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American Morning

Don't Call Him Sir: Giuliani Gets Knighted

Aired February 13, 2002 - 09:56   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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. Former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, accepted an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth just this morning in London. He accepted the honor on behalf of all New Yorkers and thanked the people of Britain for the support they showed the United States following the September 11th attacks.

But, what exactly does today's decoration mean to the former New York mayor?

Well, CNN's Garrick Utley reports, it does not exactly mean he'll be sitting at any round table soon or going on a quest for any holy grail. In fact, he won't even get to change his name.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARRICK UTLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Let's face it. There is something fun about the show business of monarchy. The British have it, and Americans don't. And to have Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, make you a "Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire," well, it's enough to make your day.

As it made Rudy Giuliani's day last October, when he received the news of his honor for his leadership on and following September 11th. Up to 200 British citizens died in the World Trade Center attacks.

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER MAYOR, NEW YORK: I'm very humbled. I don't -- I think that I was -- I think it belongs to all of the police officers and firefighters and everybody else who did it, who did the work.

UTLEY (on camera): The honorary knighthood is, of course, an appropriate tribute for the former mayor. Not only because of what happened here 5 months ago, but also because of what happened over there, 62 years ago.

(voice-over): That's when London and other cities in Britain were burned, bombed and blitzed by German attacks in World War II. When any neighborhood could be ground zero.

Winston Churchill became an inspiring leader as he rallied his people amid the rubble. Giuliani says Churchill became his model, and that in his mind he "talked" to him. He chose well. For Rudy Giuliani, this was his "finest hour." The British have awarded other honorary knighthoods to Americans: Colin Powell, as well as Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush. The kind of honors that are not given in the United States.

That's the way it's been since George Washington took office just a few steps from ground zero. Not only did he reject the idea to make him King George I, the founding fathers decided that the new democracy would grant no titles at all.

Recognition has always come in other forms, as it has to Rudy Giuliani. Normally, a knight is called "Sir." Or, would he be "Dame Rudy," if he decided once again to repeat this performance?

(on camera): In fact, he can put nothing in front of his name except "Mister." "Sir Rudy" is not allowed because he's not a British citizen. He can put the initials KBE after his name, for Knight of the British Empire. But, if he goes around town trying to say, "Hi, I'm Rudy Giuliani KBE," he'll probably get some funny looks.

Garrick Utley, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Well, guess what? We're not British citizens either, so we can call him, "Sir," if we would like to.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: There you go.

ZAHN: Which is the way we've always addressed him.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

ZAHN: Aye, aye, sir.

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