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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Relaxing in Wyoming

Aired February 10, 2002 - 11:07   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Mr. Bush is spending the weekend in Wyoming at the home of a Yale classmate and long-time friend.

CNN's Major Garrett is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with the latest from there. Hi there, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. As you said, the President continued to monitor the situation in the Middle East. Yesterday and again today he will receive his standard national security and military and overall War on Terrorism briefings. But this is mostly a weekend for rest and relaxation.

The White House released this photograph yesterday of the President taking a stroll through these snowcapped mountains with Roland Betts (ph), as you said a Yale classmate, a fraternity brother, and also a pal of his who is the co-owner with President Bush of the Texas Rangers, before the President got involved in politics.

Roland Betts was also a heavy contributor to the Bush election campaign, helping raise more than $100,000 to that campaign, also putting down about $50,000 for the Bush Inauguration celebration. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Major, what's on the plan for tomorrow?

GARRETT: Well, the President's going to receive a recommendation tomorrow, CNN has learned, from his energy secretary, Spencer Abraham. That recommendation is about where to store some 77,000 metric tons of high-level radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants operating in 34 states around the country.

And the Energy Secretary will recommend to President Bush that all of that high-level radioactive waste be stored underground at Yucca Mountain. That is a site operated by the Department of Energy, just north of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Once the President receives that recommendation, he can either endorse it or reject it. Senior administration officials tell CNN it's very likely the President will endorse that recommendation, making it almost certain that Yucca Mountain will be the final resting place for all that high-level nuclear radioactive waste. And what that means is that sometime in the next eight to 10 years, that high-level radioactive waste will be moving by train and by truck from 34 states around the country to Yucca Mountain. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, and Major I understand that Air Force One experienced quite a bit of turbulence last night when making its way to Jackson Hole. Do you feel like elaborating on that bumpy ride?

GARRETT: Well, it wasn't last night, Fredricka. It was Friday night, after the President left the opening ceremonies at Salt Lake City.

WHITFIELD: Friday night, that's right. Yes.

GARRETT: That's right, First Lady Laura Bush, some senior White House staff, a small group of White House reporters who traveled in the Presidential press pool that day, I was not among them, flew from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole. A very bumpy, wind-tossed ride, as the President came over the mountaintop.

Air Force One shook a good deal. Nothing terrifying they said, but it was a very rough landing and a rough approach. So rough, in fact, that the White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, as he was making his way to his seat with a drink in his hand, almost fell over. A Secret Service Agent had to rush up, grab him, get him to his seat. A little bit of a bumpy ride, but everyone landed safely.

Those of us who were not traveling in that Air Force One press pool, we were diverted to Idaho Falls, Idaho. That's where we spent the night Saturday, took a bus here to Jackson Hole yesterday. We'll take that same bus back this afternoon to get back to Washington. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: It feels like one long day, doesn't it? Thanks a lot.

GARRETT: Very long indeed.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Major Garrett.

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