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The Lead with Jake Tapper

First Lady: Drink More Water; Is Apple Losing Its Shine?; What Would Steve Jobs Do?; Eli Raps About Growing Up Manning; Where Have You Gone, J.D. Salinger?; Twenty Years Of Conan O'Brien; Hip-Hop DJ Confesses Transsexual Trysts

Aired September 13, 2013 - 16:30   ET

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

JAKE TAPPER, CNN: One last note, in a new Drink Up campaign, the first lady, Michelle Obama, is talking about how it's important for everybody to drink more water. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: Drink just one more glass of water a day, and you can make a real difference for your health, for your energy and the way that you feel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: There came blowback in "Politico", as we would expect. Stanley Goldfarb, a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, says that these claims are not based in fact, especially more energy.

Bu I do know one Republican senator who would be definitely be onboard with this program. * JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: -- a professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania says that these claims are not based in fact, especially more energy. But I do know one Republican senator who would definitely be on board with this program, Marco Rubio, of course, as we know is a fan of the water. It seems like first ladies run for these non-offensive programs, drink more water, read books, and yet, you can't escape criticism on anything in this town.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I guess we can't call this Watergate, though, right? Sorry. I had to. I couldn't help myself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My people attacked Nancy Reagan for leading a campaign against drug use. It's a wonderful thing she did. My party, because we were so blinded by partisanship, attacked her for that. That was shameful. I think this is of that sort of ilk. As a parent of four kids, it's absolutely true that if you can get them to drink more water and less soda, less sugary, even fruit juice, it's better.

TAPPER: That is unstated in this campaign, though.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right. It's not anti-soda. It's pro-water. The beverage companies are all for it, but the science isn't there. TAPPER: All right, Jackie Kucinich (inaudible), thank you so much.

Coming up next on THE LEAD, is Apple ready to revolutionize television? Steve Jobs confided in one man about his plans for Apple TV and that man joins me next.

Plus, sibling rivalry for millions to see as the Manning brothers prepare for battle this weekend. Eli Manning sits down with CNN to talk about his brother and who his parents might be rooting for on Sunday. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. In our Money Lead, what should have been a big week for Apple ended up fairly meh. The company unveiled some new products including an upgraded iPhone and a cheaper version and a kaleidoscope of colors, but when a chart of your stock over the past week looks like a cliff, I wouldn't exactly put the week in the win column.

This leaves Apple maniacs asking what would Steve Jobs do? Let's bring in Steve Jobs' expert, Walter Isaacson, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute and of course, a former chairman and CEO of CNN. His "New York Times" bestseller, "Steve Jobs" was released in paperback this week with a younger Jobs featured on the cover. What was the reasoning behind that? Why the younger --

WALTER ISAACSON, PRESIDENT, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE: As he would say, think different. That wonderful Albert Watson picture that's on the hardback, he's doing that same pose and it became iconic but it was one that the company uses, everybody uses. I thought well, let's try something different.

TAPPER: But that wasn't Photoshop?

ISAACSON: No. He's actually doing the same pose when Norman Sy who took the picture for "Rolling Stone" in 1984.

TAPPER: Assuming that Jobs is somewhere in heaven looking down upon us and watching what's happening to his former company, what do you think he would have made of the announcement this week, the cheaper iPhone in multiple colors, the criticism that apple is no longer an innovator?

ISAACSON: Well, Steve left behind a great team and Tim Cook is competent as chief executive officer. What they've done since Steve stepped down as CEO is they've taken an inch off the iPad and added an inch to the iPhone and now take $100 off the iPhone for the iPhone 5C, is not really transforming things.

Steve, every three or four years, just blew us away by producing a product we had no idea we needed like a tablet computer. And that's what Apple really has to do in the next 12 months or so because it's been three or four years since they've had a transformative product.

TAPPER: They also don't do, Tim Cook doesn't do what Steve Jobs used to do which is the unveil, the showmanship --

ISAACSON: Nobody will be a showman like --

TAPPER: But we know every time they have a press conference we have an idea of what they're going to do as opposed to last time, everybody was what's he going to introduce.

ISAACSON: Especially because Steve was so fanatic on preventing leaks, he probably should have been communications director for the Obama White House. I remember once when Al Gore was saying something, he was on the board of Apple and Steve came down on him like a ton of bricks. It was always a surprise from the original 1984 unveil of the original Macintosh where he takes the black velvet cloth like a showman and was able to do that unveil.

This time around, you know, Tim Cook was there, he said the word incredible like four times. It was like if that was a magic word in a drinking game, we have knocked out a fraternity by halfway through the show. But the problem was, nothing was incredible. You kind of knew what was going to happen. So I think, you know, they still have got a great team there.

TAPPER: Look, I'm a fan. I have an iPad. I'm holding my iPhone, I want to believe in this --

ISAACSON: They make really good products. They still do -- great company.

TAPPER: Are they going to wow us ever again?

ISAACSON: Sure. I do think that, you know, couple years ago, when Steve was nearing the end of his life, he would talk quite a bit about the things that he really wanted to do, transform, the next wow, having done a tablet, having done a phone, having done a music player. I think he would love to have broken the sort of brain-dead way TV is connected to remote controls, to cable and you don't really have control, you can't just walk into a room late in the evening and say put on the latest Jake Tapper and boom, the TV puts it on for you. You got to figure out what channel is it on.

TAPPER: I don't know about you. I have like 15 different remotes. I got this one, that one, this one to figure it out.

ISAACSON: Right. That's the way it was with music before Steve did iTunes and the iTunes store and the iPod. He had to figure out how to get the album, if you wanted a particular song. You had to put it in your MP-3 player. He said any song you want, 1,000 songs in your pocket, 99 cents per song. The way he did it was not just the great hardware and software that was tied together.

It was browbeating the content companies to say to them, the music companies. You got to sell it by the song. We're going to do it in the iTunes Store. So in some ways, it's just like that. He's got to get -- Apple's got to get the content companies in on the game.

TAPPER: As you know, I could talk to you all hour, but we have to stop right now. Walter Isaacson, thanks so much for stopping in. The paperback of "Jobs" is out now in stores. Please check it out.

When we come back, he's had more success on the field if you're counting Super Bowl rings, but Eli Manning still has not beat his big brother and this Sunday, that may change. But before they play, Eli is talking to us.

And later in Pop Culture, a legendary deejay makes a stunning confession on air that starts a conversation. Why is he being saluted for admitting to having hired a prostitute? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. Now it's time for the Sports Lead. He's won two Super Bowls and total gut check fashion. He's conquered the world of hip-hop, kind of, and sketch comedy, sort of. But there's one thing Eli Manning has not done and that's beat big brother Peyton on the pro football field. He'll get another chance to top the guy who once gave him Noogies this Sunday when the Broncos come to the meadowlands to face the Giants.

And our own Rachel Nichols sat down with Eli before the big Manning bowl --- Rachel.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake, it was more than just Noogies in a story that's probably going to ring familiar if you got little brothers everywhere. When they were kids, Peyton would actually pin Eli to the floor with his knees, then beat on Eli's chest until Eli named every NFL franchise. Eli has gotten a little bit of revenge.

The two played basketball, Eli has reported dunking on his big brother, but real scoreboard will always be the football field. Eli talked to me about just how special it is to continue that sibling rivalry in front of the whole world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICHOLS: So you're looking New Orleans, you're playing football with your big brother, Peyton in the front yard. You look up 20 years later, and you're playing against him in the NFL, the biggest stage of all. What's going g to be the most special for you?

ELI MANNING, NEW YORK GIANTS QUARTERBACK: I'm proud of Peyton. I think he's proud of me. We've worked hard to get to this point and play in the NFL. We support each other. We want each other to play well each year and I think, you know, I think seeing him before the game and shaking his hand and just talking for those few minutes are special moments. That's what you'll remember down the road.

Hi. I'm Eli Manning and I'm a proud ambassador to the Little Brothers Program.

NICHOLS: You did this great "Saturday Night Live" sketch where you were part of a gang for the little brothers of the world getting revenge.

MANNING: Now you learn to treat the younger brother with some respect, Peyton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name's not Peyton.

MANNING: Whatever.

NICHOLS: I know it's a joke, but is there any revenge maybe you can get in this game for the beatings and teasings you got as a kid?

MANNING: I'm not playing defense, I don't get to go hit him. I won't get a free shot at him in any way. You know, Peyton's been a great big brother. He's been very supportive. He's helped me in many ways.

NICHOLS: What's the strategy your parents use to get through the game?

MANNING: I think it's a pretty easy strategy. I think they just root for the offense. A high-scoring game and maybe a missed extra point, loses the game, some sort of moral victory, if that really exists.

NICHOLS: Exactly. I will say, you and Peyton are going to meet on the field on Sunday, but you have already met on a very grand stage already this season, performing a rap video. Who came out on top with that one?

MANNING: I think we both lost on that one. Hopefully, years from now, our play of playing football will be more viewed than that rap video.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NICHOLS: You know, this whole week actually, Jake, is an adjustment for the brothers. They are a close-knit family as Eli referenced. They make a point of helping each other during the season. They talked on the phone each week to share strategy. They will even watch film for each other to help catch each other's mistakes. They won't do that this week.

TAPPER: I would think not. Rachel, multiple neck surgeries put Peyton's career in doubt a couple years ago. How likely is it that this is the last time we see the two brothers play each other on the NFL field?

NICHOLS: It probably will be. Their two divisions aren't scheduled to play again until 2017. Peyton would be 41 years old by then. There is always the possibility that they meet in the Super Bowl and certainly, with the Super Bowl in New York, there are a lot of Giants fans that would love that this upcoming year.

But those odds are long and certainly, the neck surgeries, as you mentioned, Eli was in the inside of Peyton's recovery. The family kept it hush-hush, but Eli told me there were times that were really scary for the brothers. That Peyton just didn't have the zip on the ball, the velocity, and they were worried he wouldn't be able to get it back. The fact he had a successful comeback, made it back to this point, will be a special day on Sunday.

TAPPER: I'll be watching. Rachel Nichols, thank you so much.

The Buried Lead, those are the stories we think have not gotten enough attention. Though this is about an author who thought he got more than enough attention in his time. You write one classic American novel and then try to disappear forever and no one will let you hear the end of it.

J.D. Salinger published "The Catcher In The Rye," a few novel and short stories and then he was about as invisible as the tooth fairy until his death in 2010. But a new book and film are putting the author back where he loathed to be in the public eye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER (voice-over): The landscape is littered with those famous for being famous, photographed almost out of habit. So it's easy to forget about the era when well-known names could be legendarily private.

SHANE SALERNO, DIRECTOR, "SALINGER": He turned his back on celebrity before celebrity was celebrity.

TAPPER: But now even the secrets of J.D. Salinger, one of the most solitary figures in recent history have oddly enough been made into a feature film.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Salinger was a national story, a shooting star.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the height of that success, he disappears.

TAPPER: The documentary "Salinger" was written, directed and produced by Shane Salerno, who dedicated a decade to the project.

SALERNO: I conducted over 200 interviews personally. We were on five continents. We went through diaries, journals, government records, so this was an archeological dig. This was a detective story.

TAPPER: For those who say "The Catcher In The Rye" author would not want to be captured this way.

SALERNO: He maintained lifelong friendships when he wanted to. He would call the press and grant spontaneous interviews. He really was a recluse who liked to come out of hiding to remind the world that he was a recluse.

TAPPER: Salerno wants audiences to know that beyond the rarely seen images and imagined solitude was a man full of life and stories untold.

SALERNO: J.D. Salinger lived an extraordinary life. When I found out that J.D. Salinger landed on d-day. That J.D. Salinger fought in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II. That he was in a mental institution. That he entered a concentration camp. There were so many aspects of his life that the public didn't know that I had to make the film.

TAPPER: And the director says without his film, Salinger's life stories may have been lost forever.

SALERNO: There were a number of people who were never going to speak about J.D. Salinger on the record while he was alive. Many of the people that I interviewed were in their 80s and 90s. A number of people we interviewed for this film have since passed away.

TAPPER: Among the most intriguing discoveries pertained of course to love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People hurt him. People he trusted.

TAPPER: The late author's romantic relationships were among his best and worst-kept secrets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said you have ruined my life.

TAPPER: Salinger's affair with Danielle student, Joyce Maynard, is well known but his later loves are practically top secret.

SALERNO: Many people didn't know she really existed for years. We found her. We found the records of how Salinger actually brought her into the United States.

TAPPER: Including Salinger's forbidden love whom he understandably kept private.

SALERNO: J.D. Salinger was a counterintelligence agent in World War II and in the process of being part of the de-Nazification of Germany. He met and fell in love with a Gestapo agent named Sylvia and married her, and brought her --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: The book shot to the top of the Amazon bestseller list in recent weeks. Now is a good a time as any to read it like you were supposed to in high school.

Coming up on THE LEAD, the first lady heads to Hollywood to raise some cash. Just how much will a sit-down with Michelle Obama cost you?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. Now it's time for the Pop Culture Lead. Twenty years ago today a tall goofy redhead who spent most of his time behind the camera introduced himself to America with the hopes that he could somehow, some way fill one of the biggest pairs of shoes in late night television.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, here's your host, Conan O'Brien.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Conan O'Brien replaced David Letterman on NBC on September 13th, 1993. Letterman, as you well know, moved on to CBS after an ugly battle with Jay Leno over hosting the "Tonight" show. Conan, who has come to know a thing or two about ugly battles, hosts his show on TBS, a fellow member of the Turner family.

Over Conan's 20-year career, he's brought us such memorable characters as triumph the insult comic dog and the nerd classic, Pierre Bernard's recliner of rage. We say to you, congratulations, Conan. We hope your special day is filled with marathons of Walker Texas Ranger.

How is it that a man can be accused of soliciting a transgender prostitute, resign from his job as a result? And still be praised by the "New York Times" for breaking barriers over it? Well, we're talking about the world of hip-hop, where homophobia still flies. This is deejay Mister Cee, a well known figure from New York City's Hot 97, one of the most influential hip-hop stations in the country.

On Wednesday, a video came out appearing to show him soliciting a transgender prostitute rather than deny it. Mister Cee abruptly resigned, then returned for an on-air confessional the next day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DJ MISTER CEE, RADIO HOST, HOT 97: I am tired of trying to do something or be something that I'm not. I'm tired. I'm tired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Mister Cee says he does not consider himself to be gay, but it's true, you don't often hear this kind of frank discussion of sexual identity in hip-hop. It's not clear if his resignation will stick. He was back in his time slot yesterday afternoon.

The crisis in Syria forced President Obama to cancel a fundraiser roundtable with some Hollywood heavyweights but have no fear, A- listers. The first lady is here. Michelle Obama will now step in to take the president's place. The fundraiser will be hosted at the home of everybody loves Raymond creator, Philip Rosenthal, for $1,200 guests can enjoy a photo reception and if you've got an extra $32,000 lying around the house or under the sofa cushion or in your suit pocket, you can buy a ticket to a roundtable discussion, which will include the first lady.

He left us hungry for more and now the second helping is here. Don't miss the season two premier of "ANTHONY BOURDAIN PARTS UNKNOWN." Anthony will take his taste buds to Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. That's Sunday night, 9:00 p.m. Eastern and 9:00 p.m. Pacific.

That's it for THE LEAD. I now turn you over to Wolf Blitzer. He's right next door in "THE SITUATION ROOM." WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Jake, thank you very much. Happening now, we have breaking news. There are new details emerging of a possible U.N. resolution on Syria, and a sticking point on the use of force.

Also, the search for Syria's chemical weapons, does anyone outside the Bashar Al Assad regime know where they are right now?

Plus, Joe Biden's latest off the cuff zinger. What the vice president and possible presidential candidate said about Republicans. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in "THE SITUATION ROOM."