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The Bush Women; Interview With Senator Bob Graham

Aired April 08, 2004 - 15:00   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: LIVE FROM continues. I'm Kyra Phillips at CNN Center in Atlanta.
More on Condoleezza Rice's testimony in just a moment, but the latest from Iraq.

Our top story this hour, the ongoing battle for control of Iraq. There's word today from the Pentagon six more U.S. troops are killed in fighting in Iraq. But U.S. military officials say the Marines now face only moderate fighting in Fallujah from Sunni insurgents and that coalition forces are making strides in crushing the militia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Top U.S. General Ricardo Sanchez vows that the coalition won't let a small group of criminals and thugs control the destiny of Iraq. The military has launched Operation Resolute Sword, targeting al-Sadr militia in Kut, Najaf and Sadr City within Baghdad.

Meanwhile, insurgents are using kidnapping as a new tactic. Seven South Korean hostages were released today, but three Japanese civilians are still being held. The insurgents say they'll burn the captives alive unless Japan pulls its troops from Iraq. Japanese officials say the kidnappings are unforgivable, but they don't justify a withdrawal.

The growing violence in Iraq has certainly complicated matters for the Pentagon.

Let's go live to senior Pentagon Jamie McIntyre for the latest from there -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, there is fighting continuing across Iraq today, as the United States is trying to reestablish control over some areas where it has lost control over the last several weeks, particularly fresh fighting in Fallujah, as the Marines continue to push into that Sunni stronghold.

Here we see pictures taken from a U.S. pool of reporters who are with the Marines as they're pressing the case there in Fallujah. Against the backdrop of these pictures, U.S. commanders are insisting that their aggressive tactics are succeeding. And today, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez insisted that the U.S. is taking the correct approach.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ, U.S. COMMANDER IN IRAQ: I'll tell that you right now, we are on track, that we are prepared for a sustained operation. We are not walking away from the problem. We are committed. If this is a -- a test of wills, what is being done is, the will of the international community is being tested. The will of the coalition is being tested. The will of the American people, of the American forces is being tested. And I think more importantly, the will of the Iraqi people to move towards democracy is being tested. And none of that will is going to falter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The problem for commanders like General Sanchez is, they have to work against these kinds of images. These are Marines in Fallujah from yesterday, their M1-A1 tank hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Here we see a Marine emerging bloody from the tank after that attack.

These kinds of pictures, while they show an event that in the big scheme of things is probably militarily insignificant, contribute to the perception that things are not going well in Iraq and fuel the kind of criticism we heard today from former Senator Bob Kerrey, who made some remarks during the testimony in the 9/11 Commission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB KERREY, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: And I think we're going to end up with civil war if we continue down the military operation strategy that we have in place. I say that sincerely as someone that supported the war in the first place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: So Kerrey saying that he believes that the military operations in Iraq are -- quote -- "dangerously off-track." The Pentagon of course insists that they are on track.

Today, however, we did get more reports of casualties over the last two days, Pentagon officials confirming to CNN that two Marines and three U.S. soldiers have been killed in fighting over the past two days -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jamie McIntyre, live from the Pentagon, thank you.

And this just coming into CNN right now, attributing this to both wires, the Associated Press and Reuters. Several Paris train stations have been evacuated. Traffic has been stopped there in the evening because of a bomb alert. According to police out of Paris, traffic on the A-line that crosses the French capital and links it to the suburbs was interrupted about 8:15 in the evening, Paris time. Main stations and interconnections have been evacuated to allow officers to get in there and search.

There are no details on how many stations have been affected. French authorities have been on high alert since that deadly March 11 train bombing, as you remember, in Madrid, Spain. So, once again, Paris on high alert right now, several train station there evacuated, police alerted due to a bomb alert. They are investigating the areas. We'll continue to update you on this as we get information. Much debated, much anticipated, now a matter of public record. The testimony of Condoleezza Rice appeared before the 9/11 Commission for about three hours this morning. Could the attacks have been prevented?

CNN's Sean Callebs standing by with what we learned today.

Sean, I guess we should start with the silver bullet.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed.

I think that Condoleezza Rice came in and staunchly defended the president, the administration, saying President Bush fully understood the threat of international terrorism when he took office. She also went on to directly and indirectly try and knock down comments from one of her ex-deputies, that of course being former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke.

Now, Rice during the three hours of testimony today said the president came in determined to develop a moral robust policy to fight al Qaeda. But could the U.S. have done anything else to prevent what happened on 9/11? Rice says it is a question she has asked herself a thousand times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: There was no silver bullet that could have prevented the 9/11 attacks. In hindsight, if anything might have helped stop 9/11, it would have been better information about threats inside the United States, something made very difficult by structural and legal impediments that prevented the collection and sharing of information by our law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Three hours in the seat, Kyra, and she is getting high marks from people here in Washington. And, incidentally, we can tell you our White House support Suzanne Malveaux said that the president called Condoleezza Rice a short while ago from his ranch out in Crawford, Texas.

PHILLIPS: A number of heated exchanges, of course, Sean, that we witnessed today. Let's talk about that August 6 memo.

CALLEBS: Yes, precisely, that really the heart of a somewhat animated exchange bean Richard Ben-Veniste and Condoleezza Rice, called the PDB, the presidential daily briefing. Now, that came out August 6, 2001. That's just a matter of weeks before the 9/11 attacks. Let's take a look at that exchange.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD BEN-VENISTE, 9/11 COMMISSION: Did you tell the president at any time prior to August 6 of the existence of al Qaeda cells in the United States?

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: First, let me just make certain...

BEN-VENISTE: If you could just answer that question, because I only have a very limited...

RICE: I understand, Commissioner, but it's important...

BEN-VENISTE: Did you tell the president...

RICE: ... that I also address...

(APPLAUSE)

RICE: It's also important that, Commissioner, that I address the other issues that you have raised. So I will do it quickly, but if you'll just give me a moment.

BEN-VENISTE: Well, my only question to you is whether you...

RICE: I understand, Commissioner, but I will...

BEN-VENISTE: ... told the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Kyra, we had a chance to talk with Ben-Veniste a couple of days ago. And he said he was going to ask tough questions, but he said they were not going to be partisan. He just felt, in his job on the commission, he had to ask tough questions, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And, of course, everyone asking now, are we safer? What do we learn from this?

CALLEBS: Well, clearly, I think the administration would like to say we're safer. Condoleezza Rice did say we are safer. But what about the lessons learned?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICE: I think that it is possible that they are -- that they recognize the heightened security profile that we have post-September 11, and I believe that we have made it harder for them to attack here. I will tell you that I get up everyday concerned because I don't think we've made it impossible for them. We're safer, but we're not safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: And incidentally, during the three hours on there, she also had the 20 minutes of prepared remarks. And she did not criticize Richard Clarke, something some people wondered could possibly happen today, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sean Callebs, out of Washington, D.C. -- thanks so much, Sean. Condoleezza Rice isn't the only woman with a long history of influence inside the Bush family. What about grandma? Fascinating stories from the authors of a book profiling the first family.

And more reaction to the testimony, this time from Democrat Bob Graham. He's coming up. LIVE FROM looks at all the angles right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, behind every successful man, as the saying goes, is even a more successful woman. Today -- all right, I sort of ad- libbed that.

Today, we heard a lot from one of the women behind the success of President Bush, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Her nickname is the warrior princess. And he's just one of many warrior women who have helped the president get to where he is today.

In their book, "The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty," Peter and Rochelle Schweizer trace the Bush family legacy of strong women and politically connected men. They join us from our Washington newsroom.

Nice to see you both.

PETER SCHWEIZER, CO-AUTHOR, "THE BUSHES": Thank you.

ROCHELLE SCHWEIZER, CO-AUTHOR, "THE BUSHES": Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, in light of Condoleezza Rice testifying today and then taking a look at your book and how you talk about the Bush dynasty and how the women were so influential, this really was the key to the Bush dynasty. Rochelle, would you agree?

R. SCHWEIZER: Absolutely, I agree. The women are critical to the rise and the success of this family, from the earliest generations to today.

PHILLIPS: So, Peter, let's start with Grandma Dorothy first. We picked a couple of pictures of her. She definitely discouraged self- importance in her family, didn't she?

P. SCHWEIZER: She certainly did.

What's fascinating about the Bushes is beginning, with Dorothy Walker, it's really the Bush women who mold and shape the future generations of the family. And you see qualities like focusing on loyalty to the family, this lack of selfishness within the family, the sort of team spirit. All of that traces back to Dorothy Walker. And you see a similar strain with Barbara Bush and then, of course, with Laura Bush later on.

So it really is a continuous legacy and I think it's an often overlooked quality in the Bush family.

PHILLIPS: And the family, of course, as it became more active in Republican politics, do you think this type of influence and the sort of standard that was set trickled down?

R. SCHWEIZER: Absolutely. I do.

And I think, as they went on, they became very protective, but they also played a critical role in maintaining a stability in their husbands. I mean, they married opposites. And there's a saying that they were able to trim the sails without cutting the cloth.

P. SCHWEIZER: It's interesting quality, really, because several of the relatives -- you know, we interviewed lots of Bush family members, about 60 hours worth, and they talked very candidly about the fact that, you know, when the Bush men tend to get a little bit full of themselves, as all men can be apt to do, that the women are very, very successful in sort of putting them back on course and doing it in such a way that it doesn't affect the relationship, but helps the men get back on course.

And I think that's an important quality in any political leader we have in the country.

PHILLIPS: Well, talking about Dorothy, let's talk about Barbara Bush. And, actually, this is a wedding picture of Laura and George Bush. But let's talk about Barbara Bush and how she strengthened the dynasty, Rochelle.

R. SCHWEIZER: Well, she is extremely strong.

Barbara is the one that is direct, is very strong. And she was very protective, but, at the same time, she really encouraged her children to venture out, to succeed. And she was the one that really guide them. As we all know, the president was busy, away, and she was the one home really taking care of the kids and instilling in them what we see today.

PHILLIPS: We're looking at her wedding picture right now.

Go ahead, Peter.

P. SCHWEIZER: I was just going to say, that's exactly right.

And one of the things that Jeb Bush told us was that he really grew up in a matriarchal home. His mother ran the show. And his mother is really the enforcer in the family, in the sense of enforcing the loyalty. As one of the Bush cousins told us, George H.W. Bush, the former president, is strictly forgive and forget. George W. Bush is forgive and remember. And Barbara is never forgive and never forget.

So she's the one that really protects the dynasty and protects her family in a very difficult and tough world, which is the world of politics.

PHILLIPS: So I guess when you have Dorothy and Barbara and Laura all in your life, you sort of expect all these women and people even in your support network like Condoleezza Rice to be a strong asset.

Rochelle, you were going to say something.

R. SCHWEIZER: No, absolutely. And I would say Laura is strong, too, but in a different way, I would say in a more quiet, subtle way. But they're all, I would say, equal in strength.

PHILLIPS: Well, finally, let's talk a little bit more in light of today, Condoleezza Rice and President Bush. There is a part in your book you talk about a story regarding a memo in North Korea. And this really showed the trust among father Bush and President Bush and Condoleezza Rice.

Peter.

P. SCHWEIZER: Yes.

The thing about the Bushes is, they're always very good at finding good, quality people and then transferring those relationships between generations. The father inherited a lot of political allies from his father, who was a senator, and George W. Bush inherited some very good people from his father, one of those being Condoleezza Rice. And I think loyalty is very important there.

But the Bushes are also very savvy. Just because you're a friend with a father doesn't necessarily mean you'll be friends with the son. And so I think it's a real testament to Condoleezza Rice, her loyalty and the qualities that the Bushes see in her that she has been in senior positions with both President Bushes.

PHILLIPS: Peter and Rochelle Schweizer. The book is "The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty." Thank you both so much.

R. SCHWEIZER: Thank you.

P. SCHWEIZER: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: And there's a look at the book one more time.

And Democrat Bob Graham reacts to the 9/11 testimony of Condoleezza Rice. That interview is up next.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: This story just into CNN. We've been following it in the past few minutes. Several Paris train stations evacuated.

Our Jim Bittermann on the phone from Paris.

Jim, what can you tell us?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Yes, in fact, the officials here have closed down one of the three main train lines that crisscross Paris, the A-line of the RER has been closed down for about an hour now, and they have evacuated several train stations on the basis of a tip from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Apparently the CIA, according to the Prefecture de Police, which is the main police center here in Paris, the CIA said that there could be a bomb planted either in the subway system or in the underground train system.

So the authorities have taken the step of closing down one line of the RER, the main suburban train system -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: French authorities, as you know, have been on high alert since the deadly March 11 train bombings in Madrid, Spain.

Jim Bittermann on that story, thank you so much. We'll continue to check in with you.

Now more reaction to the day's top story. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice went before the 9/11 Commission this morning. She testified that there was never a -- quote -- "silver bullet" that could have predicted the events of 9/11. But did Rice erase doubts that the White House failed to focus on terror threats before the attacks? Or did she create them?

Let's turn to Democratic Senator Bob Graham. He's also a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Senator, thank you for being with us.

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Well, your first reaction to what Condoleezza Rice had to say today.

GRAHAM: Well, Dr. Rice is very smart, articulate, poised. She knows the subject area well. She makes an effective presentation.

I don't think, however, that she answered many of the questions that were asked, particularly those that would get to the issue of just how engaged was the Bush administration in the war against terrorism in those months leading up to September the 11th.

PHILLIPS: There's been allegations that Dr. Rice is covering up for the administration. Do you believe that?

GRAHAM: I wouldn't use the word cover-up. I think she is trying to put the best face possible on what the administration says it did. What concerns me is that the best evidence is what will the administration has done since 9/11. In my judgment, it's been a dismal report card.

They haven't held anybody accountable 2 1/2 years after 9/11. They have not come to the Congress and the American people with significant reforms, either in the intelligence, law enforcement, or the military area that will help to reduce the chances of another 9/11.

PHILLIPS: Senator, earlier today, I talked with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher from California. This is what he had to say. I want to get you to react, please.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: It is my belief that the central problem that caused 9/11 was the fact that during the Clinton years, we permitted the Taliban to come to power and that we offered a base -- which offered a base of operations for al Qaeda to attack the United States. It was that bad policy that led to 9/11. And it didn't seem that we went away from that policy fast enough.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Senator, there had been a lot of talk that former President Clinton did know about Osama bin Laden, did have a chance to get Osama bin Laden. What do you think about this with regard to the congressman talking about bad policy and that it was the Clinton administration's fault and that's why we are in the position that we are now?

GRAHAM: One of the leading members of the Clinton White House, when asked the question, what was the biggest mistake that you made during your eight years of leadership, his answer was, we knew about those camps in Afghanistan, we knew how many people were being trained in the skills of terrorism, and we didn't take them out.

So that statement is consistent with what the congressman has said. The question I would ask of this administration is that, while the camps have been eliminated in Afghanistan, they have moved to Syria and the Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon and in many ways are graduating terrorists with even a higher level of skills than al Qaeda had. What are we doing today to deny a sanctuary to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in Syria?

PHILLIPS: Sir, do you feel safer now vs. September 10, 2001?

GRAHAM: I don't feel safer because I don't think we've taken the steps that we need to take. We have been distracted by the war in Iraq, which has had at least two consequences.

One, it has allowed al Qaeda to regenerate and become even a more violent organization than it was before September the 11th. And it has caused us not to focus on other international terrorists while the war itself is creating the fire that is generating another generation of terrorists.

PHILLIPS: Sir, Bob Kerrey, Condoleezza Rice getting into a number of heated exchanges. Let's listen to this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB KERREY, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: Please don't filibuster me. It's not fair. It is not fair. I have been polite. I have been courteous. It is not fair to me. I understand that we have a disagreement.

RICE: Commissioner, I'm here to answer questions and you have asked me a question. And I'd like to have an opportunity to answer it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Did she answer the questions? Did she filibuster?

GRAHAM: I think she did a little of the first and a lot of the second.

She's very effective in taking a question and then elaborating on issues that are largely irrelevant to the question in order to chew up the clock. Each of these commissioners was given a set amount of time, 10 minutes, in which to ask questions. So, if she could make each answer be a four-minute answer, she was down to be 2 1/2 questions.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Sir, finally, where do we go from here?

GRAHAM: Well, where do we go from here is, I hope the administration will respond to the requests that have been made by Republicans such as Senator Bill Frist and by Democrats, such as Lee Hamilton, to open up and release a lot of these documents that are not national security documents.

They may be embarrassing, but they will help get the American people to know what happened and be able to better judge the truth. So, I think the challenge for the administration in the next few days will be, will it continue this pattern of secrecy and deception or will it come clean with the American people?

PHILLIPS: And we'll see if that August 6 memo does get released.

Senator Bob Graham, thank you for your time.

GRAHAM: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: That wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM.

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Aired April 8, 2004 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: LIVE FROM continues. I'm Kyra Phillips at CNN Center in Atlanta.
More on Condoleezza Rice's testimony in just a moment, but the latest from Iraq.

Our top story this hour, the ongoing battle for control of Iraq. There's word today from the Pentagon six more U.S. troops are killed in fighting in Iraq. But U.S. military officials say the Marines now face only moderate fighting in Fallujah from Sunni insurgents and that coalition forces are making strides in crushing the militia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Top U.S. General Ricardo Sanchez vows that the coalition won't let a small group of criminals and thugs control the destiny of Iraq. The military has launched Operation Resolute Sword, targeting al-Sadr militia in Kut, Najaf and Sadr City within Baghdad.

Meanwhile, insurgents are using kidnapping as a new tactic. Seven South Korean hostages were released today, but three Japanese civilians are still being held. The insurgents say they'll burn the captives alive unless Japan pulls its troops from Iraq. Japanese officials say the kidnappings are unforgivable, but they don't justify a withdrawal.

The growing violence in Iraq has certainly complicated matters for the Pentagon.

Let's go live to senior Pentagon Jamie McIntyre for the latest from there -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, there is fighting continuing across Iraq today, as the United States is trying to reestablish control over some areas where it has lost control over the last several weeks, particularly fresh fighting in Fallujah, as the Marines continue to push into that Sunni stronghold.

Here we see pictures taken from a U.S. pool of reporters who are with the Marines as they're pressing the case there in Fallujah. Against the backdrop of these pictures, U.S. commanders are insisting that their aggressive tactics are succeeding. And today, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez insisted that the U.S. is taking the correct approach.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ, U.S. COMMANDER IN IRAQ: I'll tell that you right now, we are on track, that we are prepared for a sustained operation. We are not walking away from the problem. We are committed. If this is a -- a test of wills, what is being done is, the will of the international community is being tested. The will of the coalition is being tested. The will of the American people, of the American forces is being tested. And I think more importantly, the will of the Iraqi people to move towards democracy is being tested. And none of that will is going to falter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: The problem for commanders like General Sanchez is, they have to work against these kinds of images. These are Marines in Fallujah from yesterday, their M1-A1 tank hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Here we see a Marine emerging bloody from the tank after that attack.

These kinds of pictures, while they show an event that in the big scheme of things is probably militarily insignificant, contribute to the perception that things are not going well in Iraq and fuel the kind of criticism we heard today from former Senator Bob Kerrey, who made some remarks during the testimony in the 9/11 Commission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB KERREY, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: And I think we're going to end up with civil war if we continue down the military operation strategy that we have in place. I say that sincerely as someone that supported the war in the first place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: So Kerrey saying that he believes that the military operations in Iraq are -- quote -- "dangerously off-track." The Pentagon of course insists that they are on track.

Today, however, we did get more reports of casualties over the last two days, Pentagon officials confirming to CNN that two Marines and three U.S. soldiers have been killed in fighting over the past two days -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jamie McIntyre, live from the Pentagon, thank you.

And this just coming into CNN right now, attributing this to both wires, the Associated Press and Reuters. Several Paris train stations have been evacuated. Traffic has been stopped there in the evening because of a bomb alert. According to police out of Paris, traffic on the A-line that crosses the French capital and links it to the suburbs was interrupted about 8:15 in the evening, Paris time. Main stations and interconnections have been evacuated to allow officers to get in there and search.

There are no details on how many stations have been affected. French authorities have been on high alert since that deadly March 11 train bombing, as you remember, in Madrid, Spain. So, once again, Paris on high alert right now, several train station there evacuated, police alerted due to a bomb alert. They are investigating the areas. We'll continue to update you on this as we get information. Much debated, much anticipated, now a matter of public record. The testimony of Condoleezza Rice appeared before the 9/11 Commission for about three hours this morning. Could the attacks have been prevented?

CNN's Sean Callebs standing by with what we learned today.

Sean, I guess we should start with the silver bullet.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed.

I think that Condoleezza Rice came in and staunchly defended the president, the administration, saying President Bush fully understood the threat of international terrorism when he took office. She also went on to directly and indirectly try and knock down comments from one of her ex-deputies, that of course being former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke.

Now, Rice during the three hours of testimony today said the president came in determined to develop a moral robust policy to fight al Qaeda. But could the U.S. have done anything else to prevent what happened on 9/11? Rice says it is a question she has asked herself a thousand times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: There was no silver bullet that could have prevented the 9/11 attacks. In hindsight, if anything might have helped stop 9/11, it would have been better information about threats inside the United States, something made very difficult by structural and legal impediments that prevented the collection and sharing of information by our law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Three hours in the seat, Kyra, and she is getting high marks from people here in Washington. And, incidentally, we can tell you our White House support Suzanne Malveaux said that the president called Condoleezza Rice a short while ago from his ranch out in Crawford, Texas.

PHILLIPS: A number of heated exchanges, of course, Sean, that we witnessed today. Let's talk about that August 6 memo.

CALLEBS: Yes, precisely, that really the heart of a somewhat animated exchange bean Richard Ben-Veniste and Condoleezza Rice, called the PDB, the presidential daily briefing. Now, that came out August 6, 2001. That's just a matter of weeks before the 9/11 attacks. Let's take a look at that exchange.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD BEN-VENISTE, 9/11 COMMISSION: Did you tell the president at any time prior to August 6 of the existence of al Qaeda cells in the United States?

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: First, let me just make certain...

BEN-VENISTE: If you could just answer that question, because I only have a very limited...

RICE: I understand, Commissioner, but it's important...

BEN-VENISTE: Did you tell the president...

RICE: ... that I also address...

(APPLAUSE)

RICE: It's also important that, Commissioner, that I address the other issues that you have raised. So I will do it quickly, but if you'll just give me a moment.

BEN-VENISTE: Well, my only question to you is whether you...

RICE: I understand, Commissioner, but I will...

BEN-VENISTE: ... told the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Kyra, we had a chance to talk with Ben-Veniste a couple of days ago. And he said he was going to ask tough questions, but he said they were not going to be partisan. He just felt, in his job on the commission, he had to ask tough questions, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And, of course, everyone asking now, are we safer? What do we learn from this?

CALLEBS: Well, clearly, I think the administration would like to say we're safer. Condoleezza Rice did say we are safer. But what about the lessons learned?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICE: I think that it is possible that they are -- that they recognize the heightened security profile that we have post-September 11, and I believe that we have made it harder for them to attack here. I will tell you that I get up everyday concerned because I don't think we've made it impossible for them. We're safer, but we're not safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: And incidentally, during the three hours on there, she also had the 20 minutes of prepared remarks. And she did not criticize Richard Clarke, something some people wondered could possibly happen today, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sean Callebs, out of Washington, D.C. -- thanks so much, Sean. Condoleezza Rice isn't the only woman with a long history of influence inside the Bush family. What about grandma? Fascinating stories from the authors of a book profiling the first family.

And more reaction to the testimony, this time from Democrat Bob Graham. He's coming up. LIVE FROM looks at all the angles right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, behind every successful man, as the saying goes, is even a more successful woman. Today -- all right, I sort of ad- libbed that.

Today, we heard a lot from one of the women behind the success of President Bush, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Her nickname is the warrior princess. And he's just one of many warrior women who have helped the president get to where he is today.

In their book, "The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty," Peter and Rochelle Schweizer trace the Bush family legacy of strong women and politically connected men. They join us from our Washington newsroom.

Nice to see you both.

PETER SCHWEIZER, CO-AUTHOR, "THE BUSHES": Thank you.

ROCHELLE SCHWEIZER, CO-AUTHOR, "THE BUSHES": Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, in light of Condoleezza Rice testifying today and then taking a look at your book and how you talk about the Bush dynasty and how the women were so influential, this really was the key to the Bush dynasty. Rochelle, would you agree?

R. SCHWEIZER: Absolutely, I agree. The women are critical to the rise and the success of this family, from the earliest generations to today.

PHILLIPS: So, Peter, let's start with Grandma Dorothy first. We picked a couple of pictures of her. She definitely discouraged self- importance in her family, didn't she?

P. SCHWEIZER: She certainly did.

What's fascinating about the Bushes is beginning, with Dorothy Walker, it's really the Bush women who mold and shape the future generations of the family. And you see qualities like focusing on loyalty to the family, this lack of selfishness within the family, the sort of team spirit. All of that traces back to Dorothy Walker. And you see a similar strain with Barbara Bush and then, of course, with Laura Bush later on.

So it really is a continuous legacy and I think it's an often overlooked quality in the Bush family.

PHILLIPS: And the family, of course, as it became more active in Republican politics, do you think this type of influence and the sort of standard that was set trickled down?

R. SCHWEIZER: Absolutely. I do.

And I think, as they went on, they became very protective, but they also played a critical role in maintaining a stability in their husbands. I mean, they married opposites. And there's a saying that they were able to trim the sails without cutting the cloth.

P. SCHWEIZER: It's interesting quality, really, because several of the relatives -- you know, we interviewed lots of Bush family members, about 60 hours worth, and they talked very candidly about the fact that, you know, when the Bush men tend to get a little bit full of themselves, as all men can be apt to do, that the women are very, very successful in sort of putting them back on course and doing it in such a way that it doesn't affect the relationship, but helps the men get back on course.

And I think that's an important quality in any political leader we have in the country.

PHILLIPS: Well, talking about Dorothy, let's talk about Barbara Bush. And, actually, this is a wedding picture of Laura and George Bush. But let's talk about Barbara Bush and how she strengthened the dynasty, Rochelle.

R. SCHWEIZER: Well, she is extremely strong.

Barbara is the one that is direct, is very strong. And she was very protective, but, at the same time, she really encouraged her children to venture out, to succeed. And she was the one that really guide them. As we all know, the president was busy, away, and she was the one home really taking care of the kids and instilling in them what we see today.

PHILLIPS: We're looking at her wedding picture right now.

Go ahead, Peter.

P. SCHWEIZER: I was just going to say, that's exactly right.

And one of the things that Jeb Bush told us was that he really grew up in a matriarchal home. His mother ran the show. And his mother is really the enforcer in the family, in the sense of enforcing the loyalty. As one of the Bush cousins told us, George H.W. Bush, the former president, is strictly forgive and forget. George W. Bush is forgive and remember. And Barbara is never forgive and never forget.

So she's the one that really protects the dynasty and protects her family in a very difficult and tough world, which is the world of politics.

PHILLIPS: So I guess when you have Dorothy and Barbara and Laura all in your life, you sort of expect all these women and people even in your support network like Condoleezza Rice to be a strong asset.

Rochelle, you were going to say something.

R. SCHWEIZER: No, absolutely. And I would say Laura is strong, too, but in a different way, I would say in a more quiet, subtle way. But they're all, I would say, equal in strength.

PHILLIPS: Well, finally, let's talk a little bit more in light of today, Condoleezza Rice and President Bush. There is a part in your book you talk about a story regarding a memo in North Korea. And this really showed the trust among father Bush and President Bush and Condoleezza Rice.

Peter.

P. SCHWEIZER: Yes.

The thing about the Bushes is, they're always very good at finding good, quality people and then transferring those relationships between generations. The father inherited a lot of political allies from his father, who was a senator, and George W. Bush inherited some very good people from his father, one of those being Condoleezza Rice. And I think loyalty is very important there.

But the Bushes are also very savvy. Just because you're a friend with a father doesn't necessarily mean you'll be friends with the son. And so I think it's a real testament to Condoleezza Rice, her loyalty and the qualities that the Bushes see in her that she has been in senior positions with both President Bushes.

PHILLIPS: Peter and Rochelle Schweizer. The book is "The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty." Thank you both so much.

R. SCHWEIZER: Thank you.

P. SCHWEIZER: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: And there's a look at the book one more time.

And Democrat Bob Graham reacts to the 9/11 testimony of Condoleezza Rice. That interview is up next.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: This story just into CNN. We've been following it in the past few minutes. Several Paris train stations evacuated.

Our Jim Bittermann on the phone from Paris.

Jim, what can you tell us?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Yes, in fact, the officials here have closed down one of the three main train lines that crisscross Paris, the A-line of the RER has been closed down for about an hour now, and they have evacuated several train stations on the basis of a tip from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Apparently the CIA, according to the Prefecture de Police, which is the main police center here in Paris, the CIA said that there could be a bomb planted either in the subway system or in the underground train system.

So the authorities have taken the step of closing down one line of the RER, the main suburban train system -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: French authorities, as you know, have been on high alert since the deadly March 11 train bombings in Madrid, Spain.

Jim Bittermann on that story, thank you so much. We'll continue to check in with you.

Now more reaction to the day's top story. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice went before the 9/11 Commission this morning. She testified that there was never a -- quote -- "silver bullet" that could have predicted the events of 9/11. But did Rice erase doubts that the White House failed to focus on terror threats before the attacks? Or did she create them?

Let's turn to Democratic Senator Bob Graham. He's also a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Senator, thank you for being with us.

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Well, your first reaction to what Condoleezza Rice had to say today.

GRAHAM: Well, Dr. Rice is very smart, articulate, poised. She knows the subject area well. She makes an effective presentation.

I don't think, however, that she answered many of the questions that were asked, particularly those that would get to the issue of just how engaged was the Bush administration in the war against terrorism in those months leading up to September the 11th.

PHILLIPS: There's been allegations that Dr. Rice is covering up for the administration. Do you believe that?

GRAHAM: I wouldn't use the word cover-up. I think she is trying to put the best face possible on what the administration says it did. What concerns me is that the best evidence is what will the administration has done since 9/11. In my judgment, it's been a dismal report card.

They haven't held anybody accountable 2 1/2 years after 9/11. They have not come to the Congress and the American people with significant reforms, either in the intelligence, law enforcement, or the military area that will help to reduce the chances of another 9/11.

PHILLIPS: Senator, earlier today, I talked with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher from California. This is what he had to say. I want to get you to react, please.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: It is my belief that the central problem that caused 9/11 was the fact that during the Clinton years, we permitted the Taliban to come to power and that we offered a base -- which offered a base of operations for al Qaeda to attack the United States. It was that bad policy that led to 9/11. And it didn't seem that we went away from that policy fast enough.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Senator, there had been a lot of talk that former President Clinton did know about Osama bin Laden, did have a chance to get Osama bin Laden. What do you think about this with regard to the congressman talking about bad policy and that it was the Clinton administration's fault and that's why we are in the position that we are now?

GRAHAM: One of the leading members of the Clinton White House, when asked the question, what was the biggest mistake that you made during your eight years of leadership, his answer was, we knew about those camps in Afghanistan, we knew how many people were being trained in the skills of terrorism, and we didn't take them out.

So that statement is consistent with what the congressman has said. The question I would ask of this administration is that, while the camps have been eliminated in Afghanistan, they have moved to Syria and the Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon and in many ways are graduating terrorists with even a higher level of skills than al Qaeda had. What are we doing today to deny a sanctuary to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in Syria?

PHILLIPS: Sir, do you feel safer now vs. September 10, 2001?

GRAHAM: I don't feel safer because I don't think we've taken the steps that we need to take. We have been distracted by the war in Iraq, which has had at least two consequences.

One, it has allowed al Qaeda to regenerate and become even a more violent organization than it was before September the 11th. And it has caused us not to focus on other international terrorists while the war itself is creating the fire that is generating another generation of terrorists.

PHILLIPS: Sir, Bob Kerrey, Condoleezza Rice getting into a number of heated exchanges. Let's listen to this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB KERREY, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: Please don't filibuster me. It's not fair. It is not fair. I have been polite. I have been courteous. It is not fair to me. I understand that we have a disagreement.

RICE: Commissioner, I'm here to answer questions and you have asked me a question. And I'd like to have an opportunity to answer it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Did she answer the questions? Did she filibuster?

GRAHAM: I think she did a little of the first and a lot of the second.

She's very effective in taking a question and then elaborating on issues that are largely irrelevant to the question in order to chew up the clock. Each of these commissioners was given a set amount of time, 10 minutes, in which to ask questions. So, if she could make each answer be a four-minute answer, she was down to be 2 1/2 questions.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Sir, finally, where do we go from here?

GRAHAM: Well, where do we go from here is, I hope the administration will respond to the requests that have been made by Republicans such as Senator Bill Frist and by Democrats, such as Lee Hamilton, to open up and release a lot of these documents that are not national security documents.

They may be embarrassing, but they will help get the American people to know what happened and be able to better judge the truth. So, I think the challenge for the administration in the next few days will be, will it continue this pattern of secrecy and deception or will it come clean with the American people?

PHILLIPS: And we'll see if that August 6 memo does get released.

Senator Bob Graham, thank you for your time.

GRAHAM: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: That wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM.

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