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CNN Sunday Morning
Obama Rides the Rails to D.C. for Inaugural Kickoff; Crews Hoist Ditched Plane From Hudson River; FDA Urges Consumers to Avoid Peanut-Butter Products; Israel Unilaterally Halts Fire as Rockets Persist
Aired January 18, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING for January 18. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: January 18, already?
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: It's Sunday. Good morning, T.J. Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho. Betty has the morning off. Six a.m. here in the East. So glad that you're waking up with us this morning. And a lot to get to.
HOLMES: A lot to get to, and a lot of people trying to get to Washington, D.C. Folks from all across the country -- 2 million expected on Tuesday. But of course, they're already pouring into D.C.
CHO: They certainly are. You know, they have to come see one man make history. Two million, as T.J. just mentioned, expected. Barack Obama has also made his way to the nation's capital aboard a slow- moving train dubbed by some the "Obama Express."
A change in leaders, the inauguration of the 44th president just two days away. In 60 seconds, we're taking you live to Washington.
The other top story we're following: It took them several hours working in frigid temperatures, but very late last night, and into this morning, salvage crews finally hauled out the wreckage of that crippled US Airways jet that splash-landed Thursday on the Hudson River in New York. Now contrary to earlier reports, investigators say the right engine is still connected to the plane.
But the other one, the left engine, may still be at the bottom of the river. Investigators are using sonar to try to find that. They have also retrieved both black boxes.
HOLMES: Well, that didn't last long. Seven hours after an Israeli-declared cease-fire, militants fired rockets into southern Israel. Israel says it has reached most of its stated objectives in its three-week offensive. That objective being to stop rocket fire from Hamas and the militants in Gaza.
Now despite Israel's unilateral cease-fire declaration, Israeli troops however still remain in Gaza. CHO: Back to our top story now: the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. The big day is Tuesday, of course, but all weekend long, there are big events, including today.
Our Kate Bolduan watching it all for us, braving those below- freezing temperatures on the National Mall.
Hey, Kate. Good morning to you. The president-elect has a very busy day. So lay it out for us.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, if you can get any busier than yesterday.
The president-elect and the vice president-elect -- another busy day ramping up to the big day, Tuesday. They'll be taking part in a wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery this morning, and then on to this early-afternoon -- the kick off to the -- the whole week, a star- studded event, a concert here on the -- on the Mall. It's actually going to be taking place behind the camera, the direction I'm looking, at the Lincoln Memorial. I mean, we're talking celebrities -- we know we've been talking about it since yesterday: Beyonce, Bono, Sheryl Crow -- I mean, think of your favorite -- your -- your favorite musician, they're probably attending.
And we're -- and so there -- there's also expected to be possibly half a million people attending that event.
At the very same time, the countdown continues and the preparations here on the Mall continue as well. We were out here most of the morning, and we saw it all happening -- the 20-plus JumboTrons, so people down here on the Mall can see the swearing-in up close. Those are beginning to go up.
We're also seeing the National Park Service setting up their medical tents in order to help anyone who would need any medical need during the inaugural swearing-in Tuesday. As well as seeing stepped-up security -- fences are now lining the perimeters of the National Mall. And we also saw more patrol, more officers on the ground, just keeping an eye as things move toward Tuesday.
At the very same time, we found some tourists in town for the inauguration doing some prep work themselves.
Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Now let's take some serious business. I saw you with your map.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
BOLDUAN: What -- what are you seeing? Where looks like a good location so far? Because this Mall is about two miles long. So you...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. BOLDUAN: You've got a lot of work -- a lot of space to look at.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just going to try to get as close as possible up there. I'm not going to try to even see the parade, because I figure that's going to be impossible.
But just camp out here, bring a little -- you know, a little something to sit on, and -- and find me a spot near the edge in case I get paranoid with the crowd. And -- and -- and just see what I can see. I figure just being out here with the people and that mood is going to be fabulous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Now I tell you, I'm out here in D.C. every weekend. And -- and we -- and we can always see there -- you know, D.C. kind of is -- is more of a quiet town during the weekend.
This weekend, very different story. It seems like a very busy tourist day here in the nation's capital yesterday. Many more people on the ground. A lot of people coming out to the National Mall even if they're not going to be here for the inauguration, bringing their kids out to show them, this is where it's going to be happening; this is what it's looking like. As well as seeing the media circus that always follows thee very big events, kind of looking at us and saying, What are you guys doing out here?
So it's a -- a lot of activity out here already this weekend. And you can be sure, Alina, it will continue right up to Inauguration Day.
CHO: Yes, you know, there were some people who were saying David Gergen, our -- our senior political analyst, among one of -- among one of them saying that -- that he thought, 'Well, maybe with all this talk of all these people, throngs of people coming to D.C., that some people might not -- might not go out, might stay home.'
But certainly you're not seeing that from your perspective.
Kate Bolduan, thank you so much. We'll check back with you later.
BOLDUAN: Yes, you never know.
CHO: All right. Bye bye.
BOLDUAN: Of course.
CHO: Well, our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley was among those aboard the "Obama Express," as we're calling it, with the incoming president and the Bidens.
HOLMES: Yes. This was, of course, that 135-mile train ride he took from Philadelphia to Washington.
But Candy says this journey really cannot be measured in miles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is not a train. It is a symbol with wheels.
(TRAIN WHISTLE)
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CROWLEY: It took Barack Obama from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., along the same route Abraham Lincoln took to this inauguration. A historic trip into the future.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: What's required is a new Declaration of Independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives. Independence from ideology and small thinking. Independence from prejudice and bigotry. Independence from selfishness. An appeal not to our easy instincts, but to our better angels.
(TRAIN WHISTLE)
CROWLEY: Along the way, on the 135-mile trip, they came to stand by the tracks or the hillsides and wave. During the preplanned slow- roll towns, he stood on the back of his vintage train and waved back.
(TRAIN WHISTLE)
CROWLEY: But even when the train raced past without fanfare, people showed up, mostly in small groups, with signs and flags, a way to claim just a piece of the history being made. They wanted to see him. And he wants to hang on to them, the people who sent him on this journey.
OBAMA: Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but just the beginning. Join me...
CROWLEY: Hope meets reality Wednesday, when the new president walks into the Oval Office with the worst economy in decades, a war he wants to end; another he wants to step up. The man who campaigned on the urgency of now needs people to give him time.
OBAMA: There will be false starts; there will be setbacks. There will be frustrations and disappointments. I will make some mistakes. But we will be called to show patience even as we act with fierce urgency.
CROWLEY: His speeches contain phrases and paragraphs of campaign rhetoric. But in the end, this was not about him, but about them: the people who listened, who clapped, who only stood to see.
They have a lot riding on the train that went by.
(on camera): As you can see, by the time Barack Obama left Baltimore, it was pitch black, as he headed for his new home in Washington, D.C. Still, we can see people outside, near the tracks, waving. Those are the people interested in the history and the hope -- the same people who Wednesday morning will be looking for help. Candy Crowley, CNN, Aboard the "Obama Express."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. I need you to listen up to this: You need to stop eating stuff with peanut butter in it for now. The FDA says cookies, crackers, ice cream, other things with peanut butter in them should be avoided until they can straighten out a salmonella outbreak that has killed at least six people and gotten over 450 people sick.
The FDA says, however, that jars of peanut butter -- you know, the Jiffy, the Peter Pan -- that stuff you buy from stores -- that seems to be OK.
Now let me explain. They're actually focusing, the FDA, on a Georgia plant that supplies peanut butter and the peanut-butter paste to dozens of food companies. They then put it in cookies and all that kind of stuff. But they say the plant does not sell peanut butter directly to consumers.
CHO: We have new video coming into the CNN newsroom of that crippled US Airways being hauled out of the Hudson River. It's really incredible. You can see just how mangled the right engine looks from the force of impact there. Investigators are still trying to find the left engine. Divers using sonar believe it may be at the bottom of the river.
Now the flight-data and cockpit recorders, those two black boxers, were found intact. Investigators are interviewing the pilots and crew, of course. The unofficial cause of the crash: A flock of geese that chewed up both of the engines.
Now take a look at the spectacular splash landing as the plane glides into the Hudson River. Now they -- this is U.S. Coast Guard video that we just got in yesterday. You really have to look very closely at it. But you can actually see how the plane just glides and lands right into the river, just like it was a runway, really -- which is really a big credit to the pilot, 29-year -- 28-year US Airways veteran Sully, as he's being called. And it really puts into perspective just how lucky all 155 passengers and crew were to make it out alive.
HOLMES: Yes. Lucky for those 155 people aboard for that flight. Well, lucky for them -- 1549, that's the flight number, that might be their new lucky number.
But a lot of people...
CHO: I think it's everybody's lucky numbers.
HOLMES: A lot of people now hoping to make that their lucky number as well.
CHO: That's right.
Just listen to this story -- I mean, it was just incredible when it came across my e-mail yesterday and I read it: Both New York and Connecticut state lotteries say the numbers 1-5-4-9, the flight number, are sold out on the "Win 4." Now betting on those four numbers have actually been cut off in both states because the purse quickly reached the $5 million cap.
Isn't that incredible?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: So what? What is -- what's the deal though? Why do they stop it? Because they've...
CHO: Well, I guess...
WOLF: More people will share it?
CHO: I think maybe the odds -- I mean, you know, when -- when you win -- you know, there's too many people -- I mean, they'll get it...
WOLF: So it would..
CHO: And then you don't get a big purse.
WOLF: So you could check out your numbers, and -- let's see here: Oh my gosh, I won the jackpot. But I end up getting $3.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Because everybody (INAUDIBLE) get the same (INAUDIBLE)
CHO: Exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Yes, exactly.
You know, we're going to win the jackpot, I think, in terms of our forecast for the inauguration. It should be OK. It's still going to be chilly, but let's all remember (INAUDIBLE) January.
(CROSSTALK)
CHO: I had heard something about flurries. No flurries. But did that -- that gone away?
WOLF: It looks like we may see some snow flurries this morning. In fact, by -- you know, if you're looking at live shots this morning in -- in D.C., you may see a stray snow flurry or two. But much of that is going to be moving off to the parts of the Northeast, which is great news.
Here's a great show that we have -- there it is. There's the White House, soon to be occupied by the Obama family. And it is going to be a great day today if you don't mind the cloud cover and you don't the scattered snow flurries in parts of Washington, D.C. But I'm telling you, things are going to be better by the time we get to Tuesday. It looks like temperatures should be into the 30s. If you happen to be, say, in Boston, maybe into parts of Maine, or even into Michigan, what you're going to be dealing with is something altogether different: The possibility of some heavy snow, especially in parts of upstate Maine and back into New Hampshire, even into Massachusetts, where some locations could see up to a foot of some snowfall.
In terms of your temperatures, I want you to watch this: Your wind-chill factor as we go from Sunday evening -- notice the wind chills expected to be in the 20s into the 30s in Washington, D.C. We're going to fast-forward into Sunday -- early, early Sunday morning, which of course, is this morning, and then into Monday. Monday by 5 p.m., looking around 32 degrees for Washington -- Washington. So wind chill should not be a huge issue.
Then as we get into early Monday, then into Tuesday, wind chills in Washington, D.C., around 16 degrees. This is why we tell you to dress in layers. It's certainly going to be chilly out there. Again, we're not expecting much in terms of precipitation -- a mix of sunshine and clouds. But certainly you have to remember, as I mentioned, it is going to be January. It's going to be chilly out there. That's to be expected. Just make sure you take it easy.
That is a look at your forecast. We're going to have more coming up (INAUDIBLE) inauguration and the forecast (INAUDIBLE) around the country, just moments away.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds.
WOLF: Yes.
HOLMES: We appreciate you, kind sir.
WOLF: You bet, you guys.
HOLMES: We'll see you here soon.
Well, it's not really a cease-fire if only one sides -- side decides to cease firing.
CHO: That's for sure. Shaky cease-fire and lives on the edge -- the fury and the fear in Gaza is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, hours after Israel said it's reached its objectives of preventing Hamas rocket fire from Gaza, Hamas fired rockets from Gaza. Israel says militants fired at least six rockets into southern Israel after Israel officials declared a unilateral cease-fire. The rockets, however, did not injure anyone. Palestinian sources say after that attack Israeli warplanes struck a northern Gaza town, wounding two people.
The Israeli offensive is now over three weeks old.
Well, Palestinian and U.N. officials say more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in three weeks of fighting in Gaza. Thousands more wounded. Officials say at least 13 Israelis have been killed.
As CNN's Karl Penhaul reports now from Gaza, saving the wounded now a critical test for Palestinian emergency officials.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In just a few chaotic seconds, lives can be saved or lost.
(CROSSTALK)
PENHAUL: Eight-year-old Palestinian Hamad Saleh (ph) is pockmarked by shrapnel and shot in the leg.
(CROSSTALK)
(CRYING)
PENHAUL: Doctors say an Israeli tank shell blasted his home.
Eyes wide with fear....
(CRYING)
PENHAUL: ...he cries in pain. But doctors say he's going to make it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He might be having internal bleeding in his abdomen. He's having a -- (INAUDIBLE) his leg.
PENHAUL (on camera): The Palestinian ambulance drivers say they've had trouble even getting to the wounded. They say Israeli soldiers have been blocking the routes. The International Committee of the Red Cross has repeatedly warned both sides to respect the neutrality of medical personnel.
(voice-over): It's three weeks since Israel launched its assault. Rafah bears the scars.
Israel says it's been targeting smuggling tunnels that run into this border town from neighboring Egypt -- supply lines from Hamas fighters. But everywhere, civilians are trapped in the line of fire.
Teapots and metal plates at this home-goods store melted by an explosion. This store assistant is weary of the war and warriors.
MOHAMMED SHAMALAIH, STORE WORKER: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
PENHAUL: "Hopefully, there will be peace. The Palestinian resistance has destroyed us," he says.
Next door, a mosque ripped apart by what neighbors say was an Israeli missile. Despite thousands of Palestinian casualties, some vow no surrender. FAWZO MOHAMMED, CONSTRUCTION WORKER: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
PENHAUL: "Civilians support the resistance; we're ready to die fighting the Israelis because this is our land," he tells me.
Gaza has been badly hammered. But Hamas officials say they still have the stomach for a fight.
GHAZI HAMD, SENIOR HAMAS ADVISER: ...rise the white flag, we will not give up. We will resist. And we will continue our fight against occupation forces.
PENHAUL: Israel has declared a unilateral cease-fire. But for many, it's too late.
Paramedics lose this fight against time. Atia Aba Hussein (ph), phone engineer, father of six -- dead on arrival.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Rafah, Gaza.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Six prisoners at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay have been released. They were transported to facilities in other countries. The U.S. military says the six men had been detained at Guantanamo but were not charged with any crimes. They are among a group of 60 the military has decided to release.
President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to shut down Guantanamo when he takes office. But of course, that is something that could take at least a year to carry out.
HOLMES: All right. As we've been talking about, 2 million expected to watch Obama live take the oath. Certainly people across this country will be watching, but also people all over the world going to be watching in two days, when he takes that oath.
CHO: Yes. I mean, you don't have to just turn on CNN.
HOLMES: No.
CHO: You can log on to your computer...
HOLMES: Yes. All kinds of stuff.
CHO: And through CNN.com, viewers can interact as they watch.
Hey, Josh. Good morning.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you guys.
You know, I know everybody has been hearing a lot about the CNN- Facebook collaboration, how it works, so you can interact along the way. I'm about to show you that, and how you can join in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(TRAIN WHISTLE)
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, it's the whistle-stop tour, but it didn't stop on this particular spot.
CHO: Slow rolling.
HOLMES: But still -- yes, still, people are pretty excited there. They came out and you can hear them yelling and cheering. We heard our Candy Crowley talk about how many of them gathered in small groups. This is kind of a larger one.
But this was in Baltimore. President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden there as they rolled toward Washington. People came out to see them.
CHO: Yes, Candy was saying, even after night fell that you could see outlines of people waving. And -- and so people still wanted to get out there...
HOLMES: Just to get a glimpse.
CHO: Get a glimpse, feel the moment -- yes. You know, thousands braved the freezing cold to get just a small glimpse of America's next president, Barack Obama.
HOLMES: Everybody wants to be a part right now. And people all around the world really want to be a part of it. And it seems like that's all people can talk about right now. Certainly around -- around this country, but around the world as well. That's all they can talk about, is this inauguration.
CHO: That's right. And it's just 48 hours away. Hard to believe, isn't it? Seems like we've waited so long for it.
HOLMES: It's finally here.
CHO: It's finally here.
You know, CNN and Facebook are giving you a -- a unique chance, really, to interact online while you watch the ceremony.
Our Josh Levs joins us now to explain this.
You know, we got some props, Josh from "The New York Times" this morning calling CNN.com "the go-to site." Did you know that we are the number -- Nielsen ranked us the No. 1 site for -- for global news events.
LEVS: Yes.
CHO: We had an average of 1.7 billion -- with a "b" -- views a month. Isn't that incredible?
LEVS: It's incredible. And, you know, if you look at what happened in November, on Election Day, broke -- shattered records all over the place, all the time. And we are expected the same thing is going to happen on Inauguration Day.
I mean, it's -- it's amazing. You're right. And she's absolutely right about the numbers there.
And that's part of the reason why we've got this going. I know you keep seeing the commercials and you hear it -- I want to explain to you how everyone can get involved in this collaboration between CNN and Facebook.
You know we have a dot-com live player, right? You go to CNN.com/live, you can watch live video. Usually you would see a box like this that shows you live video at any given time. Well, on Inauguration Day, there's also going to be this to the side of it. This right here is a mock-up of what it'll look like. This is Facebook. So while you're watching, all you need to do, if you're part of Facebook, is sign in right here, and everyone there will be able to interact.
Now, you have two options: You can interact with absolutely everyone watching, or with just your friends. There's two buttons that allow you to do that.
So this is how it's going to be operating throughout the day. We're starting -- expecting it to start very early on. And keep in mind, a lot of the people -- Alina and T.J., a lot of the people who are on Facebook are going to be there physically in the crowd, pulling out their cell phones, their BlackBerrys, updating their pages that way.
So in addition to seeing this dot-com live and the notes, you'll also be able to see the photos they're taking and the videos. It's this big interaction, creating a community, whether it's local or international. You'll be able to talk to people all over the world that way.
CHO: Josh?
LEVS: Yes?
CHO: Can you help me set up a Facebook page? Can you?
HOLMES: OK. (INAUDIBLE)
CHO: I think I'm the only person in America who doesn't have one.
LEVS: Well, I -- I was with you until literally last -- yesterday afternoon. Now, there's a Josh Levs CNN. We got -- I'll help you today. I now know how to do it. I'll help you through it.
CHO: Perfect.
LEVS: OK. We'll get going.
CHO: Josh, thanks.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
HOLMES: All right. Thanks, Josh.
And our coverage of the run-up to the inauguration continues throughout the day.
CHO: And of course, don't miss tomorrow's special: "MLK TO TODAY: THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY AND THE FULFILLMENT OF A DREAM." That's at 9 a.m. Eastern. (INAUDIBLE) Soledad O'Brien, my good friend.
And at noon Eastern time, Martin Luther King Jr.'s entire "I Have a Dream" speech -- listen to this -- CNN is the only network to have special rights to show the historic speech in its entirety.
HOLMES: All right.
Well, what do you do after eight years of living in the White House? President Bush is just about 53 hours away from being an ex- president. What do you do? Do you steal some china out of the White House? Do you take some memorabilia? What do you do?
Well, they're -- he's saying goodbye to the White House. How do you do that?
CHO: We'll tell you about how he plans to spend his last days in office next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back on this Sunday morning. Just about half past the hour. Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho.
HOLMES: And hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. Here's a look at some of the things we're keeping an eye on this morning:
Still keeping an eye on that plane. Live look at the Hudson River in New York, where this plane is now hovering over the Hudson River. This is the U.S. (sic) flight that went down on Thursday there. Everybody survived, of course.
But they have now been able to pull the jet out of the water. It's just kind of hoisted there. The aircraft estimated to weight about a million pounds, including all the water that poured in.
CHO: Yes, they...
HOLMES: They now expect it to put it -- on a barge, take it to a secure location so they can examine those engines.
CHO: It -- it was so heavy, it took them much longer to take it out...
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: ...as you might expect. They actually to pull it out one foot at a time, drain it a bit, pull it another foot, drain it a bit. And they finally got it out of the water. So that's good news, because it's a key piece of the investigation.
Meanwhile, we're also following this other story: Despite its declaration of a unilateral cease-fire, Israeli military officials say five rockets have been fired from Gaza. Israel's cease-fire went into effect overnight.
Countdown to the inauguration, another busy day for Barack Obama. Sources tell CNN the incoming president's inaugural speech will call on industries and individuals to behave responsibly. But today, he is slowing down the pace just a little bit after that exciting train trip from Philadelphia to the Capitol yesterday. The incoming President and Vice President, along with their wives, will attend this afternoon's "We Are One" concert; a star-studded one at the Lincoln Memorial.
Two wars, an ailing health care system, fresh fighting in the Middle East, and an energy crisis at home; they are just a few of the tough challenges facing President-elect Barack Obama. But issue number one for the next President, fixing the U.S. economy.
White House correspondent, Ed Henry, reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Barack Obama, back in the battleground state of Ohio, mingling with workers who make fasteners and energy-efficient wind turbines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Made in America, by Americans.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: You guys are doing great work. Daryl (ph), thank you very much.
HENRY: Instead of selling himself as a candidate, he is pushing his economic recovery plan.
OBAMA: Now, it's not too late to change course, but only if we take dramatic action as soon as possible. The way I see it, the first job of my administration is to put people back to work.
HENRY: But top Obama aides tell CNN the incoming President will also move quickly on other fronts his first week in office. CNN has learned one option under serious consideration is an Executive Order raising fuel efficiency on automobiles; a move that would please environmentalists but put more pressure on the car industry.
On the eve of the election, Mr. Obama promised energy reform would be his second priority after the financial crisis.
OBAMA: We have to seize this moment, because it's not just an energy independence issue it's also a national security issue, and it's a jobs issue. And we can create five million new green energy jobs.
HENRY: Senior officials also reveal the Mideast crisis has shot to the top of the incoming President's immediate agenda, which may include quickly appointing high-profile envoys to the region, something he teased this week to "USA Today."
OBAMA: I will announce a team and an approach that allows us to get engaged in the Middle East on day one.
HENRY: Aides privately say Mr. Obama is also likely to flex his muscles early with other Executive Orders. Not just closing down the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, but also potentially banning the use of torture. That would undo a key part of President Bush's legacy, the CIA program of enhanced interrogation of terror suspects.
(on camera) CNN has also learned that the President-elect is considering a speech to a joint session of Congress. It would be in mid- to late February, and the topic will be the economy, a sign he plans to use the bully pulpit early and often.
Ed Henry, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Oh, White House, Bush administration is going to be a bit busy on these last couple days. They can't just take it easy, they just got a new order from a court that says they need to go back and find and preserve possibly hundreds of millions of email messages during a period of a certain point.
This is from March of '03 to October '05. They are looking for all the emails in that period. The court order applies to the VP's office and the National Security Council.
Now, this is part of ongoing legislation. Well, the National Security Archive and the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a lawsuit, claiming that the White House was not properly accounting for a lot of its e-mails.
The White House, however, says the court has not authority. So again, they have a lot of work to do to try to track all those down in the final days.
Well, it is an emotional time for President Bush, his final hours in office. How is he doing right about now? What does he have plans to do?
CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House right now. I talked to you yesterday Elaine, you said you were peeking through some of the windows there at the White House, and creeping through the bushes and whatnot. So did you get a peek in there? And see what the President is doing there on the last few days?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what he's actually at Camp David this weekend.
HOLMES: Yes.
QUIJANO: It's going to be their final weekend at Camp David, and then they'll be returning to the White House this afternoon. But we are almost at that 48-hour mark from the time when George W. Bush will leaving the White House for the very last time, as President and you're right, it will be an emotional time.
Especially, because of course, the Bush family history, as you know T.J., extends back beyond just this president, to President Bush's father, George H.W. Bush and his time here in the White House.
Now, in his weekly radio address, Mr. Bush reflected basically on his past eight years in office, he defended his record, but he also warned of grave challenges to the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: While our nation is safer than it was seven years ago, the gravest threat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Our enemies are patient and determined to strike again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, the President also said that come Tuesday, he will be thinking about Barack Obama, wishing him all the best as well as the Obama family. And then he will, on Tuesday afternoon, be heading back home to Midland, Texas. There will be a welcome home ceremony. And after that he will head to his 1,600-acre ranch in Crawford, Texas -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, what happens here? What does a President do the last -- I mean does he take like a last walk through the house? Does he steal some china? What do you do in your last couple days in that house? Is everything set?
QUIJANO: I don't there's going to be any stealing of china, but I would imagine that there's going to be a lot of soaking up of the ambience if you will.
I mean, again, this is Bush family history in addition to American history. They have spent not just obviously the past eight years but the years during his father's tenure here in the White House. Walking through these halls, walking these grounds, I would imagine that there would be some of that going on, certainly an emotional time, not just for President Bush but for the entire Bush family.
HOLMES: All right, Elaine Quijano for us from the White House. I'm sure you'll be getting back to us with your reports from the bushes and peeking in the windows. Elaine, thank you so much. QUIJANO: Sure.
CHO: Elaine wouldn't do anything untoward.
HOLMES: She did it yesterday.
CHO: It's really interesting, though, and this is a fun little fact. And it's extraordinary when you think about the transition to power, the peaceful transition to power in this country. Really in our democracy, it's extraordinary.
The Bushes will move out and the Obamas will move in just a six- hour window. Can you imagine being President Bush and looking at Laura and saying, "Take the suit, leave it here?"
HOLMES: "We've got to go." Do they kick you out if you stay too long? Like, "Mr. President you've got to go."
CHO: I think there might be some leeway on that. But nonetheless, six hours, an extraordinary short amount of time.
Anyway, coming up, 37 words, but they're very important ones; tracing the origin of the oath of office.
HOLMES: And of course, days before the nation swears in the first black President we find the source of the quote that began this nation's history.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, do solemnly swear --
GERALD FORD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Do solemnly swear --
JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That I will faithfully execute --
LYNDON B. JOHNSON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The office of the President of the United States --
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And will to the best of my ability --
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Preserve, protect and defend --
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Constitution of the United States.
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So help me, God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: It is the only quotes in our nation's Constitution. Every in coming President since George Washington has cited the three dozen words in the oath of office. But the words haven't always been quite the same.
Our own Betty Nguyen talked to the director of the National Archives who revealed some awesome details about those words.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Mr. Pinkert, with every incoming president since George Washington, they have recited the oath. Talk to us a little bit about where exactly it came from, where is it written in history?
MARVIN PINKERT, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES: Well, I think most people would be surprised to learn that the oath of office is right inside the Constitution of the United States.
The founding fathers decided that this was important enough to make it the only sentence in quotes, so the 37-words of the oath are found there.
NGUYEN: Now, I understand that the founding fathers actually have a little debate over the exact wording. How did that go down?
PINKERT: Well, we have on display at the archives, George Washington's draft constitution. The first printed draft from August 6th, 1787; it was about two months into the convention. And if you look at it, you'll see the oath at the time only says faithfully execute the office of President.
And then you see in tiny handwriting, which was George Washington's handwriting, he's written in a revision. So we put on display next to it the actual, journal of the convention that shows what the revision is, and it says "Will to the best of my judgment and power, preserve, protect and defend the constitution."
The original phrase about "faithfully executing" that goes back to what every office holder in the early American government said -- "faithfully execute the office of Post Master."
But the second phrase about preserving, protecting, defending the constitution, that seems to relate to the old British oath, which said to the utmost of my ability, I will defend Queen Anne and all of her successors or King George and all of his successors.
Well, George Mason and James Madison proposed in the wording that we have today, but substituted for where the King or Queen would be the Constitution of the United States. So it was a very deliberate act to make the President subordinate to the Constitution of the United States.
NGUYEN: And there is nowhere in that 37 words where it says I do solemnly swear under God or anything of that sort, but we heard that in the past, haven't we?
PINKERT: For all the presidents for whom we have a record, the oath ends with "so help me God." The Constitution itself doesn't have those words in it.
NGUYEN: So what does this wording, what does this say about the founding fathers and their intent? And more so their foresight when it comes to establishing this nation?
PINKERT: Well, here they were creating a brand new office. There had been a president before, but he was a president of congress. There was no real President of the United States.
And when they conceived of this office, it was so important to them looking forward to say we're not re-creating a King here. It's not the president to whom everyone owes loyalty. The President owes loyalty to the constitution, and that was an act of considerable foresight.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
Marvin Pinkert, the executive director of the National Archives Experience, thanks for showing us a little insight, if you will, into the oath, something that a lot of people may not have taken a minute to really look at and delve into, but it's quite fascinating nonetheless. Thank you so much.
PINKERT: My pleasure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Just a few words but they mean so much.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: Coming up, you could compare it to winning the lottery, getting official inauguration tickets. How people are pulling out all the stops to get their hands on one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Well, it's the hottest ticket in town. No doubt about it. How far would you go to get a ticket to the inauguration? Our Jim Acosta looks at how some people are snagging that rare invite to witness history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OBAMA: Unprecedented numbers of Americans are planning to join us in Washington.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Welcome to Washington; home of Super Bowl 44, as in the inauguration of the 44th president. Tickets are going fast, in all sorts of ways.
SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: We have a lot of interest in this inauguration.
ACOSTA: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid picked seven lucky winners out of the hat?
(on camera) And what was your first reaction when you heard that you got a ticket.
JENNY HARROW, INAUGURATION TICKET HOLDER: Kind of that facial expression right there.
ACOSTA: Jenny Harrow got her ticket from a friend. Like a lottery winner, she was all of a sudden very popular.
HARROW: I have gotten some offers. People are saying I can make a killing but the money is not worth it.
ACOSTA (voice over): Not everyone shares that opinion. On the Website Craigslist, scalpers are selling tickets to the swearing in for thousands of dollars.
How did they end up there? Don't blame them.
Each inaugural, members of Congress are given hundreds of tickets to pass out to employees and friends.
ANNE SCHROEDER MULLINS, POLITICO.COM: Once the offices give away these tickets, you can't really control what happens after that.
ACOSTA: A handful of Congressional offices have confirmed to CNN and other media outlets they've uncovered a variety of schemes to auction off their tickets. Technically it's not against the law.
MULLINS: It's a huge gray area. Don't you love it? Of course, in Washington everything is a gray area.
SEAN PATE, STUBHUB.COM: The really rock-star status of President-elect Barack Obama has kind of made these events can't-miss events.
ACOSTA: The online ticket service, Stubhub decided against the selling of Barack Obama tickets, and is instead offering up pricey passes to the parade and inaugural balls.
PATE: And for some of the galas as well as the parade, they've actually exceeded this weekend's NFL championship games.
ACOSTA: Jenny Harrow says you can't put a price tag on history.
HARROW: Money comes and it goes. Experiences like this are once in a lifetime. So I could not pass that up.
ACOSTA (on camera): The Senate just passed a bill to make inaugural scalping a crime, but with less than one week to the transfer of power, it's doubtful that bill is going to become a law soon enough to count this time.
Jim Acosta, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: A crime to scalp a ticket? A crime?
CHO: Nothing like an inauguration, by the way, to prop up the economy. I mean, $500 for a ticket.
HOLMES: We need a little substance. You got the money to pay for it, by all means they're doing well, congratulations.
CHO: It is history.
HOLMES: Ring them in.
Reynolds Wolf over in the Weather Center had been keeping an eye on what's going to be happening. Oh, we're using that severe weather graphic? We've still got something severe to be talking about?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We certainly do, T.J.
HOLMES: All right.
WOLF: Absolutely, man. We have got a good chance of seeing some heavy snows and some lake effect activity where they could see three to six inches of snowfall just in the eastern half of the Great Lakes. But in parts of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, some locations could see up to a foot all due to these two areas of low pressure: one moving across the Great Lakes; one moving south for New England. Anywhere from ten to 15 inches possible in parts of, say, Maine, especially in the higher elevations: great news for the skiers; bad news if you are shoveling it off your front lawn.
Meanwhile, a bit farther to the south in Washington D.C. it looks like we may see some snowfall later on today and into early tomorrow morning; about a 50 percent chance of that happening. Before the inauguration on Tuesday, look at a mix sun and clouds, and high temperature right around 30 degrees, and lows mainly in the 20s. It's certainly going to be a chilly time for you.
When you go out there and you're dealing with these winter conditions, just use common sense and make sure you dress in layers, always a smart thing to do. And at the same time you want to make sure that you, well, you want to get a little bit of shelter at times.
Here is a look at some of the tips for you. I wonder -- there are other thing you might not think of -- it seems very simple -- drink warm beverages, hot chocolate, coffee, is a good idea. And don't always just stand there, make sure you walk around and move in place to increase that circulation.
Ok. So you have got those tips, your advice, have fun and enjoy yourself, but remember, again common sense. It is January, it is Washington, D.C., things do tend to be a little nippy there.
Let's send it back to you guys. CHO: Our executive producer, Terry Hernandez said alcohol though -- don't drink alcohol to warm yourself up, right. Maybe not a good idea.
WOLF: Yes. Maybe later on when you are inside but during the -- you know, it kind of ruins the moment I would think. Maybe a bubbly later on.
CHO: It might make it better.
WOLF: Exactly. You bet.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds. Thanks, man.
WOLF: I'm keeping my mouth shut.
HOLMES: Well, President-elect Obama, he's sharing his moment in the spotlight with the Tuskegee airmen.
CHO: Yes, wait until you hear this. We're going to talk to two of the World War II pilots and tell you about the very special invitation that they've received.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: This was one of the stops along the Obama Express. The crowd -- this is in Claymont, Delaware -- they're excited. Check it out, President-elect Barack Obama's train passing by yesterday.
An iReporter sent this to us, says he and his very pregnant wife -- don't how pregnant but very sounds pretty serious -- they braved the blistering cold for more than two hours just so they could see this shot. They did not get a chance to really get a good look at him. A lot of people did this, just lined up, and they just want to be part; to say they were there and saw the train go by.
CHO: Yes, kind of feel the moment, right?
HOLMES: Yes. That's a nice iReport here that we see his train go by.
CHO: As David Gergen said last night, there's something about a train.
HOLMES: Just something about a train.
CHO: You know what? He's right though.
HOLMES: That does it for you?
CHO: You know, whistle-stop tour.
HOLMES: Well, moving here.
The Tuskegee airmen we just mentioned a moment ago. They made history as the country's first black military pilots and crew. But many of them never thought they would live to see this day, the day we have our first black president.
CHO: CNN's Fredricka Whitfield talked with two of the airmen, one of whom will be at the inauguration on a special invitation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: About 300 or so Tuskegee airmen received their personal invitations to attend the Presidential Inauguration. Two of the gentlemen are with me now after receiving that honor.
Wow. Good to see both of you, Hillard Pouncy and Ray Williams. What an incredible honor. Exciting, too?
HILLARD POUNCY, TUSKEGEE AIRMAN: Of course. Of course.
RAY WILLIAMS, TUSKEGEE AIRMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: So Mr. Pouncy, you're going to be making the journey to Washington. You're going to be there front and center. What do you anticipate that's going to feel like?
POUNCY: I can't imagine. I don't know. I can't imagine it happening, but I will be there. My son is going to be there as a guest, and he is just about as excited as I am.
WHITFIELD: And it's incredible day, it begins with a breakfast --
POUNCY: I understand.
WHITFIELD: -- at the Air Force Base. What do you expect will happen besides that reunion that will take place between you and so many other airmen who've made the journey.
POUNCY: We'll talk. We'll compare notes. We'll tell a few lies, and tell a few truths. And we will be glad to see each other.
WHITFIELD: It will be just like old times?
POUNCY: It will be, yes.
WHITFIELD: What was it like for you, Mr. Williams, to receive that invitation, to learn that the Tuskegee men are being recognized in this way, the first time being invited to a presidential swearing in?
WILLIAMS: It was surprising because I got the letter and I go several phone calls and they really bent over backwards trying to get me there, because I told you before, my difficulties keep me from going. And I am broken hearted, because naturally with the first black president, that is mind boggling, and I wish I could have been there.
WHITFIELD: President-elect Obama making history clearly on so many levels, but at the same time you hear a lot of people describe his presidency also transcends race. Yes, he's the first African- American president but it's more than that.
For you personally, what does this day mean?
POUNCY: Well, I asked my grandson to come and be with me, and he wasn't quite as excited as I am. He wasn't quite as excited as my son.
WHITFIELD: Why do you suppose that is?
POUNCY: Because he feels these things happen. Okay, we have a black president. He cannot understand that when I was young, I would think that would be impossible. For that part, I am glad that he sees life so much differently than I do.
WHITFIELD: Well, the nation is excited, the world is excited about what everybody is to witness come Tuesday. And you with a front row seat, Hillard Pouncy, and you with a front row seat right in you television set, knowing that you too were among the special guests invited, Ray Williams.
Thanks to both of you, appreciate it. And thanks so much for your service as well.
POUNCY: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And CNN will have extensive coverage of the run-up to the inauguration and the inauguration itself, of course.
CHO: That's right. Our coverage tonight includes "CNN Newsroom" at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, John King's "State of the Union" -- his one-on- one interview with Barack Obama, that's at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, followed by "Larry King Live" at 9:00 p.m.
The next hour of "CNN SUNDAY MORNING" starts right now.
HOLMES: Hey there, everybody, from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, Georgia. This is "CNN SUNDAY," for this January 18th. I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHO: Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho. Betty has the morning off
It is 7:00 a.m. here in the east; we are so glad you're with us this morning. And it's a very beautiful Sunday.
Here are some of the key stories we are following for you.
Seven hours after an Israel-declared cease-fire, militants fired rockets into Israel. Israel says it has reached most of its objectives in its three- week offensive to stop rocket fire from Hamas militants.
