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American Morning
Interview With Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary
Aired May 20, 2003 - 07:16 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: He says he loves his job and does not necessarily want to back out right now, but now he says this is the only off-ramp prior to the election race in the White House and the run for the White House in '04.
Ari Fleischer announcing his resignation Monday effective in the month of July, 21 years in public service, the past two-and-a-half as the voice and really the face for the White House. Fleischer now heading for the private sector. He is our guest this morning live on the Front Lawn of the White House.
Ari, good morning to you.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Listen, you're leaving at a time when your president has an approval rating of almost 70 percent. Some polls put it even higher than that. It seems like right now your boss is at the top of his game. Why pick this point, Ari?
FLEISCHER: Well, my leaving him now, it will go higher. You know, Bill, you just have to have a sense in you of when your time has come to leave this business. I am not a government-for-life type. I have been in Washington -- I thought I just was coming here for a couple years after college. And you just have to know in your heart when it is time to pursue a different direction.
I just got married six months ago, and my heart tells me it's time to go. That's hard, because leaving this man, this president, is hard to do.
HEMMER: There was speculation yesterday, Ari -- I'm sure you came across this -- about recent statements made from the podium by you, your voice and your words about terror threats that may or may not happen in Saudi Arabia, the landing on board the Lincoln. Was there part of that involved in this decision?
FLEISCHER: Oh, heavens, no. I mean, I'm not sure what you mean by that in terms of the landing aboard the Lincoln. That was a great day, a real privilege to be next to the president and see all of that happen.
But, you know, you just leave, because this is a very arduous job. The business of government and politics can be a long career, but I don't think it should be the only thing you do in life, even if you're privileged enough and have the honor of doing it at the White House. It's a humbling thing to do. But you just have to know when it's time to pursue other endeavors.
And, you know, Bill, another factor here, too, is Marlin Fitzwater was the last press secretary to make it for all four years; in fact, did six. It was a very different era back then. There weren't as many cable stations then as there are now. The Internet didn't exist. It can be a grueling job, the hours are long. And you have to look in your heart sometimes and say, do I have it in me to do another year-and-a-half? And that's what makes it hard. I don't like to leave a man in whom I believe.
HEMMER: Yes, what did you tell him? How did you break the news to him?
FLEISCHER: Well, I told him that I just decided it was my time to go. And he looked at me and he said, "Burn out?" And I said, you know, 'That's a big part of it.'
HEMMER: So, it is burn out, then?
FLEISCHER: Well, there is no question about it. The hours are long. Dealing with the White House press corps is an honor, a fascinating experience and a hard thing to do at all times. So, you have to examine whether or not you want to do it for all four years.
And, you know, in this modern media environment, no press secretary has lasted four years. Marlin was the last, and there's a reason for that. It is a very long and hard job, and you just have to know when it's time to be willing to take that big break and pursue other endeavors.
HEMMER: What was his reaction? I read something where he kissed you on the forehead. Is that true?
FLEISCHER: Well, that's classified.
HEMMER: Oh, come on, spill it.
FLEISCHER: He could not have been warmer. He could not have been kinder. And that's why I believe in him so much. You know, when you find a boss in whom you believe, it doesn't matter what you do in life, when you believe in him so much as a person, as a manager, in the business of government and in his policies you believe in so deeply, it means a lot. But you still have to do what's right for you personally, individually, and especially someone who is newly married.
HEMMER: What was your biggest mistake, would you admit it? At the podium you say what...
FLEISCHER: I have...
HEMMER: ... and want to put that comment on a string and pull it back in your mouth? What was it?
FLEISCHER: There have been a few of those. I've decided to leave that to the press to tell. And I was thinking will they show my real maybe good things I said or bad things I said? I have a feeling I know the answer to that.
You know, it's a hard job. The press is great at trying to lure you out onto a platform that they can saw off underneath you. Being the briefer is kind of like playing intellectual chess. You always think about if I say this, the press will say that. The press tries to get you to say things. That's part of the attraction of the job, too, though.
HEMMER: Let me get another shot at you. Was it the single bullet comment that you made about Saddam Hussein being much cheaper than a war in Iraq?
FLEISCHER: Well, I do have a feeling you'll include that on your great bloopers tape. I wish I had a silencer when I said that.
HEMMER: You call it a blooper. All right. 9/11 you say was the most indelible day for your time there.
FLEISCHER: Yes.
HEMMER: Name one moment from that day that you remember the most vividly?
FLEISCHER: Well, there is no question when we learned that the second tower was attacked, and the realization that our country is under attack is a haunting thing no matter what you do, no matter where you are, as it was for everybody in this country. But to do it as somebody who speaks for the president and recognizing we're a nation that is going to war is a very serious thing, not to mention the damage, the harm, the loss of life that took place for our citizens, and especially for me as a New Yorker.
HEMMER: Thanks, Ari. Good luck to you.
FLEISCHER: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: And I've got to think you're going to Helen Thomas, right?
FLEISCHER: Yes and no.
HEMMER: We'll take that as a maybe. Good luck to you, and tell your wife hello as well.
FLEISCHER: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Ari Fleischer from the Front Lawn today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired May 20, 2003 - 07:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: He says he loves his job and does not necessarily want to back out right now, but now he says this is the only off-ramp prior to the election race in the White House and the run for the White House in '04.
Ari Fleischer announcing his resignation Monday effective in the month of July, 21 years in public service, the past two-and-a-half as the voice and really the face for the White House. Fleischer now heading for the private sector. He is our guest this morning live on the Front Lawn of the White House.
Ari, good morning to you.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Listen, you're leaving at a time when your president has an approval rating of almost 70 percent. Some polls put it even higher than that. It seems like right now your boss is at the top of his game. Why pick this point, Ari?
FLEISCHER: Well, my leaving him now, it will go higher. You know, Bill, you just have to have a sense in you of when your time has come to leave this business. I am not a government-for-life type. I have been in Washington -- I thought I just was coming here for a couple years after college. And you just have to know in your heart when it is time to pursue a different direction.
I just got married six months ago, and my heart tells me it's time to go. That's hard, because leaving this man, this president, is hard to do.
HEMMER: There was speculation yesterday, Ari -- I'm sure you came across this -- about recent statements made from the podium by you, your voice and your words about terror threats that may or may not happen in Saudi Arabia, the landing on board the Lincoln. Was there part of that involved in this decision?
FLEISCHER: Oh, heavens, no. I mean, I'm not sure what you mean by that in terms of the landing aboard the Lincoln. That was a great day, a real privilege to be next to the president and see all of that happen.
But, you know, you just leave, because this is a very arduous job. The business of government and politics can be a long career, but I don't think it should be the only thing you do in life, even if you're privileged enough and have the honor of doing it at the White House. It's a humbling thing to do. But you just have to know when it's time to pursue other endeavors.
And, you know, Bill, another factor here, too, is Marlin Fitzwater was the last press secretary to make it for all four years; in fact, did six. It was a very different era back then. There weren't as many cable stations then as there are now. The Internet didn't exist. It can be a grueling job, the hours are long. And you have to look in your heart sometimes and say, do I have it in me to do another year-and-a-half? And that's what makes it hard. I don't like to leave a man in whom I believe.
HEMMER: Yes, what did you tell him? How did you break the news to him?
FLEISCHER: Well, I told him that I just decided it was my time to go. And he looked at me and he said, "Burn out?" And I said, you know, 'That's a big part of it.'
HEMMER: So, it is burn out, then?
FLEISCHER: Well, there is no question about it. The hours are long. Dealing with the White House press corps is an honor, a fascinating experience and a hard thing to do at all times. So, you have to examine whether or not you want to do it for all four years.
And, you know, in this modern media environment, no press secretary has lasted four years. Marlin was the last, and there's a reason for that. It is a very long and hard job, and you just have to know when it's time to be willing to take that big break and pursue other endeavors.
HEMMER: What was his reaction? I read something where he kissed you on the forehead. Is that true?
FLEISCHER: Well, that's classified.
HEMMER: Oh, come on, spill it.
FLEISCHER: He could not have been warmer. He could not have been kinder. And that's why I believe in him so much. You know, when you find a boss in whom you believe, it doesn't matter what you do in life, when you believe in him so much as a person, as a manager, in the business of government and in his policies you believe in so deeply, it means a lot. But you still have to do what's right for you personally, individually, and especially someone who is newly married.
HEMMER: What was your biggest mistake, would you admit it? At the podium you say what...
FLEISCHER: I have...
HEMMER: ... and want to put that comment on a string and pull it back in your mouth? What was it?
FLEISCHER: There have been a few of those. I've decided to leave that to the press to tell. And I was thinking will they show my real maybe good things I said or bad things I said? I have a feeling I know the answer to that.
You know, it's a hard job. The press is great at trying to lure you out onto a platform that they can saw off underneath you. Being the briefer is kind of like playing intellectual chess. You always think about if I say this, the press will say that. The press tries to get you to say things. That's part of the attraction of the job, too, though.
HEMMER: Let me get another shot at you. Was it the single bullet comment that you made about Saddam Hussein being much cheaper than a war in Iraq?
FLEISCHER: Well, I do have a feeling you'll include that on your great bloopers tape. I wish I had a silencer when I said that.
HEMMER: You call it a blooper. All right. 9/11 you say was the most indelible day for your time there.
FLEISCHER: Yes.
HEMMER: Name one moment from that day that you remember the most vividly?
FLEISCHER: Well, there is no question when we learned that the second tower was attacked, and the realization that our country is under attack is a haunting thing no matter what you do, no matter where you are, as it was for everybody in this country. But to do it as somebody who speaks for the president and recognizing we're a nation that is going to war is a very serious thing, not to mention the damage, the harm, the loss of life that took place for our citizens, and especially for me as a New Yorker.
HEMMER: Thanks, Ari. Good luck to you.
FLEISCHER: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: And I've got to think you're going to Helen Thomas, right?
FLEISCHER: Yes and no.
HEMMER: We'll take that as a maybe. Good luck to you, and tell your wife hello as well.
FLEISCHER: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Ari Fleischer from the Front Lawn today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
