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American Morning

President Bush Heads to Salt Lake Later Today

Aired February 08, 2002 - 11:08   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush heads to Salt Lake today, later today. Right now, you know, he's in Denver. Showed you that picture a short time ago. And he'll give a speech there to cattle ranchers.

First to the White House and Major Garrett, who is with the president, traveling along the way.

Major, good morning.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

As we just showed our CNN audience a few minutes ago. The president arrived on Air Force One in Denver. The president will talk to the Cattlemen's Association about farm policy, which even White House advisers concede is not really the marquee event today. The marquee event later today in Salt Lake City.

As the president was departing this morning from the South Lawn of the White House, he got the question uppermost on the minds of many Americans and all fans of international athletic competition, will the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake be safe? And the president mouthed the word, "Yes." Security very much on the mind of president and his director of homeland security Tom Ridge, who on the Saturday program, "Novak, Evans and Shields," talks about the issues dealing with security of Salt Lake, and mentioned that many, many precautions were added to Salt Lake City as far as security was concerned after the tragic events of 9-11.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY: There have been some additional personnel, some additional security, obviously, not only at the venues, but outside in some of the public arena, but primarily was -- it had to deal with the potential of an aviation problem, and that's where they've concentrated it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GARRETT: Potential of an aviation problem is that package we had from Kathleen Koch so thoroughly summarized. Bill, Picabo Street (ph), who is an alpine skier on the U.S. Olympic team, a star in her own right, probably spoke for not only the U.S. Olympic team, but most of the Olympic athletes in Salt Lake, recently saying when I see more F-16s in the air, I feel safer -- Bill.

HEMMER: And, Major, we also know, going to be a weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Will the vice president be there as well? We know he likes to spend quite a bit of time in northwestern Wyoming.

GARRETT: Indeed he does. He will not be with the president. The president spending a weekend of R&R, rest and relaxation, with longtime presidential friend, even friend before he came president, Roland Betts (ph). in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The vice president will not be there, just the president in Wyoming. Kind of a rarity. It's usually the other way around.

HEMMER: Got it. Major Garrett live in Denver, thanks.

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