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CNN Saturday Morning News

The Novak Zone -- Interview With Bob Dole

Aired December 06, 2003 - 09:32   ET

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

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


JIM MORET, CNN ANCHOR: Almost 60 years after the end of World War II, veterans of that conflict will finally have their national memorial when it opens this spring. One of its strongest proponents, and a World War II veteran himself, former senator and presidential nominee Bob Dole steps into The Novak Zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone.

We're at the site of the World War II national memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with Bob Dole, former majority leader of the United States Senate and a hero of World War II.

Senator Dole, after eight years of planning, six years of debate, four years of fund raising, as you can see, we got the construction going on this memorial. It's going to be open in next spring. Why did it take over 60 years and almost 60 years to have a memorial for the brave men and women of World War II?

ROBERT DOLE, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: The war was over, we were victorious, we had a chance to go to school, many of us, who couldn't have otherwise done so, the GI Bill. And so here we are some 30, 40, 50 years later, we start thinking about some memorial, not for us, because we've lost over 10 million out of the 16 million in World War II have already passed away.

But for our children, grandchildren, to remind people that sometime in your life you may be called upon to make a sacrifice for liberty and freedom.

And this is going to be a great memorial. It's under budget. It's going to be open in April. Big dedication May 29, 30, and the next day, in 2004. Three hundred thousand, maybe, World War II vets in the city. It's going to be a great day.

NOVAK: Oh, it's going to be wonderful. We have two 43-foot arches, 56 pillars forming an oval. What's the significance of this design, do you think?

DOLE: Well, that, you'd have to probably ask the architect, Mr. St. Florine (ph). But I think it -- as I look at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it's about peace and not about conflict. It's not about war. It's about strength. And it sort of brings everything together.

NOVAK: Hundred and seventy-two million dollars to build it. How was that raised, senator?

DOLE: Boy, that's the good part. I'm glad you asked the question. We didn't run up to the federal government and say, Here, we need this, give us $172 million. The government gave us $5 million in startup money. They sold $5 million in coins. They're going to pay for the dedication. And I think that amounts, out of $192 million, we raised privately about $170 million, from people like you, from people all over the country, from school kids, from corporations. Just great response, I mean...

NOVAK: Why do you think there was -- I understand Tom Hanks contributed, and a 10-year-old girl.

DOLE: Oh, Tom Hanks did a lot of good stuff. He did some PSAs for us, public service announcements. His father was in the Navy. And even Spielberg, the only -- Hollywood was not very helpful except for those two. Spielberg helped us too. The rest of Hollywood, they took a pass, as they do on most things.

NOVAK: Some of the purists say that this is violating the view of the National Mall and all this pristine beauty. What's the truth of that?

DOLE: Well, they had this group called Save the Mall. They were going to file suit and prevent this. And our reply was, It -- I thought we saved the Mall and everything else in America and around the world in World War II. I mean, we know this is hallowed ground, we know this is sacred ground. And we know without victory in World War II, none of us would be anywhere around.

NOVAK: Over 400,000 troops died in World War II. How were the American people able to tolerate that loss of lives? You know, we got a few hundred who have died in Iraq, and everybody is having a terrible time over it. How could we stand that loss of life?

DOLE: Well, do you recall -- well, you don't recall, you're too young, but you know, it was a very close vote to go to war. I think one vote took us into World War II. And we came very late. Roosevelt stayed out as long as he could.

And the country was sort of split. But once it -- once the commitment was made, and we understood this was about freedom and liberty, and this is talking about the world, not just the United States, but we were on the right side. We were on the side of freedom and liberty for people in the world.

And I think that's why the American people absorbed 400,000 some killed, another 600,000 seriously wounded. When we came back home, as opposed to Vietnam, we were treated like heroes. We didn't have to do anything but just sit -- we're in uniform. And I don't know if people stopped to think about, you know, what the real goal is now against global terrorism.

I had lunch Thanksgiving Day with a triple amputee at Walter Reed. He understands what it's about, and he's proud he served. NOVAK: Bob Dole, you were -- tomorrow is December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. On December 7, 1941, you were a student at the University of Kansas.

DOLE: More or less, yes.

NOVAK: Did you, did you, did you, what did you think when the -- when we went into war? Did you think you would be, it would be changing your life, and it would be a part of your life?

DOLE: No, I assumed we'd all end up in the war. But we thought we had these two great oceans. You know, we had an ocean on each side. We were safe. It was like these big moats around the -- around America. We didn't need to worry about anything.

But then as we could see our friends, mostly men, but some women on our classes disappearing and going off to war, whether it was Navy, Army, Marines, we knew sooner or later it was going to happen and was going to be very serious. And then when they call your number, you know it's serious.

NOVAK: We now, without a draft, we now have political leaders who, unlike you, have never seen combat, never been in the service, never worn the uniform, making the decisions to send troops our to -- all over the world to fight. Is that a problem, do you think?

DOLE: Well, we have Secretary Rumsfeld, who had service, and Secretary Powell. So I don't think so. My view is that, you know, I guess President Bush, he's brought up to speed by General Meyers is a great guy and pal, and Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice. I mean, he's got, he has real adults working for him and giving him advice. I think, you know, I give President Bush high marks. It's going to be tough. The American people have to understand this is a global war against terrorism.

NOVAK: And now the big question for former senator Bob Dole.

Senator Dole, you sacrificed a lot for your country, battling wounded in Italy, and heroic action. Many, many Americans in World War II sacrificed (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in combat. Their loved ones died or were badly wounded. Do think it is necessary in this war on terrorism that there should be more sacrifice, some element of sacrifice by the American people, the ordinary American people?

DOLE: I don't know what- -- there ought be to be something because all we do is watch television and read the newspapers and say how terrible it is. We're no -- we don't give up anything. We don't have gas rationing, we don't -- you know, we can buy anything we want in the supermarkets.

I think all we -- you know, if it's a son or a daughter or somebody we know, or a friend, then we understand, but most Americans don't understand what this is really all about.

You know, 9/11 has come and gone. It's been over two years. We're off thinking about something else, which we probably should be. We don't live in the past. But we want to keep in mind on December 7 what these young men and women are doing for us in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places around the world, protecting us, protecting us, Americans.

NOVAK: Bob Dole, thank you very much. And thank you for your service to America.

And thank you for being in The Novak Zone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 6, 2003 - 09:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JIM MORET, CNN ANCHOR: Almost 60 years after the end of World War II, veterans of that conflict will finally have their national memorial when it opens this spring. One of its strongest proponents, and a World War II veteran himself, former senator and presidential nominee Bob Dole steps into The Novak Zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone.

We're at the site of the World War II national memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with Bob Dole, former majority leader of the United States Senate and a hero of World War II.

Senator Dole, after eight years of planning, six years of debate, four years of fund raising, as you can see, we got the construction going on this memorial. It's going to be open in next spring. Why did it take over 60 years and almost 60 years to have a memorial for the brave men and women of World War II?

ROBERT DOLE, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: The war was over, we were victorious, we had a chance to go to school, many of us, who couldn't have otherwise done so, the GI Bill. And so here we are some 30, 40, 50 years later, we start thinking about some memorial, not for us, because we've lost over 10 million out of the 16 million in World War II have already passed away.

But for our children, grandchildren, to remind people that sometime in your life you may be called upon to make a sacrifice for liberty and freedom.

And this is going to be a great memorial. It's under budget. It's going to be open in April. Big dedication May 29, 30, and the next day, in 2004. Three hundred thousand, maybe, World War II vets in the city. It's going to be a great day.

NOVAK: Oh, it's going to be wonderful. We have two 43-foot arches, 56 pillars forming an oval. What's the significance of this design, do you think?

DOLE: Well, that, you'd have to probably ask the architect, Mr. St. Florine (ph). But I think it -- as I look at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it's about peace and not about conflict. It's not about war. It's about strength. And it sort of brings everything together.

NOVAK: Hundred and seventy-two million dollars to build it. How was that raised, senator?

DOLE: Boy, that's the good part. I'm glad you asked the question. We didn't run up to the federal government and say, Here, we need this, give us $172 million. The government gave us $5 million in startup money. They sold $5 million in coins. They're going to pay for the dedication. And I think that amounts, out of $192 million, we raised privately about $170 million, from people like you, from people all over the country, from school kids, from corporations. Just great response, I mean...

NOVAK: Why do you think there was -- I understand Tom Hanks contributed, and a 10-year-old girl.

DOLE: Oh, Tom Hanks did a lot of good stuff. He did some PSAs for us, public service announcements. His father was in the Navy. And even Spielberg, the only -- Hollywood was not very helpful except for those two. Spielberg helped us too. The rest of Hollywood, they took a pass, as they do on most things.

NOVAK: Some of the purists say that this is violating the view of the National Mall and all this pristine beauty. What's the truth of that?

DOLE: Well, they had this group called Save the Mall. They were going to file suit and prevent this. And our reply was, It -- I thought we saved the Mall and everything else in America and around the world in World War II. I mean, we know this is hallowed ground, we know this is sacred ground. And we know without victory in World War II, none of us would be anywhere around.

NOVAK: Over 400,000 troops died in World War II. How were the American people able to tolerate that loss of lives? You know, we got a few hundred who have died in Iraq, and everybody is having a terrible time over it. How could we stand that loss of life?

DOLE: Well, do you recall -- well, you don't recall, you're too young, but you know, it was a very close vote to go to war. I think one vote took us into World War II. And we came very late. Roosevelt stayed out as long as he could.

And the country was sort of split. But once it -- once the commitment was made, and we understood this was about freedom and liberty, and this is talking about the world, not just the United States, but we were on the right side. We were on the side of freedom and liberty for people in the world.

And I think that's why the American people absorbed 400,000 some killed, another 600,000 seriously wounded. When we came back home, as opposed to Vietnam, we were treated like heroes. We didn't have to do anything but just sit -- we're in uniform. And I don't know if people stopped to think about, you know, what the real goal is now against global terrorism.

I had lunch Thanksgiving Day with a triple amputee at Walter Reed. He understands what it's about, and he's proud he served. NOVAK: Bob Dole, you were -- tomorrow is December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. On December 7, 1941, you were a student at the University of Kansas.

DOLE: More or less, yes.

NOVAK: Did you, did you, did you, what did you think when the -- when we went into war? Did you think you would be, it would be changing your life, and it would be a part of your life?

DOLE: No, I assumed we'd all end up in the war. But we thought we had these two great oceans. You know, we had an ocean on each side. We were safe. It was like these big moats around the -- around America. We didn't need to worry about anything.

But then as we could see our friends, mostly men, but some women on our classes disappearing and going off to war, whether it was Navy, Army, Marines, we knew sooner or later it was going to happen and was going to be very serious. And then when they call your number, you know it's serious.

NOVAK: We now, without a draft, we now have political leaders who, unlike you, have never seen combat, never been in the service, never worn the uniform, making the decisions to send troops our to -- all over the world to fight. Is that a problem, do you think?

DOLE: Well, we have Secretary Rumsfeld, who had service, and Secretary Powell. So I don't think so. My view is that, you know, I guess President Bush, he's brought up to speed by General Meyers is a great guy and pal, and Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice. I mean, he's got, he has real adults working for him and giving him advice. I think, you know, I give President Bush high marks. It's going to be tough. The American people have to understand this is a global war against terrorism.

NOVAK: And now the big question for former senator Bob Dole.

Senator Dole, you sacrificed a lot for your country, battling wounded in Italy, and heroic action. Many, many Americans in World War II sacrificed (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in combat. Their loved ones died or were badly wounded. Do think it is necessary in this war on terrorism that there should be more sacrifice, some element of sacrifice by the American people, the ordinary American people?

DOLE: I don't know what- -- there ought be to be something because all we do is watch television and read the newspapers and say how terrible it is. We're no -- we don't give up anything. We don't have gas rationing, we don't -- you know, we can buy anything we want in the supermarkets.

I think all we -- you know, if it's a son or a daughter or somebody we know, or a friend, then we understand, but most Americans don't understand what this is really all about.

You know, 9/11 has come and gone. It's been over two years. We're off thinking about something else, which we probably should be. We don't live in the past. But we want to keep in mind on December 7 what these young men and women are doing for us in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places around the world, protecting us, protecting us, Americans.

NOVAK: Bob Dole, thank you very much. And thank you for your service to America.

And thank you for being in The Novak Zone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com