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Interview with Frank Keating

Aired August 16, 2002 - 06:23   ET

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


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Another anniversary we're remembering is August 15, 1935. That is the day an American icon named Will Rogers died in a plane crash in Alaska. Now, his remarkable life is illustrated in a new children's book titled "Will Rogers: An American Legend." You may know the book's author in his other capacity as governor of Oklahoma.
And we are pleased that Governor Frank Keating joins us now from Oklahoma City.

Thanks very much for being with us this morning, Governor.

GOV. FRANK KEATING (R), OKLAHOMA: Good morning, Anderson. How are you?

COOPER: Good.

Why a book about Will Rogers and why now?

KEATING: Well, Will Rogers was a remarkable person. He died before I was born, before most of us were born. But in the depths of the Depression, Will Rogers, who was the number one newspaper correspondent, the number one radio correspondent, the number one movie actor in America, and he really lifted us up with wit and with humor and humility. He was a tremendously values directed person and made America feel good in a real sad time.

So, you know, for us, following last September, we've had obviously a lot of tragedy in America. The memory of Will Rogers is an important memory that we will muddle through, and that's exactly what his message was. A very powerful guy.

COOPER: And what do you -- and is that the message you think he would be delivering today?

KEATING: I think with wit and with witticism he would always say that, you know, hey, listen, yesterday was pretty miserable but wait till tomorrow. It could be even worse. But the day after that's going to be great. And he was just a tremendous human being and for me as a brand new grandfather to write a book for children on Will Rogers and to try to share his values with young people was a lot of fun. It's, it was a wonderful project.

COOPER: Now, it is a book for children and we're showing some of the illustrations from the illustrated -- Mike Wimmer illustrated the book. And it's really lovely illustrations. What is it like writing a children's book? I mean you obviously, I mean it's sort of a special challenge, I would imagine.

KEATING: Well, most people think politicians have the minds of child's anyway, of children, anyway, so the mind of a child. Well, for me it was, it's tough to write a children's book because you have to direct your thinking and your words to obviously a very young age. But to have an illustrator like Mike who also lives in Oklahoma, he is a very gifted guy and the two of us conspired together -- Harcourt is a great publisher. And we had a lot of fun.

But you have to get right down to a child's age, in effect, to be kneeling in a sandbox and think what is it a child would like to hear about this cowboy philosopher? So obviously there's a lot of stuff about travel and study. There's a lot of stuff about hard work and associating with smart and talented people. Will Rogers' message to children, a pretty powerful message.

COOPER: You mentioned September 11 and obviously the, with the anniversary coming up, you brought your state through some pretty tough anniversaries for your state. I wonder what perspective you can add, what advice you can add as we approach this one year anniversary?

KEATING: Well, that we're all members of a family. I remember over and over again during the Oklahoma City tragedy I talked about it was an attack on my family. At the time, several people said to me what did you mean by that? But it really was true. They're black, white, red, yellow, Protestant, Catholic, Jew, whatever you may be, Muslim, believer, unbeliever. We're all part of this American, this Oklahoma family. And I think that's the only way we can understand tragedy is that we'll limp through together. And the only way we can accept tragedy is to know that there will be a better tomorrow together. We have to focus on all of these issues as brothers and sisters. And that's obviously an important message.

COOPER: All right, and a good message to end on this morning.

Governor Frank Keating, thanks very much for being with us this morning.

KEATING: Thanks, Anderson.

COOPER: Good luck on the book.

KEATING: Thanks so much.

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