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American Morning
Interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry
Aired July 27, 2004 - 07:00 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So let us join tonight and say to America in a loud, clear voice -- send John Kerry! God bless you!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from Boston.
Former President Clinton brings delegates to their feet on the first night of the Democratic convention.
Teresa Heinz Kerry responds to her response to a newspaper editor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: This person was trying to trap me, and I was not going to let them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: My interview today with the senator's wife, who says she no regrets.
And John Kerry campaigning in Florida, getting a classic photo op in the cockpit of the shuttle Discovery.
Full convention coverage ahead on day two, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING. From the Democratic national convention in Boston, here's Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Good morning, everyone. On day two, welcome back to the FleetCenter here in Boston. It is quiet, 7:00 local time in Boston, but a much different scene last night.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, 2000 nominee Al Gore, some of the big name headliners here last night. Much of the theme was the future. The song familiar from 12 years ago, "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow."
But now it is tomorrow and the theme will shift again to portraying John Kerry as a strong leader with a lifetime of service. Featured speakers later tonight include Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama, also Senator Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. We will hear from both of them a bit later here on AMERICAN MORNING as well as talk to Senator Bob Graham out of Florida.
And speaking of Florida, Kerry campaigning there yesterday, touring the cockpit of the space shuttle Discovery where all visitors are required to wear these special sterile suits. We'll talk more about that photo op a bit later this morning there from Florida.
We have a packed show here, yet again, in Boston. I mentioned it's day two. We're off and running. Good morning to Heidi Collins, as well, back in New York.
Heidi, good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill. Thanks so much.
We want to let everybody know we are covering, of course, a lot of other news this morning as well, including new details in the case of Lori Hacking, the missing woman in Utah.
There is a report in the "Salt Lake City Tribune" now quoting a co-worker who says Hacking left work crying on the last day before she disappeared. We'll get more on that coming up in just a few minutes.
In the meantime, Jack Cafferty with us now.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Heidi.
All those politicians gathered up there in Boston, Massachusetts and the spotlight fell squarely on somebody who's never held elective office.
My apologies. It might be a mayor ball. Pardon me. I've got a little sore throat.
Somebody who's never held elective office. Is she an asset or is she a big time liability where everybody collectively holds their breath when she opens her mouth. We'll take a look in a couple of minutes.
COLLINS: All right. We'll get you some water.
CAFFERTY: Thanks.
COLLINS: All right. Bill, back to you in Boston.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi.
Tonight is going to bring another night of high-profile convention speakers. On tap, former presidential candidates Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt, Senator Ted Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry -- Ted Kennedy rather, and Teresa Heinz Kerry. They are following some big opening acts from last night. And for more on what happened here in Boston, here is Bob Franken this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A reminder, Democrats, your nominee will be John Kerry. Try and remember it's not Bill Clinton. He was just there to help Kerry.
CLINTON: After three conventions as a candidate or a president, tonight I come to you as a citizen, returning to the role that I have played for most of my life, as a foot soldier in our fight for the future, as we nominate in Boston a true New England patriot for president.
FRANKEN: He's the former president, of course. But that other Clinton was there too, with all talk of her trying to become a future president. But that's for another night.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: We need a new commander in chief named John Kerry.
(CHEERS)
(APPLAUSE)
RODHAM CLINTON: I've been saying for many months now, John Kerry is a serious man for a serious job in a serious time in our country's history.
FRANKEN: The Democrats have done something very unusual this year. They've stopped bickering, united in the common cause of beating George W. Bush, cheering again for the man they feel beat him last time.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND 2000 DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE: The first lesson is this -- take it from me -- every vote counts
FRANKEN: The tedious massive security outside did nothing to dampen the Democrats' enthusiasm inside the FleetCenter. And tonight, the pep rally continues. Tonight, Howard Dean speaks once again of the fight against President Bush.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: So far this has been about the past and the future, but the focus is going to be on the present. And it's going to be the nominee, the present Democratic nominee, John Kerry, who is going to be following some strong opening acts -- Bill?
HEMMER: Bob, thanks for that.
Teresa Heinz Kerry, the presumptive nominees wife will speak later tonight, as Bob mentioned there.
Last night I spoke to her about her husband, herself and the harsh words that were given on Sunday night this past weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Take me back to Sunday night. Do you regret telling that reporter to shove it?
HEINZ KERRY: No. No. I respect reporters and I respect anyone who does their job well. I don't, like anybody else, want to be trapped or misrepresented intentionally by someone. That's what happened, and I defended myself.
HEMMER: The quote I have is that you said un-American traits.
HEINZ KERRY: No, un-Pennsylvanian.
HEMMER: OK. Back up a little bit, then. We need to turn back some of the creeping, un-Pennsylvanian...
HEINZ KERRY: Traits.
HEMMER: ... and sometimes un-American traits that are creeping into some of our politics?
HEINZ KERRY: Correct.
HEMMER: That's the way you remember it?
HEINZ KERRY: Correct. And that's exactly correct. I would say that again.
HEMMER: And what did the reporter say to you, then?
HEINZ KERRY: Un-American activities, which has a very different connotation. It's a political connotation of McCarthy implications, which I would not use unless it was very specific. And I would use it if it was correct, but that's not what I was talking about.
HEMMER: Why not just walk away?
HEINZ KERRY: Because this person was trying to trap me, and I was not going to let them.
HEMMER: What does America get in Teresa Heinz Kerry as first lady?
HEINZ KERRY: They'll get a caring, honest, practical, hopeful person who in spite of a lot of hurt and a lot losses in my life have always picked up and hoped and worked toward a better day. And that's what you'll get. A good mother and a good friend.
HEMMER: Do you enjoy this campaign?
HEINZ KERRY: Yes, love it.
HEMMER: You do?
HEINZ KERRY: People are wonderful. People have been wonderful.
HEMMER: Do you like American politics?
HEINZ KERRY: Better than anything I've known, yes. Better than anything I've known, which was a dictatorship.
HEMMER: Your first husband, at one point, it's almost become a famous line. When it was rumored that he would run for the White House, you said, over my dead body.
HEINZ KERRY: Always, I've always said so. It terrified me.
HEMMER: Why?
HEINZ KERRY: Why? First time he said that I was 37. Are you kidding me? Scared. Scared to death.
HEMMER: What's changed with Senator Kerry? Or perhaps you've changed?
HEINZ KERRY: I'm older. I see life through a -- you know a shorter life span, prism. The issues that I work on mean a lot to me. I think John can make a very big difference, and he is an optimist but conscience about what he does and what he knows and where he wants to go. And I have a lot of experience, also.
And so, I quite frankly felt that I would be selfish and really have no right to block his run. In fact, I really should help him. But it was not an easy thing for me to come to terms with, but I finally did.
HEMMER: You've said a few months ago you think he should gain some weight?
HEINZ KERRY: And he did, mercifully.
HEMMER: How much?
HEINZ KERRY: Ten pounds. He still has...
HEMMER: You thought he should gain 20 pounds, I believe.
HEINZ KERRY: Yes, he's on his way.
HEMMER: All over his body?
HEINZ KERRY: He's on his way up.
But you know, he was sick last year and -- early last year. And he lost some weight, and he never had time to rest or regain it.
HEMMER: Is there a first lady to look up to?
HEINZ KERRY: I look up to Mrs. Ford. For the brief time she was there, she had to deal with several problems, as you remember, getting over certain problems, having cancer and talking about it so people would know.
People say, well, who are you going to be like? I said, I'm going to be like me if I get there. You know, I'm going to be like me. Let Laura Bush be Laura Bush. Let Hillary be Hillary. And all I ask for is give me a chance.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Now she would not exactly say what is in her speech for later tonight, but in our next hour she'll give us a bit of direction anyway. Much more of my interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Also our live coverage here on CNN continues later tonight, a full lineup too:
Anderson Cooper starts at 7:00 Eastern, followed by Wolf Blitzer at 8:00, "AMERICA VOTES 2004."
"LARRY KING LIVE" comes live at 9 o'clock. Wolf's back a 10:00 with another edition of "AMERICA VOTES."
Aaron takes over at 11:00 with a convention edition of "NEWSNIGHT," then "LARRY KING" back again for a double dose at midnight -- all times Eastern from Boston and the FleetCenter.
That's a heck of a lineup. Here's the only person we care about right now, though. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center with the other news.
Good morning, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. We understand you guys are working really hard up there in Boston and look forward to seeing more this morning.
Let's get in some headlines right now.
Let's begin in Baghdad a highest-ranking Egyptian diplomat is back at work today. Islamic militants released the official yesterday, three days after seizing him outside a mosque. They said the abduction was aimed at stopping Egypt from helping Iraq's interim government with security matters.
Earlier mortar fire mortar struck a residential area in central Baghdad. At least one person has reportedly been killed.
Back here in the U.S., Michael Jackson's defense team is trying to postpone his child molestation trial until next year. In a motion that was unsealed yesterday, Jackson's attorneys say they need more time to prepare a defense against what they call an effort to take down a major celebrity. The motion will be discussed in today's pretrial hearing. Jackson, by the way, is not expected to be in court for that.
Google and other Internet search sites hit by a new computer virus, it prevented some users from getting quick answers to search requests. The virus is described as a variant of the so-called Mydoom attack. And it is spread by e-mail. The attack on Google came as the company revealed more plans for an initial public offering of stock.
And from the sports world, the U.S. Olympic basketball team getting ready for Athens. Allen Iverson has been named a co-captain. The NBA star is one of only three players left from the U.S. that qualified for the games last summer. San Antonio's Tim Duncan is the other co-captain of what is now the youngest American team since the pros started playing with the original dream team back in 1992.
It's time for a first check of our forecast. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers. Good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Daryn.
Nobody over 30 on that basketball team.
KAGAN: In fact, Allen Iverson at 29, the oldest person on the team.
MARCIANO: He's a fiery guy.
KAGAN: That he is.
MARCIANO: Good morning, Daryn.
(WEATHER BREAK)
MARCIANO: That's the beautiful place to be, Heidi, Minneapolis, Minnesota -- some of your old stomping grounds.
COLLINS: Yes. Up on the lake there in the boat, that would have been good today.
All right, Rob. Thanks so much for that.
The husband of missing Utah woman Lori Hacking hired an attorney. Mark Hacking is still hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. He also remains a person of interest to police.
Kimberly Osias is live from Salt Lake City now with more on this. Kimberly, good morning to you.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Heidi.
Well, the family of both Lori and Mark Hacking seem to be closing rank, closing rank and possibly preparing for the worst. The Hacking family has retained prominent local criminal attorney Gil Athay. They did this Thursday evening. Since then, Mr. Athay has been to visit Mark Hacking every day at the local psychiatric facility where he's undergoing treatment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GILBERT ATHAY, MARK HACKING'S ATTORNEY: Well I think the family's support in this case is phenomenal. I really do. And I think it's important in every case of this type of profile, that a defense lawyer become involved early. I mean, it's smart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Athay also said it is -- the more publicity, the more difficult it is to get a fair trial. No charges have been filed yet. Hacking is considered only a person of interest, not a suspect. Although police say there are no other people of interest in this case.
All last night police used cadaver dogs to search through a landfill. In fact, they just finished. They retraced their earlier steps looking for evidence.
Police say the dogs work better at night. It's cooler and they can also work longer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DET. DWAYNE BAIRD, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: We're back here at the landfill, a follow-up on what we started last week. And that was the search of a particular area that we were looking at last week that we not able to complete.
OSIAS: Yesterday afternoon crime lab technicians also removed bottles and swabbed the hospital dumpster where Mark worked. A number of items have also been removed from the Hacking's home including bedding and some box springs.
The earliest that the forensics test results could come back, we are told, is Friday. Now if the forensics tests confirm what police fear, well, an arrest could happen shortly thereafter. The fact that Mark Hacking is in a psychiatric facility will not, however, impede any kind of arrest -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Kimberly, what about these reports, though, of Lori going home from work early after a phone call that she received?
OSIAS: We have heard that the A.P. is reporting that Lori Hacking's supervisor, Randy Church, saw her very visibly shaken and upset on Friday after receiving a call. Other colleagues have said and speculated that they believe that call may have been from one of the universities that she, in fact, had known about these lies and that she left early.
I did speak with a Phil Eslinger, detective Phil Eslinger from the police department. He said they spoke with everybody from Wells Fargo and they could not confirm those reports -- Heidi?
COLLINS: All right. Kimberly Osias, thanks so much for that live from Salt Lake City, this morning.
Bill, back in Boston now.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks for that. In a moment here, John Kerry -- the Democrat is dominating the headlines this week, but what about his main opponent, President Bush? We'll go inside the war room of the Bush-Cheney campaign in a moment.
Also ahead, some political pop for you -- not all business here at the DNC. What goes on at the parties when those cameras are turned off?
And John Kerry does not want Florida 2004 to be just like Florida 2000. We'll talk to someone who might be able to help him, Florida Senator Bob Graham, our guest here live in Boston, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Over to Boston Harbor late last night, fireworks here as the convention rolls on.
Also in his speech last night inside the FleetCenter, Al Gore reminded Democrats the lessons learned from the 2000 election when he lost Florida by the slimmest of margins. Here is the former vice president from last evening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: Let's make sure that this time every vote is counted. Let's make sure that the Supreme Court does not pick the next president, and that this president is not the one who picks the next Supreme Court
(CHEERS)
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Gore lost Florida by 537 votes after the U.S. Supreme Court halted that recount.
Senator Bob Graham out of Florida, retiring this year, will try to help deliver his state for the Democrats. He's my guest now here in Boston.
Senator, good morning to you. Nice to have you here.
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Latest survey we, the polling numbers out of Florida, indicate that George Bush has a lead by about three points? Is your state going Republican this year?
GRAHAM: No. The polls that have been taken in the last 60 days have indicated how competitive it's going to be. In some of them, Senator Kerry's ahead, and others, as you just state, President Bush is ahead. But Florida will be almost as competitive in 2004 as it was in 2000, but we are going to count the votes and count them correctly. And John Kerry will carry Florida.
HEMMER: We are hearing that the biggest issue among Floridians is the economy. This is how Bill Clinton addressed the war on terror last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Their opponents will tell you...
(APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: Their opponents will tell you we should be afraid of John Kerry and John Edwards because they won't stand up to the terrorists. Don't you believe it. Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Senator John Kerry says he can fight a better war on terror. Can he, and if so, how?
GRAHAM: Yes, he can fight a better war in Iraq itself by building the international coalition that's going to be necessary for us to be able to leave Iraq with honor. He also will apply better judgment, more global perspective to the kinds of adversaries that we'll likely be dealing with in the future.
HEMMER: Senator what would be different about Iraq after November 2nd, or after January when John Kerry, if he is sworn in as president?
GRAHAM: One, you'd see a lot of uniforms other than the United States of America on the ground in Iraq.
Number two, you would see a strong effort to do in Iraq what we have failed to do in Afghanistan, which is to support the new and still fragile government.
And third, you'd see an administration which wouldn't rush us into another Iraq, whether it was in Iran or North Korea or some of the other places around the world where people are, actually are developing weapons of mass destruction.
HEMMER: Go back to your first point. Name a country today that would join the effort in Iraq if John Kerry were president?
GRAHAM: Well, I think there's several of the NATO countries that would be likely to join in the effort of occupation if they had a president in which they had confidence and respect.
And I'm talking about places like Germany and France which have significant military capability to do so and financial capacity to assist us in paying for the cost of occupation and rebuilding. HEMMER: Are you suggesting, then, that because President Bush is the president of the United States that France and Germany do not want to join the effort and they will change their minds?
GRAHAM: I mean I'm saying
HEMMER: With John Kerry?
GRAHAM: In just common sense in human relationship, if somebody's been kicking sand in your face, calling you old Europe and irrelevant Europe, you're not likely to be as receptive to a request later on to get involved.
I believe that when that request is made by a new president, there will be a different response.
HEMMER: Day one is behind us. How'd the convention start for you?
GRAHAM: I thought it was very well -- an excellent series of speakers, capped off by President Clinton, who, without -- I don't know if he mentioned George Bush's name in his speech, but he laid out the choices that Americans have, and the fact that it's our responsibility.
For the last three and a half years, Americans could say, look, George Bush is doing this, but we're not responsible. He didn't even get a plurality of the votes in 2000.
But if George Bush is re-elected this November, we've bought it and all Americans are now going to be responsible for his actions. I don't believe that Americans want to assume that obligation.
HEMMER: Bob Graham, thanks for your time.
GRAHAM: Good.
HEMMER: Senator from Florida.
GRAHAM: Thank you.
HEMMER: Appreciate it.
GRAHAM: Thank you.
HEMMER: Much more from the FleetCenter here in Boston, but back to New York City and our AMERICAN WARNING studios. Yet again, here's Heidi. Good morning.
COLLINS: Good morning, Bill.
Well, let everybody know what's coming up still on the show. Pictures are powerful during a political campaign. So what kind of affect might something like this have?
Stay with us. We'll talk about it on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back to Boston as the campaign image out today actually came out late yesterday afternoon. Senator John Kerry in Florida bringing some scoff from Republicans.
While campaigning there at the Kennedy Space Center, Kerry visited the shuttle Discovery and donned dust-free overalls. Republicans compare it to Michael Dukakis photographed in a tank helmet from 1988, but Kerry campaign officials say they were not concerned, pointing to the photos of President Bush in a flight suit donned last year.
In Texas, meanwhile, President Bush had another accident on his mountain bike. Mr. Bush took a spill while biking, sailing over the handlebars landing on his back. He apparently suffered a small cut on his knee but waved off the medics and kept riding.
He had a similar fall, we are told, back in May. We're going to let our political poppers today, a little later this hour, dive into both stories. So stay tuned for that a bit later.
Yet again, here's Heidi in New York -- Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Thanks so much for that.
Time now for the Cafferty file and the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: How do you follow that? One of them is falling off his bicycle. The other one looks like he's in a bakery making muffins.
She has managed to do the impossible, which is to make the first day of a political convention interesting. Love her or hate her, Teresa Heinz Kerry telling a reporter to shove it, stole the spotlight from everyone at the Democratic national convention, even before the opening gavel.
John Kerry's feisty billionaire wife seems to be very much her own woman. She made no apologies for her remarks. But one has to wonder whether Mrs. Kerry is simply a refreshing and outspoken exception to the political rules or perhaps a loose cannon capable of inflicting major damage on her husband's presidential campaign.
So here's the question -- Teresa Heinz Kerry, political asset or liability?
am@CNN.com
COLLINS: All right.
CAFFERTY: And her husband looked really silly in that suit.
COLLINS: But that's not the question, right?
CAFFERTY: No, but that's just my observation.
COLLINS: OK. Thank you, Jack. Back now to Bill in Boston.
Hey, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks for that.
The final 9/11 report is out and now Congress feeling a bit of heat. Some lawmakers reversing course. We'll get to that story.
Plus he is four years out of office. Is the former president, Bill Clinton, still the life of the Democratic party?
Back in a moment live in Boston on a Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 27, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So let us join tonight and say to America in a loud, clear voice -- send John Kerry! God bless you!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from Boston.
Former President Clinton brings delegates to their feet on the first night of the Democratic convention.
Teresa Heinz Kerry responds to her response to a newspaper editor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: This person was trying to trap me, and I was not going to let them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: My interview today with the senator's wife, who says she no regrets.
And John Kerry campaigning in Florida, getting a classic photo op in the cockpit of the shuttle Discovery.
Full convention coverage ahead on day two, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING. From the Democratic national convention in Boston, here's Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Good morning, everyone. On day two, welcome back to the FleetCenter here in Boston. It is quiet, 7:00 local time in Boston, but a much different scene last night.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, 2000 nominee Al Gore, some of the big name headliners here last night. Much of the theme was the future. The song familiar from 12 years ago, "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow."
But now it is tomorrow and the theme will shift again to portraying John Kerry as a strong leader with a lifetime of service. Featured speakers later tonight include Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama, also Senator Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. We will hear from both of them a bit later here on AMERICAN MORNING as well as talk to Senator Bob Graham out of Florida.
And speaking of Florida, Kerry campaigning there yesterday, touring the cockpit of the space shuttle Discovery where all visitors are required to wear these special sterile suits. We'll talk more about that photo op a bit later this morning there from Florida.
We have a packed show here, yet again, in Boston. I mentioned it's day two. We're off and running. Good morning to Heidi Collins, as well, back in New York.
Heidi, good morning to you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill. Thanks so much.
We want to let everybody know we are covering, of course, a lot of other news this morning as well, including new details in the case of Lori Hacking, the missing woman in Utah.
There is a report in the "Salt Lake City Tribune" now quoting a co-worker who says Hacking left work crying on the last day before she disappeared. We'll get more on that coming up in just a few minutes.
In the meantime, Jack Cafferty with us now.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Heidi.
All those politicians gathered up there in Boston, Massachusetts and the spotlight fell squarely on somebody who's never held elective office.
My apologies. It might be a mayor ball. Pardon me. I've got a little sore throat.
Somebody who's never held elective office. Is she an asset or is she a big time liability where everybody collectively holds their breath when she opens her mouth. We'll take a look in a couple of minutes.
COLLINS: All right. We'll get you some water.
CAFFERTY: Thanks.
COLLINS: All right. Bill, back to you in Boston.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi.
Tonight is going to bring another night of high-profile convention speakers. On tap, former presidential candidates Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt, Senator Ted Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry -- Ted Kennedy rather, and Teresa Heinz Kerry. They are following some big opening acts from last night. And for more on what happened here in Boston, here is Bob Franken this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A reminder, Democrats, your nominee will be John Kerry. Try and remember it's not Bill Clinton. He was just there to help Kerry.
CLINTON: After three conventions as a candidate or a president, tonight I come to you as a citizen, returning to the role that I have played for most of my life, as a foot soldier in our fight for the future, as we nominate in Boston a true New England patriot for president.
FRANKEN: He's the former president, of course. But that other Clinton was there too, with all talk of her trying to become a future president. But that's for another night.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: We need a new commander in chief named John Kerry.
(CHEERS)
(APPLAUSE)
RODHAM CLINTON: I've been saying for many months now, John Kerry is a serious man for a serious job in a serious time in our country's history.
FRANKEN: The Democrats have done something very unusual this year. They've stopped bickering, united in the common cause of beating George W. Bush, cheering again for the man they feel beat him last time.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND 2000 DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE: The first lesson is this -- take it from me -- every vote counts
FRANKEN: The tedious massive security outside did nothing to dampen the Democrats' enthusiasm inside the FleetCenter. And tonight, the pep rally continues. Tonight, Howard Dean speaks once again of the fight against President Bush.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: So far this has been about the past and the future, but the focus is going to be on the present. And it's going to be the nominee, the present Democratic nominee, John Kerry, who is going to be following some strong opening acts -- Bill?
HEMMER: Bob, thanks for that.
Teresa Heinz Kerry, the presumptive nominees wife will speak later tonight, as Bob mentioned there.
Last night I spoke to her about her husband, herself and the harsh words that were given on Sunday night this past weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Take me back to Sunday night. Do you regret telling that reporter to shove it?
HEINZ KERRY: No. No. I respect reporters and I respect anyone who does their job well. I don't, like anybody else, want to be trapped or misrepresented intentionally by someone. That's what happened, and I defended myself.
HEMMER: The quote I have is that you said un-American traits.
HEINZ KERRY: No, un-Pennsylvanian.
HEMMER: OK. Back up a little bit, then. We need to turn back some of the creeping, un-Pennsylvanian...
HEINZ KERRY: Traits.
HEMMER: ... and sometimes un-American traits that are creeping into some of our politics?
HEINZ KERRY: Correct.
HEMMER: That's the way you remember it?
HEINZ KERRY: Correct. And that's exactly correct. I would say that again.
HEMMER: And what did the reporter say to you, then?
HEINZ KERRY: Un-American activities, which has a very different connotation. It's a political connotation of McCarthy implications, which I would not use unless it was very specific. And I would use it if it was correct, but that's not what I was talking about.
HEMMER: Why not just walk away?
HEINZ KERRY: Because this person was trying to trap me, and I was not going to let them.
HEMMER: What does America get in Teresa Heinz Kerry as first lady?
HEINZ KERRY: They'll get a caring, honest, practical, hopeful person who in spite of a lot of hurt and a lot losses in my life have always picked up and hoped and worked toward a better day. And that's what you'll get. A good mother and a good friend.
HEMMER: Do you enjoy this campaign?
HEINZ KERRY: Yes, love it.
HEMMER: You do?
HEINZ KERRY: People are wonderful. People have been wonderful.
HEMMER: Do you like American politics?
HEINZ KERRY: Better than anything I've known, yes. Better than anything I've known, which was a dictatorship.
HEMMER: Your first husband, at one point, it's almost become a famous line. When it was rumored that he would run for the White House, you said, over my dead body.
HEINZ KERRY: Always, I've always said so. It terrified me.
HEMMER: Why?
HEINZ KERRY: Why? First time he said that I was 37. Are you kidding me? Scared. Scared to death.
HEMMER: What's changed with Senator Kerry? Or perhaps you've changed?
HEINZ KERRY: I'm older. I see life through a -- you know a shorter life span, prism. The issues that I work on mean a lot to me. I think John can make a very big difference, and he is an optimist but conscience about what he does and what he knows and where he wants to go. And I have a lot of experience, also.
And so, I quite frankly felt that I would be selfish and really have no right to block his run. In fact, I really should help him. But it was not an easy thing for me to come to terms with, but I finally did.
HEMMER: You've said a few months ago you think he should gain some weight?
HEINZ KERRY: And he did, mercifully.
HEMMER: How much?
HEINZ KERRY: Ten pounds. He still has...
HEMMER: You thought he should gain 20 pounds, I believe.
HEINZ KERRY: Yes, he's on his way.
HEMMER: All over his body?
HEINZ KERRY: He's on his way up.
But you know, he was sick last year and -- early last year. And he lost some weight, and he never had time to rest or regain it.
HEMMER: Is there a first lady to look up to?
HEINZ KERRY: I look up to Mrs. Ford. For the brief time she was there, she had to deal with several problems, as you remember, getting over certain problems, having cancer and talking about it so people would know.
People say, well, who are you going to be like? I said, I'm going to be like me if I get there. You know, I'm going to be like me. Let Laura Bush be Laura Bush. Let Hillary be Hillary. And all I ask for is give me a chance.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Now she would not exactly say what is in her speech for later tonight, but in our next hour she'll give us a bit of direction anyway. Much more of my interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Also our live coverage here on CNN continues later tonight, a full lineup too:
Anderson Cooper starts at 7:00 Eastern, followed by Wolf Blitzer at 8:00, "AMERICA VOTES 2004."
"LARRY KING LIVE" comes live at 9 o'clock. Wolf's back a 10:00 with another edition of "AMERICA VOTES."
Aaron takes over at 11:00 with a convention edition of "NEWSNIGHT," then "LARRY KING" back again for a double dose at midnight -- all times Eastern from Boston and the FleetCenter.
That's a heck of a lineup. Here's the only person we care about right now, though. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center with the other news.
Good morning, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. We understand you guys are working really hard up there in Boston and look forward to seeing more this morning.
Let's get in some headlines right now.
Let's begin in Baghdad a highest-ranking Egyptian diplomat is back at work today. Islamic militants released the official yesterday, three days after seizing him outside a mosque. They said the abduction was aimed at stopping Egypt from helping Iraq's interim government with security matters.
Earlier mortar fire mortar struck a residential area in central Baghdad. At least one person has reportedly been killed.
Back here in the U.S., Michael Jackson's defense team is trying to postpone his child molestation trial until next year. In a motion that was unsealed yesterday, Jackson's attorneys say they need more time to prepare a defense against what they call an effort to take down a major celebrity. The motion will be discussed in today's pretrial hearing. Jackson, by the way, is not expected to be in court for that.
Google and other Internet search sites hit by a new computer virus, it prevented some users from getting quick answers to search requests. The virus is described as a variant of the so-called Mydoom attack. And it is spread by e-mail. The attack on Google came as the company revealed more plans for an initial public offering of stock.
And from the sports world, the U.S. Olympic basketball team getting ready for Athens. Allen Iverson has been named a co-captain. The NBA star is one of only three players left from the U.S. that qualified for the games last summer. San Antonio's Tim Duncan is the other co-captain of what is now the youngest American team since the pros started playing with the original dream team back in 1992.
It's time for a first check of our forecast. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers. Good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Daryn.
Nobody over 30 on that basketball team.
KAGAN: In fact, Allen Iverson at 29, the oldest person on the team.
MARCIANO: He's a fiery guy.
KAGAN: That he is.
MARCIANO: Good morning, Daryn.
(WEATHER BREAK)
MARCIANO: That's the beautiful place to be, Heidi, Minneapolis, Minnesota -- some of your old stomping grounds.
COLLINS: Yes. Up on the lake there in the boat, that would have been good today.
All right, Rob. Thanks so much for that.
The husband of missing Utah woman Lori Hacking hired an attorney. Mark Hacking is still hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. He also remains a person of interest to police.
Kimberly Osias is live from Salt Lake City now with more on this. Kimberly, good morning to you.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Heidi.
Well, the family of both Lori and Mark Hacking seem to be closing rank, closing rank and possibly preparing for the worst. The Hacking family has retained prominent local criminal attorney Gil Athay. They did this Thursday evening. Since then, Mr. Athay has been to visit Mark Hacking every day at the local psychiatric facility where he's undergoing treatment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GILBERT ATHAY, MARK HACKING'S ATTORNEY: Well I think the family's support in this case is phenomenal. I really do. And I think it's important in every case of this type of profile, that a defense lawyer become involved early. I mean, it's smart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Athay also said it is -- the more publicity, the more difficult it is to get a fair trial. No charges have been filed yet. Hacking is considered only a person of interest, not a suspect. Although police say there are no other people of interest in this case.
All last night police used cadaver dogs to search through a landfill. In fact, they just finished. They retraced their earlier steps looking for evidence.
Police say the dogs work better at night. It's cooler and they can also work longer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DET. DWAYNE BAIRD, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: We're back here at the landfill, a follow-up on what we started last week. And that was the search of a particular area that we were looking at last week that we not able to complete.
OSIAS: Yesterday afternoon crime lab technicians also removed bottles and swabbed the hospital dumpster where Mark worked. A number of items have also been removed from the Hacking's home including bedding and some box springs.
The earliest that the forensics test results could come back, we are told, is Friday. Now if the forensics tests confirm what police fear, well, an arrest could happen shortly thereafter. The fact that Mark Hacking is in a psychiatric facility will not, however, impede any kind of arrest -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Kimberly, what about these reports, though, of Lori going home from work early after a phone call that she received?
OSIAS: We have heard that the A.P. is reporting that Lori Hacking's supervisor, Randy Church, saw her very visibly shaken and upset on Friday after receiving a call. Other colleagues have said and speculated that they believe that call may have been from one of the universities that she, in fact, had known about these lies and that she left early.
I did speak with a Phil Eslinger, detective Phil Eslinger from the police department. He said they spoke with everybody from Wells Fargo and they could not confirm those reports -- Heidi?
COLLINS: All right. Kimberly Osias, thanks so much for that live from Salt Lake City, this morning.
Bill, back in Boston now.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks for that. In a moment here, John Kerry -- the Democrat is dominating the headlines this week, but what about his main opponent, President Bush? We'll go inside the war room of the Bush-Cheney campaign in a moment.
Also ahead, some political pop for you -- not all business here at the DNC. What goes on at the parties when those cameras are turned off?
And John Kerry does not want Florida 2004 to be just like Florida 2000. We'll talk to someone who might be able to help him, Florida Senator Bob Graham, our guest here live in Boston, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Over to Boston Harbor late last night, fireworks here as the convention rolls on.
Also in his speech last night inside the FleetCenter, Al Gore reminded Democrats the lessons learned from the 2000 election when he lost Florida by the slimmest of margins. Here is the former vice president from last evening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: Let's make sure that this time every vote is counted. Let's make sure that the Supreme Court does not pick the next president, and that this president is not the one who picks the next Supreme Court
(CHEERS)
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Gore lost Florida by 537 votes after the U.S. Supreme Court halted that recount.
Senator Bob Graham out of Florida, retiring this year, will try to help deliver his state for the Democrats. He's my guest now here in Boston.
Senator, good morning to you. Nice to have you here.
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Latest survey we, the polling numbers out of Florida, indicate that George Bush has a lead by about three points? Is your state going Republican this year?
GRAHAM: No. The polls that have been taken in the last 60 days have indicated how competitive it's going to be. In some of them, Senator Kerry's ahead, and others, as you just state, President Bush is ahead. But Florida will be almost as competitive in 2004 as it was in 2000, but we are going to count the votes and count them correctly. And John Kerry will carry Florida.
HEMMER: We are hearing that the biggest issue among Floridians is the economy. This is how Bill Clinton addressed the war on terror last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Their opponents will tell you...
(APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: Their opponents will tell you we should be afraid of John Kerry and John Edwards because they won't stand up to the terrorists. Don't you believe it. Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Senator John Kerry says he can fight a better war on terror. Can he, and if so, how?
GRAHAM: Yes, he can fight a better war in Iraq itself by building the international coalition that's going to be necessary for us to be able to leave Iraq with honor. He also will apply better judgment, more global perspective to the kinds of adversaries that we'll likely be dealing with in the future.
HEMMER: Senator what would be different about Iraq after November 2nd, or after January when John Kerry, if he is sworn in as president?
GRAHAM: One, you'd see a lot of uniforms other than the United States of America on the ground in Iraq.
Number two, you would see a strong effort to do in Iraq what we have failed to do in Afghanistan, which is to support the new and still fragile government.
And third, you'd see an administration which wouldn't rush us into another Iraq, whether it was in Iran or North Korea or some of the other places around the world where people are, actually are developing weapons of mass destruction.
HEMMER: Go back to your first point. Name a country today that would join the effort in Iraq if John Kerry were president?
GRAHAM: Well, I think there's several of the NATO countries that would be likely to join in the effort of occupation if they had a president in which they had confidence and respect.
And I'm talking about places like Germany and France which have significant military capability to do so and financial capacity to assist us in paying for the cost of occupation and rebuilding. HEMMER: Are you suggesting, then, that because President Bush is the president of the United States that France and Germany do not want to join the effort and they will change their minds?
GRAHAM: I mean I'm saying
HEMMER: With John Kerry?
GRAHAM: In just common sense in human relationship, if somebody's been kicking sand in your face, calling you old Europe and irrelevant Europe, you're not likely to be as receptive to a request later on to get involved.
I believe that when that request is made by a new president, there will be a different response.
HEMMER: Day one is behind us. How'd the convention start for you?
GRAHAM: I thought it was very well -- an excellent series of speakers, capped off by President Clinton, who, without -- I don't know if he mentioned George Bush's name in his speech, but he laid out the choices that Americans have, and the fact that it's our responsibility.
For the last three and a half years, Americans could say, look, George Bush is doing this, but we're not responsible. He didn't even get a plurality of the votes in 2000.
But if George Bush is re-elected this November, we've bought it and all Americans are now going to be responsible for his actions. I don't believe that Americans want to assume that obligation.
HEMMER: Bob Graham, thanks for your time.
GRAHAM: Good.
HEMMER: Senator from Florida.
GRAHAM: Thank you.
HEMMER: Appreciate it.
GRAHAM: Thank you.
HEMMER: Much more from the FleetCenter here in Boston, but back to New York City and our AMERICAN WARNING studios. Yet again, here's Heidi. Good morning.
COLLINS: Good morning, Bill.
Well, let everybody know what's coming up still on the show. Pictures are powerful during a political campaign. So what kind of affect might something like this have?
Stay with us. We'll talk about it on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back to Boston as the campaign image out today actually came out late yesterday afternoon. Senator John Kerry in Florida bringing some scoff from Republicans.
While campaigning there at the Kennedy Space Center, Kerry visited the shuttle Discovery and donned dust-free overalls. Republicans compare it to Michael Dukakis photographed in a tank helmet from 1988, but Kerry campaign officials say they were not concerned, pointing to the photos of President Bush in a flight suit donned last year.
In Texas, meanwhile, President Bush had another accident on his mountain bike. Mr. Bush took a spill while biking, sailing over the handlebars landing on his back. He apparently suffered a small cut on his knee but waved off the medics and kept riding.
He had a similar fall, we are told, back in May. We're going to let our political poppers today, a little later this hour, dive into both stories. So stay tuned for that a bit later.
Yet again, here's Heidi in New York -- Heidi?
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Thanks so much for that.
Time now for the Cafferty file and the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: How do you follow that? One of them is falling off his bicycle. The other one looks like he's in a bakery making muffins.
She has managed to do the impossible, which is to make the first day of a political convention interesting. Love her or hate her, Teresa Heinz Kerry telling a reporter to shove it, stole the spotlight from everyone at the Democratic national convention, even before the opening gavel.
John Kerry's feisty billionaire wife seems to be very much her own woman. She made no apologies for her remarks. But one has to wonder whether Mrs. Kerry is simply a refreshing and outspoken exception to the political rules or perhaps a loose cannon capable of inflicting major damage on her husband's presidential campaign.
So here's the question -- Teresa Heinz Kerry, political asset or liability?
am@CNN.com
COLLINS: All right.
CAFFERTY: And her husband looked really silly in that suit.
COLLINS: But that's not the question, right?
CAFFERTY: No, but that's just my observation.
COLLINS: OK. Thank you, Jack. Back now to Bill in Boston.
Hey, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks for that.
The final 9/11 report is out and now Congress feeling a bit of heat. Some lawmakers reversing course. We'll get to that story.
Plus he is four years out of office. Is the former president, Bill Clinton, still the life of the Democratic party?
Back in a moment live in Boston on a Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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