good morning. one-on-one. president obama sits down for an exclusive interview at a key moment in his presidency. his push for health care reform under fire. a u.s. soldier held captive in afghanistan. record profits back on wall street. th morning the commander in chief weighs in on it all. investigation expands. nbc news has learned at least 19 doctors are now being looked at as police try to figure out what caused michael jackson's death. and final moments. ryan o'neal opens up for the first time about farrah fawcett's last days. >> she just looked at us with a slight smile. it was awful. >> our emotional interview "today," tuesday, july 21st, >> our emotional interview "today," tuesday, july 21st, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

and welcome to "today" on this rainia tuesday morning, i'm meredith vieira. >> and i'm lester holt in for matt lauer this morning. you had a big day yesterday at the white house. >> i did. it was very nice to sit down with the president, especially when he has so much on his plate these days. we hit on all the major issues, including growing doubts about whether his plan to fix health care is even possible and what his administration is going to do to help david goldman, the new jersey father fighting to get his son back from brazil. a story that we have covered quite extensively on "today." >> the president had a lot to say about captured u.s. soldier bough bergdahl. the pentagon is now vowing to do everything to find and rescue him and his family in idaho is overwhelmed with all the report their receiving. we'll speak with their spokesperson. and then they say you are what you eat. so what should you snack on if you want to boost our libido.

is there trust to the powers of things like oysters and wine? we'll find out. >> let's begin with our exclusive interview with president obama. we began by talking about private bergdahl and i asked him what his reaction was when he first saw the video of the 23-year-old in the hands of the taliban? >> it's always heartbreaking. our young men and women who are serving in our armed forces do such an extraordinary job. put themselves in harm's way each and every day, especially those who are deployed in afghanistan and in iraq. and so, things like this, it makes you think about familiefa. it makes you think about the young man. we are hopeful that it will have a good ending. and we are doing everything we can. i can't talk in detail about -- >> have you spoken to his family? >> i have not spoken to his family at this point simply because we want to make sure that before we do we have

something to tell them. and i think that we're at this point evaluating what our options are. but, it is a reminder of what these young men and women are doing on behalf of our safety, and our security, and i'm thankful to them each and every day. >> a little closer to home, let's talk about health care reform. because you have been everywhere recently pushing reform. publicly and behind the scenes, urging both the house and the senate to pass legislation before this august recess. why is that deadline so important to you? why even set a deadline? >> well, because if you don't set a deadline in this senate, nothing happens. the default in washington is inaction. and inertia. and there's a reason why we haven't had health care reform in 50 years. and the deadline is not being set by me. the deadline is being set by the american people. >> but look at the bills that are floating around out there right now.

according to the congressional budget office, those bills would do nothing to take on health care costs. and you say unless we can bring those into line, we won't have real health care reform. and, in fact, they're saying that, again, the authors are saying we're going to have higher costs with those bills and a greater deficit. people look at that, mr. president, people who are paying already high costs for medical care and they think it's a joke. >> we'll, we -- >> they're mpaying a lot of mony and see congress coming up with legislation that will cost them even more. >> i think it's important to not confuse two issues. and that's out-of-pocket costs for individuals, versus the long-term unsustainable cost of health care under medicare and medicaid and other government programs. here's what's going on. we have a problem of health care inflation generally being out of control. and that's true in the private sector and that's true in the public sector. and so, what we've got to do is

we've got to bend the cost curve over the long term. and we've put forward a whole series of proposals to do that. and the congressional budget office and every health care expert have looked at many of our proposals and they've said, you know, this has a good chance of working. not all of them have been adopted by congress yet. >> but again, not to beat a dead horse here, but again the congressional budget office, looking at those bills that are out there and saying they do not contain costs. any one of those bills, would you sign them based on what you see? >> right now, they're not where they need to be. but i promise you, i just met with the congressional budget office today. so i know exactly what they're saying. and what they're saying is, is that the cost savings that are in those bills right now, some of them may actually work, but they're not enough to offset the additional costs of bringing in 46 million new people to provide. >> so they won't work? >> well -- >> in terms of reform. >> what they won't do is offset the fact that if you are adding additional people to the system, that's going to cost more. and we've got to figure out a way to pay for that.

now i actually am optimistic that if you look at both the progress that's been made in the house and in the senate, that at the end of the day, we will have a bill that assures that we're driving down costs over the long-term, and in the short-term, people have more security, and we have serious insurance reform. >> let me, say republican senator from south carolina said if we're able to stop obama on this, meaning health care reform, it would be his waterloo, quote, it will break him. funny? >> well, it's typical. but that's -- that answers all the previous questions you asked. that's the answer to it. this is not about, you know, do we need a little more time to get this right, to be constructive, to talk to the policy analysts? >> yes. >> this is all about politics. that describes exactly an attitude that we've got to overcome. because what folks have in their minds is that somehow this is

about me, it's about politics, and the ability to win back the house of representatives. and people are thinking back to 1993, when president clinton wasn't able to get health care, right after that the house republicans won. >> this is about politics. this is a key issue for you. you have a big stake in this. >> of course i have -- >> if this falls apart that is not good for you. >> you know, meredith, all i can say is that this is absolutely important to me. but, this is not as important to me as it is to the people who don't have health care. i've got health care. this isn't as important to me as the family that's going bankrupt because they got a bunch of medical bills that they thought the insurance companies would cover, that turned out they weren't covered. so, yes, absolutely. i am deeply invested in getting this thing done. but this isn't washington's sport. this isn't about who's up and who's down. this is about solving an enormous problem for the american people. >> one of the ways to pay for

the health care bill is something called a surtax on some of the richest americans, people who make more than $280,000 a year. i've never heard whether you support that or don't support that. would you support a surtax? >> right now, the house has put forward a surtax. the senate finance committee is looking at some other options. what i've said is, and i have stuck to this point, i don't want to see additional tax burdens on people making $250,000 a year or less. and by the way, despite all the hue and cry out there about oh, obama's becoming like a tax and spend democrat, what you hear from the republicans, the only tax change i've made in the six months since i've been here is to cut people's taxes. >> but would you support a surtax on those people making more than $280,000 a year to help pay for this health care reform? >> i think that ultimately what we're going to have is a package which will probably include some additional revenue from well-to-do people, including me and you, who can afford to pay a

little bit more, so that working families, people who are going to their jobs every single day, can have a little more security on their health care. >> does that mean yes, mr. president? >> it means that that is one option among many. but what levels that's going to be at, where it's pegged at, all those details are still being worked out. >> do you think because health care reform will eventually help everybody, that everybody should have to sacrifice? in other words if you attack the surtax on people making $280,000 or more, isn't that in effect punishing the rich? >> no, it's not punishing the rich. the way i look at it is if i can afford to do a little bit more so that a whole bunch of families out there have a little more security, when i already have security, that's part of being a community. >> you know, i don't know how much attention he pays to the polls but yesterday there was a poll out, "washington post," where his approval rating on health care has dropped below 50%. so i think tomorrow's news conference is important to him, to get the message, again, out to the people that reform is

important. >> he's clearly putting himself out there. >> oh, all the time. >> everywhere you look he's out there talking about health care. clearly didn't want to get pinned down on that last question. looks like everything is on the table. >> i thought he almost said yes, but then -- wasn't exactly sure. we're going to have much more on my discussion with president obama coming up in the next half hour, including his reaction to the return of bonuses on wall street, and also the much talked about jeans that he wore to the all-star game. >> all right, meredith, thanks. now more on that american soldier held hostage by the taliban. the pentagon says troops are sparing no effort to find and rescue private first class bowe bergdahl. we'll speak with the family spokesperson and one of their neighbors in a moment. but first nbc's george lewis has the latest from their hometown of hailey, idaho. >> reporter: good morning, lister, hailey idaho is now bedecked with yellow ribbons. it's a sign of this community's hopes and prayers that somehow bowe bergdahl will be returned

home safely. those ribbons began going up all over town after bergdahl's identity was revealed in that video. tell me why you're doing this? >> because we love bowe. >> reporter: on behalf of bergdahl's family the sheriff read a statement thanking the public. >> we have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and concern towards bowe and our family. >> reporter: just after bergdahl's disappearance three weeks ago in afghanistan, but before this jid yo was released, many in hailey knew that he was the soldier captured by the taliban. but they kept quiet about it out of concern for his safety. >> if somebody asks you not to say something, that's what's going to happen. and when somebody says this is what we need, it will happen. >> reporter: bowe bergdahl is fondly remembered here as a handsome kid who was willing to try all sorts of things, including joining a local ballet company. >> if they needed a man to basically be the lifter, bowe was there. and he was so wonderful.

and he's got a nice, just such a nice, easy way about him. >> reporter: and then he really surprised friends last year, by enlisting in the army. >> he's having way more adventure than he bargained on. we just really want him home. >> reporter: so thank you in hailey, they wait, hoping and praying that somehow bowe bergdahl will make it back safely. >> all right, george lewis, thank you. leon ferris lives next door to the bergdahls and blaine county sheriff is speaking on behalf of the bergdahl family. good morning to both of you. thanks so much for joining us. >> good morning. >> sheriff, i know the family has asked you to speak on their behalf to the media for the next few days. what is it they want the rest of the country to know? >> well, i think what their energy is focused on, certainly, is on bowe and they want to know that, you know -- they want to be careful so that they don't do anything to inflame the situation.

they've also said to me that you know, although bowe is in, you know, kind of spotlight right now because of this capture, they want everybody to make sure that they're still thinking about the men and women who are in harm's way out there, and protecting our country. >> and i have to ask you about the video. obviously there's been some negative reaction that that video is being used as propagan propaganda. but has it brought some measure of comfort to the family to at least see him and know that he's well? >> well, yeah, i mean it's probably comfort to see him. but that video is, you know, i wish that it would stop being shown. because, you know, it's pretty difficult to watch. >> right. leanne, i know you have known bo since he was seven. in fact your daughter and bowe grew up together. tell us what kind of guy he is. >> well, as a young boy he was

very shy and quiet. and he was quite the sportsman. and then as he got older, he just came more out of this -- he came out of his shell more. but he was really good athlete, and he'd work up in ketchum, but he'd ride his bike out from where we lived, which was 18 miles. and then you have 1,000 foot vertical difference. so he was quite the adventurer. >> were you surprised when he made the decision to join the army? >> no. he talked about it a lot. and we -- i mean it just wasn't a surprise. it was something that we kind of always knew that he wanted to do. >> sheriff and leanne, i know all of you are wrapping your arms around this family and supporting them, and leanne, i see you're wearing the yellow ribbon. sheriff, talk about how the town really sat on this information until it was made public, that you knew, in fact, who this soldier was.

>> you know, talk about this community. it's a community of doers, and you know, really, when the information came out, you know, our community just jumped in to, you know, full swing. and if you go down the streets of hailey, you know, you see the yellow ribbons, and you know, at the same time, you know, what we do is, you know, we don't do the gloom and doom, you know. everybody's really positive and upbeat and trying to send that positive, upbeat message, you know, to bowe and the community. and, you know, they're all keeping him in their prayers. >> and we'll all try to emulate that positive feeling. leanne ferris, sheriff walt fremling, thank you for your time this morning. it was good of you to join us. >> thank you. >> all right. we want to get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories. for that we'll go over to ann curry at the news desk. >> good morning, everybody. also in the news this morning, the pentagon says it needs more troops in afghanistan, because

of the worsening violence there. on monday, defense secretary robert gates said he will temporarily increase the size of the army by 22,000 soldiers. and many of them are expected to go to afghanistan, where 68,000 u.s. troops are likely to be serving by the end of this year. militants attacked government buildings in eastern afghanistan today, and 14 taliban militants and security forces were killed. meantime, four more u.s. troops died in afghanistan on monday, raising the number of u.s. deaths to at least 30 so far this month. that makes this the deadliest month for u.s. troops in afghanistan since the war began. in california, there is a deal to close the massive budget deficit. governor schwarzenegger said that getting an agreement was like quote, a suspense more very. the deal calls for deep cuts in spending, but no new taxes and should permit the state to stop issuing ious to pay its bills >> >> overseas markets are mostly higher this morning, melissa lee is at the new york stock

exchange where there's a lot of attention on the fed chairman. >> there is, ann. ben bernanke is set to testify before the senate banking committee today in his semiannual report on the economy. already bernanke has published an op-ed in today's "wall street journal" talking about how the fed can exit the course of flooding the system with money and pushing rates nearly to zero in order to boost the economy. that is a prime concern of economists. meantime, continental airlines is feeling the pinch of a slowdown. it's announcing 1700 additional job cuts and is also raising the fee on checked baggage by another $5 a bag. ann? >> all right, melissa lee this morning. and a washington landmark known as watergate goes on the auction block today. the hotel was made famous, of course, by the 1972 burglary that ultimately led to president richard nixon's resignation. its previous owner defaulted on a loan. it is now 7:17, let's go back to meredith and lester who are waking up with al this morning. >> that's right. >> that luggage story, almost seems like it's cheaper to send your luggage and stay home.

>> you can see that it is raining already in new york. the bulk of the showers and storms will remain offshore today and stay away from us. we cannot rule out scattered showers and storms. the high is cooler than normal, 79 degrees.

the surge back into the that's your latest weather. meredith? >> al, thank you. still to come, move are our wide-ranging interview with president obama. including what he has to say to critics of his all-star night jeans. you are married to one of the most fashionable women in the world. do you want to defend the pants? >> no. >> the answer, but first, this is "today" on nbc. they have alzheimer's and heart disease, diabetes and cancer, and they've heard that biomedical research offers hope -- that it could control, maybe even cure, their disease. senator barbara mikulski understands the importance of innovative biomedical research for patients, their families, and our economy here in maryland. call senator mikulski today. tell her thanks

for protecting the promise of biomedical research and the maryland jobs it provides. it's not just the future. it's life. hundreds on car insurance. what you might not know is that you can contact geico

to see if you could save on homeowner's and renter's insurance too. for more information call 1-800-947-auto or check the yellow pages for an office near you. [tires screeching] [screech] accidents can happen anytime. that's why geico's here 24 hours a day, every day. geico. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. and coming up tomorrow on nbc, our worldwide exclusive interview with scottish singing sensation susan boyle. are you having a good time? >> having a wonderful time. >> tell me about it.

>> it's just been unbelievable. it's indescribable. it's a bit like being popped out of obscurity is a bit like going on a long journey, really. you don't know what's going to happen. you don't know how it's going to end. i don't want it to end. it's just incredible. indescribable, really. it's really good. >> you look gorgeous. >> you know, it's interesting because right now she's at a good place. she's writing an album. and everything. but she talks about the pressures that she was under leading up to the finale that eventually ended with her spending some time at the priory, which is a mental health clinic. >> we're going to see a lot more. she'll perform in this country at some point? >> hopefully she'll perform here on "america's got talent." i think that's still being worked out. she looked great, and better than that, sounded great. you can catch susan boyle, "daring to dream" as part of a special edition of "america's got talent" tomorrow at 9:00 p.m., 8:00 central. we'll have a preview tomorrow. meanwhile, the number of doctors investigating michael

jackson's death has sky rocketed.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am lisa robinson. three young boys are back home with their parents this morning after they were arrested by baltimore city police at the result of an investigation into a stolen bicycle. but the customized parts have been in the yard for months. three boys were caught in the act and police were called. all three were put in handcuffs and put behind bars. there were released after two and a half hours, but the parents have argued that the actions were unjust. now check on the morning commute with traffic pulse 11 and sarah caldwell.

>> dealing with a problem on the southbound harrisburg expressway, and overturned vehicle in the area of padonia, delays as a result. you'll find delays with the right lane closed with this overturned vehicle. this accident in cockeysville now clear, but we are dealing with a crashed sat down on the j.f.x. at coldspring lane. the only other delays we saying as you approach the 895 split. he won an exiting to the left anymore for 895 south, you are exiting to the right. live view of traffic at white marsh, flowing smoothly here. quick look at the west side of 40, we are backing down just slightly towards edmondson. >> there is a coastal storm is brewing off shore. it is doing the will to change our weather. all showers and storms are affecting new england and places

for the to our north. a 40% chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly later in the afternoon to early evening. we should be up to 88 for this time of year. we will be resuming the temperature range by the end of the week. >> we will see you back here in 25 minut

7:30 now on this tuesday morning, july 21st, 2009. rain is really coming down in this hour. so a big thanks to everyone spending the morning with us out on the plaza. meanwhile, high and dry inside studio 1a i'm meredith vieira alongside lester holt. matt is off this morning. coming up in this half hour, more of our exclusive interview with president obama. we touched on david goldman and his fight to bring his son back from brazil. as well as what should be done with profits now flowing again on wall street, after billions in taxpayer bailouts. >> also ahead this morning, ryan o'neal talks about the last days he spent with farrah fawcett. we'll hear from him for the first time since her death. >> plus, on a lighter note, we're going to take a rather interesting quiz to find out which foods boost your sex drive. i have no idea. >> i have no idea. i saw the list of things they're going to ask us about. but we'll see how we do.

let's begin with new details in the investigation into michael jackson's death. it appears detectives are now looking into more doctors than originally thought. nbc's jeff rossen is in los angeles with the latest. jeff, good morning. >> hi, lester. good morning to you. just a week after michael jackson died, we heard five doctors were under investigation. but this morning, a source close to the case tells nbc news that number has skyrocketed. we've learned officials are now checking into at least 19 doctors. the investigation into michael jackson's death is growing. a dragnet so wide, a source familiar with the criminal case tells nbc news at least 19 doctors are under the microscope. and it could take months, even years, to take action against any or all of them. right now, officials are waiting for the final toxicology results. that's when prosecutors could make their move, and file the first criminal charges. while murder charges are unlikely, the source says involuntary manslaughter is

possible. robin sacks, a former l.a. prosecutor, who worked in the very office handling this case. >> involuntary manslaughter is attractive, because as a doctor they should have known better. which is really the reason why you should have known these medicines could kill you. >> reporter: in the days after his death investigators seized prescription drugs from jackson's home. since then they've subpoenaed the medical records of his dermatologist dr. arnold klein, who denies any wrongdoing. police have also impounded the car of dr. conrad murray, who was with jackson at the time of his death. detectives interviewed him twice, and collected his medical records, too. his attorney has denied dr. murray did anything wrong. >> well, i'm thinking that it's foul play. yeah, that's what i'm thinking. >> reporter: michael's father joe jackson, in a new interview on cnn. >> are you implying, then, that the doctor committed foul play? >> something went wrong. something went wrong, larry. because when they try to bring michael back, he was dead.

>> reporter: joe jackson is also playing a role in the custody case. sources involved in the case say debbie rowe doesn't want him raising the kids, because michael accused him of abuse in a documentary. >> i was scared. i was scared. >> what do you say about all these things that have been said over the years, that you harmed michael as a child? >> oh, that's a bunch of bull s. that's a bunch of bull s. >> straighten me out. >> that's not true. >> you never physically harmed him? >> never. >> reporter: his wife katherine has temporary custody, reportedly getting help from michael's sisters, janet and rebbie. "us weekly" reports paris stays in her room most of the time and writes letters to her dad. prince and blanket watch children's movies, but never the news. >> in a sense the jackson children are living in a bubble. they don't even know who their biological parents are at this point. they do not know that debbie rowe is their mother. >> reporter: prince is 12, paris is 11, blanket is 7. and soon shielding them from

everything going on will become impossible. ♪ including their father's final days, now aeg is selling the rights to more footage. taken during michael's last rehearsal. it will be a movie, with big-time hollywood studios already bidding $50 million for the rights. and there is new information this morning on michael jackson's estate. his mother katherine is still deciding whether or not to fight for more control over the estate. in a new statement her lawyer now says it's only fair, and that katherine's top priority remains the care of her son's three children. busy morning here. >> jeff rossen in los angeles. thank you. we want to get a check of the weather now. let's go back outside and say hello to al. >> man, it is wet out here. unbelievable.

>> rainy in new york, i just clouds here so far. we have a slight chance for scattered showers and storms later today. below normal, but we he backed up by the middle part of the week.

that's your latest weather. whenever you want weather, go to weather channel on cable, or weather.com online. meredith? >> al, thank you. now to more of our interview with president obama. in a moment, his response to critics picking on the jeans he wore to last week's all-star game. but first we touched on a far more serious topic. a new jersey father's ongoing custody fight to bring his son sean home from brazil. there is an international treaty which mandates abducted children be returned to their natural parents in the country of their birth. five years later, david goldman still hasn't seen sean. what do you think we should be doing? if a country is violating the treaty, should we be imposing trade sanctions on brazil? >> well, the encouraging thing

is you've seen a brazilian court now rule in favor of mr. goldman. i understand it's now on appeal, and i can only imagine how frustrating this must be for him. we have advised the brazilian government that we want to move this forward expeditiously, and that we want folks to abide by international law. >> but where's the carrot on the stick. where is the stick in this? >> well, to the extent that we think that brazilian courts are not operating in good faith in a timely fashion, obviously we can consider what further options to take. at this point, i don't have an indication from the brazilian government that they are trying to block progress on this front. and as long as we're making swift progress to get this resolved, then we're going to keep on working those channels. >> as the president walked with me towards the east wing, the conversation turned to the recent record profits on wall street. you know i wanted to ask you about goldman sachs and jpmorgan

reporting these big profits in the second quarter. and they're talking about bonuses for their employees. people hear that, taxpayers, and they're very frustrated. because -- you are frustrated by that? >> here's what i think happened. you've got a banking system that, because of the stress, almost dragged down the entire economy. i think it's fair that a lot of the problems we have right now are attributed to misbehavior on wall street. >> but now they're ready to go again? >> and taxpayers, i think, had to intervene to prevent something even worse from happening. and in fairness, these companies have paid the money back. a couple of them. >> but have they learned a lesson? >> that's the point. that's the point. what you haven't seen, i think, is a change in culture. a certain humility, where they kind of step back and they say, gosh, you know, we really messed things up. and so maybe we should be more focused on the products that

we're providing consumers, let's make sure that we're operating in a more secure, safe fashion. >> should taxpayers get a cut of those bonuses? the reason they are getting that money is because taxpayers bailed them out. >> well, here's what is happening. you know, goldman pays back the united states with interest. so we've actually made, the tax prayers, have actually made money on the investments that were made to many of these banks, with interest. and that will actually go back to the deficit reduction. that's the positive of this. the other positive of it is we want banks to be solvent. we want them stable. that's part of the sign that the economy is stabilized a little bit. >> but they're not just stable. these people are doing really well while there's 9.5% unemployment, people looking for jobs, homes being foreclosed on. >> which is why it's going to be important, i think, for us to have the financial regulatory reform. part of what gets me really frustrated is when i hear some of the banks are resisting the

idea of a consumer finance protection agency, that we will put forward to make sure that banks can't take advantage of people with predatory loans on their mortgages, or credit cards that are jacked up to exorbitant rates. when i hear some of these banks say we don't need regulations, after what we've just gone through, i'm thinking, well, people have some selective memory there. and this is going to be a major battle on the hill, because a lot of these banks have a lot of influence. >> last question, i promise you, all-star game. you threw out the pitch. >> i did. >> i thought you did very well with that. but then the fashion police went after your jeans. >> i heard they were ragging on my jeans. >> dad jeans, called the nerd jeans. are you married to one of the most fashional women in the world. do you want to defend the pants? >> no. here's my attitude. michelle, she looks fabulous. i'm a little frumpy. you know. basically, up until a few years

ago, i only had four suits. she used to tease me because they'd get really shiny. i hate to shop. those jeans are comfortable. and for those of you who, you know, want your president to, you know, look great in tight jeans, i'm sorry, i'm not the guy. >> no low riders for you? >> sorry. it just doesn't fit me. i'm not 20. >> the image of him in really tight jeans is wrong. wrong for the president. >> can i say as a man of about the same age, it's all about comfort when you get to this point in life. good for him. >> and he looks comfortable. >> you know. >> for sure. that's what it's all about. >> and he's confident in those pants. that's what matters. are you in yours? >> very comfortable, yeah. very comfortable. >> then put them back on. no, i'm kidding! he's got them on. he's got them on. >> wearing pants, all right? >> all right. up next. is sorry enough? singer chris brown issues his first public apology to rihanna more than five months after the assault of his ex-girlfriend.

we're back at 7:44 with singer chris brown's public apology to his former girlfriend rihanna. in a two-minute video posted on his website, brown pleads for forgiveness for the shocking assault that took place in february, after a pre-grammy party in los angeles. nbc's lee cowan has details. >> reporter: on the r&b singer's webpage, just below his

best-selling romantic sickle "with you" is another chris brown video, decidedly less romantic. >> what i did was unacceptable. 100%. i can only ask and pray that you forgive me. please. >> right here up front, chris brown. >> reporter: it was an apology for what he did shortly after this l.a. party back in february. the girl on his arm, pop star rihanna. who went from looking like this, to this. bleeding, and bruised. on the eve of the grammy awards, the music industry's chart-topping couple got in an argument. according to a police affidavit, brown repeatedly punched rihanna in the face, even choked her. brown eventually pleaded guilty to felony assault. although he says his attorney advised him not to speak, he said the time had come to address the crime, and rihanna, directly. >> i told rihanna countless times and i'm telling you today that i'm truly, truly sorry and that i wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better. >> this is more for his fans. but it's also for everyone in

the industry. it's everyone that's black-listed him. >> reporter: the viciousness of the assault hit brown's fans hard. and his image as a role model tumbled. which has some domestic violence experts questioning not only the motives, but the sincerity behind his apology. >> i definitely think that this is an attempt to somehow get back that clean image that he once had. but, in my mind, it makes it worse. because it just shows that he still isn't really getting it. >> reporter: brown claims no excuses. but he hinted the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. >> i grew up in a home where there was domestic violence. and i saw firsthand what uncontrolled rage could do. i saw it and i'm continuing to seek help to ensure that what occurred in february can never happen again. >> reporter: brown will likely get probation when he's sentenced next month. for "today," lee cowan, nbc news, los angeles. >> psychiatrist dr. gail saltz is a "today" contributor. toure is an nbc news contributor as well and covers the music industry for "rolling stone"

magazine. good morning to both of you. gail, he issues an apology, and now he issues one and we feel the need to dissect it under the circumstances. how do you read it? >> you know, it sounds sincere in the sense that many, many people who do this say, i'm sorry, but, you provoked me. or you did this. there's a sense of in some way. and he's not defensive. he says i'm sorry, i really did this thing, it was tremendously wrong, now i've got to do the work to make sure that it never happens again. >> doesn't erase the crime, but what does an apology do in a case like this. >> it definitely doesn't erase the crime. this is only step one in a many, many step process. it takes a long time to unravel, especially, you know, if you are -- have grown up in a house with abuse. >> and he mentions that. >> and that's important. because in this country, it is a cycle of abuse. behind closed doors right now, somebody is being abused in their home. in fact, with the recession and economic stresses there's

probably an increase going on. certainly there is in teen dating, of which this was an example, of more abuse. because we are still underaware and underprepared. >> when i heard him mention the abuse, i've been waiting for and that's my excuse, he didn't use it as an excuse, he basically said i get it, i've seen it. >> i've seen it, i've done it, and he has to know it's a risk factor. the country has to know if you grew up in abuse, you have a lot of work to do to make sure that you're not going to perpetuate that cycle. i think it was important that he brought that up. i'm glad he did because we need to be having dialogue. >> let me turn to toure. he's been damaged goods in the music industry since all this happened. a lot of folks are saying this is to repair his career. and i say duh, of course, that's got to be part of the motivation, right? >> well, of course. this all happened in public. we knew as it was going on, right after he hit her, that he was running away from the k07s for a little while. and then he was arrested. we're talking about this on twitter at the grammy awards and all this. and the picture comes up. so this has all been a public moment. >> but remember, some of his

fans not only defended him, they blamed rihanna in this case. >> many of his fans have defended him, said what did rihanna do? here's what i love. she's an island girl, you know how they're spicy. what is that? >> where does this stuff come from? >> that's why this has to happen. because he is a role model. he's a role model for kids, for teens. so whether he likes it or not, when you gain that fame and you are that celebrity, you have a responsibility to behave, and send out a message in a certain kind of way. so he needs to keep talking about it, because unfortunately, he's been a role model in the wrong way. >> i was looking at some things, toure, that you had discussed earlier about this apology is not only to these teenage kids who like him, but to their moms and dads. >> well, sure, the big thing in the record business is touring. that's where you really make your money. his fan base is mainly 13 to 18. maybe 13 to 16. he's going to need mom or dad to drive the kids, the ticket buyer, to the show. >> that's right. >> so they're going to have to okay going to a chris brown show. >> right. >> and in so many mom's minds he's the new ike turner.

got to get rid of that perception. >> and that's going to be a long haul. moms do not want to drive their daughters to see someone -- he's going to have to keep rehabbing himself i think. >> this is a discussion a lot of moms and dads, a lot of fans are going to be happening. thank you two for taking part. dr. gail saltz, toure, always a pleasure to to have you here. still ahead for the first time since farrah fawcett's death, ryan o'neal talks about hewithher.

still ahead, libido-boosting foods. should you eat a red hot chili pepper to increase your sex drives. we'll take a quiz on the foods to eat and the ones to avoid.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am lisa robinson. let's check on the morning commute with traffic pulse 11 and sarah caldwell. >> new accident in the reisterstown area. watch for delays developing there. southbound harrisburg expressway is easing a bit now that the accident is off to the shoulder. it may attract some attention. nothing happening on the sock and j.f.x. with an accident at coldspring. southbound i-95 past the beltway, you will deal with those delays. 50 minutes is the drive time on the outer loop west side. five-minute ride on southbound 95 from the 805 split to fort

mchenry. delays are prior to that. no delays at white marsh, which is a nice sight to see. moving pretty well heading towards edmondson. >> we are dealing with showers this morning off shore. nothing so far in the metropolitan area. we are seeing temperatures in the low 70's. humidity on the gradual increase. tomorrow, gulf moisture is headed in. cooler-than-normal high. chance of scattered showers and mfw.cstorms, maybe this afternd into tonight. high of 86. r(lc@&c+ with a better chance of showers and storms late in the day on thursday. 90 by saturday. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic throughout the morning.

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8:00 now on this tuesday morning, july 21st, 2009, a cool, wet start to the day here in new york. right around 65 degrees. a scorcher. any guesses on what the lowest temperature would be? >> 100 below? >> that's a good guess. >> 150 degrees below zero. >> it's 129 below zero. happened on this day, 26 years ago, in new york city. >> no. >> no! >> no it didn't. >> antarctica. >> but the humidity was probably minus 125. >> that's right. with the humidity. >> he will me tell you what's coming up in this half hour. ryan o'neal. we talked with him on monday about losing farrah fawcett. the first time o'neal has spoken out since his death. we're going to have our interview. >> also ahead, are you preparing for a financial crisis in perhaps the wrong way? we're going to meet a new and growing breed of americans who

are stockpiling for economic disaster, and find out why they say you should consider doing the same. >> hmm. >> all right and a little bit later on you might want to stockpile certain kinds of foods if you want to get busy a little bit later. foods that boost your sex drive, and the ones that suppress it. >> wow. >> yeah. >> we'll tell you about that. >> but before we get to that we're going to get a check of the top stories with ann curry who is standing by at the news desk. >> good morning once again to all of you this morning. in the news, today president obama makes another push to get health care legislation passed by august. from republicans and members of his own party. he is meeting later with house democrats at the white house, and the president says he is optimistic a final bill will drive down health care costs. meantime, in an exclusive interview with meredith the president spoke about 23-year-old bowe bergdahl, the american soldier being held captive by the taliban. he said he is hopeful it will have a good ending, and that the u.s. is doing everything it can

to get bowe back. california's taken the first step toward ending its budget crisis. governor schwarzenegger has and legislative leaders reached an agreement last night to close the $26 billion deficit dollar deficit budget shortfall which would mean no more ious to pay california's bills. gas prices are down to their lowest level in two months according to the government. the average price for a gallon of regular is now $2.46. down 6 1/2 cents in just one week. this morning, the world health organization says 700 people have died worldwide from the h1n1 virus or swine flu since april. this as more than 90 american students and teachers from oregon and maryland are being quarantined in china for swine flu after one student showed symptoms of the virus. heavy rain has caused massive flooding and mudslides in western japan. leaving at least five people dead. helicopters have been airlifting stranded people to safety. at least eight people are missing, including residents of

a nursing home. and two "endeavour" astronauts celebrated the 40th san remembersry of the moon landing on monday by performing spacewalk of their own. they transported spare parts from the shouldle to the international space station, and meantime, the crew inside the outpost successfully fixed a broken toilet. what a relief. it is now time to check for with brian williams for what's coming up on "nbc nightly news." hey, brian. >> ann, thanks. coming up tonight it's the folks who always say they never missed a payment who may be the perfect targets, because the game and the rates are changing. we're going to look at how credit card companies are finding new ways to really pull a fast one on customers. that and more tonight when we see you for "nightly news." ann for now, back to you. >> okay, brian, thanks so much. now let's go back outside to meredith and lester. >> i want to point out this is emily from ohio. she wants to be a movie star so if anybody from l.a. is watching. any big producers. she's ready to go, right? >> yes! >> meanwhile, where is al roker?

>> right over here. right here. it's amazing. >> in our neck of the woods, no rain in the city right now. a little storm in extreme southern maryland could all the rest of the activities of shorebird we cannot rule of a passing shower this afterno

and good news, mom, they got you a fake rolex. what else did you get? >> purses. >> street purses and fake rolexs. that's what new york city is all about, lester. >> al, thank you very much. still to come on "today," ryan o'neal opens up for the first time about his final days with longtime love farrah fawcett. meredith's exclusive interview. with an epa estimated 32 miles per gallon. and up to 600 miles between fill ups. it's the most fuel efficient crossover on the highway.

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i was caught off-guard. but maybe you can learn from my story. have a heart to heart with your doctor... about your risk. and about lipitor. we are back at 8:09. it has been nearly three weeks since farrah fawcett died and for the first time since that sad day her longtime companion, ryan o'neal is speaking out about her final moments. our exclusive interview just ahead. but first a look back at the actress who will always be remembered as an angel. she rose to fame as one of "charlie's angels" and her pinup made her a pop culture icon. >> it is seriously time for a miracle. >> reporter: but in perhaps her most memorable role, farrah fawcett didn't play a part. she was herself. sharing her real-life cancer battle with millions of americans in the powerful documentary "farrah's story."

>> of all the days i ever hoped for in my life, finding a doctor to surgically remove my anal cancer did not even make the top 1 million on my list. >> reporter: that documentary quickly became her legacy. >> she wanted to share her journey with people and, you know, just sort of give people the message to keep fighting. >> reporter: and that's exactly how family and friends saw her. as a fighter. >> everybody calls you the rock. i get the feeling that maybe she's the rock. >> she's the rock. she taught us all how to cope. she's extraordinary. >> i think it's ryan's birthday. >> reporter: farrah fawcett was also a mother. her son was in jail for drug use during his mother's final days, but was able to visit her at home one last time in shackles. throughout farrah's life, her love for her son was always

evident. she made sure the same was true in her death. >> for redmond, my boy, i will always be there. when you are so very young, i will be there. when one day you wake up, oh, and realize that i'm gone, i will still be there. >> reporter: she died the same day as michael jackson on june 25th, at the age of 62. in the days that followed, friends and family, including redmond o'neal, came together for a private ceremony to honor her life. fittingly at the cathedral of our lady of angels in los angeles, the city of angels. and ryan o'neal is joining us for his first television interview since farrah's death. ryan, good morning. >> good morning, meredith. >> you know that i'm sending you my heartfelt condolences for

your loss. i'm so sorry about farrah's passing. you've said to me awhile back, ryan, you said that she was always the rock in the relationship, the one that taught you how to cope. so how are you coping without her? >> well, i'm the new rock. and i'm using what she taught me to -- to survive, to go on, to care for my son redmond. and i have launched into his massive job of answering the mail that has come in for her over the last few weeks. >> can you tell me a little bit about the kind of mail that you've been getting. >> i would have brought some of it, except i send it on to redmond, so that he can see what people felt about his mother. and it gives him strength to carry on his fight, too, because he's in a dogfight out there. >> i know he's in a fight. he's in a facility for drug possession.

and one of the most touching moments in the documentary, "farrah's story" is when he was released to go visit his mom before she went to the hospital and he went to her moment in shackles. it was extremely moving. when she passed away, he could not be there for her. but he did call her, you said. >> he spoke to her a number of times on the cell phone. and also, he was at the funeral. he came, and they allowed him to carry her casket with the other pallbearers. although they didn't take his handcuffs off. and he buried his mother. >> in those last calls to his mom, what did he say to her? >> well, i held the phone to her ear. so i'm not exactly sure. but i think it was about regrets, and the horror of not being able to see her again. >> you know, we talked to dr. lawrence piro right after

farrah passed. he had been in the hospital with her, along with you and her best friend alana stewart. he said up until the end, she was alert and awake. can you describe the atmosphere in her hospital room? >> it was hard. it was -- he thought that she would live just another couple of hours and she lived a couple of days. and she wouldn't move on. she wouldn't pass. she just -- she just looked at us, with this slight smile, it was awful. and then -- and then all the machines flat-lined. after about 16 hours. and she was -- she was gone. >> what were the last words that she said to you and the last words that you said to her, ryan?

>> i said i'd see her soon. and i see her every day. i write in my journal now to her. >> well, i know, in may when we talked you said that there were times that you wished that she would just go to sleep, because you couldn't imagine that she was happy in the condition that she was in. so in some small way, are you at peace knowing that she is now no longer unhappy? >> yeah. in a sense i am. you know, she never closed her eyes. her eyes were open for the last three weeks of her life, watching us. she didn't speak much, but she watched us. and then finally, she closed her eyes. >> what do you think she was saying with those eyes? >> i think she was holding on. i didn't think she wanted to go. she had -- she had things left on her plate to finish. to accomplish. and now, she has an emmy

nomination. that's pretty wonderful. >> yeah, let me talk to you about that for a minute. the emmy nominations were announced last week. she recently won posthumously for her role as executive producer for "farrah's story." her documentary. what do you think that emmy would have meant to her? >> oh, boy. she always wanted one, you know. worked very hard to get one. thought she would for "the burning bed" and even had a speech. so it comes a little late, i guess. but, i'm sure she knows. >> her friend and former charlie's angel kate jackson said when she thinks of farrah she's always going to remember her smile. that's the number one thing. what will you always remember? >> so much, meredith. but her smile wasn't bad. it was beautiful. i'll take that. >> ryan o'neal, thank you so much. and again our condolences. and we'll be back right after this. - ( women vocalizing )

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29. announcer: laptops designed for college and thousands of people eager to help. this morning, eat this not that, foods that feed your sex drive. if you want to rev up in the bedroom, you can begin in the kitchen. those crazy newlyweds. the author of "eat this, not that" the best and worst foods in america. this is going to be interesting. i want to ask you quickly about your new book. you seem to make the point most of us have no idea what we're putting into our bodies. >> yes, exactly. the fact is the nutritional information is out there but we don't have a way to get our hands on it. and we don't know the difference between a 2600 calorie milk shake and a 400 calorie milk shake and how that one smart

swap that you make can be a day's worth of calories difference. so the book is really about how to see the dramatic calorie differences so that you can lose belly fat in record time. you can improve your cardiovascular health, your sexual health, and just, you know, look and feel better than ever. >> speaking of sexual health, this is going to be like a contest? >> well, there's foods here. quickly before we do this, we're talking about libido foods or just heart health and general health that make you more sexual? >> eating these foods over time will make you healthier. but when it's date night, some of these -- >> you have like an hour before? >> yeah, yeah, an hour, 90 minutes, you know. >> let's get started. >> start with the old banana. >> bananas. hot or not? >> i have to say they're hot. i think they're hot. potassium is good for you. >> i don't know that potassium is good for sex, though. i don't think so. >> meredith, you're right. >> yes! >> more fun than a barrel of

monkeys. you've got potassium, which you mentioned. you've got -- >> i've got 90 minutes. here we go. >> you've got -- it's not just the suggestive shape, okay. you've got the "b" vitamins, you've got the potassium which helps to regulate blood pressure. >> thank you. >> helps prevent an ill-timed charley horse. >> so watch it. >> we're trying to decide who would be the designated grown-up. >> i said i would be. >> it's a free for all. >> okay move on. >> oysters. >> hot or not? >> well, they certainly have a reputation as hot. >> i say no. because they have the reputation. >> look, they are packed with two minerals. zing and iodine, which help to boost body temperature and testosterone. but the problem is, it's a not. it's a not hot because in one sitting you would have to eat 50 of them to get the effect. so, good luck finding love. >> so far i've got my pulse on these foods.

>> pumpkin seeds. pumpkin seeds, people. >> pumpkin seeds are filled with zing and pro-tine. like oysters. they're cheap. they're readily availal. they're easy to prepare. toast them up, mix them in with popcorn and forget about the movie. >> chocolate covered strawberries. >> chocolate is supposed to be an after row disyak but i'm going to say no again. >> i'm going to say yes. >> you're right. it is not just -- >> i'm a total loser. >> it is not just a valentine's day gimmick. you have the vitamin "c" in the strawberries which helps boost libido. but in the dark chocolate your body releasing the same chemicals that are released during sex. it's good, right? >> mm-hmm. >> get ready. >> watch out, meredith. >> so the only thing is you want to make sure that it has at least 75% or 70% cacao. that's the dark seed in the chocolate that they use to make

the chocolate and cocoa. >> so milk chocolate would not be good? >> especially not white chocolate. dark. at least 70%. >> i'm totally thrown on this. >> hot peppers. >> i say yeah. >> i think i'm going to say yeah, because this sounds like it's got hot in it, right? >> look, it makes sense that foods that make you hot and bothered would well make you hot and bothered. but there is no research to suggest a direct link. in terms of boosting libido right away. >> so stay away? >> not hot. what you should try to do is get some saffron. this spice is going to mimic the effects, boost your libido. it's got compounds in the saffron that kind of act as an antidepressant and pain blocker, so you're going to be happy, you're going to feel no pain. >> okay, saffron. is this pomegranate juice? that's good for your heart. antioxidants. >> i'd say yes. >> you're right. it's a boat load of antioxidants

and that helps to boost your libido. >> okay. >> all right. >> asparagus. >> it's stinky from asparagus. >> no. >> no. >> you're both wrong. >> really? >> this is hot. asparagus spears, hotter than britney spears. >> oh! >> oh. >> come on. >> easy, guys. easy guys. >> we're talking about asparagus, okay? slow down, guys. >> this is packed with vitamin "e," which is help to boost your libido. >> why does vitamin "e" do that? >> the vitamin "e" is great because it relaxes your blood vessels, gives you sexual sama. >> coconut? no. >> high in saturated fat. >> wine, yes or no? >> yes to a point. don't have a half carafe. >> that's it.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. three young boys are back home with their parents this morning after they were arrested by baltimore city police as a result of an investigation into stolen bikes. a man who lives in the men feel they princess that customized bike parts have been disappearing from his yard for months. friday, he says he caught three boys in act, ages 7, 8, and 11. they were put in handcuffs and behind bars. the parents argued that the department's actions were over the top. police defended their decision, saying there were enforcing the law of regardless of age. >> not doing too badly out there. just a few problems to talk about. at cockeysville, some police activity to avoid, possibly some lanes closed there. this accident is now gone.

we are also looking at an accident location to route 140 in reisterstown. no major delays, though. 13-minute ride on the outer loop west side. five minutes to take you on southbound 95 from the 895 split to the fort mchenry told. heading out on harford road, so far, so good. live view of traffic at 95 in the area of o'donnell. >> there is a lot of cloud cover out there. silver linings that they are going to be keeping us down today but only up to about 79 to the daytime high today. chance of showers and storms, scattered in variety. it will be pretty unsettled out there. more unsettled on thursday good chance of showers and storms each and every afternoon with the humidity. we will surge to 9 degrees for saturday.

>> we will have another update at 8:55. (announcer) it's time to raise the bar with the full flavor of aft mayo with olive oil. with half the fat and calories of hellmann's real mayo, kraft mayo with olive oil is the new standard in mayo.

8:30 now on this tuesday morning, july 21st, 2009. got a few raindrops here in the heart of midtown manhattan. but following a long stretch of beautiful weather in the northeast. these fine folks don't seem to mind too much. and just ahead in this half hour we're going to talk about suburban survival. >> i know. >> come on over here. >> we're talking about a growing number of people who are stockpiling food and nonperishables preparing for a disaster a lot of us might not have thought about. and we'll explain why it could be time for your family to consider joining them. >> also coming up this morning, who wants to eat pasta? >> yeah. >> okay. who wants to eat pasta made by the scottos? >> yeah.

>> they're here this morning. they're going to show us a recipe that apparently is pretty quick and easy. who wants to do that? >> and then a little bit later on, as a tribute to michael jackson, are the remaining jackson four planning a tribute concert? we're going to get some details on that a little bit later on. >> i may not be a meteorologist al, but i can tell it's raining. >> yes, you can. you can eat >> nothing is happening in land where we are located in central maryland, but there are storms off shore. we run the risk of showers and storms later on this afternoon and evening. high today is cooler than

and that's your latest weather. who is this cutie? >> this is marley brooke and she is 1 years old. >> happy birthday. and she's a born broadcaster, going for the mike. she's 1 and 99 years she's on a smucker's jar, being announced by willard scott. that's not so bad. >> i'd put her on a smucker's jar as cute as she is right now. how did the new show go, "wake up with willard"? >> featuring al and stephanie. we had a great time. they actually let us come back today. i think we're going to do it again tomorrow on the weather channel. >> uh-oh. that's a long-term contract. i saw our promo.

♪ happy birthday to you look at our smucker's gang today. what a handsome group we have, indeed. the jar slowly spins around. elizabeth lowry of guilford, kent ket, 100. retired pediatric nurse. ice skated until she was 93 and helped develop an aids initiative to help young children. god bless her. clementine miller, she is from haverford, pennsylvania. attributes her longevity to good health, common sense, and curiosity. known for her gift of gab. how about that? lena, good old sweet lena trofi, providence, rhode island. 100 years old. still makes homemade ravioli on command. here is john leininger, georgia,

100 years old. world war ii vet, one of the few survivors of the u.s. drexel." believe it or not i remember that. o's his longevity to eating dandelions. dandelions. laurel wheeler, aiken, south carolina, 100 years old. proud to have lived through segregation and voting for the first time. attends church weekly. of course she is a minister. how about it, 100. lester, our beloved lester peabody of bother, mass, 101. patriarch of the family furniture business, started in 1899. and kept the business going through world war ii all through the depression. that's it. the other hardest working man besides al in show business is lester, and here's lester. >> willard, thanks very much. still to come this morning and today, how some families are bracing for financial fallout. wait until you see what and how they're doing it. (announcer) how can a single make summer more fun?

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and now to more of our exclusive interview with president obama. when you talk with him, one thing becomes clear, the president is passionate. especially when it comes to health care and his plans for sweeping reform. here's more from our conversation. >> i think what happens is, is that people know the system isn't working right now. but i also think that it's very easy to scare people that it's going to get even worse. and they think, well, maybe the devil i know is better than the devil i don't. what i've got to remind people of is that doing nothing doesn't mean you just keep what you have. doing nothing means that you're going to lose what you have. because, on the current projectry, your premiums are going to double again over the next five to ten years. your out-of-pocket costs are going to increase some more.

you're more likely to see your employer drop coverage. we've already seen a significant increase in the number of people who just have no coverage at all. so, so, you know, without trying to sound the alarm here, what i've got to, i think, communicate with the american people is, that we can change this thing for the better. that there's no reason that we americans should be paying 50% more than every other advanced nation on earth and we're not any healthier. it doesn't make any sense. >> but even members of your own party, mr. president, are beginning to question the size and scope of the legislation, the need to raise taxes in order to pay for it, the fact that right now it is not bipartisan at all, and many of them are saying to you, starting to say to you, you know what, we've got to slow down on this, because we're heading for a disaster. you seem to be steamrolling it. and they're asking you to back off a little bit. >> meredith, look, washington --

>> are you listening to them? do you hear them? >> i meet them all the time. and you know what i'm also listening to? i'm listening to the mother who writes to me and can't get health insurance for her grown child who's got cancer, because they don't have health insurance. and i'm listening to the small business owner who sends me a letter and says my premiums have just gone up 30% so i've got a choice of dropping health coverage for all my employees or firing a couple of employees. and i've also got a message that i'm looking at from my budget director that says if we don't get control of health care costs, then there is no way we can ever control the deficit or the death. so, i'm listening to a whole bunch of voices here. what i'm not going to do, and i don't think the american people should do and i don't think congress should do, is stand pat and say we're going to have another 40 years of a system that doesn't work. and nobody can defend the existing system. nobody.

i haven't heard a single person out there say, you know what, we've got a great -- we've got a health care system that's really working and we can just do nothing and it's going to be fine. and if that's the case, then, it's my job to make the case that we should have enough courage and fortitude and determination to make the change. and i am determined to make that case to the american people. >> but one of the key players on the democratic side, in the senate, and that's baucus, chairman of the senate finance committee said on thursday, quote, the president isn't helping to reach a bipartisan compromise. are you worried that members of your own party are beginning to question your leadership when it comes to health care? >> meredith, let's be very specific about what that was about. i think you should provide the context for it. he was responding to the fact that i've been opposed to -- >> health care -- >> taxing- >> right exactly. >> taxing people's health care benefits. so there are a whole bunch of republicans on the committee who think that that is the best way to accomplish health care reform. and senator baucus has looked at

that as an option. i continue to believe that it is not the best way for us to fund it. that we have a whole range of other options. >> so you haven't, even though he said you're not helping him out here? >> i think actually what you're announcing are a bunch of significant discussions that are taking place in the finance committee where they're explo exploring a whole range of options. but, you know, there's a constant sense of hand wringing in this town when it comes to getting anything done. >> president obama. and still ahead we will step into the kitchen with the scottos. up next, best-selling author daniel silver.

this morning on "today's hot

summer reads," the return of gabriel alan, the master israeli spy and assassin created by daniel silva. the latest escapade is called "the defector." and once again the battle with the ruthless russian arms dealer. we should note daniel is married to our national correspondent jamie gangel. good morning, congratulations on yet another book. >> thank you so much. >> this is the 12th? >> this is my 12th novel. the ninth featuring gabriel alon. it's my 12th novel overall. i can't believe i've written that many. >> i think a lot of people were surprised to see you write a sequel. when you were writing "moscow rules" did you have in mind there would be a follow-up book? >> i walk around with a list of books that i want to get to. and i must confess that after i finished the book, my first impulse was to do something else. and i found that within a matter of days, the character and the scenario that i had created in "moscow rules," the story just

wouldn't leave me alone and i wanted to go back to russia and i wanted the story to continue. i felt that it was a book that actually i had to write. >> as an outsider i would think that doing a sequel would be a little simpler. is that the case? >> no. >> harder? >> harder. and one thing that i made certain that i did with this book is that i made absolutely certain that it stood on its own. and this is a book that, if you did not read "moscow rules" you can pick up this book. you will feel right at home. >> it's a challenge to do that? >> absolutely. i think it is. and i wanted to make sure that i created a new story that stood up on its own and then brought the conclusion of "moscow rules" into it. >> and then when you growth the gabriel character nine books ago did you have the intent this would be a series or was he supposed to be a one-time character? >> he was supposed to be what we call in the business a one-off character. and my fans just are stunned by that. but when i created him so long ago in a book called "the kill

artist" he was supposed to come and go and ride off into the sunset. and i actually had to be talked in to writing another book. and it wasn't until about the third or fourth book that i realized that i had a hit series on my hand and i should keep writing him. >> if you've never read one of your books, if you go back and read this character throughout nine books, does he grow, does he change? does he become a different person? >> i think that all continuing characters must grow, and mine certainly does. when he started in those first couple of books, he was extremely reclusive person, who suffered from really a severe case of melancholy to be honest with you. and he has now become a full-fledged, full-blooded character. he has a group of characters around him. >> right. >> that the stories flow through. and i think that's what the fans really like. >> dan, you also take in these books a very sharp, dim view of modern-day russia.

that's a personal opinion that is reflected in the books? >> i actually -- i love the time that i spent in russia. i am endlessly fascinated by russia. but i do think that there are some things going on in contemporary russia that are -- give me cause for concern. >> corruption? >> i'm talking about corruption. i am talking about the fact that russia no longer really even pretends to be a democracy. and we saw again in the last week that there's a very dangerous side to life in russia, especially for those who dare to criticize the kremlin. human rights worker was murdered in chechnya, natalia seremova, six months ago a colleague of hers was shot to death in broad daylight on a moscow street. there are just a long list of kremlin critics who end up like this. >> and these last two books reflect that view of russia. >> that is a theme of the novel.

that, you know, unfortunately, those who dare to criticize the kremlin right now find themselves with a target on their back. >> you have introduced some love interests in this book. and you've got some strong female characters. was that a conscious decision? >> i, you know -- >> or did they just kind of develop? >> i love writing female characters. unlike a lot of boy writers, as we are known, i like my female characters to be fully drawn, and to play critical roles in the novel. and i do have a number of very, very powerful women in this book. and you know, i'm surrounded by powerful women. >> jamie wouldn't have it any other way, would she? >> we have the one who works here. her mother is a judge. and i have a 14-year-old daughter who, you know, shows me the way, as well. >> listen, congratulations. >> thank you. >> continued success. the book is called "the

defector." daniel silva, always good to have you on. we'll be back. this is "today" on nbc.

this morning's "american story" with bob dotson. a park ranger who forever ranged the way americans deal with disability. and it became 20 years ago when mark wellman, a man with a broken back, climbed the tallest cliff on earth.

♪ >> reporter: it was a moment few figured would ever happen. a man with withered legs, frying for the summit of the highest cliff on earth. 20 climbers with good legs had died on el capitan. mark wellman had just two hands, two arms, to tug him to the top. six inches at a time. >> i was fighting for inches as i was doing pull-ups up this thing. day after day after day. >> reporter: 7,000 pull-ups. it was a fall from a mountain that put wellman in a wheelchair. he was on his way down 27 years ago when he slipped on some gravel and plummeted into a crevasse. he dangled at 13,000 feet, stuck

in a crack with a broken back, for 30 hours. >> i'm feeling like my life is sort of slipping away from me. >> reporter: but the man who lost his legs in a fall from a mountain discovered he had not dropped his courage. temperatures reflecting off el capitan reached 120 degrees. >> it's hot today. >> reporter: mark and his climbing partner mike corbett lived in this harsh, tilted world for eight days. hanging one hand-hold away from the abyss. nbc cameraman craig white dangled above them the whole way. >> the hardest part of this climb, i think, was just swinging around like a spider on the end of a web. >> you holding up all right there? >> yeah, i'm holding up all right. >> no one had done this before. so we kind of felt like we were almost like astronauts. >> i smell summit. >> reporter: the world pulled for the park ranger with the

fractured spine to make it to the top. finally, after a week and a day, he had only sky left to climb. >> yeah! whoo! >> reporter: down below the story outgrew their lives. how long did it take it to sink in, that you've done the impossible? >> probably when we were sitting in the oval office with president bush, talking about fishing. >> we'd like to present this to you, mr. president. >> reporter: wellman became the jackie robinson of disability. showing us that life for the disabled need have no limits. over the years, he has helped eight other climbers with broken backs make it to the top of el capit capitan. >> almost like 7,000 pull-ups. >> it is. >> reporter: a car accident put steve mousse in a wheelchair. doctors told him he would never leave it. >> it took awhile for it to sink in. but when it did, man i cried

every day for four months. >> reporter: until he met mark. >> he was the first guy that really made me think that maybe i could do it. >> reporter: you're more severely injured than mark. >> i can move from here up, and i can't move my body around like he can. >> reporter: so wellman designed a special pulley that would allow mousse to lift just half his weight. >> if you're not tugging on this, you can just push this up with your fingers. >> i can feel it. >> nice! >> reporter: mark wellman's amazing feat showed us the possibilities, rather than the disabilities in our lives. helped claim victory over chance and trouble. >> getting up there. >> reporter: he has lifted a generation from their wheelchairs. and inspired them to soar. >> hi! >> reporter: what's it like up there? >> free. no wheelchair, no nothing. just hanging there in god's country. >> reporter: with only sky beneath your feet. >> hi! >> reporter: for "today," bob

dotson, nbc news, with "an american story" in yosemite national park. >> he has the right last name, wellman. >> yeah. >> beautiful story. beautiful pictures. >> amazing. >> we'll be back with more in just a moment. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. a frederick county man will face a judge later this month for allegedly striking and killing a 15-year-old girl while driving under the influence caitlin bossler was talking with friends

at francis scott key highway and ran a 10:30 p.m. sunday, a ford pickup driven by 42-year-old kevin smith plowed into her. >> the people in the car when running, and another boy, my next-door neighbor, went over to see how she was. >> to the boys say when he had a vehicle, the driver's attention, did he say anything? >> he did not know he had hit anybody. the driver of the vehicle did not realize he had hit anything at all. >> smith is charge with numerous offenses, including negligent manslaughter and automobile homicide while intoxicated. bill is set at $20,000.

>> look at the forecast with sandra shaw. >> chance of showers and thunderstorms late this afternoon. high in baltimore only up to 79. 78 in ocean city.

seven-day forecast, tomorrow into the mid-80's. friday 88. slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon. 90 by saturday. >> thank you for joining us. we will have another update at 9:25. ( music throughout ) hey bets, can i borrow a quarter? sure, still not dry? i'm trying to shrink them. i lost weight and now some clothes are too big. how did you do it? simple stuff. eating right and i switched to whole grain. whole grain... studies show that people who eat more whole grain tend to have a healthier body weight. multigrain cheerios has five whole grains... and 110 calories per lightly sweetened serving. more grains. less you. multigrain cheerios.