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Bill Clinton to Undergo Coronary Bypass Surgery; Hurricane Frances Nears Landfall in Florida
Aired September 03, 2004 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We are being told now that the hostage situation in Russia may be coming to an end. We are going to have more for you coming up in the next hour. Meanwhile, we can tell you that several hundred hostages got out; 20 hostage-takers have been killed when the Russian commandos stormed that school. Russian officials report now at least 150 people, including children, have died.
Former President Bill Clinton is undergoing heart bypass surgery. The 58-year-old went to the hospital yesterday after complaining of chest pains. Sources say that the surgery will probably take place tomorrow.
Now that the Bahamas have taken a beating from Hurricane Frances, it's Florida's time to hunker down for an onslaught from the Category 3 storm. Hurricane warnings are in effect through almost the entire coastline of Florida. The next Hurricane Center update on Frances' progress is scheduled in about two hours.
More than 20,000 people are holed up in Florida's 1,800-plus shelters to wait out Hurricane Frances. Florida's Emergency Operations Center says that the threat from Frances prompted the state's largest evacuation in history. Mandatory or voluntary evacuations are in place for 21 counties, now affecting 2.5 million people.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he gave up fast-food, he took up South Beach, and he looked to be in fighting trim. Thus, the surprise when we learned that William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd U.S. president, would undergo coronary bypass surgery possibly as soon as tomorrow.
CNN's Ed Henry helped break this story for us this morning. He joins with us from our D.C. bureau with details -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Miles.
This morning, former President Clinton started calling close friends to tell them that over the last two days, he was experiencing some chest pains, some shortness of breathe. He went to a hospital in Westchester yesterday near his home in order to get checked out.
He was sent home on Thursday evening, however, and then went back on Friday morning for more tests. It was then that his doctors advised that he have heart bypass surgery as soon as possible. We are still awaiting official word on when that will take place. This morning, the former president was supposed to be with his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, at the New York State Fair in Upstate New York in Syracuse. Mrs. Clinton went ahead obviously without her husband. She had some of her events, but then cut them short, explaining to the visitors at the New York State Fair that she obviously needed to get back and be with her husband.
She has left about an hour or so ago to head to New York City. Also some warm words coming in from Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate at a rally in the last couple of hours. He praised the former president and wished him well.
And also some very kind words and warm wishes from Mr. Clinton's Republican successor in the White House, President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: En route here, we just received news that President Clinton has been hospitalized in New York. He is in our thoughts and prayers. We send him our best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We want to extend our wishes and our prayers and our thoughts to him. President Clinton went in the hospital today. And he is going to be fine. He's going to have -- he's going to have a bypass surgery that's going to take place, I think, tomorrow. But every single one of us, every single one of us wants to extend to him our best wishes, our prayers and thoughts.
And I want you all to let a cheer out and clap that he can hear all the way to New York, all the way to New York.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Friends of the former president say he has been very upbeat and very optimistic in these phone calls today, saying that he feels he is going to get better, he will be on the road to a full recovery after the surgery, and that, in general, he believes his health is good.
Obviously, though, he has a very serious situation to take care of in the short term. And in addition to having his wife at his side, he will also eventually have his daughter, Chelsea Clinton, at his side. She is heading to New York City as well to be with her father, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Ed, what do we know about when these symptoms first cropped up?
HENRY: They first started on Thursday. I can tell you that, last weekend, the former president was in New York at a church delivering a speech. I was there. He looked very vigorous. He was attacking the Bush administration, offering support for the Democratic presidential ticket, and looked to be in fine health. Also did a book signing or two this week and, again, looked very trim and fit.
But on Thursday, he started feeling some shortness of breathe and chest pains. It continued a little bit on Friday morning. Doctors brought him in for some tests. That was when he was told today that he needed the surgery, Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Ed Henry, thanks very much -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Hurricane Frances is still a big, powerful and dangerous storm as it heads for landfall in Florida. It's pounding the Bahamas Islands right now and the state of Florida has ordered the largest evacuation in its history.
CNN's meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is with us live now from the CNN Weather Center with more -- Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Kyra, the storm is starting to look a little bit better organized once again on the satellite imagery. And that is a concern, especially since it is moving so slowly. That means there is more time for Frances to strengthen.
Right now, 115 miles per hour maximum stained winds, but we are seeing gusts well beyond that. The impact already being felt across Florida. You can see the showers and thunderstorms already moving on shore, but the winds are really starting to pick up right now.
Just checked wind reports across the east coast of Florida from St. Augustine extending all the way down into the Keys. We're getting wind gusts between 25 and 35 miles per hour, Fort Lauderdale the highest gusts this last hour at 38 miles an hour. So, that is tropical storm force.
Now, when are we going to see the more sustained tropical force moving in? Well, take a look at this graphic. It shows you that they'll be pushing in by 8:00 tonight and those hurricane force winds starting to move in by about 8:00 tomorrow morning.
And then, you can see it weaken significantly as it moves over land, still tropical force winds on Sunday morning. So, we're talking anywhere between 24 to 48 hours of extremely strong across central and northern parts of Florida.
And of course, that is certainly a big concern, those gusts there already, again, the big winds coming in, we think, later on this evening. And so, that is a long period of time. Things are going to be flying around all over Florida for tonight.
Forecast track still on the money. We are expecting it to make landfall somewhere right along the east central Florida coastline sometime tomorrow evening and continuing on a west to northwesterly track, making its way into Georgia, possibly over as far west as Alabama. We'll keep you up to date, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Jacqui, thanks so much.
Well, hurricane warnings are posted up and down the east coast of Florida. And that includes the town of St. Augustine, Florida. It's the oldest settlement in North America. It was founded in 1565.
CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us live from there now.
Wondering if she has sampled the fountain of youth.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Couldn't find the fountain of youth here.
Actually, we couldn't find a party, Kyra. There was supposed to be a huge party right here in the central plaza in historic St. Augustine tomorrow celebrating this city's founding by Spain back in 1565. As you pointed out, this is oldest city in the country. It has survived a lot. But guess what? They've canceled the party. They've closed the schools.
When you look around this historic downtown area, businesses, these buildings, some of them built in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, as you can they have boarded up. Some business owners are planning to ride this out. But we talked to a couple of hurricane veterans yesterday who did not need any convincing to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOCH (voice-over): Benk Dagevos has no time to talk. His Caribbean bar is the first business on the St. Augustine Beach. He just spent $2,000 to replace the sign Hurricane Charley ripped down. Now Benk figures Frances will probably claim his screened-in dining area.
BENK DAGEVOS, BAR OWNER: This is just an aluminum structure and I don't think it's going to hold anyway. So, we might as well try and save what we have.
KOCH: Benk's trophy shirt hints he's not a newcomer to all this. He and his wife lost two homes and a business on St. Thomas in the Caribbean in two separate killer hurricanes, Hugo and Marilyn, which collapsed their house on top of them.
CINDY DAGEVOS, BAR OWNER: And a neighbor yelled up and said, are you alive? And that's when you realize how hard it is.
KOCH (on camera): You don't want to go through it again?
C. DAGEVOS: No. And that's why I want dirt all around us. So, everybody's probably laughing at us right now. If you've lost it like we have twice, you don't want to mess with it when they tell you to get out of Dodge. That's why they tell you.
KOCH (voice-over): Cindy has packed up the essentials.
C. DAGEVOS: My wedding album and my son's baby pictures. The rest of it is replaceable. This isn't.
KOCH: They're leaving behind a good luck charm from the island they fled to escape hurricanes.
B. DAGEVOS: It keeps the bad spirits out. We shake it. It's just a joke that we have had from the Virgin Islands. We brought it over here and hopefully it will work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOCH: Now, the Dagevoses' son, who rode out those two killer hurricanes with his parents in the Caribbean, no longer a baby. And while they were boarding up their business yesterday, he was out doing what so many teenagers in these beachfront communities do when hurricanes come in: He was surfing in the already very impressive waves that Frances is generating.
But Kyra, officials do not recommend that, very dangerous.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kathleen Koch in St. Augustine. What a beautiful place. Thanks so much -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Well, faithful know our excellent meteorologist, Orelon Sidney has a passion for weather and hurricanes in particular.
While you were sleeping last night, she got a chance, a chance of a lifetime, to see a hurricane like she never has before. She flew for about six hours above Hurricane Frances, her first chance to join the crew of a hurricane hunting aircraft.
Now, a dozen years ago, I had a similar experience when I flew a little lower right through Hurricane Andrew. We compared notes after she reached terra firma.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: All right, Orelon, I remember when I flew through Hurricane Andrew a dozen years ago on one of those WC-130s flown by the Air Force Reservists. That was quite a flight. It was very, very bumpy. And then suddenly, we would break through that eye wall. We would be in this beautiful, almost like a stadium-like eye. You would look up, you would see blue sky. You look down, you would see the ocean.
Your flight was a little different. Explain how different it was and what you saw up there.
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I guess the big difference is -- well, a couple things. We flew of course in a smaller plane.
But the C-130 Hercules, as you know, are huge planes. You can park city buses in those planes. They're big transport planes. They fly very slow. They're very loud and they fly in low in the storm. Generally, they're looking at the lowest levels of the storm, 10,000 feet to the surface. So, you get a very bumpy ride because that's where the big strong winds are in the hurricane.
In my case, we had a sleek little jet. We had a Gulfstream 4-SP. The S.P. stands for special performance. And we flew up above most of the atmosphere. Only 15 percent of the Earth's atmosphere was above us. We were at 40,000 feet and above.
And from that perspective, you're looking at the very high cirrus clouds over the top of the storm. It's almost like looking at a satellite image, but sitting right on top of it. And it was absolutely spectacular.
You could see nothing but the cirrus overcast from horizon to horizon. And then on the edges, you would see these big thunderstorms with a big anvil top way off in the horizon, probably 30, 40 miles away, overshooting tops and things like that. It's just a fabulous view. And it's hardly any turbulence at all. I have said it before. The trip from Atlanta to Tampa was more turbulent than the trip that I had in the hurricane hunter this morning.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's interesting.
You know, what I recall, too, in seeing these storms is how beautiful they are, and yet you have to almost remind yourself of the tremendous damage that they can create on the ground.
SIDNEY: That's so true.
And when you're up looking at a storm like that, especially when you're someone like me, who's literally studied this kind of storm since I was old enough to hold a book, it's literally a dream come true. And they are spectacularly beautiful. And it does give you a sense of, if you will, being at one with the universe, because so few people get to have this experience.
And at the same time, you're torn, because you realize that there's some terrible damage going on beneath you. Right beneath you at that point, there's terrible damage. And I always feel especially bad for people in the Caribbean, because, here in the U.S., we're so fortunate. We have so many resources.
But a lot of folks in the Caribbean, they lose everything in a storm like this. And so, in a sense, where, as a scientist, you are jubilant and you're fascinated, on the other hand, as a human being, it really leaves you torn.
O'BRIEN: Final thought here, Orelon. Were you ever at all scared by what you encountered?
SIDNEY: Amazingly, I was afraid on the ground before I left Atlanta. I was concerned.
Once I got to MacDill and started talking to the pilots and the scientists, these are people that I literally trusted with my life. And these people are so competent. They are so self-assured, until I -- and the planes themselves were spectacular -- until I had absolutely no fear at all. The only thing that I had in the air was fascination.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Now, you can watch Orelon Sidney's entire report, 8:00 Eastern tonight on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
For more hurricane information, log on to cnn.com/hurricanes. You'll find the storm's projected path, links to emergency information and resources and tips on what you should do during a hurricane.
PHILLIPS: Well, a hostage situation brings explosions and gunfire. Just ahead, the latest from the Russian school where it all happened. We have got the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, as you can imagine, the worst-case scenario is playing out today in a middle school in Russia. Hundreds of people are dead or wounded, including unknown numbers of children, as the fighting broke out between Russian armed forces and Islamic hostage- takers.
CNN's Matthew Chance is at the scene.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, thank you.
Well, confusion and tragedy here at this school in the southern Russia, where this hostage crisis has played out with such tragic consequences.
We understand now from the Russian government officials that are here on the scene that the actual operation, the actual siege has been officially declared over. Although, within the last hour, we've been hearing some extremely large explosions coming out from inside the school in Beslan in southern Russian.
We're told they are Russian satters (ph) dealing with the unexploded ordnance that is said to have been streaming through various rooms inside the compound of that school. Some of it was actually of course detonated. Now, this siege coming to a dramatic and tragic end. Negotiations had been proceeding relatively calmly. In fact, some agreements had been reached in order for some of the dead bodies who had been strewn across the compound to be removed by the Russian authorities.
That operation was under way when there were a number of unexpected explosions. That created a degree of panic and of chaos. And in that confusion, a number of the hostages actually tried to break free and run away from the hostage-takers. And there were of course women and children amongst those hostages.
During that, the rebels inside opened fire on the hostages. An exchange of fire took place, with the Russian security forces also opening fire. What happened then was a gun battle that raged for the better part of eight hours.
And in it, of course, a lot of people were injured. A number of people were killed. There are no accurate figures as to the casualties, but the vast majority of people either killed or being treated for their injuries, some of them serious.
We're hoping to get more clarity on the actual figures involved in this as the hours go on, though. For the moment, though, there have been a number of arrests, three people in fact arrested by the Russian authorities as a result of this. A further 20 rebels said to have been killed.
Now, what's interesting is that the Russian authorities say that nine of those rebels who have been killed are Arab nationals. Another one is said to have been an African national, that really underscoring Moscow's claim this war with Chechen insurgents is very much a war, part of the war on international terrorism. And obviously, we'll be looking for more clarification on the nationalities of these individuals as the hours and as the days pass, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Matthew, have you had a chance to talk to any of those that were taken hostage? Did the hostage-takers say anything to them, why they were doing what they were doing? Any communication at all between the two groups?
CHANCE: Well, the fact is, Kyra, not a great many hostages have actually come out.
Just about 24 hours ago, in fact, a group of just over 20 people were released from inside, or escaped from inside. They've spoken about how they were treated by the actual hostage-takers. Many of them children, of course, were deprived of food and water for well over 50 hours in very hot conditions inside the school at the time.
One of the women who came out told a story of how one of the hostage-takers refused to give the children water, just passing around a small cup of water of what she said were 1,000 hostages inside. So, a degree of inhumanity being displayed by the hostage-takers in this siege, which, as we say now, has come to a bloody and tragic end, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Matthew Chance, live from southern Russia there, with the latest on the hostage situation that has now ended. Matthew, thank you.
O'BRIEN: Even by the standards of a truly savage conflict, the past 10 days have been horrendous in Russia. On Tuesday, just before the school crisis began, you will recall a suicide bomber struck in Moscow, nine killed, 51 others wounded, outside a subway bomber, responsibility claimed by an Islamic militant group as retribution for the war in Chechnya.
And a week before that, a total of 89 killed when two Russian airliners crashed minutes and miles apart. The working assumption, the planes were brought down by Chechen suicide bombers. PHILLIPS: Well, if you're looking for a job, where are they? Ahead, new numbers ahead out today on the American economy. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, news across America now.
Hurricane Frances has prompted the largest evacuation in Florida history and is already causing traffic problems in neighboring Georgia. Traffic on I-75 in south Georgia was bumper to bumper this morning as Floridians scrambled to get out of harm's way.
In California, Firefighters are trying to contain a wild fire burning in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. That fire broke out yesterday afternoon near Mariposa and has already scorched more than 400 acres. The fire has forced the evacuation of about 300 homes and destroyed one outbuilding.
A judge in Texas has ordered the adoptive mother of seven children found in a Nigerian orphanage to pay nearly $1,500 a month in child support. An American missionary discovered the children ranging from eight to 17 years old a month ago. He arranged to have them returned to Texas, where they now remain in state custody.
Well, the latest employment report shows that there are more jobs out there. So, who's doing the hiring?
O'BRIEN: Fred Katayama joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with a look at where those jobs are. Fred, what's the latest?
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Hi, Miles. Hi, Kyra.
Well, employers added 144,000 jobs to payrolls last month. That's a bit shy of what Wall Street had been expecting. Still, it was the largest number of jobs added since May.
Here's a breakdown where jobs were created. Payrolls in the service sector by 108,000 -- those are jobs in places like hotels, banks, and restaurants. The government added 24,000 jobs. Manufacturing created 22,000 new jobs. And construction payrolls were up by 15,000.
The unemployment rate edged down last month to 5.4 percent, but this may be due to thousands of people dropping out of the work force after giving up their search for work. Eight million Americans remain unemployed.
That employment report is not producing any enthusiasm for Wall Street. The numbers were pretty much in line with what was expected. And as one analyst put it, nothing good, but nothing too terrible.
Still, stocks are under pressure, especially tech stocks. That follows a dismal outlook from Intel. The chip maker slashed its third quarter revenue forecast after the bell last night. Intel shares are sliding seven percent. That's dragging down other tech stocks, as well, pushing the Nasdaq Composite down one-and-a-third percent.
The Dow Industrials are little changed. Right now, the blue chips are flat, and the stock market will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
That's the latest from Wall Street. Miles, Kyra, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much Fred Katayama.
And that wraps up this Friday edition of -- there you are. That wraps up this...
PHILLIPS: Busy. Busy.
O'BRIEN: You're involved in this. Get in this shot.
That wraps up this Friday edition.
Let's take a two-shot.
PHILLIPS: All right.
O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.
PHILLIPS: Maybe they're mad at me.
O'BRIEN: I don't know. They're not mad at you. We love you.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to take you through the next hour of political headlines with INSIDE POLITICS with Judy Woodruff. She joins us live from the Election Express in New York. She's still on the road.
JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hi there, Kyra and Miles.
Yes, we are still in New York City. We're hearing mixed reviews, though, about the president' speech last night at the RNC. I'll talk with top officials from both the Kerry and the Bush teams.
Plus, doctors tell former President Clinton he need heart bypass surgery. We'll have a live report from here in New York when INSIDE POLITICS begins in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: In the news now -- weaker, but still dangerous: Powerful Category 3 Hurricane Frances is battering parts of the Bahamas as we speak, headed for the Sunshine State. It is expected to make landfall in Florida late tomorrow, forcing more than two million from their homes. CNN's Wolf Blitzer will interview Florida Governor Jeb Bush at 5:00 Eastern.
A hostage crisis at a Russian school comes to a dramatic conclusion. Hundreds of children and adults fled when commandos stormed the building. Russian officials say more than 150 others killed. The number of people taken to the hospital in excess of 600. The captors were demanding Chechen independence.
Former President Bill Clinton is at New York Presbyterian Hospital awaiting heart bypass surgery. CNN has learned the procedure could take place as early as tomorrow. A statement from his office says his wife, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and daughter Chelsea will be with him. A live report from New York City just a few moments away.
And now, JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS.
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Aired September 3, 2004 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We are being told now that the hostage situation in Russia may be coming to an end. We are going to have more for you coming up in the next hour. Meanwhile, we can tell you that several hundred hostages got out; 20 hostage-takers have been killed when the Russian commandos stormed that school. Russian officials report now at least 150 people, including children, have died.
Former President Bill Clinton is undergoing heart bypass surgery. The 58-year-old went to the hospital yesterday after complaining of chest pains. Sources say that the surgery will probably take place tomorrow.
Now that the Bahamas have taken a beating from Hurricane Frances, it's Florida's time to hunker down for an onslaught from the Category 3 storm. Hurricane warnings are in effect through almost the entire coastline of Florida. The next Hurricane Center update on Frances' progress is scheduled in about two hours.
More than 20,000 people are holed up in Florida's 1,800-plus shelters to wait out Hurricane Frances. Florida's Emergency Operations Center says that the threat from Frances prompted the state's largest evacuation in history. Mandatory or voluntary evacuations are in place for 21 counties, now affecting 2.5 million people.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he gave up fast-food, he took up South Beach, and he looked to be in fighting trim. Thus, the surprise when we learned that William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd U.S. president, would undergo coronary bypass surgery possibly as soon as tomorrow.
CNN's Ed Henry helped break this story for us this morning. He joins with us from our D.C. bureau with details -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Miles.
This morning, former President Clinton started calling close friends to tell them that over the last two days, he was experiencing some chest pains, some shortness of breathe. He went to a hospital in Westchester yesterday near his home in order to get checked out.
He was sent home on Thursday evening, however, and then went back on Friday morning for more tests. It was then that his doctors advised that he have heart bypass surgery as soon as possible. We are still awaiting official word on when that will take place. This morning, the former president was supposed to be with his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, at the New York State Fair in Upstate New York in Syracuse. Mrs. Clinton went ahead obviously without her husband. She had some of her events, but then cut them short, explaining to the visitors at the New York State Fair that she obviously needed to get back and be with her husband.
She has left about an hour or so ago to head to New York City. Also some warm words coming in from Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate at a rally in the last couple of hours. He praised the former president and wished him well.
And also some very kind words and warm wishes from Mr. Clinton's Republican successor in the White House, President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: En route here, we just received news that President Clinton has been hospitalized in New York. He is in our thoughts and prayers. We send him our best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We want to extend our wishes and our prayers and our thoughts to him. President Clinton went in the hospital today. And he is going to be fine. He's going to have -- he's going to have a bypass surgery that's going to take place, I think, tomorrow. But every single one of us, every single one of us wants to extend to him our best wishes, our prayers and thoughts.
And I want you all to let a cheer out and clap that he can hear all the way to New York, all the way to New York.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Friends of the former president say he has been very upbeat and very optimistic in these phone calls today, saying that he feels he is going to get better, he will be on the road to a full recovery after the surgery, and that, in general, he believes his health is good.
Obviously, though, he has a very serious situation to take care of in the short term. And in addition to having his wife at his side, he will also eventually have his daughter, Chelsea Clinton, at his side. She is heading to New York City as well to be with her father, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Ed, what do we know about when these symptoms first cropped up?
HENRY: They first started on Thursday. I can tell you that, last weekend, the former president was in New York at a church delivering a speech. I was there. He looked very vigorous. He was attacking the Bush administration, offering support for the Democratic presidential ticket, and looked to be in fine health. Also did a book signing or two this week and, again, looked very trim and fit.
But on Thursday, he started feeling some shortness of breathe and chest pains. It continued a little bit on Friday morning. Doctors brought him in for some tests. That was when he was told today that he needed the surgery, Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Ed Henry, thanks very much -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Hurricane Frances is still a big, powerful and dangerous storm as it heads for landfall in Florida. It's pounding the Bahamas Islands right now and the state of Florida has ordered the largest evacuation in its history.
CNN's meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is with us live now from the CNN Weather Center with more -- Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Kyra, the storm is starting to look a little bit better organized once again on the satellite imagery. And that is a concern, especially since it is moving so slowly. That means there is more time for Frances to strengthen.
Right now, 115 miles per hour maximum stained winds, but we are seeing gusts well beyond that. The impact already being felt across Florida. You can see the showers and thunderstorms already moving on shore, but the winds are really starting to pick up right now.
Just checked wind reports across the east coast of Florida from St. Augustine extending all the way down into the Keys. We're getting wind gusts between 25 and 35 miles per hour, Fort Lauderdale the highest gusts this last hour at 38 miles an hour. So, that is tropical storm force.
Now, when are we going to see the more sustained tropical force moving in? Well, take a look at this graphic. It shows you that they'll be pushing in by 8:00 tonight and those hurricane force winds starting to move in by about 8:00 tomorrow morning.
And then, you can see it weaken significantly as it moves over land, still tropical force winds on Sunday morning. So, we're talking anywhere between 24 to 48 hours of extremely strong across central and northern parts of Florida.
And of course, that is certainly a big concern, those gusts there already, again, the big winds coming in, we think, later on this evening. And so, that is a long period of time. Things are going to be flying around all over Florida for tonight.
Forecast track still on the money. We are expecting it to make landfall somewhere right along the east central Florida coastline sometime tomorrow evening and continuing on a west to northwesterly track, making its way into Georgia, possibly over as far west as Alabama. We'll keep you up to date, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Jacqui, thanks so much.
Well, hurricane warnings are posted up and down the east coast of Florida. And that includes the town of St. Augustine, Florida. It's the oldest settlement in North America. It was founded in 1565.
CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us live from there now.
Wondering if she has sampled the fountain of youth.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Couldn't find the fountain of youth here.
Actually, we couldn't find a party, Kyra. There was supposed to be a huge party right here in the central plaza in historic St. Augustine tomorrow celebrating this city's founding by Spain back in 1565. As you pointed out, this is oldest city in the country. It has survived a lot. But guess what? They've canceled the party. They've closed the schools.
When you look around this historic downtown area, businesses, these buildings, some of them built in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, as you can they have boarded up. Some business owners are planning to ride this out. But we talked to a couple of hurricane veterans yesterday who did not need any convincing to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOCH (voice-over): Benk Dagevos has no time to talk. His Caribbean bar is the first business on the St. Augustine Beach. He just spent $2,000 to replace the sign Hurricane Charley ripped down. Now Benk figures Frances will probably claim his screened-in dining area.
BENK DAGEVOS, BAR OWNER: This is just an aluminum structure and I don't think it's going to hold anyway. So, we might as well try and save what we have.
KOCH: Benk's trophy shirt hints he's not a newcomer to all this. He and his wife lost two homes and a business on St. Thomas in the Caribbean in two separate killer hurricanes, Hugo and Marilyn, which collapsed their house on top of them.
CINDY DAGEVOS, BAR OWNER: And a neighbor yelled up and said, are you alive? And that's when you realize how hard it is.
KOCH (on camera): You don't want to go through it again?
C. DAGEVOS: No. And that's why I want dirt all around us. So, everybody's probably laughing at us right now. If you've lost it like we have twice, you don't want to mess with it when they tell you to get out of Dodge. That's why they tell you.
KOCH (voice-over): Cindy has packed up the essentials.
C. DAGEVOS: My wedding album and my son's baby pictures. The rest of it is replaceable. This isn't.
KOCH: They're leaving behind a good luck charm from the island they fled to escape hurricanes.
B. DAGEVOS: It keeps the bad spirits out. We shake it. It's just a joke that we have had from the Virgin Islands. We brought it over here and hopefully it will work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOCH: Now, the Dagevoses' son, who rode out those two killer hurricanes with his parents in the Caribbean, no longer a baby. And while they were boarding up their business yesterday, he was out doing what so many teenagers in these beachfront communities do when hurricanes come in: He was surfing in the already very impressive waves that Frances is generating.
But Kyra, officials do not recommend that, very dangerous.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kathleen Koch in St. Augustine. What a beautiful place. Thanks so much -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Well, faithful know our excellent meteorologist, Orelon Sidney has a passion for weather and hurricanes in particular.
While you were sleeping last night, she got a chance, a chance of a lifetime, to see a hurricane like she never has before. She flew for about six hours above Hurricane Frances, her first chance to join the crew of a hurricane hunting aircraft.
Now, a dozen years ago, I had a similar experience when I flew a little lower right through Hurricane Andrew. We compared notes after she reached terra firma.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: All right, Orelon, I remember when I flew through Hurricane Andrew a dozen years ago on one of those WC-130s flown by the Air Force Reservists. That was quite a flight. It was very, very bumpy. And then suddenly, we would break through that eye wall. We would be in this beautiful, almost like a stadium-like eye. You would look up, you would see blue sky. You look down, you would see the ocean.
Your flight was a little different. Explain how different it was and what you saw up there.
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I guess the big difference is -- well, a couple things. We flew of course in a smaller plane.
But the C-130 Hercules, as you know, are huge planes. You can park city buses in those planes. They're big transport planes. They fly very slow. They're very loud and they fly in low in the storm. Generally, they're looking at the lowest levels of the storm, 10,000 feet to the surface. So, you get a very bumpy ride because that's where the big strong winds are in the hurricane.
In my case, we had a sleek little jet. We had a Gulfstream 4-SP. The S.P. stands for special performance. And we flew up above most of the atmosphere. Only 15 percent of the Earth's atmosphere was above us. We were at 40,000 feet and above.
And from that perspective, you're looking at the very high cirrus clouds over the top of the storm. It's almost like looking at a satellite image, but sitting right on top of it. And it was absolutely spectacular.
You could see nothing but the cirrus overcast from horizon to horizon. And then on the edges, you would see these big thunderstorms with a big anvil top way off in the horizon, probably 30, 40 miles away, overshooting tops and things like that. It's just a fabulous view. And it's hardly any turbulence at all. I have said it before. The trip from Atlanta to Tampa was more turbulent than the trip that I had in the hurricane hunter this morning.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's interesting.
You know, what I recall, too, in seeing these storms is how beautiful they are, and yet you have to almost remind yourself of the tremendous damage that they can create on the ground.
SIDNEY: That's so true.
And when you're up looking at a storm like that, especially when you're someone like me, who's literally studied this kind of storm since I was old enough to hold a book, it's literally a dream come true. And they are spectacularly beautiful. And it does give you a sense of, if you will, being at one with the universe, because so few people get to have this experience.
And at the same time, you're torn, because you realize that there's some terrible damage going on beneath you. Right beneath you at that point, there's terrible damage. And I always feel especially bad for people in the Caribbean, because, here in the U.S., we're so fortunate. We have so many resources.
But a lot of folks in the Caribbean, they lose everything in a storm like this. And so, in a sense, where, as a scientist, you are jubilant and you're fascinated, on the other hand, as a human being, it really leaves you torn.
O'BRIEN: Final thought here, Orelon. Were you ever at all scared by what you encountered?
SIDNEY: Amazingly, I was afraid on the ground before I left Atlanta. I was concerned.
Once I got to MacDill and started talking to the pilots and the scientists, these are people that I literally trusted with my life. And these people are so competent. They are so self-assured, until I -- and the planes themselves were spectacular -- until I had absolutely no fear at all. The only thing that I had in the air was fascination.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Now, you can watch Orelon Sidney's entire report, 8:00 Eastern tonight on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
For more hurricane information, log on to cnn.com/hurricanes. You'll find the storm's projected path, links to emergency information and resources and tips on what you should do during a hurricane.
PHILLIPS: Well, a hostage situation brings explosions and gunfire. Just ahead, the latest from the Russian school where it all happened. We have got the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, as you can imagine, the worst-case scenario is playing out today in a middle school in Russia. Hundreds of people are dead or wounded, including unknown numbers of children, as the fighting broke out between Russian armed forces and Islamic hostage- takers.
CNN's Matthew Chance is at the scene.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, thank you.
Well, confusion and tragedy here at this school in the southern Russia, where this hostage crisis has played out with such tragic consequences.
We understand now from the Russian government officials that are here on the scene that the actual operation, the actual siege has been officially declared over. Although, within the last hour, we've been hearing some extremely large explosions coming out from inside the school in Beslan in southern Russian.
We're told they are Russian satters (ph) dealing with the unexploded ordnance that is said to have been streaming through various rooms inside the compound of that school. Some of it was actually of course detonated. Now, this siege coming to a dramatic and tragic end. Negotiations had been proceeding relatively calmly. In fact, some agreements had been reached in order for some of the dead bodies who had been strewn across the compound to be removed by the Russian authorities.
That operation was under way when there were a number of unexpected explosions. That created a degree of panic and of chaos. And in that confusion, a number of the hostages actually tried to break free and run away from the hostage-takers. And there were of course women and children amongst those hostages.
During that, the rebels inside opened fire on the hostages. An exchange of fire took place, with the Russian security forces also opening fire. What happened then was a gun battle that raged for the better part of eight hours.
And in it, of course, a lot of people were injured. A number of people were killed. There are no accurate figures as to the casualties, but the vast majority of people either killed or being treated for their injuries, some of them serious.
We're hoping to get more clarity on the actual figures involved in this as the hours go on, though. For the moment, though, there have been a number of arrests, three people in fact arrested by the Russian authorities as a result of this. A further 20 rebels said to have been killed.
Now, what's interesting is that the Russian authorities say that nine of those rebels who have been killed are Arab nationals. Another one is said to have been an African national, that really underscoring Moscow's claim this war with Chechen insurgents is very much a war, part of the war on international terrorism. And obviously, we'll be looking for more clarification on the nationalities of these individuals as the hours and as the days pass, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Matthew, have you had a chance to talk to any of those that were taken hostage? Did the hostage-takers say anything to them, why they were doing what they were doing? Any communication at all between the two groups?
CHANCE: Well, the fact is, Kyra, not a great many hostages have actually come out.
Just about 24 hours ago, in fact, a group of just over 20 people were released from inside, or escaped from inside. They've spoken about how they were treated by the actual hostage-takers. Many of them children, of course, were deprived of food and water for well over 50 hours in very hot conditions inside the school at the time.
One of the women who came out told a story of how one of the hostage-takers refused to give the children water, just passing around a small cup of water of what she said were 1,000 hostages inside. So, a degree of inhumanity being displayed by the hostage-takers in this siege, which, as we say now, has come to a bloody and tragic end, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Matthew Chance, live from southern Russia there, with the latest on the hostage situation that has now ended. Matthew, thank you.
O'BRIEN: Even by the standards of a truly savage conflict, the past 10 days have been horrendous in Russia. On Tuesday, just before the school crisis began, you will recall a suicide bomber struck in Moscow, nine killed, 51 others wounded, outside a subway bomber, responsibility claimed by an Islamic militant group as retribution for the war in Chechnya.
And a week before that, a total of 89 killed when two Russian airliners crashed minutes and miles apart. The working assumption, the planes were brought down by Chechen suicide bombers. PHILLIPS: Well, if you're looking for a job, where are they? Ahead, new numbers ahead out today on the American economy. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, news across America now.
Hurricane Frances has prompted the largest evacuation in Florida history and is already causing traffic problems in neighboring Georgia. Traffic on I-75 in south Georgia was bumper to bumper this morning as Floridians scrambled to get out of harm's way.
In California, Firefighters are trying to contain a wild fire burning in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. That fire broke out yesterday afternoon near Mariposa and has already scorched more than 400 acres. The fire has forced the evacuation of about 300 homes and destroyed one outbuilding.
A judge in Texas has ordered the adoptive mother of seven children found in a Nigerian orphanage to pay nearly $1,500 a month in child support. An American missionary discovered the children ranging from eight to 17 years old a month ago. He arranged to have them returned to Texas, where they now remain in state custody.
Well, the latest employment report shows that there are more jobs out there. So, who's doing the hiring?
O'BRIEN: Fred Katayama joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with a look at where those jobs are. Fred, what's the latest?
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Hi, Miles. Hi, Kyra.
Well, employers added 144,000 jobs to payrolls last month. That's a bit shy of what Wall Street had been expecting. Still, it was the largest number of jobs added since May.
Here's a breakdown where jobs were created. Payrolls in the service sector by 108,000 -- those are jobs in places like hotels, banks, and restaurants. The government added 24,000 jobs. Manufacturing created 22,000 new jobs. And construction payrolls were up by 15,000.
The unemployment rate edged down last month to 5.4 percent, but this may be due to thousands of people dropping out of the work force after giving up their search for work. Eight million Americans remain unemployed.
That employment report is not producing any enthusiasm for Wall Street. The numbers were pretty much in line with what was expected. And as one analyst put it, nothing good, but nothing too terrible.
Still, stocks are under pressure, especially tech stocks. That follows a dismal outlook from Intel. The chip maker slashed its third quarter revenue forecast after the bell last night. Intel shares are sliding seven percent. That's dragging down other tech stocks, as well, pushing the Nasdaq Composite down one-and-a-third percent.
The Dow Industrials are little changed. Right now, the blue chips are flat, and the stock market will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
That's the latest from Wall Street. Miles, Kyra, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much Fred Katayama.
And that wraps up this Friday edition of -- there you are. That wraps up this...
PHILLIPS: Busy. Busy.
O'BRIEN: You're involved in this. Get in this shot.
That wraps up this Friday edition.
Let's take a two-shot.
PHILLIPS: All right.
O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for being with us.
PHILLIPS: Maybe they're mad at me.
O'BRIEN: I don't know. They're not mad at you. We love you.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to take you through the next hour of political headlines with INSIDE POLITICS with Judy Woodruff. She joins us live from the Election Express in New York. She's still on the road.
JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hi there, Kyra and Miles.
Yes, we are still in New York City. We're hearing mixed reviews, though, about the president' speech last night at the RNC. I'll talk with top officials from both the Kerry and the Bush teams.
Plus, doctors tell former President Clinton he need heart bypass surgery. We'll have a live report from here in New York when INSIDE POLITICS begins in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: In the news now -- weaker, but still dangerous: Powerful Category 3 Hurricane Frances is battering parts of the Bahamas as we speak, headed for the Sunshine State. It is expected to make landfall in Florida late tomorrow, forcing more than two million from their homes. CNN's Wolf Blitzer will interview Florida Governor Jeb Bush at 5:00 Eastern.
A hostage crisis at a Russian school comes to a dramatic conclusion. Hundreds of children and adults fled when commandos stormed the building. Russian officials say more than 150 others killed. The number of people taken to the hospital in excess of 600. The captors were demanding Chechen independence.
Former President Bill Clinton is at New York Presbyterian Hospital awaiting heart bypass surgery. CNN has learned the procedure could take place as early as tomorrow. A statement from his office says his wife, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and daughter Chelsea will be with him. A live report from New York City just a few moments away.
And now, JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS.
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