Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

A Lesson into the Origin of Memorial Day; NASA Scrubs Shuttle Landing for Second Day in a Row; President Obama's Supreme Court Justice Decision on Tuesday?; Prison Guards Watch as Inmates Walk out of Mexico Prison; What the New Credit Card Legislation means for You; Journalist Bob Woodruff's Foundation

Aired May 23, 2009 - 11:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: That's what it should be.

ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: It's enough for me.

REYNOLODS WOLF, CNN HOST: That's what I'm talking about.

CHO: Reynolds, thank you.

You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Alina Cho, Betty has the morning off.

HOLMES: Hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes, Memorial Day weekend, yes you are thinking about family and friends in the long weekend, but most importantly, you need to be remembering our service men and women who gave their lives for this country. A live look this morning at Arlington National Cemetery, gathering spot this day for friends and loved ones of fallen soldiers.

CHO: It's a beautiful shot with all those flags there. But remember it's also the start of the summer travel season. A lot of people on the roads, rails, in the air, traveling. AAA in fact estimates that more than 32 million Americans are leaving their homes this weekend. The majority of those, 27 million are driving. But before you close up that suitcase and put the kids in the car, you should know the weather may not make for a quick or dry trip.

HOLMES: Yes, weather causing some flight delays for the shuttle astronauts today, all kinds of headaches. The shuttle "Atlantis" landing at Kennedy Space Center has been scrubbed for the second day in a row because of thunderstorms. NASA is going to try this again tomorrow. Edwards Air Force Base in California also a possibility. If the shuttle lands there, however, the problem is it could cost $1 million-plus for the shuttle to get back to its home over in Florida. It has to piggyback on the back of another bigger jet to get back over to Florida. Astronauts have now been in space for 12 days, spent much of that time fixing the Hubble space telescope.

They learned today a former astronaut Charles Bolden, this was big news we got today, there he is, he's been nominated, that is the president's pick now to become the new administrator of NASA. Bolden flew four shuttle missions, one aboard "Atlantis" and would be the first African-American to head the administration. CHO: The rain has soaked parts of Florida to the point of flash flooding this week. The ground is so saturated that creeks and rivers are so full around Jacksonville, the water simply has nowhere to go but into backyards and into homes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is water up to their beds. The beds are floating inside their apartments, it's that bad. Somebody's cat almost drowned inside their apartment. It's real bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: Just incredible stuff. Sometimes they say in the south, if it's bad weather just wait five minutes, it will get better, but, Reynolds, doesn't look like that's happening in Florida.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: No matter what the weather is doing out there, roads are still going to be crowded. AAA estimates 27 million people will be traveling the highways this long holiday weekend, most will be paying around $2.39 a gallon for regular unleaded fuel. That's the national average. Gas has gone up about 30 cents this month. A CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll suggests most of us think prices will reach $4 a gallon before summer is out, just like last year, and 27 percent fear we could see $5 a gallon.

CHO: Ouch.

President Obama is headed for Camp David this hour. That is where he's going to be spending the Memorial Day weekend. The president used his weekly White House address to talk directly to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Our fighting men and women and the military families who love them embody what's best in America. And we have a responsibility to serve all of them as well as they have served us. And yet all too often in recent years and decades, we as a nation have failed to live up to that responsibility. We failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That's a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear and all who have worn the proud uniform of our country. And that is a sacred trust I am committed to keeping as president of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: ABC's Bob Woodruff was wounded covering the war in Iraq. He and his wife sat down with T.J. earlier this week to talk about their efforts to help wounded warriors with the help of twitter. A more democratic way of giving, they like to call it. Hear how you can help. That's coming up a little later this hour. T.J.?

HOLMES: President Obama may be close to naming his nominee for the Supreme Court, saying this weekend at Camp David it seems to be the perfect time to contemplate that pick. CNN's senior White House correspondent Ed Henry has more on the expected timetable of his decision.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): CNN has learned that a top aide to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy told fellow Democrats on Friday to get ready for the president's Supreme Court pick to come as early as Tuesday.

(Voice-over): This, according to an e-mail obtained by CNN, significant because the judiciary panel will handle the confirmation process for whomever the president picks to replace retiring Justice David Souter. Three senior Obama administration officials also confirming to CNN that the latest thinking here at the White House is that this pick could be announced as early as Tuesday or some time later next week. The officials, though, flatly said the president, as of now, has not made up his mind who the person will be.

(On camera): He has not settled on a pick yet. They say it will be pivotal this weekend. He's spending the weekend, the Memorial Day weekend, at Camp David, somewhere very quiet, he'll spend a lot of time contemplating this pick, maybe doing some final reading. Also since the media doesn't have any access to Camp David, he could have a secret, last-minute one-on-one meeting with any of the potential nominees.

(Voice-over): Among the people suspected to be on the short list, Alina Kagan, the solicitor general, Judge Sonya Santomayor, also Judge Carlos Moreno out in California, a justice out there, Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, her name has been mentioned, as well as Judge Diane Wood of Chicago. These officials though stressing that the president has not made up his mind and the announcement could still slip into early June or even mid June, but there's some pressure on the president right now to get this pick announced by June 3rd when he's heading out on a foreign trip, he's going to Egypt, France and Germany. He needs to get the confirmation process going. He wants the hearings in the Senate to start in July but the Senate goes on recess for the entire month of August.

(on camera): So if there are any delays and this slips into September, that could really jeopardize having a new Supreme Court justice in place by the first Monday in October when the court starts its new term. Also, if the hearings slip into September that could start the -- distracting attention from the rest of the president's agenda, especially his push for health care reform. Ed Henry, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And picking a Supreme Court justice, only one of the challenges facing the Obama administration in the next 100 days, also two wars, the economy, of course, and encore presentation of the "AC 360" special edition "Extreme Challenges," coming your way tonight, 8:00 Eastern. CHO: Call it another olive branch. The U.S. is offering to resume immigration talks with Cuba. Those talks were suspended under the Bush administration. The State Department says the talks would focus on ensuring, quote, "Safe and orderly migration by Cubans to this country." Two months ago, the Obama administration lifted restrictions on family travel to Cuba. The administration has also eased financial restrictions for Americans sending money to their relatives back home.

HOLMES: An international dragnet is out for dozens of criminals whose escape from prison was caught on surveillance camera and suggests they had help from the inside. This happened in central Mexico and the top security chief there has resigned. Our Dan Simon breaks down the breakout which took less than five minutes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A prison break caught on security cameras and it appears those escaping had help on the inside. As the first prisoner opens his cell door, two guards just seem to watch. Soon 10 prisoners are out and they put the two guards in the cell. This surveillance video first obtained by the newspaper "Reforma," shows why Mexican officials now say it was an inside job. At least one of the inmates has gotten a hold of a gun. Another one picks up a blanket and throws it over a camera lens. Outside, it looks like a police convoy arriving and the front gate is opened. But the heavily armed men in police uniforms who enter the prison are soon seen casually leading the inmates out. Not a single shot is fired. The video also shows after the convoy gets away, it takes at least 30 seconds before any guards come out in pursuit. Officials say the gunmen wore fake police uniforms.

RICARDO NAJERA, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE (translator): We are offering up to 1 million pesos for each of the fugitives and up to 3 million pesos for information that leads to the arrest of those who planned the escape.

SIMON: In dollars that's between $70,000 and more than $200,000 per reward. A manhunt is underway for the 53 inmates who escaped. Many of them believed to be drug traffickers and some considered highly dangerous.

NAJERA: We issued an orange level alert with Interpol so that we can conduct an international search for the fugitives, with special attention to the 11 most dangerous ones.

SIMON (on camera): Forty guards now have been detained as well as two commanders and the prison's director. They'll be in custody pending an investigation. Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco.

CHO: The credit card crackdown becomes law, what the fine print means for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, changes are coming to your credit card accounts. Don't just cringe there, this is a good thing. President Obama has signed a credit card reform bill, and the law takes effect in February. Banks will have to give you 45 days notice before they raise your rates. You'll have to be 60 days late before they can raise your rate on an existing balance.

The law also prohibits some fees and it makes it more difficult for people under 21 to get credit cards. Yes, you college students, you all don't need them any way, ok, maybe it was just me who wasn't responsible with that credit card, Joan. Joan Goldwasser, she's with Kiplinger's Personal Finance, joins us now to talk about this, the rate hike issue, that is the big deal. Are you telling me, there are always loopholes and ways people get around and companies can get around things, but does this seem like this is going to end that practice?

JOAN GOLDWASSER, KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE: Well, it's certainly going to modify it. First of all, companies will not be able to raise your rate for any reason. They can't send you one of these letters saying, the economic climate has changed, therefore we're raising your rate. And they can't send you a letter because you were late on another payment. You know, you're having trouble with your mortgage. And they decide that makes you riskier so they're raising your credit card rate. That has ended or will end as of February, obviously.

HOLMES: A lot of these practices over the years have really put a lot of money in the pockets of these credit card companies. What will they do? A lot of people are suspicious, of course, and maybe rightfully so, of the credit card companies. So is there any talk out there, what the credit card companies might try to do, other ways they might try to make up some of this income that they may be losing, given some of this new legislation?

GOLDWASSER: Sure, there's a lot of talk about that. And the banks are saying the good customers are going to start subsidizing the people who don't have such great credit and that may be in the way of annual fees, which used to be on everybody's credit card and then disappeared. They may come back, it's possible. The rewards programs we've all gotten accustomed too may be a little less generous. And remember, that this credit card bill, for all the good things it did, did not put a cap on interest rates. So people who do pay late and who do get in trouble could have their rates raised to who knows what.

HOLMES: They could still go up to whatever, but again they have to give you some kind of a notice before doing this. Also, this other issue about the young folks, under 21, tougher for them to get these credit cards. You and I were joking during the commercial break, these are the folks that have the tables set up on college campuses, come get a free t-shirt, I don't know how that works so well to draw in college kids, free t-shirts, get you a credit card. That's not going to be the case so much.

GOLDWASSER: No. Because in order to get a credit card, if you're under 21, you have to have somebody who is an adult co-sign it. That has agreed to pay the bill if you don't pay it, unless you are independent and can prove that you have your own income, and most college students can't.

HOLMES: And most college students can't.

GOLDWASSER: Right.

HOLMES: What else, is it possible that they don't necessarily have a grace period, if you will, the credit card companies, but they have a little window of time here before this legislation kicks in? Could we see a mad rush by them to collect some in fees and do some things that this legislation won't allow them to do?

GOLDWASSER: Well, it's possible. The 45-day notice kicks in, in 90 days, so that actually comes first. But the rest of it, you know, doesn't go into effect until February, nine months from now. And people are feeling that the credit card companies have already been trying to collect on them. They've been lowering their credit limits, raising their interest rates and they've been doing that. So it's possible that they'll do even more of that. It's hard to say.

HOLMES: All right. Last thing here quickly, will more legislation be needed or you think this is a pretty good first step?

GOLDWASSER: Oh, I think this is a great first step. As long as people pay attention to what's in their statement and the statements will be rewritten so they should be much clearer, and they'll be telling you, if you pay only the minimum payment, it's going to take you four years and it's going to cost you, you know, $500 in interest to pay off this balance. So if you look at your statement, you should have an easier time not getting into trouble and not being charged all of this interest.

HOLMES: And those statements are hard to figure out, boy. Joan Goldwasser with Kiplinger's Personal Finance, we appreciate you this morning. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

GOLDWASSER: Thank you.

CHO: Rebranding today's Republican Party, why Virginia and New Jersey could hold the keys. We'll tell you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In this photo is my great uncle First Lieutenant Edward F. Reilly, pictured standing top left. He fought in the European theater and was actually shot down over Austria. He flew a B-24 bomber. I think that every soldier that dies in battle and even ones that come home and survive and have a lot to deal with at home make the ultimate sacrifice with what they've done for this country. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: You are looking live there at the "USS Hirojima" docked there on the Hudson River in New York City. Memorial Day weekend marks the annual "Fleet Week" celebration in New York. And if you haven't seen it, it is something to see. All those men and women in uniform, but mostly all those men.

HOLMES: Oh, my goodness gracious, Alina. Always good to have you here.

I have not been to "Fleet Week" there, I will be there on Monday, will I still be able to catch some of the festivities.

CHO: You'll be hosting "American Morning." You'll be sleeping for most of the time that you're in New York.

HOLMES: But a lovely shot there. Always good to see that picture of New York.

CHO: It is. You know this weekend CNN like many of you is honoring America's fallen heroes.

HOLMES: Of course that's what Memorial Day is about. CNN's Carl Azuz now looking at how it all got started.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was in the service for 27 years. He did a great service to his country. He joined right out of high school.

SPEC. THOMAS WEBB, U.S. ARMY: I'll remember them as five guys who were doing their jobs, who were doing what they raised their right hand and swore to do.

CARLOS AZUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And that is the purpose of Memorial Day, to honor those who have served our country and are no longer with us. The time period or conflict doesn't matter. Politics don't play a part. The holiday itself goes back to the Civil War. It was originally known as Decoration Day, named for the flowers placed on the graves of union and confederate troops. In 1868, General John Logan who headed up an organization of union veterans pushed for this day to be observed on May 30th and so it was for more than a century.

But after World War I, Americans began observing this day in honor of all U.S. troops who'd fallen in all conflicts. That gave rise to the name Memorial Day, and in 1971, Congress, in order to create a three-day weekend, established the holiday as the last Monday in May. This year, as always, you'll see American traditions observed at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to religious ceremonies, parades and events across the country. They'll share a common theme regarding the nations fallen and those still serving.

WILLIAM FRANK, VIETNAM VETERAN: If they are sent, and when they are in harm's way, do everything, everything to support them and let them do their mission.

GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY, U.S. ARMY (RET.): All of us here will again be reunited with these brave soldiers who we remember the last time we saw them, when they were alive, frozen in time, their youth, their optimism.

AZUZ: Their memory. Carl Azuz, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And coming up a little later today, they put their lives on the line, and leave loved ones behind to go to far flung and sometimes desolate places and face danger at every turn. They are America's heroes, the men and women of the U.S. military who risk everything to keep the country safe.

Today, 4:00 Eastern Time, Fredricka Whitfield leads a discussion exploring the challenges America's troops face when they finally return home, from financial hardships to difficult medical conditions, such as post traumatic stress disorder. You can post comments on our blog page, cnn.com/newsroom, also on Facebook at Fredricka Whitfield CNN, or by sending an e-mail to weekends@cnn.com. Be sure to watch, 4:00 Eastern today.

CHO: We'll be watching.

Divided by party, united in presidency. To the surprise of some people, President Obama says he's actually kept the lines of communication open between him and his predecessor, George W. Bush. In an interview with C-Span yesterday, the president also talked about that verbal duel with former Vice President Cheney on the future of Guantanamo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you had any conversation with former President Bush since the inauguration?

OBAMA: I have.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And?

OBAMA: Well, you know, I think that although I've only been president four months, I think a general policy of keeping confidence with your predecessors is important.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yesterday in your speech followed by the former vice president was described as historic. Was it?

OBAMA: You know I'm not sure it's historic. I think that I tried to create a context for what we're doing around issues like Guantanamo, my decision to ban enhanced interrogation techniques. How we can both preserve our values, uphold our ideals, and wage an aggressive battle against organizations like al Qaeda that want to do us harm. And I am confident that we are stronger when we uphold our principles. That we are weaker when we start pushing them aside.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: And we will be playing more of those clips throughout the day. So keep it right here on CNN.

Meanwhile, out on the campaign trail, that's what RNC Chairman Michael Steele is doing today. He's stumping in southwest Virginia for the party's gubernatorial candidate and trying to change some of the perceptions of today's grand old party.

CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins us live from Washington with more. Paul, this Virginia race is a tough one, you know, Terry McAuliffe, f-o-b, friend of Bill Clinton is running on the democratic side. Republicans are going to have a tough road ahead.

Why is this Virginia race so important to the GOP?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: For Michael Steele, Alina, job number one as head of the Republican National Committee is to help Republicans win elections. And this is an off election year but there are two big elections, you mentioned the one in Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, one of three Democrats running on that side, and also in New Jersey.

Both these seats are held by Democrats. The Republicans, Michael Steele, would love to win one or both of these back and have some momentum going into next year when you know you're going to have all of the House, one-third of the Senate and about 35 governorships up for election next year. So that's why he's out there today in Virginia, and that's going to be one of his things, trying to help candidates from his party win. That's why this is so important.

CHO: And obviously he's at the helm of the RNC. Michael Steele, for people who don't know much about him, he's had a bit of a rocky road you'd like to say Paul. He gave a controversial speech. Some Republicans still eye him a bit suspiciously. So he's got to win over his own party first. So what does he have to do?

STEINHAUSER: You're absolutely right. It has been a rocky road. Remember back in January he became the first African-American to head the party. He made some history there, but since then it's been tough, there have been a lot of gaps.

Remember his back and forth with Rush Limbaugh where he had to step down a little bit, he's also had some other verbal miscues, but this past week, there was a big Republican Party meeting right outside of here in Washington and Michael Steele gave a big speech, which was pretty well received. He said the time of mea culpa is over.

It's now time to go on the attack against the Democrats and against President Obama. He also had a little victory in that meeting as well when he had a resolution watered down that he didn't like a resolution that was going to call Democrats socialists. Alina, one of his other big jobs is to raise money. As of now, the Republicans are ahead of the Democrats when it comes to raising money.

CHO: Well, you know, let's talk a little bit about that. Because a lot of -- in order to raise money you have to have the attention of the party and so much attention has been on the Democratic Party. President Obama, as you well know, during the White House correspondents' dinner joked, most of you covered me, all of you voted for me. Not so subtle reference to the favorable press that he's been getting. So how does the Republican Party reinvent itself when all of the attention has been on the Democrats?

STEINHAUSER: It is a tough task for Michael Steele and the other Republicans who need to do this. Because after the losses in 2006 and 2008, this party has only really one way to go and that is up. What do they need to do? They need to reach out, reach out to moderates, independents, younger voters, minority voters that they don't do well with.

But the big struggle here is between which way to go, do you go conservative or do you go moderate? And that's why you're seeing such a big fight right now, not with just Michael Steele but with Newt Gingrich, you see it with Dick Cheney, you see it with Rush Limbaugh, Colin Powell. There is a big struggle here with this party to figure out which way to go as they try to come back from this political wilderness.

CHO: Interestingly enough, no shortage of voices, though.

STEINHAUSER: No, not at all. They are getting some attention. Yes, most of it is on the White House and Democrats but we're talking about it right now, so they're getting some attention.

CHO: Dick Cheney's been getting more attention these past couple of weeks than he has in a long time, right?

Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser, always great to see you, always great to hear your insight on this stuff.

Paul thank you.

STEINHAUSER: Thank you, Alina.

CHO: T.J.?

HOLMES: Well the next 100 days, they're starting up right now. President Obama still has a lot on his plate, of course, from the first 100. Can't fix everything in 100 days, right? So what's next? His choice for the Supreme Court.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's half past the hour now, this is what's happening. Tips from the top. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in West Point, New York, delivering the commencement address for today's graduating class of more than 950 cadets. Also NASA hoping for better luck tomorrow in bringing the space shuttle and the astronauts home. Bad weather forced today's scheduled landing to be postponed. Of course yesterday's was delayed as well.

President Obama spending the weekend at Camp David allowing him to escape from some of the busyness of the White House. Here now, a look at the president and the first family. There they are. They look Memorial Weekend ready, don't they? Leaving the White House.

CHO: Looks like they're headed to a barbecue.

HOLMES: They might be having one at Camp David. This was just a few minutes ago though.

CHO: That's right.

The president will be thinking through some of the major issues on his plate, after he has that burger. So what are his key tasks for the second 100 days in office? Can you say Supreme Court?

Our Josh Levs is here with a look at that.

Hey, Josh. Good morning.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you guys. It is interesting. You know look, some people say the 100 days concept is kind of an artificial deadline, but the truth is a lot of presidents and a lot of people in Washington have intense focus on what can be done in certain blocks of time.

I want to show you something here, cnnpolitics.com, this is really cool, it's this big interactive that takes a look at President Obama's first year, and as part of it we're talking about the next 100 days. And there's an analysis piece here that says, "What's ahead for Obama in these next 100 days."

I want to show you guys a graphic that has one key quote from this analysis, but I think it's a really good point. They're saying basically, here's why it's critical. "The second 100 days will be a critical test of Obama's power in getting key legislative priorities, such as economic recovery, health care, energy and immigration passed." So that's some of what we're going to be seeing, all this inner play in Congress on the major issues.

If you want to know where things stand on the major issues, just play with this spread a little at cnnpolitics.com. You can click on all sorts of major issues here, economy, energy, health care, education. Go through the list. You see some of what he's got going and you see the latest polls over here, and that should get you caught up to speed with just a little bit of what the president is chewing on today guys over there in Camp David. Oh, and Alina, you were talking about Supreme Court.

CHO: Yes.

LEVS: Right? Let me show you guys this because we have a whole spread on that too. Check this out. It actually shows you some of the top candidates that might be considered they will most likely be considered. Janet Napolitano, Jennifer Granholm, you can read about several of the names at the top of the list, Sonya Sotomayor, there's a good chance that one of them could be the next Supreme Court justice.

Anyway, tonight, big special on the second 100 days, check it ought, "AC 360" special, two wars, broken economy, historic plans of the president that it just cannot wait, AC, Anderson Cooper, he's going to look at just how the administration plans to tackle these extreme challenges, it's an "AC 360" special on a Saturday night, 8:00 Eastern. Don't miss it.

HOLMES: All right Josh, thank you, sir.

And still ahead here, a candid conversation with ABC correspondent Bob Woodruff and his wife, Lee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE WOODRUFF: Many times a brain injury ultimately leads to a divorce or the breakup of a family. We got so lucky with Bob's injury and it did bring us closer together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: We talk to Bob Woodruff and his wife Lee about his brain injury that he got when he was covering the war in Iraq. Also about what Memorial Day means to them now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My uncle Walter Anthony Kozikowski was a staff sergeant with company E in the 168th infantry, he served in two in the North African campaign. He received the Silver Star for valor where he wiped out a German machine gunnist (ph) to save his platoon. A few days later, he tried to do the same thing and was killed in battle. I'm just fortunate that at 62 that I can still remember him and still carry on his name.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right, on this Memorial Day, bringing you a remarkable story of strength, courage, and giving back. ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff you'll remember was badly hurt when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle in late January 2006 while he was reporting in Iraq.

And there he is out there doing what he does so well. And now he's co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. He and his wife Lee are turning to twitter this weekend to help raise funds for injured service members, vets and their families. The program is called "Tweet to Remind." I spoke to the Woodruffs earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Bob and Lee Woodruff join me from New York. Guys, thank you so much for being here. Bob, I just want to start with a question that a lot of people have on their minds, just quite frankly, how are you doing these days?

BOB WOODRUFF, ABC NEWS REPORTER: Well, it's a lot better than it was a few years ago, let's put it that way. But every day it's getting better. I've got a slight, still loss of some memories, some vocabulary, but it's almost completely back to the way it was before. And Lee has just been amazing, what she's put up with all these years and she's gotten me back to normal.

HOLMES: So certainly fair to say that recovery continues. Is it possible to think that somewhere down the line you could use the term "fully recovered"?

WOODRUFF: Well you know the doctors say those of us with traumatic brain injury, it's never complete lie back to normal but it's pretty darn close. I can't say 100 percent. But I'm completely back in journalism at ABC, doing stories constantly and traveling almost every week.

HOLMES: Let's talk about what you all have going on this weekend and Lee I'll ask you, certainly going to talk about this "Tweet to Remind" campaign you have going on, but just how invaluable are tools now like Twitter, like Facebook, some of these social networking sites to get your message out and raise money for your cause?

LEE WOODRUFF, WIFE OF BOB WOODRUFF: We're pretty excited to harness the power of Twitter for this particular program or our website as well for people who don't twitter. What we're asking is a really simple question. If somebody risked their life for you, would you give them $1? We're asking for $5.25 because that 5/25 is the date of Memorial Day. We want people to think about the fact that this weekend while they're laughing and partying and on the beach, there are thousands of American troops risking their lives for us in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And we want to remind people that this is what Memorial Day is really about. So when you sign up at tweettoremind.org and you're twittering over the weekend, when you press the hash tag, $1, $5, $10, whatever you want it to be, will go to the Bob Woodruff Foundation. That money will then go to the 36 organizations around the country we support that are helping wounded veterans and their families.

B. WOODRUFF: There's 1.65 fighting in these wars in Afghanistan and Iraq right now, these volunteers.

L. WOODRUFF: One point 65 million.

B. WOODRUFF: One point 65 million. You know this is -- we have a 17-year-old son right now, he's not being drafted to go into war, it's his decision ultimately to do it. So these ones that are doing it, we owe them as many things that we can. When they come back injured from these wars, we need to do everything we can to get them more attention, get them the best kind of medical help that they need, and if anything like this happens with this foundation, anybody gives some money and a life, just one life is improved, then it's completely worth it.

HOLMES: Do you all, certainly this country's been in war, the past -- six-plus years now. But do you all foresee a day where Memorial Day in this country will be what it should be about? Nothing's wrong with people getting family and friends together and having a three-day weekend, nothing's wrong with that, but still, if you go out on the street, Lee, I'm sure you know if most people you talk to, you ask them what they're going to do this weekend, they're talking about the barbecues and getting an extra day off, and the last thing they do mention is war and the soldiers.

L. WOODRUFF: And you know what, that's great, it should be a weekend for everybody to enjoy themselves and in doing so, really celebrate our own good fortune for so many of us here in America and realize there are so many others who have not come out of this war so fortunately. I think you can you do both. It's sort of like what we say about our foundation is it's not about the war, doesn't matter what your politics are, it's about how we treat the warrior when he comes home. Memorial Day weekend should be a time for families to come together and celebrate, but let's just not forget that warrior.

B. WOODRUFF: And remember that in your neighborhood, it's probably likely there's not there many because the numbers here, you compare it to Vietnam where there's 12 million serving in the war and now you've got 1.65 -- so as long as you recognize this, even if your neighborhood doesn't have any that have come back from the war, or you don't know anybody specifically, at least talk about it and learn what they're going through, not only what they've accomplished in the wars but also what's happened to them, because there's some injuries that sometimes are not completely visible.

HOLMES: And finally here, it is so fun and -- to watch you guys interact, and I just want to ask -- a lot of people don't see what's going on off camera while we were getting ready for this interview, but you guys tell me, what has the whole experience done to you guys, done to your marriage, and now going through what you're going through with this campaign. Certainly some strains it will put on a couple but I can imagine it would bring a couple together in ways you never imagined as well.

B. WOODRUFF: You know I have to say that I'm more in love with her now than I ever was before. I certainly didn't hate her before.

L. WOODRUFF: But I did pay him to say that. So, you know --

B. WOODRUFF: She's my caregiver. What could I do?

L. WOODRUFF: I think for so many families and Bob and I have gotten the opportunity to meet so many of our military families, many times a brain injury ultimately leads to divorce or the breakup of a family. We got so lucky with Bob's injury and it did bring us closer together. That's why we want to focus the attention on all these families out there that didn't get quite as lucky as we were. We've also been married since, I don't know. Methuselah was born. So no point in breaking up now.

B. WOODRUFF: We just had our 20th anniversary on 9/11 of all days but that's what got us through.

L. WOODRUFF: I'll hold your hand now.

B. WOODRUFF: Who would have thought we'd make 20 years. HOLMES: Guys, congratulations on the 20 years, first of all, but really on all the work you're doing. Bob, good to see you up and around and back at work. We look forward to watching you and that awesome reporting for years to come. But really, guys, thank you for being here and good luck this weekend with the campaign.

L. WOODRUFF: Thank you. Happy Memorial Day weekend.

B. WOODRUFF: We'll be back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: I love that line, she was my caregiver, what can I do? You know, the thing about Bob Woodruff, I was lucky enough to work with him at ABC News, you know he's a great journalist, he's an even better person and it's so wonderful what they're doing.

HOLMES: Seems like a good guy, it's such a treat to get to talk to them. You're looking at the site they were talking about, tweettoremind.org. You can follow them, tweetoremind, also you can follow us here on the weekend on Twitter and Facebook as well. A little later today we'll post the interview on our blog, cnn.com/newsroom.

CHO: One of the most iconic images of Las Vegas, the welcome sign has earned a spot on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks. There you see it, you all know it. It was built back in 1959. And that brings us to our segment, "My City, My Secret."

IReporter Jason Dinant gives us an insider's tour of Vegas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON DINANT, IREPORTER: Hi, I'm Jason and Las Vegas is my city. I want to show you some of my best kept secrets. We're here at the Neon Museum. There is actually two parts, this is the bone yard part of the museum where a lot of the older signs that are just here for people to come in and look at and see the history of Las Vegas.

There's the Liberace sign which is really fun to look at. Some of the wedding chapels that are no longer in existence. And downtown on Fremont Street, there are several of the signs that have been refurbished. And we see those signs lit up in the glory days. We're here at Graziano's Pizza which is located just west of the strip. It is family owned and operated. This is one of those places where you really feel at home. My favorite item on the menu here is the calzone. Any weekend you can come in here and there's sure to be a birthday party or a softball team will be here having a party. There is always something going on.

We're here at Las Vegas Boat Harbor, it's on Lake Mead, it's about a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas. Not only can you go swimming, you can go fishing and they have large-mouth fish that you can feed with popcorn. It's kind of silly and fun.

Coming out to Lake Mead is definitely a departure from the rest of Las Vegas where there it's all about glitz and glamour and showing off, it's like kind of carefree living out here. So those are my city secrets. Now show me yours. Just go to ireport.com/mycitymysecret.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. We continue at the top of the hour in a few minutes with Fredricka Whitfield.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to both of you. How are you today, feeling good?

CHO: Doing well, yes. The marathon's almost over.

WHITFIELD: I always get here when you're really feeling good because you're like ready to punch out.

HOLMES: We start at 6:00 A.M.

WHITFIELD: I know, I know.

HOLMES: But no, we would stay here all day.

WHITFIELD: My empathy is with you.

CHO: There's a lot to get to.

WHITFIELD: That's right. We've got a lot to get to today beginning in the Noon Eastern hour. Our legal guys are going to be joining us talking about, there have been rumblings that the U.S. Supreme Court nominee may be announced by the White House as early as Tuesday for our legal guys. Avery Friedman in particular says he thinks he knows who it may not be.

You've also heard about the woman and her child with Hodgkin's lymphoma on the run. What kind of legal challenges might there be for this family particularly if she has indeed crossed the border and gone to Mexico along with her child. What is at stake for this family both legally and medically? What are the ramifications?

And on this Memorial Day holiday weekend, we, of course, are paying tribute to our soldiers who are serving past present and we're going to be joined by the army's top leading psychiatrist who is going to be telling us, her name is Brigadier General Lori Sutton, she's going to be telling us about a new campaign that's just been launched to help reduce or combat the stigma associated with mental illness. Why a lot of armed service men and women don't fail -- I mean, don't report that they have these mental challenges. There is a stigma involved.

CHO: Yes, and there are so many who are afflicted

WHITFIELD: Too many.

CHO: Fred, thank you.

HOLMES: We'll see you shortly.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much.

CHO: See you in a few minutes.

You know, it's no secret the postal service is losing money. They have been for a while.

HOLMES: So why in the world has the postal service been picking up the tab for some million dollar mansions for its employees? It's the result of a special CNN investigation that will have you scratching and shaking your heads. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHO: Many see it as a perk when the boss picks up the tab for relocation expenses. We all like that, but the U.S. Postal Service is changing its policy on how much it spends to move employees and there's a reason for that.

HOLMES: Yes, because this comes after a probe by Abbie Boudreau, CNN's special investigations unit. Take a look at what she found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT (voice-over): This lake front mansion in South Carolina is one of 14 homes costing more than $1 million. All purchased by the U.S. Postal Service to move its employees.

Our investigation into those purchases prompted a review by the inspector general's office which criticized the postal service for the amount it spends on relocation benefits. The inspector general's report found the postal service spent $73 million last year alone in total relocation benefits to more than 2,000 employees and concluded that some of the relocations were exorbitant.

Senator Chuck Grassley requested the report after we showed him the results from our investigation.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY, (R) IOWA: My reaction is that it's outrageous particularly if you look at specific instances within that report.

BOUDREAU: The 14 homes purchased by the postal service and later resold date back to 2004 according to records obtained by CNN. Here's what some of the properties look like. This one in northern California. These two homes outside Los Angeles. Others in Florida and Virginia. And that $1.2 million South Carolina mansion? It was owned by a small town postmaster who applied for a mid-level management job in Texas so he could live in the same town as his wife. That home is now under contract according to the report, but the postal service will take a $250,000 loss on the deal. It also paid the employee more than $16,000 for a house hunting trip.

GRASSLEY: He wanted to voluntarily move, nobody was making him move. They bought his house and they lost $250,000 on his house.

BOUDREAU: And the most wasteful purchase? It was this secluded Florida home in Indian River Shores that cost the postal service $2.8 million in November 2007. Eight months later we've learned it was sold for just $1.1 million, a $1.7 million loss. And according to the inspector general's report the employee who is relocating is a vehicle maintenance program analyst.

GRASSLEY: It just doesn't reflect well on the administration of the postal service.

BOUDREAU: In a statement to CNN the postal service said, "The number of relocations with high-value homes prompted it to reevaluate and change its policy." Just before we aired our story in February about the South Carolina mansion, the postal service had no limit on the amount it would pay for an employee's home, but it then imposed a $1 million cap.

Now the postal service's days of buying mansions like this one are over. Starting in mid-June it will pay no more than $800,000 to buy a home.

Abbie Boudreau, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)