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American Morning
First Lady's Tour
Aired October 02, 2003 - 07:40 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: The first lady, Laura Bush, is headed back to D.C. today, after a five-day tour that took her to stops in Paris and in Moscow.
My partner, Soledad, traveling with the first lady, looking back now on the Russian leg of that journey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The highlight of the Festival of Books for the school-aged children brought in to take part was a chance to draw with a little help from illustrator Mark Brown, famous for his work on the "Arthur" books, a creature of their own making.
Russian first lady Lyudmila Putina and Mrs. Bush beamed. Around children, talking about education, is when Mrs. Bush seems most comfortable.
The American first lady was a guest of Mrs. Putin, who greeted her warmly at the start of the festival, which Mrs. Putin based on a book festival Mrs. Bush hosted last year in Washington.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: I know you must love books like I do.
O'BRIEN: Talking to the crowd of several dozen children, along with a swarm of Russian and American security agents, Mrs. Bush spoke about American values, the right to read and write -- quote -- "What we want."
She told the children that even today, she's still devouring children's book.
BUSH: I read all five "Harry Potter" books this summer.
O'BRIEN: Besides Mark Brown, American authors R.L. Stine and Peter Loranges (ph) were invited guests of the first lady. Some of their books have been translated into Russian, and are well-known to the children.
Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Putin took a tour of the U.S. Library of Congress' exhibit at the festival, Russian books published in the U.S. and the vast online collection of over 300,000 digital photographs.
Then, the first ladies toured the computer lab at the festival, chatting with young women translating poet Robert Frost into Russian; a final stop into the Bolshoi for a showing of "Don Quixote." Mrs. Bush, who said before the trip began she hoped to be an ambassador for her husband and the U.S. on this journey, said she felt the trip had fulfilled her mission.
BUSH: Well, I think it's been really successful.
O'BRIEN (on camera): On the first lady's schedule for Thursday, a quick coffee with Cherie Blair. She's, of course, the wife of the British prime minister. Then, it's on a plane for the long ride home. Remember, Mrs. Bush has her own book festival to oversee. That begins on October 4.
Soledad O'Brien, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 October 2, 2003 - 07:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The first lady, Laura Bush, is headed back to D.C. today, after a five-day tour that took her to stops in Paris and in Moscow.
My partner, Soledad, traveling with the first lady, looking back now on the Russian leg of that journey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The highlight of the Festival of Books for the school-aged children brought in to take part was a chance to draw with a little help from illustrator Mark Brown, famous for his work on the "Arthur" books, a creature of their own making.
Russian first lady Lyudmila Putina and Mrs. Bush beamed. Around children, talking about education, is when Mrs. Bush seems most comfortable.
The American first lady was a guest of Mrs. Putin, who greeted her warmly at the start of the festival, which Mrs. Putin based on a book festival Mrs. Bush hosted last year in Washington.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: I know you must love books like I do.
O'BRIEN: Talking to the crowd of several dozen children, along with a swarm of Russian and American security agents, Mrs. Bush spoke about American values, the right to read and write -- quote -- "What we want."
She told the children that even today, she's still devouring children's book.
BUSH: I read all five "Harry Potter" books this summer.
O'BRIEN: Besides Mark Brown, American authors R.L. Stine and Peter Loranges (ph) were invited guests of the first lady. Some of their books have been translated into Russian, and are well-known to the children.
Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Putin took a tour of the U.S. Library of Congress' exhibit at the festival, Russian books published in the U.S. and the vast online collection of over 300,000 digital photographs.
Then, the first ladies toured the computer lab at the festival, chatting with young women translating poet Robert Frost into Russian; a final stop into the Bolshoi for a showing of "Don Quixote." Mrs. Bush, who said before the trip began she hoped to be an ambassador for her husband and the U.S. on this journey, said she felt the trip had fulfilled her mission.
BUSH: Well, I think it's been really successful.
O'BRIEN (on camera): On the first lady's schedule for Thursday, a quick coffee with Cherie Blair. She's, of course, the wife of the British prime minister. Then, it's on a plane for the long ride home. Remember, Mrs. Bush has her own book festival to oversee. That begins on October 4.
Soledad O'Brien, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
