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Obama Meets With Families Of Mumbai Attack Victims In India Today; Pope Will Bless Sagrada Familia Church

Aired November 06, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, jobs, jobs, jobs. That's what Americans are interested in as President Obama tours India. Here now is White House correspondent Ed Henry who is traveling with the president on his 10-day, four Asian nation trip.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This visit to India is President Obama's longest to any country since taking office and that's for personal and political reasons. The personal is, few people know this but the president has a fascination with the life and legacy of Mahatma Ghandi. He hung a picture of him in his Senate office back in the day.

And so he and the first lady Michelle Obama came here to the Gandhi Museum in Mumbai. They signed the guest book. The president saying it is pretty cool to see that another guest book had been signed by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1959. Of course, the White House knows, however, that all this globe trotting could backfire on the White House so quickly after that pivotal midterm election. So the president's big focus here politically is on creating jobs back home in America. The president noting that U.S. exports here to India have quadrupled in recent years and he announced some big contracts today for American companies, that Boeing and GE are going to get contracts for commercial and military aircraft here, as well as jet engines, totaling $10 billion, meaning over 50,000 jobs back home in America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For America, this is a jobs strategy, as we recover from this recession we are determined to rebuild our economy on a new, stronger foundation for growth. Part of that foundation involves doing what America has always been known for, discovering and creating and building the products that are sold all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: On Sunday, the president holds a town hall meeting with local students that has private meetings with Prime Minister Singh followed by a joint news conference with him in New Delhi on Monday. Then it's on to Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.

Ed Henry, CNN, with the president in Mumbai. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, meantime new information about the recent terror plot involving cargo planes. A U.S. counterintelligence official tells CNN that the U.S. learned in early October that something might be in the works. And the information came from Saudi Arabia. More now from CNN's Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (ON THE PHONE): According to a U.S. counterintelligence official, about three weeks before those toner cartridge bombs were discovered in the U.K. and in Dubai, the U.S. had received a piece of intelligence with Saudi Arabia indicating that Al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula might be hatching a plot involving the use of one or two planes, perhaps simultaneously.

This counter terrorism official tells CNN that the information we received in early October contained no mention of cargo planes or the precise details of the plot. To include what planes might be involved, where they might originate or who the perpetrators might be. No one knew, the official said, for instance that AQAP was specifically targeting planes departing Yemen.

Now, later in the game we do know that Saudi Arabia passed another tip to the United States, which was very specific and included the tracking numbers on those two toner cartridge bombs. That is why the U.S. was able to detect them. This U.S. official says one of the reasons the U.S. moved so quickly and was able to move so quickly was because they put that piece of intelligence together with the earlier intelligence they had received from Saudi Arabia. This U.S. counter terrorism official saying that this does represent a success for the U.S. intelligence community.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve there. Meantime, Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano attended a security conference today in Canada and talked about some of the lessons learned from this latest terror incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The response on the Yemen bombs was to issue some immediate rules governing cargo, and there'll be some - and we did that in close connection with our allies, particularly the U.K. moving forward. And we will see some more coming out over the next 30 to 60 days as we move to the cargo front and to protect it as we are protecting the passenger front.

But to your major point, there's always a balance to be struck between how much you talk about an event and whether by dealing with it and reacting to it, you are achieving what our adversaries sought.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: All right. U.S. officials say that two pieces of intelligence information received from Saudi Arabia allowed them to act to quickly to thwart this latest bomb plot.

Meantime, former U.S. President George W. Bush is coming back under the glare of the public spotlight. The former president's new book "Decision Points" comes out on Tuesday and our Sandra Endo gives us a preview from Washington now. Sandra?

SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. The book spans a wide range of topics. From his early political life to his battle with drinking but also former President George W. Bush goes on the defensive in parts of his book. For one, he defends his decision on the use of enhanced interrogation techniques against terror suspects. In his book, he writes about when he was asked by his CIA director, George Tenet, for permission to use techniques including waterboarding.

Bush writes "I thought about the 2,973 people stolen from their families by Al Qaeda on 9/11 and I thought about my duty to protect the country from another act of terror. 'Damn right,' I said."

Also, on his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the former president was widely criticized for his now famous quote saying to his FEMA director Michael Brown, "Browny, you're doing a heck of a job." Now, that was even when the federal response was getting blasted and people were suffering. Well, in his book, the former president defends his comments saying "I knew Mike was under pressure, and I wanted to boost his morale. Critics turned my words of encouragement into a club to bludgeon me."

So an interesting insight as to his perspective, Fred, on some of the tough times during his administration.

WHITFIELD: At the same time, did he go as far as admitting to any mistakes?

ENDO: Yes, it's interesting. In a rare admission from the former president, Fred, he did write about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina saying his heart was breaking at the sight of people trapped on top of their roofs and writes "I should have recognized the deficiencies sooner and intervened faster. The problem was not that I was making the wrong decisions, it was that I took to long to decide." So some reflection there on his two terms in office and his personal take on what happened. Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. "Decision Points" coming out on Tuesday, right?

ENDO: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Sandra Endo, thanks so much from Washington. Appreciate it.

ENDO: Sure. WHITFIELD: All right. The former president is going to share details of his book with CNN's Candy Crowley. They'll sit down for an in- depth interview during a special edition of CNN's "State of the Union." That special airs at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, November 14th, right here on CNN.

All right. Tensions flair in Oakland, California where protestors react to the sentencing of a former transit officer. Protestors threw rocks and bottles at police officers. They broke windows last night, as well. At least 152 people were arrested. Transit officer Johannes Mehserle, who is white, was given the minimum possible prison sentence for killing Oscar Grant, an unarmed black man on a train platform last year. Some in the community say the sentence was too lenient.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BURRIS, GRANT FAMILY ATTORNEY: A small step was made, certainly in the prosecution of Mr. Mehserle. But a giant step was not made as it relates to true justice. And that part was disappointing, but not surprising.

PAT BROOKS, AREA RESIDENT: I shouldn't be surprised. This country has historically allowed young men of color to be murdered by police and other agencies. They've continuously told us that the lives of young men of color don't matter. They continue to have perpetuated systems that allow things like this to happen. So we're not surprised.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: For his part, Mehserle claims he thought he grabbed his taser gun not his actual gun when he shot Oscar Grant.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Spain today. He plans to consecrate one of Barcelona's most famous site. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Pope Benedict in Spain for a two-day visit. This is the pontiff's second visit to Spain there. The 83-year-old prayed at the tomb of the apostle James and plans to consecrate a church in Barcelona that's been under construction for more than 100 years. The Pope will give his official blessing to the church and CNN's Al Goodman has more on that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They've been building the church of the Sagrada Familia or Holy Family for more than 100 years. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's unusual design has attracted millions of visitors to this Barcelona icon. And now Pope Benedict XVI is coming to consecrate the church, even though it's still not finished.

JORDI FAULI, DEPUTY ARCHITECT OF SAGRADA FAMILIA: The interior space of the church, the sacred space of the church is finished. And for that, the Pope comes here to consecrate the church.

GOODMAN: Gaudi saw only one tower and most of one facade completed before he died in 1926. Jordi Fauli is among the architects who have carried on the project.

(on camera): Is the pope coming on this elevator?

FAULI: No. A new elevator.

GOODMAN: There's a new elevator.

(INAUDIBLE) into the city of Barcelona, a monumental church with $18.

GOODMAN: Including 12 of them for the apostles and the tallest of the 18 for Jesus. That tower is hardly started. Only eight are finished. Fauli says the privately financed work might be done by 2026 in the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death.

Gaudi was a devout catholic, especially later in life as he focused on the Sagrada Familia.

FAULI: He wanted to design a space with a lot of light (INAUDIBLE) in all directions. Because he explained that god is the light. And for that, the house of god will have the light.

Reporter (on camera): Gaudi was asked why it was taking so long to finish the Sagrada Familia church and he replied, according to his assistants, "my client, meaning god, is not in a hurry."

(voice-over): Gaudi's legacy in Barcelona is also seen in secular buildings like the Casa Mila. Many contemporaries ridiculed Gaudi for designs inspired by nature.

SILVIA VILLAROYA, CASA MILA CONSERVATOR: The tree in front of my office is my master, he said. It's the best way to see how to build. The leaves are the shadows are all these things are intelligent architecture related with nature.

GOODMAN: But even from this roof top, Gaudi's masterwork looms in the distance. The Sagrada Familia, soon to be designated as a basilica, a special honor in Roman Catholicism, even as mortals try to complete the earthly task piece by piece.

Al Goodman, CNN, Barcelona, Spain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Between a rock and a hard place, literally. We're not talking about that cathedral. In theaters this weekend the story of a real life adventurer. Resorts to desperate measures to survive. I'm talking about "The People." How does that movie make the grade?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Comedy, drama, and suspense are all on the movie menu this weekend. Did it make the grade? Our critic weighs in next. But first, a look at the top stories.

The trial into the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart resumes in Salt Lake City on Monday. Defense lawyers had asked for a mistrial and one of the trial moved out of Utah because of all the publicity.

A federal appeals court turns him down yesterday. Brian David Mitchell is accused of kidnapping Smart at knife-point in 2002. Smart, who was rescued nine months later, is expected to testify.

And in Indonesia, the death toll is climbing as that Mount Merapi volcano spews more fire and ash into the sky. At least 81 people are dead after yesterday's powerful eruption. The volcano started erupting late last month. In all, at least 120 people have died.

And so much for gentility at the racetrack. What in the world is going on? It looks like a boxing match. Two jockeys going at it after the first breeder's cup race last night. Jockey Calvin Borel wearing green and purple went after Javier Castellano. He's the one in yellow jersey that you saw earlier. Borel was upset after Castellano cut into the path of his horse midway through the race. He later apologized. Castellano was disqualified

All right. The new movie "For Colored Girls" focuses on African- American women dealing with so many different troubles. Actress Kimberly Elise says making it was so intensely emotional it gave her gray hair. I sat down face-to-face with Kimberly and one of her co- stars Kerry Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (on camera): People have been anticipating this "For Colored Girls" for a long time now. But if you remember in the '70s, this was a collection of poems, 20 poems that talked about black women, primarily the struggles, what they were encountering and how they were trying to get out of these struggles. So give me an idea how challenging it may have been for you, fast forward 2010. These are images, these are subjects that are still very real today. Very current.

KERRY WASHINGTON, ACTRESS: Yes, it's kind of amazing that you can do material that's over 30 years old and that the issues are still alive.

These women are dealing with very human struggles around love, around self respect, around identity, heartbreak, health, healing, being a mother. You know, these are universal human issues. We even joked that the title "For Colored Girls" is not really about black women, it's about the colors that we experience as a human being when you have the blues or when you're red with rage or when you're green with envy. You know, those are - that for us is what the colors are about because that's what the film is about.

KIMBERLY ELISE, ACTRESS: We understood that this is so much bigger than us, and we're just instruments, we're just individual instruments on something that is so much bigger than us, and we had a responsibility to take care of each other, because I need Kerry, Kerry needs me and we need (INAUDIBLE) - WASHINGTON: Right.

ELISE: It was just all of us together, so we had to take care of each other. We're little, little pieces for the larger good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. More on that interview "Face to Face" in the NEWSROOM tomorrow, including a look at what Kimberly and Kerry do when they're not making movies. A little hint, they're very, very busy. All right. So "For Colored Girls," that's just one of several movies opening in theaters this weekend. We'll take a look as well at "127 hours" as well as the movie "Due Date." Candice Frederick, a critic with real talk joins us from New York for today's movie preview. Good to see you.

CANDICE FREDERICK, TICKETSTUBZ.BLOGSPOT.COM: Good to see you. How are you?

WHITFIELD: I'm doing pretty good. OK. Let's begin with "For Colored Girls." More than 30 years after it was on Broadway, it was on the silver screen. Big opening this weekend. I got to see it earlier in the week but I want to hear your impressions, what did you think?

FREDERICK: It was heart wrenching. It was a fantastic movie fueled by strong performances, especially by Kimberly Elise, Anika Noni Rose, who are the ones to watch and hopefully not forgotten during awards season especially. The only thing I would critique it by saying that it runs a little like a poem, so it might kind of throw moviegoers off. It wasn't really as well adapted to film as I thought it should have been. But it was, you know, really good other than that. You know, not to be overshadowed by the really strong performances.

WHITFIELD: Yes, because I got - the original premise of it, they used (INAUDIBLE) poems to help tell these stories on stage. So I guess the director and the other movie makers decided they want to try to maintain some of that poetry throughout the movie. It is tricky because you don't ordinarily see that on the big screen.

FREDERICK: Right, right. You want to really capture it the way people talk and I don't think a lot of the monologues were capturing realistic conversations in the way that people carry on conversations.

WHITFIELD: So you talk about Kimberly Elise and Anika Rose. I mean, their performances were stellar. So (INAUDIBLE) what kind grade would you give this?

FREDERICK: I gave it a really solid B plus, really solid B plus, almost A minus. Only because the script. That's the only thing.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Now let's talk about "127 hours." We're talking about a movie that is a depiction of real life. This young man who was on his own, rock climbing. Everyone knows the real life story because much of it was talked about after he very publicly let everyone know that he cut off his own arm, broke his arm, cut off his own arm in order to survive and now it's a movie. Let's take a quick peek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So we're seeing this kind of interspersed with "Slumdog Millionaire" because the same movie maker went after this "127 Hours." So give me an idea -what was the takeaway for you in watching this movie?

FREDERICK: Well, you know, it was a really strong performance from James Franco, who really has to carry the film solo by himself. The only - and Danny Boyle is really good in it, if you liked "Slumdog Millionaire" you'll like the direction of the movie. The only thing about the way this movie flows is that you kind of go into it wondering how he's going to escape.

That's the really big surprise in the movie. But if you know the story at all, like what comes between how he gets stuck (INAUDIBLE) is not really as interesting as I thought it could have been, in the movies. So you know, other than that, it was really strong performance. You know, he's stuck on this mountain for almost six days, so every day becomes a little more repetitive of the last day.

WHITFIELD: I see.

FREDERICK: So you're kind of just anticipating what it is at the end.

WHITFIELD: OK.

FREDERICK: I gave it a B.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Your grade. You gave it a B, that's good. Very admirable.

All right. Now let's talk about "Due Date" because you watch the trailer, you watch the clips and it just seems laugh out loud funny, (INAUDIBLE) cannot contain yourself, side splitting. So I'm seeing your expression, let's take a little quick look at a clip of it and see if it made you laugh.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Number one, don't ask me a single question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your favorite color? At what age did you lose your virginity? Do you like hotdogs?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I once ate a foot long corn dog on a nude beach. I'll never do that again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you're allergic to waffles. Don't eat waffles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Robert Downey Jr. and Zach G., because I never seem to pronounce his name right. So Candice, what did you think, you like? You did not like FREDERICK: I did not like.

WHITFIELD: You hated it, I can tell.

FREDERICK: You know, Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor and you kind of go in, if he's in the movie, then you're like, OK, it has to be good. But unfortunately, it's really not. I mean if course -

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: What's the matter with it?

FREDERICK: Well, it's not funny. It's kind of corny at times. I mean, he provides the only chuckles in the movie but they're not laugh out loud, not side splitting. It's just -

WHITFIELD: So the whole idea here, Robert Downey Jr.'s character, he's trying to get on a flight to get home in time for his wife's delivery of their child. But he's on like the no fly list or some reason he can't get on the plane, right? And he has to find another way and that's how he hooks up with Zach, Zach's character.

FREDERICK: Yes, unfortunately.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: So your grade?

FREDERICK: A D.

WHITFIELD: Oh, man! That's cold.

FREDERICK: Yes, it was not funny.

(CROSSTALK)

FREDERICK: No, it wasn't. Zach really just recycles his performance from "The Hangover" and it's just not funny.

WHITFIELD: OK. Putting it frankly. All right. Candice Frederick, thanks so much from Realtalk, appreciate your time and your movie review.

FREDERICK: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Nice little hodgepodge there. I got the highs and the lows on the grading scale.

FREDERICK: Oh yes.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Tropical storm Tomas is moving away from Haiti now. Big sigh of relief for the folks there but it did leave a lot of damage in its wake.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: A pretty emotional day for President Obama in India as he pays tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Earlier today, the president met with survivors of the 60-hour rampage. CNN's Mallika Kapur reports from Mumbai.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Kia Scherr came to Mumbai a few weeks ago, the city her husband and daughter visited in November 2008 for a spiritual retreat.

KIA SCHERR, LOST HUSBAND & DAUGHTER IN ATTACKS: I wanted to meet the people, walked the streets, just like they did. And that makes me feel more connected and closer to them.

KAPUR: 13-year-old Naomi and her father were staying at the Oberoi Hotel when terrorists attacked. More than 160 people lost their lives in the Mumbai attacks. Naomi and Alan were among them. Two years later, sitting across the road from the same hotel, the pain is raw, the memories precious.

SCHERR: Naomi was, in a way, a typical American teenager. She was kind of an angel, a sage, and a teenager. She loved rock music and listened all day long. She was begging for tattoos and piercings. Finally we said OK, when you're in India, a nose piercing. So that was the last time I spoke with her. She got her nose piercing and she was ecstatic and sent me the photo and it's beautiful.

KAPUR: Back then, she took comfort from a condolence letter that then president-elect Barack Obama wrote to her. Saturday she had a chance to meet him.

SCHERR: He just said I'm so sorry for your loss. I said we have an opportunity to create a positive outcome to this, if we take a stand to honor the sacredness of life in ourselves and each other. He nodded and he agreed with that. And it was just a very sweet, very personal connection.

KAPUR: Speaking at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, which was also attacked, the president had this to say about staying at the hotel and starting his four-day trip to India in Mumbai.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know there's been a great deal of commentary on our decision to begin our visit here, in this dynamic city, at this historic hotel. And to those who have asked whether this is intended to send a message, my answer is simply, absolutely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Mallika Kapur now joining us now from Mumbai. So, we know that at least the Taj Mahal Hotel has reopened. That is where the president will be staying. In what other ways has Mumbai moved on since these assaults?

KAPUR: Mumbai has moved on. People have just learned to live with the new reality. And the new reality is extra security, we do have heightened security in Mumbai. Especially now during a presidential visit. But yes, Mumbai has moved on. The people who were affected by the attacks say it's just something they have to take in their stride. But many of them say they don't want to look back, they want to ahead.

I've been covering -- I covered the attacks and I've been in touch with a couple of people who were affected and over the last two years, and everybody is putting a brave face forward. The want to put what happened behind them, and look ahead. The hotels, the restaurants that were affected have all reopened and they're all doing really good business now.

WHITFIELD: OK, so that's great. So now, what next for the president while there in India?

KAPUR: Well, the president still has another half a day here in Mumbai. And he's going to spend his time now speaking with students. He's going to be visiting a high school on Sunday morning. And we met with one of the students who has been selected to make a presentation to the president. He, of course, is a young 15-year-old boy. He's ecstatic.

He's been practicing his speech to the president, and he says he's going to be explaining to the president a project, and his project is about solar lighting and solar technology. He said that some of his friends are going to be doing a dance for the president, and the school is just so excited. And they cannot wait to meet the president on Sunday morning.

WHITFIELD: That's fantastic. Mullika Kapur, thanks so much from Mumbai. Appreciate that.

So where does the president go from India? Remember, this is a 10-day Asian tour. It will take him to Indonesia, South Korea, as well as Japan.

Some folks woke up this morning, feeling a little chill in the air, needing a little extra wrap. I pulled out the big old coat. I was a wimp.

Hello, Jacqui Jeras.

I even considered-no, I -

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Your jacket?

WHITFIELD: No, I almost considered some, like, heavy duty boots.

JERAS: Why not?

WHITFIELD: I'm sorry, I know it's a little ridiculous, but I was cold.

JERAS: And you should be. It's November, so you expect cold weather, but it is unseasonably cold. Some areas seeing temperatures about 20 degrees below average. WHITFIELD: Oh, gosh.

JERAS: At a soccer game this morning, at 9:00 a.m., the temperature was 37 degrees. It was a little nippy.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JERAS: I brought out the hat and the gloves. My daughter is like, I don't look cool wearing this hat, Mom. But I'm like, you know what, some days-

WHITFIELD: But you are warm.

JERAS: Some days it is too cold to be cute.

WHITFIELD: You don't need to look cool when it cold out.

JERAS: That's right.

WHITFIELD: Because it's not cool. Better be safe. Tell that to your kids, too, right?

(WEATHER FORECAST)

JERAS: I just want to show you, real quick, what's going on with Tomas. We were real concerned about Haiti got 4 to 10 inches of rainfall. But it could have been a lot worse. There's still a little moisture still trying to linger with the tail end of Tomas. It's a tropical storm now pulling away from the Turks & Caicos; 65-mile-per- hour winds and pulling away from everybody now. So that is some good news. This storm is winding down.

Speaking of winding things, how about a clock? Don't forget to wind that back one hour tonight. You'll get an extra hour of sleep.

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

JERAS: I hate it when I show up for things an hour early.

WHITFIELD: Oh, no, that is the worst feeling. So, yes, it is imperative to do it, tonight, before you go to bed. Don't do it in the morning, because you are going to forget after you wake up and all that stuff. It's a drag.

JERAS: Oh, yes, you will for get, yes.

WHITFIELD: So what do you think you're going to do with that extra hour, besides sleep?

JERAS: Probably not sleep because my children's clock is still kind of internal.

WHITFIELD: Oh, OK. Darn.

OK, Doctor Bill Lloyd is going to be along. He is going to help us all get a better idea of how to maximize that extra hour. You know you, winterize your car. You know how you winterize your house? Now it's time to winterize your body.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Looking at our top stories right now. Iranian news agencies are reporting an earthquake in northwestern Iran and it's injured at least 80 people. The Red Crescent Society reports the earthquake was a magnitude. 4.9. Some buildings were also reportedly damaged.

Distressing news from the Gulf. Extensive portions of deep sea coral are either dead or dying near the site of the Gulf oil disaster. Researchers found the coral covered in a brown material. One scientist called the discovery a smoking gun. But he stopped short from blaming it all on the oil spill.

Hollywood is mourning the loss of veteran actress Jill Clayburgh. Clayburgh starred on Broadway, in the movies, and on television. One of her most acclaimed roles was in the film, "Starting Over." On the small screen, viewers remember her from "The Rockford Files" and most recently from "Dirty Sexy Money." Clayburgh had a long battle with leukemia. She was just 66 years old.

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end tonight, and for most of the country that means turning the clock back. Just one hour, falling back into Standard Time is a great opportunity to get an extra hour of sleep, and boost your immune system.

Doctor Bill Lloyd joins us now from Dallas. Not Sacramento, Dallas today.

Doctor Bill, we have all said you could use a few more Zs, a couple more winks and all that good stuff. So, now is the time but it can be a challenge too, can't it?

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON, PATHOLOGIST: Well, it certainly can. We're all very busy. I'm in Dallas visiting my son, will, and his wife, Sylvia. We're going out tomorrow to see a NASCAR race for the very first time. So we have to be up early in the morning.

But you know what, you make the time, because good sleep is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, and it really doesn't take much effort at all.

Fredricka, let me give you five powerful reasons why it's important for everyone to use tonight as the beginning to reestablish a good sleep habit. You're going to have improved memory. The scientific evidence says you'll be better able to control your weight. At work, you will have improved concentration, and a better attitude. You will have lower stress hormones, throughout the day. And like you mentioned earlier, it boosts your immunity. So everybody needs a full night of quality sleep.

WHITFIELD: OK, and maybe you're the person who has difficult time getting that full night sleep, no matter what. So at what point do you involve a doctor and say help me out? I want to get my eight hours, or you know, at least six hours or something? LLOYD: The three problems you want to look at. Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you have trouble staying asleep? And how do you feel when you wake up? Those are what you want to tell you doctor. Explain to your doctor, I can't fall asleep. There's a remedy for that. I get up in the middle of the night, a different medication maybe better for you to use. Or I don't feel good when I wake up in the morning. That may be a signal that there is some other problem, involved. So don't try to take care of this yourself. Doctors know exactly what to use in 2010 to help you get that full night restorative sleep that you need for the next day.

WHITFIELD: OK. So, now let's talk about, as you say, don't try and take care of this yourself. Then should we bypass the over the counter stuff?

LLOYD: Most of the over-counter remedies basically are sleep aids that make you drowsy. But they'll pass in time and you still wake up in the middle of the night. In addition, to that they can interact with a lot of medications that you're taking. And most of them tend to dry you out, as well. So I would say, if you've got a real problem, go see a real doctor and get a real remedy.

WHITFIELD: OK, so now let's talk about winterizing the body, because we winterize our cars, our houses, and sometimes we forget to do that with our bodies. I don't think I know how to winterize my body. What do I do?

LLOYD: Well, I'll tell you the first thing, the smartest thing, the best thing you can do for your health is go get your flu shot. There's plenty of flu vaccine this year, Fredricka. It's an easy thing to do. On every street corner there is a pharmacy, most of the insurance plans and Medicare will cover it. There's no excuse this year for anybody not to have their flu shot.

Go buy a pedometer. Yes, that little device you put on your belt. And makes sure you knock off 10,000 steps every day. If you don't hit 10,000 find something else to do. Go for a walk, go for a jog.

Get your body used to the winter weather. Don't wait until it is too cold. That means have a backup exercise plan. If you like to ride a bike or you like to jog, have a place that you can go to exercise when the weather turns bad, whether it is joining a gym or running stairs or even setting up something inside your own home.

Here's a tip that people often forget, we have problems with seasonal allergies, but we also have indoor allergies. So make sure you change those air filters inside your house and tonight is a good night to remember that, as well as the batteries on the smoke detectors, and your Co2 detectors.

Don't forget to wash your hands continuously. Every time you use the washroom, or come into contact with somebody else. It's the best thing you can do to protect yourself from catching a cold. And finally, Fredricka, make sure you go outside every day, when you can, and get a little bit of sunshine. That vitamin D is going to help your mood and it is going to help keep your bones strong. WHITFIELD: Oh, the sun does always make you feel better. Then you say, you know what, adults on average, we tend to gain about five, maybe even 10 pounds on average per winter. Why is that? We can't blame it all on those holiday treats, can we?

LLOYD: Yes, we can.

WHITFIELD: We can?! That's it?

LLOYD: That's exactly what it is.

WHITFIELD: All right. No holiday parties.

(LAUGHTER)

LLOYD: It's a combination of eating too much and not exercising enough. So you're going to have to make some decisions. When you think about all these holiday parties, think about showing up a little bit late. The later you arrive, the less hors d'oeuvres you're going to eat. Here is a great tip, for winter meals, for an appetizer, ask for a bowl of soup. Studies have shown people who enjoy soup as an appetizer, tend to eat less when the entree comes along.

One more thing about winter exercise, we want to boost your exercise because you're boosting all those calories. Train your body for the cold weather. Don't wait for it to be real cold to go outside. You won't get hypothermia. So long as you're moving, you won't be in danger with the cold. It is when you stop and walk, you might get in trouble with hypothermia. So when you're outside exercising, the important point is no matter how slow, keep moving.

WHITFIELD: Do those stretches first, too. Very important so you don't get injured.

LLOYD: Always stretch.

WHITFIELD: Doctor Lloyd, thanks so much. From Dallas, enjoy that star.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WHITFIELD: All right, have fun.

All right. He's set to be the next speaker of the House. We'll take a closer look. Who is John Boehner any way? Straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Time now for a CNN equals Politics update. Here's what's crossing the CNN.com.Political Ticker.

Former Delaware Senate rivals have made peace. Winner Chris Coons and looser Christine O'Donnell participated in the tradition of burying the hatchet, literally. It symbolizes the end of the campaign.

Don't ask former President George W. Bush about the 2012 presidential race. In an Oprah Winfrey interview, that airs on Tuesday, Bush says he's through with politics.

And call it a sign of the changing times. Nancy Pelosi lost her spot as speaker in the midterm elections when the Republicans took control of the House. Check out the new sign over the door of the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington. It says, "Hire Pelosi." That's an about face from GOP fire Pelosi campaign slogan. She's now running for minority leader.

For the latest political news, logon to cnn.com.

OK, so still with the theme of politics now, John Boehner is the presumptive next speaker of the House. How much do we know about the Republican from Ohio? CNN's Brianna Keilar takes a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) OHIO: The people's agenda will be our agenda.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): John Boehner has been here before, as a deputy to House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1994, he lived through the Republican revolution, witnessed its downfall, and has resolved not to repeat history.

BOEHNER: Our new majority will be prepared to do things differently, to take a new approach that hasn't been tried in Washington before.

KEILAR: It's a long way from his humble beginnings in Ohio. Where Jerry Vanden Eynden met Boehner in the 7th grade.

JERRY VANDEN EYNDEN, LONGTIME BOEHNER FRIEND: We grew up in Redding. It was more of a blue collar town. If we needed money, we had to go work for it. They were all rotten jobs, physical jobs.

KEILAR: The one Boehner talks about most often --

BOEHNER: You know, I started out mopping floors, waiting tables, and tending bar at my Dad's tavern.

KEILAR: He was the second of 12 kids.

EYNDEN: I tell people the thing I remember most about going to his house was there was always diapers on the line.

KEILAR: Boehner put himself through Xavier University in Cincinnati. The first in his family to get a degree. He worked his way to the top of a plastics company, was elected to the Ohio state legislature in the '80s. Then in 1990, he won a seat in Congress. Twenty years later, he's a Washington insider. Known as much for his ubiquitous tan and his smoking habit, as he is for getting emotional.

BOEHNER: That is at the top or our list. After 3,000 of our fellow citizens died, at the hands of these terrorists, when are we going to stand up and take them on?

KEILAR: Boehner is also known for his ties to lobbyists. A reputation cemented in 1995 when he handed out campaign contributions from the tobacco industry to members on the House floor, before a key tobacco vote. His friends downplay his relationships with lobbyists. Including Dan Danner, who is a registered lobbyist for small businesses.

DAN DANNER, SMALL BUSINESS LOBBYIST: He's a people person. He's a salesman. He's a friend to a lot of people.

KEILAR: Boehner's trademark is his laid back demeanor.

He's not really a frenetic guy, is he.?

DANNER: No, I would agree with that. He is very focused, behind this relaxed, play golf, nice tan. He's very focused.

KEILAR: Deliberate?

DANNER: I think very deliberate.

KEILAR: As Boehner was here, railing against the health care reform bill just before it passed.

BOEHNER: Hell, no, you can't!

KEILAR: Who was he talking to?

CROWD CHANTING: No more lies. No more lies.

KEILAR: These people, Tea Party supporters, many of whom were gathered right outside the capitol and who months later helped pushed Republicans into power and John Boehner into the speakership. Brianna Keilar, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much for joining me in the last few hours. Don lemon is coming up next with more of the NEWSROOM. He'll talk to the nation's drug czar about the legalization of marijuana. He'll talk to an attorney who is here, as well.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. See you tomorrow.

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