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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Donald Trump at State Fair in New Hampshire; American Embassy Opened in Havana; Identifying Bostonian Baby Doe, Aired 8-9p ET

Aired August 14, 2015 - 20:00   ET

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

[20:00:14] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Hey, good evening. Thanks for joining us.

The big name candidates descending on the first key states in campaign 2016, Iowa and New Hampshire. Every top Democrat and one small Iowa town tonight.

And Donald Trump speaking in New Hampshire. Traveling to Iowa tomorrow where he assembled a serious campaign operation. He talked first to reporters.

Here he is now speaking to an overflow crowd in a high school in the beach town of Hampton. Let's listen.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can't do that, right? Can I do that? Women, am I allowed to fight back? Am I allowed? It's been a little nasty to me. So I promise that I'd wouldn't say it. And I said it to myself, I promised I wouldn't say -- that she ran Hewlett Packard into the ground. I said I will not say it. That her stock value tanked. And that she laid off tens of thousands of people. And she got viciously fired. I said I will not say that. And that she then went out and ran against Barbara Boxer, for the United States Senate in California, and it is a race that should have been won, and she lost in a landslide. And I said I will not say that. OK? All right? So I am not going to say it.

So our country has tremendous potential. We have to take back our jobs from China and all of the other people. We have to renegotiate our trade deals by getting people like Carl Icahn and Henry Kravitz. And our great deal. But we have the greatest deal makers in the world.

Like Carl is very busy. I called him. He said you are doing great. You are doing great. Tough guy. You are doing great. Every poll, you are doing amazing. I said, Carl, do me a favor. Just relax. I want to do this. If I win, you take China. I'll get somebody else to take this one. We will have our best.

And these people, Carl is, I think a nice guy. But some of them are not nice. Some of them are horrible human beings, OK. But they're the greatest in the world. Do we want nice people or do we want these horrible human beings to negotiating for us? Horrible. I want horrible. I want the horrible.

We will make great trade deals. We will save Social Security without cuts. We will -- we will come up with health care plans that will be phenomenal, phenomenal, that will be less expensive. We have to get rid of the little artificial circles. I call them the insurance company circles. You know what I mean. You are in the business. We have to get rid of artificial circles wrapping around the states all paid for by your local insurance companies because they have monopolies.

I have a huge company. And if I am in New York I get like no bids. I get one bid. OK? I go to New Jersey, where I have a lot of stuff. I go to California where I have a lot of stuff. I go to Florida. There is no bids because they have a monopoly in their little safe. So they would rather have a monopoly than be able to negotiate all over the country. In another words, they would rather have New York sewed up than have competition where they have to go and work for their money. That's over. That's over. That's over.

And you will have phenomenal plans, you will have them for much less money. The insurance companies will not be happy. But see, they don't give me money. They give to Jeb. And they give to Hillary. And they give to everybody. I don't want their money. I was called today by the biggest lobbyist -- great, he can do anything. He said, Donald I would love to make a major contribution to your campaign? I said I didn't want your money. No, no, no. You don't understand. It was like he never heard this before. He I want to really, give, $4 million, $5 million if it is OK. You are leading in all the polls. You know, they have to protect, you know, they have to protect themselves, right?

I said, you know, you are a friend of mine. You are a good guy. I don't want your money because what he is going to do is if when I win, and when one of his companies has a problem, I am going to do what is right for the people of the country. I'm not going to do what's right for him and his people.

So you have the special interest people. And you have all of these lobbyists. And you have the donors. And I will tell you, nobody is going to control us. We are going to work this together. And we are going to make it so strong and so great. I used the concept of the Ford plant being built in Mexico. It shouldn't be built there. We want it built in Michigan. We want it built in, we want it built in New Hampshire. We want it built in Iowa.

How does it help us? How does it help us? You go to the great business schools, and you do really well, and then you come home and you say, well, let's figure this out. They are going to spend $2.5 billion building a plant in Mexico. They're going to make cars, trucks and parts and they're going to ship them back to the United States. How does that help us? And we get no tax. We get no tax.

So when Jeb becomes president, if that ever happens, or when Hillary, if that ever happens, or when -- hey, hey, it could happen, folks if I hate to tell you. I think it is unlikely. I think it is unlikely. But if Jeb became president when they say, Mr. President, it's very bad ford is building in Mexico. OK. We'll do something. Let me go to sleep first. We'll do something. We'll do something about it. As soon as he says we'll do something, hey, he's not stupid. The

lobbyists will call him. They gave him some of this $114 million and the donors and the special interests. The will say, wait a minute. We have stock in Ford. We want Ford to do what we want them to do. And the lobbyist will go up to them and say, Mr. President, you can't do this. These people gave you $2.5 million. They did. That's right. I can't do it. And they will build happily. They will have a nice plant. We'll lose thousands of jobs. You know, terrible.

Now, what I would say is different. They will call me, too, but I wouldn't even take their call. But I might take them because some of them are nice guys. So I will take them. I will say no. I will start the conversation, no. And I wouldn't use Carl or anybody in this because, you know, and by the way I hope the press calls Carl Icahn because he feels very strongly about it. And he wants to do it. He is so anxious to do it. He has got -- they all want to do it.

You know, a guy like, I like Carl Icahn. He is worth many billions of dollars. He wants to do it. This is more important to him. He doesn't need another deal. I said Carl, how many deals can you do? Make the great deal as the country. The country, we have got to make this country rich. Then we have got to make it great.

And I said the same thing to others. But OK, so they come up to Trump. And I wouldn't call any of these guys because this is too easy. Too easy. So, the head of Ford calls me up and he says, Mr. President, we really want to build this plant in Mexico. I said. Congratulations. But you are not going to do it. We are going to go for it. That's OK. Then we are going to charge you a 35 percent tax on every car and truck and part that comes into our country. Every single one, 35 percent. He says you can't do that? Trust me I can do it. Trust me.

And what happens is probably they fold before 5:00. It could be they'll play tough and wait until the next day. I say they fold before 5:00. And the reason is -- the reason I wouldn't waste the time of the killers I told you about the great negotiators, because this is just too easy. This is a couple of phone calls. So what happens now is the next day they'll call up and they'll say, please, Mr. President no. I want you building in the United States. If you do it that's the way it is. And they'll say, Mr. President. We are building our plant in the United States. It's that simple. It's that simple.

Who would let -- who would let Nabisco -- Nabisco? Who would let Nabisco go to Mexico? Who would let these car companies? In Tennessee, they were expecting a great deal with a major foreign car company. It is going to be built in Tennessee. It was all set. It going to be built in Tennessee. There is going to be a great deal. And all of a sudden at the last moment. They announce they're not doing it in Tennessee. They're doing it in Mexico. Who would let that happen?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama.

TRUMP: Obama, you're right about that. That's a very good answer. It won't happen. Believe me with Trump. It won't happen. It won't happen. Go ahead. I mean, this guy, I hope this question is worth it. This guy has, has been standing up for the entire thing. I hope this is going to be a good question. Go ahead.

(INAUDIBLE)

TRUMP: OK.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: FOX hasn't touched this. I have been in touch with Kelly too. And FOX hasn't touched this. And I have been --

TRUMP: Let's go. Come on. Got to go. He's holding up my whole speech.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These counterfeit substandard parts in most of the nuclear plants in the United States.

TRUMP: Counterfeit substandard parts in nuclear plants in the United States. I'm not surprised to hear that. Why am I surprised?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And some of them have come from China.

TRUMP: And the Airplanes too, by the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I brought this out, The NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, accused me of conspiring to topple their agency. Had me in Massachusetts federal court for six years.

[20:10:11] COOPER: All right, that is Donald Trump tonight. Oddly interrupting his speech for this man's statement/question.

Hillary Clinton speaking shortly in Iowa as well. When we come back we are going to talk what we have been watching with our panel and listen in on Hillary Clinton when she gets going.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:14:02] COOPER: It is a big night, an important weekend for candidates. Donald Trump still speaking in New Hampshire. Hillary Clinton now speaking at a big Democratic event tonight, the wingding in Clear Lake, Iowa. Let's listen to her.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- to build a global coalition against Iran and impose the most crippling sanctions in history. That pressure. that pressure delivered a blow to Iran's economy and gave us the leverage necessary to get to the negotiating table and begin the first preliminary talks.

Now thanks to President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and Secretary Moniz, we have an agreement that blocks Iran's pathways to a bomb and gives us new tools for verification and inspection so that we can compel rigorous Iranian compliance. Now I know there are people of good faith on both side of this debate,

people who are committed to protecting our security and the security of our allies especially Israel, a true friend of America. None of us should have any illusions about Iran's true intentions or its continuing threats to the region to Israel to the United States. That threat is real. And it must be confronted. Including how we enforce this agreement and deter Iranian aggression and sponsorship of terrorism.

But our path is clear. This agreement combined with strong enforcement and deterrence is the only way to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. There is simply no viable alternative. That is why I strongly support President Obama and I encourage -- I encourage all of you to get involved and let Congress know that you support the president as well.

And when this debate is over, we need to come together to ensure that this president and the next president have the tools, resources and support to send a clear message to Iran. Cheat and you will pay. And when you threaten the region and Israel, you threaten America. We will keep confronting you on human rights and terrorism. And make no mistakes, we will never allow you to acquire a nuclear weapon. Not just during the term of this agreement. Never.

Now I know this is a little heavy for a wingding dinner. But I bring it up because when you get past all of the sound bites and the slogans, politics is about the choices we make. The choices we make about our leaders and our future. And this election has to be about who best understands the pressures facing our families and the challenges facing our nation, who has the right vision for America's future and the skills and tenacity to lead us there. That's an election that Americans can really have confidence in and that Democrats can win.

[20:17:49] COOPER: Hillary Clinton tonight, the democratic wingding in Iowa. Bernie Sanders speaking there shortly tonight as well. Both Mr. Trump and Secretary Clinton heading to the Iowa state fair tomorrow.

Joining us right now, CNN political commentator and former Reagan White House political Jeffrey Lord, "Boston Globe" political reporter, James Pindell, also CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist, Mary Cardona, a senior advisor for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

Jeffrey, obviously Donald Trump, even at his lowest wattage gives off more energy than most candidates. That said he does seem to be in the last couple days, maybe in the last week, kind of modulating himself particularly in these interactions with reporters that he has a kind of free-wheeling interactions with reporters before speeches. I am wondering if you see that and what you think about it.

JEFFREY LORD, FORMER REAGAN WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL DIRECTOR: What I see, Anderson, is that he is moving into issues and not discussing so much personalities. I mean, he does a little bit, but he is talking issues. Last night, for example, he was on Mark Levine's radio show, which of course a huge conservative audience. And it was issue oriented. I mean, Mark pressed him on issues and only issue. And they didn't go anywhere else. So the discussion was about taxes and Iran and Iraq and military and veterans affairs, et cetera.

It sound to me that's the kind of thing that he is talking about in New Hampshire. So it is noticeable in that sense. And, it is very interesting. When you listen to him on, on the Iran deal and you listen to Mrs. Clinton she was just saying, discussing Iran deal, she never mentioned the prisoners that are being held, Americans being held captive in Iran. And that was one of the very first things that Donald Trump touched on last night on the Mark Levine show. If he had been dealing with Iran, that would have been the starting point. They would have gotten no further until that was resolved. So, she didn't mention that tonight at least that I could hear. And I think that is a very interesting thing.

COOPER: James, I'm wondering, you know, we heard earlier from a reporter who was at the, the Trump event that some people are just kind of there because they want to almost kind of take part in it, they want, whether or not they haven't decided whether or not they would support Trump. But they want to just catch a glimpse of him and be part of this thing that is going on. Do you hear that a lot from people? And I'm wondering if you hear that for other candidates as well?

[20:20:14] JAMES PINDELL, BOSTON GLOBE: You know, yes, you do. Part of it is they want to be there because there is this really fascinating moment in American politics. But let's be honest. They want to be there because they are going to be entertained. It is a Friday night.

But I think one thing that was really interesting about that comment the reporter made is when you saw the pictures, I don't know if we have pictures of all the people lined up outside of the high school to see Donald Trump tonight, it really, the first thing that popped in my mind is it remind me of the large crowd that would wait in lines for Barack Obama in 2007 and 2008. And they were there for the same reasons. They want to see this historical moment.

COOPER: Maria, do you think that, obviously a different kind of historical moment, But do you, do you see that comparison?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No. I don't. I do agree that a lot of people do want to see Donald Trump for the circus of it all. I mean, who doesn't like a circus, right? But there is definitely a lot of followers who are believing eating everything that Donald Trump is giving them.

And I think what's important for Republicans to take notice the he is going a lot further than anybody ever thought he would. And everybody, you know, has been saying that his campaign is going to fumble. You know from the first time that he insulted Mexico, insulted immigrants, and he insulted veterans, then he insulted, nursing moms, and nothing has actually affected his campaign other than it has helped him become the front-runner. But I think when you look at what Americans are looking for at some

point they're going to say, OK, it was fine that I dated the bad boy, right? But now it's time to get serious. And I think when that happens, you know, and I think Republicans are hoping that that happens before he actually gets the nomination, but when that happens I think you are going to see that people are going to press him on actual plans and actual proposals. And even though Jeffrey says he has been talking about issues, he hasn't really talked about how he is going to make Mexico pay for the wall. Has anybody talked to Mexico about that? Mexico is not going to pay for the wall. So he might sound like he is talking about issues, but he is not putting forward real proposal.

COOPER: Jeffrey, let me ask you about that. At some point do the other GOP candidates, whether it is - I mean, we heard Rand Paul kind of attacking him, you know, in personal ways, even attacking his kids, though, at one point. But at some point, do the other GOP candidates start focusing on actually what Trump is saying about taking the oil from Iraq. I mean, that Iraq is not a real country. There are no Iraqis. They just take the oil.

I mean, at some point, do other candidates start to say, well, what does that actually look like? And what impact will have that on Iraq?

LORD: I'm sure they will, Anderson. You know, I think back to the Reagan/Bush campaign of 1980. And George Bush was -- as he begin to lose New Hampshire, suddenly turned around and he was talking about Reagan's voodoo economics. He go back to 1960, and John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey, slugging it out in the West Virginia primary. And there stories out there that Hubert Humphrey was a draft dodger compared to JFK's World War II heroism.

I mean, these kind of things will happen. This is what a campaign is all about. The Obama/Clinton race in 2008, I mean, it was pretty much a slugfest there for a while. So yes, I do expect this to happen. It is completely normal. It is part of the system. I notice he took a poke at Carly Fiorina tonight. He took a poke at Rand Paul. All of this is totally within bound. And there is lots of precedent for it.

COOPER: And James, I mean, Trump said tonight that Jeb Bush is quote "going down the tubes" and that he believes Bush will have to soon start running attack ads against Trump. Do you see that happening? I mean, there is this idea that at some point, if his opponents want to overtake him, to Jeffrey's point, they are going to have to get tougher.

PINDELL: Right. I think we are in this period now where a lot of rival are still not quite sure what to do with him other than to use Trump to get their own numbers up, to get their own publicity. But the attacks ton Trump like the million dollar ad be putting on these early primary states from Rand Paul hitting Donald Trump, have really been about Trump and his character. And things he has said.

And if you wait to get to policy conversation which where you went there before, look at his comment where he just about Ford. If Ford wanted to move a plant to Mexico, he would then automatically put some 35 percent tariff. Well you know, you need the house and the Senate to pass this. You can't just, as he said, make a couple of phone calls.

But I got to tell you, Anderson. I am just struck looking at these, the top of the show where we had Donald Trump and then Hillary Clinton. You know, in the spring, we knew two things for certain. Hillary Clinton was going to be the Democratic nominee. And Donald Trump was not going run for president. And now, we are in this period of total uncertainty of whether Hillary Clinton is collapsing and Donald Trump is not only running he is the national front-runner.

[20:25:22] COOPER: And don't we learn this every presidential election, that, you know, and pundits and experts that you cannot really predict this stuff. That there is no, I mean as much as people know and as much experience as, as people have, every time it's different. And every time it's sort of redefines, there is different laws of politics. And I think that's what certainly is making it fascinating this time around just as it was fascinating when Barack Obama was running and nobody ever heard of him early on.

We got to leave it. Maria, thanks you for being with us. James Pindell and Jeffrey Lord.

Coming up next more on Iowa, a state and especially state fair, it is turning to a cattle call for candidates. Trump/Clinton tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, Donald Trump offering ride in his chopper. We will look at all the political showmanship in the Hawkeye state as well as the what now appears to be a very serious Trump effort to win there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:30:08] COOPER: We've been watching Donald Trump tonight in New Hampshire. Tomorrow, as we mentioned, he heads to Iowa where we have been learning, he's not just counting on publicity to win the first in the nation presidential caucuses in January. He's assembled a seasoned team of political professionals on the ground. For now, there are publicly, publicity, I should say, and exposure do mean a lot. As you know, Mr. Trump and others are flocking to the Iowa state fair in Des Moines. He'll be arriving by helicopter. He has several. Will be offering chopper rides just outside the fair grounds. Officials say he cannot do it at the fair itself where he would be - he would be meeting, they told, the prize winning butter cow.

Again, as we saw just a moment ago, Hillary ?linton along with Bernie Sanders are two other challengers are headlining the Democratic wingding in the northern Iowa town of Clear Lake. Our senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny is there. He joins us now.

So, a lot of Democratic candidates there tonight. What's the latest?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, I was struck by Hillary Clinton's comments just a few moments ago. She not only fully embraced the Iran deal, but she used that as an example of why this presidential campaign should turn serious. She said it's why voters of all sides should sort of ignore the circus and the side show that this campaign is, sometimes become, and it is a serious moment. But Anderson, it is clear that, listening to her in the speech tonight, and she will be followed by Bernie Sanders as well as Martin O'Malley and others, that her best way to win over Democrats, to win over skeptical Democrats is to take on the Republicans. And to show these Democratic voters that she is the strongest general election candidate. That she is more serious than Bernie Sanders. That she's more experienced than Martin O'Malley. So, we hear that tonight in her speech. And it's something she has been trying to do. That's why she is hitting Jeb Bush, you know, really pretty hard. Even though, she has a long way to go until then.

COOPER: And the state fair, which was obviously kicked into high gear today. Jeb Bush spent some time there on the soapbox. What did he say? And how was he received?

ZELENY: Anderson I was impressed by how much time he spent there. About 4 1/2 hours. And he gave a speech on the soapbox. Again, a serious speech. He really spent a lot of time one-on-one pressing the flesh. He acknowledged the difficulties that he faces in this race. I mean there is no question that this is not how he had planned this campaign at all. He is an unscripted moment. He's in an uncertain time in this Republican Party. But he really looked like a happy warrior out there. And he spent so much time doing it. And it is going to be a contrast, actually, to Hillary Clinton, when she visits the state fair. She's actually not doing the soapbox.

And, you know, we say, does that matter, does it not? It is actually giving a speech. Taking unsolicited, or unscripted, rather questions from voters. And Jeb Bush did that fairly well today. A couple of people, you know, raised some things about his brother, about the Iraq war. But he handled it just fine. So some contrasts we're seeing out here on this very retail side of the summer campaign swing.

COOPER: And what else does the weekend have in store, besides, obviously, chopper rides from Donald Trump?

ZELENY: Anderson I have to think that those chopper rides are going to pretty much dominate the news coverage certainly. It is going to be quite the spectacle. But it's really going to be, you know, New York vs. New York tomorrow at the state fair. With Hillary Clinton arriving in a very different way. As Donald Trump, and this side show that she talked about tonight is going to be playing out there.

But I've talked to a lot of people why this actually matters. And this is a real test of likability. How voters actually see if you are likable. I think Donald Trump has probably won that score. People do find him likable. They're just waiting to see if he is serious. But Hillary Clinton clearly has some ground to make up in terms of connecting with voters. So, that's why all these things actually matter, that's why all these impressions at this point are actually important.

COOPER: Jeff, stay with us. I want to - bring in our chief political analyst Gloria Borger, who's been talking to sources on the other big campaign story today. Whether vice president Biden who's said to be weighing his options while on vacation this week. He's going to get into race. Also with us, CNN politics executive editor, Mark Preston.

So, Gloria, I want to get the reporting on the vice president in a moment. But Donald Trump who we saw a couple of moments ago in New Hampshire, tomorrow at the Iowa state fair, big visits there, no major dustups in the past few days. It seems like his candidacy is not only as strong as ever, but kind of into a new phase. I don't know if it's trying to be more presidential, or just a more straight forward kind of phase?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think what it is, is that we have grown so accustomed to Donald Trump, that what we saw tonight was, what we now think of as his stump speech. Even though he came out and said, that Hillary Clinton by the way, whom we just saw a few minutes ago, and he said this, she is going to have to end her campaign. He said things are going so badly for her. She is going to have to end her campaign. That we have stupid leadership in this country. That everything is a mess. That we don't have anything of good relationships with our allies. Rand Paul is just using the people of Kentucky. And on and on.

But I think what's happened is that, this is just become more of the same to us. We are used to it. We go, oh, that's Donald Trump. OK, move on to the next thing.

[20:35:00]

BORGER: So, it's pretty standard fare from him.

COOPER: Well, Mark, I mean Trump flew to New Hampshire. I guess from New York. About an hour before the speech. He's flying back to New York tonight. Other candidates you see them doing these multiday, multi-stop visits in key early states. Not only does Trump not do that. But it's also working. Could anyone else pull that off?

MARK PRESTON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CNN POLITICS: No, Anderson, look. And he is not the normal politician. He doesn't bend to people's pressures. He is somebody that we haven't seen certainly in my lifetime, run a presidential campaign, the way he is running it right now. The question is -- can that turn into votes? And if we look at Iowa specifically, you know, I spoke to some folks out there who have ran campaigns successfully out in Iowa. And this you need to look at it this way. Trump is going to come to Iowa. He is going to draw big crowds. But from that he needs to identify voters. And from then he, then needs to get them to come out to caucus for him, which means basically vote for him. When it gets really cold in February.

So the question is -- you know, Donald Trump clearly is going to get the support. Right now. We are going to see that in the polls. People are angry. He's going to have people come out to see him at these events. But can he turn them into supporters in February? And that still really is a question that remains to be answered.

COOPER: Well, Jeff, I mean I understand, Jeb Bush is saying he is not worried. I guess what else is he going to say? Kind of laughed it off today in Iowa when he was asked about it. But behind the scenes what are you hearing? Are the Bush people, they can't be happy about what Trump has been able to do?

ZELENY: No, Anderson, they're definitely not happy about this. I mean this is not how they plan this campaign was going out, or would unfold throughout the summer. You know, he got in very late in June. Because he'd spent so much time raising money. But they go out and point out the fact that, you know, it's been - this is sort of a pause during the middle of this presidential campaign. They are not sure if it is going to continue or not. It's sort of an interlude as aides describe it to me. So, they still believe slow and steady. Sort of wins this race here.

One thing that they were heartened by, Governor Bush was not heckled on immigration, he was not severely heckled on the Iraq war or other things. He actually was able to make his case today. So, they really think that they still are in a decent position because of the rest of the Republican base is divided in so many different parts. And Anderson, the biggest reason that the Bush campaign is not sweating entirely is, as Gloria and I have talked about and Mark so many times. 120 million reasons why. That's how much money they and their super- PACs have. They have not aired a single ad, they've not really even muscled up on this campaign yet.

So, I don't detect a ton of worry among the Jeb Bush side. But they're certainly watching this very closely.

COOPER: Gloria, let's talk about Vice President Biden. What are you hearing?

BORGER: Well, I think, you know when you look back to 2013, 2014, Anderson. I think Joe Biden was pretty much resigned to not running. Hillary Clinton seemed anointed by President Obama. Some of his aides went to run what's become her super-PAC. And I think he thought that -- the future in many ways he was going to pass the torch to his son Bo. And obviously -- you know, Bo's tragic death changed everything. And Hillary Clinton is dropping precipitously in the polls. And what he is now allowing is for his aides to - his former aides, some of his close advisers to start talking to people about the potential for a Biden run. He has actually been on the phone himself. With some people. But this is mainly -- being done by aides. And they're starting, you know they tell him the obvious things. That a, you have no money. B, you have no organization. C, what would happen if you went to New Hampshire, for example? And you've got in New Hampshire. Well, then wouldn't you hand New Hampshire to Bernie Sanders when you take votes away from Hillary Clinton. And do you want to be a spoiler? Would you have to start your campaign in South Carolina? You're 72 years old. Is this something you really need to do or want to do for the country?

So he is on vacation now with his wife Jill, and he'll continue talking to advisers. And I don't think we are going to get a solid answer on this, Anderson, until the end of the summer.

COOPER: All right. Gloria, thank you. Mark Preston, Jeff Zeleny.

Up next, we are going to be live to Cuba with American flag is flying over the U.S. embassy in Havana for the first time in more than half a century. The latest on this historic day.

[20:44:23]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: But for the first time in 54 years the American flag is flying over the U.S. embassy in Cuba. Secretary of State John Kerry raised the flag in the ceremony today, where he called it "a truly historic moment." Our Jake Tapper is in Havana. He joins us now. So, Jake, I mean you are at the embassy this morning. What was it like?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean it was very interesting. It's very mixed in terms of the emotions here. You have the history, of course, Secretary of State John Kerry. The first American secretary of state here since 1945. And they're raising the flag up. Eisenhower is the one that ordered it down in January, 1961. The three Marines who took it down were here to witness it go back up. So, it's interesting. And momentous. But at the same time, you know I think the Cuban people, a lot of them are, excited about what this might mean. A lot of them are hopeful about what this might mean. But it is not as though, you know, snap, all of a sudden there is democracy and freedom of the press and freedom of congregation in Cuba. It's so - it is a weird mix. It's exciting and historic. But, what's it going to mean at the end of the day?

COOPER: And what did Kerry say, because I understood he addressed the crowd both in English and Spanish?

TAPPER: He did. It was the kind of speech you would expect. And he did caution that, you know, this is not, everything is not going to happen overnight. This is going to be a journey. But he did -- look, I mean, he is the secretary of state and it was clearly a moment where he was -- being the nation's top diplomat. There is some controversy over the fact that none of the dissidents were invited to the ceremony. Two explanations for that, one, this is a government to government event.

[20:45:00]

TAPPER: Which makes sense. And also it's likely that if the dissidents came the Cuban government would not have sent any representatives. That's also true. The State Department also said, that there wasn't going to be any space. And that just clearly was not the case. There was plenty of space. There was an entire empty row. So there is, this lingering nagging issue going on. Amidst all this pomp and circumstance that this is still a, an impoverished country. A country that has failed the economic system. It is a disaster. The people are suffering. And they don't have freedom so - that's great that there is this new course. But -- what now. Is this actually going to do what President Obama says it will?

COOPER: Yeah, a lot of raised hopes. And a lot of questions still. Jake Tapper, thank you so much for being there. There is a lot more happening tonight. Randi Kaye and a 360 bulletin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, Kayla Mueller, the American aid worker, who was kidnapped and murdered by ISIS was repeatedly raped by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. That's according to a Mueller family spokeswoman who says that's what the U.S. government told them back in June. However, the original source was two Yazidi girls who were held with Mueller. Chelsie Manning the transgender U.S. soldier serving 35 years in the military prison for leaking secret documents is being threatened with indefinite solitary confinement. Manning's lawyer says she's accused of misconduct for having several items in her prison cell, including "The Vanity Fair" issue featuring Caitlyn Genre.

In a letter to the media, royal official is calling out the paparazzi for increasingly dangerous tactics used to get unauthorized photos of two-year-old Prince George and is urging them to stop.

And baby panda watches back at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Take a look. Giant panda Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated in April. Her hormones now spiking. Plus, she is sleeping more and even building a nest, apparently. All signs, Anderson, that she could deliver a cub or it could just be a pseudo pregnancy. We are going to have to wait until next month to find out.

COOPER: Wow. OK. We shall wait. Randi, thanks very much.

There is new information on the story that Randi's reported on extensively. About a little girl whose body was found in a trash bag in the Boston Harbor - nearly two months ago. Believe it or not, her identity is still a mystery. But there is a new piece of the puzzle to till you about tonight. Details ahead.

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COOPER: Tonight, new information in a case that has baffled investigators. It's been nearly two months since the body of a little girl was found stuffed in a trash bag along the shoreline in Boston harbor. And we still don't know her name. It's a picture created by forensic artist and shared millions of times online. Now, investigators have been working to try to piece together clues about who she is. How a possible break through, there may be a possible breakthrough. Analysis of the pollen that was found on her clothing could help investigators in their search. Once again, Randi Kaye reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She was first found on the Boston harbor's rocky shoreline. No name, no identity. No one reporting her missing. A woman walking her dog noticed a plastic bundle and called police.

Investigators found the child's body here wrapped in a black plastic garbage bag, just discarded like a piece of trash resting along the rocks here. This is Deer Island. It's just east of Boston's Logan airport there. You can get here by car or by boat.

Investigators named her Baby Doe and set out trying to figure out who she is and how she got here.

(on camera): How disturbed are you by this discovery here?

ANTHONY PLANT, RESIDENT: Absolutely disturbed. You know, it's just a little kid. Never had a chance in this world, you know? It's terrible.

KAYE: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children generated this computer image of what she may look like. Long brown hair. Sweet chubby cheeks. And big brown eyes. Authorities also released pictures of some of the evidence. A zebra blanket found with her. And polka dotted leggings she was wearing.

Now, a critical discovery from those items is radically changing the course of this investigation. Lab tests turned up pollen. And technicians were able to determine where that pollen came from. Trees and shrubs in New England. This new information indicates Baby Doe is likely from the area. And didn't wash up from somewhere far away. And there is more. The pollen was mixed with soot telling investigators her surroundings were somewhat urban.

DOROTHY DIXON, RESIDENT: I grew up here. And what if it is a kidnapped kid, you know what I mean?

KAYE: Based on the new evidence, authorities now believe Baby Doe may never have been in the water at all, even though she was wrapped in plastic. It's likely she was simply placed on the shore. Otherwise the pollen may not have survived. Investigators don't suspect Baby Doe had been dead very long. Baby Doe is just 3 1/2 feet tall, weighing about 30 pounds. Investigators believe she is four years old. Likely Hispanic or Caucasian.

ANGELO UMBRIANNA, RESIDENT: The sad part of this that -- somebody has to know this child and know he has come forward. You know, that's the sad part about it.

KAYE: Police have received tips pointing to 150 different children who tipsters believe may be Baby Doe. But still, her name remains a mystery. Along with how she died. Randi Kaye, CNN, Winthrop, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Joined now by CNN contributor, forensic scientist Lawrence Kobilinsky at the Dante College of Criminal Justice. So, Professor Kobilinsky, tracing this pollen found on the clothing to trees and plants in the Boston area - what does that - I mean how difficult is that? What does that process look like?

LAWRENCE KOBILINSKY, FORENSIC SCIENTIST: It's not as complicated as it might sound, Anderson. Because difference species of plants produce pollen. And these pollen grains, under the microscope are morphologically structurally different. So, if you have a database to examine. You can compare known pollen grains from the question, evidentiary pollen grains. And they found 39 different species of pollen on the clothing that, that Baby Doe was wearing. And so -- they have a rough idea, not only of what pollen, what types of pollen were there, but also the proportion of each. That gives them a fairly good idea of the general region where this pollen is produced. Which is the -- the urban area, the greater area, of around Boston. And I think that they can't really localize it any further without additional assistance. So, we are a little step closer to identifying Baby Doe.

COOPER: You were hoping though that they would find more than just pollen on the clothing. What other things - they found, hairs, things like that?

KOBILINSKY: Hair. Any kind of trace evidence that might be there. There might even be DNA there from whoever handled those items. So, that for example, if you found a genetic profile and you searched the national data base.

[20:55:00]

KOBILINSKY: If somebody was there relative, for example, a close relative, if not the person who left the DNA, you could tell, you can get a handle on, on the origin of Baby Doe. So this is just one example of where we are going as far as we can go. They're even doing -- of her teeth and what it to tell us what kind she had. What type, or what should they then, that would again help us determine the general location of where Baby Doe originated from.

COOPER: That's fascinating. Professor Kobilinsky, let's hope they get some more evidence soon. Thanks very much. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well that does it for us. Thanks very much. Have a great weekend. We'll see you again on Monday night. "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown" starts now. See you Monday.

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