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CNN Sunday Morning
Interview With Colin Powell; Interview With John Warner; Interview With Steven Spielberg
Aired June 06, 2004 - 05:15 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This has been a truly, truly emotional day, especially for so many Americans because it comes only a day after the death of Ronald Reagan. President Ronald Reagan died Saturday afternoon in Bel Air, California, in Los Angeles. He was here 20 years ago for the 40th anniversary. So many of these veterans remember what he had to say then. So many of these veterans, of course, remember Ronald Reagan as someone who began the process and helped to destroy what was then the Soviet Empire, the end of the Cold War. This has been a day of dramatic memories involving Ronald Reagan, involving D-Day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT: My friends, we did it. We weren't just marking time, we made a difference.
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BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And what a difference he made, and when he entered the White House he promised a new morning in America, now America is mourning his death. The arc of Ronald Reagan's life suggests a rare American irony. The oldest man to enter the White House who had youthful can-do optimism about America's potential. A man political foes discounted, whose influence was longer than many ever expected. Welcome to a special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING. "Remembering Ronald Reagan." I'm Betty Nguyen.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN Center in Atlanta. We're following two major stories this Sunday morning. We'll have reaction, of course, to Ronald Reagan's death and the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day. In France right now there are many observances marking the turning point of World War II.
Flags and flowers, prayers, praises, fitting tributes around the country. Americans are remembering the man they called "Dutch." He called himself "Dutch" as a matter of fact. This is the scene at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California as lit candles reflect a mournful mood. Elsewhere, Americans and world leaders are finally remembering the 40th President of the United States.
A sea of white crosses and military pomp and circumstance. We have seen the memorials to U.S. troops who stormed Normandy beaches. We'll go back to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, in Colville-ser-Mer -- Wolf. BLITZER: Thanks so much, Drew, thank you very much Betty. I am here in Normandy, the Colville Cemetery, the American cemetery here in Colville where there was such a moving moment. Just a little while ago, the President of the United States, the President of France, remembering the heroes who began the process of liberating France, liberating Europe only 60 years ago. They also remembered the President, especially, Ronald Reagan who passed away only yesterday at age 93. Let's go back to that ceremony and look at some of the moments, the sights and sounds, for those of our viewers who may have missed it.
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BLITZER: A moving U.S/French tribute to the men, the heroes of World War II, the American troops who stormed the beaches here at Normandy 60 years ago, went on to liberate France, to liberate Europe, to destroy Nazi Germany.
Welcome back to our continuing coverage. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Normandy. We're joined now here in Normandy at the Colville Cemetery by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, a member of the President's delegation here. Mr. Speaker, thanks so much for joining us.
We're also remembering Ronald Reagan. The 40th President of the United States, who passed away yesterday. Once you get back to Washington, you have to make preparations for his body to lie in state in the Rotunda and also for the funeral, for the memorial service. Tell us what you are doing.
REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Well, we anticipate that the President will be, first of all, lying in state at the Reagan Library in California. Tuesday night he will fly back, they will fly his body back to Washington. He will come up to the Capitol as far as we know right now by a procession probably Wednesday morning and lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and Thursday and we think then a funeral at the National Cathedral on Friday, then being flown back to California to be interred at sunset at the Reagan Library with a private funeral with the family.
BLITZER: In Simi Valley, California, at the Reagan Library. Now technically you have to pass a resolution in order to get the process legislatively approved.
HASTERT: That will be pretty much pro forma but we'll do that so that he can lie in state in the Rotunda and that's what we anticipate and we'll do that Tuesday.
BLITZER: And this will be an opportunity for every day average Americans to walk by to pay their respects? HASTERT: Well, you know Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois and raised in Dixon, Illinois, my district, and he really represents the heartland of America and I think every American would like to be there but we're going to open up so real folks can come in there and pay their respects.
BLITZER: And people not only in the Washington area but all over the country, if they want to come to Washington, this will be their chance to say goodbye to Ronald Reagan?
HASTERT: We anticipate that'll happen, yes.
BLITZER: What did he mean to you?
HASTERT: Well, I first got into politics and ran in 1980, the same time that Ronald Reagan was running for President and that was an interesting time because people didn't really have a lot of faith in what could happen but Ronald Reagan I think gave America and Americans the belief that we could do great things and we could become relevant in the world and I had to give a speech this year for Ronald Reagan Day dinner in Lee County, Illinois, in Dixon, Illinois. You wonder what do you say about Ronald Reagan. When you really think about it, Ronald Reagan allowed millions of people to walk in freedom today because he had the ability to challenge and when the rest of the world stepped back, he stepped forward and challenged the Soviet Union and I think because of that there are people walking around in freedom today and I think what he said here 20 years ago, and he looked across these graves lining up like soldiers standing at attention and then he looked across the ocean and said, "Where do we find men like these?" and he said, "We find them in America." And I think that sums it up and those who were here today, those last precious few of those men who did face this challenge. He was proud of them and we were proud of Ronald Reagan.
BLITZER: If he were here today, if he had witnessed this 60th anniversary of D-Day, he not only would have been able to once again pay tribute to those heroes of World War II, but he would see an effort by both French President Jacques Chirac and President Bush to patch over some of these strains that have developed. Do you get a sense that they're doing that?
HASTERT: I think so and one of the things you have to talk about is what Ronald Reagan talked about, Wolf was that we could make a difference in the world and I think what the French understand and what the Americans understand is that if we stand together in the world, people who love democracy, people who love freedom, we can make a difference in this world and we're doing it today.
BLITZER: Are you encouraged that this alliance, this 200 plus year alliance between the United States and France can get back together?
HASTERT: You know I taught American history and I taught about-- President Chirac talked about Yorktown, talked about we were able to win our independence from the British because of the battle and the French helped us do it. I think there are great people who love freedom and if we can stand together we can do great things in this world, to keep freedom for all people in this world.
BLITZER: Mr. Speaker, thank you for spending a few moments with us on this very, very special day. Appreciate it very much.
HASTERT: Thank you very much.
BLITZER: The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert. Dennis Hastert together with other congressional leaders from the House of Representatives as well as the U.S. Senate, remembering the fallen, remembering the heroes of World War II, also taking a moment to reflect on Ronald Reagan.
Our continuing coverage of what's happening here in Normandy will resume. In the meantime, let's go back to the CNN Center in Atlanta to Betty -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Wolf, Ronald Reagan spoke at Normandy 20 years ago on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. CNN senior White House correspondent joins us from Paris with the reaction there to Mr. Reagan's death. Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Betty. President Bush representing the United States today. You mentioned Ronald Reagan, of course, speaking here at the ceremonies 20 years ago. Mr. Bush walking the grounds of the cemetery with the French President Jacques Chirac, of course these two men disagreed bitterly over the war in Iraq, but standing side by side today, listening to the national anthems played by the band up at the military cemetery. The French national anthem, first, and then the American national anthem played. Both leaders standing solemnly at that point. Mr. Bush in his remarks focused mostly on the heroism on the beaches of Normandy 60 years ago, but he did pause at the very beginning to remember that American president who came here 20 years ago.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Twenty summers ago another American president came here to Normandy to pay tribute to the men of D-Day. He was a courageous man himself and a gallant leader in the cause of freedom and today we honor the memory of Ronald Reagan.
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KING: Now, Mr. Bush, looking out at his audience and also of course at the graves, the crosses and the Stars of David. Mr. Bush told several personal stories of those who fought on the beaches 60 years ago and in saluting the Americans buried here. He also made a point of pointing to the veterans gathered in the audience. Mr. Bush at one point said, "You did it," and promised those in the dying World War II generation would never be forgotten.
NGUYEN: John, today, the President mentioned Reagan fondly and there are being a lot of connections made between the two. Reagan really brought out a belief if America, that it can do great things and today the connection is being made that President Bush, the current President Bush, is linked in a way to Reagan in the sense that they both show America's resolve and its compassion.
KING: Quite an interesting comparison. This president, of course, is the son of a former president, George H. W. Bush. George H. W. Bush was Ronald Reagan's Vice President. Many more comparisons, political observers who believe this president, George Bush, campaigns much more like Ronald Reagan than he does like his father. They are both very optimistic. This president says he models that optimism, his faith in America, his constant upbeat talk after the optimism of Ronald Reagan.
They are also are very much alike in this way, Betty. Ronald Reagan was very controversial in Europe as he earned the Western Allies to stand up against what he called the Evil Empire, the Soviet Union and Mr. Bush quite controversial now, of course, because of the war in Iraq and some other policies. As everyone watches these ceremonies today, one thing everyone is looking for is, "Is this president going to be successful as he tries now to repair those relations. Mr. Bush and President Chirac both promising that would be the case and of course Mr. Bush is here. He decided the go ahead with these ceremonies in the wake of Ronald Reagan's death. He's also returning to the United States tonight, continuing with plans to have a major international summit in Sea Island, Georgia, but White House officials telling us, and you heard Speaker Hastert talking about the funeral proceedings. The President will go back to Washington when necessary to take part as the nation now mourns and prepares to bury Ronald Reagan -- Betty.
NGUYEN: CNN senior White House correspondent John King in Paris. Thank you.
GRIFFIN: You are watching continuing coverage on the death of President Ronald Reagan and later on we will return, of course, to Normandy for the continuing observances there marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
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BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, remembering the fortieth President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, as well. I'm Wolf Blitzer, I'm reporting from Colville, the American cemetery here in Normandy overlooking Omaha Beach.
I'm joined now by Senator John Warner, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He's here with the President of the United States remembering both of these events. You were here 20 years ago with Ronald Reagan when he delivered that moving address praising the boys of Point du Hoc. Remember for our viewers, Senator Warner, what happened.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), VIRGINIA: Well, I remember it well, Wolf, because I will be down there this afternoon, and how touching it was. And right in the middle of his speech, one of the original soldiers that scaled the cliff...
BLITZER: The Army Rangers. WARNER: He ran up, I mean, broke through the Secret Service and went down the row and came up the row. Reagan just loved that.
BLITZER: He just was so excited...
WARNER: He was so excited.
BLITZER: When Ronald Reagan spoke those powerful words twenty years ago, these were words that came from his heart because he lived through that period, as did you. You're a veteran of World War II.
WARNER: Well, I was in the training command. My generation in the 1944, '45 were ready to come over and replace these fighters and then the war ended.
BLITZER: And you volunteered as--you were 17 years old?
WARNER: We were all 17, it was no big deal.
BLITZER: These were young boys who came here and Ronald Reagan remembered that. When you heard that he had passed away yesterday, what went through your mind?
WARNER: Well, if I may say with a sense of humility, he was a good friend. He used to come down to my farm, we'd ride horses together. He loved the history of Virginia. He could recount every campaign that Stonewall Jackson ever fought in. He was an extraordinary man. He had a tremendous depth of knowledge in a lot of subjects and I say with humility he was a hero to me.
BLITZER: Why was he a hero to you?
WARNER: Because he had done so many exciting things in his lifetime and every day to him was another day filled with challenge and filled with excitement.
BLITZER: He was often criticized for not being substantive enough, but you knew him, obviously, very, very well.
WARNER: Well I wouldn't say that well, but I knew him well. He was a friend, he came to the house. I remember one time he was making a speech. Do you remember how he carried the 3x5 flip cards?
BLITZER: Yes.
WARNER: And he knew them by heart. And the flip cards all dropped on the floor accidentally before the speech. Well, he got down and scrambled them up and put the deck back together again, then they hardly used it, it was sort of a security device, those old cards he had.
BLITZER: He always had those cards to remember some of the notes, some of the points that he would want to make. If Ronald Reagan were here today he would remember, of course, what happened during World War II. He would reflect on all of those emotional moments. But he'd also be thinking about the U.S. relationship with the Allies, especially friends. Do you get a sense there's been an improvement over the past day or two?
WARNER: Well, I had an opportunity to talk to some this morning about the meeting between the President and President Chirac and if President Chirac will match actions with his strong words today then I think the President followed up with an equally strong speech. I think we'll see a strengthening--I'd say a renewing of the relationship that's been with this country forever.
BLITZER: For 200 years.
WARNER: Absolutely. Right there in Yorktown, in my own state. If it hadn't been for the naval blockade by Admiral de Gras and Rochambeau marched down the valley, we probably wouldn't be here today.
BLITZER: It looks like they're getting closer to a common language on a U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq. Is that your sense?
WARNER: That's my sense. I'm optimistic. I also--my leader went to Iraq yesterday and I had a chance to talk to Senator Frist.
BLITZER: The Senate Majority Leader?
WARNER: Yes, and he came away with a very strong message which I am sure he will be delivering soon about his impressions of the new prime minister and that government.
BLITZER: Is it premature to start getting a little bit more hopeful that perhaps things are improving in Iraq?
WARNER: I allowed myself to begin to get a little bit more hopeful, and I have been there a number of times and I was there two months ago and it's so important that we stay the course and finish that job, because it's symbolic to the whole world, the credibility of the coalition forces, not just the United States.
BLITZER: Some in Europe, as you well know, are criticizing President Bush for making the comparison between the liberation of Iraq and World War II.
WARNER: Oh well. People are always criticizing presidents and their speeches. So what's new? Let's move on. We still, we're the most significant force in NATO in terms of dollars of contribution and NATO is playing a vital role in Afghanistan now. And the French are there with us.
BLITZER: Alright. Senator Warner, as usual, thanks for spending a few moments with us.
WARNER: Thank you.
BLITZER: Senator John Warner, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, together with other leading members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives gathered here with President Bush to remember D-Day 60 years ago, also remembering President Ronald Reagan.
We'll continue our special coverage, we're standing by to speak with the Secretary of State, Colin Powell. We'll do that momentarily. In the meantime, let's go back to the CNN Center and Betty Nguyen. Betty?
NGUYEN: We are covering several stories today. Of course, the commemoration there in France and we want to give you a live shot now of Bayou (ph) where we are watching the French/British ceremony. A lot of veterans there in the crowd today. Also in the crowd, Queen Elizabeth and French President Jacques Chirac. They will be there for today's ceremony where they will be laying wreaths. There will also be a moment of silence and a prayer, but this is the scene as many around the world today watch as the commemorations of D-Day some 60 years ago.
GRIFFIN: Several ceremonies going on involving Jacques Chirac as he goes through the allies that were all involved with the D-Day invasion. The Canadians, of course, the British here with Queen Elizabeth and the Americans earlier today, it's a day where all these nations came together and began to defeat Nazism in Europe and later on, as well, an appearance and a ceremony with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for the first time. Although many people in Germany today believe that this indeed was their liberation, too, in a roundabout way from the Nazis. So the Germans will be involved in D- Day ceremonies for the first time on this 60th anniversary.
NGUYEN: Still looking at pictures now of the French and British ceremony there and looking at veterans who have come to honor the occasion and also come to remember. A little bit earlier today there was another ceremony in which President Bush spoke at that ceremony along with Jacques Chirac who is attending this one. We right now want to send it over to Wolf Blitzer for an interview there in Normandy, France. Wolf?
BLITZER: Thanks very much Betty. I am joined now by the Secretary of State of the United States, General Colin Powell, who is here with the President. He is joining us here at the Colville American Cemetery. We'll talk about D-Day in a moment.
You worked for Ronald Reagan. You remember Ronald Reagan, Mr. Secretary. What goes through your mind?
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I remember him very well, and I'm very sad at his loss, but he's in a better place now. And he was such a great man. I worked for him as national security adviser. But I was also in the Army during those years. And so I watched him not only as a commander in chief, but as the head of our foreign policy operation as president. And he was a man who brought such pride back to the armed forces and pride back to the nation. He was a man of incredible vision, and he never varied or strayed from the vision that he had, of a world at peace, a world where freedom was breaking out. And his first challenge was to make that happen in the Soviet Union. And he was able to work with a man by the name of Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the head of the Soviet Union, and together they did historic things. BLITZER: They changed the world.
POWELL: They changed the world. The president always believed that the Soviet people deserved a better system than the system they had. And he was going to make it happen not by war, but by peace, by showing the power of democracy.
Every time Gorbachev would come to visit, Reagan always wanted to take him out to his ranch in California, or to a factory where we made cars in Detroit. He never wanted to show missile fields or submarines or anything like that. He always wanted to show Gorbachev the goodness of America and how America works, and he wanted that same sort of system to ultimately persuade the Soviet Union that it should move in that direction.
Gorbachev tried to restructure and reform the Soviet Union, but it couldn't be restructured. It had to be taken apart, because communism was a failed ideology. Reagan knew that.
BLITZER: In the '80s, he managed to get this process going to see the end of the Cold War, to eventually see the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending 74 years of communist rule, without one shot being fired.
POWELL: Not -- without one shot being fired. That -- one of the reasons for that is we remained strong. Reagan knew that he had to rebuild the armed forces when he became president, and we were not in good shape. We weren't really proud of ourselves after the Vietnam War yet. And he restored that sense of pride in the armed forces, and he gave us the wherewithal to become the best in the world again.
And so he showed the Soviet Union that, look, we are prepared to do what it takes, to spend whatever is necessary so that America is strong, but we want to use this strength for peace. Not to attack you, not to threaten you. Now that you know we're strong and you can't defeat us, let's work on a way forward, where we can help you, where we can help the Soviet Union at that time.
And Gorbachev knew that they could afford guns, but they couldn't afford butter. America could afford both, therefore things had to change.
BLITZER: It was just a lucky break that there was a leader in the Soviet Union at that moment, named Mikhail Gorbachev.
POWELL: It was a lucky break; it was destiny. If one could call a lucky break destiny. And President Reagan used to kid -- because, you know, he went through about three Soviet leaders; two died very suddenly in front of -- three of them. And he said, if only one of these gentlemen would stay alive long enough for me to work with him. Along came this vigorous man in his early 50s, Gorbachev, and he was that man. And Gorbachev had taken a hard look at the Soviet Union and realized it couldn't continue this way. He had to change it. Perestroika and glasnost, you remember those words. Restructuring and openness. But that wasn't enough. You couldn't restructure a communist system to make it work in the 21st century. And openness meant openness, and once you opened it up, it was all going to come out. People were going to see what they were missing for all these years.
And so, Gorbachev and Reagan are two great historic figures, both of whom had a vision. They were slightly different visions. Gorbachev did not come in to preside over the death of communism, which is what he ended up doing. Reagan always knew that communism was a failed ideology.
BLITZER: But did he have the confidence, did he have the optimism that what he was doing would result in that?
POWELL: Yes. He knew -- he didn't know what form it would take. He didn't know that the Soviet Union would totally break up. But he was absolutely confident in our system. He was such an optimist, such a believer in freedom and democracy and the rights of men and women. And he saw what we had done in the United States, and he kept saying to himself, why shouldn't this happen elsewhere? He saw what had happened in Europe after World War II. He saw what happened in Japan and other parts of the world. He saw what was happening in our own hemisphere. The sweep of democracy, he truly believed in the sweep of democracy. And he said, why shouldn't it happen in the Soviet Union? Why shouldn't it go behind the iron curtain? Mr. Gorbachev, come here. Tear down this wall. What he was saying -- and we all remember that speech...
BLITZER: Of course.
POWELL: And people said, you know, there's been debate about that speech, and debate about that line. But what he was essentially saying, come tear down this wall. And people said, we have offended Gorbachev. But Gorbachev needed that kind of statement from the West that said, open up.
BLITZER: Remind our viewers. How did he come -- you and him. How did he come to pick this officer in the United States Army to be his national security adviser?
POWELL: Well, I came into the White House as deputy national security adviser in January of 1987, after the Iran-Contra problem. And Frank Carlucci came as national security adviser, to get things going again. The administration was in very great trouble at that point, as you'll recall.
BLITZER: This is after (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
POWELL: Exactly. And Frank Carlucci, an old, dear friend of mine, my godfather, as I call him, my mentor in political life, he asked me to come back from commanding my corps in Germany to be his deputy. And I said, I don't want to do that. Well, President Reagan called me and said, you've got to do it. And I did. And then 11 months later, Frank Carlucci went over to the Pentagon, to replace Cap Weinberger, who left after a distinguished period of service. And one day Frank walked into the Situation Room, and he had a little scribbled note, and he handed it to me at the beginning of a meeting. And I opened it up, and it said, "you are now the national security adviser." President Reagan had picked me.
I had gotten to know the president very well by then, of course, and I treasured that friendship. And after he left office, we stayed in touch. Stayed in touch with both President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan. I have fond memories of those days. But to show if I could just have a minute, what it was like, two quick vignettes.
After he retired, I went to see him out in his home in Beverly Hills, and I had retired. But a young sergeant had been assigned, as a courtesy, to drive me to the house. As we were pulling up to the house, the young sergeant said to me, "would you please tell President Reagan how much we appreciate what he did for us." And I said, OK. So I got to the door, rang the doorbell. President Reagan answered the door, welcomed me. Come on in, say hello to Nancy. And I said, "there is somebody I want you to meet." And I called the sergeant over. I said, "Sergeant, you tell him yourself."
Sergeant was stunned. He couldn't say a word. He just did what sergeants do -- he came to attention, saluted President Reagan. President Reagan returned the salute. We went into the house. The sergeant went back to the car, the door closed, and President Reagan said to me, "Colin, is it still OK for me to salute?" I said, "Mr. Reagan, don't you ever stop saluting. It means so much to us."
Another story of his optimism. In the '88 period, there was a lot of concern about how much the Japanese were investing in the United States. And we had these debates within the administration. Is this good? The Japanese are buying golf course, they're buying buildings, they're buying -- they're buying all our real estate and what not. And we ought to do something about it. And Reagan sat in the Oval Office listening to this debate one day. And he smiled and said, "No, I am not going to do anything about it. I'm glad they know a good investment when they see one." You know, that just blew us away.
BLITZER: His optimism.
POWELL: His optimism. I'm so proud that people think America is such a good investment that they're sending their money here.
BLITZER: It was instinctive on his part.
POWELL: It was instinctive on his part, but it wasn't just instinct. He had thought about these issues. He had studied them. He had such a belief in our system, our economic system and our political system, that it gave him an azimuth to sail on that he never varied from.
BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, let's talk a little bit about U.S.- French relations right now. Certainly the words that were uttered by the president of France, the president of the United States were encouraging, but are there still serious differences over Iraq that separate these two allies?
POWELL: The differences that we had last year are not going away. It was a major disagreement. They thought we shouldn't have gone into Iraq, and we were determined to do what was right and get rid of Saddam Hussein. So we shouldn't say that disagreement has gone away. It's there. But we have come together again, in the recognition that the Iraqi people need the help of the international community. So we have been working very closely with the French government. I think we're very close to a final resolution at the U.N. in New York, to be passed in the next several days. And we have worked out differences over a short period of time. We had just been working on this resolution for 13 days.
BLITZER: What is the major issue that divides the U.S. and France?
POWELL: There aren't any major issues left on the resolution. We are working out details. We are doing some language checks, as one always does with such a resolution. But I think the resolution will pass over the next several days, and it will be a resolution that recognizes that full sovereignty is being returned to Iraq...
BLITZER: June 30.
POWELL: By June 30. And no later than June 30. And it recognizes that the international community has to keep a military presence there, at the request of the Iraqi sovereign government. And we worked out the arrangements on how that military force will work with this new sovereign government. It calls on the international community to help build up Iraqi forces as quickly as we can, to provide additional assistance to Iraq in any way that we can, to reconstruction efforts. Additional troops, military trainers, police trainers. Anything that country can do to help the Iraqi people.
BLITZER: Do you see the possibility that France, or Germany for that matter, would deploy troops to Iraq?
POWELL: No. They've made it clear that deployment of troop formations is not something they are able to do. But keep in mind, we have French troops in Haiti working alongside us, French troops in the Balkans working alongside of us. French troops in Afghanistan working alongside of us. German troops working with us in Afghanistan and in the Balkans. So we had this disagreement last year over Iraq. Now we are coming together. Remember the last three U.N. resolutions with respect to Iraq since the war all passed unanimously, and I hope this coming week we'll see another resolution passed unanimously.
BLITZER: Will this resolution have an end date for the U.S. deployment, the U.S. coalition -- led coalition in Iraq?
POWELL: It will say that at the end of 2005, when this political process has run its course and we have had constitution and free elections, at that point, this mandate probably should come to an end, but the more important point is not what the resolution says. It's what the Iraqi sovereign government wants. We have had troops in sovereign nations, for, you know, the last 50 years. We had them in Korea, we had them in Germany, we had them in United Kingdom. And so we will be there for as long as we are needed.
I hope it's not a long period of time. But we're there, with the consent of the sovereign government, and we've made arrangements with that sovereign government. That sovereign government wants to see us leave. Why wouldn't they? They want to build up their own forces, their own police forces. We're going to help them do that. So as soon as they're ready to take over their own security, sure, they want us to leave.
BLITZER: So is Colin Powell -- put on your general's hat for a second -- suggesting there is an exit strategy now for U.S. troops?
POWELL: There is an exit strategy. Political exit strategy and military strategy, because we've made it clear that we are there at the request and with the consent of this new sovereign government. To help them do what? To help them get ready for elections. That's what the first mission of this government is. To help them build up their own forces so that they can be responsible for their own security and for their own political and military destiny. But I can't give you a specific time when there will no longer be a requirement for a military presence from the United States of the coalition.
Keep in mind that when this sovereign government takes over, Ambassador Bremer, having done a terrific job, a brilliant job, will go home, and the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist. Ambassador Negroponte will be there representing the United States. But he is not the government the way Ambassador Bremer was. There will be an Iraqi government. And we've already seen, the president of this new government and the prime minister of this new government making positive statements about their vision for their country.
BLITZER: The new prime minister, Iyad Allawi. Certainly he expressed his gratitude to the United States for helping to liberate Iraq. We didn't hear that expression of gratitude, though, from the incoming president.
POWELL: We've talked to the incoming president, and I can assure you that he's very grateful for what we have done. He is grateful for our continued presence. I think all of the ministers are. They know that they are not yet able to run this country without our help. They also know that they wouldn't be able to take this -- these positions of leaders of a sovereign government if Saddam Hussein had not been eliminated. So I can assure you they are grateful, President Ghazi al-Yawer, expressed that to the president in a phone call that I was able to hear, sitting in the Oval Office with the president, about a week and a half ago. And so, I am confident that they are grateful for what we have done; they respect the fact that we put American lives and coalition lives at risk and lost a number of our youngsters.
BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, how serious are these allegations against Ahmed Chalabi, from the Iraqi National Congress, member of the Iraqi Governing Council, that he may have provided top secret intelligence information, code breaking information to Iran?
POWELL: Well, you know, Wolf, I'm just going to have to let the intelligence community deal with this. It's a matter that's best left to the experts who know what might or might not have happened. BLITZER: But this rise and fall of Ahmed Chalabi, it's been an amazing situation. State Department, as you well know, always concerned about him, as the CIA, but he had strong allies, as you well know, at the Pentagon and over at the vice president's office.
POWELL: We have to acknowledge that Mr. Chalabi spent, you know, decades, fighting for freedom of the Iraqi people, and for the demise of Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein is gone. And I don't think we should overlook the role Mr. Chalabi played in that. But what his future role should be in Iraq and what he might or might not have done to achieve the position that he's achieved, I will let others make judgments on that.
BLITZER: We only have a minute or two left, but the president last night when he met with Jacques Chirac, spoke about the Israeli- Palestinian problem, and he spoke about a two-state solution, Israel along Palestine, and he spoke about Palestine being contiguous, and a contiguous Palestine, West Bank and Gaza. What exactly did he mean by that?
POWELL: What he meant by that is that in the West Bank, you've got to have a coherent, contiguous land, which joined with Palestine -- with Gaza, would constitute the state of Palestine. He was making the point that you can't have a bunch of little Bantustans, or the whole West Bank chopped up into non-coherent, non-contiguous pieces, and say this is an acceptable state.
The president wants the Palestinian people to have a state of their own. It should include Gaza and significant chunks of the West Bank, with some alignment of the armistice line, as he has said previously. But he is going to be doing everything he can to help Mr. Sharon with his plan, of evacuating all the settlements in Gaza, beginning with the evacuation of settlements from the West Bank, and then get back into the road map and help the Palestinian people put an end to terrorism that comes out of Palestinian communities, and help them reform their political system, and their security system, so that Israel can feel comfortable leaving Gaza and turning it over to Palestinian control.
And we're working with the Egyptians, who will be helping with the security in Gaza. So an opportunity is being presented to us, and the president fully intends to take advantage of that opportunity.
BLITZER: One final question, on the resignation of George Tenet, the CIA director. You went over to the CIA before the war and studied weapons of mass destruction, the intelligence information. But clearly, some of that information was wrong. What do you make of his decision to resign now, because as you know, there is wild speculation, a lot of speculation out there that he was coming under so much criticism, he really had no choice.
POWELL: George was as disappointed as I was that some of the information was not correct. No CIA director wants to give the secretary of state or a president information that was incorrect. And he had undertaken to find out what went wrong. And we have the Silberman (ph) commission now doing the same thing. I know absolutely for a fact, because I was with the president just before he made the announcement last week, that George Tenet resigned for personal reasons. He was not asked to resign. In fact, the president wanted him to stay. We all wanted him to stay. But George felt that it was time for him to go, and he attributed it to personal reasons. And I've known George for many, many years and I accept that answer and do not go charging off into various conspiracy theories.
BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, it's kind of you to spend some time with us on this very, very emotional day, 60 years since D-Day, a day after Ronald Reagan has passed away.
POWELL: It is an emotional day. The passing of a great American, a great man, and to be at this beautiful place that I've visited many times before and to see fallen comrades resting in peace, and to have all of their fellow Americans and President Bush and President Chirac here to pay yet again final salute to them.
BLITZER: Colin Powell, thanks very much.
POWELL: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: The secretary of state of the United States, General Colin Powell, with us here on this special day, the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Now, back to Atlanta.
NGUYEN: Definitely an emotional day back here in the U.S. Of course, many mourning the loss of former President Reagan and on that note there are tons of emotions just pouring in on the fact that the President has now passed on and we understand that President Bush made a comment as well.
GRIFFIN: The Senior President Bush. This was Ronald Reagan's Vice President and then went on to become President, of course. He was in Kennebunkport, Maine when hew got the news, at his summer home there and came out yesterday afternoon to give us this comment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT: People asked me, well what was so special about President Reagan? And on a personal basis it was his kindness, his decency, his sense of humor, unbelievable. And he had a wonderful way where you could disagree with him. He had leaders in Congress or foreign leaders that he'd disagree with and yet he was never disagreeable about it himself. He was never mean-spirited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: President Reagan's body will be buried at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Mourners have gathered there since learning of his death.
GRIFFIN: CNN's Thelma Gutierrez joins us with reaction. Good morning, Thelma.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Drew. Well, the flags here at the Presidential Library are flying at half staff as you can see behind me and even though the library was closed to the public shortly after the death was announced, people continue to come.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): It was a quiet, emotional tribute to a man they had never met before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To pay tribute to one of the greatest presidents that these United States have ever had.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A very strong leader. We felt the need to be here.
GUTIERREZ: Hundreds of others felt the need to be here too. They gathered at the entrance of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Parents with their children. Young admirers not even born when Reagan was president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I have a lot of respect for Ronald Reagan. He was a great man and he did a lot for our country.
GUTIERREZ: The memorial is a reflection of the many endearing traits that touched so many. Cowboy boots. A football. Jellybeans and his Hollywood contribution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I bought a football because of "Win one for the Gipper." And I brought a flag because of the great things he did for America.
(MUSIC "NATIONAL ANTHEM")
GUTIERREZ: It was a spontaneous moment. Mourners reflecting on their president as music played over a car stereo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His candor, his way of speaking to the public, he made everybody feel like he was one of us. He was just a down-to-earth, wonderful president.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GUTIERREZ: A spokesperson said that the public will be able to pay their final respects to the President here at the library, but the details have not yet been released. I think that will come later on this morning. Drew and Betty, back to you.
GRIFFIN: Thelma, very interesting to see the emotion, even though we knew for so long that he was slipping away slowly to this insidious disease that there's still people very sad this day, when Ronald Reagan has past away.
NGUYEN: Known as the Great Communicator, he definitely touched many, many lives. And also touching lives today, of course, are the events at Normandy, France, commemorating D-Day some 60 years ago today. We want to take you live there with some pictures of those live events.
Here's a look now as people gather to remember and take pictures with some of the veterans there. Many veterans have come not only with their sons and daughters but with their grandchildren to remember this moment, to remember history. Many of them have grown old in age, and for some this may be their last trip back to Normandy.
GRIFFIN: Of course, America not the only country involved in D- Day. Many of the allies there are holding rememberances. The British ceremony going on right now with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles. There's Prince Philip there getting ready to speak about the many sacrifices that British forces suffered on that terrible day, but a day that eventually led to the liberation of all of Europe. An alliance that, as President Bush said earlier today still stands strong and still is needed. We are going to check in with Wolf Blitzer now. We talked earlier with Wolf about many D-Day veterans who are just now in the past 20 years or so talking about their experiences there, and he is with a man who may have started the discussions, Stephen Spielberg.
BLITZER: Thanks very much. We are joined now here in Normandy at the Colville Cemetery by Steven Spielberg, perhaps more than anyone else, you've got the world, Americans to be sure, Steven, but certainly the world to remember D-Day, to remember what has happened. Why is this so important to you personally to get everyone on earth to remember the sacrifices, what was done on this day 60 years ago?
STEVEN SPIELBERG, DIRECTOR: Well, you know, it is said that we're all influenced by our parents and my dad taught me the lessons of World War II because he fought in the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II the 490th Burma Bridge Busters and so all my life as a child was spent hearing my dad stories of World War II and the reunions he would have with other veterans he didn't seem to be able to talk about it to other people who weren't in the war, but once he had somebody who he shared an experience with, he was able to really open up and talk about it.
BLITZER: Could he talk about it with you?
SPIELBERG: Yes, he could, but it was great to hear him talk about it with those who served with him and it just sort of was instilled in me a sense of my dad was more afraid of being forgotten than anything else. His generation being forgotten and I just think that "Saving Private Ryan," or at least my impulse to tell the story of the landings on Omaha Beach, most of that came from what my dad had been talking about all those years.
BLITZER: What about today, when you walked around, you met with these veterans, so many of them unfortunately, this will probably be the last occasion for them to remember D-Day and--what were they saying to you?
SPIELBERG: Well, they were thanking us for both the films, the "Saving Private Ryan" picture and also the "Band of Brothers" miniseries that Tom Hanks and I did together because that was all involved--it's pieces, the Rashomon pieces of the same story. But the great thing is they're just happy that you're remembering them, that there are so many people who have come here to honor what they did because they saved the world, didn't they?
BLITZER: They certainly saved the world and on this day 60 years ago the world changed, obviously, for the better. There was no guarantee that D-Day was going to be successful.
SPIELBERG: No, and all the indicators pointed to a tremendous failure in the first hours of the landings. The tides were unanticipated and the units were mixed and spread out and Higgins' boats either landed right next to each other or too far apart, allowing the Germans to concentrate their firepower. The entire beach was pre-sighted by Rommel and everything that--when they went into some of the bunkers, some of them of broke (ph) when they finally got to the top the saw charts showing how the beaches were pre-sighted. And it was a slaughteryard.
BLITZER: The German General Erwin Rommel, he went away to see his wife in Berlin, it was her birthday. Had he been here there are some scholars who suggest the outcome might have been different.
SPIELBERG: It might have been different because they would have brought more of the reserves up and I think he would unilaterally without waking the Fuhrer who did not want to be awakened at the time, he unilaterally probably would have brought the Panzers up to Vierville and all the towns overlooking the beaches. But it didn't happen, but it looked at the outset that it was going to be a failure. And it wasn't.
BLITZER: You and Tom Hanks have done incredible work to bring the importance of D-Day to the public out there, but Ronald Reagan, who died yesterday, 20 years ago when he was here and spoke about the boys of Point de Hoc, he did a lot to bring this story to life as well.
SPIELBERG: Yes he did. I think every president has Reagan, Clinton when he was here for the 50th anniversary and then today, Chirac and President Bush. I think it should be a national holiday. What happened here. And I felt today was Veterans' Day. I think for all of us we felt this was a second Veterans' Day.
BLITZER: What's next on your agenda?
SPIELBERG: In my professional life?
BLITZER: In terms of World War II.
SPIELBERG: World War II. Tom Hanks and I are working with HBO on a miniseries called the Pacific, where we're going to tell the true stories of the veterans in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II.
BLITZER: So you did...
SPIELBERG: We did Normandy we did--now we're going to tell the Pacific story.
BLITZER: And when is that going to be ready?
SPIELBERG: Probably ready for airing probably in '06.
BLITZER: A series for HBO?
SPIELBERG: Yes, about 12 hours.
BLITZER: Steven Spielberg, on behalf of everyone thanks so much for spending a few moments with us.
SPIELBERG: It's always a pleasure. Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Appreciate it very much, appreciate all the good work you've done.
SPIELBERG: Thank you, sir.
BLITZER: Steven Spielberg, like so many others who have come here to remember what happened 60 years ago, D-Day, a day that changed the world. Back to the CNN Center in Atlanta.
NGUYEN: And welcome to a special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, Remembering Ronald Reagan. I'm Betty Nguyen.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN Center in Atlanta. The big story is of course this morning the passing of President Reagan at the age of 93. The body of former President Reagan will lie in state at the Reagan Presidential Library at Simi Valley, California. Since the announcement of Reagan's death, mourners have been visiting the library, holding vigils and leaving flowers and other items to honor the former president there.
NGUYEN: CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is there this morning with the latest. Thelma?
GUTIERREZ: Betty, as you know, this is the largest of all the Presidential Libraries. It is also the spot, as you had mentioned, where the President will finally be laid to rest. Behind me you can see that the flags are at half staff. The library was open today but it closed the moment that it was mentioned that the President had died. Even so, that did not keep the mourners away.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To pay tribute to one of the greatest presidents that these United States have ever had.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A very strong leader. We felt the need to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I brought a Notre Dame hat, again, for his role, and I brought a U.S. flag for all the stuff he did for the country.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GUTIERREZ: At the entrance of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library people began to gather shortly after the President died. Some were visibly moved, some very emotional as they gathered at a makeshift memorial. In fact, before the library closed to the public many ran up the hill. They carried wreaths, cards, and they placed them at the foot of the statue of the President in the library and then some 12 hours later, way into the night, people were still showing up here. Police say hundreds came. In fact, they had to set up a special lane marked "the flower lane" for all the traffic that was arriving. People were bringing flowers, they brought candles and cards and even flowers that were placed in cowboy boots and cowboy hats. All for a president that they say that they knew. Now that has been the reaction that we have seen here at the library. In fact, we are told that the library will remain closed to the public, perhaps for the next week. Betty and Drew?
GRIFFIN: Thelma, thank you for that report.
NGUYEN: President Reagan's body is expected to leave the library and head to Washington sometime midweek. There, the nation will be given a chance to mourn the loss. For more on the plans for our national celebration, we head to Washington, and CNN's Ed Henry. Ed?
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty. The sun is just trying to peak out over the Capitol this morning where officials are starting all of the preparations, all of the pomp and circumstance for a state funeral.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States.
HENRY (VOICE-OVER): The Capitol was the scene of many of Ronald Reagan's triumphs. Now it will be the setting for the nation to bid him farewell. Sometime this week, Mr. Reagan will lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol for 24 hours, giving the American public a rare opportunity to directly pay its respects to one of the most beloved presidents of our time. Thousands are expected to file past his casket. It has been 31 years since the public last had this chance, when Lyndon Johnson was memorialized. It is sure to be a grand and solemn moment in history. After all, who can forget the images of John F. Kennedy's funeral?
The Reagan family is still working out the final details, but here's how it is expected to unfold: Mr. Reagan's casket will be flown to Andrews Air Force Base. President Bush will be waiting in the Capitol Rotunda to receive the casket. Mr. Bush will be joined by former presidents, the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, congressional leaders and diplomats. The Capitol will then stay open for a full day, giving the public a chance to honor the nation's fortieth president.
(END VIDEO TAPE) HENRY: And Betty, a short while ago, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert told CNN that he expects the body of Mr. Reagan to arrive mid- week here in Washington at Andrews Air Force Base. It will then, of course, head over to the Capitol. We do not have a precise day yet. We are waiting for the family to official confirm the day and times. We're expecting that announcement from the family later today, who we do know, as Mr. Hastert told CNN, that there will be a funeral at Washington National Cathedral later in the week and in fact, Mr. Hastert said that now what we heard last night, that the body may only lie in state in the capital for 24 hours, Mr. Hastert suggested that it could lie in state for 48 hours. Also, Mr. Hastert noting that there will be a funeral at Washington National Cathedral near the end of the week and then that same night there will be a burial in California at the Presidential Library, Betty.
NGUYEN: And Reagan is only the tenth president to have a state funeral with such pomp and circumstance. Why is that?
HENRY: Well, it's such a high honor, obviously, that it's not something that Congress bestows easily. As Mr. Hastert said, there will be a resolution that the House and Senate will have to formerly pass. They do this on very rare occasions. The last time that anybody was lying in honor was in 1998 when two Capital police officers who had been slain were actually lying in honor. But there is a different distinction. Lying in honor, not lying in state. As I mentioned in the piece, the last president was Lyndon Johnson 31 years ago. Obviously a lot has change in those 31 years. Security, while probably not a major consideration 31 years ago, now, post 9/11, you can imagine what the President and Vice President, former Presidents, diplomats, so many high officials here, security is going to be a major consideration. Something that officials here are bracing for.
NGUYEN: With no doubt, CNN's Ed Henry. Thank you.
HENRY: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: And from Washington we go back to France where D-Day observations are underway marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Right now, in fact, the British and French are holding a joint ceremony honoring the British involvement in the D-Day invasion. The Queen Elizabeth was there as well as Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Tony Blair, the Prime Minster, all joining Jacques Chirac in ceremonies and wreath-layings where British soldiers are laid. And this is a picture of that ceremony right now going on right now. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...comradeship to all Normandy veterans and joy and common purpose but we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, whose courage never failed. Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Parade march.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They shall grow not old as we they shall let (ph) grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years (UNINTELLIGIBLE). At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. CROWD: We will remember them.
(BUGLE MUSIC)
GRIFFIN: This is the joint British-French commemoration of the D-Day anniversary. Our Wolf Blitzer is hosting the anniversary from Normandy, France and rejoins us now. Wolf, good morning.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Drew. This ceremony at Bayeux very emotional ceremony between Britain and France. Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, President Jacques Chirac of France, Mrs. Chirac, they have all gathered here, Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister as well as so many veterans. The British veterans who helped storm the beaches of Normandy and helped set the stage for the defeat of Nazi Germany. Queen Elizabeth II, you see her here. She has made this journey together with so many other world leaders to remember, to reflect on what happened 60 years ago. The French defense minister, so many other leaders have come as well. Jacques Chirac is here.
He has come here from a ceremony with the Canadians earlier, a special ceremony with President Bush and the Americans. These series of ceremonies commemorating D-Day continuing throughout the day here at Normandy. It was an Allied effort in the classical sense that resulted eventually in success in France, success in the rest of Europe. Some of these older veterans clearly very, very emotional as we watch this moving ceremony at Bayeux, the British cemetery. Earlier we had seen the American-French ceremony at the American cemetery in Colville. Now you see the French President Jacques Chirac walking with Queen Elizabeth II. They will pay their respects to the British troops who fought for the liberation of France. They will lay this wreath here just as President Chirac and President Bush laid a similar wreath at the Colville American Military Cemetery not all that far away from here.
Let's watch and listen briefly as the ceremony continues.
It's a beautiful day here in Normandy. The sun is shining, the skies are clear, the skies are blue. Everyone is in a very, very festive, emotional moment. As these veterans, though, get older, whether they are British veterans, French veterans, whether they are American veterans, I have noticed certainly that they've become so much more emotional. I was here 10 years ago for the 50th anniversary and I didn't see as much crying by the veterans as I see now. These veterans all in their late 70s, 80s, they are crying openly as they remember their fallen comrades. Let's listen in as the national anthems of France and England are played.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The blessing. On to God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace both now and forever. Amen.
BLITZER: And so the benediction, the invocation here at this cemetery, this British cemetery, the military cemetery here in Normandy. This commemoration, the 60th anniversary will continue. The French President Jacques Chirac with the head of state of England, of Great Britain, the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II. Tony Blair, the head of government, the British prime minister, there as well. We'll continue to watch this. Let's bring in, though, our White House correspondent Dana Bash. She is covering the President, traveling with the President here in Europe. Dana, tell our viewers what the President is doing now.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the President, we can actually hear the helicopter. He is shortly going to go over to Can (ph), and that is where he will have some photo opportunities, take some pictures with the other world leaders who are here. 16 other world leaders are here, including, of course, his host, President Jacques Chirac. Then he will be having a--what they are calling a multinational lunch. He will be meeting with all of those leaders including for the first time in any of these ceremonies the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder. But early today, Wolf, for all of the discord of late between the U.S. and French relations this was very much a day of harmony. We saw Jacques Chirac and President Bush shoulder to shoulder. President Bush calling France America's first friend in the world and the two talking about the importance of the alliance today even so. But the thrust of Mr. Bush's speech today was to honor the Americans who stormed the Normandy beaches here and all their sacrifices.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: And we still look with pride on the men of D-Day, on those who served and went on. It is a strange turn of history that called on young men from the prairie towns and city streets of America to cross an ocean and throw back the marching mechanized evils of fascism. And those young men did it. You did it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And the President made several references to the veterans of World War II and specifically of D-Day, many of whom were in the audience as he spoke and President Bush talking about the fact that they clearly have memories, some of which they would like to forget, but Mr. Bush also tried to bring to light some of the 9,000 soldiers or so who are buried here at the cemetery by telling some of their stories and President Bush essentially as he has been moving through Europe--he started in Italy three days ago--has been talking about moving forward, looking at World War II, post World War II, and the fight against communism, equating that to the fight against terrorism as he has talked about the struggle against tyranny in World War II and compared that in the past to the struggle against Saddam Hussein. But today, White House aides said that the President very much wanted to stay focused on the sacrifices of the soldiers who liberated France, liberated Europe, and gave--many of whom gave their lives, 130,000 troops who stormed the beaches here at Normandy, and of course, Wolf, President Bush also honored President Reagan, who, of course, died yesterday. He called him at the very beginning of his speech a gallant leader for the cause of freedom.
Wolf?
BLITZER: Remembering Ronald Reagan, remembering D-Day. Dana Bash traveling with the President, our White House correspondent. Thanks very much. We're going to continue to cover all of these commemorative events here in Normandy here in France on this 60th anniversary of D-Day. We'll also continue to cover the reaction, the worldwide reaction to the death of the fortieth President of the United States, Ron Reagan. We'll take a quick break. Much more coverage when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Whether he was speaking to the nation, addressing Congress or on the campaign trail, Ronald Reagan knew how to play to the crowd. His logic was simple. Make them laugh or at least chuckle and you establish a connection. He was a master at it. Here's our senior analyst Jeff Greenfield.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
R. REAGAN: I had a phone call the other night.
GREENFIELD (VOICE-OVER): 1980. The Al Smith dinner in New York. Ronald Reagan's age is an issue that overhangs the presidential campaign. President Carter, Reagan says, called him with a question.
R. REAGAN: "Rona," Carter said, "how come you look younger every day when I see a new picture of you riding horseback?" And I said, "Well, Jimma, that's easy. I just keep riding older horses."
GREENFIELD: So much for the age issue. But in 1984 Reagan stumbles badly in his first debate with Walter Mondale.
R. REAGAN: But I also believe something else about that. I believe that--and when I became governor of California...
GREENFIELD: And whispers of his age are getting louder. Then, in the second debate, Reagan says:
R. REAGAN: I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.
GREENFIELD: So much for the age issue. Two years later, President Reagan confronts another issue: Is he lazy?
R. REAGAN: I don't know about you, but I've been working long hours. I've really been burning the mid-day oil.
GREENFIELD: All through his public life, Reagan demonstrated as skillful a use of humor as any political figure. Reporter Lou Cannon, who chronicled Reagan throughout his political career says it was far more than simply a pleasant personality trait.
LOU CANNON, REAGAN BIOGRAPHER: I think Reagan's humor was the key to his political success. R. REAGAN: I'm so desperate for attention I almost considered holding a news conference.
CANNON: Reagan knew if you made fun of yourself that you established a bond with people. He did it all the time.
GREENFIELD: He knew, by instinct or by experience that if you joke about a presumed weak spot people will ask about it. If it doesn't bother me, the joke says, it shouldn't bother you.
R. REAGAN: ...preparing me for a press conference was like reinventing the wheel. It's not true. I was around when the wheel was invented and it was easier.
GREENFIELD: Thus, Reagan's acceptance speech at the 1980 Republican Convention began by noting his first career.
R. REAGAN: Well, the first thrill tonight was to find myself for the first time in a long time in a movie on prime time.
GREENFIELD: But Reagan's humor was also a tool he used to defang opponents, some of whom saw Reagan as a dangerous extremist. Longtime Reagan aide Mike Deaver.
MIKE DEAVER, FORMER REAGAN AIDE: In some instances, probably, that's what people had thought before they came into the room if they had believed everything they had read about him. So he did use humor to soften his own image.
GREENFIELD: And longtime political adversaries, like former congresswoman Pat Schroeder, agree.
REP. PAT SCHROEDER, RETIRED CONGRESSWOMAN: He had kind of this little look, this little twinkle, that worked when he was dealing with people. So folks becoming very angry about something, they would kind of melt down. I wish he had more substance; he couldn't have had more grace. And humor is a wonderful way to have grace and take the edge of life, which a lot of people need to do today.
GREENFIELD: His humor was a gift on display at the most serious of moments. When he was shot in 1981, he was quoted as saying to the doctors, quote, "I hope you are all Republicans."
DEAVER: That was the beginning of the real change in people's perceptions about Reagan.
GREENFIELD: That, says Michael Deaver, was grace under fire.
R. REAGAN: I heard those speakers at the other convention saying we won the Cold War, and I couldn't help wondering just who exactly do they mean by, "we."
GREENFIELD: And his humor was there in one of his last public appearances, at the 1992 Republican convention, when he mocked both Bill Clinton and himself. R. REAGAN: This fellow they've nominated claims he's the new Thomas Jefferson. Well, let me tell you something. I knew Thomas Jefferson.
GREENFIELD: In politics, humor is like nitroglycerin. Powerful but dangerous. In the wrong hands, attempts at humor have ended political careers. In the hands of a master like Ronald Reagan, there is no better tune.
Jeff Greenfield, CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Hello and welcome back to our viewers. We're covering two stories. I'm Wolf Blitzer here in Normandy. The 60th anniversary of D-Day, June 6th, 1944. The President of the United States has been here together with other world leaders remembering what happened here. Also, we're following the reaction to the death of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who died yesterday at age 93.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN Center in Atlanta and we continue to cover the death of President Reagan and we're getting more information on what will take place over the next week as the nation mourns.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Of course these two big stories are something that you are going to see a lot of today on CNN. The D- Day observances is a story that we want to follow right now, and for that we go back to Wolf Blitzer.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Betty. Thank you very much, Drew. The President of the United States, George W. Bush spent some considerable amount of time here in Normandy with the French President Jacques Chirac. They paid tribute to the heroes of World War II, the young men who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6th, 1944, and set the stage, 11 months later, for the defeat of Nazi Germany, changing the world forever. President Bush and President Chirac at least on this day and perhaps in the days to come, removing some of those strains that clearly had developed in the aftermath of the U.S.- led invasion of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Making it clear that the U.S.- French alliance, which has been in business for more than 200 years, going back to the United States Revolutionary War. That alliance very much intact at least on this day. There was a 21-gun salute, a 21-gun salute here at the Colville American Military Cemetery paying tribute to the men who died here, more than 9000 tombstones, more than 9,000 crosses and Stars of David at this U.S. Military Cemetery. The President in his remarks went out of his way to make it clear that those days, the days of World War II, have not been forgotten.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: The only way home was through Berlin. That road to V-E day was hard and long a traveled by weary and valiant men. And history will always record where that road began. It began here, with the first footprints on the beaches of Normandy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The President now meeting with other world leaders here in Normandy before he gets ready to leave France. Our senior White House correspondent John King is in Paris, he is covering all of these developments for us. John, I spoke a little while ago with the Secretary of State Colin Powell. He made it clear that there are still serious strains in the U.S.-French relationship, but he sees very clearly that within the next few days the U.S., France and other members of the Security Council will be able to pass a resolution in support of what's going on in Iraq.
KING: And of course, one of the major subplots on this day as we remember D-Day 60 years ago, people watching to see if in fact presidents Bush and Chirac can turn the page, put the bitterness over Iraq behind them and get back to a closer U.S.-French relation. You mentioned your interview with the Secretary of State. We are told that in private meetings here in Paris yesterday that President Chirac assured President Bush that France still had some reservations about that drafted U.N. resolution but that he was confident they would be resolved and he was also confident that resolution would pass unanimously. Now, President Chirac greeted Mr. Bush as he stepped off Marine 1, the President's helicopter at the U.S. Military Cemetery and from the moment Mr. Bush did step out it was very much like their meeting here in Paris yesterday.
President Chirac greeting him with a smile, the two men appearing to be quite friendly. Mr. Bush, in his remarks, did pay a brief tribute to Ronald Reagan. He wanted to focus mostly, though, on the World War II generation and on those events of 60 years ago. Mr. Bush honored those buried at the U.S. Military Cemetery, but he also took a point of noting many of the World War II generation, many veterans of the beach landing sitting before him as he delivered his remarks, that generation sadly is dying off quickly. Mr. Bush wanted to make sure, he promised them they would never be forgotten.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: And those young men did it. You did it. That difficult summons (ph) was reached and then passed in 60 years of living. Now has come a time of reflection with thoughts of another horizon and with hope of reunion with the boys you knew. I want each of you to understand you will be honored ever and always by the country you served and by the nations you freed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: President Chirac repeatedly thanked the United States of America and its people. He said France thanked the United States of America and its people, he said France owed its freedom to the Americans who shed their blood and gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy. No mention specifically of the Iraq debate at all. President Chirac saying this is a relationship with 200 years of a bond between the two nations, although he did concede it's not always perfect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JACQUES CHIRAC, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): And this friendship remains intact to this day. It is confident (ph), it is indeed demanding, but it is founded in mutual respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: And Wolf, Mr. Bush also trying to look forward, look to the future. He noted in referencing the U.S.-French relations that France was the U.S.'s first friend. That of course is a reference to France's support of the colonists in what became the United States during the Revolutionary War. Wolf?
BLITZER: John, the President is getting ready to go to the G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia and then eventually coming back to Washington, DC. We heard Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House of Representatives say they expect the body of Ronald Reagan to arrive in Washington probably on Wednesday to lie in state in the Rotunda on Capitol Hill and then for there to be a National Cathedral funeral service on Friday before the body is returned Friday night to Simi Valley, California, the home of the Reagan Presidential Library. I assume the President is going to work around that schedule to make sure that he and the other world leaders will be in Washington well in advance of that Friday memorial service.
KING: That is exactly our understanding, Wolf. We are told that Mr. Bush will continue with the G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia, not only the Group of 8 leaders coming there but a number of leaders from around the world, the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere invited to join the summit in Sea Island Georgia. Mr. Bush, we are told, will lead the summit, come back to Washington when Ronald Reagan's body is brought up to the Capitol and participate in the ceremony; as is traditional he will lead the ceremony as President of the United States. It is likely he would then return to the Sea Island summit, at the G8, that summit is supposed to break on Thursday. Mr. Bush would then come back to Washington, and we expect many, if not most of the world leaders who come to this summit to come with Mr. Bush to Washington for that funeral on Friday, Wolf.
BLITZER: A week-long remembrance of Ronald Reagan, the fortieth President of the United States. Our White House correspondent John King is in Paris. He is covering the President's trip. He will be heading from Paris off to the G8 summit in Georgia as well. John, stand by, we'll be getting back to you. I want to bring back our correspondents--our anchors in Atlanta, Betty Nguyen and Drew Griffin. They are covering all of these events as well.
NGUYEN: And right now we want to talk about the passing of President Reagan. Flags and flowers, prayers and praise, fitting tributes around the country as Americans are remembering the man they called "Dutch." This is the scene at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. At Yankee Stadium yesterday, baseball fans observed a moment of silence and in Santa Monica a simple sign read "God bless the Gipper."
For many, Ronald Reagan was a larger than life figure, as he is now in his death. All this morning we will bring you reactions to his life and legacy from ordinary people. Here's one.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic president. Probably the last president I actually voted for to be honest with you. And the two terms he served he did a fantastic job. A great American and I'm sure he'll be missed by millions of people. Just a few hours after former President Reagan died his body was removed to a Santa Monica funeral home. Hundreds of spectators lined the streets in front of the funeral home. This is the body leaving the Bel Air mansion where he lived. It's expected that the former President will lie in state at the Reagan Library.
His body will then be transported to Washington for national services. Wolf went over those. And after Washington, the body will be returned to California for a private burial service that will take place at the Reagan Library. The formal service in Washington will be held at the National Cathedral. The service will be for friends, family and diplomats from around the world. It will be closed to the public, but the proceedings at the Cathedral will be broadcast live. It is expected the casket will be draped with the American flag that flew over the Capitol during President Reagan's first inauguration day. That was January 20th, 1981.
Before the service at the Cathedral, a grand funeral procession will carry the President's body down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol, where the body will lie in state for 24 hours in the Capitol Rotunda. Thousands expected to walk past the casket. President Reagan just the 10th president to be so honored. You are watching continuing coverage of the passing of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Stay with us.
REAGAN: What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest on the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to deter a Soviet attack, but we could intercept and destroy strategic ballistic missiles before they reached our own soil or that of our allies. I know this is a formidable technical task, one that may not be accomplished before the end of this century, yet current technology has attained a level of sophistication where it's reasonable for us to begin this effort.
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NGUYEN: Mikhail Gorbachev was more deeply associated with Ronald Reagan than perhaps any other world leader. Though Cold War adversaries, their relationship was part of the scenario that ultimately led to the end of the Soviet Union. Upon learning of Mr. Reagan's death, Gorbachev said,
"I deem Ronald Reagan a great president with whom the Soviet leadership was able to launch a very difficult but important dialogue. I do not know how other statesmen would have acted at that moment because the situation was too difficult. Reagan, who many considered extremely rightist, dared to make these steps and this is his most important deed. GRIFFIN: Ronald Reagan's presidency, of course, had highs and lows. A remark by the Iranian hostage crisis, the invading of Grenada and terrorist bombings in Lebanon. Brent Sadler, now bureau chief in Beirut has been our point man throughout those events and he joins us live there. Brent, you have the unique position of being able to gauge all of these events from foreign soil. How did the rest of the world view Ronald Reagan in his presidency?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in terms of what was happening in this part of the world, let's cast our minds back to the 1980s in Lebanon. This country was suffering from disintegration, chaos and anarchy. The Israelis had invaded Lebanon in 1982 to drive out Yassir Arafat's PLO that had been firing missiles and attacking the northern part of Israel. So clearing Lebanon of the PLO state within a state was an important Israeli priority. So too was it an important priority for the U.S. to have to evacuate by sending in 800 marines. Those PLO fighters from here. And after that, though, what we saw was a presidency that tried to have a peacekeeping force sent in here. The United States, plus Britain, France and Italy to try and stabilize this country at war. It was a terrible failure because it turned into a mess after the suicide bombing of 1983. A suicide bomber targeted the U.S. Marine barracks on the edge of the airport, killing 241 marines.
And that act in itself really acts as a template and resonates today because the kind of terror tactics that were evolved here during that decade, during President Reagan's time in the White House, really served to what we see is happening in Iraq today. There was also hostage-taking here. Terry Anderson, the U.S. Associated Press bureau chief, the longest held hostage. This really was one of the most dangerous places on earth, often referred to as the terror capital of the world. A far cry from a city at relative peace with itself today. But in those days, very different, and what it did, that marine bombing, was to turn eventual U.S. policy on its head and the U.S. eventually, along with European allies withdrew from here, leaving, as I said earlier, the hostage crisis, again, leading to that Iran-Contra scandal which blighted the back end of President Reagan's time in office. Drew?
GRIFFIN: Brent, thank you. Joining us from Beirut this morning. Thank you very much.
NGUYEN: And now we want to go live to Wolf Blitzer in Normandy with the D-Day celebrations there. Wolf?
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Betty. So many of the commemorative events, of course, focus around the young men, those young men 60 years ago who literally saved the world. One of those young men was a 23-year-old man named Grant Gullickson. He is now 83 years old. He is joining us here at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Colville overlooking Omaha Beach. Mr. Gullickson, thanks very much for joining us. Thanks for your service during World War II. Tell our viewers what you were doing on D-Day.
GRANT GULLICKSON, WWII VETERAN: Well, on D-Day I was the chief machinist aboard a United States destroyer, the USS Corry DD463. The USS Corry DD463 and our sister ships the Hobson and the Fitch were leading the first wave ashore over here at Utah Beach and I was the chief machinist, and my job on that particular ship, I was in charge of the main control, which meant I had the power distribution and control of the engineering plant. And there was about 80 people in the engineering plant that I had under my supervision.
BLITZER: And so you had been crossing the English Channel, getting ready to push towards Normandy, then what happened?
GULLICKSON: Well, we were steaming up the lane(ph) at about 5:20 or so, that's when the first shells started firing from the Corry.
BLITZER: 5:20 a.m. in the morning?
GULLICKSON: That's right. And this went on back and forth and I got reports that the ship had taken some hits topside and some men got hurt and the fire kept going back and forth and at about 6:20 I got orders for flank speed ahead, which in the case of a destroyer means all the speed you've got. The captain was going to do some violent maneuvering at that time due to the shells hitting closer.
BLITZER: How close to shore were you?
GULLICKSON: We were--I would say we were probably a mile, a mile and a half from the beach.
BLITZER: You had taken some direct hits but you were still moving?
GULLICKSON: Oh yeah, we were still going, and everything was going well. At about 6:35 my tachometer was going around 255 RPMs, which would be 25 knots, and the world came to an end. The ship literally came out of the water and the engine room I was in filled with steam and the flow plates and everything came apart and it began flooding immediately and...
BLITZER: You had taken a direct hit.
GULLICKSON: We had taken a direct hit of some kind. And then the steam dissipated. And what had happened in the two boilers in the forward boiler room blew up and the fact that I was getting my steam from those two boilers, the steam dissipated up the stack, which, in effect allowed us to get untangled from the bilges and one thing or another and wrestle the hatch open, got most of the men out of the port side of the ship, went around to the starboard side of the ship and at the topside the ship had a rupture about this wide clear across the main deck. And the ship had started to buckle at that time.
BLITZER: How many men were aboard the ship?
GULLICKSON: At that time we had between 260, 270 men, I don't know exactly, but it was right in that neighborhood. And I got all of the men out of the forward engine rooms with the systems and my crew, but we only saved two men out of the forward boiler room. By then the captain had ordered abandon ship because we were still getting a lot of gunfire. And I went off the ship on the starboard side, climb out to a life net that was out there, hung on to it, and it seemed like it was half a day, but reconstructing the time I was in the water for about two hours. The water was about 52 degrees.
BLITZER: How many of your fellow soldiers did you lose?
GULLICKSON: We lost 24 dead and 59 wounded.
BLITZER: 59 wounded and the rest survived like you.
GULLICKSON: Yes, they did.
BLITZER: Briefly tell our viewers what goes through your mind 60 years later.
GULLICKSON: Well, we was out here--the French Navy took us out for memorial service and we had a service for our shipmates that didn't make it, that are still out there and it's a very emotional thing. It really--I was in good shape until I got there, and I was in good shape until I got to the cemetery.
BLITZER: And then what happens? You just lose it?
GULLICKSON: It was interesting(ph), it was...
BLITZER: Because you remember what?
GULLICKSON: Well, you remember your buddies that didn't come back. But the rest of the time you just go about your business. It's an emotional time now.
BLITZER: Do you find as you get older, you're 83 years old now, almost 84 years old. As you get older do you get more emotional?
GULLICKSON: Well, I do, because I lost my wife of 59 years on the 22nd of December and since then the emotions...
BLITZER: Our deepest condolences to you--our thanks, though, to you and all of the men who served with you and helped saved the world. Thanks very much, Mr. Gullickson, for joining us.
GULLICKSON: I'm proud to have been a member of the United States Navy. It's been good to me and it's a great country.
BLITZER: We're proud that you were a member, thanks so much.
GULLICKSON: Thank you so much Wolf for having me up here.
BLITZER: Grant Gullickson. Would you just sit there for a second?
GULLICKSON: Certainly.
BLITZER: He lives in Virginia Beach, originally from North Dakota. He served on the USS Corry. He fought here on D-Day 60 years ago. Let's go back to the CNN Center in Atlanta. NGUYEN: Such an emotional day there. You could see it in his face and his voice and he is just one of so many who are there to remember what happened on this day 60 years ago.
GRIFFIN: Each story unique. We'll be back right after this.
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BLITZER: And so that's been it. A dramatic day here on the beaches of Normandy, at the American Military Cemetery in Colville. Remembering D-Day 60 years after the fact. An emotional, wrenching day for so many of those American veterans, other veterans who have come back to remember and to reflect. We're also remembering Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States who passed away yesterday at the age of 93. We will have continuing coverage of both of these stories, the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the death of Ronald Reagan, throughout the morning here on CNN. Coming up at noon Eastern, a special LATE EDITION, I'll be live from Normandy. My interview with the Secretary of State Colin Powell, among other guests on our special LATE EDITION. Until then, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Normandy, now back to Atlanta.
NGUYEN: And Wolf, really, put it to point, it is a day full of emotion, emotion about the loss, the memories and also the loss of Ronald Reagan. It's a day that really focuses on the Greatest Generation and he was a part of that.
GRIFFIN: There's a quote in the "New York Times" this morning, just a woman outside the funeral home where Reagan's body and she says "He came at a time when you needed to be proud, and he made you proud to be an American again," like the D-Day veterans that we have honored this morning, Ronald Reagan remembered as one of the most popular American presidents, bringing a special flare to the presidency with wit, love, humor, an eloquent way with words, and we leave you with this essay from CNN's Bruce Morton.
BRUCE MORTON, CNN ANALYST: The motto in his high school yearbook was "Life is just one great sweet song, so start the music." Ronald Reagan believed that always. He loved the music, loved his life. At school, as a lifeguard, at Little Eureka College, where he made the football team. Loved being an announcer for the Chicago Cubs. Loved Hollywood. Maybe he really was the Gipper after all.
(BEGIN MOVIE CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you hear me yelling when you ran back that kickoff?
R. REAGAN: Sure I did, Bill, that's why I kept running.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gee, wait 'til I tell the kids that.
R. REAGAN: Thattaboy!
(END MOVIE CLIP) MORTON: If he succeeded, and he did, it was because he was happy in all the roles he played. He really was the kid he used to talk about who knew, faced with a barnful of manure that there had to be a pony around somewhere. He was married twice, didn't always get along with his children but was deeply in love with his wife.
R. REAGAN (VIDEO TAPE): I met Nancy Davis 33 years ago in California. She had been my First Lady since long before the White House.
MORTON: And they were partners. She worried for him, planned for him, sometimes even fed him a line.
N. REAGAN: We're doing everything we can.
R. REAGAN: We're doing everything we can.
MORTON: Some presidents yearn for the job, need it to find out who they are. Ronald Reagan always knew who he was. Politics came to him. Debating Jimmy Carter, he asked a question people remembered.
R. REAGAN: Are you better off that you were for years ago?
MORTON: But Americans remember the humor from that debate, too.
R. REAGAN: There you go again.
MORTON: He loved one-liners and so did the voters. Badly wounded by would-be assassination John Hinckley, Reagan joked to his wife, "Honey, I forgot to duck." And to the doctors, "Please tell me your Republicans."
One-liners. Grace under pressure.
R. REAGAN: Go ahead, make my day.
R. REAGAN: And you can tell that it's working because I told you several times, they don't call it Reaganomics anymore.
MORTON: When the space shuttle Challenger blew up, killing its crew, he gentled the country.
R. REAGAN: They prepared for their journey, waved goodbye and slipped the bounds of earth to touch the face of God.
MORTON: To a country haunted by Vietnam he offered easy wins. Grenada. Force could work.
R. REAGAN: Under this administration our nation is threw wringing its hands and apologizing.
MORTON: It didn't always work, of course. Marines died in Lebanon. And a president who cared deeply about the hostages there traded arms for them even though he said he wouldn't and then convinced himself that maybe he hadn't done that after all.
R. REAGAN: I have to say I don't recall that at all.
MORTON: He got to be good at not hearing the questions he didn't want to hear. People loved his politics or hated them, but mostly they liked Reagan the man. He left office on a high.
R. REAGAN: George, just one personal request. Go out there and win one for the Gipper.
MORTON: He didn't need the presidency when he was president, didn't seem to miss it much when he left. A visit to Japan, a stroll with Mickey Mouse. Life was a grand sweet song, and the music played for a long time. Bruce Morton, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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Aired June 6, 2004 - 05:15 Â ET
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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This has been a truly, truly emotional day, especially for so many Americans because it comes only a day after the death of Ronald Reagan. President Ronald Reagan died Saturday afternoon in Bel Air, California, in Los Angeles. He was here 20 years ago for the 40th anniversary. So many of these veterans remember what he had to say then. So many of these veterans, of course, remember Ronald Reagan as someone who began the process and helped to destroy what was then the Soviet Empire, the end of the Cold War. This has been a day of dramatic memories involving Ronald Reagan, involving D-Day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT: My friends, we did it. We weren't just marking time, we made a difference.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And what a difference he made, and when he entered the White House he promised a new morning in America, now America is mourning his death. The arc of Ronald Reagan's life suggests a rare American irony. The oldest man to enter the White House who had youthful can-do optimism about America's potential. A man political foes discounted, whose influence was longer than many ever expected. Welcome to a special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING. "Remembering Ronald Reagan." I'm Betty Nguyen.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN Center in Atlanta. We're following two major stories this Sunday morning. We'll have reaction, of course, to Ronald Reagan's death and the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day. In France right now there are many observances marking the turning point of World War II.
Flags and flowers, prayers, praises, fitting tributes around the country. Americans are remembering the man they called "Dutch." He called himself "Dutch" as a matter of fact. This is the scene at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California as lit candles reflect a mournful mood. Elsewhere, Americans and world leaders are finally remembering the 40th President of the United States.
A sea of white crosses and military pomp and circumstance. We have seen the memorials to U.S. troops who stormed Normandy beaches. We'll go back to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, in Colville-ser-Mer -- Wolf. BLITZER: Thanks so much, Drew, thank you very much Betty. I am here in Normandy, the Colville Cemetery, the American cemetery here in Colville where there was such a moving moment. Just a little while ago, the President of the United States, the President of France, remembering the heroes who began the process of liberating France, liberating Europe only 60 years ago. They also remembered the President, especially, Ronald Reagan who passed away only yesterday at age 93. Let's go back to that ceremony and look at some of the moments, the sights and sounds, for those of our viewers who may have missed it.
(MUSIC)
(GUNSHOTS)
(MUSIC "TAPS")
(SILENCE)
BLITZER: A moving U.S/French tribute to the men, the heroes of World War II, the American troops who stormed the beaches here at Normandy 60 years ago, went on to liberate France, to liberate Europe, to destroy Nazi Germany.
Welcome back to our continuing coverage. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Normandy. We're joined now here in Normandy at the Colville Cemetery by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, a member of the President's delegation here. Mr. Speaker, thanks so much for joining us.
We're also remembering Ronald Reagan. The 40th President of the United States, who passed away yesterday. Once you get back to Washington, you have to make preparations for his body to lie in state in the Rotunda and also for the funeral, for the memorial service. Tell us what you are doing.
REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Well, we anticipate that the President will be, first of all, lying in state at the Reagan Library in California. Tuesday night he will fly back, they will fly his body back to Washington. He will come up to the Capitol as far as we know right now by a procession probably Wednesday morning and lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and Thursday and we think then a funeral at the National Cathedral on Friday, then being flown back to California to be interred at sunset at the Reagan Library with a private funeral with the family.
BLITZER: In Simi Valley, California, at the Reagan Library. Now technically you have to pass a resolution in order to get the process legislatively approved.
HASTERT: That will be pretty much pro forma but we'll do that so that he can lie in state in the Rotunda and that's what we anticipate and we'll do that Tuesday.
BLITZER: And this will be an opportunity for every day average Americans to walk by to pay their respects? HASTERT: Well, you know Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois and raised in Dixon, Illinois, my district, and he really represents the heartland of America and I think every American would like to be there but we're going to open up so real folks can come in there and pay their respects.
BLITZER: And people not only in the Washington area but all over the country, if they want to come to Washington, this will be their chance to say goodbye to Ronald Reagan?
HASTERT: We anticipate that'll happen, yes.
BLITZER: What did he mean to you?
HASTERT: Well, I first got into politics and ran in 1980, the same time that Ronald Reagan was running for President and that was an interesting time because people didn't really have a lot of faith in what could happen but Ronald Reagan I think gave America and Americans the belief that we could do great things and we could become relevant in the world and I had to give a speech this year for Ronald Reagan Day dinner in Lee County, Illinois, in Dixon, Illinois. You wonder what do you say about Ronald Reagan. When you really think about it, Ronald Reagan allowed millions of people to walk in freedom today because he had the ability to challenge and when the rest of the world stepped back, he stepped forward and challenged the Soviet Union and I think because of that there are people walking around in freedom today and I think what he said here 20 years ago, and he looked across these graves lining up like soldiers standing at attention and then he looked across the ocean and said, "Where do we find men like these?" and he said, "We find them in America." And I think that sums it up and those who were here today, those last precious few of those men who did face this challenge. He was proud of them and we were proud of Ronald Reagan.
BLITZER: If he were here today, if he had witnessed this 60th anniversary of D-Day, he not only would have been able to once again pay tribute to those heroes of World War II, but he would see an effort by both French President Jacques Chirac and President Bush to patch over some of these strains that have developed. Do you get a sense that they're doing that?
HASTERT: I think so and one of the things you have to talk about is what Ronald Reagan talked about, Wolf was that we could make a difference in the world and I think what the French understand and what the Americans understand is that if we stand together in the world, people who love democracy, people who love freedom, we can make a difference in this world and we're doing it today.
BLITZER: Are you encouraged that this alliance, this 200 plus year alliance between the United States and France can get back together?
HASTERT: You know I taught American history and I taught about-- President Chirac talked about Yorktown, talked about we were able to win our independence from the British because of the battle and the French helped us do it. I think there are great people who love freedom and if we can stand together we can do great things in this world, to keep freedom for all people in this world.
BLITZER: Mr. Speaker, thank you for spending a few moments with us on this very, very special day. Appreciate it very much.
HASTERT: Thank you very much.
BLITZER: The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert. Dennis Hastert together with other congressional leaders from the House of Representatives as well as the U.S. Senate, remembering the fallen, remembering the heroes of World War II, also taking a moment to reflect on Ronald Reagan.
Our continuing coverage of what's happening here in Normandy will resume. In the meantime, let's go back to the CNN Center in Atlanta to Betty -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Wolf, Ronald Reagan spoke at Normandy 20 years ago on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. CNN senior White House correspondent joins us from Paris with the reaction there to Mr. Reagan's death. Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Betty. President Bush representing the United States today. You mentioned Ronald Reagan, of course, speaking here at the ceremonies 20 years ago. Mr. Bush walking the grounds of the cemetery with the French President Jacques Chirac, of course these two men disagreed bitterly over the war in Iraq, but standing side by side today, listening to the national anthems played by the band up at the military cemetery. The French national anthem, first, and then the American national anthem played. Both leaders standing solemnly at that point. Mr. Bush in his remarks focused mostly on the heroism on the beaches of Normandy 60 years ago, but he did pause at the very beginning to remember that American president who came here 20 years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Twenty summers ago another American president came here to Normandy to pay tribute to the men of D-Day. He was a courageous man himself and a gallant leader in the cause of freedom and today we honor the memory of Ronald Reagan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, Mr. Bush, looking out at his audience and also of course at the graves, the crosses and the Stars of David. Mr. Bush told several personal stories of those who fought on the beaches 60 years ago and in saluting the Americans buried here. He also made a point of pointing to the veterans gathered in the audience. Mr. Bush at one point said, "You did it," and promised those in the dying World War II generation would never be forgotten.
NGUYEN: John, today, the President mentioned Reagan fondly and there are being a lot of connections made between the two. Reagan really brought out a belief if America, that it can do great things and today the connection is being made that President Bush, the current President Bush, is linked in a way to Reagan in the sense that they both show America's resolve and its compassion.
KING: Quite an interesting comparison. This president, of course, is the son of a former president, George H. W. Bush. George H. W. Bush was Ronald Reagan's Vice President. Many more comparisons, political observers who believe this president, George Bush, campaigns much more like Ronald Reagan than he does like his father. They are both very optimistic. This president says he models that optimism, his faith in America, his constant upbeat talk after the optimism of Ronald Reagan.
They are also are very much alike in this way, Betty. Ronald Reagan was very controversial in Europe as he earned the Western Allies to stand up against what he called the Evil Empire, the Soviet Union and Mr. Bush quite controversial now, of course, because of the war in Iraq and some other policies. As everyone watches these ceremonies today, one thing everyone is looking for is, "Is this president going to be successful as he tries now to repair those relations. Mr. Bush and President Chirac both promising that would be the case and of course Mr. Bush is here. He decided the go ahead with these ceremonies in the wake of Ronald Reagan's death. He's also returning to the United States tonight, continuing with plans to have a major international summit in Sea Island, Georgia, but White House officials telling us, and you heard Speaker Hastert talking about the funeral proceedings. The President will go back to Washington when necessary to take part as the nation now mourns and prepares to bury Ronald Reagan -- Betty.
NGUYEN: CNN senior White House correspondent John King in Paris. Thank you.
GRIFFIN: You are watching continuing coverage on the death of President Ronald Reagan and later on we will return, of course, to Normandy for the continuing observances there marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, remembering the fortieth President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, as well. I'm Wolf Blitzer, I'm reporting from Colville, the American cemetery here in Normandy overlooking Omaha Beach.
I'm joined now by Senator John Warner, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He's here with the President of the United States remembering both of these events. You were here 20 years ago with Ronald Reagan when he delivered that moving address praising the boys of Point du Hoc. Remember for our viewers, Senator Warner, what happened.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), VIRGINIA: Well, I remember it well, Wolf, because I will be down there this afternoon, and how touching it was. And right in the middle of his speech, one of the original soldiers that scaled the cliff...
BLITZER: The Army Rangers. WARNER: He ran up, I mean, broke through the Secret Service and went down the row and came up the row. Reagan just loved that.
BLITZER: He just was so excited...
WARNER: He was so excited.
BLITZER: When Ronald Reagan spoke those powerful words twenty years ago, these were words that came from his heart because he lived through that period, as did you. You're a veteran of World War II.
WARNER: Well, I was in the training command. My generation in the 1944, '45 were ready to come over and replace these fighters and then the war ended.
BLITZER: And you volunteered as--you were 17 years old?
WARNER: We were all 17, it was no big deal.
BLITZER: These were young boys who came here and Ronald Reagan remembered that. When you heard that he had passed away yesterday, what went through your mind?
WARNER: Well, if I may say with a sense of humility, he was a good friend. He used to come down to my farm, we'd ride horses together. He loved the history of Virginia. He could recount every campaign that Stonewall Jackson ever fought in. He was an extraordinary man. He had a tremendous depth of knowledge in a lot of subjects and I say with humility he was a hero to me.
BLITZER: Why was he a hero to you?
WARNER: Because he had done so many exciting things in his lifetime and every day to him was another day filled with challenge and filled with excitement.
BLITZER: He was often criticized for not being substantive enough, but you knew him, obviously, very, very well.
WARNER: Well I wouldn't say that well, but I knew him well. He was a friend, he came to the house. I remember one time he was making a speech. Do you remember how he carried the 3x5 flip cards?
BLITZER: Yes.
WARNER: And he knew them by heart. And the flip cards all dropped on the floor accidentally before the speech. Well, he got down and scrambled them up and put the deck back together again, then they hardly used it, it was sort of a security device, those old cards he had.
BLITZER: He always had those cards to remember some of the notes, some of the points that he would want to make. If Ronald Reagan were here today he would remember, of course, what happened during World War II. He would reflect on all of those emotional moments. But he'd also be thinking about the U.S. relationship with the Allies, especially friends. Do you get a sense there's been an improvement over the past day or two?
WARNER: Well, I had an opportunity to talk to some this morning about the meeting between the President and President Chirac and if President Chirac will match actions with his strong words today then I think the President followed up with an equally strong speech. I think we'll see a strengthening--I'd say a renewing of the relationship that's been with this country forever.
BLITZER: For 200 years.
WARNER: Absolutely. Right there in Yorktown, in my own state. If it hadn't been for the naval blockade by Admiral de Gras and Rochambeau marched down the valley, we probably wouldn't be here today.
BLITZER: It looks like they're getting closer to a common language on a U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq. Is that your sense?
WARNER: That's my sense. I'm optimistic. I also--my leader went to Iraq yesterday and I had a chance to talk to Senator Frist.
BLITZER: The Senate Majority Leader?
WARNER: Yes, and he came away with a very strong message which I am sure he will be delivering soon about his impressions of the new prime minister and that government.
BLITZER: Is it premature to start getting a little bit more hopeful that perhaps things are improving in Iraq?
WARNER: I allowed myself to begin to get a little bit more hopeful, and I have been there a number of times and I was there two months ago and it's so important that we stay the course and finish that job, because it's symbolic to the whole world, the credibility of the coalition forces, not just the United States.
BLITZER: Some in Europe, as you well know, are criticizing President Bush for making the comparison between the liberation of Iraq and World War II.
WARNER: Oh well. People are always criticizing presidents and their speeches. So what's new? Let's move on. We still, we're the most significant force in NATO in terms of dollars of contribution and NATO is playing a vital role in Afghanistan now. And the French are there with us.
BLITZER: Alright. Senator Warner, as usual, thanks for spending a few moments with us.
WARNER: Thank you.
BLITZER: Senator John Warner, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, together with other leading members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives gathered here with President Bush to remember D-Day 60 years ago, also remembering President Ronald Reagan.
We'll continue our special coverage, we're standing by to speak with the Secretary of State, Colin Powell. We'll do that momentarily. In the meantime, let's go back to the CNN Center and Betty Nguyen. Betty?
NGUYEN: We are covering several stories today. Of course, the commemoration there in France and we want to give you a live shot now of Bayou (ph) where we are watching the French/British ceremony. A lot of veterans there in the crowd today. Also in the crowd, Queen Elizabeth and French President Jacques Chirac. They will be there for today's ceremony where they will be laying wreaths. There will also be a moment of silence and a prayer, but this is the scene as many around the world today watch as the commemorations of D-Day some 60 years ago.
GRIFFIN: Several ceremonies going on involving Jacques Chirac as he goes through the allies that were all involved with the D-Day invasion. The Canadians, of course, the British here with Queen Elizabeth and the Americans earlier today, it's a day where all these nations came together and began to defeat Nazism in Europe and later on, as well, an appearance and a ceremony with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for the first time. Although many people in Germany today believe that this indeed was their liberation, too, in a roundabout way from the Nazis. So the Germans will be involved in D- Day ceremonies for the first time on this 60th anniversary.
NGUYEN: Still looking at pictures now of the French and British ceremony there and looking at veterans who have come to honor the occasion and also come to remember. A little bit earlier today there was another ceremony in which President Bush spoke at that ceremony along with Jacques Chirac who is attending this one. We right now want to send it over to Wolf Blitzer for an interview there in Normandy, France. Wolf?
BLITZER: Thanks very much Betty. I am joined now by the Secretary of State of the United States, General Colin Powell, who is here with the President. He is joining us here at the Colville American Cemetery. We'll talk about D-Day in a moment.
You worked for Ronald Reagan. You remember Ronald Reagan, Mr. Secretary. What goes through your mind?
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I remember him very well, and I'm very sad at his loss, but he's in a better place now. And he was such a great man. I worked for him as national security adviser. But I was also in the Army during those years. And so I watched him not only as a commander in chief, but as the head of our foreign policy operation as president. And he was a man who brought such pride back to the armed forces and pride back to the nation. He was a man of incredible vision, and he never varied or strayed from the vision that he had, of a world at peace, a world where freedom was breaking out. And his first challenge was to make that happen in the Soviet Union. And he was able to work with a man by the name of Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the head of the Soviet Union, and together they did historic things. BLITZER: They changed the world.
POWELL: They changed the world. The president always believed that the Soviet people deserved a better system than the system they had. And he was going to make it happen not by war, but by peace, by showing the power of democracy.
Every time Gorbachev would come to visit, Reagan always wanted to take him out to his ranch in California, or to a factory where we made cars in Detroit. He never wanted to show missile fields or submarines or anything like that. He always wanted to show Gorbachev the goodness of America and how America works, and he wanted that same sort of system to ultimately persuade the Soviet Union that it should move in that direction.
Gorbachev tried to restructure and reform the Soviet Union, but it couldn't be restructured. It had to be taken apart, because communism was a failed ideology. Reagan knew that.
BLITZER: In the '80s, he managed to get this process going to see the end of the Cold War, to eventually see the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending 74 years of communist rule, without one shot being fired.
POWELL: Not -- without one shot being fired. That -- one of the reasons for that is we remained strong. Reagan knew that he had to rebuild the armed forces when he became president, and we were not in good shape. We weren't really proud of ourselves after the Vietnam War yet. And he restored that sense of pride in the armed forces, and he gave us the wherewithal to become the best in the world again.
And so he showed the Soviet Union that, look, we are prepared to do what it takes, to spend whatever is necessary so that America is strong, but we want to use this strength for peace. Not to attack you, not to threaten you. Now that you know we're strong and you can't defeat us, let's work on a way forward, where we can help you, where we can help the Soviet Union at that time.
And Gorbachev knew that they could afford guns, but they couldn't afford butter. America could afford both, therefore things had to change.
BLITZER: It was just a lucky break that there was a leader in the Soviet Union at that moment, named Mikhail Gorbachev.
POWELL: It was a lucky break; it was destiny. If one could call a lucky break destiny. And President Reagan used to kid -- because, you know, he went through about three Soviet leaders; two died very suddenly in front of -- three of them. And he said, if only one of these gentlemen would stay alive long enough for me to work with him. Along came this vigorous man in his early 50s, Gorbachev, and he was that man. And Gorbachev had taken a hard look at the Soviet Union and realized it couldn't continue this way. He had to change it. Perestroika and glasnost, you remember those words. Restructuring and openness. But that wasn't enough. You couldn't restructure a communist system to make it work in the 21st century. And openness meant openness, and once you opened it up, it was all going to come out. People were going to see what they were missing for all these years.
And so, Gorbachev and Reagan are two great historic figures, both of whom had a vision. They were slightly different visions. Gorbachev did not come in to preside over the death of communism, which is what he ended up doing. Reagan always knew that communism was a failed ideology.
BLITZER: But did he have the confidence, did he have the optimism that what he was doing would result in that?
POWELL: Yes. He knew -- he didn't know what form it would take. He didn't know that the Soviet Union would totally break up. But he was absolutely confident in our system. He was such an optimist, such a believer in freedom and democracy and the rights of men and women. And he saw what we had done in the United States, and he kept saying to himself, why shouldn't this happen elsewhere? He saw what had happened in Europe after World War II. He saw what happened in Japan and other parts of the world. He saw what was happening in our own hemisphere. The sweep of democracy, he truly believed in the sweep of democracy. And he said, why shouldn't it happen in the Soviet Union? Why shouldn't it go behind the iron curtain? Mr. Gorbachev, come here. Tear down this wall. What he was saying -- and we all remember that speech...
BLITZER: Of course.
POWELL: And people said, you know, there's been debate about that speech, and debate about that line. But what he was essentially saying, come tear down this wall. And people said, we have offended Gorbachev. But Gorbachev needed that kind of statement from the West that said, open up.
BLITZER: Remind our viewers. How did he come -- you and him. How did he come to pick this officer in the United States Army to be his national security adviser?
POWELL: Well, I came into the White House as deputy national security adviser in January of 1987, after the Iran-Contra problem. And Frank Carlucci came as national security adviser, to get things going again. The administration was in very great trouble at that point, as you'll recall.
BLITZER: This is after (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
POWELL: Exactly. And Frank Carlucci, an old, dear friend of mine, my godfather, as I call him, my mentor in political life, he asked me to come back from commanding my corps in Germany to be his deputy. And I said, I don't want to do that. Well, President Reagan called me and said, you've got to do it. And I did. And then 11 months later, Frank Carlucci went over to the Pentagon, to replace Cap Weinberger, who left after a distinguished period of service. And one day Frank walked into the Situation Room, and he had a little scribbled note, and he handed it to me at the beginning of a meeting. And I opened it up, and it said, "you are now the national security adviser." President Reagan had picked me.
I had gotten to know the president very well by then, of course, and I treasured that friendship. And after he left office, we stayed in touch. Stayed in touch with both President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan. I have fond memories of those days. But to show if I could just have a minute, what it was like, two quick vignettes.
After he retired, I went to see him out in his home in Beverly Hills, and I had retired. But a young sergeant had been assigned, as a courtesy, to drive me to the house. As we were pulling up to the house, the young sergeant said to me, "would you please tell President Reagan how much we appreciate what he did for us." And I said, OK. So I got to the door, rang the doorbell. President Reagan answered the door, welcomed me. Come on in, say hello to Nancy. And I said, "there is somebody I want you to meet." And I called the sergeant over. I said, "Sergeant, you tell him yourself."
Sergeant was stunned. He couldn't say a word. He just did what sergeants do -- he came to attention, saluted President Reagan. President Reagan returned the salute. We went into the house. The sergeant went back to the car, the door closed, and President Reagan said to me, "Colin, is it still OK for me to salute?" I said, "Mr. Reagan, don't you ever stop saluting. It means so much to us."
Another story of his optimism. In the '88 period, there was a lot of concern about how much the Japanese were investing in the United States. And we had these debates within the administration. Is this good? The Japanese are buying golf course, they're buying buildings, they're buying -- they're buying all our real estate and what not. And we ought to do something about it. And Reagan sat in the Oval Office listening to this debate one day. And he smiled and said, "No, I am not going to do anything about it. I'm glad they know a good investment when they see one." You know, that just blew us away.
BLITZER: His optimism.
POWELL: His optimism. I'm so proud that people think America is such a good investment that they're sending their money here.
BLITZER: It was instinctive on his part.
POWELL: It was instinctive on his part, but it wasn't just instinct. He had thought about these issues. He had studied them. He had such a belief in our system, our economic system and our political system, that it gave him an azimuth to sail on that he never varied from.
BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, let's talk a little bit about U.S.- French relations right now. Certainly the words that were uttered by the president of France, the president of the United States were encouraging, but are there still serious differences over Iraq that separate these two allies?
POWELL: The differences that we had last year are not going away. It was a major disagreement. They thought we shouldn't have gone into Iraq, and we were determined to do what was right and get rid of Saddam Hussein. So we shouldn't say that disagreement has gone away. It's there. But we have come together again, in the recognition that the Iraqi people need the help of the international community. So we have been working very closely with the French government. I think we're very close to a final resolution at the U.N. in New York, to be passed in the next several days. And we have worked out differences over a short period of time. We had just been working on this resolution for 13 days.
BLITZER: What is the major issue that divides the U.S. and France?
POWELL: There aren't any major issues left on the resolution. We are working out details. We are doing some language checks, as one always does with such a resolution. But I think the resolution will pass over the next several days, and it will be a resolution that recognizes that full sovereignty is being returned to Iraq...
BLITZER: June 30.
POWELL: By June 30. And no later than June 30. And it recognizes that the international community has to keep a military presence there, at the request of the Iraqi sovereign government. And we worked out the arrangements on how that military force will work with this new sovereign government. It calls on the international community to help build up Iraqi forces as quickly as we can, to provide additional assistance to Iraq in any way that we can, to reconstruction efforts. Additional troops, military trainers, police trainers. Anything that country can do to help the Iraqi people.
BLITZER: Do you see the possibility that France, or Germany for that matter, would deploy troops to Iraq?
POWELL: No. They've made it clear that deployment of troop formations is not something they are able to do. But keep in mind, we have French troops in Haiti working alongside us, French troops in the Balkans working alongside of us. French troops in Afghanistan working alongside of us. German troops working with us in Afghanistan and in the Balkans. So we had this disagreement last year over Iraq. Now we are coming together. Remember the last three U.N. resolutions with respect to Iraq since the war all passed unanimously, and I hope this coming week we'll see another resolution passed unanimously.
BLITZER: Will this resolution have an end date for the U.S. deployment, the U.S. coalition -- led coalition in Iraq?
POWELL: It will say that at the end of 2005, when this political process has run its course and we have had constitution and free elections, at that point, this mandate probably should come to an end, but the more important point is not what the resolution says. It's what the Iraqi sovereign government wants. We have had troops in sovereign nations, for, you know, the last 50 years. We had them in Korea, we had them in Germany, we had them in United Kingdom. And so we will be there for as long as we are needed.
I hope it's not a long period of time. But we're there, with the consent of the sovereign government, and we've made arrangements with that sovereign government. That sovereign government wants to see us leave. Why wouldn't they? They want to build up their own forces, their own police forces. We're going to help them do that. So as soon as they're ready to take over their own security, sure, they want us to leave.
BLITZER: So is Colin Powell -- put on your general's hat for a second -- suggesting there is an exit strategy now for U.S. troops?
POWELL: There is an exit strategy. Political exit strategy and military strategy, because we've made it clear that we are there at the request and with the consent of this new sovereign government. To help them do what? To help them get ready for elections. That's what the first mission of this government is. To help them build up their own forces so that they can be responsible for their own security and for their own political and military destiny. But I can't give you a specific time when there will no longer be a requirement for a military presence from the United States of the coalition.
Keep in mind that when this sovereign government takes over, Ambassador Bremer, having done a terrific job, a brilliant job, will go home, and the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist. Ambassador Negroponte will be there representing the United States. But he is not the government the way Ambassador Bremer was. There will be an Iraqi government. And we've already seen, the president of this new government and the prime minister of this new government making positive statements about their vision for their country.
BLITZER: The new prime minister, Iyad Allawi. Certainly he expressed his gratitude to the United States for helping to liberate Iraq. We didn't hear that expression of gratitude, though, from the incoming president.
POWELL: We've talked to the incoming president, and I can assure you that he's very grateful for what we have done. He is grateful for our continued presence. I think all of the ministers are. They know that they are not yet able to run this country without our help. They also know that they wouldn't be able to take this -- these positions of leaders of a sovereign government if Saddam Hussein had not been eliminated. So I can assure you they are grateful, President Ghazi al-Yawer, expressed that to the president in a phone call that I was able to hear, sitting in the Oval Office with the president, about a week and a half ago. And so, I am confident that they are grateful for what we have done; they respect the fact that we put American lives and coalition lives at risk and lost a number of our youngsters.
BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, how serious are these allegations against Ahmed Chalabi, from the Iraqi National Congress, member of the Iraqi Governing Council, that he may have provided top secret intelligence information, code breaking information to Iran?
POWELL: Well, you know, Wolf, I'm just going to have to let the intelligence community deal with this. It's a matter that's best left to the experts who know what might or might not have happened. BLITZER: But this rise and fall of Ahmed Chalabi, it's been an amazing situation. State Department, as you well know, always concerned about him, as the CIA, but he had strong allies, as you well know, at the Pentagon and over at the vice president's office.
POWELL: We have to acknowledge that Mr. Chalabi spent, you know, decades, fighting for freedom of the Iraqi people, and for the demise of Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein is gone. And I don't think we should overlook the role Mr. Chalabi played in that. But what his future role should be in Iraq and what he might or might not have done to achieve the position that he's achieved, I will let others make judgments on that.
BLITZER: We only have a minute or two left, but the president last night when he met with Jacques Chirac, spoke about the Israeli- Palestinian problem, and he spoke about a two-state solution, Israel along Palestine, and he spoke about Palestine being contiguous, and a contiguous Palestine, West Bank and Gaza. What exactly did he mean by that?
POWELL: What he meant by that is that in the West Bank, you've got to have a coherent, contiguous land, which joined with Palestine -- with Gaza, would constitute the state of Palestine. He was making the point that you can't have a bunch of little Bantustans, or the whole West Bank chopped up into non-coherent, non-contiguous pieces, and say this is an acceptable state.
The president wants the Palestinian people to have a state of their own. It should include Gaza and significant chunks of the West Bank, with some alignment of the armistice line, as he has said previously. But he is going to be doing everything he can to help Mr. Sharon with his plan, of evacuating all the settlements in Gaza, beginning with the evacuation of settlements from the West Bank, and then get back into the road map and help the Palestinian people put an end to terrorism that comes out of Palestinian communities, and help them reform their political system, and their security system, so that Israel can feel comfortable leaving Gaza and turning it over to Palestinian control.
And we're working with the Egyptians, who will be helping with the security in Gaza. So an opportunity is being presented to us, and the president fully intends to take advantage of that opportunity.
BLITZER: One final question, on the resignation of George Tenet, the CIA director. You went over to the CIA before the war and studied weapons of mass destruction, the intelligence information. But clearly, some of that information was wrong. What do you make of his decision to resign now, because as you know, there is wild speculation, a lot of speculation out there that he was coming under so much criticism, he really had no choice.
POWELL: George was as disappointed as I was that some of the information was not correct. No CIA director wants to give the secretary of state or a president information that was incorrect. And he had undertaken to find out what went wrong. And we have the Silberman (ph) commission now doing the same thing. I know absolutely for a fact, because I was with the president just before he made the announcement last week, that George Tenet resigned for personal reasons. He was not asked to resign. In fact, the president wanted him to stay. We all wanted him to stay. But George felt that it was time for him to go, and he attributed it to personal reasons. And I've known George for many, many years and I accept that answer and do not go charging off into various conspiracy theories.
BLITZER: Mr. Secretary, it's kind of you to spend some time with us on this very, very emotional day, 60 years since D-Day, a day after Ronald Reagan has passed away.
POWELL: It is an emotional day. The passing of a great American, a great man, and to be at this beautiful place that I've visited many times before and to see fallen comrades resting in peace, and to have all of their fellow Americans and President Bush and President Chirac here to pay yet again final salute to them.
BLITZER: Colin Powell, thanks very much.
POWELL: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: The secretary of state of the United States, General Colin Powell, with us here on this special day, the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Now, back to Atlanta.
NGUYEN: Definitely an emotional day back here in the U.S. Of course, many mourning the loss of former President Reagan and on that note there are tons of emotions just pouring in on the fact that the President has now passed on and we understand that President Bush made a comment as well.
GRIFFIN: The Senior President Bush. This was Ronald Reagan's Vice President and then went on to become President, of course. He was in Kennebunkport, Maine when hew got the news, at his summer home there and came out yesterday afternoon to give us this comment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT: People asked me, well what was so special about President Reagan? And on a personal basis it was his kindness, his decency, his sense of humor, unbelievable. And he had a wonderful way where you could disagree with him. He had leaders in Congress or foreign leaders that he'd disagree with and yet he was never disagreeable about it himself. He was never mean-spirited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: President Reagan's body will be buried at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Mourners have gathered there since learning of his death.
GRIFFIN: CNN's Thelma Gutierrez joins us with reaction. Good morning, Thelma.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Drew. Well, the flags here at the Presidential Library are flying at half staff as you can see behind me and even though the library was closed to the public shortly after the death was announced, people continue to come.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): It was a quiet, emotional tribute to a man they had never met before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To pay tribute to one of the greatest presidents that these United States have ever had.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A very strong leader. We felt the need to be here.
GUTIERREZ: Hundreds of others felt the need to be here too. They gathered at the entrance of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Parents with their children. Young admirers not even born when Reagan was president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I have a lot of respect for Ronald Reagan. He was a great man and he did a lot for our country.
GUTIERREZ: The memorial is a reflection of the many endearing traits that touched so many. Cowboy boots. A football. Jellybeans and his Hollywood contribution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I bought a football because of "Win one for the Gipper." And I brought a flag because of the great things he did for America.
(MUSIC "NATIONAL ANTHEM")
GUTIERREZ: It was a spontaneous moment. Mourners reflecting on their president as music played over a car stereo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His candor, his way of speaking to the public, he made everybody feel like he was one of us. He was just a down-to-earth, wonderful president.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GUTIERREZ: A spokesperson said that the public will be able to pay their final respects to the President here at the library, but the details have not yet been released. I think that will come later on this morning. Drew and Betty, back to you.
GRIFFIN: Thelma, very interesting to see the emotion, even though we knew for so long that he was slipping away slowly to this insidious disease that there's still people very sad this day, when Ronald Reagan has past away.
NGUYEN: Known as the Great Communicator, he definitely touched many, many lives. And also touching lives today, of course, are the events at Normandy, France, commemorating D-Day some 60 years ago today. We want to take you live there with some pictures of those live events.
Here's a look now as people gather to remember and take pictures with some of the veterans there. Many veterans have come not only with their sons and daughters but with their grandchildren to remember this moment, to remember history. Many of them have grown old in age, and for some this may be their last trip back to Normandy.
GRIFFIN: Of course, America not the only country involved in D- Day. Many of the allies there are holding rememberances. The British ceremony going on right now with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles. There's Prince Philip there getting ready to speak about the many sacrifices that British forces suffered on that terrible day, but a day that eventually led to the liberation of all of Europe. An alliance that, as President Bush said earlier today still stands strong and still is needed. We are going to check in with Wolf Blitzer now. We talked earlier with Wolf about many D-Day veterans who are just now in the past 20 years or so talking about their experiences there, and he is with a man who may have started the discussions, Stephen Spielberg.
BLITZER: Thanks very much. We are joined now here in Normandy at the Colville Cemetery by Steven Spielberg, perhaps more than anyone else, you've got the world, Americans to be sure, Steven, but certainly the world to remember D-Day, to remember what has happened. Why is this so important to you personally to get everyone on earth to remember the sacrifices, what was done on this day 60 years ago?
STEVEN SPIELBERG, DIRECTOR: Well, you know, it is said that we're all influenced by our parents and my dad taught me the lessons of World War II because he fought in the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II the 490th Burma Bridge Busters and so all my life as a child was spent hearing my dad stories of World War II and the reunions he would have with other veterans he didn't seem to be able to talk about it to other people who weren't in the war, but once he had somebody who he shared an experience with, he was able to really open up and talk about it.
BLITZER: Could he talk about it with you?
SPIELBERG: Yes, he could, but it was great to hear him talk about it with those who served with him and it just sort of was instilled in me a sense of my dad was more afraid of being forgotten than anything else. His generation being forgotten and I just think that "Saving Private Ryan," or at least my impulse to tell the story of the landings on Omaha Beach, most of that came from what my dad had been talking about all those years.
BLITZER: What about today, when you walked around, you met with these veterans, so many of them unfortunately, this will probably be the last occasion for them to remember D-Day and--what were they saying to you?
SPIELBERG: Well, they were thanking us for both the films, the "Saving Private Ryan" picture and also the "Band of Brothers" miniseries that Tom Hanks and I did together because that was all involved--it's pieces, the Rashomon pieces of the same story. But the great thing is they're just happy that you're remembering them, that there are so many people who have come here to honor what they did because they saved the world, didn't they?
BLITZER: They certainly saved the world and on this day 60 years ago the world changed, obviously, for the better. There was no guarantee that D-Day was going to be successful.
SPIELBERG: No, and all the indicators pointed to a tremendous failure in the first hours of the landings. The tides were unanticipated and the units were mixed and spread out and Higgins' boats either landed right next to each other or too far apart, allowing the Germans to concentrate their firepower. The entire beach was pre-sighted by Rommel and everything that--when they went into some of the bunkers, some of them of broke (ph) when they finally got to the top the saw charts showing how the beaches were pre-sighted. And it was a slaughteryard.
BLITZER: The German General Erwin Rommel, he went away to see his wife in Berlin, it was her birthday. Had he been here there are some scholars who suggest the outcome might have been different.
SPIELBERG: It might have been different because they would have brought more of the reserves up and I think he would unilaterally without waking the Fuhrer who did not want to be awakened at the time, he unilaterally probably would have brought the Panzers up to Vierville and all the towns overlooking the beaches. But it didn't happen, but it looked at the outset that it was going to be a failure. And it wasn't.
BLITZER: You and Tom Hanks have done incredible work to bring the importance of D-Day to the public out there, but Ronald Reagan, who died yesterday, 20 years ago when he was here and spoke about the boys of Point de Hoc, he did a lot to bring this story to life as well.
SPIELBERG: Yes he did. I think every president has Reagan, Clinton when he was here for the 50th anniversary and then today, Chirac and President Bush. I think it should be a national holiday. What happened here. And I felt today was Veterans' Day. I think for all of us we felt this was a second Veterans' Day.
BLITZER: What's next on your agenda?
SPIELBERG: In my professional life?
BLITZER: In terms of World War II.
SPIELBERG: World War II. Tom Hanks and I are working with HBO on a miniseries called the Pacific, where we're going to tell the true stories of the veterans in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II.
BLITZER: So you did...
SPIELBERG: We did Normandy we did--now we're going to tell the Pacific story.
BLITZER: And when is that going to be ready?
SPIELBERG: Probably ready for airing probably in '06.
BLITZER: A series for HBO?
SPIELBERG: Yes, about 12 hours.
BLITZER: Steven Spielberg, on behalf of everyone thanks so much for spending a few moments with us.
SPIELBERG: It's always a pleasure. Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Appreciate it very much, appreciate all the good work you've done.
SPIELBERG: Thank you, sir.
BLITZER: Steven Spielberg, like so many others who have come here to remember what happened 60 years ago, D-Day, a day that changed the world. Back to the CNN Center in Atlanta.
NGUYEN: And welcome to a special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, Remembering Ronald Reagan. I'm Betty Nguyen.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN Center in Atlanta. The big story is of course this morning the passing of President Reagan at the age of 93. The body of former President Reagan will lie in state at the Reagan Presidential Library at Simi Valley, California. Since the announcement of Reagan's death, mourners have been visiting the library, holding vigils and leaving flowers and other items to honor the former president there.
NGUYEN: CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is there this morning with the latest. Thelma?
GUTIERREZ: Betty, as you know, this is the largest of all the Presidential Libraries. It is also the spot, as you had mentioned, where the President will finally be laid to rest. Behind me you can see that the flags are at half staff. The library was open today but it closed the moment that it was mentioned that the President had died. Even so, that did not keep the mourners away.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To pay tribute to one of the greatest presidents that these United States have ever had.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A very strong leader. We felt the need to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I brought a Notre Dame hat, again, for his role, and I brought a U.S. flag for all the stuff he did for the country.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GUTIERREZ: At the entrance of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library people began to gather shortly after the President died. Some were visibly moved, some very emotional as they gathered at a makeshift memorial. In fact, before the library closed to the public many ran up the hill. They carried wreaths, cards, and they placed them at the foot of the statue of the President in the library and then some 12 hours later, way into the night, people were still showing up here. Police say hundreds came. In fact, they had to set up a special lane marked "the flower lane" for all the traffic that was arriving. People were bringing flowers, they brought candles and cards and even flowers that were placed in cowboy boots and cowboy hats. All for a president that they say that they knew. Now that has been the reaction that we have seen here at the library. In fact, we are told that the library will remain closed to the public, perhaps for the next week. Betty and Drew?
GRIFFIN: Thelma, thank you for that report.
NGUYEN: President Reagan's body is expected to leave the library and head to Washington sometime midweek. There, the nation will be given a chance to mourn the loss. For more on the plans for our national celebration, we head to Washington, and CNN's Ed Henry. Ed?
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty. The sun is just trying to peak out over the Capitol this morning where officials are starting all of the preparations, all of the pomp and circumstance for a state funeral.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States.
HENRY (VOICE-OVER): The Capitol was the scene of many of Ronald Reagan's triumphs. Now it will be the setting for the nation to bid him farewell. Sometime this week, Mr. Reagan will lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol for 24 hours, giving the American public a rare opportunity to directly pay its respects to one of the most beloved presidents of our time. Thousands are expected to file past his casket. It has been 31 years since the public last had this chance, when Lyndon Johnson was memorialized. It is sure to be a grand and solemn moment in history. After all, who can forget the images of John F. Kennedy's funeral?
The Reagan family is still working out the final details, but here's how it is expected to unfold: Mr. Reagan's casket will be flown to Andrews Air Force Base. President Bush will be waiting in the Capitol Rotunda to receive the casket. Mr. Bush will be joined by former presidents, the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, congressional leaders and diplomats. The Capitol will then stay open for a full day, giving the public a chance to honor the nation's fortieth president.
(END VIDEO TAPE) HENRY: And Betty, a short while ago, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert told CNN that he expects the body of Mr. Reagan to arrive mid- week here in Washington at Andrews Air Force Base. It will then, of course, head over to the Capitol. We do not have a precise day yet. We are waiting for the family to official confirm the day and times. We're expecting that announcement from the family later today, who we do know, as Mr. Hastert told CNN, that there will be a funeral at Washington National Cathedral later in the week and in fact, Mr. Hastert said that now what we heard last night, that the body may only lie in state in the capital for 24 hours, Mr. Hastert suggested that it could lie in state for 48 hours. Also, Mr. Hastert noting that there will be a funeral at Washington National Cathedral near the end of the week and then that same night there will be a burial in California at the Presidential Library, Betty.
NGUYEN: And Reagan is only the tenth president to have a state funeral with such pomp and circumstance. Why is that?
HENRY: Well, it's such a high honor, obviously, that it's not something that Congress bestows easily. As Mr. Hastert said, there will be a resolution that the House and Senate will have to formerly pass. They do this on very rare occasions. The last time that anybody was lying in honor was in 1998 when two Capital police officers who had been slain were actually lying in honor. But there is a different distinction. Lying in honor, not lying in state. As I mentioned in the piece, the last president was Lyndon Johnson 31 years ago. Obviously a lot has change in those 31 years. Security, while probably not a major consideration 31 years ago, now, post 9/11, you can imagine what the President and Vice President, former Presidents, diplomats, so many high officials here, security is going to be a major consideration. Something that officials here are bracing for.
NGUYEN: With no doubt, CNN's Ed Henry. Thank you.
HENRY: Thank you.
GRIFFIN: And from Washington we go back to France where D-Day observations are underway marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Right now, in fact, the British and French are holding a joint ceremony honoring the British involvement in the D-Day invasion. The Queen Elizabeth was there as well as Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Tony Blair, the Prime Minster, all joining Jacques Chirac in ceremonies and wreath-layings where British soldiers are laid. And this is a picture of that ceremony right now going on right now. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...comradeship to all Normandy veterans and joy and common purpose but we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, whose courage never failed. Amen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Parade march.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They shall grow not old as we they shall let (ph) grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years (UNINTELLIGIBLE). At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. CROWD: We will remember them.
(BUGLE MUSIC)
GRIFFIN: This is the joint British-French commemoration of the D-Day anniversary. Our Wolf Blitzer is hosting the anniversary from Normandy, France and rejoins us now. Wolf, good morning.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Drew. This ceremony at Bayeux very emotional ceremony between Britain and France. Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, President Jacques Chirac of France, Mrs. Chirac, they have all gathered here, Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister as well as so many veterans. The British veterans who helped storm the beaches of Normandy and helped set the stage for the defeat of Nazi Germany. Queen Elizabeth II, you see her here. She has made this journey together with so many other world leaders to remember, to reflect on what happened 60 years ago. The French defense minister, so many other leaders have come as well. Jacques Chirac is here.
He has come here from a ceremony with the Canadians earlier, a special ceremony with President Bush and the Americans. These series of ceremonies commemorating D-Day continuing throughout the day here at Normandy. It was an Allied effort in the classical sense that resulted eventually in success in France, success in the rest of Europe. Some of these older veterans clearly very, very emotional as we watch this moving ceremony at Bayeux, the British cemetery. Earlier we had seen the American-French ceremony at the American cemetery in Colville. Now you see the French President Jacques Chirac walking with Queen Elizabeth II. They will pay their respects to the British troops who fought for the liberation of France. They will lay this wreath here just as President Chirac and President Bush laid a similar wreath at the Colville American Military Cemetery not all that far away from here.
Let's watch and listen briefly as the ceremony continues.
It's a beautiful day here in Normandy. The sun is shining, the skies are clear, the skies are blue. Everyone is in a very, very festive, emotional moment. As these veterans, though, get older, whether they are British veterans, French veterans, whether they are American veterans, I have noticed certainly that they've become so much more emotional. I was here 10 years ago for the 50th anniversary and I didn't see as much crying by the veterans as I see now. These veterans all in their late 70s, 80s, they are crying openly as they remember their fallen comrades. Let's listen in as the national anthems of France and England are played.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The blessing. On to God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace both now and forever. Amen.
BLITZER: And so the benediction, the invocation here at this cemetery, this British cemetery, the military cemetery here in Normandy. This commemoration, the 60th anniversary will continue. The French President Jacques Chirac with the head of state of England, of Great Britain, the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II. Tony Blair, the head of government, the British prime minister, there as well. We'll continue to watch this. Let's bring in, though, our White House correspondent Dana Bash. She is covering the President, traveling with the President here in Europe. Dana, tell our viewers what the President is doing now.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the President, we can actually hear the helicopter. He is shortly going to go over to Can (ph), and that is where he will have some photo opportunities, take some pictures with the other world leaders who are here. 16 other world leaders are here, including, of course, his host, President Jacques Chirac. Then he will be having a--what they are calling a multinational lunch. He will be meeting with all of those leaders including for the first time in any of these ceremonies the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder. But early today, Wolf, for all of the discord of late between the U.S. and French relations this was very much a day of harmony. We saw Jacques Chirac and President Bush shoulder to shoulder. President Bush calling France America's first friend in the world and the two talking about the importance of the alliance today even so. But the thrust of Mr. Bush's speech today was to honor the Americans who stormed the Normandy beaches here and all their sacrifices.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: And we still look with pride on the men of D-Day, on those who served and went on. It is a strange turn of history that called on young men from the prairie towns and city streets of America to cross an ocean and throw back the marching mechanized evils of fascism. And those young men did it. You did it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And the President made several references to the veterans of World War II and specifically of D-Day, many of whom were in the audience as he spoke and President Bush talking about the fact that they clearly have memories, some of which they would like to forget, but Mr. Bush also tried to bring to light some of the 9,000 soldiers or so who are buried here at the cemetery by telling some of their stories and President Bush essentially as he has been moving through Europe--he started in Italy three days ago--has been talking about moving forward, looking at World War II, post World War II, and the fight against communism, equating that to the fight against terrorism as he has talked about the struggle against tyranny in World War II and compared that in the past to the struggle against Saddam Hussein. But today, White House aides said that the President very much wanted to stay focused on the sacrifices of the soldiers who liberated France, liberated Europe, and gave--many of whom gave their lives, 130,000 troops who stormed the beaches here at Normandy, and of course, Wolf, President Bush also honored President Reagan, who, of course, died yesterday. He called him at the very beginning of his speech a gallant leader for the cause of freedom.
Wolf?
BLITZER: Remembering Ronald Reagan, remembering D-Day. Dana Bash traveling with the President, our White House correspondent. Thanks very much. We're going to continue to cover all of these commemorative events here in Normandy here in France on this 60th anniversary of D-Day. We'll also continue to cover the reaction, the worldwide reaction to the death of the fortieth President of the United States, Ron Reagan. We'll take a quick break. Much more coverage when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Whether he was speaking to the nation, addressing Congress or on the campaign trail, Ronald Reagan knew how to play to the crowd. His logic was simple. Make them laugh or at least chuckle and you establish a connection. He was a master at it. Here's our senior analyst Jeff Greenfield.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
R. REAGAN: I had a phone call the other night.
GREENFIELD (VOICE-OVER): 1980. The Al Smith dinner in New York. Ronald Reagan's age is an issue that overhangs the presidential campaign. President Carter, Reagan says, called him with a question.
R. REAGAN: "Rona," Carter said, "how come you look younger every day when I see a new picture of you riding horseback?" And I said, "Well, Jimma, that's easy. I just keep riding older horses."
GREENFIELD: So much for the age issue. But in 1984 Reagan stumbles badly in his first debate with Walter Mondale.
R. REAGAN: But I also believe something else about that. I believe that--and when I became governor of California...
GREENFIELD: And whispers of his age are getting louder. Then, in the second debate, Reagan says:
R. REAGAN: I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.
GREENFIELD: So much for the age issue. Two years later, President Reagan confronts another issue: Is he lazy?
R. REAGAN: I don't know about you, but I've been working long hours. I've really been burning the mid-day oil.
GREENFIELD: All through his public life, Reagan demonstrated as skillful a use of humor as any political figure. Reporter Lou Cannon, who chronicled Reagan throughout his political career says it was far more than simply a pleasant personality trait.
LOU CANNON, REAGAN BIOGRAPHER: I think Reagan's humor was the key to his political success. R. REAGAN: I'm so desperate for attention I almost considered holding a news conference.
CANNON: Reagan knew if you made fun of yourself that you established a bond with people. He did it all the time.
GREENFIELD: He knew, by instinct or by experience that if you joke about a presumed weak spot people will ask about it. If it doesn't bother me, the joke says, it shouldn't bother you.
R. REAGAN: ...preparing me for a press conference was like reinventing the wheel. It's not true. I was around when the wheel was invented and it was easier.
GREENFIELD: Thus, Reagan's acceptance speech at the 1980 Republican Convention began by noting his first career.
R. REAGAN: Well, the first thrill tonight was to find myself for the first time in a long time in a movie on prime time.
GREENFIELD: But Reagan's humor was also a tool he used to defang opponents, some of whom saw Reagan as a dangerous extremist. Longtime Reagan aide Mike Deaver.
MIKE DEAVER, FORMER REAGAN AIDE: In some instances, probably, that's what people had thought before they came into the room if they had believed everything they had read about him. So he did use humor to soften his own image.
GREENFIELD: And longtime political adversaries, like former congresswoman Pat Schroeder, agree.
REP. PAT SCHROEDER, RETIRED CONGRESSWOMAN: He had kind of this little look, this little twinkle, that worked when he was dealing with people. So folks becoming very angry about something, they would kind of melt down. I wish he had more substance; he couldn't have had more grace. And humor is a wonderful way to have grace and take the edge of life, which a lot of people need to do today.
GREENFIELD: His humor was a gift on display at the most serious of moments. When he was shot in 1981, he was quoted as saying to the doctors, quote, "I hope you are all Republicans."
DEAVER: That was the beginning of the real change in people's perceptions about Reagan.
GREENFIELD: That, says Michael Deaver, was grace under fire.
R. REAGAN: I heard those speakers at the other convention saying we won the Cold War, and I couldn't help wondering just who exactly do they mean by, "we."
GREENFIELD: And his humor was there in one of his last public appearances, at the 1992 Republican convention, when he mocked both Bill Clinton and himself. R. REAGAN: This fellow they've nominated claims he's the new Thomas Jefferson. Well, let me tell you something. I knew Thomas Jefferson.
GREENFIELD: In politics, humor is like nitroglycerin. Powerful but dangerous. In the wrong hands, attempts at humor have ended political careers. In the hands of a master like Ronald Reagan, there is no better tune.
Jeff Greenfield, CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Hello and welcome back to our viewers. We're covering two stories. I'm Wolf Blitzer here in Normandy. The 60th anniversary of D-Day, June 6th, 1944. The President of the United States has been here together with other world leaders remembering what happened here. Also, we're following the reaction to the death of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who died yesterday at age 93.
GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN Center in Atlanta and we continue to cover the death of President Reagan and we're getting more information on what will take place over the next week as the nation mourns.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Of course these two big stories are something that you are going to see a lot of today on CNN. The D- Day observances is a story that we want to follow right now, and for that we go back to Wolf Blitzer.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Betty. Thank you very much, Drew. The President of the United States, George W. Bush spent some considerable amount of time here in Normandy with the French President Jacques Chirac. They paid tribute to the heroes of World War II, the young men who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6th, 1944, and set the stage, 11 months later, for the defeat of Nazi Germany, changing the world forever. President Bush and President Chirac at least on this day and perhaps in the days to come, removing some of those strains that clearly had developed in the aftermath of the U.S.- led invasion of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Making it clear that the U.S.- French alliance, which has been in business for more than 200 years, going back to the United States Revolutionary War. That alliance very much intact at least on this day. There was a 21-gun salute, a 21-gun salute here at the Colville American Military Cemetery paying tribute to the men who died here, more than 9000 tombstones, more than 9,000 crosses and Stars of David at this U.S. Military Cemetery. The President in his remarks went out of his way to make it clear that those days, the days of World War II, have not been forgotten.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: The only way home was through Berlin. That road to V-E day was hard and long a traveled by weary and valiant men. And history will always record where that road began. It began here, with the first footprints on the beaches of Normandy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The President now meeting with other world leaders here in Normandy before he gets ready to leave France. Our senior White House correspondent John King is in Paris, he is covering all of these developments for us. John, I spoke a little while ago with the Secretary of State Colin Powell. He made it clear that there are still serious strains in the U.S.-French relationship, but he sees very clearly that within the next few days the U.S., France and other members of the Security Council will be able to pass a resolution in support of what's going on in Iraq.
KING: And of course, one of the major subplots on this day as we remember D-Day 60 years ago, people watching to see if in fact presidents Bush and Chirac can turn the page, put the bitterness over Iraq behind them and get back to a closer U.S.-French relation. You mentioned your interview with the Secretary of State. We are told that in private meetings here in Paris yesterday that President Chirac assured President Bush that France still had some reservations about that drafted U.N. resolution but that he was confident they would be resolved and he was also confident that resolution would pass unanimously. Now, President Chirac greeted Mr. Bush as he stepped off Marine 1, the President's helicopter at the U.S. Military Cemetery and from the moment Mr. Bush did step out it was very much like their meeting here in Paris yesterday.
President Chirac greeting him with a smile, the two men appearing to be quite friendly. Mr. Bush, in his remarks, did pay a brief tribute to Ronald Reagan. He wanted to focus mostly, though, on the World War II generation and on those events of 60 years ago. Mr. Bush honored those buried at the U.S. Military Cemetery, but he also took a point of noting many of the World War II generation, many veterans of the beach landing sitting before him as he delivered his remarks, that generation sadly is dying off quickly. Mr. Bush wanted to make sure, he promised them they would never be forgotten.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: And those young men did it. You did it. That difficult summons (ph) was reached and then passed in 60 years of living. Now has come a time of reflection with thoughts of another horizon and with hope of reunion with the boys you knew. I want each of you to understand you will be honored ever and always by the country you served and by the nations you freed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: President Chirac repeatedly thanked the United States of America and its people. He said France thanked the United States of America and its people, he said France owed its freedom to the Americans who shed their blood and gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy. No mention specifically of the Iraq debate at all. President Chirac saying this is a relationship with 200 years of a bond between the two nations, although he did concede it's not always perfect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JACQUES CHIRAC, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): And this friendship remains intact to this day. It is confident (ph), it is indeed demanding, but it is founded in mutual respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: And Wolf, Mr. Bush also trying to look forward, look to the future. He noted in referencing the U.S.-French relations that France was the U.S.'s first friend. That of course is a reference to France's support of the colonists in what became the United States during the Revolutionary War. Wolf?
BLITZER: John, the President is getting ready to go to the G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia and then eventually coming back to Washington, DC. We heard Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House of Representatives say they expect the body of Ronald Reagan to arrive in Washington probably on Wednesday to lie in state in the Rotunda on Capitol Hill and then for there to be a National Cathedral funeral service on Friday before the body is returned Friday night to Simi Valley, California, the home of the Reagan Presidential Library. I assume the President is going to work around that schedule to make sure that he and the other world leaders will be in Washington well in advance of that Friday memorial service.
KING: That is exactly our understanding, Wolf. We are told that Mr. Bush will continue with the G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia, not only the Group of 8 leaders coming there but a number of leaders from around the world, the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere invited to join the summit in Sea Island Georgia. Mr. Bush, we are told, will lead the summit, come back to Washington when Ronald Reagan's body is brought up to the Capitol and participate in the ceremony; as is traditional he will lead the ceremony as President of the United States. It is likely he would then return to the Sea Island summit, at the G8, that summit is supposed to break on Thursday. Mr. Bush would then come back to Washington, and we expect many, if not most of the world leaders who come to this summit to come with Mr. Bush to Washington for that funeral on Friday, Wolf.
BLITZER: A week-long remembrance of Ronald Reagan, the fortieth President of the United States. Our White House correspondent John King is in Paris. He is covering the President's trip. He will be heading from Paris off to the G8 summit in Georgia as well. John, stand by, we'll be getting back to you. I want to bring back our correspondents--our anchors in Atlanta, Betty Nguyen and Drew Griffin. They are covering all of these events as well.
NGUYEN: And right now we want to talk about the passing of President Reagan. Flags and flowers, prayers and praise, fitting tributes around the country as Americans are remembering the man they called "Dutch." This is the scene at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. At Yankee Stadium yesterday, baseball fans observed a moment of silence and in Santa Monica a simple sign read "God bless the Gipper."
For many, Ronald Reagan was a larger than life figure, as he is now in his death. All this morning we will bring you reactions to his life and legacy from ordinary people. Here's one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic president. Probably the last president I actually voted for to be honest with you. And the two terms he served he did a fantastic job. A great American and I'm sure he'll be missed by millions of people. Just a few hours after former President Reagan died his body was removed to a Santa Monica funeral home. Hundreds of spectators lined the streets in front of the funeral home. This is the body leaving the Bel Air mansion where he lived. It's expected that the former President will lie in state at the Reagan Library.
His body will then be transported to Washington for national services. Wolf went over those. And after Washington, the body will be returned to California for a private burial service that will take place at the Reagan Library. The formal service in Washington will be held at the National Cathedral. The service will be for friends, family and diplomats from around the world. It will be closed to the public, but the proceedings at the Cathedral will be broadcast live. It is expected the casket will be draped with the American flag that flew over the Capitol during President Reagan's first inauguration day. That was January 20th, 1981.
Before the service at the Cathedral, a grand funeral procession will carry the President's body down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol, where the body will lie in state for 24 hours in the Capitol Rotunda. Thousands expected to walk past the casket. President Reagan just the 10th president to be so honored. You are watching continuing coverage of the passing of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Stay with us.
REAGAN: What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest on the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to deter a Soviet attack, but we could intercept and destroy strategic ballistic missiles before they reached our own soil or that of our allies. I know this is a formidable technical task, one that may not be accomplished before the end of this century, yet current technology has attained a level of sophistication where it's reasonable for us to begin this effort.
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NGUYEN: Mikhail Gorbachev was more deeply associated with Ronald Reagan than perhaps any other world leader. Though Cold War adversaries, their relationship was part of the scenario that ultimately led to the end of the Soviet Union. Upon learning of Mr. Reagan's death, Gorbachev said,
"I deem Ronald Reagan a great president with whom the Soviet leadership was able to launch a very difficult but important dialogue. I do not know how other statesmen would have acted at that moment because the situation was too difficult. Reagan, who many considered extremely rightist, dared to make these steps and this is his most important deed. GRIFFIN: Ronald Reagan's presidency, of course, had highs and lows. A remark by the Iranian hostage crisis, the invading of Grenada and terrorist bombings in Lebanon. Brent Sadler, now bureau chief in Beirut has been our point man throughout those events and he joins us live there. Brent, you have the unique position of being able to gauge all of these events from foreign soil. How did the rest of the world view Ronald Reagan in his presidency?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in terms of what was happening in this part of the world, let's cast our minds back to the 1980s in Lebanon. This country was suffering from disintegration, chaos and anarchy. The Israelis had invaded Lebanon in 1982 to drive out Yassir Arafat's PLO that had been firing missiles and attacking the northern part of Israel. So clearing Lebanon of the PLO state within a state was an important Israeli priority. So too was it an important priority for the U.S. to have to evacuate by sending in 800 marines. Those PLO fighters from here. And after that, though, what we saw was a presidency that tried to have a peacekeeping force sent in here. The United States, plus Britain, France and Italy to try and stabilize this country at war. It was a terrible failure because it turned into a mess after the suicide bombing of 1983. A suicide bomber targeted the U.S. Marine barracks on the edge of the airport, killing 241 marines.
And that act in itself really acts as a template and resonates today because the kind of terror tactics that were evolved here during that decade, during President Reagan's time in the White House, really served to what we see is happening in Iraq today. There was also hostage-taking here. Terry Anderson, the U.S. Associated Press bureau chief, the longest held hostage. This really was one of the most dangerous places on earth, often referred to as the terror capital of the world. A far cry from a city at relative peace with itself today. But in those days, very different, and what it did, that marine bombing, was to turn eventual U.S. policy on its head and the U.S. eventually, along with European allies withdrew from here, leaving, as I said earlier, the hostage crisis, again, leading to that Iran-Contra scandal which blighted the back end of President Reagan's time in office. Drew?
GRIFFIN: Brent, thank you. Joining us from Beirut this morning. Thank you very much.
NGUYEN: And now we want to go live to Wolf Blitzer in Normandy with the D-Day celebrations there. Wolf?
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Betty. So many of the commemorative events, of course, focus around the young men, those young men 60 years ago who literally saved the world. One of those young men was a 23-year-old man named Grant Gullickson. He is now 83 years old. He is joining us here at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Colville overlooking Omaha Beach. Mr. Gullickson, thanks very much for joining us. Thanks for your service during World War II. Tell our viewers what you were doing on D-Day.
GRANT GULLICKSON, WWII VETERAN: Well, on D-Day I was the chief machinist aboard a United States destroyer, the USS Corry DD463. The USS Corry DD463 and our sister ships the Hobson and the Fitch were leading the first wave ashore over here at Utah Beach and I was the chief machinist, and my job on that particular ship, I was in charge of the main control, which meant I had the power distribution and control of the engineering plant. And there was about 80 people in the engineering plant that I had under my supervision.
BLITZER: And so you had been crossing the English Channel, getting ready to push towards Normandy, then what happened?
GULLICKSON: Well, we were steaming up the lane(ph) at about 5:20 or so, that's when the first shells started firing from the Corry.
BLITZER: 5:20 a.m. in the morning?
GULLICKSON: That's right. And this went on back and forth and I got reports that the ship had taken some hits topside and some men got hurt and the fire kept going back and forth and at about 6:20 I got orders for flank speed ahead, which in the case of a destroyer means all the speed you've got. The captain was going to do some violent maneuvering at that time due to the shells hitting closer.
BLITZER: How close to shore were you?
GULLICKSON: We were--I would say we were probably a mile, a mile and a half from the beach.
BLITZER: You had taken some direct hits but you were still moving?
GULLICKSON: Oh yeah, we were still going, and everything was going well. At about 6:35 my tachometer was going around 255 RPMs, which would be 25 knots, and the world came to an end. The ship literally came out of the water and the engine room I was in filled with steam and the flow plates and everything came apart and it began flooding immediately and...
BLITZER: You had taken a direct hit.
GULLICKSON: We had taken a direct hit of some kind. And then the steam dissipated. And what had happened in the two boilers in the forward boiler room blew up and the fact that I was getting my steam from those two boilers, the steam dissipated up the stack, which, in effect allowed us to get untangled from the bilges and one thing or another and wrestle the hatch open, got most of the men out of the port side of the ship, went around to the starboard side of the ship and at the topside the ship had a rupture about this wide clear across the main deck. And the ship had started to buckle at that time.
BLITZER: How many men were aboard the ship?
GULLICKSON: At that time we had between 260, 270 men, I don't know exactly, but it was right in that neighborhood. And I got all of the men out of the forward engine rooms with the systems and my crew, but we only saved two men out of the forward boiler room. By then the captain had ordered abandon ship because we were still getting a lot of gunfire. And I went off the ship on the starboard side, climb out to a life net that was out there, hung on to it, and it seemed like it was half a day, but reconstructing the time I was in the water for about two hours. The water was about 52 degrees.
BLITZER: How many of your fellow soldiers did you lose?
GULLICKSON: We lost 24 dead and 59 wounded.
BLITZER: 59 wounded and the rest survived like you.
GULLICKSON: Yes, they did.
BLITZER: Briefly tell our viewers what goes through your mind 60 years later.
GULLICKSON: Well, we was out here--the French Navy took us out for memorial service and we had a service for our shipmates that didn't make it, that are still out there and it's a very emotional thing. It really--I was in good shape until I got there, and I was in good shape until I got to the cemetery.
BLITZER: And then what happens? You just lose it?
GULLICKSON: It was interesting(ph), it was...
BLITZER: Because you remember what?
GULLICKSON: Well, you remember your buddies that didn't come back. But the rest of the time you just go about your business. It's an emotional time now.
BLITZER: Do you find as you get older, you're 83 years old now, almost 84 years old. As you get older do you get more emotional?
GULLICKSON: Well, I do, because I lost my wife of 59 years on the 22nd of December and since then the emotions...
BLITZER: Our deepest condolences to you--our thanks, though, to you and all of the men who served with you and helped saved the world. Thanks very much, Mr. Gullickson, for joining us.
GULLICKSON: I'm proud to have been a member of the United States Navy. It's been good to me and it's a great country.
BLITZER: We're proud that you were a member, thanks so much.
GULLICKSON: Thank you so much Wolf for having me up here.
BLITZER: Grant Gullickson. Would you just sit there for a second?
GULLICKSON: Certainly.
BLITZER: He lives in Virginia Beach, originally from North Dakota. He served on the USS Corry. He fought here on D-Day 60 years ago. Let's go back to the CNN Center in Atlanta. NGUYEN: Such an emotional day there. You could see it in his face and his voice and he is just one of so many who are there to remember what happened on this day 60 years ago.
GRIFFIN: Each story unique. We'll be back right after this.
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BLITZER: And so that's been it. A dramatic day here on the beaches of Normandy, at the American Military Cemetery in Colville. Remembering D-Day 60 years after the fact. An emotional, wrenching day for so many of those American veterans, other veterans who have come back to remember and to reflect. We're also remembering Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States who passed away yesterday at the age of 93. We will have continuing coverage of both of these stories, the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the death of Ronald Reagan, throughout the morning here on CNN. Coming up at noon Eastern, a special LATE EDITION, I'll be live from Normandy. My interview with the Secretary of State Colin Powell, among other guests on our special LATE EDITION. Until then, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Normandy, now back to Atlanta.
NGUYEN: And Wolf, really, put it to point, it is a day full of emotion, emotion about the loss, the memories and also the loss of Ronald Reagan. It's a day that really focuses on the Greatest Generation and he was a part of that.
GRIFFIN: There's a quote in the "New York Times" this morning, just a woman outside the funeral home where Reagan's body and she says "He came at a time when you needed to be proud, and he made you proud to be an American again," like the D-Day veterans that we have honored this morning, Ronald Reagan remembered as one of the most popular American presidents, bringing a special flare to the presidency with wit, love, humor, an eloquent way with words, and we leave you with this essay from CNN's Bruce Morton.
BRUCE MORTON, CNN ANALYST: The motto in his high school yearbook was "Life is just one great sweet song, so start the music." Ronald Reagan believed that always. He loved the music, loved his life. At school, as a lifeguard, at Little Eureka College, where he made the football team. Loved being an announcer for the Chicago Cubs. Loved Hollywood. Maybe he really was the Gipper after all.
(BEGIN MOVIE CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you hear me yelling when you ran back that kickoff?
R. REAGAN: Sure I did, Bill, that's why I kept running.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gee, wait 'til I tell the kids that.
R. REAGAN: Thattaboy!
(END MOVIE CLIP) MORTON: If he succeeded, and he did, it was because he was happy in all the roles he played. He really was the kid he used to talk about who knew, faced with a barnful of manure that there had to be a pony around somewhere. He was married twice, didn't always get along with his children but was deeply in love with his wife.
R. REAGAN (VIDEO TAPE): I met Nancy Davis 33 years ago in California. She had been my First Lady since long before the White House.
MORTON: And they were partners. She worried for him, planned for him, sometimes even fed him a line.
N. REAGAN: We're doing everything we can.
R. REAGAN: We're doing everything we can.
MORTON: Some presidents yearn for the job, need it to find out who they are. Ronald Reagan always knew who he was. Politics came to him. Debating Jimmy Carter, he asked a question people remembered.
R. REAGAN: Are you better off that you were for years ago?
MORTON: But Americans remember the humor from that debate, too.
R. REAGAN: There you go again.
MORTON: He loved one-liners and so did the voters. Badly wounded by would-be assassination John Hinckley, Reagan joked to his wife, "Honey, I forgot to duck." And to the doctors, "Please tell me your Republicans."
One-liners. Grace under pressure.
R. REAGAN: Go ahead, make my day.
R. REAGAN: And you can tell that it's working because I told you several times, they don't call it Reaganomics anymore.
MORTON: When the space shuttle Challenger blew up, killing its crew, he gentled the country.
R. REAGAN: They prepared for their journey, waved goodbye and slipped the bounds of earth to touch the face of God.
MORTON: To a country haunted by Vietnam he offered easy wins. Grenada. Force could work.
R. REAGAN: Under this administration our nation is threw wringing its hands and apologizing.
MORTON: It didn't always work, of course. Marines died in Lebanon. And a president who cared deeply about the hostages there traded arms for them even though he said he wouldn't and then convinced himself that maybe he hadn't done that after all.
R. REAGAN: I have to say I don't recall that at all.
MORTON: He got to be good at not hearing the questions he didn't want to hear. People loved his politics or hated them, but mostly they liked Reagan the man. He left office on a high.
R. REAGAN: George, just one personal request. Go out there and win one for the Gipper.
MORTON: He didn't need the presidency when he was president, didn't seem to miss it much when he left. A visit to Japan, a stroll with Mickey Mouse. Life was a grand sweet song, and the music played for a long time. Bruce Morton, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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