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CNN Live At Daybreak
Giuliani To Receive Honorary Knighthood From Queen Elizabeth Today
Aired February 13, 2002 - 05:32 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: New York's famous former mayor is being honored again for his remarkable leadership following the September 11 attacks. Rudy Giuliani is being given an honorary knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Just so you know, you can't call him Sir Rudy. Hmm.
Our Walter Rodgers is live in London to tell us why -- good morning, Roger (sic).
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Just about 30 minutes from now, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will indeed receive an honorary knighthood here. But, because it is an honorary knighthood, because he is not a British citizen, he will not be kneeling before the Queen. Of course, an American citizen does not kneel before a foreign sovereign. Mr. Giuliani will not be dubbed with a sword, and he will not be entitled to be called "sir."
What he gets from this is a medal, which makes him a knight of the British Empire, a medal which was instituted back in 1917. He can, of course, sign his name "Rudolph Giuliani KBE," Knight of the British Empire, and, if he wears a white tie to formal occasions, he can wear that medal, which Queen Elizabeth is going to present him with in just about 30 minutes from now. Again, this is for Giuliani's stellar service, his heroism in fighting to save New York City on September 11 and the days ensuing thereafter, when many people thought New York City might not last -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, how many Americans have received this honor?
RODGERS: Well, I can't give you the exact number, but I can go down a list of several I know off the top of my head. Start with Steven Spielberg for one, former President Jimmy Carter, former President Ronald Reagan, former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger. We should also point out former President George Bush, Sr. also received this honorary knighthood.
You can see the difficulty in making this anything but an honorary knighthood. An American president could not go down on his knees to be dubbed before a foreign sovereign. That's why there are restrictions placed on honorary knighthood. Still, that's quite an honor. And in addition, we should point out that in addition to former Mayor Giuliani, former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and former Fire Chief Thomas Van Essen of New York City also are getting awards here. They are going to become commanders of the British Empire -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh, cool. Hey, Walter, I understood everyone on the list except Steven Spielberg. Why would he get a medal?
RODGERS: Well, he certainly made a distinguished contribution to world culture through his movies. I should point out Casper Weinberger is one of the very interesting nominees; also, Pele, the soccer star.
But remember, when Britain was at war with Argentina in 1982, it was former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger, then with the Reagan administration, Weinberger who secretly supplied the British and kept them in the war -- supplied them with intelligence in their battle against the Argentines. The British were extraordinarily grateful to Mr. Weinberger, who was an Anglophile, as they are appreciative of Mayor Giuliani.
Remember the British did lose citizens in the World Trade Center, so this is a way of honoring non-British citizens with an honorary knighthood -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Just ashamed we can't call him Sir Rudy. All right, Walter Rodgers reporting live for us from London this morning.
RODGERS: Not supposed to.
COSTELLO: No, but we will anyway, just because he is really popular right now and why not? Thank you very much.
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