. >> we are aware of the role of fred michel in relation to the big? >> well, i was aware at the time but not to the extent that i have not seen. but i was aware, yes. >> so when you say to the extent that you now see, are you referring to the e-mails of? >> yes, but i had realize there were that many e-mails. >> when did you read those e-mails of? >> i actually still haven't read them all. >> you saw some? >> i saw some during the evidence given by james murdoch. >> and when they were drawn to our attention that way, did it surprise you in any way? >> will i think the truth is at the time, at the time the bskyb bid, i suppose, like most journalists i viewed public affairs and obvious with quite skepticism and often thought that mr. michel's perhaps overextended position. however, he was doing his job. you know, he was passing on information as lobbyists do. >> how do you know he was overrating his position of? >> i suppose because as journalists we would have quite direct contact with ministers and prime ministers, you know, in the course of our work.

. >> we are aware of the role of fred michel in relation to the big? >> well, i was aware at the time but not to the extent tht i have not seen but i was aware, yes. >> so when you say to the extent that you now see, are you referring to the e-mails of? >> yes, but i had realize there were that many e-mails. >> when did you read thoe e-mails of? >> i actually still haven't read them all. >> you saw some? >> i saw some during the evidence given by james murdoch. >> and when they were drawn to our attentn that way, did it surprise you in any way? >> will i think the truth is at the time, at the time the bskyb bid, i suppose, like most journalists i viewed public affairs and obvious with quite skepticism a often thought that mr. micl's perhaps overextended position. however, he was doing his job. you know, he was passing on information as lobbyists do. >> how do you know he was overrating his position of? >> i supposeecause as journalists we would have quite direct contact with ministers and prime ministers, you know, in the course of our work. but i alwa

i certainly have spoken to fred michel. i always adopted a policy of an open door, not just in this inquiry but all inquiries, but if people wish to come to talk to me about, to get the point of you i will listen to the. but the question about whether or not they attempted to influence to the extent that they were putting their capes, but they didn't do anything which was improper, i heard people came to see me who have just a strong view in the other direction. >> i just completely, i was exact with the chairman said, i can put my hand on my heart and say nobody has ever tried to influence what i said in a corporate if anybody knows anything about me they would know it would be -- try to influence what i think the i think i'm sufficiently independently minded, to be completely, you know, i won't be affected by endless attempts. certain i can put my hand on my heart and say i actually -- that actually did not happen. >> that would be counterproductive to try to influence philip in terms of changing any of his opinions in an

i certainly have spoken to fred michel. always adopted a policy of an open door, not just in this inquiry but all inquiries, but if people wish to come to talk to me about, to get the point of you i will listen to the. but the question about wheth or not they attempted to influence to the extent that they were putting their capes, but they didn't do anything which was improper, i heard people came to see me who have just a strong view in the other direction. >> i just completely, i was exact with the chairman said, i can put my hand on my heart and say nobody has ever tried to influence what i said in a corpore if anybody knows anything about me they would know it would be -- try to influence what i think the i think i'm sufficiently independently minded, to be completely, you know, i won't be affected by endless attempts. certain i can put my hand on my heart d say i actually -- that actually did not happen. >> that would be counterproductive to try to influence philip in terms of changing any of his opinions in any report

. >> we are aware of the role of fred michel in relatio to the big? >> well, i was aware at the time but not to the extent that i have not seen. but i was aware, yes. >> so when you say to the extent that you now see, are you referring to the e-mails of? >> yes, but iad realize there were that many e-mails. >> when did you read those e-mails of? >> i actually still haven't read them all. >> you saw some? >> i saw some during the evidence giv by james murdoch. >> and when they were drawn to our attention that way, did it surprise you in any way? >> will i think the truth is at the time, at the time the bskyb bid, i suppose, like most journalists i viewed public affairs and obvious with quite skepticism and often thought that mr. michel's perhaps overextended position. however, he was doing his job. you know, he was passing on information as lobbyists do. >> how do you know he was overrating his position of? >> i suppose because as journalists we would have quite direct contact with ministers d prime ministers, you know, in the course of our work. but i

fred michel who reported to mr. anderson at that time who dealt with a direct contact with the political lever level and people of that nature. that was the p.o. box for the company there. >> obviously, we are going to hear from your father tomorrow, we know that he had some meetings with politicians, and you did as well, you told us about them. particularly, in 2008 to the general election in may 2010, would it be fair to say that mr. brooks, the majority of meetings with politicians,. >> i have seen the schedule, i think some of the prime ministers meetings in that period of time. i can't remember. but she would've been closer to those issues than i would have been. >> was a part of the general way of working, as it were, that miss brooks reported back to you as the outcome, and he would report anything important that your father? >> from time to time, she would report to me by the discussion that was relevant, but she would communicate directly with my father. you know, with some frequency. >> when you had discus

i certainly have spoken to fred michel. i always adopted a policy of an open door, not just in this inquiry but all inquiries, but if people wish to come to talk to me about, to get the point of you i will listen to the. but the question about whether or not they attempted to influence to the extent that they were putting their capes, but they didn't do anything which was improper, i heard people came to see me who have just a strong view in the other direction. >> i just completely, i was exact with the chairman said, i can put my hand on my heart and say nobody has ever tried to influence what i said in a corporate if anybody knows anything about me they would know it would be -- try to influence what i think the i think i'm sufficiently independently minded, to be completely, you know, i won't be affected by endless attempts. certain i can put my hand on my heart and say i actually -- that actually did not happen. >> that would be counterproductive to try to influence philip in terms of changing any of his opinions in an

> when the british burned the white house as fred mentioned in 1814, dolly madison famously saved this portrait of the first george w. [laughter] now michele, if anything happens -- [laughter] there's your man. [laughter] >> there was a lot of laughter. but tears, too. as mr. bush paid tribute to another former president, his dad. >> i am honored to be hanging near a man who gave me the greatest gift possible, unconditional love, and that would be number 41. >> painted by an artist from his home state of texas, mr. bush is portrayed standing in front of the desk given by a queen. explaining how the cares of presidential office transcend party politics. >> george, i will always remember the gathering you hosted for all the living former presidents before i took office and plus you left me a really good tv sports package. [laughter] >> that was -- [laughter] i use it. [laughter] >> there is, of course, much more that divides than unites these members of an exclusive club, and with an election looming, the bipartisan warmth looms here as president obama tries to put off the hanging of his portrait for another four years. "bbc news," washingto

when the british burned the white house, as fred mentioned, in 1814, dolly madison famously saved this portrait of the first george w. now michellething happens -- there's your man. and i'm also pleased, mr. president, that when you are wandering these halls as you wrestle with tough decisions, you'll now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask, what would george do? it is my privilege to introduce the greatest first lady ever, sorry, mom. >> it was really gracious of you to invite us back to the white house to hang a few family pictures. and i'm sure you know nothing makes a house a home like having portraits of its former occupants stair staring down at you from the wall. >> the portraits, by the way, were done by the renowned artist john howard sanden. they'll hang in the entrance hall of the white house, president bush to the right of president clinton. thanks for being with us. i'm matt lauer in for brian tonight, and i'll see you tomorrow morning on "today." ♪ [ male announcer ] everyone at southwest airlines works together for one goal: to get you where you're going. and with flights all over the country to choose from, i

. >> when the british burned the white house, as fred mentioned in 1814, dolly madison famously saved this portrait of the first george w. now, michelle, if anything happens, there's your man! >> there was a lot of laughter but tears too. adds mr. bush paid trib -- as mr. bush pays tribute to another former president, his dad. >> i'm honored to be standing next to a man who gave me you the most precious gift possible, unconditional love. that would be number 41. >> painted by an artist from his home state of texas, mr. bush is betrayed standing in the oval office in front of a desk gifted to the white house by queen victoria. the current tenant paid a gracious tribute to his predecessor explaining how the cares of presidential office transcend party politics. >> george, i will always remember the gathering you hosted for all of the living former presidents before i took office. your kind words of encouragement, plus you also left me really good tv sports package. [laughter] i use it. >> there is, of course, much more that divides the new night these members of an exclusive club and with an election looming, bipartisan warmth ends here

when the british burned the whougs as fred mention mentioned in 1814, dolly madison famously saved this portrait of the first george w. now, michelle, if anything happens, there is your man. i am also pleased, mr. president, that when you are wandering these halls after you wrestle with tough decisions you will now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask what would george do? i am honored to be hanging near a man that gave me the greatest gift possible, unconditional love. and that would be number 41. i want to thank john howard for agreeing to use his considerable talents to paint my likeness. you have done a fine job with a challenging subject. the portrait there is a painting by hd. kerner called a charge to keep. it hung in the oval office for eight years of my presidency. i asked john to include it because it reminds me of the wonderful people with whom i was privileged to serve. whether they serve in the cabinet, on the presidential staff, these men and women many of whom are here worked hard and served with honor. we had a charge to keep and we kept the charge. it is my privilege to introduce the greatest first lady ever, s

when the british burned the white house as fred mentioned in 1814, dolly madison, famously saved this portrait of the first george w. now michellenything happens, there's your man. i am also pleased, mr. president, that when you were wandering these halls as you wrestle with tough decisions, you'll now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask, what would george do? i am honored to be hanging near a man who gave me the greatest gift possible, unconditional love. that would be number 41. [ applause ] >> i want to thank john howard sandin for agreeing to use his considerable talents to paint my likeness. you've done a fine job with a challenging subject. in the portrait there is a painting by w.h.d. koerner called a charge to keep. it hung in the oval office for eight years of my presidency. i asked john to include it because it reminds me of the wonderful people with whom i was privileged to serve. whether they served in the cabinet or on the presidential staff, these men and women, many of whom are here, worked hard and served with honor. we had a charge to keep and we kept the charge. it is my privilege to introduce the greatest

michelle turner. what more do we know about the circumstances of his death? >>. >> well, fredounced that he was being treated for a sal vary -- we know he was still undergoing treatment as recently as april and apparently it just got too much for him, fred. >> all right. well, you know, he wasn't apparently with his band mates just last months when the beasty boys were introduced into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. they know he had been ailing. what are his, you know, fellow beastie boys friends telling him -- or saying about him right now? >> that induction ceremony is going to air on hbo on sunday. cnn did speak to the beastie boys about the event, and he talked about his close friend. he said that aem was just not well enough to come to the event. he said that he was still getting treatment. he did send a letter in for the other guys to read his hanking the rock 'n' roll hall of fame for being inducted, and he said they were e-mailing and calling each other while they were sitting at the table so they can keep adam in the loop about what was going there. >> tell me about h

when the british burned the white house, as fred mentioned, in 1814, dolly madison famously saved this portrait of the first george w. now, michelleing happens, there's your man. i am also pleased, mr. president, that when you are wandering these halls as you wrestle with tough decisions, you'll now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask, what would george do? i am honored to be hanging near a man who gave me the greatest gift possible, unconditional love, and that would be number 4 41. >> the portraits by john howard sandion show bush standing in the oval office, while mrs. bush is in the green room which she helped refurnish ir. >>> and new york city wants to ban supersized soft drinks. it may be a move for our health, but should government be making decisions about our diet? a debate on that, next. >>> plus, arrested for dui on a lawn mower. jeanne moos is next with a week of vehicles ending up in places they should not. >>> i wanted to make droothraki feel kind of like an old book or maybe some comfortable clothes that have been worn, shoes that have been walked in for miles and miles. >> for instance, he mentioned there's n

when the british burned the white house as fred mentioned in 1814, dolly madison famously saved this portrait of the first george w. [laughter] now, michelleing happens, there is your man. [laughter] [applause] >> i am also pleased, mr. president, that when you are wandering these halls, as you wrestle with tough decisions you'll now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask, what would george do? [laughter] >> i am honored to be hanging near a man who gave me the greatest gift possible, unconditional love, and that would be number 41. [applause] >> i want to thank john howard stanton for agreeing to use his considerable talents to paint my likeness. you've done a fine job with a challenging subject. in the portrait there is a painting called "a charge to keep" it hung in the oval office for eight years of my presidency. i asked john to include it because it reminds me of the wonderful people with whom i was privileged to serve, whether they served in the cabinet, or on the presidential staff, these men and women, many of whom are here, worked hard and served with honor. we had a charge to keep, and we kept the charge. it is my privilege to

michelle obama, accompanied by george bush and mrs. laura bush. [applause] >> good afternoon. i'm fredt, chairman of the board of the white house historical association. the association is honored to be part of today's historic ceremony and to have played a role in the range for the magnificent portraits that are about to be unveiled. the white house historical association was founded 50 years ago by first lady jacqueline kennedy, with two specific missions. the first is to educate and inform the public about the history of the white house and the distinguished group of americans that have inhabited it. in this regard it is an exciting time for us as we mark the 50th anniversary campaign for white house history. to the north of the white house, at historic decatur house we just launched the new david rubenstein national center for white house. mixture to the south of the white house we will open a newly redesigned white house visitor center. it will give the millions of visitors to washington each year a chance to gain a broader understanding of life in the white house. if we can just