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Reagan's Record on Race Debated; Security at G-8 Summit Outlined

Aired June 08, 2004 - 13:34   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: Gunned down. The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia confirming an American was shot to death in Riyadh. The victim worked as a security trainer, found dead in his home. This comes one day after an group linked to al Qaeda warned Western expatriates would be targeted.
Hostages rescued. Coalition authorities say Polish special forces led an operation to free three Italians and a Pole who had been held in Iraq for more than eight weeks now. People suspected of involvement with the kidnapping reportedly detained in that operation. A fourth Italian hostage was executed soon after the abduction in April.

And this just in to CNN, two Turks and an Iraqi who were seized between Fallujah and Baghdad Sunday also reportedly have been released by their abductors.

Terrorist leads in Europe. Italian authorities say Rabel Osman el Sayed Ahmed, also known as "Mohamed the Egyptian," was arrested in Milan. He's the alleged mastermind of the Madrid bombings. Another suspect was arrested and a third person was detained in the operation, fifteen also taken into custody by anti-terror investigators in Belgium. And authorities say more arrests soon coming.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, much of the country and world are celebrating the accomplishments of Ronald Reagan. Many historians credit his policies with hastening the end of the Cold War and reviving the American economy. Others hail his style and leadership. But some critics say that he struggled to connect with some segments of society and failed to lead on the issue of race.

CNN's Adaora Udoji takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After eight popular years, President Ronald Reagan's folksy charisma didn't penetrate far into the black community. As he left office, a Leis- Harris (ph) poll found nearly 80 percent of blacks considered his administration oppressive.

JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION: It was a very hostile relationship. He attacked Dr. King openly, referring to him as communist. And that of course was problematic. He was not that accessible. UDOJI: Other harsher critics accused Mr. Reagan of dramatically rolling back recent civil rights gains, while acknowledging inequities.

RONALD REAGAN, 40 TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must change the economic direction of this country to bring more blacks into the midstream and we must do it now.

UDOJI: But Reagan strongly opposed affirmative action programs that most blacks felt would even the field. His administration supported tax exemptions for racially segregated Bob Jones University. Out of 365 federal judgeships, seven went to blacks, far fewer than his predecessor. And in eight years, one African-American served in his cabinet as secretary of housing and urban development.

ROBERT DALLEK, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Reagan was suspect. He was a Republican, a conservative, and African-Americans did not vote for him in great numbers.

UDOJI: Kiron Skinner, author of four Reagan books, says Reagan's parents taught him to reject racism, but he also rejected a government solution.

KIRON SKINNER, "REAGAN: A LIFE IN LETTERS": I think he thought that racism -- he realized it was there, but I think he thought America's values, of individuality, equality and liberty, would trump discrimination in the long run.

UDOJI (on camera): And supporters say he knew how to adapt, pointing out that though Mr. Reagan opposed initially the Martin Luther King national holiday, he was the president who ended up signing it into law.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, clearly there are two sides to that issue. We are going to continue the discussion of Reagan's record on race. Joining us with some perspective, Joe Davidson, political columnist for Black Entertainment Television, and syndicated columnist, Armstrong Williams.

Gentlemen, good to see you both. Armstrong, let' start with you. You met Reagan back when he was campaigning in 1980. You were being mentored at that time by Senator Strom Thurmond. You were motivated, you were young, you were black, tell me how Reagan, Richard Pryor, and Black History Month led to an interesting relationship between you and Reagan.

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Well, I received a political appointment at the Department of Agricultural. And one of the assignments they gave me -- because they had no idea what to do with this young, energetic kid, was to plan there the 1983 Black History Month program. And I had no idea who I would invite. They just left me there alone to do it. And I was reading where Richard Pryor had been free-basing cocaine. And I decided to research further and saw his commitment to the community and how he marched with King during the poor people's march.

I said, well, this is a great idea, I'm going to invite Richard Pryor. I was too naive to know what I was doing. But anyhow, after about 20 phone calls, I finally spoke with his lawyer, Terry Giles (ph), and Richard Pryor came to Washington, the one condition that he wanted to meet President Reagan and had hopes that President Reagan would have a Black History Month program at the White House in honor of that month.

And so Richard Pryor did come. We met at the White House the following day. And I was struck by the fact in that conversation President Reagan said to him that he remembered the very date, the very hour, the very minute, Dr. King was assassinated and how he cried, how he wept and how his parents and Dr. King reminded him that we're all God's children, we're all equal, and we must break down all barriers that prevent people from equal opportunity. I was struck by that.

PHILLIPS: Joe, it seems listening to that story that Reagan was pretty progressive.

JOE DAVIDSON, POLITICAL COLUMNIST, BET: Well, I think that's a lovely story. I think it helps balance the picture of Ronald Reagan, but doesn't deal with the policy issues. And when we're talking about the president of the United States, we have to look at the whole man and the whole man includes what he did in terms of public policy. And those public policies, both on the domestic front and on the international front I think went against the interest, certainly, of the black community as a whole, as your setup piece indicated, felt that those policies went against their interests.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to talk about -- well, listen, I want to get deeper into the subject of policies, gentlemen. Let's bring up a sound bite from the inaugural speech that Reagan made. And let's hear what he had to say about racism, race relations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REAGAN: Well, this administration's objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination, putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about that, let's talk about equality, and putting Americans back to work. Did he do that for the black population, Armstrong?

WILLIAMS: Let me say this to you. You know what? I found Joe's piece very interesting. I have tremendous respect for him. Ronald Reagan absolutely believed, in my estimation, is that by the time he became president, that we sort of had moved towards a color-blind society. I think he realized deep down that there was systemic racisms but he felt that we were equal and that there would be no barriers.

I think Ronald Reagan dismantled affirmative action, not because it would hurt black people, I think he felt it was what was best for the country. I think what he did had nothing to do with the fact that he tried to hurt black people, poor people. He just had certain policies which he felt would stimulate the economy, even his support -- his embracing the Apartheid government.

He condemned Apartheid, and that white racist government, but he felt the best way to break that government down and to disrupt it was to continuously negotiate with them and have relationships with them. Now some people may differ. But I don't even think Joe would say that the president's policies was put in place to explicitly help black people. They were put in place because this was Reagan's vision of how best to serve America.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about how best to serve America, but, Joe, social programs and helping the black community is a huge part of helping Americans. And I mean, let's lay out -- I mean, you were very critical of what Reagan slashed with regard to programs for black America and those that were underprivileged.

DAVIDSON: Well, I think the program speaks for itself. I think his program and his record speaks for itself. He...

PHILLIPS: Be specific, Joe, help me out here and be specific.

DAVIDSON: Well, he slashed numerous programs. For example, Comprehensive Employment and Training Acts, called the CETA Program. There was a program that really helped a number of people in cities, but particularly black Americans, get training and jobs. And he basically slashed that program. There were a number of other things...

PHILLIPS: What about the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights?

DAVIDSON: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, he essentially tried to neuter it. He tried to fire two Democratic commissioners. They went to court and the court said, you can't fire them. And one, Mary Frances Berry, is still on the commission now as chairwoman. So I think if you look at jobs programs, health programs, housing programs, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, you will see across the board why black America felt that Ronald Reagan was not a friend.

PHILLIPS: It's easy to question, Armstrong, when you see a president who was against affirmative action, tax breaks to the rich, and also cutting these social programs. How was that good for America? It seemed like it was sort of reversing what previous administrations were trying to do to help integrate and make life better for the black community.

DAVIDSON: Including previous Republican administrations.

WILLIAMS: It's same reason why we have the debate on affirmative action today, it's why President Clinton tried to amend it but not end it. Because it has not worked for the massive number of poor people in this country. It continues to benefit the bourgeois class in this country. But poor people -- many people in the inner city, kids have never heard affirmative action. If affirmative action is going to work, it should be for those who are socio-economically deprived. It should not be based on need. It should be based on need.

Even in welfare, yes, give people a chance, help them out, but don't make it permanent, don't take away their will to work. President Clinton went further than what Reagan did. And I've got to tell you, the welfare program is better. You set an example, work ethic, discipline, before your kid so they will have that same work ethic and that same value system as they navigate themselves through life. Reagan had the right idea. People were hurt. But it was not just black people that were hurt. Many people were hurt by his programs. But in the long run it did stimulate the economy and we had a 17-year boom in this country.

DAVIDSON: But you know, on the question of affirmative action, it's interesting, because affirmative action essentially was essentially started under Richard Nixon, a Republican president. And the Supreme Court has continuously upheld affirmative action and certainly in its broad outlines. There has definitely been some modifications, as we've seen in the most recent cases from the University of Michigan. But nonetheless, affirmative action is the law and the policy of the land and it withstood the assault of Ronald Reagan.

PHILLIPS: Gentlemen, we could continue. We have got to leave it there. Joe Davidson, BET, political columnist, Armstrong Williams, syndicated columnist, gentlemen, thanks so much.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

DAVIDSON: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: News of President Reagan's death brought the '04 presidential campaign to a screeching halt, understandably. For John Kerry, it means a few missed fundraisers, a temporary retreat from the spotlight, as you look at live pictures of the former president's casket at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Kerry is expected to visit that location and pay his respects there tonight.

Securing Sea Island, Georgia for the world's leaders. No small task anytime, but especially these days. We'll talk about what goes into making the meeting safe for everyone, when LIVE FROM... continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, as many as 20,000 federal, state, and local security officials have descended on Sea Island, Georgia, that's where leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized nations are gathered for the summit. Major General Craig McKinley is in charge of air security, among a lot of other parts of that security, General McKinley joins us now from Tyndall Air Force Base. Sir, let's talk about the fact that this is a national special security event and you've had to integrate with a number players with regard to security. Tell us how that is all working.

MAJ. GEN. CRAIG MCKINLEY, NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE: Yes, Kyra, we're involved through the United States Northern Command in NORAD with our Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Agency, TSA, and other interagency partners in secure the airspace over Sea Island.

PHILLIPS: Put into perspective why you have been concerned about the G-8 -- taking a look at post-9/11 of course, and all the leaders that are there, what's the potential threat in the skies? And why do you have to be on your toes 24/7 right now?

MCKINLEY: Well, Kyra, there is no specific intelligence threat, but since 9/11/2001, we've maintained a constant presence to defend the United States, Canada, and the North American continent against any adversary who would do us harm.

PHILLIPS: So of course if the FAA said to you, there's a problem, there's an aircraft we don't identify, it's heading to Sea Island, Georgia, tell me what you have to do if you get that call from NORAD.

MCKINLEY: Well, through our command and control agency here at Tyndall Air Force Base, we stay constantly linked with the Federal Aviation Agency and other government agencies so that we can respond if tasked. And we're also monitoring constantly from a military perspective the airspace over North America.

PHILLIPS: And so if something -- if there was indeed a threat from the air to the ground, how would your jets respond and what would you do?

MCKINLEY: Well, we've got an integrated air defense system, Kyra, over St. Simon's Island. And I don't want to go into the specific weaponry that we've got, but we've got a layered defense that would allow us to intercept the track, to identify it, to pass on whatever information we can to senior decision-makers, both at Peterson Air Force Base and in Washington, and they would give us authority to take the appropriate action.

PHILLIPS: So General, you're of course coordinating all the security, airborne, but you're also talking with the folks on the ground. Tell us how you're talking with the Secret Service, and the Army National Guard, and the players that you are directly involved with.

MCKINLEY: Well, the lead federal agency for security, Kyra, is the United States Secret Service. But we have a unique relationship with this NSSE in that the adjutant general of Georgia, upon appointment by the president and secretary of defense, is coordinating the ground and maritime peace. We're also involved with the United States Navy and the United States Army and the United States Coast Guard along with other federal agencies to provide a very integrated and robust defense in the air, on the land and in the sea. PHILLIPS: So just let me give you a hypothetical. If indeed a threat was pinpointed, within how many seconds from the air to the ground would you be deescalating that threat of anything going wrong at the summit?

MCKINLEY: We're constantly monitoring 24 hours a day the airspace over the summit with all of the assets that we have at our disposal, and the Department of Defense assists those lead federal agencies with equipment and personnel that they have ready for this event. So I feel very good and very confident about providing air security over the G-8 summit.

PHILLIPS: The next move will be the conventions, right, is that your next event?

MCKINLEY: Well, actually, Kyra, the untimely death of President Reagan is causing us to provide air security and support of a national special security event in Washington, and in Simi Valley, California. So that's the next major event we'll focus on. And then we'll look at both of the party conventions in Boston and New York City, as well as other activities around the United States.

PHILLIPS: Major General Craig McKinley, thanks for your time, sir.

MCKINLEY: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Up next, good will defined. Last weekend's D-Day celebration sealed a friendly gesture from France's president. That story and others, when LIVE FROM... returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Checking health news for you. Senators from both sides of the aisle are asking President Bush to ease federal restrictions on stem cell research. Fifty-eight senators, including 14 Republicans, signed the letter to the president. Several lawmakers say the death of President Reagan underscores the need for stem cell research as a possible way to battle, among other things, Alzheimer's disease. Last month, Nancy Reagan appeared at a fundraiser to support the research. She also has called on President Bush to ease those federal restrictions.

PHILLIPS: A D-Day veteran who accidentally got on a bus to nowhere after Sunday's ceremony wound up getting the ride of his life. Keith Coleman (ph) tells Britain's "Guardian" newspaper that he thought the bus that he boarded was heading for his Paris hotel, but was actually bound for a remote airfield. The former Royal Air Force gunner says he stumbled on an important looking person who hooked him up with a ride on the presidential jet parked at the airfield nearby. After boarding the plane, Coleman says he was given the best red wine he ever tasted and that French President Jacques Chirac put his arm around him when he tried to salute him.

O'BRIEN: I wonder if he gets frequent flyer mileage for that? Anyway, I guess he shouldn't be complaining. Coming up next in our second hour of LIVE FROM..., hostages rescued by coalition forces in Iraq today. But what's next for the men held captive for almost two months? We'll talk about that with CNN's special contributor and former POW Ron Young. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 8, 2004 - 13:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Gunned down. The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia confirming an American was shot to death in Riyadh. The victim worked as a security trainer, found dead in his home. This comes one day after an group linked to al Qaeda warned Western expatriates would be targeted.
Hostages rescued. Coalition authorities say Polish special forces led an operation to free three Italians and a Pole who had been held in Iraq for more than eight weeks now. People suspected of involvement with the kidnapping reportedly detained in that operation. A fourth Italian hostage was executed soon after the abduction in April.

And this just in to CNN, two Turks and an Iraqi who were seized between Fallujah and Baghdad Sunday also reportedly have been released by their abductors.

Terrorist leads in Europe. Italian authorities say Rabel Osman el Sayed Ahmed, also known as "Mohamed the Egyptian," was arrested in Milan. He's the alleged mastermind of the Madrid bombings. Another suspect was arrested and a third person was detained in the operation, fifteen also taken into custody by anti-terror investigators in Belgium. And authorities say more arrests soon coming.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, much of the country and world are celebrating the accomplishments of Ronald Reagan. Many historians credit his policies with hastening the end of the Cold War and reviving the American economy. Others hail his style and leadership. But some critics say that he struggled to connect with some segments of society and failed to lead on the issue of race.

CNN's Adaora Udoji takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After eight popular years, President Ronald Reagan's folksy charisma didn't penetrate far into the black community. As he left office, a Leis- Harris (ph) poll found nearly 80 percent of blacks considered his administration oppressive.

JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION: It was a very hostile relationship. He attacked Dr. King openly, referring to him as communist. And that of course was problematic. He was not that accessible. UDOJI: Other harsher critics accused Mr. Reagan of dramatically rolling back recent civil rights gains, while acknowledging inequities.

RONALD REAGAN, 40 TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must change the economic direction of this country to bring more blacks into the midstream and we must do it now.

UDOJI: But Reagan strongly opposed affirmative action programs that most blacks felt would even the field. His administration supported tax exemptions for racially segregated Bob Jones University. Out of 365 federal judgeships, seven went to blacks, far fewer than his predecessor. And in eight years, one African-American served in his cabinet as secretary of housing and urban development.

ROBERT DALLEK, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Reagan was suspect. He was a Republican, a conservative, and African-Americans did not vote for him in great numbers.

UDOJI: Kiron Skinner, author of four Reagan books, says Reagan's parents taught him to reject racism, but he also rejected a government solution.

KIRON SKINNER, "REAGAN: A LIFE IN LETTERS": I think he thought that racism -- he realized it was there, but I think he thought America's values, of individuality, equality and liberty, would trump discrimination in the long run.

UDOJI (on camera): And supporters say he knew how to adapt, pointing out that though Mr. Reagan opposed initially the Martin Luther King national holiday, he was the president who ended up signing it into law.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, clearly there are two sides to that issue. We are going to continue the discussion of Reagan's record on race. Joining us with some perspective, Joe Davidson, political columnist for Black Entertainment Television, and syndicated columnist, Armstrong Williams.

Gentlemen, good to see you both. Armstrong, let' start with you. You met Reagan back when he was campaigning in 1980. You were being mentored at that time by Senator Strom Thurmond. You were motivated, you were young, you were black, tell me how Reagan, Richard Pryor, and Black History Month led to an interesting relationship between you and Reagan.

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Well, I received a political appointment at the Department of Agricultural. And one of the assignments they gave me -- because they had no idea what to do with this young, energetic kid, was to plan there the 1983 Black History Month program. And I had no idea who I would invite. They just left me there alone to do it. And I was reading where Richard Pryor had been free-basing cocaine. And I decided to research further and saw his commitment to the community and how he marched with King during the poor people's march.

I said, well, this is a great idea, I'm going to invite Richard Pryor. I was too naive to know what I was doing. But anyhow, after about 20 phone calls, I finally spoke with his lawyer, Terry Giles (ph), and Richard Pryor came to Washington, the one condition that he wanted to meet President Reagan and had hopes that President Reagan would have a Black History Month program at the White House in honor of that month.

And so Richard Pryor did come. We met at the White House the following day. And I was struck by the fact in that conversation President Reagan said to him that he remembered the very date, the very hour, the very minute, Dr. King was assassinated and how he cried, how he wept and how his parents and Dr. King reminded him that we're all God's children, we're all equal, and we must break down all barriers that prevent people from equal opportunity. I was struck by that.

PHILLIPS: Joe, it seems listening to that story that Reagan was pretty progressive.

JOE DAVIDSON, POLITICAL COLUMNIST, BET: Well, I think that's a lovely story. I think it helps balance the picture of Ronald Reagan, but doesn't deal with the policy issues. And when we're talking about the president of the United States, we have to look at the whole man and the whole man includes what he did in terms of public policy. And those public policies, both on the domestic front and on the international front I think went against the interest, certainly, of the black community as a whole, as your setup piece indicated, felt that those policies went against their interests.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to talk about -- well, listen, I want to get deeper into the subject of policies, gentlemen. Let's bring up a sound bite from the inaugural speech that Reagan made. And let's hear what he had to say about racism, race relations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REAGAN: Well, this administration's objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination, putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about that, let's talk about equality, and putting Americans back to work. Did he do that for the black population, Armstrong?

WILLIAMS: Let me say this to you. You know what? I found Joe's piece very interesting. I have tremendous respect for him. Ronald Reagan absolutely believed, in my estimation, is that by the time he became president, that we sort of had moved towards a color-blind society. I think he realized deep down that there was systemic racisms but he felt that we were equal and that there would be no barriers.

I think Ronald Reagan dismantled affirmative action, not because it would hurt black people, I think he felt it was what was best for the country. I think what he did had nothing to do with the fact that he tried to hurt black people, poor people. He just had certain policies which he felt would stimulate the economy, even his support -- his embracing the Apartheid government.

He condemned Apartheid, and that white racist government, but he felt the best way to break that government down and to disrupt it was to continuously negotiate with them and have relationships with them. Now some people may differ. But I don't even think Joe would say that the president's policies was put in place to explicitly help black people. They were put in place because this was Reagan's vision of how best to serve America.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about how best to serve America, but, Joe, social programs and helping the black community is a huge part of helping Americans. And I mean, let's lay out -- I mean, you were very critical of what Reagan slashed with regard to programs for black America and those that were underprivileged.

DAVIDSON: Well, I think the program speaks for itself. I think his program and his record speaks for itself. He...

PHILLIPS: Be specific, Joe, help me out here and be specific.

DAVIDSON: Well, he slashed numerous programs. For example, Comprehensive Employment and Training Acts, called the CETA Program. There was a program that really helped a number of people in cities, but particularly black Americans, get training and jobs. And he basically slashed that program. There were a number of other things...

PHILLIPS: What about the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights?

DAVIDSON: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, he essentially tried to neuter it. He tried to fire two Democratic commissioners. They went to court and the court said, you can't fire them. And one, Mary Frances Berry, is still on the commission now as chairwoman. So I think if you look at jobs programs, health programs, housing programs, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, you will see across the board why black America felt that Ronald Reagan was not a friend.

PHILLIPS: It's easy to question, Armstrong, when you see a president who was against affirmative action, tax breaks to the rich, and also cutting these social programs. How was that good for America? It seemed like it was sort of reversing what previous administrations were trying to do to help integrate and make life better for the black community.

DAVIDSON: Including previous Republican administrations.

WILLIAMS: It's same reason why we have the debate on affirmative action today, it's why President Clinton tried to amend it but not end it. Because it has not worked for the massive number of poor people in this country. It continues to benefit the bourgeois class in this country. But poor people -- many people in the inner city, kids have never heard affirmative action. If affirmative action is going to work, it should be for those who are socio-economically deprived. It should not be based on need. It should be based on need.

Even in welfare, yes, give people a chance, help them out, but don't make it permanent, don't take away their will to work. President Clinton went further than what Reagan did. And I've got to tell you, the welfare program is better. You set an example, work ethic, discipline, before your kid so they will have that same work ethic and that same value system as they navigate themselves through life. Reagan had the right idea. People were hurt. But it was not just black people that were hurt. Many people were hurt by his programs. But in the long run it did stimulate the economy and we had a 17-year boom in this country.

DAVIDSON: But you know, on the question of affirmative action, it's interesting, because affirmative action essentially was essentially started under Richard Nixon, a Republican president. And the Supreme Court has continuously upheld affirmative action and certainly in its broad outlines. There has definitely been some modifications, as we've seen in the most recent cases from the University of Michigan. But nonetheless, affirmative action is the law and the policy of the land and it withstood the assault of Ronald Reagan.

PHILLIPS: Gentlemen, we could continue. We have got to leave it there. Joe Davidson, BET, political columnist, Armstrong Williams, syndicated columnist, gentlemen, thanks so much.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

DAVIDSON: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: News of President Reagan's death brought the '04 presidential campaign to a screeching halt, understandably. For John Kerry, it means a few missed fundraisers, a temporary retreat from the spotlight, as you look at live pictures of the former president's casket at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Kerry is expected to visit that location and pay his respects there tonight.

Securing Sea Island, Georgia for the world's leaders. No small task anytime, but especially these days. We'll talk about what goes into making the meeting safe for everyone, when LIVE FROM... continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, as many as 20,000 federal, state, and local security officials have descended on Sea Island, Georgia, that's where leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized nations are gathered for the summit. Major General Craig McKinley is in charge of air security, among a lot of other parts of that security, General McKinley joins us now from Tyndall Air Force Base. Sir, let's talk about the fact that this is a national special security event and you've had to integrate with a number players with regard to security. Tell us how that is all working.

MAJ. GEN. CRAIG MCKINLEY, NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE: Yes, Kyra, we're involved through the United States Northern Command in NORAD with our Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Agency, TSA, and other interagency partners in secure the airspace over Sea Island.

PHILLIPS: Put into perspective why you have been concerned about the G-8 -- taking a look at post-9/11 of course, and all the leaders that are there, what's the potential threat in the skies? And why do you have to be on your toes 24/7 right now?

MCKINLEY: Well, Kyra, there is no specific intelligence threat, but since 9/11/2001, we've maintained a constant presence to defend the United States, Canada, and the North American continent against any adversary who would do us harm.

PHILLIPS: So of course if the FAA said to you, there's a problem, there's an aircraft we don't identify, it's heading to Sea Island, Georgia, tell me what you have to do if you get that call from NORAD.

MCKINLEY: Well, through our command and control agency here at Tyndall Air Force Base, we stay constantly linked with the Federal Aviation Agency and other government agencies so that we can respond if tasked. And we're also monitoring constantly from a military perspective the airspace over North America.

PHILLIPS: And so if something -- if there was indeed a threat from the air to the ground, how would your jets respond and what would you do?

MCKINLEY: Well, we've got an integrated air defense system, Kyra, over St. Simon's Island. And I don't want to go into the specific weaponry that we've got, but we've got a layered defense that would allow us to intercept the track, to identify it, to pass on whatever information we can to senior decision-makers, both at Peterson Air Force Base and in Washington, and they would give us authority to take the appropriate action.

PHILLIPS: So General, you're of course coordinating all the security, airborne, but you're also talking with the folks on the ground. Tell us how you're talking with the Secret Service, and the Army National Guard, and the players that you are directly involved with.

MCKINLEY: Well, the lead federal agency for security, Kyra, is the United States Secret Service. But we have a unique relationship with this NSSE in that the adjutant general of Georgia, upon appointment by the president and secretary of defense, is coordinating the ground and maritime peace. We're also involved with the United States Navy and the United States Army and the United States Coast Guard along with other federal agencies to provide a very integrated and robust defense in the air, on the land and in the sea. PHILLIPS: So just let me give you a hypothetical. If indeed a threat was pinpointed, within how many seconds from the air to the ground would you be deescalating that threat of anything going wrong at the summit?

MCKINLEY: We're constantly monitoring 24 hours a day the airspace over the summit with all of the assets that we have at our disposal, and the Department of Defense assists those lead federal agencies with equipment and personnel that they have ready for this event. So I feel very good and very confident about providing air security over the G-8 summit.

PHILLIPS: The next move will be the conventions, right, is that your next event?

MCKINLEY: Well, actually, Kyra, the untimely death of President Reagan is causing us to provide air security and support of a national special security event in Washington, and in Simi Valley, California. So that's the next major event we'll focus on. And then we'll look at both of the party conventions in Boston and New York City, as well as other activities around the United States.

PHILLIPS: Major General Craig McKinley, thanks for your time, sir.

MCKINLEY: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Up next, good will defined. Last weekend's D-Day celebration sealed a friendly gesture from France's president. That story and others, when LIVE FROM... returns.

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Checking health news for you. Senators from both sides of the aisle are asking President Bush to ease federal restrictions on stem cell research. Fifty-eight senators, including 14 Republicans, signed the letter to the president. Several lawmakers say the death of President Reagan underscores the need for stem cell research as a possible way to battle, among other things, Alzheimer's disease. Last month, Nancy Reagan appeared at a fundraiser to support the research. She also has called on President Bush to ease those federal restrictions.

PHILLIPS: A D-Day veteran who accidentally got on a bus to nowhere after Sunday's ceremony wound up getting the ride of his life. Keith Coleman (ph) tells Britain's "Guardian" newspaper that he thought the bus that he boarded was heading for his Paris hotel, but was actually bound for a remote airfield. The former Royal Air Force gunner says he stumbled on an important looking person who hooked him up with a ride on the presidential jet parked at the airfield nearby. After boarding the plane, Coleman says he was given the best red wine he ever tasted and that French President Jacques Chirac put his arm around him when he tried to salute him.

O'BRIEN: I wonder if he gets frequent flyer mileage for that? Anyway, I guess he shouldn't be complaining. Coming up next in our second hour of LIVE FROM..., hostages rescued by coalition forces in Iraq today. But what's next for the men held captive for almost two months? We'll talk about that with CNN's special contributor and former POW Ron Young. Stay with us.

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