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CNN Live Saturday

Interview with Thomas Maier

Aired October 11, 2003 - 12:35   ET

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

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


RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Another Kennedy is now connected to American policy making. The niece of former President John F. Kennedy is now the wife of california's governor-elect. Thomas Maier authored the new book "The Kennedy's: America's Emerald Kings." And he is New York to discuss the role the Kennedy women continue to play in America policy making.
Mr. Maier thanks for being with us today.

THOMAS MAIER, "The KENNEDYS AMERICA'S EMERALD KINGS: Thank you so much for having me, apperciate it.

SAN MIGUEL: So far from what you've seen from the campaign is Maria Shriver performing the well so far? Preforming the role well so far?

MAIER: Yes, I think she's a big part of Arnold's win in California was the appeal of the Kennedy family. I think it's very important to note, there were a number of immigrants who voted for arnold in this election. I think it harkens back to the Kennedy legacy of immigration in this country.

SAN MIGUEL: But I'm thinking specifically about the groping allegations and how much having her by his side. I mean, he even thanked her on the election night, you know, admitting that there were some people who may not have voted for him if it hadn't been for her.

What do you think about that?

MAIER: Right. I think it's been a double-edged sword for Maria Shriver. Her generation of Kennedy's, particularly the women have been the leaders in the family. The sub-title of my book "America's Emerald King" comes back to the Irish notion the chieftains and it's usually has been the men. In this generation it has been the women the leaders, Caroline Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, and Maria in her own right as a distinguished journalist. On the flip side of it, she's being asked as the other women have been asked in the past to kind of stand by her man. And I think that was a difficult situation for her.

SAN MIGUEL: Schwarzenegger was thought to be a moderate Republican. Some of his critics have said he's a rino, r-i-n-o Republican in name only. He is socially a little more moderate than some Republicans.

Shriver's influence in that?

MAIER: I think so. A big part of the Kennedy legacy is immigration. I think he will find many of the problems and many of the questions Arnold are going to face as the governor have to do with immigration. I think it was very notable on Wednesday, after the election, Senator Ted Kennedy said that Arnold's election in California was proof positive that we live in a nation of immigrants. Not everybody may understand what the connection there is but it has to do with the JFK book he wrote in 1958, "A Nation of Immigrants." And that led to the 1965 Immigration Act that open up the door in this country to many of the new immigrants we see. So, a lot of this goes back to the Kennedy legacy.

SAN MIGUEL: What about the Shriver family maria's parents, Eunice and Sergeant.

They have their own little sub-plot, if you will, in the Kennedy legacy?

MAIER: They absolutely do. Politically, they're the most liberal in the Kennedy clan. Sergeant Shriver was the founder of the Peace Core and Eunice Shriver is one of the most distinguished in the family with Special Olympics and other notable things. But in times of election, the Kennedy's do rally. The whole sense of the Kennedy clan, as they themselves call it stresses the whole sense of family. I think it's a big part of the Kennedy story. And I think they were there at the important moments for Arnold in this election.

SAN MIGUEL: Thomas Maier is author of the book, "The Kennedy's: America's Emerald Kings." Just now out on book shelves. Thanks for being with us.

MAIER: Thank you for having me.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 11, 2003 - 12:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Another Kennedy is now connected to American policy making. The niece of former President John F. Kennedy is now the wife of california's governor-elect. Thomas Maier authored the new book "The Kennedy's: America's Emerald Kings." And he is New York to discuss the role the Kennedy women continue to play in America policy making.
Mr. Maier thanks for being with us today.

THOMAS MAIER, "The KENNEDYS AMERICA'S EMERALD KINGS: Thank you so much for having me, apperciate it.

SAN MIGUEL: So far from what you've seen from the campaign is Maria Shriver performing the well so far? Preforming the role well so far?

MAIER: Yes, I think she's a big part of Arnold's win in California was the appeal of the Kennedy family. I think it's very important to note, there were a number of immigrants who voted for arnold in this election. I think it harkens back to the Kennedy legacy of immigration in this country.

SAN MIGUEL: But I'm thinking specifically about the groping allegations and how much having her by his side. I mean, he even thanked her on the election night, you know, admitting that there were some people who may not have voted for him if it hadn't been for her.

What do you think about that?

MAIER: Right. I think it's been a double-edged sword for Maria Shriver. Her generation of Kennedy's, particularly the women have been the leaders in the family. The sub-title of my book "America's Emerald King" comes back to the Irish notion the chieftains and it's usually has been the men. In this generation it has been the women the leaders, Caroline Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, and Maria in her own right as a distinguished journalist. On the flip side of it, she's being asked as the other women have been asked in the past to kind of stand by her man. And I think that was a difficult situation for her.

SAN MIGUEL: Schwarzenegger was thought to be a moderate Republican. Some of his critics have said he's a rino, r-i-n-o Republican in name only. He is socially a little more moderate than some Republicans.

Shriver's influence in that?

MAIER: I think so. A big part of the Kennedy legacy is immigration. I think he will find many of the problems and many of the questions Arnold are going to face as the governor have to do with immigration. I think it was very notable on Wednesday, after the election, Senator Ted Kennedy said that Arnold's election in California was proof positive that we live in a nation of immigrants. Not everybody may understand what the connection there is but it has to do with the JFK book he wrote in 1958, "A Nation of Immigrants." And that led to the 1965 Immigration Act that open up the door in this country to many of the new immigrants we see. So, a lot of this goes back to the Kennedy legacy.

SAN MIGUEL: What about the Shriver family maria's parents, Eunice and Sergeant.

They have their own little sub-plot, if you will, in the Kennedy legacy?

MAIER: They absolutely do. Politically, they're the most liberal in the Kennedy clan. Sergeant Shriver was the founder of the Peace Core and Eunice Shriver is one of the most distinguished in the family with Special Olympics and other notable things. But in times of election, the Kennedy's do rally. The whole sense of the Kennedy clan, as they themselves call it stresses the whole sense of family. I think it's a big part of the Kennedy story. And I think they were there at the important moments for Arnold in this election.

SAN MIGUEL: Thomas Maier is author of the book, "The Kennedy's: America's Emerald Kings." Just now out on book shelves. Thanks for being with us.

MAIER: Thank you for having me.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com