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Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig Dies; Tiger Woods Apologizes to the Public; CPAC Fired Up, Determined to Take Back Control of Congress
Aired February 20, 2010 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, many are in mourning as they talk about him as a loyal man who served his country well. That's the sentiment we're hearing a lot when talking about Alexander Haig. The four-star general, Former Secretary of State and one-time presidential candidate, died this morning at the age of 85. Our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, is in Washington where conservatives have gathered for a conference, there.
But first their reaction, many people were told over the loud speaker of the death of Alexander Haig. How did they react?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR : Yeah, Fred, I tell you, there was a lot of moaning and a little bit of shock here when that news came about 90 minutes ago. Remember, Alexander Haig served three Republican presidents and ran for the Republican presidential nomination.
It was about 90 minutes ago, right behind me on the main stage, there, that John Bolton, who was a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Bush administration, he made the announcement. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM BENNETT, CNN POLITICAL COORDINATOR: ...news a loyal man, a loyal soldier, patriot, distinguished service in Vietnam and Korea, much decorated for valor, an impressive man. I got to the know him some, liked him, admired him. He was always a little out of fit, I thought, with the political dimension, being a military guy, but he was a smart and able guy and a strong Reagan supporter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Well, Fred, that actually was Bill Bennett, of course, Bill Bennett, a CNN contributor, he also served in the Reagan administration alongside Al Haig. Bill Bennett on CNN not long ago remembering his friend Al Haig -- Fred,
WHITFIELD: And so, Paul, I know it's loud behind you, because there are speakers they're taking to the stage, there are people applauding, et cetera. But, let's talk about CPAC and what the objective is today and all those who have decided to come to talk about the conservative's mission. STEINHAUSER: You know, CPAC, Conservative Political Action Conference, they hold it every year and I got to say, I've been covering it for 2 a couple years now, there is a lot more energy and enthusiasm among the crowd this year. And you can see, it's a larger crowd, too. This group is packed right now.
The Republicans and especially conservatives who are here, they feel energetic and enthusiastic that they can win back not only Congress, this year, but they think they can take the White House back in 2012. And later today, we will have the results of a straw poll for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Mitt Romney has won the last three here at CPAC. We'll find out results later today as to who won this one -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And very familiar names, once again. His name, once again, Romney in the mix as well as Sarah Palin, correct?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and a bunch of other names including some senators and former senators who may want to run next time around. And Fred, one other change from years' past, that is the Tea Party. Tea Party was in its infancy a year ago. There are a lot of Tea Party members are here and there was an interesting dynamic between the Republican Party and Tea Party as they try to see and seek common ground -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much, at CPAC, there. And we'll be checking in with you throughout the day.
All right, more now on Alexander Haig who died early this morning. Haig's long and decorated military service launched his Washington career. Haig served three Republican presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and he also ran for the office himself, losing a bid for the Republican nomination back in 1988.
Haig never lived down his televised responsible to the 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan. Hours after the shooting, then secretary of state Haig, went on national television and said, "As of now, I am in control here in the White House." He later said he intended to reassure Americans that the White House was still functioning.
The nation's governors are spending the weekend in Washington. The National Governor's Association winter meeting runs through Monday and just last hour, First Lady Michelle Obama addressed the group. She focused on her campaign against childhood obesity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Our kids didn't do this to themselves. Our kids didn't decide whether there's time for recess or gym class, or our kids don't decide what's served to them in the school cafeteria. Our kids don't decide whether to build playgrounds in parks in their neighborhoods or whether to bring supermarkets and familiarer's markets to their communities. We set those priorities. We make those decisions, and even if it doesn't feel like we are in charge, we are. (END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And Monday President Obama will meet with the governors at the White House.
All right, when it comes to the government, the left and everyone in between, the right as well, almost all agree on one thing, the government is broken. All next week, CNN digs deep into the mess to find out what can be done to clean it up, No more politics, it's time for answers, now. "Broken Government" all next week on CNN.
All right, let's talk automobiles. The president of Toyota changes his mind. He's coming to America to face what's sure to be a grilling on Capitol Hill.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Welcome back. It looks like Congress will get a shot at Toyota's top man after all. Akio Toyoda now says that he will testify in Capitol Hill on Wednesday and Japanese media are reporting that he's actually already on his way to the U.S., today.
Earlier in the week he said he didn't plan on coming. The House Oversight Committee is looking into the accelerator recalls. Lawmakers want to know what took so long. It's one of three congressional hearings on Toyota scheduled for the next two weeks.
Tiger Woods say he's returning to therapy today for what he calls his "failures." He is reportedly at an addiction clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Woods made a carefully choreographed appearance before television cameras on Friday. He apologized for cheating on his wife, but he did not necessarily announce when he'll be resuming his golf career.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, GOLF PROFESSIONAL: I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Rick Horrow is an attorney specializing in the business aspects of professional sports. He joins me now from West Palm Beach, Florida.
Good to see you, Rick. So, you have to wonder, who or what was the audience as a result of this statement?
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Well, the who and the what was a wide variety of audiences, the fans, the foundations, the staff, corporate America, corporate world, maybe Elin. This was a classic mea culpa on steroids. It's the biggest apology in the history of spokespeople. It's going to write a lot of textbooks over time. WHITFIELD: But why was it really necessary at this juncture? This was maybe a statement that some think should have happened much earlier in the game, but now, months later, why?
HORROW: Well, he had to do it sooner or later to move on, and not just psychologically, but move on in the business. And for example, for corporate America, we have Accenture and we have AT&T dropped who him. We've had Gatorade and other companies are kind of putting him on hold. And you have Nike and EA Sports saying we're sticking by you. Nike's representative was there in the press conference. So, this begins the rehabilitation of Tiger Woods from a corporate perspective, as well.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, you know, it's interesting. Because golfer Nick Faldo said we need you, Tiger, to come back. The PGA commissioner said no doubt about it, that Tiger in viewership is huge, and without him, viewership is down. So, how hard has golfing, the industry, been hit in his absence?
HORROW: Well, let me tell you why the golfers want him back, because when he started on a tour, there were nine millionaires on the PGA tour. Last year, there were 91. So, thank you, Tiger. So, Tim Finchem, the commissioner, says certainty is really important. Ratings down by about 50 percent when he's not there.
Now the issue, thought, Fred, is that we don't know when he's coming back. It could be next month, it could be next year, could be a while from now. So, uncertainty is an issue to deal with in the future of the PGA tour.
WHITFIELD: Well, his voice didn't necessarily say he's coming back anytime soon, did it? I mean, he's going to go into maybe 45 days of treatment, at least his go-round. Certainly wouldn't be able to make it in time for masters, but you know, do you see that kind of absence being able to play later on in the year?
HORROW: Well not Kreskin and anybody who says they know when he's coming back, doesn't. And a lot of people were saying that Friday press conference schedule was done because it's right before the filing deadline of the next tournament. Now, we know that's absolutely an outrageous presumption. Only Tiger knows when he's going to come back as long with his high-priced handlers. It's probably not going to be soon. But you know, hey, I've been wrong before.
WHITFIELD: All right. Rick Horrow, thanks so much. Good to see you. We'll all continue to be watching.
HORROW: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: All right, in politics, coming up, Sarah Palin's daughter wants to know how much money the father of her baby earned posing nude and talking trash.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right, a look at our top stories, right now. Florida, the woman police call a con artist is now accused of murdering a $17 million lottery winner she allegedly befriended after the Hillsborough county deputies charged 37-year-old Dorice Moore with killing 43-year-old Abraham Shakespeare. Police say they found Shakespeare's body buried in the backyard of a home that she co-owned after Moore reportedly approached someone to dig up and move the corpse.
And in Texas, the wife of the pilot suspected of intentionally flying his plane into a building where IRS offices were located is apologizing on her late husband's behalf. Meanwhile, the feds are investigating whether the pilot, Joe Stack, tried to maximize the damage by carrying an extra barrel of fuel onboard his plane.
And the government shuts four more banks down. Among them, La Jolla Bank in California and George Washington Savings Bank in Illinois. The FDIC seizures bring the number of bank fairs this year to 20. Another check of the top stories in 20 minutes.
All right, let's invite our legal guys to talk among many things tobacco. Didn't we think there was already a settlement as it pertained to the legalities of tobacco and who's responsible and the illnesses across this country?
Avery Friedman a civil rights attorney and law professor and Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor.
Good to see both of you.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fredricka.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hey, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Boy, so Avery, this is kind deja vu all over again. There was a government settlement involving big tobacco and now back in the courts, the appeals courts, Supreme Court, all of this involved, the U.S. government saying, wait a minute, we think tobacco is responsible. Explain all of this.
FRIEDMAN: Well, it's a very complicated case, but I'll try to reduce it down to short sleeve English. It is that. The tobacco companies, even though vis verdict came in, it was affirmed by a three-judge appeals panel now says, and they said it before, that the anti-racketeering law doesn't apply to them. And they are hoping that a more conservative Supreme Court will accept the case and if that happens billions of dollars for which they're responsible, Fredricka, go right out the window.
WHITFIELD: So, Richard, the government steps in saying, wait a minute, pay up right now. We're talking to the tune of $280 billion. But, what leverage does the government have when it comes to there still being a case in court, involving an appellate court?
HERMAN: Yeah, well, it's close to $300 billion and what the government, what the lower courts found, Fred, that those ads for low tar and light cigarettes were deceptive, because those cigarettes are not low tar and light, and those cigarettes are -- they claim that the big tobacco withheld all the evidence of the damage these cigarettes can cause.
And, therefore, partial rulings should be sustained by the Supreme Court. The $300 billion should be put back on the table, and the fact that RICO was applied, does applies for this particular case.
WHITFIELD: Boy. This is confusing. I think people thought this was done.
FRIEDMAN: I thought we gave you a nice, clear answer on that?
WHITFIELD: You did. You did. Well, you got to thinking, you know, I'm in the camp of so many other American who thought this was over with? But here we go again.
All right, let's talk about the professor, Amy Bishop, accused of killing three and that was just on February 12th. Now wants to know if she's still has her job, and this perhaps is setting, I guess, the tone or the road, maybe, Richard, for a plea of insanity? Is that where we're going here?
HERMAN: Well, look. Does she still have her tenure? Is she still entitled to money from the school...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: And apparently she's saying she's saying she's not even sure what really happened that day.
FRIEDMAN: Yeah.
HERMAN: Well, that's convenient. That's convenient. Go to school, blow people, kill people and then say afterwards, I don't remember this happening. You know, her husband said she was brooding over this tenure issue. Look, you want to try an insanity defense here, this may be all you have. But as we talked before, and Avery will tell you, the percentage of victories on insanity defense are so minuscule, Fred. This woman is going down hard on this case.
WHITFIELD: Avery, how do you see it?
FRIEDMAN: Yeah, well, I mean, on the question you're asking about her tenure, she actually remains employed. She will not be renewed, so she is presently employed. I don't know why she's deeply concerned about that, because I agree with Richard, we're looking for an insanity, part of evidence is that she punched somebody at IHOP Well, if you go to IHOP, usually somebody punches somebody, anyhow. But, I think it actually fits in and it segues into...
HERMAN: I object to that, Avery.
(LAUGHTER)
FRIEDMAN: It segues into the question of the insanity plea.
HERMAN: I like IHOP.
WHITFIELD: And so now this is the impetus for the Massachusetts governor, Deval Patrick, saying, you know, asking state police in his state reopen this case, re-examine the case back in 1986 where she shot and killed her brother, right -- Richard.
HERMAN: She allegedly, she allegedly shot and killed her brother, there. I think that they botched that investigation. I think it's clear they did that. They're going to research this woman now up, down and around. They're going to try to show that she has a propensity for this or that she does this. I mean, this is a very, very ill woman here, and in my opinion, and, you know, she's going to -- you know, Clarence Darrow is not coming back for this case. She's in big, big trouble down...
(CROSSTALK)
HERMAN: Three capital murders.
WHITFIELD: While there was no charge in that case, wasn't there an admission or, there was some culpability of her actually shooting, or did I get that wrong?
FRIEDMAN: Oh, yeah, she did shoot and kill her brother, but a mom who was there claimed it was an accident. They lost the records, Deval Patrick is doing the right thing, opening it up. The statute of limitations is run on that anyhow in Massachusetts, it's all part of big picture. That's all.
WHITFIELD: OK, let's move on now to another family matter and this involving Joseph Reyes. There's a custody, you know, battle -- or there is custody that he's agreed to with his child and his ex- wife., but I guess one of the conditions was to make sure this child was not going to be exposed to Catholicism. So, he takes the child to a Catholic church and now defied the, I guess, the court order of their agreement of the custody. Right, Avery? Something to that affect?
FRIEDMAN: You're right. It actually looked like a constitutional freedom of religion issue, but when you take a look at the Reyes case, Fredricka, it is that he had already agreed the child is of one faith. He and the mom is of the same faith. He decided to reconvert, if you will, back to Catholicism, but in defiance of the existing agreement and order, he takes the child to mass.
What a dumb way of doing it. All he has to do essentially petion the court that he's returned to his Catholicism and by doing it this way is just ridiculous.
WHITFIELD: So, Richard, this is cut and dry. He defied the court order. I mean, so -- what's to be disputed here?
HERMAN: I mean, really, Fred, he converted to Judaism. They agreed to raise the child in the faith of Judaism. Then they got divorced and he cheated on her, so now she's fired up big time. He then, on visitation, takes the child, gets the child baptized, sends her an e-mail saying he did that.
She goes to court, gets an injunction for taking the child to a church and what does he do? He doesn't discuss it with the mother. He takes the child to the church, calls the press to come videotape this and now he's being held in contempt of court.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Well, that was a little odd, too. Cameras were there. He kind of invited the attention. Sorry, Avery.
HERMAN: In the best interests of the child? Come on.
WHITFIELD: OK, well let's move on to another matter involving a child, and a couple that's not seeing eye to eye. A Bristol Palin, daughter of the former Alaska governor, Sarah Palin, everyone knows that part by now.
But now apparently Bristol Palin through her attorney is asking for financial papers of Levi Johnston that he's been paid for "Playboy" and a number of print, as well as broadcast exposure and so she wants some proof of the pudding that he should be able to help pay for their child. Richard, where's this going?
HERMAN: Well, it's going to family court, that's where it's going. I mean, he's in arrears almost $20,000. He's claiming whatever that he has the money, or he doesn't have it. He's ordered to pay $1,600 a month in support. He's claiming he doesn't have the money and yet, he did this photo shoot for "Playgirl," he's been on entertainment shows, he's obviously receiving some money for that...
WHITFIELD: For at least one shoot, wasn't there a $100,000 figure attached to at least one of the shoots?
HERMAN: Yeah, I know his mother has some major legal fees going on these day, but I don't know, Fred. You know, they're going to investigate his assets. What is he, 18 year old? You know, I don't know where it's going. He's going to be under scrutiny...
FRIEDMAN: Actually, I think I see where it's going. The fact is, it's in a little court in Alaska, his attorney is now subpoenaing, issues subpoenas to news organizations including CNN, claiming that he was paid for this. Well, news organizations generally do not pay. He's incurring expensive overwhelming legal expenses, as is Bristol, because they'll have to go to New York and Atlanta. It's silly. All they have to do is compel Levi to produce the evidence. That's all.
WHITFIELD: And I wonder if this one way the Palin family also trying to compel Levi Johnston to start being quiet. You know? Kind of hit him in the pocketbook?
FRIEDMAN: Yeah, it backfired. It backfired.
WHITFIELD: OK, well, later on we're going to see you guys again in our part deus. We're going to talk about, you know, doodling, how doodling can these days actually get you handcuffed. And everyone doodled on a desk in school, right?
HERMAN: For sure.
FRIEDMAN: Well, you did, didn't you?
WHITFIELD: Yeah.
FRIEDMAN: All right.
WHITFIELD: Fred was here. You know?
HERMAN: They say don't mess with Texas, don't mess with New York.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
WHITFIELD: I know, all right, we're going to talk about that when we see you all.
FRIEDMAN: OK.
WHITFIELD: All right, Former U.S. Secretary of state, Alexander Haig's death, this morning. It's getting reaction across the political spectrum. Josh Levs is tracking how he's being remembered in so many different ways -- Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah Fred, we've heard from the president today, we heard from secretary of state Hillary Clinton we've also heard from the head of the Republican Party what they're saying and what it says about today's political climate coming right up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: In political news today, Democrats are vulnerable and the president has, said this, "lost his mojo." At least that's how conservatives view things in Washington. A lot of big name there's as The Conservative Political Action Conference wraps up. And members are fired up, determined to take back control of Congress this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM (R), FMR U.S. SENATOR: I grew up in one of those poor, small towns in western Pennsylvania that candidate Barack Obama talked about during the Democratic primary. So, let me put Mr. Volessa's (ph) in words in language that us bitter folks who cling to our guns and religion can understand.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. President, America is the hope, and you can keep the change.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: All right, CPAC members plan to hold a straw poll later on today on possible GOP candidates for president in 2012. And I should say, that was members of CPAC who said that Democrats are vulnerable and the president has "lost his mojo," just so it's clear on that. Not the president saying that himself.
All right, Former Secretary of State, Alexander Haig, has died after several weeks in Baltimore hospital. Family members say the 85- year-old died at Johns Hopkins Hospital from complications represented to an infection. Haig served three Republican presidents.
Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and he also ran for the office himself, but he never lived down going on national television after the assassination attempt on Reagan saying, "As of now, I am in control here in the White House." Well, he later, Haig, later said that he intended to reassure Americans that the white house was still functioning.
All right, Josh Levs is here now with reaction to Alexander Haig's death. What are you hearing?
LEVS: Yeah, you know, Fred, no surprise, a lot of people weighing in. the first thing I'm going to show you, right now, is a statement from President Obama about this.
Let's go straight to the that. We have that screen for you. It's a statement that the White House put out from the president, here he's referring to Alexander Haig as "...a great American served our country with distinction." He goes on to say, "General Haig exemplified our finest warrior diplomat tradition of those who dedicate their lives to public service. He enjoyed remarkable and decorated career. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
And I'll just tell you quickly, we've also heard from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who's saying something similar. She's saying that she was very saddened to hear about this. She says, "He served his country in many capacities for many years earning honor on the battlefield, the confidence of prime ministers and the thanks of a grateful nation."
And you know, I'm looking at these as they come and we also heard from RNC Chairman Michael Steele, as well. A lot of people putting out these statements, right way. We're been reporting on his illness, so there were some people who probably were able to prepare some statements. RNC Chairman Michael Steele say he's saddened, as well. He says, "His years of steadfast and courage service to America and the Republican Party should serve as an inspiration to all those interested in public service."
And Fred, I'll just tell you, I'm following Tweets about it from around the world. There are a lot of people weighing in from different parts of the political spectrum. A lot of people in general you find paying respect to a man who served in the military and then in the government, even as some people also expressing disagreement with some of the actions that he took while he was in office, Fred. WHITFIELD: OK. We're going to continue to hear from a number of people throughout the day on Alexander Haig's death this morning. Meantime, Josh, something else we're going to be talking about later on ...
LEVS: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...folks are always concerned about their finances, what to do and we've got a guest today as well who's going to address many of them. So, what do you have for us?
LEVS: Yes, let's talk about that a little bit. Coming up in our 2:00 hour today, we're going to be bringing you financial advice. We have that for you every week at this time and this is how you can send your questions right now. Go to Fred's blog, CNN.com/fredricka or CNN.com/newsroom, it'll get you there, too. There it is on your screen, CNN.com/fredricka. Send your financial questions.
I'm going to be going through them, help prepare them and, Fred, you're going to be having a guest who will be able to talk about all sorts of issues involving finances these days, getting through this economy, Getting through if you don't have a job, saving up if you're trying to get a house. Also, your relationship to money, the way you think about money. All those issues coming up in the 2:00, so get those questions in right now.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and that relationship with money, often it was built right at home when you were a kid. So, we're going to talk about that, maybe some lessons for a lot of parents out there raising small kids, how it's important for you to ...
LEVS: That's right.
WHITFIELD: ...talk about money and management early, early, early on. All right, thanks so much, Josh. Appreciate that.
LEVS: Thanks, Fred. You got it.
WHITFIELD: All right, New York Governor David Paterson formally opened his campaign to keep his job today. Paterson made his announcement at Hofstra University where he attended law school. He'll campaign in Rochester later on today. Paterson inherited the governor's office back in 2008 after a sex scandal led to Eliot Spitzer's resignation. Paterson is running behind in the polls, but he is expected to face a strong challenge in the Democratic Party -- Primary that is.
And an invitation for you -- join us this coming week as CNN investigates "Broken Government," the cycle of partisan politics and the role independents may play in the current two-party system. That's "Broken Government" all next week right here on CNN.
All right, let's talk nasty weather, depending on your point of view of nasty. Heavy snow in the Rocky Mountains, pretty great for skiers, but not so great if you are traveling. Reynolds Wolf is here in the CNN Weather Center. A lot of folks get very excited about big snow and others just get very depressed about it.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. I mean, if you've got, you know, the great ski gear and you've got a great snowboard or skis or what have you, it's going to be great for you.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: But if you've got the minivan full of kids and you're just trying to get from one end of the state of Colorado to the other, not so much.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right, if cameras can catch you running a red light, why not laptops that spy on your kids? A school district thought it was a good idea. Well, now it's getting sued.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories now. First Lady Michelle Obama promoting her new national campaign against childhood obesity today. She spoke before the nation's governors at their winter meeting in Washington, urging them to help make school lunches healthier and make exercise a part of the school day.
Endeavour astronauts are heading home. Touchdown is set for late tomorrow night in Florida. The shuttle undocked from the space station last night and the crew delivered and installed a new module featuring a panoramic window.
The NATO offensive in southern Afghanistan is in its second week now. A CNN correspondent embedded with the troops say that Taliban fighters are still putting up fierce resistance. Coalition forces concede they shot and killed a civilian Friday after they mistook him for an insurgent.
Back in this country, a school in suburban Philadelphia sent 1,800 laptops home with students. Sounds like a good idea. But now, parents have filed a lawsuit claiming the school used the computers' webcams to actually spy on their kids. The lawsuit comes after one of the students was disciplined for behavior outside of school, and the evidence given -- was a still picture from the webcam.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody's pretty disgusted. We all have the computers and they're around all the time and ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's a little scary that they may be spying on us, but I don't really know if it's true or anything. So, we'll have to see how it turns out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do I trust this school district when they've done something like this?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Here's what the school district has to say about it, saying quote "We can categorically state that we are and have always been committed to protecting the privacy of our students" end quote. Adding that "The legal matter has been referred to the district's attorneys now."
So, let's return to our legal guys. I know we're going to get an earful from them. Avery Friedman ...
FRIEDMAN: You bet.
WHITFIELD: ...is a civil rights attorney and law professor and Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor. All right, gentlemen. Richard, you first. I imagine the argument is going to be this is a violation of their right to privacy, but what else?
HERMAN: How about illegal wiretapping, illegal surveillance? I mean in 2001, Fred, the United States Supreme Court said it very clear: you cannot use electronic surveillance equipment outside a home to surveil activity inside the home without a court order or a warrant.
Here, the school district supplied these laptops and the school district has the knowledge they had the ability to remotely access images from the school on those laptops. A 15-year-old male student was approached by an assistant principal, a female, who told him he had been observed doing illegal behavior, or wrong behavior, and this sparked the lawsuit here.
WHITFIELD: So Avery ...
HERMAN: Very interesting.
WHITFIELD: ...I'm no attorney, but come on. I mean this school district, didn't they -- they knew that this was going to cross the line. What would be the best defense if the school district could muster up here?
FRIEDMAN: Well, first of all, I'm not sure you're not an attorney, but I will tell you that at first blush, I actually understand what Richard is saying. This is a class action on behalf of all the kids, and I actually disagree. I don't think the federal statute provides for the coverage of captured images because it deals primarily with audio. But I do think there's potential fourth amendment unreasonable search questions here.
The bottom line is we don't know what there is, and in fact, I would have been a lot -- felt a lot better if the district said we didn't do it. They basically said they protect the privacy rights. I don't know what the heck happened.
WHITFIELD: But if a teacher has already approached the child and said we've observed this activity, and it was off campus, then ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...they knowingly used this to approach the child or to discipline them, so.
FRIEDMAN: We think. We think, Fredricka. If it's there, then I think there is an individual claim of the individual student, but you cannot bring a fourth amendment case on a potential unlawful search. But what this case should resolve is how school districts address the issue when they issue webcams on a laptop, how that privacy is protected. So, I consider this case, Fredricka, a very, very significant one.
WHITFIELD: So, while this suit is being considered ...
HERMAN: Fred, there's going to be -- yes.
WHITFIELD: Richard, yes, go ahead. What would be the next step? I mean, would the school say, OK, return all those laptops now, let's do a little doctoring here? What would -- what can happen?
FRIEDMAN: Well, built in a policy dealing with it.
HERMAN: Yes, that's nice. That's nice trying to clean it up, but there's going to be criminal charges brought against this school district for doing this. This is illegal, criminal activity ...
FRIEDMAN: It'll never happen.
HERMAN: ...by the school. It's going to happen, it should happen and it's got to happen here. You cannot do that, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: Not going to happen.
HERMAN: There's no Trojan horse situations here. You can't give them this without acknowledging that they have the right to do this, without telling the parents, they're consenting to this. This was unconsensual, this is a big problem with the schools and I believe it's criminal.
FRIEDMAN: Either they -- that assumes they did it, Richard. That assumes they did it. Let's see what the facts are.
HERMAN: They -- the school -- look, the school acknowledged that they had the ability to capture these images. And you know, these computers have footprints all over them, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: Let's see. Let's see what the evidence is.
HERMAN: The FBI's going to take a look.
FRIEDMAN: Let's see what the evidence is.
HERMAN: It's going to be bad.
FRIEDMAN: All right, we'll see.
WHITFIELD: OK, well, this is kind of an example of how that lawsuit, how that case is going to unfold, right?
Well, let's talk about something else now, involves a school, a student, a principal, words exchanged, but on Facebook.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: On public domain and this child, by the name of Katherine Evans is actually suspended for being critical on Facebook about the principal. She was actually removed from school for three days ...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: ...and removed from A.P., you know, advanced placement classes. And now, she potentially might want to turn around and sue the school. So Avery, give me an idea where this one is going. She is now in college, but might the removal of -- from her from the classes or even the suspension, might that have impacted her, you know, future placement in college, would she be able to address that?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I don't think so, but I think it's a very principle case. Actually, I handled the exact same case. Her Facebook entry, by the way is I thought this A.P. teacher was the worst teacher I ever had. She got suspended because the teacher claimed that was bullying. Oh my goodness. The fact is it's first amendment protected speech. She's going to prevail in this case and administrators and school officials better get on the bandwagon of taking a look at the Constitution.
WHITFIELD: Richard?
HERMAN: Fred, social, yes, the law is changing for social networking sites like this.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HERMAN: It's being modified every day, the law is growing. These are new areas. The magistrate who ruled on this case gave a real clean reasoning as to this language was done off campus, it was done at the home. It did not cause any disruption on the campus. It wasn't lewd, it wasn't threatening, and it didn't advocate any violence on the campus.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
HERMAN: The family's looking for nominal damages here just to make a point. I think they're going to get it.
WHITFIELD: Just to kind of expunge it from her record, clean it up, that sort of thing?
FRIEDMAN: Principle case, a wonderful case, Fredricka, really. HERMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: OK, and real quick, this is another really bizarre case. We teased this one kind of earlier. Everyone's doodled on a desk or something, right? This child, 12-years-old doodled on the desk and got handcuffed. Richard, where's this going?
HERMAN: It's going to show people there's no common sense here. I mean, we understand zero tolerance. I think that zero tolerance is for massive destruction of school property, not from writing ...
WHITFIELD: And this was an erasable marker, right?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, an erasable marker, right.
HERMAN: It was erasable -- right. I mean, Abbey and Faith, you're my friends, something, I love you, on this desk. I mean, I just scribbled on this desk here, Fred. Don't, don't -- please, don't call me in.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, we'll call the cops in New York. That's the way that works.
WHITFIELD: That's a big old no-no. Don't deface the property now.
FRIEDMAN: Look, bottom line -- bottom line in this case ...
HERMAN: They came in, they handcuffed her ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: ...and they took her out in handcuffs.
FRIEDMAN: I mean, look -- I -- this is a -- this is a civil rights case waiting to happen. 12-years-old, Alexa Gonzalez treated being like this. Terrible, shame on the adults. I hope the family stands up and fights back here.
WHITFIELD: Was there a charge, too? I mean, arrested, handcuffed, but is there a charge attached already?
FRIEDMAN: I don't even -- what could the charge possibly be, defacing property? Some misdemeanor? I mean, it is really ...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: ...a terrible thing that's happened to this young lady. Terrible.
WHITFIELD: OK, Avery, Richard, thanks so much, appreciate it. Lesson learned today. You know, don't go doodling on that desk, Richard.
FRIEDMAN: Oh yes, right.
HERMAN: I'm not. I won't do it anymore, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: Right, yes.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, gentlemen.
FRIEDMAN: See you soon. Take care.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
FRIEDMAN: OK.
HERMAN: Have a good weekend.
WHITFIELD: All right, a big day unfolding for American Olympians who are headed to Vancouver, live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Going for gold, American speedskater Katherine Reutter takes to the oval today in the 1,500 meter. She ranked third in the World Cup and says that she is ready for the number one spot now.
Here's CNN's Mark McKay.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK MCKAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some day, Katherine Reutter wants to see her name in lights. Right now, she's aiming to become an Olympic star. But after that, Broadway?
KATHERINE REUTTER, U.S. SPEED SKATER: That would be a pretty good dream job for me. I do like to sing and act and dance, and you know, speed skating always got priority over everything in high school, but it's something I really wish that I was able to do more of.
MCKAY: That Reutter would want to prance on the stage is a bit of a surprise. Sure, she sometimes sang the National Anthem to crowds before her competitions, but she long ago left the dainty world of figure skating for the rough and tumble of short track speedskating, no grace required.
K. REUTTER: I just had no fun figure skating. I wasn't interested in doing spins and twirls and all that.
MCKAY: So, she spent her teens going in circles on the ice and off it, including two years worth of weekend training trips to St. Louis from her Champaign, Illinois home, a six-hour drive round trip, usually made on consecutive days.
K. REUTTER: When it got to the point where we were doing it every weekend, it just turned into a super long commute because I didn't want to be away every weekend, and I think it ended up being cheaper to just pay for gas and to pay for a hotel room. I didn't want to wear out our hospitality anywhere.
JAY REUTTER, KATHERINE REUTTER'S FATHER: I had calculated it out and I had an old car and I wasn't worried about putting the miles on them.
K. REUTTER: Pretty soon, it was just normal to be driving down there and coming right back.
MCKAY: Going the extra miles wasn't a problem. Reutter was used to being told to do just that by the man who was both her coach and her driver.
K. REUTTER: My dad taught me everything I know about being a great athlete.
J. REUTTER: You look back and you say, gosh, if all my ideas worked out this well, you know? It's really, it's been hard but it's been great.
MCKAY: She eventually got a professional coach and now stands as a three-time national champion, hoping to follow in the multiple medal-winning footsteps of the sports' biggest name, Apolo Anton Ohno. Of course, as you might expect, she's just as interested in Ohno's footsteps as the footwork of the former "Dancing With the Stars" champion.
K. REUTTER: I certainly don't want to take away from the amazing dancer that he is, but I do love to dance. I think I could pick that up pretty quick.
MCKAY (on camera): It sounds more like you'd be more made out for "American Idol."
K. REUTTER: Oh, I hadn't even thought of that. Great idea. All right, OK. Simon Cowell, here I come.
MCKAY (voice-over): From Vancouver to Hollywood to Broadway, Reutter is racing to wherever the lights shine brightest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, multi-talented that Reutter is. Multi- talented as well are you, Mark McKay in Vancouver. What's today looking like?
MCKAY: Hey, I tell you what, this could be a virtual gold rush for the United States later today. Here at the Vancouver Games as we look at short track speedskating, Apolo Anton Ohno is back in action, Fred. He's looking for his seventh Olympic medal; that would make him the most decorated U.S. Olympian in history.
Shani Davis looking for another gold medal in long track speedskating, and then we go up to Whistler where Lindsey Vonn is taking part in one of her specialty races, the Super G. You know, Fred, she injured her heel or her shin coming into this event.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
MCKAY: She stayed off the slopes yesterday and baked banana bread instead.
WHITFIELD: Oh well, very good. At least she's going to eat well today right before the race. All right, thanks so much. All the best to them, those are all big names. Mark McKay, appreciate that, Vancouver.
Straight ahead, I'll introduce you to the nation's last man standing in the war to end all wars. He's a centenarian and he's on a mission.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Flyboys, sailors, doughboys and marines -- nearly 5 million Americans went off to serve in the Great War. But over the decades, their numbers have dwindled and as far as we know, we're about to introduce you to the last surviving American veteran of World War I. Over 100-years-old, and still has work to do.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD (singing): Happy birthday to you.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): He saw his country through two World Wars, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD (singing): Happy birthday to you.
Yes!
WHITFIELD: And earlier this month, Frank Buckles turned 109. As you'll soon see, Frank at 109 is not slowing down. On this day, Frank has a lot to celebrate. He is the last man standing for a generation fading from the history books. Nearly 5 million Americans answered the call to serve in World War I, but as the years have passed, their ranks have thinned. Frank is the last of them.
FRANK BUCKLES, WORLD WAR ONE VETERAN: I realize that my position is a representative of the veterans of World War I. I could see years ago that I was going to be among the last.
WHITFIELD: World War I started almost a century ago, in 1914. When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, Frank was barely 16. So, he lied his way into the army, but don't tell him that.
BUCKLES: I didn't lie.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
BUCKLES: Nobody calls me a liar. My object was to get to France in a hurry. To get to France in a hurry, you should join the ambulance service because the French are begging for ambulance service. WHITFIELD: He was sent overseas in the Carpathia, the ship that rescued the Titanic survivors. He served in England and France until the end of the war. His family says he rarely speaks of the casualties he saw on the battlefield, but he remembers.
BUCKLES: Time has passed very quickly to me. The important thing is the desire to live and the purpose of living.
WHITFIELD: Frank has very important purpose.
BUCKLES: Little bumpy, little bumpy.
WHITFIELD: This cracked, weathered and rundown structure is the current World War I Memorial, at our nation's capital. Besides its shabby appearance, it honors only veterans from the D.C. area.
REP. TED POE (R), TEXAS: There were four great wars in the last century and we have monuments and memorials for three of those on the National Mall, but we don't have one for the first war, World War I.
WHITFIELD: Frank embarked on one final military campaign to assure the stories that his comrades are not lost. He's brought his fight to our nation's capital and is petioning lawmakers to refurbish this memorial to honor all veterans of the great war.
POE: That memorial will be constructed or reconstructed in a presentable fashion and then around this memorial will be added a memorial for all of those who fought in World War I. So, it's not really a new memorial, it's an expansion of the current D.C. memorial that is already on the Mall for the D.C. veteran.
WHITFIELD: Back home for the moment, Buckles has his sights on Washington. He knows it may be an uphill battle, but he's ready for this fight.
BUCKLES: I have to be because I am the last living member of the Americans.
WHITFIELD: The last American voice of World War I, helping to keep the memories alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And happy birthday to Mr. Buckles.
Stay with CNN throughout the day. Send us your questions about your personal finance, CNN.com/fredricka. That's in the 2:00 Eastern hour. We'll have a lot of your questions answered.
Meantime, "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.
