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Rather Interviews Hussein, Says U.S. Public Opinion is Behind Bush

HeadlineFeb 27, 2003

CBS program 60 Minutes II broadcast Dan Rather’s exclusive interview with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein last night and refused to bow to Bush administration pressure to allow a White House spokesperson to appear repeatedly throughout the broadcast. CBS News told the White House it would grant the request if Bush, Cheney or Powell wanted to comment on the interview. But the White House insisted on giving spokesperson Ari Fleischer or Communications Director Dan Bartlett the chance to appear. CBS News President Andrew Heyward responded, “Ari Fleischer has access to the American public every single day.” Meanwhile, The Washington Post is reporting, after Rather interviewed Hussein, Hussein interviewed Rather. Saddam Hussein asked Rather whether the American public supported Bush; Rather told Saddam Hussein that the U.S. public opinion is behind President Bush.

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