The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer : WETA : July 20, 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT; The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer

Captiong sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS >Lehrer: GOOD EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. ONHE NEWSHOUR THIS MONDAY: THE LEAD STY IS OUR INTERVIEW WITHRESIDENT OBAMA ABOUT HEALTH CARE, AMONG OTH THINGS. THEN WE HAVE THE OTHER NE OF THE D-- A LOOK BACK AT THAT GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND 40EARS LATER; AND THE LES AND LECIES OF TWO MEN WHO DIED OVER THE WEEKEND. WE'LL TALK WITH ROBIN MacNIL ANTODD GITLIN ABOUT WALTER CRONKITE, ANTO ROGER ROSENBLATT ABOUT AHOR FRANK McCOURT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR T NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEER IS PROVED BY:

>> TINY LTLE THING, IT'S ST... NOT BIG. AH. OKAY, I FOUND IT. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) OKAY. WE ARE INTEL, SPONSORS TOMROW. AND WITH THE ONGOI SUPPORT OF DEAS. TEACHING. BUILDING E WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, WORKINTO SOLVE SOCIAL A ENVIRONMENTAL PRLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND WH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS A FOUNDATIONS. A... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE PSIBLE BY THE CORRATION FOR PUBL BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIS TO YOUR PBS ATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU THANK YOU. >>ehrer: PRESIDENT OBAMA BEG THE WEEK WITH ALL-OUT PUSH FOR HEALTH CARE REFOR IT CAME WITH SINKING OPINION POS, AND RENEWED CRITICISM FROMOME MODERATE DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS RUBLICANS. I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDT IN THE M ROOM AT THE WHITE HOUSE LATE THIS AFTERON.

>> Lehrer: Mr. PRESIDENT MUST HAVE BEEN AITTLE UNPLEASANTOR YOU TO WAKE UPTHIS MORNING AND SEE TH HEADLI,OLLS SHOW OBAMA SLIPPING ON KEYSSUES, APPROVAL RATING ON HEALTH RE FALLS BELOW 50%. WHAT DOES THAT MEN?

>> IT MEANS THA WHAT WE ARE DO SOMETHING HD. D YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS I FEEL PRETTYOOD ABOUT THE FACTHAT OUR POLLS HAVE HELD UP UER EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSNCES. YOU KNOWI THINK WE MAY HAVE SET A VERHIGH BAR FOR OURSELVES, NORMA -- NRMALLY 59%, FOLKS WOULDAY I'LL TAKE IT. ON HEALTCARE INARTICULAR, LOO THERE'S A REASON WHY THIS HASN' BEEN DO IN 50 YEARS. AND THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG, COMPLEXITUATION. A LOT OF SPECIAL INTERESTS HERE IN WASHINGTON WHO ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF THE STATUS QUO. BUT WHAT THEMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS THATHE STAUS QUO IS UNSUSTAABLE. TH THEIR PREMIUMS ARE DOUBLIN THEIR OUT OF POET EXPENSE HAVE SKYROCKET. WE'V GOT 46 MILLION OPLE WITHOUT HEALTH ISURANCE. IIS BANKRUPTINGAMILIES, IT'S BANKRUPTG BUSINESSES AND ULTIMALY COULD BANKRUPT E FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THEY KNOW THAT. THEYANTHANGE. NOWHEN YOU STARGETTING INTO DETAI, IT'S PETTY ASY TO GET PEOLE WONDERING GOSH, YOU KNOW, IS THE DEVIL -- I KNOW BETTER THAN E DEVIL I DON'T. D THAT'S WHY IT ISSO IMPTANT FOR ME TO BE CONSISTENTLY CLEAR ABOUTHE FACT THAT UER EVE OPOSAL THAT I'VE DISCUSSED, PEOPLE WOULDOT HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR HEALTH-CARE PLAN IF THE ARE HAPPY WITH IT. THEY DON'T HVE TO CHAN DOCTOR APPROXIMATES IF THEY'RE HPY WITH IT. WE WANT GIVE THEM MORE CHOICES. MAKE SURE THA TH HAVE THE KIND OF INSANCE REFORMS IN ACE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOEE PEOPLE EXCUDED BECAU OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION OM CARE, IF THEY LOSE THEIR JOB, IF THEY CHANGE JOBS. SO THE CONGRESSIONAL PROCESS, PEOPLE ARELWAYS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS OF. I'M CONFIDENTHOUGH THAT IN THE END ANY BILL I SIGN IS GOING TO MAKE MORE PEOPLE SECURE IN THEIR HEALTH CARE. AND IT'S ING TO DIVE DOWN COST OVER THE LO TERM.

>> DO YOUTILL BELIEVE THE HOUSE AND SENATE WI GET SOMETHING BY THE AUST RECESS WICH IS BARELY TEE WEEKS AWAY.

>> I A -- I THINKHIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ERE THE FOCUS TES TO BE ON WHAT WE VEN'T GOTTEN DONE YET RATHE THAN WHAT WE'VEONE. WE HAVE THREE OUT OF T FIVE COMMITTEES AT HAVE URISDICTION OVER THIS THING HAVE ALREADY PASSED A BILL. WE'VE GOT SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICAN DICAL ASSOCIATION, SO THE NATION'S DOCTORS HAVE SAID WE'RE SUPRTIVEOF THE PRESIDENT'S APPRCH. WE HAVEHE NURS, SO THE OPLE WHO KNOW HEALTH CARE BEST HAVE ID WE'RE SUPPORTIVE. WE'VE G THEOSPITALS SAYING WE'RE SUPPORTIVE 'VE GOT AAR THE GANIZATION OF RETIREES SAYING WE'RE SUPPOIVE. AND SO WE ACTLLY, I THINK, HAVE MADE EXTRADINARY PROGSS. NOW WE'VE GOT THIS LAST LITTLE BIT TO GO. AND TH INCLUDES SOME VY TOUGH QUESTIO. PRIMARILY, HOW DO YOU PAY ON THE FRONT END FOR COVERAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T CURRENTLY VE IT, BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE SAID IS I'M NOT GOING TODD TO THE DEFICIT. WE HAVE GOTO PAY FOR WHATEVER WE'RE DOING AM ND HOW ARE WE ING TO THEN MAKE SURE WE ARE CONTROLLING HEALTH CARE INFLATN ON THE BACK END. THOSE TWOUESTIONS ARE TOUGH, DIFFICULT QUEIONS. B THAT'S WHY PRESUMABLY ESE FOLKS GOT ELECTED. THAT'S CERTALY WHY I GOT ELECTETO SOLVE THESEARD PROBLEMS.

>> Lehrer: AS YOU KN, A LOT OF TH COMMTARY OVER THE WEEKEND WASOTHING IS ING TO HAPPEN,ETTING FROM HERE THE FINAL HURDLE RE UNLESS YOU REALLY START CRACKI SOME HEADS AND REALLY SAYEY THIS IS THE OBA PLAN, THIS IS WHAT I WANT. SO MU FOR WHAT THIS COMMTEE WANTS AND WHAT TH COMMITTEE WANTS. HERE'S WHAT WANT AND I'M GOINGO PUSH AND GO. ARE YOD WITH READY TO DO THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING THING IS WEE ACTUALLY BEE ERY CLEAR ON WHAT WE WANT. I'VE SAID I WANT TOAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE HEALTH CARE ARE YOU GOING KEEP IT VE SAIDHAT WE'VE GOT TO REFORM THE INSURAE INDUSTRY SO PEOPLE ARE'T BEING EXCLUDED FOR PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND 'S NOT AS EASY FOR INSURANCE COMNIES TO DUMP PEOPLE WHEN THEY CHANGE BS OR IF THEYOSE THEIR JOB. I'VE BEEN VERY CLEARBOUT THE FACT THAT IT HAS TO BE PAID FOR. I'VE BEENVERY CLEAR ABOUT THE FACT AT WE SHOULDAVE A PUBLIC PLAN. SO WE'VE LA A WHOLE BUNCH OF RKERS OUT TERE. AND THISWEEK AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE WORKEDTHEIR WAY THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND EXAMINEDHAT ALL THE OPTIONS ARE, WHATE'RE GOING TO BE DO SOMHING BRINGING ME OF THEM INTO THE WHITE HOU. D --.

>> Lehr: AND CRACK HEADS?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABO CRACKING HDS. FACILITATING --.

>> Lehrer: FACILITING, OKAY.

>> FACILITATING A DISCUSSI TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEM

>> Lehrer: ALL RIGHT BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS OUT THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> Lehrer: TAXING THE WEALTHY TO PAY OR THIS. ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THAT?

>> HERE'S WHAT I THINK THAT PELE LIKE MELF WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY A LITTLE T MORE IN TES SHOULD DO SO IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPATE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SECURITY WHEN IT COMPANYS TO THEIR HLTH CARE. NOW I ACTUALLY INK THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS SIMPLY TO CAPEDUCTIONS THAT WEALTHY PEOPLE C TAKE AT A 35 OR 36% RATE, COMPARED TODE FOLKS WHO ARE ON TAKING 28% RATE. I THNK THAT'S GONE DOWN --.

>> LehrerRATHER THAN TAX EM.

>> RATHER TH TAX THEM. AND THAT WOULD RAISE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT O MONEY TO PAY FOR ANY NEW PEOPLE WHO A JOINING INTO THIS -- INTO THIS HEALT INSURANCE REFORM PACKAGE. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE OTHER IDEAS THAT ARE BEING NDIED ABOUT, N ALL OF THEM ARE GNG TO BE THE SAME THERE ARE GOING BE SOME FOLKS IN THE HSE WHO WT TO IMPOSE A SURCHARGE. THERE ARE SOME IN THEENATE WHO ARE LOOKING A WHOLE MENU OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN TERMS RAISING THE MONEY. THEAP, THOUGH, IS ONE THAT I THINCAN BE CLOSED. RELATIVELY EASILY, IF EVERYBODY IS COMMITED TO MAKING SURE THATE GET THIS DONE.

>> hrer: WHAT ABOUT TAXING HEAH BENEFITS? >>ELL, I SAID RINGTHE CAMPAIGN WHEN THISAS RAISED B JOHN McCAIN, H HAD PROPOSED TO ELIMINATE COMPLETELY THE EXCLUSION ON E TAXATION OF HLTH BENEFITS. I ARSAID THATHIS WOULD BE THERONG WAY TO GO BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO DISRUPTIVEv ESSENTIALLY EMPLOY WAS STOP PRODING HEALTH CARE. OHN MAIN HADUGGESTED EVERYBODY GETS TAX CREDIT BUT THE CONCERN WAS T TAX EDIT WOULDN'T BE SFICIENT TO ACTUALLY BUY HEALTH INSURANCE ON THE MARKET. SO I AM STILL OPPOSEDO THA AND WOULD VETO A BILL IF AT WAS THE APPROACH. WHAT'S BEING TALD ABOUT NOW, I UNDERSTAND, IS THE POSSIBILI OF PENALIZING INSURANCE COMPANIE WHO ARE OFFERING SUPGOLD-PLATED DILLAC PLANS. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DETAS OF THIS YET. BUT IT MAY BE AN APOACH THAT DOESN'T PUT ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. MY WHOLE GOAL IS NOT TO ADD BURDENS FOLKS WHO ARE ALREA HAVING A TOUGH TI AFFORDINGNSURANCE BUT ACTUALLYO RELIEVE IT. AND I'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE DAILS OF THAT BEFORE I MAKE ANY KINDOF FINA DETMINATION.

>> Leher: DID I READ YOU CORRECTLY THAT YOU ARE BAKING OFF THE AUGUST DEADLINE THAT YOU WANT TS BY -- YOU WANTED IT PASSED BY THEAUGUST RECESS.

>> HERE I THINIS A FAIR IS SES -- ASSESSMENT, JIM. I WANT TS DONE KNOWN.

>> Lehrer: NOW, OKA

>> NOW IF THERE ARE NO DEADLINESNOTHING TS DONE IN THIS TOWN. YOU HAVE BEENROUND HERE LONENOUGH TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY GET THIDONE. IF SOMEBODY COMES TO ME AND SAYS IT'S BASICALLY DO, IT'S ING TO SPILL OVER BY AEW DAYS OR A WEEK, THAT'S FFERENT. IF PEOPLE SAY AS, FOR EXAMPLE, REPUBLICAN SENOR SAID OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WEUST WANT TO KEEP ON DELAYINAND DELAYG THIS THING BECAUSE WE THINK THIS ISOING TO OBAMA'S WAER --

>> TE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA SA THAT.

>> AND WE CAN BREAK THEM BY --.

>> Lehrer: WHAT'S TT ALL IS ABOUT. WHAT IS HE TALKIN ABOUT.

>> I THINK WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT IS THERE IS A CERTN PORTION OF THE REPUBLAN PARTY THAT VIEWS HIS LIKE TY SAW '93, '94, THE LAST TIME THE WAS A MAJOR HLTH REFORM EFFORT. THEY EXPLICITLY WENT AFTER THE CLINTONS, SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO G THIS DONE. THAT WENT DOWN. AND A -- ANDHE AT LEAS THE HISRY, THE WAY IT'S VIEWED HRE IN WASHINGTON I THATHAT'S WHAT HELPED DEFEAT DEMOCRAT SO IT WAS A PURE POLITICAL PLAN. A SHOW OF STRENH BY THE REBLICANS THAT HELPED THEM REGAIN THE HOUSE. I THINK T FOLKS WHO THINK THATE SHOULD TRYHAT, DUST OFF THAT D PLAY BOOK, WHAT THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT THIS ISN'TBOUT ME. IT'S AOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND THINGSAVE GOTTEN WORSE SCE 1993. PEOPLE'S, MORE PELE ARE UNINSURANCED. EVERYBODY'S EXPEES ARE HIGHER. THE SYSTEM'S EVEN MORE INEFFICIENT. AND SO RATHER THAN PLAY POLITICAL GAS, I THINK I EXPECT PEOPLE TO TRY TO BE CONSTRTIVE. AND TO THIR CREDIT, I THINK HAT THERE ARE REPUBLICANS ON THE SENATE FINCE COMMITE, CHUCK GSSLEY, OLYMPIANOWE, MIKE ENZE WHO ARENGAGED IN SOME VERY FFICULT, VERY SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS DESPITEOME PRESSUR FROM THE POLITICAL OP RTIVES AND THEIR - IN THEIR PARTY THAT SA YOU OULDN'T TRY TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE OR RPONSIBLE. SO I GIVE THEMREDIT FOR THAT.

>> Lehrer: YOU SAY IT'S N ABOUT YO, BUT M PRESIDENT, THIS IS NOW THE OBAMA PUSH FOR HEALTH-CARE REFORM IN THIS COUNY, IS IT NOT? I MEAN ISN'T THIS URS -- >>H, YES, NO, NO, NO, ,.

>> Lehrer: YOU KE THE HEAT FOTHIS, THE GOODEAT OR THE BAD HEAT.

>> I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I THINKHIS HAS TO DONE. D MAKE NO BONES OUT IT, I AM PUSHING HARD. BECAUSE IHINK THAT I'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLYOR AMERICAN FALIES BUT ALSO FOR A LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FORUR LONG TERM DEFICIT AND DE. HERS THE IRONY OF SOME OF THE DEBATE THAT I HEAR FROM THE OTHERIDE. EVERYBODY ANOWLEDGES THAT E SINGLE BIEST THREAT TO OUR FISCAL STABILI IS MEDIRE AND DICAID. IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE. THAT'S THE SINGLE THING TAT COULD IVE USNTO LONG-TERM STAGGINGND FFICULT DEBT. AND YET, THE OTHER SIDE DOESN'T WANT TO REFORM THE SYSTEM IN WAY THAT WOULD ACTUALLY REDUCE COSTS. AND WHENOU ASK THEM, ELL, WHAT IS ITOU WANT TO DO? THEY KIND OF MUMBLE AND MUTER AN BUT DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. AND SOE'RE VERY SPECIFIC. WHAT WE'VE SAID WE WANT TO REFORM MEDICARE, REFORM MEDICAID, STOP PROVIDING $177 LLION WORTH OF SUBSIDI TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR A MEDARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM TAT OFFERS NO ADDITIONAL BENEFIT TO SENIORSOMPARED TO REGULAR OL MEDICARE. WE HAVE PROVIDED VERY SPECIF MEASURES TO REDUCE COSTS. ND I AM IF FOLKS ARE SINCERE AND SIOUS ABOUT DEFICIT REDUION OVER THE LONG-TERM THEN THE CAN'T NY THAT WE HAVE TO RUCE OUR HEALTH-CAREOSTS. AND IT'SOT EASY TO DO BECAUSE IT INVOLV CHANGIN HOW DELIVERY SYSTE WORK. IT INVOLVES CHANGING HOW DOCTORS ARE REIMBUED SO THATHEY ARE REWARDED FOR QUALITY O CARE AND NOT JUST QUANTITY OF CARE. ANDHAT'S Y WE'VE SUGGESTED TAKIN A REPUBLICAN IDEOF SOMETHING CALLED A MEDPAC BOARD A COMMISSION OF MEDICAL EXPERTS, DOCTORS IT AND HEALTH PROFSIONALS TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, ONGOING CHANGES AND CONTINUING PROVEMENT IN HOW THE EDICARE SYSTEM WORKS. WE ACTUALLY THINK THAT WILL HELP DRIVE LOWERING OF COTS ACROSS THE SYSTEM. Lehrer: AND YOU'RE NOT -- YOU WILL NOT BEATISFIED BY SOMEBODY OR SOMEROUP OF SOMEBODYS WHO SAY WL, OKAY, OKAY, LET'S DO T LET'S DOIT BUTWE CAN'T DO I NOW. WE'VE GOT ECOMIC THINGS TO . WE'VE GOT OTHER THINGS THE ECOMY TO DEAL WITH. LET'S WAIT A YEA, LET'S WAIT SIX MONTHS. FORGET IT, HUH?

>> IF NOT NOW, EN? WEAVE LITERALLY BE WAITING 50 ARS. AND WE STILL HAVEN'T GOT TEN DONE. AND THE LGER REDELAY, THE MORE THE SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT BENEFIT FROM THE SYSTEM AS IT IS, THE MORE EY ARE GOING TO FHT CHANGE WHEN YOU'VE GOT DOCTS, NURSES, HOSPITA, THE AARP AND EVEN THE DGOMPANIES AS WELL ASAJOR EMPLOYERS LIKE WAL-MART SAYING NOS THE TIME FOR US TO ING ABOUT SOME CHAN, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR UTO BNG ABOUT SOME CANGE.

>> Lehrer: SPEAKING OF TH ECONOMY.

>> YEAH.

>> Lrer: DO YOU SHARE THE CONCERN AND GROWING ANGER BY SOME PEOPLE OVER THE FACT TT THESE BIG WALL STREET BANKS AR SUDDENLY MAKNG THESE HUGE OFITS WHILE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CONTINU TO GOP, FORECLOSURES CONTINUE TO RSE, ALL KINDS OF OTHER BAD THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS ON THE ECONO. DO Y SHARE THAT? >>I DO. Lehrer: WHS'S GOING ON.

>> HERE'S WHAT I HAVE. YOU HAD A WALL STREET THAT TOOK EXCESSIV RISKS, ACTED IRRESPONSIBLY AND ALMOST DRAGGEDHENTIRECONOMY INTO A DEPRESSION. WE HAD TO INTERVENE AND D STABILIZE T FINANCIAL SYSTEM BECAUSE IF YOU HAD A MPLETE MELTDOWN THEN THIN WAS AUALLY BE FA WORSE, UNEMPLOYMENTOULD BE HIGHER AND IT ULD BE EV HARDER FOR US TO G OUT OFHE HOL THE PROBLEM TH I'VE SEEN IS THAT YOU DON'T G A SEN THAT FOLKS ON WALL STREET FEEL ANY REFORCE FOR HAVINGTAKEN ALL THESE RISKS. YOU N'T GET A SENSE THAT THERE'S BEEA CHANGE IN CULTURE AND BEHAVIOR AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS. WHAT HAS HAENED. AND THAT'S WHY THE FINANCIAL GULATORY REFO PROPOSALS THAT WE P FORWARD ARE SO IMPORTANT. AND KNOW THE PEOPLE THINK THAT WE'RE DOING A LOT. WELL THIS IS ONE MO THING THAT WE'RE GOING HVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WEO. BUT IT'S THE INSTITUTE, THE FINANCL REGULATORYS PROGRAMSTHAT PREVENT THEM FROM TAKI SOME OFHE WILD RISKS THEY TOOK PREVIOUSLY. AND ALSO THINK THATHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES LIKE COMPENSATION, THAT AT THE VERYLEAST SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD BE AB TO WEIGH IN BEFORE THESEOMPANIES ARE GIVEN THESE MASSIVE BONUSES TO HIGH-LEVEL EXECUTIVES.

>> LehrerMr. PRESIDENT, HE POINT HERE IS IN THE LAST WEEKR SO, JPMORGAN CHAS, GOLDMAN SACHS, HUGE PROFITS. >RIGHT.

>> Lehre AND THESE WERE COMPANIESHAT SURVID BECAUSE OF FEDERAL RESCUE OR FEDERAL BLOUT MONEY, WHATEVER YOWANT TO USE.

>> RIGHT. Lehrer: AND SO WALL STREET G HELP AND A LOT O THESE HER PEOPLE DIDN'T GET HELP. THAT IS THE QUESTION I GETTING AT.

>> WELL, THINK TWO INTS. ONE IS THEINANCIAL SYSTEM, IF DIDN'T STOCK E BLEEDIN IN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, TH IT WOULD HE BEEN EVEN WORSE FOR THEM.

>> Lehr: YOU DON'T HAVE Y SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT I DON'T HAVE SCOND THOUGHTS ABOUT. I DO HAVE SOME CONCENS ABOUT HOW ITAS INIALLY STRUCTURED BEFORI WAS SWORN IN. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE BANK BAIUT WAS STRTUREED BACK IN ' BEFORWE WERE SWORN IN. BUT THE NEED TOINTERVENE, I COMPTELY AGREE WITH. I ALSO THINK THAT WE DID THE RIGHT TING BY CAPPING EXECUVE COMPENSATION FOR BAN THAT ARE ESTIMATE GEING TARP MONEY, STILL GETTING BAIUT MONEY THERE ARE SOME COMPANIESLIKE GOLAN SACHS THAT PD THE MOEY BACK. AND THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF LEVERS ON THEM THAT WE MIGHT HAVE. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S MPORTANT TO PASSTHIS BROADER FINANCI GULATORY PACKAGE IN THE MEAIME WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SE I THAT EVERYTHING I DO EVERY MORNIG, I ASK MY ENOMIST, HOW CANWE CREATE MO JOBS IN THE ENOMY, HOW CAN W HELP SMALLUSINESSES, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE TH THE HOUSE MARKET IS STABILIZED. AND WE ARE SUCCEEDI IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE STPING SOME OF THE JOB OSS THAT OTHERWISE WOLD HAVE BEEN THERE. THE HELPTHAT WE'VE GIVEN THE GVERNORS ALONE, $144 LLION, THATEANS TEACHERS AND POLE OFFICERSAND IREFIGHTERS AREN'T BEING LAIDFF. THE GREEN ENGY JOBS THAT E'RE CREATING, THAT MAKING A DIFFERENCE. ON THE HOUSINGIDE, THERE RE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FOL OT THERE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MODIFY THEIR HOM SO THATHEY ARE NOT LOSING THEM BUT WH IS ABSOLULY TRUE ISTHAT WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHIN BECAUSE THE ENOMY IS SO MASSIV AND THE HIT THAT IT TOOK FROM THIS ECONOM CRISIS WA SO BIG. A SO OUR JOB IS TO WITH THE RESOURCES AT WE'VE GOT, TRY TO MAXIMIZE HE HELP THAT ARE GETTING TO MAIN STREET AND T TRY TO PRESSE WALL STREET TOO ITS PART IN MAKING SURE THAT CREDIT IS AVAILABLE SO TT BUSINESSS CAN STT PICKING AGAIN.

>> Lehrer: PEOPLEHOULD BE OPTIMIST?

>> HERE'S HOW I WOULD P IT. IHINK THAT WE HAVE STEPD BACK FR THE ABYSS. I THINK W PUTOUTHE FIRE. THE ANALOGY USE SOMETIMES IS AT WE HAVEHIS BEAUTIL HOUSE AND THERE WAS A FE. WE CAME INND WE HAD TO HOSE IT DOWN. THE FIRE IS KNOW OUT BUT WHAT WE'VE DISVERED IS WE NEED SE NEW POINTING, THE ROOF'S LOOKING, THE BOILER'S OUT, OH AND BY THE W, 'RE WAY BEHIND ON OUR MORTGAGE. AND SO YOU'VE GO TO MAKE A SERIES DECISIO AUT WITTHE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT YOU GOT OKAY,E HAVE TO P THE MORTGAGE DOWN A LITTLE B, AT'S THE EQUALENT OF OUR FCAL PROBMS WITH OUR DEBT. BUTE HAVE TO MAKEURE THE ROOF DOESN' COLLAPSE. WE'VE GOT TO DO SOM TUFT POINTING, ALL THAT STU WILL TE TIME. SO WE'RE NOT O OF THE WOO YET. AND NOBODY'S MOREMINDFUL THAN I AM OF THE IFFICULT -- DIFFICULT TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW. AND ALL ICAN TELL THEM IS THAT THE STS WE ARE TAKIN ARE DEGNED TO IMROVE THE JOB PROSPTS A THE ECONOMICROSPECTS OF ODE FAMILIES, THAT'S MY WHOLE ORIENTATN, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DNG RIGHT NOW IS DESIGNED NOTONLY TO GET THROH THIS MEDICA CRISIS BUTO SET THE STAGE FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROH IN THE FUTURE.

>> Mr. PREDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: STILL TO COME ON HE NEWSHOUR TONIGHTCELEBRATING THE 40 ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MOON NDING; SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WTER CRONKITE; AND ABO AUTHOR FRANK McCOURT. THAT FOLLOWS JUDY ODRUFF WITH THE OTHER WS OF THE DAY.

>> Woodruff: JIM, DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GES ANNOUNCED TODAY HE'S BOOSING THE U.S. ARMY BY 22,000 SOLDRS. T'S A TEMPORARY MOVE OVER TH NEXT REE YEARS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHASTAN, AND DEPLOYMENTS AROUND THE WORLD. IT RAISES THE AR'S TOTAL STRENH TO 569,000 SOLDIERS. AT THE PENTAGON, CRETARY GATES SAID THE DECISION W NECESSARY.

>> THE PERSISTENT PAC OF OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AN AFGHANIAN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS STEADIL INCREAS THE NUMBER OF TROOPS NOT AVAILABLE OR DEPLOYMENT IN THE ARM ITABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DEPLOYOMBAT UNITS AT ACCEPTABLE FILL RATES IAT RISK. BASED ON RRENT DEPLOYMENT ESTIMATESTHIS IS A TEMPORARY CHALLENGE ICH WILL PEAK IN THE COMING YEAR AND ABATE OVERHE COURSE OF THE NEXT THREYEARS.

>> Woodruff: SECRERY GATES AL DENOUNCED A TALIBAN VIDEO SHOWING A MISSING AMERIN SOLDIER IN AFGHANISTAN HE WAS ENTIFIED AS 23-YEAR-OLD PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BOWE BERGDAHL OF IDAHO. HE WACAPTURED IN AFGHANISTAN ABT THREE WEEKS AGO. GATES SAID HE WAS DISGUSTEAT THE TALIBAN'EXPLOITATION, BUT GAVE HIS ASSURAE THAT U.S. COMMANDERARE "SPARING NO EFFORT" TO FIND THE SOLDR. JULY BECAME THE DEADLIESTONTH FOR AMERICAN TRPS IN FGHANISTAN SINCE THE WAR BEG THERE ALMOST EIGHT YEARS AG THE U.S. LITARY REPORTED FOUR SERVICE MEMBERS WERE KILLED TODAY IN A ROADSIDE BOMBI IN THEAST. SO FAR IN JULY, LEAST 30 U.S. ROOPS HAVE BEEN KILLED. AND THERITISH TOLL GREW TO 16 THIS MONTH, WHEN A BRISH SOLDIER WAS KIED ON PATROL IN HEMAND PROVINCE ON SUNDAY. IN MUMBAI, INDIA, THE ON SURVING GUNMAN IN LAST NOVEMBES SHOOTING ATTACKS CHANGED HIPLEA TODAY TO GUILTY. THE CONFESSION FROM TH PAKISTANI NAONAL WAS UNPECTED AND ABRUPT. IT REVERSEMONTHS OF DENIA THE PAKISTANIATIONAL IS BELIEVETO BE ONE OF TEN GUNMEN WHO STORMED SEVERAL SITES AROUND THE FINANCIAL PITAL. THE THREE-DAY ASSAULT THE CITY ONCE KNOWN AS BOAY KILL 166 PEOPE. THE PUBIC PROSECUTOR SAID THE COESSION WAS UNEXPECTED. >>ODAY WE ARE VE SURPSED THAT ARUPTLY HE HA TAKEN THIS TIME THAT HE WOULD LIKETO CONSS HIS SIN. IN FACT, I WAS PERSONALLY VERY SMOKED, MY POLICE OFFICERS WERE VERY SHKED.

>> THE GMAN MAINTAED HIS CONFSION WAS NOT COERSED. IT WAS WIDELY REPORTED I.T. GROUP IS SVING OFF BANKRUPTCY WITH AN EMERGENCY $3 LLION LOAN. THE SMALL BUSINESS LENDER REAED AN AGREEMENT WITH MAJOR BOND HOLDERS. IT GIS C.I.T. TIME TO TRY AND CUT ITS BT. A $1 BILLION PAYMENT IS DUEN AUGUST, AND BTHE FIRST QUARTER OF010, IT FACES MORE THAN $7 BILLION IN DEBT. C.I.T. NEEDED FINANCING TER THE GOVERNMENT REJECTED AECOND BAILOUT LAST WEEK. ALL STREET CLIMBED ON THE C.I.T. NEWSND STRONGER THAN PECTED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY JUNE. THCONFERENCE BOARD, A BUSINESS RESEARCH GRP, SAID INDICATORS INCLUDING HOME BUILDINGND UNEMPLOYMENT TOPPED PROJTIONS. IN RESPONSE, THE DOW JOS INDUSTRIAAVERAGE GAINED 104 POINTS TO CLOSAT 8848. T NASDAQ ROSE 22 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 1909.

>> Lehrer: NEXT TONIGHTGOING TO THE MOON. RAY SUAREZ HAS OUR ANVERSARY REPORT FOR OUR SCIENCE UNI

>> YOU AREOOKING GREAT.

>> HOW YOU DOING CTROL. >>E LOOK GOOD HERE. >HOW ABOUT YOU.

>> GO, GO. >>,000 FEET.

>> I C ONLY TELL YOUTHAT IT WAS LIKE YOU BIRTHDAY ND EVERY HOLIDAY AN THE FOURTH OF JULY ALL ROLLED INTO ONE. IT W AN EVENT WITH A CAPITAL "E"

>> Suarez: MORE THAN 5 MLION PEOPLE AROUND THE GLE WERE WATCHING, JULY 20th, 1969. ASTRONAUT NEILARMSTRONG AND BU A -- ALDRIN DESCENDED TO THE MOON.

>> LOING GOOD, DOWN A HALF.

>> Suarez: AND LANDED O ITS SURFACEMINUTES LATER.

>> 60 SECONDS. HOUON, TRANQUILLITY BASE HERE. THE EAGLE HAS LAND.

>> Suarez: MAYBYOU REEMBER THOSE FIRST PICTURES ST BACK TO EARTH. GRAINY A GHOSTLY. LAST WEEK NASA RELEASED REFURBIED VIDEO OF THE LANDING, DIGITALLY RESTORED TH BETTER RESOLUTION. BUT FOR THOSE WHOATCHED THORIGINAL IMAGES AND THEN HEARD NEIL ARMSTRG AT THE TIME.

>> THAT ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ON GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.

>> Suarez: THE MEMORS 40 YEARS LATERARE FRESH AND CHERISHED. >>IT HAS A STARK BETY ALL ITS OWN. IT'S LIKE MUCH OF THE GH DESERT OF THEUNITED STATES.

>> I WATCHEDELEVISION FOR 24 URS SOLID. WEAT THERE ALL DAY TCHING AND ALL NIGHT.

>> WE WATCD THE MOON LANDING AN WE GATHERED AL THE PO AND PANS AND RAN OUTSIDE AND JUST BANGED THEM. AND THAT W OUR CELEBRATION.

>> I HAD THE SEE THAT THE WHOLE WLD WAS STOPPING I ITS TRACKS TO WITNESS REALLY A TURNING POI IN HUMAN HISTORY.

>> Suarez: HIS WORKINGOURS ON THE LUNAR SURFACE WERE TIGHTLYCHEDULED. BUT THE MOMENT WAS NOT LOST ON BUZZ ALDRIN.

>> BUZZ IS H RICHTING THE LAR WIND --.

>> Suarez: HE SAW HISRESH FOOTSPS ON A WORLD THAT NEVEHAD THEM. HE CALL THE SCENE ONE OF MAGNIFICENT desLATIO

>> I CLD ALSO SEEA MUCH BROADER PERSPECTIVTO THE HORIZON AND THAT'S WHEN EITHER I OR NEIL CAME UP WITH THE WORD BEAUTIFUL AND THEN THOUGHTAFTER THAT BEAUTIFUL JUST, THAT REALLY ESN'T DESCRIBEHAT I'M LOOKING AT. TEN PEOPLE WITHOUT -- TW PEOPLE WHO REPRENT HUMANITY ARE RE ON THE SURFACOF THE MOON. WHA A MAGAZINE SIEVE -- MAGNIFICENT TRIDOUBT THIS IS TO THE PROGRESS, TOHE CHIEVEMENT OF HUMANITY. D YET AS WE DO THAT, I CAN'T TNK OF A MORE LIFE -- LIFESS PLACE THAN I'VE ER SEEN. AND SUBCONSCIOUSLY REALIZING THAT WH WE ARE LOONG AT HAD BEEN UNCHANGED PROBABLY FOR HDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS, A LTTLE DUST ADDED AS MORE MICRO -- BUT THAT RT OF GIVES YOU A LONELY, STILL FEELING. COUL'T HEAR ANYTHING. BUT IT WAS JUST des LATE.

>> Suarez: THE LANNG, THOSE WALKS,HAT FIRST MOON SHOT WAS THCULMINATIO OF A MORE THAN DECADEONG BATTLE FOR SPACE SUPREMECY AT E HEIGHT OF THE COL WAR. DOZEN YEARS AFTER THE SOVIET UNIONAUNCHED SPUTNIK AND JUST EIGHT YEARS AFTER PRESIDENT KENNE TOLD CONGRESS HE WANTED TO SEND A MAN TO THE MOON BY THE END OF THE DECADE, GETTING OLLO 11 TO THE MOON WASN'T CHEAP. NASA HAD A WORKFORCE OFORE THAN 400,000 PPLE. MORE THAN $20 BILLION WAS WENT ON THE APOLLO 11 MIION AND THE MISONS LEADING UP TO IT. THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF MORE THA $150 BILLON TODAY. 40 YEARS LATER GTING MEN TO THE MOON AND SAFELY HOME STANDS UNEQUALED BY ANY OTHER NATION. D WAS ONE OHOSE RARE MOMENTS TAT PULLED PEOE TOGEHER ACROSS THE GLOBE. AUTHOR ANDREW AKIN REMBERS. WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM DURING CELEBRATIONS AT THEATIONAL AIR ANDPACE MUSEUM THIS PAST WE. HE WAS THERE F A SIGNING OF HIS BOOK "VOICES FROM THE MOON"

>> IT OWED US WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF ACCOMPLISHING WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. IT WAS PROBAY THE MOST PROFOUND GROUP ACHIEMENT IN HUN HISTORY. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR, 4 --,000 PEOPLE WORKING -- 400,00 PEOPLE WORNG FOR THE BETTER PART F A DECADE TO ACMPLISH SOMHING THAT SEEMED LIKE SCIENCEICTION. >>uarez: AFTER THEY RETURNED, THE CR OF APOLLO 11 WERE LCOMED HOME ABOUT TICKER TAPE PARADES AND WEN ON A WORLD TOUR. ALDRIN STRUGGLED WTH HIS NEWAME AND WITH CLINICAL DEPRSION. HE TELLS THE STORY IN HIS NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY "NAFING SENT desLATION" WHICH BEGINS WITH THE MOON LANDING.

>> ALONG WITH IT, IT CARRD TH IT WHATEVER ACEVEMENT THE WAS, IT CARRIED A PRICE TAG. AND THE PICE TAG WASN'T WHAT I REALLY SET OUT TO DO TO BECOME A CELEBRITY AND TALKING AUT THINGS.

>> WE'VE HAD A COUPL OF --

>> MEANWHILE THE PUBL'S INTEREST IN HE MISSIONS FOLLOWING APOLO 11 FAED QUICKLY.

>> I TNK IT WASOTH THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDOF SOMEING.

>> Suarez: ALLEN BE WAS A MEMBER OF THEAPOLLO 12 TEAM. WATCHING ARMSTRNG AND ALDRIN WITH EXCITEMENT AND A TOUCH OF ENVY AT THE TE HE THOHT APOLLO 11 WATHE START OF A LONG MARCH TOWARD LTING MANNED EXPLOTION. >>WE IMAGINED THIS WAS ING TO HAPPEN. ITAS GOING TO BE AN DERLY PROGRESSION TO THE MOON, MOON LONGER, TO MARS, MARS LONGE, THEN WHATER IS NEXT. WHATEVER TECHNICALLY WE COULD D UT IT DIDN'T TURN OUT TO BE THAT WAY.

>> EVEN BY THE SECOND ON LANDING THERE WERE ARTICLES IN THE NEWSPAPER WI MAN ON THE STET QUOTE SANG YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF OLD HAT. IT'S NOT LIKEHE FIRST TIME. AND I READ THOSE TODAY AND I THINK YOU G TO BE KIDNG. YOU WERE BOREDTHE SECOND TI WE LANDED ON THEMOON.

>> Suarez: THERWERE ANOER FIVE MOON LANDIN AFTER ALLO 11 BUT NASA BUDGET BEGAN SHRKING. STILL THE SPE AGENCY DID NOT LACK F AMBITION. NASA LNCHED THE SPACE SHUTTLES -- I WAS LATER OLLOWED BY THE HUBBLE SPACE ELESCOPE AND THE BRILLIANT IMAGEST CAPTUR. ROBOTICOVERS ON MARS SUGSTING EVIDENCE OF WATER ERE. AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. BUT SIX YEARS AFTER THE COLUMBIA TRAGEDY AND WIT THE SHUTTLES PENDING RETIREMENT, TH EXPENSE AND RISK OF MANNED ACE FLIGHT IS VERY MUCHON THE TABLE AIN. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. SH SET GOAL OF SENDING MEN BACK TO THE MOON BY 2020. BUT THE QUESTI OF COST LOOMS. NORMAL AUGUSTE IS THE CHAIR OF A GOVERNMENT PANE REVIEWING THE SPACE PROGM OM TOP TO BTTOM.

>> I HATE TO BL IT DOWNO MONEY BUT FRANYONEY IS THE DRIVER AS IS MOST EVERYTHING SE.

>> Suarez: NASA OFFICIALS FEEL THEIRCIENTIFIC VALUE IN A RETURN TO T MON AND CHAKIN AGREES WITHIN THE MOON IS THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OFHE SOR SYSTEM. IT IS THE OY PLACE THAT RECORDS AS WELL AS IT DOES THE RY EARLIEST HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM I ALWAYS Y THAT GNG TO THMOON IS LIKE BINGLEAD INTO THE RARE BO ROOM OF THE COSMIC LIBRAR

>> Suarez: BUT OTHER SCIEISTS AND SPAC VETERANS LIKEUZZ ALDRI ARE PUSHING FOR A MANNED MISSION TO MARSINSTEAD OF RELYING ON ROBOTS.

>> YOU CAN'TEALLY CONTROL THINGS BY SENDING A LITTLE PIECE OF INFORMATIO EVERY 20 MINUT AND THEN FINDING OUT 20 MINUTESATER WHAT IT DID. BUT IF YOU HAD IELLIGENT BEINGS IN ORBIT AROUND MAR, NOWHAT COULD THEY DO? WOW, TH OPENS UP A TREMENDOUS CABILITY.

>> Suarez: PRESIDENTOBAMA WHO MET WTH THE APOLLOEAM TODAY WILL SOON WEIGH WHETHER TO PROCEED WIT MANNEDISSIONS. TH WEEK, HOWEVER, HAS LARGELY BEEN A CELEBRATION. ALDRIN W PART OF AN AN VERSE CONCE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER. VISITOR HAVE BEEN FLOCKING TO THE AIR SPAND SPACE MUSEUM WHERE AMONG OTHER THINGS THEY SAW THE BRUSH WORK OF ALLEN BEAN WHO EMBARK ON A POST NASA CAREER AS A PAINTER. THE MOON MISSIONS GAVE EARTH-BND HUMANKIND SOMETHING IT NEVER HAD BEFORE.

>> ICH IS THE VIEW OF OUR HOME PLAT, AS SE FROM THE MOON, NOT AS A SEAMINGLY ENDLESS EXPANSEHAT WE EXPERIENCE DOWN HERE BUTAS A VERY FINITY, VERY PRECIOUS OASIS OF LIFEN THE VOID OF SPACE, A WORLD THAT W MUST CHERISH AND PROTECT.

>> LehrerTHERE'S MORE ABOU THE APOLLO >>Lehrer: THERE'S MORE ABOUT THE APOLLO MISON AT NEWSHOUR.PBS.ORG. WE HAVE A SLIDESHOW WH ANDREW CHAIK ABOUT OUR FASCINATION WITH THE MOONAND ABOUT THE PLANS FOR A LUN BASE BY THE YEA2020. AND Y CAN WATCH MORE OF RAY'S INTERVIEW WITH BZ ALDRIN. WHAT WALTER CRONKITE LE BEHIND. GWEN IFILL HAS OUR LOO

>> AND TH'S THE WAY IT IS.

>> Ifill: FOR DECADES, WALT CRONKITE DEFINED BROADCAST JOURNALISM. IF HE SAID IT WAS , THAT'S THE WAY ITAS. IF WAS ENTHUSIASTIC, WE WE ENTHUSIASTIC.

>> WHOA, BOY.

>> Ifl: IF HE WAS SOMBER, SO WERE WE. > PRESIDENT KENNEDY DIED 1:00 P. CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, 2:00 EASTERN STANRD TIME, SOME 38 MINUTES AGO.

>> ill: CRONKITE BECAME THE MOST TRUSTED N IN AMERICA DURING A TIME EN A SINGLE BROADCASTER'S VOICE CLD CHANGE THCOURSE OF HISTORY. IN 1968, WHEN HE RETURD FROM A REPORTG TRIP TO CHRONICLE THE VIETNAM WAR, DETERMINED THE WAR COULNOT BE WON.

>> FOR IT SEEMS NOW ME CERTAIN AN EVER THAT THE BLOODY EXPERIENCE OF VIETNAM IS END IN A STALEMATE.

>> Ifill:RESIDENT LYNDON THE COMMENTARYS WERE AARE DEPAR TUREOR A JOURNALIST KNOWN FOR IMBECKABLE IMPARTIALALITY.

>> AT FIRST IT WAS KNOWN AS T WATERGATE CAPER.

>> LATER SRTLY BEFORE RICHARD NIXON WAS RE-ELECTED, CRONKITE TURD A CRITICAL EYE ON THEATERGATE SCANDAL, UNRAVELING THE COMPLICATED, THE FST INSTALLMENT, 14 MINUTES LONG.

>> CHARGES TH WATERGATE WASNLY PART OF IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" WORDS A BROAD CAMPAIGN OF POLITICAL ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> CRONKITE STARTED T AS A RE SERVICE REPORTER COVERING WORLD WA II, JOINED CBS IN 50, AND TOOK OVER AS ANCHORMAN IN 1962.

>> HE'S

>> HE'SLWAYS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND AS YOUO THIS JOB BECAUSE YOU TRY LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS OF THE PEOP WHO CAME BEFORE YOU. IT'S NOT ALWS POSSIBLE, BUT YOU TRY TO DO THAT. AND SO, THE STAARD WALTER SET IS ALWAYS IN THE BACKF YOUR MIND."

>> Ifill: BUT THE STANDDS-- AND THE NUMBER OF OPLE DEVOTED TO WATCHING EVENING NEWSCAS-- HAVE SHIFTED. THE PROJECT FOR EXCELLENCE JOURNALISM FOUNDHAT AS BROAAST NEWS VIEWERSHIP HAS DECLED, LOSING A MILLION VWERS A YEAR FOR THE LAST 20 YES, THE THREE MAJOR NEWS NETWORKS, HOWEVE STILL ATTRACT MO THAN 22 MILLION PEOPLE EAC NIGHT. IN 1987, SIX YR AFTER HE RETIRED,RONKITE SAID HE COULD SEE THE HANDWRITING ON THWALL ABOUT E FUTURE OF NETWORK NE. HE SPOKE WITH THE WSHOUR'S ROBERT MacNEIL.

>> Reporr: DO YOU THINK THERE ARE GOI TO BE FIVE, TEN YEARS FROM NOWNIGHTLY NETWORK NEWS PROGRAMS OF THE KIND TT YOU SPENT MUCH OF YOUCAREER IN, PLAYING AS IMPORTT A ROLE IN THE PUBLIC AFFAI OF THE COUNTRY THEY HAVE IN THE PAST?

>> WELL, GOING FROM BCK FORWARD, FORWARD BAC BACK ORWARD, THE IMPORTANT ROLE. PROBLY NOT BECAUSE OF THE PROLIFERATION ACCESS OF AVAILABLE SOURCES. STHEREFORE THERE WON'T BE QUITE AS IMPORTANT AS EY WERE IN THE PT. THIR SHARE AUDIENCE WILL BE SMALLER. THE STYLE THAT THEY'LL HA, I THINK THAT LELY WILL REMAIN FAIRLY MH AS IT IS. BUT IT CLD CHANGE.

>> Ifil: BUT WITH CRONKITE'S PASSING ALSO COMES T CERTAINTY THAT ME THINGS WILL CNGE FOREVER. AND JOINING ME NOW TO FLECT ON CNKITE'S LEGACY AND THE NEWS BUSESS HE LEFT BEHIND ARE: TODD GITLIN, A PROFESSOR O URNALISM AND SOCIOLOGY COLUMBIA UNIRSITY-- HE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF 12 BOOKS ONEDIA AND SOCIETY; AND ONOF OUR OWN, ROBIN MacNEIL, THE FORER CO- AHOR OF THE NEWSHOUR. WELCOME TO YOUOTH. ROBIN, I WNT TO PICK UP WITH WHAT Mr. CRONKITE SAID TO YOU ALLHOSE YEARS AGO LOOKING BACK FORRD, RWARD BACK AT E NEWS BUSINESS. WHEREOES WALTER CRONKITE FIT IN TH CONTINUUM?

>> WELL, I TNK HE'S UNIQUE. HE CA OF AGE WHEN TEVISION WAS COMING OF AGE IN JOURNALISM. HE BROUGHT UNIQUE CREDENTIALS TO THAT. HE DIDN'T BECOME AN CHORMAN AND THEN BECOME A JOURNALIST. HE BECAME AN ANCHORMAN AFTER HE HAD BEEN, AD A VERY SOLID CAREER AS A REPORTER. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO PTEND TO BE ANYTHING HE WASN'T. AND HEAME AT A TI WHEN THE THREE NETWORK NE SHOWS VIRTUALLY HELD TNTIRE NATION, NATION'SATTENTION EVE EVENING AT A TIME WHEN STILL LOTS OF FAMIES GATRED AT SUPPER TIME IN A FAMILY CONCLAVE. ALSO, EACHITY IN THE COUNTRY HAD ONLY TWO OR THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR VHF TELEVISION STATIONS, OCCASIONALLY ANDUCATION STATION AS WELL AND TELEVISIO WAS BRAD NEW. PEPLE WERE HEARD BUYING THEIR FIRSTELEVISION SETS. AND TEVISION WAS VERY EXCITING, A NOVELTY. ALL THOSE THIN, THE EXCLUSIVITY OFHE VHF STATIONS AND THE -- HOW ALONETHE THREE NETWORK NEWS SHOWS WERE AT SUPP TIME ARE THINGS THATAN NEVER BE PLICATED NOW.

>> TODD IT'SIND OF AMAZING NOW TO LOOK BACK AN SKI THAT ONE ANCHORMAN COULD MAKE A COMMENTARY LIKE HE DID ONVIETNAM, ON WATERGE AND FOR IT T BE SUCH A BIG DEAL. IS THAT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> WELL, IT'S IMRTANT TO REALIZE THAT HE DID IT THAT TIME BECAUSE HE HADN'T BEEN IN THE HABIT OF DING IT. THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMTOUS MOMENTS YOU S U UP A LOT OF CAPITAL BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING KE AT AND I DON'T THI THERE IS ANYBY IN THE SAM POSITION TOY. NEHER THE QUESTION OF ETHER PEOPLE WHO HOLD THOSE POSITIONS A THE NOT WORKILL BE WILLING TO TAKE CHANCE. I THI CRONKITE MUST HAV RECKONED THAT GIVEN HIS BACKGROD, GIVEN HIS GRAVITAS, GEN HIS AUTHORITY, GIVEN HIS RECORD THAT ITEHOOVED HIM TO GET OUT OF THE CHAIR AND GO OUT TO E FIE AND, NO, I DON'THINK THERE'S ANYBODY WHOCCUPIES POSITION THAT WOD THEN CAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE SO MY GOD IF SO AND SO THINKS THAT, THEN WE ARE NOREALLY GETTING A STRAIGHTSCOOP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AND WE HUD REVISE OUR THINKING. > IS THAT A GOOD THING OR BAD THING?

>> WEL IT'S PBABLY ON BALANCE SOME OF EACH. IT'S A GROUP THING THAT NOBODY HAS THAT I THINK THAT KIND OF MAGNETIC AUTRITY. THINK WE HAVE SEENAMAGE DONE WHEN PEOPLE ARE TOO CED YOU LUS OR TOO OBSEQUUS, FACINGOWER. BUTN THE OTHER HAND WHEN YOU HAVE SU A SITUATION, WHEN THEOWERS OF GOVERNME ARE ASSTRENUOUS ANCOMPELLING AS THEY ARE THEN IT'S USEFUL TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN STEP UP TH PLATE, SOMEBODY WTH THAT SORT OF MAJESTY, IF YOU WILL. I AM SAD SAY DON'T HAVE T.

>> ROBIN,OU CAME TO KNOW WALTER CRONKITEOVER THE YEARS AS A COLLEAG AND A COMPITOR. AFTER HE FT THE BUSINESS WAS HE DIPPOINTED IN THE IRECTION IT HEADED IN? WELL, YES. MAY I SA AND I DON'T THINK IT'IN BAD TASTE TO SAY THAT ON THING THAT HASN'T BEN SAID ABOUT WALTER CRONTE IS THAT H REALLY ADD MIRED THIS PRRAM AND FREQUENTLY SAID IN PUBLIC. HE HAD TRIED TO GET AN HOUR ON CBS AND REATEDLY AILED. ONCE HE AD THE ENTIRE -- TEXT OF T CBS NEWS HE PRINTED ONTHE COVER OF THE INCOME TIMES AND IT COVERED 3 COLUMNSHICH HEHOUGHT WAS ILLUSTRATIVE OF HOW LITTLE INFORMATIOCOULD BE GIN HOWEVER IMPORTANT IN CONTEXT ATHE TIME. SO CRONKITE WAS THER BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF TABLOID VALUES IN TELEVISION JOURNALISM. THE NETWORKS HAVE BEEN -- HAD BE VERY CAREFUL COMING OUT OF E SCANDALSF THE LATE '5, VERY CAREFUL TO BRING TO THEIR TELESION JONALISM A GREAT SERIOUSNESS AND EARNESTNESS A LILE HUMOR AS WELL BUT BASICALL VERY STICKI TO T STAYED COATS OF PRT JOURNALISM. THAT IS HOW THEY WANTEDTO APPEAR. NOW WITTHE ARRIAL OF CABLE NEWS AND THE INCREASING RESORT TO BLOID VALUES OF HYPERVENTTATION -- HYPE VENTITION OVER PARTICULAR STORES -- STORIES, THAT SKIN YAR -- SCENAR CURRENT KITE DID N HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH AS AN ANCHORMAN MSELF. AND I THEY WOULD HAVE FUND IT VY HARD TO FIGHTT HIS OWN SHOW, THE SHOW HE LEFT STARTED RERTING, FOR INSTAE, ON THE O.J. SIMPSON THICK AS THE TOP STORY EVERY NIGHT FOR A WHILE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE CABL NETWORKS WERE DOING IT. >>ROFESSOR, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT TABLOID JOURNALM AND SHOCKHOWS ANALL THE THING THAT WALTER CONKITE SAID HE DID T LIKE. WE ALSO HAVE FAKE NEWS, JON STEWART AND THE LIK IS IT TOO MUCH T HOPE THAT T PUBLIC AT LARGE ARE GOING TO TRUST JOURNALISTS AN IN PARTICULABROADCAST ANCHORMAN IN THE WAY THAT THEY EVER TRUSTEDWALTER NCRETE, IS TRUST TOO MUCH TO HPE FOR?

>> I DON KNOW THAT WALTER CRONKITE WOULD HAVE LOOKED KANCE AT JON STEWART. AFTER ALL, FORE HE AN KE HE CBS NS, WALTER CRONKITE STOOD UP INRONT OF SHOW CALLED "YOU WERE THERE" AND TRIED TO CONVICE AMERICANS PLAYFULLY THAT HE WAS PESENT AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, THE SIGNING OF THE TRUCE OF THE APOMATOCS, E OF THEIVIL WAR AND SON. I THINK THAT HE -- I THK WOULD HAVE WONDERED WHAT'S WRONG WI THE REST OF THE NEWS BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T PURPORT TO BE DOING FE NEWS BUT IS DOG, INSTEAD, TRIVL NEWS, GULL I BELIEV NEWS, JO STERT I THI IS THE LAST OF OUR PROBLEMS.

>> AND ROBI AS SOMEONE WHO WAS FRIENDS WTH WALTER CRONKITE DID YOU HAVE A PERSONAL MEMORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SARE ABOUT YOUR TIME KNOWING HIMTD ALL THOSE YEARS

>> WELL, HE WAS -- HE HAD A EXCEEDS VEN THAT OF HOLLOOD STARS. AND PROBABLY HARD TO REPLICATE NOW. MY WIFE AND I WE INVITED TO GO TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY ONCE WITH TH CRONKITES, WITH THE SAME HOSTS. AND WE LEFT THE STADS AND NT DOWN TO LOOK AT E HORSES. I KN NOTHING ABOUT HORSES BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS PACKED THERE. AND SOMEDY NOTICED IT WAS CRONKITE LEADING OUR LITTLE GROUP AND THEY BEGAN T TURN AROUND AND TURN AROD AND PART AS THOUGH IT WAS MOSSS SPLITTING THE D SEA. IT WASEALLY EXTRAORDIRY. I MEAN IF GEORGE CLOONEY HAD WALKED THROUGH THE SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE SD IS THAT GEORGE CLNEY. ERYBODY KNEW IT WAS WTER CRKITE.

>> HOWID HE RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I LED BEING WALTER CRONKITE. WASN'T AT ALL BASHFUL ABOUT IT OR EMBARRASSED BT HE VED ITT.

>> TODD, HOW ABOUT YOU.

>> ITHINK THAT THE KIND OF CELEBTY HE WAS, I USED THE WORD MAJESTY BEFORE, IS THE ONE THATOMES TO MI. HE IS LIKE EISHOWER OR EDWARD R. MURROW. WHAT HE WASEPUTED FORS WITH WAS NOT GLAMOR, NOT EV HIS NIF LITTLE MUTACHE T WASA CERTAIN KIND OF CHACTER. ANDIT'S HARDOR USO BELIEV IN THOSE SORT OF PEOPLE NOW. IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM BEING A FLY-BY-NIGHT, OU OW, FEATURE OF FLAVOR OF THE MON ON THEOVER OF PEOPLE MGAZINE.

>> BUT HE LOVEDEING WALTER CRONKITE. TODD?

>> WELL, I THINK, I WOULD SUME THAT HE LOVED TH THOUGHT AT NOT OLY WEIGH HE FAMOUS BUT HE WAS FAMOUS FOR DOING SOMETHING VALUABLE.

>> AND WORTHWHILE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HE WAS ANOLD-FASHIONED N WHO BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE DESERVEDTHE TRUTH AND HE WAS GLAD TO HAVE PART IN IT.

>> GOOD TO SE YOU BOTH. >>THANK YOU.

>> TNK YOU

>> Lehrer: AGAINN OUR WEB SITE AT NEWSHOUR.PBS.ORG YOU CAN WATCH ROBIN'S 1987 INTERVI WH CRONKITE. AND THERE'S A REPORT ABT CRONKITE'S PUSH TO PROVIDE FE AIR TIME FOR POLITIC CANDIDATES. AND NALLY TONIGHT, REMEMBERING AUTHOR FRANK McCOURT. HE WASROFILED AND INTERVIEWED ON THE NEWSHOUR WHEN HROSE TO FAME ITHE 1990s. RGARET WARNER HAS AN APPRECIATION.

>> Warner: "ANGELA'S ASS," FRANK McCOURT'S MOIR OF GROWING UP POOR INRELAND, BECE A PUBLISHING PHENOMENON. IT HIT THE BEST SELL LIST IN 1996, ANREMAINED THERE FOR 115 WEES. T BOOK SOLD MORE THAN FIVE MILLION COES WORLDWIDE, AND MADE McCOURT, A RIRED NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLACHER, A WEALTHY MAN. "ANGELA'S HES" CHRONICLED WITH WIT AND COMSSION WHAT McCOURT CALLED HIS "MIRABLE IRISH CATHOLIC CHIHOOD," ABANDONED BY AN ALCOHOLIC FATHER, LONG THREE SIBLINGS TO DISEASEND LNUTRITION, AND STEALING SUPPORT HIS MOTHER AND REINING BROTHERS. OUR ELIZABETH FNSWORTH SPOKE TH McCOURT WHEN HIS BOOK WON E PULITZER PRIZE IN 1997. SHE ASKED HIM TREAD AN EXCERPT.

>> "I THINK MY FATHER IS LIK TH HOLY TRINITY WITH THREE PEOPLE IN HIM: THE ONE THE MORNING WITTHE PAPER, ONE AT NIGHT WITH THE STORI AND THE PRAYERS, AND THEN T ONE WHO DOS THE BAD THING AND COMES HOME TH THE SMELL OF WHISKEY AND WANTS US TO DIE F IRELAND. I FEESAD OVER THE BAD THING, BUT I CAN'T BACK AWAFROM HIM BECAE THE ONE IN THE MORNING IS MY AL FATHER. AND IF I WERIN AMERICA, I COULD SAY, LOVE YOU, DAD,' THE WAY EY DO IN THE FILMS. BUT YOU CAN'T SAY THAT IN LIMERICK FOR FEAYOU MIGHT BE LAUGHED AT.

>> Reporter: YOU MUST VE BEEN VY ANGRY FOR QUITE A WHILE AFTER THIS EXPERIENC LOSING SO MANY MEMBERS OF UR FAMILY, YOU BEING HUMILIATED OVER AND OR AGAIN. WERE YOU ANGRY?

>> WELL, WHEN ARRIVED IN AMERICA AT 19, I WAS TIME BOMB AND I CONTINUEDIKE THAT FOR A LO TIME. COULDN'T ENGAGE IN ANY CIVILIZED DISCUSSN OFNYTHING BECAUSIF ANYBODY OPPOSED ME, I WOULD SIMPLY ERUPT. AND I WAS ALWS GETTING INTO TUBLE OVER THIS. AND IT TOOK ME YRS-- AND I THNK IT WAS IN THE CLASSROOM A A HIGSCHOOL TEACHER-- I FINALLY BECAME A CIVILED HUMAN ING THAT HAD TO STEN TO OTHER INTS OF VIEW AND PRESENT MINE IN A REASONABLE WY. I STL GET IRRITABLE.

>> Waer: McCOURT PUBLISHED A NEW BOOK IN 99, AND SPOKE WITH THE NEWSHOUR'S TERENCE ITH.

>> Repter: WE TOOK FRANK McCOURT BACK THE OLD STUYVESSANT HIGH SCHOOLN NEW YO, WHERE HE TAUGHT ENGLISH FOR 18 YEARS, TO TALK AUT HIS NEW BOO NOW, "ANGELA'S ASH" ENDED AS THE YOUNFRANK McCOURT ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND T LAST WORD OF E BOOK WAS "'S."

>> S. DO YOREMEMBER YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS WHEN YOU CAMEO TH COUNTRY?

>> OF NEW RK?

>> Reporter: A OF NEW YORK, BUT...

>> O GOD. GD. THATAS THE MAIN THING, BECAUSE I SAILEDN ON AN OCTOBER MORNING, ONE OF TSE GLORIOUS AUTUMN MORNINGSCOMING IN. THAT'S BEFORE E VERRAZANO BRIE WAS BUILT. YO SAIL INTO THE HARBOR AND STATEN ISLAND IS ON UR LEFT, THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE IN TH WORLD HAS DREAMOF WHEN THEY THINABOUT NEW YORK. AND I THOUGHT, "MY, GOD, I IN HEAVEN. I'LL BE DANCING WN FIFTH AVENUE LIKE FREASTAIRE WITH GINGEROGERS." THAT WAS GOG TO BE MY LIFE.

>> Reporter: HOW MH MONEY DID YOUAVE IN YOUR POCKET?

>> $50. LESS THAN 0. I HAD SPENT SOME OF IT.

>> Repoer: AND TODAY, A MERE 40 YEARS LATER...

>> YES.

>> Reporter: ...IT IS MADE GOLD.

>> IT IS MADEF GOLD, BUT IT OK A LONG TIME. AND WHAT H HAPPENED TO ME IS BEYOND THE WILDEST IGINATION OFANY SCREENWRITER, ANY NOVELIST. ITS CERTAINLY BEYOND MY IMAGATION BECAUSE I NEVER EXPECTED THIS. I NEVEEXPECTED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT A SL IN IRELAND THAT WAS GOING TO CAPULT ME, AS THEY SAY, INTO SOME KIND OF. ONTO THE BESTSELLERIST.

>> Warner: FRA MCCOURT DIED YESTERDAY IN NEYORK. WAS 78 YEARS OLD. AND SOME FURTHER THOUG NOW ABOUT FRANKcCOURT FROM ANOTHER WRITER. AUTHOR AND FORMER NEWSHO ESSAYIST ROGER ROENBLATT JOINS ME FROM NEW YO. HELLO, ROGER. ANK McCOURT, YOUR IEND, WE KNOW AND LATE IN LIFE WAS WILDLY SUCCESUL WRITER, HOW SIIFICANT A WRITER DO YOU THINK HEAS INITERARY TERMS?

>> I INK HE WAS A VERY SIGNIFICT WRITER. HE WROTE OBABLY THE ST MEMOIR OFECENT YEARS AND ESTABLISHED THE FACT THA A MEMOIR WAS A WORK OF LITERATURE, A WORK O HIGH TERATURE. AND THUS JOINED OTHER IRISH WRITERS OF OTR ERAS AND GIVING US ORIGIN LANAGE AND BETIFUL THOUGHT THE SUBJECTF POVERTYAND UFFERING AND THINGS THAT WERE HA TO SWALLOW EXCEPT IN E HANDS OF A FRST CLASS WRITER

>> NOW HE TAUGHT CREAVE WRITING FOR DECADES TO HIGH-SCHOOL UDENTS. YET HE STRUGGLED HE WAS UNABLE TO WRITE HIS OWN MOIR UNTIL VERY LATE IN HIS LI. DID HE EVER TK TO YOU OUT WHAT IT WAS THAT UNLOCKED HIM,HAT ENABLED HIM TO WRITEUCH A PAINFUL STORY IN SUCH A GRACEUL WAY?

>> GRACEFUL IS THE KE WORD. THE IDEA OF WRITING ABOUT SO DIICULT A SUBJECT, SUCH HARD TIME IS NOT TO WRITE IT WITH ANY SELF-PITY OR ANYTHING SELF-FLECTICIVE OR NRCISSISTIC BUT JUST TO SAY THIS HAPPENED AND THA HAPPEN. EN YOU HAVEHE GOODS YOU DON'T NEED TORESS UP YOUR WRITING. AND I THINK IT TOOK AWHILE FOR FRANK TO UNDERSTANDHAT NEITHER ANR NOR SELF-REFLCTION WERE THE WAYS INTO HIS STORY. HIS STORY S GOOD ENOUGH ON ITS OWN. THEN ONCE HETOLD IT I TS BEAUTIFUL PLA LANGUAGE, THAT BROUG YOU TO YOUR KNEES. YES, AND HE ONCE SAID H WROTE ITCTUALLY IN THE VOICEF A YOUNG BOY AND THAT THAT HAD ALSO, I REMEMBE HELPED HIM. TELL USWHAT HE WAS LIKES A PSON.

>> HE WAS LIKE A YOUNG BOY AS A PERSON. THERE WAS NOBODY WHO WOULD MAKE YOU LAUGH MO TAN FRANK, WHENE SMILED H WAS LIKE LITTLE BOY, SMILIN AND WHEN HE WOULD MA HIMLF LAUGH WHH WAS PROFESSIONAL TO BE SURE IN A READING, UT STILL, HE WOULD DO IT. THEN EVERYBODY JUSTROARED BEAUSE WE JUST SURREND HIMSELF TO THE HELPLESSNE OF LAUGHTER THE WAY AHILD DOS. AT THE SAME TME AS A FRIEND HE WAS THE MOST LOYA FRIEND. A YOU COULD COUNT ON HIM FO ANYTHING. WAS HARDLY WIOUT DISCMINATIONS. BUT HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO IF YOU HAD A CAUSE WORTH SUPPORTING, IF YOU HAD AN EVNT WORTH APPEARING AT YOU NEV THOUGHTF HOW HE WOULD OK AT THAT EVENT OR SUPPORTING THACAUSE. HE WOULD D IT BECAUE IT WAS THE RIGHT THG TO DO. E WAS THE PERSON YOU NEVER HAD TO LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE HE WAS. HE WAS ALWAYS WITH YOU. >>NOW OF COURSE WHEN YOU EW HIM HE W BY THEN RICH D FAUS. BUT WERE THERE STILL TRACES R MORE THAN TRACES O TIS IOVERISHED KID FROM IMMERICK.

>> HE NEVER WOULDHINK OF HIMSELF AS RICH D FAMOUS. HE UD TO MAKE A SHOKH OF -- JOKE OF IT I'M A BIG SHOT NO HE WOULD SAY THUS SHOOTING DOWN ALL THE BIG SHOTS OF HISTORY. AND AS FOR FAME, HE USED IT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO MEET PEOP AND MAKE S LITERATURE GO ABAD AN HEL OTHER LES AND ENENABLE OTHER LIVES AND MAKE THE WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL. HE WAS WONDERFULO WATCH WITH AN AUDIENCE IN A READING. U COULD SEE HIM -- FOR THE WORDS A IF HE HADN'SAID THEM BERE. HE HAD SAID THEM BEFO BUT IT WAS A KI OF INNOCEN WHCH HE VIEWED THE WORLD WHICH OF URSE MADE ANY KIND OF IDE OR FOOSH REACTION TOHIS OWN SUCCESS OUTF THE QUESTION.

>> NOW AS YOU -- AS WE SWRUTION HEARD HE TLKED WITH ELIZATH ABOUT STILL E ANGER THAT CERTAINLY HE HAD HAD WHEN HE ARRIVED AND THAT HE STRUGGLE WITHLL HISIFE. DID YOU STILL SEE TRACES OF THAT?

>> HE COULD GET ANGRY AT THE RIGHT THINGS AN COULD GET ANGRY AT INJUSTICE. HE COULD G ANGRY AT JUST THE UNFAIRNESSF A SITUATION OOF A CALAMITY OR HE IS POVERTY SELF. BUT HEOULDN'T PUT ANGER IN THE RIDING. IF YOU PUT ANGER IN THE WRITING TAN IS I IS LIKE AN ACTOR CRYING ON STAGE. THE AUDIENCE WL NOT CRY WITH THE ACTOR ANDOMEHOW E YOU AGAINST THE EMOON, BUT IF YOU SAY WHATS HAPPENING, IN EFFEC HERE IS WHY E MIGHT GET ANGRY AT SU FACTS, THENHE GIVES TO THE AUDIENCE ALL THE EMOTIONS TH HE HAS WITHHELD FROM THE PROCEEDS.

>> AND BRIEFLY BEFE WE GO, HISRISHNESS, HOW CENTRA TO HIS IDENTITY AS A WRITER D A THAN?

>> HE HATED THE IDEA OF THE STAGE IRISHMAN ALTHOU WE MAKE FUN OF IT. BUT HE REALLY WAS IRISH IN THE SENSE OF THE BT, IN THE BEST SENSE IN TERMS OF BENG A GREAT TALKER. THE IRISH TALK ELISH BETTER THAN AYONE ELSE AND HE WAS IN THETRADITION OF THE IRH LITERY REVIVAL OF YATES AND LADY GEGORY, ALL THE GREAT IRISH WRITERS WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL TOUGH ORINAL LANGUAGE. AN TH'S WHAT FRANK DID. ROGER, ROGER ROSENBLATT, THANK YOSO MUCH.

>> PLEASURE.

>> Lehrer: AGN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMTS OF THE DAY.

>> PRESIDENT OBA TOLD THE NEWSHO HE COULD BE FLXIBLE ON THE AUGUST EADLINE HE S ON HEALTH-CARE REFORM, IF MOS OF THEETAILS ARE IN PLACE BY THEN. AND ON THE ECONO Mr. OBAMA SAID THE U. HAS STPPED BECOM FROM THE ABYSS BUT STILL HAS MUCH RK TO DO. AND TU.S. MILITARY REPORTED FOUR SERVICE MEMBERS WE KILLED IN AFGHANISTA MAKING JULY THE DEADLIEST MONTH OF THE ENTIREAR FOR AMECANS. WELL WE'LL SEE YOUNLINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. THANK U, AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING R THE NEWSHOUR WI JIM LEHRER IS PROVIDED BY: THE NATIOL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. UPPORTING EDUCATION AND REARCH ACROSS ALL FIELDS OF SCIENCEND ENGINEERING. AND WITH THE ONGOI SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS A FOUATIONS. AND. THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIB BY THE CORPORATIONOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION OM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANKOU. Captioningponsored by cNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WG access.wgbh.g