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North Korea Threatens "Preemptive" Nuclear Strike; The Life And Legacy Of Nancy Reagan; Flint Water Crisis A Key Issue At Democratic Debate. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired March 07, 2016 - 06:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:30:08] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: A nuclear threat from North Korea in response to the annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, which are now under way. Pyongyang warning of a, quote, "preemptive and offensive nuclear strike."

The drills are the largest ever involving more than 300,000 South Korean and American personnel. Paula Hancocks is live in Seoul for us. Good morning.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela. Threats were expected at this time of year. North Korea certainly did not disappoint. Threatening the preemptive and indiscriminate nuclear strikes against the U.S. and South Korea.

These drills are the largest they have ever been. They have just is started today, just wrapping up the first day. They are obviously not going to be changed in any way because of this threat.

We do know that South Korea's Defense Ministry is upping its surveillance on North Korea to see if there is any sign of an imminent attack. At this point they say, they see no movement.

But as I say, every single year Pyongyang gets angry by these drills. It says that it believes that they are a dress rehearsal for an invasion. Washington and Seoul simply they are defensive in nature. They happen every year. They are not in reaction to any geo-political events.

But we have been seeing this kind of rhetoric all year. Bear in mind, in January, you had a nuclear test from North Korea. In February, a missile test.

Last week, U.N. sanctions passed against North Korea and on Friday, Kim Jong-un, the leader said he wants his nuclear weapons at the ready to use when he ever wants.

So certainly tensions are high on the Korean Peninsula with eight weeks of military drills coming up. They are not expected to come anytime soon -- Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thank you very much. Appreciate the reporting this morning. We'll take a quick break. When we come back, this morning, a nation is remembering Nancy Reagan. After 94 amazing years, the former first lady is gone. We're going to take a closer look. You may be surprised at all Reagan did to impact the country and the world.

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[06:37:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: The nation is remembering the life and legacy of former first lady, Nancy Reagan. She died in her sleep Sunday at the age of 94. Former ABC News White House correspondent, Ann Compton covered seven different administrations including the Reagans and knew the former president and first lady.

We're happy to have Ann with us this morning. Good morning, Ann.

ANN COMPTON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, ABC NEWS: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Great to have you here. Will you share your thoughts on Nancy Reagan's life and her legacy?

COMPTON: This is a tough moment for her family. She was so devoted to her husband and every day that he has been gone has been tough on her. You know, when she came to Washington, she was a very experienced political wife.

I really think for the whole eight years she had one major mission. She was the president's political armor, his protector. It was so true in how she tried to guide him on the people around him, helping him find a press secretary ended up with James Brady.

She tried to get rid of one of the White House chiefs of staff, Don Regan. She really was always looking out for whatever was best for him. Lessen the policy field of being his kind of eyes and ears, the watch dog around the president himself.

CAMEROTA: That's interesting, Ann, because there was always a question how big an influence she was on her husband's positions and his administration. So what was your impression of that?

COMPTON: I really think it was less being focused on whether he should cut here in the budget or there in the budget, whether he should meet Mikhail Gorbachev. She was aware of what was going around him and what would detract him from his mission.

I think her personal support, you know, he just didn't like to go anywhere without her. Every weekend they went up to Camp David, the presidential retreat, about an hour north of Washington.

And his eldest daughter, Maureen Reagan, once told me, they go up there by themselves every weekend. They don't need anybody else. And I think that we saw that when President Reagan died and Nancy Reagan lingered at the casket that last at sunset the night he was buried. She didn't want to take her hand off that coffin. Of course then she came in for criticism compared to modern first ladies, she really took it on the chin.

CAMEROTA: I mean, the warm feelings about Nancy Reagan seemed to have increased substantially after she left the White House. At the time certainly Democrats criticized her for her priorities or values I guess. They felt she focused too much on designer gowns and fine China. But something shifted after they left the White House and she became a more beloved figure.

COMPTON: You're absolutely right. The criticism over the gowns was that she was taking gifts by borrowing designer gowns. She was ordering China at a time when her husband was cutting school lunch menus and cutting school lunch menus and cutting government spending.

[06:40:03]When she left the White House and he descended into his Alzheimer's years, she really found her political muscle herself. Remember, she came out strongly in favor of embryonic stem cell research when George W. Bush had gone out of his way to crusade against it.

I think she found a strong voice quite out of character with the kind of first lady Nancy Reagan was for the eight years here in Washington.

CAMEROTA: Ann, you know better than anybody, when you cover presidents and politicians, it can often seem to the viewers it is always an adversarial relationship. But that's not true. There is no better evidence than this photograph that you're providing us from December of 1981. That is Nancy Reagan with your son in her arms. What's the story behind this?

COMPTON: It was a Sunday afternoon. I brought my 7-month-old with me to the White House. Teddy was old enough to stand and hang on to a gold chair while Mrs. Reagan came in to listen to Beverly Sills rehears for a Christmas program that night.

Nancy Reagan was always the actor. She saw a great shot. She scooped him up and held him for what might be 30 minutes. She sent that beautiful picture to him and inscribed to him, and it's on his wall down in Texas.

Teddy Hughes has that memorabilia, but she really knew the value of how to show the White House in the best light and saw her husband in the best light and sometimes herself as well.

CAMEROTA: That is a beautiful picture. You know, I read somewhere that Nancy Reagan said that she really felt her life began when she met Ronald Reagan. She was not young when they met, but she felt that that was the moment that sort of her life had meaning and they truly seemed to believe they were soul mates.

COMPTON: You know, they would have been married 60 years by now. He was the only light in her life. She was a young actress. She needed help from the Screen Actors Guild. He was president of it. When they met and married and they had two more children of their own, she was absolutely an integral part of his life. And the love letters they wrote to each other.

And then she was willing to publish show what an intimate and that a strong relationship that was. Kind of nice to see in an era where marriages are not always as shiny and bright, especially in the public eye.

CAMEROTA: Ann Compton, thanks so much for sharing all of your personal reflections on Nancy Reagan. Great to see you.

COMPTON: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's get over to Michaela.

PEREIRA: Reflections of a different story coming ahead. Peyton Manning is expected to officially announce his retirement today. What do you think Tom Brady thinks about that? We'll have our "Bleacher Report" next.

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[06:46:55]

CUOMO: Peyton Manning, boy, his football life can just drown you in numbers. Here are some of the big ones, 18 seasons, a record five NFL MVP awards, two Super Bowl titles and one retirement announcement. Coy Wire has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report." Good morning, my football "frutello."

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, big brother, Chris. Peyton, he is going to make this news official at a conference today at 1 p.m. Eastern. Chris mentioned 18 seasons in the NFL. The average is about three and a half, 39 years old.

He is going to out on top after that big Super Bowl 50 win with the Broncos. He's retiring as the only quarterback in NFL history to lead two different franchises to Super Bowl titles. Manning called Broncos on Saturday to let them know he would be hanging up his cleats.

Denver General Manager John Elway released a statement immediately in part saying, "Peyton was everything that we thought he was and even more. Not only for the football team but in the community. I'm very thankful Peyton chose to play for the Denver Broncos."

And Peyton's biggest rival throughout his career, Tom Brady, took the time to show his respect on Facebook posting, "Congratulations, Peyton, on an incredible career. You changed the game forever and made everyone around you better. It's been an honor."

Peyton ends his career as the all-time leader in pass yards, passing touchdowns, and with one more than Bret Favre, most wins by any quarterback in NFL history. At 1:00 p.m. Eastern, we'll have more for you later in the day -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Coy, thanks so much.

All right. Back to what happened last night, the water crisis in Flint front and center during the Democratic debate. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton agreeing on one thing when it comes to Michigan's governor. We'll tell you what that is next.

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[06:52:45]

CUOMO: The Flint water crisis was front and center last night during the Democratic debate. There was a reason CNN held it in Flint and it was a good reason. Both candidates went into state slamming the response, calling it an emergency, saying that the governor should now resign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The governor should resign or be recalled. And we should -- support the efforts of citizens attempting to achieve that.

BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe the governor of this state should understand that his dereliction of duty was irresponsible. He should resign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Let's discuss the positions that were taken and the impact it will have. Democratic strategist and former senior advisor to Bill Clinton, Richard Socarides, and CNN political commentator, Van Jones.

Van is on the ground in Flint this morning. He's joining a group of activists to call attention to the crisis. Van, let me start with you. You're on the ground. I saw you doing volunteer work. Good on you. Helpful to the people there.

What have you learned about the situation that people who are watching from abroad may not understand?

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, I thought I had a grip -- I read about it. I had no idea. First of all, you have to understand what it means to be in a community where the water is poisoned. You wake up in the morning and can't brush your teeth. Think about that.

You can't put on a pot of coffee. If you want a child, you want to make Similac, you can't do that. You can't take a shower and this is day after day. You can't leave. You can't sell your house. Nobody will buy your house.

So you're literally trapped here. If you're poor, you're on Medicaid, your kids get rashes, Medicaid doesn't cover dermatology. This is a catastrophe that you can't even imagine until you're here.

And the idea that the city council had power stripped away, the city had gone into bankruptcy, this emergency manager was appointed by the governor, this emergency manager to save money divert it from a clean water source to a dirty water source and poisoned the whole city. The governor is Republican. EPA didn't show up either so it's all bad.

CUOMO: Van, I mean, there are a couple of steps how they got it. The plan to save money wasn't the problem. The intermediate water source wasn't understood for what it was and how they dealt with the initial treatment wind up being mismanaged.

[06:55:07]And then everything wind up cascading and that's why they are where they are right now.

Let's talk about how these big themes played out last night. One of the big ones, Richard Socarides, was accountability. Now on that score, Bernie Sanders said the governor is in charge. His people were involved. There are things he should have known. He should be out.

Hillary Clinton changed her position and now said she agrees, not with Bernie Sanders, but with the proposition that Snyder should be out. Is that something that is immeasurable change?

RICHARD SOCARIDES, WRITER, THENEWYORKER.COM: I don't think she changed her position. I think their respective responses to this crisis really speak to the kind of problem-solvers they are. Hillary, her first inclination --

CUOMO: Let me just say, she said early on -- now she does. That's a change.

SOCARIDES: She didn't support the governor. Of course there should be accountability. There should be accountability at the EPA, which she also called for last night. Her first inclination is to study the issue, to come up with a solution, concrete policy suggestions.

And Bernie's first inclination is to lay blame and bring it back to Wall Street. I think that's what you saw last night. I think it really is true. Listen, at one point you would think the Flint water crisis was the fault of Wall Street and Goldman Sachs. Every time he brought it back to Wall Street and Goldman Sachs, he did. He really did.

JONES: That's terrible.

CUOMO: What's your take?

JONES: Well, first of all, if you are here and you are talking to people whose children have been poisoned, who got notices from this governor's office that the water was safe when it was not, and you know this governor was essentially having the books cooked and ignoring the warnings, everyone said the governor should go. So the idea that this is about Wall Street --

SOCARIDES: But that's what she said.

JONES: Everybody here -- hold on a second. Everybody here says the governor should go. The reality is no matter what good plan you come up with, if you have an incompetent governor, you can't implement it.

SOCARIDES: Van, Van --

CUOMO: Here's where I'm going to stop you, Richard. I don't think this matters now.

SOCARIDES: I agree.

CUOMO: I get what your points of contrast are, but let's talk about what mattered most last night. What do you think the biggest measurable difference was last night in the debate? Many say you got your best look at the contrast between the two candidates.

SOCARIDES: I think it was an important debate. I think you saw on the issue of guns, that Bernie seemed very flustered. Her point that the only corporation he seems to favor are the gun manufacturers. He looked lost when Anderson pressed him. He kept saying maybe I'm misunderstanding. Maybe I don't understand. I think that was probably the biggest point of the night for Hillary.

CUOMO: Van, what do you think the biggest point of the night was last night and for whom and why?

JONES: Well, there was one big winner last night. The residents of Flint, Michigan, who finally have their concerns heard. If you want to talk about the candidates, I thought when Bernie Sanders said, listen, I'm going to release all of my transcripts because I don't talk to them.

Even Hillary Clinton had to laugh at that. It is one of those great moments when your opponent realizes you got a good zinger in there. This was rock 'em sock 'em robots last night. It stayed substantive.

It didn't go off and talk body parts and weird stuff. If you're for Hillary Clinton you saw a lot to like in her. If you're for Bernie Sanders, you saw a lot to like in him.

Where Hillary Clinton still has to improve is how she defends herself on this attack around NAFTA. If she makes it into the general election, assuming Trump is the winner on the other side, Trump could come after her on NAFTA and these trade deals.

SOCARIDES: I think she talked about jobs and I think she brought it back to jobs. I mean, the reason why we support some of these trade deals is because we think they are going to keep American jobs is here.

And I think it was important that we talked about substance. I think you saw Bernie Sanders coming a little unhinged. He was curt with her, disrespectful. I do. I think the way he came at her shows how angry he is. This is an angry time and he is a very angry man.

CUOMO: If that was angry last night, you better never ever go anywhere near the GOP debates, Richard. Van Jones and Richard Socarides, thank you very much. Thanks for what you're doing out there, Van. Everybody appreciates it. All right, there's a lot going on with what happened last night in the debate. We have huge elections tomorrow. There are headlines from around the world. So let's get right to them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The wealthiest country in the history of the world has to get its priorities right.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is raining lead in Flint.

SANDERS: When you watch these Republican debates, you know why.

CLINTON: If you're going to talk, tell the whole story, Senator Sanders.

SANDERS: Let me tell my story, you tell yours.

CLINTON: I will --