Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Karl Rove Testifies in CIA Leak Investigation; Rumsfeld and Rice Visit Iraq; Interview With National Teacher of the Year
Aired April 26, 2006 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, nobody outside a certain room in Washington knows what he is saying, but Karl Rove is talking to a federal grand jury today for a fifth time. The panel is investigating the leak of a CIA operative's identity and what, if anything, President Bush's top political aide had to do with it.
CNN chief national correspondent John King joins us with the very latest -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And, Fredricka, we're waiting to see if Karl Rove will say anything when he comes out of the grand jury appearance.
We're led to believe by sources close to him that he will not. The special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, has repeatedly urged people in the investigation not to talk about it publicly. There you see Karl Rove, followed by his attorney, Robert Luskin, heading into the federal courthouse -- Rove, of course, the deputy chief of staff. The president calls him the architect of the Bush political strategy.
He has been involved in this investigation for quite some time. You noted -- you noted this was his fifth grand jury appearance. The last one was in October 2005. And what sources are telling us is that this appearance was requested by the special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, in the federal courthouse that you see there to ask Rove about some new evidence, new material that's come to light since his last grand jury appearance.
We know that, among that new evidence, a "TIME" magazine reporter has conceded that she might have unwittingly tipped Rove's lawyer off to fact that, when he first testified before the grand jury and acknowledged conversations with one reporter, but not a second reporter, that perhaps he had not given the full story.
Viveca Novak, the "TIME" correspondent, told Bob Luskin, Rove's attorney, she thought that Rove had discussed this case with Matt Cooper of "TIME" magazine. I know it's getting confusing. But they then went back. They found e-mails in which Karl Rove had indeed discussed this with Matt Cooper. They brought that to the prosecutor.
And the question from Mr. Fitzgerald is, was it a -- just an honest oversight, or was Mr. Rove trying to keep something from the grand jury? That has been the back-and-forth for months now -- Fredricka, a very complicated legal case, obviously, a political cloud over the White House as well. What Rove's side is hoping -- hoping -- is that this testimony today that began about two hours ago, at 1:00, here in Washington, answers the questions and that, in the very near future, the prosecutor will say: Enough. I have taken all the evidence. I have no reason to charge Mr. Rove, and that his role in this investigation will be over. That is their hope.
The prosecutor says, there will be no announcement today. And, again, we're waiting to see just how long Mr. Rove will be before the grand jury.
WHITFIELD: And a very complicated case, indeed, difficult still to follow the bouncing ball.
But, John, you know, in terms of subpoenas and others who are likely to testify or expected to testify, there have been lots of rumors about a whole 'nother lot of journalists that have yet to testify, but are likely to be asked to do so.
KING: Well, there are two separate tracks here.
In terms of this grand jury itself, we don't know much about who else might be asked to testify. We do know that Ms. Novak, the "TIME" magazine reporter, was questioned by the -- by Mr. Luskin. We do know that he had some questions for "Washington Post" reporter Bob Woodward, who wrote a story about this as well.
And we know now that he's brought Karl Rove back for the fifth time. That is the grand jury aspect of the investigation. There is a whole potentially much more explosive case making its way through the courthouse, the very same courthouse. And that is the case of the one person who has been indicted and charged in this case.
The vice president's former chief of staff, Scooter Libby, faces a five-count indictment. His trial is scheduled in January. And, as part of those proceedings, Mr. Libby's defense team has made that it plans on subpoenaing not only reporters, but their notes. Mr. Libby wants to know what reporters knew about this, what conversations he might have had with this, other things reporters knew about this investigation.
There are First Amendment issues there, news organizations saying: No way. We will not come in.
So, on the separate track of the Libby trial, there is potentially months and months more of explosive legal wrangling and testimony ahead -- Fredricka, that trial scheduled for January, but the pretrial proceedings, it seems that, just about every other week...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
KING: ... we get a new revelation.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, John King.
KING: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: And, of course, when we get any more information about Karl Rove leaving the courthouse, whether he or his attorney, Robert Luskin, have anything to say, we will be able to pick that up.
Thanks so much, John.
KING: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: The defense chief and the top diplomat teaming up in Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made an unannounced visit today. It's a show of support for Iraqi lawmakers, who are closer to forming a new government.
CNN has learned, a big U.S. troop reduction could also be in the works.
Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, has more on that -- Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka -- Fredricka, one thing you didn't hear from the defense chief or the top diplomat or even the top general, for that matter, was any concrete details about significant troop reductions planned for by the end of this year.
But I can tell you, that planning is well under way, although it is based on a hopeful scenario that things are going to improve in Iraq. Military sources familiar with the planning say it calls for a reduction of some 30,000 U.S. troops by the end of the year. That would reduce the number of brigades, currently 15, and about 130,000 troops, to a -- a goal of about 10 brigades and 100,000 troops.
In fact, there's even a more optimistic scenario, an option that would draw it down to 75,000 troops. But it's based on really a best- case scenario that people think are unlikely.
But we should make it clear General George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, is not yet ready to recommend these reductions until he sees further improvements in the Iraqi defense forces and until he sees that new government get up and running.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERAL GEORGE CASEY, COMMANDER, MULTINATIONAL FORCE IN IRAQ: This government formation now is another step. When they get the Cabinets identified, the Cabinet ministers identified, and the government then takes up its -- its position and begins governing, that will be the -- the next major step.
And, so, we are -- we are seeing the situation a little clearer, I would say. And -- and the -- the clearer I see it, the -- the better I can make my recommendations.
QUESTION: Are you still on track to what you have been anticipating all along?
CASEY: Yes. And I have -- I've said, let's wait until we get a government formed. We have got the leadership here. We need to get the ministers formed and get them in the job and -- and -- and we'll see how they go. But I'm still on my general timeline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: That's General George Casey, who will be the person who will make the recommendation to President Bush and Donald Rumsfeld about when the proper time to begin drawing troop -- troops is.
Rumsfeld said today again that those decisions will be made in conjunction with the Iraqi government and by military commanders on the ground, not influenced by political events, such as the upcoming congressional elections -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jamie McIntyre, thanks so much at the Pentagon.
You mess with us; we will mess with you" -- a message from Iran today to the U.S. and the world.
Our Aneesh Raman joins us by videophone from the streets of Tehran in a report you will only see on CNN -- Aneesh.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, defiance still and growing more by the day. Today, Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, warned that, if America attacked Iran, Iran would respond, American interests around the could be harmed, and that Iran would strike back with double the force.
It comes a day after Iran's top negotiator warned that, if any military strikes come upon it (AUDIO GAP) the country would continue its nuclear program, but (AUDIO GAP) secret. We are seeing the Iranians, Fredricka, stand firm in their civilian nuclear program, a peaceful program that they feel is theirs to have, despite warnings from the West, especially the U.S. that, if Iran has a nuclear program on Iranian soil, it could lead to Iran having a nuclear weapon.
The government has denied that all along. But it is now increasingly difficult to see what sort of deal might be worked out at the U.N. The Iranians (AUDIO GAP) taken off the table any suspension of uranium enrichment. The only thing they're willing to talk about is inspectors coming in (AUDIO GAP) country to verify that the Iranians don't veer towards (AUDIO GAP)
So, (AUDIO GAP) approaching Friday's deadline, this defiance is standing firm, and it's tough to see if Iran (AUDIO GAP) will suspend uranium enrichment -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So, Aneesh, are Iranians as a whole, ordinary citizens, standing firm in Khomeini using oil as a -- a threat against the U.S.?
RAMAN: Well, Iranians are standing firm in their support of the civilian nuclear program.
Khomeini today didn't say explicitly that Iran would use oil as a weapon. That has been a fear in this growing dispute, that Iran could cut off (AUDIO GAP) cut down its oil supplies to cripple the West.
We went to a gas station here in Iran to talk to some Iranians. Gas here, Fredricka, is just about 40 cents a gallon, in part because of government subsidies. As well, Iran has one of the largest oil reserves. But, even here, low-cost gas is having issues. Too many people are driving too often. There is traffic. There is congestion. And now in the works is a government plan to actually ration the gas -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Wow, 40 cents a gallon, that's a huge contrast to what the folks in U.S. cities are experiencing, more than $3 in some places.
Thanks so much, Aneesh Raman, in Tehran.
Well, already everyone agrees it is hallowed ground, but everything comes with a price. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after it was hijacked on September 11, 2001.
This remembrance was held on the site last year. But families of the victims want a permanent memorial. Almost a dozen are in Washington today, pressing Congress to contribute $10 million toward the estimated $58 million price. But they're finding some resistance.
One key congressman says he wants to know where the rest of the money is coming from before Congress makes a commitment.
Four-and-a-half years after the 9/11 attacks, ground zero remains vacant, but now, from New York, an agreement clearing the way for plans to redevelop the World Trade Center site, plans that include a 1,776 tall Freedom Tower. The Port Authority and developer Larry Silverstein have settled a long-running dispute.
The Authority will take control of the Freedom Tower project, plus one other proposed tower. Silverstein will keep control of the three other buildings. Officials say all five structures will be completed by 2012.
Still to come, give this teacher an apple. She has just been named teacher of the year. Learn what her students think about her and what she thinks about education overall -- coming up right here on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A new development in the Zacarias Moussaoui case.
Let's go straight to Alexandria Courthouse, where we find our CNN producer Phil Hirschkorn on the phone with us.
Phil, what's taking place? PHIL HIRSCHKORN, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Fredricka, so we don't shock people into thinking that there's a development with the jury, there's not. The jury continues deliberating. It's its third day.
WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.
HIRSCHKORN: And they're in their last hour of deliberating Moussaoui's fate, whether he gets life imprisonment or the death penalty.
But, as a sidebar to all of this, something interesting has happened. September 11 families, a couple of weeks ago, came down here. And they asked the trial judge to get all of the same aviation security documents that Moussaoui's attorneys have gotten.
Why? Because a lot of these families are suing the airlines in New York for negligence related to the 9/11 attacks. The government, we have just found out, has filed papers, asking the judge to reverse an order which granted all the 9/11 families those documents. They say that's unprecedented. You never take the materials from a criminal case and hand them over to the parties in a civil case -- the government saying, while it has the utmost sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attacks, this order should be withdrawn -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And, so, while the government has made its case, and they're saying that order should be withdrawn, what is the judge saying? Or how long might it take before the judge replies?
HIRSCHKORN: There will probably be a hearing in a couple of weeks.
When the judge granted the order, because she didn't want to interfere with what was happening with the Moussaoui trial, she said at the time...
WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.
HIRSCHKORN: ... when the Moussaoui trial ends, two weeks after that, the -- the prosecutors should start handing over all the unclassified aviation security documents.
The prosecutors are saying: No, we really shouldn't do this. That information is sensitive. The Moussaoui lawyers have been cleared to do that. And we can't just go off handing these materials to another group of lawyers.
The judge, however, has been very sympathetic with the families' attorneys. And she has blasted the government, especially the Transportation Security Administration, for secrecy. She says, too many agencies are too secretive and, as a nation, we lose track of our core values when we get caught up in secrecy. So, we will have to wait and see if the judge changes her mind.
WHITFIELD: Does this seem rather alarming that this dialogue would take place right now, while the jurors are deliberating?
HIRSCHKORN: Well, it has been going on for a few weeks.
And, you know, the judge is, like a lot of us in our lives and careers, she's really multitasking.
WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.
HIRSCHKORN: She has other cases that are going on. On Fridays, typically, when this jury has not been in session, this trial has not been in session, she has been entertaining motions and hearings in -- with other cases and other defendants.
WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.
HIRSCHKORN: So, really, all federal judges are -- are put in that position...
WHITFIELD: And I...
HIRSCHKORN: ... of dealing with a lot of things at once.
WHITFIELD: And I guess the feeling is, this motion would have no immediate impact on the outcome of the deliberations anyway.
HIRSCHKORN: No impact on the trial whatsoever. And the judge has been very careful to say she wants this to happen, the turning over of the unclassified aviation security documents, but not until this jury is done with its deliberations.
WHITFIELD: All right, Phil Hirschkorn, thanks so much, from Alexandria.
Run out of gas on California's freeways and, more than likely, a tow truck will come to your rescue with a free gallon of precious fuel. The problem is, some drivers seem to be running dry on purpose, just to get the gas. Tow truck owners say they see it every time prices go up. In California, that price has already topped $3 a gallon.
While the president pushes his oil plan and Democrats attack it, tens of millions of Americans are struggling to pay for gas. They're tired of the politics. And they turn -- they are turned off by the sound bites.
CNN's Candy Crowley hit the road for "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D), MARYLAND: I'm here to stand up for the little guy.
(LAUGHTER)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By the end of the day, more than 30 Senators and a host of House members had, a, held a news conference. REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: Record prices for the American people, record giveaways, record profits for big oil companies.
CROWLEY: Or, b, given a floor speech.
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: The prices at the pump don't reflect our addiction to oil. They reflect a failure in leadership by this White House.
CROWLEY: Or, c, zapped out an e-mail, or, d...
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: There are five words missing from the president's speech today.
CROWLEY: ... all of the above.
SCHUMER: Get tough with big oil.
CROWLEY: It was a political gusher, with minority Democrats looking to stick it to majority Republicans, who are trying to get out of the way.
SEN. KAY BAILEY-HUTCHISON (R), TEXAS: People of America are not interested in Democrat charges against Republicans and Republican charges against Democrats. They want more resources, so that the price of gasoline at the pump will come down.
CROWLEY: Proposals were almost as plentiful as sound bites: an emergency energy summit; a 60-day break from the federal gas tax, paid for by revoking industry tax breaks.
SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: It's crystal clear that the current spike in gas prices is at least partly due to an act of greed.
CROWLEY: A $500 rebate to consumers also financed by repeal of oil company subsidies, a tax on windfall profits -- lots and lots of proposals.
SEN. JEFF BINGAMAN (D), NEW MEXICO: I think we should bring a price -- anti-price-gouging statute to the floor.
CROWLEY: Breezewood, Pennsylvania, is the town that travel built -- motels, fast food, souvenirs, and nine gas stations.
PAUL TRENTA, GAS CONSUMER: I can put $100 in this, at $3, probably $120, for a 44-gallon tank.
CROWLEY: Breezewood is a crossroads stop, where Interstate 70 meets the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Paul Trenta was in his suburban, taking his display booth from his home in Ohio to a convention in Washington.
TRENTA: I don't necessarily blame a political party. I mean, you know, even at the high gas of -- high price of gas right now, I don't see any less cars on the road. So, we're sucking down fuel like crazy.
CROWLEY: And that was the thing in Breezewood. Drivers seemed less angry than confused.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The thing that bothers me, is, I -- I don't understand the reason for it.
CROWLEY: Filling up on $2.99 for regular, they first found fault not in the oil companies, not in the politicians, but in themselves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think it's a Democrat/Republican problem. I think we use way too much. we have been spoiled.
CROWLEY: They said they would definitely vote this fall for any politician who could deliver some relief, but no one actually believed that was possible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think they're using it to get at voters.
CROWLEY: So, while lawmakers talked in Washington, motorists filled up in Breezewood, and moved on.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And get a fresh perspective on the day's top stories from Anderson Cooper. Join "A.C. 360" weeknights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Higher gas prices mean more money for oil companies, right? Well, it's not all profit, but they're not exactly suffering either.
CNN's Ali Velshi has been keeping tabs.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of it is profit.
WHITFIELD: I don't they're going to get a lot of sympathy, you know.
VELSHI: No, no, no.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: ... trying.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: None to be had. I just wanted to give people a sense of scope.
Now, it's not that, all of a sudden, the oil companies are making a lot of money. But I wanted to give you a sense.
We had earnings from BP Amoco yesterday. We had earnings from Amerada Hess today and from ConocoPhillips today. And, then, tomorrow, we are going to get ExxonMobil. And, Friday, we are going to get Chevron. ExxonMobil is the big one.
But let me give you just a sense of the numbers. This is -- this is three months of profit from BP Amoco, $5.6 billion; Amerada Hess, a measly $695 million; and ConocoPhillips, $3.291 billion. This is three months. And these aren't the big ones, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Wow.
VELSHI: Exxon is coming tomorrow. We have -- we have been talking to people, getting an estimate of what they think the earnings are going to be for three months for Exxon. We're looking at above $9 billion...
WHITFIELD: Wow.
VELSHI: ... in three months.
WHITFIELD: That's remarkable.
And, of course, that doesn't make anybody feel, you know, at all with some relief, as -- as they go to the pumps. People just really want to know, OK, we know that a lot of the oil companies are going to make a lot of money. We just want to know when we are going to be able to pay less at the pump.
VELSHI: Right.
WHITFIELD: That's the bottom line.
VELSHI: Right. And -- and the oil companies have been taking -- ExxonMobil took out an ad to say, lots of people own our shares, so, it will make them happy.
But, as far as prices going down, no indications that that is happening any time soon. We're looking at $3 a gallon. I -- Fred, it wasn't that long ago where we would be talking about, hey, do you ever think we are going to see $2 gas again?
WHITFIELD: Right.
VELSHI: We are -- we are going to up toward $3 a gallon.
And here's the thing. It hurts people on an individual basis.
WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.
VELSHI: But let me just tell you how it also pans out. The Federal Reserve puts out something called a beige book every few months. It's done by one of the branches.
And today's was put out by the Boston -- the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. I want to just show you this screen. It's -- it's -- it's -- I -- I entitled it, "Who Talks Like This?" And I'm going to tell you what it said...
(LAUGHTER) WHITFIELD: ... what the Federal Reserve said.
They said: "High energy prices were at the forefront of most districts' mention of cost pressures," blah, blah, blah. And it goes on like this.
What it means is that the companies, small businesses across America -- let's take a coffee shop, for example.
WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.
VELSHI: They have to pay for energy, so they -- they heat water all the time. They heat their store or air-condition their store. They pay the higher price for gas.
But, because of the competition around, they can't charge -- let's say they charge a buck for their coffee. They can't increase the price of coffee, because you won't buy it. You will go somewhere else to buy your coffee.
WHITFIELD: Hmm.
VELSHI: So, they're getting squeezed. So, the high energy prices are squeezing these companies.
And what that means is, they make less money. And that means they don't hire someone else, or maybe they lay someone else off, or maybe they don't buy machinery. So, it -- it -- it affects everything around you.
WHITFIELD: Yes. So...
VELSHI: And that's -- you know, you're feeling it. So are the businesses...
WHITFIELD: Right.
VELSHI: ... that you -- that you shop at.
WHITFIELD: So, while some consumers can feel comfortable with some fixed prices, like the example you gave in the coffee shop...
VELSHI: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ... there aren't fixed prices when it comes down to, let's say, delivery of certain goods, that...
VELSHI: Right.
WHITFIELD: ... they may, you know, purchase in their local grocery store.
VELSHI: Airline tickets.
WHITFIELD: Airline tickets.
VELSHI: FedEx.
WHITFIELD: All that.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: They add on a -- a surcharge.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
VELSHI: So, you are going to pay -- you not only pay more for your gas and for your air conditioning, your natural gas, whatever you're paying for. You're going to get hit all across this country.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
VELSHI: Fred, one thing to remember, 80 percent of the goods on the shelves that we buy in this country...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
VELSHI: ... move around by truck.
WHITFIELD: Right. Right. So, you're -- you're going to be hit many times over...
VELSHI: That's right.
WHITFIELD: ... not just at the gas pumps.
VELSHI: That's right.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ali Velshi, thank you so much.
VELSHI: See you in a bit.
WHITFIELD: Well, she spends her days with more than a dozen 5- year-olds, and she does it with a smile. There she is, smiling right in front of the White House this time.
But you know what? That's not the only reason why this woman right here is the teacher of the year. I will speak with this award- winning kindergarten instructor on some of the other reasons next on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALES AND FEMALES: We love you, Ms. Oliver.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Aww. And they're also so proud. No doubt those 5- year-olds think their teacher is tops. And she is. Kimberly Oliver was just honored in the last hour at the White House as national teacher of the year. She handles a class full of rambunctious kindergartner every day in Silver Spring, Maryland, my hometown.
Kimberly Oliver joins us now from the White House.
Good to see you, Ms. Oliver.
KIMBERLY OLIVER, NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, this must be an incredible feeling. Tell me what it's like.
OLIVER: It really is a tremendous honor to be selected to represent all of our nation's great teachers.
I think that teaching is one of the hardest professions there is, but one of the most rewarding and one of the most significant. And, so, it's a tremendous honor to be selected to represent America's great teachers.
WHITFIELD: And harder still, and perhaps makes -- what makes it that much more rewarding is that, if you look at the makeup of your classroom, I'm told, of your 14 students, only one of them can say that English is their language that they enjoy at home.
Everybody else comes from somewhere else, with another -- with a different culture or background. So, how is it that you have mastered communicating to all of these kids on the same level and make that connection?
OLIVER: You know, I think every good educator just uses a variety of resources and tools to reach children with whatever difficulties they might have, whether it's learning English as a new language or whether it's that they might have an individualized educational plan, but just really working to meet their needs.
So, that might need we need to be -- have hands-on activities every 10 minutes of the day. It might mean that the children are involved in large-group, small-group activities, as well as independent one-on-one instruction as well.
WHITFIELD: And do you believe it's that one-on-one instruction, you know, being able to really identify the needs of each child as to why they as a group are applauding you, you know, why you hear in the videotape, "We love you, Mrs. Oliver"?
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: I mean, you really have made a -- a real sincere connection with these kids.
OLIVER: You know, I work at a really wonderful school that is filled with excellent educators. And I think we work together just really to work in the best interests of our children.
And my students thought I was already the best teacher before the award.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Aww, that is so sweet -- your school being Broad Acres Elementary School. Do...
OLIVER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: You know, you are a young teacher. You know, do you, in any way, kind of worry or concern yourself about, you know, the -- the lot of school teachers out there? There a lot of folks who are graduating from school or, you know, going to college, etcetera, and they're not as interested in being a teacher anymore, because there are so many challenges at hand, that that responsibility as a teacher has evolved so much.
OLIVER: Mmm-hmm.
I think that teaching is a hard profession. And the statistics do show right now that one out of every two teachers is leaving the classroom within the first five years. And, so, there is a lot of work to be done. But I hope to inspire anyone who loves to work with children and anyone who is devoted and committed to increasing student achievement, that I would definitely encourage them to pursue teaching as a career.
WHITFIELD: So, what has kept you in it? Was there ever a point during that first five years for you where you second-guessed this profession?
OLIVER: My students keep me in the job. They're really my inspiration, and just the love and the energy that they show me every day.
I walk into school, and I can't really have a bad day, because I know that my energy and my attitude will affect their progress. And theirs do the same for me as well.
WHITFIELD: And what about, as a teacher, your relationship not just with the students, but your relationship with the parents? You -- you know, you have to be able to communicate with them and, you know, really convey to them the importance of whatever, you know, classroom instruction that is taking place...
OLIVER: Mmm-hmm.
WHITFIELD: ... or identify some real problems that, you know, children need addressed at home. How do you do that, especially with the potential language barriers?
OLIVER: Yes.
I think it's all about engaging parents and knowing that we can do that, regardless of what language they speak, or regardless of what community that they live in. And that comes by initiating contact. I like to welcome parents into my classroom and let them, in a sense, check me out and see what I'm doing in the classroom.
And they can see the devotion that I have to their children. And I can see it in them. And we're really just working in the best interests of their child. And every parent that I have ever met, that's all they want, is the best for their child.
WHITFIELD: And, here you are now, national teacher of the year.
OLIVER: Mmm-hmm.
WHITFIELD: But it doesn't end there. Come June, you're also going to be a global spokesperson for education, and focusing primarily on early education.
Was that your choice, or were you kind of, you know, lured into that?
OLIVER: No, it was absolutely my choice. I believe, as a kindergarten teacher, that I see students coming into school each and every day unprepared with the skills that they need to be successful.
And so I believe by investing in accessible and quality early childhood education that we can really target a lot of the issues that we're dealing with in education and that studies show that children who fall behind in the early years are more likely to continue to fall behind.
So if we get them in the beginning and we work with them and continue going with them throughout their career in school, I think we'll totally make a difference.
WHITFIELD: Kimberly Oliver, thanks so much. And you're such an inspiration.
OLIVER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: And so glad you're from my hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland. Of course, I'm a Montgomery County public school girl, a product of, so it's so good to see that of so many great instructors there, you, too, are being applauded for that great work.
OLIVER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Kimberly Oliver, thanks so much and congrats.
Since Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, some pro athletes have taken a swing at helping the area recover. They're in New Orleans this weekend. And we'll hear all about it from one of the greats.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A busy weekend in New Orleans. Both the Jazz Festival and the Zurich Golf Classic will be going on, more evidence of the city being back in business and reaping a lot of goodwill. Both events plan to help with the city's hurricane recovery efforts. And golfing champ Phil Mickelson joins us to talk about his efforts and the efforts of all the other golf pros that are out there. Good to see you.
PHIL MICKELSON, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: Thank you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back to LIVE FROM. Now, you always -- and congratulations on your recent win at the Masters. You always are surrounded by your family members, get great support from your wife and your children.
And now, you've kind of turned it around twofold by giving back to children as a whole through this golf tournament, as well as giving back to the New Orleans area, helping in their rebuilding efforts. Why is this venture so important to you?
MICKELSON: Well, I think it's important to every American to be a part of the rebuilding of New Orleans. And no one person can do it by themselves. And to see the effort that has been going on with everybody here in the community and to be able to have some impact is really cool.
I'm going to donate whatever I make this week to the Katrina Relief Fund, and just feeling as though I'm doing my part as an American, because this is one of the greatest catastrophes the United States has ever seen and we all need to pull together to help rebuild this great city.
WHITFIELD: Are other golfers pledging to do the same?
MICKELSON: Oh, I'm sure some are. I think that every -- I know a lot of players have done so last year at the 84 Lumber Tournament where they pledged a bunch of donations to the Katrina relief. And everybody is doing their own bit.
Look at what Kelly Gibson has done, giving a lot of his time. He's a fellow tour player. David Toms, Hal Sutton from the area have done a lot, setting up foundations to help with relief efforts. So the players on tour are doing their part, we feel.
WHITFIELD: Is this your first time back to New Orleans since Katrina?
MICKELSON: It is.
WHITFIELD: So your impression?
MICKELSON: And it was very interesting driving last night. Well, driving from the airport, there were no lights on in any of the houses. However, when you get to downtown, you can't tell that anything occurred.
So we have not -- here at English Turn where we're playing the golf tournament, there has been very little destruction. It looks just like it did two years ago. But when we drive down to the Ninth Ward and other areas, you can see the destruction, and it just breaks your heart and you just want to do whatever you can.
WHITFIELD: At the same time, do you feel like this tournament and even the upcoming Jazz Festival in some way really try to help reinject some excitement in the rebuilding efforts there in New Orleans?
MICKELSON: I do think it's important, Fredricka. This is the first nationally televised sporting event that has been back. And it's important that all of America see that New Orleans is coming back. It's going to take some time, but we're all doing our part. Everybody down here is doing their part, and it's going to take time to rebuild the city.
But we're on the right track. We're having fun, too. It's not as though we're in our sorrows for the last eight months. We're all enjoying pulling together and it's really neat to see the way the community is behind this.
WHITFIELD: But is there also a real contradiction, you know, that you have some business as usual, people can enjoy, like, for instance, this golf tournament. But just as you talked about, your first impressions driving around, lights not on.
There's a lot of unfinished business. So a lot of what, I guess, originally made up New Orleans, the people, et cetera, they're not there, not able to really enjoy any of, I guess, these more recent celebrations.
MICKELSON: Well, that's true. And this is going to be probably a 10-year process to rebuild this city. But you still have to enjoy life and you still have to enjoy the fact that this city is going to come back from this. And for people here to be able to come out, whether it's enjoying the Jazz Festival or whether it's enjoying golf, you have to have some hope and some enjoyment in life, too. Every day can't be a monotonous work day.
WHITFIELD: And while we mentioned you're doing a lot, you're making these contributions to the New Orleans area, I also mentioned at the top how much you're trying to give back to a lot of kids, for the Fore!Kids Foundation. What's that about and how might it benefit greatly from this tournament as well?
MICKELSON: Well, Fore!Kids and a lot of other local charities are the beneficiaries here in New Orleans. And I feel as though -- and I think a lot of players feel as though we want to come to New Orleans to help rebuild it. We don't want to be coming here to make money via this tournament.
So a lot of players are giving back their dollars into the Fore!Kids Foundation, into Kelly Gibson or David Toms or Hal Sutton's foundation, other tour players, trying to support it that way.
And there's a lot of different areas that these foundations cover. They cover rebuilding efforts. They cover food. They cover water and essentials, and improving quality of life. But they try to cover all the important areas here to help keep people here, to help them rebuild.
WHITFIELD: Phil Mickelson, thanks so much. And good luck on the tournament this weekend, the Zurich Classic. We hope -- and I know a lot of people hope -- you win a lot since you're also going to be donating a lot of your proceeds to the recovery and rebuilding efforts there in New Orleans.
MICKELSON: Well, thank you, Fredricka. I hope you're watching.
WHITFIELD: We'll be watching. Thanks so much.
Switching sides, television anchor Tony Snow goes from asking the questions to taking them, as he signs on to become the White House press secretary. In making it official, President Bush addressed the fact that Snow has been openly critical of some of his policies, policies Snow may now be called upon to defend when staring down the gaggle in the press room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For those of you who have read his columns and listened to his radio show, he sometimes has disagreed with me. I asked him about those comments, and he said, "you should have heard what I said about the other guy."
I like his perspective. I like the perspective he brings to this job. And I think you're going to like it, too.
TONY SNOW, INCOMING W.H. PRESS SECRETARY: One of the reasons I took the job is not only because I believe in the president, because, believe it or not, I want to work with you. These are times that are going to be very challenging. We've got a lot of big issues ahead and we've got a lot of important things that all of us are going to be covering together. And I'm very excited and I can't wait.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, we did some digging and came up with more facts on Tony Snow and his career.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A long time conservative pundit, Tony Snow has never been one to mince words, even when his target has been President Bush. Last November, after the Republicans lost the governor's race in Virginia, Snow wrote that Mr. Bush had become "passive and something of an embarrassment."
However, his occasional jabs at the president haven't quieted the administration's critics, some of whom accuse Snow of making numerous false or misleading claims on various issues, including the war in Iraq and President Bush's domestic spying program.
Snow jumped into journalism right after earning a bachelor degree in philosophy from Davidson College in North Carolina. He was hired as an editorial writer for "The Greensboro Record." That was the spring board to other print jobs before moving to Fox in 1996.
Snow was born in Kentucky and grew up in Cincinnati. He now lives in Virginia with his wife and their three children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The immigration debate. It's political, controversial and personal. Up next, one state's leaders become the targets of death threats. The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Letters to leaders, a tried and true method for the people to petition the government for redress of grievances. But when the grievances are over immigration and the leaders are immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants, petitioners had better watch their language.
CNN's Chris Lawrence has a story you may have first seen on "THE SITUATION ROOM."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This country was built on the backs of immigrants.
LAWRENCE (voice over): The battle over immigration policy has been loud, it's been heated, and now for some California politicians, personal.
MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA (D), LOS ANGELES: Let me confirm there have been threats against me.
LAWRENCE: On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wouldn't say how his security has changed, if at all. He says there's nothing to fear but...
VILLARAIGOSA: Threats like this are always taken seriously, as was mentioned by the governor. The FBI was involved in this most recent threat.
LAWRENCE: In the middle of a national debate on immigration, death threats are being made against prominent public officials. All of them of Mexican heritage. California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante got a postcard that said, "All you dirty Mexicans should go back to Mexico. The only good Mexican is a dead Mexican."
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: These alarming incidents of threats and hate crimes are not limited to just our prominent leaders.
LAWRENCE: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pointed to a Mexican restaurant near San Diego where vandals spray-painted obscenities on the front door, then soaked the place with gasoline and set it on fire. SCHWARZENEGGER: The greatness of California is its rich diversity. Hate, racism and intolerance are never accepted in our public debates.
LAWRENCE: The governor has said he opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, but called deporting millions already here unrealistic. He's asking district attorneys throughout the state to be vigilant when prosecuting the threats.
LAWRENCE (on camera): Several other politicians of Hispanic background have also been targeted, including the chairman of the Democratic party here in California and the speaker of the state assembly.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Get the day's top stories and reports just like that one on "THE SITUATION ROOM," weekdays at 4:00 Eastern. The live primetime edition airs at 7:00.
Well, talk about tiptoeing through the tulips. An Orlando woman got the shock of her life in, of all places, her garden. Instead of lilacs or carrots, she found a buried grenade, apparently a live grenade at that, forcing the evacuation of several nearby homes. The bomb squad took it away. The grenade appears to date from World War II. Investigators are trying to figure out how it ended up in her yard.
What's your excuse when you're running late for work? We'll hear how many of you are lying to the boss. The news keeps coming and we'll keep bringing it to you on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Stormy weather on this spring day. Let's check in with Reynolds Wolf in the Weather Center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: Time to check in with Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up. Hi, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Fred, thanks very much. Happening now, Karl Rove stealing the White House thunder. He's called to testify in front of the grand jury. Is an indictment pending or will this help clear his name?
Plus, Snow on the job. A former FOX News anchor takes center stage for the president. It was supposed to be the headline. Can he help the White House get back on message?
Also Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld making a surprise visit to Baghdad. And news that the Pentagon may cut back troops by the end of this year. Is the U.S. turning the corner on the war? All of that coming up, Fred, right at the top of the hour.
WHITFIELD: All right, we'll look for that. Thanks so much, Wolf.
Ali Velshi has a look at the markets and the closing bell when we come right back. More of LIVE FROM next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: I had to take my cat to the dentist. You ever used that excuse for being late to work? Well believe it or not, somebody did. One of the more creative lies in a survey by the careerbuilder.com folks say that some 13 percent show up late to work at least once a week. One fourth are tardy at least once a month and 20 percent lie about it. Among other excuses, I dreamed I was fired so I didn't bother to get out of bed. Believe that one.
Ali Velshi, I bet you have some creative excuses, if you were ever to use them.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: I'm not late for -- I'm surprised at that number. I'm not late for work. I was late today, ironically. I'm generally not late but today I was late...
WHITFIELD: It was the weather or it was traffic?
VELSHI: It was a wardrobe malfunction.
WHITFIELD: OK. I figured you'd come up with something creative. You had to make sure you had the right vest and right tie.
VELSHI: I had it all laid out and my top button broke and I've got to tell you, I can't sew a button.
WHITFIELD: You're kidding. You had better learn, my friend.
VELSHI: I have other skills but I can't do that. I was late for work today and I was honest about it.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, I'm glad about that.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
