>> streep: everything.opportunity to deal with the deep, buried discomfort that people still have, men and women, with women in leadership positions. >> safer: as british prime minister, thatcher strode the world stage for more than a decade... >> margaret thatcher: the iron lady of the western world. >> safer: ...leaving heel prints on the backs of her own conservative party's old boys club. did you like her? >> streep: i am in awe of what she did. the policies you can argue with. but to sit in the hot seat, i can't even imagine having that steadfastness. i'll just have a small one because i'm watching my figure. >> safer: their stories are both about transformation, the actress transforming herself into the politician who transformed herself to outthink, outwork and outwit the men around her. >> streep: one of the things she did was get a drama teacher to tell her how to support her voice... >> breathing in and... >> streep: denis! because her voice was sort of lighter, like mine is. and they taught her t

this group includes actress meryl streep. from the east room of the white house, this is about 20 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen, barbara cook. [applause] [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, and neil diamond. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, yo-yo ma. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, sonny rollins. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, meryl streep. [applause] [laughter] ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and mrs. michele obama. [applause] ♪ [hail to the chief] ♪ >> well, good evening, everybody. welcome to the white house. what a spectacular looking crowd here. [laughter] i want to start by thanking david rubenstein, michael kaiser, and the kennedy center trustees, and everyone who has made the kennedy center such a wonderful place for so many people for so many years. i also want to acknowledge my good friend, caroline kennedy, for continuing her family's legacy of supporting the arts. and finally, i want to thank the creator of the kennedy center honors and the co-chair of the president's

streep's performance totally convincing. his old boss is in old age with failing mental health. >> this is very controversial. margaret thatcher depicted as a feeble old lady, lonely, and some say hallucinating. i found it very painful to watch. if it was about my mother, i would feel very unhappy about it. i do think that you can defend it as a work of art. >> how do you feel about doing it while she was still alive? >> i felt that if we did it in the right way, yes, it would be ok. members of my family have had dementia. there is a feeling that the walls are just more permeable between the present and the past. >> meryl streep has been nominated for oscars than any other actress, but it has been quite a while since she won. the iron lady might turn that around. >> merrill street. you have to have a quick listen to this. -- meryl streep. >> [singing] we can build a snowman >> this is president obama singing "winter wonderland" for the tree lighting ceremony at the white house. >> maksense of iernational news at bbc.com/news

. >> meryl streep takes on margaret thatcher on the big screen. she talks exclusively to the bbc about her role as the iron lady. >> i wanted to in some way capture what ever it was that drew people to her. >> welcome to our viewers on pbs and around the globe. it is not too often that you get dinner with an icon of peace but today the u.s. secretary of state makes history when she had dinner with the nobel prize laureate, aung san suu kyi. hillary clinton is the most senior official to visit the country in more than half a century. where is the guarantee that this new openness will actually last? our reporter is traveling with mrs. clinton and her report has flash photography. >> an american secretary of state shaking hands with the president's, thein sein. then a meeting with the opposition leader, aung san suu kyi. both were unthinkable merely months ago but this is a sign that things are changing. the burmese president laid out his program. he seems keen on the outs had expertise on this unfamiliar path towards change. -- he seemed keen on the

. >> meryl streep takes on margaret thatcher on the big screen. she talks exclusively to the bbc about her role as the iron lady. >> i wanted to in some way capture what everett was that drew people to her. >> welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the u.s. secretary of state made history when she dined with nobel laureate aung san suu kyi. hillary clinton is the most senior official to visit the country in more than half a century. she met with the most famous political prisoner. is there a lasting guarantee that this new openness will last? >> an american secretary of state shaking hands with burma's president, thein sein, a former junta leader. then, face-to-face with aung san suu kyi. this was all unthinkable even a few months ago. this is a sign that things might be changing in this country. in the morning, at the capitol, the burmese president laid out his program for reform. he seemed keen on this outside expertise on change. the american diplomat gave some praise but said that more work was required. she offered inc

. ♪ >> reporter: she's been called the greatest. >> we have meryl streep in the room!r of accents, meryl streep can also show more emotion with a single look than most actors could ever dream. >> that's all. >> reporter: with 46 feature films on her resume, streep has been nominated for a record 16 academy awards winning twice. she is no stranger to accolades. >> she has actually lost twice to herself. >> reporter: yet they still seem to surprise her. including the latest kennedy center honoree. >> you think of yourself as a certain size, height and weight and capacity. and to join, you know, that roster of imminence is thrilling but it also felt, oh, my god, why me? >> reporter: so then how do you feel when you read articles or hear critics say or people say that meryl streep is probably not only the greatest actress of our generation but maybe of all time? >> well, i don't believe any of that. it doesn't go in the way other information does like what time the train is coming for me. >> reporter: if it did, would it make you lazy as an actor, stop learning your craft?

. >> that is meryl streep as british prime minister margaret thatcher in "the iron lady."opens this week. >> like every performance she did, every year she is in the oscar hunt. it's not every year that she gets a kennedy center honor for lifetime achievement in the arts. coming up, julie chen sits down with streep for a frank conversation. ♪ 'cause i believe in you and me ♪ ♪ oh, boy ♪ i believe in miracles ♪ and i believe in you and me ♪ ♪ see, i was lost ♪ now i'm free ♪ 'cause i believe in you and me ♪ [ male announcer ] what if we could keep enough plastic waste to cover all of manhattan out of landfills each year? the equivalent of 140 million trash bags, gone. by using new glad trash bags, designed with reinforcing bands to be stronger with less plastic waste, we can. ♪ it's a small change that can make a big difference. ♪ it's a small change that can make a big difference. [ thunder crashes ] [ snoring ] [ thunder crashes ] [ snoring ] [ male announcer ] vicks nyquil cold and flu. the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, best sleep you ever got

meryl streep, how can you beat that, right? >> you cannot beat meryl streep that, right?p to college. and up to sixty-thousand dollars in assistance. get paid to learn valuable job skills. maybe make an extra twenty grand when you join. all while you serve your community and your country. learn more at nationalguard.com. >>> this morning on "world news now" -- now hiring. the hopeful trend of the employment market after years of layoffs and downsizing. >> the jobless rate just hit a milestone and economists are expressing new optimism for the american work force in the new year. it's friday, december 30th. >>> good morning on this day before new year's eve. i'm sunny hostin. >> i'm dan kloeffler in for rob nelson. if it is your new year's resolution to find a job, or a better one at least, you'll see why 2012 could in fact be your time to make a move. why economists are so upbeat about the employment market and really what is behind this turnaround. seems to have happened quickly. numbers pretty dramatic. >> terrific to go into the new year with these types of numbers. >>

chellish yo-yo ma and actress meryl streep. this is about 20 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen, barbara cook. [applause] [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, neil diamond. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, yo-yo ma. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen sonny rollins. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, meryl streep. [applause] ♪ sweet caroline ♪ [laughter] ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and mrs. michelle obama. [applause] >> well, good evening, everybody. welcome to the white house. what a spectacular-looking crowd here. [laughter] >> i want to start by thanking david rubenstein, michael kaiser and the kennedy center trustees and everyone who has made the kennedy center such a wonderful place for so many people for so many years. i also want to acknowledge my good friend caroline kennedy for continuing her family's legacy of supporting the arts and finally i want to thank the creator of the kennedy center honors and the co-chair of the president's committee on the arts an the humanities, george stev

i said, no, i want meryl streep to do mine because i'm the meryl streep of public health. [laughter] >> i heard a story, by the way, i'm going to share which was in new york, there was a get together, and meryl streep was in the same room, and everybody was around meryl streep, and then paul farmer walks in, and suddenly meryl streep is all alone in the corner. [laughter] >> it was at nyu, not, you know, the oscars. >> so within a certain community >> meryl streep did read a lot of it, but michelle reads her own. she has a beautiful voice too. >> and we love meryl streep. she's a great person. >> so just so if you get a chance, do listen and read what the haitians have to say about this and, michelle -- thank you for bringing that up. >> my final question. doc, what's the prognosis. >> >> i think the prognosis, if you go back to that chapter, the prognosis is good. someone said, you said, what's the allergy? what's the great resource of haiti? it's people. anybody can say that, but there's a lot of talent in haiti, and a lot of young talent in haiti. there are lots of -- i

i think that's what a lot of actors feel watching meryl streep. therefore, that's what a wanted to do i wanted to do that. i just felt like what could stop me? >> charlie: nothing. nothing but yourself. >> absolutely. >> charlie: you were never going to let somebody else stop you. >> no i wasn't. >> charlie: so what did you learn about acting that has made you as good as you ar<: >> thatñr acting is very much f me like life. i think that you are always on e path inçóÑc> and fed by inspiration and when your on that path you always discover things about you that a) things you're not willing to admiq÷ maybe, youo i always dream of the houseçó w lived in in 128 washington -- içów3çboyñe/Ñue@io life. just likeÑi actingt(xdxciÑiçmcij character's drivenñ need andx$$rá's importantÑiiñm discover that bep everybody the first thing you learn inñ collaborative vóÑçóv you can't go in the roomçó and> what youñf]/kóñkiñr do. it needs the writer andÑi;w]is and finally the audience and i feel like whenç9o&z you on that they want to feel less alone. they want

meryl streep, how can you beat that, right? >> you cannot beat meryl streep in anything.-hour. wswswswswswswswswswsws hey, your high speed internet here, at home... ...and on the go... ...with some really big news. it's b-i-g -- big. high speed internet from at&t at home... ...includes wi-fi access on the go. woo-hoo! [ together ] it's an unbelievable deal. well, gotta go. but wait -- there's more... [ female announcer ] go to the website below today and get high speed internet for the unbelievably low price of just 14.95 a month for 12 months with a one-year price guarantee. it's all the speed you need at a great price. you can chill online at a park. here, pidgie, pidgie. [ pigeon coos ] and surf the web at your favorite bookstore. our internet at home includes access to the entire national at&t wi-fi hot spot network on the go. [ female announcer ] go to the website below and get high speed internet for just 14.95 a month for 12 months with a one-year price guarantee. that's all the speed you need at a great price. it's an unbelievable deal. so why wait? act now, act n

we are talking meryl streep. >> the pro.an and his dog dangling from a cliff in southern california. >> it started with littering and involved a dog a little too trained. abc's clayton sandell reports from a rugged hillside in los angeles. >> reporter: it started as a normal family hike that in an instant plunged 19-year-old ivan into a nightmare. ivan was hiking with his brother and father when his dad threw a bottle over the edge of a 300 foot drop. that's when lola, a german shepard mix, fetched. she slid down the side of the ravine, 150 feet from the bottom. ivan tried to rescue her and then needed his own rescue. >> the terrain was very steep. >> 35 fire fighters responded as ivan and lola waited 90 minutes dangling as rescuers inched closer on an unstable hillside. they wanted to use a helicopter to hoist them out but the wind from the rotor blade forced them to plan b. >> able to take members from the top of the ridge top. rappel down, secure the victim with his dog, and lower them to safety. >> reporter: rescuers wer

anything meryl streep is and, i'm going to see it.e iron lady" -- tell me about this and when it is dropping. >> this movie is going to go across the united states. this is a transformation. you know, the opening scene of the movie is your draw is going to drop. i know minded. playing 80, 70, 60, incredibly seem less and visible -- seemless and invisible. when somebody first said margaret thatcher, i must tell you i am not her biggest fan. by the time i got on making the movie and listening to meryl, i think the movie humanizes her but does not shirk away from controversy. margaret thatcher made tough decisions. she put people line of work and stood up to labor unions and a lot of things i did not like. some of that turned out to be the right decision. here is a principal leader. this is where i am avoid by the fact that conservatives love this movie and liberals love this movie. at the beginning, as the movie was progressing, you had a situation where they would not see the movie. people close to you her would say, how dare you. beca

world renowned cellist yo-yo ma and meryl streep. is there anything meryl streep hasn't won? oscars, golden globe, last year she was named professional bull riding's rodeo clown of the year. when she jumps in the barrel, you believe it. now last night it was my honor to honor yo-yo ma. jim, honor me honoring him. >> tonight we celebrate the greatest living cellist, tonight we chellibrate, if you will. that from the new book i'm writing, a 1001 cello puns. all i need is a thousand more puns. (laughter) but i think it's going to sell because there's always room for more cello. (cheers and applause) now folks, my honoring did to the gun noticed. audience member and gop front-runner newt gingrich released this actual tweet today. stephen colbert was brilliant at kennedy center honors tonight. newt gingrich said i'm brilliant, okay. and newt reserved his twitter feed for things of the utmost importance like these actual tweets. i ate a reeses peanut butter cup for breakfast. and calista got me a reese's peanut butter egg. it is good too. and folks, for the record, newt did not say

meryl streep joined neil diamond -- all of them rock stars.eek behind the scenes at this year's stellar event. >> tonight we celebrate the greatest living cellist. tonight, we cello-brate. >> without the arts, we would be hollow. >> it is easy to sing along. no matter how many drinks you with pads. >> sarah jessica parker came through the red carpet. she is about a size zero and looks a flawless in person. meryl streep wanted us to know that the president impressed her. >>imagine the surprise when presidential candidate newt gingrich walked the red carpet. there is a presidential box up there. >> that will be up to the american people next year. >> the show airs december 27. >> barbara cook received the longest and loudest standing ovation. this weekend at the movies, " twilight" won the box office again. it was something to see sarah jessica parker up close. she does look a flawless. period. >> i would have loved to sit down with meryl streep. >> next time, negotiate. >> i will take you with me. >> coming up next, the super bowl halftime perf

i'm a big fan of meryl streep. >> me too. what do you want me to tell you about. >> i wasn't you to tell me that it will be 70 and sunny. >> perhaps meryl streep could make that happen for you. we'll have clouds around today. our temperatures will be in the lower 60s. so that is not bad. let's take a look at your weather headlines for the day. before we get to the temperature part, got to tell you that we have a little bit of fog out there this morning, some patchy fog to the east. visibility along some portions of the eastern shore of maryland, even the western shore of the chesapeake bay. visibility down to about a half mile or quarter mile in some of those locations so there is actually a dense fog advisory in effect off to the east for this morning. all right. cloudy, but mild today. we'll see plenty of clouds but temperatures will be above normal into the upper 50s and the low 60s. then unsettle weather will work its way in here for the bulk of the week t does not mean it will be rain -- it does not mean it will be raini

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, meryl streep. [applause] [laughter] ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and mrs. michele obama. [applause] ♪ [hail to the chief] >> well, good evening, everybody. welcome to the white house. what a spectacular looking crowd here. [laughter] i want to start by thanking david rubenstein, michael kaiser, and the kennedy center trustees, and everyone who has made the kennedy center such a wonderful place for so many people for so many years. i also want to acknowledge my good friend, caroline kennedy, for continuing her family's legacy of supporting the arts. and finally, i want to thank the creator of the kennedy center honors and the co-chair of the president's committee on the arts and the humanities, george stevens. [applause] george and his son, michael, are still bringing this show to life after 34 years, and we are grateful to both of them. so -- [applause] tonight, we honor five giants from the world of the arts -- not just for a single role or a certain performance,

meryl streep has been nominated for a golden globe as best actress. manuel gallegus previews the film which opens nationwide in two weeks. >> i have done battle every single day of my life. >> actress meryl streep admits she was not agree with many of margaret thatcher's policies but she does respect britain's only female prime minister. >> i have admiration for women who, for anybody, actually, who decides to take on a leadership role. but it is just much, much harder for women. >> the film takes place in the present day with thatcher suffering from dementia, flashing back to moments in her life. it shows controversial decisions thatcher made like invading the faulkland islands but mainly focuses on her relationship with her husband, dennis. thatcher imagined her deceased husband as still with her, revealing a softer side to the woman often called the iron lady. >> could perhaps tend more closely to what i'm saying. >> the film also shows tough road thatcher navigated in the male dominated world of politics. >> she stood up in the house of parliament

tribute to singers barbara cook and neil diamond and sonny rollins and yo-yo-ma and actress merle streepeir influence on american culture. before the ceremony, president obama hosted them at the white house. >> by expressing themselves, they he us learn something about ourselves. they make us laugh, they move us to tears, they bring us together, and they push the boundaries of what we think is possible. >> caroline kennedy hosted the program in tribute to her father which finished with a group sing-along of the neil diamond song he named after her. ♪ ♪ sweet caroline i never ever would ♪ classic. and you can catch the entire kennedy center honors show on december 27th at 9:00 p.m. right here on cbs. >>> this morning, on "the early show," how to protect your cash savings without stuffing it in the mattress. i'm elaine quijano. and this is the "cbs morning news." me try advil congestion relief. often the real problem is swelling, not mucus. advil congestion relief reduces swelling due to nasal inflammation. so i can breathe. [ mucus ] advil congestion relief. - this is for cindy. i wanted

honorees and singers bosh rah barbara cook and neil diamond and yo-yo ma and sonny rollins and merle streep were all there. we will have much more from last night's celebration coming up later in the program. >> with caroline kennedy there. good stuff. >> maybe we will even sing. >> i don't know about that. >>> we begin with campaign 2012 where the republican presidential race is taking a new shape this morning after herman cain ended his run for the white house over the weekend. >> the latest polls show newt gingrich is still rising to the top. political correspondent jan crawford is in washington with more on cain's withdrawal. >> reporter: cain said he was suspending his campaign but what that means, it's over. i talked to him and his wife gloria after his announcement. he said he made the decision on his own before he got back off the campaign home to his home in atlanta. he couldn't put his family through it any more. gloria cain told me she would have supported him either way of what he decided because a part of her wanted him to stay in the race because she believed him. >> he is alw

streep as margaret thatcher, in "the iron lady."as self-assured and confident... >> oh, yes. >> safer: ...that her way was the only way. >> i have a lot of that. >> safer: she does not have a lot of patience for shooting the same scene time after time. >> i don't like to go over things and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. i don't like that. >> i'm steve kroft. >> i'm lesley stahl. >> i'm morley safer. >> i'm bob simon. >> i'm anderson cooper. >> i'm scott pelley. those stories tonight on "60 minutes." selections flavors are available one perfectly brewed cup at a time folgers gourmet selections k-cup packs extraordinary roasts. exceptionally rich flavors. available where you buy groceries. ♪ and just let me be [ male announcer ] this is your moment. ♪ your ticket home ♪ [ male announcer ] this is zales, the diamond store. [ male announcer ] this is zales, this was the gulf's best tourism season in years. all because so many people came to louisiana... they came to see us in florida.

actress meryl streep, cellest yo-yo ma, singer barbara cook and saxophonist and composer rollins.dy center honors taking place. the president of the united states will be wishing them well and congratulating them right there at the white house, at the special reception before things get under way. you can see there actor john lithgow and among many other dignitaries there, hollywood stardom as well as some of the political stars as well. they're filling the room. and, of course, we'll continue to watch the developments there and if the president emerges, we'll take his comments live before this evening's big gala, just down the street at the kennedy center. >>> coming up next, international diplomacy comes in many forms. china sends more four-legged ambassadors to the west. ♪ >>> i'm catkinsmith, managing editor of etocracy. we love the word scorpacciata. it is an italian word that translates roughly into consuming copious amounts of an ingredient while it is in peak season. now, it isn't just fun to say. it is also a really great way to eat. because when you're following along wi

singer barbara cook and neal diamond, and multioscar winner meryl streep were all there. they had a big party at the kennedy center in washington. a lot of great performances, including, by the way, the sing along to "sweet caroline." and we'll have much more coming up. >> with caroline there. very good stuff. >> maybe we'll even sing. >> i don't know about that. but we begin with campaign 2012, where the republican presidential race is taking on a new shape this morning after herman cain as you know ended his run for the white house over the weekend. >> as the other candidates go after his voters, the latest polls show that newt gingrich is still rising to the top. political correspondent jan crawford is in washington with more on cain's withdrawal. good morning, jan. >> reporter: good morning, rebecca. cain said that he was suspending his campaign, but what that means is it's over. i talked to him and his wife gloria after his announcement. he said he made the decision on his own before he got back off the campaign home to atlanta. he couldn't put his family through it

paying tribute to those special artists of our time. >> we have merle streep in the room! yes!ve seen merle struck how she portrays a wide range of characters. >> reporter: song writer and performer neil diamond. >> when it comes to neil diamond, i am a believer. we are all believers. >> reporter: cellist yo-yo ma. >> tonight, we celebrate the greatest living velcellist. >> reporter: and jazz great, sonny rollins. >> sonny, tonight, welcome home. >> and theater legend barbara cook who made her broadway debut in 1951. >> barbara cook at the cafe carlyle belongs on that short list of beloved new york treasures. >> reporter: it brings the greats in music and stage and screen and recognizing their distinguished careers and commitment to their craft. earlier in the day, president obama praised them for sharing their gift. >> by expressing themselves they help us learn something about ourselves. they make us laugh. they move us to tears and they bring us together and they push the boundaries that are possible. ♪ sweet caroline ♪ >> reporter: whit johnson, cbs news washington. >>> you

let's see meryl streep in action here. >> we will stand on principle, or we will not stand at all. >>all due respect, when one has been to war -- >> with all due respect, sir, i have done battle every single day of my life, and many men have underestimated me before. this lot seem bound to do the same. but they will rue the day. >> i mean, i -- that is -- that's the first time i've seen it. it's uncanny. she looks like her. and she speaks like her. that's exactly how margaret thatcher really does speak. >> well, meryl transformed into her. that's one of the famous scenes in american history because ronald reagan sent alexander haig to buy her off the falklands. you do not need to do this, don't go, don't send the battleships, don't engage with the argentinean navy at all. keep it peaceful, and we'll cut a deal. and that's the turning point for reagan, because he had such incredible respect because in a very charming way she basically showed alexander haig the door. she had -- i don't know if you can say, it but baseball balls. >> she wouldn't mind that. i met her once at a party. i me