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CNN Saturday Morning News

4th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; Space Shuttle 'Discovery' Launched on a Re-Supply Mission; Ted Kennedy to be Laid to Rest Today

Aired August 29, 2009 - 08:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hello, everybody. From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is August 29th, we are almost done with this month. Wow, the year has flown by.

Good morning, everybody. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And hey there. I'm T.J. Holmes. Give you an idea of what we're covering this morning. It's 8:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 7:00 a.m. in New Orleans.

We'll be talking a lot about New Orleans this morning. It was four years ago today...

NGUYEN: Yes.

HOLMES: ...Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, hit all up and down the Gulf Coast. Well, we're going to be talking to a very familiar face from that time, Russel Honore, who's a big part of that city's recovery.

NGUYEN: Yes, they call him the John Wayne dude. We're going to find out what's been done, has enough been done and what's to come.

In the meantime though, talking about this as well, spectacular and a space shuttle launch of "Discovery." Look at that, always just an amazing sight to see. It is carrying seven astronauts to the international space station on a re-supply mission, also carrying a treadmill named after Steven Colbert. We'll get details of that a little bit later. It's kind of interesting.

But in the meantime though do want to tell you about this. The funeral for Senator Ted Kennedy is coming up just a little bit later this morning, about two hours from now, two and a half hours.

HOLMES: And of course we will have live coverage here at CNN. It's coming to us from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. That's in Boston. Our correspondents standing by all over the place with all the angles for us today.

Our Dan Lothian is at the church right now. Also our Deb Feyerick is at the Kennedy library in Boston, Kate Bolduan on Capitol Hill for us and Elaine Quijano at Arlington National Cemetery of course where Kennedy will be laid to rest a little later today. That place also the final resting place for his two brothers, John and Robert Kennedy as well. We do want to start though with Dan Lothian at the church in Boston. Dan, we know the president actually giving the eulogy today. He's been working on it. He's been on vacation actually at Martha's Vineyard working on it. So what do we expect to hear from the president today?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The president has been working on the remarks that he'll be making here along with a speechwriter. I'm told by senior administration officials that that eulogy is expected to last for about 15 minutes or so and will be a very personal message where the president will talk about someone who was not only a counselor but also a friend, a colleague, someone he really relied on.

We've been talking about this over the last few days about what Senator Kennedy meant to the president when President Obama then Senator Obama went to Capitol Hill. One of the first people that he sat down and met with was Senator Ted Kennedy. The senator looked at Mr. Obama and saw something there, knew that he would become something and he really wanted to help him out, to shepherd him, to show him the ropes in Washington.

And so that friendship began then and then later on it really solidified when Senator Ted Kennedy endorsed then Senator Obama for president and then when he became president obviously it was someone who the president relied on to get a lot of advice about a number of issues, including health care reform, which Senator Ted Kennedy has been pushing long before anyone really took up the cause.

So these are some of the stories, personal stories that we'll hear from the president today although we're told there won't be a whole lot of different sort of, this is Ted Kennedy and what we did on this day or that day. It's going to be broader, about what Ted Kennedy meant to him in a broad sense and not only to him, but what kind of impact Ted Kennedy had on all Americans -- T.J.

HOLMES: And Dan, one more thing just quickly, as opposed to what we saw the past couple days at the JFK library, people, the general public got to go by and pay their respects when his body did lay in repose and also at the memorial service yesterday. Today is different. This is not open to the public.

LOTHIAN: It isn't. I mean, this is a private funeral mass, 1550 people are expected to attend here, a number of senators, 40 plus will be attending here. The vice president will be here. The president and the first lady as I mentioned will also be here. But this is really a private moment.

The public really is being kept away. In fact, the barricades have been set up. Some people who live in the area can look out their windows and come to the perimeter and look in, but they won't be allowed to go in. They've had their chance over the last few days to see him, whether it's during the standing along the road as the long motorcade came by or whether it was going to the JFK library, tens of thousands who were able to parade past the casket there. But today really will be a private moment for only invited guests and in fact just a few minutes ago, we saw a bus pull up here in front of the church and some of the guests started arriving. That service by the way beginning at 10:30 this morning lasting for two hours T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Dan Lothian for us this morning. We'll be checking in with you Dan. Thanks so much Dan.

NGUYEN: Ted Kennedy's body lay in repose at the Kennedy library in Boston before being moved to the church and about 45,000 people walked by to pay their last respects. That's before the public memorial service was held last night.

Now our Deborah Feyerick is at the JFK library where that service took place. Deborah, you know, today a lot of people looking at this funeral procession and the funeral itself and just reflecting on Ted Kennedy and his legacy.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, absolutely. And Betty, it's so interesting because when you look at the casket there, the senator's body lying in repose, that room is so different when you're inside. It's very, very quiet and very serene. The military honor guard has been standing there really since the body left Hyannis Port Thursday afternoon but also look at that.

Those windows look out on the Dorchester Bay and so you really get a sense of light and of water and just serenity. That's what's so incredible about that particular room. Just here outside, well, I can definitely tell you everything is very, very, very wet. It is a gray, rainy day.

The funeral home does have its various cars lined up. There are some limousines. The hearse in place. We're expecting buses with the congressional delegation that will include senators and congressmen to come in about 8:30 today. They will have 30 minutes in which to sort of pay their final respects to the senator in a quiet way. This will really be one of the final quiet moments with these folks, these public figures have a chance to speak.

Last night during the memorial service what really impressed many people is just the sort of humor, the celebration, the sort of larger than life figure who many people just still can't believe is gone. Vice President Biden spoke yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His death was not unlike his life as we all know, overcoming pain and loss with a sense of dignity and pride that is amazing. He met his death in the same brave generous terms that he lived his life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Many members of the family were here yesterday, not inside, not removed. In fact they were very much part of all those who came to honor him. For example you had the senator's widow working the line here basically greeting people, welcoming them, thanking everyone for coming. You had his nieces, his nephews. Max Kennedy was there. They had the memorial for condolence was set up down at the other end of the parking lot. People were just putting down thoughts and remembrances about that.

Now, what we're going to see a little later on is that we're expecting the casket to come out the front door. It will be put in the hearse and then it will taken over to the basilica. There there will be both honorary pall bearers who will greet guests as they arrive. The pall bearers themselves, they will be members of the Kennedy immediate family, Ted Kennedy's immediate family.

Again, right now, quiet, serene, a little bit rainy. A day to say good-bye -- Betty?

NGUYEN: All right. Deborah Feyerick joining us live there from the Kennedy library. Thank you for that Deb.

HOLMES: Senator Kennedy of course being remembered in Washington today as well. He served more than 46 years in the Senate. That's the third longest tenure of any U.S. senator.

CNN's Kate Bolduan there at the capitol this morning. Kate, what's the plan? What do they have on tap there at the capitol today?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there T.J. This afternoon Senator Kennedy will be passing by in a motorcade, really to bid farewell to the institution as you mentioned he served for basically 47 years and the hundreds of people that served for him and served with him here today.

His casket is expected to arrive at Andrews Air Force base around 3:00 and then right around 4:30 this afternoon here in Washington we're told that his casket, a motorcade will be pulling up and will be passing by the Senate capitol steps you can see over my shoulder.

It's basically open to anyone but specifically we've seen an invitations to his current staff, alumni, congressional staff in general. The general public is also invited to come. When you just take a look at his current staff and alumni staff, that's hundreds of people T.J.

And Michael Mershon, he's one of those people, a former intern, a former press aide and former Judiciary Committee staffer. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MERSHON, FORMER KENNEDY AIDE: He inspired such a fierce loyalty among his staff, mostly I think because he would always work just as hard if not harder than you would. If you were up until 11:00 at night working on something chances are you'd get a phone call from him at 11:30 saying what about this? What about the that? You didn't answer this question. So he drove us really hard but in the end you knew that you were part of something extraordinary.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BOLDUAN: So the motorcade will be pulling up it says for a brief moment, really a moment for many people to simply bid farewell, say good-bye, maybe a moment of silence and prayer for the senator as the motorcade will then head out to Arlington National Cemetery via the national mall so he will be passing by that historic, very much a Washington landmark.

And T.J., there really aren't any firm estimates of how many people could turn out here, but I surely would not be surprised if it wasn't quite a crowd. I mean this really is one of the only public memorials, public viewing areas here in Washington and really the only chance for many people to bid their farewell and say good bye to the senator who everyone has a story of seeing him walk through the halls being -- having his name on historic legislation, also being with two of his best companions, Sonny and Splash, his two dogs that often accompanying him here on Capitol Hill.

HOLMES: What you've already seen this morning and really early this morning about 5:30 a lot of his colleagues heading over to Boston. We were told -- we're showing some pictures here now but you can walk us through this. We were told about maybe 40 of his Senate colleagues but it seems like the number is a lot more than that.

BOLDUAN: What we were told as you're seeing these pictures from earlier this morning, it was right around 5:30 that a group of a delegation of about 60 to 65 senators loaded into these four buses and headed out. They're heading to Andrews Air Force base to then fly to Boston to be there for the private funeral service that will be happening this morning.

Many Republicans, Democrats, current and former members of the Senate are also going to be joined by many other members of many other congressional members that many people find in their own way to travel to Boston. Also spouses were along with them and some of Kennedy's staff were also loading onto these buses so they could all make it up there in time for the funeral.

HOLMES: All right, Kate Bolduan for us this morning at the capitol. Thank you so much Kate.

NGUYEN: Later today Senator Ted Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers John and Robert. Our Elaine Quijano is there with us this morning and she joins us now live. Explain exactly how this burial service will take place.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all Betty, we should tell you that we're waiting for the gates here to open any minute now really at Arlington National Cemetery and just in the last two minutes I have to tell you we've been seeing some visitors arrive, a couple of people lined up just outside of camera range. But this is of course a place that was very familiar to Senator Ted Kennedy, of course the place where his two brothers John and Robert are buried, 200 some acres here.

And our Barbara Starr got a chance to talk to the Arlington cemetery superintendent who told her yesterday that in fact the senator really was no stranger to this place, that he would often come here, sometimes unannounced, and spend some time visiting the graves of his brothers in quiet reflection. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Kennedy was here all the time. He came on the anniversaries of the deaths. He would come on the anniversaries of the births if he was available. He would just come. Sometimes he would announce himself. Other times we would just be up here doing maintenance and we'd find him up here.

If he came to funerals of one of the soldiers from his stated, he'd also before he left the cemetery always stop and have a prayer or a quiet visit here. Sometimes he would spend five minutes, other times he would talk to the people until they quit talking to him. He'd spend a half hour, 45 minutes just talking to people and visiting with his brothers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, this will be a closed service today. The superintendent says they are expecting about 200 invited guests. Of course family members to attend that private service and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the retired archbishop of Washington Betty, will be presiding over the burial service today -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. Elaine, remind us once again why Senator Kennedy is eligible in fact for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

QUIJANO: Yes, that's right. A lot of people may not realize this, that long before Ted Kennedy actually began his career in the Senate, he was actually an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army for a couple of years. This was in the 1950s.

He was stationed in Europe and because of that and as well as the fact that he was an active serving member of Congress, a U.S. representative elected by the people, for both those reasons he is eligible to be buried here and he's going to be receiving military honors and what that means is that there will be a volley of gun fire and also "Taps" will be played during his burial service today -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano joining us live. Thank you Elaine.

HOLMES: And CNN's special coverage of Ted Kennedy remembered, a celebration of life, continues throughout the day with special live coverage of the funeral beginning at 10:00 Eastern including President Obama's eulogy.

You're seeing a live picture at least this morning on the inside and outside of the JFK library where of course the body of Ted Kennedy still is and will be taken there over to the church in short order. You see people starting to gather there on the outside on the left as well, all of this happening at the library this morning. The coverage of the burial at Arlington National Cemetery will start at 4:00 so you can stay with CNN throughout the day for live coverage.

NGUYEN: All right. So we do want to give you a look at a few other stories that we are covering this morning for you. In fact, a state of emergency has been declared in California because of several wildfires just burning up and down the state.

HOLMES: One of those the fire in the Angeles national forest, that's one of the largest going right now. More than 700 firefighters trying to contain what so far has been a 5,000-acre fire. Hundreds of homes have been evacuated and the cause under investigation right now.

The coroner in Los Angeles has now ruled Michael Jackson's death a drug-related homicide. The coroner says the drugs Propofol and a few others actually were the primary drugs but four other prescription drugs were also found in his body and again, this is the report we've been waiting on. The coroner's office says the full report is being kept on security hold to allow police to complete their investigation.

NGUYEN: Want to get to this story, a lot of people are shocked by the details of it, a case of a California woman found alive after being abducted 18 years ago. A sheriff admits his office missed a chance to find Jaycee Lee Dugard who was living in concealed buildings in the back yard of the kidnapping suspect's house. Three years ago a neighbor had made a report about people living in tents but a deputy who went to the house never looked in the back yard.

Authorities say the suspect Phillip Garrido fathered two children with Dugard. Garrido was arrested earlier this week after a police officer saw the two girls with him during school hours and felt something just was not right. Garrido and his wife, well, they faced 29 charges in this case and, in fact, Garrido spoke to CNN affiliate KTRA from jail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOICE OF PHILLIP GARRIDO, SUSPECTED ABDUCTOR: Wait until you read that document. My life has been straightened out. Wait until you hear this story of what took place at this house. And you're going to be absolutely impressed.

It's a disgusting thing that took place with me in the beginning but I turned my life completely around to be able to understand that you have to start back and you're going to find the most plausible story coming from the witness, from the victim. If you take this a step at a time you're going to fall over backwards and in the end, you're going to find the most powerful, heart-warming story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: We'll see about that. But Dugard, now 29, has been reunited with her family and she is said to be in good health but guilty about developing a bond with Garrido over the years. Garrido, who has been a registered sex offender since 1977 is now under suspicion in the unsolved murders of several prostitutes in the 1990s.

HOLMES: Well, finally off the ground after three delays this week space shuttle "Discovery" got off the ground just before midnight last night.

NGUYEN: "Discovery" and the seven astronauts, they are headed for the international space station on a 13-day mission to deliver seven tons of supplies. Just look at this liftoff, always an amazing sight. One of the items that they're delivering will be a treadmill in fact that was named after comedian Steven Colbert who won an online contest. Now, in all honesty that contest was in order to name a room on the space station.

HOLMES: A bigger deal.

NGUYEN: A big deal right? Colbert won. But NASA said, uh-huh, no, I think we're going to have to change the rules of this just momentarily. How about a compromise? You get a treadmill.

HOLMES: They were a little embarrassed. He had kind of an online campaign going. All these votes were coming in and sure enough he pulled it off. It was nice of them to make a compromise. I guess they could have said no altogether to anything.

NGUYEN: But it's a contest. Yu won fair and square right.

HOLMES: I think they wanted something sweet.

NGUYEN: A treadmill? Interesting.

HOLMES: It's an important piece of equipment up there.

NGUYEN: It is. You got to stay in shape. All right.

HOLMES: Well of course the other story we're keeping an eye on today, a lot of live pictures we're going to have for you throughout the day and throughout the morning here as well that Betty and I have been showing you of the funeral events surrounding Senator Ted Kennedy. Here is a live picture this morning from the JFK library in Boston where his body has been in repose the past couple of days and where it will be taken in short order over to the church where the funeral will happen.

NGUYEN: A just little bit later this morning, we're going to take a look back at the senator's sense of humor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Where was George? Where was George? Where was George? Where was George? Where was George?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Which he sometimes used to taunt his political opponents as you just heard right there and at other times, to poke fun at himself.

HOLMES: I love that picture there of him and his two brothers. Also, of course, this morning you can always share your thoughts on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. You can find Betty and I of course on Facebook, on Twitter, also our blog and also at weekend@cnn.com. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Hello everybody and welcome back.

Look at these live pictures coming to us from our affiliate KABC. This is out in California where wildfires have really wreaked havoc on this area. This is the Kenyatta (ph) area and just north of Los Angeles and can't see exactly what's burning but according to wire reports, it's so dark in that picture, a lot of this is a forest area. I know, Reynolds, you've been watching this. Any chance that they're going to get any kind of relief when it comes to the weather?

(WEATHER REPORT)

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Philadelphia, a city known for all kinds of great history, great restaurants, and also happens to be the site of this weekend's getaway.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF (voice-over): Philadelphia is a national treasure for the entire family.

MARK ORWOLL, TRAVEL + LEISURE: There are so many kid friendly attractions in Philadelphia that you will not run out of things to do at the museums. There are science centers. If you want to get up close to the animals you can do that at the Philadelphia zoo.

WOLF: You can run on a hamster wheel, explore mosaic labyrinths and don't miss a beat at the Franklin Institute.

TROY COLLINS, FRANKLIN INSTITUTE: It's a two-story, walk through heart and it actually represents the size of a heart of a man who's 220 feet tall.

WOLF: Philadelphia has plenty of modern fun mixed with history.

ORWOLL: The liberty bell is probably one of the most famous icons of freedom. Independence Hall is one of the most beautiful colonial buildings you'll see and of course this is where the founding fathers adopted the declaration of independence. It is really in every sense of the word the birthplace of America.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And of course as we've been mentioning and as we've been covering this morning showing you live pictures of the events surrounding the funeral and burial service for Ted Kennedy. There you see the live picture of the Kennedy library in Boston where his body had been the past couple days. People have been paying their respects.

The body will be taken from there over to the church where the funeral service will take place scheduled for about two hours from now, President Obama giving the eulogy. We will have special live coverage throughout the day. Also, a little later the new look of the lower ninth ward.

NGUYEN: It has been four years since Hurricane Katrina just leveled the neighborhood so how has it changed and is it even becoming more eco-friendly? We're going to talk with retired General Russell Honore about this and he'll be joining us live very shortly. Stay with us. You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: A sex offender has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts related to the 1991 kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl. Authorities say Phillip Garrido kept Jaycee Lee Dugard who is now 29 in buildings in his back yard. You're seeing some of the pictures of the scene there. Garrido also accused of fathering two children with Dugard. Authorities now looking into whether Garrido is connected to other crimes.

NGUYEN: A wildfire in the Los Angeles area has forced hundreds of people to leave their homes. Why don't you take a look? More than 5,000 acres of the Angeles national forest have already burned. There are some live pictures for you. Investigators are searching for the cause of this. The fire is one of several which have prompted Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency.

HOLMES: His name is DJ AM, real name is Adam Goldstein. He's been found dead in his New York apartment, a very popular celebrity DJ. He was 36 years old. The cause of death not known as this point. You may remember the name DJ AM coming up about a year ago because he was in a plane crash in South Carolina that killed four other people. He survived it along with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. Goldstein's well known for his relationships as well with reality TV star Nicole Richie as well as actress Mandy Moore.

NGUYEN: We are remembering Ted Kennedy today and in doing so bringing you two live pictures right now, one outside of the JFK library in Boston, you see it on the left-hand side. People are already starting to come in and it is a rainy day there.

But on the right on the inside where you can see the senator's body lying in repose and several people have already arrived for that viewing. The honor guard is there, been there all night watching the casket. A little bit later today the actual funeral will take place, that will be at 10:30 Eastern this morning and of course we will bring all of that to you live.

President Obama is going to be speaking, he's going to be giving the eulogy. In fact, several dignitaries are going to be there including three past presidents, of course, some 60 members from the Senate, Congress. They have boarded buses this morning in order to make the trek to our Lady of Help Basilica. That is where the funeral will take place today.

We are watching it very closely as you know. Many people will be attending and as of yesterday just to give you an indication of just the legacy that Senator Kennedy leaves behind some 45,000 people came by to give their last respects and that was even before the ceremony took place last night, the memorial service where another 25,000 showed up.

HOLMES: We have been told that some members of the Kennedy family have begun to arrive. You see those long lines of limos there. A lot of people, a lot of dignitaries are going to be showing up today but some members of the family we're told have arrived.

Also you know this city and around the church today really locked down. Security a major issue because you do have three former presidents showing up. You have all these members of the Senate. You have the president of the United States showing up, as well. So really a lot down there in the city.

A lot of people have been told to just stay out of that area. The best place to get a view of this is at home on your television. Of course with CNN you can stay with us, we'll be covering that live for you tonight during the day today. There is a no-fly zone around the church today as well. So security a major issue but a lot of people want to be there and have to be there to pay their final respects to Senator Kennedy.

I want to bring in now someone who knows an awful lot about the Kennedys, I studied them, he's a professor of American history and social science at Boston University, Thomas Whelan is with me now. Mr. Whalen, we're going to keep up some of these pictures while we have a discussion here with you. Good morning to you, sir. Are you with me?

THOMAS WHALEN, HISTORIAN, BOSTON UNIVERSITY: Good morning.

HOLMES: All right. Sir, put this kind of in perspective for some of our viewers. We've been talking so much about what this man has done over the years, his legacy and what he has left behind in legislation but does this symbolize the end of the Kennedy dynasty as we have known it? Is he really the last and with him goes this dynasty that this country has seen for decades?

WHALEN: I really do think that. I think at this point the Kennedys like the dynasties of the past, dynasties like the Tafts and the Ladges are going to recede into the midst of history.

HOLMES: Mr. Whalen, I have to jump in here, we're going to transfer. You stand by for us but we're going to hand it over to our Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper who are going to continue our live coverage right now in New York. Guys, take it away.

Mr. Whalen I apologize to our viewers as well. I was told to head up there to New York but I know those guys are standing by. We'll continue here with our discussion and keep these live pictures up. But again, we're watching this live picture here of the JFK Library in Boston where the body of Ted Kennedy sits right now. People are starting.