Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Event/Special
Continuing Inauguration Coverage
Aired January 20, 2013 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Do you think this is a different man than it -- than he was four years ago?
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Well, number one, in the bigger historical context, it is now common. It was rare in our history to have successive two-term presidents. He's now at four of our last five presidents that served two terms.
Is he different? This is a validation for him personally. When he won election four years ago, he made history, our the first African- American president. There were still so many who said, well, it only happened because the country was so mad at George W. Bush, that any Democrat would have won.
So it's a personal validation for Barack Obama, as president and as a person and as a politician.
Is he any different? He went through four tough years. He came into town thinking, with a Democratic majority, thinking he could get almost anything done.
His signature initiative is that health care reform. It wasn't easy. He wasn't able to get much else big done. He knows that.
The question now is how does he play his hand in a second term? And we've seen some minor acts leading up to the bigger plays, the fiscal cliff and the negotiations.
The biggest problem in Washington is there is a trust deficit. Republicans blame the president for that; the president and the Democrats blame Republicans for that. He's the singular leader of the country. Whether it's his fault or not or how much of it he shares, we can all debate that. He needs to try to find a way to break it and start his second term off right.
COOPER: He's joked about it, because his daughters now are teenagers, they're going to want to spend less time with him and he may have more time to kind of reach out to members of Congress and hang out and back slap.
Do you actually see him doing that? Is that -- has that really been an issue?
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: I don't see him spending a lot more time with members of Congress. I think he sort of brushed that aside when he was asked about it in a recent press conference. I do think -- and you just, (inaudible), had time with him, with the historians. But what I see in him is a man who's more confident. I think he's tougher. I think he's smarter politically. I think he's bolder. I'm not sure he's wiser in terms of how do you get things done in this city. That's where we're going to have to let that play out.
I also think he may have a -- there's a portrait of him in "The New York Times" today, saying he's not only scarred but he has a smaller sense of what can be accomplished. He has diminished expectations of how hard it is, knowing how hard it is to get things done (inaudible).
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: You say he's smarter politically, but not wiser. How do you make the distinction?
GERGEN: Well, I mean, smarter in the sense that I think he's playing the Republicans well. He's -- and he's, as John has been pointing out, his -- you know, his approval ratings are up. I think he's looking -- you know, he boxed them in on the fiscal cliff. He got what he wanted out of that. basically.
He's done well with his appointments. He's going to get the -- you know, he's going to get Chuck Hagel approved, I think. And so he's going to get some victories.
But I worry that he -- whether he's doing this in a way that seems hostile to Republicans and whether for the big -- he's going to win some battles. But is he going to win the war? Is he going to lose the war by being -- by being so tough?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: David, Republicans are so unpopular right now, 26 percent approval, according to some polls. That's an advantage for this president. And he's --
GERGEN: (Inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- and he's also found a division of labor, sort of like a good marriage, you know, who takes out the garbage. Well, you know, he has got Joe Biden to deal with the people he doesn't want to deal with, right?
GERGEN: If we look back at the end of this next year, we'll have an answer to that. Does he get a grand bargain? Does he get significant immigration reform through? Does he get serious gun control reform through? It's too early to judge.
And we don't know is whether -- you know, the Republicans are parading through here at CNN today; they're all saying how partisan -- hyperpartisan he now feels to them, not to the -- the country doesn't see that. He has a lot of people, as Van (ph) will tell you, there are a lot of people out there rallying. They love what he's doing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's remarkable too, because remember the line that was so memorable that brought -- you know, rocketed Barack Obama to the forefront of the American consciousness was his 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention, that there are no red states, there are no blue states, this is the United States of America.
And when you think of his first inaugural address, there really wasn't one line that crystallized or captured the imagination. And so he has another chance tomorrow, I think. From a Republican perspective ,it would be wonderful to hear some sort of harkening of tone, some kind of outreach or olive branch to the Right --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But at that --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- and to unifying the country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But at that point, remember, there was this huge fiscal crisis he was facing. So he won on all this hope.
Then he gets into the job -- and remember, he really started before he started. And he was dealing with that terrible fiscal crisis. So his inaugural speech -- and you're right -- was sort of down, almost, kind of these are the challenges we face here.
And now he has that opportunity, as you say, to raise expectations a little bit, because people's expectations --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: But does it matter what he says in the speech as opposed to what he does afterwards?
GERGEN: (Inaudible) --
COOPER: It does, you're saying?
GERGEN: Oh, yes, because it sets the tone.
But the real issue, Anderson, if he does have a good new tone, does he stick to it? You know? Or two days later we're back to the war again (ph)?
VAN JONES, AUTHOR, "REBUILD THE DREAM": Well, almost all these speeches do have lines -- and there were lines in the first -- in the first speech. He didn't crystallize it --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was the one line.
JONES: Right. He didn't crystallize it, but there was -- there was that olive branch. It's a part of the tradition to do that.
I do think he's a different guy. He's a different guy and I think part of it is there was a moment where even his base was getting frustrated that he was reaching out too much. We looked at his health care. We said this is RomneyCare. This is a Republican proposal. And he got beat up for it. We looked at his energy policy. Cap and trade, that came from Heritage, Republican proposal. He got beat up for it. So he started -- the base got very frustrated, said, hey, listen; you love the Republicans more than you love us. And I think that he had a come-to-Jesus moment at some point in that presidency. He said, you know what, I'm going to stick with those who brought me. I think he's a different guy.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: (Inaudible) political though?
JONES: I think he's a different guy.
KING: So will he use -- will he use that capital or the difference, to deal with -- there's the generational challenges, Medicare, Social Security, that are -- they are the binding on any president to get things done because of the financial impact of the country.
Clinton tried to do them. He had the best economy in a generation; that was the time to get them done. The Lewinsky scandal came along.
Bush tried to do them, whether you agree or disagree with his policies, Iraq war unpopular, then Katrina. He was done. He couldn't get it done.
Will this president seize this moment and if he tries to do Medicare and Social Security, will his vice president say I want to run for president?
(LAUGHTER)
JONES: I think he will be more successful because he's tougher. I agree that there's some dangers -- and, frankly, David Gergen wrote a great piece on this on CNN.com called "Obama 2.0." It really goes through it. There are some dangers. But I think he's going to be more successful because he's tougher. I think Republicans actually respect him now more as a tougher negotiator.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But what about Democrats?
JONES: (Inaudible) more depth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Van, so here's my question --
JONES: And he's got problems.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here's my question to you which is, you've got liberal Democrats and the fiscal test is going to be all of these issues coming up on how you cut spending, what you do to the military, what -- I mean, all of this stuff coming up. So if the president says, I want a grand bargain and we've got to cut Medicare as part of a big deal, where -- is he going to say to his own party, no, sorry, guys?
JONES: He will say that and I will say this, the base is tougher, too. We're tougher, too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Which means what?
JONES: (Inaudible) He's a going to have a fight on his hands.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: There's going to be a huge difference between today's ceremony, obviously, at the White House, which was short and brief, and tomorrow's public inaugural events. It'll be a full day of pageantry in history. Our CNN correspondents are stationed at every important stop along the way that the president's going to make tomorrow.
I just want to give you a quick preview, beginning with Brianna Keilar, who's at the White House right now.
Brianna?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Anderson.
Before all of the pomp and circumstance begins tomorrow, President Obama will start his day here at the White House, as he so often does. He'll wake up bright and early, work out, get in his presidential daily briefing on national security matters and then he'll have a nice family breakfast before it all starts.
He'll head to the church across the park from the White House, St. John's Episcopal, for the traditional Inauguration Day church service and then it's up to the Capitol where we find Dana Bash.
DANA BASH, SR. U.S. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Brianna.
And I am on the west front of the Capitol. And this is where you're going to see that iconic image of the inauguration 24 hours from now. This platform will seat about 1,600 people and it is really the hottest it ticket in town. You're going to have members of the president and vice president's family.
You're also going to have members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Supreme Court, governors, senators, House members. We're actually hearing that some House Republicans are not going to be here, even though this is traditionally a bipartisan -- actually a nonpartisan event. So we're going to be watching for that.
This is also some -- the kind of event that draws celebrity supporters. We just had a James Taylor concert effectively here. He's -- was practicing to sing "America the Beautiful" tomorrow. Beyonce is going to be here as well.
And I just want you to look down the mall to see what everybody here is going to see tomorrow. Doesn't look like a lot of people now -- there aren't. But we expect to see 600,000 to 800,000 people filling the National Mall. And that's where Don Lemon is right now.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, yes. And, Dana, they have been patiently awaiting to get on television to talk.
They said, hey, those guys have been talking a long time. It's our turn to get on television, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
LEMON: They have come from all over. Where are my folks from Dallas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dallas.
LEMON: Dallas -- where are you guys from? Tennessee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tennessee.
LEMON: Seattle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seattle.
LEMON: Renee (ph), you came all the way from?
RENEE (PH): Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
LEMON: Oak Ridge, Tennessee. And this is your second time?
RENEE (PH): It is.
LEMON: You came back; in 2009 you were here.
RENEE (PH): I was -- yes, and it was wonderful then too.
LEMON: Yes. And you're back again?
RENEE (PH): Right.
LEMON: Yes? Excited?
RENEE (PH): I wouldn't miss it, yes.
LEMON: This weather is great, correct?
RENEE (PH): It is wonderful. A lot better than four years ago.
LEMON: So this was -- it was short. You guys saw the oath, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
LEMON: And you're going to come back again tomorrow?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
LEMON: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
LEMON: You love it? You wouldn't miss it?
Where are from?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tennessee, Oak Ridge. LEMON: Tennessee, Oak Ridge.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
LEMON: All right. Thank you, guys.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible).
LEMON: All right. We're going to go to Jim Acosta, who's standing by at the parade staging route.
Take it away, Jim.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Don. That's right. They're getting the floats ready for tomorrow's inaugural parade. You can see the Illinois state float behind me, obviously honoring President Obama's home state of Illinois.
And then you can hear the Osceola School of the Arts. They're from Florida. They're getting ready for the parade as well.
And we're going to be on the back of a flatbed truck, just in front of the president's motorcade as he heads towards the White House and then he will stop off and hop into the presidential reviewing (inaudible) where he will watch the parade go by. And that is where my colleague, Jessica Yellin is waiting.
Jessica, I'll sort of be the Ferris Bueller of the inaugural parade, watching all of those festivities from a pretty good vantage point, just in front of the president. But you'll have a good vantage point as well.
Jessica?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: All right, Jim.
Let's see if he gets out of the motorcade and sings on a float like Ferris. That would certainly make headlines. He has a pretty good voice.
The president will come next here, to Pennsylvania Avenue. And this is the stretch of the parade route where we most often see the president exit the motorcade with the first lady and wave to the crowds. And some crowds have started to gather here after the president finished his oath today. So we'll look to see if that happens tomorrow.
After the parade route moves past the White House, the president and first lady will go into that reviewing stand you see behind me, which is the ultimate VIP seating for the parade.
That's where he is joined by family members and close friends behind bulletproof glass with the presidential seal above it. And they have a back door there that gives them access straight to the North Lawn, letting them go in and out to the White House if they want to, I don't know, get a refreshment or beverages. And then after the parade is over, the first lady and the president will go inside. They can rest. The president then can change. And he will cap off his night dancing with the first lady at some inaugural balls.
Wolf?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Jessica, thanks very much. You know, there are going to be a lot of parties today and tomorrow, a lot of celebration, a lot of happy people have come here to Washington, D.C.
(CROSSTALK)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of parties and celebration, although a scaled-down affair compared to four years ago. There were some 8-10 balls the last time around. This time, two balls. About 800-some thousand people expected on the National Mall; last time around -- I think it was around 1.8 million people.
But still, this town is getting ready to party. That's for sure.
BLITZER: You got -- you got the outfit ready? Yours is ready to go, right?
BOLDUAN: It's always ready to go. I'm -- as long as you're with me, I'm ready to go.
BLITZER: All right. We got -- we got all the excellent outfits ready to go. All these events here in Washington, they certainly add up to a pretty hefty price tag. CNN's Tom Foreman is keeping track of how much everything will cost and who's paying.
Tom?
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Barack Obama's first inauguration was the biggest event in D.C. history, drawing 1.8 million people and costing approximately $130 million, according to public records. Now, private donations picked up about $50 million of that, leaving taxpayers with a tab of about $80 million.
So, what are we looking at this time? Well, let's start with one of the big ticket items, which is security. Of course, the Secret Service will be in charge once again, but they need a lot of help because look at all the territory they have to put under hard protection, from way down here by the Washington Monument and the White House to way up by the Capitol.
And there's some very special needs in that area. For example, think about the parade route, where the president is going to travel up Pennsylvania Avenue, passing between tens of thousands of people, and probably walking part of the way.
So 10,000 active military and National Guard troops were used last time, joined by another 8,000 police officers from 56 agencies. No one will tell us how much this part cost, for security reasons. But between jet fighters, boats, bikes and bomb-sniffing dogs, you know it won't be cheap.
What about facilities? That wooden platform on the west front of the Capitol is one of the most visible structures, a new one goes up every four years and must support 1,600 people, conservatively, 284,000 pounds.
The Capitol also hosts lunch between the president and members of Congress. For the public waiting outside, they're putting up a bunch of portable cell phone towers because last time during the ceremony, cell phone use jumped more than 1,000 percent on the National Mall.
You can throw in the JumboTrons and the security gates and fences, the first aid stations and, of course, an awful lot of portable toilets.
There are also very big costs associated with public transportation. Last time more than a million people rode on D.C.'s metro trains, 400,000 took the buses. And yet all of this is expected to be smaller and somewhat less expensive than last time.
For example, there are only going to be two official balls this time. They had a lot more the last time around.
There will be no whistle stop train down from Philadelphia and they won't have that great big concert down here by the Lincoln Memorial. That may make it somewhat cheaper.
But everything out here costs money. So what is the final price tag? We can't find anybody in D.C. who will tell us or maybe even who knows. And perhaps that's no surprise. The Brits still don't know for sure exactly what the Queen's Diamond Jubilee cost last summer, either, and they had 60 years to get ready for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Maybe it's smart, Tom, not to add up all the numbers; just pay whatever it costs and then move on. What do you think?
BOLDUAN: Especially in this time of all we're talking about in Washington is cutting spending.
BLITZER: You know what's really great? The weather.
BOLDUAN: The weather is amazing.
BLITZER: How good is the weather right now?
BOLDUAN: I know. I'm overdressed right now.
BLITZER: All of us are. But it's sunny, it's beautiful.
Our chief meteorologist, John King, is standing by to give us a little forecast for tomorrow, John.
What's going on? What do we expect?
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: If you're going to be the chief meteorologist, this is the day to be the chief meteorologist. Nobody can be mad at the weather man.
Let's take a look at a little inaugural history when it comes to the weather. Let's move forward.
First, we'll come through here the hottest or the warmest inaugural in our history was the first Ronald Reagan inaugural. On January 20th, 1981, it was 55 degrees. And you can tell that if you look closely at the pictures. President Reagan in a suit. Nobody up here on the stage bundled up at all, 55 degrees. That's a spring day the president had back in January 1981.
But four years later, he had the coldest inaugural in our history. It was 7 degrees at noon on January 21st, 1985. The ceremony -- you might notice the difference -- the ceremony was moved indoors, it was so cold. The afternoon had a wind chill of -10 degrees to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. So a very cold day for President Reagan the second time around.
What do we expect tomorrow for President Obama? We are told to expect the temperature's somewhere in the ballpark of 44 degrees when the president steps to the West Front of the Capitol tomorrow.
So, Wolf, as you note, it is a beautiful day here today. We expect another beautiful day here tomorrow. Nobody's wearing overcoats.
Our friends on the mall here are out enjoying what we'll call a beach day in Washington, Anderson. And remember, four years ago, we were all bundled up. This feels kind of nice.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: It's beautiful here.
Insider -- and insiders revealing that the moment that changed the relationship between President Obama and Hillary Clinton, that's coming up. We'll bring you that.
And for many, the most important question about the inauguration is, well, what will the first lady actually wear? It wasn't my first most important question, but for a lot of people it is. A lot of people are interested. We've got a few clues to share with you as well. Now another inaugural flashback.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN, HISTORIAN: While each inaugural is moving in its own way, there's something about the continuity, the peaceful transition between presidents that really speaks to what our country is all about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Eisenhower and Mr. Nixon are present at the conclusion to one of the best managed transitions of power on record.
GOODWIN: The moment is sort of a secular religious moment, because we are giving this power and transferring democratic power to a new leader.
The ceremony itself, I think, is a real tribute to the country, that a person who was the president can go out and become a private citizen and a new private citizen is becoming the president. And it's peaceful. And that's an extraordinary thing in the history of our world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BLITZER: What a beautiful day here in the nation's capital. Don't forget: tomorrow at exactly this time, 24 hours from now, the president will be getting ready to deliver his inaugural address up on Capitol Hill. We're going to have wall-to-wall live nonstop coverage of that every single moment of what's going on. These are historic days in the United States.
Now that the president has started a new term, his second term, the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, is counting down to a new beginning of her own. She's leaving the Obama administration in a few weeks and a job that's transformed her image. CNN's Kate Bolduan was allowed inside Secretary Clinton's world and she spoke with some of the insiders who know her best.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN (voice-over): This is the second home of one of the world's most iconic women and we've been granted rare access as the country's top diplomat ends an unexpected four-year journey working for the man with whom she once traded blows.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible) Chicago.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Bitter rivals, yet --
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: I endorse him and throw my full support behind him.
(APPLAUSE)
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Just as Hillary Clinton showed her support for President Obama, Obama showed his faith in Clinton.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton is the right person to lead our State Department and to work with me in tackling this ambitious foreign policy agenda.
BOLDUAN: What was Hillary Clinton's initial reaction when you told her, look, they're actually considering you as a possibility for secretary of state?
PHILIPPE REINES, CLINTON AIDE: She didn't believe it.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Philippe Reines is one of Clinton's closest aides. REINES: I e-mailed her, I think it was the Friday after Election Day, after hearing it from two reporters. And I'm pretty sure her reply was something along the lines of, "Not for a million reasons."
BOLDUAN: If she was hesitant, why not just say no?
REINES: I think she did, or came awfully close. I think the president was very persuasive.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASS.: We're delighted to welcome Senator Clinton, secretary of state designate.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Clinton was quickly confirmed. But how would she get along with the man who defeated her campaign? Could she work for him?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everyone expected, including myself, that there would be a lot of division, a lot of Secretary Clinton going behind the president's back.
BOLDUAN: So was there any tension coming in between the two people at the top?
LABOTT: I think everyone's been surprised.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Surprised that, while Secretary Clinton and President Obama have been separated often as she travels the world, they have maintained a unified front.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And she has spoken of that relationship, you know, once adversaries and now incredibly close friends.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): So what was that moment that you think crystallized their relationship?
REINES: They were in Denmark for a climate change conference.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Obama and Clinton believed China and other countries resisting a pollution standards agreement were meeting in secret.
REINES: President Obama and Secretary Clinton were talking kind of alone, you know, in some hallway. And he said "Let's go."
And she said, "Let's go."
And --
BOLDUAN: So they just kind of barged in.
REINES: They kind of barged in. They said, "Hey, hey, guys, you know, what are you doing?"
BOLDUAN: "We're here." REINES: What's going on here? Let's, you know, we're here. And they got the deal done.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Secretary Clinton has logged just shy of a million miles as secretary of state.
And usually on board, CNN foreign affairs reporter Elise Labott.
LABOTT: This is the press cabin where the journalists or traveling press sit.
So this looks like a pretty much a traditional plane. But as we move forward, it's very different.
Well, that's where all the action takes place. There's a lot of communications equipment. This right here is the line of death.
BOLDUAN: What's the line of death?
LABOTT: Well, this is where all the classified material is. And so they always say the journalists can't come in because they have this classified bag.
But let's cross it.
BOLDUAN: Let's cross it.
(LAUGHTER)
LABOTT: And this is where the secretary does all of her business. This is --
BOLDUAN: This is her cabin.
LABOTT: This is the secretary's cabin. You have a desk right here.
And this couch right here pulls into a bed. She has phones, she has secure communication. She can speak to any leader anywhere. A lot of times she'll have conference calls with the White House.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Everywhere she went, Clinton promoted what she calls smart power.
LABOTT: Smart power is using all of the resources of the United States. Hillary Clinton sees food security, energy security, the situation of women, human rights -- these are the challenges that we're going to be meeting in the 21st century.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Smart power is one way Clinton redefined the job. If she lacked foreign policy experience coming in, her finesse as a politician helped shape her diplomatic style.
Ambassador Capricia Marshall is a long-time member of Clinton's inner circle.
CAPRICIA MARSHALL, U.S. CHIEF OF PROTOCOL: The basic pieces of politics is getting to know people. It is listening, it's understanding, hearing people's issues. And she is brilliant at that.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): One of her favorite pet projects, clean cookstoves, supplying women in developing countries with these cost- effective, healthier means of cooking.
As for pet peeves...
REINES: The one that I always fear the most triggering is she has a very strong reaction when someone steps on the back of her foot, back of her shoe, a flat tire.
BOLDUAN: Because people are always following her.
REINES: People following her and around her, so it has a higher rate of occurrence.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): But pet projects and pet peeves are not what will define her legacy. What will accompany her in the history books are moments like capturing Osama bin Laden, the Arab Spring, and a terrorist attack that left four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, dead.
LISA CAPUTO, FORMER HILLARY CLINTON AIDE: Oh, the Benghazi situation was just personally painful for her, personally just deeply painful. She had such an amazing fondness and appreciation for the ambassador.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Lingering questions about that terrorist attack have sparked demands for accountability from members of Congress, but Clinton's much-anticipated testimony was put on hold due to a protracted illness.
BOLDUAN: It wasn't just a concussion. It was a blood clot that's potentially very dangerous, in her head.
So how did you react to that?
REINES: I do think of her as pretty indestructible. I told her jokingly that when I learned of the blood clot, I felt sorry for the blood clot. Like it just didn't stand a chance against her.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): And Clinton is back in business, rounding out her tenure, leaving the million-dollar question: what's next for Hillary?
REINES: I'm not sure she knows entirely. She is entering a period that she has not experienced in a very long time. She will wake up on Monday, February 4th, and not have to be anywhere she doesn't want to be.
BOLDUAN: Do you really buy that she is definitely not going to run again in 2016?
I learned a long time ago not to predict anything about Hillary Clinton.
BOLDUAN: And her closest -- and her closest aides do say, they say even Hillary Clinton herself, they don't think actually knows definitely 2016 or no 2016. Philippe Reines, her close aide, said to me, if I was sitting with him on Election Day 2008 and said, hey, what about secretary of state, he said he would have laughed in my face and said, "That's impossible."
So they've just stopped looking ahead into the future. But they also point out that she has a deep sense of duty and call to public service. So we'll have to leave that one as a "we'll see".
BLITZER: I loved the line when he said, I, you know, the blood clot in the head, he felt sorry for the blood clot.
BOLDUAN: That's exactly (inaudible).
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: (Inaudible) destroy that blood clot. But --
BOLDUAN: Exactly.
BLITZER: So what tops her agenda right now in this post-State Department period?
BOLDUAN: One is rest. I hear that from all of her close aides. Rest -- even though she's not one to rest too much. So (inaudible) we won't see, you know, she'll be back at it, doing whatever she wants to do soon.
Also topping her post-secretary of state list, grandchildren.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: That puts the pressure on Chelsea.
BOLDUAN: Exactly, that's (inaudible).
BLITZER: All right.
Anderson, back to you.
COOPER: Well, Hillary Clinton's impending departure is provoking a lot of questions certainly. We just talked about some of them right there, questions about the lack of women in the administration's top jobs, for one. Let's talk about that with our panel and also about what the expectations are whether or not Hillary Clinton will run for president?
Paul, do you think she'll run for president?
PAUL BEGALA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think Philippe is right, you -- there's no way to know. I don't think she has decided. I'm quite sure she hasn't. She's going to take a look at the lay of the land. My guess is she'll probably do some nongovernmental organization work, particularly on behalf of empowering women.
COOPER: With the Clinton Initiative? BEGALA: Perhaps part of that, perhaps separately. But I think she's come to see around the world that when women are in power, everything gets better. The economy gets better, civil society gets better. You move forward democracy.
COOPER: At what point would she have to decide whether or not --
BEGALA: That's the thing. Even the vice president is 20 or 30 or 40 points behind her in the polls, if you do a poll now --
COOPER: And last night the vice president announced himself as president, so he's clearly -- it's already in his mind.
BEGALA: Exactly. Well, and it's in all of their minds. But she can wait minimum of a year -- maybe she can wait two years; I think that's getting to the outside.
But why not wait? The day she decides -- should she run -- her popularity will drop immediately because she will be a politician again. And she gets that. I believe she -- I know she gets it, that part of the reason that she's the most popular public official in America is she's not political. But if you want to be president, you have got to be a politician.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: I remember when she was a frontrunner last time around -- and that didn't serve her too well. But there has been a shift in talking to people who are close to her, like you, because, where they once said, no way, she's not going to do it, they're now not saying that anymore, which leads me to change my mind and believe that, in fact, she's probably going to run.
MARGARET HOOVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: If any politician has a loyal cohort and a loyal following, it's Hillary Clinton. But I think many of them want her to run, because they've been with her so long. I think they just think that's the default, right? Hopefully she'll get there. We want her to rest, take her time, make her own decisions.
We have to remember, too, next time is going to be an open field on both sides, Republican and Democrat. That last time that happened, the race started essentially in 2006, two years before '08.
COOPER: So we could see a situation --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: -- where she's running against Joe Biden?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST: Maybe. But I think the Democratic field freezes till Hillary Clinton makes up her mind. I think that is the big -- the big chunk in there.
I actually disagree with Gloria. I think she's -- I just -- I can't imagine this woman who has gone all around the world and, you know, likes the micro loans and all these -- you know, suddenly showing up in Polk County, Iowa, to ask for money. It doesn't make sense to me. It seems to me that she's put a great period on her public career and now would do something a la what her husband has done.
But I bet you it'll be separate from (inaudible).
KING: And yet, is there anyone in our lifetime who has recreated themselves so many times.
I was the AP pool reporter they day they were packing up the Arkansas governor's mansion. And young Chelsea was there and Hillary Rodham Clinton, that she was then, was coming out of the governor's mansion. Then she was the first lady, very controversial; United States Senator, good record there; secretary of state after losing the presidency.
If her number one goal is to see women empowered when she looks at joe Biden, Martin O'Malley, Andrew Cuomo, John Hickenlooper, what's missing from the Democratic field in 2016? A woman who can win it.
Is it irresistible at that point, when they come to her? She wouldn't have to do as much fund-raising in person because she's Hillary Clinton. Candy's right. Getting dirty -- getting dirty again is something unappealing, when they tell you you can be the first woman president?
GERGEN: Yes. She emerges from this last four years as the most respected, most popular political figure in the country. And she handled this at the state department extremely well. But you remember when Colin Powell was there, and he was so popular and the George W. Bush administration, they tried to marginalize him in a lot of ways. It was very difficult.
This one worked out, I think, much, much better.
But it does seem to me what's new -- and I disagree with Paul. I think she has got to decide within a year, because it does freeze the race, as Candy said. I don't think she can wait much longer than that.
But what's new is a question of her health. And that -- you know, all of us want her to be healthy. Only she and her doctors know how healthy she really is. And I think we'll just have to wait and see.
BORGER: Well, also, we haven't mentioned the elephant in the room, which is Bill Clinton. What does Bill Clinton want?
GERGEN: He wants her to run.
BORGER: Right. He does want her to run. He wants her to run. And remember when he ran and he said, well, you get two for one? People didn't like that? Well, now if she runs --
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: What do you think (inaudible)?
BEGALA: Oh, I think it's a reasonable certainty. In fact, I think he may even consider converting to Buddhism so he could be reincarnated so then he can --
(LAUGHTER)
BEGALA: -- and run again. Of course, he adores her and he thinks she would be a superior president to anybody else around. As, of course, he wants (inaudible).
GERGEN: He has changed. He's become very steady around her. He has not once stepped on her shadow as secretary of state. Everybody thought he would collide with her. And that hasn't happened. He's been very disciplined, because he wants her to do good (inaudible).
BORGER: He stepped on her during her campaign.
GERGEN: Absolutely.
BORGER: Didn't do it --
GERGEN: But not as secretary of state.
BORGER: Right.
COOPER: Not as secretary of state.
A lot of folks are going to be wondering about Michelle Obama and what she's going to be wearing to the inaugural balls tomorrow night.
And whatever she wears will be worth millions of dollars to the fashion industry. We'll talk about that coming up. We'll also show you some of the country's hottest music stars from Katy Perry to Usher performing on this inaugural weekend. We'll be right back.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BLITZER: The action will move to the United States Capitol tomorrow. The president will be sworn in a second time.
Welcome back to CNN's special coverage of the presidential inauguration. Less than an hour ago, right here at the White House, the Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts, administered the Oath of Office as President Barack Obama began his second term.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS: Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.
I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear --
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear --
ROBERTS: -- that I will faithfully execute --
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- that I will faithfully execute --
ROBERTS: -- the office of President of the United States --
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- the office of President of the United States --
ROBERTS: -- and will, to the best of my ability --
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- and will, to the best of my ability --
ROBERTS: -- preserve, protect and defend --
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- preserve, protect and defend --
ROBERTS: -- the Constitution of the United States --
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- the Constitution of the United States --
ROBERTS: -- so help you God.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- so help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice, thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Perfectly done by the president and the chief justice. I was very impressed.
BOLDUAN: I was nervous.
BLITZER: You were? Really?
BOLDUAN: Well, after what happened -- I'm kidding. I wasn't nervous at all. It happened. He said, I did it.
BLITZER: Stuff happens. Look at you.
This time it was perfect, Anderson, could not have been better.
COOPER: Yes, certainly was. And, of course, we'll see it tomorrow as well. The nation's Capitol is gearing up for President Obama's public inauguration tomorrow and all the pomp and the parties that go along with it. We'll be here covering it all live for you.
We know some people will be watching just to see what Michelle Obama will be wearing, wondering how she'll top the fashion statement that she made four years ago.
Alina Cho takes a look back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First lady Michele Obama.
ALINA CHO, CNN HOST (voice-over): When First Lady Michele Obama walked out on stage in that memorable white gown by Jason Wu, overnight, the designer became a household name.
CHO: So take me to that moment, where she walked out.
JASON WU, FASHION DESIGNER: (Inaudible) screaming at the top of my lung. I mean, I was, "That's me."
CHO (voice-over): So who will be the lucky one four years later?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really brilliant what she's done in keeping a secret, I have to say, because in the previous administrations, while there was always interest in what the first lady wore, there was never this kind of red carpet moment.
CHO (voice-over): Sources close to the process say what started out as a 20-designer field for the inaugural gown has now whittled down to two, two designers who have a shot at worldwide fame.
So who are they? Likely a New York-based designer and quite possibly one who is emerging versus established.
Around Thanksgiving, designers submit sketches. Garments are made. There are fittings and more fittings. The gowns are actually shuttled back and forth between New York and D.C.
And because these designers don't have direct access to the first lady, they have mannequins made in her likeness that live in their studios.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some people would compare it to dressing Anne Hathaway at the Golden Globes. But I would say it's more like if you dressed every celebrity at the Golden Globes. It's that much exposure.
CHO (voice-over): By one estimate a single appearance by the first lady in a designer's clothes is worth $14 million. Tally up all of her public appearances for the year, and that's a nearly $3 billion boost to the fashion industry.
Take Jason Wu, since that moment, he's designed everything from a Target collection to candles to furniture. But that's business.
What will the gown look like? If the past is any guide, Ms. Obama, with those famous arms, tends to favor strapless and one-shoulder gowns fitted at the waist and lots of color. Sources say strapless is at least one option she's considering.
Designers are mindful this piece of clothing is not just an outfit, but a piece of history, too.
ISABELLE TALEDO (PH), DESIGNER: You have to describe in this garment what she's feeling, the importance of the moment
I felt like Betsy Ross.
CHO (voice-over): Designer Isabelle Taledo (ph) gained fame after she dressed the first lady at the swearing-in ceremony on inauguration morning.
TALEDO (PH): I didn't want to dress her for that evening of the ball. I wanted to do the inauguration.
CHO: Why?
TALEDO (PH): Because that's the moment that the whole world is a part of. And the whole world was watching.
CHO (voice-over): Which is why this time --
TALEDO (PH): Some people wanted to know, oh, are you going to be a part of it this time? And I thought, you know, there's nothing more important than seeing someone else have this gift and what they do with it.
CHO: And just so we're clear, for the inauguration, the first lady will not be wearing clothes off the rack. We can pretty safely say these are made to measure, one-of-a-kind, custom garments commissioned by the White House.
But imagine the honor, one designer in contention actually told me when he came to America more than a decade ago, he began living the American dream.
And, Anderson, he says the fact that my gown could be hanging in her closet right now at the White House, even if she doesn't wear it on inauguration night, well, that is still a very, very big deal.
Anderson?
COOPER: Yes, it can certainly change the careers of a lot of these designers. Alina, thanks so much.
Michelle Obama debuted a new hair style Thursday, which was also her birthday, her 49th birthday. Here's the photo her office posted online, the new hair cut, very straight, I guess includes bangs. It made headlines around the world.
Alina, I was surprised by -- I mean, this was everywhere, in newspapers around the world.
CHO: It got a lot of attention. In fact, one writer from "The New York Times" said, I fear this inauguration story is going to turn into not a gown story but a hair story. But you know, you're asking the wrong person if you're asking about bangs, because, you know, I'm just saying.
COOPER: Yes. All right. Alina, thanks very much.
We're joined by "People" magazine style and beauty editor Pamela Edwards Christiani and also Michelle Obama's former press secretary, Katie McCormick Lelyveld.
Were you surprised at this? I mean, this went worldwide when she sported bangs, all of a sudden.
PAMELA EDWARDS CHRISTIANI, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: We're obsessed with her. We love her. I mean, they look so fresh. I think she looks a little younger, too. They're feathery, they're modern. I mean, she's -- why not. It's your birthday, new year, new term.
COOPER: Did you find your readers for "People" magazine are still passionately interested in everything she does (inaudible) what she's wearing (inaudible)?
(CROSSTALK)
CHRISTIANI: Absolutely, because it's so accessible, too. You know? So I think absolutely.
COOPER: How do -- how -- I mean, on things like the gowns, how does she make those decisions? Is it just her? Is it her team?
KATIE MCCORMICK LELYVELD, MICHELLE OBAMA'S FORMER PRESS SECRETARY: It's a personal decision. You know, she considers a couple of different options.
But you have to go with the way you feel on the day. And she recognizes the platform that she holds, that people are looking to what she's going to do, which is why she selected Jason Wu, who was a new kid on the block in 2009. It was a -- it's a major moment. And she recognizes that she can lift people up with that -- with that choice.
COOPER: So the designers are contacted in advance. And then are the designers making the dress for her? Or does she --
LELYVELD: I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. I can't speak to the process of how that comes together.
CHRISTIANI: They do make them for her. What I've heard -- and I don't know if this is completely true -- is that she -- it usually comes down to two choices for a big gala night. And then the way she feels in the moment, she chooses one.
COOPER: I see. Interesting.
CHRISTIANI: Who doesn't.
(LAUGHTER)
CHRISTIANI: But it's just like the red carpet.
BORGER: Well, I mean, it's one of the -- does she try them on and say to people, like I say, like, do I look fat in this? What do I look like? How do I -- I mean, does she kind of go to the staff and say how do I look? Which looks better? I mean, is it her decision alone? You know? LELYVELD: I mean, she's a very real person. She's going to -- she's got to wear it for the night. She's got to wear it for the night. She's got to love how she feels.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do I look, right?
LELYVELD: And, you know, the camera is always on her. So she's aware of that. But you know, whether she's throwing on a J. Crew sweater and some shorts or she's going out in a dress, she knows that the world is watching.
COOPER: And the world will certainly be watching tomorrow.
CROWLEY: I think one of the things that's interesting to me about Michelle Obama, from the beginning when they were running for the first time around, is that they really used her in a way -- she had a kind of a rough start with the press.
But they used her in a way -- here is this man, he had a background unlike any president that has been there before, and he's running as a candidate. He has a name that even he says, you know, everyone said, oh, you can't be president; your name is Barack Obama.
She gave him that "we're just an American family" feel. And she was wearing J. Crew sweaters and she was -- you know, so she really was the person that introduced him to America as just another dad with a couple of kids and she's from the South Side of Chicago.
And her clothing always represented that. Now it doesn't do it on a night like this, when people expect their first lady to, like, really, you know, put it on and have something special.
But in general her clothing has been an extension of what she has done for President Obama. Where he is seen as aloof, she is seen as warm and approachable and part of that is what she wears.
LELYVELD: I completely agree. She's optimistic, she's accessible and that does translate to her clothing choices.
COOPER: Do you have any predictions for what she's going to wear?
CHRISTIANI: I would love it if she wears like Saeem Khan (ph). But I just want it to be grand. I want to be wowed and I'm sure she's going to deliver.
COOPER: All right. We shall see.
Nearly 2 million people packed into the National Mall for the first Obama inauguration four years ago. We're going to tell you what's expected tomorrow and how we'll use space technology to actually estimate the crowd.
Also, kids celebrate this inauguration weekend with some of the hottest musical stars around. We're going to hear Katy Perry and Usher perform ahead.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN's coverage of the presidential inauguration.
Almost exactly an hour ago, the president took the Oath of Office and began his second term. You may recall four years ago there was a little bit flub when the chief justice, John Roberts, administered the oath.
Today it went perfectly. And when he was done his daughter, Sasha, took note. Listen very carefully.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- so help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you, Mr. Chief justice. Thank you so much.
Thank you, sweetie.
Hey. (Inaudible).
SASHA OBAMA: Good job, dad.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I did it.
SASHA OBAMA: You didn't mess up.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: He said, "I did it," and she said "You didn't mess up." It's a nice little -- nice little remark.
BOLDUAN: She's always giving him a little grief. I do love that about her. She's always keeping him in check.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) mess up.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, he said, "I did it." President Obama said "I did it." I was thinking Chief Justice Roberts is the one, thinking, "I did it," because he's the one who got blamed four years ago.
BOLDUAN: I know.
BLITZER: Leave it to the little one to say, "You didn't mess up." BOLDUAN: (Inaudible) keep her father in check.
BLITZER: Yes.
Almost a million people may jam the National Mall to watch President Obama's public inauguration tomorrow. We're hoping to get all of them in one dramatic picture from space.
BOLDUAN: (Inaudible).
BLITZER: CNN's John King is over at the magic wall to show us how it will done.
John, show us.
KING: Wolf, this was done four years ago. You know, there were a lot of security cameras down here at the human level. But as you know, there are also some satellites up in space, including satellites that will pass over the National Mall and Washington, D.C., at precisely the moment of the public ceremony tomorrow.
This is a glimpse, if you look in, of four years ago. I'm going to zoom in. Here's the United States Capitol. You see it really good here. You see the crowd of the VIPs out in front. Now come down the National Mall and as you look, this may look like the grass isn't in such great shape, right? No those are people. People here. People here. And you keep coming down the mall.
More people, down the mall, more people here.
This is about where we are right now, our CNN booth is right here at 12th Street, look at the crowds here then. And you go all the way down, I'm going to pull it out, the Washington Monument, you could recognize that from space.
Look at all the people, again, these dots you see up here, (inaudible), those are people packing, 1.8 million was the estimate, all the way down to the end of the mall and the Lincoln Memorial. You see people up on the steps to try to get a better vantage point, up high up.
That was four years ago. Satellites will also pass overhead tomorrow and we hope quickly to be able to give you an estimate when we get those images of how many people turn out. Again, 1.8 million four years ago. Officials are expecting much fewer this time, they think somewhere in the ballpark of 500,000 to 700,000 people. We'll see if maybe the nice weather brings out more.
How do we do the crowd estimate? You take these satellite images, you draw a grid, you get an estimate of how many people are in this space. Then you go down and you add and you add and you add. Then you get a pretty reliable estimate, Wolf, using technology from far above.
BLITZER: Amazing technology indeed. Looking forward to seeing how many people actually show up tomorrow, John. Thank you. This year we want to learn from your view of the presidential inauguration as well. CNN's Brooke Baldwin is joining us now to explain how you can be part of our coverage.
Brooke, how can our folks be part of the coverage?
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: OK. So this is so fun and exciting for everyone here involved. Four years ago, we were here on this very National Mall. We were witnessing history, right, all eyes were on Barack Obama.
Fast forward to now, all our eyes are on you. Here is the challenge we are giving not only to among us here at CNN but to all of you all around the world, because this is history and we want you to help us share this history with our viewers globally.
So what you need to do, if you're not on Instagram, get on Instagram. It's quick and easy. Upload your photo.
I don't care if you are at home watching CNN and the inauguration and take a photo of yourself watching the inauguration, if you are right here with me on the National Mall, if you are in Afghanistan, take a photo of you watching inauguration, upload it to Instagram, make sure you do the #CNN, we will go through all of these pictures.
In fact, we're so excited we've already gotten one photo from these two 17-year-old high school seniors from Georgia. They are up here this weekend. Their names are Grace Grill (ph) and Melissa Register (ph). They're here, they're up here with a group, it's a non-profit called the Close-Up Foundation (ph). They have shared their photos.
So this is their photo. And as I mentioned, look, we're up here at CNN as well. I'm on Instagram. I took a picture of myself here trying to give you a little behind-the-scenes look as to how this -- how this works, putting on this whole show for you.
My friend John Berman, take a look at his Instagram photo. Again, remember #CNN. And one more, I think you might recognize the hands, look at the hands, Mr. Magic Wall, John King, with his Instagram picture.
But our challenge, again to you, you're watching history, we want you to share your history with us.
And what's really fascinating, 2009, we got all your pictures from around the world, from Africa Beijing, from Gaza. Four years ago, Instagram didn't even exist. So flash forward to now, 40 million photos uploaded each and every day.
So Wolf, I don't know if you're on Instagram, you need to be. I know you're on the Twitters. So remember, Instagram, #CNN and we'll be showing all of pictures around the world tomorrow.
BLITZER: We look forward to that, Brooke. Thanks very much.
You know, Kate, not all of the inaugural festivities are geared towards adults.
BOLDUAN: Yes, that's absolutely right. There was a special kids' inaugural concert last night, part of the first lady's outreach to military families. We were there as well. And some very big stars performed. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to the kids' inaugural.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to take the time right now to recognize our service men and women, the first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, for putting together an incredible event just for you guys, because the youth matters.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Soul Children of Chicago, featuring Black Violin. Make some noise!
(MUSIC PLAYING)
JOE FRANCO (PH), STUDENT: Good evening. My name is Joe Franco (ph). I am a fourth grade student at Lee Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, and my mom is in the Navy.
JILL BIDEN, WIFE OF JOE BIDEN: We want tonight to be one special way that our country shows all of you just how much we appreciate everything you're doing for our country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who are you so excited to see perform?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Katy Perry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "Baby, you're a firework."
MICHELE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: We cannot be satisfied until we are serving all of you as well as you've served this country.
It is now my pleasure to introduce the fabulous Katy Perry!
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Good night.
