Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
U.S. Airways Jet Lifted Out of Hudson River; D.C. Prepares for Obama's Inaugural
Aired January 18, 2009 - 08:00 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 this January 18th. It's 8:00 o'clock here at our headquarters, 7:00 a.m. in the heartland. I'm T.J. Holmes.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho. Betty has the morning off. We're so glad you're with us. There's a lot to get to on this Sunday morning.
Here's what's new from overnight.
That U.S. Airways jet that went down on New York's Hudson River was lifted out of the river late last night. Investigators will be going over the flight and voice data recorders to try to learn what forced the jet down on Thursday. Unofficial cause: A flock of geese that may have chewed up both of the engines. All aboard survived.
HOLMES: Also, we are just getting word here at CNN.
We have confirmed through Palestinian sources that Palestinian factions have agreed to a one-week cease-fire. They will declare a one-week cease-fire in the Mideast crisis that's been going on for several weeks now. But a one-week cease-fire giving time for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza. This comes after yesterday, the Israelis actually declared a cease-fire, but that was actually followed by more back-and-forth -- rockets being launched into Israel and Israeli retaliating.
But there is some movement. So, now, we are getting from Palestinian sources, CNN confirming, they will agree to a one-week cease-fire, but a whole lot more to come on that still developing story.
CHO: And, on the political front. The Obama Express wrapped up its 135-mile trip from Philadelphia to Washington last night. And this morning, the president-elect will attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. This afternoon, the First Family will be joined by V.P.-elect Joe Biden and his family at the Lincoln Memorial for a star-studded televised concert.
HOLMES: And, of course, where else would CNN be but all over this story. Our correspondents are all over the place and all over the inauguration preparations. Our Brianna Keilar is at the Capitol where the inauguration, of course, is going to take place. Our Kate Bolduan is on the Washington National Mall waiting for 2 million of her closest friends. Also, our Elaine Quijano is at the White House. She is covering President Bush's final days in office.
We do want to start, though, with our Kate Bolduan there in Washington.
Kate, we know this is still about 48 hours away, but it's still starting to feel like something big is happening in Washington, D.C.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure is, T.J. So far, this morning, it's been a quiet morning but you can probably understand that. The sun is just starting to come up and I'd expect in the next hour or so, we start seeing more people come out. That's kind of how it happened yesterday, once D.C. starts waking up and warming up.
As you mentioned, the president-elect has a busy morning, a few things on the schedule. But then, the big event, billed as "We Are One," the opening inaugural celebration this afternoon on the Lincoln Memorial which is on the opposite side of the camera the way I'm looking right now. That's where -- it's going to be a star-studded event with headliners like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, the president-elect as well as the vice president-elect are said to be attending.
At the very same time, that doesn't mean work is stopping. Preparations have been continuing. I can look around me and see many things are going up; things are changing as we speak.
You can take a look behind me. You can probably see that black Jumbotron. That's one of the TV screens we've been talking about now trying to be able to show the inauguration -- show the swearing in for people down here, because as you can probably guess, you can't see it very well from the vantage point where we are standing right now.
Yesterday, we did have a chance to speak to some Obama supporters who are arriving in D.C. in a steady fashion and also coming do down here to the National Mall to kind of scope out a good spot. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: What does it mean for you guys to be able to be here this coming Tuesday?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, for me, it's amazing. I've been an Obama supporter for --since the primaries. And so, being here was a must. To see this is huge. And the fact that we are multiracial, you know, much the same as he is. I was raised by my white grandmother. It's amazing -- it's amazing to me that we have this opportunity to see this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: That's a similar sentiment we heard from many of the people that we talked to. We also saw some people that bringing their kids out. They didn't want to bring their kids out here among such a potentially big crowd here come Tuesday, so they are bringing their kids down just to show them what it's like and where it's all going to be -- because, I'm sure, they'll be watching it on television.
But, so far, quiet this morning, but I expect that will change pretty quickly, T.J.
HOLMES: It will change quite quickly. Kate Bolduan, we know you will be there. We appreciate you this morning. Thank you so much. We'll see you soon.
CHO: Well, this morning, we are learning a little bit about what Barack Obama will say when he makes his highly-anticipated inauguration speech. More on that from CNN's Brianna Keilar on the west front of the Capitol.
Hey, Brianna. Good morning. So, the president-elect -- I'm told -- is still working on that speech, a last-minute procrastinator much like Bill Clinton. What is he expected to say?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. He's been working on it in earnest for about a week and he's fine-tuning it as we speak, Alina. It's going to be a call to action against what the president- elect is going to diagnose as basically "anything goes" mentality. He's going to be calling on individuals, as well as industries to behave responsibly, but there's going to be an overall positive message that there's no problem too big for values that define Americans to overcome.
And this is our first chance, live here on CNN, to show you where exactly he's going to be making this address. If you look behind me, at the dais, right there, that is going to be where, first, Joe Biden will be sworn in as vice president by Justice John Paul Stevens. And then Barack Obama will be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, and then he'll give his inaugural address.
We are expecting about 2 million people. This is going to be a very up close view. If you can't be one of those 2 millions, you are going to be watching on TV and have no fear if you are one of those folks because we are going to bring you some amazing views. In fact, we have a shot that comes from this balustrade behind me.
Let's take this now. Down the mall, you can see, this is -- you've heard of the bird's-eye view? This is basically an Obama eye view, because this is what Barack Obama himself is going to be seeing during this inauguration. You can see all the way down the mall. You can see those Jumbotrons that Kate was talking about on the backside there, those white large rectangles on the right there.
So, you can see, Alina, a great view that we are going to be bringing you on Tuesday.
CHO: I have to say, Brianna, that I didn't realize that that was the view. I mean, so, if you don't -- if you're not one of the lucky ones, one of the lucky 28,000 to have a seat, really, I mean, you'll be able to see a speck of Barack Obama but you'll still be able to see him from the mall. And that's pretty incredible.
KEILAR: Sure, yes. And if you take a look at this shot, there are chairs all the way up to this reflecting pool, and then there are -- there's one city block beyond that where it's a ticketed area. But beyond that, it is all people coming basically just showing up. We have 17 city blocks between where I am to the Washington Monument, 23 between where I am all the way to the Lincoln Memorial, and it's going to be packed with people.
You can see just from this shot that the ticketed area, it's really pretty small, Alina. We've been hearing that, but now, you can really see it. So, a lot of people going to be flooding the area and you can see, there is a lot of area to be flooded. We're going to see how it holds all those folks.
(LAUGHTER)
CHO: Well, hopefully, the weather will hold up. Brianna Keilar, lucky girl. A great spot there. Brianna, thanks for that unique perspective. We appreciate it.
KEILAR: You're welcome.
CHO: T.J.?
HOLMES: All right. I decided to make my way over here to the weather center, to invade your space here.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: But you're always welcome.
HOLMES: I appreciate it.
WOLF: I mean, like we mention before, you go through the turnstile, you pay your fare, you come in and you're allowed to be here.
HOLMES: All right. We're just focus there on Washington, D.C.
WOLF: Absolutely.
HOLMES: So, what is all of this stuff in the area here that's going to ...
WOLF: Yes, a pretty decent snowstorm that's going to bring about three to six inches of snowfall to parts of the Great Lakes.
HOLMES: Whoa!
WOLF: But into portions of New England, we're looking at the potential of some location up to a foot of snowfall.
HOLMES: OK. D.C., though?
WOLF: I know. That's the big kicker. D.C. is going to see a little bit of snowfall.
HOLMES: Whoa! I've never been over here when this thing moves. It kind of lift (ph).
WOLF: I know. It's kind of move forward.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: Stay here for a moment.
HOLMES: All right.
WOLF: (INAUDIBLE) to a foot of snowfall to places like Maine and back over towards, just the west of Boston and north of Boston, could see four to eight inches of snowfall. But, T.J., mainly looking at a light dusting of snowfall for Sunday and into parts of early Monday.
HOLMES: OK.
WOLF: But as we get to the inauguration on Tuesday, about 30 degrees will be the high temperature.
HOLMES: All right. That's not -- but you said some wind is going to be in there? So, it's going to be a little different than 30.
WOLF: Absolutely. It's going to be looking pretty good. Road conditions should be very similar to this. We got a live image for you that we're going to take for you, and show you one of the traffic cams in the area.
And that live image, well, this is actually a shot of the proceedings. You see that we got the seats out there. Everyone is getting ready to get out there and enjoy this wonderful event. You know, it is going to be very chilly times. As I mentioned, the high temperature is right around 30 degrees.
Here's a shot that we have of the VDOT cam. This right near I- 395, near the north 14th Street Bridge. No icy conditions there to deal with. In fact, a pretty quiet morning for the time being in parts of Washington, D.C.
If we can, let's show you that other live shot that we have of the mall. A beautiful shot. We see the Washington Monument. You see a pool right in front of the building. That's not it. But don't worry about it, we'll just go with this one. It looks pretty good there from time being.
There it goes. You see the mall. I believe -- if I'm not mistaken, this shot is from on top of the Washington Monument. You can see the Capitol, and at the lower right hand side, you can see the space and air museum. On the other side, you can just make out some of the -- well, great road, and you're going to see a lot -- and the walkways are just flooded with people for tomorrow and, of course, for days to come.
A lot of people are going to be moving into the capital as you make your way into tomorrow. And Tuesday, of course, is going to be the big day. And I'll tell you, folks, you've got to bundle up. High temperatures expected to be in the 30s. Breezy conditions at times but the wind should die down by the time everything gets under way.
Again, here's a look at your forecast for D.C. If you're sticking in town for Wednesday and Thursday, highs is warming up into the 30s and 40s, lows is mainly into the 20s and 30s.
That's the story; let's send it back to you guys.
HOLMES: All right. Reynolds, we appreciate you, kind sir.
WOLF: We do (INAUDIBLE).
HOLMES: All right. Thanks, buddy. All right.
CHO: Thanks, Reynolds.
So, how does the president-elect feel about -- are you OK?
HOLMES: Well, just Reynolds jumping back into the shots. Reynolds, it's always an adventure with Reynolds.
CHO: It is. He is such a great guy, isn't he?
So, how does the president-elect feel about all the excitement that's surrounding his inauguration. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You're known as "No Drama Obama." Some people say, "Well, he is too detached and he is so cool. You never see his emotions."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: John King and his one-on-one interview with Barack Obama coming up.
HOLMES: And, of course, everybody is trying to get to the inauguration. People are showing up. Of course, many don't have tickets.
Well, we've got a group assembled here with us in the studio that's about to go to on the road trip of a lifetime. And let me tell you, they are not packing extra underwear, just a toothbrush.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)(
CHO: Don't miss our special report tomorrow morning from "MLK to Today" with Soledad O'Brien at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. CNN, by the way, is the only network to have special rights to air the entire "I Have a Dream" speech. We will air that speech in its entirety at noon Eastern tomorrow. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: A lot of students from high school here in Metropolitan Atlanta, will remember the inauguration for the rest of their lives. The band from Cobb County, Georgia, will march down Pennsylvania Avenue, right pass the presidential viewing stand.
As you know, they have to play. It's just a requirement, I believe. I think it's in the Constitution they have to play "Georgia on My Mind." So, that's what they're going to striking up.
Well, they get to go. You know, they've been invited there.
I got a group here with me now and they didn't wait for an invitation, because they didn't get one, but they are going to crash the party any way. I got to get their names right. I know I got Ben, Andrea, Julia and Nick, these students here from Riverwood High School. They are going, but the way they're going is a little interesting.
You tried to find a way to go and trying to get your parents to go, Ben. You were the catalyst for this whole thing. You couldn't get your parents to sign up, you didn't want to drive. So, what was your option?
BEN GLUCK, 16-YEAR OLD, RIVERWOOD STUDENT: Well, with not a lot of options, the last thing we did or I did was I went on Craigslist and I just literally typed in inauguration from Atlanta.
HOLMES: OK. And you found what?
GLUCK: And I found a bus that's leaving ...
HOLMES: A bus.
GLUCK: Yes. A bus that's leaving from Virginia Highlands and giving us a straight shot.
HOLMES: All right. And you're paying, all of you -- let me ask all of you. Some strange woman, you have no idea who she is, is going to be driving this bus. How did you all get recruited and say, "OK, let's do it?
ANDREA RATOWSKI, 18-YEAR OLD, SENIOR: Well, Ben called me. He's like, this is the plan. We're taking a bus and we're going to the inauguration. I was like, "What? You're crazy." I mean, it's something I would like to do but I kept thinking it's not possible. And then he told me his plan. And then, nothing is impossible.
HOLMES: How do you convince parents on a plan like this? Again, you're hopping on a bus with 50 other strangers and a strange woman. You don't know who this woman is driving this bus.
NICHOLAS IMERMAN, 17-YEAR OLD, 11TH GRADER: I told my parents it's like once in a lifetime opportunity and we're witnessing history firsthand. And I was like, I couldn't miss it for the world. We've been watching this go on for two years, this whole election saga.
HOLMES: Yes.
IMERMAN: And it's like finally coming to an end and I want to witness it.
HOLMES: And, Julia, let me ask you, you all are paying 100 bucks apiece to take this.
JULIA KESSLER, 15-YEAR OLD, 9TH GRADER: Yes.
HOLMES: She's going to drop you off in where -- Richmond, Virginia. You're going to make your way to D.C. Then, she is picking you up somewhere around D.C. and bringing you back.
RATOWSKI: Yes.
HOLMES: Now, what are you packing?
KESSLER: Nothing. We're bringing what clothes we have on our back and a toothbrush.
RATOWSKI: We're layering.
KESSLER: And a camera and that's it.
GLUCK: We're discussing earlier. It's very organic way of going.
(LAUGHTER)
GLUCK: We're just -- we want to be there and ...
KESSLER: It doesn't matter what we have to do.
GLUCK: And if we can't bring a book bag, so be it. We're wearing the clothes in our back and just ...
HOLMES: So, what's the plan? You all told me, I was amazed to hear it, you don't have a plan.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: What do you? Are you going to the National Mall? What do you do when you get there?
IMERMAN: Yes. We're getting to Washington late tomorrow night.
RATOWSKI: Maybe 4:00 a.m.
IMERMAN: And then at 3:00 o'clock in the morning, we're leaving the hotel and going to go the metro station that opens at 4:00, we're going to try to be the first ones on the metro and head to Washington and go to mall and maybe see the sights. I don't know. There is going to be 2 million people there or so. It's going to be hectic but it should be fun. HOLMES: Yes. They're turning right around, and coming right back. I don't know how close you all are as friends now, but you're going to get a lot closer in this hotel room, and on this bus. And I have to tell you all as well, we had someone on yesterday who was going to the inauguration. And we had a viewer called up immediately and said, "They wanted to offer inaugural tickets."
These kids told me over there, "Hey, we're going to lobby for some tickets!"
(LAUGHTER)
RATOWSKI: If someone wants to call, but ...
(CROSSTALK)
RATOWSKI: We also want to go because we're a part of something that's so great. This is the year of change and we want to be a part of this movement, the movement of our new America. It's history in the making and we're a part of it. I had a vote and I had a choice, and we're watching it happen.
HOLMES: And, Ben, I'll wrap with you. The guy here in the "Yes, we did" t-shirt here. And you really, the catalyst for this whole thing.
GLUCK: Yes, we did.
HOLMES: What do your parents think now? Did it take some convincing for them? Because, again, they are handing their child over, again, to this strange woman, she might be a wonderful woman as a bus driver, but a strange woman.
GLUCK: Of course, at first, they were apprehensive and probably thought it was pretty crazy, but, I mean, I really just didn't give up. I want to go and there's only so much they could really do. They didn't really -- not that they didn't help me but I found this all on my own. And I want to be there.
HOLMES: Well, guys, you will be there among the other 2 million. Ben, again, Andrea, Julia and Nick, again, from Riverwood High School here in the Atlanta area. Good luck to you, guys, and have a good trip.
(INAUDIBLE)
HOLMES: Again, they're not packing a single pair of underwear. Alina, just a toothbrush.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Didn't mean to advertise that, Alina, but, you know.
CHO: Talk about too much information.
(LAUGHTER) CHO: Thanks, T.J.
HOLMES: All right.
CHO: Hey, the greatest part about all of that, and congratulations, all of you, is to see young people excited about politics. So, congratulations to you all for going.
You know, President-elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday. And our own John King has talked to him exclusively. He's the host of a brand new show right here on CNN, it airs after us, "STATE OF THE UNION." And he sat down exclusively with the president-elect on the eve of the inauguration.
John, good morning. We're going to get to you to in just a second. But first, let's listen to a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT-ELECT: If you think about the journey that this country has made, then it can't help but stir your heart. Obviously, it's an extraordinary personal moment, but, you know, you don't have to go back to slavery. You can think about what Washington, D.C. was like 50 years ago or 60 years ago.
And the notion that I now will be standing there and sworn in as the 44th president, I think is something that, hopefully, our children take for granted, but our grandparents, I think, are still stunned by it and it's a remarkable moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Yes, it is. And John King joins us live now.
John, you're at the museum, the center of our inauguration coverage. First of all, my friend, congratulations on the show, four hours. How are you going to make it?
Tell us about where you are at the museum and your big show. You know, you call him "No Drama Obama" but you got some great nuggets out of him. So, tell us what our viewers are going to see at the top of the hour.
KING: Good morning, Alina. Well, we're very excited. This is our premiere show. And take a look behind me. We are in the premiere location as we await this historic event.
You see the west front of the United States Capitol behind me. You see the flags draped across it. The inaugural stand has been built and we're waiting for those students that T.J. was just talking to and others to fill up the mall here. There's so much excitement in the city.
It's a great time to be here in Washington. It's a glorious city. And it's a great time to get started with our new program. We call it "STATE OF THE UNION." We'll be with you in just a few minutes.
And look, we're going to try to have some fun every Sunday morning and along the way of having that fun, help people understand what is going on with the new administration? How are the promises being kept? Are they being kept?
Is Congress getting in the way or helping out the new president? What about the Republican Party? How does it sort through the pieces of the 2008 election?
And we're going to try, Alina, to do something a little different, too. As much as we have the big interviews here in Washington, and we're going to bring in our reporters and our analysts and do what we did during the campaign season and have good analysis and good information, we're also going to get out in the country and visit people, I like to say, on the receiving end.
There's a lot going on here, a lot being debated, and sometimes, we forget in Washington to go out and ask the opinion and tell the stories and share the insights of the people most affected by these policy debates.
CHO: That's right.
KING: So, we'll have a strong show here in Washington but we're also going to get outside of Washington, Alina, and have some fun.
CHO: Yes. Just a couple of days, you were in the heartland. And it was great to see you out there.
Hey, John, I do have to ask you about the BlackBerry. You know, there's been a lot of talk about the president-elect and his addiction to his BlackBerry, two of them in his case. First of all, is there any indication that he's going to be able to keep it? And second of all, why?
I mean, you know, James Carville likes to call the presidency the crown jewel of the federal penal system. You know, it is isolating. So, he really wants to hold on to that, doesn't he?
(LAUGHTER)
KING: He does. He told me in the interview, and you'll see it in just a little bit that he has found a way around the advice of those who said he could not keep his BlackBerry. We're not sure of the technical solution there, but he's -- for just the reason you just mentioned, you know, James is right. I covered the White House for 8 1/2 years and you're sometimes a hostage to those gates. And presidents get trapped in what they call "the bubble."
And Barack Obama says he's going to keep a BlackBerry. He says he understands that whatever e-mail he writes might show up on CNN, as he put it, or anywhere else in the public domain. But he says, he needs to do this, even though it may somewhat controversial and maybe risky in some cases, but he says it's critical. His words, Alina, were, "If somebody in Chicago sees me doing something they think is stupid, I want to hear from them."
CHO: Yes, that's absolutely right. That was a great line that he used. You know, it is framed in gold but it is a gilded cage, right, John?
John King, we look forward to your show. We'll be tuning in at the top of the hour.
And you can see the entire interview in the debut of "STATE OF THE UNION" with our John King, our friend. That starts at the top of the hour, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time right here on CNN.
HOLMES: I just want to know if he's going to be using a magic wall. John, get back to me, magic wall, will you have one?
Well, President Bush and Vice President Cheney, they presided over some pretty turbulent times in this country. Well, how will the country remember them?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Looking back, is there any decision you regret?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Such as?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, for example, the decision to invade Iraq. Do you regret that decision?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, Dianne. Based on what we knew at the time, it was the right thing to do.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, if you had to do it over, you wouldn't do anything differently?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I would not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's talk about Hurricane Katrina. Do you regret the way your administration handled it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you ever regret that kids grow up so fast? One day, you're changing their diapers and the next day, they are married and out the door. Do you regret that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do not.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm so sorry. We're about out of time. I was going to ask if you regret shooting your friend in the face.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do not!
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Oh, seriously, though. During these last eight years, some of his critics will say that President Bush was reluctant to admit his mistakes. But in his final address to the nation on Thursday, Mr. Bush did mention some setbacks. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES: Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks and there are things I would do differently, if given the chance. Yet, I've always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: So, what will the Bush/Cheney legacy mean?
With me is Barton Gellman, reporter for the "Washington Post." He also wrote the "Angler," a definite look at Vice President Dick Cheney. And he's joining us now live.
Mr. Gellman, thank you for joining us. I think a lot of Americans believe that the Bush administration will be remembered for the Iraq war. Your colleague, Bob Woodward, calls it a "war of choice." And you actually have a very unique perspective into the inner-workings of the mind, if you will. Bush and Cheney spoke to many members of their staff.
And what I found interesting about what you say is that, you say that Bush and Cheney arrived at the gates of Baghdad -- in your words -- in two very different ways. Explain that.
BARTON GELLMAN, WASHINGTON POST: It was very often true that they came to the same view or the same choice from different paths. And in George Bush's case, he really did care about the idea of spreading democracy. He really did believe that you could transform the Middle East by knocking down a dictator and replacing it with an elected government.
Dick Cheney was much more interested in what his aides called a "demonstration effect" that you hit one enemy very hard in order to discourage other enemies. That after 9/11, you had to respond hard in order to deter other threats.
CHO: Yes. In fact, you say that what little people know is that Cheney was actually, in the beginning, ambivalent about the war, right? GELLMAN: He was in two ways. First of all, he did not actually see Iraq as the greatest risk to the United States when it came to the question of whether some state would give terrorists access to (INAUDIBLE).
CHO: Right. He thought it was Iran and North Korea, right?
GELLMAN: Exactly. And the other thing is he wasn't so sure the Iraq war was going to work out very well.
CHO: Right.
GELLMAN: He recognized the risk.
CHO: Well, let's talk a little bit about 9/11. Clearly, also, a defining moment for the Bush administration, a lot of supporters will say that Bush successfully averted another attack on the homeland and that that is what he will be remembered for. He addressed that on Thursday.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: As the years pass, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: And who could remember that shot of Bush in the days after 9/11 in New York in the rubble of the World Trade Center saying, you know, "The people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." It is a striking image.
So, who is to say, Barton, that Bush won't be remembered for that and that that won't be his legacy?
GELLMAN: You know, we don't get to rewind history and try it a different way. Any government, any president makes millions of decisions, spends trillions of dollars. Which of those were the ones that, if any of them, prevented another attack? It's a huge accomplishment for the nation that we haven't been hit again. Trying to decide whether the Iraq war did it or enhanced interrogation or domestic surveillance or something else entirely is impossible to say.
CHO: Let's talk a little bit about Hurricane Katrina. You know, I -- spent collectively about four months in New Orleans after the storm. I saw firsthand what happened. I interviewed the FEMA director, Michael Brown, who was widely criticized.
What I find interesting is that you say that Dick Cheney in particular's success is that he chooses what to care about and he chooses what not to care about, and in this case, maybe the federal response to Katrina can be explained by the fact that he didn't care about this.
GELLMAN: It's not that Dick Cheney didn't care that a hurricane had -- drowned one of our great cities. He did not think, A, that it was primarily a federal responsibility and, B, that it ought to be his primary concern.
He had things that he thought were more important for him to do. And so when the president asked him if he would be the emergency response czar on Katrina, he said, frankly, I'd rather not to.
CHO: Interesting. Interesting perspective.
Barton Gellman, reporter for "The Washington Post" and author of the "Angler: A Definitive Look at Dick Cheney."
We thank you for that unique perspective, Barton. Thanks for joining us. T.J.?
HOLMES: Let's take a look now at some of our top stories today.
The U.S. Airways plane that crashed landed on New York's Hudson River is now out on the water. It's not on the move just yet, though. Divers worked in frigid temperatures until late last night trying to free that wreck.
One of the engines is still attached. You can see it there a little busted up. The other engine is somewhere at the bottom of the Hudson. Divers also found a cockpit recorder and flight data recorder. The plane soon will be towed to a secure location.
A live look now at a snowy New York. Again, that plane being hoisted out of the water but not on the move just yet.
We'll turn now to Tacoma, Washington where police say a 6-year- old child has been killed in one of those monster truck shows. The child got hit by flying debris when one of the trucks that was performing stunts fell apart.
Witnesses say the debris from that wreck, I guess you could call it -- it flew about 50 feet over a safety barrier and into the crowds. People there also criticized the organizers of the event because they say after this accident happened and after this serious injury, the show went on.
We'll turn now to the nuke Saber Rattling from North Korea this morning. "New York Times" reporting the North Korean military has declared an all-out confrontational posture against South Korea.
The "Times" quotes an American scholar saying North Korean officials told him they've weaponized enough plutonium to make between four and six nuclear bombs. It's never been exactly clear whether North Korea has actually constructed any nuclear weapons.
CHO: You know, the transition of power is really an extraordinary thing in this country. Bush will move out and President-elect Obama will move in, in a matter of six hours on Tuesday.
So what is President Bush doing in his last days in office?
HOLMES: We'll take a look his end of his term and see what it's going to be like trying to return to some kind of a civilian life.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. We're now 48 hours away to the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. Let's take a look at some live pictures.
CHO: Yes. Some live pictures from our nation's capital. The president-elect is making several stops around an increasingly crowded city today. You know, an estimated two million people at last count are expected to flood the capital. And enormous security effort under way, of course, and traffic will be shut down in large parts of D.C.
HOLMES: Yes, we...
CHO: This is incredible. Unprecedented, really.
HOLMES: See there -- one of the -- the top right screen there, you see one of those JumboTrons, looks like it's -- has come, it's fired up, can't tell what's on it, but that's where a lot of people, they're going to -- they're not going to be close enough to actually see Obama at all from some of the distances they're going to be so the JumboTron is set up for them.
Meanwhile, the first family, they'll attend a concert at the Lincoln Memorial today. Thousands expected to attend that free concert as well.
A closer look now at the schedule of events. Well, today, the 18th at Lincoln Memorial, that's going to be the big welcome. And then on Monday, the 19th, another welcome. And also a day of service on MLK holiday will also be bipartisan dinners.
And on Tuesday, the 20th, of course, that's inauguration day. That's the big day. He'll be sworn in at noon as -- says so in the constitution. And then on Wednesday, there will be a national prayer service.
CHO: You know, the inauguration used to be in March back in the day but that actually changed with FDR in the midst of the depression. So, at any rate, a look back for you.
Several CNN iReporters, by the way, tuned in for the big day. This one is coming from Andrew Roszak who lives just four blocks from the National mall. Take a look at that beautiful photo there, just a beautiful shot in a beautiful sunny day. This is where the president- elect will take the oath of office.
And a closer view now. Andrew says he is ready for the two million expected around the town for the inaugural. He says he's bought groceries for the next couple of days. (LAUGHTER)
CHO: That's a good idea. That's just in case his favorite restaurants are too packed on Tuesday. That's if everybody can get around, right?
HOLMES: Yes.
CHO: You know iReports are just one of many ways to share your views on the inauguration. CNN is also teaming up with Facebook to offer something brand-new.
HOLMES: Josh Levs join you how you can get involved.
Good morning, again, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, guys.
You know, two million is a huge number but it's nothing compared to how many people in America and all over the world are going to be watching us on CNN and also on CNN.com/Live.
So we have -- you probably heard CNN is hooking up with Facebook. It's a really cool thing going on. You can find out here at Facebook.com/CNN and it'll talk you through it. But what I can do now is show you what it's going to look like. So let's do this. Let's go to a little bit of video that's going to show you what you'll be able to see on Tuesday.
Now, usually, when you go to CNN.com/Live you see just a video screen. But Tuesday you're going to see this right next to it. You can sign in to Facebook and you can interact. You have two ways to interact. You can interact with absolutely everyone who's watching and signed in or with just your friends.
So while you're watching, you can talk about what you're seeing, what you think about all of it. Also keep in mind some of the people over there on the right who are going to be doing this Facebooking will be there in the crowd, tapping in on their cell phones and BlackBerrys. They'll be able to send photos and videos.
So you can back on this stuff while you're also watching it, plus you have a sense of community, you're talking with your friends while you're watching it even if your friends are all over the world. Very cool stuff.
So keep that in mind. You can you get all the details you want at CNN.com. Just click on inauguration at the top of the screen and it'll get you there. Guys?
CHO: Great. Looking forward to it.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: You got to get that...
CHO: I had to get that Facebook account.
HOLMES: You got to get signed on.
CHO: T.J. just signed up. I got to sign up.
HOLMES: Yes.
LEVS: Yes, I just got on yesterday.
CHO: Yes.
HOLMES: I'm ahead of both of you guys. I thought I was behind.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
CHO: Josh, thank you.
HOLMES: Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
HOLMES: Well, in about 51 hours, the United States of America will officially have its first black president. Also in about 51 hours, President Bush will be an ex-president.
Elaine Quijano is at the White House.
What does one do in their last 50 hours as president, Elaine?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I guess soak it all in. But I can tell you, T.J., that on inauguration day President Bush is going to be quite busy.
It will start off, really, in the morning, the public schedule anyway. On the north portico that you see just behind me, President Bush and Mrs. Bush will actually welcome President-elect Obama and Mrs. Obama here to the White House.
They're going to have coffee. It'll be a private event, no cameras, media cameras will be allowed. And they'll also be sitting down with the incoming vice-president, Joe Biden, and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.
Now, that, of course, will come the inauguration itself. An emotional time to be sure. President Bush actually looked ahead to that moment in his final weekly radio address as commander in chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On Tuesday, Laura and I will join all Americans and offering our best wishes to President Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls.
And later that day, we will return to the love of family and friends in Texas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And you heard the president talking about after the pomp and circumstance, the then former President Bush and Mrs. Bush will return to Midland, Texas. They're going to have a welcome home ceremony there and then they'll head on to their ranch in Crawford, Texas, 1600-acre ranch in Crawford, Texas.
It will be an emotional day, again, T.J., because as you know, the Bush family history includes, of course, not just this president's time in the White House, but extends back to President Bush's father's time in the White House as well.
HOLMES: OK, and...
QUIJANO: T.J.?
HOLMES: And how do we let the White House go? We remember before. It was a prank and it was kind of funny but some thought it was mean-spirited to remove the W's from the keyboard. You remember that? When George Bush was elected.
We expect anything, maybe somebody's going to leave, I don't know, basketball or something laying around? Maybe some -- some bowling shoes for him? He's not a good bowler.
I don't know, any prank we expect?
QUIJANO: You know, I don't -- if there are any pranks I can imagine that they would be mean-spirited. I should say that President Bush really has made very clear from the get-go, even before the transition preparation started in earnest, he said, look, you know, this is not something that -- we want to do.
We want to make sure that this transition goes smoothly so that the incoming team has the ability to hit the ground running from day one. And of course, there are a couple of reasons for that. There are some serious issues that this incoming staff is going to have to tackle from the very beginning but, secondly, T.J., in the Bush family code of conduct, it would simply be seen as bad behavior. T.J.?
HOLMES: Bad, bad. Well, we can't have a president behaving badly around there.
Elaine Quijano for us from the White House this week. We appreciate it.
CHO: You know the world is going to be very different. She talked about all of those issues. The world is going to be a very different place when Barack Obama takes the helm of the presidency.
You know, two years ago, Dow was at 12,580, on its way to 14,000, and surge in Iraq...
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE) CHO: ... was just beginning. GM was still making money selling cars, you know?
HOLMES: And SUVs were still all the rage a while back as well.
CHO: That's right.
HOLMES: Yes, it's a different place.
CHO: How times have changed in two years.
Well, the clock is ticking. Is D.C. ready to host a history- making inauguration? The mayor is going to give me the low-down on keeping millions of visitors safe and secure.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Take a look here. A lot of people waited out in the cold to see Obama roll by. Literally watching history roll by in Barack Obama's train ride we saw at the Capitol yesterday.
You see a young woman there with a sign saying "God Bless Obama." This is from our iReporter Jeffrey Conrad. He said us this photo from Wilmington, Delaware. He tells us some people actually waited out there so long in the cold they had to get some medical attention afterwards.
CHO: Yikes.
You know, as many as two million people are expected to show up for the inauguration in the nation's capital. Just imagine the crowds, traffic and the noise. Not to mention the security that's going to be needed to keep everything in check.
So joining me now is a mayor of Washington, D.C., Adrian Fenty.
Mr. Mayor, thank you for joining us.
MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY, WASHINGTON: Good morning. Thanks.
CHO: Good morning to you.
Listen, I think it's safe to say that D.C. is no stranger than to big major events but this seems to be in its own category really. It's a global event. So first of all, I want to ask you what is the latest estimate that you have from your office on the crowds?
And then, also, I know that there's a lot you can't tell us, but what can you tell us about the security effort?
FENTY: Well, good morning. It will be the biggest inauguration and the past largest have been around 1.5 million for the parade and the swearing in. So will it get over two? Probably. How much over? The mayor would love to know. But the...
(LAUGHTER) CHO: There's no telling, right?
FENTY: This is the first time the entire mall has been open for an inauguration.
CHO: Wow.
FENTY: So that's telling in and of itself. And it could probably fit at least 2.5 million if you count the parade route so should be great.
CHO: Yes, as we saw, you can get a fairly decent view, right, of -- I mean, well, you see a speck of Barack Obama from that distance. But at least you can see him and, boy, what it would be like to be on the National Mall for that event.
I also want to talk about the logistics, because this is also unprecedented. I mean...
FENTY: Yes.
CHO: ... you've already shut down lots of streets. By 9:00 a.m. you'll shut down large portions of D.C. to traffic. I know the metro is going on extended hours but logistically, this is just a major effort.
Talk about that.
FENTY: It really is. I mean, the Secret Service has to have a couple of streets closed but we've closed a lot more just because you don't want it to log jam.
CHO: Right.
FENTY: In the center of the city. Again, nothing like this has ever happened in Washington, D.C. which is amazing, given all the pro- war, anti-war, even Martin Luther King speech, nothing has been this big.
There will be 22 JumboTrons. We'll close down a lot of streets so that people can walk and get to the parade route safely. And after that, it's just a matter of getting everybody in place by 11:30 Tuesday, when he takes the oath and then gives his historic speech.
Today there's a big welcoming concert.
CHO: That's right.
FENTY: That'll be -- that'll be a good test to see how many people actually come because usually for like Independence Day, there is about 500,000 people.
CHO: Wow. And HBO will -- air that historic concert. YouTube, Beyonce, I mean, are some of the headliners.
Very quick question, don't have a lot of time but... FENTY: Sure.
CHO: ... just quickly, talk about the mood in the city right now. I mean, it must be electric.
FENTY: It is. It's half Election Day, half kind of Times Square, if you will. I mean, people just walking around, four hours before the concert begins. Just kind of soaking it all in. It's great to see, because I think there's a renewed loved for the country, if you will.
CHO: Well put. D.C. mayor, Adrian Fenty, we thank you for joining us.
FENTY: Thank you for having me.
CHO: I know it's a busy time for us so thanks for penciling in some time for us.
FENTY: Absolutely.
CHO: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. Hey, inauguration music is going to be part of it so you can't have a White House celebration without Young Jeezy.
You got to have (INAUDIBLE) Jeezy. "My President is Black," yes, hip-hop is shaping this inaugural -- it's the name of the song, Alina. It's called "My President's Black."
I'm sure (INAUDIBLE) he's talking about. Hip-hop and this inauguration day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: That's Jay-Z, folks, supporting Barack Obama. He will be in D.C. this weekend as with a host of others. Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Beyonce, John Legend and Will I. Am, it sounds like a Grammy lineup but, no, this is the inauguration lineup.
Joining is now editor and chief of "Vibe" magazine, Danyel Smith.
Danyel, good morning to you. Mary J. Blige and Abraham Lincoln, who would have thunk it?
(LAUGHTER)
DANYEL SMITH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VIBE MAGAZINE: I had thunk it, for sure. I absolutely have thunk it.
HOLMES: Now what is going on? Why are so much itching to be a part of this? Hip-hop has really embraced this president.
SMITH: Hip-hop has embraced this president from the very beginning. I know at "Vibe," we've put him on the cover as far back as September of 2007. It's just, I mean, we're all just here serving at the pleasure of the new president and we're too excited for words.
HOLMES: Now where is this excitement -- does it really have so much to do with the fact that so many in hip-hop are black artists and they have a president now that looks like them, and -- I mean that has to be a part of it, but still maybe he is speaking to the issues as well.
SMITH: Well, I think that everybody is just excited because there's change and the great thing about this whole inaugural weekend is that it feels so inclusive. I think in the past, it's felt very exclusive. I think we felt very sort of on the sidelines. Maybe that lucky person to be invited or maybe we didn't even feel comfortable of being invited.
But this year, no. We're center stage. Beyonce is singing the first song to the president and Michelle Obama. You've got everybody there. Usher, Lil' John, LL Cool J, PI...
HOLMES: Lil' John! How did he get a ticket?
SMITH: Lil' John...
HOLMES: How did Lil' John got a ticket?
SMITH: Lil' John is in the house. It's going to be...
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: I mean do you know how great that feels for hip-hop in general? It feels amazing.
HOLMES: Now we talked about how hip-hop has embraced President- elect Obama. Have we seen signs? You talked about things feeling more inclusive but have we seen things from him, really, that seems like he is embracing the hip-hop generation back?
SMITH: I mean, all you have to do is look at the -- look at the lineup at the Lincoln Memorial today with Beyonce there. Usher's there, Queen Latifah is doing a dramatic -- reading.
I feel like that's definitely a huge embrace. He said that he can appreciate some -- the art in some of hip-hop, and frankly that's all we ask for.
HOLMES: Just being appreciated. All right.
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: The art in some of hip-hop and we can ride with that.
HOLMES: And some -- we won't throw in some of that other stuff right now.
SMITH: Yes, not everything. Not everything. We don't need him to like everything.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Yes, I'd be disappointed if he was listening to the (INAUDIBLE)...
(CROSSTALK)
SMITH: Yes, yes. Exactly. That'd be a problem.
HOLMES: But tell me, still, so many do want to be a part of this and many were asked. Was there any backroom dealings and jockeying? And, you know, trying to get on to this stage? These are some of the biggest names in hip-hop.
SMITH: I think everybody in hip-hop, everybody in pop music wanted to be on any bill this weekend in Washington, D.C. but from everything I've heard, all the shenanigans, all the shenanigans backstage have been pretty low key.
As Beyonce has said, she'll do anything. She would volunteer, lick envelopes, do whatever was necessary. This is not about the star today. There's one star this weekend and it's the president-elect, soon to be President Obama.
HOLMES: Yes. People would show up just to watch Beyonce lick envelopes actually.
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: OK.
HOLMES: I'm just -- no -- Danyel.
SMITH: Are you just saying? Are you just saying?
HOLMES: Danyel, I'm just saying, Danyel.
SMITH: OK.
HOLMES: All right. Danyel Smith, "Vibe" magazine editor-in- chief, good to talk to you. You have a good rest of the weekend, all right? You take care.
SMITH: Thank you for having us. Bye-bye.
CHO: (INAUDIBLE) you are now?
Coming up at the top of the hour, a one-on-one CNN interview with Barack Obama. The premiere of "STATE OF THE UNION" with our very own John King, a brand-new show just minutes away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Just watching that, you can feel it, can't you? Electricity is in the air in Wilmington, Delaware, as the Obama express rolls toward Washington. That was yesterday, of course. Video captured by one of our CNN iReporters just two days before this historic inauguration of Barack Obama. In fact about 15 minutes from now, the Obamas will be leaving Blair House for Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath laying ceremony there.
You know, it's interesting. He's still working on his inaugural speech.
HOLMES: Of course. For the last minute.
CHO: And 10-year old -- they went to the Lincoln Memorial and 10-year-old Malia said, to him, first African-American president? Better be good, Dad.
HOLMES: Can't screw this enough.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: All right. And we're going to hear a lot more from Obama and the inauguration preps coming up right now.
Brand-new show, John King and "STATE OF THE UNION" premiering right now. Let's hand it over to John King.
Go get them, my man.
