This program is about 1 hour long
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Note:Special report "Death of a President" on the death of Gerald Ford
#847801
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) The death of President Gerald Ford last night noted.
(Rancho Mirage, California: Dan Simon) Ford's funeral previewed; details given about the public viewings. [Ford friend Gregory WILLARD†- talks about the planned tributes by Congress; reads letter from Betty Ford.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Report introduced.
(Crawford, Texas: Elaine Quijano) President Bush's view of the Ford presidency reviewed; details given about Ford's ties to the current administration. [From Crawford, Texas, BUSH - praises Ford for his service to the US.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Report introduced.
(New York: Jeff Greenfield) The legacies of the short Ford presidency examined; photos shown; details given about the future roles of Ford people former Secretary of State James Baker, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney & President George Bush in shaping American policy.
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Live interview held with "New York Daily News" Washington bureau chief Thomas DeFrank† about the Ford White House. [From Austin, Texas, DeFRANK - says it was like a fog lifted from over the White House as things suddenly got better; talks about Ford's decision-making process.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) The "raw data" on the 25th Amendment reviewed.
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[Former President Gerald FORD - says he made the right decision then.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Report introduced.
(Washington: Jeanne Meserve) The impact of Ford's decision to pardon former President Richard Nixon examined. [FORD - pardons Nixon.] [Presidential historian Yanek MIECZKOWSKI†- says it tainted Ford.] [In 1999, FORD - says it was the right thing to do.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Live discussion held with former presidential adviser David Gergen about the decision to pardon Nixon; inset photos shown. [From Seattle, GERGEN - says it was the right decision enabling Ford to change his priorities, but the sudden announcement was a surprise & thus shocked the nation because it appeared the fix was in, which was not true; notes that Ford did not prepare to become president so there was confusion in the beginning until now-Vice President Dick Cheney brought order to the staffing; notes his relationship with wife Betty Ford.]
#847807
[President Gerald FORD - speaks about liberty.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Report introduced.
(New York: Randi Kaye) Ford's long love affair with wife, Betty, featured; family photos & video shown. [Betty FORD - comments.] [Historian Carl Sferrazza ANTHONY†- talks about the Fords.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Report introduced.
(Rancho Mirage, California: Dan Simon) Betty Ford's battle against addiction to alcohol & prescription drugs reviewed; details given of her founding of the Betty Ford Center in 1982. [In 2002 on "Larry King Live," Betty FORD - comments on her problems, her center's program & staying clean & sober.]
#847810
[President Gerald FORD - says our long national nightmare is over.]
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) The two assassination attempts on Ford's life reviewed; photos shown of Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme on September 5, 1975, & Sarah Jane Moore on September 22, 1975. [In 1999, on "Larry King Live," FORD - recounts seeing the woman in the red dress {Fromme} with a pistol.]
#847814
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) The discovery in China of the bodies of one of the two missing mountain climbers, Charlie Fowler & Christine Boskoff†, reported. [From Seattle, climber's friend David JONES - says the body was found & not yet identified; outlines the search effort led by Ted Callahan; speculates on what might have happened on the mountain peaks.]
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(Studio: Anderson Cooper) The severe weather in the West introduced.
(Aurora, Colorado: Reynolds Wolf) The headaches resulting from the heavy snowfall featured; scenes shown of snowy streets in Denver; weather map shown.
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(Studio: Anderson Cooper) CNN coverage of New Year's Eve & the Keeping Them Honest contest noted.
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(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Upcoming item noted.
(Studio: Randi Kaye) The defiant farewell letter from former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who faces hanging; tomorrow's announcement by former Senator John Edwards on entering the 2008 presidential race; Stock Market Report & President Bush's administration's plans to put the polar bear on the threatened species list reported.
#847820
(Studio: Anderson Cooper) Video shown of airport luggage found in a trash bin behind a pet store in Houston.
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