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More Secret Service Heads May Roll; Ted Nugent Meets With Secret Service; BP Oil Spill Settlement; Settlement In Bully Case; George Zimmerman Fighting For Bail; Juggling CNN Careers And Motherhood; Etan Patz Search Open Again; Romney Fires Back; CIA Wants More Drone Strikes; CIA Wants More Drone Strikes in Yemen; Pat Summitt Gives Press Conference, to Receive Medal of Freedom; Remembering Dick Clark; Plane Lands in Gulf of Mexico; Chimpanzees' Future Uncertain.

Aired April 19, 2012 - 13:00   ET

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

MALVEAUX: Top of the hour. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Want to get you up to speed.

Brand new developments just in to CNN about the widening Secret Service scandal. Already three agents are leaving and we are now hearing today more resignations will follow. It is fallout from some alleged misconduct by presidential security staffers. It happened in Colombia, involving Secret Service agents, U.S. military members and prostitutes. Stay right here. We're going to go live to Capitol Hill in just a moment.

Ted Nugent, he's got some explaining to do, again. Secret Service agents will meet with the Rock Star and outspoken conservative in person today. They want to know what he meant by something he said at an NRA gathering. Nugent said, quote, "If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year." That was last weekend. He told a radio interviewer now he is looking forward to meeting with the secret service.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TED NUGENT: Yes, we actually have heard from the Secret Service and they have a duty and I salute them, I support them, and I'm looking forward to our meeting tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a fine gathering.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: We all remember the sight of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, later washing up on the beaches and the marshes. Well now, BP has reached a class action settlement with thousands of businesses and individuals who filed claims after that disaster. Price tag for the settlement, almost $8 billion. BP says that the number could go even higher.

New Jersey school district will pay $4.2 million to a student who was paralyzed after being attacked by a bully. This incident, it happened back in 2006 when Sawyer Rosenstein was just 12 years old. He was punched in the stomach by another student. Well, that triggered a blood clot which caused paralysis. Rosenstein told school officials he was repeatedly bullied months before the attack.

George Zimmerman is going to fight for bail at a bond hearing tomorrow. His arrest for the shooting of Trayvon Marton was delayed after he claimed self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Well today, Florida governor Rick Scott said a task force is going to examine the state gun laws, but he also stressed Florida's recent track record is pretty good.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: We live in a state where the crime rate is at a 40-year low. I want to keep it that way. We all want to keep it that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Oh, we begin with an announcement, the big announcement from the White House. Brianna Keilar, she's got some details about the presidential medal of freedom. This is the highest honor awarded to any civilian. Brianna, what do we know?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Suzanne, as we understand, and this is some exclusive information that we have, the first person to receive this year's presidential medal of freedom is going to be Pat Summitt. The coach -- former coach -- former head coach, I should say, of the Lady Vols of the University of Tennessee.

As you know, she'll be taking to the camera shortly. She announced yesterday that she will be stepping aside now that she is battling early onset Alzheimer's. So, she's receiving this award. It's very prestigious. It's something that goes to civilians. They may be former presidents or athletes or people like musicians who contribute culturally as well. And it is the highest civilian honor that is awarded.

So, she will be the first in a series of people to receive this award. But President Obama in a statement saying, coach Summitt is an inspiration both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach and to as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's. Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights and over the last 38 years her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched. So, she announced this yesterday, Suzanne, as you know, that she would be stepping aside. She was notified, actually, last week by the White House that she would be receiving this honor.

MALVEAUX: She is an amazing woman. Congratulations to her. Good for her, and we know that she's actually -- that she's going to have a news conference at the bottom of the hour and we're going to go live. We're going to take that live and see what she's got to say about it. Thanks, Brianna.

Now, to the widening scandal involving the secret service. We're hearing right now that more agents may resign or be fired. This is a fallout from something that happened here in this hotel in Colombia just a few days ago. I want to bring in Dana Bash. Dana, you spoke to Congressman Elijah Cummings. He has actually been in contact, right? With the head of the secret service? What have you learned?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Forgive me, I'm sorry to be distracted. The speaker of the House literally just walked by me and I was trying to get him to stop and answer a question, Suzanne. Sorry for being distracted. But to answer your question, we understand that we should expect more resignations or, as you said, firings as soon as today from the secret service.

In fact, the Homeland Security chairman, Peter King, just moments ago here told me that that's what he was told, today or tomorrow to look for more. And that is also part of a conversation that I had with Elijah Cummings. He's a Democrat from Maryland, but he is also the top Democrat on the government and oversight committee. He had a conversation with the secret service director.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: I said, is it possible that these men might resign? He said, he had absolutely no doubt that they -- that they would. In other words, that at some point, they probably would. If -- you know, the facts were found to be true. Why? Because of the culture. In other words, they have this pride. They don't want any bad apples, and so it probably would be so uncomfortable for them that they probably would leave. So, yesterday's actions with regard to folks leaving and being fired did not surprise me one bit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And at the end there he was, of course, referring to the fact that late yesterday, there were three people in the secret service who were involved in this forced out, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Does he feel that this scandal is in any way impacting the security of the president?

BASH: Oh, you know, he and others have said this that as far as they know right now, there doesn't seem to have been a security breach within the -- you know, so the parameters of this particular incident. However, what he does say that he is concerned about is security in the future. Specifically what he said is -- and you know this, you have traveled with the president, so have I. The whole kind of dynamic with the secret service is that they exist and fear people out there who might want to do the president harm, that the secret service is a very elite organization, and what he's told me is that he is concerned that people out there might think that they could put a puncture the armor what he considers basically like the Navy SEALS.

The other thing he mentioned to me, this, of course, is a top African-American lawmaker here, is that he has already heard so often from people back home that they're concerned about the president's safety in general. Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CUMMINGS: They worry about it, and the people have said to me, look, Cummings, if they would try to kill Reagan, I know they'll try to do some harm to this president. I hear that all the time.

BASH: So just to be blunt, you get asked that because they're worried because he's African-American, he's going to --

CUMMINGS: I'm just telling you, that's what they ask me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, Suzanne, Congressman Cummings, along with his Republican counterpart, his committee sent a bipartisan letter to the secret service asking a number of questions. Again, I told you I just moments ago spoke to the Homeland Security chairman, Peter King. He just told me that he has four investigators on this issue doing their own independent work. He said if it comes to it, he might send them down to Colombia to do their own independent investigating.

MALVEAUX: And Dana, do we think that any of these investigations and the folks that they're talking to there is going to lead to a possible resignation of Sullivan himself, the head of the secret service?

BASH: I just have to read you -- I know we're trying to get you the sound bite to play for our viewers, but I just have to read you what the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, just told reporters and this is -- you have to hear it to believe it to answer that question. He said there were committees of jurisdiction that would hold hearings on this. But understand this, there is not a committee hearing that is going to take the place or stop people from being stupid. He said, there is not a bill we can pass to cause people to have common sense. I mean, think about it. People are there to protect the president. They go to Colombia and have a fight with a prostitute over how much they should be paid? That's either totally stupid or a total lack of common sense. He does have a point.

MALVEAUX: All right. Dana Bash, thank you very much. Obviously, we're going to be following that story very closely.

I want, also, to give the rundown on some of the stories we're covering over the next hour.

First, President Obama tells a crowd he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Mitt Romney, he's taking it personally. We're going to hear his response.

And the company building the controversial Keystone oil pipeline -- the Keystone Pipeline says a new route will avoid environmentally sensitive areas, but it's not making everybody happy.

Then whether or not you're a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, you are working a lot. We sent a camera behind the scenes to see what my producers are dealing with when they leave this show and go home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MALVEAUX: CNN in depth, the ongoing political debate over working moms versus stay-at-home moms, something everybody can weigh in on, right? We decided to focus on the moms who work right here with me on my team. We've got three amazing women here, so they make this thing look easy, right, but they are juggling motherhood and demanding careers as well. Executive producer, Tenisha Bell; senior producer, Katy Baritone; and producer writer, Brenda Bush. Here is a day in their life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TENISHA BELL, CNN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Good morning. Way too early. Come on in. My name is Tenisha Bell, and I'm an executive producer for CNN with the Suzanne Malveaux team which means we get up pretty early.

Hello. Hi, boo.

I am a working mom. I have a 15-month-old, Aidan Bell, who keeps me busy.

I usually start e-mailing pretty early. It's already like 5:40 and I've already sent my team two e-mails. Sweet baby. Right about now is when I feel the guilt that most moms feel, which is dropping their baby off all day with someone else. Oh, bye-bye.

The first three months of dropping Aidan off down here, I probably cried coming down the street every day.

It's a lot to juggle but I wouldn't trade it. I love it. I enjoy it. I have a great team at work.

KATY BARITONE ZWERK, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: I'm Katy Baritone, I am a producer -- a senior producer for Suzanne Malveaux and I'm also a mom.

It's about 3:00 right now, and -- in the afternoon. I have been up since 3:45 this morning. Got to get up early and get ready to go to work so I don't see Carter, my son, until now. I haven't seen him since last night. So, this is the best part of my day.

Can mama have a hug? Oh, thank you. Kissy? Oh. My booboo. Are you ready to go home and play?

CARTER: Yes.

BARITONE ZWERK: OK, throw it to mama. Oh, I got it.

In the midst of all this, I still need to be checking in with work. Since I last checked, I have gotten 50 e-mails, so we're preparing for the day tomorrow which is --

CARTER: It's all gone.

BARITONE ZWERK: It's all gone. Kind of our day in a life of trying to work and keep this guy happy and fed. BRENDA BUSH, CNN WRITER PRODUCER: I'm Brenda Bush. I have five children. I'm a writer producer at CNN.

You would think that by child number five you'd be ready to leave the house, but I remember going to work and feeling so guilty because I was still nursing her and I just didn't want to leave her. And by the time that my work day ended, I was running across the bridge to the parking lot in tears and I was still nursing her so I was crying, I was just a mess, and I thought, I can't do this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I couldn't ask for a better mother. I really couldn't.

BUSH: Oh, thank you. Well, I work because I have to work. If I don't work, they don't eat, and they got -- they eat a lot.

BELL: I enjoy what I do. I enjoy being a mom. I enjoy being a wife, so it's just a matter of the balance.

BARATONE ZWERK I love these moments. I cherish these moments the best, right, booboo?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BUSH: I have five favorites.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: I love these women. They are so amazing. They make this thing look easy. I just do this job. I go home. And they have families to take care of. Thank you, all three of you, Brenda, Katy, Tenisha.

What do you think? What's the toughest, the most satisfying thing about being a mom? Watch me here on CNN for more on this story. Tweet me so we can get your thoughts @suzannemalveaux and like me on facebook.com/suzannecnn. I'm going to read your responses later in the hour.

It could be the future of warfare. We're going to tell you about the drone attacks that are taking place in Yemen.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We have a surprise development today in one of the country's most high profile missing persons cases. I want to go to New York with Susan Candiotti, who's got the details.

And, Susan, I guess we are talking about the original milk carton missing child. Is that right?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Can you believe it? Yes. And that was back in the '80s. This little boy disappeared in 1979, Etan Patz. He was only six years old. And at the time, Suzanne, he was walking from his apartment, which is down in this direction, going about another block in this direction trying to make his way to a bus stop. And he had asked his parents whether he could walk to the bus stop for the very first time on his way to school. And they let him do it. That's when he disappeared.

So the case, after an extensive investigation, really went cold with leads for the longest time. Now police say they won't identify exactly what led them here, but they're saying they're re-examining evidence. They've been doing that lately with a new district attorney. But the FBI is leading this scene.

So what they're doing right now in that red brick building that you see across the street, they're digging up the basement. There's a cement floor. They've got jackhammers down there. Because, police say, they think that the little boy might have been killed there or his body might have been disposed of there.

Here is what the spokesperson is saying about this for the New York Police Department.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL BROWNE, NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT: And they'll be excavating a portion of the basement itself, taking up the -- breaking up the concrete that covers the floor and digging up the dirt underneath that looking for those human remains, personal effects.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, authorities say that they plan to be out here for five days and work around the clock to see whether they can find any evidence that this little boy was there. The space is very small. I'm told it is 13 x 62 feet. The parents of this little boy were notified in advance that authorities were going to be out here. So led by the FBI, you've got a team of about 40 people out here, including the New York Police Department, trying to see if they can bring closure to this case.

Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Oh, after all those years. Thank you, Susan.

The back and forth over money, wealth, hot political topic in the presidential race. Latest round set off by President Obama's comment that he wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Campaign says the president wasn't aiming at Mitt Romney but was talking about opportunities for everybody. Today, Romney is firing back. Joining us to talk about that and more, Bryan Monroe, editor of cnnpolitics.com.

Great to see you, Bryan.

BRYAN MONROE, EDITOR, CNNPOLITICS.COM: Hey, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: So let's take a listen to how Romney actually fired back first.

MONROE: Great.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The president is really taking aim at anybody he can find these days. In fact, in my case, I'm certainly not going to apologize for my dad and his success in life. He was born poor. He worked his way to become very successful, despite the fact that he didn't have a college degree. And one of the things he wanted to do was provide for me and for my brother and sisters. I'm not going to apologize for my dad's success.

But I know the president likes to attack fellow Americans. He's always looking for a scapegoat, particularly those that have been successful, like my dad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, Bryan, one of the things during the 2008 campaign was that President Obama, he was new to folks and he was talking about his story, and he had very humble beginnings. He talked about being raised by his grandparents, abandoned by his dad, at one point being on welfare. Is this really important to people this go-around, that these two men battle it out over who's the one who, I guess, came up from these humble beginnings?

MONROE: Well, one of the narratives that Mitt Romney is fighting right now is the connectability. He had very, you know, he had a very wealthy background. He's made some mistakes with the $10,000 bet at the debate, the six-car garage with the elevator. And the Obama campaign is really playing those up as a way of saying, hey, if you want someone that you can relate to, that you can connect to, go with the president.

But the president, he's doing OK himself. He's made millions off of his book. And he's been doing OK himself. But they're using this as a political fulcrum.

MALVEAUX: And I wonder if people see him as the same guy too, because he has been in office now and they do have the perks that come along with the presidency and the private schools and all that type of thing, if people think he's still as relatable.

MONROE: He's got his own helicopter. You know, the president is not really remaking himself as much as he is trying to reinforce his successes, while trying to divert attention away from his failures. And so as much as candidate Romney can bring up the president's issues around health care, the president's issues around the military, that that helps to reinforce Mitt Romney as the candidate who has the leadership skills. And that's what they're fighting over.

MALVEAUX: Let's talk a little bit about Ted Nugent, who's in the news. He might be in a little bit of hot water over comments that he said regarding the president and now the Secret Service want to talk to him. Let's listen about what he has said initially.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED NUGENT, MUSICIAN: If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So it's all about his intention, right, whether or not this is really supposed to be some sort of veiled threat or insinuate that other people should go out and do something to harm the president. How significant is it to listen to the words of a surrogate, somebody who's out there who's representing you in some way?

MONROE: Well, you know, I think we know that he's getting a visit today from the Secret Service. And I don't know what's coming out of that conversation. The Secret Service won't tell us. But the rule of surrogates in this campaign has really been heightened.

You saw what Hilary Rosen said with Ann Romney, and that was taken and made into a big issue. Bill Maher has been called on the carpet, who's a supporter of President Obama. So here you have Ted Nugent, who is a big supporter of Mitt Romney, although the Romney campaign has come out and distanced themselves from his statement. He has -- Nugent has been known to be sort of the political I don't want to say bomb thrower, if you will. He's very bombastic and very heated and is not backing away from his statements at all.

But, you know, do surrogates matter? Should the candidate be held accountable for what their representative says?

MALVEAUX: Right.

MONROE: I think the electorate is going to tell them that pretty quickly.

MALVEAUX: Let's take a look at some images, buses. This was really fascinating. This was at the Rosa Parks bus, a museum, if you will, an exhibit. And there's President Obama sitting there where she sat, making history, really. Does this remind voters of where he's come from or where the African-American community has come from and help him in making that point?

MONROE: Well, the symbolism is definitely not lost. You know, the president has had to walk this fine line about being an African- American and an African-American president, but not using that overwhelmingly to -- as a campaign issue. And I think, at the end of the day, he has to be who he is, and that's certainly an iconic image from the Rosa Parks bus.

And there's another shot of another bus at the Romney campaign --

MALVEAUX: Yes, let's see that bus. It's kind of -- OK. So what's important is where the bus is parked, yes?

MONROE: Oh, yes. The Romney bus is sitting outside of a campaign stop that the Obama team has made. And the Romney campaign is now doing this great tactic -- our Jim Acosta wrote about it today on cnn.com -- where they're bracketing the Obama campaign. They will flood the airways in Ohio, for instance, with ads right before the president shows up to give a speech or an event. And then as soon as he leaves town, the candidate Romney will come in and do another event. And so, in this case, you had the Romney bus right across the street from where the president was. They're playing hardball now.

MALVEAUX: It is hardball.

MONROE: Yes.

MALVEAUX: But you can't blame him though really, you know. I mean it's a nasty fight.

MONROE: This is the battle to be the next president of the United States.

MALVEAUX: It is for the presidency. Absolutely.

Bryan, good to see you, as always.

MONROE: Thanks for having me.

MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories that we are working on next.

The CIA says it wants to expand its drone program to hunt down and attack suspected terrorists in Yemen.

Then, a star college basketball coach says she is stepping down from her post because of Alzheimer's and she's getting the nation's highest civilian honor.

And later, a look back at Dick Clark's amazing impact on the music business.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Drone strikes have been conducted in Yemen by U.S. military and intelligence agencies this year. And now "The Washington Post" reports that the CIA wants to actually expand the campaign. Barbara Starr, she's joining us from the Pentagon to talk a little bit about what this means.

Barbara, why is this happening?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Suzanne, the government's not really talking about it and the CIA especially isn't talking about it. But the fact is, there have been a number of drone strikes by the CIA and by the Pentagon in Yemen this year.

Why is this? It's because they're developing better intelligence about where al Qaeda operatives are in Yemen and how they are operating in that country.

Why do we care about this? Why is it important? Well, al Qaeda in Yemen, of course, has been -- claimed responsibility for inspiring a number of attacks, and some of them have reached out and touched here in the United States. You remember the Christmas day underwear bomber a couple years ago? That's just one of them. So this has been a key target for the U.S.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was on the Hill earlier today talking about it, but he made clear the U.S. military, the CIA, will go after targets in Yemen when they are very precise, when they know who, what, when, and where they are targeting. They want to avoid killing civilians. They've had that happen in Yemen. And so they say they're still going to go for a lot of precision. But this is tough territory to operate in, very remote, very uncertain. So we'll keep an eye on it and see how it goes. But look for more CIA drones, military drones, and even manned fighter jets from the Pentagon.

MALVEAUX: And, Barbara, do we have any idea about specific targets in mind?

STARR: That's a really interesting question, Suzanne. Since the killing last year of Anwar al Awlaki, who was the key operative, if not leader of al Qaeda in Yemen, the guy they were really going after, they got him in September. Since then, they have really stepped up the intelligence gathering working with the Yemeni government, and have, in fact, developed essentially a target list, operatives that they believe are now in crucial positions in al Qaeda in Yemen. And that, by all accounts, is what they're going after -- operatives, trainers, financiers, people who are organizing this effort.

They want to stay out of the civil war that also rages in Yemen. They want to stay very focused on going after this list of al Qaeda in that very crucial country.

MALVEAUX: All right, Barbara Starr. Thank you, Barbara.

To players and fans, she is a symbol of success and dignity. Now, after almost four decades, a woman's basketball coach is stepping down, but not without a new trophy -- the Medal of Honor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Pat Summitt is resigning as head coach of the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team eight months after revealing her diagnosis with early onset Alzheimer's. She is also about to be awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama. We are watching a live event. She's going to be speaking soon, holding a press conference. When she speaks, we will bring that to you as soon as she starts.

I want to bring in Elizabeth Cohen first.

Elizabeth, she is only 60 years old. That seems relatively young for this kind of prognosis. Is that common?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: But she's actually 59, she's almost 60. And about 5 percent of Alzheimer's cases are what's called early onset, which means before the age of 65. 59 is young but some people get Alzheimer's younger, even in their 30s or 40s. MALVEAUX: How quickly does this progress?

COHEN: It progresses differently for everybody. If it's caught early, it's possible people with Alzheimer's, early or regular onset, can work for a period of time. I mean, when we think of Alzheimer's, we often think of someone who is really incapacitated. And that doesn't necessarily have to be the case.

MALVEAUX: Are there any -- I understand she's speaking now. Let's go to her live.

PAT SUMMITT, COACH, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE: -- the good lord has a plan for my life. It wasn't -- wasn't it interesting as I stepped aside as head coach, my son, Tyler, stepped into a game as an assistant with Marquette women's basketball. I can tell you I am so proud of Tyler.

(APPLAUSE)

SUMMITT: You know, 38 years ago this month -- I want you to listen to this. I received a letter from Dr. Helen B. Watson of the University of Tennessee asking me if I would be willing to coach the women's basketball team. Now, listen to this. All Dr. Watson offered me was $250 a month.

(LAUGHTER)

I mean, I was bouncing checks all over the place.

(LAUGHTER)

And the opportunity to teach and get my master's degree. She said that the team had excellent potential.

(LAUGHTER)

And that they would be happy to have me as their coach. I can say I have been happy to be your coach.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Henrietta, Tennessee -- I doubt if anybody has been there other than Tyler and myself -- it was really a great ride for me. I learned from my parents about the work that we have to do and the work you must love to do. I can tell you I have loved my work at the University of Tennessee. It's been awesome. And I can say for almost four decades it has been a privilege to make an impact on the lives of 161 women who have worn the orange. I am so proud of them, the lady Vol student athletes, and an honor to see them graduate and become successful young women. Together with these young women, a great staff, and a supportive administration, we will have taken the magnificent journey. We have grown the game of women's basketball each and every day. Along the way, supported by the best fans in the country, no doubt. I think we can all agree on that.

We have managed to win some ball games and hang championship banners in the arena. I made a choice early in my career to challenge myself to step up my game each and every day. You can be sure that I will take this same attitude in my new role as head coach emeritus and continue to teach our players the same --

MALVEAUX: Pat Summitt. When you see her, you just have to admire her. What she's done, her history, and really the kind of courage she has looking forward. Very honest about what she is facing in the future. She seemed to be -- when you look at her and when you watch her, she seems almost perfectly fine.

COHEN: What a class act. I mean, really, that's all I can think of. To get this diagnosis and go on television like this and to talk about this new position, you really do have to admire her.

And, yes, she does seem fine. I think what's happened here is they caught this very early, which is terrific, which is really good to know because then she can start taking medication early. We talked about medication. We started to talk about it a little bit before. The medication doesn't cure Alzheimer's. It may slow the progression of the some of the symptoms. The drugs work better for some people than others, but early detection is very important so you can make a treatment plan with your doctor.

I think this speaks to something we were talking about before. People think of an elderly person in a wheelchair talking about World War II or whatever. This is not always how this disease looks. I have spoken to plenty of people with Alzheimer's who looked like her, who were starting to have some memory lapses, maybe some language problems. That does happen.

MALVEAUX: Does it help that she's young? Does that help her in any way when you look to her future, that she might be able to remember more for a longer period of time?

COHEN: It's an interesting question. Doctors we talked to say it's better if you are healthier when you're diagnosed. It makes you better able to face this disease and fight it. But there isn't any data that shows people who have early onset have an easier time with the disease. I mean, the disease still progresses the way the disease is going to progress. But if you're sort of more able-bodied and have a support system, that can help you fight the disease.

MALVEAUX: Pat Summitt is just an amazing woman. Now she's going to get the Medal of Freedom. And really is an extraordinary accomplishment.

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: She's an extraordinary woman.

MALVEAUX: Thanks, Elizabeth. Appreciate it.

He was one of the most influential voices in rock and roll, even though he never even sang a note. Next, remembering the life and legacy of Dick Clark.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Today Hollywood is remembering the life and legacy of broadcasting icon Dick Clark. Clark died yesterday after suffering a massive heart attack.

And "Showbiz Tonight" host, A.J. Hammer, is joining us from New York to talk about the love, the outpouring, what celebrities are saying about his impact on their lives.

A.J. HAMMER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's huge, Suzanne, and everybody we're hearing from is reflecting on what a giant Dick Clark was. We have gotten reaction to his passing from Madonna, Barry Manilow. Michael Bloomberg and President Obama even put out public statements about Dick Clark. His influence transcended television and radio, but his impact on the TV, we all see today, that can't be overstated.

I want you to watch with me how Ryan Seacrest paid tribute to Dick Clark at the beginning of "American Idol" just last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN SEACREST, HOST, AMERICAN IDOL: We can't begin tonight's show without acknowledging the passing of a television pioneer and my dear friend, Dick Clark.

(APPLAUSE)

SEACREST: Without Dick, a show like this would not exist. He will be missed greatly. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: My heart was actually with Ryan last night, knowing that he had to get on stage and perform just hours after learning that his dear friend had passed away. But that's the only way that Dick Clark would have wanted it. Of course, Ryan has long been considered Dick Clark's successor, and rightfully so in terms of his hosting and producing roles.

But what really makes Dick Clark irreplaceable is his role as a pioneer who truly gave people like Ryan and me someone to look up to for our career paths and someone who, quite frankly, I believe unintentionally brought about this major cultural shift in our country, all stemming, Suzanne, from his love of pop music and his passion for making great radio and TV. The way it happened because of Dick Clark, Suzanne, is something that only happens once in my mind.

MALVEAUX: A.J., thank you so much. Great to see you.

You have been tweeting and Facebooking about your favorite Dick Clark memories. Here's what some of you have to say.

Kelly Snider writes on Facebook, "I love watching him on New Year's Eve. I grew up watching it for 28 years. New Year's Eve will not be the same without Dick Clark."

Margie Kronwitter says "'American Bandstand' after school in the '60s." And @Kimweekes says, "'New Year's Rocking Eve.' Dropping the ball without Dick Clark will be different. You are missed already."

HoundMason says, "I can remember watching 'American Bandstand' every Saturday just to see the dancers. Dick Clark will always be a great part of growing up."

He certainly was. Keep the conversation going. Send me your favorite memories of Dick Clark. Tweet me @suzannemalveaux. Like me on Facebook.com/suzanneCNN.

If you want everything breaking in the entertainment world, don't forget to watch "Showbiz Tonight" at 11:00 p.m. eastern on HLN.

They were used for science. Now they live in limbo. We're going to take you to Chimpanzee Island.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: I want to follow breaking news story about a plane that landed in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

Chad is joining us with more details about the landing.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we were speculating. We said it is possible that the pilot could still be OK if the plane didn't nose into the water, if it was a soft landing. And in fact, now from the Coast Guard, from the plane that was flying over the plane that went down, the plane did go into the water softly. It did not break up. The nose is in the water. The tail is out of the water. A helicopter is on the way and should be arriving shortly.

MALVEAUX: That is good news. The last we knew about the pilot was that he was unconscious in the plane.

MYERS: Right.

MALVEAUX: That's what we still know is just unconscious.

MYERS: To be honest, if the pilot was at 32,000 feet for a very long time, he may have expired anyway. There may be -- there is so little oxygen up there. If it was slightly pressurized and just lost some pressure and then came down and landed in the water, that pilot may be in the water and waiting for rescue right now.

MALVEAUX: All right.

Chad, thanks for the update.

MYERS: You're right, it's great news.

MALVEAUX: Keep our fingers crossed on this one.

Chimps will be charming folks going to the movies this weekend. Disney is debuting the nature film about a baby chimp in a rain forest in the West African nation of Ivory Coast. Brenda Bush, our writer, producer and a mom, recently visited some chimpanzees in neighboring Liberia and is taking us to a remote sanctuary where the former lab animals now face an uncertain future.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENDA BUSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So it is not "Planet of the Apes, but it is a real life island of the apes. The research chimpanzees were released after years of experimentation. They were brought to this island on Liberia's Farmington River to live out the rest of their lives far from prodding needles and other painful laboratory tests. This is their sanctuary.

(on camera): We have counted about a dozen chimpanzees here. They seemed agitated when we first arrived but now have calmed down considerably and they're watching us as we watch them.

(voice-over): Not many Liberians know about the chimps. We had to travel an hour up river in a rudimentary canoe to get here. I am told there are 60 chimps roaming free on carefully selected islands, and humans better watch out.

It was my daughter who insisted I come here.

ARCHEL BERNARD, DAUGHTER OF BRENDA: I have to be honest. I have the same fear I had when I first came to this very island.

BUSH: This may help explain why the chimps don't like people. They lived in these cages while researchers conducted pioneering studies of hepatitis over two decades. Liberian authorities say the research led to a solvent detergent used to cleanse blood of viruses.

Ironically, it was the bloodshed in Liberia that freed the chimps. Years of civil war forced the New York Blood Center to shut down the facility. And now the future of the animals may be in jeopardy. Liberia is demanding compensation from the New York Blood Center for research carried out here during the 1980s. Some of that money would be used to continue feeding the chimps for the rest of their lives. Food is the one thing they rely on humans for even those unwanted visitors.

BERNARD: We learn if you don't throw food at the chimpanzees, they will throw rocks at you. So we brought plenty of bananas for them.

BUSH: They can count on food from the few visitors that venture out here but, with the Liberian government and the New York Blood Center in arbitration, the long-term care of the chimps is in question.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Brenda Bush joins us now.

Brenda, you are just an amazing member of the team. This is like a vacation. I love this. Were you scared at all?

BUSH: Scared to death. And the fear started right from the -- before we even left the shore.

MALVEAUX: Really?

BUSH: Yes. That canoe is hand carved. I am not an adventurer.

MALVEAUX: This seems like a really humane way of retiring the chimps. Do we know if this is a long-term thing, that they are going to be protected?

BUSH: That's the question. Right now the New York Blood Center is in charge of feeding these chimpanzees. However, the New York Blood Center is being sued. They have told the Liberian government that they can't even afford to keep feeding the chimps. My sources in Liberia say they indicated they don't have the money. The Liberian government is poor. They can't afford to feed the chimps either. It is really not known yet what will happen, how these chimps will be cared for for the rest of their lives. And they contributed so much to humans.

(CROSSTALK)

MALVEAUX: You and I talk about how these are different than the chimps you expect from the ones in the movie or the zoo. How so?

BUSH: Exactly. That was why I was scared, not only getting there in the carved out canoe but also these chimps are big.

(LAUGHTER)

You are used to seeing the chimpanzees that are cute and you want to cuddle them, and that was not the case on these Farmington River chimps.

Also, you're so close to them. You're like 10 feet, you know, at the most and you're in this little canoe. And the chimps are going wild and they're making all of this noise.

(LAUGHTER)

And your mind is telling you chimpanzees don't like water. They typically don't swim, so they're safe on this island, but your heart is pounding out of your chest and you're like, oh, my goodness.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: Thank you so much for bringing us a slice of life and going back to your home country. Really, excellent stories.

BUSH: Thank you. Thank you.

MALVEAUX: Thank you. I appreciate it.

You might not know this about Brenda. She is not only a great journalist, she is a working mom -- five kids. We saw the little piece there. We want to hear from you what you think about the balancing act of being a parent and a provider, up next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Ongoing political debate over working moms versus stay-at-home moms, something everybody can weigh in. A conversation that generates a lot of passion. Either way, being a mom is a lot of hard work. Today, we decided to focus on the moms that work with me on my team. We sent the cameras to the home of my producers and writers, and these are courageous and wonderful women. They allowed us to take a look at how they juggle motherhood as well as careers.

We're focusing on you as well, the viewers. We ask you to tell us what is the toughest and the most satisfying thing about being a mom.

So here is what you told us.

Janet tweeted, "I loved your piece on CNN working mothers. I was excited to go back to work after eight weeks and then cried all the way to the office."

Kia tweeted, "Teaching my little humans life lessons that took me 38 years to learn."

Premellea tweets, "Most satisfying is when my five-year-old says don't worry, Mommy, I am here for you and I won't let you down. Where did he learn this? Wow."

(LAUGHTER)

Tweet me and we can get your thoughts @suzannemalveaux. Like me on Facebook.com/suzanneCNN

CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Brooke Baldwin.

Hey, Brooke.