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CNN Saturday Morning News
Pope John Paul II Delivers Annual Christmas Message; Ukrainian Presidential Candidates Campaign Down to the Wire
Aired December 25, 2004 - 09:00 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.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from the CNN Center here in Atlanta. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is December 25. Merry Christmas, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Merry Christmas, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. If you're just waking up on the West Coast, it is early.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: Six a.m. Thank you for starting your day with us.
Let's get you caught up on the day's news.
Pope John Paul II delivers his annual Christmas message to the city and to the world this morning, expressing special concern for violence in Iraq, the Mideast, and Africa. The pope celebrated two masses and read Christmas messages in 62 languages.
The two candidates for president of Ukraine are campaigning down to the wire for tomorrow's election rerun. On the eve of balloting, according Kiev, ruled that new restrictions on voting at home by disabled persons are unconstitutional. It is unclear what effect that will have on the election.
Fifteen people are hospitalized in critical condition in Baghdad with burns suffered when a gasoline tanker exploded. Nine other people were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a tanker yesterday, destroying three nearby homes. One family was found dead in the rubble.
Donald Rumsfeld is back home. He's returned to the U.S. after a surprise visit to Iraq. He went to several cities, including Mosul, where he consoled U.S. troops who were targeted at a deadly attack on Tuesday.
NGUYEN: And here's what we've got coming up for you this hour.
We will visit U.S. troops in an Iraqi hot spot as they try to cope with a Christmas away from their loved ones.
Also, we'll take you traveling this Christmas morning to find out how people around the world are marking the holidays.
And right about now, you're probably knee-deep in a pile of wrapping paper. So what are you going to do with it? We've got some ideas coming up.
HARRIS: From Iraq to China to Australia, people are marking Christmas in their own ways this morning. Christians in Iraq braved insurgent threats to come to church, but fewer Christians turned out than usual this year. Iraqi insurgents have attacked churches in the past.
In China, people crowded into government-approved churches this morning, but the churches aren't recognized by the Vatican, which says millions of Chinese Christians are still living underground in the communist nation.
And in Australia, there's sand, not snow, for people. People are packing Sydney's Bandai (ph) Beach for an annual party.
NGUYEN: Well, Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year for one man, that is Pope John Paul. Thousands of people turned out in a cold rain at Vatican City this morning to hear the pope deliver his Christmas message. He says he has fears about the violence in Iraq, Sudan, and other hot spots, but he hopes budding peace efforts will eventually bear fruit.
Here's a translation of some of the pope's words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE JOHN PAUL II (through translator): Let there arise a firm will to seek peaceful solutions, respectful of the legitimate aspirations of individuals and of peoples. Babe of Bethlehem, prophet of peace, courage attempts to promote dialogue and reconciliation, sustain the efforts to build peace, efforts to build peace which hesitantly, yet not without hope, are being made to bring about a more tranquil presence and future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The pope also celebrated mass and sent out wishes of peace for more than 60 -- or in more than 60 languages.
HARRIS: The pope is also sending a message to the holy city of Bethlehem. The West Bank city, which has been racked by Israeli- Palestinian violence, is seeing more of the faithful this year.
Our John Vause has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity, and the Latin patriarch, the pope envoy to the Holy Land, delivered a sermon nor political than religious. The Palestinians are ready for peace, he said, and it's now up to the Israelis.
For the first time in four years, there was no empty seat in the front row, once reserved for Yasser Arafat while confined to his West Bank compound. It was taken by Mahmoud Abbas, the man who is likely to be the next president of the Palestinian Authority.
Outside the church, in the cold and the rain, the Christian pilgrims gathered, more this year than last. They numbered in their thousands, a far cry from the tens of thousands before the outbreak of violence four years ago, but enough to bring a little hope and much- needed business to Bethlehem's shattered economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have good business, we have good incoming. We have, like, tourists from all around, all the world.
VAUSE: Like Ann Bodd (ph) from Britain.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And to be here at the place where Christ was born is very meaningful.
VAUSE: Daisy Batis (ph) came from India.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, Christ is there. Even in India, we have Christ (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
VAUSE: And Candace and Eric Strule (ph) from the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an amazing experience, being a Christian and coming here and seeing the place that Jesus Christ was born.
VAUSE: For all of them, a shared religious experience.
(on camera); And as the faithful pray for peace this Christmas, there is a flicker of hope that somehow the Israelis and Palestinians will find a way to end the bloody conflict that has marred this region for the last four years.
John Vause, CNN, Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Here's a look at other stories making news across America.
Money did not buy happiness for multimillion-dollar Powerball winner Jack Whitaker. Yesterday he buried his granddaughter, whose body was found days ago after she had been missing for two weeks. On top of that, Whitaker faces two drunk-driving charges. He's suffered a rash of break-ins, and his granddaughter's teenage friend died of a drug overdose in his home.
Last-minute shoppers flocked to the stores yesterday, but it may not be enough to salvage a lackluster holiday season. Mail order, catalog, and Internet sales, though, are booming. Retailers may also see a postholiday boost once gift cards are redeemed.
Very special stocking stuffers at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Look at this video. All babies born...
HARRIS: Ah, babies. NGUYEN: ... in December go home in personalized Christmas stockings and hats. How cute are they? And some parents say they hang the stockings each Christmas for their children, and Santa fills them as a reminder of their birth.
Well, 80 members of the Mississippi Army National Guard made a much-welcomed Christmas Eve arrival from Iraq. For the past year, the 185th Aviation Group has provided aviation support for coalition forces in Iraq.
And our e-mail project this morning, your wishes for U.S. troops. We will be reading them on the air throughout the morning. Send us your wishes. And all you have to do is write to wam@cnn.com.
HARRIS: And now to security watch, where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror.
For the second time, a prisoner held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is being released and having his status as an enemy combatant dropped. The unidentified man was suspected of fighting coalition forces. A military review panel cleared him of the charges due to a lack of evidence. He will now be returned to his home country.
What are your biggest concerns? That's the question at the center of the latest CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll. When it comes to terrorism, 48 percent of respondents said they think it's likely there will be a terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next few weeks. Only 36 percent said they think terrorists will strike inside the U.S. in the next year.
The Pentagon needs to put just as much emphasis on winning the peace as it does on winning wars. That's from a new report from an advisory panel to the Pentagon. It said the Pentagon does not put enough resources on stabilization and reconstruction in postwar regions.
NGUYEN: All right. So you've just torn apart all those carefully wrapped presents under the tree. But what to do with all that wrapping paper? We have some ecofriendly ideas. That's just ahead.
HARRIS: Well, the world celebrates Christmas. We'll show you the festivities from around the world.
NGUYEN: And good morning, Washington. We'll have your complete weather forecast in about five minutes. Looks a little foggy, hazy there on this Christmas morning. Stay tuned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corporal James Day from Weapons Company 2-5. Like to say merry Christmas to my family, my mother, my father, my sisters, all my family, to Josie and to my little boy, Noah. Merry Christmas, happy New Year. I'll see you when I get home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Wow, whiteout conditions in Washington, D.C. No, I shouldn't say that. I shouldn't say that. It's not (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- ah, there it is. A little balance in the camera there, and you can make out the White House.
Good morning, Washington. Today is your chance to take the Blue Ridge Wine Ways Holiday Wine Trail. It's a self-guided progressive Christmas event, I'm told, featuring 10 wineries that are decorated for the season.
Good morning. Merry Christmas.
NGUYEN: That sounds a little dangerous, though, self- progressive, OK.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Well, welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen.
Here's a quick check of our top stories.
Ukrainians face a possible bump in the road when they go to the polls for tomorrow's presidential runoff election. A court ruled restriction placed on disabled voters who cast ballots at home violate their civil rights. It's not clear exactly how the ruling will affect the election.
Pope John Paul II delivers his Christmas Day message from St. Peter's Square. He is calling for world peace and expressed particular concern for Iraq, the Middle East, and Africa.
Christmas mass was also celebrated in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. A Roman Catholic official called on Israelis and Palestinians to put past violence behind them.
It's the number one New Year's resolution for Americans. Guess it? Well, it's a promise to lose weight. But this year, you really do mean it, don't you? Well, tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," the diet wars. Registered dietitian Lisa Dreher (ph) live, 7:00 a.m. Eastern.
Then at 9:00, his face may be a mystery, but his music is just legendary. Rolling Stones keyboarders Chuck Leavell performs live here on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING." That's 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
HARRIS: We have been bringing you stories all morning of soldiers and Marines celebrating this Christmas far from home, and we are not done.
Chris Lawrence joins us now live from Ramadi with some of the troops there. Merry Christmas, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Merry Christmas to you too, Tony. We are here embedded with the 1st Battalion, or, I should say, excuse me, we're here at Camp Corregidor, is that right, did I get it right? We're here at Camp Corregidor here in Ramadi, where the U.S. Army is now responsible for basically the eastern half of this city. They've been here since about August, been working very hard.
With me now is Specialist Chris Polafios.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
LAWRENCE: Yes, just wanted to ask you, you guys have been here now since August. It's Christmas, you're out here, it's muddy, it's rainy. How are you feeling today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, really, it's just friends and the thoughts of family that counts. And makes us feel real good being out here. We know we got a job to do.
LAWRENCE: Now, we should say, a lot of the troops live in vastly different living conditions here. You've got no running water, no toilets, no showers, electricity is hit or miss. How's it, how is it, how is the living situation here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, it's just a, it's a day-by-day thing. I mean, we've gotten accustomed to the things that we have to do around here, and it's really no problem. We're dealing with it. All right.
LAWRENCE: Anything you just want to say to your family? I know they've got to be missing you, especially this time of year, and probably a little bit worried as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I guess so. I just want to say that I really appreciate all the gifts and the cards, and it's really nice to know that people out there, you know, thinking about us. And thank you, and merry Christmas to everybody.
LAWRENCE: All right. That was specialist Chris Polafios of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, U.S. Army. They are encamped here and do daily runs into the city of Ramadi.
We'll be bringing you their stories all week. We'll be embedded with them all week, and we hope to bring you some more of their stories throughout the day and throughout the next week, Tony.
HARRIS: OK, Chris, thank you. We appreciate it.
Well, they've got some tough sledding over there in Ramadi. And here at home, the weather has improved from at least a couple of days ago, when we had this terrible snowstorm moving through the Midwest. It's actually improving in some places around the country.
NGUYEN: Yes, but, you know, it's Christmas, people want to see snow on Christmas. Don't they, Brad?
BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, most, a lot, not most, some people do. Some people get tired of shoveling it, but in the South, well, we don't shovel it much.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, things are getting much better across the country.
NGUYEN: Oh, I like the sound of that.
HARRIS: Dad's got his son there for Christmas. The son is saying, you know, It seemed like a good idea at the time.
NGUYEN: Yes, it seemed like a good idea at 3:00 in the morning, but now that it's 9:00, Dad, can we go home? is what he's saying.
HUFFINES: Exactly.
NGUYEN: Well, Tony, I don't know...
HARRIS: All right, Brad.
NGUYEN: ... about you, but on Christmas Day, when all that wrapping paper's all over the place, don't you just hate to throw it away?
HARRIS: I certainly do, I hate to throw it away.
NGUYEN: But you don't have to any more. You don't have to throw all that paper away just yet. We have some ways that you can reduce, reuse, and even recycle it. That's ahead on Saturday, Christmas morning, here on CNN.
HARRIS: Truth is, I can't wait to throw it away.
But first, break out your hankies for this one. Gunnery Sergeant Richard McMullen, Jr. (ph), is stationed in Fallujah this Christmas morning.
NGUYEN: At home, he leaves his wife and two sons, Gavin and Derek. But for just one moment, a videophone brought them together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Open it, Derek. Daddy wants to watch you open a present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad, I got a (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's trying to peek.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just like your mom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Funny guy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you have guys been sledding yet this year?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Day before Thanksgiving, we had enough snow. We made, what, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), what did we make, Derek?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snowman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE). (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Say, Bye-bye, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Throw him a kiss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the writers on our show in the holiday spirit.
All right, we're talking about wrapping paper. As you sit there watching us, you probably have ripped through all those packages. Well, we want to introduce you to a wrapping alternative, something a little more ecofriendly. And there are better things to do than just throw it all away.
And that's where Rich and Mary Ann Waters comes in.
Good morning to you both.
MARY ANN WATERS: Good morning.
RICH WATERS: Hi. Thanks for having us.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. Now, I am looking at some numbers here, an extra 5 million tons of waste is generated each rear between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 5 million tons. What is that doing to the environment?
RICH WATERS: Well, it's doing a few things. A, it's contributing to the landfill problem, it's also contributing to global warming due to all the trees that are cut down in order to support this whole, this wrapping paper.
NGUYEN: All right. So you guys say, Don't throw it away any more, because there are things that you can do instead. Mary, what are some of those things?
MARY WATERS: Well, the best thing to do is to try and generate as little nonreusable items as you possibly can. So we like to wrap gifts within gifts, and also to use old, older things that we've used around the house, and recycle them as gift wrap.
Behind us, you can see everything is 100 percent recycled.
NGUYEN: OK. I have some examples here, reusing wrapping paper. I guess that's one of the things. You can just save some of that old paper and reuse it again. But here's my question on that. Yes, that's great, but if you have a big box, how with you reuse that old paper that's already been folded, there's creases in it, there's tape in it, how do you reuse that?
MARY WATERS: Well, that's hard to reuse on anything very large. You can save the nice squares that come out flat and put together origami kits and give them out at children's birthday parties this time of year.
NGUYEN: That takes skill, though, Mary. It takes a lot of skill to do some origami.
MARY WATERS: You can also cut up old wrapping paper and use it for confetti at your New Year's Eve celebration.
NGUYEN: OK.
MARY WATERS: Ideally, the best thing to do, though, is to try and be creative and use things that aren't using virgin wood and that can easily be reused by the recipient of the gift. So we like to put things in sacks that can be reused, fabric.
NGUYEN: OK, well, I have a couple of those sacks. Here is just a paper bag, I guess, that, you know, you got your groceries in from the grocery store. And all you have to do is, I guess, cut it up and then put some stamps on it, and it looks like a really nice gift here. This is really pretty. I mean, it's professional.
MARY WATERS: With that, I just -- exactly, I cut up an old grocery bag from the grocery store, and I took some celery root, although you could use potatoes or anything, and I just notched it, dipped it in some friendly water-based paint, stamped around, let it dry, folded it up, perfect.
NGUYEN: All right. And here's another bag, because you suggest putting gifts inside gifts, and I guess the bag itself can be a gift. But here this says it is made out of ecohemp. Why are you using hemp to make bags, Rich?
RICH WATERS: Well, hemp is great because it...
NGUYEN: They're pretty, though.
RICH WATERS: Yes, they're really nice, and they're 100 percent hemp. And hemp is great because it uses a lot less water than other materials. And it grows pesticide free naturally in all 50 states. So general, a lot of times you won't see hemp as certified organic, but it's also always grown without pesticides, and it's also a tougher material than lots of fabrics.
NGUYEN: All right. Quickly, though, as people head into the New Year's holiday, because we're pretty much done with Christmas. By this time, people have already wrap, ripped open those gifts, the wrapping has already been long gone by now. So as we plan for these other holidays, what can you do as you prepare for New Year's?
MARY WATERS: Well, what we do, and we do this throughout the year at our home, is, we have a space in our closet where we save wrapping paper that can be reused, and items that we feel would look nice as wrapping. So I found shells, foliage from the yard works very nicely, anything that's beautiful. Ideally, the thing behind wrapping paper is that it's beautiful paper.
We've wrapped gifts in old film festival posters, things like that.
NGUYEN: And you calendars, you've used calendars too, haven't you?
MARY WATERS: We've used calendars and also large-format magazines, such as "Wine Spectator," or we give to the Surf Rider Foundation, and then send us a large paper booklet with beautiful ocean photography each year, and we use that to wrap gifts in.
NGUYEN: No need for it to go to waste. All right, Rich and Mary Ann Waters, founders of Goodhumans.com, we thank you for your ideas and for spending a little time with us on this Christmas. Thank you.
RICH WATERS: Thanks for having us.
MARY WATERS: Thank you, merry Christmas.
NGUYEN: Sure, merry Christmas.
HARRIS: That's the thing, you got to be creative. I hadn't thought of that stuff.
NGUYEN: I know, calendars.
HARRIS: Use it as confetti, and in a week's time, you can get rid of a lot of the wrapping paper, and...
NGUYEN: Oh, your kids can get rid of a lot of wrapping paper...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: ... that way.
HARRIS: Well, they generate a lot of it, that's for sure. OK. All right. Creativity is the key, right?
All of you have been exchanging gifts at home. Well, Betty and I giving each other holiday presents as well...
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: ... our gifts to one another, that's still to come.
NGUYEN: Yes, watch out, Tony, that's all I have to say.
Plus all around the world, celebrations in honor of Christmas. We will give you a front seat look at all the excitement when CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns.
HARRIS: How is the hat, is the hat OK? Is it too much? I thought it might be OK.
NGUYEN: It suits you, I think.
HARRIS: Is it OK? All right.
NGUYEN: There you go.
HARRIS: Is that all right?
NGUYEN: Santa Harris.
HARRIS: J.C.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We're asking you this morning, what are your holiday wishes for U.S. troops? We will share that on the air.
But right now, we want to welcome you back on this Christmas morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. We're reading your e-mails a little later this hour. What do you want for the troops? What are your wishes?
Here's what's happening in the news.
NGUYEN: Some key arrests in Iraq. The U.S. military says soldiers have captured two leaders of wanted militant Abu Mousab al- Zarqawi's terror network. The arrests came under a sweep of Ramadi, a volatile city west of Baghdad.
In Baghdad, Iraqi officials are sorting out the casualties from a deadly attack yesterday. A local hospital now says nine people are dead and 20 wounded. A suicide bomber blew up a tanker truck filled with gas. That happened in a western Baghdad neighborhood.
Mahmoud Abbas has officially kicked off his campaign to succeed the late Yasser Arafat. In a speech, the interim Palestinian leader called on Israel to pull out of occupied lands. Abbas is the frontrunner in the Palestinian presidential election coming up in January.
HARRIS: We have been reuniting some military families through the magic of TV this Christmas morning. Staff Sergeant Rick Lopez (ph) lived through Tuesday's deadly attack in Mosul, Iraq. We gave him a chance to talk to his wife, Julie, and other members of his family at Fort Lewis in Washington state. It was a brief but heartfelt visit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I'm here.
HARRIS: Oh, my goodness, the entire family is there. Julie, who's there? (UNINTELLIGIBLE), walk us through that. Who's there with you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Alissa (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Amanda.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi honey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Nicholas. And, hi, honey. Rick's mom, and Rick's dad.
HARRIS: OK, now, Rick, let me just say this to you. There's going to be a bit of a delay in you hearing what your family is saying, so just understand that, and it will be fine. First of all, Julie, there he is, you can see him. What are your thoughts? What do you want to say to him?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He looks awesome. He looks really good, better than I was hoping.
HARRIS: Now, Rick, talk to your family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you, honey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you too, honey. I miss you guys.
HARRIS: Rick, give me a sense of what it's like to see your family. How long have you been gone? And this moment for you, when you get an opportunity to see so many of your family there, and children there, I know it's difficult for you to be so far away from home. But I don't know, what are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I miss them a lot. I wish I could be there with them. But, you know, this is what I've got to do. So it's hard.
HARRIS: And Julie, what would you like to say? I mean, I mean, this, but how long has it been since you last communicated with one another? Do you get an opportunity to e-mail? Do you videoconference? How do you guys stay in touch? And when's the last time you had some words with one another? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're able to talk on the phone several times a week. We try to get on the computer at least once a week with a Webcam, so we can see each other. We spoke a couple days ago when he called to inform me about this, so I am one of the lucky ones that gets to talk to him quite often.
HARRIS: Anything that the kids want to say, anything anyone else wants to say directly to Rick?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As his mother, I'd like to say it's really good to see him, really good to see him. I feel much better now than I did yesterday or the day before. I miss you, son. Wait for you to come home. We love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I miss you too, Mom. I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know you do, I know you do. I know.
HARRIS: Mom, that's your baby boy there. He is a long way from home. I know it's difficult for you, but how proud of him are you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Extremely proud. Extremely proud.
HARRIS: What kind of a boy was he, as a young, as a young boy was he? And as you see him sitting in front of you now, all grown up out in harm's way, protecting this country, what are your thoughts?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm really proud of him. Growing up, he was mischievous at times, but always a lot of fun, always a lot of fun to be around. And, you know, he's sitting there, and I've got his little boy here, so we have a good relationship.
HARRIS: Staff Sergeant Rick Lopez, you get the final word this morning to wish your family a merry Christmas and say what is on your heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you guys. I hope you guys's Christmas is really good, even though I'm not there. I hope everybody has a good and fun day. And tell everybody I said hi, and that I'm all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What a great family.
And another military family has gotten a chance for a Christmas visit thanks to TV technology. Captain Dewayne Limpert's (ph) parents, Dewayne and Kathy (ph) Limpert, are in Cleveland, Ohio. Captain Limpert joined us from the base near Mosul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Mom, hi, Dad. I think I heard my grandpa there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, your grandpa's not, but he's watching. He's watching. And so are your brothers, and your Aunt Jennifer, and all of them are here with us. They can't be on camera, but they're here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've got the world watching.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brad, Trace, Vicki, the whole group.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's good to see you, Mom, Dad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even better to be seeing you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Did you send a box to the house?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For Christmas?
NGUYEN: For Christmas?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, can I open it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We figured that, why not spend Christmas together and open up our Christmas present from you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes, I told you to open it, yes, this morning. Open it up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that's what we're doing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That what it is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, wow, a digital camera. Now we can go and take some pictures and send them to you on the Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, my love.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you too. How's it going for you over there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's going pretty well. It was a little tough coming back into Mosul with the incident, but things are starting to get back to normal, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) continues to do really good stuff, so, you know, we're keeping it positive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good. Well, you're in everybody's prayers here. A lot of people want to know how you were, and everybody we know in town when we see them, How's Dewayne? How's Dewayne? So I'm so glad you're doing well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you get a chance to see Rumsfeld?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did. Actually, I, I actually asked him a question and got a picture with him, so it was pretty good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, that made you happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic. Well, we know you're doing really important work over there, and we are thinking of you every day. It's just so great. And it's beautiful here. We came over, and the sun wasn't up, yet. There was a beautiful sunrise where the pink, sky was all pink and blue as the sun was coming up, and the trees are all covered with snow. It looks like a Christmas card outside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's not exactly snowing here, but today has been a pretty good day. We had a pretty nice dinner...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... or lunch, anyway, and looking forward to a good dinner with some holiday spirit.
HARRIS: Well, let me have you before we lose the satellite time with you. Let me have you, parents first, final thoughts for your son.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just take care of yourself, and we know you're making the world a better place by being there. And we feel very privileged to be able to see you, and we're thinking of all the other soldiers that are with you, the guys and the gals, and how lucky we are to be the parents that can go and see you.
And to all of your fellow soldiers and their families that are out there, we represent them, and we know they'd rather be us at this very moment, getting to see their child. So merry Christmas.
HARRIS: And Katherine, very quickly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, just take care of yourself and...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real quick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real quick, I just want to say, love you guys, and to thank all the families out there, especially friends of mine who've sent cards and packages, and people that I don't know that have sent them out to the soldiers. I feel like Christmas every day with people sending all the letters over to our soldiers.
So thanks to everybody, and merry Christmas. Love you guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: You could just feel the love there. Love those family reunions.
Well, we are sharing this holiday spirit with you all day long. You can see more of these special Christmas family reunions throughout the day, right here on CNN.
HARRIS: And all morning, we've heard Christmas wishes from soldiers and their families. When we come back, we will hear some from you. Stay with us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Lance Corporal McElroy. I'm with 2-5 in Iraq. I'd like to say to my family, merry Christmas, and I love you, and to Jordana Edwards, I love you very much. And I'll be home soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, it's hard to be festive at a war zone, but U.S. troops in Iraq are doing their best.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing: Good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: During his annual journey around the world, Father Christmas made a stop in Fallujah to lead Christmas carols and spread some holiday cheer. The troops are nearly unanimous in their Christmas wishes to return home to their families as soon as possible.
NGUYEN: And with that, we want to get to our e-mail question of the day, which is really your wishes to U.S. troops. What are those wishes? We have several of them today.
This one from Vicki. She says, "Wishing for an election in Iraq, an ejection order by the new government, and jubilation that our troops are at home. This soldier's mother wants her soldier at home and back in school, praying for peaceful solutions."
You OK, Tony?
HARRIS: No, I don't think so.
NGUYEN: All choked up over him.
HARRIS: OK, let's try this one. I'll give it a go, from Eugene. "Merry Christmas and happy new year. We wake in a land of freedom so lucky every day and appreciate what you give up every day. May you be blessed and safe."
NGUYEN: And this person, Dale from Philadelphia, writes, "I'd tell the troops that even though I do not support Mr. Bush's war in Iraq, I will always support our troops. As long as they are there, I will pray for their safe return to their friends and families."
And we appreciate those wishes today, and I'm sure the troops do as well.
You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING on this Christmas. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So if you think decorating for the holidays at your house is a production, just ask White House chief usher Gary Walters what it's like to prep the executive mansion for Christmas. He joins Robert Novak in this week's special holiday edition of The Novak Zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone. We're in the grand foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., talking to Gary Walters, chief usher at the executive mansion.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Walters.
GARY WALTERS, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF USHER: Merry Christmas to you.
NOVAK: Mr. Walters, what are the duties of the chief usher?
WALTERS: Well, the chief usher is responsible for the activities that take place in the executive residence and on the grounds. We run the president's household for him so he can do all those international and national items that he has to take care of.
NOVAK: Now, this is the party season, Christmas season at the White House. How many parties are actually given here during this time of year?
WALTERS: Well, given all the parties, including those that the first lady attends and the president and the first lady attend together, we're have somewhere in the vicinity of 30. First lady starts off the holiday season with a traditional party for the decorators who have given of their time and efforts to help decorate the White House and have provided the wonderful ornaments that are on the tree.
And, of course, I think you attended a reception here the other night for the press. And so there's a wide range of receptions that go on during the season.
NOVAK: And it's too bad every American can't be here for this, because the executive mansion is just so beautiful. Who is responsible for the decoration of the mansion?
WALTERS: Well, starts off with the first lady. Each year, we determine a theme, or give her a selection of themes, and her -- she and her staff choose from those themes, or the ones that they derive themselves. And we just try and carry it out from that point forward.
We use about 50 decorators from around the country, florists that come and give of their time, as well as the resident staff. We work during the course of the year. Our chief floral designer is Nancy Clark (ph), and she does a marvelous job of coordinating everything.
We make most of the characters that you see, the small vignettes that are here. And it's a wonderful chore, but it takes pretty much the whole year.
NOVAK: What's the theme of this year?
WALTERS: This year's theme is merriment and melody. It has a theme dealing with Christmas music.
NOVAK: With all these 30 parties, the president and the first lady have to shake so many hands, so many receiving lines, as you said, I went through the receiving line, shake hands with Mr. and Mrs. Bush for the press party. How do they hold up just shaking with a lot of people they really don't know?
WALTERS: Well, it's a wonderful time, it's an opportunity for the president to say thanks to those people who have been associated with the White House, have certainly been associated with politics, the Congress, members of the press, staff who have participated during the previous year.
How do they do it? Strong legs, I think. They stand for a considerable number of hours shaking hands. And it really is wonderful to see them have an opportunity to say hello to everybody and to thank them for activities that occurred during the year.
NOVAK: Mr. Walters, behind us in the Blue Room is a Christmas tree that is considered about the best, most beautiful tree in this city this time of year. Who selects that tree?
WALTERS: Well, I actually have an opportunity to go out and select the tree. The National Christmas Tree Association since the Johnson administration has had a competition that they have every year, or every two years, I should say, and they select their grand champion grower.
They let us know who that grand champion grower is, and then that winner has an opportunity to provide a tree for the White House, the Blue Room tree in particular. That's been going on since 19 -- well, since the Johnson administration. And we've had a wonderful relationship.
Once I find out who that donor is going to be, I contact them, and I take myself and the chief of the grounds, the superintendent of the grounds, Irvin Williams, and we go and visit the farms. Most growers only grow trees about 10 feet high, so we have to look for something. And this tree is 18 feet, six inches. It goes from the chandelier support to the floor.
NOVAK: Where did you go to get it?
WALTERS: This one is Washington state.
NOVAK: Oh, that's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
WALTERS: The family, the Tillman (ph) family is in Washington, Rochester, Washington, you know, not far from Mount St. Helens. In fact, this tree, I think, came about 15 miles from Mount St. Helens. It's a beautiful part of the country.
But we've been all over the country getting trees, Missouri, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina.
NOVAK: And is there special attention paid to that tree, and decorating that tree?
WALTERS: Absolutely. It's the tree that carries the theme each year. And it is a spectacular tree this year. It fits the space just perfectly this year. When we go out and select the tree, our main concern is being able to get the tree through the doors. The double doors that are right here beside us are only 57 inches wide. and that's our main concern. How do you get an 18-foot tree through a 57- inch-wide door?
NOVAK: It's a good question. How do they?
WALTERS: They wrap it up pretty tightly. And that's one of the reasons we go out to select the tree, is to make sure it can be compressed and get through the door.
NOVAK: You say it takes about a year to plan this Christmas. It is Christmas Day today, Saturday. You start tomorrow on the next year's...
WALTERS: Well, actually, as soon as...
NOVAK: ... or take a break?
WALTERS: No, actually, as soon as the theme for one year is created and we are working on that, and we get a good thought, we start thinking about future years and what the possibility could be, what the things that haven't been touched on yet. And we present to the first lady pretty soon after the first of the year some ideas.
Of course, she has ideas of her own, and we follow her direction as soon as we get it, whether it be January 1 or March 3. We look forward as early as possible to allow us the time to see that we get a nice decoration scheme each year.
NOVAK: And now the big question for Gary Walters, chief usher at the White House.
Mr. Walters, you have been in this job for 33 years.
WALTERS: Yes, sir.
NOVAK: Seven presidents. What is the biggest kick you get out of it at this very day?
WALTERS: Well, it's dealing with the first family. I don't do it through somebody else's eyes, or somebody else's ears, I do it on my own. And it's been a wonderful chore. They've all been wonderful to me, to my family.
And it's a joy being in this building. This building has, as you well know, the history of the United States is embodied in this building. Every president except George Washington lived here, and he certainly had a siting decision to make when the house was being built. So it's a pretty important place, and I'm just thrilled to be here.
NOVAK: And you've got a nonpolitical job, so I won't ask you your favorite first family.
WALTERS: Thank you, sir.
NOVAK: Thank, and thank you, Mr. Walters.
And thank you for being in The Novak Zone. And a very merry Christmas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, the...
HARRIS: How about that?
NGUYEN: Yes, very beautiful...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
NGUYEN: ... tree, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HARRIS: Come on, come on, come on, don't hold up, don't...
NGUYEN: OK.
HARRIS: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: Excitement time, with all the talk of Christmas...
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: ... we have to exchange gifts.
HARRIS: That's right, that's right.
NGUYEN: ... Tony. So I (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HARRIS: You want yours first, or -- you want to go first?
NGUYEN: No, I want to do your first.
HARRIS: Oh, OK.
NGUYEN: And let me just remind you, before you open...
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: ... big things come in small packages.
HARRIS: Yes, I agree with that.
NGUYEN: But...
HARRIS: Yes?
NGUYEN: ... I have to set this one up just a little bit...
HARRIS: Well, we, we don't have a so much time, Betty.
NGUYEN: ... so the viewers at home can understand why Tony is getting what he's getting. Can you roll the tape, please?
HARRIS: Roll the tape?
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: You know, I just can't sing on cue. I have to be inspired.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: So you can shut down your little recording devices. This is...
HARRIS (singing): Fe-fe, fe-fe, fe-fe-fe.
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: Fe-fe-fe, fe-fe-fe, fe-fe-fe...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) really.
HARRIS: In the name...
HARRIS: Oh, no, no.
HARRIS: ... of love...
HARRIS: No, no, no.
HARRIS: In the name of love...
HARRIS: Oh, no. This is outrageous.
HARRIS: You know, it's natural. It's not like I said, You know what? I'm not going to wash my face this morning.
HARRIS: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: And I'm going to come to work.
HARRIS: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), yes, and I'm not going to brush my teeth...
NGUYEN: That's what we wondered (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: ... I'm not going to shave my legs. Oh, I'm sorry, did I go too far?
HARRIS (singing): (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the name of love, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: What happened to all that treat the new guy with a little...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: It's all in love, Tony, all in love.
HARRIS: In the name of...
HARRIS: Oh, no.
HARRIS: ... love, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: See what we go through?
NGUYEN: Oh, shoot me now.
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HARRIS: Oh, come on!
HARRIS: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: I'm going to leave -- I'm not kidding. I'm going to walk up out of here right...
NGUYEN: Oh, Tony, Tony, Tony.
HARRIS: Another convert, baby, another convert. I win.
NGUYEN: And you're so proud of the singing. That's what I don't understand.
So with all of that said and heard, unfortunately, merry Christmas, Tony.
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), nothing but love for you, appreciate it, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)... NGUYEN: Nothing but love. It was all in the name of love, as you like to say.
HARRIS: Yes, I, in the name of love. I guess we can predict what this is going to be right? Sure, sure. Singing lessons, thank you.
NGUYEN: Yay! And the amount, of course, is priceless for us. But here's a backup gift just in case those don't work. Please...
HARRIS: The -- in case, in case...
NGUYEN: ... please use this.
HARRIS: So this was not about me getting you a gift at all. This was all about me, this was all, this was charade, huh? Thank you, thank you, and tape for my mouth.
NGUYEN: Just in case it doesn't work. Merry Christmas, Tony.
HARRIS: Tape for my mouth. Hey, Betty...
NGUYEN: Payback.
HARRIS: In keeping with the theme of the morning, it seems, and, of course...
NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: ... I didn't know it would be the theme of the morning until just...
NGUYEN: Oh, gosh...
HARRIS: ... in some way, shape, or form...
NGUYEN: So you want me to start singing?
HARRIS: ... I want to say, I want to say, right back at you, kiddo, right back at you. Little karaoke machine for you.
NGUYEN: And you...
HARRIS: Right back at you.
NGUYEN: Do you see what this is? It's a double-mike set. Do you think you're...
HARRIS: Double-mike set.
NGUYEN: ... really going to be singing along with me?
HARRIS: Come on. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) don't play that.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Tony.
HARRIS: Merry Christmas, everyone.
NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) practice, yes.
HARRIS: We got to go practice or something.
NGUYEN: Our singing.
HARRIS: "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is next. Merry Christmas, one and all. God bless us, every one.
NGUYEN: Happy holidays. We'll see you at noon today.
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 25, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from the CNN Center here in Atlanta. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is December 25. Merry Christmas, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Merry Christmas, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. If you're just waking up on the West Coast, it is early.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: Six a.m. Thank you for starting your day with us.
Let's get you caught up on the day's news.
Pope John Paul II delivers his annual Christmas message to the city and to the world this morning, expressing special concern for violence in Iraq, the Mideast, and Africa. The pope celebrated two masses and read Christmas messages in 62 languages.
The two candidates for president of Ukraine are campaigning down to the wire for tomorrow's election rerun. On the eve of balloting, according Kiev, ruled that new restrictions on voting at home by disabled persons are unconstitutional. It is unclear what effect that will have on the election.
Fifteen people are hospitalized in critical condition in Baghdad with burns suffered when a gasoline tanker exploded. Nine other people were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a tanker yesterday, destroying three nearby homes. One family was found dead in the rubble.
Donald Rumsfeld is back home. He's returned to the U.S. after a surprise visit to Iraq. He went to several cities, including Mosul, where he consoled U.S. troops who were targeted at a deadly attack on Tuesday.
NGUYEN: And here's what we've got coming up for you this hour.
We will visit U.S. troops in an Iraqi hot spot as they try to cope with a Christmas away from their loved ones.
Also, we'll take you traveling this Christmas morning to find out how people around the world are marking the holidays.
And right about now, you're probably knee-deep in a pile of wrapping paper. So what are you going to do with it? We've got some ideas coming up.
HARRIS: From Iraq to China to Australia, people are marking Christmas in their own ways this morning. Christians in Iraq braved insurgent threats to come to church, but fewer Christians turned out than usual this year. Iraqi insurgents have attacked churches in the past.
In China, people crowded into government-approved churches this morning, but the churches aren't recognized by the Vatican, which says millions of Chinese Christians are still living underground in the communist nation.
And in Australia, there's sand, not snow, for people. People are packing Sydney's Bandai (ph) Beach for an annual party.
NGUYEN: Well, Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year for one man, that is Pope John Paul. Thousands of people turned out in a cold rain at Vatican City this morning to hear the pope deliver his Christmas message. He says he has fears about the violence in Iraq, Sudan, and other hot spots, but he hopes budding peace efforts will eventually bear fruit.
Here's a translation of some of the pope's words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE JOHN PAUL II (through translator): Let there arise a firm will to seek peaceful solutions, respectful of the legitimate aspirations of individuals and of peoples. Babe of Bethlehem, prophet of peace, courage attempts to promote dialogue and reconciliation, sustain the efforts to build peace, efforts to build peace which hesitantly, yet not without hope, are being made to bring about a more tranquil presence and future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The pope also celebrated mass and sent out wishes of peace for more than 60 -- or in more than 60 languages.
HARRIS: The pope is also sending a message to the holy city of Bethlehem. The West Bank city, which has been racked by Israeli- Palestinian violence, is seeing more of the faithful this year.
Our John Vause has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity, and the Latin patriarch, the pope envoy to the Holy Land, delivered a sermon nor political than religious. The Palestinians are ready for peace, he said, and it's now up to the Israelis.
For the first time in four years, there was no empty seat in the front row, once reserved for Yasser Arafat while confined to his West Bank compound. It was taken by Mahmoud Abbas, the man who is likely to be the next president of the Palestinian Authority.
Outside the church, in the cold and the rain, the Christian pilgrims gathered, more this year than last. They numbered in their thousands, a far cry from the tens of thousands before the outbreak of violence four years ago, but enough to bring a little hope and much- needed business to Bethlehem's shattered economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have good business, we have good incoming. We have, like, tourists from all around, all the world.
VAUSE: Like Ann Bodd (ph) from Britain.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And to be here at the place where Christ was born is very meaningful.
VAUSE: Daisy Batis (ph) came from India.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, Christ is there. Even in India, we have Christ (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
VAUSE: And Candace and Eric Strule (ph) from the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an amazing experience, being a Christian and coming here and seeing the place that Jesus Christ was born.
VAUSE: For all of them, a shared religious experience.
(on camera); And as the faithful pray for peace this Christmas, there is a flicker of hope that somehow the Israelis and Palestinians will find a way to end the bloody conflict that has marred this region for the last four years.
John Vause, CNN, Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Here's a look at other stories making news across America.
Money did not buy happiness for multimillion-dollar Powerball winner Jack Whitaker. Yesterday he buried his granddaughter, whose body was found days ago after she had been missing for two weeks. On top of that, Whitaker faces two drunk-driving charges. He's suffered a rash of break-ins, and his granddaughter's teenage friend died of a drug overdose in his home.
Last-minute shoppers flocked to the stores yesterday, but it may not be enough to salvage a lackluster holiday season. Mail order, catalog, and Internet sales, though, are booming. Retailers may also see a postholiday boost once gift cards are redeemed.
Very special stocking stuffers at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Look at this video. All babies born...
HARRIS: Ah, babies. NGUYEN: ... in December go home in personalized Christmas stockings and hats. How cute are they? And some parents say they hang the stockings each Christmas for their children, and Santa fills them as a reminder of their birth.
Well, 80 members of the Mississippi Army National Guard made a much-welcomed Christmas Eve arrival from Iraq. For the past year, the 185th Aviation Group has provided aviation support for coalition forces in Iraq.
And our e-mail project this morning, your wishes for U.S. troops. We will be reading them on the air throughout the morning. Send us your wishes. And all you have to do is write to wam@cnn.com.
HARRIS: And now to security watch, where we update you on the week's major developments in the war on terror.
For the second time, a prisoner held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is being released and having his status as an enemy combatant dropped. The unidentified man was suspected of fighting coalition forces. A military review panel cleared him of the charges due to a lack of evidence. He will now be returned to his home country.
What are your biggest concerns? That's the question at the center of the latest CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll. When it comes to terrorism, 48 percent of respondents said they think it's likely there will be a terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next few weeks. Only 36 percent said they think terrorists will strike inside the U.S. in the next year.
The Pentagon needs to put just as much emphasis on winning the peace as it does on winning wars. That's from a new report from an advisory panel to the Pentagon. It said the Pentagon does not put enough resources on stabilization and reconstruction in postwar regions.
NGUYEN: All right. So you've just torn apart all those carefully wrapped presents under the tree. But what to do with all that wrapping paper? We have some ecofriendly ideas. That's just ahead.
HARRIS: Well, the world celebrates Christmas. We'll show you the festivities from around the world.
NGUYEN: And good morning, Washington. We'll have your complete weather forecast in about five minutes. Looks a little foggy, hazy there on this Christmas morning. Stay tuned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Corporal James Day from Weapons Company 2-5. Like to say merry Christmas to my family, my mother, my father, my sisters, all my family, to Josie and to my little boy, Noah. Merry Christmas, happy New Year. I'll see you when I get home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Wow, whiteout conditions in Washington, D.C. No, I shouldn't say that. I shouldn't say that. It's not (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- ah, there it is. A little balance in the camera there, and you can make out the White House.
Good morning, Washington. Today is your chance to take the Blue Ridge Wine Ways Holiday Wine Trail. It's a self-guided progressive Christmas event, I'm told, featuring 10 wineries that are decorated for the season.
Good morning. Merry Christmas.
NGUYEN: That sounds a little dangerous, though, self- progressive, OK.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Well, welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen.
Here's a quick check of our top stories.
Ukrainians face a possible bump in the road when they go to the polls for tomorrow's presidential runoff election. A court ruled restriction placed on disabled voters who cast ballots at home violate their civil rights. It's not clear exactly how the ruling will affect the election.
Pope John Paul II delivers his Christmas Day message from St. Peter's Square. He is calling for world peace and expressed particular concern for Iraq, the Middle East, and Africa.
Christmas mass was also celebrated in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. A Roman Catholic official called on Israelis and Palestinians to put past violence behind them.
It's the number one New Year's resolution for Americans. Guess it? Well, it's a promise to lose weight. But this year, you really do mean it, don't you? Well, tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," the diet wars. Registered dietitian Lisa Dreher (ph) live, 7:00 a.m. Eastern.
Then at 9:00, his face may be a mystery, but his music is just legendary. Rolling Stones keyboarders Chuck Leavell performs live here on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING." That's 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
HARRIS: We have been bringing you stories all morning of soldiers and Marines celebrating this Christmas far from home, and we are not done.
Chris Lawrence joins us now live from Ramadi with some of the troops there. Merry Christmas, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Merry Christmas to you too, Tony. We are here embedded with the 1st Battalion, or, I should say, excuse me, we're here at Camp Corregidor, is that right, did I get it right? We're here at Camp Corregidor here in Ramadi, where the U.S. Army is now responsible for basically the eastern half of this city. They've been here since about August, been working very hard.
With me now is Specialist Chris Polafios.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
LAWRENCE: Yes, just wanted to ask you, you guys have been here now since August. It's Christmas, you're out here, it's muddy, it's rainy. How are you feeling today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, really, it's just friends and the thoughts of family that counts. And makes us feel real good being out here. We know we got a job to do.
LAWRENCE: Now, we should say, a lot of the troops live in vastly different living conditions here. You've got no running water, no toilets, no showers, electricity is hit or miss. How's it, how is it, how is the living situation here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, it's just a, it's a day-by-day thing. I mean, we've gotten accustomed to the things that we have to do around here, and it's really no problem. We're dealing with it. All right.
LAWRENCE: Anything you just want to say to your family? I know they've got to be missing you, especially this time of year, and probably a little bit worried as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I guess so. I just want to say that I really appreciate all the gifts and the cards, and it's really nice to know that people out there, you know, thinking about us. And thank you, and merry Christmas to everybody.
LAWRENCE: All right. That was specialist Chris Polafios of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, U.S. Army. They are encamped here and do daily runs into the city of Ramadi.
We'll be bringing you their stories all week. We'll be embedded with them all week, and we hope to bring you some more of their stories throughout the day and throughout the next week, Tony.
HARRIS: OK, Chris, thank you. We appreciate it.
Well, they've got some tough sledding over there in Ramadi. And here at home, the weather has improved from at least a couple of days ago, when we had this terrible snowstorm moving through the Midwest. It's actually improving in some places around the country.
NGUYEN: Yes, but, you know, it's Christmas, people want to see snow on Christmas. Don't they, Brad?
BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, most, a lot, not most, some people do. Some people get tired of shoveling it, but in the South, well, we don't shovel it much.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, things are getting much better across the country.
NGUYEN: Oh, I like the sound of that.
HARRIS: Dad's got his son there for Christmas. The son is saying, you know, It seemed like a good idea at the time.
NGUYEN: Yes, it seemed like a good idea at 3:00 in the morning, but now that it's 9:00, Dad, can we go home? is what he's saying.
HUFFINES: Exactly.
NGUYEN: Well, Tony, I don't know...
HARRIS: All right, Brad.
NGUYEN: ... about you, but on Christmas Day, when all that wrapping paper's all over the place, don't you just hate to throw it away?
HARRIS: I certainly do, I hate to throw it away.
NGUYEN: But you don't have to any more. You don't have to throw all that paper away just yet. We have some ways that you can reduce, reuse, and even recycle it. That's ahead on Saturday, Christmas morning, here on CNN.
HARRIS: Truth is, I can't wait to throw it away.
But first, break out your hankies for this one. Gunnery Sergeant Richard McMullen, Jr. (ph), is stationed in Fallujah this Christmas morning.
NGUYEN: At home, he leaves his wife and two sons, Gavin and Derek. But for just one moment, a videophone brought them together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Open it, Derek. Daddy wants to watch you open a present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad, I got a (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's trying to peek.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just like your mom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Funny guy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you have guys been sledding yet this year?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Day before Thanksgiving, we had enough snow. We made, what, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), what did we make, Derek?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snowman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE). (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Say, Bye-bye, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Throw him a kiss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the writers on our show in the holiday spirit.
All right, we're talking about wrapping paper. As you sit there watching us, you probably have ripped through all those packages. Well, we want to introduce you to a wrapping alternative, something a little more ecofriendly. And there are better things to do than just throw it all away.
And that's where Rich and Mary Ann Waters comes in.
Good morning to you both.
MARY ANN WATERS: Good morning.
RICH WATERS: Hi. Thanks for having us.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. Now, I am looking at some numbers here, an extra 5 million tons of waste is generated each rear between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 5 million tons. What is that doing to the environment?
RICH WATERS: Well, it's doing a few things. A, it's contributing to the landfill problem, it's also contributing to global warming due to all the trees that are cut down in order to support this whole, this wrapping paper.
NGUYEN: All right. So you guys say, Don't throw it away any more, because there are things that you can do instead. Mary, what are some of those things?
MARY WATERS: Well, the best thing to do is to try and generate as little nonreusable items as you possibly can. So we like to wrap gifts within gifts, and also to use old, older things that we've used around the house, and recycle them as gift wrap.
Behind us, you can see everything is 100 percent recycled.
NGUYEN: OK. I have some examples here, reusing wrapping paper. I guess that's one of the things. You can just save some of that old paper and reuse it again. But here's my question on that. Yes, that's great, but if you have a big box, how with you reuse that old paper that's already been folded, there's creases in it, there's tape in it, how do you reuse that?
MARY WATERS: Well, that's hard to reuse on anything very large. You can save the nice squares that come out flat and put together origami kits and give them out at children's birthday parties this time of year.
NGUYEN: That takes skill, though, Mary. It takes a lot of skill to do some origami.
MARY WATERS: You can also cut up old wrapping paper and use it for confetti at your New Year's Eve celebration.
NGUYEN: OK.
MARY WATERS: Ideally, the best thing to do, though, is to try and be creative and use things that aren't using virgin wood and that can easily be reused by the recipient of the gift. So we like to put things in sacks that can be reused, fabric.
NGUYEN: OK, well, I have a couple of those sacks. Here is just a paper bag, I guess, that, you know, you got your groceries in from the grocery store. And all you have to do is, I guess, cut it up and then put some stamps on it, and it looks like a really nice gift here. This is really pretty. I mean, it's professional.
MARY WATERS: With that, I just -- exactly, I cut up an old grocery bag from the grocery store, and I took some celery root, although you could use potatoes or anything, and I just notched it, dipped it in some friendly water-based paint, stamped around, let it dry, folded it up, perfect.
NGUYEN: All right. And here's another bag, because you suggest putting gifts inside gifts, and I guess the bag itself can be a gift. But here this says it is made out of ecohemp. Why are you using hemp to make bags, Rich?
RICH WATERS: Well, hemp is great because it...
NGUYEN: They're pretty, though.
RICH WATERS: Yes, they're really nice, and they're 100 percent hemp. And hemp is great because it uses a lot less water than other materials. And it grows pesticide free naturally in all 50 states. So general, a lot of times you won't see hemp as certified organic, but it's also always grown without pesticides, and it's also a tougher material than lots of fabrics.
NGUYEN: All right. Quickly, though, as people head into the New Year's holiday, because we're pretty much done with Christmas. By this time, people have already wrap, ripped open those gifts, the wrapping has already been long gone by now. So as we plan for these other holidays, what can you do as you prepare for New Year's?
MARY WATERS: Well, what we do, and we do this throughout the year at our home, is, we have a space in our closet where we save wrapping paper that can be reused, and items that we feel would look nice as wrapping. So I found shells, foliage from the yard works very nicely, anything that's beautiful. Ideally, the thing behind wrapping paper is that it's beautiful paper.
We've wrapped gifts in old film festival posters, things like that.
NGUYEN: And you calendars, you've used calendars too, haven't you?
MARY WATERS: We've used calendars and also large-format magazines, such as "Wine Spectator," or we give to the Surf Rider Foundation, and then send us a large paper booklet with beautiful ocean photography each year, and we use that to wrap gifts in.
NGUYEN: No need for it to go to waste. All right, Rich and Mary Ann Waters, founders of Goodhumans.com, we thank you for your ideas and for spending a little time with us on this Christmas. Thank you.
RICH WATERS: Thanks for having us.
MARY WATERS: Thank you, merry Christmas.
NGUYEN: Sure, merry Christmas.
HARRIS: That's the thing, you got to be creative. I hadn't thought of that stuff.
NGUYEN: I know, calendars.
HARRIS: Use it as confetti, and in a week's time, you can get rid of a lot of the wrapping paper, and...
NGUYEN: Oh, your kids can get rid of a lot of wrapping paper...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: ... that way.
HARRIS: Well, they generate a lot of it, that's for sure. OK. All right. Creativity is the key, right?
All of you have been exchanging gifts at home. Well, Betty and I giving each other holiday presents as well...
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: ... our gifts to one another, that's still to come.
NGUYEN: Yes, watch out, Tony, that's all I have to say.
Plus all around the world, celebrations in honor of Christmas. We will give you a front seat look at all the excitement when CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns.
HARRIS: How is the hat, is the hat OK? Is it too much? I thought it might be OK.
NGUYEN: It suits you, I think.
HARRIS: Is it OK? All right.
NGUYEN: There you go.
HARRIS: Is that all right?
NGUYEN: Santa Harris.
HARRIS: J.C.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We're asking you this morning, what are your holiday wishes for U.S. troops? We will share that on the air.
But right now, we want to welcome you back on this Christmas morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. We're reading your e-mails a little later this hour. What do you want for the troops? What are your wishes?
Here's what's happening in the news.
NGUYEN: Some key arrests in Iraq. The U.S. military says soldiers have captured two leaders of wanted militant Abu Mousab al- Zarqawi's terror network. The arrests came under a sweep of Ramadi, a volatile city west of Baghdad.
In Baghdad, Iraqi officials are sorting out the casualties from a deadly attack yesterday. A local hospital now says nine people are dead and 20 wounded. A suicide bomber blew up a tanker truck filled with gas. That happened in a western Baghdad neighborhood.
Mahmoud Abbas has officially kicked off his campaign to succeed the late Yasser Arafat. In a speech, the interim Palestinian leader called on Israel to pull out of occupied lands. Abbas is the frontrunner in the Palestinian presidential election coming up in January.
HARRIS: We have been reuniting some military families through the magic of TV this Christmas morning. Staff Sergeant Rick Lopez (ph) lived through Tuesday's deadly attack in Mosul, Iraq. We gave him a chance to talk to his wife, Julie, and other members of his family at Fort Lewis in Washington state. It was a brief but heartfelt visit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I'm here.
HARRIS: Oh, my goodness, the entire family is there. Julie, who's there? (UNINTELLIGIBLE), walk us through that. Who's there with you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Alissa (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Daddy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Amanda.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi honey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Nicholas. And, hi, honey. Rick's mom, and Rick's dad.
HARRIS: OK, now, Rick, let me just say this to you. There's going to be a bit of a delay in you hearing what your family is saying, so just understand that, and it will be fine. First of all, Julie, there he is, you can see him. What are your thoughts? What do you want to say to him?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He looks awesome. He looks really good, better than I was hoping.
HARRIS: Now, Rick, talk to your family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you, honey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you too, honey. I miss you guys.
HARRIS: Rick, give me a sense of what it's like to see your family. How long have you been gone? And this moment for you, when you get an opportunity to see so many of your family there, and children there, I know it's difficult for you to be so far away from home. But I don't know, what are you feeling?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I miss them a lot. I wish I could be there with them. But, you know, this is what I've got to do. So it's hard.
HARRIS: And Julie, what would you like to say? I mean, I mean, this, but how long has it been since you last communicated with one another? Do you get an opportunity to e-mail? Do you videoconference? How do you guys stay in touch? And when's the last time you had some words with one another? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're able to talk on the phone several times a week. We try to get on the computer at least once a week with a Webcam, so we can see each other. We spoke a couple days ago when he called to inform me about this, so I am one of the lucky ones that gets to talk to him quite often.
HARRIS: Anything that the kids want to say, anything anyone else wants to say directly to Rick?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As his mother, I'd like to say it's really good to see him, really good to see him. I feel much better now than I did yesterday or the day before. I miss you, son. Wait for you to come home. We love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I miss you too, Mom. I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know you do, I know you do. I know.
HARRIS: Mom, that's your baby boy there. He is a long way from home. I know it's difficult for you, but how proud of him are you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Extremely proud. Extremely proud.
HARRIS: What kind of a boy was he, as a young, as a young boy was he? And as you see him sitting in front of you now, all grown up out in harm's way, protecting this country, what are your thoughts?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm really proud of him. Growing up, he was mischievous at times, but always a lot of fun, always a lot of fun to be around. And, you know, he's sitting there, and I've got his little boy here, so we have a good relationship.
HARRIS: Staff Sergeant Rick Lopez, you get the final word this morning to wish your family a merry Christmas and say what is on your heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you guys. I hope you guys's Christmas is really good, even though I'm not there. I hope everybody has a good and fun day. And tell everybody I said hi, and that I'm all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What a great family.
And another military family has gotten a chance for a Christmas visit thanks to TV technology. Captain Dewayne Limpert's (ph) parents, Dewayne and Kathy (ph) Limpert, are in Cleveland, Ohio. Captain Limpert joined us from the base near Mosul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Mom, hi, Dad. I think I heard my grandpa there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, your grandpa's not, but he's watching. He's watching. And so are your brothers, and your Aunt Jennifer, and all of them are here with us. They can't be on camera, but they're here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've got the world watching.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brad, Trace, Vicki, the whole group.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's good to see you, Mom, Dad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even better to be seeing you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Did you send a box to the house?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For Christmas?
NGUYEN: For Christmas?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, can I open it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We figured that, why not spend Christmas together and open up our Christmas present from you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes, I told you to open it, yes, this morning. Open it up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that's what we're doing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That what it is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, wow, a digital camera. Now we can go and take some pictures and send them to you on the Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, my love.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you too. How's it going for you over there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's going pretty well. It was a little tough coming back into Mosul with the incident, but things are starting to get back to normal, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) continues to do really good stuff, so, you know, we're keeping it positive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good. Well, you're in everybody's prayers here. A lot of people want to know how you were, and everybody we know in town when we see them, How's Dewayne? How's Dewayne? So I'm so glad you're doing well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you get a chance to see Rumsfeld?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did. Actually, I, I actually asked him a question and got a picture with him, so it was pretty good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, that made you happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic. Well, we know you're doing really important work over there, and we are thinking of you every day. It's just so great. And it's beautiful here. We came over, and the sun wasn't up, yet. There was a beautiful sunrise where the pink, sky was all pink and blue as the sun was coming up, and the trees are all covered with snow. It looks like a Christmas card outside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's not exactly snowing here, but today has been a pretty good day. We had a pretty nice dinner...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... or lunch, anyway, and looking forward to a good dinner with some holiday spirit.
HARRIS: Well, let me have you before we lose the satellite time with you. Let me have you, parents first, final thoughts for your son.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just take care of yourself, and we know you're making the world a better place by being there. And we feel very privileged to be able to see you, and we're thinking of all the other soldiers that are with you, the guys and the gals, and how lucky we are to be the parents that can go and see you.
And to all of your fellow soldiers and their families that are out there, we represent them, and we know they'd rather be us at this very moment, getting to see their child. So merry Christmas.
HARRIS: And Katherine, very quickly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, just take care of yourself and...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real quick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real quick, I just want to say, love you guys, and to thank all the families out there, especially friends of mine who've sent cards and packages, and people that I don't know that have sent them out to the soldiers. I feel like Christmas every day with people sending all the letters over to our soldiers.
So thanks to everybody, and merry Christmas. Love you guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: You could just feel the love there. Love those family reunions.
Well, we are sharing this holiday spirit with you all day long. You can see more of these special Christmas family reunions throughout the day, right here on CNN.
HARRIS: And all morning, we've heard Christmas wishes from soldiers and their families. When we come back, we will hear some from you. Stay with us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Lance Corporal McElroy. I'm with 2-5 in Iraq. I'd like to say to my family, merry Christmas, and I love you, and to Jordana Edwards, I love you very much. And I'll be home soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, it's hard to be festive at a war zone, but U.S. troops in Iraq are doing their best.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing: Good tidings for Christmas, and a happy new year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: During his annual journey around the world, Father Christmas made a stop in Fallujah to lead Christmas carols and spread some holiday cheer. The troops are nearly unanimous in their Christmas wishes to return home to their families as soon as possible.
NGUYEN: And with that, we want to get to our e-mail question of the day, which is really your wishes to U.S. troops. What are those wishes? We have several of them today.
This one from Vicki. She says, "Wishing for an election in Iraq, an ejection order by the new government, and jubilation that our troops are at home. This soldier's mother wants her soldier at home and back in school, praying for peaceful solutions."
You OK, Tony?
HARRIS: No, I don't think so.
NGUYEN: All choked up over him.
HARRIS: OK, let's try this one. I'll give it a go, from Eugene. "Merry Christmas and happy new year. We wake in a land of freedom so lucky every day and appreciate what you give up every day. May you be blessed and safe."
NGUYEN: And this person, Dale from Philadelphia, writes, "I'd tell the troops that even though I do not support Mr. Bush's war in Iraq, I will always support our troops. As long as they are there, I will pray for their safe return to their friends and families."
And we appreciate those wishes today, and I'm sure the troops do as well.
You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING on this Christmas. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So if you think decorating for the holidays at your house is a production, just ask White House chief usher Gary Walters what it's like to prep the executive mansion for Christmas. He joins Robert Novak in this week's special holiday edition of The Novak Zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone. We're in the grand foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., talking to Gary Walters, chief usher at the executive mansion.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Walters.
GARY WALTERS, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF USHER: Merry Christmas to you.
NOVAK: Mr. Walters, what are the duties of the chief usher?
WALTERS: Well, the chief usher is responsible for the activities that take place in the executive residence and on the grounds. We run the president's household for him so he can do all those international and national items that he has to take care of.
NOVAK: Now, this is the party season, Christmas season at the White House. How many parties are actually given here during this time of year?
WALTERS: Well, given all the parties, including those that the first lady attends and the president and the first lady attend together, we're have somewhere in the vicinity of 30. First lady starts off the holiday season with a traditional party for the decorators who have given of their time and efforts to help decorate the White House and have provided the wonderful ornaments that are on the tree.
And, of course, I think you attended a reception here the other night for the press. And so there's a wide range of receptions that go on during the season.
NOVAK: And it's too bad every American can't be here for this, because the executive mansion is just so beautiful. Who is responsible for the decoration of the mansion?
WALTERS: Well, starts off with the first lady. Each year, we determine a theme, or give her a selection of themes, and her -- she and her staff choose from those themes, or the ones that they derive themselves. And we just try and carry it out from that point forward.
We use about 50 decorators from around the country, florists that come and give of their time, as well as the resident staff. We work during the course of the year. Our chief floral designer is Nancy Clark (ph), and she does a marvelous job of coordinating everything.
We make most of the characters that you see, the small vignettes that are here. And it's a wonderful chore, but it takes pretty much the whole year.
NOVAK: What's the theme of this year?
WALTERS: This year's theme is merriment and melody. It has a theme dealing with Christmas music.
NOVAK: With all these 30 parties, the president and the first lady have to shake so many hands, so many receiving lines, as you said, I went through the receiving line, shake hands with Mr. and Mrs. Bush for the press party. How do they hold up just shaking with a lot of people they really don't know?
WALTERS: Well, it's a wonderful time, it's an opportunity for the president to say thanks to those people who have been associated with the White House, have certainly been associated with politics, the Congress, members of the press, staff who have participated during the previous year.
How do they do it? Strong legs, I think. They stand for a considerable number of hours shaking hands. And it really is wonderful to see them have an opportunity to say hello to everybody and to thank them for activities that occurred during the year.
NOVAK: Mr. Walters, behind us in the Blue Room is a Christmas tree that is considered about the best, most beautiful tree in this city this time of year. Who selects that tree?
WALTERS: Well, I actually have an opportunity to go out and select the tree. The National Christmas Tree Association since the Johnson administration has had a competition that they have every year, or every two years, I should say, and they select their grand champion grower.
They let us know who that grand champion grower is, and then that winner has an opportunity to provide a tree for the White House, the Blue Room tree in particular. That's been going on since 19 -- well, since the Johnson administration. And we've had a wonderful relationship.
Once I find out who that donor is going to be, I contact them, and I take myself and the chief of the grounds, the superintendent of the grounds, Irvin Williams, and we go and visit the farms. Most growers only grow trees about 10 feet high, so we have to look for something. And this tree is 18 feet, six inches. It goes from the chandelier support to the floor.
NOVAK: Where did you go to get it?
WALTERS: This one is Washington state.
NOVAK: Oh, that's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
WALTERS: The family, the Tillman (ph) family is in Washington, Rochester, Washington, you know, not far from Mount St. Helens. In fact, this tree, I think, came about 15 miles from Mount St. Helens. It's a beautiful part of the country.
But we've been all over the country getting trees, Missouri, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina.
NOVAK: And is there special attention paid to that tree, and decorating that tree?
WALTERS: Absolutely. It's the tree that carries the theme each year. And it is a spectacular tree this year. It fits the space just perfectly this year. When we go out and select the tree, our main concern is being able to get the tree through the doors. The double doors that are right here beside us are only 57 inches wide. and that's our main concern. How do you get an 18-foot tree through a 57- inch-wide door?
NOVAK: It's a good question. How do they?
WALTERS: They wrap it up pretty tightly. And that's one of the reasons we go out to select the tree, is to make sure it can be compressed and get through the door.
NOVAK: You say it takes about a year to plan this Christmas. It is Christmas Day today, Saturday. You start tomorrow on the next year's...
WALTERS: Well, actually, as soon as...
NOVAK: ... or take a break?
WALTERS: No, actually, as soon as the theme for one year is created and we are working on that, and we get a good thought, we start thinking about future years and what the possibility could be, what the things that haven't been touched on yet. And we present to the first lady pretty soon after the first of the year some ideas.
Of course, she has ideas of her own, and we follow her direction as soon as we get it, whether it be January 1 or March 3. We look forward as early as possible to allow us the time to see that we get a nice decoration scheme each year.
NOVAK: And now the big question for Gary Walters, chief usher at the White House.
Mr. Walters, you have been in this job for 33 years.
WALTERS: Yes, sir.
NOVAK: Seven presidents. What is the biggest kick you get out of it at this very day?
WALTERS: Well, it's dealing with the first family. I don't do it through somebody else's eyes, or somebody else's ears, I do it on my own. And it's been a wonderful chore. They've all been wonderful to me, to my family.
And it's a joy being in this building. This building has, as you well know, the history of the United States is embodied in this building. Every president except George Washington lived here, and he certainly had a siting decision to make when the house was being built. So it's a pretty important place, and I'm just thrilled to be here.
NOVAK: And you've got a nonpolitical job, so I won't ask you your favorite first family.
WALTERS: Thank you, sir.
NOVAK: Thank, and thank you, Mr. Walters.
And thank you for being in The Novak Zone. And a very merry Christmas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, the...
HARRIS: How about that?
NGUYEN: Yes, very beautiful...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
NGUYEN: ... tree, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HARRIS: Come on, come on, come on, don't hold up, don't...
NGUYEN: OK.
HARRIS: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: Excitement time, with all the talk of Christmas...
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: ... we have to exchange gifts.
HARRIS: That's right, that's right.
NGUYEN: ... Tony. So I (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HARRIS: You want yours first, or -- you want to go first?
NGUYEN: No, I want to do your first.
HARRIS: Oh, OK.
NGUYEN: And let me just remind you, before you open...
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: ... big things come in small packages.
HARRIS: Yes, I agree with that.
NGUYEN: But...
HARRIS: Yes?
NGUYEN: ... I have to set this one up just a little bit...
HARRIS: Well, we, we don't have a so much time, Betty.
NGUYEN: ... so the viewers at home can understand why Tony is getting what he's getting. Can you roll the tape, please?
HARRIS: Roll the tape?
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: You know, I just can't sing on cue. I have to be inspired.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: So you can shut down your little recording devices. This is...
HARRIS (singing): Fe-fe, fe-fe, fe-fe-fe.
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: Fe-fe-fe, fe-fe-fe, fe-fe-fe...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) really.
HARRIS: In the name...
HARRIS: Oh, no, no.
HARRIS: ... of love...
HARRIS: No, no, no.
HARRIS: In the name of love...
HARRIS: Oh, no. This is outrageous.
HARRIS: You know, it's natural. It's not like I said, You know what? I'm not going to wash my face this morning.
HARRIS: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: And I'm going to come to work.
HARRIS: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), yes, and I'm not going to brush my teeth...
NGUYEN: That's what we wondered (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: ... I'm not going to shave my legs. Oh, I'm sorry, did I go too far?
HARRIS (singing): (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the name of love, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: What happened to all that treat the new guy with a little...
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: It's all in love, Tony, all in love.
HARRIS: In the name of...
HARRIS: Oh, no.
HARRIS: ... love, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
NGUYEN: See what we go through?
NGUYEN: Oh, shoot me now.
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HARRIS: Oh, come on!
HARRIS: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE), (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: I'm going to leave -- I'm not kidding. I'm going to walk up out of here right...
NGUYEN: Oh, Tony, Tony, Tony.
HARRIS: Another convert, baby, another convert. I win.
NGUYEN: And you're so proud of the singing. That's what I don't understand.
So with all of that said and heard, unfortunately, merry Christmas, Tony.
HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), nothing but love for you, appreciate it, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)... NGUYEN: Nothing but love. It was all in the name of love, as you like to say.
HARRIS: Yes, I, in the name of love. I guess we can predict what this is going to be right? Sure, sure. Singing lessons, thank you.
NGUYEN: Yay! And the amount, of course, is priceless for us. But here's a backup gift just in case those don't work. Please...
HARRIS: The -- in case, in case...
NGUYEN: ... please use this.
HARRIS: So this was not about me getting you a gift at all. This was all about me, this was all, this was charade, huh? Thank you, thank you, and tape for my mouth.
NGUYEN: Just in case it doesn't work. Merry Christmas, Tony.
HARRIS: Tape for my mouth. Hey, Betty...
NGUYEN: Payback.
HARRIS: In keeping with the theme of the morning, it seems, and, of course...
NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HARRIS: ... I didn't know it would be the theme of the morning until just...
NGUYEN: Oh, gosh...
HARRIS: ... in some way, shape, or form...
NGUYEN: So you want me to start singing?
HARRIS: ... I want to say, I want to say, right back at you, kiddo, right back at you. Little karaoke machine for you.
NGUYEN: And you...
HARRIS: Right back at you.
NGUYEN: Do you see what this is? It's a double-mike set. Do you think you're...
HARRIS: Double-mike set.
NGUYEN: ... really going to be singing along with me?
HARRIS: Come on. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) don't play that.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Tony.
HARRIS: Merry Christmas, everyone.
NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) practice, yes.
HARRIS: We got to go practice or something.
NGUYEN: Our singing.
HARRIS: "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" is next. Merry Christmas, one and all. God bless us, every one.
NGUYEN: Happy holidays. We'll see you at noon today.
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