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At This Hour
U.S. Reopens Cuban Embassy; 3 Good Samaritans Rescue Truck Driver; 13 Jaw-Dropping Moments in 2016 Campaign. Aired 11:30a-12p ET
Aired August 14, 2015 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:30:00] KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: You may see more security at theaters this weekend. They are hiring extra guards, extra security presence in place for the movie rolling out of Compton. What does this mean for you?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BOLDUAN: A new start in U.S./Cuban relations. History being made just a short time ago. Secretary of State John Kerry raising the U.S. flag in Cuba for the first time in 50 years, restoring the embassy in Havana, and telling the world the U.S. and Cuba are no longer enemies or rivals but neighbors who wish each other well.
CNN's global affair correspondent, Elise Labott, was at the ceremony watching this all play out. She's in Havana for us right now.
Elise, Secretary Kerry spoke at the ceremony. What was his big message?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A couple of things. He talked a lot about the fact that in the end this policy, this restoring of relations between U.S. and Cuba is not just about governments but it's about people. He mentioned the people, the Americans that were here when the U.S. closed its embassy in '61, you have three U.S. Marines who lowered the flag, coming back to raise the flag talked about the Cuban people who were standing outside the embassy walls watching this all play out. His message was, after 50 years, of acrimony and mistrust, the U.S. and Cuban people will get to know each other. He spoke about the U.S. embargo and the U.S. has taken steps to easy and travel restrictions and in tend it's a two-way street. He used that opportunity to call upon the Cuban government to expand opportunities for its people just as the U.S. will continue to find ways to have opportunities to help the Cubans themselves.
[11:35:16] BOLDUAN: Elise, this, of course, I think you're kind of eluding to it there, this move, this decision, this moment didn't come without a lot of criticism in normalizing relations. Cuba hasn't made enough progress with regards to their human rights record and political freedoms. Did the secretary touch on that?
LABOTT: He was just saying that there's differences still remain and clearly that's the big major difference that the U.S. Has with Cuba is the way it treats its people. Just week the Cubans rounded up 90 dissidents and you notice they were not here today. Look, these are going to be small steps but what the U.S. is hoping and what Secretary Kerry is hoping by this increased engagement with the U.S. government, the U.S. will be able to talk about this. For 50 years, they wouldn't be able to raise it. Look, the U.S. just raising it now isn't going to make a huge difference, but they hope that as there's more dialogue, as there's more trust and as the U.S. is able, diplomats be travel. They'll see what the Cuban needs are and the small steps to liberalize trade and tourism and business are very small. The U.S. will continue to look for expanded opportunities to help the Cubans in their daily lives.
BOLDUAN: No matter where you land on it, history being made today with that flag going back up over the U.S. embassy.
LABOTT: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Elise, thank you so much.
It's one of year's most anticipated movies. And after recent attacks inside theaters, security has been beefed up across America as "Straight Out of Compton" opens.
Most tourists do not expect to save a man's life while on vacation. That's what happened. The incredible rescue, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:41:12] BOLDUAN: A recent report found that Hollywood has a diversity problem, especially when you look behind the camera. It found that white film directors outnumber minorities two to one. And when it comes to screen writers the ratio is three to one. This week's "CNN Hero" is working to change that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED HEINRICH, CNN HERO: In the film industry, there are very few people of color. I think people feel shut out.
As an editor for over 40 years -- picks up the pace, makes it more exciting. I thought, I'm going to help the people who need the help the most.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Growing up, I loved film and television. But my childhood was mostly taking care of my dad. He was pretty ill. I really didn't have like the opportunities to pursue my dreams.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You always say yes in Improv. Yes to everything.
HEINRICH: We bring in industry professionals who teach low-income and minority youths how to make films.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And action.
HEINRICH: The training we provide is hands on.
Once the camera is set, you'll want to shoot everything you can from that angle.
Screen writing, directing, camera, editing, producing, casting, it's necessary that they learn all these skills.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're trying to make emotionally impacting films here.
HEINRICH: The students who graduate find jobs through contacts with studio personnel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't imagine where I would be without the program.
(LAUGHTER)
Words can't say much about how much appreciation I have. When my dad passed away, he's given me good advice.
HEINRICH: We're looking for more diverse future for our students in Hollywood. And they're achieving that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN: It is the last month to nominate a "CNN Hero" for 2015. If you'd like nominate someone go to CNNheroes.com.
Coming up for us, an explosive crash and a truck driver who was on fire. The incredible rescue as three tourists rush to help. We'll talk to those tourists, next.
Former President Bush welcomes a granddaughter, a new granddaughter. The special meaning behind her name, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:47:31] BOLDUAN: A truck driver is lucky to be alive after a horrific accident and exPLOsion caught on tape. Two tractor trailers collided and burst into flames on the New Jersey Turnpike. The driver jumps from his cab. You can see his leg is on fire. Australian tourists took video of the whole thing as they also ran to help the man. That driver is still in the hospital being treated for his burns.
Those good Samaritans, Jacqui and Anthony Wilson and Simon Byrne, are joining me now.
Unbelievable to see all this. Thank you. It's great to meet you all.
Simon, when you see this video, it's hard to believe that anyone survived. You were right there. Walk us through what you saw.
SIMON BYRNE, RESCUED DRIVER: As soon as the trucks collided and blew up, we slammed on the brakes. I ran out toward the cab and was not expecting anybody to come out. The flames were 30, 40 feet high already. All of a sudden he jumped through the flames and landed on the ground and started running towards me. My sister started running down when she saw him come out as well. Then it was trying to get the planes out.
BOLDUAN: Amazing.
Jacqui, we can see you in the video running towards him. At the moment the truck driver jumped out, his leg on fire, what did you think?
JACQUI WILSON, RESCUED DRIVER: My first priority was to get the flames out and run down and help him. He had a belt on and his jeans and shoes and socks. We thought if we don't get the jeans off it's going to engulf him. Get his jeans off and just try to hold his hands and he was saying I had had nowhere to go. We were trying to get the flames out.
BOLDUAN: Anthony, what was the driver saying throughout al of this? When you guys all got to him?
ANTHONY WILSON, RESCUED DRIVER: He was telling Jacqui he had nowhere to go. He was on the left-hand side of the barrier. Sort of in shock. We're all in shock when it happened. Sort of jumped in and ran.
BOLDUAN: Absolutely. When you see this part of the video, I don't think you can see this, but you came upon a very dangerous situation. You can see other cars passing by throughout all of this. Why did you all decide to stop?
[11:50:00] BYRNE: I mean it happened right in front of us. We were the first car. You see a massive accident like that and check to see if you can do anything. You got to try to help him. The other guy just wanted to get out of there. It's a very dangerous situation. The truck kept on exploding. They kept going up every 10
BOLDUAN: I'm bet you never expected to be heroes and come to their safety, right, Simon?
BYRNE: Yeah. I've been here 20 years and my sister and brother-in- law, I just brought them back from D.C., for a visit. So we were coming back from D.C., they haven't seen each other in six years, so we had a great couple of days in D.C. And then we're 20 minutes from home and this happened. So it was an experience.
BOLDUAN: To say the least.
After all of this and when you see this video once again, what do you make of it?
BYRNE: Well, we weren't thinking at the time that we're pretty lucky it didn't explode when we were standing next to it. We were one lane away from the truck.
JACQUI WILSON: The main concern for all of us is that the truck driver is OK and I have heard he's speaking from hospital saying he has got burns on 25 percent of his body. So he's someone's father, someone's husband, he's got family. So I would I like to think somebody would do the same thing, a family member of mine, if they were in trouble. BOLDUAN: It's amazing. And so thankful, I'm sure that man is so
thankful today that you were all there. You all stopped and helped him out.
It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Thank you so much.
BYRNE: Thank you so much.
JACQUI WILSON: Thank you.
ANTHONY WILSON: Thank you.
BOLDUAN: Thank you.
We also have some very big and very good news coming for the Bush family. Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former President George W. Bush and first lady, Laura Bush -- you see them right there -- Jenna Bush Hager gave birth to her second child yesterday. Poppy Louise Hager is her name, named after her grandfather. Former President George H.W. Bush's nickname from when he was a child is Poppy. Congratulations to the Bush family on that little addition. Absolutely adorable.
Coming up for us, the Iowa State Fair is a political rite of passage, bringing together the best of fried foods, butter sculptures, and White House hopefuls. The big question there -- speaking of Bushes -- can Jeb Bush regain his momentum there?
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[11:56:41] BOLDUAN: This may seem like the political summer of Donald Trump. As the presidential candidate, yes, he has had his share of headline-grabbing moments. But don't forget, the other candidates have had their moments of infamy as well. Here are the 13 jaw-dropping moments are from the 2016 campaign so far.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I could have sworn I saw Hillary's Scooby Doo van outside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Literally, calling it the Scooby Doo van.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what she calls it? The Mystery Machine. The Scooby Doo van.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Do you think being gay is a choice?
DR. BEN CARSON, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & NEUROSURGEON: Absolutely.
CUOMO: Why do you say that?
CARSON: Because a lot of people who go into prison, go into prison straight, and when they come out, they are gay. LINCOLN CHAFEE, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER RHODE ISLAND
SENATOR: Here's a bold and embrace of internationalism. Let's join the rest of the world and go metric.
SEN. RAND PAUL, (R), KENTUCKY & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me finish. Hey, Kelly, hey --
(CROSSTALK)
KELLY EVANS, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Go ahead.
PAUL: Quiet. Calm down a little bit here, Kelly.
JEB BUSH, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: I would have. And so would have Hillary Clinton, to remind everybody. And so would have everybody that was confronted with the intelligence that they got.
JOHN KASICH, (R), OHIO GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter.
(BOOING)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Other things I've wanted to talk about is the fact that the American people are tired of seeing unarmed African-Americans --
CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R), NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm still waiting for one fact, one fact from you about me being anti- gun. Give me one, one fact. Got one?
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I wrote the number down. I don't know if it's the right number. Let's try it. 202 --
He -- he's not a war hero.
CUOMO: He's a war hero.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured, I hate to tell you.
CRUZ: We now know that when the majority leader looks at us in the eye and makes a commitment, we know he will say things that are false.
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR (voice-over): This president's foreign policy is the most feckless. He would trust the Iranians, and take the Israelis and basically march them to the door of the oven.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We came out of the White House not only dead broke but in debt. We had no money when we got there and we struggled to peace together the resources for mortgages for houses.
TRUMP: You know, you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her -- wherever.
Who would think to say something like that? Only a sick person would even think about it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN: And they are just getting started. That's either the worst or best part about it, i guess. Oh, what a -- what can we expect when CNN hosts the next debate coming up in September?
Thank you so much for joining us AT THIS HOUR. Have a great weekend, everyone.
"LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield starts right now.
[12:00:00] ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Happy Friday, everyone. Hello. I'm Ashleigh Banfield. Welcome to "LEGAL VIEW."
He has been up, he has been down, and today Jeb Bush is at the Iowa State Fair declaring the polls irrelevant.
