| February 2003 Saddam Hussein Interview |
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BACKGROUND Baghdad Dan Rather also interviewed Saddam Hussein before the 1991 Gulf War . The 2003 interview was to be the first American interview Hussein had agreed to for many years. The interview was accepted by Hussein likely in an effort to better his public image. Rather was suggested to Hussein to be the interviewer by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark . Once the 2003 interview was granted, Rather and producer Jim Murphy were put in a car with curtained windows and driven away from their hotel. They drove for 45 minutes, in different directions, and switched cars on two separate occasions to keep Hussein's position secret. The interview was held at the Republican Palace. Neither Rather nor Murphy were allowed to bring their own tape recorders. Hussein supplied his own translator, and CBS approved the translation of the recording. Rather and Murphy were treated well in the course of the interview, with Hussein even offering Rather coffee at one point. American interview In the 1980s, Rather had an on-air confrontation with then-president George H. W. Bush over the Iran-Contra Affair . His son, George W. Bush , has responded similarly, and has declined to give Rather an interview during his presidency. After the Hussein interview, the White House was interested in a rebuttal interview. CBS News would accept President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney or Secretary of State Colin Powell for the interview, but the White House only offered other officials for the interview, such as Ari Fleischer and Dan Bartlett . The CBS network deemed these individuals inappropriate for the broadcast, and an American interview was never done. HIGHLIGHTS Memorable lines: :Hussein: ...Bear with me. My answers are long. :Rather: Mr. President, I have all night. Hussein invited President Bush to a live TV debate, to which Bush declined. :Rather: Who would moderate this debate? :Hussein: Yes, you Mr. Rather. :Rather: With respect, Mr. President, I have other problems. I've got enough problems already. On one occasion Hussein interrupted his translator and corrected his using the term "Bush" instead of "Mr. Bush", which Hussein explained was out of respect. SUMMARY
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