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American Morning

Bush Enjoys Easter Weekend at Texas Ranch

Aired April 13, 2001 - 10:36   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush at his Texas ranch for the Easter weekend. He plans to relax with his family after facing his first major international policy test. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is also in nearby Crawford joining us live from there -- Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Daryn. Rest and relaxation certainly topping the agenda for President Bush and for many of his aides who pretty much worked almost around the clock during the 11-day standoff.

Meantime, though, while the president, his ranch, is a few miles away, some environmentalist activists are trying to send Mr. Bush a message. As you can see here, three activists from Greenpeace have climbed up the Crawford water tower and they have sent a message here to the president. You see that banner there: "Bush the toxic Texan, don't mess with the Earth."

Talking to someone from Greenpeace, he said that Mr. Bush, quote, "in just a matter of weeks has undermined years of environmental progress," citing some positions he has taken such as not going forward to implement the Kyoto treaty on global warming, such as his position of not dealing with drinking water and other issues that has taken in the recent days and weeks.

So again, Mr. Bush not likely to see that banner, his ranch several miles away. But clearly some activists trying to send him a message on his policies when it comes to the environment.

Now, as for Mr. Bush, he did arrive here in Texas yesterday afternoon. And as we know, before leaving the White House, he did come into the Rose Garden and deliver a rather strong message to China.

And we are getting a little bit more sense of what was going on behind the scenes. A senior administration talking to reporters aboard Air Force One saying that some in the administration felt that yesterday was only a day to just welcome home the crew and celebrate, but that the president very much felt that it was important to, in the words of this official, send a signal that what has occurred is not consistent with our hopes for a good relationship, sending a message to China that China has to choose to work with the United States to have a productive relationship. Now, before Mr. Bush came out to the Rose Garden, he did have a conversation with the 24 crew members. The president speaking on the phone. Lieutenant Shane Osborn was on the other end of the line. But Mr. Bush was speaking to all of the other crew members via speaker phone.

KAGAN: Well, we appear to have a little bit a problem there from Crawford, Texas. I think we have Kelly back. Kelly, are you back with us?

WALLACE: Yes, Daryn. Sorry about that.

KAGAN: Must have been something that you ate for breakfast.

WALLACE: Friday the 13th.

KAGAN: Yeah, there you go.

WALLACE: I think so. Anyway, I was just telling you about the president's conversation with the crew members, about how he expressed how he was proud of them. He also talked directly to Lieutenant Osborn saying, "You know, as an old F-102 pilot, let me tell you, Shane, you did heck a job of bringing that airplane in." Also the president telling the entire crew if they are ever in Washington to knock on his door. So perhaps the crew members may make a visit to the White House at some point in time.

Again, Daryn, as you mentioned at the top, this the president's first really major international test. And right now, White House officials saying that the president was measured and calm and patient throughout. And they really believe that the American people got a good firsthand look at how he handles the international situation through this standoff, Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, Kelly, because it is -- especially because it is his first international event that he handled and that came out OK, any discussion within the White House that he should be at Whidbey Island tomorrow to help welcome back those Americans?

WALLACE: We have asked that question. And our understanding is that the president will not be going there, obviously the president wanting to have those crew members get to meet with their families as soon as possible. That really is the president's, according to aides, first and foremost goal.

So -- and we are not clear if there will be any administration representative going out there. Again, the president did, of course, talk to the crew members, welcome them home.

One message, Daryn, though, that appears to be coming out. Administration officials definitely wanting to convey what the president was doing behind the scenes, that he was very much engaged, that he was working with his aides constantly. He did delegate, of course, to his secretary of state and his national security adviser, but that he was on the phone. He was calling world leaders just a few days ago, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as other leaders, to update them on the situation.

So one message they do seem to want to get out is exactly what the president was doing behind the scenes and how that should send a message about how he approached this international situation, Daryn?

KAGAN: Kelly Wallace traveling with the president in Crawford, Texas today. Kelly, thank you.

HARRIS: We need to get Kelly one of those videophones. That's it.

KAGAN: It would work better than the big trucks.

HARRIS: There you go. We can go from Hainan Island but...

KAGAN: Crawford, Texas.

HARRIS: ... Crawford, Texas, that's a problem.

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