Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
American Kidnapped in Pakistan; Perry to Declare Candidacy; Iowa Holds Pivotal Straw Poll; Five Ways to Beat Recession; Banking on Grandparents; Couple Wins Lottery; Palin Grabs Iowa Spotlight; Seven Cities, One Tank of Gas; Duchess Willing to Lose Billions for Marriage; Sickness and Starvation in Somalia
Aired August 13, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: We are at the top of the hour on this CNN Saturday morning. Hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes.
And everything is on the line today for some of these Republican presidential candidates. Iowa holding its famous straw poll. It's a test for some of these candidates, a test that some of them may not survive. We will take you there live.
Also, a vacation without the big price tag. Yes, it's possible. We'll show you how you can do it on just one tank of gas. Also show you the oldest edible ham in the world.
Also, many older Americans are facing an unexpected expense -- their grandchildren. Find out how you can handle the extra cost while keeping your later years golden.
Well, let's begin with a breaking story this morning out of Pakistan, where an intense search is under way for an American kidnapped from his home in what's described as a brazen, pre-dawn raid. And the victim is identified as Warren Weinstein, a development expert, who works for a U.S.-based consulting firm.
CNN's Reza Sayah is live for us from Islamabad. Reza, hello to you once again. And is there any idea just yet of who might have been behind this kidnapping?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, not at this point, T.J. Police say no one has claimed responsibility, and they simply don't know who kidnapped Warren Weinstein, a 60-something development expert, an American citizen, according to the U.S. Embassy and Pakistani police, kidnapped in the wee hours of the morning, in his upscale neighborhood in the eastern city of Lahore.
Police say the kidnapping happened around 3:15 a.m. in the morning and all indications are this was a very well-planned out and coordinated plot.
At least eight assailants, according to police, managed to force their way into Weinstein's home. Some of them went through the front gate. Others, according to investigators, scaling the walls of his home. They managed to tie up and duct tape three of Weinstein's security guards, who were in the front yard. They also pistol whipped his driver, who was also there, forced him to take them to Weinstein, who was sleeping in his room, and eventually left with him.
Police say the three security guards who were protecting Weinstein were very well-trained. In fact, they were retired military commandos. That's why they're convinced that these assailants were well-trained as well, T.J.
Weinstein, an employee, according to police here, of J.E. Austin, of Washington -- excuse me, a Virginia-based development company, one of many here in Pakistan, doing important development work, helping with economic development, creating jobs. At this hour, he's still missing, Warren Weinstein, victim of a kidnapping here in Pakistan.
HOLMES: All right. Our Reza Sayah, thank you, as always.
We'll turn back here to the U.S. and politics.
There is huge political news today, certainly coming out of Iowa. So why are we focusing on South Carolina right now? Because that is where someone else is expected to make an announcement that he is officially getting into the race. We're talking about Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Let me bring in our Jim Acosta, who is in South Carolina, where this announcement is expected. And Jim, we thought all the action was supposed to be in Iowa this week, but here we are starting with you in South Carolina. Why is he a big deal getting into this race?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is a very big deal, T.J., because Rick Perry, if you look at all the polls, he comes into this race as a top-tier candidate. He has the potential to knock some of the other contenders in the GOP field out of this race, and he's coming to South Carolina to essentially steal the show that is going on in Iowa right now.
There is a red state conference happening here in this hotel that we're standing in, in Charleston right now. It's a conference for conservative activists. And Governor Perry signed on to speak at this event several months ago. And at the time, he was saying, I'm not running for president. Look, let me make myself clear, I'm not running for president.
Well, something in the last couple of months changed in Rick Perry's mind and now he is expected to announce that he is running for president later today. And he was test driving his campaign message last night in Alabama, talking to a Republican group there.
He talked about the national debt, how he would like to bring the Texas record of creating jobs to Washington. He also said that his diagnosis for fixing Washington is bringing more conservative Republicans to the nation's capital.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: When you get to thinking about it, the answer to our nation's challenge is sending more principled Republicans to Washington, D.C. You know, when the Republicans are -- we were working together back in 2010, and the power of what happened during that election cycle was -- was -- was a sight to behold.
I mean, it was a powerful moment. And if there was any doubt in anybody's mind, that just the -- the fact of what they've been talking about over the last two weeks in Washington, D.C., as we have seen this -- this display, if you will, there is still a whole bunch work to be done in with Washington, D.C., and we need to send truly fiscal conservative Republicans to Washington to get the job finished.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: So you see Rick Perry there. He knows how to fire up a crowd and he's gotten the attention of politicians here in South Carolina. First among them, T.J., Nikki Haley, the governor of this state, who is a Tea Party favorite. She just walked out of this room behind me a few moments ago after talking to the crowd here. And she talked to reporters about what it means to have Rick Perry at this event today, stealing the thunder from Ames. And she called it a brilliant move and described the -- the race for the White House as being game on.
At this event today, with Rick Perry, announcing that he's running for president, basically jump starts this presidential race. He is expected to talk in a couple of hours from now, and T.J., you can expect to see Democrats coming out of the woodwork over the next 24 to 48 hours to start taking pot shots at this governor. They know right now he is a hot ticket in this race for the White House -- T.J.
HOLMES: Jim Acosta in South Carolina, thank you so much.
And as a reminder to our viewers, that's coming up in just about two hours, 1:00 Eastern Time, we will have live coverage. Rick Perry's expected announcement that he is, in fact, running for president.
Now, we told you the big party is happening in Iowa with the Ames straw poll there, so let's go to Iowa now.
Our Paul Steinhauser has been there for us. Paul, good morning to you, once again. We keep saying it's a -- I even had some viewers write in and say, what exactly is a straw poll? Why is this a big deal 15 months out? You know, put this in perspective for them, real, why is today, this day, this poll such a big deal, 15 months ahead of the election?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, you know, some people, T.J., say this is the unofficial start of the road to the White House. And while the general election is in November of next year, remember, the primaries and caucuses, well, they begin -- beginning in next year, probably February, maybe they even move up to January. This is the first real organizational test of the candidates and their campaigns, how much strength they have, their grassroots efforts. That's why this is so important. We're at the Iowa state campus in Ames, Iowa and of course, Iowa is the first state to vote in those -- in these primary and caucus calendar.
And this straw poll today, T.J., is an interesting and pretty influential test. It may not anoint a nominee, it probably won't, but it could weed out some -- some of the candidates.
And T.J., there's already been a lot of action already. This morning we were taking a walk around, we saw a bunch of Bachmann supporters. They were walking all around here in their orange t- shirts. They're volunteers.
All the campaigns have set up tents in the -- right around the coliseum here. Bachmann has one. Also, we went over to the Tim Pawlenty tent. They are very close to us. Tim Pawlenty tent had a rock band going, even earlier this morning.
So the festivities have been starting already. And a bunch of the candidates here, T.J., as well, have already been speaking at a breakfast, so a lot of action. It's early, already, out here, it's early, but there's a lot of action already -- T.J.
HOLMES: Is it fair to say, Bachmann the front-runner today?
STEINHAUSER: What's that?
HOLMES: Is it fair to say Michele Bachmann is the front-runner in this straw poll today?
STEINHAUSER: I think she's one of the front-runners. Good question. I definitely think she is one of the front-runners, the Congresswoman from neighboring Minnesota. She was born out here, her campaign has definitely been on the rise, she's got a lot of supporters. She's going to have a lot of big-name entertainment here today.
Two other people who could be considered front-runners in this straw poll, Ron Paul, the Congressman from Texas, who is making his third run for the White House. He's got a lot of devoted, energetic, and enthusiastic followers. A lot of people say he was the Tea Party before the Tea Party -- he could do very well today.
And then there's Pawlenty, and we were just talking about him. And it's Pawlenty from neighboring Minnesota, the former governor there. He's got a lot on the line. He could do well today, but if he doesn't, that could be some trouble for his campaign and his hopes of winning the nomination -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Paul Steinhauser, good to see you, as always. Thank you. We'll check in again in Iowa.
Now, Sarah Palin, she is not on any straw poll ballot today, but she sure grabbed the spotlight in Iowa. Details of her surprise appearance are coming up in just a moment.
And again, we will have those straw poll results for you tonight. And join us on a special, "THE IOWA STRAW POLL" with our Don Lemon and Candy Crowley. That's coming your way at 7:00 Eastern Time.
Well, 50 teenagers taken into custody in Philadelphia. Why? They stayed out too late. Police fanned out across the city's downtown area last night to begin enforcing the 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew for children 17 and under. All 50 of these folks who were taken in had to be picked up by their parents. By sun-up today they were all picked up.
The Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter imposed a stricter curfew following a string of these so-called flash mob attacks by young people. Violators and their parents face fines and even possible jail time for repeat offenders.
The FBI now joining the investigation for an American woman missing in Aruba. Yesterday, agents searched the Maryland home of the man held in Robyn Gardner's disappearance. Aruban authorities say Gary Giordano will appear in court on Monday. Giordano I should say, says he and Gardner were snorkeling when he lost sight of her.
Island officials say there's no trace of Gardner and no evidence at this point that she's dead.
So the economy, you've been hearing this term now, a possible double dip recession. Are you ready for it? The advice you need to hear to possibly recession-proof yourself.
It's ten minutes past the hour. Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 12 minutes past the hour now. And the stock market went on a wild ride this week, had these ups and downs, but in the end, the Dow closed about where it started for the week. But earlier I talked to our financial analyst, Clyde Anderson. He thinks that the rumors of the so-called double-dip recession, well, it could become a reality. So he told us five things you need to do right now to get ready.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLYDE ANDERSON, CNN FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR: First thing, I think, is having that emergency fund. At least three to six months worth of monthly income saved up. So you want to have that, that liquidity. Cash is king still.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: It's hard for people still, as we know, still to save money.
ANDERSON: It's hard, but we've got to do it and we've got to start somewhere. HOLMES: Emergency fund. All right, what's next?
ANDERSON: Emergency fund.
Number two, I say number two, you've got to make sure that you shed those unnecessary contracts. Those long-term two-year contracts on your cell phone, your satellite dish, anything that you can shed. And you also want to know the laws in your city as far as leases. Maybe you're in a lease that's too high, so when your income decreases, you want to able to get out of that lease.
HOLMES: You don't want to be locked in to anything right now.
ANDERSON: You don't want to be locked in it.
HOLMES: All right, what's the three on that list?
ANDERSON: Number three on the list is make yourself -- you need to be the most valuable player in your office.
HOLMES: Yes.
ANDERSON: You need to make sure that you're the most important person. Not just staying late, but also contributing, to help decrease the expenses and increase the bottom line.
HOLMES: So when time comes, they say, OK, we can't get rid of T.J.
ANDERSON: We can't get rid of T.J. T.J. is too valuable.
HOLMES: OK.
ANDERSON: And even if they don't do any cuts, now T.J. gets a promotion.
HOLMES: It's very nice. Number four on your list?
ANDERSON: Network, network, network.
HOLMES: Yes.
ANDERSON: We've got to network. But the thing is it's easier to network when you have a job as opposed to when you don't have a job. People are a lot more responsive to you when you have that job and you seem a lot more valuable when you do. So you want a network -- a network within your job and network outside your job.
And not just on social media, but actually getting out there and putting your face and your name out there.
HOLMES: All right, the last thing in your list there.
ANDERSON: The last thing on the list, is investing with caution. OK, don't use your bill money to invest in the stock market. Stocks are low right now, so they say buy low, sell high. But you don't want to use your rent money to invest. It's like going to the casino and spending your last, your bill money or your rent or your mortgage money to gamble.
So you don't want to do that, you want to make sure that you're being wise about your investments. It's good to invest in some -- some stocks but also -- maybe you just want to start off with an IRA or contribute a little bit to something to get started.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right and on your retirement planning now, people putting away a little money for this and that. Add one more thing to the list you need to be tucking away money for. Your grandchildren. You may end up being the financial safety net that they'll need. More Clyde, next.
Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. 17 minutes past the hour now.
You probably know, big banks, the auto industry, they need some financial help. Where do they get their bailout from? The federal government. But when children need a bailout, where do they go? Their grandparents. At least according to a MetLife study; more and more are turning to their grandparents.
That is something that financial analyst Clyde Anderson talked to me about earlier, something now, if you're retiring, you need to get ready for the grandkids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: We're having a lot of people that are losing jobs; they're unemployed, losing their homes. So the parents or the grandparents now are stepping in to really fill that void.
HOLMES: And a lot more grandparents out there these days as well.
ANDERSON: Yes. Talking about 65 million grandparents. I mean -- so you can think about it, that baby boomer generation. And now they're having to take care of that sandwich generation, the ones that are in between.
A lot of them are paying college tuition or secondary school tuition. They're also paying some expenses, living expenses, mortgages. They're paying for toys and diapers, even, because they're really trying to fill the void. I've heard of one family that came in that helped their grandparents that helped their kids, $59,000 last year.
You know what? Everybody's not able to do that. But if you just look at that. That's a huge amount that they're having to supplement in the income.
HOLMES: Will this be something that financial analysts, or people who just -- you know, the planners out there that they talk to, financial planners, that they add this in and say, hey, maybe you need to allow a little for your -- will it get to that point? They'll actually start -- this is a part of your retirement plan?
ANDERSON: I think right now, if you're looking at it, you have to because again, the 401(k)s have taken a hit with all these things that happened in the economy. Their stocks have taken a hit and so they don't have that nest egg that they thought they had before. So because they don't have that nest egg, you know, they can't count on that money. And they've already, you know, have committed to helping the children out.
So I think you do have to plan for it, to a degree, but you're also going to see some things change. I mean grandparents are now having to work longer. They're having to go back to work in some cases. So those are the things that, you know, the new trends that we're going to have to look at and how we make it.
HOLMES: Are we finding that grandparents, when faced with that situation would prefer, like, time going to do whatever I've got to do to help out the grandkids. If that means I have to work longer or I struggle myself, but it sounds like grandparents are going that direction?
ANDERSON: I think they are. They have to. We're seeing the multigenerational households, even, where grandparents are moving back in with their kids to help take care of the grandkids. But again, they see so much more opportunity or the grandkids have so much more opportunity than they had growing up. So they really want to make that investment to help them out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. Well, lots of people out there worrying about having enough money. One couple does not have to worry about that. You know this scene, don't you, when you see people standing there with a big check. They just hit the biggest lottery jackpot in Minnesota history. I'll introduce you to my new friends in 2 1/2 minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Oh, Thomas and Kathleen Morris, they are waking up some happy folks right about now. They used to be worried about having enough money to retire. They don't have that issue this morning. They just hit the biggest lottery jackpot in Minnesota state history; $228.9 million playing Powerball.
Now, they had just met with their financial adviser to talk about retirement and basically were told that they'd have to keep working. How's that going to work out now?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) THOMAS MORRIS, POWERBALL LOTTERY WINNER: Well, I told the kid at the counter, I said, you don't need to sell anymore, I've got the winning ticket. And I did. So --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My question is, were they picked numbers or quick picks?
MORRIS: They were quick picks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, quick picks. He quickly quit his job.
Reynolds, would you quit immediately?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Oh, yes.
HOLMES: If you had the ticket in your pocket and you hit, would you not even do this weather cast right now and just walk out?
WOLF: I would set my hair on fire and do cartwheels in the middle of the freeway absolutely. I mean, no, I love my job, but I mean just the thought of you having -- that is a life-altering kind of thing. Is it -- would that be one of those where you take the payments or lump sum?
HOLMES: Lump sum baby. I'm not waiting.
WOLF: You're rock and roll. You're not playing. You're not playing games.
I'll tell you what, people in Texas right now are not playing games in terms of the drought. The drought has been just ridiculous. They're finally catching a little bit of a break this morning in the spell of some showers and storms.
Feast your eyes on this. South of the Red River Valley, we have a big swath of rain stretching from just west of Shreveport, all the way south of Abilene. Abilene, you've already had some rain this morning. I know you could use a lot more.
Now let's begin moving to the Texas Hill Country back to (INAUDIBLE) and Austin, I know you're also desperate for the rain. Looks like this is going to slowly move in your direction. This is the steady, slow-moving, soaking rainfall that you've been waiting for, for a very long time.
The problem is for a lot of people, a lot of ranchers, it's really too late. The growing season is over, but this will at least help a little bit. Certainly make things a bit more comfortable.
Still, the forecast calls for fairly high conditions, high temperatures in parts of Texas, especially in Dallas, might get into the hundreds even today. That rain-cooled air for the time being is just making a world of a difference. And speaking of heating up across parts of Texas, south Texas, especially, we may see some thunderstorms heat up across portions of the Ohio Valley and into the Great Lakes. Thunderstorms that could really get cranked up by the late afternoon hours. That could cause widespread delays in spots like Detroit, perhaps even into Indianapolis. Maybe even Cincinnati and back into Chicago before all is said and done. And even St. Louis, for that matter.
Back out to the west, not much in terms of the heavy rainfall. Even into the Pacific Northwest, plenty of sunshine expected, but you'll look out into the gulf of Alaska, we've got another storm system approaching. That will bring the rain for you tomorrow, so be ready for that Seattle. I know you are. You're Seattle, you're used to rain.
Meanwhile out to the east, looks like showers possible for some in the southeast. In the northeast, high pressure is going to give you a fairly nice day for New York and Philadelphia and perhaps even into Maine.
That is a quick snapshot on the forecast. That's a wrap on it. Let's send it back to you, T.J.
HOLMES: Kind, sir. Thank you. Reynolds appreciate you.
WOLF: You bet.
HOLMES: Well Sarah Palin, she is stealing some of the thunder in Iowa. That state holding a key straw poll today, but all cameras, all eyes were on her. We'll explain, coming up.
Stay with me on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And as we come up on the bottom of the hour, give you a lack at some of the stories making headlines. At least 20 people injured after a bus crash in Pennsylvania; the Greyhound bus that overturned on the Pennsylvania turnpike in Lancaster County. Highway officials say the driver was severely injured. The bus was traveling from Philadelphia to Columbus, Ohio.
Also, an intense search underway right now in Pakistan for a kidnapped American. The victim, Warren Weinstein, he's a developer who works for a U.S.-based firm. He was abducted from his home in Lahore. Pakistani police say eight to ten gunmen involved here and they gained access to his home by posing as neighbors offering food.
And in the U.S., a crucial day for GOP presidential candidates taking part in Iowa's straw poll. The contest, a key test of campaign strength in this early voting state and it can make or break a campaign. Voting is actually underway, but we're not expecting the results until a little later tonight.
Also, in just a bit, a big announcement expected from Texas governor Rick Perry. Aides to the Republican say he will declare his presidential candidacy this afternoon during a conservative gathering in South Carolina. We expect that announcement at 1:00 o'clock Eastern time. So again, that is just an hour-and-a-half from now and we will have that for you live.
Well, another big name in Iowa, Sarah Palin. She hasn't declared being a candidate. She's not in the Iowa straw poll. But that didn't keep her out of the spotlight. She made a surprise appearance there. Our political reporter, Peter Hamby, is there in Iowa for us.
So tell me, she's not on the straw poll ballot, she's not a candidate for the race. What's she doing there?
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Well, she's -- neither of those things, but she completely stole the show yesterday in Des Moines when she showed up at the Iowa State Fair. She said she was invited by some locals. And she's kind of doing some under-the-radar, laying-the-groundwork activities out here in case she does decide to run.
But she was completely mobbed for more than an hour by reporters, by well-wishers. And we got to talk to her for a long time. Our Don Lemon actually caught up with her and asked her what her thinking is about running for president. Listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Why haven't you decided? Why haven't you declared?
SARAH PALIN (R), FMR. ALASKA GOVERNOR: I think there's -- that I'm not the only one who has not decided yet and not ready to announce one way or the other yet because there's still a -- you know, there's still a lot of contemplation that needs to go into such an earth- shattering, life-changing decision for a family.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMBY: So you know, we asked her specifically, When will you be a candidate? She's supposed to come back here over Labor Day weekend to speak at a Tea Party rally near Des Moines. She said she will not be a candidate by then. She pointed to kind of late September as when she could enter the race.
But T.J., what's interesting about her is that she can wait that long. No other candidate or potential candidate gets that kind of attention that she got yesterday. Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, who needs to do well here in Ames at the straw poll today, was kind of walking around the fair, you know, largely unnoticed by regular folks. But Sarah Palin was just mobbed.
And because she has that kind of star power and connection with grass roots activists, her advisers think she can afford to wait, you know, until the fall to join the presidential race.
HOLMES: All right, Peter Hamby for us there in Iowa. Thank you. And reminder to our viewers, you can stay with CNN for live coverage of the Iowa straw poll when the results come in a little later today. Our Don Lemon and Candy Crowley will have a CNN special report, the Iowa straw poll, 7:00 o'clock Eastern time.
We're just past the bottom of the hour here now, and I know you were wondering -- I know, what does the oldest edible ham in the world look like? Well, maybe if you weren't wondering, Reynolds Wolf has the answer for you anyway. He took a road trip, and that's just one of the quirky things he found. He did this one trip on one tank of gas. Well, just how far did he go? Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, 35 minutes past the hour now. Joined by my good buddy, Reynolds Wolf, who is doing a public service here, I would say.
WOLF: Yes.
HOLMES: One tank of gas.
WOLF: One tank of gas.
HOLMES: One trip. It's amazing what you are able to see.
WOLF: Well, you know what's interesting, though? This is a new story that we're doing here, but it really is not a new concept. I mean, when the first Model-T Ford rolled of the assembly line in 1908, America had a love affair with the car, T.J. And the cars were relative cheap, gas was plentiful, and people were able to really get out and explore the countryside.
So we're basically revisiting that. We're in a bad economy. Fuel is expensive. There's no question about that. But most people, instead of sending their family across the country on a trip, can at least afford a tank of gas and get out and rediscover America. And that's what these stories are about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: Today's "Trip On A Tank" starts in Norfolk, Virginia which is the home of the USS Wisconsin. Now, this beautiful battleship's day happens to be over, but our day is just getting under way, a long trip all the way from Norfolk to Washington, D.C. Let's get going.
Now, when you go on any trip, it's very important to have a great crew. Thankfully, we've got photojournalist Jeremy Long with us.
JEREMY LONG, CNN PHOTOJOURNALIST: At your service, governor!
WOLF: And we also have producer Alicia Eagan with us.
Alicia, How many miles are we going today?
ALICIA EAGAN, CNN PRODUCER: About 350. WOLF: Three-fifty. Oh, yes. First stop, Smithfield, Virginia, which happens to be the ham capital of the world, which is great if you're hungry. The problem is, this is a prop. We need the real deal.
But unfortunately, as you know, reality can sometimes be a little bit harsh. Here at the Isle of Wight Museum in Smithfield, Virginia, take a look at this. Oh, my gosh! It is the world's oldest edible ham, the one right there in the middle. Tracey Neikirk, the museum's curator is here.
Tracey, how do we know this thing is edible?
TRACEY NEIKIRK, CURATOR, ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY MUSEUM: It is the wonderful curing process of Smithfield ham, a combination of smoke and salt. And it is cured in 1902, and we think you can still eat it, but we haven't cut into it.
WOLF: I'll take your word for it. Wow!
Something else that's really cool here. Check it out. It's the world's oldest peanut. Amazing, here in Smithfield. You'd figure something that neat would have its own museum, wouldn't you?
And here in Waverly, Virginia, dreams for peanuts do come true. It is the first peanut museum in the United States.
Alicia, is it open?
EAGAN: It's locked.
WOLF: And we're gone.
Next stop on the road takes us to Colonial Williamsburg. This is a place that, despite the hot day, is frozen in time. And the proof is all around you. You've got the old tavern. You've got the wig maker, even a silversmith on one side. You know, what it does, it brings you back to a much simpler time, a time without air conditioning. And let me tell you, it is hot.
Jeremy, you ready to get back in the car? Yes, me, too.
I'm feeling a little nostalgic right about now.
LONG: Me, too. I'm thinking Civil War.
WOLF: Well, the next stop on our trip brings us here to the wilderness in Virginia, more specifically to the final resting place of Stonewall Jackson's left arm. The Confederate general lost his arm on May 3rd of 1863. Now, he lost his left arm. I'd give my right to get out of here. Let's keep going.
And all along this journey, we've been finding little bits and pieces of Americana. And what we found in Stillhouse Distillery in Culpeper, Virginia, is really no exception. Now, they're making moonshine and corn whiskey in these premises. Distiller Brendan Wheatley is with us. And Brendan, these really are the all-American spirits, aren't they.
BRENDAN WHEATLEY, ASST. DISTILLER, STILLHOUSE DISTILLERY: It is. This whiskey and style of whiskey has been made for over 400 years here in the United States. And we try and carry on that tradition.
WOLF: A lot of tradition, with a lot of bottles. Let's watch them roll. Well, these bottles are on the move, and so are we.
Well, we finally made it, Washington, D.C. And right behind me, you can see the Washington Monument, beyond that, the Lincoln Memorial. And if you pivot all the back around over here, you've got the nation's Capitol -- 350.7 miles from Norfolk here to D.C., and what a trip it was, a little bit of Americana mixed in.
I hope you enjoyed it. We'll see you next time down the road.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And it didn't cost you much.
WOLF: It really didn't. Here's proof. Go ahead and take a look at this. Let's pop this thing up and give you an idea. The gas was actually just a shade under $90. Breakfast in Smithfield, it was wonderful, about 17 bucks or so and some -- a little bit of change. Lunch near Williamsburg consisted of a roadside barbecue place we stopped. It was just like a small trailer, 15 bucks, out the door, barbecue sandwiches the size of your head. And then we had the total for three people, about 120 bucks or so, maybe a little bit more, a little bit less.
But there are ways you could really cut corners. You could pack your own lunch with you. You could do a lot of different stuff. But it was pretty amazing. Also, keep in mind, that was a large SUV, so if you had a car that maybe had better fuel economy, then you're going to be able to stretch it out a bit farther. It's an amazing thing.
If anyone has any ideas, too, they can actually go on Facebook, on Reynolds Wolf on Facebook -- I'm the only one on there -- and you can offer whatever submissions you have, any ideas. We've had people call us and say, upstate New York, we've had people say New England, we've had Texas, California, the Rocky Mountains. A lot of them are coming in.
HOLMES: What do you like so far? What are you leaning towards?
WOLF: Unfortunately, I like all of them. I really do. It's just trying to get out and about and get all of them as we can. But I think maybe we're going to hit parts of the Midwest and then maybe back out to the West. We'll see.
HOLMES: Reynolds, good stuff.
WOLF: Thanks a lot, T.J.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: All right, we're about 20 minutes to the top of the hour now. And take a look at this woman. Take a look at the duchess there in the middle. She is one of the wealthiest women in all of Spain, but she is OK giving all of that wealth up. Why? To marry the man she loves. Would you do it? I wouldn't. Stick with me here, folks. I hope my wife did not here that!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, a quarter off the top of the hour. Fredricka Whitfield will be along here with me in just a moment with a preview of her show starting at the top of the hour.
But Guatemala -- there close relatives of the president are constitutionally barred from running for president. So the former Guatemalan first lady, Sandra Torres, she decided to divorce her president husband so she could run for president herself. But the country's supreme court ruled that she could not be president even after the divorce. No word on if they are going to remarry now.
CNN editorial producer Nadia Bilchik first introduced us to this story. Then earlier today, she brought us another tale of what women will or won't do for love or power.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva. Now, this is a woman who is actually related to King James II, Churchill and Princess Diana. She has so many titles that she does not need to curtsy or bow to the pope.
HOLMES: Wow. She's a big deal, is what you're telling me.
BILCHIK: She is a big deal and she's worth a lot of money. Now, this will be her third husband.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: He's about 20 years her junior. As you can see, she's had the odd nip and tuck. And she -- when people come to Spain, celebrities come to Spain, as you can see, they meet her. But the children are not happy that she wants to marry the social security worker Alfonso Diez.
HOLMES: Why -- why -- what's their problem with him?
BILCHIK: Well, their problem with him is --
HOLMES: He's a social security worker.
BILCHIK: Well, not that, but they don't want to share any of their mother's billions.
HOLMES: OK. Are they worried that he's just after her money, or are they just concerned they might get a lighter cut?
BILCHIK: Both. And in fact, it's got to the point that even the king, Juan Carlos, of Spain has said, Please don't marry this man. So she has a solution. She's a true romantic, isn't she. And her solution, I will give my children, my six children, their inheritance early. And there's something like 12 castles, the most extraordinary art -- artworks, Velasquez and Goyas, and the most incredible amounts of jewelry, art, property. And she says to her children, Well, you know what? If you're so worried that I'm marrying this man and he's going to take some of your money, here it is.
HOLMES: She's giving the money up now --
BILCHIK: She's giving up the money.
HOLMES: -- to make everybody feel better.
BILCHIK: Right.
HOLMES: OK. But how does the groom-to-be feel about that?
BILCHIK: Oh, well, she says -- she says --
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: -- He loves me, not my money.
HOLMES: Right-o!
BILCHIK: Now, look, T.J., let's face it. I don't think that their lifestyle is exactly going to be compromised.
HOLMES: Maybe not.
BILCHIK: SO they may be living in only one castle instead of 12.
HOLMES: Oh, God. What did you do?
BILCHIK: And she says, How many beds can you sleep in? So -- but in this way, her six children -- by the way, all of her first six children have been divorced themselves.
HOLMES: Oh, goodness gracious!
BILCHIK: So she's going, At least I've never been divorced. Her first husband, the father of the children, died. The second husband, she managed to marry a reformed -- well, a former Jesuit priest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: OK, Fredricka.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I'm together.
HOLMES: You tell me.
WHITFIELD: Sort of, kind of.
HOLMES: No, you tell me.
WHITFIELD: What?
HOLMES: Would you give up billions of dollars, if that's what it took for you to marry the man of your dreams, or maybe just the man you love.
WHITFIELD: All in the name of love.
HOLMES: Well, would you? Is that a good bargain?
WHITFIELD: I don't know. I don't know what it is to have that kind of bank.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Now, as a woman --
WHITFIELD: But if it's all for love, you know, OK. Why can't you have both?
HOLMES: You can't. I'm telling you, you can't.
WHITFIELD: Why not?
HOLMES: You got to pick one.
WHITFIELD: Well, I want both.
HOLMES: Sometimes you don't get everything you want.
WHITFIELD: That's the way I want it.
HOLMES: You can't have it all sometimes, Fredricka!
WHITFIELD: Both!
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: It was an interesting question --
WHITFIELD: Yes, it is.
HOLMES: -- got people talking on Facebook and Twitter this morning.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: And even in our newsroom --
WHITFIELD: What are people saying in general --
HOLMES: Well, most of the women are very romantic. They're saying, Well, yes, the money -- WHITFIELD: It's all for love!
HOLMES: -- will go away and the love will stay with you on that --
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: -- on your deathbed.
WHITFIELD: That's right.
HOLMES: The guys are saying, Whatever. We can live in sin --
WHITFIELD: I don't know.
HOLMES: -- and be rich.
WHITFIELD: I'd have to think about that one long and hard.
HOLMES: Take your time. We'll wait.
WHITFIELD: OK.
HOLMES: We'll wait.
WHITFIELD: All right.
HOLMES: No, really, we're waiting right now.
WHITFIELD: I'll think about that because, you know, we're going to be on for three hours straight today, so maybe I'll be thinking during that time.
HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: From noon to 3:00 o'clock Eastern time. We're going to change things up a little bit, in large part because of presidential politics.
HOLMES: Lots of.
WHITFIELD: Even talking about the Iowa straw poll. We're watching that. And also, Rick Perry, governor of Texas --
HOLMES: That's happening in your hour.
WHITFIELD: That's right, 1:00 o'clock Eastern time. He, too, is the reason why we're going all through the afternoon. Will he, won't he run? He's not making this announcement from Iowa. He's not making it from Texas, but instead from South Carolina. So we'll be weighing in on that one and showing those events to you live.
And then our "Legal Guys" -- they'll be with us, as they are every Saturday and Sunday. We look forward to Richard and Avery. The name Casey Anthony.
HOLMES: It's back, huh?
WHITFIELD: One more time. This time, a judge saying she's got to serve one year probation. When and where will that take place?
And then, you know how we try to help you get your financial house in order. What if you want to start your own business, you want to be your own boss? What are some of the things you need to really zone in on?
HOLMES: That's always tricky.
WHITFIELD: It is tough.
HOLMES: It seems like it sounds so easy sometimes --
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: -- to just start your own business.
WHITFIELD: Exactly. Well, you know, for one, this financial expert will be along to say you've got to really have a dream. You've got to have a dream about what your focus ought to be.
HOLMES: You need to have a vision of something?
WHITFIELD: No, you've got to have some passion about the kind of business that you're going to start.
HOLMES: OK. OK.
WHITFIELD: It's got to be your dream, your passion. And she's going to talk about how you need to focus on that, how you need not be influenced by other businesses who may be doing something very similar. Don't try and, you know, run with the Joneses, that kind of thing.
HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: Yes. We'll be talking about that, a whole lot --
HOLMES: It is a lot.
WHITFIELD: -- Starting at noon Eastern time.
HOLMES: And a lot of politics.
WHITFIELD: That's right. On until 3:00, and then again back with us at 4:00 o'clock Eastern.
HOLMES: A lot. Goodness.
WHITFIELD: I know.
HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: Busy day. HOLMES: I hope you rested up, by dearest lady.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: Fredricka, always good to see you.
WHITFIELD: OK. And I'll still be pondering --
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: -- that question --
HOLMES: Let me know.
WHITFIELD: -- that you had earlier today.
HOLMES: Give up billions so you can marry the man of your dreams.
WHITFIELD: Yes, it's all about love.
HOLMES: If you say so. All right --
WHITFIELD: Well, I don't! I'm thinking about it!
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: I'm wondering!
HOLMES: Ten minutes until the top of the hour now. I'm going to take a break and be right back with you. Stay here.
WHITFIELD: All right.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, just about six minutes to the top of the hour.
And Fidel Castro turning 85 today. While some Cubans celebrate, Castro himself has yet to make an appearance. He led the communist nation for 50 years. He handed power over to his brother, Raul, back in 2006. And since then, public appearances by Castro have been rare.
Also today, Germany marking the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Berlin Wall. Chancellor Angela Merkel and others marked the anniversary with a memorial service. Merkel lived in East Germany in '89. At least 136 people died trying to cross the Wall before it fell that same year.
Back here in the U.S. now, the president next month will present the Medal of Honor to that man, a Marine, for his actions in Afghanistan. That's Sergeant Dakota Meyer. He's seen here speaking at a former high school -- his former high school in Columbia, Kentucky. He repeatedly ran through enemy fire to recover the bodies of three Marines and a Navy medic in Afghanistan's Kunar province back in September of 2009. Meyer, who had shrapnel wounds in his right arm, will be the third living Medal of Honor recipient from the Afghan and Iraq wars.
Meanwhile, look at this, another Medal of Honor recipient. He took to the mound at Safeco field in Seattle yesterday. And who you saw throw out the first pitch was Sergeant Leroy Petry's son. His 17- year-old son actually had to throw out the ceremonial first pitch because the Army Ranger himself lost his right hand when he grabbed an enemy grenade during a firefight in Afghanistan.
More than 150 entertainers are joining the aid group Save the Children to raise money for starving children in East Africa.
The campaign released a short film this week set to the song by Bob Marley and the Whalers. Entertainers like Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Rihanna, Beyonce, just to name a few, are using, you guessed it, social media to urge their fans to contribute. They're expected to reach a global audience of close to 600 million people. You can see this entire video at Savethechildren.org.
It is the world's worst humanitarian disaster right now -- men, women and children dying every day in East Africa. Whether it's starvation or sickness, would you believe pretty much all of it is preventable? Dr. Sanjay Gupta has seen this firsthand at a refugee camp on the Somali/Kenyan border.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: T.J., you've heard the numbers now for some time, still -- this is the largest refugee camp in the world, 2,000 people still coming in every day. That's what they expect.
And for many people, they're in search of a better life, obviously, but that's not saying much. Simply getting to the camp doesn't mean that their troubles are over. In fact, in some cases, the troubles can get even worse, and parents have had to do the unthinkable.
(voice-over): The kids here will melt your heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How old are you?
GUPTA (on camera): Wow. How old am I? I'm 41.
They impressed me with their English, so I spoke a little Somali to them. They loved it.
(on camera): Is that good?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes!
(voice-over): Rare smiles in a place too full of heartbreak. Amin and her 1-month-old daughter, Addison, came here in search of a better life, fighting so hard not to starve to death. But in the end, it made little difference.
Amin lost the one thing in the world she cared about more than anything else. We are walking to her daughter's grave. They are really just piles of dirt with no name plate, no flowers, no reminders of their lives, just small sticks with colored plastic trash blowing in the wind.
She says she brought her healthy baby girl here with dreams of new beginnings. But Addison died within a month.
(on camera): And what went wrong?
(voice-over): She started vomiting, she said, then diarrhea. It wouldn't stop for days and days.
Diarrheal illness -- it has been the major reason 30,000 kids have died here over the past three month, so many tiny little graves like this one.
(on camera): You know, part of the problem is even after you get to one of these camps, there's still not enough food here, not enough water, and there's plenty of infectious diseases. There's viral illnesses. There's also diphtheria. There's pertussis.
And I want to show you something else, something that's very frightening in a camp like this. This is Asman. He's 14 years old. And as you can tell, he really doesn't feel well. People are concerned here that he has measles.
He had a high fever. He had the characteristic rash. He had conjunctivitis in his eyes. He never got vaccinated. He never got any sort of treatment. And measles, as you know, is very, very contagious. He has nowhere else to go.
(voice-over): And so hundreds of thousands more of these adorable children unvaccinated are at risk of the same fate as Amin's daughter.
(on camera): Is there anything anybody can do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is with God.
GUPTA: It is with God
(voice-over): It is with God. And so there's nothing else these kids can do but laugh and play surrounded by the dead.
(on camera): T.J., it's tough to think about, but it's happening all the time, parents burying their children -- 30,000 children have died over the last three months. And you also learn that it's not just about food and water. It's about medical care. It has to be given quickly to make sure that these types of tragedies don't continue to happen. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: Well, and Bono is also calling on people around the world to help out in this fight against famine. He's talking to our Anderson Cooper, saying that many people seem to be ignoring this crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BONO, ARTIST AND ACTIVIST: People seem to prefer watching, you know, people in the high streets of London fight policemen, rather than watching children of Somalia fighting for their lives. People watch the values -- you know, stock values crumble, while, you know, I think about our own sense of values tumbling because this will define who we are. This is a defining moment for us. And there's lots to distract us. And there are serious issues, people's livelihoods. You know, not to dismiss the hardships that are happening in the Western world, but this is outrageous. This is -- this is just -- it can't be happening. It must be stopped.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. You can find out how you can make a difference. To help victims of the famine, just visit our page, Impact Your World, CNN.com/Impact.
And, with that, we're crossing the top of the hour. Time for us to say hello once again to Fredricka Whitfield.
WHITFIELD: Hi, again.
HOLMES: Busy day in politics for you today.
WHITFIELD: I know. You've had a very busy morning.
HOLMES: Very busy morning.
WHITFIELD: We're going to have a very busy afternoon. And, as you said, politics kind of leading the charge on all that.
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Right. So let's get straight to it.
HOLMES: All right.
