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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Remembering Dick Clark; Secret Service Prostitution Scandal; Car Crashes Through Florida Supermarket; Dramatic Rescue; Woman Charged With Murder In Baby Abduction; Troops Pose with Bomber Remains; Dick Clark was a True Trailblazer
Aired April 19, 2012 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Zoraida Sambolin.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kate Bolduan in for Ashleigh Banfield today. It is now 6 a.m. east. It's late get up. Let's get started.
Mourning the loss of the world's oldest teenager this morning. Tributes to the late Dick Clark from the fans and the stars he helped create. We will talk to the editor of "Billboard" magazine about how he changed what we listened to and how we listened to it.
SAMBOLIN: And the first Secret Service agents being forced out over a prostitution scandal in Columbia and now one of the escorts is talking about a fight over her cash money. That's what she calls it. The reason this whole story left the hotel.
BOLDUAN: Another embarrassing incident plaguing the mission in Afghanistan this morning. Photos obtained by the "L.A. Times," which appear to show U.S. troops holding up a suicide bomber body parts. The defense secretary saying, quote, "This is not who we are," and fear this could put U.S. lives in jeopardy.
SAMBOLIN: And two men floating in the water. Clinging to their capsized sailboat and it is not the first time one of these sailors found himself in that exact same position. An amazing rescue on Lake Michigan you will not want to miss this.
America's oldest living teenager has died. Dick Clark was 82 years old when he suffered a massive heart attack yesterday. Testimonials for the television and music legend are coming from all corners of the globe.
Clark was a fixture on television almost as long as there has been television, first as host of "American Bandstand," introducing Rockettes to teenagers and their families and bringing Motown into Mainstream.
For decades, of course, he counted us down from Times Square on New Year's Rocking Eve. Those who knew him are sharing their memories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, FORMER CNN HOST: He was a pioneer. In the early days of television with "American Bandstand," he revolutionized music on television, as we pointed out earlier, talking before he went on, had blacks and whites dance together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
LARRY KING: Unheard of. A lot of people watching would say, what, that's crazy? That was crazy to put that on.
WILLIAM KING, THE COMMODORES: That's the thing that dick clark gave the world. He enabled them to understand that they can love all the music, no matter where it comes from.
LARRY KING: When these people leave us, they leave a hole that doesn't get filled. He's just -- he's going to be remembered a long, long, long time. This business owes him a debt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAMBOLIN: I don't think he will ever be forgotten. They were remembering Clark last night in Branson, Missouri, with a candlelight vigil at the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre.
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" Michelle Turner joins us now from Hollywood by Dick Clark star on the walk of fame. A lot of celebrities are paying him tribute including the first fan, President Obama. Can you tell us about that?
MICHELLE TURNER, HLN'S "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" CORRESPONDENT: This has resonated as high as high as the White House and President Obama did release a statement yesterday about Dick Clark's death yesterday.
And he said he and the first lady were saddened by the news of his passing. He said that Dick Clark reshaped the landscape of television forever. He called him an innovator.
He said that he made everyone feel young, vibrant and optimistic. And also, you know, Tony Orlando was on CNN yesterday and he said only God is responsible for making more stars than Dick Clark.
And Dick Clark, you know, he introduced the world to people like Buddy Holly and James Brown, all of these huge stars that we know mainstream today. You know, President Obama called him an innovator, but he was also known as an integrator.
We heard people talking about that. Back in 1960, the KKK actually sent death threats to Dick Clark when he brought the spin-off show to Atlanta. The National Guard had to be called in to protect the audience of black and white teenagers together there.
One of the things that Dick Clark always said and always made his mark was, it wasn't about race. It wasn't about black or white. It was just about good music. And that's one of the things he'll also be remembered for -- Zoraida. SAMBOLIN: I had no idea he was so fearless. It's so nice to hear all of those stories. So are there any plans for a public memorial?
TURNER: You know, that's a good question. I think that's something that his family is still deciding. They did say yesterday that they weren't going to have a traditional funeral, but they do understand that he was loved. So they're still trying to decide whether or not to have that public memorial service.
SAMBOLIN: All right, Michelle Turner live in Hollywood for us. Thanks for getting up nice and early.
And before you leave your house this morning, start your DVR for "STARTING POINT" at 8:00 am. Soledad talks with Larry Klein, who produced Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
BOLDUAN: New details of what happened in that Secret Service prostitution scandal in Columbia and the continued fall out. Three of the 11 implicated agents are out.
One of them, a supervisor, is being allowed to retire. Another is being forced to leave the agency. And CNN has learned he plans to fight that dismissal.
A third agent has resigned. Eight others remain on administrative leave with their security clearance revoked, accused of bringing prostitutes to their hotel in Columbia last week, two days before President Obama's arrival for a summit there.
We are now hearing for the first time details on what led the prostitute wind up exposing the incident? She spoke to "New York Times" reporter William Neuman who was on "AC 360" last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM NEUMAN, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": One of them was essentially hitting on her, said he wanted to be with her. She says she told him, well, that's great, but you have to give me a gift.
And he said how much is the gift? She says she told him $800. A lot of drinking happened and at some point, she and him went back to their hotel.
The next morning, this woman asked for her payment and the guy says -- got angry and said I was a drunk and you can't expect me to pay that. She insists and he calls her names and gets angry and throws her out of the room.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: White House Correspondent Brianna Keilar is live in Washington. Hi, there, Brianna. There has been so much talk about drug testing as well as the potential of possibly drugs in rooms but maybe not. What are they finding here?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kate, that's right. There have been reports that there were drugs in the room, but it actually appears at this point, according to sources familiar with the investigation that there's no evidence of that.
In fact, Secret Service investigators who were on the ground in Columbia, working with local authorities there have interviewed all of the maids who service these rooms and those maids, according to sources, told them they didn't find evidence of drugs.
We do know though, that Mark Sullivan, the director of the Secret Service considers really a range of resources to be at his disposal in this investigation, including drug testing.
And also that there are some secret service members involved here, who have protested, basically, and raised questions about whether there's reasonable cause for them it to be tested for drugs.
And in terms of other testing, polygraph tests. We know, according to sources, each was offered the opportunity for a polygraph test. That's really because some of them said they didn't know that these were prostitutes.
But even at the same time, Kate, critics are saying it doesn't really matter. Even if they were just bringing back foreign nationals to their hotel, it's still a security risk.
BOLDUAN: Let's talk about the director, Mark Sullivan. To this point, many in Washington were really sticking behind him and standing by him. But does that begin to change at this point?
KEILAR: You know, we're hearing -- we've heard from one member of the Congress, Randy Forbes, a Virginia Republican, but if you look at some of the very important Republican voices here.
Darryl Issa, he's the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Peter King, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, they're very much at this point standing by Mark Sullivan, saying they have confidence in him.
It's possible, though, that that could change, depending on what the investigation finds, Kate. As you know, if the investigation finds that this is, you know, a systemic problem -- not just an isolated incident, there could be mounted pressure on Sullivan.
But for right now, you have Republicans as well as the White House very much holding fire.
BOLDUAN: Yes, and that culture question is a big question. But still, it seems many are kind of holding their fire, if you want to say it that way, until the investigation continues.
KEILAR: Exactly.
BOLDUAN: We'll continue to follow. Brianna, thank you so much. We'll talk to you soon.
SAMBOLIN: It is 8 minutes past the hour here. Check out this heart- pounding surveillance video of a woman in a Toyota Camry barrelling right through the front doors of a packed public supermarket. This is in Palm Coast, Florida.
You may find these pictures a little hard to watch. I want to warn you there. So it's four people who were sitting on the bench inside the exit doors Saturday morning. The 76-year-old Thelma Wagonhoffer came crashing through.
The first thing she hit was a baby stroller. The infant inside was thrown about 50 feet in the air, lived, survived this, 10 people were injured.
One of them is in critical condition. Not the baby. An 83-year-old man who wound up pinned beneath Thelma's car. Look at the highlighted portion of the video. You can you see quick-thinking customers lifting the vehicle off him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There were probably about 10 or 12 guys that actually had the smarts to actually go over and they lifted up the car. I mean, a crane couldn't have lifted it up any quicker.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAMBOLIN: Florida State Police have charged the woman behind the wheel with reckless driving, scary, scary scene.
BOLDUAN: And another dramatic -- some dramatic video, dramatic rescue caught on camera, two men gripping to the side of their boat after it flipped over in Lake Michigan.
Divers had to pull them to safety. Both men were suffering from hypothermia. One of the men was just rescued earlier this year when the same boat overturned in a storm.
SAMBOLIN: By his wife, I might add.
BOLDUAN: Does that make you home sick?
SAMBOLIN: Not Lake Michigan like that, very angry, but, yes, I really would love to talk to that guy and his wife, you know. Let's take some sailing lessons, perhaps.
BOLDUAN: What were you thinking?
SAMBOLIN: Anyway, I'm not going to judge. It's 10 minutes past the hour here.
Still ahead, the fallout from photos that appeared to show U.S. soldiers posing with maimed suicide bombers. Fear that it could cost more American lives. We are live in Kabul with that story.
BOLDUAN: And a very different story, the airport stripper is speaking out and the 50-year-old says he has no regrets bearing it all at Portland International Airport. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no problems with my body and decided that this was the most effective way to get through security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: So, coming up, why he thought stripping was the right thing to do. Geez Louise. You are watching EARLY START.
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SAMBOLIN: It is 14 minutes past the hour. T ime to check stories that are making news this morning. Good morning, Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, ladies. The search for a missing Fort Bragg soldier continues this morning at a North Carolina pond where divers are trying to find Private First Class Kelli Bordeaux.
Bordeaux has been missing since early Saturday morning when she was last seen leaving Lafayette Ville bar. Investigators are not saying what detail in their investigation has led them to that pond.
Florida Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. will preside over George Zimmerman's bail tomorrow. Lester was assigned to the Trayvon Martin shooting case after the first judge recused herself due a possible conflict of interest.
Zimmerman is being held on a second degree murder charge. This morning, Florida's governor will announce a task force to examine the stand your ground law at the heart of Zimmerman's defense.
The president was not taking a shot at Mitt Romney and his riches yesterday when he was talking to supporters at a community college in Ohio yesterday. That's according to one of his aides. Here is the remark that's getting all the headlines this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Somebody gave me an education. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't. But somebody gave us a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: That's right. Getting a lot of attention this morning, those comments.
An aide to the president says Mr. Obama has used that silver spoon reference frequently in the past, and insists he's trying to make a point that everyone needs opportunities in order to succeed.
The Secret Service will interview rocker Ted Nugent today after he went on that anti-President Obama rant at an NRA event, saying he'd be dead or in jail if President Obama gets re-elected. Nugent says he's looking forward to the meeting with the Secret Service.
A manhunt is underway in Kansas for three dangerous criminals who escaped from jail yesterday. There they are. One of the men is convicted of double murder. Officials say the men overpowered employees at the Ottawa County jail. Three workers were injured.
Police say when the men got out, they stabbed a man in the face and stole his car when they. Officials think the men may have separated and are going -- on the run separately.
For an expanded look at all of our stories please head to our blog, CNN.com/EarlyStart -- ladies.
ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Christine.
(CROSSTALK)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: It was horrific.
So, it could be another giant setback in the war in Afghanistan, it could endanger more American lives. New fallout this morning from photos published in the "L.A. Times" which appear to show U.S. soldiers holding the remains -- you're seeing the pictures there -- of suicide bombers in front of the camera, even one of them holding up a thumb's up.
CNN has not independently authenticated the photos, we should see. We should also mention, these photos are -- according to "The L.A. Times" -- from 2010.
The Defense Secretary Leon Panetta saying this violates U.S. values and an investigation is already under way.
But the Taliban is reportedly vowing revenge.
Nick Paton Walsh is live in Paktika Province in Afghanistan, on an embed with U.S. forces.
Nick, you're on the unique position, being there with U.S. forces.
First off, are any soldiers reacting to this, that you are with? And also, what more do we know about the photos and the men who took the them?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You get an idea of how isolated much of Afghanistan is from this sort of media frenzy. This time around, these pictures, because it hasn't been at the heart of topics here. Soldiers talk about, yes, their own sort of sense of disgust and stupidity of taking such trophy photographs. But it's not at the core of what people are hearing in Afghanistan because of this country is remote, rural communities.
We have today heard from the Taliban who, yes, condemned this and will continue to wage jihad, as they say it, against what they refer as being occupier because of these pictures. But interestingly enough, they say, that "The L.A. Times," because it's one of America's biggest newspapers, must have published the pictures with the consent and with the support even of American officials.
Now, of course, we know that to be untrue. The Pentagon having tried to ask "The L.A. Times" to not publish these images. But, still, it gives you an idea of how Taliban is trying to suggest this is all part of NATO's strategy here, that NATO is somehow itself is behind these pictures -- of course, something that NATO denied, ever since they first came out, and condemned these pictures were even published, Kate.
BOLDUAN: Yes. And, Nick, let's listen here to Leon Panetta, he was asked about this at a press conference in Brussels just yesterday. Let's listen here to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: This is not who we are. It's certainly not who we represent when it comes to the great majority of men and women in uniform, who are serving there. I expect that the matter will be fully investigated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Now, he may say that, that this is going to be fully investigated, that this is not who we are. This is not what we're about. But this comes on the heels of videos of marines urinating on dead Taliban bodies as well as the massacre that Afghanistan is still dealing with allegedly, one U.S. soldier murdering 16 -- I think it was 16 Afghan civilians.
So, when you take all of this together, can this resonate, the fact that the U.S. is condemning what is happening here and that they say it's an isolated incident?
WALSH: Well, they are becoming isolated, since they are I think in the eyes of many, becoming a troubling trend, the suggested breakdown of discipline. This is the fourth big investigation the U.S. has said it's conducting so far this year after the misconduct you've described. Investigations themselves aren't going to quiet Afghans.
Some things have not happened. There's not been this immediate backlash of violence against U.S. troops, that the Pentagon suggested was the reason why the pictures should not be published, hard to see, yet if the Taliban statement will change that.
And we've also haven't heard yet more (INAUDIBLE) American viewpoint, is any condemnation of these photos from the Afghan presidential palace.
So, people are still waiting to see what will happen at this news percolates out through the Afghan population. But it is giving the sense of an end of a campaign here where discipline is perhaps ebbing, where these incidents seem to come along to the point where of almost embarrassment -- ridiculous, relentless embarrassment. Top NATO leaders seem to spend an awful lot more time apologizing for the conduct of their junior officers than they necessarily would like, Kate. BOLDUAN: Absolutely. And more bad news coming at a horrible time and the tension between the U.S. and Afghan officials. I should say that Pentagon spokesman does say that U.S. forces are taking security measures -- additional security measures to guard against any potential violence in response to this. But again, as Nick said, they haven't seen any immediate reaction on to this point.
Thanks so much, Nick. Stay safe out there. Thank you.
SAMBOLIN: You know, it's interesting also what the reaction from the president there will be because it appears there are Afghan soldiers in that picture as well.
BOLDUAN: Absolutely.
SAMBOLIN: On the response.
Twenty-one minutes past the hour. Next on EARLY START: The Keystone Pipeline is changing routes. Environmentalists won a battle to redirect the 1,700-mile, $1.7 billion pipeline. We have all the details on that.
You are watching EARLY START.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BOLDUAN: Minding your business this morning. The company building the Keystone pipeline through Nebraska is making changes after pressure from environmentalists and just general controversy surrounding this pipeline. TransCanada is now proposing a new route for pipeline that will avoid a sensitive aquifer.
SAMBOLIN: And Christine Romans is here with more on this.
Christine, you have been to the sand hills in Nebraska.
ROMANS: Oh, yes.
SAMBOLIN: And you're getting lots of e-mails about this, I understand.
ROMANS: I am, from some of these ranchers. We've been talking to the ranchers who are concerned about the sand hills, the sort of delicate ecological zone where there's a lot of branching, a lot of long-horned cattle that are grazing out there. And you really can just dig a little bit and water comes up from this aquifer through these beautiful sand hills.
Waitress out there at a restaurant, I said, what are these sand hills? She said they're beautiful but pointless. Unless you're a cattle, unless you're a cattle.
Anyway, this big TransCanada pipeline, Keystone XL which you've heard so much about, was projected to go right through these sand hills and it caused concern from ranchers and Nebraskans who were concerned about potential environmental impacted there would be leak. Those the sand hills when we were there two years ago in the wintertime, you can see there.
Now, it looks as though that the company and Nebraska have a new route to the east of the proposed -- I can show you the picture of the proposed route, the original proposed route. They're going to move a little bit more to the east, to try to avoid these dangerous -- delicate, I should say, sand hills. But already this morning, there are still concerns from ranchers who say, you know what, we think the sand hills aren't mapped well enough.
ROMANS: We think that parts of this could still be going through the edges of the sand hills.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: So, I don't think that this debate is over. I do think that moving the route and moving along this direction is going to, you know, propel this project. I think eventually a lot of people think it's going to get done. There's going to be a lot of dickering about exactly where that route is going to go through.
SAMBOLIN: A little more research, right?
ROMANS: They've got to make everybody happy here. At the same time, you have a lot of people saying, Republicans saying we need this pipeline. They're using it as a political thing against the president.
BOLDUAN: It becomes such a political football.
Absolutely. All right.
ROMANS: Made some progress, but ranchers telling me this morning they're still not happy.
BOLDUAN: You need to go back and get us an update?
ROMANS: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Thanks so much, Christine.
SAMBOLIN: Still ahead, from Times Square to Hollywood's Walk of Fame, Americans are sharing their memories of music and TV legend Dick Clark. He died yesterday.
You are watching EARLY START.
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BOLDUAN: Thirty minutes past the hour. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm K Bolduan.
Let's get a check of the top stories making news this morning.
Before there was MTV, there was Dick Clark and "Bandstand." We're remembering the late Dick Clark after his tragic death yesterday at 82 years old. We'll talk to the editor of "Billboard" magazine in just a moment.
And the first Secret Service agents being forced out over prostitution scandal in Columbia. And now, one of the sex workers is talking, telling "The New York Times" there was a heated fight over how much she was owed.
The Secret Service will interview rocker Ted Nugent today after he went on a rant against President Obama at an NRA event, saying he'd be in dead or in jail if President Obama gets re-elected.
And, all righty, he's not a bomb threat. The guy who decided to strip naked when he was called aside for additional screening at an airport checkpoint is now talking. He says he has no regrets for baring it all. And he's also be joining Soledad later on "STARTING POINT."
SAMBOLIN: And, seriously, I have to follow that up?
BOLDUAN: Yes, you do.
SAMBOLIN: Thank you, Kate.
BOLDUAN: Of course.
SAMBOLIN: All right. The music maverick and TV powerhouse producer Dick Clark is being remember this morning for changing the way that we listen to music.
Clark died yesterday from a massive heart attack at the age of 82. He lived a great life. Clark's success with "American Bandstand" stems largely from his all-American persona that made him seem like everyone's friend.
Here's Dick Clark with a young Michael Jackson back in 1970.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CLARK, LEGENDARY TV HOST: How long have you been singing?
MICHAEL JACKSON: Three years.
CLARK: You went to snatch it right out of my hand. What's that nine or 10, I forgot.
JACKSON: Nine.
CLARK: You know, it's very difficult, what's with the oohs and the ahhs? There's a few girls want to take you home with them.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
JACKSON: I have three sisters and six brothers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAMBOLIN: But Clark was also a sharp businessman and media mogul. He produced such big named productions as the Golden Globes and "So You Think You Can Dance."
So many music and TV personalities count Clark as an inspiration, including Ryan Seacrest, who had this to say about Clark during last night's "American Idol."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SEACREST, HOST, "AMERICAN IDOL": We can't begin the 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)
SAMBOLIN: And President Obama also commenting, saying, quote, "He introduced decades worth of viewers to the music of our times. He reshaped the television landscape forever as a creative and innovative producer. And, of course, for 40 years, we welcomed him into our homes to ring in the New Year."
And Joe Levy is the editor at "Billboard," and here to share his perspective this morning.
We appreciate your time. Thank you.
JOE LEVY, BILLBOARD: Thank you.
SAMBOLIN: So, you know, we heard the music, right? He played a lot of music. But I guess to me, at least, it's surprising. How many careers has he launched? People are coming forward saying without him, I would be nothing.
LEVY: You know, think about this -- his show went national in 1957. It was a Philadelphia show. It went national on ABC. One of his first guests that day was Jerry Lee Lewis.
Flash forward 26 years, it's 1983. He's giving national exposure to a young singer who has put out her first single. Her name is Madonna.
SAMBOLIN: We were just talking about that a little while ago.
LEVY: It's amazing that someone who stood toe to toe with Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly was also standing toe to toe with Madonna, in each case delivering crucial national exposure.
SAMBOLIN: Well, another thing that we were talking about this morning was how he was able to kind of transcend this racial divide, right? There are so many performers also, black performers who are saying without him, I would have been nothing.
LEVY: You know, that's absolutely true. At a time in the '60s and '70s when there was still some -- some decide on television and on radio, there was Dick Clark on Saturday morning's, "Bandstand," it was a Saturday morning show by then, it was a weekly show. He was just showing music that everybody listened to.
The way that people listen to music, that crossed boundaries all the time. So, why wasn't it going to cross boundaries when you put that music on TV?
SAMBOLIN: But, also black and white dancers together.
LEVY: Right.
SAMBOLIN: Something that he did. He seemed rather fearless.
LEVY: And I think it's really important to acknowledge that one thing he did was put the music audience on TV at a very crucial time when, you know, there was Ed Sullivan on TV, but that was music for grown- ups. Here was music for kids, that shot of him sitting and talking in the audience to kids. What did you think of that record?
That's one of the ways I remember bandstand. Music for kids, kids talking about it and seeing those kids dance.
SAMBOLIN: Well, let's talk about the genius behind "American Bandstand." Here is a man himself and he's talking about the significance of it in the Emmys in 1994.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARK: For almost 40 years, kids got together in a social atmosphere, they got to know one another. They exchanged cultures. They didn't hurt each other. There wasn't any violence and we could all learn a little something from that show. It was a good one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAMBOLIN: Some people say that he created teenage culture.
LEVY: You know, that's what I was just trying to say. And when you listen to what he just said, there was no violence. They got together in a friendly, social atmosphere. Remember that in 1957, there was still people who thought that rock 'n' roll was dangerous.
SAMBOLIN: Yes.
LEVY: That it was bad for American youth. The way he looked, the way he presented it, the way his audience looked, clean cut, all-American, was part of the way that rock 'n' roll came to be accepted by kids and their parents.
SAMBOLIN: You know, there are a lot of people this morning -- we've got quite a diverse staff here. They were saying, gosh, the only time I remember him was New Year's in my home. And yet, you know, he really wore a lot of hats. I had no idea that he was behind "Donnie & Marie". Tell us about that.
LEVY: Well, as a TV producer, he did so much else beside "American Bandstand." He hosted "The $10,000 Pyramid" so long it became "The $100,000 Pyramid". Inflation, I guess.
But he created shows like TV's "Bloopers and Practical Jokes". He created all of this stuff outside of the music world. The Golden Globes. He had his fingers in so many different sort of productions.
In that sense he really did blaze the trail for someone like Ryan Seacrest, who took over for him on "Rockin New Year's Eve" and who himself is a multi-faceted TV producer and presenter.
SAMBOLIN: And what do you think his legacy will be?
LEVY: His legacy is making music an American obsession, "American Bandstand," coast to coast, taking something that was in regional pockets and showing kids how they danced in other places, what the music sounded like, rating records. That teenage culture is still with us today.
SAMBOLIN: I think it was Larry King talked about the magic he has, right? Does anybody else have that kind of magic?
LEVY: You know, we talked to, "Billboard", people who worked with Dick Clark and they say over and over again, that guy you saw on the air, that nice person, he was nice. That's very, very rare in any industry.
SAMBOLIN: Maybe that's what transcended it all, right? So everybody loved him.
All right. Joe Levy, editor of "Billboard" magazine, thank you for being with us this morning.
LEVY: Good to be here.
SAMBOLIN: All right. Kate, back to you.
BOLDUAN: Joe, he's got one of those jobs that I wish I had. Love.
Naked airport guy -- sorry, here's a weird for you. Naked airport guy is now telling it all, revealing he took off all of his clothes at Portland International Airport. Fifty-year-old John Brennan says he did it to protest the TSA. He says TSA screeners first pulled him aside when a security detector picked up traces of explosives. Brennan says he felt harassed so he acted out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BRENNAN: I was not interested in being hassled so I took off my clothes to show I was not carrying any explosives. I didn't do it to just get arrested. I did it so that I can state my unhappiness with the waste of money that TSA is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And he will have much more to say. He will reveal more with Soledad O'Brien on "STARTING POINT" this morning.
SAMBOLIN: He will reveal more?
BOLDUAN: I can guarantee it. Hopefully, it will still be OK for television.
SAMBOLIN: All right. And still ahead --
BOLDUAN: Of course. Ted Nugent has a date with the Secret Service. The Secret Service will be talking to the rocker and big guns right advocate talking about comments he made criticizing President Obama.
SAMBOLIN: But, first, let's a quick check of your weather. Here is Rob Marciano.
Good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, guys.
Part of my job, telling you what to wear if you are traveling through the Portland Airport, naked, get a parka. It's going to rain.
Beautiful weather from New York back to Texas. Warm there. Severe threat from north Texas up through Kansas City, mostly big hail and some damaging winds. Maybe an isolated tornado. A slight risk issued by the Storms Prediction Center.
Temperatures today across the U.S. will be on the mild side. In New York City, gorgeous day after the showers exit, 70 degrees for the Big Apple, 67 degrees in Chicago. 57, cool and wet in Portland and 78 degrees in L.A. A check on weather.
It's 20 minutes to the hour. EARLY START is coming right back.
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BOLDUAN: It looks like that Secret Service wants to talk to Ted Nugent a little bit. Nugent under fire for telling an NRA crowd I'll die -- I'll be dead or in jail if President Obama wins re-election.
SAMBOLIN: What exactly does that mean? Alina Cho with new developments this morning --
BOLDUAN: We'll find out. Certainly got a lot of attention.
(CROSSTALK)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He has to know this was probably going to happen. And now, it is.
Good morning again, ladies. Good morning, everybody.
Secret Service does plan to talk to Ted Nugent today. The rock star and gun rights advocate and no stranger to controversy, always outspoken. But in case you missed it, it was this comment about President Obama at the National Rifle Association's annual convention over the weekend that has now launched an investigation. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED NUGENT, MUSICIAN: And if you want more of those kinds of evil, anti-American people in the Supreme Court, then don't get involved and let Obama take office again, because I'll tell you this right now. 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)
CHO: Secret Service and Nugent will meet in Oklahoma. That's where he is performing a concert. He says they'll meet backstage and he is taking it all in stride, talking about it on Glenn Beck's radio show on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLENN BECK TV: Is it true? Have you heard from the Secret Service? Are they --
NUGENT: Well, first of all, I hear from the Secret Service all the time. They want to buy Ted Nugent ammo.
GLENN BECK: That's a plug, isn't it? That's a damn plug on this show.
NUGENT: Well, who doesn't want Ted Nugent ammo? It's out in July.
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 VIDEO CLIP)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Looking forward, not so sure. But it will happen.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: It will happen, nonetheless. So, I mean, is there any way to guess what will actually happen with today's meeting?
CHO: Well, we'd all love to be a fly on the wall for that one, right? But here's what we can tell you. According to the secret service, Nugent will be allowed to have a lawyer present, if he so chooses. Not sure if he will.
And agents, of course, will question him about those controversial comments. They want to know specifically what his intent was when he made them. Nugent insists he wasn't threatening anybody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NUGENT: I have never threatened anybody's life in my life. I don't threaten. I don't waste breath threatening. I just conduct myself as a dedicated "we the people" activist because I saluted too many flag- draped coffins to not appreciate where the freedom comes from.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: In addition to being a performer, he certainly knows how to get attention. Don't expect to hear details from the agency about the meeting. Their policy is not to disclose. As I mentioned earlier, hence, the name secret service. He has endorsed Romney, though, not officially connected to the Romney campaign, obviously.
Romney's people, obviously, want to distant themselves from this saying that divisive language, no matter what side of the political aisle you are on is not good. The White House, of course, not wanting to get into it either, saying the president is focused on the issues.
BOLDUAN: Any time -- sorry, Zoraida.
ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Go ahead.
BOLDUAN: Any time a big name comes out and says something, I mean, these remarks are inflammatory by any measure. And you're in the middle of political season. He has endorsed. It's going to get attention, and it eventually becomes until they put it to rest, it becomes a distraction.
CHO: And here's a -- as Paul Steinhauser, our political editor said to me yesterday, good times. And guess what, we're 6 1/2 months away from the general election.
BOLDUAN: Right.
SAMBOLIN: Exactly.
CHO: So, expect more of this.
SAMBOLIN: So much more to come. Thank you, Alina. We appreciate that.
All right. Forty-seven minutes past the hour. Soledad O'Brien joins us now with a look at what is ahead on "Starting Point." Good morning.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to both of you. This morning, we're going to be talking about Dick Clark's incredible legacy. We're going to chat with Larry Klein (ph). He was the producer of Dick Clark's "New Year's Rockin' Eve." And also, the singer, Gloria Gaynor will join us at 8:30 a.m. She got her big break on "American Bandstand." We'll talk about that.
Also, we promise that this man will be wearing clothing. We're talking to the guy -- yes, yes. I promise. He wasn't wearing clothing there, though. This is the man that decided to strip naked when he just got fed up at an airport checkpoint. Today, he says he has no regrets. We'll tell you what really set him off.
And is America ready for a Black bachelor? There are two men. African-Americans were suing the show and the network alleging racial bias. We'll chat with their attorneys this morning. If you're about to head to work, you don't have to miss the rest of our show. You can check out our live blog at our website, CNN.com/StartingPoint. We'll see you right at the top of the hour. Stay with us.
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BOLDUAN: It is ten minutes to the top of the hour. Just under.
SAMBOLIN: And it's time to check the stories that are making news this morning. Here is Christine Romans.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, you two.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS (voice-over): Three secret service agents have become the first casualties of the department's prostitution scandal in Colombia. One supervisor has been allowed to retire. Another agent resigned. A third was forced out and plans to fight his dismissal.
Remembering Dick Clark, America's oldest teenager. Clark died yesterday after suffering a massive heart attack. President Obama says the TV and music legend reshaped the entertainment landscape forever. And singer, Tony Orlando, said only God is responsible for making more stars than Dick Clark. Dick Clark was 82 years old.
In Texas, a woman accused of murdering the mother of a newborn and kidnapping the baby is in custody this morning. Police say 30-year- old Verna McClain (ph) confessed to shooting Kayla Golden (ph) outside the pediatrician's office. They say the suspect wanted a baby to make her fiance believe she delivered his child. The infant was found safe and was reunited with to the father.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS (on-camera): That's such a sad story.
SAMBOLIN: Terrible.
BOLDUAN: It's such a sad, sad story.
Still ahead, Kim Kardashian talking about a career in politics? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe she just heard that there were --
(LAUGHTER)
SAMBOLIN: Go ahead, read it. Read it.
BOLDUAN: Maybe she just heard there were parties involved.
(LAUGHTER)
BOLDUAN: Political parties, that is. You're watching EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This furniture has a past life as an old barn.
KELLY TRYON-KELLY, OWNER, FURNITURE FROM THE BARN: Most of our furniture is made from 18th century wood. The reclaimed barn wood we get to use our products is mainly in Pennsylvania barns. It's very special to me that we can take a piece of history, American history, and build a piece of furniture out of it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The wood is special, because the quality is so rare.
TRYON-KELLY: Our chestnut wood was harvested in the 180s, before the blight killed the chestnut tree in the early 1900s. Some of the chestnut we get is really cool because, basically, there's not too much chestnut to be found these days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not living an environmental footprint is important to Kelly.
TRYON-KELLY: Being an environmentalist helped me think what could I do to help, instead of an old barn going into a landfill. This wood is so beautiful, and it still can be used. Why not use it?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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SAMBOLIN: Fifty-six minutes past the hour. Time to take a look at what is trending on the web, and I hope she won't resign after just 72 days. Did you hear Kim Kardashian is considering a career in politics? Buzz started after a clip from that other sister show was posted with Kim saying she wants to run for mayor of Glendale, California in L.A. suburb.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY STAR: I decided I'm going to run for the mayor of Glendale. So, Noelle is going to head my campaign, but it's going to be in like five years. I have to buy a house there. You have to have residency there.
So, I'm going to -- yes, park right here. So Noelle and I are like looking into all the requirements, and I'm literally going to have a huge -- she's going to help me with my campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAMBOLIN: Did you hear Kate say hairspray? She needs a little hairspray to keep that hair back? So, well, now, her rep says it wasn't some fleeting thing and that Kim is always looking for ways to get involved. One problem, though, Glendale doesn't have a mayor, just five city council seats.
BOLDUAN: That's right. So, another story that we've been loving all morning. It's a really, really sweet, sweet story. A six-year-old boy launching the most successful lemonade stand ever, and he's not keeping a penny of the profit. Six-year-old Drew Cox of Gladewater, Texas made $10,000 in one day selling lemonade. You see the sign right there. He started it to help his father who was diagnosed with cancer help him pay his medical bills.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED KID: To help my dad and with his bills. He's so important to me. We love to play with each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: One good Samaritan, one of his customers, reportedly wrote Drew a $5,000 check. We're not sure if he took the cup of lemonade in return. What a sweet, sweet boy. Do you love that story or what?
SAMBOLIN: It's just fantastic. Makes you so sad and then so happy, right?
BOLDUAN: Putting it in perspective, folks. Have a great day. That's EARLY START. I am Kate Bolduan.
SAMBOLIN: And I'm Zoraida Sambolin. "STARTING POINT" with Soledad O'Brien starts right now.
