mean, her daughter, her grandson are killed, are murdered, because of Scott Peterson's actions, and yet she's going to have to find the strength and courage to go on. Wouldn't Lee and Jackie need to also find that strength and courage to go on?
COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
ALLRED: And how different is it when their son, if he gets the death penalty, is getting it, because he's had a trial, and because of his own actions?
COOPER: Well, Gloria, obviously you're very involved in this case in a very different way than the jury. As you watched the jury listen to Scott Peterson's father on the stand, what was their reaction? What do you think their, the impact of the testimony was?
ALLRED: Well, Anderson, I didn't see anybody taking any notes. They were listening very carefully, and they were listening respectfully. But it's going on and on. And I'm not sure what impact it's really making.
COOPER: Do you think they've already made up their minds?
ALLRED: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I think they'll wait until they're in the jury room. I, that's what they're supposed to do. I mean, this is all about mitigating circumstances. And Pat Harris said this morning, he's not trying to say that Scott Peterson is Jonas Salk, but what he's trying to do is to show mitigating circumstances, show that he's, you know, that his life should be saved, I guess because he's good.
But the fact that he, you know, worked hard to play golf in college, you know, I'm not sure that that's going to be enough of a circumstance to save his life.
COOPER: Now, is Mark Geragos still leading this defense?
ALLRED: Well, I'm sure he's still lead counsel, but certainly, it was Pat Harris who gave the opening statement, which I thought was a good opening statement for Scott Peterson, at least as good as it could be, given the facts. And then at the, towards the end of the afternoon, after Pat Harris had examined Lee Peterson and some other witnesses, then Mark Geragos suddenly stood up, and he examined Susan Caudillo, Scott's sister.
COOPER: All right, Gloria Allred, appreciate you joining us tonight. Thanks very much, Gloria.
ALLRED: OK, thank you.
COOPER: Word today the U.S. will be sending 1,500 more troops to Iraq. Now, this is to prepare for elections, which are still scheduled for the end of January. That means there will be about 150,000 American troops there for the elections.
President Bush wrapped up his two-day visit to Canada with a visit to the eastern maritime city of Halifax. And that was a town that took in a good many Americans in those very dark days after 9/11.
CNN's senior White House correspondent John King has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a stop with two goals, say thank you for Canada's help on the defining day of his first term, and sound a conciliatory note looking ahead to the next four years.
BUSH: A new term in office is an important opportunity to reach out to our friends.
KING: A more diplomatic tone, but not necessarily a new course. To Canada and other Iraq war critics, this message from the president. If they want him to give the United Nations and other organizations more say, then they must demand that multilateral diplomacy means results, not just meetings.
BUSH: The objective of the U.N. and other institutions must be collective security, not endless debate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home Bush. Go home Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go home Bush. Go home Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home Bush. Go home Bush.
KING: More demonstrations underscored Mr. Bush's delicate challenge. He wants to put the bitterness of Iraq and other debates in the past, while firmly defending his decisions.
Better personal relations are key, and Mr. Bush has taken a liking to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.
BUSH: Two prosperous, independent nations joined together by the return of NHL hockey.
KING: Mr. Martin was quick to echo Mr. Bush's friendly tone.
PAUL MARTIN, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: We're in a war against terrorism, and we are in it together, Americans and Canadians.
KING: Key European first-term Bush critics also welcome the president's talk of a fresh start.
JEAN-DAVID LEVITTE, FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: I can tell you that that's exactly the mood in Europe. So let's shake hands, and let's work together to build a better future for our people.
KING: Iraq aside, many Canadians feel slighted by Mr. Bush. In trying to make amends, Mr. Bush praised Canadian military help in Afghanistan, reconstruction aid in Iraq, and the remarkable outpouring of kindness to some 33,000 Americans stranded here when U.S. airspace closed after the 9/11 attacks.
BUSH: Beyond the words of politicians and the natural disagreements that nations will have, our two peoples are one family and always will be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Now, conciliatory talk is one thing, better relations quite another. The true test will come, Anderson, in the debates, some ongoing, some just ahead, on Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and other global challenges, Anderson.
COOPER: John King, thanks, from Halifax tonight.
There are signs that the presidential election crisis in the Ukraine may be getting a bit closer to a resolution.
Now, the two rivals met face to face today, and reached a compromise agreement. Both sides say they will work to unify the country, and the opposition has agreed to stop blockading government buildings. They will now wait for the country's supreme court to rule in the election dispute. The parliament there also passed a no- confidence vote against the government of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.
In Ukraine, what happens, though, in front of the cameras is often very different than what happens off-camera.
Now, there have been serious allegations of poisoning, attempted murder. Take a look at what's happened to the face of the opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) before and after. Until recently, he was known for his very youthful appearance. The question is, what caused his face to change so drastically? Yushchenko blames the government.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He had movie-star looks, experience in leadership as Ukraine's prime minister. But, according to the pollsters, he lacked the support of enough ordinary Ukrainians to win the presidency.
Then this September, after complaining of food poisoning, he was admitted to a hospital in Kiev, then an Austrian clinic. When he emerged, his face had changed dramatically. His small lines had turned into deep pockmarks, and with them, the contours of Ukraine's political landscape.
Yushka told his supporters the government was trying to poison him.
VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE (through translator): I want to express a special message to the authorities. You will not poison us.
CHILCOTE: Ukraine's top prosecutor investigated. His conclusion, Yushchenko was suffering from herpes.
The same Kremlin spin doctors who crafted President Putin's image in Russia were in Ukraine at the time, to support the pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovich.
"The election took on a folklorish, mythic nature," Glev (ph) Pavlovsky says. "It was a lie Yushchenko's staff told to hide the fact that their candidate was ill late in the campaign."
Whether the allegations are fairy tales or not, Yushchenko, the politician, became more attractive. Some Yushchenko watchers say he even ditched the makeup he was using to cover up his new face.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Strange case.
A number of quick items we've been following today cross-country right now.
In New York, Sheryl Crow's alleged stalker is free. This man, a jury has acquitted (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Ambrose Kappos (ph) of stalking the singer. Kappos was accused of pursuing Crow for a little more than a year, until he was arrested at one of his concerts last year. He says he's simply a lovestruck fan who feels an unexplained closeness to her. Too much information, that.
Providence, Rhode Island, now, a reporter's alleged source 'fesses up. According to court papers, a defense attorney has admitted to giving reporter Jim Turacani (ph) videotape that showed corruption in the city government. Now, Turacani is facing jail time for refusing to name his source.
And on NBC, Tom Brokaw has signed off. Just minutes ago, Brokaw ended a 21-year reign behind the network's anchor desk. We're not allowed to show you the sign-off, because the show still has to air on the West Coast, so we're improvising a little bit. This is video of Brokaw last night. Trust me, he looked pretty much the same tonight, except he was wearing a purple tie with a matching little thing in his pocket, and a kind of a pink shirt and a dark suit.
We also have these pictures from earlier in the day, when Brokaw drank some bubbly with his co-workers. Now, this, of course, violates the number one newsroom rule, never let them see you drink. Especially not at work.
Seriously, though, congratulations, Mr. Brokaw. Takes a lot of strength to be a network anchor, and even more strength to step down at the top of your game.
That's a look at stories cross-country tonight.
360 next, botox and botulism. Four people made seriously ill by the cosmetic injection. Is a tainted batch to blame?
Plus, roll over, Viagra. There's a new female sex patch. The question is, does it work, and is it safe? We'll take a closer look.
Also tonight, our special series, Conspiracy Theories. You know, they continue to swirl around the crash of TWA flight 800. Tonight, we have an exclusive interview with a TWA pilot who often flew the plane that crashed. He says he doesn't believe the official explanation.
First, let's take a look at your picks, the most popular stories right now on CNN.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, you may not know this, but that wrinkle-free wonder drug, botox, is actually derivative of the potentially fatal bacteria that causes botulism. That explains why tonight health officials are looking into whether a couple of boxes -- botox patients could have been poisoned by the toxin.
CNN's Brian Todd reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, two, three.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For millions of Americans each year, it's the treatment of choice for getting rid of wrinkles and furrows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you okay?
TODD: Now, health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN they're investigating whether four people hospitalized in those two states may have gotten botulism from botox injections. Two of them, now identified as Eric Kaplan and his wife, Bonnie, are in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at this hospital in Palm Beach County, Florida.
DR. CHARLES SCHALLOP, NEUROLOGIST, PALM BEACH GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER: This is very serious. These are two young, healthy individuals who are now critically ill.
TODD: Officials at the Florida hospital say Kaplan and his wife do have botulism, and that both recently received botox injections.
But state health officials in Florida and New Jersey tell CNN only that they're looking into those possibilities. Florida officials say they're investigating whether all four patients were injected at the same time, at the same clinic in Fort Lauderdale.
The "Miami Herald" and two other publications report that one of the two unidentified patients who got those injections is a doctor. CNN has learned that doctor had his license suspended last year, and was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, in January of 2003 on 10 counts of illegal possession and trafficking of painkillers.
As for the overall safety of botox, two prominent doctors who administer the drug tell CNN it contains minuscule and very diluted doses of the botulinum toxin.
Dr. Tina Allster does thousands of botox treatments a year.
DR. TINA ALLSTER, DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGEON: Well, botox is extraordinarily safe. There've literally been millions of people treated with botox for cosmetic purposes over the past decade. We know that there's never been a case of botulism as a result of botox injections.
TODD: Officials at Allergan, the company that manufactures botox, tells CNN they sent two vials of botox this year to the Fort Lauderdale clinic where the four patients are believed to have gotten the injections. But Allergan officials say they've conducted an extensive review of those batches, and have found no safety problems. Allergan is cooperating with the Florida-New Jersey investigation.
(on camera): The botox label warns that people with preexisting conditions, like neuromuscular disorders, could risk making those conditions worse with botox. Doctors gave us a separate warning, that there are counterfeit drugs and other knockoffs of botox being used, which contain more concentrated amounts of the botulinum toxin.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, gunfire erupted outside Haiti's presidential palace today during U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit. Let's take a look in the uplink.
In Port-au-Prince, shortly after Powell arrived at the palace, security officers say that gunshots were fired from a passing car, and U.N. forces returned fire. Now, no one was hurt. State Department official says it's believed the gunshots came from supporters of ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristede.
Jerusalem now, political crisis. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has fired ministers from the Shinui (ph), or change party, after they voted against his budget. The move leaves Sharon's coalition with only 40 seats in the 120-member parliament. He now has to put together a new coalition to avoid attempts to bring down his government.
We take you now to the northern Philippines. Deadly floods and landslides. Take a look at this. Unbelievable images. A week after heavy rains, up to 600 people are feared dead. More trouble is on the way. A typhoon is now expected to hit in the next 48 hours. It's got at least 100-mile-an-hour winds.
That is a quick look at tonight's uplink.
Coming up next on 360, a female sex patch is getting an awful lot of attention. In a moment, Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates whether it is safe and effective.
Also ahead, what caused the crash of TWA flight 800? It has been eight years, but conspiracy theories are still flying. We have an exclusive interview tonight with a pilot who often flew the plane that went down. He says he doesn't buy the official explanation. It's part of our special series on conspiracy theories.
And a little later, Pentagon psy-ops and the press. Did the military lie to the U.S. media to find out how Iraqi insurgents would react? And is that fair game during times of war? What do you think?
We're covering all the angles tonight. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: The notion that a patch might be able to do for women what Viagra has done for men has raised a lot of hopes among -- well, actually both women and among men as well. Tomorrow, a federal advisory panel considers if this patch should be approved by the FDA.
Now, of course there are going to be a lot of questions. The two biggest ones, does it work, and is it safe?
CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may be set to join the current arsenal of sexual dysfunction creams, pills, and gels, the first female Viagra, a little patch called Intrinsa that's already sparking a big debate.
DR. SHALENDER BHASIN, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST: There is a huge amount of interest, but clearly there is a lot more hype than there is science in the field.
GUPTA: But Intrinsa's makers believe it is science, and that the patch, fueled by testosterone, could help millions of women suffering from something called hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
DR. LAURA BERMAN, SEX THERAPIST: Forty-three percent of American women have some kind of sexual function complaint, and the most common of those complaints is low desire.
GUPTA: The culprit for that low desire, many doctors say, is low testosterone, and that one solution is Intrinsa. In studies by the company that makes Intrinsa, it bolstered women's sexual activity and sexual appetite by about a third. But that's only in a group of post- menopausal women, whose ovaries had been removed.
There's also a price to pay for generating too much testosterone in women -- things like weight gain, acne, unwieldy hair growth, and more serious potential side effects, like high cholesterol and liver damage.
And then that question has not been answered about its usefulness for the rest of the female population.
BHASIN: Women who present with sexual dysfunction can have sexual dysfunction from multiple causes. Many of these women have a number of marital conflicts. Some of these women have previous history of sexual abuse. Giving testosterone to every woman who presents with sexual dysfunction would be clearly inappropriate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: If approved, Anderson, this would be the first FDA- approved drug for female sexual dysfunction. Testosterone has been used off-label for quite some time. But, you know, the question is really this, Anderson. Is it a quality-of-life drug, or is it a drug for a real medical problem? That's what the FDA's going to hash out tomorrow, Anderson.
COOPER: All right. We'll try to see how quickly they get results on that.
Also, we'll be watching your special tonight, 11:00, on marking down World AIDS Day. Sanjay Gupta, thanks.
GUPTA: Thank you.
COOPER: What really brought down (audio interrupt)...
The crash of TWA flight 800. They say the plane malfunctioned. But some still believe a missile brought it down. Tonight, the conspiracy theory that continues nearly 10 years after the crash.
Is lying now part of the Pentagon's strategy? New disclosures. How the military may use psy-ops and the press to trick the enemy.
And say it ain't so. All-time "Jeopardy" king Ken Jennings gets it wrong. Tonight we go 360 with the Trump of trivia.
360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: All this week we're taking a close look at conspiracy theories, stories which may be out of the headlines but on the Internet and elsewhere are still at the center of controversy. Tonight, TWA flight 800. Eight years ago, after the plane blew up in mid-air off the coast of Long Island, New York, killing all 230 people aboard, the questions still linger. The government says it was an accident, probably caused by a spark in the center fuel tank. But to this day there are many who believe otherwise, including a former TWA pilot who tonight in an exclusive interview talks for the first time about what he thinks really happened to flight 800. CNN's Gary Tuchman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terrell Stacey was a pilot for TWA, occasionally flying the very same Boeing 747 that exploded in mid-air on July 17, 1996. TWA flight 800's fate was probably the result of an explosion in the center wing fuel tank, says the National Transportation Safety Board. But Captain Stacey doesn't buy it.
TERRELL STACEY, FORMER TWA PILOT: I certainly do not believe it was the center wing tank.
TUCHMAN: Stacey was one of TWA's representatives in the NTSB investigation.
STACEY: The FBI and NTSB are political animals. They will do whatever it takes to cover their political rear ends.
TUCHMAN: More than eight years after this tragedy, many still believe a real cause is being covered up.
MIKE WIRE, TWA FLIGHT 800 EYEWITNESS: I think it was a missile that went up.
TUCHMAN: Mike Wire was interviewed by the FBI after he said he saw a flame-like object streak up in the sky and strike the plane. Sixteen months after the disaster the government produced this video explaining its findings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So the flare-like object he saw almost certainly was flight 800 just after it exploded. Not a missile.
TUCHMAN: But the 747 was said to be flying at 13,000 feet. Witness Mike Wire says he saw the streak at...
WIRE: 45 feet.
TUCHMAN: There have been books and documentaries about an alleged conspiracy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All leads pointed in one direction. But for reasons still uncertain, no one in official Washington wanted to go there. TUCHMAN: The late Pierre Salinger made a claim the U.S. Navy accidentally shot down the plane.
PIERRE SALINGER, FMR. JOURNALIST: Did it show the missile reaching the plane? Yes, it did.
TUCHMAN: The man who led the NTSB investigation says the facts do not support what the skeptics say.
ROBERT FRANCIS, FMR. NTSB VICE CHAIRMAN: A missile doesn't hit an airplane and you recover 98 percent of the airplane and still not see a single scratch or indication on the airplane that a missile hit it.
TUCHMAN: But the NTSB and the FBI do say the investigation can be reopened at any time if there is new evidence. Gary Tuchman, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, we wanted to make sure we cover all the angles on this story. So tonight joining me from Washington is Jim Hall, the former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board at the time of the TWA disaster. Thanks for joining us, Jim. And from Agoura Hills, California, investigative journalist Peter Lance, author of the book "Cover Up: What The Government is Still Hiding About The War on Terror."
Jim, I want to start with the missile conspiracy theory. Some witnesses claim they saw streaks of light rising from the surface to the sky. We just saw that in the piece. How do you explain that?
JIM HALL, FMR. NTSB CHAIRMAN: Well, I think the explanation obviously was what came out in the work of the CIA and the NTSB in terms of the streak being the fuel from the airplane that had exploded in mid-air as it streaked higher in the air after the explosion.
COOPER: And Peter, you also -- you believe there was a conspiracy there, but you don't think it was a missile. You believe a terrorist bomb in the fuel tank caused the explosion. What proof do you have of that?
PETER LANCE, AUTHOR, "COVER UP": Well, we have new evidence and evidence I think that merits reopening this case, and I'm sure Mr. Hall has never seen this, that Ramzi Yousef (ph), the original World Trade Center bomber who with his uncle Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was the architect of 9/11, while awaiting trial in New York passed information to an FBI informant, and this information in the form of FBI 302 memos is on my website, Peterlance.com, said we want to put a bomb on the plane to get a mistrial. He was about to be tried, Anderson, for what was called...
COOPER: Where do you come up with this?
LANCE: I got it from a forensic investigator, Angela Clemente (ph), who got it from the actual FBI informant, who's now serving time in federal prison. And these are actual FBI 302s in which Yousef says...
COOPER: Have you told the FBI about this?
LANCE: Have I told them? I interviewed James Calstrom (ph) for the book. But here's the thing. Not only do we have evidence of a bomb on board in the area of the center fuel tank. It mirrors forensically the precise bomb that Yousef set off in...
COOPER: Wait a minute. You say you have evidence of a bomb on board. And Jim, let me bring you in here. Trace amounts of explosives residue were found on I think three pieces of the wreckage, and I think in issuing the final crash report NTSB concluded, I want to get this right, quote, "we don't know exactly how the explosive residue got there but we do know from the physical evidence that the residues were not the result of the detonation of a bomb." Jim, how comfortable are you with that?
LANCE: Anderson, one of the main reasons that this was the longest investigation in NTSB history, took almost five years, and was the most expensive investigation, was we went over every possibility that there had been any type of bomb, missile, et cetera, that caused this particular accident. The reason that the FBI got involved so actively at the beginning of this investigation was because Ramzi Yousef was in prison for trying to blow up ten planes in the Pacific and this had occurred also at the time right near the Atlanta Olympics.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: In the airport the other day I was told I had bomb residue on a bag of mine which was probably from the time I was in Iraq. So you can have bomb residue and it not really mean anything.
LANCE: Well, no, Anderson frankly, the bomb that Yousef set on an identical 747 as a test bomb in The Philippines that he was about to be tried for involved nitroglycerin. He also passed notes to this informant saying RDX was an alternative. Both RDX and nitroglycerin were found in the area of the center wing fuel tank. And the only explanation of the FBI and the NTSB was that a bomb-sniffing dog test was conducted five weeks earlier in St. Louis and that somehow the officer had spilled the explosive test aids. Well, I got to that officer. He did the test on a different plane. And I would ask Mr. Hall right now, were you aware that the FBI had 302 memos in which Ramzi Yousef was predicting he was going to put a bomb on board a plane?
COOPER: I've got to let you answer and then we've got to go.
HALL: I am not aware of what the FBI did during their investigation. But I assure you that the people in official Washington are honorable men and women that serve our country well.
COOPER: Jim Hall, appreciate you joining us. Peter Lance as well. Thank you very much.
Our special series conspiracy theories, truth or paranoia, continues tomorrow. Questions on the origin of HIV. There are a lot of people out there saying the U.S. government was behind it. We're going to take a look at the facts. And Friday, the conspiracy of the year. Was this month's presidential election stolen? a lot of controversy about this. A lot of interest. We'll take a look at what we know.
360 next. Psy-ops and the war in Iraq. Fascinating story. Misleading information given to the media to see how insurgents will react. Is it the right move to make or a bad strategic move long- term? We'll take a look.
Plus, much lighter subject, the "Jeopardy" king dethroned. Ken Jennings and I reminisce about our winning days. That's right. He joins us a little bit later on. In a moment he'll -- Ken will actually give you today's 360 challenge. We'll test you, how closely you follow the news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: A startling article in today's "Los Angeles Times" caught our attention. It suggests that the U.S. military is using the press to deceive those they're fighting against. No doubt many of you may think it's a great idea, others may not. The "Times" says it's part of a broad Bush administration information war to help fight terrorists. In its article the "Times" used a very specific event which happened on this network and others. Now, take a look at what happened. Here's what first Lieutenant Lyle Gilbert told CNN and others the night we first reported the Falluja offensive in October.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. LYLE GILBERT, U.S. ARMY: The troops crossed the line of departure. We had artillery fire, prep fire going out. Aircraft had been moving through the area all day. Helicopters providing transport. It's been a pretty uncomfortable time. We had two battalions out there on maneuver right now, dealing with the anti- Iraqi forces, and achieving the mission of restoring security and stability to this area. A few minutes ago...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, soon after that statement reporters were actually able to find out the offensive wasn't happening, in fact didn't happen for another three weeks. Now, the "L.A. Times" says the announcement you just saw was part of a psychological operation or psy-op. It says the Pentagon used the media to trick insurgents to see how they'd react to an offensive. Of course, it raises a lot of questions about the military's about the military's use of the media. And tonight we look at all sides.
Joining me from Ann Arbor, Michigan is Charles Krohn from the University of Michigan. He's a former army public affairs officer.
And in Washington retired army colonel Robert Maginnis. Gentlemen, we appreciate both of you being on the program. Charles, let start off with you. If the military is allowed to use public affairs to blur the truth, to lie, then how do we know, how do Americans know when they're being honest or when they're being lied to?
CHARLES KROHN, FMR. ARMY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFC: Well, the answer -- that's a very good question. And the answer is you wouldn't. But I don't think this is the story in the "L.A. Times" today fairly represented what happened. At least there are others investigating it. And I can tell you from my own personal experience, I cannot think of any situation where I would lie to the media with the exception of one possible situation.
COOPER: Well, Lieutenant Colonel Maginnis, I mean, if the information given by public affairs is misleading, but provides U.S. forces an advantage to, you know, to save troops' lives, isn't that what's most important to war time? And plenty of people would argue that.
LT. COL. ROBERT MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, not necessarily, Anderson. What we need to make sure we're doing is use the right tools. Strategic communication, you know, some would argue is broken in that we have a lot of the world that hates us today and even we have problems communicating messages to Iraqis. However, public affairs by statute is supposed to be communicating in a passive way to the American public what the facts are and not giving it a spin or a propaganda turn.
We're not trying to plant ideas in the American public. We are trying to through broadcast and other media trying to communicate something we want the foreign public where we're trying to produce an idea or a set of ideas, and we're trying to persuade them to discard one idea and embrace our idea. So just like we went after the Soviet Union and used a host of spins on what the truth really was, we helped turn them. And that's very different than what we want to do with our own public.
COOPER: Well, Charles, you think there's a prominent role for propaganda through public affairs in war time.
Can you explain when you think it's justified?
KROHN: Well, I can -- I think that it's justified in war time all the time, as Colonel Maginnis said, regarding foreign audiences. We now know this is a battle of hearts and minds. And we haven't really engaged in this basically since the war began. Our focus has been on informing the American public of the war that's going on. In the meantime, the terrorists and fundamentalists have been unchallenged in trying to win the hearts and minds of the uncommitted. And there were many, many Iraqis who were favorably disposed to us when we first arrived and unseated Saddam, but we never really got around to explaining to them why we invaded their country and unseated their government.
COOPER: We're going to be...
KROHN: I don't think there's any room for psychological operations with the American public. COOPER: We're going to have to let it go tonight. We're going to continue to look at this, though. It's an interesting subject. We want to revisit it. Charles Krohn, appreciate you joining us. And Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis as well, thank you very much.
Coming up next on 360, he's the longest-running "Jeopardy" champion in history. If you said what is Ken Jennings, you'd probably be correct there. His remarkable run coming to an end. The "Jeopardy" king stops by to talk about his amazing trivial pursuit. Lots of trivia. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEX TREBEK, JEOPARDY: The category is business and industry, and here is the clue, ladies and gentlemen. Most of this firm's 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year.
What is H&R block? You're right. Your wager -- 4,401, taking you up to 14,401. You have a $1 lead over Ken Jennings right now. And his final response was -- Fed Ex. His wager was...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: For a man who will owe a fortune in taxes, maybe Ken Jennings should have known better about accountants. After 74 wins, $2 1/2 million, and 2,600 correct responses, his reign as Jeopardy's king of kings is over.
In the end, the guy who knew everything about anything couldn't remember H&R Block, who turning his defeat into publicity victory is offering Jennings free tax services for life. So what is next for Ken? Besides a book deal, biography special and trivia game, he is just hoping to get back to a normal life, sort of. I spoke to my fellow Jeopardy champ a bit earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: We are so not worthy to even be in your presence, but we do appreciate you being here. That moment when you realized, when you got that final Jeopardy question, what was that moment like when you realized uh-oh, I don't know this?
KEN JENNINGS, JEOPARDY CHAMPION: The question came up, and I could immediately hear Nancy next to me start writing her answer. You know, you can hear the little pen clicking on the tablet. And I thought, oh, my gosh, she knows this. And I had no idea.
And at that point I sort of realized that that's the ball game. And there was sort of a little twinge of disappointment because you play to win, you know, you don't like to lose even if you...
COOPER: Already won.
JENNINGS: It was just a twinge? That was it after all these... JENNINGS: Well, I mean, 74 wins, you've got to be ready to lose sometime. I felt like my number had been up long ago and I didn't know how long...
COOPER: Have there been other moments in the past where you were like I don't know the answer and then all of a sudden it just -- you were able to get it?
JENNINGS: Looking back, there was maybe a dozen games that hinged on just one question. You know, if one question goes the other way, that's it for me. You know. And so many of those made me think one of these nights it's going to be over. I was sort of prepared for it.
COOPER: And when contestants met you, when they realized they were playing against you when they first showed up, they must have just been terrified.
JENNINGS: It was sort of a weird thing where many contestants just sort of took themselves out of the game the second they saw me, I guess I'm not going to win. And Nancy was just optimistic throughout. I think that was sort of...
COOPER: Did you use that as a tactic? I mean to sort of, you know...
JENNINGS: I didn't try to do any psych-out stuff. I sort of tries to be as nice as possible just because I knew I was going to be the most hated person in the room anyway. Try to hold the door open for people and get them their juice.
COOPER: You answered 2,600 questions correctly, which is an amazing record. We put together some of the best. Let's show that.
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is All About Eve?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: Who is Barry Goldwater?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is The Hotel california?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is cubism?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is global warming
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What's a black hole.
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What's a busy body?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What's Deally Plaza?
TREBEK: Ken.
JENNINGS: What is moo?
TREBEK: Moo. Correct.
COOPER: It's amazing.
Now, have you always been -- I mean, you watched Jeopardy from the time you were a little kid, right?
JENNINGS: Yes, ever since it came back on the air in '84. I was in 4th grade, and I just came home every day after school, I loved the show.
COOPER: You know, I'm a Jeopardy champion. You know that don't you.
JENNINGS: I watched your show. You were a pretty great Jeopardy player, Anderson.
COOPER: It was celebrity Jeopardy, so you know, it's like the dumbed down version.
JENNINGS: It's sort of sad. We like never get to play. It's like two different Jeopardy worlds.
COOPER: You know what, when you're ready for me, I'm ready to take you on.
JENNINGS: I'll be training like Rocky.
COOPER: I actually -- I don't like to brag about my time at Jeopardy, although I do carry photographs of my time.
This is me actually -- I won very -- a lot early on, and then this is me and Alex Trebek and Maria Bartiromo and Kwasi Mfume. And this is us too. I carry these with me wherever I go.
JENNINGS: Wherever you go. You took those two to school if I recall.
COOPER: I did.
See, the sad thing is they didn't really prepare, whereas I'm such a loser I prepared, and I read on all the Web sites about buzzer theory. Tell people who don't know the theory of the buzzer. JENNINGS; The buzzer you hold is pretty tricky, because you can't just ring in whenever you know it, you've got to wait for Trebek to finish reading the question and then some guy has to flip a switch, which takes a second, you know. And once that happens you can ring in. But if you buzz in too early you're locked out for a few seconds, if you're too late...
COOPER: You get locked out for an eternity in Jeopardy.
JENNINGS: It's enough to let whoever beat you.
And so, there's some very narrow sweet spot. And if you can find a rhythm you're great.
COOPER: It's a Zen thing I found, because it's all about Trebek's voice. You kind of listen for it, as soon as he stops, you wait a beat and go.
JENNINGS: Yeah, that's right. If you're thinking about it too much you're going to psych yourself out and you're going to like lose it. But if you get into some Zen rhythm and sort of like space out.
COOPER: It's totally true, though, it's pathetic. And what was so sad about the time I did it, because really this interview's all about me, I actually felt so bad for the two people I was playing with that in the first commercial break I told them about the buzzer thing. I was like feel the rhythm. And they looked at me like I was just completely insane. Or they thought I was trying to trick them.
JENNINGS: You tried. You tried.
COOPER: I tried to be openhearted.
So where do you go from here? What are you going to do?
JENNINGS: I think there's been some cool opportunities and offers that might come out of this.
COOPER: Like commercials. You're going to become an action film star, aren't you?
JENNINGS: Can't you see that? I think that's how the progression goes. Game show to action film star.
COOPER: Hey, you're a better role model than a lot of people out there.
JENNINGS: I think it's more like a book deal, a trivia board game, speaking tours at college campuses.
COOPER: Really it's an honor to meet you. And if you want any of the photographs of me on Jeopardy I'll give them to you later.
JENNINGS: Yes, if you have copies, that would be great.
COOPER: Thanks very much. JENNINGS: Thanks, Anderson.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: He's a little downcast. Soon as he gets his spirits back up, gets his confidence, I'm going to take him on one on one.
360 next, something I'm sure Ken Jennings will get a kick out of, the top ten list is out of the most popular words of the year. We'll take the winnings words to the Nth Degree.
Also the 360 Challenge. here's another look at tonight's questions. Do you know the news? Log on to CNN.com/360. Click on the answer link to play.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Here are the answers to the 360 challenge. The Pentagon is planning to send 1,500 more troops to Iraq from which U.S. base? Fort Bragg. Federal investigators concluded the crash of TWA flight 800 was caused by an explosion in its what? Center fuel tank is the answer. And what hormone is used in the female sex patch to boost a woman's sex drive? Testosterone.
First person to answer all three correctly will be sent a 360 Shirt. Tune in tomorrow, find out if you're the one. Last night's winner -- Alex Herman of Houston, Texas.
Another 360 challenge, another chance to win tomorrow.
Tonight, word up to the Nth Degree. And the results are in. Drum roll, please.
OK. Well, according to the online dictionary folk at Merriam- Webster, the most looked-up word of the year was -- drum roll, please. Thank you. Blog. You know, blog, as in web log, those burgeoning computerized scrapbooks posted for all the world to see by just about anyone who cares to do that on any subject whatsoever.
It's a new concept, and so it makes sense that a lot of people had to look the word up. But do you know what the second most looked- up word of the year was? Incumbent. No, we're not kidding. Incumbent.
Evidently, in an election year yet there were a whole lot of people walking around just pretending to know the meaning of the word incumbent. Yes, yes, the guy is certainly incumbent all right, no question about that, God bless him. Then when no one was looking off they'd steal to the dictionary to find out what this danged incumbent thing actually was.
But here's the best part. In 10th place on the list of most often looked-up words is defenestration. Defenestration, the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. My fellow Americans, what the heck are you reading that repeatedly sends you to the dictionary to look that word up? Makes you want to blog. I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
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