Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

President Bush to Decide Issues on Vacation

Aired August 07, 2001 - 09:09   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: President Bush is on a month long vacation at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, but he took his work with him, of course.

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is live in Crawford with the latest -- hi, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Kyra.

Yes, the president does have a lot of work to do, and topping that list is deciding whether or not to allow tax dollars to fund research on stem cells obtained from human embryos. A short time ago, earlier this morning, the president headed out to a golf course about 15 miles from here. A reporter asked him if he was any closer to making this decision, Mr. Bush saying that he is still working on it.

Well, the president also doing some resting and relaxing, as you can see. He is planning some golfing on this morning, planning to do some fishing. On his ranch, the president spending a month here and so Crawford is now the home of the summer White House. And so we decided to take a look at this town and find out what people here think about the influx of Secret Service agents and the White House press corps.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE (voice-over): Crawford is a place where time seems to pass slowly, with just 700 people and only one traffic light, where everyone knows everyone else.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have many strangers move into Crawford. It's hot, it's dry and it's full of snakes.

WALLACE: It's a place where the temperatures top 100 in August and where many make a living from the land. But there are also entrepreneurs like Gary Bowdoin, who owns a tent business, sits on the school board and also coaches the high school track team.

(on camera): You've lived here or close by all your life. I mean, what should people know about Crawford, Texas?

GARY BOWDOIN, CRAWFORD BUSINESS OWNER: They're good people. I mean, you have a flat tire, someone is going to stop and help you. They're honest people. They're going to tell you what they think. WALLACE (voice-over): And they are adjusting to their newfound fame at the only restaurant in town.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't see that there's been much change other than just a lot more excitement because of the media coverage and a lot of tourists coming in wanting to see where the president lives.

WALLACE: President Bush gave a tour of his sprawling 1,600-acre ranch last year during the campaign.

BUSH: I'm going to cut across here to keep the dust down.

WALLACE: We are told not everyone is happy the president is here, but the only complaints we could find were about us. While Mr. Bush enjoys a month-long vacation on his ranch, reporters have descended on Crawford's elementary school.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sometimes the kids complain because their gym is being taken, you know. But it's fun. The kids enjoy the activity.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And there will be more activity tomorrow when the president heads to nearby Waco to help build a home for a low income family with the group Habitat for Humanity, part of a series of events White House aides are planning to put the president in informal settings talking about issues with a wide appeal -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly. And with regard to the press corps, I can't imagine anyone ever complaining about you. Kelly...

WALLACE: Well, aren't you kind?

PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace, we'll check in with you later. Thanks so much.

WALLACE: OK.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com