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Families in Israel, Gaza Touched by War; Obama Faces Economic Reality on Campaign Promises; Alabama Trail Maids' Antebellum Outfits Raise Controversy; 107-Year-Old Woman Offers Insights on Obama

Aired January 11, 2009 - 22:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: The countdown is on. Not only for the swearing in of a historic administration, but for how to get America's financial house in order and fast. Tonight, new details on a rare Sunday night meeting on Capitol Hill and the president hedging on campaign promises. And the man who wants to fill Obama's Senate seat just might get his way. New details on what's going on tomorrow only here on CNN.
Also tonight, the reality of war. The video no one else is showing you of what's really happening in Gaza and Israel. Plus, this.

You know what, from the depths of slavery to the highest office. Americans black and white overwhelmed about how far we have come.

I'm Don Lemon. Also tonight, hanging with Mrs. Cooper, 107 years of living history. The news starts right now.

Good evening, everyone. You could call Washington, D.C. a tale of two cities today. At the same time the pomp and circumstance of an inaugural dress rehearsal was under way outside, a rare Sunday workday was under way inside, making for a strange, yet historic feel today in the nation's capital.

The economy, as always, topped the agenda, and Barack Obama's aides were there to join in on the discussion. Adding to the unusual atmosphere, senators reconsider the fate of Roland Burris, the Illinois appointee who's been refused a Senate seat. Well, tonight, there's new information on him, but, first, the economy.

Mark Preston is CNN's political editor and Lynn Sweet is Washington bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times. I'll start with you, Mark. So, on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," the president-elect said he that he may not be able to get what he said on during the campaign. He may not be able to do it in the time frame that he wanted to do. Let's take a listen, and then I want to talk to you about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Not everything that we talked about during the campaign are we going to be able to do on the pace that we had hoped.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Mark, is this reneging on campaign promises? Did I miss something here? No one seemed to take note of it, but he said they may not be able to do it like they wanted to.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Just the reality right now, Don. Of course, he's coming into this financial crisis. It's really something that hasn't subsided over the past couple of months, and he really has to direct all his energy to that.

So, when he's talking about he's not going to be able to get everything done on the timetable he would prefer, I think he's talking about the longer-term goals of maybe environmental issues and what have you. It is all about the economy, as you said right now, and he's hoping by mid-February right now, as our congressional leaders that they can get a stimulus bill passed through on to his desk signed into law and to try to get some money back into the economy.

LEMON: OK, Lynn, so, Mark Preston is saying, no, it's just a sign of the times right now. But he is not even in office yet, and already he's saying this.

LYNN SWEET, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Well, actually, he has given some indication for weeks now that he might not be able to keep all the promises he had dealing with projects he wanted to because of the meltdown in the economy. But what he is going to try and use -- do is use this money that Congress is going to probably appropriate sooner or later and to try and carry out the programs he wanted to do anyway.

So, if you just said, do you have money for your energy and your keeping the green industry going and conservation, you would say, no, we don't have the luxury of that. He's going to say, no, this is part of our reinvestment and recovery.

The issue, though, before Congress isn't right now whether or not Obama has kept a promise or not. You know, we could keep score on that, but I don't think people out there will care all that much if their pocketbooks still feel like there is a hole in the bottom of them. So, I think the Obama administration coming in know they probably will get some slack from people on the promise scorecard, but they have to deliver somewhere on the economy scorecard.

LEMON: Hey, Mark, let's talk about Roland Burris right now. We are expecting to hear some news tomorrow on whether he will be officially appointed. Talk to me about that session happening tonight in the Capitol.

PRESTON: Sure, Don. And what we know is our Capitol Hill team has been working that all weekend. And what we do know is that Senate parliamentarian and the Senate legal counsel have been huddled. They've been trying to go over all the options to try to figure out how to resolve this matter.

This is terribly sidetracking right now to the Senate Democratic leadership. They need to focus on the economy and on the economic issues, and they've been sidetracked by Roland Burris. However, by tomorrow, we do know Roland Burris's attorney will be sitting down with Senate officials. We might actually find out tomorrow if Roland Burris will be seated by the Senate. So, certainly, keep a close eye to your TV set tomorrow.

LEMON: Yes, we're hearing Senate is learning from Roland Burris that his attorneys will be there, but he will not be there unless they call him and say, come in, it's time for you to be officially seated. OK, stick around, both Lynn and Mark. We appreciate that. We're going to bring you back to talk about something a little bit later on in this broadcast.

Meantime, Mr. Obama plans to take a train several days before his inauguration. For the Secret Service, you know, it represents a very, very big challenge. Here's homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president-elect will journey from the cradle of our democracy to the seat of our government. A trip full of symbolism, history and risk.

Mr. Obama will travel 137 miles on a fixed route with vulnerabilities. Hundreds of bridges that could be sabotaged, tall buildings that could hide snipers and plants that manufacture and use dangerous chemicals that, in a terrorist attack, could be released.

RICK HIND, GREENPEACE: When you look at a map of the chemical plants in that route, there is over ten plants along that route that we can count that could put 100,000 people or more at risk. Half of them put a million or more people at risk.

MESERVE: On Saturday, January 17th, one of those people will be President-elect Obama. The Secret Service won't be specific, but says it is addressing the chemical issue. Sensors detecting not just chemicals but biological, nuclear and radiological threats will be used, along with other technology, which officials say they began positioning two weeks ago.

WILLIAM PICKLE, FORMER U.S. SECRET SERVICE AGENT: It would tell you if there is a problem with those tracks, if there's been a sabotage of the tracks, if there's explosives nearby.

MESERVE: The Secret Service won't comment on security enhancements to Obama's train. Amtrak, state and local police will help create a safety envelope around it as it moves south.

JOHN O'CONNOR, CHIEF, AMTRAK POLICE: Security will be provided in the air, on the ground and in the water.

MESERVE: There is a long history of presidents taking train trips so people can see them and hear them.

BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you.

MESERVE: The Secret Service is confident it can keep this president-elect safe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was CNN's homeland security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve. Joining me now to talk about the security is Harold Copus. He's a former FBI agent and now runs his own private investigation firm right here in Atlanta. This security, the security when it comes into the inauguration and the rest of Barack Obama's administration, unprecedented.

HAROLD COPUS, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Totally. There are things happening in this inauguration that we haven't seen before. We're accustomed to a lot of things, but this time what we're seeing is the military is even on a greater alert, Navy, sonar, dive teams. Things that we never would have thought of are having to be brought in now.

LEMON: What kind of challenge well first, why?

COPUS: Well, I think it's totally unprecedented. It's a new world we're in, what we're having now are more threats than we've ever seen before. You have to protect the president. Threats are coming in.

LEMON: What kind of challenge does this pose to people who are providing security? A number of police agencies involved, a number of agencies, but what kind of challenge, especially with this train ride, that they're not giving any details about?

COPUS: I would hate to think that I was having to work that particular detail. This means that every mile of that track is open for an attack. You've got to be on your toes on this one, and you've got to be saying, if you're one of those guys on that detail, not on my watch, not my mile.

LEMON: He's not the first president to do a train whistle-stop tour through the country, at least through part of the country. But I have heard people saying that this, doing this at this time, especially when it comes to terrorism and what's happening, that this is ill-conceived. Do you agree with that?

COPUS: Well, I think it's part of our plan and always in America is our president is open and can be seen by everyone. So, no, I don't think so. I think what we have to look at is what we have to do to protect the president.

LEMON: Let's talk about the elephant in the room here, race.

COPUS: It's there. You know, what's happening -- and from a law-enforcement stand point, everyone accepts it. We know that's an issue. We know there are right-wing groups that absolutely hate the idea that we're going to have an African-American as president. You know, they're going to have to get over it, but they're not. And what that means, we will have to see an increased threat, and the guys are really going to have to be careful. LEMON: Former FBI agent, and he now runs his own private investigation form. Thank you very much, Harold Copus. Appreciate you joining us here on CNN. And as always, we want to know, we want you to be part of our conversation tonight. So, Log on and tell us what you're thinking.

Also next, the race factor and the president-elect. How will it impact the job of protecting Barack Obama? We're going to talk more about that.

Also, Southern belles. Guess what, these beautiful young ladies are sparking controversy. Alabama trail maids facing an inaugural row.

And in the line of fire. The fighting rages in Gaza with civilians in the middle of it. We'll show you new unfiltered video, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, so, we're counting down to the inauguration tonight. Just about a week away until it gets under way. I want to bring back in Lynn Sweet and Chicago Sun-Times and CNN political editor Mark Preston -- and Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times.

OK, you heard Mr. Copus talking about race. Really, the elephant in the room. But, Lynn, you know what, Barack Obama did get Secret Service earlier, I believe, than any other candidate for president.

SWEET: Well, he did. And part of that, I'm guessing, had to do with fears that because he was the first African-American viable candidate for president that that would inspire something. But security's always been an issue around Obama.

One of the things he talked about when he was thinking of running back in the end of '05 were concerns that his wife had about his personal safety, and he had security with him then. But, you know, that's been a fact of life with Obama for two years now almost.

So, I think, you know, I just would think that the Secret Service knows that they have their hands full as they do with any candidate, and you know, it is what it is. There are threats that you speak of and threats that you don't even know about out there, and that's why there's so much heavy security around any kind of presidential movement.

LEMON: I remember seeing him out and about, Lynn and Mark, in Chicago when I lived there and this was, obviously, long before he became a presidential candidate. But no Secret Service, him walking around as business as usual.

But, interesting, I also interviewed him back in 2006 and asked him that very same question because Colin Powell's wife was concerned. That's why she did not want him to run. He said his wife was supportive, and they tried to not to thing about those things. Speaking of his family, Mark, let's talk about them. Events like going to the Lincoln Memorial yesterday and getting around. What is the concern there in Washington, and what is the vibe and the feel when it comes to security?

PRESTON: Well, you know, I think any time that a president has any movement in Washington, D.C., it's very disruptive to the folks who live here. Don, you know, you're talking about streets being shut down for periods of time and motorcades rushing through.

But you know, Obama just said in the past couple days now that he really wants to live in Washington. He wants to feel like he lives in Washington. And what I found very interesting is that he said he wants to bridge the divide in Washington. There's official Washington, you know, where I'm sitting right now and where Lynn is sitting right now.

And then there's the other side of the tracks, and that's poor Washington. And Barack Obama says that he wants to work to try to bridge that together.

LEMON: OK. And Mark and Lynn, I just want to real quickly, I have five seconds. If we might be making too much of this because that's their jobs, the Secret Service and police, to protect the president. Yesterday we saw him at Ben's Chili Bowl, and then today he left a basketball game. Might we be making too much of this, Lynn, real quickly?

SWEET; No, I mean, I think there's security issues, always. But he's determined to try and live the life of a Washingtonian here and expose the city to his children. Let them see it.

LEMON: And Mark?

PRESTON: No, absolutely not, Don. In fact, the Southern Poverty Law Center, you know, did a story right before the election where they monitored all of these hate sites. And they said that there clearly is a problem out there, that people certainly don't want to see Barack Obama in the White House. And the Secret Service, you know, they have to do what they have to do, as Lynn says, to protect them.

LEMON: We certainly wish him and his family safe. Thank you very much. Mark Preston and Lynn Sweet, we appreciate it.

Meantime, chaos in the streets of Gaza. The Israeli offensive ravages -- rages on, I should say, as Palestinian civilians get caught in the crossfire. Plus, we'll have this for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Why do you feel it's part of your family? It's all right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 72 years you'd never find a more loyal person to your family.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: This is a conversation that you're going to want to see. How a CNN producer went back to his Mississippi roots in an emotional eye-opening reunion with a man he calls his black kin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Imagine living with that. Well, that is the reality of what's happening in the Mideast tonight. We've basically heard the same story from both sides for weeks. No one wants to back down yet. But the people of Israel and Gaza are living a nightmare. And this is fair warning for you now. This dramatic video of life in the middle of a war zone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: That video in Gaza taking children, babies into a hospital. Now Israel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Families in Israel in grief and sorrow after bombs or rockets fell in their neighborhood. Meantime, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says while Israel is nearing its goals, further patience is needed.

And as ground troops advance on Gaza City from both the north and the south, our Karl Penhaul managed to video chat with a Palestinian just on the other side of the border as the town came under attack.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAWAD (ph), GAZA CITY RESIDENT: All we can hear is just, you know, a subtle sound of bombing. And the houses are shaking, you know, with this bombing and there was, you know, the kind of panic in the whole area. And this could even go with (ph) children.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the terror, Jawad's (ph) six children have just one question.

JAWAD: We gather in the street with this sound of children crying, and they are asking if we are going to die.

PENHAUL: He cannot give them an honest answer, but tries to calm them.

JAWAD: They just, you know, snuggle to me like birds. I try to tell them stories, you know, those -- all the stories that my mother used to tell me. I tell them that this war is got to come to an end soon, and there will be no more killing.

PENHAUL: Every night, those children are afraid they're going to die, and every night you're spinning them a new tale. Just like in the "Arabian Nights," you're spinning them another tale and another tale to keep them happy, to try and keep their minds off things.

JAWAD: Every night, like "Arabian Nights," like you say. Wonder why children ask me, Dad, why can't Ali Baba come to Gaza and say, war end in Gaza. All he is hoping for is to find a magic way to put an end to this violent war going on in Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: CNN's Karl Penhaul.

Also, huge crowds turned out for more anti-Israel protests in major world cities today. As many as 100,000 people marched through Madrid. Demonstrations were also held in Belgium, Lebanon and Pakistan. There were also marchers today in support of Israel. Speakers in Washington and New York describe the Israeli military action as an act of self-defense.

But not all of today's marches were peaceful. A rally in support of Palestinians, well, it turned violent in New York today. Seven NYPD officers were injured and nine demonstrators were arrested. Police spokesmen say some of the police injuries were serious, including head injuries.

Also, we want to know what's on your mind tonight. Make sure you log on and tell us what you're thinking. We will get your responses on the air.

Alabama's Azalea Trail Maids -- ever heard of them? Well, they're on their way to the inaugural parade, but are their antebellum costumes offensive? Some say yes. Some say no. What are our radio hosts hearing? Their take -- you don't want to miss that -- straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Ever heard of the Trail Maids from Alabama? Well, you soon will because that organization is blazing a trail of controversy as they head to the inauguration in full antebellum regalia. Here's CNN affiliate WKRG's Tiffany Craig.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIFFANY CRAIG, REPORTER, WKRG AFFILIATE (voice-over): Alabama's NAACP president says the Trail Maid dresses remind him of slavery and will send the wrong message at the new president's inaugural parade.

EDWARD VAUGHN, PRESIDENT, ALABAMA NAACP: I just think that we needed something that can show Alabama's great progress, rather than something that shows a shameful past.

CRAIG: Edward Vaughn didn't stop there. He also believes the girls will be the laughingstock of the event. County Commissioner Steve Nodine says enough's enough.

STEVE NODINE, MOBILE COUNTY, ALA., COMMISSIONER: I was extremely ticked off. CRAIG: Trail Maid President Andy Marasca tells us when the group travels, the pastel hoop dresses are a big hit.

ANDY MARASCA, PRESIDENT, ALABAMA TRAIL MAID: It's always a positive, positive reaction.

CRAIG: Marasca says they're excited about being a part of history.

MARASCA: We're very honored and very appreciative for being selected.

CRAIG: We have a picture of this year's maids. Thirty-nine are white 11 are minorities.

NODINE: It is not exclusive. It's an inclusive group.

CRAIG: The three-day trip to Washington will cost the organization about $32,000, and the clock is ticking.

(on camera): The Trail Maids have spent the past month raising money for this trip, doing everything from bagging groceries at the store to asking drivers for money at red lights.

(voice-over): The girls alone have raised $8,000. Now, the county and the city are pitching in $10,000 each to make sure the girls get there.

NODINE: We want everyone to know that these young ladies do not need to be identified with slavery. They're an essential part of volunteerism within this community, and they are in no means going to be a laughingstock.

VAUGHN: The costumes are antebellum costumes. These are not just regular costumes. These are the costumes that remind someone of the Tara plantation in "Gone With the Wind." I mean, that's pretty much what the reminder is. And I just think our government can do better than that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; I don't think the dresses symbolize slavery at all. Not in my perspective, at least, because it doesn't have any symbolization of, you know -- it might be old-fashioned, but it's not slavery.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was Tiffany Craig reporting. We were asking you for your responses on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.

Here's what Miss Emerald is saying: "I will never understand people in this day in time. I admire the president-elect. We're taking steps that others have not." Autumn_meadows says, "We have come far racewise in America, but we still have much more work to do, but Obama is a huge step in the right direction."

Wordspirit tonight weighing in, saying, "There is only one race, the human race. The rest is what we call ethnicity or b.s., whichever you prefer. We're all one, let's practice."

Barack Obama talking tough on the economy and changing his tune on the campaign trail -- from the campaign trail. That's a question tonight. You know talk radio is going to be buzzing about this.

Also, she's a woman who was a centerpiece of Barack Obama's victory speech. Tonight, she reaches another milestone. I'm hanging with Mrs. Cooper.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're nine days away from a new White House administration. Barack Obama's campaign mantra was change, and the president-elect promised swift changes, but, now, a reality check. Mr. Obama says Americans will get the change promised, just not as soon as he promised.

And then, there's the issue of his Senate successor, Roland Burris. He could know as soon as tomorrow whether he's officially the next junior senator from Illinois.

Cue the radio hosts. On the left, Warren Ballentine, host of "The Warren Ballentine Show." On the right, Martha Zoller, host of "The Martha Zoller Show." Let's start with you, Martha. Promises, promises. Is this an "I told you so," especially from the GOP.

MARTHA ZOLLER, HOST, "THE MARTHA ZOLLER SHOW": Well, look, I think I said on this program a couple months ago, when he gets in that group and he has to be the president of the United States, he's not going to be able to do everything that he promised. And he is going to do everything that he can do.

But he's got a tough situation and, yes, we are loving it. We are loving it because it is the left wing of his party that's angry at him, not the mainstream Democrats. It's the left wing of his party that's angry with him.

LEMON: Well, let's remind our viewers what he said. This was on ABC, George Stephanopoulos's show, where he said, you know what, basically saying -- I'm paraphrasing here -- it's a reality check. We're not going to be able to get everything that we wanted done at the pace that we wanted to do it. And some people are saying that he's sort of reneging on a campaign promise or he's hedging. Warren?

WARREN BALLENTINE, HOST, "THE WARREN BALLENTINE SHOW": Anybody who thinks he is reneging, he's not doing that. No one who has been able to run for president has been able to fulfill every promise they made on the stump. But he has kept his promise of change. What is he changing? He's changing politics in this country. He's reaching across the aisle, he is moving towards the center, he's trying to be the president for all Americans.

ZOLLER: And he's changing his mind.

BALLENTINE: That's a Republican hopeful answer right there, Martha. ZOLLER: We got to keep a sense of humor, you know.

LEMON: You really do believe, I've heard the GOP saying and conservatives saying, I told you so. He is changing his mind. I don't think you made your point well enough on that.

ZOLLER: I think one of the problems, too, the big promise was the 95 percent of the people are going to get a tax cut. You can't do that. The math doesn't work on that. Ninety five percent of people don't pay income tax. He knew right off the bat or he found out off the bat that wasn't going to work. Look, that's not a big thing. He has to get things moving. I'm sure he's much more concerned about the fact that the Senate looks like the Keystone Kops as far as how they're dealing with Roland Burris. That's really a bigger issue for him right now.

LEMON: We have a show here called 360. We need to have a segment called 180 because I've never seen a bigger 180 happen than the Senate on Roland Burris.

BALLENTINE: I can tell you why that happened, though, Don.

LEMON: Go ahead.

BALLENTINE: It happened because of the tape that's going to be revealed about Senate majority leader Harry Reid and the discussion he had with Governor Blagojevich. As I told you last week on this show. I'm sorry, I said this on CNN's air waves I said race is going to be a big issue here if those hates come out where Harry Reid said do not look at Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones because they can't win the seat because of their ethnicity.

And if those tapes come out like that, race is going to play a huge issue and to cover their butts, what they're doing is doing a 180 and they're going to seat Burris as a senator.

ZOLLER: And they should have done it a week ago.

BALLENTINE: I agree.

LEMON: OK. Let's move on. We're going to hear it tomorrow. And CNN is learning that we may learn as soon as tomorrow, especially by the close of business whether Roland Burris will be officially appointed to that seat so make sure you stay tuned. Let's go to Alabama now and talk about these azalea trail maids that's drawing controversy there. The NAACP president in Gothen (ph) there says this is an outrage, Alabama has much more, what about the Tuskegee Airman? What about all the other things? Why do we have to have these women dressed up in antebellum costumes, it's a throwback to a time gone by that we are not so happy about?

ZOLLER: Look, first of all, they are costumes. It is a pretty dress. It does not have anything to do with race and I think the head of the NAACP in Alabama is looking for an issue. There are much bigger issue. I take offense with the fact that in a couple segments ago you had a former FBI agent saying some right wing people are looking to threaten Barack Obama. I don't think they're right wing or they're left wing, I think they're out of the main stream. That's what we need to focusing on. Not what kind of dress these girls walking in a parade. It's a parade.

LEMON: Warren?

BALLENTINE: I guess my question would be, did this president say something when these girls were representing him in other activities for the State of Alabama? To be honest with you, I don't think this is the issue at all. I think this may be an issue because they maybe wanted someone else to represent the State of Alabama besides them and that's why they're speaking up right now, but honestly, if they didn't say anything into the past, why are they getting in a huffy puff about this right now.

LEMON: Well, it's a multiethnic group. But he does make a point saying that there are some other things in Alabama that people are not being officially invited to march in the parade.

BALLENTINE: There's a lot of groups like that across the country, Don. There's young girls in Atlanta right now who wanted to march in the parade who are between eight and 13 years old. They are raising money to try and be at the inauguration but they didn't get chosen and they're not running around saying the people who got chosen shouldn't have been chosen.

ZOLLER: Well, and parades. It's a parade. They're supposed to be entertaining. And I'm sure while these women are going to be in antebellum dresses, there's going to be marching bands and all kind of costumes. I just think it's much to do about nothing.

LEMON: I have to really defend Harold Copus here because not everyone, the person you said you had on, the former FBI guy who was talking about right wing people. Not everyone is used to being on television and sometimes people say things they don't realize they're saying.

ZOLLER: I love Harold and I get his point.

LEMON: He may have meant radicals. You never know.

ZOLLER: But that's not the first time that people who refer to people who don't support Barack Obama ...

BALLENTINE: We all know how you right wing people are.

LEMON: Oh, my gosh.

ZOLLER: Angry white woman.

BALLENTINE: Now you know I'm just playing, Martha. I'm just kidding.

ZOLLER: I know.

BALLENTINE: I'm just teasing. LEMON: Angry white women. Martha.

ZOLLER: That's what Michael Thurman (ph) calls me, the labor commissioner in Georgia.

LEMON: All right, thank you. We appreciate it.

BALLENTINE: That's all right, Martha, I'm the angry black man so don't get upset.

ZOLLER: We'll get together.

LEMON: That part I know to be true. Thank you, guys. Have a great rest of the weekend. We want to know what's on your mind. Logon.

Also this, old questions unasked for generations. New answers that are tough to hear. A CNN producer goes back to his routes in the south to talk with a living link to his history and ours.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE DRASH, CNN.COM PRODUCER: Did you ever see anybody get lynched? And he turned around and said, up there on that bluff when I was five years old, there was a black man hung from a tree.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: An emotional moment there. Two lives intertwined in the Mississippi Delta. Life lessons they both learned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. You know, this was an emotional moment that played out on our broadcast earlier tonight and we want to play it again for you this evening. Really a touching story. James "Little Man" Presley. One of the few men left in America tied to his slave past. He is still farming cotton on the same land and he has been in the fields since he was six years old. This is his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES PRESLEY, GRANDSON OF SLAVES: My name is James Presley. And I'm 78 years old and I'm from Slade (ph), Mississippi. They called me "Little Man." My dad died when I was five. And I started working when I was about six years old.

DRASH: How much money was your first paycheck?

PRESLEY: Oh, I made 50 cents a day. Fifty cents a day from sunup to sundown, 50 cents. That was $3.00, $3.00 a week.

DRASH: How hard has it been?

PRESLEY: Well, it's been pretty hard. You know, you've got to work hard. You've got to -- I don't know, (INAUDIBLE) like I apply for a job, you apply for one, if I was more qualified than you, if you wanted it, they would put me back and give you the job. You know, about you being white. I went in places that I would go in with a white guy, I mean, they would put me out. I had to go around and come in the back door.

DRASH: So then fast-forward to this past November.

PRESLEY: I voted for Obama. I was proud to vote for -- that was the first name -- Obama, he come up like me. He come up working for a living. And all the rest of them looked like they were already rich when they got to be president. They didn't know how I come up as a poor man.

A lot of people probably vote for a black man. Nothing like that ever had it happen before. I never had a chance to vote for a black man before. I got a chance. I'd be too glad to vote for him.

DRASH: What's it going to be like on January 20th when Obama is officially sworn in as the president?

PRESLEY: Oh, man, that's going to be nice. I believe we're going to have a good time.

DRASH: If those hands could speak, what would they say?

PRESLEY: Oh, man, I don't know what they would say. They would be crying after what they've been through.

DRASH: They'd be crying? Those are some worn leathery tough hands.

PRESLEY: Those hands have did some -- they've been frozen -- they've been, I don't know. You see, they've been through something.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Leaves you with a lump in your throat, doesn't it? Robert Johnson is a photojournalist who shot those pictures, the video and the still pictures. And Wayne Drash is a cnn.com producer, and Wayne has a connection with Mr. Presley. Are you OK?

DRASH: Yes. I'm doing good.

LEMON: Yeah. You considered this man part of your family because your great-grandfather hired him, what, 72 years ago?

DRASH: Seventy-two years ago. 1936.

LEMON: Yeah. 1936. Why do you feel like he's part of your family? It's all right.

DRASH: Seventy-two years.

LEMON: Yeah.

DRASH: You'd never find a more loyal person to your family, as disturbing as it is, as my great-granddaddy who hired him as a six- year-old. His name, Little Man, because he had to step up when his father died at the age of five and be the little man of his house.

LEMON: And I was talking to you about this story a little bit earlier. And you said, this man really personifies the American dream and the American experience and also he takes the stigma off of what people think. You said black men, the stereotypical black men were or are now.

DRASH: When you think about what he faced as a black man in Mississippi, he was constantly told a black man's not a hard worker, is lazy, doesn't stay with his wife, and doesn't -- is not a family man. He's been married 57 years now to his wife, Eva Mae (ph). He raised 13 children, 6 grandchildren, two of his children died along the way, one in her youth, one in adulthood.

LEMON: Yeah. You said he is the unsung civil rights hero.

DRASH: Yes.

LEMON: The people you don't hear about. Why do you say that?

DRASH: Absolutely. Because he's just one of these guys who stayed behind. The money to escape, go up north. He stuck through thick and thin. He talked about what it was like. We just had a complete honest conversation.

I jokingly say, I crossed the railroad tracks to sit down and talk with my black kin, who ask them what it was like to get called the n-word to your face all the time. Did you ever see anybody get lynched? And he turned around and he said, up there that bluff, when I was five years old, there was a black man that was hung from a tree.

LEMON: You thought it was important to bring Robert on the set with you, because he changed your experience in Mississippi. And the experience that you both had when you were there changed both of your lives. Why is that?

ROBERT JOHNSON, CNN PHOTOJOURNALIST: I think to Mississippi I brought a lot of misconceptions and kind of prejudice of my own. I was a little weary when Wayne said we're going to Mississippi. But when I walked away, I was just blown away by the artfulness, the friendliness of the people and the courage of this man who worked so hard. Because when you see African Americans might be portrayed -- males are portrayed in a different light. But you see this man who worked through 72 years of hard labor in the field, it was really touching.

LEMON: It is tough to talk about. And you know we're all on the verge of tears up here. It's tough to talk about, but it's something that we really need, because we are more connected and closer than we think we are.

DRASH: Yes.

LEMON: And we have more things in common than we have -- DRASH: And it's always been like that.

LEMON: Yeah.

DRASH: You know, at least -- the white side of the railroad tracks, never really talked about this, the interconnectedness and symbiotic relationship, and it was hard times, black people definitely got the wrong end of the deal.

LEMON: And this was hired, he hired him 1936 during the Great Depression to pick cotton. Your great grandfather hired him, but your grandfather also picked cotton alongside of him. And I want to tell you, this is work is online, cnn.com. Look for Wayne Drash and Robert Johnson's work there.

Inspired, we do have to say everything is connected. This was inspired by the story we did on Ann Nixon Cooper. And Robert shot the photos for cnn.com. Inspired by that story. And you went back to visit and came up with this amazing story. So it's all connected. We appreciate it. Thank you.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

DRASH: Thank you very much.

LEMON: Thank you, man. Thanks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Very emotional moment in our 6:00 broadcast this evening. So, we wanted to replay that for you. We're all more connected than we think. More in common than differences. Meantime, you guys are weighing in. Here's what MissFirecracker has to say. She said I really, really loved the story from Mississippi. Do you have a link to it online. Please, I can't find it.

It's not online yet, we can promise you, it will be on there soon, probably tomorrow. Keep checking back. Ravieraven says, "The story about the little man had me in tears. I love your stories, especially the James Brown documentary you did." OK. Thanks for that.

Sunchynemore says, "History is rich. Grandfather was a slave. When he was freed and couldn't keep tilling the land and it was eventually deeded to him, my great-grandfather still lives there."

And all of the responses keep rolling in. That story really touched a lot of you. Thank you so much for those. We said that story was inspired by Mrs. Ann Nixon Cooper. She was 106 years old when Barack Obama, the president-elect mentioned her in his acceptance speech. Well, she hit a milestone today and had some big names there with her to celebrate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: You know, we hate to toot our own horns, but we will this time. A story we told you about first right here on this broadcast. At 106 years old Ann Nixon Cooper cast her vote for Barack Obama. I was with her and she ended up getting a personal shout out from the president-elect on election night. Remember this?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: She was born just a generation past slavery. A time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky. When someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, guess what, now she is 107 years old. She turned 107 years old earlier in the week. This is her birthday party and that's her cutting the cake. There were a bunch of people there today, including Atlanta's Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young also in the crowd and tons and tons of family members. I'd have to say maybe close to 500 people showed up at different times. She had this to say about her secret to staying young and how she felt about all these people making (ph) over her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN NIXON COOPER, 107 YEARS OLD: It was exciting. But I wouldn't think of getting out in such a crowd.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, that was her response after she got a call from President-elect Barack Obama thanking her for her vote. She did talk tonight saying her secret to staying young is just staying young and there are the pictures from her birthday party. She is a wonderful lady and, as I said, you know what, she is walking history. Ann Nixon Cooper, happy birthday. One hundred seven years young. May you have 107 years more.

Meantime, take you some terrible news. It's about a horrific pileup on an icy New Hampshire highway.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can say that I'm going to have an image of an 18-wheeler coming at me full speed out of control for the rest of my life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: But guess what, this could have been much, much worse. And what will the weather be like for your morning commute? You need to pay attention because you could have some problems. There's our Jacqui Jeras. She's getting ready to tell you your workweek forecast coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Pay attention. Look at this. Hope your commute is not like that because this is a massive, massive snowy pileup near Derry, New Hampshire. It happened today. Nearly 60 vehicles were involved. This shut down parts of Interstate 93 for five hours. Fortunately, no one was killed. Mostly just some broken bones but it was very, very frightening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I watched him hit my car and then I see this big 18-wheeler coming at me and sliding. So, I literally jumped over the guardrail and just bolted down the hill like this for cover and then it was just boom, boom, boom, boom. Guys trying to get the guy out of that car. He's pinned in there. Trying to, you know, before these guys even got here trying to use the wood to get them out. I had never seen anything like this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it terrifying?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I am going to say I will have the image of an 18-wheeler coming at me full speed out of control for the rest of my life burnt in my memory.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: You know what? Those vehicles were piled up and packed so tight that many people had to crawl out through their windows and you saw them, interviewing that young man after trying to rescue someone from a car. They were stuck.

Let's go straight now to CNN's Jacqui Jeras in the CNN severe weather center. Jacqui, let's hope tomorrow's not like that and hope it doesn't happen again.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: We have been asking you for your responses tonight and, boy, oh, boy, I mean, our inboxes are smoking here tonight, I'm not kidding. You have responded and you're weighing in on the slavery story and you're also weighing in on the Azalea Trail Maids in Alabama. Tell you about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Here's what you're seeing tonight. Here's what Miss Angelika (ph) is saying. "There are still very many racial issues that have not been publicly addressed by our government. That is a problem."

SEBforVP (ph) says, "Gosh, I wish Mr. Presley could go to the inauguration or participate in the parade, it would be an incredible honor."

MLNY says, "I think we're mature enough to handle a celebration of 19th-century women's fashion without pretending it's related to slavery." Dre the enigma says, "Until the Martians get here, there's only one race."

And ctguy2675 says, "Pastel Trail Maid outfits are wonderful. They are not wearing white hoods or robes. Some people need to chill out."

That's it. I'm Don Lemon, I'll see you back here next week. And I'll be reporting from Washington for the inauguration. Hope you can join us. Have a good night.