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Broadcasting Legend Larry King Dies At Age 87; States Struggling To Vaccinate As Supplies Run Low; Russian Authorities Arrest Opposition Supporters Of Navalny; Broadcasting Legend, Larry King, Dies at 87; Tammy Haddad, Former "Larry King Live" Executive Producer, Discusses Larry King's Life, Legacy And Impact; Former Senator Gordon Humphrey (R-NH) Discusses Impeachment Of Trump, Republican Behind-The-Scenes Lobbying To Convict; COVID-19 Kills 3,655 Americans On Friday, More Than 186,000 New Cases. Aired 1-2p ET
Aired January 23, 2021 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:01:05]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for being with me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. A dire situation in the U.S. as coronavirus is breaking new records. But first tragic news on the loss of a legendary broadcaster and iconic CNN alum. We're learning today that Larry King has died. He passed away at Cedars- Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Though King had been hospitalized with COVID-19 just a few weeks ago. He spent six decades on radio, television and digital media. And we will take a look back at his illustrious career and life in a moment. But right now, we turn to the pandemic and the struggle the country is having getting it under control. Another 3600 deaths on Friday alone. This as the vaccine rollout continues to be a challenge.
The CDC reported a single day vaccination record on Friday, nearly 1.6 million doses administered but states are facing critically low shortages, as millions of Americans try to get vaccinated long lines are forming vaccine sites across the country like this one at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
President Biden's coronavirus advisors are optimistic that additional vaccines will be made available. CNN's Pola Sandoval joining me now from New York with more than this. What are you learning Polo?
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, good afternoon to you. You know, we haven't seen a massive flurry of activity here at New York City's Javits Center, which happens to be one of the largest -- the largest vaccine distribution center in New York state that could possibly have something to do with what we heard from New York's governor earlier today saying that their allotment for weeks one through five have already been administered. However, they are still waiting for the trickling in of week six about just shy of 300,000 doses that are expected in the coming days. Those cannot come soon enough for many people here in New York and also other parts of the country up at the same time. They will come too late for those who have already died of the coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Ashley Bennett never got to hold her 10th child in her arms. The South Carolina mother died due to COVID-19 after her entire family tested positive for the virus. And one week after delivering her baby by emergency C-section.
COURTNEY BUCKNAM, SISTER DIED DUE TO COVID-19: If we can learn anything from this, you know, the COVID is so serious and we need to, you know, truly take precautions because she was only 36. She had no underlying conditions and she was gone basically within 10 days.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Bennett's case added to a national death rate that remains alarmingly high. California reported its deadliest day on Friday. There is however a glimpse of hope with new data showing a downward trend in hospitalizations nationwide. The seven-day average for new cases has also reached its lowest point since early December. And the average for the National test positivity rate fell below 10 percent. The second consecutive day in weeks. One of President Biden's coronavirus advisors worries, any respite may be temporary.
DR. CELINE GOUNDER, FORMER MEMBER, BIDEN-HARRIS TRANSITION COVID ADVISORY BOARD: You're going to see people traveling again probably for spring break and March and April. And that is exactly when we expect that these variants in particular the U.K. variant to really have taken hold in the U.S.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): So more concerned that new variants could cause new surges faster than vaccines are being distributed. Lines are long, even for those lucky enough to register to get a shot.
ELIZABETH "JOE" DURHAM, WAITED HOURS IN LINE TO GET VACCINATED: I was very disheartened when I did get to the door and they took us in to get our shots. With that many people sitting out -- standing outside they had five people administering the shots.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Houston health officials report 1600 appointment slots to get first vaccine doses booked in about five minutes. Extremely limited vaccine supplies are all have been reported elsewhere across the country.
[13:05:02]
GOV. PHIL MURPHY (D-NJ): So, we've got 275 distribution points already in the state up and running, six mega sites. Our problem right now is dose supply. If the famous sites were set up with supply that would make a huge difference.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer expanding COVID-19 vaccinations to seven more states, Chicago and Puerto Rico, possibly helping accelerate distribution. The man nominated to serve as the nation's next surgeon general hopes authorization of other vaccine candidates can provide a desperately needed boost to production.
DR. VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE: the supply will increase over the coming months as they bring more and more production online for the Pfizer and for the Moderna vaccine. It is possible that another vaccine may come into the mix of that Johnson vaccine or AstraZeneca vaccine come through with strong data and they are authorized by the FDA then we could see more vaccine from them on the market.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL (on camera): And Fred, there is an additional key figure to watch in the coming days and perhaps months and that is the total number of cases that have been linked to that U.K. variant of the coronavirus. The CDC reporting about 200 of those already confirmed at the top of the list right now California, Florida and here in New York.
WHITFIELD: All right. Polo Sandoval in New York. Thanks so much. So, officials in Georgia are now outlining residency requirements for vaccinations to prevent people coming from out of state to get a vaccine. This as the grocery and pharmacy chain Publix expands its COVID-19 vaccination efforts in nearly 400 locations in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. CNNs Natasha Chen Joining me now from Atlanta.
So, Natasha, how significant is this? Is it about organization? Is it about supply demand, all of that?
NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is absolutely supply and demand as Polo was also saying just now, Fred. So, what we're seeing here at Morehouse School of Medicine is a lot of people who had made their appointments, they of course had to prove that they lived in this immediate area to get an appointment at this location. Morehouse School of Medicine tells me that they received a total of 2000 vaccine doses and they're all booked up to account for those doses.
So. you can see that there's a lot of demands. The Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told Wolf Blitzer yesterday, she's getting daily calls from people who are desperate trying to find an appointment. And what we're hearing from a lot of providers, they're telling me that they don't want to open up appointment slots, if they don't confirm the vaccine in hand.
So, the fact that they're not certain about when the next shipment comes in, that means that they don't want to open up new appointments because that could end up with, you know, people getting their appointments cancelled or people getting turned around.
That's what they want to avoid. And so, in DeKalb County just next door to us right now, they opened up new appointment slots last night for the first time in nearly two weeks. For that reason, they wanted to confirm the shipment first. That's also what Publix told us. Yesterday, they told me for those three states, you mentioned where they're offering vaccine. They're also waiting until they have it in hand to open up a new scheduling.
In fact, yesterday they opened up appointments in Florida. 48,900 appointments were taken in 2-1/2 hours.
WHITFIELD: Wow.
CHEN: So, you see that people are really desperate. And they're also in some cases struggling with working certain Web sites. So, all of this is a learning curve. And all of the providers are telling me they just wish they had more vaccine to be able to ramp up the capacity and get people inoculated, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Wow, it is tough. I mean, folks are waiting very patiently and getting very frustrated along the way. Natasha Chen thanks so much. All right. Joining me right now. Dr. Seema Yasmin, a CNN medical analyst and a former CDC disease detective. Doctor, so good to see you.
DR. SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: You too, Fred.
WHITFIELD: So, President Biden surgeon general designate Dr. Vivek Murthy says the new administration will strive to give state and local governments better and clearer guidance on how to manage the coronavirus. Do you think that's going to make a huge difference and maybe all the difference in the world?
YASMIN: I do, Fredricka. And I think that's just been lacking for the last year. In some ways states were told you have all the autonomy in the world, which can be really useful for states because they know what works at a local level. But they will also left in the lurch and left without the right support the right resources so that when things went wrong, the previous administration could just say, well, it's your governance fault.
It's, you know, it's a blame at the local level. Having this kind of national cohesive strategy that we're being told will roll out is going to make a world of difference. I think in giving states and counties, the right resources that they need to care for their citizens to make sure that testing, PPE vaccine distribution, all of that stuff happens in the right way at the right pace. And of course, we're just seeing already that as the transition has actually happened now, the inflammation we're getting, Fredricka is so worrying in terms of things actually being worse than we even realize they were.
For example, in terms of the lack of infrastructure, the lack of planning for vaccine rollout across the country and we're just seeing how disastrous that fallout really is.
WHITFIELD: And when you say resources, if there are more resources afforded to a lot of these states and localities, is it in the form of personnel, you don't have enough people, you know, available to actually administer the vaccine is an issue of the right kind of refrigeration. I mean, how will -- I guess better federal coordination help the states who have so many varying problems about why they can't get people vaccinated? YASMIN: So I would say all of the above, and one example of this is already, you know, for weeks, West Virginia was saying, why burden our already overwhelmed health care workers with having to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, let's call him the National Guard. And I think that was a good decision for the state to make. And now the Biden administration is telling us, if you're doing that, if you're bringing a National Guard, we will reimburse you for that cost.
So, I think that's just one example of the right kind of federal support given to the state and local level that can make a world of difference. Again, you know, it's not just about vaccines, we need the vaccine to be rolled out. Vaccine sitting in freezer, sitting in vials, will not end this pandemic.
It's vaccines given to people. But to do that, you need more than the vaccine, you also need the right people, you need the personnel, you need the freezers, you need the dry ice, the lift is so long. And I just see that. I'm optimistic about that being implemented now.
WHITFIELD: So yesterday, we saw the first, you know, White House press conference involving the press secretary, Jen Psaki and, you know, she was asked about this vaccine hesitation that remains, particularly in communities of color. Listen to her response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It is really the next layer of people who are concerned, as you alluded to, about the safety and about the efficacy. And unfortunately, there is a large percent, a larger than should be percentage in minority communities, communities of color. And so, we've been quite thoughtful, or we want to be quite thoughtful about how we do outreach and engagement.
Obviously, it's making it accessible. So, ensuring we have these community centers and health centers that can provide the vaccine, but also who's communicating on behalf of the government or on behalf of the -- of the safety of the vaccine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So. a couple things on that. It's, you know, the effectiveness of communication. And then it's also accessibility. I mean, do you see that this administration can put something together quickly, you know, to help fill the gap, you know, where there's that reticence?
YASMIN: I think we're seeing the right words being said and it was so reassuring for me, Fredricka or someone who studied vaccine hesitancy and looked at medical racism to hear this being addressed yesterday, kind of like so early, once the transition has happened. But the work remains to be done. And of course, I study vaccine hesitancy. I'll always bring that up. But the other issue is there are many black and brown and indigenous folks across the U.S. who are not vaccine hesitant.
Who want the vaccine saying, hey, we are disproportionately dying and becoming infected with the new coronavirus, give us the vaccine and then not receiving it? Vaccine distribution is not happening right now at least in an equitable fashion. So, even states like West Virginia keep talking about them because they're vaccinating their citizens at twice the rate -- twice the rate of the national average.
But then if you look at the numbers by race, Frederika, it's not good. Black people in West Virginia are being vaccinated at half the rate of their white peers. So, we need to make sure yes, let's address medical racism, which is historical, but also very much a modern-day problem. Let's deal with vaccine hesitancy and distrust in medicine. But then let's also make sure that vaccine distribution is equitable, and reaches those people who are on the margins of society and who are most affected by this pandemic.
WHITFIELD: Right. Push on that equitable, you know, allocation. That's really important. All right. Dr. Seema Yasmin, thank you so much.
YASMIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, straight ahead. President Joe Biden has a plan to reopen schools, but can he do it quickly, while keeping everyone safe? I'll talk one on one with a superintendent directly impacted next.
And remembering a legend. We'll have more stories of Larry King's iconic interviews throughout the day. Here's a look back at his first show on CNN, June 1985.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening. My name is Larry King. And this is the Premier Edition of Larry King Live. Every night at this time. We'll be here for one hour, we're going to meet fascinating people from all walks of life, talk to them about things they're interested in. I'll ask some questions. We'll take some calls. We hope that you enjoy this kind of alternative to primetime programming rather than murder, mayhem, sex violence.
[13:15:04]
KING: We'll bring you all of those but disguised.
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[13:19:17]
WHITFIELD: President Biden is fleshing out one of his many goals for his first 100 days reopening school systems around the country. An executive order signed Thursday directs government departments to provide guidance on safely returning to in person learning. Is the superintendent for the Shelby County School System in Memphis, Tennessee. Superintendent Ray, good to see you.
JORIS RAY, SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: Good afternoon.
WHITFIELD: So, yours is one of the school systems that this guidance would affect. What's your reaction to what you're seeing from this new administration? Is this a, you know, a promise, you know, a goal that can be delivered on?
RAY: You know, we're excited that there is going to be a national strategy. And one thing I'm proud of is that it's a goal and not a targeted fixed date.
[13:20:06]
RAY: When you have a targeted fixed date and the numbers are still spiraling out of control, as it is here, it makes it very difficult. For instance, today we have over 537 new cases, right here in Memphis. And what I'm excited about is that the President is prioritizing schools, keeping schools first. And we got to get funding to do it. I go as always wanted to be back in the classrooms when it's safe.
WHITFIELD: Yes. So -- and so, you say, you know, the goal is nice and all predicated on safety. But how do you get there? I mean, what is needed? And what kind of support from the federal government is needed for, say, your school district in order to meet that goal safely?
RAY: Well, first of all, have prioritized teacher vaccinations, if our teachers are vaccinated and if we had a statewide mass mandate, it will help out tremendously. For instance, our cases jumped more than 11,000 in one day. Tennessee was cited as one of the worst in the world for coronavirus cases. So, at the end of the day, it's about keeping our students and staff safe. I still stay in multigenerational homes.
Some don't have health care. And as superintendent and working with a great school board, we've always prioritized safety. But hey, we do want our children back in school when it's safe.
WHITFIELD: Yes. So, what are your worries about the many kids in your school district who are trying to remote, learn, you know, they can't be in school, and you talk about the multigenerational households, and perhaps all households don't have the infrastructure in place in order to have real remote learning via computer. And I mean, what are your concerns now about the many children who haven't been able to get the same kind of education in the last now year?
RAY: You know, virtual learning isn't perfect, but it's not broken. We're so happy right here in Memphis, Shelby County. We prioritize our students, we provided 95,000 digital devices and hotspots. We go on to resources to give students headsets. When surveying our families and employees about the return in person learning we had set percent of our parents opted out their students.
And they want to remain virtual and over 80 percent of our teachers chose to continue teaching virtually. So, my teachers are on a job. I invite anyone to come visit. I visit classrooms every day virtually. And our teachers are doing a magnificent job. Yes, there are challenges.
WHITFIELD: Yes. RAY: But our students are overcomers and our teachers are the best in the nation.
WHITFIELD: I love the optimism. All right, Shelby County School Superintendent Joris Ray, thank you so much and best of luck.
RAY: Thank you. I appreciate you.
WHITFIELD: And this just in at CNN. President Bill Clinton now reacting to the news that Larry King has died. Say and here's a portion of his statement, I enjoyed my 20-plus interviews with Larry King over the years, he had a great sense of humor and a genuine interest in people. He gave a direct line to the American people and worked hard to get the truth for them with questions that were direct but fair. Farewell, my friend.
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[13:23:25]
WHITFIELD: Protests rallies across Russia today in support of detained Kremlin opposition activist Alexei Navalny in defiance of authorities and freezing cold temperatures. Navalny recently returned to Russia after recovering from being poisoned by a nerve agent while traveling. An attack likely ordered by the Kremlin. CNN. Fred Pleitgen is in Moscow for us. So, Fred, Navalny has been a fierce critic of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Were these protests expected once he returned?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I think that this protest they were certainly expected to have the effect they were called for by Navalny. But they certainly weren't expected to be as big as they were. And they also weren't expected to be as widespread as they were. They really took place in the entire country here. They started hours and hours ago.
This is of course, a country with 11 time zones in the Far East of Russia. They spread through Siberia, there was one demonstration even in a place called Yakutsk at minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit. So, a lot of protests taking place. And what we also saw today we were at the big rally here in Moscow, it's a very heavy hand by the police. A lot of cops on the streets trying to cordon off areas, detaining a lot of people also using clubs as they were doing that.
In fact, we were standing next to one of those scenes, as that was going on. Especially in Moscow. The demonstration was very, very big. Navalny supporters are talking about 50,000 people having come out the Russian authorities obviously put that number a lot lower. But we did see a lot of people coming out in the streets and people telling us that they were quite frankly fed up not just with the fact that Navalny has been detained but generally the situation here in Russia they were even called for Vladimir Putin to step down as well.
[13:30:04]
PLEITGEN: Right now, the situation is still ongoing, Fredricka, on the streets. In fact, some of Navalny's supporters are trying to get to the jail where Navalny is being held. Scuffles with the police out there.
I got a number from a monitoring group a couple seconds ago. They're saying, throughout the day so far, around 3,500 people have been detained. That includes Navalny's wife, who was in detention for several hours as well -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Wow.
Fred, what do we know about, and what kind of information can we trust about how Navalny is doing while in custody?
PLEITGEN: Well, yes, that's -- and that's a very important question. He seems to be quite concerned about his health as well. Certainly, a lot of people are.
We have to keep in mind, he was poisoned by that chemical nerve agent, Novichok, five months ago. He holds the Russian government responsible for that.
It was our big investigation, together with Bellingcat, that show that FSB operatives were behind that.
He still, from his cell, was saying that he's with the people.
There was one really ominous post that we saw from him yesterday where he said if any -- essentially said that if something happens, that he doesn't want to kill himself, he doesn't want to hang himself.
Obviously, saying that if he is found and something is done to him, don't believe that he did it to himself -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Wow, OK.
Thank you so much, Fred Pleitgen, in Moscow.
We'll be right back.
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[13:35:30]
WHITFIELD: This morning, the world lost a titan in talk and an iconic broadcaster. Larry King passed away at the age of 87.
The Brooklyn native had a career in radio and TV and digital media that spans six decades. He devoted more than 25 years to his show on CNN, "LARRY KING LIVE."
In that time, he conducted tens of thousands of interviews with some of the world's most important leaders, newsmakers and celebrities, all with his signature style.
His legacy and impact on our industry will never be forgotten.
Here's Anderson Cooper with a look back at Larry King's tremendous contributions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: More than 50,000 interviews, an infinite amount of what, where, when and --
LARRY KING, FORMER CNN HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
The secret of my ability was stupid. In other words, I didn't know. And I readily confessed I didn't know. And I would say help me to the guest. Help me. Why, why, why did you do that? Why do you have one name?
MADONNA, SINGER: As opposed to what?
KING: Two names like other -- you know, Madonna -
(CROSSTALK)
KING: -- Leibowitz.
MADONNA: That's good. I like that.
COOPER (on camera): I was talking to people on your show about what it is that makes it work so well and they said you make guests comfortable to the point that they can say anything.
KING: You know the secret. I want the guest to be good. I want it to be responsive. I want them to react. And I'm going to be there tomorrow night.
A lot of good memories. And look at me now.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: I look back on my life, and I sometimes think I'm looking at someone else. I look at the things that have happened to me. The good and the bad. And I can't believe it sometimes.
I mean, I can. Believe it. I look at my teenage boys. Who? Is that me? Come on. Somebody's kidding me. Somebody's kidding. It's all a whirl. It's a -- I'm still doing it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks to Anderson for that look back of Larry King's incredible life on television and beyond.
I want to bring in now CNN chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter.
Brian, good to see you.
Larry meant so much to so many of us here at CNN but also to a lot of people around the world.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Larry helped put CNN on the map. And reached viewers all around the world via CNN's international reach.
Ted Turner recruited Larry in 1985. He had a 9:00 p.m. time slot. He wanted to make a change.
Larry was a radio star, taking calls from listeners for hours every day. And then Ted Turner thought that bringing Larry to television would work.
Here's what Ted said in a brand-new statement, just into CNN.
He said, "Waking up to the news of the passing of Larry King felt like a punch to the gut. Larry was one of my closest and dearest friends and, in my opinion, the world's greatest broadcast journalist of all time."
"If anyone asked me, what are my greatest achievements in life, one is the creation of CNN and the other is hiring Larry King."
Ted Turner going on to say, "Like so many who worked with and knew Larry, he was a consummate professional, an amazing mentor to many, and a good friend for all. The world has lost a true legend."
That statement just in from Ted Turner.
You know, on Larry King's very first day in 1987, his first guest was Mario Cuomo, then the governor of New York.
And we've heard from Andrew Cuomo, Mario's son, now the current governor of New York.
Andrew Cuomo saying today, "Larry King was a Brooklyn boy who became the newsman who interviewed the newsmakers. He conducted over 50,000 interviews and informed Americans in a clear and plain way. New York sends its condolences to his family and friends."
WHITFIELD: Wow. It's been really remarkable to hear the comments from so many people, from your -- you know, Ted Turner to, former President Clinton, people who really remind all of us how easy it was to relate to Larry King.
Even though, you know, he was iconic, and he -- you know, was in his own stratosphere, everyone says the common thread about him was he was relatable and he was easy to talk to, easy to open up to.
STELTER: That's right. The medium of television sometimes people can seem very distant, very far away, very hard to reach.
[13:39:59] But in the past six to seven months, we have lost a number of icons of television who were always relatable and personable, Hugh Downs and Regis Philbin, recently Alex Trebek, and now Larry King.
Larry is the man who would have interviewed all the rest, who did interview everybody else. And he had this amazing charm and ability to keep people opening up about their lives.
I think journalists, aspiring broadcasters, even decades from now, will dip into the Larry King archives to learn a thing or two about interviewing.
WHITFIELD: Approachable is the best word I come up with, whether it was the first time I met him many years ago. And I had been here about five years. I thought he was really approachable.
And then I'd see him again during the inauguration of President Trump. And, you know, he was just kind of waiting for a seat, to sit down at the restaurant, and I just approached him and said, hey, remember me?
But it was nice to see him then. And he's just so approachable.
STELTER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: There's something simplistic about him in a brilliant kind of way.
Brian Stelter, good to see you.
STELTER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: I want to bring in Tammy Haddad. She was the first executive producer of CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE."
So good to see you.
What do you remember today about this man that you spent, you know, such a pivotal part of your career with?
TAMMY HADDAD, FORMER CNN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "LARRY KING LIVE": Well, I'm -- first of all, my condolences to his family. They are just suffering so.
Even though you know he was in bad shape I know it's really hard time for Shawn and her -- and their boys. So I want to first send my condolences to them.
I want to thank CNN for unbelievable coverage. All of you, how you've talked about him. And Jeff Zucker's statement about how Larry King really changed everything.
You know, it's -- it is interesting that he -- people forget that CNN was a great station, lots of news, but Ted Turner said, wait, we need conversation. We need to find out more about the people behind the news.
It was really gutsy to take this radio guy and -- let's be honest, Fredricka -- Larry does not have the look for TV when he started.
That's why we put him into the suspenders because he was hunched over from being on radio. This is -- it was the illusion of sitting ramrod straight.
WHITFIELD: Oh, that's funny.
HADDAD: But honestly, what I miss most is about the Ross Perot, and the Ross Perot interview. And to this day, I don't think Larry gets enough credit.
Just to take people back -- and I'm glad that Bill Clinton stepped in because, for years afterward, people would walk up to Larry and say, you know, you got Bill Clinton elected because we found Ross Perot. And Larry did this amazing interview.
Now, just to take people through it, Ross Perot kept saying, I'll run for president if the American people ask me. If they come to me. And then I'll run.
And Larry kept saying to him during the commercial breaks, what are you talking about? If you want to run for president, just say it, and just say it.
Because people think Larry was a light interviewer but, honestly, he was right in there. He just didn't do it the same way of other people.
So finally, in the last segment that day, Ross Perot announces, history made, everything changes. And of course, you know, Bill Clinton won.
WHITFIELD: That really is something. What an evolution. You know, and how he was able to really get people to reveal a lot about themselves. And that was, you know, a moment.
But I wonder, you know, since you were there at the very beginning at his transition from radio to TV, you talk about the suspenders and how, you know, he didn't -- he wasn't accustomed to standing up straight.
What did you have to do, as an executive producer, or how did you assist him in going from radio, what he was accustomed to, his comforts of radio, to now television, and that it would work and it would stick?
HADDAD: It's funny because we didn't do that much because it was the early days of CNN. We didn't have the fabulous sets that you have now.
But if you remember the dots behind Larry King's set.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HADDAD: It was an old set left somewhere. In fact, the contents don't even connect directly. One year, we decided we would paint them colors. And then the idea was it would appear there was more going on than there actually was. Ted Turner's idea was, we're not going to change this guy. We had to
go out and purchase the same microphone that Mutual Radio had. We're going to let him talk.
But the critical thing is that we also took calls from viewers, which, in TV, nobody did.
And I can tell you it took years to get some guests because they didn't want the American people, and then eventually the world to be able to ask those questions.
[13:44:59]
Larry was always the great equalizer. In his interviews, and also in -- well, also in his personal life. He treated everyone the same. If we told him it was a taxi driver, or if it was a president, he approached it the same way.
The thing people don't know is he famously didn't, quote, "do research."
That doesn't really explain it. Larry knew everything about everything. He read everything. May not have read your book but probably read five reviews about your book. He was really well informed.
Wasn't formally educated so he didn't formally prepare for the show. But we would have fun every night basically just talking through the interview before it happened. And he would go out and do it.
But he never -- it's funny, somebody asked me today, he never really analyzed his interviews. He liked making news but he didn't live for it.
He didn't understand sometimes why people were so willing to come and talk to him. He was -- he was a very humble man.
WHITFIELD: Interesting.
So how did he assess, you know, afterwards that, OK, that worked well, that was a good interview, or we learned something about that individual?
Did you hear him kind of process after the fact at all like that?
HADDAD: Well, I mean, on occasion, we would -- you know, he would talk about it but not regularly.
You know, so many of the producers and talent would talk through the show afterward. No, he would go right on to the next thing.
He'd be the first one to say that was really fun or absolutely amazing or can you believe they just said that?
I remember the first time we got Nixon to come on the show. We were at the old bureau at Mass Avenue and we were in the corner. They were crack dealers outside. This was many years ago.
And I remember Larry's walking in with Richard Nixon, and he's like, hey, is that Mayor Barry out there with the crack.
People were so comfortable around him. They would say all kinds of things.
That interview, he came on the set, and that interview was just unbelievable. That's where he told the story about Nixon said that he had never been to the Watergate Hotel.
The other calls I've been getting from people today, people who were first, their first TV appearance, was on "LARRY KING LIVE."
Or like Wolf Blitzer. He talked about it earlier. He was this reporter from "The Jerusalem Post" and we started putting him on. And people responded, and he was so great, CNN went on to hire him.
Of course, a lot of the political people that you see today were started at Larry King. We covered policy, and in a conversational way.
Joe Biden was one of our go-to people. John McCain, Joe Biden. They were sort of our junkyard dogs, the people we booked 15 minutes before the show. You know who those people are.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: So many people giving thanks to Larry King, I mean, for, you know, shining -- for him, really shining the spotlight on them. And then, you see, there has been so many meteoric rise stories as a consequence.
Tammy Haddad, thank you for your reflections. I could listen to you all day talking about the many Larry King everything moments.
Thanks so much.
HADDAD: Thank you. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you as well.
Coming up, we'll have more of Larry King's iconic moments. Here he is with Janet Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: OK, this --
JANET JACKSON, SINGER: This. Hit your chest and push your arm out.
KING: Same arm?
JACKSON: Yes. Let that leg go out at the same time. You go, bring this leg in and put that hand down. Hit your chest and push it out.
(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:53:14]
WHITFIELD: Senate leaders have reached a deal to schedule the second impeachment trial of former President Trump. It is now expected to begin in two weeks, starting on February 9.
CNN has also learned that dozens of influential Republicans are quietly lobbying GOP lawmakers in Congress to convict, though many are acknowledging that the votes simply aren't there right now.
Gordon Humphrey is a former Republican Senator from New Hampshire. And is one of 34 former Republican members of Congress who signed onto a letter urging the GOP to put their country over party and impeach.
Good to see you, Mr. Humphrey.
FORMER SEN. GORDON HUMPHREY (R-NH): Thank you.
Fredricka, may I first express my condolences to the CNN family on the passing of Larry King. It certainly is sad news.
WHITFIELD: Thank you so much. He was so influential and touched so many, didn't he?
HUMPHREY: Indeed, yes, a splendid human being.
WHITFIELD: I'm wondering, as it pertains to this impeachment or the pursuit of an impeachment, do you believe, do you see this lobbying, behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign will bring the 17 Republican Senators needed to convict?
HUMPHREY: It's very hard to say. What gives me great encouragement is what Mitch McConnell said the other day, if I can just read that. He said that the mob was fed lies.
This is McConnell. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people. They tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific action, specific proceeding of the first branch of government. That's Mitch McConnell.
And he's indicated that he's keeping an open mind with respect to innovating to convict.
The president has been impeached, as you know, it's only a question now of the trial in the Senate and the verdict, if you will.
[13:55:07]
WHITFIELD: McConnell uses his words very precisely. And one would think that hearing those words would be a window, you know, into his psyche, where he would be leaning, which, you know, there's inference there, which seems like he's leaning toward conviction.
However, you still then hear from Republicans who say, a second trial is very divisive. And then there are those who say, you know, allowing the incitement of an insurrection, an overthrow of democracy, is divisive.
So, you know, where do you think the loyalties will go here? Will it be to party or will it be to country?
HUMPHREY: That is the $64 question.
Let me just point out, Fredericka, that the Constitution and the constitutional officers worked.
The Constitution worked. The officers did their jobs, from the attorney general of the United States, who ultimately did and said the right things, to the states' attorneys general, to the secretary of state of each of the states, the election officials, the voters, everyone up until now.
And the judges, by the way, the president, Trump, filed 67 lawsuits, all of which were rejected either for lacking evidence or lacking standing. There was no case.
So all the constitutional officers, the players, if you will, from the voters to the judges, have done their duty. Now it's time for the first branch to do its duty and to uphold the rule of law in the place of the rule of men.
So on this day, when we're all reflecting on the courage, the raw courage of Alexei Navalny, in jail at the hands of those who sought to murder him only few months ago, standing up for the rule of law over the rule of men, let's hope that members of Congress will take heart from that encouragement.
WHITFIELD: So this is your point of view as it pertains to the former president.
But then, what do you think should happen to the Republican Senators, such as Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, who also have been blamed for helping to incite this riot?
HUMPHREY: I don't know of any proceedings in motion against members of Congress. That will be up to the voters.
I do think this is a time to heal and to speak kindly and respectfully to one another.
But it's also time to finish the constitutional process and to uphold the rule of law versus the rule of men.
We see the rule of men in Moscow, in the Kremlin. That's the tyranny against which Navalny is struggling. And his supporters today, by the tens of thousands, in the streets around Russia. Fighting for the rule of law versus the rule of men.
That's what members of Congress must now do individually.
WHITFIELD: Former Senator Gordon Humphrey, thank you so much. And again, thank you for your thoughts on the late Larry King, too. Thank you.
HUMPHREY: Thank you, Fredericka.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WHITFIELD: Hello, again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredericka Whitfield.
We begin with this breaking news. A Texas man now charged with threatening to assassinate Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez.
It's one of five criminal charges stemming from his alleged participation in the assault on the Capitol Hill, just now three or so weeks ago. We'll have more on that when we get it.
Now we also turn to the pandemic and the struggle this country is having on getting it under control. Another 3,600 deaths on Friday alone.
CNN's Paul Vercammen is at a vaccination site in California, a state which has set new records in deaths for a single day.
So, Paul, bring us up to date.
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, here in Inglewood, California, this is part of the solution to try to tamp down the number of deaths. As you said, a record yesterday.
This is Inglewood in L.A. County, where they've begun in L.A. County to vaccinate people. So far, they've vaccinated this week alone 9,000 people. But that's not enough. There's a tremendous shortage of supply here.
And I'll bring in Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.
Supervisor Mitchell, if you could look at people in Washington and the state and tell them this is what we need, what do you need to increase the number of vaccinations here?
HOLLY MITCHELL, (D), LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR: Let's be clear here, L.A. County is 10 million people. If we were a state, we'd be the tenth-largest state.
[14:00:00]
So what does that mean? We need 75,000 doses of vaccine a day. If we were able to do that, in 200 days, we would have 75 percent of our entire population vaccinated.
