Return to Transcripts main page

Lou Dobbs Tonight

The Nation Says Farewell to Ronald Reagan; Critics Say Airport Security Has Gaps

Aired June 11, 2004 - 18:00   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.


LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, the nation's final farewell to President Reagan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It has been 10 years since he said his own farewell, yet it is still very sad and hard to let him go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOBBS: We'll have reports from the nation's capital and from the president's final resting place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

And our guests tonight will assess the power of the presidency in this new century. Our guests are presidential historian Robert Dallek and political professor Tom DeLuca.

This has been an important week for President Bush: important foreign policy successes at both the United Nations and the G-8 summit, yet one national poll shows him running well behind challenger Senator John Kerry. We'll talk with three of the country's top political journalists.

Our special report, Homeland Insecurity, concerns tonight the massive federal overhaul of airport security. Is it enough to protect against terrorism? We'll have a special report. And Congressman David Obey will tell us why more money is needed.

In "Heroes" tonight, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch lost an eye and almost his life in combat in Iraq. Now he says he hopes the war in Iraq won't be his last battle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. NICK POPADITCH, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I'm a Marine. If the Marines are off fighting somewhere, I don't want to be home watching it on TV.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOBBS: We'll have his extraordinary story tonight.

ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT for Friday, June 11. Here now for an hour of news, debate and opinion is Lou Dobbs. DOBBS: Good evening.

President Ronald Reagan was remembered today as an inspiring leader who fought for liberty around the world and who lived an extraordinary life. This National Day of Mourning for the nation's 40th president was marked by ceremonies across the breadth of the nation, from a memorial service in Washington this morning to a sunset burial later tonight in California.

The State Department says 36 current or former heads of state were among the mourners at the National Cathedral today. We begin our coverage tonight with Bruce Morton in our nation's capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRUCE MORTON, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ronald Reagan left the Capitol for the last time.

And, at the National Cathedral, Washington gathered to mourn -- American dignitaries, heads of states, every living U.S. ex-president.

As president, Reagan often called America a city on a hill. In a reading at the service, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a Reagan nominee, quoted John Winthrop in the sermon he preached in 1630 on his way from England to the Massachusetts Bay colony.

JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.

MORTON: The Reverend John Danforth, a former senator from Missouri, talked of it, too.

REV. JOHN DANFORTH, FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR: The Winthrop message became the Reagan message. It rang of optimism, and we longed to hear it, especially after the dark years of Vietnam and Watergate. It was a vision with policy implications. America could not hide its light under a bushel.

MORTON: There were four eulogies, the first from former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher who was at the service but recorded her thoughts on videotape.

MARGARET THATCHER, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: He sought to mend America's wounded spirit, to restore the strength of a free world and to free the slaves of Communism. These were causes hard to accomplish and heavy with risk, yet, though, pursued with almost a lightness of spirit, for Ronald Reagan also embodied another great cause, what Arnold Bennett once called the great cause of cheering us all up.

MORTON: Many remembered his sense of humor, a one-liner, it seemed, for all occasions. Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney recalled waiting with Reagan for their wives after a summit meeting. BRIAN MULRONEY, FORMER CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: When their car drove in a moment later, out stepped Nancy and Mila looking like a million bucks, and, as they headed towards us, President Reagan beamed, he threw his arm around my shoulder, and he said with a grin, "You know, Brian, for two Irishmen, we sure married up."

MORTON: Reagan's vice president will turn 80 tomorrow, acknowledged a debt.

GEORGE BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As his vice president for eight years, I learned more from Ronald Reagan than from anyone I encountered in all my years of public life. I learned kindness. We all did. I also learned courage. The nation did.

MORTON: The president stressed the religious faith he shares with Reagan.

BUSH: In his last years, he saw through a glass darkly. Now he sees his savior face to face. And we look for that fine day when we will see him again, all weariness is gone, clear of mind, strong and sure and smiling again, and the sorrow of this parting gone forever.

MORTON: They talked of his humor, his grace. He argued politics hard but never meanly. The rancorous, nonstop partisanship of today's Washington was not in his nature. So Democrats and Republicans mourned and shared stories, and Ronald Reagan left the city for the last time, headed back to the California he loved.

Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: President Reagan will be laid to rest in about four hours on the grounds of his presidential library in Simi Valley, California. The final ceremony of the day will take place as the sun is setting in California.

Frank Buckley joins us now from Simi Valley -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lou, right now, the president's aboard one of the aircraft known as Air Force One when there is sitting aboard. Right now, it is designated Special Air Mission 28,000.

And we are told there will be a special moment that is taking place here in about an hour and 20 minutes that -- we're told SAM 28,000 will make a low-altitude pass within sight of the Reagan library. Then it will carry on to the Naval Air Force at Point Magoo.

At Point Magoo, there will be an arrival ceremony, and, from there, the president's casket and family members will travel here to the library via motorcade. Once here, there will be remembrances from the Reagan children.

The military will be providing traditions, such as a 21-gun salute and a flyover of FA-18 aircraft. They will be flying under the call signs Gipper 1, 2, 3, and 4. There will be music, including a solo bagpiper who will play "Amazing Grace" as the casket is moved to its final burial spot -- Lou.

DOBBS: Frank, thank you.

The Navy today held a memorial service for President Reagan aboard the aircraft carrier commissioned in his name. The crew of the USS Ronald Reagan flew the flag at half mast and laid a wreath on the ship's deck. The American flag that flew over the ship when the president died Saturday will be presented to Mrs. Reagan during the burial ceremony this evening, The aircraft carrier is currently docked in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

My guest tonight says President Reagan will be remembered for remapping the national political agenda. Professor Tom DeLuca says President Reagan effective moved the center of American politics to the right. He's professor of political science, Fordham University.

Thanks for being here.

It is interesting to see the president, Ronald Reagan, viewed and analyzed in the context of current polarization. Can we really achieve a clear view of his contributions, given that?

TOM DELUCA, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR: Well, I think today is a day of mourning, Lou, and the country feels this loss of a leader, a president, really in a certain way a sovereign almost as you would in a country like England, losing the king rather than the prime minister.

But to look back, this polarization we experience today really goes back, I would say, to the 1964 election, and it's been part of what some have called these culture wars, and Ronald Reagan was a very, very strong and effective cultural warrior for the right. He put conservatism back on the map of American politics.

DOBBS: He put conservatism back. A great apprehension certainly among the elites in this country when he was elected in 1980. But, in point of fact, he -- as Bruce Morton just reported so splendidly, he was a man who charmed his political rivals. He charmed a nation and both parties. We have not seen his like, certainly, since 1963.

DELUCA: Well, certainly, he was a very charming man, and he gained a lot of support for that. But he wasn't always remembered during that time as someone who is as popular as we know to remember him, retrospectively.

He was not very popular soon after he became president, and he wasn't that popular again before he left. In fact, if you look at some contemporary presidents, even President Clinton's popularity was higher as he was leaving office.

But there's no question, in the middle of his presidency, he was a very popular president, and he was a president that was able to win 49 out of 50 states in the 1984 presidential election.

DOBBS: In point of fact, he was the last president to win a majority of the popular vote.

DELUCA: Yes, not just a majority. I mean, he won certainly an electoral landslide.

DOBBS: In 1984.

DELUCA: Yes.

DOBBS: This president, his importance and what he did with the executive, the way in which he dealt with the Democratic Congress with which he work and achieved a great deal -- is it possible for a president now under current circumstances in this new century to achieve what Ronald Reagan did in terms of a working relationship with Congress and of carrying out a bipartisan policy the way in which he did?

DELUCA: Well, Lou, again, I think the problem is partly how we remember President Reagan. President Reagan was very effective with Congress in the very beginning. But that effectiveness wore off as the budget deficits -- for example, $200 billion a year -- started to sink in.

In fact, by the mid part of his presidency, in fact, Congress had reasserted its authority over the budget and over economic policy. President Reagan also had to square up with Congress on many other issues as well.

So I think today's partisanship is really something that goes back to the partisanship of those days, but there's no question that Ronald Reagan, as the great communicator, was able to navigate those waters in a way that it's very, very difficult for contemporary presidents to do.

DOBBS: Professor DeLuca, good to have you here.

DELUCA: Thank you.

DOBBS: Still ahead here, our special report, Homeland Insecurity. The federal government has spent billions of dollars to protect our nation's airports against terrorists. Yet many critics now say it is simply not enough. Congressman David Obey is one of them. He's our guest.

And a national poll shows Senator John Kerry with a sizable lead over President Bush. We'll be talking with three of the country's top journalists about the successes of President Bush at both the G-8 summit and the United Nations this week and flagging poll numbers.

And then, the legacy of Ronald Reagan, its impact on the power of the presidency. I'll be joined by presidential historian Robert Dallek next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) DOBBS: Now, our special report, homeland insecurity. Tonight, we focus on security at the nation's airports. The gaps in the government's efforts to protect Americans from terrorism is concerning a number of critics.

Peter Viles has the report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): So much has changed in air travel: every piece of luggage now inspected, every cockpit door reinforced, every passenger screened by new federal employees. But there are new concerns.

A recent GAO report said the Transportation Security Administration was hindered by staffing shortages in attrition rates as high as 36 percent at some airports. It said a federal program to prescreen passengers via computer and identify potential threats is behind schedule, and most cargo shipped on passenger planes is not physically inspected at the airport.

CAPT. JAMES SHILLING, COALITION OF AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION: If we leave one area open, if we leave one area available to the terrorist, they will go down the path of the easiest or least resistance. So whatever we apply on one side of the industry has to be applied to the other side of the industry as well.

VILES: Thirty percent of air cargo moves in the belly of passenger planes, and, right now, the government doesn't have machines that can X-ray it.

JAMES MAY, AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: We're physically incapable. We don't have the infrastructure or the technology to keep the air cargo industry moving and screen every single piece. It's not feasible at this time, but what is feasible and what is necessary is that we identify all of the high-risk cargo and make sure that that's being screened.

VILES: Moving cargo is a $4-billion-a-year business to passenger airlines. They say 100 percent physical inspection would destroy the business.

MARK HATFIELD, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: It would require sort of hand-searching each and every piece, and, if we hand- search each and every piece, that will effectively knock out the whole business of cargo carried on passenger aircraft.

VILES: The airline industry argues that cargo shipped by air is more closely monitored than cargo shipped on trucks, trains or on ships in this country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VILES: There is likely some confusion ahead in air security because the TSA will soon lose its total control of passenger screening. Come November, airports can begin hiring their own screeners, if they want, and one in four airports -- that's about a hundred airports -- has indicated they will do so -- Lou.

DOBBS: Concerning, to say the least.

VILES: It sure is.

DOBBS: Peter Viles, thank you.

My next guest says there are huge gaps in security at our nation's airports. Congressman David Obey of Wisconsin says there is certainly not enough funding being allocated for security at this country's airports, and he says an even more pressing problem is the lack of security at our ports and our railroads.

Congressman David Obey joins me tonight from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Good so have you with us, Congressman.

REP. DAVID OBEY (D), WISCONSIN: Good to be with you, Lou.

DOBBS: Here we are approaching three years after September 11 and that there should be any gaps in security, I think, must strike many viewers, many Americans as just simply incomprehensible. Why should there be any slack whatsoever in meeting the goals to provide maximum security at our ports, in our transit and certainly at our airports?

OBEY: Well, we can never have 100 percent safety in any field of endeavor, but the fact is that I think we've been virtually negligent in refusing to fully fund some of the initiatives that could have increased safety at our ports, at our airports, on our borders. I just think that the Congress and the president have been woefully inadequate on this issue.

DOBBS: The Homeland Security's appropriations bill for the next fiscal year provides, as you well know, almost $6 billion for funding for, among other things, air marshals -- federal air marshals. Is that, in your judgment, an adequate amount?

OBEY: Absolutely not. I think the public would be surprised to find out that the number of air marshals actually in service today are almost 20 percent less than the amount the president said would be necessary just two years ago.

I think they would also be shocked if they understood what a small percentage of cargo on passenger planes is actually inspected for explosives. For every person who walks through a screening device in an airport, there's about 600 pounds of cargo that go on airplanes, and the vast majority of it is not screened.

We also need, in my view, to invest $2 billion to $3 billion in additional in-line equipment so that you can have cargo that goes on the -- I mean, so that you can have luggage that goes on to planes screened so that people know that you're getting good, solid inspection. We just aren't getting it right now. DOBBS: You're the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. What are, in your judgment, the three most critical additions and initiatives that we should be following right now?

OBEY: Well, I would certainly try to see to it that we're inspecting much more of the cargo that goes on airplanes. I would also try to make certain that the air marshals are funded at a higher level so that you can have enough of them.

And also -- this doesn't relate to air security so much -- but I would certainly see to it that we add 2,000 people to the inspection team our borders. Right now, we are 2,000 people below the number that the Patriot Act itself, which the president talks about often -- we're 2,000 in personnel below the amount that we're supposed to have under the Patriot Act.

In addition, in ports, it is ludicrous for us to be having inspectors in foreign ports who are only on temporary duty and rotate every six months. They are not going to get to know the system and get to know the people in those foreign ports. So we have a tremendous number of holes.

DOBBS: And, Congressman, one final question, and that, of course, on Accenture. The Homeland Security contract that could be as much as $10 billion awarded to a foreign-based company, blocked by the Appropriations Committee this week. Now it goes to a vote of the House. What is your sense? Will that vote in the Appropriations Committee, a bipartisan vote, by the way, be sustained?

OBEY: Well, I hope we have a vote in the House. Last year, we added an amendment to prevent a company which locates in Bermuda from being able to get homeland security contracts, but that was then knocked out by the Rules Committee, and the House never even got a chance to vote on it.

I hope that enough pressure is put on the Rules Committee this year so that they will allow that language to stay in the bill, or at least make certain that we can get a vote on it. It's absurd when we give to a company that is locating in Bermuda to escape taxes the biggest contract ever given by this agency for the purpose of tracking who crosses our borders.

When the company itself has walked away from the border, I don't think that they deserve to be checking on other people walking across that border.

DOBBS: Thank you very much, Congressman David Obey. We thank you for being with us this evening.

OBEY: Thank you.

DOBBS: When we continue, presidential historian Robert Dallek joins us for more on President Reagan's legacy, including his impact on the power of the 21st-Century presidency.

Also tonight, the latest opinion poll, bad news for President Bush. That story and a great deal more. We'll be discussing that with some of the country's top political journalists.

And Congress preparing to tackle the exporting of American jobs and a number of other critically important issues in the coming days. We'll take a look at the week ahead next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: The U.S. government made a mistake -- and a big one. The State Department now says a recent report showing a decline in terrorism in 2003 was based on faulty data. In fact, Spokesman Richard Boucher says the corrected State Department report will show a sharp increase in terrorism last year. The State Department says the corrected version is not yet completed.

Republican Senator John McCain has apparently rejected an offer to form a bipartisan alliance against President Bush with none other than Senator John Kerry. According to the Associated Press, Senator Kerry has asked McCain to consider running with him. Campaign officials say Kerry stopped just short of offering McCain the job.

And, according to the latest "Los Angeles Times" poll, Senator Kerry is doing just fine without Senator McCain. The poll shows Senator Kerry leading President Bush now nationally by a 51 percent to 44 percent margin.

And Senator Kerry is still ahead of President Bush in the poll when Ralph Nader is added, 48 percent to 42 percent.

Joining me now to talk about this and a great deal more in the way of political events this week, tonight's newsmakers, Jim Ellis, chief of correspondents at "BusinessWeek"; Roger Simon, political editor at "U.S. News & World Report"; Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent, "TIME" magazine.

We have had an extraordinary week. This outpouring of affection, the national display. Karen, I'm going to turn to you. What are the -- is there in this any surprise for you at just the obvious affection for President Reagan?

KAREN TUMULTY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Well, the only surprise was the -- for my part is -- is the amount of coverage, the saturation of coverage and the degree to which it essentially smothered all other news. I think it did show that this president, you know, still has a real hold on the American people and on the political debate.

DOBBS: And, Roger, your thoughts?

ROGER SIMON, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": I think Karen's right. This is the first president -- and a popular president at that -- who has died since the creation of the 24-hour news cycle, since the rise of cable news that fills the airwaves hour after hour after hour, and it was filled with Ronald Reagan, and I think that broadcasters sensed that people wanted it, and it did become the only story, and it has really suppressed for the first time any talk about the presidential race for at least a week.

DOBBS: Well, some of the news that was not in the week, Jim, a president who won remarkable successes at both the United Nations and the G-8 summit, unanimous resolution in support of Iraq at the G-8 summit, solidarity that we haven't seen for some time. Your thoughts?

JIM ELLIS, "BUSINESSWEEK": Well, I agree that a lot of people thought we would never get the U.N. resolution through, particularly with that level of support, but we have to remember that we've got a lot of people who are saying, yes, we're behind you, but they don't still want to put up additional funding and they don't want to give us men to help us actually, you know, stabilize the situation there.

So I think that while a lot of the public attention's been on the Reagan funeral this week, I think that, next week, we'll start looking back at what we really got out of the U.N. and particularly what we got out of the G-8, which is that, you know, OK, we're going to legitimatize the government there, but we're not willing to actually put any more world support behind it, and, more importantly, there's no role for NATO there, and you guys are still pretty well on your own.

DOBBS: Karen, do you agree with that?

TUMULTY: Well, I think there are a couple of intangible benefits, however, that came through. One is this U.N. resolution does at least put some sort of international approval on -- international stamp of approval on this new government in Iraq, which I think would otherwise be questioned as essentially a, you know, tool of the American occupation, especially considering the number of members who are actually carryovers from the provisional government now.

And, second of all, I think President Bush benefits politically from sort of proving that he can perform both the at G-8 and at the U.N. -- on the world stage as a member of an ensemble cast. Diplomacy seems to have come back into favor.

DOBBS: And this poll, Roger Simon, showing Kerry, Senator Kerry running well ahead of President Bush, with or without consideration of Ralph Nader. Are you surprised?

SIMON: I'm surprised at the margin. Seven points is a lot. And it's the first time that Kerry has broken out of virtually a dead heat. And it puts to rest the storyline, at least for a little while, these poll numbers will shift between now and November. It puts to rest the storyline that even though Bush is dropping in approval, John Kerry simply can't capitalize it, can't make the horse race numbers move.

He has made the horse race numbers move. And most depressing for the White House probably is the fact that the polls shows that by solid majorities the American people reject the president's handling of the economy and Iraq at a time when the economy is getting better, and there seems to be some hope in Iraq. TUMULTY: Although, Lou, there are questions being raised about that poll, especially, it's been followed since then by an Associated Press poll that shows the race, basically, even.

The president's campaign immediately pointed out that in this poll the president enjoys a very strong lead among Republicans, a stronger lead than Kerry has among Democrats, that independents are breaking in favor of the president. So, they are saying it is practically a mathematical impossibility for this margin to look the way it does. There was a sampling error in it.

DOBBS: What do you think of that sampling error, Jim?

ELLIS: Well, I think that it's probably too soon to say that either side has this thing -- I don't think we've seen a Kerry breakout yet. I really do think that because the economy is in the aggregate getting better, that plays to the president.

Also, as we start getting more jobs numbers out there, jobs are being created. And so the Democrats, if they have any chance of capitalizing on the jobs issue in the future, are going to have to start talking about the quality of jobs that's out there as opposed to the number.

In other words, the quality of jobs and the level of pay that those jobs have. Those will be the new sort of message we'll get from them.

DOBBS; Jim Ellis, thank you very much. "Businessweek" magazine. Karen Tumulty, "TIME." Roger Simon, "U.S News and World Report." We thank you. Have a good weekend.

That brings us to the subject of tonight's poll. The question, "have you decided whom you will vote for in the presidential election? Yes or no." Let's find out just who is undecided. Cast your vote at CNN.com/lou. We'll have the results for you later in the broadcast.

Coming up next, a true American hero. A marine wounded in combat who says he would rather be with his fellow marines than home recovering. We'll have his story coming up next.

And the nation says farewell to the 40th president of the United States. Leaders from around the world gather to honor the late President Ronald Reagan. Presidential historian Robert Dallek joins us along with Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: This week extraordinary in Washington. Next week will be busy. On Capitol Hill, Congress will take up a number of controversial issues, including the $10 billion homeland security contract that was awarded to Bermuda-based Accenture. The contract part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. That's just one of several key items on the legislative agenda next week. Lisa Sylvester has more for us now from Washington, D.C. -- Lisa. LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, this week was unusual. There was no partisan bickering. Everyone was getting along, pausing to remember President Ronald Reagan. But all it takes is one or two divisive issues for both parties to be their usual themselves again.

Topping the list for next week is the Corporate Tax Bill in the House. This bill repeals a $50 billion tax break that the World Trade Organization prohibited and replaces it with $140 billion tax cuts for manufacturers. Critics say this bill does not do enough for small American manufacturers and they argue the big winners here are really large corporations.

Also on the House side, is the Homeland Security Department Appropriations Bill. It is tentatively scheduled to head to the rules committee next week. An amendment to the bill would prevent companies that is set up shell corporations outside the United States from receiving contracts. And as was mentioned earlier in the program, last week Accenture, based in Bermuda was awarded a contract up to $10 billion by the Department of Homeland Security.

Other items briefly, the Energy Bill also will be taken up by the Senate. With gasoline prices topping $2 a gallon, Republican members of the House hope to pressure the Senate to act on the bill before the summer recess.

And on the Senate side, lawmakers will be debating the Defense Reauthorization Bill. Part of that debate will include whether to increase President Bush's request of $25 billion for the war in Iraq. Some Democrats say, though, if the administration needs more money, it should ask for it now -- Lou.

DOBBS: And one doesn't hesitate to think that they will ask for it. Lisa Sylvester, thank you very much.

Taking a look at your thoughts. We received a great deal of viewer e-mail about that multibillion dollar contract awarded to Accenture.

Cassandra Drachenberg of Ector, Texas, "thank you for your continued coverage of the Accenture debacle. It's outrageous that this government continues to abandon the American worker."

Ray Van Ess of Green Bay, Wisconsin, "keep up your excellent reporting on the loss of our jobs to foreign countries and offshoring of corporate interests to cut taxes owed here. Why is our government not looking out for the workers of our country? Does the almighty buck conquer decency, patriotism and the courage to do what is right?

Rich Bacci of Simi Valley, California, "It is a sad statement regarding the lack of integrity and support that our elected officials exhibit for the very people that elected them and are paid to represent." Send us your thoughts at loudobbs@CNN.com.

Still ahead here, a tribute to two great Americans. And "Heroes" tonight, the remarkable story of a marine wounded in Iraq who says he can't wait to return to battle. We'll bring you his story in just a moment. Please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: In "Heroes" tonight, a marine gunnery officer who volunteered for two tours of duty in Iraq. Sergeant Nick Popaditch was wounded. He's now home recovering from his combat injuries but he plans to return to Iraq just as soon as he can or as soon as the marine corps allows him. Casey Wian has his story from 29 Palms, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gunney Nick Popaditch is doing what he loves best, showing off an M-1, A-1 battle tank the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) commanded through two Gulf Wars.

SGT. NICK POPADITCH, MARINE CORPS: There is no weapon system in Iraq currently employed by the anti-coalition forces that can take this thing off the battlefield.

WIAN: Popaditch rolled into Baghdad's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Square on a tank he named Carnivore. He and his fellow marines helped the Iraqis take down the now infamous statute of Saddam Hussein.

POPADITCH: We really felt, at that time, you were seeing these people liberate, these people were being freed. And they certainly were reacting that way. It was an incredible moment to be part of.

WIAN: Popaditch completed the deployment and came home but just a few months later volunteered to go back with another unit.

POPADITCH: I'm a marine. If Marines are off fighting somewhere, I don't want to be home watching it on TV. I want to be there, I want to be with them, I want to be part of it.

WIAN: This time he found himself in Fallujah in a tough fire fight with insurgents. A rocket-propelled grenade almost cost him his life.

POPADITCH: The other one came from straight down above me and hit me right on top the head, right about here, I guess my head was...

WIAN: The explosion took out Popaditch's right eye, left him partially blind in his left eye and deaf.

POPADITCH: There's like a cap in there. I don't know if this is gross or not. It's not gross to me or anybody but there's just a cap in there.

WIAN: Popaditch can't read yet but says his sight gets better every day and can hear with one ear and hopes a hearing aid will help the other. In spite of the ordeal, he feels lucky.

POPADITCH: It never struck me as a tragedy or anything like that because, you know, you've got to -- you know, I was perfectly fine from the neck down. Perfectly healthy. WIAN: While he recovers Popaditch hangs out with fellow marines in the tank maintenance yard anxious to go back to work.

POPADITCH: I'd go back in a minute. As soon as I can see again, that's my plan.

WIAN: And he hopes his 15-year military career will continue. Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: Our thought is on heroes. "Heroism is the divine relation which, in all times, unites a great man to other men." Scottish writer and historian Thomas Carlyle.

Coming up next, the nation bids farewell to President Ronald Reagan. Presidential historian Robert Dallek will join me along with Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: A political defense of President Bush coming from an unlikely source, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin defended President Bush against criticism from Democrats over the war in Iraq. Putin, answering reporters' questions at the G8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia, says Democrats have, quote, "no moral right to attack the president over Iraq," end quote. President Putin reminded reporters it was President Clinton who authorized the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia by use of U.S. and NATO forces. Russia opposed both the Yugoslav bombing and, of course, the war in Iraq.

Returning now to our top story. The nation's final farewell to President Ronald Reagan. Joining me now from Washington CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff who have been leading our coverage and in Washington, presidential historian Robert Dallek, the author of numerous books on presidents including "Ronald Reagan, The Politics of Symbolism."

Bob, before I bring in my colleagues who have done just such an outstanding job this week, let me ask you this, the essential question at the end of this week of mourning, this national day of mourning, is it in your judgment -- I know it's early -- but is it, in your judgment, too soon to say that Ronald Reagan will go down as one of the most important presidents?

ROBERT DALLEK, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, Lou, I think there's no question he will be remembered as one of the most significant presidents in the country's history, particularly in the 20th century. There have only about 12 presidents out of the 43 so far who had eight years or more in office. The more, of course, was FDR. That's a pretty thin group or pretty limited group to be a part of. So that, alone, makes him a major significant president. I think historians will be looking at his records and studying his work and his administration, his leadership for years and years to come. We're only 15 years away from his presidency. The bulk of his papers have not opened yet. So historians in the next 10, 25 years are really going to dig in and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) historians have a field day, so to speak. I think we'll see an awful lot of books about Ronald Reagan's eight years in the presidency in the next 15, 20 years.

DOBBS: Judy, I would ask both you and Wolf as you have been reporting on this week of mourning for our 40th president, to think back in your coverage of presidents to remember and recall your coverage of this president, Ronald Reagan. Give us your best sense. They say that news is history's first draft. No offense, Robert Dallek.

DALLEK: None taken.

DOBBS: In the first draft, your thoughts, your reactions, your personal thoughts -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Well, it has just been an extraordinary week. I mean, it has been -- this has been said over and over again. The first time in 30 years that we have had a state funeral for a president where we've seen this sort of pomp and circumstance that we've had all week. You've had both the majesty today's service at the National Cathedral here in Washington, and the very emotional, if you will, scene of the caisson coming down Pennsylvania -- or rather, Constitution Avenue on Wednesday, combined with the very personal scenes with Nancy Reagan. So it's brought together the state, the pomp, but it's also brought the personal all in one in a six-day period, and I think it's also been a time to bring Americans together, if only for a few days, it's brought us together.

BLITZER: One point I'd add, Lou, is that as much as these are icons and these are famous people, Ronald Reagan of course, the president of the United States, what we saw, also these are human beings who are left in the aftermath, Nancy Reagan, a wife who so deeply loved her husband now in mourning.

And the children, of course, in mourning as well. And others are human beings, like the former president, the first President Bush. When he choked up today as he was delivering that eulogy and he became so sentimental about the man he served for eight years as vice president, that was just a human moment that all of us could appreciate.

DOBBS: And Bob Dallek, that's really part of the motivation for this pomp and circumstance, as Judy referred to it, as the nation remembers a president now going to his final resting place in California. The nation attaches to the symbolism that you've spoken of in all of this.

DALLEK: Yes. Well, you know, Reagan is a powerful, symbolic figure, most of all because, as Judy was saying, he's a unifying force. And I think -- I've been saying there's been so much acrimony in our politics in recent years. You remember back to the election in 2000 and now the current election campaign. It is so divisive. And Reagan sort of inspirits the nation, gives it a feeling that it has shared values and a better future.

DOBBS: A reminder that we can be united. And we appreciate all of you being here. Judy Woodruff, Wolf Blitzer, just outstanding work this week. We thank you very much. And Robert Dallek, we thank you very much for your time and sharing your thoughts.

Turning to the results of our poll, only 4 percent of you responded that you have not decided whom you will vote for in this presidential election. The undecideds narrowing significantly, at least, among this audience, this very demanding and intelligence audience of this broadcast. We thank you for voting.

Still ahead, playing tribute to a friend. The special relationship between President Reagan and former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. And celebrating two men with the words in music both loved.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: President Reagan had a special relationship, both political and personal, with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The 78-year-old Lady Thatcher, in poor health after her stroke and against her doctor's wishes, flew from London to pay tribute and respects to her friend and compatriot in world leadership. Robin Oakley reports from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Margaret Thatcher greeted the death of President Ronald Reagan by declaring he was one of her closest political allies and dearest personal friends. He was the only world leader she used to kiss.

And theirs was likely the most long-lasting and effective world leaders alliance of the 1980s. "The Great Communicator" in the White House and the woman dubbed "The Iron Lady" by a Soviet Army newspaper, saw the world in stark black and white, not in any intervening shade of gray.

LORD CHARLES POWELL, FRM. THATCHER ADVISER: Really, their thinking on many issues, not just the evils of communism, became very similar: hatred of high taxes, hatred of big government, hatred of socialism in all its forms.

OAKLEY: The so-called special relationship was probably stronger with Thatcher on Downing Street and Reagan in the White House than it's been since the days of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

R. REAGAN: It is how much we have in common and the depth of our friendship that truly matters.

OAKLEY: In her memoirs, which have 72 references to President Reagan in the index, she notes, "I knew that I was talking to someone who instinctively thought and felt as I did."

And they didn't always agree. It was Thatcher who first persuaded Reagan that the Soviet Union's Mikhail Gorbachev was a man they could do business with. But when the two presidents met in Reykjavik, and President Reagan nearly agreed to surrender most of the west's arsenal of arms, she dashed off to Washington to lecture him on his imprudence. And observers say she was furious when in 1983 the U.S. invaded the Caribbean state of Grenada a member of the British Commonwealth without first warning the UK. Thatcher's increasing suspicion of Europe increased her eagerness to work with President Reagan.

MARGARET THATCHER, FRM. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I prefer the greater alliance between the English speaking people's in America, it's that which saved liberty for the world.

OAKLEY: It was an alliance which worked for two leaders successfully seeking to rebuild optimism in their countries. Margaret Thatcher was always ready to pay tribute to America and to the leadership of a president she saw as having played a major part in the defeat of Communism.

R. REAGAN: You have in this century so often remained steadfast for what is right and against what is wrong.

OAKLEY: And it was the way in which the special relationship worked in their time, perhaps, which, in the end, brought round a Europe, initially suspicious of a president who'd worked as a Hollywood actor, to appreciate his contribution to history. Robin Oakley, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: This has been a week in which the nation's focus has been (AUDIO GAP) greatest presidents of the past 100 years, Ronald Reagan. But we also lost another national treasure this week, Ray Charles.

Tonight, we leave you with a tribute to both men. Ray Charles performing "America the Beautiful" at President Reagan's second inaugural gala in 1985.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAY CHARLES: (SINGING "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL")

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 June 11, 2004 - 18:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, the nation's final farewell to President Reagan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It has been 10 years since he said his own farewell, yet it is still very sad and hard to let him go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOBBS: We'll have reports from the nation's capital and from the president's final resting place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

And our guests tonight will assess the power of the presidency in this new century. Our guests are presidential historian Robert Dallek and political professor Tom DeLuca.

This has been an important week for President Bush: important foreign policy successes at both the United Nations and the G-8 summit, yet one national poll shows him running well behind challenger Senator John Kerry. We'll talk with three of the country's top political journalists.

Our special report, Homeland Insecurity, concerns tonight the massive federal overhaul of airport security. Is it enough to protect against terrorism? We'll have a special report. And Congressman David Obey will tell us why more money is needed.

In "Heroes" tonight, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch lost an eye and almost his life in combat in Iraq. Now he says he hopes the war in Iraq won't be his last battle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. NICK POPADITCH, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I'm a Marine. If the Marines are off fighting somewhere, I don't want to be home watching it on TV.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOBBS: We'll have his extraordinary story tonight.

ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT for Friday, June 11. Here now for an hour of news, debate and opinion is Lou Dobbs. DOBBS: Good evening.

President Ronald Reagan was remembered today as an inspiring leader who fought for liberty around the world and who lived an extraordinary life. This National Day of Mourning for the nation's 40th president was marked by ceremonies across the breadth of the nation, from a memorial service in Washington this morning to a sunset burial later tonight in California.

The State Department says 36 current or former heads of state were among the mourners at the National Cathedral today. We begin our coverage tonight with Bruce Morton in our nation's capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRUCE MORTON, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ronald Reagan left the Capitol for the last time.

And, at the National Cathedral, Washington gathered to mourn -- American dignitaries, heads of states, every living U.S. ex-president.

As president, Reagan often called America a city on a hill. In a reading at the service, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a Reagan nominee, quoted John Winthrop in the sermon he preached in 1630 on his way from England to the Massachusetts Bay colony.

JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.

MORTON: The Reverend John Danforth, a former senator from Missouri, talked of it, too.

REV. JOHN DANFORTH, FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR: The Winthrop message became the Reagan message. It rang of optimism, and we longed to hear it, especially after the dark years of Vietnam and Watergate. It was a vision with policy implications. America could not hide its light under a bushel.

MORTON: There were four eulogies, the first from former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher who was at the service but recorded her thoughts on videotape.

MARGARET THATCHER, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: He sought to mend America's wounded spirit, to restore the strength of a free world and to free the slaves of Communism. These were causes hard to accomplish and heavy with risk, yet, though, pursued with almost a lightness of spirit, for Ronald Reagan also embodied another great cause, what Arnold Bennett once called the great cause of cheering us all up.

MORTON: Many remembered his sense of humor, a one-liner, it seemed, for all occasions. Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney recalled waiting with Reagan for their wives after a summit meeting. BRIAN MULRONEY, FORMER CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: When their car drove in a moment later, out stepped Nancy and Mila looking like a million bucks, and, as they headed towards us, President Reagan beamed, he threw his arm around my shoulder, and he said with a grin, "You know, Brian, for two Irishmen, we sure married up."

MORTON: Reagan's vice president will turn 80 tomorrow, acknowledged a debt.

GEORGE BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As his vice president for eight years, I learned more from Ronald Reagan than from anyone I encountered in all my years of public life. I learned kindness. We all did. I also learned courage. The nation did.

MORTON: The president stressed the religious faith he shares with Reagan.

BUSH: In his last years, he saw through a glass darkly. Now he sees his savior face to face. And we look for that fine day when we will see him again, all weariness is gone, clear of mind, strong and sure and smiling again, and the sorrow of this parting gone forever.

MORTON: They talked of his humor, his grace. He argued politics hard but never meanly. The rancorous, nonstop partisanship of today's Washington was not in his nature. So Democrats and Republicans mourned and shared stories, and Ronald Reagan left the city for the last time, headed back to the California he loved.

Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: President Reagan will be laid to rest in about four hours on the grounds of his presidential library in Simi Valley, California. The final ceremony of the day will take place as the sun is setting in California.

Frank Buckley joins us now from Simi Valley -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lou, right now, the president's aboard one of the aircraft known as Air Force One when there is sitting aboard. Right now, it is designated Special Air Mission 28,000.

And we are told there will be a special moment that is taking place here in about an hour and 20 minutes that -- we're told SAM 28,000 will make a low-altitude pass within sight of the Reagan library. Then it will carry on to the Naval Air Force at Point Magoo.

At Point Magoo, there will be an arrival ceremony, and, from there, the president's casket and family members will travel here to the library via motorcade. Once here, there will be remembrances from the Reagan children.

The military will be providing traditions, such as a 21-gun salute and a flyover of FA-18 aircraft. They will be flying under the call signs Gipper 1, 2, 3, and 4. There will be music, including a solo bagpiper who will play "Amazing Grace" as the casket is moved to its final burial spot -- Lou.

DOBBS: Frank, thank you.

The Navy today held a memorial service for President Reagan aboard the aircraft carrier commissioned in his name. The crew of the USS Ronald Reagan flew the flag at half mast and laid a wreath on the ship's deck. The American flag that flew over the ship when the president died Saturday will be presented to Mrs. Reagan during the burial ceremony this evening, The aircraft carrier is currently docked in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

My guest tonight says President Reagan will be remembered for remapping the national political agenda. Professor Tom DeLuca says President Reagan effective moved the center of American politics to the right. He's professor of political science, Fordham University.

Thanks for being here.

It is interesting to see the president, Ronald Reagan, viewed and analyzed in the context of current polarization. Can we really achieve a clear view of his contributions, given that?

TOM DELUCA, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR: Well, I think today is a day of mourning, Lou, and the country feels this loss of a leader, a president, really in a certain way a sovereign almost as you would in a country like England, losing the king rather than the prime minister.

But to look back, this polarization we experience today really goes back, I would say, to the 1964 election, and it's been part of what some have called these culture wars, and Ronald Reagan was a very, very strong and effective cultural warrior for the right. He put conservatism back on the map of American politics.

DOBBS: He put conservatism back. A great apprehension certainly among the elites in this country when he was elected in 1980. But, in point of fact, he -- as Bruce Morton just reported so splendidly, he was a man who charmed his political rivals. He charmed a nation and both parties. We have not seen his like, certainly, since 1963.

DELUCA: Well, certainly, he was a very charming man, and he gained a lot of support for that. But he wasn't always remembered during that time as someone who is as popular as we know to remember him, retrospectively.

He was not very popular soon after he became president, and he wasn't that popular again before he left. In fact, if you look at some contemporary presidents, even President Clinton's popularity was higher as he was leaving office.

But there's no question, in the middle of his presidency, he was a very popular president, and he was a president that was able to win 49 out of 50 states in the 1984 presidential election.

DOBBS: In point of fact, he was the last president to win a majority of the popular vote.

DELUCA: Yes, not just a majority. I mean, he won certainly an electoral landslide.

DOBBS: In 1984.

DELUCA: Yes.

DOBBS: This president, his importance and what he did with the executive, the way in which he dealt with the Democratic Congress with which he work and achieved a great deal -- is it possible for a president now under current circumstances in this new century to achieve what Ronald Reagan did in terms of a working relationship with Congress and of carrying out a bipartisan policy the way in which he did?

DELUCA: Well, Lou, again, I think the problem is partly how we remember President Reagan. President Reagan was very effective with Congress in the very beginning. But that effectiveness wore off as the budget deficits -- for example, $200 billion a year -- started to sink in.

In fact, by the mid part of his presidency, in fact, Congress had reasserted its authority over the budget and over economic policy. President Reagan also had to square up with Congress on many other issues as well.

So I think today's partisanship is really something that goes back to the partisanship of those days, but there's no question that Ronald Reagan, as the great communicator, was able to navigate those waters in a way that it's very, very difficult for contemporary presidents to do.

DOBBS: Professor DeLuca, good to have you here.

DELUCA: Thank you.

DOBBS: Still ahead here, our special report, Homeland Insecurity. The federal government has spent billions of dollars to protect our nation's airports against terrorists. Yet many critics now say it is simply not enough. Congressman David Obey is one of them. He's our guest.

And a national poll shows Senator John Kerry with a sizable lead over President Bush. We'll be talking with three of the country's top journalists about the successes of President Bush at both the G-8 summit and the United Nations this week and flagging poll numbers.

And then, the legacy of Ronald Reagan, its impact on the power of the presidency. I'll be joined by presidential historian Robert Dallek next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) DOBBS: Now, our special report, homeland insecurity. Tonight, we focus on security at the nation's airports. The gaps in the government's efforts to protect Americans from terrorism is concerning a number of critics.

Peter Viles has the report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): So much has changed in air travel: every piece of luggage now inspected, every cockpit door reinforced, every passenger screened by new federal employees. But there are new concerns.

A recent GAO report said the Transportation Security Administration was hindered by staffing shortages in attrition rates as high as 36 percent at some airports. It said a federal program to prescreen passengers via computer and identify potential threats is behind schedule, and most cargo shipped on passenger planes is not physically inspected at the airport.

CAPT. JAMES SHILLING, COALITION OF AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION: If we leave one area open, if we leave one area available to the terrorist, they will go down the path of the easiest or least resistance. So whatever we apply on one side of the industry has to be applied to the other side of the industry as well.

VILES: Thirty percent of air cargo moves in the belly of passenger planes, and, right now, the government doesn't have machines that can X-ray it.

JAMES MAY, AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: We're physically incapable. We don't have the infrastructure or the technology to keep the air cargo industry moving and screen every single piece. It's not feasible at this time, but what is feasible and what is necessary is that we identify all of the high-risk cargo and make sure that that's being screened.

VILES: Moving cargo is a $4-billion-a-year business to passenger airlines. They say 100 percent physical inspection would destroy the business.

MARK HATFIELD, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: It would require sort of hand-searching each and every piece, and, if we hand- search each and every piece, that will effectively knock out the whole business of cargo carried on passenger aircraft.

VILES: The airline industry argues that cargo shipped by air is more closely monitored than cargo shipped on trucks, trains or on ships in this country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VILES: There is likely some confusion ahead in air security because the TSA will soon lose its total control of passenger screening. Come November, airports can begin hiring their own screeners, if they want, and one in four airports -- that's about a hundred airports -- has indicated they will do so -- Lou.

DOBBS: Concerning, to say the least.

VILES: It sure is.

DOBBS: Peter Viles, thank you.

My next guest says there are huge gaps in security at our nation's airports. Congressman David Obey of Wisconsin says there is certainly not enough funding being allocated for security at this country's airports, and he says an even more pressing problem is the lack of security at our ports and our railroads.

Congressman David Obey joins me tonight from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Good so have you with us, Congressman.

REP. DAVID OBEY (D), WISCONSIN: Good to be with you, Lou.

DOBBS: Here we are approaching three years after September 11 and that there should be any gaps in security, I think, must strike many viewers, many Americans as just simply incomprehensible. Why should there be any slack whatsoever in meeting the goals to provide maximum security at our ports, in our transit and certainly at our airports?

OBEY: Well, we can never have 100 percent safety in any field of endeavor, but the fact is that I think we've been virtually negligent in refusing to fully fund some of the initiatives that could have increased safety at our ports, at our airports, on our borders. I just think that the Congress and the president have been woefully inadequate on this issue.

DOBBS: The Homeland Security's appropriations bill for the next fiscal year provides, as you well know, almost $6 billion for funding for, among other things, air marshals -- federal air marshals. Is that, in your judgment, an adequate amount?

OBEY: Absolutely not. I think the public would be surprised to find out that the number of air marshals actually in service today are almost 20 percent less than the amount the president said would be necessary just two years ago.

I think they would also be shocked if they understood what a small percentage of cargo on passenger planes is actually inspected for explosives. For every person who walks through a screening device in an airport, there's about 600 pounds of cargo that go on airplanes, and the vast majority of it is not screened.

We also need, in my view, to invest $2 billion to $3 billion in additional in-line equipment so that you can have cargo that goes on the -- I mean, so that you can have luggage that goes on to planes screened so that people know that you're getting good, solid inspection. We just aren't getting it right now. DOBBS: You're the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. What are, in your judgment, the three most critical additions and initiatives that we should be following right now?

OBEY: Well, I would certainly try to see to it that we're inspecting much more of the cargo that goes on airplanes. I would also try to make certain that the air marshals are funded at a higher level so that you can have enough of them.

And also -- this doesn't relate to air security so much -- but I would certainly see to it that we add 2,000 people to the inspection team our borders. Right now, we are 2,000 people below the number that the Patriot Act itself, which the president talks about often -- we're 2,000 in personnel below the amount that we're supposed to have under the Patriot Act.

In addition, in ports, it is ludicrous for us to be having inspectors in foreign ports who are only on temporary duty and rotate every six months. They are not going to get to know the system and get to know the people in those foreign ports. So we have a tremendous number of holes.

DOBBS: And, Congressman, one final question, and that, of course, on Accenture. The Homeland Security contract that could be as much as $10 billion awarded to a foreign-based company, blocked by the Appropriations Committee this week. Now it goes to a vote of the House. What is your sense? Will that vote in the Appropriations Committee, a bipartisan vote, by the way, be sustained?

OBEY: Well, I hope we have a vote in the House. Last year, we added an amendment to prevent a company which locates in Bermuda from being able to get homeland security contracts, but that was then knocked out by the Rules Committee, and the House never even got a chance to vote on it.

I hope that enough pressure is put on the Rules Committee this year so that they will allow that language to stay in the bill, or at least make certain that we can get a vote on it. It's absurd when we give to a company that is locating in Bermuda to escape taxes the biggest contract ever given by this agency for the purpose of tracking who crosses our borders.

When the company itself has walked away from the border, I don't think that they deserve to be checking on other people walking across that border.

DOBBS: Thank you very much, Congressman David Obey. We thank you for being with us this evening.

OBEY: Thank you.

DOBBS: When we continue, presidential historian Robert Dallek joins us for more on President Reagan's legacy, including his impact on the power of the 21st-Century presidency.

Also tonight, the latest opinion poll, bad news for President Bush. That story and a great deal more. We'll be discussing that with some of the country's top political journalists.

And Congress preparing to tackle the exporting of American jobs and a number of other critically important issues in the coming days. We'll take a look at the week ahead next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: The U.S. government made a mistake -- and a big one. The State Department now says a recent report showing a decline in terrorism in 2003 was based on faulty data. In fact, Spokesman Richard Boucher says the corrected State Department report will show a sharp increase in terrorism last year. The State Department says the corrected version is not yet completed.

Republican Senator John McCain has apparently rejected an offer to form a bipartisan alliance against President Bush with none other than Senator John Kerry. According to the Associated Press, Senator Kerry has asked McCain to consider running with him. Campaign officials say Kerry stopped just short of offering McCain the job.

And, according to the latest "Los Angeles Times" poll, Senator Kerry is doing just fine without Senator McCain. The poll shows Senator Kerry leading President Bush now nationally by a 51 percent to 44 percent margin.

And Senator Kerry is still ahead of President Bush in the poll when Ralph Nader is added, 48 percent to 42 percent.

Joining me now to talk about this and a great deal more in the way of political events this week, tonight's newsmakers, Jim Ellis, chief of correspondents at "BusinessWeek"; Roger Simon, political editor at "U.S. News & World Report"; Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent, "TIME" magazine.

We have had an extraordinary week. This outpouring of affection, the national display. Karen, I'm going to turn to you. What are the -- is there in this any surprise for you at just the obvious affection for President Reagan?

KAREN TUMULTY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Well, the only surprise was the -- for my part is -- is the amount of coverage, the saturation of coverage and the degree to which it essentially smothered all other news. I think it did show that this president, you know, still has a real hold on the American people and on the political debate.

DOBBS: And, Roger, your thoughts?

ROGER SIMON, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": I think Karen's right. This is the first president -- and a popular president at that -- who has died since the creation of the 24-hour news cycle, since the rise of cable news that fills the airwaves hour after hour after hour, and it was filled with Ronald Reagan, and I think that broadcasters sensed that people wanted it, and it did become the only story, and it has really suppressed for the first time any talk about the presidential race for at least a week.

DOBBS: Well, some of the news that was not in the week, Jim, a president who won remarkable successes at both the United Nations and the G-8 summit, unanimous resolution in support of Iraq at the G-8 summit, solidarity that we haven't seen for some time. Your thoughts?

JIM ELLIS, "BUSINESSWEEK": Well, I agree that a lot of people thought we would never get the U.N. resolution through, particularly with that level of support, but we have to remember that we've got a lot of people who are saying, yes, we're behind you, but they don't still want to put up additional funding and they don't want to give us men to help us actually, you know, stabilize the situation there.

So I think that while a lot of the public attention's been on the Reagan funeral this week, I think that, next week, we'll start looking back at what we really got out of the U.N. and particularly what we got out of the G-8, which is that, you know, OK, we're going to legitimatize the government there, but we're not willing to actually put any more world support behind it, and, more importantly, there's no role for NATO there, and you guys are still pretty well on your own.

DOBBS: Karen, do you agree with that?

TUMULTY: Well, I think there are a couple of intangible benefits, however, that came through. One is this U.N. resolution does at least put some sort of international approval on -- international stamp of approval on this new government in Iraq, which I think would otherwise be questioned as essentially a, you know, tool of the American occupation, especially considering the number of members who are actually carryovers from the provisional government now.

And, second of all, I think President Bush benefits politically from sort of proving that he can perform both the at G-8 and at the U.N. -- on the world stage as a member of an ensemble cast. Diplomacy seems to have come back into favor.

DOBBS: And this poll, Roger Simon, showing Kerry, Senator Kerry running well ahead of President Bush, with or without consideration of Ralph Nader. Are you surprised?

SIMON: I'm surprised at the margin. Seven points is a lot. And it's the first time that Kerry has broken out of virtually a dead heat. And it puts to rest the storyline, at least for a little while, these poll numbers will shift between now and November. It puts to rest the storyline that even though Bush is dropping in approval, John Kerry simply can't capitalize it, can't make the horse race numbers move.

He has made the horse race numbers move. And most depressing for the White House probably is the fact that the polls shows that by solid majorities the American people reject the president's handling of the economy and Iraq at a time when the economy is getting better, and there seems to be some hope in Iraq. TUMULTY: Although, Lou, there are questions being raised about that poll, especially, it's been followed since then by an Associated Press poll that shows the race, basically, even.

The president's campaign immediately pointed out that in this poll the president enjoys a very strong lead among Republicans, a stronger lead than Kerry has among Democrats, that independents are breaking in favor of the president. So, they are saying it is practically a mathematical impossibility for this margin to look the way it does. There was a sampling error in it.

DOBBS: What do you think of that sampling error, Jim?

ELLIS: Well, I think that it's probably too soon to say that either side has this thing -- I don't think we've seen a Kerry breakout yet. I really do think that because the economy is in the aggregate getting better, that plays to the president.

Also, as we start getting more jobs numbers out there, jobs are being created. And so the Democrats, if they have any chance of capitalizing on the jobs issue in the future, are going to have to start talking about the quality of jobs that's out there as opposed to the number.

In other words, the quality of jobs and the level of pay that those jobs have. Those will be the new sort of message we'll get from them.

DOBBS; Jim Ellis, thank you very much. "Businessweek" magazine. Karen Tumulty, "TIME." Roger Simon, "U.S News and World Report." We thank you. Have a good weekend.

That brings us to the subject of tonight's poll. The question, "have you decided whom you will vote for in the presidential election? Yes or no." Let's find out just who is undecided. Cast your vote at CNN.com/lou. We'll have the results for you later in the broadcast.

Coming up next, a true American hero. A marine wounded in combat who says he would rather be with his fellow marines than home recovering. We'll have his story coming up next.

And the nation says farewell to the 40th president of the United States. Leaders from around the world gather to honor the late President Ronald Reagan. Presidential historian Robert Dallek joins us along with Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: This week extraordinary in Washington. Next week will be busy. On Capitol Hill, Congress will take up a number of controversial issues, including the $10 billion homeland security contract that was awarded to Bermuda-based Accenture. The contract part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. That's just one of several key items on the legislative agenda next week. Lisa Sylvester has more for us now from Washington, D.C. -- Lisa. LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, this week was unusual. There was no partisan bickering. Everyone was getting along, pausing to remember President Ronald Reagan. But all it takes is one or two divisive issues for both parties to be their usual themselves again.

Topping the list for next week is the Corporate Tax Bill in the House. This bill repeals a $50 billion tax break that the World Trade Organization prohibited and replaces it with $140 billion tax cuts for manufacturers. Critics say this bill does not do enough for small American manufacturers and they argue the big winners here are really large corporations.

Also on the House side, is the Homeland Security Department Appropriations Bill. It is tentatively scheduled to head to the rules committee next week. An amendment to the bill would prevent companies that is set up shell corporations outside the United States from receiving contracts. And as was mentioned earlier in the program, last week Accenture, based in Bermuda was awarded a contract up to $10 billion by the Department of Homeland Security.

Other items briefly, the Energy Bill also will be taken up by the Senate. With gasoline prices topping $2 a gallon, Republican members of the House hope to pressure the Senate to act on the bill before the summer recess.

And on the Senate side, lawmakers will be debating the Defense Reauthorization Bill. Part of that debate will include whether to increase President Bush's request of $25 billion for the war in Iraq. Some Democrats say, though, if the administration needs more money, it should ask for it now -- Lou.

DOBBS: And one doesn't hesitate to think that they will ask for it. Lisa Sylvester, thank you very much.

Taking a look at your thoughts. We received a great deal of viewer e-mail about that multibillion dollar contract awarded to Accenture.

Cassandra Drachenberg of Ector, Texas, "thank you for your continued coverage of the Accenture debacle. It's outrageous that this government continues to abandon the American worker."

Ray Van Ess of Green Bay, Wisconsin, "keep up your excellent reporting on the loss of our jobs to foreign countries and offshoring of corporate interests to cut taxes owed here. Why is our government not looking out for the workers of our country? Does the almighty buck conquer decency, patriotism and the courage to do what is right?

Rich Bacci of Simi Valley, California, "It is a sad statement regarding the lack of integrity and support that our elected officials exhibit for the very people that elected them and are paid to represent." Send us your thoughts at loudobbs@CNN.com.

Still ahead here, a tribute to two great Americans. And "Heroes" tonight, the remarkable story of a marine wounded in Iraq who says he can't wait to return to battle. We'll bring you his story in just a moment. Please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: In "Heroes" tonight, a marine gunnery officer who volunteered for two tours of duty in Iraq. Sergeant Nick Popaditch was wounded. He's now home recovering from his combat injuries but he plans to return to Iraq just as soon as he can or as soon as the marine corps allows him. Casey Wian has his story from 29 Palms, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gunney Nick Popaditch is doing what he loves best, showing off an M-1, A-1 battle tank the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) commanded through two Gulf Wars.

SGT. NICK POPADITCH, MARINE CORPS: There is no weapon system in Iraq currently employed by the anti-coalition forces that can take this thing off the battlefield.

WIAN: Popaditch rolled into Baghdad's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Square on a tank he named Carnivore. He and his fellow marines helped the Iraqis take down the now infamous statute of Saddam Hussein.

POPADITCH: We really felt, at that time, you were seeing these people liberate, these people were being freed. And they certainly were reacting that way. It was an incredible moment to be part of.

WIAN: Popaditch completed the deployment and came home but just a few months later volunteered to go back with another unit.

POPADITCH: I'm a marine. If Marines are off fighting somewhere, I don't want to be home watching it on TV. I want to be there, I want to be with them, I want to be part of it.

WIAN: This time he found himself in Fallujah in a tough fire fight with insurgents. A rocket-propelled grenade almost cost him his life.

POPADITCH: The other one came from straight down above me and hit me right on top the head, right about here, I guess my head was...

WIAN: The explosion took out Popaditch's right eye, left him partially blind in his left eye and deaf.

POPADITCH: There's like a cap in there. I don't know if this is gross or not. It's not gross to me or anybody but there's just a cap in there.

WIAN: Popaditch can't read yet but says his sight gets better every day and can hear with one ear and hopes a hearing aid will help the other. In spite of the ordeal, he feels lucky.

POPADITCH: It never struck me as a tragedy or anything like that because, you know, you've got to -- you know, I was perfectly fine from the neck down. Perfectly healthy. WIAN: While he recovers Popaditch hangs out with fellow marines in the tank maintenance yard anxious to go back to work.

POPADITCH: I'd go back in a minute. As soon as I can see again, that's my plan.

WIAN: And he hopes his 15-year military career will continue. Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: Our thought is on heroes. "Heroism is the divine relation which, in all times, unites a great man to other men." Scottish writer and historian Thomas Carlyle.

Coming up next, the nation bids farewell to President Ronald Reagan. Presidential historian Robert Dallek will join me along with Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: A political defense of President Bush coming from an unlikely source, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin defended President Bush against criticism from Democrats over the war in Iraq. Putin, answering reporters' questions at the G8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia, says Democrats have, quote, "no moral right to attack the president over Iraq," end quote. President Putin reminded reporters it was President Clinton who authorized the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia by use of U.S. and NATO forces. Russia opposed both the Yugoslav bombing and, of course, the war in Iraq.

Returning now to our top story. The nation's final farewell to President Ronald Reagan. Joining me now from Washington CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff who have been leading our coverage and in Washington, presidential historian Robert Dallek, the author of numerous books on presidents including "Ronald Reagan, The Politics of Symbolism."

Bob, before I bring in my colleagues who have done just such an outstanding job this week, let me ask you this, the essential question at the end of this week of mourning, this national day of mourning, is it in your judgment -- I know it's early -- but is it, in your judgment, too soon to say that Ronald Reagan will go down as one of the most important presidents?

ROBERT DALLEK, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, Lou, I think there's no question he will be remembered as one of the most significant presidents in the country's history, particularly in the 20th century. There have only about 12 presidents out of the 43 so far who had eight years or more in office. The more, of course, was FDR. That's a pretty thin group or pretty limited group to be a part of. So that, alone, makes him a major significant president. I think historians will be looking at his records and studying his work and his administration, his leadership for years and years to come. We're only 15 years away from his presidency. The bulk of his papers have not opened yet. So historians in the next 10, 25 years are really going to dig in and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) historians have a field day, so to speak. I think we'll see an awful lot of books about Ronald Reagan's eight years in the presidency in the next 15, 20 years.

DOBBS: Judy, I would ask both you and Wolf as you have been reporting on this week of mourning for our 40th president, to think back in your coverage of presidents to remember and recall your coverage of this president, Ronald Reagan. Give us your best sense. They say that news is history's first draft. No offense, Robert Dallek.

DALLEK: None taken.

DOBBS: In the first draft, your thoughts, your reactions, your personal thoughts -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Well, it has just been an extraordinary week. I mean, it has been -- this has been said over and over again. The first time in 30 years that we have had a state funeral for a president where we've seen this sort of pomp and circumstance that we've had all week. You've had both the majesty today's service at the National Cathedral here in Washington, and the very emotional, if you will, scene of the caisson coming down Pennsylvania -- or rather, Constitution Avenue on Wednesday, combined with the very personal scenes with Nancy Reagan. So it's brought together the state, the pomp, but it's also brought the personal all in one in a six-day period, and I think it's also been a time to bring Americans together, if only for a few days, it's brought us together.

BLITZER: One point I'd add, Lou, is that as much as these are icons and these are famous people, Ronald Reagan of course, the president of the United States, what we saw, also these are human beings who are left in the aftermath, Nancy Reagan, a wife who so deeply loved her husband now in mourning.

And the children, of course, in mourning as well. And others are human beings, like the former president, the first President Bush. When he choked up today as he was delivering that eulogy and he became so sentimental about the man he served for eight years as vice president, that was just a human moment that all of us could appreciate.

DOBBS: And Bob Dallek, that's really part of the motivation for this pomp and circumstance, as Judy referred to it, as the nation remembers a president now going to his final resting place in California. The nation attaches to the symbolism that you've spoken of in all of this.

DALLEK: Yes. Well, you know, Reagan is a powerful, symbolic figure, most of all because, as Judy was saying, he's a unifying force. And I think -- I've been saying there's been so much acrimony in our politics in recent years. You remember back to the election in 2000 and now the current election campaign. It is so divisive. And Reagan sort of inspirits the nation, gives it a feeling that it has shared values and a better future.

DOBBS: A reminder that we can be united. And we appreciate all of you being here. Judy Woodruff, Wolf Blitzer, just outstanding work this week. We thank you very much. And Robert Dallek, we thank you very much for your time and sharing your thoughts.

Turning to the results of our poll, only 4 percent of you responded that you have not decided whom you will vote for in this presidential election. The undecideds narrowing significantly, at least, among this audience, this very demanding and intelligence audience of this broadcast. We thank you for voting.

Still ahead, playing tribute to a friend. The special relationship between President Reagan and former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. And celebrating two men with the words in music both loved.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: President Reagan had a special relationship, both political and personal, with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The 78-year-old Lady Thatcher, in poor health after her stroke and against her doctor's wishes, flew from London to pay tribute and respects to her friend and compatriot in world leadership. Robin Oakley reports from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Margaret Thatcher greeted the death of President Ronald Reagan by declaring he was one of her closest political allies and dearest personal friends. He was the only world leader she used to kiss.

And theirs was likely the most long-lasting and effective world leaders alliance of the 1980s. "The Great Communicator" in the White House and the woman dubbed "The Iron Lady" by a Soviet Army newspaper, saw the world in stark black and white, not in any intervening shade of gray.

LORD CHARLES POWELL, FRM. THATCHER ADVISER: Really, their thinking on many issues, not just the evils of communism, became very similar: hatred of high taxes, hatred of big government, hatred of socialism in all its forms.

OAKLEY: The so-called special relationship was probably stronger with Thatcher on Downing Street and Reagan in the White House than it's been since the days of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

R. REAGAN: It is how much we have in common and the depth of our friendship that truly matters.

OAKLEY: In her memoirs, which have 72 references to President Reagan in the index, she notes, "I knew that I was talking to someone who instinctively thought and felt as I did."

And they didn't always agree. It was Thatcher who first persuaded Reagan that the Soviet Union's Mikhail Gorbachev was a man they could do business with. But when the two presidents met in Reykjavik, and President Reagan nearly agreed to surrender most of the west's arsenal of arms, she dashed off to Washington to lecture him on his imprudence. And observers say she was furious when in 1983 the U.S. invaded the Caribbean state of Grenada a member of the British Commonwealth without first warning the UK. Thatcher's increasing suspicion of Europe increased her eagerness to work with President Reagan.

MARGARET THATCHER, FRM. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I prefer the greater alliance between the English speaking people's in America, it's that which saved liberty for the world.

OAKLEY: It was an alliance which worked for two leaders successfully seeking to rebuild optimism in their countries. Margaret Thatcher was always ready to pay tribute to America and to the leadership of a president she saw as having played a major part in the defeat of Communism.

R. REAGAN: You have in this century so often remained steadfast for what is right and against what is wrong.

OAKLEY: And it was the way in which the special relationship worked in their time, perhaps, which, in the end, brought round a Europe, initially suspicious of a president who'd worked as a Hollywood actor, to appreciate his contribution to history. Robin Oakley, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOBBS: This has been a week in which the nation's focus has been (AUDIO GAP) greatest presidents of the past 100 years, Ronald Reagan. But we also lost another national treasure this week, Ray Charles.

Tonight, we leave you with a tribute to both men. Ray Charles performing "America the Beautiful" at President Reagan's second inaugural gala in 1985.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAY CHARLES: (SINGING "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL")

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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