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Mourning President Reagan; Sea Island Summit; Countdown to Handover

Aired June 07, 2004 - 12:00   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: America mourns a former President: live pictures, tributes from the Reagan Presidential Library.
David MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A week of mourning set to begin here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. I'm David Mattingly in Simi Valley, California. I'll have the latest.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hearing from the running mate for Ronald Reagan's first push for the White House back in 1976.

O'BRIEN: Ultra tight security: President Bush hosting world leaders at the G-8 summit. Sea Island, Georgia, Iraq, and the economy topping the agenda. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Miles O'Brien.

PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. Wolf Blitzer is on assignment. This special of CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

O'BRIEN: Two days after his death, the first official tribute for Ronald Wilson Reagan is set for this afternoon. Within the hour, the body of the former President is scheduled to leave a mortuary outside Los Angeles for a private memorial service at the Reagan Presidential Library.

CNN's David Mattingly is standing by live in Simi Valley, California. Later today, the former president's casket will go on public display there -- David.

MATTINGLY: And a lot of activity associated with that event right now, Miles. All of it leading up to the arrival of that procession that will be leaving from the funeral home in a short time from now.

Already, you can see the familiar sight of the flags at half staff here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. We are about two hours away from a procession from the funeral home in Santa Monica. That will lead here to the library. And a private ceremony for the Reagan family in which the president's casket will be placed in a ceremony inside the library here for public viewing, that will take place later today.

We've got some new details about that ceremony. It's going to involve representatives, members of all branches of the military service. There will be music involved already.

Already, we've heard some rehearsals from the Marine Corps band from Twentynine palms, California. They played a few bars of "Hail to the Chief." And as they play "My Country 'Tis of Thee," that's when the president's casket will be placed in its location for public view.

That's going to happen at noon today here in California. That's noon Pacific Time. That's when the public for the first time will be able to come up here and file past the closed casket of President Ronald Reagan and pay their respects to the President that everyone here has talked about so much and remembered so much for the past couple of days since his death -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's David Mattingly in Simi Valley. Thank you very much.

As we said, that procession to the Reagan Library is scheduled to begin at the top of the hour, about 60 minutes from now. The trip to Simi Valley takes about 45 minutes from a mortuary in Santa Monica where the body of the former President is now.

CNN's Ted Rowlands is there as well. He joins with us an update from there -- Ted.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, Nancy Reagan, former first lady, and other members of the Reagan family are expected to arrive here in Santa Monica within the next few minutes as they prepare to join the motorcade, when the president's remains are brought to Simi Valley. As you mentioned, it is a 40-plus mile trip. It's expected to take about an hour because of the logistics involved.

According to Reagan's staff members, the hearse will be the vehicle that is used to transport the late president's remains. They will bring his flag-draped coffin outside the main entrance here, outside the mortuary. And at that point, they will take off and make their way to Simi Valley.

Outside here, the memorial continues to grow this morning. People bringing out flowers and other well wishes, messages and photos and candles. At this point, the crowd has been pushed back to one side, this entire two-block radius has been sealed off for security reasons. But there are a handful of people out here hoping to get a glimpse of the procession as it makes its way out of Santa Monica towards Simi Valley and the presidential library. And then, of course, thousands of people are expected to take advantage of the Reagan's wishes to allow the public to take part in this and go to the presidential library to express their sympathies to mourn President Reagan -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ted, is the route commonly known in southern California? And will there be people all along the way?

ROWLANDS: Well, it is available. The press has been given an update on it, but it is not expected, at least for this trip, to be filled with people coming out and watching the route. Here, specifically in Santa Monica, folks that are here are well aware of the route, which way the procession will go to get out of the city,. But then it will be mostly freeway. So obviously, there will be no pedestrian participation there. They are urging people to make the trip up to Simi Valley and then pay their respects that way, just for logistical reasons. And because most of it will be freeway traffic.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much, Ted Rowlands, in Santa Monica -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Other news across America now. Putting partisan politics aside to honor Ronald Reagan. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is canceling all public campaign-related events this week out of respect for the former President. That means two star-studded fund-raising concerts are now on hold.

Wildfires are burning some four miles from the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California. It was known as the Western White House during his presidency and is now a historic site. Fire officials say they expect the ranch will be spared and the fire will be contained if favorable conditions continue over the next couple of days.

Well, after a nine-hour flight from France, President Bush got to Savannah, Georgia, last night. He and the first lady then helicoptered the 80 miles to Sea Island, where he'll host the group of eight summit. It starts tomorrow on the Georgia Barrier Island.

Suzanne Malveaux and the rest of the press corps will be covering the meeting from Savannah. And some of today's focus has been on Iraq -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, absolutely. Iraq really is one of the primary focuses of the administration for the G-8 summit. It was just yesterday President Bush arrived at Sea Island, Georgia. All of the activities, of course, will begin on Tuesday in earnest.

We are told the President this morning went for a bike ride. He was also briefed and took a walk on the grounds before the summit begins. We expect the world leaders to begin congregating in the next 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the President is going to meet individually with the leaders of the G-8, leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. And, of course, the primary focus is trying to win a U.N. Security Council resolution to endorse Iraqi sovereignty. It was just earlier this morning I spoke with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, who says that they are very close to a deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think it is just a matter of time. I really do expect that we're going to have a resolution in the next few days. And, in fact, President Chirac said as much, and Chancellor Schroeder recently said the same thing.

There had been an issue of how we would recognize Iraqi sovereignty, what would be the relationship of the multinational force to the Iraqi sovereign government. We have an exchange of letters that works that out with the Iraqi government and puts in place a mechanism by which these issues can be discussed. It puts in place a mechanism by which policy issues, even on sensitive military -- offensive military operations, can be dealt with.

So I think we have the understanding with the Iraqis. I expect that that should be good enough for the international community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Kyra, this really would be a symbolic victory. They do not expect to see any kind of significant international troop presence from France, Germany and Russia. They've all said that they're not really willing to contribute in that way. But, of course, it does open the door to international support in other ways, and certainly gives the go-ahead to show that Iraqi sovereignty, that there is international support behind that means.

And of course, as well, Kyra, there are still a lot of questions before that power is turned over to the Iraqi people. What develops on the ground, how dangerous that situation is. A lot of unresolved issues.

I Should also let you know as well that there is a greater Middle East initiative that the U.S. is trying to push through here at the G- 8 summit. What that involves is really trying to get the Arab leaders who will be here in the days to come to commit to a declaration talking about democratic reforms, reforming their own institutions.

Notably absent, however, will be the leaders from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. There's been a great deal of debate as to whether or not the U.S. is perceived as imposing its own brand of democracy on these nations. There is somewhat of some resentment from those countries, but Dr. Rice saying that she is confident they'll get that declaration pushed as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from Savannah. Thanks so much.

Well, thousands of law enforcement officials trying to ensure the safety of world leaders during the summit. We're going to get the details on that massive effort straight ahead.

An explosive situation in Iraq. A blast at a mosque and a movement to disarm militias. A live report from Baghdad straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Ultra tight security is in force for the G-8 economic summit. Tiny Sea Island is sealed off. Gun boats, helicopters, police and National Guard troops are on patrol. G-8 protestors have mostly been restricted to spots on the mainland. Jeanne Meserve picks up the story from Savannah now -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the Secret Service heading up a massive security effort that involves about 50 federal, state and local agencies. As you mentioned, access to Sea Island, where the summit itself is taking place, being severely restricted. Only participants and residents of the island can get on and off. Everyone else being kept out of there.

If you go into the communities near Sea Island, they are crawling with law enforcement personnel. You will see National Guardsmen and S.W.A.T. teams and explosive teams. Also, undercover cops and agents. There are cop cars stationed on virtually every corner, Humvees rolling down the street.

Also a lot of security on the water because this is, of course, a coastal community. You have the U.S. military. You have the U.S. Coast Guard. And you have local law enforcement all patrolling the waters in and around Savannah and Sea Island.

As well, there are air restrictions. We have combat air patrols in the air. There are anti-aircraft missiles in position. Restrictions in place in a ring around Savannah, and also around Sea Island.

We are told that there was one intrusion into the airspace last night at about 8:00 p.m. A pilot inadvertently came in. He was contacted by radio, turned around. Nothing of significance happened there.

Also, there had been a number of bomb scares. Again, nothing of significance has turned up. The fear, of course, terrorism, also protests.

There have been massive and sometimes violent protests in connection with some of the other G-8 meetings. Precautions have been put in place here in Savannah and also closer to Sea Island. A lot of barricades have been put up around buildings that they feel might be vulnerable, but thus far the protest events had been fairly sparsely attended.

The protestors thus far, few and far between. But there is still plenty of time for things to develop.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jeanne, thanks so much.

We're going to talk more about it and what it's like to be responsible for the safety of global leaders at the G-8 summit. We're going to talk with the man who has that mission. Major General Craig McKinley will give us the inside story right here on LIVE FROM next hour.

O'BRIEN: A deal to disband Iraqi militias and a deadly explosion at a Kufa mosque, these are some of the things Iraqi leaders are grappling with as they prepare to take control of their country just a few weeks from now. CNN's Harris Whitbeck brings us the day's news from Baghdad -- Harris. HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles. Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, announced an important deal under which a lot of the country's irregular militias would be absorbed by state security services. He said militias belonging to nine political organizations -- that's over 100,000 men -- would eventually be absorbed by the Iraqi national police, by the reconstituted Iraqi army, and by private security organizations.

He said those that do not wish to be absorbed by security organizations would be offered help in being reinserted into civilian life. They'd have access to job training programs and be eligible for military pensions. Allawi said that a lot of the militias operating in Iraq had, in fact, fought to topple Saddam Hussein and that they should be rewarded.

Now, Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army, which has been fighting U.S. forces in Najaf and Kufa, was not included in this deal. And there was some more activity in Kufa. Earlier today, a mosque in that city was apparently on fire, apparently according to U.S. officials. A hidden arms stash in that mosque caught fire, and that caused a series of explosions. Some militia members however, say -- accuse the United States of having fired explosives at that holy site -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad. Thank you very much.

"The Cold Warrior" warmly remembered. A presidential historian talks about how a movie partly inspired Ronald Reagan to sign on the dotted line with the Soviets.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz in New York. Wall Street is also paying its respects to the memory of Ronald Reagan. More on that and a check on the trading day after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: News around the world now. Westerners the target of another attack in Saudi Arabia. This time a journalist is killed, another fighting for his life.

BBC correspondent Frank Gardner in critical, but stable condition. He was shot yesterday while walk down a street in Riyadh. A freelance cameraman he was with was killed. The gunmen haven't been caught.

Political crisis in Israel. Ariel Sharon's coalition facing no confidence votes a day after the cabinet approved in principle his disengagement plan from Gaza. The plan would remove Jewish settlements by next year.

From the Mideast to the Far East, U.S. officials say Washington wants to withdraw one-third of its 37,000 troops from South Korea by the end of next year. It would be the first major troop cut on the Korean Peninsula in a decade, and it's seen as part of a plan by Washington to realign forces worldwide to enhance troop response to emergencies.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Top stories at the half-hour. Court has reconvened in Redwood City, California, in Scott Peterson's murder trial. Laci Peterson's half sister is back on the witness stand. Prosecutors hope that Amy Rocha's testimony will cast doubt on Scott Peterson's statements about his wife. Peterson is charged with murdering his wife and unborn son.

To Oklahoma and the sentencing phase of the state trial against Terry Nichols. Defense attorneys are questioning members of Nichols' family, prison guards and Nichols' prayer partners. The lawyers are trying to make a case for a life sentence for their client. He's been found guilty of 161 counts of murder for his role in the 1991 Oklahoma City bombing.

Martha Stewart will have to wait a little longer to find out if she goes to prison. The judge pushed back Stewart's sentencing by three weeks to July 8th. Stewart was convicted of lying to investors. Her lawyers are expected to ask for a new trial.

O'BRIEN: In about 30 minutes, the body of former President Reagan is to travel by motorcade from Santa Monica, California, to the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, about an hour trip. In Washington, meantime, plans are under way for the first state funeral in the nation's capital in more than 30 years. CNN's Joe Johns live on Capitol Hill with more from there.

Hello, Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

This week on Capitol Hill is expected to be a work in progress. We expect a large part of the legislative business of the Congress to be cancelled in anticipation of President Reagan's funeral. We also expect the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass a number of resolutions, including one resolution that would allow for the use of the Rotunda for the president's body to lie in state. This, of course, is a high honor.

We do have some pictures to show you what it looks like. This is an honor, of course, reserved only for very, very high-level officials. The last state funeral here in Washington D.C., as you mentioned, did occur just about 30 years ago.

Now, besides this, of course, there are a number of other things going on. We have a graphic to give you, sort of a sense of what is going to. This has been designated, we are told, a national security special event. That, of course, means heightened security.

It will be a concern here for people in Washington D.C. Traffic. And, of course, on Wednesday, Thursday, toward Friday morning, thousands of people, perhaps as many as 100,000 people are expected to file past the casket of President Ronald Reagan in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol.

They will not be allowed to bring large backpacks. They will not be allowed, of course, to bring cameras. No photographs allowed. Then, of course, the funeral is scheduled for Friday.

So this is going to be a long week on Capitol Hill here. A lot of people are very concerned about the security. Washington D.C. is a very different place from 30 years ago, when the funeral of LBJ was held.

Miles, back to you.

O'BRIEN: To say the least. And I guess it's difficult for the security folks to talk about what they're going to do. But on the one hand, I know that there's a desire to honor people's commitment to see and pay respects to the former President.

JOHNS: Exactly right. And the president's body will lie in state, we are told, for the better part of 24 hours. So people will be able to file past the casket all night long, we are told.

Of course, security is going to be tight. And a lot of security, as you said, people just can't talk about. The interesting thing, this funeral has really been in the works for years, but they still had to start updating it as recently as yesterday -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Joe Johns on Capitol Hill. Thank you very much.

To critics and supporters alike, Ronald Reagan was known as a great communicator. An actor-turned-President who knew how to connect with an audience. So what made Reagan such a natural politician?

Joining me now to talk about that and some more is a man who knew him well. Richard Schweiker, former senator and U.S representative, he was Reagan's secretary of Health and Human Services in the '80s, and he was President Reagan's choice for vice President during the '76 GOP primary campaign coming out of that incredible convention in Kansas City.

Mr. Schweiker, good to have you with us.

RICHARD SCHWEIKER, REAGAN HHS SECRETARY: Thank you. Good to be here.

O'BRIEN: All right. Let's start in '76, if we could. That convention, that's the last time a convention made some real news, isn't it? And you were right at the center of it. What are your recollections?

SCHWEIKER: Well, there are two things that really stand out. We had a very close battle. And it would have settled only by a few votes in the key part of the convention. And after that first key vote that looked like we weren't going to win -- our momentum had been slowed -- I went to the breakfast meeting the next morning with President Reagan, then governor, and the staff, and I said, "Look, it looks like I may be a handicap to the ticket in view of our last vote, but I'd like to pull out and withdraw so you can name somebody else and pick another candidate now or later, if that helps."

I thought if we went around the room that would be the vote. But Reagan looked me right in the eye and he said, "Senator, Dick, we came to Kansas City together. We're going to leave Kansas City together." Didn't even think twice about it.

O'BRIEN: And do you think that was revealing of his personality right then and there?

SCHWEIKER: Very strong. And there was one other point that was revealing. After we lost and we went to the Alameda Plaza for a final thank you from Governor Reagan to the people, hardly a dry eye in the auditorium, my wife went over to him, my wife, Claire (ph), and said she was so disappointed that it didn't turn out.

He was so nice to our five children who were there. He invited them up to the box and got to know them personally. And she said, "I am just sorry it didn't turn out." And he said, "Claire (ph), don't be disappointed. It just wasn't in god's plan." He had a strong, private religious faith that people didn't realize.

O'BRIEN: He didn't share that too much, did he? As I understand it, he also wrote personal notes to your children in the wake of all of that.

SCHWEIKER: Yes, he did. In fact, it was sort of ironic, because after he lost the presidency my daughter, Kyle (ph), won the presidency of her intermediate school. And lo and behold he wrote a personal letter, handwritten to my daughter, Kyle (ph), congratulating her.

And then another thing at convention, when we went to the Hawaiian delegation, we'd spent our honeymoon in Hawaii, my wife and I, and our daughter was named Lani (ph) after a Hawaiian name. And so as we're leaving the Hawaiian delegation, he took the lei off himself, the flower lei, and put it on my daughter, Lani (ph). So he was very sensitive, very responsive, very warm person.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about your tenure, though, in the Reagan administration, Health and Human Services. You were presiding over the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic, and there's been a lot of criticism of the president's alleged inability to recognize this as a public health crisis. For the record, where do you see it? Was the Reagan administration sort of react (ph) on this?

SCHWEIKER: Well, let me give you some background. I was in the Senate Health Committee. I was the ranking member before I went to the cabinet. And I had gone through the Legionnaires disease in Philadelphia when that virus broke out.

Nobody knew what it was. So I got after CDC and the other NIH to do something about it. So when the AIDS virus broke out, I didn't know what it was, but I said I want to spend more money and do more effort on this virus than we ever did on Legionnaires disease.

And as you look at the early stages, you'll find we did exactly that. Now, of course, nobody foresaw or knew what it really meant and how much more traumatic it was. And obviously, in hindsight, we should have spent a lot more money a lot earlier, but we did spend more money than anything that had been done before in the last few decades in terms of a new virus.

O'BRIEN: All right. Mr. Schweiker, we're going to ask you to just stand by for just a moment. We are going to shift our gaze to Santa Monica, California, where the motorcade carrying Nancy Reagan to the funeral home, which is, of course, where President Reagan's body is right now has just arrived.

That motorcade is due to depart in about 25 minutes to make a 45- mile journey to the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. And there you see -- there's Nancy Reagan arriving, the former first lady and widow of the former President, arriving with her daughter, Patti, at her side. And surrounded by -- is that Ron Reagan there? Yes. Walked out of frame there.

And it's the first glimpse I've seen of her since all of this. And looking as good as could be expected under the terrible -- there's Ron, Jr. in the frame now. And in any case, as she makes her way into the funeral home and then ultimately on her way to the motorcade, I want to bring in Senator Schweiker.

Senator Schweiker, President Reagan, was he an ideologue or a pragmatist? Because the selection of you in Kansas City was really meant as a tip to the middle part of the Republican Party, whereas the president was viewed in on the more right side. As we watch the former first lady looking at all of the remembrances there, how should he be remembered that way?

SCHWEIKER: He was really a great pragmatist. And I think people sometimes forget that. Obviously, he made that decision when he picked me as a moderate Republican to be his running mate. But then I had some battles about the budget in terms of Health and Human Services.

And we had laid down basically a Social Security net. And so I would battle with Dave Stockman. And one time I got so concerned about Dave Stockman cutting way beyond what we thought in terms of growth, I said we're going to go to President Reagan in the Oval Office and I'm going to tell him exactly what you're doing to his budget and how we don't agree.

Well, would you believe Dave Stockman backed off and I won 50 cutbacks again because he knew Reagan was a pragmatist, too. And he knew that he wouldn't accept some of the things that Stockman was doing. That's why he took him out to the woodshed once, as you'll recall.

O'BRIEN: I will recall. Let's talk about the woman we see on our screen right now. What are your thoughts on her and her role, as she puts it, completing Ronald Reagan?

SCHWEIKER: She was a very warm and emphatic person in terms of President Reagan. And she really looked out for his interest. He was such a good natured person that sometimes he would do things that maybe weren't in his best interest because he was friendly. And she would always make sure that she called the shot, as she saw, it in his interest. She did a lot for him in a way that maybe other people wouldn't have done. I think it was very helpful and they worked together wonderfully as a team, and we really liked her.

O'BRIEN: Was she the power that many people have written about inside the White House? Or has that been perhaps a bit overstated over the years? What would you say?

SCHWEIKER: Well, I guess you would put it as a quiet power. You just respected him and listened to him. And he had so much empathy for who he was talking to that whatever he ended up telling you and working through you, you thought it was a powerful statement even though it was low key and very friendly.

And I think this friendliness and interaction, I think that was why we got through the Cold War and broke out with Gorbachev. Because he had that friendly warmth in spite of being strong.

O'BRIEN: Let me ask you a little bit, as we continue to watch the family there, as they look at some of the greetings that had been signed and left by just people who passed by the funeral home there in Santa Monica, you see the former first lady there with her daughter and son. Let me ask you a little bit about the family dynamic here. In particular, post-White House years. Nancy Reagan has had a terrible struggle, hasn't she?

SCHWEIKER: In what respect now?

O'BRIEN: Well, just having to deal with this terrible disease that is Alzheimer's.

SCHWEIKER: She really did. I can recall exactly how she must have dealt with it. My father-in-law had Alzheimer's, so I knew exactly what she was going through.

I thought she did a remarkable job. I thought she was valiant in her efforts. And boy, she's had a long vigil, and I think you have to give her tremendous credit. And I was delighted to see her come out for stem cell research. Because I support stem cell research, and I think we really do need that to help all people with diseases like that.

O'BRIEN: It was a courageous statement on her part, given the fact that the current president is opposed. You had an opportunity to see the former president post-White House years. I think before he announced to the nation and to the world that he had Alzheimer's. What were your impressions of him then?

SCHWEIKER: Well, actually, we saw him about five or six months, right before he announced that. And we saw him in the Reagan Library and he was very outspoken, in very good health, and seemed very good. And I guess I didn't expect that he had Alzheimer's at that point because it must have been one of the good days.

So he maybe was developing it then, but I sure didn't know it. And I saw him in the Reagan Library and he seemed like a perfectly great guy.

O'BRIEN: All right. As we look at a tape replay of Nancy Reagan, her son and daughter arriving there at Santa Monica funeral home, I'm just curious. You're on the inside, so in a sense it's not an objective response. But go ahead, anyway, try to write Ronald Reagan's presidency into the history books a little bit here. How will it be viewed hundreds of years from now?

SCHWEIKER: Well, I think one way to look at it is he had a great faith in our country, he had a great faith in our people, and he had strong faith in God. And I think these became overwhelmingly contagious with the people that he worked with and talked with.

And I think, you know, when you look at here, we ended the Cold War, we opened the Berlin Wall, we had an opening to China that nobody expected, we just did a lot of things that people thought he would never have done and he accomplished. And I think it was his personality and his low-key manner in the way that he handled himself, as well as his strong faith that kept coming through.

O'BRIEN: Richard Schweiker, thanks very much for your time. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this day as we mourn the passing of Ronald Reagan -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Ronald Reagan graduated from Eureka College in his home state of Illinois back in 1932. And this week, Eureka is honoring its most famous alum known back then as Dutch. Our Jonathan Freed is there.

Hi John.

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. How are you?

We are here at the Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College, where they have some 3,000 items in the collection. The only place in the country that has more Reagan memorabilia is actually the Reagan Library in California. Now come on over here. I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Brian Sajko, who is the curator of the museum.

Thanks for being here today.

DR. BRIAN SAJKO, CURATOR, REAGAN MUSEUM AT EUREKA COLLEGE: Thanks, Jonathan.

FREED: Now, we are standing in front of a very important display case. Could you please open the door for the country now and let's reveal what's inside. What's the centerpiece here?

SAJKO: Well, the centerpiece is his college diploma. He graduated in 1932 from the college with a joint degree in economics and sociology.

FREED: Sort of foreshadowing future interests, I guess.

SAJKO: That's right.

FREED: Now, there are a number of items in your collection that actually reveal something about the man's character that you might not have known otherwise. And this letter is one of them, right?

SAJKO: Yes. It's a great example of a personal piece. He wrote this to our former president of the college, Ira Langston (ph), in 1955, when Reagan worked for GE. And he says he really doesn't like to fly.

FREED: Doesn't like to fly. You can actually see it here in his own handwriting. He says, "I am one of those prehistoric people who won't" -- and he's underlined it -- "who won't fly."

Now, there's something else that we found that tells us more about the man as well. That's over here, right?

SAJKO: Yes. He did some advertisements for Chesterfield Cigarettes. Though he never smoked. The cigarette's actually just painted on his mouth.

FREED: That's right. Now, there was one piece of your collection which, as it turns out -- and I was surprised by this -- is the most valuable piece, as it turns out.

SAJKO: Right. A lot of people try to guess what that would be, and it actually is these presidential cowboy boots which have the presidential seal on them. And he wrote us a letter, told us that he actually did wear them. They're all scuffed up on the bottom. It makes them more valuable.

FREED: Now what size are they?

SAJKO: I think about a 10.

FREED: And what size are you?

SAJKO: Well, the same.

FREED: All right. So there are about 3,000 items on display here, right?

SAJKO: Right.

FREED: Pretty well -- 1,000 at any one time and 3,000...

SAJKO: Yes. We rotate different pieces around.

FREED: Right.

SAJKO: There's a variety of different personal pieces.

FREED: And that flag is significant as well, right? SAJKO: It is. The flag actually was flying over the Capitol the day he was elected president. And a number of pieces that reflect his interest in children, a letter from someone who sent him a -- a small girl who wrote a letter that had 21 cents taped to it, saying, "Please win the election. It costs a lot, I know. And here's my 21 cents."

FREED: OK. Dr. Brian Sajko, curator of the museum here, thank you very much.

SAJKO: Thank you.

FREED: A pleasure.

And we'll send it back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jonathan, while you have Brian there, you see a lot of the historical items that Reagan left. I remember touring Eureka College. Now, he was very involved here. This is also where he met his first love.

Talk to us a little bit about what he was involved with at Eureka. And he was quite a leader on that campus.

FREED: The question that we're being asked is, tell us a little bit about how involved he was here on the campus.

SAJKO: Very involved. I mean, we're a family here at Eureka, and it's like our grandfather passing away.

So he came back to the campus numerous, numerous times before he was president. For example, we gave him an honorary doctorate in 1957, well before his political career began. So he's really a member of the family.

FREED: And we have a shot of him wearing a Eureka shirt now. Tell us about that.

SAJKO: Yes. Which one in particular?

FREED: That's the one down there at the other end of the room. We have you at a bit of a disadvantage, but we're multi-camera today.

SAJKO: That's all right. I can handle that.

Basically, what it is he was on the football team here. That's in front of Prichard Gymnasium (ph) at the time. And it's kind of a look at the four horsemen of Notre Dame, basically, is the look they're trying to get across there.

FREED: That's right. He was a swimmer as well, right?

SAJKO: He was. He was captain of the swim team. He was cheerleader for basketball.

FREED: Right. SAJKO: President of the student government his senior year, in 14 theater productions in his time here. I'm a theater professor, so I'm all for that. Very involved. That's the way it is here.

FREED: And I've read you have a number of quotations up on the wall that you've explained are some things that people would not necessarily expect to see. There was one that struck me in particular, which is his view of the four years of college in general, which probably speaks to what he thought about people all over the place.

SAJKO: Right. He talks about how quickly the time goes, and that you should really -- you know it isn't -- this is for all college students out there -- it isn't just the school work. It's about the whole college experience. And that's really what Eureka College is all about, that small school, everybody does a lot of different things.

FREED: OK. Dr. Brian Sajko, thank you very much.

SAJKO: Thanks.

FREED: We'll send it back to Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jonathan Freed, great inside look there at Eureka. Thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick break. Remembering Ronald Reagan, and also more news just ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Let's go to Hollywood. We definitely didn't want this to slip under the radar. J. Lo got hitched again. How's that for news?

Is that news anymore? That she gets hitched? I don't know.

PHILLIPS: When it's Marc Anthony, it's news.

O'BRIEN: People Magazine tells us she said "I do" to singer Marc Anthony.

PHILLIPS: Marc Anthony.

O'BRIEN: Kyra's liking that. She's got an ear-to-ear grin.

PHILLIPS: The king of salsa.

O'BRIEN: Anyway, it's J. Lo's third marriage. Anthony's divorce from his last wife went through just last week. The revolving door spins in Hollywood as usual.

Some bookies already taking bets on how long the marriage will last. We're not going to tell you what the odds are. We certainly don't want to jinx the happy couple. I'd give it two weeks. What do you say, two weeks?

PHILLIPS: I'd give it at least a year. Not past a year. What do you think?

O'BRIEN: A full year, one year.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll monitor it.

O'BRIEN: We're on record.

PHILLIPS: Well, it may be Broadway, but everyone was on "Avenue Q" at the Tony Awards last night. The little show called "Avenue Q" pulled off an upset, fending off the much more lavish production "Wicked" to win best musical. "Avenue Q" also picked up the awards for best book and best score.

And Phylicia Rashad became the first African-American actress to win a Tony for a dramatic leading role. Rashad portrays the family matriarch in the current revival of "A Raisin in the Sun."

Outside Radio City Music Hall, the entertainment world paused to remember one of its own. Some celebrity thoughts now on the passing of Ronald Reagan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's proof that a man can do anything, and more than one thing. So many people try to place limitations on people, you know, in different ways like, well, if you do this, you can't do that, and if you do that you can't do this. Well, guess what? He was a movie star and he became president of the United States, and he ended the Cold War. So that's a pretty nice hat trick.

TONY BENNETT, SINGER: My moment that I had with him was when he was governor. And he had me sing for the boys that came back from Vietnam. And it was unforgettable.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER, ACTOR: There's a lot to remember about him. He was an extremely charismatic leader. And he had a long and very rich life with a lot of chapters. And I think the thing that most of us will remember is that he passed away in the loving care of his family, which so many people in this country who have Alzheimer's don't have the chance to do. So it's nice, and I'm sure it's of great comfort to his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, once again, we want to take you from the Tony Awards back to Santa Monica California. There's Michael Reagan right there, one of the sons of the former president, just outside of the mortuary.

The body of the former president is going to travel in just a short time from motorcade there in Santa Monica at the mortuary to the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. And what you're seeing now is just members of the family. This is Michael Reagan right here, looking at all of the flowers and the notes and the gifts that had been brought by since the passing of the former president out there in front of the mortuary.

Also, once Reagan's body moves to the presidential library in Simi Valley, in Washington, meantime, plans are under way for the first state funeral in the nation's capital in more than 30 years. We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 7, 2004 - 12:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: America mourns a former President: live pictures, tributes from the Reagan Presidential Library.
David MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A week of mourning set to begin here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. I'm David Mattingly in Simi Valley, California. I'll have the latest.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hearing from the running mate for Ronald Reagan's first push for the White House back in 1976.

O'BRIEN: Ultra tight security: President Bush hosting world leaders at the G-8 summit. Sea Island, Georgia, Iraq, and the economy topping the agenda. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Miles O'Brien.

PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. Wolf Blitzer is on assignment. This special of CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

O'BRIEN: Two days after his death, the first official tribute for Ronald Wilson Reagan is set for this afternoon. Within the hour, the body of the former President is scheduled to leave a mortuary outside Los Angeles for a private memorial service at the Reagan Presidential Library.

CNN's David Mattingly is standing by live in Simi Valley, California. Later today, the former president's casket will go on public display there -- David.

MATTINGLY: And a lot of activity associated with that event right now, Miles. All of it leading up to the arrival of that procession that will be leaving from the funeral home in a short time from now.

Already, you can see the familiar sight of the flags at half staff here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. We are about two hours away from a procession from the funeral home in Santa Monica. That will lead here to the library. And a private ceremony for the Reagan family in which the president's casket will be placed in a ceremony inside the library here for public viewing, that will take place later today.

We've got some new details about that ceremony. It's going to involve representatives, members of all branches of the military service. There will be music involved already.

Already, we've heard some rehearsals from the Marine Corps band from Twentynine palms, California. They played a few bars of "Hail to the Chief." And as they play "My Country 'Tis of Thee," that's when the president's casket will be placed in its location for public view.

That's going to happen at noon today here in California. That's noon Pacific Time. That's when the public for the first time will be able to come up here and file past the closed casket of President Ronald Reagan and pay their respects to the President that everyone here has talked about so much and remembered so much for the past couple of days since his death -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's David Mattingly in Simi Valley. Thank you very much.

As we said, that procession to the Reagan Library is scheduled to begin at the top of the hour, about 60 minutes from now. The trip to Simi Valley takes about 45 minutes from a mortuary in Santa Monica where the body of the former President is now.

CNN's Ted Rowlands is there as well. He joins with us an update from there -- Ted.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, Nancy Reagan, former first lady, and other members of the Reagan family are expected to arrive here in Santa Monica within the next few minutes as they prepare to join the motorcade, when the president's remains are brought to Simi Valley. As you mentioned, it is a 40-plus mile trip. It's expected to take about an hour because of the logistics involved.

According to Reagan's staff members, the hearse will be the vehicle that is used to transport the late president's remains. They will bring his flag-draped coffin outside the main entrance here, outside the mortuary. And at that point, they will take off and make their way to Simi Valley.

Outside here, the memorial continues to grow this morning. People bringing out flowers and other well wishes, messages and photos and candles. At this point, the crowd has been pushed back to one side, this entire two-block radius has been sealed off for security reasons. But there are a handful of people out here hoping to get a glimpse of the procession as it makes its way out of Santa Monica towards Simi Valley and the presidential library. And then, of course, thousands of people are expected to take advantage of the Reagan's wishes to allow the public to take part in this and go to the presidential library to express their sympathies to mourn President Reagan -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ted, is the route commonly known in southern California? And will there be people all along the way?

ROWLANDS: Well, it is available. The press has been given an update on it, but it is not expected, at least for this trip, to be filled with people coming out and watching the route. Here, specifically in Santa Monica, folks that are here are well aware of the route, which way the procession will go to get out of the city,. But then it will be mostly freeway. So obviously, there will be no pedestrian participation there. They are urging people to make the trip up to Simi Valley and then pay their respects that way, just for logistical reasons. And because most of it will be freeway traffic.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much, Ted Rowlands, in Santa Monica -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Other news across America now. Putting partisan politics aside to honor Ronald Reagan. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is canceling all public campaign-related events this week out of respect for the former President. That means two star-studded fund-raising concerts are now on hold.

Wildfires are burning some four miles from the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California. It was known as the Western White House during his presidency and is now a historic site. Fire officials say they expect the ranch will be spared and the fire will be contained if favorable conditions continue over the next couple of days.

Well, after a nine-hour flight from France, President Bush got to Savannah, Georgia, last night. He and the first lady then helicoptered the 80 miles to Sea Island, where he'll host the group of eight summit. It starts tomorrow on the Georgia Barrier Island.

Suzanne Malveaux and the rest of the press corps will be covering the meeting from Savannah. And some of today's focus has been on Iraq -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, absolutely. Iraq really is one of the primary focuses of the administration for the G-8 summit. It was just yesterday President Bush arrived at Sea Island, Georgia. All of the activities, of course, will begin on Tuesday in earnest.

We are told the President this morning went for a bike ride. He was also briefed and took a walk on the grounds before the summit begins. We expect the world leaders to begin congregating in the next 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the President is going to meet individually with the leaders of the G-8, leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. And, of course, the primary focus is trying to win a U.N. Security Council resolution to endorse Iraqi sovereignty. It was just earlier this morning I spoke with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, who says that they are very close to a deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think it is just a matter of time. I really do expect that we're going to have a resolution in the next few days. And, in fact, President Chirac said as much, and Chancellor Schroeder recently said the same thing.

There had been an issue of how we would recognize Iraqi sovereignty, what would be the relationship of the multinational force to the Iraqi sovereign government. We have an exchange of letters that works that out with the Iraqi government and puts in place a mechanism by which these issues can be discussed. It puts in place a mechanism by which policy issues, even on sensitive military -- offensive military operations, can be dealt with.

So I think we have the understanding with the Iraqis. I expect that that should be good enough for the international community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Kyra, this really would be a symbolic victory. They do not expect to see any kind of significant international troop presence from France, Germany and Russia. They've all said that they're not really willing to contribute in that way. But, of course, it does open the door to international support in other ways, and certainly gives the go-ahead to show that Iraqi sovereignty, that there is international support behind that means.

And of course, as well, Kyra, there are still a lot of questions before that power is turned over to the Iraqi people. What develops on the ground, how dangerous that situation is. A lot of unresolved issues.

I Should also let you know as well that there is a greater Middle East initiative that the U.S. is trying to push through here at the G- 8 summit. What that involves is really trying to get the Arab leaders who will be here in the days to come to commit to a declaration talking about democratic reforms, reforming their own institutions.

Notably absent, however, will be the leaders from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. There's been a great deal of debate as to whether or not the U.S. is perceived as imposing its own brand of democracy on these nations. There is somewhat of some resentment from those countries, but Dr. Rice saying that she is confident they'll get that declaration pushed as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from Savannah. Thanks so much.

Well, thousands of law enforcement officials trying to ensure the safety of world leaders during the summit. We're going to get the details on that massive effort straight ahead.

An explosive situation in Iraq. A blast at a mosque and a movement to disarm militias. A live report from Baghdad straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Ultra tight security is in force for the G-8 economic summit. Tiny Sea Island is sealed off. Gun boats, helicopters, police and National Guard troops are on patrol. G-8 protestors have mostly been restricted to spots on the mainland. Jeanne Meserve picks up the story from Savannah now -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the Secret Service heading up a massive security effort that involves about 50 federal, state and local agencies. As you mentioned, access to Sea Island, where the summit itself is taking place, being severely restricted. Only participants and residents of the island can get on and off. Everyone else being kept out of there.

If you go into the communities near Sea Island, they are crawling with law enforcement personnel. You will see National Guardsmen and S.W.A.T. teams and explosive teams. Also, undercover cops and agents. There are cop cars stationed on virtually every corner, Humvees rolling down the street.

Also a lot of security on the water because this is, of course, a coastal community. You have the U.S. military. You have the U.S. Coast Guard. And you have local law enforcement all patrolling the waters in and around Savannah and Sea Island.

As well, there are air restrictions. We have combat air patrols in the air. There are anti-aircraft missiles in position. Restrictions in place in a ring around Savannah, and also around Sea Island.

We are told that there was one intrusion into the airspace last night at about 8:00 p.m. A pilot inadvertently came in. He was contacted by radio, turned around. Nothing of significance happened there.

Also, there had been a number of bomb scares. Again, nothing of significance has turned up. The fear, of course, terrorism, also protests.

There have been massive and sometimes violent protests in connection with some of the other G-8 meetings. Precautions have been put in place here in Savannah and also closer to Sea Island. A lot of barricades have been put up around buildings that they feel might be vulnerable, but thus far the protest events had been fairly sparsely attended.

The protestors thus far, few and far between. But there is still plenty of time for things to develop.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jeanne, thanks so much.

We're going to talk more about it and what it's like to be responsible for the safety of global leaders at the G-8 summit. We're going to talk with the man who has that mission. Major General Craig McKinley will give us the inside story right here on LIVE FROM next hour.

O'BRIEN: A deal to disband Iraqi militias and a deadly explosion at a Kufa mosque, these are some of the things Iraqi leaders are grappling with as they prepare to take control of their country just a few weeks from now. CNN's Harris Whitbeck brings us the day's news from Baghdad -- Harris. HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles. Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, announced an important deal under which a lot of the country's irregular militias would be absorbed by state security services. He said militias belonging to nine political organizations -- that's over 100,000 men -- would eventually be absorbed by the Iraqi national police, by the reconstituted Iraqi army, and by private security organizations.

He said those that do not wish to be absorbed by security organizations would be offered help in being reinserted into civilian life. They'd have access to job training programs and be eligible for military pensions. Allawi said that a lot of the militias operating in Iraq had, in fact, fought to topple Saddam Hussein and that they should be rewarded.

Now, Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army, which has been fighting U.S. forces in Najaf and Kufa, was not included in this deal. And there was some more activity in Kufa. Earlier today, a mosque in that city was apparently on fire, apparently according to U.S. officials. A hidden arms stash in that mosque caught fire, and that caused a series of explosions. Some militia members however, say -- accuse the United States of having fired explosives at that holy site -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad. Thank you very much.

"The Cold Warrior" warmly remembered. A presidential historian talks about how a movie partly inspired Ronald Reagan to sign on the dotted line with the Soviets.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz in New York. Wall Street is also paying its respects to the memory of Ronald Reagan. More on that and a check on the trading day after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: News around the world now. Westerners the target of another attack in Saudi Arabia. This time a journalist is killed, another fighting for his life.

BBC correspondent Frank Gardner in critical, but stable condition. He was shot yesterday while walk down a street in Riyadh. A freelance cameraman he was with was killed. The gunmen haven't been caught.

Political crisis in Israel. Ariel Sharon's coalition facing no confidence votes a day after the cabinet approved in principle his disengagement plan from Gaza. The plan would remove Jewish settlements by next year.

From the Mideast to the Far East, U.S. officials say Washington wants to withdraw one-third of its 37,000 troops from South Korea by the end of next year. It would be the first major troop cut on the Korean Peninsula in a decade, and it's seen as part of a plan by Washington to realign forces worldwide to enhance troop response to emergencies.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Top stories at the half-hour. Court has reconvened in Redwood City, California, in Scott Peterson's murder trial. Laci Peterson's half sister is back on the witness stand. Prosecutors hope that Amy Rocha's testimony will cast doubt on Scott Peterson's statements about his wife. Peterson is charged with murdering his wife and unborn son.

To Oklahoma and the sentencing phase of the state trial against Terry Nichols. Defense attorneys are questioning members of Nichols' family, prison guards and Nichols' prayer partners. The lawyers are trying to make a case for a life sentence for their client. He's been found guilty of 161 counts of murder for his role in the 1991 Oklahoma City bombing.

Martha Stewart will have to wait a little longer to find out if she goes to prison. The judge pushed back Stewart's sentencing by three weeks to July 8th. Stewart was convicted of lying to investors. Her lawyers are expected to ask for a new trial.

O'BRIEN: In about 30 minutes, the body of former President Reagan is to travel by motorcade from Santa Monica, California, to the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, about an hour trip. In Washington, meantime, plans are under way for the first state funeral in the nation's capital in more than 30 years. CNN's Joe Johns live on Capitol Hill with more from there.

Hello, Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

This week on Capitol Hill is expected to be a work in progress. We expect a large part of the legislative business of the Congress to be cancelled in anticipation of President Reagan's funeral. We also expect the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass a number of resolutions, including one resolution that would allow for the use of the Rotunda for the president's body to lie in state. This, of course, is a high honor.

We do have some pictures to show you what it looks like. This is an honor, of course, reserved only for very, very high-level officials. The last state funeral here in Washington D.C., as you mentioned, did occur just about 30 years ago.

Now, besides this, of course, there are a number of other things going on. We have a graphic to give you, sort of a sense of what is going to. This has been designated, we are told, a national security special event. That, of course, means heightened security.

It will be a concern here for people in Washington D.C. Traffic. And, of course, on Wednesday, Thursday, toward Friday morning, thousands of people, perhaps as many as 100,000 people are expected to file past the casket of President Ronald Reagan in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol.

They will not be allowed to bring large backpacks. They will not be allowed, of course, to bring cameras. No photographs allowed. Then, of course, the funeral is scheduled for Friday.

So this is going to be a long week on Capitol Hill here. A lot of people are very concerned about the security. Washington D.C. is a very different place from 30 years ago, when the funeral of LBJ was held.

Miles, back to you.

O'BRIEN: To say the least. And I guess it's difficult for the security folks to talk about what they're going to do. But on the one hand, I know that there's a desire to honor people's commitment to see and pay respects to the former President.

JOHNS: Exactly right. And the president's body will lie in state, we are told, for the better part of 24 hours. So people will be able to file past the casket all night long, we are told.

Of course, security is going to be tight. And a lot of security, as you said, people just can't talk about. The interesting thing, this funeral has really been in the works for years, but they still had to start updating it as recently as yesterday -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Joe Johns on Capitol Hill. Thank you very much.

To critics and supporters alike, Ronald Reagan was known as a great communicator. An actor-turned-President who knew how to connect with an audience. So what made Reagan such a natural politician?

Joining me now to talk about that and some more is a man who knew him well. Richard Schweiker, former senator and U.S representative, he was Reagan's secretary of Health and Human Services in the '80s, and he was President Reagan's choice for vice President during the '76 GOP primary campaign coming out of that incredible convention in Kansas City.

Mr. Schweiker, good to have you with us.

RICHARD SCHWEIKER, REAGAN HHS SECRETARY: Thank you. Good to be here.

O'BRIEN: All right. Let's start in '76, if we could. That convention, that's the last time a convention made some real news, isn't it? And you were right at the center of it. What are your recollections?

SCHWEIKER: Well, there are two things that really stand out. We had a very close battle. And it would have settled only by a few votes in the key part of the convention. And after that first key vote that looked like we weren't going to win -- our momentum had been slowed -- I went to the breakfast meeting the next morning with President Reagan, then governor, and the staff, and I said, "Look, it looks like I may be a handicap to the ticket in view of our last vote, but I'd like to pull out and withdraw so you can name somebody else and pick another candidate now or later, if that helps."

I thought if we went around the room that would be the vote. But Reagan looked me right in the eye and he said, "Senator, Dick, we came to Kansas City together. We're going to leave Kansas City together." Didn't even think twice about it.

O'BRIEN: And do you think that was revealing of his personality right then and there?

SCHWEIKER: Very strong. And there was one other point that was revealing. After we lost and we went to the Alameda Plaza for a final thank you from Governor Reagan to the people, hardly a dry eye in the auditorium, my wife went over to him, my wife, Claire (ph), and said she was so disappointed that it didn't turn out.

He was so nice to our five children who were there. He invited them up to the box and got to know them personally. And she said, "I am just sorry it didn't turn out." And he said, "Claire (ph), don't be disappointed. It just wasn't in god's plan." He had a strong, private religious faith that people didn't realize.

O'BRIEN: He didn't share that too much, did he? As I understand it, he also wrote personal notes to your children in the wake of all of that.

SCHWEIKER: Yes, he did. In fact, it was sort of ironic, because after he lost the presidency my daughter, Kyle (ph), won the presidency of her intermediate school. And lo and behold he wrote a personal letter, handwritten to my daughter, Kyle (ph), congratulating her.

And then another thing at convention, when we went to the Hawaiian delegation, we'd spent our honeymoon in Hawaii, my wife and I, and our daughter was named Lani (ph) after a Hawaiian name. And so as we're leaving the Hawaiian delegation, he took the lei off himself, the flower lei, and put it on my daughter, Lani (ph). So he was very sensitive, very responsive, very warm person.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about your tenure, though, in the Reagan administration, Health and Human Services. You were presiding over the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic, and there's been a lot of criticism of the president's alleged inability to recognize this as a public health crisis. For the record, where do you see it? Was the Reagan administration sort of react (ph) on this?

SCHWEIKER: Well, let me give you some background. I was in the Senate Health Committee. I was the ranking member before I went to the cabinet. And I had gone through the Legionnaires disease in Philadelphia when that virus broke out.

Nobody knew what it was. So I got after CDC and the other NIH to do something about it. So when the AIDS virus broke out, I didn't know what it was, but I said I want to spend more money and do more effort on this virus than we ever did on Legionnaires disease.

And as you look at the early stages, you'll find we did exactly that. Now, of course, nobody foresaw or knew what it really meant and how much more traumatic it was. And obviously, in hindsight, we should have spent a lot more money a lot earlier, but we did spend more money than anything that had been done before in the last few decades in terms of a new virus.

O'BRIEN: All right. Mr. Schweiker, we're going to ask you to just stand by for just a moment. We are going to shift our gaze to Santa Monica, California, where the motorcade carrying Nancy Reagan to the funeral home, which is, of course, where President Reagan's body is right now has just arrived.

That motorcade is due to depart in about 25 minutes to make a 45- mile journey to the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. And there you see -- there's Nancy Reagan arriving, the former first lady and widow of the former President, arriving with her daughter, Patti, at her side. And surrounded by -- is that Ron Reagan there? Yes. Walked out of frame there.

And it's the first glimpse I've seen of her since all of this. And looking as good as could be expected under the terrible -- there's Ron, Jr. in the frame now. And in any case, as she makes her way into the funeral home and then ultimately on her way to the motorcade, I want to bring in Senator Schweiker.

Senator Schweiker, President Reagan, was he an ideologue or a pragmatist? Because the selection of you in Kansas City was really meant as a tip to the middle part of the Republican Party, whereas the president was viewed in on the more right side. As we watch the former first lady looking at all of the remembrances there, how should he be remembered that way?

SCHWEIKER: He was really a great pragmatist. And I think people sometimes forget that. Obviously, he made that decision when he picked me as a moderate Republican to be his running mate. But then I had some battles about the budget in terms of Health and Human Services.

And we had laid down basically a Social Security net. And so I would battle with Dave Stockman. And one time I got so concerned about Dave Stockman cutting way beyond what we thought in terms of growth, I said we're going to go to President Reagan in the Oval Office and I'm going to tell him exactly what you're doing to his budget and how we don't agree.

Well, would you believe Dave Stockman backed off and I won 50 cutbacks again because he knew Reagan was a pragmatist, too. And he knew that he wouldn't accept some of the things that Stockman was doing. That's why he took him out to the woodshed once, as you'll recall.

O'BRIEN: I will recall. Let's talk about the woman we see on our screen right now. What are your thoughts on her and her role, as she puts it, completing Ronald Reagan?

SCHWEIKER: She was a very warm and emphatic person in terms of President Reagan. And she really looked out for his interest. He was such a good natured person that sometimes he would do things that maybe weren't in his best interest because he was friendly. And she would always make sure that she called the shot, as she saw, it in his interest. She did a lot for him in a way that maybe other people wouldn't have done. I think it was very helpful and they worked together wonderfully as a team, and we really liked her.

O'BRIEN: Was she the power that many people have written about inside the White House? Or has that been perhaps a bit overstated over the years? What would you say?

SCHWEIKER: Well, I guess you would put it as a quiet power. You just respected him and listened to him. And he had so much empathy for who he was talking to that whatever he ended up telling you and working through you, you thought it was a powerful statement even though it was low key and very friendly.

And I think this friendliness and interaction, I think that was why we got through the Cold War and broke out with Gorbachev. Because he had that friendly warmth in spite of being strong.

O'BRIEN: Let me ask you a little bit, as we continue to watch the family there, as they look at some of the greetings that had been signed and left by just people who passed by the funeral home there in Santa Monica, you see the former first lady there with her daughter and son. Let me ask you a little bit about the family dynamic here. In particular, post-White House years. Nancy Reagan has had a terrible struggle, hasn't she?

SCHWEIKER: In what respect now?

O'BRIEN: Well, just having to deal with this terrible disease that is Alzheimer's.

SCHWEIKER: She really did. I can recall exactly how she must have dealt with it. My father-in-law had Alzheimer's, so I knew exactly what she was going through.

I thought she did a remarkable job. I thought she was valiant in her efforts. And boy, she's had a long vigil, and I think you have to give her tremendous credit. And I was delighted to see her come out for stem cell research. Because I support stem cell research, and I think we really do need that to help all people with diseases like that.

O'BRIEN: It was a courageous statement on her part, given the fact that the current president is opposed. You had an opportunity to see the former president post-White House years. I think before he announced to the nation and to the world that he had Alzheimer's. What were your impressions of him then?

SCHWEIKER: Well, actually, we saw him about five or six months, right before he announced that. And we saw him in the Reagan Library and he was very outspoken, in very good health, and seemed very good. And I guess I didn't expect that he had Alzheimer's at that point because it must have been one of the good days.

So he maybe was developing it then, but I sure didn't know it. And I saw him in the Reagan Library and he seemed like a perfectly great guy.

O'BRIEN: All right. As we look at a tape replay of Nancy Reagan, her son and daughter arriving there at Santa Monica funeral home, I'm just curious. You're on the inside, so in a sense it's not an objective response. But go ahead, anyway, try to write Ronald Reagan's presidency into the history books a little bit here. How will it be viewed hundreds of years from now?

SCHWEIKER: Well, I think one way to look at it is he had a great faith in our country, he had a great faith in our people, and he had strong faith in God. And I think these became overwhelmingly contagious with the people that he worked with and talked with.

And I think, you know, when you look at here, we ended the Cold War, we opened the Berlin Wall, we had an opening to China that nobody expected, we just did a lot of things that people thought he would never have done and he accomplished. And I think it was his personality and his low-key manner in the way that he handled himself, as well as his strong faith that kept coming through.

O'BRIEN: Richard Schweiker, thanks very much for your time. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this day as we mourn the passing of Ronald Reagan -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Ronald Reagan graduated from Eureka College in his home state of Illinois back in 1932. And this week, Eureka is honoring its most famous alum known back then as Dutch. Our Jonathan Freed is there.

Hi John.

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. How are you?

We are here at the Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College, where they have some 3,000 items in the collection. The only place in the country that has more Reagan memorabilia is actually the Reagan Library in California. Now come on over here. I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Brian Sajko, who is the curator of the museum.

Thanks for being here today.

DR. BRIAN SAJKO, CURATOR, REAGAN MUSEUM AT EUREKA COLLEGE: Thanks, Jonathan.

FREED: Now, we are standing in front of a very important display case. Could you please open the door for the country now and let's reveal what's inside. What's the centerpiece here?

SAJKO: Well, the centerpiece is his college diploma. He graduated in 1932 from the college with a joint degree in economics and sociology.

FREED: Sort of foreshadowing future interests, I guess.

SAJKO: That's right.

FREED: Now, there are a number of items in your collection that actually reveal something about the man's character that you might not have known otherwise. And this letter is one of them, right?

SAJKO: Yes. It's a great example of a personal piece. He wrote this to our former president of the college, Ira Langston (ph), in 1955, when Reagan worked for GE. And he says he really doesn't like to fly.

FREED: Doesn't like to fly. You can actually see it here in his own handwriting. He says, "I am one of those prehistoric people who won't" -- and he's underlined it -- "who won't fly."

Now, there's something else that we found that tells us more about the man as well. That's over here, right?

SAJKO: Yes. He did some advertisements for Chesterfield Cigarettes. Though he never smoked. The cigarette's actually just painted on his mouth.

FREED: That's right. Now, there was one piece of your collection which, as it turns out -- and I was surprised by this -- is the most valuable piece, as it turns out.

SAJKO: Right. A lot of people try to guess what that would be, and it actually is these presidential cowboy boots which have the presidential seal on them. And he wrote us a letter, told us that he actually did wear them. They're all scuffed up on the bottom. It makes them more valuable.

FREED: Now what size are they?

SAJKO: I think about a 10.

FREED: And what size are you?

SAJKO: Well, the same.

FREED: All right. So there are about 3,000 items on display here, right?

SAJKO: Right.

FREED: Pretty well -- 1,000 at any one time and 3,000...

SAJKO: Yes. We rotate different pieces around.

FREED: Right.

SAJKO: There's a variety of different personal pieces.

FREED: And that flag is significant as well, right? SAJKO: It is. The flag actually was flying over the Capitol the day he was elected president. And a number of pieces that reflect his interest in children, a letter from someone who sent him a -- a small girl who wrote a letter that had 21 cents taped to it, saying, "Please win the election. It costs a lot, I know. And here's my 21 cents."

FREED: OK. Dr. Brian Sajko, curator of the museum here, thank you very much.

SAJKO: Thank you.

FREED: A pleasure.

And we'll send it back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jonathan, while you have Brian there, you see a lot of the historical items that Reagan left. I remember touring Eureka College. Now, he was very involved here. This is also where he met his first love.

Talk to us a little bit about what he was involved with at Eureka. And he was quite a leader on that campus.

FREED: The question that we're being asked is, tell us a little bit about how involved he was here on the campus.

SAJKO: Very involved. I mean, we're a family here at Eureka, and it's like our grandfather passing away.

So he came back to the campus numerous, numerous times before he was president. For example, we gave him an honorary doctorate in 1957, well before his political career began. So he's really a member of the family.

FREED: And we have a shot of him wearing a Eureka shirt now. Tell us about that.

SAJKO: Yes. Which one in particular?

FREED: That's the one down there at the other end of the room. We have you at a bit of a disadvantage, but we're multi-camera today.

SAJKO: That's all right. I can handle that.

Basically, what it is he was on the football team here. That's in front of Prichard Gymnasium (ph) at the time. And it's kind of a look at the four horsemen of Notre Dame, basically, is the look they're trying to get across there.

FREED: That's right. He was a swimmer as well, right?

SAJKO: He was. He was captain of the swim team. He was cheerleader for basketball.

FREED: Right. SAJKO: President of the student government his senior year, in 14 theater productions in his time here. I'm a theater professor, so I'm all for that. Very involved. That's the way it is here.

FREED: And I've read you have a number of quotations up on the wall that you've explained are some things that people would not necessarily expect to see. There was one that struck me in particular, which is his view of the four years of college in general, which probably speaks to what he thought about people all over the place.

SAJKO: Right. He talks about how quickly the time goes, and that you should really -- you know it isn't -- this is for all college students out there -- it isn't just the school work. It's about the whole college experience. And that's really what Eureka College is all about, that small school, everybody does a lot of different things.

FREED: OK. Dr. Brian Sajko, thank you very much.

SAJKO: Thanks.

FREED: We'll send it back to Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jonathan Freed, great inside look there at Eureka. Thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick break. Remembering Ronald Reagan, and also more news just ahead on LIVE FROM.

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O'BRIEN: Let's go to Hollywood. We definitely didn't want this to slip under the radar. J. Lo got hitched again. How's that for news?

Is that news anymore? That she gets hitched? I don't know.

PHILLIPS: When it's Marc Anthony, it's news.

O'BRIEN: People Magazine tells us she said "I do" to singer Marc Anthony.

PHILLIPS: Marc Anthony.

O'BRIEN: Kyra's liking that. She's got an ear-to-ear grin.

PHILLIPS: The king of salsa.

O'BRIEN: Anyway, it's J. Lo's third marriage. Anthony's divorce from his last wife went through just last week. The revolving door spins in Hollywood as usual.

Some bookies already taking bets on how long the marriage will last. We're not going to tell you what the odds are. We certainly don't want to jinx the happy couple. I'd give it two weeks. What do you say, two weeks?

PHILLIPS: I'd give it at least a year. Not past a year. What do you think?

O'BRIEN: A full year, one year.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll monitor it.

O'BRIEN: We're on record.

PHILLIPS: Well, it may be Broadway, but everyone was on "Avenue Q" at the Tony Awards last night. The little show called "Avenue Q" pulled off an upset, fending off the much more lavish production "Wicked" to win best musical. "Avenue Q" also picked up the awards for best book and best score.

And Phylicia Rashad became the first African-American actress to win a Tony for a dramatic leading role. Rashad portrays the family matriarch in the current revival of "A Raisin in the Sun."

Outside Radio City Music Hall, the entertainment world paused to remember one of its own. Some celebrity thoughts now on the passing of Ronald Reagan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's proof that a man can do anything, and more than one thing. So many people try to place limitations on people, you know, in different ways like, well, if you do this, you can't do that, and if you do that you can't do this. Well, guess what? He was a movie star and he became president of the United States, and he ended the Cold War. So that's a pretty nice hat trick.

TONY BENNETT, SINGER: My moment that I had with him was when he was governor. And he had me sing for the boys that came back from Vietnam. And it was unforgettable.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER, ACTOR: There's a lot to remember about him. He was an extremely charismatic leader. And he had a long and very rich life with a lot of chapters. And I think the thing that most of us will remember is that he passed away in the loving care of his family, which so many people in this country who have Alzheimer's don't have the chance to do. So it's nice, and I'm sure it's of great comfort to his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, once again, we want to take you from the Tony Awards back to Santa Monica California. There's Michael Reagan right there, one of the sons of the former president, just outside of the mortuary.

The body of the former president is going to travel in just a short time from motorcade there in Santa Monica at the mortuary to the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. And what you're seeing now is just members of the family. This is Michael Reagan right here, looking at all of the flowers and the notes and the gifts that had been brought by since the passing of the former president out there in front of the mortuary.

Also, once Reagan's body moves to the presidential library in Simi Valley, in Washington, meantime, plans are under way for the first state funeral in the nation's capital in more than 30 years. We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.

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