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American Morning

Bush to Address Nation on Crew's Homecoming, Education

Aired April 12, 2001 - 09:01   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.
LINDA STOUFFER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, what we are doing right now is waiting for some comments from President Bush.

I think we can show you a live picture the room -- the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. President Bush expected to speak about education, but we imagine with all that is going on with the news, the release of the U.S. crewmembers, we think he'll have something to say about that.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. We are just now getting the two-minute warning so -- and the White House is very good about observing that -- so let's go bring in our Major Garrett who is standing by in Washington.

Any hints at all as to what Mr. Bush may have to say this morning, Major?

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, general comments, Leon, in regards to the U.S. crewmembers, just saying he's very happy that they'll be back in Hawaii. As far as, generally, very pleased at the way the situation worked out.

The White House, though, is very much trying to avoid a sense of triumphalism about this. They don't want to give the sense to the Chinese that they are putting anything in their face as it were -- just saying that they're very pleased that the situation says has resolved itself.

Ari Fleischer, this morning, in his morning talk with reporters, said the president is satisfied and pleased and he still believes that there is a framework with dealing with China and that that framework has not been particularly damaged by this long standoff.

And then the president's going to turn to his primary message of this event which is about providing choices for parents when it comes to education -- choices such as charter schools, choices such as vouchers -- that's a controversial part of the president's education reform agenda, one that's having a hard time making its way through the House and the Senate, but it's something, nevertheless, the president does like to advocate -- and also something called education savings accounts, which is a method of changing the tax code to allow parents with children in elementary and secondary years to set aside money, tax-free, and then use that money to pay for tuition or tutors or maybe computer or software equipment that they believe would help advance their children's education.

So merging the two message -- trying to bring, obviously, the news of the day into it and also driving home the message on education, which, the president does not ever tire of reminding us, is his number one domestic priority.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much, Major Garrett, you stand by there at the White House.

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